(In case you missed them.)
Hi friend!
I can’t believe it’s already April! (You too?)
Today I want to share a few things you might have missed in March, including last week’s This Is (Not) About Your Body podcast episode, which was by far my most popular one yet!
My guest was Stefanie Michele, who you might remember as the author of my monthly guest articles over the last few years! Stefanie is a binge eating recovery coach and certified intuitive eating counselor, and I had her on to talk about the binge/restrict cycle that so many people find themselves in: restricting food to try to lose weight, and then ending up binging and feeling totally out of control.
I don’t often talk about food, dieting, or disordered eating in my content— not because it’s not important (or relevant to body neutrality!)— but because it’s a massive, complex topic in its own right. But because body image struggles and disordered eating are inextricably linked for so many people, I love getting to bring in qualified experts who can speak to the recovery process directly and effectively.
Stefanie is one of those people, and our conversation was fire. If you’ve ever found yourself binging, or feeling out of control around food, this episode is a must-listen.
I also had my partner Drew Hughes on the podcast a few weeks ago!
We talked about some of the challenges we’ve faced as a couple, unpacked how we handle conflict and triggers, and shared some of the tools and insights we’ve cultivated over the years for building a strong intimate relationship.
Many of you ask about my relationship on a regular basis– in particular how my partner came to be as emotionally intelligent and available as he is, having grown up as a cisgender straight white dude in patriarchy– so I wanted to invite him to share his perspective with you directly! If you’ve ever struggled in your own partnerships, wanted a radically transparent look into another couple’s relationship, or just been curious about that side of my life, this episode is for you!
Lastly I wanted to highlight today’s podcast episode, where I talk to my friend Suzanne Garrison, a somatic psychotherapist in NYC, about connecting to the body, learning to take up space, and the deep existential questions that underpin a lot of body image issues.
Our conversation didn’t go at all the direction we thought (we’d planned to talk about somatic therapy!) but to be honest it ended up being one of the most fun and interesting episodes I’ve recorded yet. Most people never think about how their relationship to their body is directly related to their understanding of existential purpose, but you can’t really talk about feelings of worthiness/unworthiness without exploring your beliefs about what makes a person worthy of existing.
If you ever struggle with feelings of being unworthy, or not “deserving” to take up space in the world (or in your relationships with other people!), today’s episode is definitely for you.
And of course, if you want to support my work and help me reach more people, it would mean a lot to me if you:
Subscribe to my YouTube channel, where I post the video version of every podcast episode for those of you who prefer to watch!
Join my Patreon, or send me a thank you on BuyMeACoffee!
It’s been so fun making these episodes for you, and as always, I’d love to hear from you.
Which episodes have been your favorite so far?
What topics do you most like hearing about, or want me to cover?
Leave me a comment and let me know!
<3
Jessi