EP 31: The Cost of Greatness | Julianna Peña

In this episode, I sit down with Julianna Peña, a two-time UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion and the first mother to ever win a UFC title. We talk about what it actually takes to compete at the highest level of mixed martial arts, from the daily grind of driving across a city between gyms as a single mom to the mental and physical toll that every fight extracts. Julie opens up about motherhood, femininity, and ferocity, and how becoming a mom unlocked a level of strength she never knew she had. We dive into the psychology of doing hard things, how she processes winning and losing, and the mindset that carried her through what many still consider the greatest upset in UFC history when she submitted Amanda Nunes. Julie shares how aging as an athlete has reshaped her approach to recovery, functional medicine, and longevity, as well as what it means to find flow state, control the controllables, and define your own prime. If you're interested in high performance, resilience, motherhood, or the mindset behind elite competition, this conversation offers a rare and honest look at the woman behind the champion. CONNECT WITH JULIANNA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/venezuelanvixen/?hl=en CONNECT WITH HOST Website: https://5c.co/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chesnut.md/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chesnutMD LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-chesnut-a6910baa/ WAYS TO WATCH/LISTEN YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@5CodesPodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1FZ7vpmq21iA1noPcFhixb?si=992ef6c8d859463f Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5-codes-podcast/id1866214238 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5codespodcast/ TIMESTAMPS  00:00 - Intro  01:23 - Becoming the First Mom to Win a UFC Title  04:51 - A Day in the Life: The Grind Behind Fight Night  08:49 - The Cost and Purpose Behind Why She Fights  13:34 - What People Misunderstand About Strength  18:25 - Winning, Losing, and Her First Defeat  23:11 - Femininity, Ferocity, and Motherhood  25:46 - Fight Week and the Killer Mindset  29:58 - Body Image, Weight Cuts, and Peak Performance  34:05 - How Her Mindset Has Shifted with Age  37:12 - Aging, Recovery, and Functional Medicine  41:28 - The Psychology of Doing Hard Things  44:55 - The Cost of Greatness  49:28 - The Amanda Nunes Upset, Self-Belief, and Flow State  1:00:32 - Raising Iza and Passing Down Wisdom  1:08:09 - Are You Willing to Pay the Price?  1:12:54 - Defining Your Prime  1:19:56 - Rapid Fire Questions ABOUT HOST Dr. Cameron Chesnut is the host of the 5 Codes Podcast and the founder of 5C, where he leads a team dedicated to integrative cosmetic surgery, regenerative medicine, and functional health. An internationally recognized facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Chesnut is known for producing natural, refined results that enhance rather than alter one's appearance. His approach blends surgical precision with biological optimization and disciplined restraint, drawing patients from around the world who value excellence, longevity, and holistic care. On the 5 Codes Podcast, Dr. Chesnut uncovers the mindsets and evidence-backed strategies he lives by, helping high performers perform better, recover smarter, and feel their best in every area of life. DISCLAIMER The views shared on this podcast are my own and are not associated with, affiliated with, or representative of my clinical teaching role at the University of Washington School of Medicine. This content is for general educational purposes only and should not be considered individualized medical advice.