WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - Healthy as a Horse: Episode 10 - Hailey Corona

Episode Date: February 13, 2026

Hailey joins Ella to discuss her experience with health and wellness as a student at Hillsdale. They touch on niche topics like saunas and fasting. 

Healthy is a horse where we discuss health and wellness for Hillsdale Chargers. I'm Ella Malone and our guest today is Haley Corona. Haley's a sophomore at Hillsdale studying politics. She is a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and works at St. Joe's, a local pizza place in Hillsdale. Welcome to the show, Haley. Hello, so happy to be here. Good to see you. So you are not a member of a sports team here and a lot of times that those are the kind of people I interview, but I do want to get a wide range of interviews from people. all across campus on how they prioritize their health as a student because it's pretty challenging. It is. It's challenging as an athlete. It's challenging as a student. It's challenging probably as a professor. It's hard for everyone. So I want to first start with kind of how you got into health and wellness.

I'm assuming it was probably in high school. Yes. Okay. Okay. Okay. Growing up, I had always like had, I guess, sensitivities to certain foods. Okay. And I was obviously younger.

and I didn't really understand why. And like my mom growing up, she was like, try to help me. We went on all these like diets, like dairy-free, gluten-free. I don't know, all the things. I like stop eating eggs and meat at one point. No. Which is not good. Spoiler alert.

So I just kind of have been interested in how food works in your body and like how it can benefit you, how it can hurt you. Because it's not always like put out there explicitly what food actually does to your body. and the benefits that eating certain foods can bring upon you. So I don't know. I just find that really interesting. And it's helped me enter into the health and wellness part of my life.

And it's allowed me to perform better. It's allowed me to feel better and look better as well. Yes, obviously. Skin is one of the biggest things for me. I avoid gluten a lot. And that has been the biggest reason is like your skin health is really related to your gut health. Yes. And gluten was really messing with my gut health. And then I had really bumpy skin. Yes. Uh-huh. Yeah. So who do you listen to and follow? Okay. So I actually have a lot of good people.

I really like, so her name is Catherine Sarah and also Catherine Lockhart. They talk about, they're kind of very granola and they talk about like the like the real foods and sticking to like, I guess you could put it how our ancestors used to eat, like not eat, like carb loading and, I guess, lowering your sugar intake because I've been learning a lot about how sugar, like, deteriorates your body inside. And like we don't always feel that or like it doesn't always show on the outside. It just kind of happens without you knowing it. So they talk a lot about that. And then also I really love, she has a weird name. Duru Bill Miller. She's on Instagram. She's really great. She talks a lot about the carnivore diet, which I really want to try one of these days.

It has a lot, a lot, lot of health. What I've heard, so it was a huge thing for a minute and that people were freaking out. This is terrible. This is great. Everyone should do this. No one should do this. But now I think people have kind of come to the general consensus that it's a great thing to try. It's not sustainable for your entire life. but if you want to do it for a little while, go for it. Because it incorporates, like, fasting.

And I think that it's so normal to just eat and eat and eat and eat and snack and snack. And I don't think that's good for your body to constantly be digesting food. That's why you're supposed to stop eating at, like, 6 or 8 p.m., something around that time because your body needs a break from constantly digesting food. That's also one what, like, normally when you wake up in the morning, you feel like empty, I guess, because your body, like, giant. adjusted all that food. Like maybe you notice that like there's not as like much puffiness in your face because you're not like constantly intaking food and food can like cause some information if you're eating. Especially if it's inflammatory food. Yeah. That's interesting. I've never talked about fasting on the show because I can't really do that. Yeah. You have to like find the right way to do

it because it's different for everybody. And also it's not sustainable if you're not getting the correct nutrients and vitamins from your food. So if you're not eating a good diet, is not a good idea. No. Well, and I can't do it with how much I have to exercise and work out for swim and the time of day. So that's cool. Yes. So how did the transition from high school to college go for you? We'll get into like food, exercise, all those different things. But in general, how did that go? Yeah, first. Quite difficult at first. Freshman year was a little bit rough for me. I would say the hardest part was because I didn't come from a classical school. which came from like the basic you know fundamentals of school i guess you could say which i didn't really know what affect me that much but um i'd never taken like philosophy classes or logic and rhetoric classes stuff like that so that was kind of a hard transition to figure out how to make my brain think like that

you know um and then the weather obviously coming from california first of all it's so far being away from home being away from family that was a lot and i don't know when we're winter came. I was like, wow, so beautiful. Snow, not really ever been around snow. This is so cool. For about two weeks. And the sun never came back. And I'm like, hey, where's the sun? I'm so used to the sun. And I'm still honestly navigating that. Like, I don't know if I'll ever get used to how cold it is. I don't know if anyone does. I think people do. It's just so cold. I think I'm more used to it than I ever have been. I definitely am, but like. But I notice it. Yeah. I notice how weird it feels to be used to it. Yeah. Uh-huh. So I would say it was just hard. It was just hard. It was. It was just hard. It was. It was. It was to get into the fast pace that Hillsdale pretty much requires in order to succeed here. We're constantly doing something. There's constantly some homework to be done. There's always an

essay that's in the back of your head. You know what I mean? So I think just getting used to that really, really high fast way of living, I guess. I don't know. Which is interesting because the professors here, most people here, are kind of promoting this like observatory life where you're reflecting and all this. But the reality is that we are students, we are very busy, we have jobs. I'm on a sports team. You have a whole job. And so it's hard to kind of prioritize that and mix the view of the college of like the reflective life with the fact that I don't have that much time to sit around and reflect. Yeah, I know. I always think that's so funny. In Sago, there's like there's signs that say make sure like in order to perform well in your studies,

you need to sleep and you need to eat properly. I'm like, first of all, do you think the food and saga is eating properly? I don't, I think it might be more. Some days. And then I always love how professors they'll be like, I don't want to put too much on you. Like, you guys need to sleep. And I'm like, no, you know, we're not sleeping. And you know we're not sleeping. Come on. Let's be real. Yeah. It is, it's definitely manageable. I've learned because like with the whole sleep thing, I have to manage it. Or else I'm a mess. Very, very bad things will happen. And I will perform poorly in my sport, which is unacceptable. So there's a way to figure it out, but you do have to be very disciplined about it.

Yeah. And that definitely is a challenge. And take some good news too. I think also that was another thing. The transition is like I literally had to figure out a schedule that would allow me to sleep and get the right amount of hours. And I'm still like struggling with that. Like I get five to six hours and like that's not enough. It's not enough.

Nope. We're going into conference in like three days. Yeah. And so there's been some things that, yeah, just loading up on sleep. I'm like, okay, I'll just catch up later because I'm getting the work done that I have to. But it's actually been kind of nice because I'm, there's not, like, I don't really have an excuse to not go to bed because this is such a big deal for me going into this meat. So I'm like, too bad. I'm going to bed.

I mean, I'm still getting everything done. I need to, obviously. But. The sleep is the most important thing right now. What do you think of the options available on campus for food kind of got into. that I think there's been improvements. Yeah. I always make a joke that I'm a big saga hater and I've always been a big saga h's and anything that the school provides. I just feel like it's fake food. I don't know. There's something about that smell when I walk into saga. There's

something about the way my stomach feels after I eat. I do wish that they would prioritize a better food options, like food options, because I feel like it's so essential to how you perform in the classroom and outside of the classroom. And like I said, I always think it's so funny how they, like, they promote eating good. They promote eating all your meals. But then, like, you go look at the options and it's like, is that even food? Like, is that actually even helping me? Or is it just causing me to be inflamed and giving me brain fog? So I just, I know that it's hard, because I'm sure it's not cheap to like feed the amount of students that are at the school. We're paying for it though.

Exactly. That's what I'm like, is there an excuse? I don't think so. So I do wish that there was a better, there was better food options available. I think my biggest two concerns are probably AJ's. Yeah. I don't think, I think if I were to go to an, like an actual cafe, I don't think I would ever see food like that. No.

It makes my stomach hurt. It's fried food is just so bad for you. It's all fried. Yeah. And then the grab and go, the sandwiches and the salads are not. Not great. Deuterating in your stomach, dude. That's so bad.

Yeah. I do think it'd be really cool. And I know Hillsdale does a decent job compared to other schools because of what I've heard from my friends. I know. That's concerning to me. I know. But I do still recognize there are some improvements to be made. But I'm still thankful that is better than other places.

Right. But I do think it'd be cool with Hillsdale being such a unique. program like doesn't take the government funding we have you know just the nature of what Hillsdale is I think it'd be really cool if they were to go all in on whole foods great quality yeah and I think they're trying to make improvements and it would be really hard but over a Christmas break they actually put a freezer of ice cream in the downstairs of the sports complex where all the athletes grabbed their food and last year they had asked kind of like what would you want to see down there that would be better it was like a project with a

student and that that was never on my list of putting ice cream down in the athlete grab and go yeah so I don't know where they're trying to make improvements but I think there's definitely room for some some new ones it's nice to know that they're they're at least trying um like I know that they stopped cooking with seed oils that's a big thing like that's that's pretty much make or break it your food honestly. And then like this, what is it called? The simple and green. Is that what that's pure and simple?

Pure and simple. Like that's, I do like it there. I do like it. Like some of the meat is a little questionable in my opinion. However, I do feel like it is at least a little bit of an improvement. I agree. You got to start somewhere. I do like that.

Yeah. What do you think of the options for exercise on campus and then how do you implement that into your own routine? I mean, we've got a gym. We've got a couple of gyms. And some of the dorms actually have their own gyms. Like I know when I was in Mack, I loved that we had our own gym. Yes, because I could just go downstairs and be all by myself.

Like, public gyms kind of scare me just a little bit. There's just so many people in this flex gym. It's quite small. Yes. But it is a good gym. Like I love going out there. And once I got over, like, the quote unquote fear, I guess, of going to the public gym, I have incorporated it more into my routine.

I think it's nice to get out of the house and go somewhere different, especially because it's such a small campus. It's not really much, you know, many things to do, many places to go to. But yeah, incorporating working out into my routine really, really helps. You're listening to Healthy as a Horse. My name is Elle Malone. And today I'm talking with Haley Corona about her experience with health and wellness as a Hillsdale College student.

How do you deal with the stress of being a student? then how does like working out and movement play a part in that? And then what are your favorite ways to recover from either stress or from like hard workouts? Interesting question. I'm still figuring this out. Okay. No, everyone is. Everyone is. Yeah. Okay. Stress, definitely prayer. Like that is my number one thing. Whenever I go a couple days without reading my Bible or praying, talking to God, I notice a difference in my mentality, my attitude towards life in general, honestly. Like it shifts almost immediately. So I try really hard to just talk to God throughout my day, even if it's just a short

little like, like, please be with me or something like that. And then I try to just get out of the house and do something. Because I know, like, for me personally, if I sit in my room studying for like an immense period of time, I just get like, it just gets a little draining, you know? So I think it's really important to change, um, scenery. Scenery. Yes, that's the word I was looking for. Exactly. And working out and moving my body really helps because it feels like I'm doing something for me, rather homework. Like, it feels like I have to do my homework, you know, like I have to do my essays and all the things like that. I have to go to class. But when it comes to working out, I personally love working out.

Like I did sports growing up. And now that I'm not on a specific sports, team incorporating some sort of movement. It's a sense of comfortability. Like I grew up doing that and I love doing that type of stuff. So it just, it's something that's fun for me. And I think incorporating fun things when you're constantly doing things you have to do that are like daunting and tiring. I think that's really important. Well, I think that's a great way to look at it because a lot of people see it as a chore or it's one more thing to add to the list of what you have to do. But taking it as something for yourself, something fun that you're choosing to do. is awesome. And I kind of see sports in a similar way, as hard as it is. And it's a bit different

just with how much time goes into it. It is a great way to get away from the assignments and all that. Especially if you love it. Yes, exactly. As someone from Los Angeles, what has been your experience with health and wellness? I think it's interesting how it kind of started as more something on the left, and now it's moved, I know, I guess more towards the right. Yeah. It's more of a conservative thing. I think it's different because the left was into like vegan, vegetarian, but they did have some great ideas about what like are whole foods, organically grown, all that kind of stuff. So then how did you kind of grow up with that? So the whole thing with the like the whole foods and the proper human diet.

diet being pushed on the right side I think is interesting because the way that you're explaining it how the left they would see it as like vegan and vegetarian like that's not healthy which is like a hot take for some people and I know that but I think it's funny how back in the day and even still to this day people think that that's what healthy eating and healthy living is but actually that's like legitimately depleting your body of the nutrients that it needs to function yeah and And I think that that change is quite interesting because it means that people are waking up. And they're realizing that, hey, staying away from meat might not be the best thing. Staying away from dairy might not be the best thing.

And it's put like the agenda to stay away from meat and eat plants and carbs and sugar. I'm so glad that people are finally waking up and realizing like, hey, that can't be right. Yeah. And I think that that's like you got to start somewhere. and I think that that's a good start to at least recognizing it because for so long the agenda was meat is bad and meat is a thing that kills you, which now people know that that's actually the opposite. So is that to your question. I know. Yes, it is interesting. What is your favorite random health tip or food or product that you swear by? I love the sauna. That's a good answer. Yeah. I've been going to the sauna recently and I feel like, rejuvenated afterwards. I feel like I just, you know, all the toxins and all the things that I've from eating or stress or whatever, I feel like just all like depletes from my body and I feel brand new again. And I also think that it has some like real health benefits. Like I don't know

what magic is going on there, but whenever I sauna, the next day my skin is legitimately like glowing. It is so clear and my makeup goes on so good. I don't know what it is. It's so weird. But for girls out there, I, like, highly recommend going in the sauna. You feel so good after it. Even if it's just for, like, literally 10 minutes. Um, because it's definitely something you have to work up to because it does get quite hot in there. Well, I was in there today because after I swam, my coach recommended sitting in there and then going to stretch because it kind of loosens up your muscles, warms you up. Um, so I did that and it was really great. I was kind of sweaty, but my lips were so dry. Yep. So it feels weird. And then it towards the end, because I did 15 minutes, I was thinking, this might be bad. I might need to get out.

Yeah. And then I did. You got to get used to it. But it's, it is super weird. And it's a dry one. So that's interesting. Yeah. And you have to, like me personally, I'm a little sensitive to heat, extreme heat, which is funny because I'm literally from California. I have to drink a lot of water before I go. Yes. Well, you're not supposed to do it if you're dehydrated. The benefits. The benefits reverse. Yeah. If you do it when you're dehydrated. Yeah. So I drink like a whole water bottle before I go. I have to make sure because it gets, it does get quite hot in there, especially for in there for, like, long. longer than 10 minutes, but afterwards you feel so good. I don't even know what's happening there, like the science behind it, but especially when it's cold outside because then you don't, it's not that cold because you're just so hot. So yeah. You're listening to Healthy as a Horse. My name is Elle Malone. And today I'm talking with Haley Corona about her experience with health and wellness as a Hillsdale college student. What have you learned working at St. Joe's? Because I think they prioritize like good ingredients and stuff. They do. They do. So what have you learned about what, I guess, the restaurant industry should look like through your new job?

Yes. Okay. So I, something I really appreciate about the way that St. Joe's works, I guess. They, like the food that is on their menu, it's on their menu specifically because they only buy foods from local farms. Like with foods that are in season, you know? Like, you know how you buy, you go to like Costco or something? And there's always strawberries. There's always watermelon.

There's always everything. Like that's not how it's supposed to be. Like, foods are good during the season that they are good in. They naturally grow in. Yes. Exactly. They're not supposed to be year round. And so whenever something is not in season, St.

Joe's will stop selling it because it's not in its best form anymore. And so I know that they only buy their foods from locally grown farms. and that's where they get all their ingredients from. And it makes the food even better. So if you've never been, you've got to go check it out. I love, love eating there. I love opening there. Awesome.

Thank you so much for coming on this show today, Haley. It's been great having you. I'm Ella Malone, and this has been Healthy as a Horse for Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7F.