Tone It Down
Tone It Down is a weekly wellness podcast hosted by Karena Dawn, cofounder of Tone It Up. Each episode serves as a relaxed group chat focused on self-care, fitness, nutrition, and emotional well-being. Karena and guests discuss the pressures of constant self-improvement and offer practical rituals for feeling grounded and seen. The show emphasizes that wellness is a relationship, not a performance, and aims to provide honest, unfiltered conversation.
Episodes
I Am Safe, I Am Grateful: How I Handle Morning Anxiety
Your DMs, messages and voicemails kept asking the same thing: how do I manage my anxiety? So this week, Karena is sitting down solo to talk about the anxious mornings so many of us know too well. Karena breaks down the science of the morning cortisol spike, why women in perimenopause feel it so strongly, and the daily practices that have helped her feel like herself again. From her go-to gratitude
Be the CEO of Your Own Health: Ways2Well CCO Danese Rexroad on Labs, HRT & Longevity
This week on Tone It Down, Karena sits down with Danese Rexroad, the OG Chief Clinical Officer at Ways2Well, a Texas-based preventative healthcare company. Danese spent 15 years in trauma and the ER before moving into preventative wellness, and one night in the trauma unit changed how she sees everything: your baseline health shapes your outcome. She explains the difference between "normal" and "o
Fall Check-In: Friendship After 40, Female Loneliness & the TIU Fall Challenge
In this autumn check-in episode of Tone It Down, Karena sits down solo to chat about the season of new routines, the loneliness so many women feel in their 40s and 50s, and why she built this year's Fall Challenge around the one thing we’re all nostalgic for: being together. She shares the simple, real-life ways she's been making new friends (shy girls, this one's for you!), explains why you don't
Hard Knocks’ Rachel Hague: "You Already Know What Your Next Step Is"
When Rachel Hague came by to interview Karena for Hard Knocks Business, Karena had one condition: she got to interview Rachel, too. In this conversation, Rachel shares how she landed her hosting role out of 950 applicants, what she has noticed about the founders she interviews, and how writing helped her through losing her sister. She also talks about finding her people in Austin, the rescue dogs
The Science of Shaking It Out: DanceFit Founder Melody Afkami Dawson on Dance, ADHD, and Motherhood
This week, Karena catches up with Melody Afkami Dawson, founder of Melody DanceFit in Austin. Since their last chat, Melody has gotten married, had a baby, and continued to build her business through it all. They talk about why dance works as a nervous system reset, how motherhood changed Melody’s relationship with ADHD, and the conscious choices she and her husband made to break old family patter
Pilates Princesses lift heavy, too: Jasmine Sharp on Strength, hormones and starting over
This week Karena sits down with Pilates expert and Sharp Body Pilates owner Jasmine Sharp for a wide-ranging, honest conversation. Jasmine breaks down the real history of Pilates (yes, it started with hospital beds), debunks the "Pilates Princess" stereotype once and for all, and gets real about her own perimenopause journey, including the hormone shifts nobody warned her about. They also dig int
Reclaim Your Relationship’s Confidence & Connection with Sexual Wellness Coach Gabriella Espinosa
This week Karena welcomes Gabriella Espinosa — certified women's health and sexual wellness expert, host of Pleasure and the Pause, and executive producer of the documentary Hot — for the joyful, empowering conversation the Tone It Up community has been asking for. Gabriella shares how she went from feeling disconnected in her 40s to becoming one of the leading voices in women's pleasure and hormo
Beating Skinny Culture & Conquering Fitness Slumps with Strength Coach Jacqueline Kasen
Part 2 of Karena’s conversation trainer and fitness industry veteran Jacqueline Kasen picks up right where we left off — and this half goes even deeper. Karena and Jacqueline talk through the future of fitness (and why Jacqueline feels genuinely hopeful about where the industry is headed), the three real things that beat a motivation slump, and a live "workshop your why" exercise using Jacqueline'
Live from Miami: Karena Answers Your Questions on Workout Snacks, Motivation Slumps and Vacation Mode in Your App
We are LIVE from Miami and Karena and Des are fresh off a Walk & Talk with local Tone It Up gals. Today, they’re digging into YOUR community questions: what to do when motivation disappears, why building muscle feels harder after 40, the "lazy but effective" workouts that still count, and how to stay on track while traveling. Plus a huge announcement about where Tone It Up is filming next.
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Strength Coach Jacqueline Kasen on Lifting Heavy, Peptide Culture, & the Truth About "New Healthy"
On today’s episode, Karena is live from Miami with part one of her conversation with trainer, gym executive, and fitness industry veteran Jacqueline Kasen. Jacqueline grew up behind the scenes of the at-home fitness world (her dad's company helped launch Denise Austin), studied exercise science with plans to go the medical route, and lasted exactly 10 hours as a trainer before she knew fitness was
Lisa J of BK Beauty on Beauty After 40, Finding Your Confidence & Building a Brand
In this conversation with Lisa J, founder of BK Beauty and longtime beauty creator, Karena Dawn explores how great tools (not more product) transform your makeup routine, why real confidence takes years to build, and how she and her husband built a self-funded beauty brand on their own terms — plus, the honest, hopeful story of how fitness and self-care helped both women come back to themselves.
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What If It All Goes Right? TIU Trainer Angela Gargano on Resilience, Confidence & Starting Over
This week we're back with Tone It Up trainer, 6x American Ninja Warrior, and motivational speaker Angela Gargano and this conversation is pure fuel. Angela opens up about tearing her ACL on national television (her second tear!), the mental side of her comeback, and the moment she decided to go all-in on motivational speaking after manifesting it a year before. We talk confidence vs. courage and A
Calmness Is Possible: Karena on Retreats, Signs From Above & Surviving a Bear
Welcome back to Tone It Down. Today, Karena sits down with Des fresh off a seven-day Panchakarma retreat in the Blue Ridge Mountains and she’s ready to share everything, including the burnout that sent her there, an emotional sign she never expected, and a very close encounter with a bear named Blue Blue. Karena opens up about what it really takes to reset your nervous system, the moment a third-e
Stop Letting the Scale Decide Your Day: TIU Celebrity Trainer Jenna Willis
Welcome to this special solo AMA episode of Tone It Down with trainer and TIU fan favorite Jenna Willis. Fresh off the exciting news that she's rejoining the TIU team, Jenna sits down for a candid, high-energy AMA session to answer your biggest questions about fitness, confidence, and what actually works for women's bodies. She opens up about two major moments in her life when she had to start ove
Your Questions, Answered: Lifting Heavy, App Tips & What's Next for TIU
Karena is coming to you solo for a full AMA! She's answering YOUR voicemail and Instagram questions about lifting heavy, building muscle as we age, and how to get the most out of the TIU app. Whether you're brand new to fitness or a longtime TIU girl, this episode is your personal pep talk and practical guide all in one. You are so not alone in these questions and Karena has you covered.
Drop yo
Your Glutes Are Sleeping: Trainer Sandy Brockman on Strength, Perimenopause, & What Nobody Told Us
Welcome to episode twenty of Tone It Down. In this conversation, Karena sits down with her personal trainer and strength coach Sandy Brockman. She’s a Women's Health Magazine contributor and the woman behind the Booty by Brockman method. They share a refreshingly honest, laugh-out-loud conversation about how women have been getting fitness wrong for decades. Together, they cover why cardio alone w
Show Up & Shine: Karena & the TIU Trainers on Living Your Strongest Life
Welcome to a very special live episode of Tone It Down! Karena Dawn is joined by TIU trainers Stef, Chyna, and Jenna Willis, as well as panel members Hannah Aaron Brown and Emily Teachout, for a real, raw, and energizing IRL community workout event. This one is extra special because it's the first live Tone It Up event in nearly a decade and the event is packed with women who have been part of thi
Feel Empowered at Every Stage: Dr. Anna Cabeca on Thriving Through Menopause & Hormone Changes
Welcome to episode eighteen of Tone It Down. In this conversation, Karena sits down with Dr. Anna Cabeca — bestselling author, integrative gynecologist, and the beloved Girlfriend Doctor — for a deeply honest and uplifting look at what it really means to thrive through perimenopause and beyond. Dr. Anna shares her extraordinary personal journey from losing a child and being diagnosed with early me
How Tone It Up Trainer Ariel Belgrave Went from Corporate Burnout to Climbing Mountains & Living Her Dream
Welcome to episode seventeen of Tone It Down. In this fired-up conversation, Karena sits down with fitness powerhouse, Under Armour athlete, and all-around force of nature Ariel Belgrave — AKA Gym Hooky — live and in person in Palm Springs while filming for the Tone It Up app. Ari shares her incredible journey from D1 rugby athlete to corporate burnout at JP Morgan, to becoming one of the most ene
From ‘The Biggest Loser’ to Real Wellness: Kim Lyons on Strength, Balance & Aging Well
Welcome to episode fourteen of Tone It Down. In this conversation, Karena sits down with fitness icon, former Biggest Loser trainer, and women's health champion Kim Lyons, live from a wellness conference in Laguna Beach, California. Kim shares her remarkable journey from landing fitness magazine covers to coaching women through the most transformative season of their lives. Together, Karena and Ki
Beyond the Workout: Community Conversations, Emily’s Story of Resilience and Trusting Yourself Through a Diagnosis and Adversity
Welcome to episode fifteen of Tone It Down. In this uplifting community conversation, Karena sits down with her longtime friend and PR director Emily Teachout, live on the set of the Radiate and Rise summer challenge in Palm Springs. Emily opens up about the unexpected health journey that reshaped her perspective on movement, connection, and what it means to truly live. From navigating a rare canc
The New Health Equation: Mental Fitness Meets Physical Wellness—Part 2
Welcome to part two of a very special episode of Tone It Down. Today’s discussion was recorded live from an incredible wellness conference panel where Karena brought together three powerhouse women: Dr. Deepika Chopra AKA the Optimism Doctor, master trainer and former Biggest Loser coach Kim Lyons, and burnout prevention expert and wellness entrepreneur Ariel Belgrave. Together, they unpack a new
The New Health Equation: Mental Fitness Meets Physical Wellness
Welcome to part one of a very special two-part episode of Tone It Down. Today’s discussion was recorded live from an incredible wellness conference panel where Karena brought together three powerhouse women: Dr. Deepika Chopra AKA the Optimism Doctor, master trainer and former Biggest Loser coach Kim Lyons, and burnout prevention expert and wellness entrepreneur Ariel Belgrave. Together, they unpa
Worth the Hype? Karena & Des Break Down Your Favorite TikTok Wellness Trends
Welcome to a no-filter episode of Tone It Down Tuesday! Karena is joined by her girl Deseray — Tone It Up's Head of Marketing and a self-described "chronically online" wellness trend spotter — live from Laguna Beach. Together, they dive headfirst into the wellness trends taking over your TikTok feed, from mouth tape and magnesium mocktails to cold plunges, clean girl mornings, and somatic shaking.
Stronger Than Before: Chyna on Motherhood, Surrender & Finding Her Way Back
Welcome to this special solo episode of Tone It Down with trainer Chyna Rae. Fresh off two days of filming the brand new Radiate and Rise series, Chyna sits down for her very first solo episode to share what's been on her heart. She opens up about the unexpected curveballs that shaped the last six years of her life — from leaving the fitness world and discovering her inner artist, to becoming a mo
Follow Your Fire: TIU Trainer & Tabata Expert Kristina Earnest on Reinvention & Finding Your Purpose
This week, Karena sits down with Tone It Up trainer and Tabata queen Kristina Earnest for an episode that is equal parts inspiring, hilarious, and deeply real. From trading a career in fashion merchandising for a front desk job at a gym, to teaching her first-ever cycling class with zero certification and someone else's playlist, Kristina's journey into fitness is proof that sometimes the most une
From the Tone It Up Set: Your Questions About Hormones, Body Changes & Fitness—Answered
We are LIVE from Palm Springs, California — and this one is a full-on love fest! Karena and Desiree sit down in the middle of the Tone It Up Summer Challenge to answer YOUR voicemail questions, and this episode is everything we didn't know we needed. From perimenopause and cycle syncing to birth control myths and body confidence at every age, this AMA is a safe, joyful space where women get real,
Karena Solo: 5 Steps to Trust Yourself, Practice Presence, & Come Back to You
Welcome to a solo episode of Tone It Down with Karena Dawn. In this episode, Karena shares the five transformative steps that helped her learn to trust herself again and turn her life around. Drawing from her own deeply personal journey, including a pivotal morning in the park that changed everything, she walks through how to recognize when you're out of alignment, rediscover your joy, tell the di
Come Back to Yourself: Trainer Chyna Rae on Motherhood, Creativity & Finding Real Joy
Welcome to episode seven of Tone It Down. On today’s episode, Karena reconnects with beloved Tone It Up community member Chyna, who shares the beautiful journey she's been on over the past five years. From navigating a life-changing divorce in her twenties and rediscovering who she truly is, to falling in love, getting married, and becoming a mama, Chyna opens up about all of it. Together, she and
Progress Over Perfection: Trainer Stef Corgel on Eating Disorder Recovery, Body Image & Real Strength
Welcome to episode six of Tone It Down. In this conversation, Karena sits down with Tone It Up trainer and Hume co-owner Stef Corgel for an honest, uplifting conversation about finding strength through the toughest seasons. From her college basketball dreams to navigating a decade-long journey with disordered eating, Stef shares how she discovered that true wellness isn't about perfection, it's ab
OG Tone It Up Girl to TikTok Lore: Hannah Brown on Community, Values & Real Talk with Karena
Welcome to episode five of Tone It Down. In this conversation, Karena sits down with actor, writer, comedian, and host of the lifestyle podcast Not Aspirational Hannah Aaron Brown for the ultimate Why Not Wednesday collab. Hannah shares how she manifested this dream moment after creating a viral TikTok series about Tone It Up lore. From clearing up the Craigslist rumor with actual legal documents
Why Doing Less Is the Secret to Lasting Fitness, Hormonal Balance & Freedom | Melissa Alcantara AKA
Welcome to episode four of Tone It Down. In this conversation, Karena sits down with fitness icon and Kim Kardashian’s longtime trainer Melissa Alcantara. Melissa—AKA Fit Gurl Mel— reveals why doing less, not more, is the key to lasting fitness. From her incredible journey from a new mom in the Bronx to becoming a celebrity trainer, she shares how she transformed her life through movement, self-lo
When Small Talk Won't Cut It: Karena, Stef, Chyna & Tori Dive Deep on Some of Life's Biggest Questions
Welcome to episode three of Tone It Down. In the second part of their emotional reunion, Karena wraps up a powerful three-day shoot in Austin with Stef, Chyna, and Tori by diving into the deep end with questions that unlock the truth about family, death, identity, and life’s lowest moments. What starts as a casual card game becomes a vulnerable exploration of grief, postpartum struggles, ego death
Tone It Up AMA: Karena & Deseray Answer Your LIVE Questions!
Karena and Tone It Up's Head of Marketing Deseray answer some of YOUR biggest questions.
Welcome to episode two of Tone It Down, recorded in Palm Springs, California. In this special Ask Me Anything episode, Karena is joined by Deseray Cummings, Tone It Up’s Head of Marketing and a longtime member of the community since 2010.
Together, they answer real questions submitted by the Tone It Up comm
From Mirror Checks to Mind Checks: Why We Work Out Now | Karena, Tori, Chyna & Stef
What if the version of yourself you've been chasing has been inside you all along?
Welcome to the inaugural episode of Tone It Down. In this soul-healing reunion, Karena reunites with Tori, Chyna, and Stef, fresh off a three-day Tone It Up shoot in Austin, Texas. Between pregnancy workouts, marathon training, and toddlers on set, these four women open up about their evolving relationships with fi
Tone It Down with Karena Dawn: Launches January 13th
Tone It Down is finally here! Subscribe to catch the first episode launching next week on January 13.
Ready to ignite your glow? ✨📲 7-day free trial! 👉 Sign up for our app and get access to Exclusive Workout Challenges! 💥💪 Get toned without ad interruptions 🧘♀️🚫, and earn a badge 🏆 upon completion as a symbol of your dedication and success! https://www.toneitup.com/activate/pick-plan/
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