Every Body’s Story

For the final episode of season one, Jamie joins the podcast to talk about her experiences living life with a disability. Jamie has Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida, and has been paraplegic since birth. As a kid, she felt deeply self conscious, bitter, and angry that she was different than her peers. She talks about body image and her daily struggles to find confidence. Jamie also tells us how people constantly stare and point, avoid eye contact, and generally assume that she isn't capable. Despite having some physical limitations, Jamie is a self-proclaimed adrenaline junkie and talks excitedly about skydiving, waterskiing, and the many other sports she enjoys. We also discuss dating, mental health, and the word “inspiring”. Later in life, Jamie became passionate about advocacy work. As Ms. Wheelchair Michigan 2016, she used her platform to spread awareness about physical and mental disabilities. Jamie gives practical advice for how able-bodied folks can be more respectful of those with disabilities, and envisions a more inclusive world where we're all just treated like humans. To end, Jamie talks honestly about where she is now with accepting her body and helping others accept theirs. Find Jamie on Facebook at 'Ms. Wheelchair Michigan 2016-Jamie Spore' or email her at j_spore@hotmail.com. Follow the podcast on Instagram @everybodyspodcast, and be sure to like, rate, and share!

Emma tells us about her childhood and the particular moment when she started feeling expectations around her body. These pressures to look a certain way, “like a dancer”, stuck with her through university as she went on to study dance. Emma talks about having a negative relationship with food, the struggles of looking in a mirror all day, and becoming slightly obsessed with what her body looked like. She describes the intense stress and anxiety that came with wanting to change her body. Emma later found a passion for aerial dance and delved into the art form. However, at one point she found herself overtraining and feeling guilty when she wasn't training. We chat about body comments, social media, being present, and not feeling good enough. Emma has made amazing strides with her body image and now lives a much more balanced, sustainable life. She is working on listening to her body, eating and moving intuitively, and not judging foods as good or bad. Emma tells us how she hopes to help others with their mental health struggles - aiming to have less judgement, less pressure, and more balance. Find Emma on Instagram @tangledinair. Follow the podcast on Instagram @everybodyspodcast and go to buymeacoffee.com/everybodysstory to donate. Make sure to rate, review, and share!

Aubrey joins the podcast to talk about her experiences dealing with an eating disorder (*trigger warning*), being an athlete, and her work as a body confidence coach. She tells us how her body image changed upon moving away from home and becoming a more competitive athlete. Aubrey started restricting her eating and was later diagnosed with anorexia. She went into intensive treatment and started to recover, though many disordered eating thoughts lingered. We talk about body comments, eating disorder stigma, and diet culture. After treatment, Aubrey noticed that there wasn't much support out there to help someone mentally recover from an eating disorder. She was inspired to start her own business, which aims to provide tools for people who are sick of dieting, struggling with food, or simply just want to find body acceptance. We chat about measuring progress without a scale and the power of being vulnerable and imperfect. We get into social media and the importance of carefully choosing who we follow. Finally, Aubrey shares the difficulties of finding identity after leaving competitive athletics. She explains how 2020 has forced her to slow down, be kinder to herself, and reevaluate why she moves her body. Find Aubrey on Instagram @aubreywall and at her website www.trainingforbodyacceptance.com . She also has a podcast, Bodies In Motion, which you can find on major podcast platforms.  Follow us on Instagram @everybodyspodcast and go to www.buymeacoffee.com/everybodysstory to donate. Make sure to like, rate, review, and share!

Oran talks about his teen years, growing up as many (or all?) of us do, not really loving the way he looked and not feeling like he fit in. Upon starting Irish dancing, gender norms were prevalent and he felt pressure to “be masculine” in his dancing. He talks about his experience in competitive dance - the pressure, criticism, and often unhealthy relationships with food that surrounded him. Oran tells us about getting into contemporary dance, and how it's allowed him to be vulnerable and focus on the way his body feels. He also describes his experience with aerial dance and how it came into his life at the perfect time. We chat about toxic masculinity, gender as a spectrum, social media, and the issues that can come with caring deeply about image. Oran explains why he intentionally posts about all aspects of his life, especially the mundane, real parts. He talks about how far he's come with accepting, letting go, and being comfortable with himself. Oran tells us about how challenging it can be to get respect as a dancer and how lockdown helped him slow down. Finally, he talks about injuries, not pushing through the pain, and being grateful for good health. Find Oran on Facebook at Oran Leong Dance and Instagram @ealaineyes.  Follow the podcast @everybodyspodcast and go to www.buymeacoffee.com/everybodysstory to donate. Make sure to like, rate, review, and share!

Margo talks about feeling like the biggest, tallest girl growing up, and how it affected her self-image. She restricted her eating from a young age and struggled to stop comparing herself to other girls. We talk about femininity, sports, and the expectations of other people. Margo opens up about dating, and how her body image sometimes held her back. We chat about seeking validation, feeling attractive, and settling. Margo tells us about a stranger's comment in college and how it started her down a difficult path. However, after transferring schools, Margo found an amazing fitness community where she re-ignited her passion for moving and living healthily. She later found CrossFit, which helped her focus even more on strength rather than thinness. Margo then talks about getting diagnosed with brain cancer last year. She is incredibly open and honest about how the diagnosis has affected her - emotionally, mentally, and physically. Margo explains how she feels frustrated with her body but is trying to give herself grace. We discuss guilt, mental health, and accepting your feelings. Now, Margo is working hard to be more balanced (literally and figuratively), listen to her body, and do what feels good for her. Find Margo on Instagram @magicalmargo. Follow the podcast @everybodyspodcast and go to www.buymeacoffee.com/everybodysstory to donate. And make sure to like, rate, review, and share!

Annabelle talks about her experiences in the competitive Irish dance world. As a teen, she already had body image issues that were made worse in dance class, and she began focusing heavily on her appearance. We chat about wearing booty shorts, associating weight with skill, and disordered eating. Annabelle shares how she struggled with perfectionism, and how she felt that becoming the hardest working dancer would give her more respect. We discuss the toxic environment that can come with Irish dance (or any sport), and how Annabelle is breaking that cycle by creating a more positive teaching environment. Next, Annabelle tells us about her major transition out of competition and into new styles of dance. She talks about jumping off the deep end, starting over in a new city, and dealing with identity issues. While this transition certainly came with obstacles, Annabelle is much happier now and feels that she's truly in the right place. She explains that once she stopped comparing herself and doing things to please others, she was able to actually do what she enjoys and find her own path. Find Annabelle on Instagram @annabellebugaydance and Facebook @Annabelle Bugay Dance and Music. Follow the podcast @everybodyspodcast and go to www.buymeacoffee.com/everybodysstory to donate. And be sure to like, rate, review, and share!

Aleshia, a Body Positive Personal Trainer and Movement Coach, tells us her story. She describes growing up as ‘the chubby kid', and how she started dieting at a young age. Aleshia takes us through the ups and downs of her relationship with fitness, from her academic studies, to using fitness for her own wellbeing, to working in a toxic gym environment. Aleshia discusses the pressure she felt to become the smallest version of herself. She talks about feeling like a “before” picture, overtraining, and changing the media she consumes. Then, we delve into Aleshia's current work as a coach. She helps clients find movement they enjoy, change their internal dialogue, and discover non-scale victories. We chat about racism, representation, and how many areas have limited access to gyms and healthy food. Finally, Aleshia shares how she's finally found her power, community and purpose in the fitness world. Find Aleshia on Instagram & Twitter @leeshletics and at www.leeshletics.com. Follow the podcast @everybodyspodcast and go to www.buymeacoffee.com/everybodysstory to donate. And be sure to like, rate, review, and share!

Sam shares her experiences growing up as an active child and competitive diver. We talk about comparison, feeling that your body is wrong, and the subtle messages that are present in the diving world. As Sam got older and became more aware of her own body, she started forming an unhealthy relationship with food. This relationship became more complicated in college, as Sam studied opera performance and dealt with new body pressures. We discuss being judged, wanting to be the “cool girl”, and gaining weight. Sam then talks about her PhD and her work related to eating and bodies. She explains what drew her to this field, and the many lessons she's learned. Sam is knowledgeable about numerous topics, from eating disorder stigma to the issue of equating weight with health. One of her research studies involved making a mental model of our bodies, and found that certain people view specific sections of their bodies as much larger than they are. She also worked for a company that made a 3D body scanner in an attempt to give users an objective view of their bodies. Sam discusses the great potential for the scanner, but also explains the struggles of working in this environment. Finally, Sam talks about her current relationship with her body, and how a recent boudoir photoshoot was the best thing she's ever done for her body image. Find Sam on Instagram @wildsamon and read the article she mentions here: https://nakedlabs.com/bodystories/body-fat-what-does-it-look-like. Check out the podcast on Instagram @everybodyspodcast and head to www.buymeacoffee.com/everybodysstory to donate. And make sure to like, follow, review, and share!

Danielle talks about her experiences growing up, and how she received the message that thinness is valued and should be the goal. Upon entering the Irish dance world, Danielle became focused on being strong and healthy, which turned into an unhealthy mindset. We talk about the pervasive ideas in many competitive Irish dance environments, like rampant self-criticism, comparison, and an all-or-nothing mentality. Danielle explains how peoples' attitudes around her changed when she gained weight during college, and we discuss dating, fatphobia, working out, and catcalling. Danielle speaks openly about her struggles with food, self-worth, and body image, and how she was eventually diagnosed with an eating disorder (*trigger warning*). She discusses her recovery and how she's now finding true balance and beating herself up less. We chat about Health At Every Size, the fitness community, and getting rid of the "good" and "bad" labels on food. To end, Danielle talks about mental health, what inspired her to become a social worker, and focusing on what our bodies CAN do.  Find Danielle on Instagram @dynam1te.dan. Follow the podcast @everybodyspodcast and make sure to rate, review, and share! Go to www.buymeacoffee.com/everybodysstory to donate the price of a coffee. Also, check out www.irishdanceglobe.com and read Dani's article on Medium: www.medium.com/@emailingdani/how-irish-dancing-fed-my-eating-disorder-689be75de78f

Katie joins the podcast to talk about her journey as an aspiring exercise scientist. She describes her childhood and the important role that athletics played in her life. In college, Katie started feeling negatively about her body, and she opens up about her ongoing journey with body acceptance. We discuss how studying and eventually working in the exercise science field could lead to feelings of inadequacy and imposter syndrome. Still, Katie explains what inspired her to enter the field and how passionate she is about helping others. We chat about quality of life, being a picky eater, the benefits of exercise, and not knowing someone's situation or needs by looking at them. Lastly, Katie talks about managing a mild form of epilepsy, its challenges, and how it's helped make her more self-aware and conscious of her limits. Find Katie on Instagram @kthoad. And follow the podcast @everybodyspodcast. Go to www.buymeacoffee.com/everybodysstory to donate the price of a coffee, and don't forget to like, follow, review, and share!

Hayden talks about his childhood, where from a young age he knew his gender despite those around him insisting otherwise. He describes feeling uncomfortable in his body and wanting to change it, a feeling which intensified upon entering a dance environment. Hayden speaks openly about how this feeling led to negative body thoughts and a battle with anorexia (*trigger warning*). We then delve into Hayden's experiences as an Irish dancer. From facing transphobia and bigotry, to feeling complete euphoria and finding a supportive dance community, Hayden shares it all! He chats about costumes, gendered steps, dance teachers, and more. Finally, we discuss the importance of trans visibility, educating ourselves, and embracing who we are. Find Hayden on Instagram & Twitter @hayden_seek94. He also co-runs the @IntersectionalIrishDancers pages on Instagram & Facebook. Check out the podcast on Instagram @everybodyspodcast or head to www.buymeacoffee.com/everybodysstory to donate. And don't forget to like, follow, review, and share!

Katie talks about her struggles with body image as a teen, and how this led to disordered eating habits. After numerous weight fluctuations, Katie started to find a weight that feels right for her and more freedom around food. She discusses the impact that a serious injury had on her life and sense of identity. We dive into self-worth, anxiety, comments about weight, and how social media can help us appreciate and take care of our bodies. Katie shares her history and accomplishments as a runner, and the many benefits running has given her - more belief in herself, more body awareness, and the determination to set big goals. Finally, she explains how the time spent in lockdown during Covid-19 helped her become kinder, more accepting, and more grateful towards her body. Find Katie on Instagram @katiebean10 and www.kaitlynbean.com. Check out the podcast on Instagram @everybodyspodcast and at www.buymeacoffee.com/everybodysstory to donate. And don't forget to like, follow, review, and share!

Mélissandre starts by sharing her experiences and struggles in the ballet world - feeling inadequate, always finding things wrong with her body, disordered eating, and teachers equating her weight to her value. Mélissandre eventually moved away from this environment and discovered new dance styles that allowed her to focus on sound and feeling rather than aesthetics. She then talks about her two pregnancies, both of which were quite body positive experiences. She discusses dancing while pregnant, body awareness, and striving for a balance between career and family life. Finally, Mélissandre explains the beautiful, but complicated relationship between her body and her newborn baby. Find us @everybodyspodcast, and check out www.buymeacoffee.com/everybodysstory to donate and help fund the podcast. And don't forget to follow, like, review, and share!

Elle talks openly about her lifelong struggles with negative body image and self-esteem. She explains that at one point, she was obsessively counting calories, comparing her appearance to everyone, and generally feeling unworthy. Elle tells us how social media became an important outlet to process her thoughts, and how she intentionally curates her social media feed (and real life relationships). We chat about diet culture and its pervasive messages, finding a support system, projecting our pain on others, and equipping ourselves with tools to handle negative body self-talk. Lastly, Elle reflects on her time spent in quarantine, and how slowing down has helped her move toward food and body freedom. Find Elle on Instagram @wellebalanced, and follow us @everybodyspodcast. Check out www.buymeacoffee,com/everybodysstory to donate and help fund the podcast. And don't forget to follow, like, review, and share!

Madalyn speaks about growing up as a dancer, feeling that she looked different from everyone else. She describes her struggles with comparison, especially when being compared to her sister. Madalyn talks about PCOS, weight fluctuations, chronic pain, and injuries. We discuss the “shoulds” in our life, particularly the ones about how much and which foods we eat. Finally, Madalyn tells us about her newest activity, rock climbing, and the joy she's found in the community and the sport itself. Find Madalyn on Instagram @maddiestaudt and Tumblr at rina-san28. Plus, go listen to her podcast, Damhsa Saor. You can find us on Instagram @everybodyspodcast, and check out www.buymeacoffee.com/everybodysstory to contribute to podcast production. Remember to like, follow, review, and share!

May joins the podcast to discuss her own experiences and the larger systems in society that perpetuate fatphobia. She talks about the bullying she faced during childhood, being told that her body was wrong, and learning to defend herself. We both examine the ways we're trying to unlearn fatphobic messages, and just how pervasive these ideas are. May explains how fashion is used as a weapon against fat people, and how it's being reclaimed. We delve into privilege, barriers, neutralizing the word fat, and treating each other as humans. Finally, May gushes about her newfound love for boxing and the countless benefits it's given her. Check out May's personal Instagram @fatnisseverfeen, plus her show on Youtube and Instagram @RooftopConversations. Find us on Instagram @everybodyspodcast, and www.buymeacoffee.com/everybodysstory to donate to podcast production. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and share!

Hannah starts by sharing her childhood experiences with her body - from growing up in an outdoorsy, freeform environment, to eventually joining public school and facing new pressures related to appearance. She discusses gender fluidity, identity, and trying to fit the ideal body type. Hannah explains how camp impacted her as a kid and led her to find a career as a camp director. Finally, we delve into the many ways that Hannah is working to create an intentional culture around food and bodies at her camp. She talks about the methods they've implemented - treating food as fuel, asking for consent, and complimenting each other without talking about the way we look. Visit ywcavt.org to learn more about the camp that Hannah mentions. Plus! Check out www.buymeacoffee.com/everybodysstory to donate to the podcast. Find us on Instagram @everybodyspodcast, and remember to follow, rate, review, and share!

Elizabeth shares her lifelong experiences as a dancer, teacher, writer, and researcher. She knows a thing or two about adapting to an aging body - she's been dancing for an impressive 60 years! Elizabeth tells us about teaching, and the body image issues that affect her dance students as well as herself. She talks openly about living with multiple sclerosis, albeit a mild form, and its challenges. We discuss society's focus on youth, listening to your body, and the many health & healing benefits of dance. Elizabeth is passionate that dance can be experienced at any age, and she is determined to help make the art form more accessible and possible for everyone. You can find Elizabeth on Facebook & on Instagram @elizadance. Follow the podcast @everybodyspodcast, and get in touch to share your own story!

I'm going solo this week with the first (official) Emily's Edition! I talk about comparing ourselves, in real life and especially on social media. We discuss angles, airbrushing, and how Covid-19 could have led to even more scrolling. I delve into research relating to social media and body image. We cover #fitspo and how it may make us feel inadequate, how difficult it is to be vulnerable, and practical tips to cultivate a more diverse, healthy-for-you social media feed. Remember to rate, review, follow, and find us on Instagram @everybodyspodcast. And get in touch if you want to share your own story!

Jen, a musician and music teacher, joins the podcast to share her experiences with her body. She talks about injuries, both from sports and from playing music, and tells us how she discovered a love of fencing as an adult. Jen explains how teaching can be a very physical act, and how movement can help children (and adults) learn and focus better. Finally, she talks about growing up with ADHD, how she managed it, and how we might break the stigma around mental disorders. Jen's passion for teaching and music is undeniable, and you'll definitely learn something from her unique perspective. Follow Jen on Instagram @themusicteacherfences and @slaghtjk, and YouTube @ms.slaght. Follow us on Instagram @everybodyspodcast, and don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share with your friends!

Marie, a sustainability blogger and former holistic health coach, shares her story. She talks about her relationship with fitness and food, and how she dealt with a serious health condition during college. She tells us about her work as a health coach, and the many important lessons that she taught her clients. We talk about veganism, orthorexia, sustainability, privilege, and more! Follow Marie on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube @mindfulpeaks, and check out her website, www.mindfulpeaks.com. Find the podcast on Instagram @everybodyspodcast, and don't forget to like, follow, subscribe, and share!

Bethany talks openly about her body's story, sharing her many thoughts about food, fitness, social media, and eating disorder recovery. We discuss relationships, racism, the pressure to always be productive and busy, and how we might slow down and rest. Bethany explains how she strives to be truly liberated, and how it's benefitted her in all aspects of life. You can follow Bethany on Instagram & Twitter @_melanintalks, and find her podcast, "Going Through Changes", on SoundCloud. Follow the podcast on Instagram @everybodyspodcast, and get in touch to share your own body's story!

Sammie joins us to share her experiences with her body and motherhood. She explains how pregnancy affected her body image, how our clothing choices can help us feel more authentically ourselves, how we might listen to our bodies, and how a boudoir photo shoot altered her perception of herself. Sammie also talks about the happiness that can come from connecting to our food, and how she's passing lessons about food and bodies on to her children. Find Sammie on Instagram at @sammielamb93 and follow the podcast on Instagram at @everybodyspodcast.

Dancer, teacher and choreographer Rachel shares her body's story. She delves into her experience in the dance world, coping with body image issues and anxiety, others commenting on her body, and the many pressures we face as humans. Rachel talks about getting rid of the "shoulds" in life, being kinder to ourselves, and how she chooses to create a more joyful existence. Follow Rachel on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook at @rikilikemagic and find Every Body's Story on Instagram at @everybodyspodcast.

In this introduction to Every Body's Story, learn what to expect in upcoming episodes - everything from the topics and guests to the overall vision for the podcast. Plus, Emily Mickus, the host of Every Body's Story, shares the unfiltered story about her own journey. Through her struggles with body image, the dance world, and her mindset around food, listen to what inspired her to start this podcast. Follow Every Body's Story on Instagram @everybodyspodcast, and make sure to follow, rate, review, and share!