The Embodied Baddie Podcast

I’ve been talking a great deal about body image on Instagram and Facebook because this topic has immense meaning to me personally. None of us can escape body image and, therefore, it is something that we are necessarily confronted with. There is a quote flying around about our bodies being the least important thing about us, and while I get the intention, I think it is the furthest thing from the truth. Our bodies have amazing capabilities—not least of which their ability to develop and sustain the people we love most. Our bodies are also our homes. In this episode, I talk about the dreaded number on the scale, the yo-yo diet trap, and the influence of societal values, while also reflecting on my own body image journey.

Recently I had some old trauma pop up and rear its ugly head.

Self-Love Sunday is a short episode bonus series where Chrystal shares her personal self-love journey and lessons learned along the way

Standing up for what is right...or not.

Self-Love Sunday is a short episode bonus series where Chrystal shares her personal self-love journey and lessons learned along the way

This week it just didn’t feel right to continue with the plan for a solo episode on body image. It didn’t feel right not to address the glaring issue going on in the US right now. While my voice matters, I wanted to take the opportunity to amplify the voices of women of color—particularly black women—in this time of heartache, anger, and frustration based on the centuries of oppression that people of color have faced and are still dealing with every day in 2020. 

I’ve decided to do a roundup of the interviews I have had with specifically black women on this podcast, and I am committed to becoming even more diverse and inclusive in the guests that I get on the show. Today you will hear segments of interviews with four amazing black women, including Tianna Bartoletta, three-time Olympic gold medalist; Nicole Walters, corporate world crusher turned entrepreneur; Davita Parks, athlete and business mentor; and Kelsey Campbell, Olympic wrestler and singer. We talk about everything from self-worth, body-image, and boundaries to being okay with dropping the ball, personal growth, and fighting for your second wind. 

This is an episode chock-full of wisdom from powerful women who are fighting the good fight and making a positive impact in the world.

Social media makes it SO hard to not compare yourself to others out there. Someone asked me how I handle comparison-- this is my response.

Self-Love Sunday is a short episode bonus series where Chrystal shares her personal self-love journey and lessons learned along the way

In this episode, we discuss the fitness and nutrition worlds and some of the misconceptions women have when striving for their ‘perfect body’. 
Julie Wilson Gordon came back to join us in a passionate chat about diet dogma and how it has almost become like a religion. We discussed some important issues about body image and the fact that there is no one-size-fits-all solution, as well as the importance of finding balance in your lifestyle. Julie shares her experience with oxalate poisoning from a strict vegan diet and how she recovered, and why she believes that a going vegan isn’t sustainable for the long-term. We chat about our shared love for a good, real donut or cupcake every once in a while, and our common hate for kale, as well as the benefits we’ve both found from following a flexible diet.

It is UGLY out there lately in social media land! Take some time to step back from the noise and protect your energy.

Self-Love Sunday is a short episode bonus series where Chrystal shares her personal self-love journey and lessons learned along the way

There is so much misinformation about health and nutrition out there that locks women into punishing themselves and living a life of deprivation. Laurie Christine King or LCK is doing the work to dismantle these myths to effectively help women to be well-fed, free, and generally more badass. With a Bachelor’s in Food, Nutrition, and Dietetics, LCK has been in the nutrition and fitness coaching space for over 12 years. We kick this episode off by learning more about how she is handling the lockdown and what she’s doing to meet her clients’ needs. LCK feels that the pressure that many fitness influencers are putting on their followers to achieve their goals during this time is insensitive and does not factor in the increased stress that most people now face.

The journey from feeling so awkward to confident and aligned.

Self-Love Sunday is a short episode bonus series where Chrystal shares her personal self-love journey and lessons learned along the way.

Today’s guest is Kelsey Campbell, who is an incredible Olympic athlete. She was the first female wrestler to compete for Arizona State University in 2007 and is the 12th woman in the US to wrestle for a Division I Men’s Wrestling team. The Scottsdale resident has conditioned her body and mental toughness to outperform her peers and that ambition and dedication have led to a number of national and international accolades, including representing the US in the Olympic Games in 2012 in London. Kelsey is passionate about music and plans to pursue a career in singing and writing, following her wrestling career and competing in the 2020 Olympic Games.