Men Unscripted Podcast

Aaron sits down with "Bones" for a thoughtful conversation about body shame, binge eating, masculinity, and what it means to be in the middle of healing — not on the other side of it. A vulnerable episode about listening to your body, doing the work, and redefining worth beyond size.

Links

• Stop Me If You've Heard This One by Kristen Arnett
• Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary
• Beyond Yacht Rock 2000 Podcast
• Uncripted Journey Substack
• Your Body Unscripted Online Course
• 1:1 Coaching with Aaron
• Men's Group Info
• Men Unscripted Playlist on Spotify

Drake, a 56-year-old husband and father, shares what it's like to carry decades of silent shame about his weight, shaped by comments from family, masculinity expectations, and the belief that "men handle it themselves." Only recently did he begin unpacking this through therapy, walking, and discovering this podcast. Drake talks about separating health from body size, questioning GLP-1 medications, noticing joy return, and learning to speak openly for the first time in his adult life. A grounded, honest conversation about fear, embodiment, and the long journey toward self-compassion.

Links:

Andor (Disney+)

Shrinking (Apple TV+)

Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)

The Moth Podcast

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (audiobook highly recommended)

Uncripted Journey Substack

Your Body Unscripted Online Course

1:1 Coaching with Aaron

Men's Group Info

Men Unscripted Playlist on Spotify

In this episode, Walter shares his story of growing up in deep diet culture, navigating the pressures of acting and masculinity, and the moment everything changed when he discovered Health at Every Size. He talks about what it was like to internalize fear and shame at a young age, how acting shaped his relationship with his body, and the messy, liberating work of rebuilding trust with food. Walter also discusses the role of mindfulness, Buddhist practice, and community in helping him feel more grounded and less alone.

What We Cover:

• Growing up surrounded by dieting, medical fear, and body scrutiny

• Pressure from acting and performance culture

• The chaos of college eating after years of restriction

• Discovering HAES and liberation-based thinking

• Meditation, embodiment, and reconnecting with his body

• Masculinity, identity, and shape-shifting between worlds

• What recovery actually looks like day to day

Resources mentioned include Health at Every Size by Lindo Bacon, ASDAH (Association for Size Diversity and Health), The Wakeful Body by Lama Willa Blythe Baker, and drummer/composer Jonathan Blake's album My Life Matters.

• Uncripted Journey Substack
• Your Body Unscripted Online Course
• 1:1 Coaching with Aaron
• Men's Group Info
• Men Unscripted Playlist on Spotify

Trigger Warning: Brief discussion of GLP-1 medications toward the end of the episode.

Corey shares an honest, moving story about growing up in diet culture, navigating shame, masculinity, ADHD, and early messages about "good" and "bad" bodies. He talks about finding intuitive eating, becoming a therapist, exploring health concerns with compassion, and making space for nuance—including around medications like GLP-1s. A vulnerable, hopeful look at healing, embodiment, and what it means to feel loved exactly as you are.

• Uncripted Journey Substack
• Your Body Unscripted Online Course
• 1:1 Coaching with Aaron
• Men's Group Info
• Men Unscripted Playlist on Spotify
• The Anti-Diet by Christy Harrison, MPH, RD
• Intuitive Eating by Elyse Resch, MPH, RDN, CEDRD-S, FAND and Evelyn Tribole, MS, RDN, CEDRD-S
• The Gluten Lie by Alvin Levinovitz, PhD
• The Broken Earth Series by N.K. Jemisin
• The Expanse Series

This episode includes discussions of suicidal thoughts and internalized fatphobia. If these topics are difficult or unsafe for you to hear at this time, please consider skipping this episode or listening with support.

In one of the most vulnerable Men Unscripted conversations yet, Luke opens up about a lifetime of struggling with body image, weight stigma, and self-acceptance. From being teased as a child to the complex intersection of gender, sexuality, and size, Luke shares what it feels like to live in a body that has always been labeled "different."

Through moments of humor, honesty, and deep reflection, we talk about how culture teaches us to hate our bodies, how grief shows up in recovery, and what it means to keep going even when the inner critic is loud. Luke's story reminds us that healing isn't about perfection — it's about learning to see yourself with compassion, even when it feels impossible.

• The roots of body shame and early childhood messaging

• Internalized fat-phobia and learning to unlearn it

• The emotional toll of diet culture and yo-yo dieting

• Living with a genetic disorder and navigating masculinity

• The role of therapy and self-compassion in recovery

• How creativity, comedy, and community offer moments of connection

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or an eating disorder, please reach out for help.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call or text 988 (US)

NEDA Helpline – Call or text (800) 931-2237

Links

• Good Mythical Morning
• House of the Dragon
• Uncripted Journey Substack
• Your Body Unscripted Online Course
• 1:1 Coaching with Aaron
• Men's Group Info
• Men Unscripted Playlist on Spotify

Lee joins Men Unscripted to share a candid look at growing up "the big kid," developing an eating disorder during his dietetics training, and learning self-compassion after years of shame. We talk about masculinity, coping, connection, and how drumming, movement, and rest help Lee feel grounded today. A powerful conversation for anyone who's ever struggled with their body or their relationship with food.

Links:

• Uncripted Journey Substack
• Your Body Unscripted Online Course
• 1:1 Coaching with Aaron
• Men's Group Info
• Men Unscripted Playlist on Spotify

Host Aaron Flores, RDN shares exciting updates — Men Unscripted returns soon with new, anonymous stories from men exploring body image, masculinity, and healing.

Aaron also invites listeners to join the show, subscribe to his Substack, and check out his online course Your Body Unscripted — a self-paced program for men learning to unlearn body shame and build compassion.

👉 Be a guest: Email Aaron 📰 Subscribe on Substack: aaronfloresrdn.substack.com 🎥 Explore the course: Your Body Unscripted 🌐 Website: aaronfloresrdn.com

Summary

In this episode, Aaron Flores interviews Max, a 45-year-old man living in the Midwest, about his struggles with food and body image. Max shares his experiences growing up in a household focused on dieting and the impact it had on his relationship with food. He also discusses the trauma he experienced as a child and how it contributed to his use of food as a coping mechanism. Max highlights the challenges of being a man and discussing these issues, as well as the importance of finding support and engaging in self-care activities like hiking.

Keywords

body image, food, dieting, trauma, coping mechanism, privilege, masculinity, support, self-care, hiking

Takeaways

• Growing up in a household focused on dieting can have a significant impact on a person's relationship with food and body image.
• Experiencing trauma as a child can contribute to the development of disordered eating behaviors and the use of food as a coping mechanism.
• Men often face challenges in discussing their struggles with food and body image due to societal expectations of masculinity.
• Finding support through therapy, personal trainers, and online communities can be helpful in navigating these issues.
• Engaging in self-care activities, such as hiking, can provide a sense of peace and healing.

Tour de France: Unchained

Follow Aaron Flores on IG: @AaronFloresRDN

Body Image Coaching for Men

Learn more about Within Health

Summary

In this episode of the Men Unscripted podcast, host Aaron Flores talks to Giddy, a trans man in a larger body, about his experiences with body image and eating disorders. Giddy shares his journey growing up in a small rural town, dealing with avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), and the impact of fatphobia and societal expectations on his self-esteem. They discuss the intersection of anorexia and ARFID, the lack of understanding and support for atypical anorexia, and the importance of body acceptance and self-advocacy. Giddy also highlights the role of social media in finding representation and building a community of support. In this conversation, Giddy and Aaron discuss the intersection of body image, gender identity, and eating disorders. Giddy shares their experience as a trans man and how it has influenced their body image journey. They also discuss the importance of support from the queer and trans community and the role of advocacy in medical settings. Giddy emphasizes the value of taking pictures to connect with their body and document their experiences. They also mention resources like health at every size and fact-checking pages on Tumblr.

Keywords

body image, eating disorders, trans man, larger body, avoidant restrictive food intake disorder, ARFID, fatphobia, anorexia, atypical anorexia, body acceptance, gender identity, advocacy, queer community, taking pictures, health at every size, fact-checking

Takeaways

• Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is often misunderstood and mislabeled as picky eating, but it is a distinct eating disorder that goes beyond food preferences.
• The intersection of anorexia and ARFID can complicate the experience of both disorders, and individuals may not fit the DSM criteria for a specific diagnosis.
• Fatphobia and societal expectations can have a profound impact on body image and self-esteem, leading to disordered eating behaviors and a cycle of extreme restriction and brief periods of eating.
• Finding representation and support through social media can be empowering for individuals with marginalized identities and experiences, helping them challenge societal norms and embrace body acceptance.
• Building a community of support, whether through work friends, therapy, or hobbies like playing D&D, can provide a safe space to share experiences and receive validation and understanding. The diet industry perpetuates harmful messaging about body size and shape, which can negatively impact body image and contribute to eating disorders.
• Gender identity can influence body image, and being trans can present unique challenges and opportunities for self-acceptance.
• Support from the queer and trans community is crucial in navigating body image issues and eating disorders.
• Taking pictures can help connect with and appreciate one's body, challenging negative body image perceptions.
• Resources like health at every size and fact-checking pages on social media can provide valuable information and challenge fatphobic narratives.

Links

This is Thin Privilege - Tumblr

Fatphobia Busters - Tumblr

Follow Aaron Flores on IG: @AaronFloresRDN

Body Image Coaching for Men

Learn more about Within Health

Summary

In this episode, Aaron Flores interviews a guest named Blake, who shares his experience with an eating disorder. Blake discusses his journey from feeling hopeless and trapped in his eating disorder to finding a path towards recovery. He talks about the impact of diet culture and societal expectations of masculinity on his body image and self-esteem. Blake also highlights the importance of hearing other people's stories and finding hope in their recovery journeys. Throughout the conversation, they touch on topics such as the all-consuming nature of eating disorders, the challenges of coming to terms with having an eating disorder, and the realization that achieving a specific body image does not bring happiness or confidence. The conversation concludes with discussing the movie 'Back to the Future' and its themes of taking control of one's future and appreciating the present moment.

Keywords

eating disorder, body image, recovery, hope, masculinity, diet culture, self-esteem, recovery, success stories, difficult emotions, therapy, journaling, body acceptance,

Takeaways

• Eating disorders can consume every thought and moment of a person's day, making it difficult to break free from the mindset.
• Coming to terms with having an eating disorder can be a challenging process, often involving denial and resistance to seeking help.
• Societal expectations of masculinity and the idealization of a certain body image can contribute to the development and perpetuation of eating disorders.
• Recovery from an eating disorder involves questioning and challenging deeply ingrained beliefs about food, body image, and self-worth.
• Hearing other people's stories of recovery can provide hope and inspiration for individuals struggling with eating disorders.
• Success stories can inspire and motivate individuals to make positive changes in their own lives.
• Allowing oneself to feel difficult emotions is an integral part of the healing process.
• Therapy and journaling can provide support and help in coping with emotions.
• Engaging in activities that bring joy and reconnecting with one's body are essential in recovery.
• Saying yes to new experiences and challenging avoidance behaviors can lead to personal growth.
• The movie 'Back to the Future' highlights the themes of taking control of one's future and appreciating the present moment.

Life Without ED - Jenni Schaefer

Brain Over Binge - Kathryn Hansen

Back to the Future - Netflix

Follow Aaron Flores on IG: @AaronFloresRDN

Body Image Coaching for Men

Learn more about Within Health