What if the most valuable part isn’t the most obvious one?

In this episode of Thrive Beyond Size, Michelle shares a series of small synchronicities that led her to reflect on Earl Grey tea—and the surprising fact that its signature flavour comes not from the fruit itself, but from the oil in the peel of bergamot.

From there, she explores how this metaphor applies to so many areas of our lives.

Michelle unpacks how diet culture and dominant wellness narratives train us to focus on what’s visible, measurable, and socially rewarded—while ignoring the quieter, subtler layers that actually make nourishment possible.

In this episode, you’ll hear reflections on:

• Why we’re conditioned to value outcomes, control, and appearance
• How diet culture strips eating down to function while discarding pleasure, satisfaction, and safety
• The “peel” of eating: sensory experience, connection, comfort, and meaning
• How body distress often comes from focusing only on appearance rather than body wisdom
• Why the nervous system may be the most overlooked layer of all
• How safety and regulation create the foundation for sustainable change
• A gentle invitation to get curious about what you may have been taught to ignore

This is not an episode about fixing yourself or doing more. It’s an invitation to widen the lens, soften your focus, and explore what becomes possible when you stop discarding the peel.

As always, take what resonates, leave what doesn’t, and approach yourself with curiosity and compassion.

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