We are in the last stretch of the year and it’s business as usual over here at Team YKAL with a brand new episode!. This week on the podcast, speaker, writer, and educator Melissa Toler joins me. Her work encourages people to make the connection between our culture's oppressive beauty standards and our personal struggle with self-acceptance.
I’ve been following Melissa and her work online and social media for a while now. I love her message and I was so excited for the chance to speak with her. Today, we talk about challenging the cultural standards of wellness and beauty, plus diet culture and it’s messaging. We also talk about how we all have internalized thoughts around certain body types, including black bodies, brown bodies, or even trans bodies and how it perpetuates harm. Melissa reminds us the work of unpacking and unlearning our internal body biases is lifelong work.
In this episode you’ll hear:

Melissa’s pivot away from the wellness industry and why she became disillusioned with it (7 minutes and 24 seconds)

How Melissa challenges the cultural standards of beauty and wellness (13:10)

Questioning the messages we receive about body image, health and fitness (17:04)

How health and wellness professionals can shift their education and start to question their current practices and philosophies (24:28)

Fatphobia and unpacking internal biases (26:22)

Melissa shares her story of her own weight loss obsession and how she overcame it (34:09)

http://yourkickasslife.com/259
 
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Episode 259: Challenging Cultural Beauty and Wellness Standards with Melissa Toller

Join Andrea Owen, life coach and author, as she serves up self help in a easy-to-digest way that is also practical and implementable. Andrea brings you guests as well as solo episodes on topics such as perfectionism, the inner-critic, courage, and more.

Education

Training

Language Courses

Higher Education

K-12

Educational Technology

How To

Self-Improvement

This week, we have a repeat guest as Dr. John Duffy returns to the show! We explore mental health and the difference between young men and women. Dr. Duffy also shares insights from his work and book Rescuing Our Sons: 8 Solutions to Our Crisis of Disaffected Teen Boys (A Psychologist's Roadmap). But wait - this episode is not just for parents. For non-parent listeners, we also talk about the effects of anxiety and how to manage it as well as what to say (and not say) when it comes to grief and interacting with those who are grieving. 
Dr. John Duffy is a Chicago-based clinical psychologist, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and national media expert. He has been in vigorous private practice for 25 years, specializing in work with adolescents, young adults, and their parents. 
You’ll hear:

Exploring the nuances of therapy sessions between young women and young men, plus factors contributing to these disparities (5:19)

What Dr. Duffy means when he says we are experiencing a "crisis of disaffected boys" (13:35)

Talking about, with anyone, the complexities of grief (26:20)

How anxiety manifests and how to manage it when it does (33:06)


Resources: 
Write Your Way Through It Registration is Open!
Dr. John Duffy’s website
Episode 246: An Important Conversation about Depression with Dr. John Duffy
Rescuing Our Sons: 8 Solutions to Our Crisis of Disaffected Teen Boys (A Psychologist's Roadmap)
Parenting the New Teen in the Age of Anxiety: Raising Happy, Healthy Humans Ages 8 to 24
Dr. John Duffy is a Chicago-based clinical psychologist, best-selling author, keynote speaker and national media expert. He has been in vigorous private practice for 25 years, specializing in work with adolescents, young adults and their parents. He has consistently provided the tools young people need to thrive through his empathy, knowledge, experience and practice. He has written three books intended to provide parents with the tools to help their teens and young adults thrive in this persistent age of anxiety. For more than a decade, Dr. Duffy has also spoken to thousands of parents internationally through PTA’s, Fortune 500 corporate programs, and other parenting networks.
On radio, Dr. Duffy is a regularly appearing expert on WGN, WLS and NPR. He has appeared as an expert guest on countless podcasts and has been the host of two popular podcasts himself.
Book recommendations:
I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!  
MSN is supported by:
We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/
Episode link:
http://andreaowen.com/597
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Episode 597: Mental Health, Anxiety, and Our Sons with Dr. John Duffy

You’ve probably heard me mention here and there on various podcast episodes about psychedelic therapy. I’ve had a few experts who talk about its benefits (episodes 551 with Dr. Ellen Vora and 560 with Dr. Tanmeet Sethi). 
It’s been an incredibly interesting topic to me, but as someone in long-term recovery, I assumed it wasn’t for me. 
However, after doing extensive research and finding out that a) There is a community of people in recovery who support each other in their journey towards using psychedelics for addiction and recovery, b) the research shows psychedelics are not addictive, and 3) psychedelics when used properly have been shown to help people who struggle with anxiety, addiction, depression, ADHD and other mental health challenges, I decided to take the plunge. 
If you’d like to follow along in my journey, I’m making a private podcast feed to chronicle it all. I’ll go more in depth as to why I’ve chosen to do this, talk about the different options, tell you how my experience was with each one, and how it’s helped me in terms of my mental health. If you decide to sign up, please keep in mind, this is just my experience, psychedelics are not for everyone, and this type of therapy is subjective. 
That being said, tune into this week’s minisode where I talk about the above, why this is an extra-personal endeavor for me, which psychedelic therapy I chose to start with and why. 
Resources from this episode: 
Follow along on my psychedelic therapy journey
Episode 551 with Dr. Ellen Vora
Episode 560 with Dr. Tanmeet Sethi
Mindbloom (make sure to use code andreao100 to get $100 off your treatment!)
Book recommendations:
I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!  
MSN is supported by:
We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/
Episode link:
http://andreaowen.com/596
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Minisode 596: My journey with Ketamine Therapy

Brendan Fitzgibbons returns to the podcast this week as we explore his transformative experience with psychedelic therapy. Brendan shares his personal journey as to why he chose to take the psychedelic therapy route and how it has profoundly impacted him. Brendan is the host of the popular podcast, “Spiritual Asshole,” writer, and actor. 
If you are a frequent listener, you are familiar with my endless curiosity about psychedelic therapy. My conversation with Brendan was truly enlightening. Tune in as we chat about psychedelics and their potential as a catalyst for healing and personal growth. And you’ll hear about my decision to start this myself and take you on my journey! 
You’ll hear:

Why Brendan chose to take the psychedelic therapy route (7:30)

The importance of experiencing psychedelic therapy in a safe and supportive environment (16:00)

How has Mushrooms, and Ketamine Therapy helped Brendan with rumination and worry? What has integration looked like? (30:19)


Resources: 
Write Your Way Through It
Follow me on her Therapy Journey and subscribe to the private podcast feed!
Brendan on Instagram
Episode 551 with Dr. Ellen Vora
Episode 560 with Dr. Tanmeet Sethi
MushyGirls
Mindbloom
Brendan Fitzgibbons is a Los Angeles writer, actor and podcast host. He's written for Comedy Central, ComedyCentral.com, and the Onion. He's been on Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, MTV, and Comedy Central. His acting work has also been featured in South by Southwest and the Tribeca Film Festival. In 2021, he was the voice of the Samsung Galaxy phone and his podcast, "Spiritual Asshole" was named "Top Indie Podcast" by Stitcher in 2020 and 2021. He just recorded an album at the Ice House with Comedy Dynamics that will be out Feb 2024.
Book recommendations:
I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!  
MSN is supported by:
We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/
Episode link:
http://andreaowen.com/595
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 595: The Psychedelic Therapy Experience with Brendan Fitzgibbons

Vanessa Cornell joins me for a conversation about the complexities women face in balancing personal identity, ambition, and self-care. Through her work, Vanessa has become a curious observer of the human condition and a leading voice in parenting empowerment, helping moms to overcome the constant guilt, shame, and pressures that plague modern motherhood to live a fully actualized life free from mom-guilt and mom-burnout. Our conversation is not just for moms but all women trying to find the balance between work, life, and self-care. 
In this episode, Vanessa shares her journey and insights on redefining success, the cultural pressures women navigate, and the importance of self-awareness and setting boundaries. We also explore societal expectations of women, the challenge of 'having it all,' and advice for cultivating joy.
You’ll hear:

How do you “do it all” and not lose your relationship with yourself? (6:03)

The crisis of loneliness (18:25)

What self-care looks like for women in 2024 (19:22)

Living a life that feels alive, full, easeful, and joyful (24:12)


Resources: 
Write Your Way Through It
Follow me along on her Therapy Journey and subscribe to the private podcast feed!
Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters
Vanessa Cornell is the owner of Cornell Vineyards and the founder of NUSHU, a women’s community grounded in wellness and empowerment.
Vanessa graduated from Harvard and went on to work at Goldman Sachs. She then dedicated ten years to growing, birthing and raising her five children. After a lifetime of overachieving and overgiving, Vanessa felt depleted and deeply disconnected from herself and experienced a breaking apart of everything she had known.
Since her personal awakening, Vanessa found her passion giving women the tools and confidence to step into their power and lead lives of joy and purpose. Through this work, Vanessa has become a curious observer of the human condition and a leading voice in parenting empowerment, helping moms to overcome the constant guilt, shame, and pressures that plague modern motherhood in order to live a fully actualized life free from mom-guilt and mom-burnout.
Vanessa’s three loves in life are herself, her work, and her family; her incredible husband and five quirky, individual, sometimes challenging but always interesting and lovable children.
Book recommendations:
I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!  
MSN is supported by:
We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/
Episode link:
http://andreaowen.com/594
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 594: Self-Care, Life Balance, and Joy with Vanessa Cornell

If you’ve listened to the podcast for any length of time, you know I’m a fan of journaling. My relationship with journaling has ebbed and flowed over the years, but one thing always remains the same: When I do it, it’s always helpful to me. 
Creating art this way makes meaning of what’s happening in your life. The things you’re struggling with, the things that confuse you, feelings and emotions, and really anything. 
I’ve compiled a list of questions for you to journal on, no matter where you are in your life. I’ve also made a handy-dandy PDF for you to print out (or use online) to dig even deeper (the PDF has 5 follow-up questions for you to answer for each question). 
Visit http://andreaowen.com/593 to download the PDF!

What am I hiding from? 


Where do I want to be headed? 

What kind of person do I want to be? 


Resources for this episode: 
Write Your Way Through It is open for registration! 
Book recommendations:
I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!  
MSN is supported by:
We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/
Episode link:
http://andreaowen.com/593
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 259: Challenging Cultural Beauty and Wellness Standards with Melissa Toller

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