Podcasts about body acceptance

What is acceptance is the requirement for growht? What would life look like if you just stopped trying to fix yourself? That's the question at the heart of this conversation with returning guest Alli Spotts-De Lazzer, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Eating Disorders Specialist who has spent nearly 20 years working with people around eating, body image, and the experience of living in a body.We dig into why self-esteem is a shaky foundation in midlife, when opinions of ourselves rise and fall with every hormonal shift and identity change. Alli's working definition of self-acceptance cuts deeper: choosing to stay with yourself even when shame, judgment, ego, or fear try to pull you away. It's knowing yourself, plus self-compassion, plus the willingness to face reality.The biggest misunderstanding we tackle: acceptance is not resignation. Resignation says "it is what it is, there's nothing I can do." Acceptance says "it is what it is. What's next?" One keeps you stuck. The other creates the conditions for growth.We also do a live, unscripted experiment using my own belly and body image history, which turned into one of the most unexpectedly moving moments I've had on this podcast. Alli also shares news about her new book, My Child Has an Eating Disorder: An Essential Guide for Parents of Kids, Teens, and Adults (Bloomsbury Academic, 2026).Connect with Alli: Website: allispottsdelazzer.com Instagram: @allispottsdelazzerRelated episodes:#57 - Story Session: What this therapist wants you to know about making midlife meaningFULL with Alli Spotts-De Lazzer#141 - Trusting Your Body: Finding Peace Through Grief with Nina Manolson#92 - From Body Grief to Body Acceptance: The Way Forward with Amanda Mittman, RD #109 - The Body Acceptance Mistake That's Keeping You Stuck in the Suck What did you think of this episode? Click here and let me know!

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3423: Krista O'Reilly-Davi-Digui encourages women to separate their worth from their appearance and embrace a more compassionate relationship with their bodies, regardless of health challenges, aging, disability, or perceived flaws. Drawing from both personal and professional experience, she shares five practical ways to cultivate self-acceptance through gratitude, mindful movement, positive self-talk, self-care, and nourishing habits that support lasting joy and well-being. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.alifeinprogress.ca/5-ideas-help-love-body-youre/ Quotes to ponder: "When we love ourselves we will continue to grow and mature and heal." "You can choose to love your body; You can offer yourself kindness, compassion and respect." "It is absolutely possible to come to love the body you are in." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Diets teach us to view the body as a project. You can tinker with what you're eating and transform your body into something different. Then fitness culture doubles down and provides the message that you can shape your body to be whatever you want it to be, you just have to put up with messages like no pain, no gain and a complete disconnection from your body, how it feels, and what resonates with it. I know I spent years and years in this ping pong game of diets and body shaping. Then, saying F this, swinging the pendulum to the opposite side and eating everything I had deprived and barely moving my body, only to still feel horrible that I went crawling back to a diet again because I had no clue what else to do. There is a lot that gets sacrificed seeing the body as a project and this realization often only occurs after months and years when you realize you don't know who you are anymore, how to exist in your body, or what it actually needs. Yet, releasing the habitual relationship with the body as something to change and alter will also potentially change your relationships, the environments you've been interacting with, and the conversations you engage in. It isn't that easy when everyone around you is also in their own body project to say, "hey, ya know what, I'm done working on my body." In this week's episode, I chat with Savala Nolan, writer, author, public speaker, and professor at UC Berkeley about: The journey of recovering from diet cultureUnderstanding the language and psychological impact of dietingEnding the body project and facing the fears and cost of body liberationQuestioning societal normsPractical steps toward body liberationYou can also read the transcript to this week's episode ​here​: https://www.stephaniemara.com/blog/breaking-free-from-diet-cultureThis was such a fantastic conversation. Savala describes exiting diet culture in a way that I've never heard someone capture what it is actually like and what a person may come to face in the process. If you have any insights from this episode, let me know! With Compassion and Empathy, Stephanie Mara FoxKeep in touch with Savala: Website: https://savalanolan.com/Substack: https://savala.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savalanolan/Support the showKeep in touch with Stephanie Mara:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_stephaniemara/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephaniemarafoxWebsite: https://www.stephaniemara.com/https://www.somaticeating.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmara/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stephaniemarafoxContact: support@stephaniemara.comSupport the show:Become a supporter: https://www.buzzsprout.com/809987/supportAll affiliate links: https://www.stephaniemara.com/resourcesReceive 15% off my fave protein powder with code STEPHANIEMARA at checkout here: https://www.equipfoods.com/STEPHANIEMARAUse my Amazon Affiliate link when shopping on Amazon: https://amzn.to/448IyPlSpecial thanks to Bendsound for the music in this episode. www.bensou...

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3423: Krista O'Reilly-Davi-Digui encourages women to separate their worth from their appearance and embrace a more compassionate relationship with their bodies, regardless of health challenges, aging, disability, or perceived flaws. Drawing from both personal and professional experience, she shares five practical ways to cultivate self-acceptance through gratitude, mindful movement, positive self-talk, self-care, and nourishing habits that support lasting joy and well-being. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.alifeinprogress.ca/5-ideas-help-love-body-youre/ Quotes to ponder: "When we love ourselves we will continue to grow and mature and heal." "You can choose to love your body; You can offer yourself kindness, compassion and respect." "It is absolutely possible to come to love the body you are in." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this moving episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with Michelle Rogers, the creator behind the popular Instagram account @bodyposipower, to explore her transformative journey from an anonymous blogger to a prominent body acceptance advocate. Michelle candidly shares the challenges of navigating an eating disorder while living in a larger body, highlighting the systemic harm of weight stigma and the "not sick enough" myth that often prevents individuals from receiving the care they deserve. From traumatic medical encounters to finding healing through a global online community, Michelle and Dr. Castagnini discuss how sharing one's truth can break down barriers of shame and pave the way for a recovery that celebrates all bodies. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram @behind_the_bite_podcast Visit the website: www.behindthebitepodcast.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this moving episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with Michelle Rogers, the creator behind the popular Instagram account @bodyposipower, to explore her transformative journey from an anonymous blogger to a prominent body acceptance advocate. Michelle candidly shares the challenges of navigating an eating disorder while living in a larger body, highlighting the systemic harm of weight stigma and the "not sick enough" myth that often prevents individuals from receiving the care they deserve. From traumatic medical encounters to finding healing through a global online community, Michelle and Dr. Castagnini discuss how sharing one's truth can break down barriers of shame and pave the way for a recovery that celebrates all bodies. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram @behind_the_bite_podcast Visit the website: www.behindthebitepodcast.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us Fan MailIn a world determined to sell us anti-ageing solutions, what would it look like to trust our bodies instead? This conversation explores ageism, diet culture, menopause, embodiment, and the radical possibility of ageing without apology. We just loved this conversation with Deb Benfield. Deb truly embodies her work and exudes an inner confidence and an ease with herself and her own body, that is at once disarming and encouraging.Key Takeaways: Diet culture and ageism often collide in midlife, creating pressure to "fix" our bodies just as they're changing in normal ways.  Embodiment offers an antidote to body image struggles: moving, dancing, and inhabiting our bodies helps us remember we're bodies to be lived in, not objectified. Trusting the body becomes even more important through perimenopause and menopause, when appetite, energy, and physical needs naturally fluctuate.  The stories we tell ourselves about ageing matter. Research suggests that positive attitudes toward ageing can influence health, wellbeing, and longevity.  Unlearning ageism starts with noticing the assumptions we make about youth, ageing, and what bodies "should" look like at different stages of life.  Rather than chasing anti-ageing promises, we can focus on nurturing strength, connection, pleasure, and quality of life.  Ageing unapologetically means embracing change while staying rooted in self-trust, self-compassion, and respect for the wisdom of our lived experience. Here are some links if you'd like to find out more about Deb, or have a look at her offerings:Deb Benfield Website InstagramSubstackBuy Deb's book - Unapologetic Aging Support the showPlease reach out if you would like some support with your relationship to food OR movement. Ela currently has limited spaces for Intuitive Eating coaching and if you'd like to reconnect with movement, contact Christine.  If you'd like exclusive access to our supporter-only channel click here.We appreciate you 

I've been through a similar trajectory that so many have in food and body image recovery. In my twenties, I got to a place where food was less of a concern. I wasn't skipping meals anymore and I was balancing those meals and eating all macronutrients. I felt much more grounded and regulated. But, the body image struggles continued to hang around. I felt good in my body but I still hated the way my body looked. So, I tried every mainstream approach. I tried the stronger over skinny approach where I lifted a lot of heavy weights and gained a lot of muscle. Yet still, it felt like it was never enough. So, I tried the unconditional body love approach and tried to love my body as it was. No matter how much I tried to challenge my internalized beliefs about my body, nothing would budge. I still looked in the mirror every day and internally said, "ick". When I started somatic therapy, it wasn't with the intention of trying to heal my body image. I was focused on healing from a trauma response. What I wasn't expecting was that I would find myself caring less and less about how my body looked the safer I felt. In this week's episode, I chat about: A somatic, nervous system, attachment perspective to body image struggles Research that points to body image struggles are more about alterations in your brain and nervous system than it is about your body Strategies to increase interoception, a key part of body image recoveryYou can read the transcript to this episode here: https://www.stephaniemara.com/blog/reframe-your-reflectionI've opened the doors back up for the next 48 hours until midnight on Tuesday 5/26 to the Somatic Eating® Program. The first class has already occurred so you will be able to watch the replay of the first class and reach out in the already active community to ask questions and receive support. Something I wished I had as I navigated my food and body image interactions was someone who would have guided me on how to listen to myself, rather than give me a bunch of advice that didn't work for my body. That is what I do in the program: support you in cultivating trust in yourself that you know what is best for you and how to discover that for yourself after you've been away from your body for years. Join now here: https://www.somaticeating.com/#readyIf you have any questions, respond to this email anytime! With Compassion and Empathy, Stephanie Mara FoxSupport the showKeep in touch with Stephanie Mara:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_stephaniemara/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephaniemarafoxWebsite: https://www.stephaniemara.com/https://www.somaticeating.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmara/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stephaniemarafoxContact: support@stephaniemara.comSupport the show:Become a supporter: https://www.buzzsprout.com/809987/supportAll affiliate links: https://www.stephaniemara.com/resourcesReceive 15% off my fave protein powder with code STEPHANIEMARA at checkout here: https://www.equipfoods.com/STEPHANIEMARAUse my Amazon Affiliate link when shopping on Amazon: https://amzn.to/448IyPlSpecial thanks to Bendsound for the music in this episode. www.bensou...

Send us Fan MailI recently turned 50 and Ela is hot on my tail, and as such we are thinking more and more about what it means to embrace our bodies as they inevitably change.* We are swimming in a sea of diet culture which is compounded by anti-aging culture once we hit upwards of 35.  How do we reconcile our fears about our bodies changing, when they are now visibly aging?  What are our options if we want to reject botox, fillers and cosmetic procedures.  Are we destined to become invisible and lose our voice in society?  What does it mean for us to reject anti-aging culture and what are the positives about hitting midlife and finally standing in our power!  Key Takeaways Midlife can make you question how much of your life has been shaped by worrying about your appearance.  Strength training can change the focus from how your body looks, to what it can actually do.  Amongst the gratitude, there's grief in ageing, and that's ok. Many women were taught that being smaller, quieter, and less noticeable was somehow safer.  Muscle, balance, and mobility matter a lot more in daily life than looking youthful.  Getting older can bring a kind of relief from constantly thinking about how you look.  A strong body as we age gives you options, independence, and confidence.  Some of the hardest parts of ageing come from how women are treated, not ageing itself.  Midlife can be the first time some women start asking themselves what they actually want.  You don't have to pretend ageing feels amazing in order to reject anti-ageing culture. *(We also have the wonderful  Deb Benfield, author of Unapologetic Aging on to chat in a couple of weeks time so this topic is very much on our minds.) Support the showPlease reach out if you would like some support with your relationship to food OR movement. Ela currently has limited spaces for Intuitive Eating coaching and if you'd like to reconnect with movement, contact Christine.  If you'd like exclusive access to our supporter-only channel click here.We appreciate you 

What does body acceptance actually mean in food addiction recovery? In this episode, I break down the difference between loving your body and learning to respect it, while healing your relationship with food, body image, and self-worth.Grab your copy of my FREE 9 page Beginner's Guide to Food Sobriety https://www.foodfreedomwithmary.com/foodsobrietyguideFood Freedom Online Course: https://www.foodfreedomwithmary.com/foodfreedomcourseFood Sobriety Mini Course -https://www.foodfreedomwithmary.com/foodsobrietymcWant to learn more about me and my coaching programs? Do you need private coaching and intensive daily contact with a coach? Fill out my application so we can chat about whether or not my program is for you and which option is best for you. Payment plans available. Don't see a payment option that works for your pay schedule? Let's chat about a custom pay plan.www.foodfreedomwithmary.com/chooseyourpath Join my online community The Food Freedom Tribe! An online community of support, eduction, inspiration, accountability….. Learn more here: https://www.foodfreedomwithmary.com/tribemembership Application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1upnWHYK0RXfmyRTqlsF_R06z3NA8LZYHIMWFykq7-X4/viewformInstagram: www.instagram.com/coachmaryroberts Facebook: www.Facebook.com/ketomary71 Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4915319108493196/?ref=share_group_linkWebsite: www.foodfreedomwithmary.com Join the email list.Email: mary@foodfreedomwithmary.com

In December 2019, Stephanie Browitt boarded a tour to Whakaari, also known as White Island, with her father Paul and younger sister Krystal during a family cruise through New Zealand. At 2:11pm, the volcano erupted. Krystal was killed on the island. Stephanie and Paul survived, but suffered catastrophic burns. Weeks later, Paul died from his injuries too. Stephanie spent months in hospital undergoing surgeries, skin grafts and rehabilitation, while her mother Marie faced the unimaginable reality of caring for her surviving daughter while grieving both her husband and youngest child. In the years since the eruption, Stephanie has spoken publicly about her recovery and become a powerful advocate for burns survivors and body acceptance. But Marie has rarely spoken in depth about what happened to their family — until now. In this extraordinarily intimate and emotional conversation with Kate Langbroek, Stephanie and Marie sit down together for their most extensive interview to date, speaking candidly about survival, visible scars, grief, motherhood, survivor’s guilt, humour, resilience, and the bond that carried them through unimaginable loss. If this episode brings up anything difficult for you, support is available through Lifeline on 13 11 14. Out of the Ashes by Stephanie and Marie Browitt is out now. SUBSCRIBE here: Support independent women's media New Mamamia subscribers get $40 off — $20 off an annual membership and $20 off your TWOOBS order. Click here to subscribe. Already a subscriber? Click here for your $20 TWOOBS discount code. T&C's apply. You can now watch our show in full length video on the Apple Podcast app - make sure your phone is up to date and we can't wait for you to see. CLICK HERE. What To Listen To Next: Listen: Sophie Smith Lost Her Premature Triplets And Then Her Husband. This Is How She Kept Going Listen: Patrick Brammall Turned Down The Devil Wears Prada 2. Then He Got A Call Listen: Dee Salmin Went ‘Boy Sober’ For Three Years. This Is What She Learnt Listen: How Robin Bailey Survived Repeated, Unimaginable Loss Listen: Lisa Wilkinson Was Eveywhere. Then She Wasn't Listen: Natalie Bassingthwaighte: “The Night That Ended My Marriage” Discover more Mamamia Podcasts here. Watch No Filter on YouTube. Follow us on Instagram here. Follow us on TikTok here. Feedback: podcast@mamamia.com.au Share your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice message, and one of our Podcast Producers will get back to you ASAP. Rate or review us on Apple by clicking on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, click Go To Show then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the stars at the bottom and write a review. CREDITS: Guest: Stephanie and Marie Browitt Host: Kate Langbroek Group Executive Producer: Naima Brown Executive Producer: Bree Player Assistant Producer: Coco Lavigne Audio and Video Producer: Josh Green Social Media Producer: Olivia Colman Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land on which we have recorded this podcast.Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I noticed a three-year stretch where I'm barely in family photos, even though I was there., and I don't want that for you. In this episode, I share 3 practices to shift away from chasing "flattering" and choosing presence instead, so you can be visible in midlife and stop letting pictures decide how you feel about your body.I talk about:Why the point of a picture is the moment, not your good sideReframing photos as time capsules rather than auditionsHow to stop letting selfie culture (and the 99 deleted shots) shape how you see yourselfThe reframe I borrowed from a recent guest that I cannot stop thinking about: visibility is generosityWhy staying in the picture is one of the most powerful things you can do for the women coming up behind yoI'm sure you have a friend who needs to hear this, so I'd love if you'd share this episode with them! And if this episode helps you keep a photo instead of deleting it, I would love to hear that too. You can always send me fan mail through the podcast website.This summer, your only assignment is to be in the photo. You don't have to love it. You don't have to feel beautiful in it. You just have to be in it. The moment matters. The world needs more pictures of midlife women living in their bodies.If this episode resonates and you want real support around body image before summer hits, there are still a couple of spots left in my six-week Midlife Body Image Lab if you're listening before May 16th. Related Episodes You'll Love:#182: Visibility as Generosity, Rethinking Photos, Aging and Confidence with Kristen Vallejo#190: Menopause and Body Image: How to Feel Like Yourself AgainWhat did you think of this episode? Click here and let me know!➡️ Join The Midlife Body Image Lab here: https://www.menopausenutritionist.ca/bodyimagelab 

If you've ever felt trapped in diet culture or struggled to fully accept your body, this conversation will feel like a breath of fresh air. Wendy sits down with Stacy Toth to unpack the deep-rooted impact of fatphobia, body shame, and societal conditioning—especially for women in midlife. From her personal journey through disordered eating and trauma to becoming a powerful voice for inclusivity and empathy, Stacy shares how we can unlearn harmful beliefs, embrace body acceptance, and cultivate compassion for ourselves and others. This episode is a reminder that wellness isn't about shrinking yourself—it's about expanding into a fuller, freer version of you.   What You'll Learn: Why diet culture is so deeply ingrained—and how to start breaking free The connection between body shame, trauma, and disordered eating How to build true body acceptance and redefine wellness on your terms Why empathy and curiosity are essential for personal growth and healing The power of boundaries, self-respect, and choosing yourself in midlife    

With the rise of weight loss injections and the return of skinny culture, it feels like we’re moving backwards in the body positivity movement, right? In this episode of But Are You Happy, clinical psychologist Dr. Anastasia Hronis unpacks what these weight loss injections actually are, how we can start to reframe the idea of the “ideal body,” and the signs that this shift might be taking a toll on your mental—and physical—health. You'll also learn: What these weight loss injections actually are The signs of disordered eating & the different types of eating disorders How to start building a healthier relationship with your body How to navigate the negative body conversations you see on social media Watch the podcast on YouTube here. If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Both services are available 24/7 for free, confidential mental health support. Want to get in touch with us? DM @butareyouhappypod on Instagram or send us a voice memo. Our hosts are ready to hear your dilemmas—think of it as free therapy! CREDITS: Hosts: Ashani Dante & Dr Anastasia Hronis Executive Producer: Naima Brown Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman Audio Producer: Jacob Round Mamamia acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which we have recorded this podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You know that moment when you catch your reflection unexpectedly and think, "Who is that?" Not in a curious way, but in a way that feels like you don't recognize yourself? If you've had that moment, this episode is for you.In this episode, we're talking about the evolution of body positivity and acceptance, the challenges of embracing body diversity in a culture that's currently shrinking, and how we can find peace with ourselves right now, in the bodies we're in today.Kristina brings such clarity to the difference between body positivity and body acceptance, and why acceptance isn't resignation. She shares her own story of body grief, what it felt like to lose the identity that came with being thin, and how she found freedom on the other side of that grief. We also talk about the contraction and expansion happening in our current cultural moment (hello, GLP-1 era) and why this might be the final push before more of us say "enough."If you've been stuck in body grief, if you feel betrayed by your changing body, or if you're exhausted from fighting yourself, this conversation will meet you right where you are.In this episode, you'll learn:The difference between body positivity (a social justice movement) and body acceptance (a personal practice)Why body acceptance isn't resignation, it's actually the path to real changeHow to move through body grief instead of staying stuck in itWhy your body isn't betraying you, even when it feels that wayWhat's underneath our resistance to body changes in midlife (spoiler: it's not about the weight)How to stop sourcing your worth externally and start finding safety within yourselfConnect with Kristina:Instagram: @kristinabruce_coachWebsite: kristinabruce.comPodcast: Unlearning BeautifulRelated Episodes You'll Love:Episode 47: Why Changing Your Body Isn't the Body Image Fix You're Looking For with Kristina BruceEpisode 109: The Body Acceptance Mistake That Keeping You StuckEpisode 134: What Every Woman Needs to Know About Body Image in Midlife with Summer InnanenEpisode 141: Navigating Body Grief in Midlife with Nina ManolsonWhat did you think of this episode? Click here and let me know!

Today's episode is conversation about body image, food, and why so many of us feel stuck in self hatred for decades.But this isn't about “loving your body.”It's about understanding:* why food and body image are so tightly linked (and why you can't fix one without the other)* the realization that changed everything for me after 15+ years of dieting* what “acceptance” actually means (hint: it's not giving up)* how to let two opposing things be true at the same time* the question that will immediately show you where you're wasting your energyAnd I also share a very real, very recent spiral I had about my neck (because, yes, I am IN THIS with all of you).This isn't a “love your body and everything will be fine” episode.It's about doing the  work of living in your body without making yourself miserable trying to control things you can't.If you've spent years trying to fix your body through food and still don't feel at peace this one will hit.Connect with JordanaFind me on InstagramSign up for my weekly letter with personal stories and nutrition, body image and mindset tipsSchedule a free discovery call to talk more about working together Listen to more episodes of The Diet Diaries

"Yoga is a place where I can let go of who I decided that I'm supposed to be and see myself from a different perspective."Do you ever feel like movement is just another box to check off instead of something that actually feels good? In this episode, I'm joined by yoga teacher, author, and entrepreneur Jessamyn Stanley to talk about how diet culture and anti-fat bias shape our relationship with exercise and why so many people experience movement as punishing or shameful. Jessamyn shares her journey from a less-than-inspiring first yoga class to developing a more compassionate relationship with her body by simply giving herself permission to try. Together, we unpack how to untangle movement from pressure to change your body, navigate fitness spaces that don't always feel inclusive, and rebuild trust, presence, and self-respect through practices like yoga...even on days when body love feels out of reach.What You'll Learn:How diet culture shapes our relationships with exercise, making movement feel forced, punishing, or like a choreWhy shame shows up so often in fitness spaces, and how to approach body image with compassion and respect instead of pressure to “love” your bodyPractical ways to rebuild trust with your body and make movement genuinely enjoyableThe ways yoga and intuitive eating both teach you to check in with your body's cues and respond with care instead of controlHow to begin separating wellness practices (like yoga) from diet culture narratives and reclaim movement for yourselfThe power of advocacy, showing up shamelessly, and why seeing real, diverse bodies in movement spaces matters for everyoneConnect with Jessamyn:Instagram: @theunderbellyyogaInstagram: @mynameisjessamynWebsiteJoin The Underbelly for freeStruggling to know when to eat or when to stop isn't a failure… it could be a byproduct of following diet rules instead of your body's cues. The free Hunger & Fullness Scale Guide helps you ditch the noise and tune back into the cues your body is sending to build trust with your body and food. Get it at DietCultureRebel.com/hungerfullnessscale.Come back next week for another episode and connect with me over on Instagram at @diet.culture.rebel.Struggling with food, but not sure where to start?You don't have to feel 100% ready to get support. If you're tired of obsessing over food or feeling stuck in the diet cycle, my team of Registered Dietitians is here to help. We offer one-on-one nutrition counseling—and we accept insurance! Spots are limited, so head to https://dietculturerebel.com/insurance to see if we're covered in your state and learn how to get started.

Send a textHave you ever felt like a stranger in your own body even though you used to have fitness completely dialed in? You had the routine. The rhythm. Exercise was just part of who you were. And then life happened: kids, career, the relentless pace of doing everything for everyone, and that version of you quietly got set aside.In this episode of The Strong(HER) Way, host Alisha Carlson is speaking directly to the woman who doesn't need a dramatic reinvention — she needs permission to re-enter without the shame spiral.Alisha breaks down why diet culture's obsession with "Day 1" is actually working against you, why your past fitness experiences still count (more than you think), and how to start building real, sustainable momentum again  without blowing up your whole life to do it.This isn't about getting back to who you were. It's about reconnecting with who you've always been  and stepping back into your strength.What you'll learn inside this episode:Why you are not starting from scratch, and the mindset shift that changes everythingHow diet culture's "Day 1" cycle keeps women trapped in a loop of hope and shameThe difference between reinvention and re-entry, and why it matters for long-term successA practical 3-part framework for returning to fitness in a way that actually sticksHow to reconnect with your deeper why so motivation doesn't disappear on a hard weekWhy waiting to feel "ready" is costing you more than the awkward first workout willApply to work with us 1:1Get started with the Fit + Fueled Method

Solo anal play might be the most misunderstood sex act out there, and I'm done letting shame, myths, and bad porn narratives keep you from one of the most pleasurable things you can do for yourself. Whether you're completely new to anal or just looking for a place to finally start, this episode is your no-judgment, fully practical guide to exploring on your own terms. From the anatomy behind why it actually feels so good (yes, for all genitals) to the exact tools, lube, and prep you need to get started safely, I break it all down with zero shame and a lot of science. Plus, I answer real listener questions about positioning, bringing it up with a partner, and the mess concerns that are quietly keeping most people from ever trying. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why anal stimulation can unlock full-body orgasms for every anatomy — and the nerve science that explains it • The three biggest anal myths (and why they're completely wrong) • Exactly how to prep, what to buy, and how to start — so your first experience is actually pleasurable This Episode is sponsored by LELO SWITCH – https://lelo.to/aGecd (Use code SWE20 for a stackable 20% off!) More Dr. Emily:  • Shop With Emily! Explore Emily's favorite toys, pleasure accessories, bedroom essentials, and more — designed to support your pleasure and confidence. Free shipping on orders $99+ (some exclusions apply). • Join the SmartSX Membership: Access exclusive sex coaching, live expert sessions, community building, and tools to enhance your pleasure and relationships with Dr. Emily Morse. • Interested in 1:1 Coaching with Emily? Go to sexwithemily.com/coaching to apply!  • Sex With Emily Guides: Explore pleasure, deepen connections, and enhance intimacy using these Sex With Emily downloadable guides. • The only sex book you'll ever need: Smart Sex: How to Boost Your Sex IQ and Own Your Pleasure • Want more? Visit the Sex With Emily Website • Let's get social: Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok | Threads | YouTube • Let's text: Sign up here • Want me to slide into your email inbox? Sign Up Here for sex tips on the regular. Timestamps: 0:00 - Why Try Solo Anal Play? Benefits for All Bodies 2:20 - Prostate Pleasure 101 (Penis Owners) 3:16 - Anal Orgasms & Nerve Endings (Vulva Owners) 5:48 - Body Acceptance & Releasing Shame Around Anal 6:52 - Busting Myth #1: Does Anal Affect Your Sexuality? 8:21 - Busting Myth #2: Anal Requires Preparation, Not Spontaneity 10:41 - How to Start: Anal Training & Finger Exploration 11:51 - Toy Recommendations by Anatomy 16:06 - Lube Guide: Silicone vs. Water-Based 18:05 - Q&A: Your Anal Questions Answered Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when you say yes to something that terrifies you?This week on the podcast, Lise Thorne @walking_this_way and I talk about saying yes before you feel ready, body acceptance, money confidence, and why women must stop staying small.I'm joined by refreshingly honest content creator Lise Thorne , who is also the founder of The Money Conversation and Welcome Home Project, to talk about rebuilding confidence in midlife.Just before turning 40, Lise boarded a plane to Thailand for a Muay Thai retreat. She almost didn't get on that flight. That decision became the foundation for a new relationship with movement, self-belief and identity.If you're navigating midlife change, struggling with confidence, or wanting to feel more in control of your money — this episode is practical, honest and empowering.Confidence isn't something you wait for.It's built. Decision by decision.Lise is a real power house and another great example of what we can achieve when we step out of our own way.Keypoints-02:18 – The Airport Tears Why Lise almost didn't get on the plane to Thailand.06:40 –Saying Yes Before You Feel ReadyThe identity shift that comes from doing the scary thing anyway.11:25 – Movement as a Mental Health ToolWhy even small physical action changes your state.15:10 –Body Confidence vs Body AcceptanceWhy acceptance can feel more honest — and more powerful.19:45 –Becoming an “Athlete” at 20+ StoneChallenging stereotypes and redefining what strength looks like.24:30 – The £100,000 Investing LessonThe financial decision that changed everything.29:10 – Why Women Must Join the Money ConversationClosing the financial confidence gap.33:45 – Pressure, Midlife & Modern WomanhoodCareer, body, family — and choosing not to shrink.38:20 – The Welcome Home ProjectSupporting vulnerable single mothers and refugee families in practical ways.43:10 –What Confidence Really IsAction first. Certainty later.45:55 – Final ReflectionsWhy growth rarely feels glamorous — but always builds strength.Go and follow ⁠@walking_this_way to keep up to date with their progress.If this conversation resonated with you:Subscribe to Liberté – Free to BeLeave a rating or reviewShare it with a woman who might need to hear it todayThe more women who find this podcast, the more confidence, courage, and permission we can spread.✨ See you next week for another inspiring conversation.Keep being fabulousRachel x

Send us a textEla and I are beyond excited to bring you this week's guest, the OG of Intuitive Eating herself, Evelyn.This of course, was one of our most popular episodes to date and if you listen,  you'll understand why.Ela and I are both Intuitive Eating Counsellors and were lucky enough to train with Evelyn.  She is force to be reckoned with! If you are new here or have never heard of Intuitive Eating and don't know what the fuss is about, this is the episode for you.I had the joy of interviewing Elyse Resch, the co-creator of Intuitive Eating a few months ago so go back and listen to this episode, which is a corker especially if you have teens who are struggling with body image.Evelyn and Elyse's work has been such a big part of my own eating disorder recovery journey (Christine), and after finding peace around food and exercise, (always a work in progress) I am now bringing that knowledge and experience to my clients.❤️Evelyn's energy is simply contagious, and she is SO passionate about helping those of us who have struggled with body image or disordered eating, to reject the diet mentality and to break free from the constraints of diet culture, which is keeping us small, quiet and obedient.In this episode, Evelyn shows us that we can respect our bodies,  find satisfaction in food AND joy in movement in midlife. Let us know your thoughts.*Evelyn Tribole, MS, RDN is the author of 10 books, including co-author of the best-selling Intuitive Eating.The media often seeks Evelyn for her expertise, including a feature in the New York Times. She's been on CNN, NBC's Today Show, MSNBC, Fox News, USA Today,. The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Vogue, Ten Percent Happier, and People magazine. Evelyn was the nutrition expert for Good Morning America, and a national spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics for six years. Evelyn qualified for the Olympic Trials in the first ever women's marathon in 1984. Although she no longer competes, she is a passionate surfer and proud member of Girls Who Don't Surf Good.To connect with Evelyn you can find her on Instagram @evelyntribole or visit her website. Support the showPlease reach out if you would like some support with your relationship to food OR movement. Ela currently has limited spaces for Intuitive Eating coaching and if you'd like to reconnect with movement, contact Christine. If you'd like exclusive access to our supporter-only channel click here. We appreciate you

In this episode of Life Equals Choices, Choices Equal Life, host Kim Olver continues her empowering conversation with Liz Hansen, owner and photographer at Chicago Boudoir Photography, about how boudoir photography can transform a woman's confidence, self-worth, and body image.If you missed Part 1 of this conversation, you can listen here https://life-choices.captivate.fm/episode/liz-hansen/.Liz talks about what a boudoir session is really like—why it's important to block out a half day just for you, how the experience often becomes a day of self-care and self-acceptance, and why many women come out of their sessions feeling more confident, proud, and liberated than they ever expected. She explains how seeing your body through a new lens—literally and metaphorically—can shift your self-perception and remind you of your inherent value, worth, and beauty.Kim and Liz also explore common hesitations women have before a shoot and why those fears often melt away once they see the final images. Liz shares deeply affirming insights about how boudoir can be part of a broader journey of self-love—not because the camera “fixes” anything, but because it reveals something the woman has always carried inside.Liz also talks about her recently published book, A Year of Body Confidence: 365 Days of Affirmations and Actions for Women, a daily resource for grounding self-love and confidence-building habits (link below).Whether you're curious about a boudoir experience or you're navigating issues with body image, confidence, or self-worth, this conversation offers compassionate perspective and encouragement to see yourself as stronger, more worthy, and more beautiful than you might have believed. Learn more and connect with Liz at her website: https://chicago-boudoir.com Check out Liz's book: A Year of Body Confidence: 365 Days of Affirmations and Actions for Women

  It's January 2026 — a brand-new year — and for many girls and women, getting their ideal body is top of mind. Are you constantly trying to fix your body? Are you dieting chronically, or imprisoned by an eating disorder, or clothed in body shame? There is hope, and you can experience freedom. Alisa Keaton, author and Founder of Revelation Wellness, joins Allie to share her story of going from body obsession to body freedom, from competitive bodybuilder to a grace-filled, faith-based fitness leader. Alisa shares her personal story of finding joy in movement and the transformative power of faith in achieving holistic wellness. Explore the societal pressures surrounding body image, the journey of overcoming body shame, and the significance of viewing our bodies as gifts rather than projects to be fixed. She talks about how our bodies are not projects to be fixed. Learn one thing you can start doing today that will lead you to a place of freedom and joy.  Takeaways Getting our ideal body can often be top of mind. Many women struggle with body image and eating disorders. There is hope for freedom from body obsession. Physical wellness and spiritual maturity are deeply connected. Our bodies are not projects to fix, but gifts to cherish. Obsession and neglect are two common patterns in body image. We need to focus on the person, not just the body. Joy and love are experienced in the body, not just the mind. Practical steps to wellness include getting out of your head and into your body. God loves us uniquely and wants us to embrace our bodies. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and New Year's Resolutions 02:38 The Gift of Our Bodies and Food 05:27 Alisa's Journey to Fitness and Body Acceptance 14:05 Body as a Temple vs. Trophy 17:06 Obsession vs. Neglect in Body Image 22:03 Practical Steps to Wellness 29:21 Final Thoughts and Encouragement subscribe + share + leave a kind review so we can make a greater impact Links Revelation Wellness Book: Social Media Reset Book: Wonderfully Made alliemariesmith.com wonderfullymade.org 

Send us a textThis is our first episode of 2026 and it is one that we both feel incredibly passionate about. We explore why fitness spaces can be high risk environments for eating disorders.Sophie, founder of ED Informed, joins us to discuss how diet culture, harmful fitness messaging and a lack of staff training leave many people vulnerable and unsupported.We start by discussing some common misconceptions about eating disorders (this will shock you) Did you know that only 6% of people with eating disorders are in the "underweight" category?  We talk about the hidden signs trainers often miss and unknowingly exacerbate, and the fine line often between performance-focused training and disordered exercise behaviours.Sophie shares her story and how ED Informed first came into being; the urgent need for mandatory ED-awareness training in fitness spaces, and practical steps fitness professionals can take right now.  Most gym goers have experienced weight-centric or body-shaming rhetoric, and this is incredibly damaging for our long-term relationships to movement and their bodies.If you'd like to learn more about ED informed and the work Sophie does, visit: https://www.edinformed.org/learn-moreTo take part in the survey mentioned, click here:Take the surveyTo sign the petition to recognise Eating Disorders in UK Health Policy:Sign the Petition Support the showPlease reach out if you would like some support with your relationship to food OR movement. Ela currently has limited spaces for Intuitive Eating coaching and if you'd like to reconnect with movement, contact Christine. If you'd like exclusive access to our supporter-only channel click here. We appreciate you

Start your new year with hope that goes beyond new diets, fitness programs, and the relentless pursuit of body perfection. In this heartfelt episode, host Heather Creekmore sits down with her former client, Lesley, to share her transformative journey from food and body image bondage to genuine spiritual and emotional freedom. Lesley spent years as a health and wellness coach, tracking every calorie, restricting food, and chasing a number on the scale—all while struggling with her own body image issues. She candidly shares how these patterns began in grade school, persisted into adulthood, and continued even as she helped others pursue their health goals. Despite her expertise, she found herself trapped by obsession and shame surrounding food, weight, and self-worth. Through Heather Creekmore's Body Image Freedom Framework, Lesley began to untangle the deep connection between identity and body image. Her story is honest about the challenges—grief, fear, letting go of control, and even stepping away from her coaching business—but it's also filled with hope and victory. Lesley discovered that true freedom came not from changing her body, but from changing her beliefs, surrendering her idol of body image, and learning to trust God’s gentle guidance through all the lows and highs. In this episode, you'll hear: How body image struggles often start early and shape identity The dangers of moralizing food, restriction, and attachment to the scale The life-changing power of shifting focus from external rules to internal cues and grace The role of faith and community in healing, surrender, and practical recovery How Lesley found peace, joy, and presence in her body—without chasing weight loss goals If you’re tired of repeating the same health resolutions and want lasting change, this episode is an inspiring invitation to start your body image freedom journey. Resources Mentioned: Get your FREE Obsessed to Blessed mini-course here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/obsessed-to-blessed 40 Day Body Image Workbook & Journey: improvhttps://www.improvebodyimage.com/40-day-challenge Body Image Freedom Framework Course Connect & Share:Loved this episode? Leave a review, share it with a friend, and keep the conversation going. Let's build a community that chooses grace and freedom over comparison and striving. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Nikki Bailey and Hana Nobel share stories about how messy things can get with food and sex, with guest host, Taj Easton.

In this episode, I explore 5 ways to find greater body acceptance and to love how you look. To find out more about my work:- Harriet's Substack: https://substack.com/@theeatingdisordertherapist My new APP! Go to my Website Online courses Online 10 Steps to Intuitive Eating - a course to help you heal your relationship with food. Online Breaking Free from Bulimia - a course to help you break free from bulimia nervosa. Eating Disorders Training for Professionals - training for therapists in working with clients with eating disorders. Body Image Training for Professionals - training for therapists in working with clients with body image issues.

In today's episode, we're diving deep into body dysmorphia — what it is, how it shows up, and why it can make daily life feel so overwhelming. If you've ever felt stuck in a cycle of checking, comparing, or fixating on certain parts of your body, you're definitely not alone. I'll break down how body dysmorphia develops, the link it has with eating disorders, and why it's not something you can “snap out of.”We'll discuss the emotional, brain-based, and practical aspects of coping with these thoughts. And most importantly, we'll chat about what recovery can actually look like, from someone who has walked in your shoes. Let me know your thoughts! SOCIALS:Instagram: @flourishwithciandra @recovertoflourish_podTikTok: @flourishwithciandraWebsite: https://flourishwithciandra.com/Contact: info@flourishwithciandra.com

Welcome to this week's episode of Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life, with Gin Stephens and Sheri Bullock.To make a submission for the podcast, go to fastfeastrepeat.com/submit.  We are a community-driven podcast, and we look forward to sharing your questions, success stories, non-scale victories, IF tweaks, motivational quotes (and more!) on each episode of the podcast. Resources used in today's episode: For more information regarding one on one IF support, email sheri@fastfeastrepeat.com Shop w/ me @ https://www.fastfeastrepeat.com/sheri.html  https://crunchi.com/?als=SheriBullock Fast Safe Concentrace Trace Mineral Drops: https://amzn.to/47fqwNl Gin has a new YouTube Channel!  Visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_frGNiTEoJ88rZOwvuG2CA and subscribe today so you never miss an intermittent fasting tip, a support session, or an interview with a past IF Stories guest or expert.Want to learn more about BiOptimizer's Magnesium Breakthrough? Visit www.bioptimizers.com/fastfeastrepeat and use code FFR15 to save 15% off any order. Go to fastfeastrepeat.com to see Gin's and Sheri's favorite things, and to shop with us.  Every purchase you make through links on our website help to support this podcast so we can keep bringing you episodes each week. Are you ready to take your intermittent fasting lifestyle to the next level? There's nothing better than community to help with that.  In the Delay, Don't Deny community we all embrace the clean fast, and there's just the right support for you as you live your intermittent fasting lifestyle. Connect with both Gin and Sheri in the community, as well as thousands of other intermittent fasters who are there to support you along your journey.  If you're new to intermittent fasting or recommitting to the IF lifestyle, join the 28-Day FAST Start group.  After your fast start, join us for support in The 1st Year group.  Need tips for long term maintenance? We have a place for that!  There are many more useful spaces beyond these, and you can interact in as many as you like.Visit ginstephens.com/community to join us. An annual membership costs just over a dollar a week when you do the math.  If you aren't ready to fully commit for a year, join for a month and you can cancel at any time. If you know you'll want to stay forever, we also have a lifetime membership option available.  IF is free. You don't need to join our community to fast. But if you're looking for support from a community of like-minded IFers, we are here for you at  ginstephens.com/community. 

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3193: Renata Leo candidly explores her ongoing journey toward body acceptance after years of disordered eating, revealing how small, intentional changes, like removing her mirror and working with a supportive dietitian, help shift her mindset. Her story is a powerful reminder that healing doesn't require perfection, just self-compassion and a willingness to let go of toxic narratives. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://buffalosauceeverywhere.com/2019/11/06/improving-my-relationship-with-my-body/ Quotes to ponder: "Be kind to yourself and to your body, because that's more important than any arbitrary number you could assign to yourself." "Sometimes, all it takes is a break from that self-degrading voice to make you see yourself a bit more clearly." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3193: Renata Leo candidly explores her ongoing journey toward body acceptance after years of disordered eating, revealing how small, intentional changes, like removing her mirror and working with a supportive dietitian, help shift her mindset. Her story is a powerful reminder that healing doesn't require perfection, just self-compassion and a willingness to let go of toxic narratives. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://buffalosauceeverywhere.com/2019/11/06/improving-my-relationship-with-my-body/ Quotes to ponder: "Be kind to yourself and to your body, because that's more important than any arbitrary number you could assign to yourself." "Sometimes, all it takes is a break from that self-degrading voice to make you see yourself a bit more clearly." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Indulgence Gospel After Dark!We are Virginia Sole-Smith and Corinne Fay, and it's time for your October Extra Butter episode. Today we're talking about plus size fashion influencer and body acceptance advocate Katie Sturino — who teamed up with WeightWatchers last year. What happened there? And where is the line between body liberation activism and capitalism? (Yes, we struggle with that too!) To hear the whole thing, read the full transcript, and join us in the comments, you do need to be an Extra Butter subscriber. Join Extra Butter! Already an Extra Butter subscriber, and having a hard time getting this episode in your podcast player of choice? Step by step instructions are here! Episode 217 TranscriptCorinneWelcome to Indulgence Gospel After Dark! If you're listening to this, you are part of Extra Butter, which means you're our favorite Burnt Toasties. VirginiaYour support makes all our work possible and keeps Burnt Toast an ad- and sponsor free space. Which is relevant to today's conversation! CorinneToday, we're going to talk about influencer and advocate Katie Sturino, who became famous on Instagram for her #SuperSizeTheLook content and for creating the Megababe product line. But more recently, she teamed up with Oprah and Weight Watchers, and has gone public about her use of GLP-1s.VirginiaSo before we get into it, let me do my standard caveat that I give anytime we do one of these episodes where we talk about a particular person's work in deal. Body autonomy is a given at Burnt Toast. Katie has the right to take her GLP-1s. That is her business. We're not interrogating that personal decision. We are also not "women tearing down other women," which is the other go-to critique of this work. We're considering Katie's entire body of work here, and we're asking: Is this true body liberation activism? Or is this an example of capitalism co-opting activism? I think that's a valuable question for anyone in the influencing space to be grappling with. I think Corinne and I both walk that line as well in our work. So we are going to critique Katie and some of the professional choices she's made but this is a lens we all benefit from looking through. CorinneWith that, I feel that I need to disclose that I have received gifted products from Megababe.VirginiaFor example! It's a gray area, guys. I have not, but I would have been happy to receive that gift. CorinneI recommended stuff from Megababe before I ever received free stuff! But I have received free stuff. And I do like some of their products. VirginiaThis episode is also not going to be a critique of specific products. Preventing thigh chafing is a noble endeavor.So how did you first encounter Katie Sturino? Do you remember when you first became aware of her work?CorinneIt's honestly hard for me to remember because I feel like she's been around for so long!VirginiaLike 10 years.CorinneIf not more!VirginiaIt was the mid-2010s when she really came onto the scene.CorinneI definitely encountered her Instagram. I think it was her style content. I remember seeing her going into a store and trying on stuff that didn't fit, or trying their biggest size and it wouldn't work for her. And then I also remember the #SuperSizeTheLook.VirginiaFor folks who don't know: #SuperSizeTheLook is a series where Katie picks a photo of a celebrity wearing a really cute outfit, and then styles herself wearing the same outfit. Usually not in identical pieces, because the sizes are not going to work. But she mimics the outfit, and she mimics the pose really well. If it's a celebrity getting out of a town car with a purse on her arm, Katie will also be getting out of a town car. Or walking a tiny dog. She mimics the whole vibe of the photo. And the goal is to show you that bigger bodies look cute in clothes. Which is a message we're here for! CorinneWhat about you? How did you first encounter her?VirginiaWhat's interesting about Katie and me is that we are the same age, we are both 44. And we both come out of the New York media world. I learned this all researching the episode; I don't know her personally. I never worked with her. But we have sort of similar trajectories into body liberation work.And when she first launched, her blog was originally called The 12ish Style. I was also a size 12-ish. Those were my Midsize Queen years, before moving into full plus sizes. So we've had similar trajectories of being in this space first a mid-sized person, and then a small fat person. I've always been interested in her fashion and the way she styles stuff, because it was often quite directly relevant to my own body, though not necessarily relevant to everybody. She is also, like, a foot taller than me, I think? She seems quite tall in photos and she wears very tall heels, too, which is impressive to me, if not actually something I can pull off. But I've always appreciated the vibe and the energy of Katie's content.  She's very open book. A lot of her posts are shot in her underwear, wearing no makeup, in a swimsuit. She's always showing us, "Here's what my real body looks like." There are critiques to be made of this genre of content making, but I think it's also powerful to see non-airbrushed, not super thin bodies. I think there's a lot of value in that. So I knew Megababe, I knew #SuperSizeTheLook, but I didn't know a ton of her backstory. So I did a little research, and most of what I'm going to share with you comes from a New York Times piece that ran in June with the headline, What Katie Sturino Wants You to Know About Her Body (and Yours, Too). This is by Madison Malone Kircher and it ran June 22, 2025.We're going to get into it later in the episode, but Katie is not thrilled with this piece. And I just want to say I have empathy for being in the New York Times and not being thrilled with the way they cover your work. Can relate! So I am going to quote from the piece, because I think it makes some interesting points, and there's some useful context in there. But I'm not saying this piece does the best job analyzing her work. The New York Times describes Katie as "a dog-obsessed public relations pro turned body positivity influencer slash entrepreneur, who built a social media audience by posting candidly about her life."Katie began her career in fashion PR. I think her first job was at Gucci or Dolce Gabbana. She then started her own PR firm in the 2010s. And then found found Internet fame as a dogager, which is a dog manager, running an Instagram account for her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Toast. So this is how she started. Did you know she was a dog influencer before she was a fashion influencer?CorinneI think I do vaguely remember that.VirginiaToast has since passed away. RIP Toast. Great name for a dog, obviously. But I did not know that she started as a dog influencer. That was news to me, and, frankly, rather delightful. But: Coming from a PR background, finding Internet fame through dog influencing...this is a very specific lens to which she's coming to this work. Katie is now a multi-hyphenate. She had a podcast called Boob Sweat. She wrote a non-fiction book Body Talk, which is an illustrated workbook about self love. She has a Substack newsletter. She has the Megababe the product line. And she published her first novel this spring. So Katie is very busy! She is doing a lot. Have you followed her for recs, or you've used Megababe? You like Megababe. CorinneI've used Megababe. I like Megababe. Her particular style has never quite been for me. It's hard to describe exactly what doesn't click for me. It's just very clear, even just reading the this bio—she's very savvy, she's always hustling, she always has kind of a business PR angle, which I both respect and don't relate to.VirginiaThis is her New York media roots. I never worked with Katie, but I worked with lots of Katies. I know this kind of hard-charging woman who's extremely smart and great at marketing and knows how to build a brand and talk to an audience. So she has that whole skill set—and she could be doing it about body positivity, she could be doing it about a dog. She's interested in building a brand. For example, let's consider her first novel Sunny Side Up. Katie tells the New York Times that she worked with a ghost writer: "I don't have the traditional path that a lot of people who write books have had, and I needed help," she said, adding she felt no shame or embarrassment about having a collaborator."I love how upfront she is about that. A lot of books are written by ghostwriters, and I sort of wish people were more aware of that. Mine were not. But I have been a ghost writer! So I don't mind that that's a part of it, but I do think that it's interesting that it wasn't Katie had a novel inside her that she was dying to write. It was that Katie knew that having a novel would be a good brand extension. And the novel is about a plus size fashion influencer who goes on to launch a plus size swimsuit line. And... Katie's plus size swimsuit line came out this summer right after the book launch.CorinneIt's honestly mind boggling. How does anyone handle all that?VirginiaYes, it's so many things. And it does make me take a slightly different look at some of her some of her body positive content. For example, a recurring theme is her in a swimsuit. And the caption is always something like, "figured you could use a size 18 woman in a swimsuit on your feed," just showing her normal body in a swimsuit. But now that I know she's selling the swimsuits that hits differently. So is that just a smart swimsuit marketing strategy or does it feel off to you? CorinneI mean, both? She seems incredibly smart. I'm just impressed that anyone can do as much as she's doing. And: I do think sometimes it feels like you're being sold to, you know?VirginiaAnd because her work is centered around a message that has a social justice component, and a self-help component: Where is the line between "these are her values, and she's built a business on her values, "and "she's co-opting advocacy rhetoric to sell us products?"CorinneIt's definitely a gray area. VirginiaTo further the gray area: I looked at more of her content and I'm also like, these swimsuits are pretty cute. There's also this whole Wirecutter piece I want to talk about, where she goes over her fashion favs. It's good! I clicked through so many links. I was like, "Do I want these $460 jeans? I don't know!"CorinneOh now I want to see them.VirginiaYet I'm also thinking: But you are supposed to be so raw and authentic, and this is your whole vibe, and you're showing us yourself in a swimsuit, because that's supposed to feel brave. First of all, that's problematic in and of itself. Can it stop being brave for fat women to wear swimsuits in public? I would love that to not be a heroic move anymore, but in Katie Sturino's world it is radical to do that, and she's doing it. And... she's selling us the swimsuit.CorinneWell I think there are a lot of ways in which Katie is a very acceptable spokesperson for this messaging. VirginiaSay more about that.CorinneWell, first of all, she has a background in PR. And I think, even at her biggest she's...VirginiaShe's glamorous.CorinneShe's pretty, and she has a certain style. She looks wealthy, I want to say.VirginiaWell, she sure is, because guess who officiated at their wedding? Former mayor of New York City, and friend of her family, Michael Bloomberg.CorinneOh, okay, yeah.VirginiaThis is from the New York Times: "In addition to their apartment in Chelsea, the couple splits their time between homes in Palm Beach, Florida and Maine."CorinneI mean, they are definitely in a different tax bracket than myself.VirginiaSo yes. Wealthy. CorinneBut there are also people who are wealthy and wear Blundstones and barn jackets, you know? She's wearing blazers and heels.VirginiaA lot of pantsuits.Corinne A lot of jewelry. And she's always on vacation somewhere tropical.VirginiaYeah, in an amazing caftan. She's leaning into glam.CorinneShe looks polished. VirginiaShe's very polished. It's very New York City. Like, Sex and the City vibes. She could hang out with Carrie Bradshaw and she would totally fit in with them at one of those fancy lunches. And that's cool. That's her aesthetic. It's also representative of a certain socioeconomic privilege level. This is something that I saw frequently in women's magazines, and something I talked about when Jenn Romolini came on the podcast: So many people who work in New York City media, at the high levels, come from privilege. It is a very nepo-baby-driven industry. Because these are jobs that you have to do tons of unpaid internships to get. And/or work for no money as an assistant. The only way you can do that is if you have family money supporting your ability to access these industries. So it's not surprising to me that she comes from a privileged background, because she comes from PR and fashion, and that's who works in those industries.And I still think it's interesting and somewhat transgressive to be a woman in a larger body in that world. It helps me understand why it felt radical to be a size 12 dressing like a celebrity, because a size 12 in that world is an extremely non-normative body, right? This is the tier of people who have access to all the personal trainers, who are playing tennis all summer. There is no space to be a fat person in that world. So even at a size 12, it feels like, oh my gosh, your body is so other. The scale is just different when you move in these different spaces. So I can critique the space. I can be like, okay, you're friends with billionaires, and that's a hard place to be in a larger body of any kind. Did you take a look at the Wirecutter piece where she was giving a lot of like clothing recs and it's like advice for dressing as a plus size person?CorinneYes, I did take a look at it. She does have some good recs in there. I will say very expensive recs. Her preferred white t-shirt is $100.VirginiaAnd you're going to get spaghetti sauce on it so fast. CorinneIt's a weird vibe. VirginiaOkay, so now let's talk about Oprah and Weight Watchers. In 2024 Katie posted a critique of the first ABC special Oprah did about GLP-1s. And she gave a fairly nuanced critique. There was stuff she liked, there was stuff she didn't like, but she specifically said, "They came so close, and I wish Weight Watchers had fully apologized for the harm they had caused by pushing all of us to diet and want to change our bodies for so long." She was like, oh, they almost got it, but they didn't. And then in response, CEO Sima Sistani got on Instagram and did apologize. She did this speech of, you're right, Katie. I was wrong. Like, we've been wrong. We've done harm, and kind of fully walked into it. So what was your take when that all happened? CorinneTo be honest, I wasn't paying too much attention. But I do think the best apology from Weight Watchers would be them closing down, you know? It's very weird to me to be like, "Yes, we realize we've done harm, and we're just going to keep doing it."VirginiaWell, and what they were really apologizing for was selling a plan that didn't work and now they're selling GLP-1s. So it's, "We have the thing that'll work now!" As opposed to apologizing for trying to make us all do this in the first place. CorinneEven Katie going on Instagram and calling out the CEO— something like that, would just never occur to me, because I don't know, I just would never expect someone at Weight Watchers to respond or care. And I also think Weight Watchers is a microcosm, you know? It's like, sure, Weight Watchers has done harm, and they're just part of a bigger system. And you're not acknowledging that there's a bigger system there.VirginiaWell and Katie did get a response. Now, on the one hand, Katie has many more Instagram followers than you, so there's that piece of it. But I think it's an open question how planned this was, and whether they had talked ahead of time that Katie would critique and that Sima Sistani would publish her apology. Because I mean number one, no Weight Watchers CEO can just casually hop on her Instastories and apologize without having run the plan by many lawyers to make sure that she wasn't going to tank the business. So that had to have been planned, to some extent. And then the next piece of this is later last year, Katie had her own interview with Oprah in a different special, this one sponsored by Weight Watchers. And then she went on to host a podcast for Weight Watchers. So at some point, Katie got paid by Weight Watchers. Whether it was not until she hosted the podcast, or whether she was paid to be on the special with Oprah, or whether she was in a sponsorship deal with them when she asked for the apology, we don't know. But at some point, she moved from activist to on the payroll of a diet company.CorinneWasn't her response like, "Well, they were going to pay someone, it might as well be me? Or like it might as well be a plus size person." VirginiaWhat she said in the Oprah interview is, "If we don't have this conversation, if we don't insert our voice into this conversation, someone else will. Someone else will make those decisions for us." That's her argument. She wants to be in the room where it happens. She wants to be representing plus size people to these companies and with these companies. But she's not doing it pro-bono. She's not Tigress Osborne, Executive Director of NAAFA, depending on fundraisers to pay for plane tickets to places. She's doing this as a multi-hyphenate with three homes who's now getting a paycheck from Weight Watchers.CorinneYeah, it's so complicated. Because on the one hand, I can see her point. If Weight Watchers is going to be giving money to someone, it's kind of good that they would be giving some of it to fat people. So on the one hand capitalism, we're all kind of forced to sell out in some way, and on the other hand, you don't love to see it. VirginiaYou don't love to see it.CorinneEspecially when that person has three homes. VirginiaIt's a moment where I think her experiences of marginalization as a fat person erased her ability to see her privilege as a wealthy, white person. If Weight Watchers is going to pay fat people, Katie Sturino is not the person I need them to pay! I am not the person I need them to pay. Those of us in a certain tax bracket, living at a certain privilege level, are not the ones who need cash reparations from Weight Watchers. It's lower income folks who have paid to be in those meetings for years and years, who took their daughters to those meetings, who this company preyed on because it was an "affordable" approach to weight loss. And took their money over and over again every time they regained the weight and came back.CorinneWell, this is all is reminding me of the book Dietland.VirginiaBy Sarai Walker, friend of the show, yes.CorinneWhere the the heiress of the diet company is using profits from the diet company to do a type of reparations, vigilante justice. VirginiaI don't think that that's what's happening here.And I want to look a little bit at what Katie's defense has been around all of this. She's not afraid to talk very directly to haters who criticize her about her body. So in the New York Times piece, she disclosed that she's taking a GLP-1 for her own weight loss, and she then shared in a video that this was a medical decision, that she didn't really care if she lost weight or not that it was doing it to manage her A1C whatever. Again, that's Katie's business. I have no opinion about that. But she's in a smaller body now—not down to a size 12, but a mid-sized body now—and she's still pushing herself as a face of this movement. And that is a little bit complicated. She's talked about how it doesn't matter what size she is, she gets flack all the time. Like, when she was a size 12, she was too small to be representing body positivity. As a 22 people said she was too big. She's always, always, always getting constant comments about her bodies. And you know, that is really hard to deal with. That is not welcome feedback.And it is tricky that she has made her body very much her brand, I don't know, I struggle with this. It sounds like I'm saying she's asking for it, and I'm not. But you're posting content in swimsuits all the time. You're showing us your rolls, and then you're saying we shouldn't talk about people's bodies. Bodies are the least interesting thing about us. But her body is very interesting to her. She's making it a center of her work.CorinneI mean, you're making some points. It's hard to land in one way or another here. I do think the cost to being a public figure in the way that she is, in some ways, is people harassing you. And I think that's horrible and too high a cost. I also think she's made some really strange decisions, like working with Weight Watchers and still wanting to defend body neutrality or whatever.VirginiaYeah, she prefers body neutrality to body positivity, we should say and that's fine. I'm not attached to either term, to be honest. CorinneI feel like I always end up more confused than than I started on these subjects.VirginiaWhere did you start? CorinneI think where I started was Katie Sturino neutrality. Like I just sort of felt like she's not my people or whatever, and then I do feel kind of bad for her getting all this criticism and and then also I just feel, mad that people have so much money. But what do we do? I don't know.VirginiaI think it's complicated by her decision to take the Weight Watchers money. I think if she was just taking GLP-1s, that's her own business. Her body changing is her own business, even though she makes content that really centers her body. I would be backing her, like, yeah, that's not for people to interrogate your body. It's still your body, it's not your business. And I think she's walking a really complicated line by deciding to then also monetize her weight loss, by hooking up with Weight Watchers. That feels different, because she's promoting Weight Watchers, which means she's selling weight loss to other people. She's suggesting that these GLP1s are a good option for other people. Maybe she hasn't directly said those words, but she has done the Oprah special. She's lent them her brand, which has a lot of credibility. Someone said to me, l"I go out of my way to buy Megababe, even though it costs a little more than comparable products, because I want to support Katie. I want to back her work." People invest in her because they believe in her mission. CorinneThat's true.VirginiaAnd now she has attached that mission to Weight Watchers, which is selling GLP1s and obviously selling weight loss. That's where it loses me a little for her to then be like, how dare people talk about my body? You're literally selling this new version of your body. You're showing it to us because you're marketing this thing. That's where it gets really murky. On the other hand, there's a video that I'll link to where she talks quite a lot about how the internal work we need to do on body acceptance has nothing to do with the scale, and she does seem to really want to make the point that she feels very detached from her own weight loss numbers. That's not why she's on it. And she makes the point that if you don't do your own internal work, you can lose tons of weight, and you would still be miserable with your body. The weight loss is not a solution for body image struggles. And I think that's valuable. And I think there are a lot of people who listen to her who need to hear that. So I think that's useful. And it then is confusing that she's like, "But also Weight Watchers is great now."CorinneOne through line in a lot of her content is that it does feel like sometimes the bigger picture is missing, like the intersectionality. I'm not a super close follower, so maybe I'm just missing it. But I feel like I'm not seeing her do a ton of advocacy for other fat people.VirginiaWell, she really stays in her lane, which is fashion. I don't hear her talking about healthcare access, don't hear her talking about workplace discrimination, housing discrimination. Definitely not how anti-fatness intersects with racism and other marginalization. I don't think that's a focus of hers. And in some ways, that's fine, and in some ways that shows, I think, that she's not here for a deep dive into the world of fat liberation. Okay, so our big Burnt Toast question that we ask in all these episodes: Is Katie Sturino a diet?CorinneYes?VirginiaShe is selling a diet...by working with Weight Watchers. CorinneAnd I think just by embodying a very narrow line of fatness.VirginiaShe is selling a specific image of acceptable fatness.CorinneWhat's your take?VirginiaI started this episode wanting to be able to say no, in part just because everybody expects me to say yes.CorinneI know I think I'm usually on the no side. VirginiaYeah, you're usually the no and I'm usually the yes. But I think the more we talk about it, I think I'm landing there as well. But I also think she's the embodiment of this larger issue, which is: So much activism happens through social media now. And social media is a business. It is where people are building brands and making money and that means that activism gets infused with business in these really messy ways. I think plus size fashion influencers as a category have really not done a great job with this, because we have seen this trajectory of using body positivity rhetoric, even fat liberation rhetoric, and centering fat joy, celebrating you look so great in all the clothes... and then forgetting all of the other work that goes along with that, and then if they manage to achieve body changes, very quickly changing their tune about how important all of this is. I don't think she's Rosey Beeme, who's like, "Forget I ever liked fat people." I don't think she's that at all, but I do think she has not done the work of intersectionality here. CorinneYeah. It kind of feels like a like microcosm of everything that's happening in the US right now. VirginiaFor sure, for sure.CorinneIt's hard to not just extrapolate out. VirginiaSo are we saying I should not order the $460 jeans?CorinneI mean, don't ask me on this stuff, because I'm always like I do want to know. I do want to know if they're good jeans. VirginiaI do want to know. I am curious!  CorinneThis would make a good Patreon post. VirginiaI don't know that they would fit me. I have to look at the size chart and figure out if it's like a Gap 35 or if it's like a designer brand 35.CorinneI feel like it depends on if they have stretch or not. I bet they do. Katie seems like someone who would be going for stretch jeans.VirginiaShe does also do all those underwear tests where she checks whether things rolls down. That's valuable content. CorinneShe is brave. She's doing the videos that personally I would not want to do.VirginiaYou don't see me on my in my underwear on the Internet. I mean, I am on WikiFeet, but that was not my choice. That's as scandalous as I get. All right. Well, that was a very interesting conversation. Listeners, we want to hear what you think. Where do you land on this one? Have you followed her work? Have you felt, had mixed feelings about the Weight Watchers of it all? Do you have a totally different take? You can tell us in the comments. ButterVirginiaOkay, my Butter, I gave you a little preview. You can tell because we're on Zoom together, and you can see a different background behind me. But I moved my desk to a different part of my–actually, not even a different part of my office. I moved it from being parallel with the wall to being kitty corner between two walls. And I'm so much more comfortable in my office! And I realized I had my desk too close to the wall and it was not size inclusive. I was always bumping up against the wall behind me, and what a dumb thing to do in one's home office where you have total control. I had just decided the desk needed to face a certain way. I don't know what made me think it was necessary. A lot of it is the pressure on having a good Zoom background? But I've decided unless I'm doing TV or something, I'm going to keep my desk in a more comfortable place. CorinneI think that's really reasonable. VirginiaAnd it just made me think: How many other small ways do we accept our homes or our cars or whatever not being comfortable for our bodies? Like this cost $0. I literally slid the desk over to make more room. Make more room for yourselves!CorinneTotally, it's so funny how hard that stuff is to notice sometimes.VirginiaI hadn't even realized that's why I was uncomfortable. I do also need a new desk chair. If people have desk chair recs, I want those in the comments as well. I really would like to know because I'm in a crappy West Elm ancient desk chair. It's like oddly off balance. It's not good for my lower back. But I want one that's not a million dollars and not ugly.CorinneGood luck with that. I'm also really admiring your Cape Cod collarless sweatshirt.VirginiaOh, my cut collar sweatshirt. It's really cute, right? It was too tight in the neck. It's pretty tight in the waist. I was debating maybe cutting that somehow too I haven't quite figured out. Like, if I cut off the band at the bottom and it's just sort of like, boxy, would that be cute? CorinneI think it would be cute. I think it'd be more cropped. VirginiaCorinne, what's your Butter?CorinneMy Butter is a Butter that has been Buttered before. It's Taskmaster. I know it has been mentioned by other burnt toast guests, but you know what it is, or?Virginia it's an app where people come and do things for you?CorinneNo, nope. That's TaskRabbit.VirginiaI was like, why are you recommending the gig economy? CorinneAnd I've actually had very mixed results with TaskRabbit. Not recommending that one. Someone blew up a light bulb on my ceiling. That's a story for another day. TaskMaster is a British TV show, there's a comedian host, and then there are like five comedian guests, and they get assigned psychotic tasks. Like, I don't know, like, open this paper bag without using your arms or some seemingly impossible task, and then you watch them do it, and they get ranked and get points. The first episode that I watched, I was laughing so hard, I was crying, peeing my pants, like my abs were sore. And it is just very easy to watch, like, you just laugh and it's funny.VirginiaI don't usually do reality TV with my kiddo for our show, yeah, but this does sound like a fun one to watch with her. CorinneYeah, I will say there's like, some mild--they're comedians, so there's some mild innuendo and stuff.VirginiaI mean, I think I'm going to write a whole essay about this, but I love watching inappropriate television with my children. I think it opens up many great conversations.CorinneGreat. Well, you should definitely watch it, though it's on YouTube, and I have been paying for seasons. But someone actually in the Burnt Toast chat today was saying that they watch it for free on YouTube. So now I'm confused. I really am enjoying Taskmaster.VirginiaWell, that's delightful, yeah, all right. Well, this was a great episode. Excited to hear what everyone thinks about. What furniture are you moving, what tasks are you completing, tell us in the comments. The Burnt Toast Podcast is produced and hosted by Virginia Sole-Smith (follow me on Instagram) and Corinne Fay, who runs @SellTradePlus, and Big Undies!The Burnt Toast logo is by Deanna Lowe.Our theme music is by Farideh.Tommy Harron is our audio engineer.Thanks for listening and for supporting anti-diet, body liberation journalism!

In this episode of The Body Grievers Club, Bri sits down with Registered Dietitian and Certified Body Trust® Specialist Aaron Flores, RDN. They dig into how grief shows up in men's body image work, why “optimization culture” keeps so many dudes stuck, and what it really means to move from control to trust without the shame-fix-rush.Bri and Aaron unpack the lifelong messages men receive about “fixing” their bodies, the pressure to perform masculinity, and the quiet grief of losing the hope of thinness, rippedness, or former abilities. They talk about straddling two ships, diet culture and body liberation, and why permission to be in the in-between is often the bridge to values-aligned change.They also explore community as an antidote to isolation, how empathy (not fixing) rewires the story, and why acceptance = “the willingness to receive my body as it is.” From Big Mouth's “shame wizard” to Yoda's wisdom, this convo uses metaphor to make the work doable. If you've ever felt like you should just “hack” your way to a better body, this episode offers a different path: zoom out, name the grief, and build trust - slowly, gently, on purpose.TIMESTAMPS:02:10 Aaron's story: from running a VA weight-loss program to Body Trust
06:05 Men, diagnosis, and why eating disorders are under-recognized
09:30 The two ships: straddling diet culture and body liberation
13:20 Masculinity, “optimization,” and the illusion of control
17:45 Grief themes: anger, fear, urgency, shame—and moving without a rush
22:15 Community + witnessing: why healing must be seen to be felt
25:40 Body Trust basics: zooming out, C-level work, and self-compassion
29:20 Partners & attraction: unlearning beauty standards + holding your ground
33:10 Parenting & modeling: the relationship you want your kids to have with their bodies
36:00 Big Mouth's “shame wizard,” parts work, and building new neural grooves
39:20 Star Wars metaphors: fear, the dark side, and choosing values over control
42:10 Final takeaways for dudes: your body isn't a project; find your peopleRESOURCES:Mentioned in this episode:* Center for Body Trust® (rupture → reckoning → reclamation)* Big Mouth (Netflix): The “shame wizard” metaphor* Star Wars quotes & metaphors (Yoda, fear → suffering)* Book: Manhood: The Bare Reality by Laura Dodsworth (photo essays + narratives)* Aaron's 5-module body image course for dudes (via his website)WANT MORE OF AARON FLORES, RDN?* Instagram: @aaronfloresrdn* Website: www.aaronfloresrdn.com* Substack: The Unscripted Journey* Podcast: Men UnscriptedWANT MORE OF BRI?*Instagram: @bodyimagewithbri
*Website: https://bodyimagewithbri.com/*7 Steps Guide from Body Grief to Body Acceptance

We dive into some of the trials, tribulations and the potential mental impact on weight loss. Listen in as we talk client examples, food noise, GLP-1, life stages, kids and more! And reach out ot us if there is something you want to hear about!between2pastries@gmail.com

So you've started to reclaim exercise and food from diet culture — but there's still one more piece that ties it all together: your relationship with your body. In Day 3 of Diet Culture Rehab, we're tackling one of the hardest parts of healing — learning to make peace with your body so you can finally stop letting your reflection dictate how you feel, eat, and live. In this session — “Reclaim Your Body” — you'll learn…

Our guest today is Maddy Ballard, sewist, journalist, author. Born in Syracuse, NY, to a Texan father and a Chinese-New Zealander mother, she grew up in Auckland, New Zealand where she lived until she was 22. She then moved to England to pursue a postgraduate degree in English literature at the University of Oxford. Working in England as a journalist after her degree ended, she returned home during Covid, which is when she learned to sew.  After a couple of years working in Auckland, Maddy moved to Wellington to pursue a master's in creative writing, which is when she wrote her book "Patchwork".  She now lives in Melbourne Australia and still works as a journalist -splitting most of her spare timebetween writing and sewing but also loving to sing and cook. (2:00) Born in the US, Maddy's family moved back to New Zealand when she was 4 years old. Why did they make this move?(3:00) who in her family sewed and how did that influence her love for the craft? It started with her grandmother…and a great friend!(3:40) While Maddy was exposed to sewing quite young, she didn't take it up in earnest until she was in her 20's. What was the impetus for this?(5:23) What was her very first sewing project and what are her memories of its creation?(6:20) Maddy is self-taught…how did this work out?(6:40) Maddy calls sewing “magical”. How did sewing provide comfort and stability during the major transitions in her life?(7:52) Maddy talks about her mixed heritage and how it influences her creation choices.(9:37) Maddy talks about her book. How it came together and what started it all.(12:15) Maddy talks about sewing be a way to accept your body. She explains…(14:00) Why does Maddy say that Sewing is an act that helps you believe in the future?(14:47) While researching for her book she found out that sewing was really important to her family. She tells us what she learned and how it touched her.(16:45) Remaking is important to Maddy…she tells a specific story of how this worked for her.(18:52) An advocate for zero waste she talks about sustainability and its challenges.(21:25) Maddy tells us about her work as a journalist. She's focused on food, restaurants and hospitality. Now she's in the bicycle industry!(22:20) Maddy writes, sings, cooks and sews. Is it hard to balance it all?(23:13) Maddy talks about sewing as a form of self-expression and how it's influenced her own projects.(24:23) What's she working on now?(25:14) What's next and what are her dreams? There could be a novel…and a quilt in her future!(27:36) Is there a question we didn't ask?(27:55) Where can you find her book Patchwork - A Sewist's Diary?(28:20) How can you reach Maddy? Instagram @MaddyBallard 27 Be sure to subscribe to, review and rate this podcast on your favorite platform…and visit our website sewandsopodcast.com for more information about today's and all of our Guests.

In this (for real for real) final episode of Life After Diets, host Stefanie Michele explains how recovery taught her how to understand the call for change. She shares why letting go of the familiar—even when it's scary—is essential for growth, and how that insight is leading her to close this chapter and launch her new show, Full But Not Finished. The Life After Diets archive will remain here as a resource and you can now find Stefanie Michele on her new show: Full But Not Finished. Subscribe now to listen to the pilot episode! Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamstefaniemichele  

So much of your food and body battle comes down to one thing: belief. The women who finally break free from diet culture aren't the ones with more willpower — they're the ones who learn to change the beliefs holding them back. In episode 260 of Fitness & Sushi, I'm going to show you why the beliefs you hold about yourself are the true drivers of your choices, and how to finally break free from the stories diet culture has planted in your mind. In this episode – “How to Break Free From Limiting Beliefs About Food, Your Body, and Exercise” – you'll learn…

Body Love Binge Group Coaching Call - Living with Someone Who RestrictsIn this powerful coaching session, I work with Kitty, a woman who recovered from 40 years of bulimia and is now training to be a coach herself. She's navigating the challenge of living with a partner who naturally restricts and controls his eating during cycling season - and how it's bringing up her own insecurities about her recovered body.Key Quotes from the Session:"You can only take someone as far as you've gone yourself.""Where are you on the acceptance spectrum? From 'this is my body'

In this episode, I'm sharing all the details about my recent trip and what it's really like to travel with complete food freedom, true body acceptance, and a positive, balanced relationship with exercise. I'll also break down how you can create this kind of freedom for yourself—because trust me, it's possible, and it feels amazing. Let's dive in! Let's connect: Mallory's Instagram & Tiktok Free Community "The Roadmap To Living Unrestricted" Book a Free Discovery Call Work With Me Submit Podcast Requests

We explore Health At Every Size again. How it relates to all things. We talk about meds, inflammation, our own perceptions of whats considered "right and wrong" around weight. We even talk about clothes! We cover a lot in this episode! Take a listen and feel free to reach out to us: between2pastries@gmail.com  And support our work, https://patreon.com/user?u=336...

Send us a textMary Lambert joins us for a powerful, intimate, and joyful conversation that bridges music, activism, and radical self-love. From her breakout with Same Love to her new anthem The Tempest, Mary shares how art becomes resistance and why fat liberation is at the heart of her work.We dive into:The story and politics behind The Tempest and why every lyric matters.How Mary's journey through poetry, community, and visibility shaped her fat liberation voice.Building the Fat Friendly Medical Provider Directory and fighting for healthcare access.Intimacy, desire, and why pleasure isn't an act of charity, it's liberation.The power of workshops like Everybody Is A Babe to dismantle shame and spark joy.Mary also gets candid about sex toys (yes, “The Boss” makes an appearance), queer joy, playlists for pleasure, and how choosing authenticity has transformed her life.✨ This episode is a reminder that liberation isn't just personal, it's collective, messy, sexy, and revolutionary.Learn more about Mary at marylambertsings.comSupport the showBigSexyChat.com appreciates you and our community. We do this for you, so if you ever have any ideas about a subject we can discuss for you, email us at bigsexychatpod@gmail.com.You can find us on Facebook and Instagram as BigSexyChat.Twitter (who knows how long we will stay there) is BigSexyChatPodCheck out our merch at www.BigSexyTees.com (credit to Toni Tails for setting this up for us!)Chrystal also sells sex toys via her website BlissConnection.com and you can use the code BSC20 for 20% off. Big thanks to our Sponsor Liberator Bedroom Adventures. We ADORE the products from Liberator. And, to be clear, we all loved their products even before they became a sponsor!

Menopause is finally front and center — and that's a good thing. But as Time recently highlighted, much of the conversation is still steeped in diet culture. Weight loss is being pushed as the solution, even when it comes at the expense of women's mental health and well-being. In this episode — “Menopause, Diet Culture, and the Weight Loss Trap: What No One's Talking About” — you'll learn: Why diet-focused menopause programs often backfire How disordered eating is resurging in midlife women Why weight loss itself isn't the problem — but the mindset behind it can be The steps to heal your food and body relationship before pursuing physical goals What real, supportive solutions look like during this stage of life If you've been feeling lost in the noise of menopause diet culture, you're not alone. This is your invitation to heal first, so the rest becomes possible. Time article: https://time.com/7297712/menopause-diet-culture-eating-disorders-essay/ ——— When you're ready, here are more ways we can help you… Read Tony's Book for Free His book The Ideal Body Formula: How to Ditch Diet Culture and Achieve the NEW Ideal Body is available for you to read 100% free. Click here to read it, or purchase in paperback and Kindle versions on Amazon. Join Our Free Built Daily Facebook Group Get further strategies and inspiration to help you overcome your health and fitness struggles. Click here to join. Schedule Your Free Breakthrough Call This is a free call designed to help you overcome your struggles and get you on track to achieving your healthiest weight. Schedule your call here: builtdaily.com/call/

A very special announcement to say that Life After Diets is closing a chapter to open some new ones. As Sarah makes room in her life for new endeavors (if you're in the UK area, be sure to subscribe to her mailing list for future in-person events), Stef will still be a voice in your ear under the Life After Diets name...for now.  To stay in touch with Stef and Sarah, you can use the following links: Connect with Stefanie Michele, Binge Eating & Body Image Coach; Somatic Therapist Website – www.iamstefaniemichele.com Instagram – www.instagram.com/iamstefaniemichele Substack - www.substack.com/@iamstefaniemichele Connect with Sarah Dosanjh, Author & Psychotherapist Website – www.thebingeeatingtherapist.com Instagram – www.instagram.com/the_binge_eating_therapist YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/TheBingeEatingTherapist Sarah's book I Can't Stop Eating is available on Amazon We sincerely appreciate everyone who has been a part of the Life After Diets community, whether that meant listening in your car on the way to work, playing an episode while out on a walk, or having us on in the background as you moved through the everyday routines of your life. However you found us, however often you tuned in, we don't take it lightly. It has meant so much to know that our voices have traveled alongside you, that the conversations we've had together have been part of your own reflections and your own stories. We created this podcast hoping it would feel like company. A place to come back to when you needed it. Knowing that so many of you did just that has been a gift beyond what we imagined. Thank you for inviting us into your time and your world. xx

What if your weight never affected your confidence again? Think about it… even when we've made peace with our bodies, weight has a sneaky way of creeping back in—through Instagram scrolls, offhand comments, or that tireless voice in our head. And suddenly, you're pulled back into the weight loss obsession you swore you'd left behind. If you've ever felt stuck on the scale, guilty around food, or wondered how to stop yo-yo dieting, this one's for you. TIMESTAMPS 00:02 – Why Your Weight Loss Journey Keeps You Running Circles06:45 – The Biggest Loser & What Actually Works Against You in Weight Loss14:20 – How to Stop Yo-Yo Dieting & Boost Mindful Eating22:05 – Building a Healthy Lifestyle Without Numbers or Shame Motivation30:40 – Building Confidence the Non-Diet Way This episode isn't about your weight loss journey. And it isn't about ignoring health—it's about shifting how we see weight, and how much it gets in the way of building a healthy lifestyle. In this health podcast episode: ·       Why shame never works for weight loss motivation: and how to rethink the way you talk about your body ·       How to stop yo-yo dieting: by healing your relationship with food instead of cutting more calories or avoiding your favourite foods. ·       Health without numbers: what it feels like to live in a body you care for—without letting the scale control your confidence. Build a body image that empowers you, not punishes you. Imagine a life where your worth is never measured in pounds or kilos. It starts now… Listen here!

In this enlightening episode of the Secret Life Podcast, host Brianne Davis-Gantt dives deep into the transformative philosophy of intuitive eating. With her signature blend of humor and vulnerability, Brianne shares her personal journey of healing from an eating disorder and body dysmorphia, emphasizing the importance of making peace with food and embracing a non-diet mentality.Throughout the episode, Brianne unpacks the nine key principles of intuitive eating, encouraging listeners to reject the restrictive dieting mentality and instead honor their hunger cues. She discusses the significance of challenging the “food police,” recognizing the satisfaction factor in meals, and discovering the joy of eating without guilt or shame. By sharing relatable anecdotes and practical strategies, Brianne empowers listeners to reconnect with their bodies, appreciate their health, and cultivate a positive relationship with food.Listeners will gain valuable insights into how intuitive eating can lead to improved self-esteem, better mental health, and a healthier body image. Brianne's candid discussion serves as a reminder that nourishing our bodies should be a joyful experience, free from judgment and emotional turmoil. Tune in for a heartfelt conversation that invites you to embrace your body and food in a whole new way.

This episode is part of Body Relationship Month — our special July series revisiting some of our most-loved episodes to help you heal your relationship with your body. One of the most common questions we hear is: Can I want to lose weight and still heal my relationship with food and my body? It's a nuanced and deeply personal question — one that many women in midlife wrestle with after years (or decades) of dieting, body shame, and conflicting messages about health. If you're trying to balance weight loss goals with a genuine desire for body acceptance and food freedom, this episode is for you. In this episode — “Can Weight Loss and Healing Your Relationships with Food and Body Coexist?” — you'll learn:

This episode is part of Body Relationship Month — our special July series where we're revisiting some of our most-loved episodes to help you heal your relationship with your body. Many of us struggle to overcome society's message that you need to look a certain way to be valued. Adopting these messages (willingly or not) often creates debilitating battles with how we see our bodies. This negative body relationship can permeate nearly every aspect of life and diminish our entire experience. We end up living day after day with someone (ourselves) we don't accept, love, or appreciate unconditionally. And well… that sucks. But there are steps you can take to embrace your imperfections, accept yourself as-is, and still pursue your health and fitness goals. The result? Peace, freedom, and finally escaping a lifetime sentence in your food and body prison. In this episode — “Embracing Imperfection: How to Love Your Body at Every Stage” — you'll learn:

In this episode of Fitness & Sushi, we're pulling back the curtain on how diet culture broke your relationship with your body — and what you can do to finally heal it. If you've ever felt stuck in the cycle of obsession, self-doubt, and body shame, it's not because you failed. It's because you were trained to see your body this way. In this episode — “How Diet Culture Destroyed Your Body Relationship (And the 3 Shifts That Heal It)” — you'll learn: How the message “to feel better about your body, change it” created fear, anxiety, and fragile self-worth Why diet culture taught you to see your body as an object to control instead of a home to care for How constant fighting for control and discipline led to self-doubt, isolation, and burnout The Ideal Body Formula approach to rebuilding trust, respect, and connection with your body What it really takes to reach your healthiest weight and feel at home in your body again …and much more! Ready to go deeper? Sign up for our free Body Relationship Month this July at builtdaily.com/body-relationship-month, and get weekly trainings, tools, and support to start healing your relationship with your body for good. — When you're ready, here are more ways we can help you… Read Tony's Book for Free The Ideal Body Formula: How to Ditch Diet Culture and Achieve the NEW Ideal Body is available 100% free. Click here to read it. Join Our Free Facebook Group Get strategies and support to heal your relationship with food and your body. Click here to join. Schedule Your Free Breakthrough Call A powerful 1-on-1 call designed to help you end food and body obsession for good. Book your call here.

Tom Segura joins Ethan on a journey through the ups and downs of weight management and self-acceptance. Remember that eighth-grade breakup that sent you spiraling? Tom recounts how a similar experience motivated him to hit the pavement and sparked a lifelong battle with weight concerns. They share personal tales that reveal how even external successes can mask inner insecurities, and emphasize the universal connection between our internal struggles and how we project ourselves to the world.Tom and Ethan dive into the nitty-gritty of diets gone awry, the relentless availability of junk food at comedy clubs, and how this lifestyle can wreak havoc on one's self-esteem. We explore the tightrope walk between physical health and mental well-being, underscoring the relentless effort necessary to strike a balance in the whirlwind of showbiz.SHOW HIGHLIGHTS(00:01) Navigating Weight and Self-Acceptance(11:59) Overcoming Weight Loss Challenges(15:22) Body Image and Self-Acceptance(20:12) Challenges of Weight Maintenance(24:22) Maintaining Health and Wellness Amid Challenges(32:01) Consistency in Fitness on the Road(43:38) Navigating Self-Esteem and Body Acceptance(51:14) The Delusion of Body Image(01:00:17) Maintaining Healthy Habits for Movie Work Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.