For the final episode of season one, Jamie joins the podcast to talk about her experiences living life with a disability. Jamie has Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida, and has been paraplegic since birth. As a kid, she felt deeply self conscious, bitter, and angry that she was different than her peers. She talks about body image and her daily struggles to find confidence. Jamie also tells us how people constantly stare and point, avoid eye contact, and generally assume that she isn’t capable. Despite having some physical limitations, Jamie is a self-proclaimed adrenaline junkie and talks excitedly about skydiving, waterskiing, and the many other sports she enjoys. We also discuss dating, mental health, and the word “inspiring”.

Later in life, Jamie became passionate about advocacy work. As Ms. Wheelchair Michigan 2016, she used her platform to spread awareness about physical and mental disabilities. Jamie gives practical advice for how able-bodied folks can be more respectful of those with disabilities, and envisions a more inclusive world where we’re all just treated like humans. To end, Jamie talks honestly about where she is now with accepting her body and helping others accept theirs.

Find Jamie on Facebook at 'Ms. Wheelchair Michigan 2016-Jamie Spore' or email her at [email protected]. Follow the podcast on Instagram @everybodyspodcast, and be sure to like, rate, and share!

Emma tells us about her childhood and the particular moment when she started feeling expectations around her body. These pressures to look a certain way, “like a dancer”, stuck with her through university as she went on to study dance. Emma talks about having a negative relationship with food, the struggles of looking in a mirror all day, and becoming slightly obsessed with what her body looked like. She describes the intense stress and anxiety that came with wanting to change her body. Emma later found a passion for aerial dance and delved into the art form. However, at one point she found herself overtraining and feeling guilty when she wasn’t training. We chat about body comments, social media, being present, and not feeling good enough.

Emma has made amazing strides with her body image and now lives a much more balanced, sustainable life. She is working on listening to her body, eating and moving intuitively, and not judging foods as good or bad. Emma tells us how she hopes to help others with their mental health struggles - aiming to have less judgement, less pressure, and more balance.

Find Emma on Instagram @tangledinair. Follow the podcast on Instagram @everybodyspodcast and go to buymeacoffee.com/everybodysstory to donate. Make sure to rate, review, and share!

Margo talks about feeling like the biggest, tallest girl growing up, and how it affected her self-image. She restricted her eating from a young age and struggled to stop comparing herself to other girls. We talk about femininity, sports, and the expectations of other people. Margo opens up about dating, and how her body image sometimes held her back. We chat about seeking validation, feeling attractive, and settling. Margo tells us about a stranger’s comment in college and how it started her down a difficult path. However, after transferring schools, Margo found an amazing fitness community where she re-ignited her passion for moving and living healthily. She later found CrossFit, which helped her focus even more on strength rather than thinness.

Margo then talks about getting diagnosed with brain cancer last year. She is incredibly open and honest about how the diagnosis has affected her - emotionally, mentally, and physically. Margo explains how she feels frustrated with her body but is trying to give herself grace. We discuss guilt, mental health, and accepting your feelings. Now, Margo is working hard to be more balanced (literally and figuratively), listen to her body, and do what feels good for her.

Find Margo on Instagram @magicalmargo. Follow the podcast @everybodyspodcast and go to www.buymeacoffee.com/everybodysstory to donate. And make sure to like, rate, review, and share!

Annabelle talks about her experiences in the competitive Irish dance world. As a teen, she already had body image issues that were made worse in dance class, and she began focusing heavily on her appearance. We chat about wearing booty shorts, associating weight with skill, and disordered eating. Annabelle shares how she struggled with perfectionism, and how she felt that becoming the hardest working dancer would give her more respect. We discuss the toxic environment that can come with Irish dance (or any sport), and how Annabelle is breaking that cycle by creating a more positive teaching environment. Next, Annabelle tells us about her major transition out of competition and into new styles of dance. She talks about jumping off the deep end, starting over in a new city, and dealing with identity issues. While this transition certainly came with obstacles, Annabelle is much happier now and feels that she's truly in the right place. She explains that once she stopped comparing herself and doing things to please others, she was able to actually do what she enjoys and find her own path.

Find Annabelle on Instagram @annabellebugaydance and Facebook @Annabelle Bugay Dance and Music. Follow the podcast @everybodyspodcast and go to www.buymeacoffee.com/everybodysstory to donate. And be sure to like, rate, review, and share!