
Episode #49
049: A Conversation with Kai Karttunen, Born with SISU
What happens when the things that shape you most aren’t the wins, but the moments that force you to find out what you’re really capable of? In this episode, I sit down with Kai Karttunen, a coach, personal trainer, competitor and founder of Sisu Training. Kai grew up in Finland before moving to Australia, eventually finding her way into fitness, personal training and bodybuilding. What started as simply wanting to change her body became something much bigger. We talk about her first competition, why she decided to come back and do it again, and the shift in mindset that ultimately led her to win at Nationals and earn her Pro Card. For Kai, the win was never really about the trophy. It became proof to herself that she was capable of much more than she thought. That idea connects closely to Sisu, a Finnish word with no perfect English translation. Kai describes it as the second engine you find when you think you’ve already run out of strength. And later in the episode, that meaning becomes incredibly real. Kai opens up about her relationship with Sammy, his unexpected stage four brain cancer diagnosis, losing him only two months after his first migraine, and what the months since have taught her about grief, the nervous system, love and continuing to live. This isn’t a conversation about simply “getting over” something difficult. It’s about learning to live alongside it, allowing life to change you, and finding somewhere new to put the love that remains. We also talk about coaching, body image, relationships, spirituality, letting go of rigid rules around nutrition and training, and why sometimes the path that makes the most sense on paper isn’t necessarily the path you need. One of the most open and powerful conversations I’ve had on PROCAST so far. To follow Kai’s journey, you can connect with her on Instagram here @sisu_training If you enjoyed this episode and want more insights, resources, giveaways, and deeper thoughts around the podcast topics and coaching conversations we discuss here, you can subscribe to the PRO YOU weekly newsletter here: https://proyoucoaching.com.au/sign-up You can connect with me on Instagram here @josh_thefitnesspro If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone in your circle who might need this message right now. And if you are enjoying PROCAST BY JOSH , a quick rating or review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts goes a long way in helping us reach more people and continue building a community of people committed to becoming PRO in their own world.






