Conjuring Up Courage

In a society obsessed with "clean eating" and "food as medicine," it's easy to feel anxious and scared about your food choices. That's why food scientist Erin, also known as Food Science Babe, is dedicated to #factsnotfear. In this episode, she and I discussed conventional vs organic produce, GMOs, pesticide use, processed foods, and the problems with food shaming. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/44.

Alex Locust is a proud "glamputee" who is dedicated to disability justice. We had a fabulous and at times hilarious conversation about how increased access benefits everyone, the ways ableism shows up in the world, parallels between the fat liberation and disability justice movements, and much more. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/43.

This episode's guest, Melissa A. Fabello, is a writer and educator whose work explores the politics of bodies, beauty, and wellness. We chatted about an important (and often overlooked) aspect of health and well-being: relationships. From family to friends to romantic partners, we discussed societal relationship norms and our ability to reevaluate and restructure relationships as needed. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/42.

Carolina Guízar is a Mexican-American registered dietitian who is based in New York City. In this episode, we discuss intuitive eating barriers and considerations for Latinx communities, body image pressures, and Carolina's McDonald's double cheeseburger cravings. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/41.

Do you need an adorable activist power couple in your life? I know I do. Meet Rocky Lane and Sarah Swofford! I spoke with these dedicated LGBTQPIA+ community advocates about common misconceptions about trans people and cis-trans relationships, barriers to health and wellness for trans people, how to be a better ally if you're cisgender, and more. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/40.

If I told you this episode's guest is a professional dancer who has worked with some of the biggest celebrities in the world, including Rihanna, Lady Gaga, and Meghan Trainor, who would you picture? Probably not Amanda LaCount, and that's what she's on a mission to change. Amanda spoke with me about inclusivity in the dance industry, trolls, her advice for people who are afraid to start dancing, and more. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/39.

While many people can benefit from therapy, therapy as a profession and practice has historically not been inclusive. Melody Li, a therapist of color and mental health justice activist, wants to change that. Melody and I chatted about what it means to be culturally affirming and responsive, the need for increased accessibility, how marginalized folx can find affirming therapists, and more. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/38.

Kimmie Singh, a fat dietitian of color, joined me on the podcast to discuss thin privilege (including how having it doesn't mean you don't struggle with body image issues) and some ways Health At Every Size® practitioners who hold more privilege can better support marginalized practitioners. We also talked about PCOS and why weight loss and restrictive diets aren't the answer to managing it. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/37.

In a weight-centric world, the number on the scale is treated like a proxy for health, well-being, fitness, nutrition, and more. In this episode, I argue that we shouldn't be relying on the scale as a measure for such complex parts of our lives. I also provide alternative ways to track your progress if you're trying to improve your health and wellness. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/36.

The Girl Gang takes on a more serious topic in this episode as we share our personal experiences with mental health in an effort to combat stigma and normalize these discussions. We chatted about missed diagnoses in childhood, going to therapy, medication, access issues, building the tools in our mental health toolboxes, and more. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/35.

TW: Discussion of suicide, self-harm, and symptoms of mental disorders