“If you have felt left out of wellness culture, it's not because you've failed; it's because it was never built for you in the first place. No matter what we look like, what our experiences are, what we're dealing with, we are all worthy of care. Healing is not a branding opportunity, and it is a birthright.” —Donna Piper 

Ever felt like wellness advice wasn’t written for your body—or your life? When smoothies, sunrise meditations, and superfoods feel more like pressure than peace, maybe the problem isn’t you… maybe it's the culture. If you’ve ever silently wondered, “Why does nothing work for me?”—this episode will hit home in the best way.

Donna has done all the things wellness culture says should work—only to discover they often do more harm than good. And when she finally realized how her invisible, complex conditions intersect with fatphobia, performative health, and outdated medical systems, she stopped chasing quick fixes and started building a sustainable path rooted in self-trust, rest, and radical honesty. 

Join Donna as she reclaims healing as a birthright, unpacks the myths that dominate mainstream wellness, and gives practical, lymphatic-friendly tools that actually honor your body. You don’t need to be fixed—you need to be heard.

Connect with Donna: 

Website: https://www.donnapiper.com/  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnapiper

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lipedema_donna 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedonnapiper 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedonnapiper 

Episode Highlights:

01:21 Unlearning the Wellness Culture  

04:43 The Complexity of Chronic Conditions 

16:14 Supporting the Lymphatic System

24:36 Myths and Misconceptions in Wellness 

28:21 Embracing a New Wellness Paradigm 

Resources: 

🤔Got a question for me? Every month, I do a listener coaching episode—and I’d love to hear from you! 

Send your questions, stories, or flare-up confessions to [email protected],  and you just might hear your answer on the show.

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Tired of being told to “just detox” when your body is fighting for its life? Your host, Donna Piper, unpacks the gaslighting in wellness culture + what real healing looks like. Tune in for truths, tools & lymphatic love.

#DearBodyImListeningPodcast #Lymphedema #lipedema #MCAS #ChronicIllness #WellnessMyths #WellnessCulture #Fatphobia #HealingJourney #RestIsMedicine

Quotes: 

28:44 “If you have felt left out of wellness culture, it's not because you've failed, it's because it was never built for you in the first place. No matter what we look like, what our experiences are, or what we're dealing with, we are all worthy of care. Healing is not a branding opportunity, and it is a birthright.” —Donna Piper 

02:11 “When you're navigating a complex diagnosis like lipedema, MCAS, hypermobility, the full spectrum of EDS to HSD, POTS and chronic fatigue... this wellness culture is not made for our bodies.” —Donna Piper

04:30 “There is no one map, one thing: Do this, and you'll get better.’ Actually doing those wellness culture things made me feel bad; it didn’t work.” —Donna Piper

04:55 “Even when I did get answers from my doctors, which—that was a relief—but they didn’t give me a straightforward plan.” —Donna Piper

07:34 “Our version of wellness isn’t what the mainstream version of wellness is.” —Donna Piper

10:07 “The only thing that's going to help realign your system is not about doing more, it’s about doing less.” —Donna Piper

10:57 “I had to stop viewing myself with harsh eyes and through other people’s expectations.” —Donna Piper

11:57 “You are doing healing right for you. We are not doing healing wrong.” —Donna Piper

12:26 “So much of wellness culture and just how people view things now… is rooted in ableism, fat phobia, and a polished aesthetic.” —Donna Piper

13:24 “It’s not about performative wellness. It’s not about trying to do things to force our bodies into a way.” —Donna Piper

23:11 “Resting—it's not laziness, it's not willpower—it's really more about biology. You need rest.” —Donna Piper

28:10 “I release all the shoulds. I let go of wellness shame and just feel good about that. I know that my wellness looks different, and I stand with pride in that.” —Donna Piper

Meet Your Host: 

Donna Piper is a Relationship Coach, Trauma Expert, and Akashic Records Healer dedicated to empowering successful single women to transform their love lives and attract fulfilling partnerships without sacrificing their professional ambitions.

With a holistic approach blending therapeutic coaching, trauma-informed techniques, and Akashic Records wisdom, she guides clients to release limiting beliefs, heal emotional blocks, and cultivate unshakable self-trust. Her work focuses on aligning mind, body, and spirit to create lasting change—helping clients refine communication, deepen self-worth, and build the foundation for healthy, loving relationships.

Donna’s sessions are a safe haven for those ready to break cycles, embrace vulnerability, and design a love life that harmonizes with their thriving careers. For women committed to both personal and professional fulfillment, she offers tailored strategies to unlock their full potential and step into the relationship of their dreams.

"Shame lives in the body, but so does compassion." —Donna Piper

If shame could be seen, would you finally believe it’s not your fault?

So many of us carry invisible burdens—chronic symptoms, exhaustion, and the silent weight of feeling misunderstood or blamed for what we can’t control. The real struggle isn’t just in our bodies, but in the stories we tell ourselves when healing doesn’t look the way the world expects.

Donna Piper knows this journey firsthand. After years of being dismissed and doing everything “right” but still getting sicker, she’s learned how shame embeds itself in our bodies—and how compassion and psychological flexibility can set us free.

Tune in as Donna unpacks the truth about shame, busts the myth of willpower, and guides you through a powerful practice to help you move from self-blame to self-love.

Connect with Donna: 

Website: https://www.donnapiper.com/  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnapiper

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lipedema_donna 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedonnapiper 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedonnapiper 

Episode Highlights:

01:27 Understanding and Addressing Shame in Chronic Illness 

03:15 The Role of Self-Compassion and Psychological Flexibility

09:34 The Impact of Shame on Healing and Relationships 

17:04 Practical Techniques for Shame Release 

23:10 Myth-Busting: Willpower vs Shame

Resources: 

🤔Got a question for me? Every month, I do a listener coaching episode—and I’d love to hear from you! 

Send your questions, stories, or flare-up confessions to [email protected],  and you just might hear your answer on the show.

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Ever feel like your body’s pain is only half the battle? Discover how shame shapes healing & learn to break the cycle in this week’s episode as Donna shares tips, tools,  & truth!  #DearBodyImListeningPodcast #Lymphedema #lipedema #MCAS #BodyShame #SelfCompassion #InvisibleIllness #HealingJourney #PsychologicalFlexibility #ShameRelease #SelfCare #ChronicFatigue 

Quotes: 

02:08 Shame lives in the body, but so does compassion." —Donna Piper

02:13 "Shame just isn't a feeling, it's a somatic experience. It gets stored in your body— in your thighs, and in your belly, and in your nervous system— and over time, it becomes a lens you see yourself through." —Donna Piper

03:35 "Shame is very prevalent. It's very silent. It hides in the shadows, and it's lurking over everything that we want to do, and how we see who we are." —Donna Piper

04:17 "Self-compassion means speaking to yourself in a way that you would to a dear friend, and it sounds like this: This part of me is hurting. This part of me deserves care." —Donna Piper

05:00 "We want to feel part of a group, that's just how we're made. We want to have community and connection and be understood." —Donna Piper

06:39 "Psychological flexibility... just really means allowing uncomfortable emotions to exist without letting them control your choices. It's noticing the shame without becoming ashamed, choosing your values over your fear, and letting your truth lead the way." —Donna Piper

09:21 "Shame is like any other emotion. Once it's seen, once it's acknowledged, then it can move through you. So it's not a life sentence, it's just another level of awareness." —Donna Piper

09:46 "Resting is self-care… Resting is critical. It's part of the healing." —Donna Piper

12:57 "[Lipedema] isn't about laziness. This isn't about willpower. It is a medical condition rooted in inflammation and hormones, and it deals with connective tissue issues." —Donna Piper

14:47 "Be compassionate with yourself and be loving with yourself. This is something that you didn't cause." —Donna Piper

15:47 "Willpower isn't the problem, it's the shame." —Donna Piper

16:43 "You could be doing everything right and still see no change. That doesn't mean that you or I have failed. It's just a mismatch about the care that's available and what our bodies are experiencing." —Donna Piper

17:51 "What I do need is a little more love and compassion and education for how my body responds." —Donna Piper

19:30 "You don't have to explain your shame to anyone— that's not really liberating… because the people around you may not be equipped to hear. If it doesn't land in the right place, then it creates more trauma, and it doesn't have the healing effect that you think it is." —Donna Piper

22:46 "I hold myself with love, even when the world doesn't." —Donna Piper

Meet Your Host: 

Donna Piper is a Relationship Coach, Trauma Expert, and Akashic Records Healer dedicated to empowering successful single women to transform their love lives and attract fulfilling partnerships without sacrificing their professional ambitions.

With a holistic approach blending therapeutic coaching, trauma-informed techniques, and Akashic Records wisdom, she guides clients to release limiting beliefs, heal emotional blocks, and cultivate unshakable self-trust. Her work focuses on aligning mind, body, and spirit to create lasting change—helping clients refine communication, deepen self-worth, and build the foundation for healthy, loving relationships.

Donna’s sessions are a safe haven for those ready to break cycles, embrace vulnerability, and design a love life that harmonizes with their thriving careers. For women committed to both personal and professional fulfillment, she offers tailored strategies to unlock their full potential and step into the relationship of their dreams.

"It's not all about obesity, it's not all about weight. It is about giving your body the nutrients it needs to be healthy." —Leslyn Keith

Forget calories-in-calories-out. If you’re eating "clean" but still battling swelling, fatigue, or pain, the problem isn’t your willpower—it’s how your food fuels (or strangles) your lymphatics. 

Carbs don’t just go to our hips—they clog our body’s drainage system. And when our lymphatics are drowning in carbs, every symptom—from brain fog to stubborn weight—becomes a distress signal.

Leslyn Keith, a lymphatic therapist and researcher with 25 years of clinical experience, reveals how the ketogenic diet isn’t just about weight loss—it’s a lifeline for stagnant lymphatics, inflammation, and conditions like lipedema. With brutal honesty and science-backed insights, she dismantles the myth that fat is the enemy and shares why protein and healthy fats are the unsung heroes of lymphatic drainage.

Tune in as Donna and Leslyn unpack why carbs sabotage your lymph flow, how keto can reduce pain and swelling before the scale moves, and the one dietary shift that could finally make your body feel like yours again.

Connect with Donna: 

Website: https://www.donnapiper.com/  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnapiper

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedonnapiper

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedonnapiper 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedonnapiper 

Episode Highlights:

04:52 Why We Get Fat

09:43 The Impact of Keto Diet on the Lymphatic System

19:53 Understanding Your Body’s Needs

27:29 Body Fat vs Dietary Fat

34:03 Challenges, Benefits, and Practical Tips for Adopting to Keto Diet

47:13 The Lymphatic Code Correct

49:33 Proper Nutrients Matter

Resources: 

Book

The Lymphatic Code: Using a Ketogenic Lifestyle to Enjoy a Robust Lymphatic System That Promotes Overall Health and Wellness by Leslyn Keith

Buy the print soft cover on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3oAVSbQ 

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Your ‘healthy’ diet could be starving your lymphatic system.

Game-changing convo with lymphatic therapist and researcher Leslyn Keith on why keto = lymphatic rescue.  and the #1 thing to eat instead. Don’t miss this week’s episode! 

#DearBodyImListening #KetogenicDiet #LymphaticHealth #ChronicInflammation #MetabolicHealing #FatDisorder  

Quotes: 

03:38 “I was on a diet or a cleanse for 40 years because I was trying to figure out why my body didn't respond." —Donna Piper 

04:25 "I wanted to make sure my food, what I could eat was servicing the body that I had with all these conditions." —Donna Piper 

10:31 “There's something that is inflammatory about a high carbohydrate diet, and it's particularly inflammatory to the lymphatics, so they don't work as well." —Leslyn Keith

13:37 "We try to impress upon people is that you got to heal first, then the pounds come off." —Leslyn Keith 

14:26 "It's all those other non-scale victories that are telling you that you are healing and you're doing better. For a lot of people, that pain reduction or resolution is the ultimate motivator, because they go into it thinking, ‘I just want the scale to go down, but if, in two weeks, they have a lot less pain, well, I'm going to stick with this way of eating just because of that’, because that that's huge." —Leslyn Keith

18:20 "Using a Keto or carnivore diet is the easiest to modify to accommodate each of those individual needs— your comorbidities, your preferences, what you like to eat— all those things. We can do this in a way that is going to promote your health." —Leslyn Keith

26:59 “There was a point where my body was craving more fat. Because I was a teenager in the 80s and up, so fat was bad, like fat would make you fat. And that is really not true." —Donna Piper

27:30 “It's quite a disservice that that we have the same word for body fat as what we eat in dietary fat. Because that's it's very easy to come to that conclusion that if I eat fat, it will make me become more fat. And it's simply not true. It is the carbohydrates that get turned into fat in your body." —Leslyn Keith 

40:11 “It's daunting because of how people treat too, and how they perceive you because most people see obesity as a lifestyle poor willpower, and it is your fault that you're there." —Leslyn Keith 

44:41 "It's not all about obesity, it's not all about weight. It is about giving your body the nutrients it needs to be healthy." —Leslyn Keith

43:57 “If I would have known that lipedema was a thing when I was 15, how I viewed my body and how I viewed dieting or not dieting would have been different." —Donna Piper

Connect with Leslyn:   

Leslyn Keith is a certified lymphedema therapist and has a Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy with an emphasis on lymphedema and obesity. Dr. Keith has started four lymphedema therapy programs in California including two in private practice. She has treated lymphatic and fat disorders for over 20 years and currently researches, consults, and lectures on lymphedema, lipedema, and obesity nationally and internationally. 

She is the author of two books and published several articles about the efficacy of a ketogenic diet for lymphatic and fat disorders. Currently, Dr. Keith is a consultant with Lipedema Simplified, LLC and Lymphedema Seminars, an instructor in lymphedema therapy for Klose Training, and directs Lymphatic Lifestyle Solutions, an online course and community for managing weight and lymphedema.

"Remember, your symptoms aren't just physical, and your healing won't be either. Listen to your body, it's been whispering the truth all along." —Donna Piper

Your body changes overnight—sudden weight gain, relentless pain, and doctors who dismiss it as "just aging." What if it’s not?

Donna shares her shocking journey from unexplained swelling and crushing fatigue to life-changing diagnoses: lipedema, mast cell activation syndrome, and hypermobility. For years, her symptoms were brushed off as "normal," but rapid physical changes forced her to dig deeper. As a movement therapist and chronic illness navigator, Donna reveals how these invisible conditions masquerade as everyday health struggles—and why trusting your body’s signals is the first step to answers.

If you’ve ever felt betrayed by your body or gaslit by the system, this episode is your roadmap to validation and actionable next steps. Listen now—your healing starts here.

Connect with Donna: 

Website: https://www.donnapiper.com/  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnapiper

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lipedema_donna 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedonnapiper 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedonnapiper 

Episode Highlights:

02:18 A Sudden Weight Shift

07:56 Exploring the Body’s Signals 

11:07 The Importance of Tracking and Seeking Medical Advice

19:06 Weekly Feel Good Flow  

22:36 Listen to Your Body!

Resources: 

🤔Got a question for me? Every month, I do a listener coaching episode—and I’d love to hear from you! 

Send your questions, stories, or flare-up confessions to [email protected],  and you just might hear your answer on the show.

🔗Links

Dr. Emily Iker: https://lymphedemacenter.com/

Dr. Perrin Technique: https://theperrintechnique.com/

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Just exercise more’ didn’t fix my pain. Why? Donna found out the REAL culprit. If your body’s screaming, don’t silence it—investigate. Tune in to find out more! 

#DearBodyImListeningPodcast #Lymphedema #lipedema #MCAS #Hypermobility #bonespurs #HealthAwareness #ChronicPain  

Quotes: 

00:25 "Always know that your instincts are valid, and it could be a multitude of things." —Donna Piper

06:28 "When my body started screaming through the swelling, the weight gain, the pain, and the mobility loss, I had no choice but to listen." —Donna Piper

08:42 “It's not just fat. It was a disordered fat, a condition, a real one— one that I have never heard of before." —Donna Piper

11:55 "This sudden shift was my wake-up call. And as painful and scary as it was, I'm grateful for it now, because it cracked me open up to the truth, to the science, and to healing." —Donna Piper

22:38 "Just listen to your body, support, and allow the healing to begin." —Donna Piper

23:02 "If your body is changing fast, don't panic. Get curious. You pretty much know your body." —Donna Piper

23:19 "Remember, your symptoms aren't just physical, and your healing won't be either. Listen to your body, it's been whispering the truth all along." —Donna Piper

Meet Your Host: 

Donna Piper is a Relationship Coach, Trauma Expert, and Akashic Records Healer dedicated to empowering successful single women to transform their love lives and attract fulfilling partnerships without sacrificing their professional ambitions.

With a holistic approach blending therapeutic coaching, trauma-informed techniques, and Akashic Records wisdom, she guides clients to release limiting beliefs, heal emotional blocks, and cultivate unshakable self-trust. Her work focuses on aligning mind, body, and spirit to create lasting change—helping clients refine communication, deepen self-worth, and build the foundation for healthy, loving relationships.

Donna’s sessions are a safe haven for those ready to break cycles, embrace vulnerability, and design a love life that harmonizes with their thriving careers. For women committed to both personal and professional fulfillment, she offers tailored strategies to unlock their full potential and step into the relationship of their dreams.

"Compression might not be cute by mainstream standards... but compression is healing. And healing is hot." —Donna Piper

What if compression gear could be your secret weapon against chronic pain and swelling— while making you feel confident, not constrained? 

This week, Donna reveals how symptoms like swelling and pain were once dismissed as "normal" struggles, and how compression has become a lifeline for managing inflammation, fibrosis, and daily discomfort. From decongestion wrapping to custom flat-knit garments, Donna breaks down the science and self-care rituals that help her reclaim her health—and her confidence—while navigating invisible illness.

Listen now to discover how healing can be hot—and why your compression gear might just become your favorite accessory.

Connect with Donna: 

Website: https://www.donnapiper.com/  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnapiper

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lipedema_donna 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedonnapiper 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedonnapiper 

Episode Highlights:

02:59 Body Positivity: More Than Just Feeling Hot

07:00 Lymphatic Rescue: Decodign Decongestive Therapy

10:30 Medical Gear and Compression Basics 

13:00 Fashion Meets Function

17:04 Self-Care Lymphatic Massage

22:34 Thank Your Body For What It Can Do

Resources: 

🤔Got a question for me? Every month, I do a listener coaching episode—and I’d love to hear from you! 

Send your questions, stories, or flare-up confessions to [email protected],  and you just might hear your answer on the show.

🔗Links

Solidea Compression Garments

https://solideaus.com/collections/active-compression/products/solidea-active-massage-compression-opaque-legging

Complete Decongestive Therapy https://www.physio-pedia.com/Complete_Decongestive_Therapy_(CDT)#:~:text=Historically%2C%20it%20is%20an%20intensive,as%20psychologica

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Hot girls wear compression—and no, it’s not about aesthetics. Learn the truth about custom compression, lymphatic health, and self-love in this week’s episode, with your host, Donna Piper!

#DearBodyImListeningPodcast #Lymphedema #lipedema #MCAS #CompressionGear #painmanagement #ChronicIllnessWarrior #Inflammation 

Quotes: 

"There's absolutely nothing glamorous about pulling on full pantyhose or thigh-high compression hose or even socks, especially in the summer!" —Donna Piper

"Function is not the opposite of beauty." —Donna Piper

"It's about being present, it's being about hydrated and supported and doing what your body needs to make it feel good." —Donna Piper

"I know when I wear my compression hose, I don't feel sexy, but I do know I have less pain, and I wear them a lot." —Donna Piper

"Compression might not be cute by mainstream standards... but compression is 

"Sometimes you just have to make yourself feel cute, whether it's glasses or accessories." —Donna Piper

"I have tried to integrate some of these practices a little bit more so I could start looking at my body and start accepting it more, and start giving a little bit more love and nourishment and thanking it for what it does do, not what it's not doing." —Donna Piper

Meet Your Host: 

Donna Piper is a Relationship Coach, Trauma Expert, and Akashic Records Healer dedicated to empowering successful single women to transform their love lives and attract fulfilling partnerships without sacrificing their professional ambitions.

With a holistic approach blending therapeutic coaching, trauma-informed techniques, and Akashic Records wisdom, she guides clients to release limiting beliefs, heal emotional blocks, and cultivate unshakable self-trust. Her work focuses on aligning mind, body, and spirit to create lasting change—helping clients refine communication, deepen self-worth, and build the foundation for healthy, loving relationships.

Donna’s sessions are a safe haven for those ready to break cycles, embrace vulnerability, and design a love life that harmonizes with their thriving careers. For women committed to both personal and professional fulfillment, she offers tailored strategies to unlock their full potential and step into the relationship of their dreams.

"If you call yourself lazy or out of shape, you really are not. You're an Olympic-level competitor, because your body is doing so much more than everyone else." —Donna Piper 

Modern medicine often misses this critical truth: flexibility can be a disability. Hypermobility forces your body to burn energy just to maintain basic stability. 

For Donna Piper, 'flexibility' wasn't a gift—it was a hidden disability that stole her energy and fueled chronic pain. As a movement therapist, Donna believed her hypermobile joints were an advantage, until they triggered fatigue so severe she couldn't drive without bracing herself. 

In this episode, Donna reveals how Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) forces muscles to work overtime just to hold joints in place, why this drains energy "like running a marathon while holding a Jenga tower," and the surprising link between "bendy" joints and conditions like POTS, MCAS, and lipedema.

Join in and learn how to do the side-lying breath reset technique that calms hypermobile joints without overstretching.

Connect with Donna: 

Website: https://www.donnapiper.com/  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnapiper

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lipedema_donna 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedonnapiper 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedonnapiper 

Episode Highlights:

02:47 Living with Hypermobility and EDS 

04:15 Connective Tissue Disorders and Their Impact

08:46 Hypermobility and Energy Management

12:34 Side-Lying Breath Reset Technique 

15:10 The Importance of Community and Self-Advocacy in Managing Chronic Illness

Resources: 

🤔Got a question for me? Every month, I do a listener coaching episode—and I’d love to hear from you! Send your questions, stories, or flare-up confessions to [email protected],  and you just might hear your answer on the show.

🔗Links

EDS: https://www.ehlers-danlos.com/what-is-eds/

EDS/MCAS: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9022617/

Hypermobility: https://www.ehlers-danlos.com/what-is-hsd/

Dr. Melissa Koehl, PT

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.melissakoehl.pt/?hl=en

Website: https://www.chimera-health.com/

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Your 'double-jointed' party trick? For EDS patients, it's actually their muscles working overtime 24/7. Learn why hypermobility = chronic fatigue in this week’s episode! 

#DearBodyImListeningPodcast #Hypermobility #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #EDS #ChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #HSD #POTS #MCAS #Lipedema

Quotes: 

02:51 "What they didn't see, and what I didn't realize, was that flexibility comes with pain and fatigue. The way my body could overwork itself just to hold it together." —Donna Piper

03:43 "I didn't realize that gripping wasn't supposed to be there. I realized that it was creating a lot of symptomology, and I just didn't know how to take care of myself." —Donna Piper

04:53 "Now I understand how much effort it takes to go on a car ride, or just hold myself up from the inside." —Donna Piper

05:01 "The wild part is EDS, HSD, lipedema, POTS, MCAS— they're all connected, and not everyone knows that." —Donna Piper

07:01 "Everything is highly, highly, highly individualized." —Donna Piper

10:46 "All of that extra work that I'm doing to substitute what my body needs for stability takes a lot of energy." —Donna Piper

12:24 "If you call yourself lazy or out of shape, you really are not. You're an Olympic-level competitor, because your body is doing so much more than everyone else." —Donna Piper 

Meet Your Host: 

Donna Piper is a Relationship Coach, Trauma Expert, and Akashic Records Healer dedicated to empowering successful single women to transform their love lives and attract fulfilling partnerships without sacrificing their professional ambitions.

With a holistic approach blending therapeutic coaching, trauma-informed techniques, and Akashic Records wisdom, she guides clients to release limiting beliefs, heal emotional blocks, and cultivate unshakable self-trust. Her work focuses on aligning mind, body, and spirit to create lasting change—helping clients refine communication, deepen self-worth, and build the foundation for healthy, loving relationships.

Donna’s sessions are a safe haven for those ready to break cycles, embrace vulnerability, and design a love life that harmonizes with their thriving careers. For women committed to both personal and professional fulfillment, she offers tailored strategies to unlock their full potential and step into the relationship of their dreams.

“Rest is medicine, and I even wear a monitor now to track how much energy I'm truly using. Even if I think I'm taking it easy, it shows me that I might be expending too much energy, and I'm able to take rest breaks purposely so I don't feel guilty about resting." —Donna Piper

They called it burnout. They called it depression. They were wrong. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), isn't psychological—it's neurological. This invisible illness poisons your nervous system while leaving lab tests 'normal,' making it medicine's greatest blind spot. 

When world-renowned specialist Dr. Perrin examined Donna, he found something shocking: her lymphatic system was flowing backward, flooding her brain with toxins. 

Discover how this structural dysfunction creates the "crash days" of ME/CFS, why "pushing through" makes ME/CFS worse, the 5 physical signs of ME/CFS most doctors ignore, the 'feet up the wall' technique, the test that reveals if your nervous system is in overdrive, and the wearable device that exposes hidden energy expenditure (even during "rest"). 

Connect with Donna: 

Website: https://www.donnapiper.com/  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnapiper

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lipedema_donna 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedonnapiper 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedonnapiper 

Episode Highlights:

01:48 Introduction to ME/CFS

06:22 The Perrin Technique and Why It Matters

08:52 Chronic Fatigue— Beyond Psychological

14:29 Feel Good Flow Time

Resources: 

🔗Links

Dr. Raymond Perrin: https://theperrintechnique.com/

The Perrin Technique: How to diagnose and treat CFS/ME and fibromyalgia via the lymphatic drainage of the brain, 2nd Ed: https://a.co/d/3fXHbZD

The Concise Perrin Technique: A Handbook for Patients: https://a.co/d/6yM60D7

Through the Looking Glass: Diagnosing and treating long COVID using the Perrin Technique: https://a.co/d/fpglYdD

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Fatigue isn't 'in your head'—it's in your LYMPH. Tune in as Donna shares the structural cause of ME/CFS plus the 4 foods that worsened Donna’s fatigue (and the weird swap that helped).

#DearBodyImListeningPodcast #MECFS #ChronicFatigue #BrainFog #LymphaticHealth #MedicalGaslighting #SpoonieLife    

Quotes: 

01:45 "If you're running on 30% and pretending you're running on 100%, you are not alone here." —Donna Piper

08:52 "Chronic fatigue syndrome isn't psychological. It's structural. So it's not just that you think you're tired, it's actually a physiological thing happening that's not working right." —Donna Piper

09:07 "Blocked or sluggish lymphatic drainage in the brain and the spine causes toxic buildup. This overload stimulates the sympathetic nervous system— your fight or flight mode— which keeps you stuck in the survival and that causes those deep, mysterious crashes." —Donna Piper

11:11 "Rest is a huge part of what is prescription. Do half of what you think you can because the more you push yourself, it takes longer for your body to detox." —Donna Piper

14:07 "Rest is medicine, and I even wear a monitor now to track how much energy I'm truly using. Even if I think I'm taking it easy, it shows me that I might be expending too much energy, and I'm able to take rest breaks purposely so I don't feel guilty about resting." —Donna Piper

Meet Your Host: 

Donna Piper is a Relationship Coach, Trauma Expert, and Akashic Records Healer dedicated to empowering successful single women to transform their love lives and attract fulfilling partnerships without sacrificing their professional ambitions.

With a holistic approach blending therapeutic coaching, trauma-informed techniques, and Akashic Records wisdom, she guides clients to release limiting beliefs, heal emotional blocks, and cultivate unshakable self-trust. Her work focuses on aligning mind, body, and spirit to create lasting change, helping clients refine communication, deepen self-worth, and build the foundation for healthy, loving relationships.

Donna’s sessions are a safe haven for those ready to break cycles, embrace vulnerability, and design a love life that harmonizes with their thriving careers. For women committed to both personal and professional fulfillment, she offers tailored strategies to unlock their full potential and step into the relationship of their dreams.

"If you've ever been told it's all in your head, well, your body is not lying and neither are you." —Donna Piper 

What if your 'healthy' diet was secretly poisoning you? 

For decades, Donna ate kale, bone broth, and fermented foods—only to discover these 'superfoods' were flooding her body with histamines and leaving her bloated like a balloon by noon.

In this episode, Donna pulls back the curtain on Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)—the invisible illness that turned her immune system against everyday foods. She reveals how doctors misdiagnosed her chronic bloating as "just stress" for 15 years, why high-histamine "health foods" worsened her symptoms, and the shocking link between MCAS, lipedema, and chronic fatigue.

Join in to discover the 3 most surprising high-histamine foods (you’re probably eating them daily) and how Donna finally silenced her body’s false alarm system.

Connect with Donna: 

Website: https://www.donnapiper.com/  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnapiper

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lipedema_donna 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedonnapiper 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedonnapiper 

Episode Highlights:

01:55 What is MCAS?

07:28 Symptoms and Triggers of MCAS

14:59 Diagnosis and Treatment

16:01 The Link Between MCAS and Other Conditions  

19:36 Practical Tips and Resources for Managing MCAS 

Resources: 

🔗Links

SIGHI: https://www.histaminintoleranz.ch/downloads/SIGHI-Leaflet_HistamineEliminationDiet.pdf

Leslyn Keith: https://www.leslynkeith.com/lipedema.html

Dr. Emily Iker: https://lymphedemacenter.com/

Histamine Intolerance Food List: https://a.co/d/irix6O3

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Ever feel “fine” on the outside but exhausted inside? Discover the truth about MCAS, bloating, and invisible illness as Donna offers practical tips for daily relief and self-advocacy. 

#DearBodyImListeningPodcast #MCAS #HealthTips #SelfAdvocacy #Bloating #Histamines #ChronicSymptoms  

Quotes: 

00:56 "If you've ever been told it's all in your head, well, your body is not lying and neither are you." —Donna Piper

05:58 "I had definitely no idea that my mast cells were such a part of the immune system, and they were in full revolt." —Donna Piper

07:56 "Not everyone behaves the same way and reacts the same way. You have to trial and error, so I think it's exhausting." —Donna Piper

12:30 "MCAS can make you feel like you're allergic to everything." —Donna Piper

13:34 "The more your food stays out... the more histamines it has." —Donna Piper

16:47 "MCAS is not linear, and unfortunately, it doesn't come with a clear food plan." —Donna Piper

18:27 "I had put my stock in some doctors saying this is what you need to do to feel better, and I kept on feeling worse, and I never got the right diagnosis. So I'm more agitated and irritated that doctors aren't trained to look for this, and that could have saved me, like, 10s of 1000s of dollars and 10s of years of this pain." —Donna Piper

18:56 "It is not fun to have days where you don't feel like doing anything. It does take a toll, even though it's a gradual toll typically, but how you start to live your life is a lot different." —Donna Piper

19:27 "It's hard to explain to someone really what you're going through, unless they either understand you because they've gone through it, or they're a medical provider that has more knowledge about it and sees patients with it." —Donna Piper

Meet Your Host: 

Donna Piper is a Relationship Coach, Trauma Expert, and Akashic Records Healer dedicated to empowering successful single women to transform their love lives and attract fulfilling partnerships without sacrificing their professional ambitions.

With a holistic approach blending therapeutic coaching, trauma-informed techniques, and Akashic Records wisdom, she guides clients to release limiting beliefs, heal emotional blocks, and cultivate unshakable self-trust. Her work focuses on aligning mind, body, and spirit to create lasting change—helping clients refine communication, deepen self-worth, and build the foundation for healthy, loving relationships.

Donna’s sessions are a safe haven for those ready to break cycles, embrace vulnerability, and design a love life that harmonizes with their thriving careers. For women committed to both personal and professional fulfillment, she offers tailored strategies to unlock their full potential and step into the relationship of their dreams.

"If at 15, I had known what I know now, I think I would have a huge change in perspective about how I looked at my body in my whole life." —Donna Piper

What if your 'normal weight gain' was actually a medical condition everyone missed? At 15, Donna thought she just needed to try harder. Thirty years later, she learned the shocking truth.

Donna reveals how lipedema symptoms masqueraded as simple body insecurities—from ballet teachers shaming her thighs to doctors dismissing her pain. With raw honesty, she unpacks the genetic reality of lipedema, the crushing weight of misdiagnosis, and why even her "perfect" healthy lifestyle couldn't stop the progression.

Tune in to discover the 3 red flags of lipedema every woman should know—and how to advocate for your body when no one else does.

Connect with Donna: 

Website: https://www.donnapiper.com/  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnapiper

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lipedema_donna 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedonnapiper 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedonnapiper

Episode Highlights:

01:30 Body Image Struggles

05:17 Lymphedema vs Lipedema vs Obesity

11:43 The Impact of Misdiagnosis 

14:53 Dealing with the Grief of Misdiagnosis

21:27 The Feel Good Flow for Lymphatic Support System

23:05 Practical Tips for Lymphatic Support

Resources: 

🔗Links

Lipedema: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17175-lipedema

Big Six: https://youtu.be/lT_wW5pNHa4?si=ojNI2dnWsl1mfjP7

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“Ballerinas don’t have thighs like that.”  At 15, Donna Piper believed her ballet teacher. At 45, she learned the truth: lipedema. Her story will change how you see ‘stubborn weight. Tune in!  

#DearBodyImListeningPodcast #LipedemaAwareness #ChronicIllness #BodyShaming #WeightGain #BigThighs #GeneticDiseases

Quotes: 

01:38 "If at 15, I had known what I know now, I think I would have a huge change in perspective about how I looked at my body in my whole life." —Donna Piper

02:05 "Even though I moved every day, I still had thick thighs. And I also ate really clean food... but my legs were always thicker." —Donna Piper

03:26 "One of my ballet teachers came up to me, and she touched my thighs, and she said, ‘ballerinas don't have thighs like that.’ And I know that she was trying to be motivating... but that was not the case at all, and that just reinforced my self-consciousness about my thighs." —Donna Piper

04:18 "If I had known that lipedema was a thing, this is just genetics...  It's not laziness, it's not a lack of trying. It's not a certain food. It's just, this might happen to you for whatever reason." —Donna Piper

04:56 "This misunderstanding of my body and thinking that it was more in my control has messed with me for decades, and it still messes with me to this day." —Donna Piper

13:54 "Maybe just knowing this (lipedema) now, you could stop blaming yourself. You could stop thinking that you're not doing enough." —Donna Piper

15:29 "By learning some of this information earlier, I would not have been down all these rabbit holes that I have been. I probably would have been able to find something that actually was going to help me, and it would have definitely saved me years of confusion and shame." —Donna Piper

16:01 "How do you deal with the grief of being misdiagnosed for so long? That was really, really tough, and I'm still in the process of all of the five stages of grief." —Donna Piper

16:33 "It's expensive to have these diagnoses because the specialists that you find want to be paid out of pocket... and the kicker is there's no clear cut diagnosis or a pathway like, do these things and you'll improve." —Donna Piper

17:53 "My kind of wisdom... is to stick with it, take it easy and give yourself the time that you need to actually deal with the anger and the upset feelings and all of the doctors saying it was not a big deal." —Donna Piper

20:44 "The paradox of living with these kinds of illnesses is that I don't always look sick, but I feel horrible, and I'm in a lot of pain, and I can't really function." —Donna Piper

21:07 "You're not alone. It's a real thing to be giving 100% and only running on 30% of fuel." —Donna Piper

Meet Your Host: 

Donna Piper is a Relationship Coach, Trauma Expert, and Akashic Records Healer dedicated to empowering successful single women to transform their love lives and attract fulfilling partnerships without sacrificing their professional ambitions.

With a holistic approach blending therapeutic coaching, trauma-informed techniques, and Akashic Records wisdom, she guides clients to release limiting beliefs, heal emotional blocks, and cultivate unshakable self-trust. Her work focuses on aligning mind, body, and spirit to create lasting change—helping clients refine communication, deepen self-worth, and build the foundation for healthy, loving relationships.

Donna’s sessions are a safe haven for those ready to break cycles, embrace vulnerability, and design a love life that harmonizes with their thriving careers. For women committed to both personal and professional fulfillment, she offers tailored strategies to unlock their full potential and step into the relationship of their dreams.

"You are not broken, you are not lazy, you are not crazy—and your body is doing her best." —Donna Piper

What if your body isn’t failing you—it’s trying to save you? 

Patients with chronic pain or invisible illnesses often face gaslighting from doctors, loved ones, and even themselves. They’re told to push through, fix their diets, or "just rest," while their bodies scream in languages no one understands. 

Step into the very first episode of “Dear Body, I’m Listening”, where healing isn’t a straight line, and perfection is left at the door.

In this raw and unfiltered debut, your host, Donna Piper, opens up about her own journey through decades of mysterious symptoms, misdiagnoses, and the emotional rollercoaster of living with invisible illness.  

If you’ve ever googled your symptoms in the dark, felt dismissed by doctors, or wondered if anyone else gets it, this podcast is for you. Join Donna as she builds a sisterhood of seekers, shares the tools that actually help, and provides a safe space for anyone who’s felt broken by a system that ignores their pain.

Press play to discover why rest isn’t laziness, how to decode your body’s signals, and why healing begins when you stop fighting yourself. 

Connect with Donna: 

Website: https://www.donnapiper.com/  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnapiper

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lipedema_donna 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedonnapiper 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedonnapiper 

Episode Highlights:

01:30 “Dear Body, I’m Listening” — The Mission Unveiled

03:00 Donna’s Story: From Dancer to Diagnosis 

05:00 The Turning Point: Pneumonia and the Downward Spiral

07:00 The Search for Answers: Meeting the Specialists

09:00 The Weight of Invisible Illness: Shame, Grief, and Acceptance

11:00 Beyond the Surface: Why “Conservative Treatments” Weren’t Enough

13:00 A Love Letter to Myself: Redefining Healing

15:00 What to Expect: Real Talk, Raw Stories, and Sisterhood

Resources: 

📖Book

Lymphedema And Lipedema Nutrition Guide: Foods, Vitamins, Minerals, And Supplements by Dr. Emily Iker et al  

X:

Your body isn't broken—it's speaking! The first episode of #DearBodyImListening is live—a safe space for women with chronic pain, invisible illness, and anyone who's ever felt dismissed by their own body. Don’t miss your host, Donna Piper’s raw take on chronic illness and more! 

#DearBodyImListeningPodcast #ChronicIllness #SelfTrust #LipedemaAwareness #MastCellActivation #SomaticHealing 

Quotes: 

01:03 “If you've ever felt like your body's speaking a language no one else understands, you are not crazy and you are not alone.” —Donna Piper

01:29 "Healing isn't linear, and neither are we." —Donna Piper

08:10 "Your body doesn't need to be fixed. You don't need to be fixed. You're not broken." —Donna Piper

09:32 “All of those feelings are valid. It sucks to have these things, especially when no one really understands you." —Donna Piper

11:28 “Look at rest as not because you’re lazy or sick, but because if you want to get better, you need to rest." —Donna Piper

11:56 "My healthy food was poisoning me." —Donna Piper

12:45 "You are not broken, you are not lazy, you are not crazy—and your body is doing her best." —Donna Piper

Meet Your Host: 

Donna Piper is a Relationship Coach, Trauma Expert, and Akashic Records Healer dedicated to empowering successful single women to transform their love lives and attract fulfilling partnerships without sacrificing their professional ambitions.

With a holistic approach blending therapeutic coaching, trauma-informed techniques, and Akashic Records wisdom, she guides clients to release limiting beliefs, heal emotional blocks, and cultivate unshakable self-trust. Her work focuses on aligning mind, body, and spirit to create lasting change—helping clients refine communication, deepen self-worth, and build the foundation for healthy, loving relationships.

Donna’s sessions are a safe haven for those ready to break cycles, embrace vulnerability, and design a love life that harmonizes with their thriving careers. For women committed to both personal and professional fulfillment, she offers tailored strategies to unlock their full potential and step into the relationship of their dreams.