Body Peace Podcast with Jennie Kramer and Nina Manolson

Can I Allow Myself to Experience Pleasure?

In this deeply insightful conversation, hosts Jennie Kramer and Nina Manolson sit down with certified sex therapist Dana D’Alessandro to explore the intersections of body image, sexuality, and pleasure. They discuss the pressures that women face—from societal expectations to self-judgment—and how these shape our sense of intimacy and self-connection. Dana shares her expertise on how our personal template for pleasure evolves, how desire changes with age, and why pleasure doesn’t have to be defined by outdated norms. 

The Erotic Template: How our experiences, upbringing, and body image shape our sexuality.

Judgment & Shame: The internal and external expectations that impact self-worth and pleasure.

Sex Isn’t a Checklist: Why treating intimacy as a task diminishes joy and connection.

Cultural Pressures: How societal norms shape our expectations of sex and intimacy.

The conversation challenges the myth that sexual pleasure has an expiration date and emphasizes the importance of self-exploration, self-acceptance, and cultivating body peace as a foundation for deeper connection and joy.

Key Highlights:
Tune in to the full conversation and explore more episodes at Body Peace Podcast.

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We are so excited to bring you the Body Peace Podcast—a space for deep, compassionate, and real conversations about our relationships with our bodies, food, and the world around us.

For so many of us, the journey with our bodies and food feels like an endless cycle—moments of confidence and care followed by frustrating setbacks into familiar, painful patterns. We try so hard to be kind to ourselves, only to feel defeated when old thoughts or behaviors resurface.

But what if the goal wasn’t perfection? What if the path forward wasn’t about fixing, controlling, or constantly striving—but about finding peace? Body Peace® is about stepping off the battlefield with yourself. 

This podcast is a space for deep, honest conversations about what it truly means to make peace with your body through stress, change, and the ups and downs of life. Because Body Peace® isn’t about getting everything ‘right.’ It’s about learning to come home to yourself again and again.

To kick off our very first episode of this season, we’re doing a check-in. Right now, we are all living in a world that feels heavy, filled with uncertainty, stress, and change. How does this impact our bodies, our eating, and our sense of self? How do we take care of ourselves when everything feels overwhelming?

Jennie Kramer and Nina Manolson dive into these questions, sharing personal stories, clinical insights, and practical strategies for navigating difficult times while maintaining a sense of grounding, connection, and self-kindness.

Tune in and explore more episodes at Body Peace Podcast.

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What Your Brain is Telling You: Listening, Learning, and Leading Your Cognitive Well-Being with Lisa Feiner

In this episode of Body Peace Podcast, hosts Jennie Kramer and Nina Manolson sit down with Lisa Feiner, co-founder of Sharp Again, to explore the evolving relationship we have with our brain health across the life spectrum.

Rather than focusing on surface-level wellness checklists, this conversation invites us to gently explore the deeper work of understanding the root causes behind cognitive shifts, memory changes, and how we can care for our minds with curiosity and agency.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Moving beyond fear: Understanding the role of genetics, toxins, and lifestyle factors without falling into pressure or perfectionism
• The importance of agency: How having information about our bodies and minds can guide intentional choices
• The interplay between sleep, stress, and cognitive well-being
• The role of social connection and community in supporting brain health
• Addressing common misconceptions: Why memory loss is not always an inevitable part of aging
• Practical steps for listeners: Tuning into personal needs, accessing support, and finding balance in making sustainable choices

This is not about adding more tasks to your day—it’s about offering knowledge to help us better understand our unique genetic, environmental, and emotional stories. Together, they reflect on the ways lifestyle, environment, and connection influence cognition and discuss the sense of empowerment that grows from knowing ourselves more fully.

⁠Connect with Nina and Jennie

Nina Manolson M.A. Body-Peace® Founder & Coach

Stay connected & pick up your FREE Practicing Body-Peace Journal: ⁠⁠ninamanolson.com/practicingbodypeace/⁠⁠

Contact: [email protected] Connect: ⁠⁠instagram.com/bodypeacepodcast⁠

Jennie Kramer LCSW-R,CEDS

Subscribe to Jennie’s Newsletter & a complimentary 15min phone consult: ⁠⁠mbhany.com/connect-with-jennie/⁠⁠

Contact: [email protected]

Unpacking Diet Culture and the Journey to Empowerment with Dr. Kim Daniels

In this powerful conversation, clinical psychologist and host of the Emotional Eating and Everything Else podcast, Dr. Kim Daniels, joins Nina Manolson and Jennie Kramer to explore the intersections of therapy, diet culture, and healing. Dr. Daniels shares her personal and professional journey into therapy, emphasizing the pervasive cultural pressures that shape women’s relationships with food and body image. 

The discussion delves into the transformative approach of Internal Family Systems (IFS), highlighting the importance of understanding our internal parts and connecting with the core self in the healing process. Together, they unpack the challenges of unlearning diet culture narratives, witnessing trauma with compassion, and fostering a positive relationship with food and self.

Key Discussion Points:

• Diet culture is a deeply ingrained cultural burden that disproportionately impacts women, shaping their self-worth and relationship with food.
• Empowerment stems from experiencing true agency and self-connection, not just talking about it.
• Children absorb messages about body image and food from a very young age, often internalizing harmful beliefs.
• Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy offers a framework to understand our emotional responses by recognizing the different parts within us.
• Protective parts develop to shield us from exiled feelings of shame, grief, and trauma.
• The core self is inherently compassionate, and reconnecting with it is central to healing.
• Therapy supports individuals in witnessing their trauma, understanding their parts, and cultivating self-compassion.
• Cultural messages around food and body are often misleading and damaging; unlearning these narratives is an essential part of healing.

Through Dr. Daniels’ expertise and the shared reflections from Nina and Jennie, listeners are encouraged to approach their own healing journey with curiosity and self-compassion. The conversation reminds us that while diet culture can feel overwhelming, reconnecting with our core self and working through our protective parts can lead to lasting empowerment and a healthier relationship with food and body.

Join us as we continue to challenge the narratives around food, body, and culture—because every story on a plate is worth hearing.

Connect with Nina and Jennie

Nina Manolson M.A. Body-Peace® Founder & Coach

Stay connected & pick up your FREE Practicing Body-Peace Journal: ⁠⁠ninamanolson.com/practicingbodypeace/⁠⁠

Contact: [email protected] Connect: ⁠⁠instagram.com/bodypeacepodcast⁠

Jennie Kramer LCSW-R,CEDS

Subscribe to Jennie’s Newsletter & a complimentary 15min phone consult: ⁠⁠mbhany.com/connect-with-jennie/⁠⁠

Contact: [email protected]

Hosts Nina Manolson and Jennie Kramer dive into the transformative concept of Unburdened Eating with Dr. Jeanne Catanzaro. Dr. Catanzaro, a clinical psychologist specializing in eating disorders and trauma for over 25 years, and the author of the thought-provoking book, Unburdened Eating: Healing Your Relationship with Food and Your Body Using an Internal Family Systems (IFS) Approach.

Dr. Catanzaro explains how Internal Family Systems (IFS) views our inner world as composed of "parts," each playing a distinct role in our thoughts and behaviors. Some parts may carry "burdens," or extreme beliefs and emotions, often stemming from trauma or societal pressures. In the model, IFS sees all of our different parts as integral to our daily functioning. 

When we’re developing, we experience trauma that impacts a part who we are. To cope, we take on a burden of shame, or fear, just two of many examples. Other parts of us step in to protect us, sometimes through extreme or unhelpful behaviors. Dr. Catanzaro explains that tapping into our internal wisdom can help us to heal. Often extreme behaviors can keep us from accessing that wisdom. 

One of the most empowering aspects of IFS is its emphasis on compassion for all parts, even those that might seem harmful or problematic, like the part driving binge eating. Every part of us has positive intentions, even the ones we want to get rid of. They’re trying to protect us in some way. 

This perspective encourages understanding rather than judgment, fostering a sense of curiosity about why certain behaviors occur.

The discussion highlights two key types of protectors in IFS: managers and firefighters. Managers might keep us restricted and disciplined, while firefighters react in moments of stress or overwhelm, often through binge eating or other coping mechanisms.

Together with Nina and Jennie, Dr. Catanzaro breaks down how different parts show up in a real-world example. They breakdown how to identify who is control, who is binging, who is the protector and how to be curious about their roles. .

Dr. Catanzaro encourages listeners to cultivate curiosity about their inner world as a first step toward healing. By identifying and understanding their parts, individuals can create space for their "core self" to lead with clarity, compassion, and creativity.

Dr. Catanzaro’s insights challenge traditional views on eating behaviors, replacing blame and guilt with compassion and understanding. By embracing the IFS model, individuals can move toward unburdening their relationship with food and their bodies.

Explore Further

• Unburdened Eating: Healing Your Relationship with Food and Your Body Using an IFS Approach
• No Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz 
• Internal Family Systems Skills Training Manual: Trauma Informed Treatment for Anxiety, Depression, PTSD, & Substance Abuse 
• Dr. Jeanne Catanzaro Website

Connect with Nina and Jennie

Nina Manolson M.A. Body-Peace® Founder & Coach

Stay connected & pick up your FREE Practicing Body-Peace Journal: ⁠⁠ninamanolson.com/practicingbodypeace/⁠⁠

Contact: [email protected] Connect: ⁠⁠instagram.com/bodypeacepodcast⁠

Jennie Kramer LCSW-R,CEDS

Subscribe to Jennie’s Newsletter & a complimentary 15min phone consult: ⁠⁠mbhany.com/connect-with-jennie/⁠⁠

Contact: [email protected]



The podcast episode with Nina Manolson and Jennie Kramer dives deep into the emotional and cultural dynamics behind a seemingly small habit many women have—the "shirt tug." It’s not just about adjusting clothing; it’s about addressing the relationship we have with our bodies and the cultural messages that shape how we see ourselves.

Nina and Jennie unpack how the shirt tug reflects deeper feelings of self-consciousness and body dissatisfaction. It's not just about fixing clothing; it’s a reaction to internalized weight stigma and societal pressures. Jennie aptly notes, "The shirt tug fundamentally says, 'I'm not okay the way I am.”

The hosts discuss how diet culture perpetuates feelings of inadequacy, leading to behaviors like body checking. Jennie explains, “Body checking is an aggressive way of being in relationship with our body. It happens at home, on the street, or even when we catch ourselves in photos.”

The discussion delves into how shame, comparison, and even past traumas affect our body image. Nina highlights a poignant moment with a client: “She realized that even though no one ever criticized her body, she absorbed her parents’ self-criticism—and it shaped how she saw herself.”

Jennie reminds us that we all need to feel comfortable in our body. She explains an exercise she does with her clients who are asked to select photos of themselves over their lifetime. From those early toddler years up to the present, as a way of recognizing and embracing that you are the same person along that entire lifetime. You aren’t an age or a size, rather you are you; a person worthy of acceptance. 

What if we practiced self-compassion instead of bodychecking? Jennie and Nina outline how to address the “shirt-tug” in the moment to better understand the feelings behind the need to adjust. 

• When you catch yourself bodychecking or tugging your shirt, pause and ask: what am I feeling right now? 
• Reframe the moment. Instead of criticism choose kindness towards yourself. 
• Allow for flexibility in how you think about your appearance or clothing as a way to start removing rigid thoughts and beliefs. 

Acceptance is not surrendering, giving in, resigning. Acceptance is about understanding that this is exactly who I am in this moment. I can't be any different than I am in this moment. And I am who I am right now, right here.

You can start to make these shifts today, one small decision at a time. Practice self-compassion and give yourself permission to acknowledge all the parts of who you are. 

Connect with Nina and Jennie

Nina Manolson M.A. Body-Peace® Founder & Coach

Stay connected & pick up your FREE Practicing Body-Peace Journal: ⁠⁠ninamanolson.com/practicingbodypeace/⁠⁠

Contact: [email protected] Connect: ⁠⁠instagram.com/bodypeacepodcast⁠

Jennie Kramer LCSW-R,CEDS

Subscribe to Jennie’s Newsletter & a complimentary 15min phone consult: ⁠⁠mbhany.com/connect-with-jennie/⁠⁠

Embrace Your Authentic Self: The Power of Showing Up in Photos

In a world driven by visual media, it's no surprise that many of us feel nervous or even avoid being in front of the camera. In a recent conversation between body image experts Jennie Kramer and Nina Manolson, they explored this common fear and shared powerful insights on how to embrace being seen, imperfections and all.

The Pressure to Look Perfect

Jennie candidly admitted her own initial resistance to the idea of a photo shoot with Nina. "All you did was say that to me and I thought rather quietly, 'God,' I thought, 'God.' And then the next thought I had was, 'You're not allowed to think that. You do this for a living!'" This resonates with many who, despite their outward confidence, struggle with self-judgment when the camera comes out.

Nina responded by breaking down the layers of self-criticism that surface in these moments. "I'm going be visible. I'm going be seen with every part of me... every wrinkle, every little bit of me that I may not think is up to snuff." Their discussion highlights how unrealistic beauty standards, often amplified by social media, shape our self-perception.

The Shift to Compassion

Both women emphasize the importance of compassion over perfection. Nina beautifully captured this when she said, "I am taking a stand for being in the juiciness of a human body on a planet with gravity... illness, with injury, with all the things that happen to human beings, versus living in an alternate reality that looks airbrushed." 

Jennie reflected on the deeper value of photos as a way to memorialize life moments, not just appearances: "They are to memorialize an experience… When people look at them in your absence... all they see is the beauty and the essence." This is a powerful reminder to cherish the stories behind the photos, rather than focusing on fleeting imperfections.

Embrace It All

Nina and Jennie offer practical advice for anyone struggling with body image. Jennie shared a simple yet transformative morning practice: "Instead of looking in the mirror and saying, 'I have a lot to fix,' say, 'Good morning. What a great day ahead. Can't wait to spend it with you.'" This small shift in mindset can foster a more compassionate relationship with ourselves, and help us see the beauty that exists in all of who we are. 

Zoom out and see the big picture of life. As Nina wisely concluded, "Your world loves you exactly as you are. And if they don’t, they don’t deserve to be in your orbit.”

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Journey of Recovery and Healing in Midlife

In this episode, hosts Nina Manolson and Jennie Kramer talk with Betsy Brenner. She shares her deeply personal story of battling an eating disorder in midlife and the profound lessons she has learned through her recovery journey. 

Brenner’s 2021 memoir, The Longest Match: Rallying to Defeat an Eating Disorder in Midlife, details her experience of emotional trauma, anxiety, and depression, culminating in a late diagnosis of anorexia. While Brenner’s story is unique, it shines a light on the often-overlooked issue of eating disorders in women beyond their youth.

It’s Never Too Late to Heal

Brenner’s message to women is powerful and clear: “It’s never too late to be a work in progress”. She emphasizes that healing is possible at any stage of life. Often, when people think of eating disorders, they imagine young women, but Brenner’s experience highlights that these struggles can affect women at any age. Her story resonates with those who have battled similar issues in silence, especially in a society where there is shame associated with vulnerability.

Her story debunks the stereotype that eating disorders are exclusive to young women and reveals the depth of emotional pain that often goes unnoticed for years.

Disordered Eating: It's Not About the Food

One of the most impactful aspects of Brenner’s story is her realization that her eating disorder wasn’t really about food at all. This insight took years to uncover as she worked with her treatment team, who helped her understand that her behavior with food were symptoms of much deeper emotional struggles.

Betsy shares that it was decades of internalizing all emotions that manifested in her unhealthy behaviors around food and exercise. 

The Perfect Storm

Brenner describes a “perfect storm” of life events that triggered the escalation of her disorder, including her diagnosis with asthma and a return to tennis, which reignited fears around weight and control.

"The eating disorder really took hold. I developed this intense fear of gaining weight and I felt so out of control with this chronic physical illness. I felt like a failure as a mother because I couldn’t be the on-the-go mother I was used to being." 

Her experience serves as a reminder that external stressors combined with deep-seated emotional struggles can be catalysts for disorders, particularly when left unaddressed for years.

The Role of Vulnerability

Brenner admits that she didn’t know it was okay to be vulnerable. Growing up in an environment where vulnerability was seen as a weakness, she learned to suppress her feelings, which exacerbated her struggles. It wasn’t until she embraced vulnerability that she was able to begin her healing process.

She explains that her family, who wanted to support her, was unable to understand what she was going through and didn’t know how to help at first. It led to some isolation until Betsy was able to be vulnerable. She credits writing her story as a step to freedom from the anxiety around her diagnosis. 

By sharing her story and opening up about her journey, Brenner has found a renewed sense of purpose in helping others who may be on similar paths.

Betsy’s journey is an inspiring reminder that it’s never too late to begin healing. Through her memoir, she offers hope to women in midlife who may be struggling with eating disorders or emotional trauma. Her story encourages women to seek the help they need and deserve, no matter their age or stage in life. It’s a powerful message of resilience, vulnerability, and the possibility of transformation.

Brenner’s words offer comfort to those struggling, providing a reminder that it’s never too late to start the journey toward healing and self-compassion.

Resources: 

The Longest Match: Rallying to Defeat an Eating Disorder in Midlife

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Break Free from Diet Culture and Embrace Body Autonomy

In today’s episode, Jennie Kramer and Nina Manolson talk about the pitfalls of diet culture, the emotional toll of restrictive eating, and the path to reclaiming your body autonomy. 

Both Jennie and Nina share personal experiences and insights from working with clients who have struggled for years with the allure of diets, promising a quick fix for deeper issues.

As they highlight, the dieting cycle is often rooted in societal pressures—especially around body image—and perpetuated by a multi-billion-dollar industry designed to exploit our insecurities. Nina notes that many of her clients have been on over 10 different diets, lured in by the promise of thinness, success, and acceptance. But as both women discuss, the real "win" never comes from external validation.

The Allure of Dieting

Dieting is sexy. Not because it’s healthy, but because it's marketed as the magic solution to all of life’s problems. Jennie underscores this point, noting that societal beliefs about thinner bodies being better accepted fuel our obsession with weight loss. She points out that this is especially prevalent in the medical field, where many physicians wrongly assume that weight loss will solve health issues like high cholesterol, perpetuating weight stigma.

The Emotional Toll of Restriction

Jennie prefers the term “deprivation” to describe what happens when we diet. While diets might promise physical transformation, they also lead to emotional and psychological deprivation. As Nina elaborates, this deprivation disconnects us from our natural hunger and satiety cues, creating a pattern of chronic dissatisfaction and body shame. "Eventually, our inner rebel shows up and says, ‘Don’t take that away from me!’” Nina explains. This often leads to overeating, followed by guilt and shame, trapping us in a vicious cycle.

The Path to Body Autonomy

Rather than focusing on what to restrict, Nina encourages listeners to add in elements of self-care: sleep, hydration, variety, and pleasure. The goal is not to deprive yourself but to listen deeply to your body’s needs. Whether it’s respecting personal dietary triggers (like Nina’s experience with gluten) or giving yourself permission to enjoy food without guilt, the journey to body peace begins with understanding that you deserve nourishment.

Breaking the Cycle

They wrap up by examining the diet cycle’s inevitable fail. As Jennie eloquently puts it, "Dieting and restricting create a cycle of failure and shame, and the industry knows it. Every time you ‘fail,’ there’s a new diet waiting for you." Nina adds that real body autonomy comes from making thoughtful, educated decisions about your body—whether that’s trying a new plan or simply slowing down to enjoy your meals.

In a world where diet culture is pervasive, Jennie and Nina’s conversation is a breath of fresh air, encouraging us to tune into our bodies and reject the notion that thinner is always better.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone trapped in the cycle of dieting or looking to reclaim their relationship with food and their body.

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The Critical Link Between Sleep and Your Relationship with Food

In this episode hosts, Nina Manolson and Jennie Kramer discuss the importance of sleep and its profound connection to how we manage food, hunger, and overall well-being. 

Their conversation touches on the challenges that affect lots of women, from balancing busy schedules to managing the impacts of hormonal changes and menopause, all of which disrupt sleep patterns and influence eating behaviors.

Sleep and Hunger Signals

Find out how sleep deprivation affects your body's hunger cues. Jennie explains how the body often confuses hunger, thirst, and fatigue, making it essential to pause and ask, "Am I hungry? Thirsty? Or just tired?" 

This check-in allows us to respond to our body's actual needs, instead of mistakenly reaching for food when rest is what’s truly required.

“When we don’t get sleep, our hunger hormones, ghrelin and leptin, are out of balance, making it harder to know when we're full." — Nina Manolson

The Psychological and Emotional Impact

Nina highlights how a lack of sleep puts us into survival mode, impacting not only our cognitive functions but also how we interact with others. It becomes harder to be present, patient, and compassionate with ourselves and others when we're sleep-deprived. This creates a cycle where exhaustion drives us toward quick fixes, often in the form of unhealthy foods, to manage our energy and emotions.

“When we don’t sleep, we’re in survival mode. We’re not at our most heart-wide open because we’re just trying to get through the day." — Nina Manolson

Sleep as a Form of Self-Care

The conversation shifts to the broader theme of how sleep is an essential form of self-care. Jennie brought up a powerful reflection on how women tend to put everything and everyone else first, leaving no time for themselves to rest and recharge. Sleep becomes a casualty of this over-scheduling, contributing to burnout and emotional eating.

"We tend to fit it all in: our roles as professionals, parents, partners. Everything goes in the same pot, but we have to stop and say, ‘I need time for me.'" — Jennie Kramer

If you’re struggling with your relationship to food, consider how much sleep you’re getting. Sleep deprivation disrupts hunger signals, reduces patience, and leads to emotional eating. By prioritizing rest, you're investing in your overall well-being—mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Nina Manolson M.A. Body-Peace® Founder & Coach

• Stay connected & pick up your FREE Practicing Body-Peace Journal:⁠ https://ninamanolson.com/practicingbodypeace/⁠

• Contact: [email protected]

• Connect: ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/bodypeacepodcast⁠

Jennie Kramer LCSW-R,CEDS

• Subscribe to Jennie’s Newsletter & a complimentary 15min phone consult:⁠ https://mbhany.com/connect-with-jennie/⁠

• Contact: [email protected]

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