In this episode, Celeste speaks with Irina Post, a Russian immigrant who came to the US to pursue her American Dream, working diligently to put herself through school to become a pharmacist, and found bodybuilding after countless attempts at fad diets. Irina first competed in 2014, being inspired by bikini girls she saw on social media. Due to life’s ups and downs she took a break from competing, yet made her return to the stage in 2019 after passing her boards and seeking new coaching, & obtained her pro card at USAs in 2020.  Starting off the episode, Irina shares the routine she performs before her heel hits the stage. Next Celeste mentions the five year break from competing, asking Irina when she knew it was time to step away, and what fueled her decision to return. Irina talks about her reaching out to work with Whitney Jones, the initial plan for her prep, and the changes they had to make because of show cancellations and postponements due to Covid. Irina also shares how her diet approach became macro based as opposed to meal plans, and she shares how she adjusted to this new method for her contest prep nutrition.    Celeste also asks Irina how, despite the uncertainty, she and her coaches worked together to combat her plateaus and “sticking points” since her prep was longer than originally anticipated. Irina discusses how she had to make the decision to continue to prep or take a step back and try to get pregnant, as that was something she and her husband had been talking about before starting the season.    Irina shares her feedback she received from her first show of the year, the Arnold Amateur, and describes how she and Whitney strategized so that Irina peaked properly going into USAs. Noting the passion and desire Irina had to assure she was bringing nothing short of her best to the national stage,    Celeste asks if Irina trusted and followed her coach’s protocol, or if she asked for modifications to her plan. Irina shares how her prep changed in the final weeks leading up to the show, and Celeste asks Irina about the feelings she experienced hearing her name being called for her pro card. Irina shares where her mindset was at during her prep as she became busier than expected at her pharmacy job due to periods of work being short staffed during Covid.    She mentions that between long commutes, twelve hour shifts, and feeling like she was “running on fumes,” winning her pro card at her first national show wasn’t in the front of her mind. Celeste then mentions Irina’s proximity to snagging the overall title and what feedback she received from the judges.    While on the topic of winning her pro card, Celeste touches on the fact that Irina’s husband, who is also a competitor, won his pro card as well, and asked Irina what it was like for them to turn pro at the same show. Irina tells listeners that, while excited to celebrate her husband's success, she also felt pressured to bring home her pro card as well.    Moving on, the two women discuss Irina’s approach to diet and training post show, as she had mentioned how her and her husband had wanted to try and have a baby. Irina expresses certain hesitations and concerns she has about getting pregnant and the changes to her body, but also her feelings of excitement for this next chapter in her life.    Although there are talks of both a baby and making their pro debut together, Irina discusses how her and her husband came to the decision that it was time to start a family.  Irina talks about her and her husband's feelings towards having a baby and how she foresees her husband being as a future father.    After talking about family matters, Celeste mentions Irina’s busy work schedule that she manages with competing. She asks Irina if the mentality and habits she developed from her experiences of coming to the US, and working full time while earning her doctorate had an influence on the way she approached bodybuilding. Irina then shares her story of immigrating from Ru