The Innovative Therapist

Episode 66. Today I'm talking to Colleen Christensen, RD, ALL about Intuitive Eating, set point weight, and how to embrace the journey even when you are scared to do so.

We cover the following (and more!):

Colleen's history of an eating disorder, how she healed it, and how she can to doing this work.The main things that helped her break out of the diet cycle, and what she would do differently knowing what she knows now.What set point weight is, how to find it.The crucial shifts she sees people make to help them get over the fears of weight gain.The pros and cons of social media both for people learning about Intuitive Eating there, and for social media influencers.

Colleen Christensen is a Registered Dietitian who believes in the power of food freedom. Through her social media channels, blog, videos and incredibly popular membership community, The SociEATy, she helps women to stop dieting and start fueling their bodies intuitively- without food rules! As a dietitian Colleen knows the importance of nutrition but also that an unhealthy obsession can be detrimental to our health. Finding the "balance" we're all striving for isn't a mystical unicorn; it's 180% within everyone's reach and Colleen guides & inspires others to find this style of food freedom that feels GOOD... mentally and physically!

"People ask me how do I find this magical set point weight; it's by not focusing on weight."-Colleen Christensen, RD

Want To Support Local Bookstores Near You?

Buy your books from Bookshop! Support local bookstores near you and this blog and podcast and help prevent Amazon from completely squashing the local book market.

Are You New Here?

Welcome! I’m so glad to have you. You might be wondering what this blog and podcast are all about.

We relate everything in this podcast back to motivation, but not the hustle and grind kind. Truly sustainable motivation that keeps you feeling energetic and engaged in your life for the long haul. We talk about why “I’m just not motivated” is a myth, and why the TYPE of motivation you have is so important to fully understand. If you are ready to learn about motivation and respecting your body in an effective way so that you can live a life you truly love, you are in the right place.

Check out the Foundational Episodes of the Motivation Made Easy Podcast here!

Introduction: What is this podcast all about?Episode 1: Want to Get & Stay Motivated? A Crash Course on Motivation, Weight Loss, and HealthEpisode 2: How Dieting Steals Our MotivationEpisode 3: How To Get Motivated To Improve Your Health (Motivation 101)Episode 4: How to Transform Health Fears Into Forward Progress

Do you ever worry that you are wasting your life?

I definitely did. In fact, I wrote that in my journal many years ago when I was in the middle of the diet-binge roller coaster ride.

I woke up every day thinking about food, my body, and what I would eat that day to “be healthy”The notebooks I had filled with calories and points could fill up a spare bedroomSocial events and vacations immediately prompted the thought “they will notice I gained weight” or “I need to lose weight by then”Deep down I knew I wasn’t living life the way I wanted to, but I didn’t know how to pull myself out of it.

If this is you, I want you to imagine what it would feel like to feel empowered in your body and proud of your choices on a consistent basis. I promise you, it isn’t too late.

Dieting steals our motivation. It makes us ineffective. It keeps us spinning our wheels in a system that was never built to work.

If you are ready take the first step to motivating yourself with what matters to you, download my free Create Powerful Motivation guide (which is quite beautifully designed if I do say so myself), and walk through the 3 simple steps to create motivation that works for YOU in 15 minutes or less. You will get a simple formula to write ONE SENTENCE you can use to motivate yourself on a daily basis.

You can write it on your bathroom mirror, put on the background of your phone, or just read it and repeat it in your mind.

Look, I know how much it hurts to live a life worrying you are missing out, not stepping into the person you were truly meant to be, vibrant, passionate, curious, vulnerable, and brave.

You can listen to the podcast all day, but taking that first step, putting pen the paper (or typing on your phone) is required for true lasing change. It’s time to start living my friend.

It’s 100% free, so what are you waiting for? Grab your free copy of the guide today at DrHondorp.com/Motivate 

Main Takeaways

Don't skip the biology. Colleen talks about the importance of not skipping over the biological piece before addressing diet mentality. Unconditional permission to eat and allowing all foods typically will backfire if you aren't connected with your body's hunger and fullness cues. Don't fall into this trap. There may be a honeymoon phase of more eating when more foods are allowed, but make sure you connect with your body's cues and listen first, before trying to tackle bringing all previously avoided foods into your home.Take baby steps. Don't overwhelm yourself with trying to do all the things. She talks about taking small baby steps along the way, and celebrating those wins as you go. This is a process and it will likely take time. And you can do this. Understand and honor your biology (by understanding the concepts of set point weight). Learn about what this is, how to re connect with your body and it's cues, and trust that your body will do what it needs to do. This is the hardest part for so many, so please make sure you have support if you need it.Use social media wisely. Social media simplifies and amplifies different opinions, it's what it's designed to do. That can create more confusion about these topics. Make sure you are getting the full picture about Intuitive Eating from someone who can help explain the nuances and help you apply it to yourself!

Support Independent Bookstores Near You!

Did you know that that if nothing slows their momentum, Amazon will have almost 80% of the book market by the end of 2025?

Look, I love the convenience of Amazon, but I’ve got a super cool way that you can support local bookstores and my blog and podcast simply by buying books like you already do! You can choose any bookstore on the list in the US and Canada (they plan to expand to other counties in the future) OR you can just let the donation get split between all stores. As of this recording, they have raised 15 million dollars for local bookstores. On my bookshop, you will see my absolute favorite books related to health and wellness, courage and vulnerability, and even my favorite fiction and kids books!

My recent favorite related to improving the quality of our lives was Digital Minimalism. Our family actually decided to do an optional screen free August to re-evaluate the role of screen time in our lives.

So if you believe in supporting local businesses, please consider buying your books through Bookshop from now on!

The Psychology of Wellness Bookshop Link.

Disclaimer: This blog and podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for individual professional advice or treatment, including medical or mental health advice. It does not constitute a provider patient relationship.

Disclosure: Using the Bookshop.org links in this post means that I would get an affiliate fee if you purchase from the online bookshop (this supports my business, and local bookstores too!).

Episode 65. Today I'm talking to Courtney Gayle (I know her from middle school as Courtney Warford).

Courtney Gayle is an Austin-based singer/model/actress. Known for her powerful-yet-intimate vocal style, she frequently performs solo and with groups throughout the country.

As an actress, her one-woman show, “The Blurred Lines,” made a splash at the Metropolitan Room shortly before her musical theater debut at The Fulton Theatre. 

Courtney frequently does print and influencer modeling, often showcasing her impressive red locks for brands including DevaCurl and EyeBuyDirect.

Currently recording new music with her closest collaborators, Courtney is available for performances, modeling opportunities and voice-over work.

"The more comfortable I am, the less successful I am."- Courtney Gayle

We cover the following (and more!):

Courtney's journey pursuing her dream as a singerHer relationship with food and body and how that played a role when she is clearly told that her body is "part of the sale"The strategies she uses regularly to cope with negative body image thoughts within the entertainment industry

Watch Courtney In Action!

IG Links: https://www.instagram.com/iamcourtneygayle/

https://www.instagram.com/grittysunset/

Website: https://www.grittysunset.com/

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

YouTube: Courtney Gayle

Want To Support Local Bookstores Near You?

Buy your books from Bookshop! Support local bookstores near you and this blog and podcast and help prevent Amazon from completely squashing the local book market.

Do you ever worry that you are wasting your life?

I definitely did. In fact, I wrote that in my journal many years ago when I was in the middle of the diet-binge roller coaster ride.

I woke up every day thinking about food, my body, and what I would eat that day to “be healthy”The notebooks I had filled with calories and points could fill up a spare bedroomSocial events and vacations immediately prompted the thought “they will notice I gained weight” or “I need to lose weight by then”Deep down I knew I wasn’t living life the way I wanted to, but I didn’t know how to pull myself out of it.

If this is you, I want you to imagine what it would feel like to feel empowered in your body and proud of your choices on a consistent basis. I promise you, it isn’t too late.

Dieting steals our motivation. It makes us ineffective. It keeps us spinning our wheels in a system that was never built to work.

If you are ready take the first step to motivating yourself with what matters to you, download my free Create Powerful Motivation guide (which is quite beautifully designed if I do say so myself), and walk through the 3 simple steps to create motivation that works for YOU in 15 minutes or less. You will get a simple formula to write ONE SENTENCE you can use to motivate yourself on a daily basis.

You can write it on your bathroom mirror, put on the background of your phone, or just read it and repeat it in your mind.

Look, I know how much it hurts to live a life worrying you are missing out, not stepping into the person you were truly meant to be, vibrant, passionate, curious, vulnerable, and brave.

You can listen to the podcast all day, but taking that first step, putting pen the paper (or typing on your phone) is required for true lasing change. It’s time to start living my friend.

It’s 100% free, so what are you waiting for? Grab your free copy of the guide today at DrHondorp.com/Motivate 

Main Takeaways from This Conversation

Dieting in any of the traditional ways we do it disconnect us from our life.To progress and succeed in life, it takes stepping out of your comfort zone.People respond differently to confidence. If you're confident, often no one cares how much you weigh.Diamonds form under pressure and beauty emerges from times of adversity.We are able to live our lives to the fullest through food. It's how we connect with each other, celebrate, and experience new cultures. Life is too short to worry about dieting.

Support Independent Bookstores Near You!

Did you know that that if nothing slows their momentum, Amazon will have almost 80% of the book market by the end of 2025?

Look, I love the convenience of Amazon, but I’ve got a super cool way that you can support local bookstores and my blog and podcast simply by buying books like you already do! You can choose any bookstore on the list in the US and Canada (they plan to expand to other counties in the future) OR you can just let the donation get split between all stores. As of this recording, they have raised 15 million dollars for local bookstores. On my bookshop, you will see my absolute favorite books related to health and wellness, courage and vulnerability, and even my favorite fiction and kids books!

My recent favorite related to improving the quality of our lives was Digital Minimalism. Our family actually decided to do an optional screen free August to re-evaluate the role of screen time in our lives.

So if you believe in supporting local businesses, please consider buying your books through Bookshop from now on!

The Psychology of Wellness Bookshop Link.

Disclaimer: This blog and podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for individual professional advice or treatment, including medical or mental health advice. It does not constitute a provider patient relationship.

Disclosure: Using the Bookshop.org links in this post means that I would get an affiliate fee if you purchase from the online bookshop (this supports my business, and local bookstores too!).

Episode 64. Today I have the pleasure of talking with Samantha Barash!

What We Cover in This Week's Episode:

Samantha’s personal experience with diet culture,

How nutritional education is sending out mixed messages,

The process of removing shame from fitness,

The journey of transforming her cycle studio into a safe space for women to move freely,

& Reframing the purpose of exercise and dispelling that it is solely a tool for weight loss.

Samantha Barash is an intuitive eating registered dietitian and the owner of Tap Into Nutrition, a nutrition counseling service dedicated to supporting individuals to cultivate a healthy relationship with food and their bodies.  Tap Into Nutrition utilizes a non-diet, weight-inclusive, Health at Every Size approach to empower their clients to break free from chronic dieting and understand nutrition in a gentle, evidence-based approach that emphasizes mental health as just as important as physical health.  During 1-on-1 individualized sessions, Samantha works with her clients to dive deep into their nutrition and dieting history to unlearn old mindsets. She will guide your journey to find peace with food while simultaneously becoming your healthiest self. 

Samantha Barash earned her Bachelor's of Science in Dietetics from Michigan State University and then went off to complete her accredited internship at Wayne State University. When Sam isn't supporting her clients to navigate their plates from a non-diet approach, she can be found motivating riders as the lead instructor at CycleBar in Troy, Michigan.  With Sam’s guidance, CycleBar in Troy has been able to cultivate an inclusive fitness space, welcoming to all identities, body sizes and fitness levels. As a registered dietitian and fitness professional, Samantha approaches her work from a “what can we add” vs. “what are we taking away” mentality.

You can find her on instagram @tapintonutrition and @samanthabarash and on her website at www.tapintonutrition.net

“You have permission to do what your body is asking for.”- Samantha Barash, RD

Main Takeaways From This Episode

Shame shouldn't be used as a facilitator of change in nutrition or movement.

Try reframing your mindset around exercise from "I'm doing this to create physical change" to "I'm showing up for my mental health and clarity."

People want to feel welcomed and like they belong, so creating a safe space for women to move freely is crucial to inclusive and supportive fitness.

Give yourself permission to do what your body is asking for and to move in a way your body wants.

Disclaimer: This blog and podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for individual professional advice or treatment, including medical or mental health advice. It does not constitute a provider patient relationship.

Disclosure: Using the Bookshop.org links in this post means that I would get an affiliate fee if you purchase from the online bookshop (this supports my business, and local bookstores too!).

Episode 63. Today I'm taking you on a behind the scenes tour of The Body Respect Program. I'm going to talk about how it's evolved over the years I've been doing it (I started it in a much different form as an in person group in Chicago back in 2011), why I created it, how it's teaching people to regain trust with their bodies after years of chronic dieting, and why I've never believed in something more.

What to Expect In This Episode:

How and why I decided to create an online program

A behind the scenes look at my fears in initially launching the program, the emotional roller coaster of launch expectations, and how the launch turned out compared to my expectations (you will be surprised about this one!)

How standard healthcare and traditional approaches to eating and weight management are keeping you stuck

What we've adapted and changed in the program to get even better results

Why this program is needed more than ever right now

Main Takeaways from This Episode

You likely are still getting a LOT of inaccurate messages about your health, weight, and wellness

You and your body are not broken, and it's WAY more effective to work with your body instead of against it

You should have some form of support and accountability for any important change you want to make

More likely than not, you need more support and accountability if you aren't making progress towards your goals (in any area)

Disclaimer: This blog and podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for individual professional advice or treatment, including medical or mental health advice. It does not constitute a provider patient relationship.

Disclosure: Using the Bookshop.org links in this post means that I would get an affiliate fee if you purchase from the online bookshop (this supports my business, and local bookstores too!).

Episode 62. Ever wondered what is beneath your pattern of emotional eating or binge eating? Often, it's dieting and restriction driving the cycle. However, underneath that, there many be something else going on too.

If you've ever wondered what emotional eating or binge eating might be covering up, this conversation is for you?

Dr. Sumer Ledet is a gem and a good friend of mine whose legs I've never seen. She is an incredible human being that I met online and now I consider her a very close support person in my life. I brought her on today because she has and incredible gift of breaking down complex topics like anxiety and guilt and living a values-consistent life.

Today we cover all of this, including how it might be related to eating and your body image. I can't wait for you to listen in.

We cover the following (and more!):

Sumer's relationship with her body (something she hasn't shared much about in the past)What shifted things for her (Hint: It had nothing to do with therapy or treatment)What does it mean to clarify your values and why should you care about it? How might it help with feeling more in control of your eating? How you can use your values to motivate true change (and why if it's comfortable, you may be doing it wrong)

"I believe we are all here for a purpose, and if you're not willing to check in with that, you might miss it" -Dr. Sumer Ledet

Ready to Break the Emotional Eating Cycle?

Ready to stop avoiding and break the emotional eating cycle for good?

The first step is to start to disrupt the cycle.

Grab my free guide for 23 practical ideas for things to do today besides the standard diet culture BS advice (take a walk, have some water!). Grab my free practical guide and start disrupting the cycle today today!

Who is Dr. Sumer Ledet?

Dr. Sumer Ledet is a licensed psychologist, anxiety expert, digital program creator, and working mother. Using her signature program, The Get Present System, she helps high achieving working mothers to finally enjoy the life they have worked so hard to create without being paralyzed by anxiety or having to fake being "OK" any longer. Since transitioning her business from a 1:1 brick-and-mortar private therapy practice to an online group coaching program during COVID, she is enjoying more time with my two boys and husband and practicing what she preaches more effectively than ever before.

She has a doctorate and two master’s degrees and is licensed as a Medical Psychologist. She has been published in the Psychology Times, the Louisiana Psychological Association blog, the journal of Schizophrenia Research, and has co-authored a book chapter on Schizophrenia. She has created hundreds of free educational videos to manage anxiety. You can check out a sample here: How I manage mom guilt

Check her out on Facebook or Instagram @drsumerledetGet Present Bootcamp: www.sumerledet.com/bootcamp

Main Takeaways From This Conversation

Clarifying your values is everything. Do it! It's a foundational concept of both of our programs for a reason and consistently everyone's favorite Module in The Body Respect Program.Values are key for long-term motivation. To develop autonomous motivation, the type that sticks for the long-haul, doing this work is essential.If your comfortable, you may not be doing it right. Values clarification is inherently uncomfortable. We are never living 100% with our values and looking at the gaps (where you aren't living life exactly how you'd like to be) is sometimes really hard, but it's essential. And when you do it without judging or shaming yourself, it really isn't all that bad.Ask yourself "How do I want to show up in my life?" To dive in thoroughly, you can check out the book Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life by Dr. Steven Hayes, PhD. OR, you can ask questions like "How do I want to show up in my life?"

Take the First Step to Break the Emotional Eating Cycle

Sick of wasting time and energy caught in the emotional eating cycle? Ready to live a life consistent with your values and who you truly want to be?

The first step is to disrupt the cycle. Grab this free guide for 23 positive things you can do instead of eating!

Disclaimer: This blog and podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for individual professional advice or treatment, including medical or mental health advice. It does not constitute a provider patient relationship.

Disclosure: Using the Bookshop.org links in this post means that I would get an affiliate fee if you purchase from the online bookshop (this supports my business, and local bookstores too!).

Episode 61. One thing I often hear from folks is how expensive it is to make healthy lifestyle changes. And this can 100% be true. Today, I want to delve into some specifics, of the ways that giving up dieting can actually save you money, maybe lots of it. Are you intrigued? If you are a long time listener, you know I'm pretty minimalistic at heart. This does not mean I don't have or like stuff, I truly do and frankly my house is a mess. However, I am always looking to simplify my life, de-clutter, and build more connections and experiences. That's what minimalism means to mean, focusing on the value of things and experiences, and less on accumulation of things. We are going to get into some details and numbers here, so get ready and get excited!

We cover the following (and more!):

My personal experience with spending money, time, and energy on diet culture.How minimalism can help fight consumer culture.How meal prepping can make cooking for your family a seamless process.Other ways to invest in your health.& so much more!

Are You New Here?

Welcome! I’m so glad to have you. You might be wondering what this blog and podcast are all about.

We relate everything in this podcast back to motivation, but not the hustle and grind kind. Truly sustainable motivation that keeps you feeling energetic and engaged in your life for the long haul. We talk about why “I’m just not motivated” is a myth, and why the TYPE of motivation you have is so important to fully understand. If you are ready to learn about motivation and respecting your body in an effective way so that you can live a life you truly love, you are in the right place.

Check out the Foundational Episodes of the Motivation Made Podcast here!

Introduction: What is this podcast all about?Episode 1: Want to Get & Stay Motivated? A Crash Course on Motivation, Weight Loss, and HealthEpisode 2: How Dieting Steals Our MotivationEpisode 3: How To Get Motivated To Improve Your Health (Motivation 101)Episode 4: How to Transform Health Fears Into Forward Progress

“I’m terrified I’m wasting my life.”

I wrote this in a journal in the middle of the diet-binge cycle. And frankly, I kind of was.

I’m here to tell you it’s never too late to gain control of your eating, respect your body, and live a life that’s TRULY consistent with your values. But you need to take the first step.

One of the very first steps in developing truly autonomous and body respecting motivation is to clarify what actually matters to you. Not your mom, not your sister, not your best friend, YOU. 

The more you reflect on this, the more you can connect your values to your behaviors in a sustainable and empowering way. 

Grab the free guide at DrHondorp.com/goals and get started today. I promise you, it’s never to late to stop dieting and start truly living. You will not regret it.

Healthy Eating and Money

Like many topics I talk about, sometimes I'm like, do I really wanna go here? But this is a topic I think is really important to consider. Particularly because money stress is VERY prevalent, before the pandemic, but for many it is especially now. I think people are also re-evaluating money and what it means for them.

When You Feel More Competent and Trust Yourself, You Can Make Smarter Money Decisions

When I was in the diet binge cycle I was desperate for a solution and to feel better. The amount of money I've paid to the diet industry for zero results (except more lack of trust in myself and guilt about "failing" another program) is a LOT.

I did Jenny Craig, which isn't cheap.

I did Weight Watchers 3-4 times. At least that one was online so overall was cheaper.

I convinced my parents to buy a treadmill in high school which I barely used. Granted, that was their money and I think some family members occasionally used it? But not much, folks.

I was mostly a broke student (actually almost the whole time I was in the diet binge cycle I was a student) so I mostly did a lot of self-help approaches and therefore wasted money in the form of time, energy, and focus.

As a new business owner, a mom of 2 and a wife, I'm learning more than ever to value my time. It makes me cringe a little bit to think about all the wasted time, energy and focus I spent recording and counting calories and learning about what I thought was "healthy" (Read: chicken breast, steamed broccoli and other foods I didn't like), when I could have been doing activities that would actually serve me long-term (hobbies, actually preparing meals that were nourishing and satisfying, learning to become a better cook, connecting with my friends, learning about intuitive eating!).

Spending Less on Your Health Isn't Always the Answer

But don't get me wrong, I'm not just saying "stop spending money, focus on health". Spending less on your health isn't always the answer. In fact, it often isn't. It's about spending smarter on things that will actually help you.

Diet culture and the weight loss industry makes money on repeat customers, and on us feeling bad about ourselves.

When we feel badly about ourselves, we buy their products to try to typically lose weight and "feel good, confident, get a partner, etc."

We can get angry about it; that's valid, and I certainly do. But ultimately it's a business and it's important to see it for what it is. We can let our anger be there, process the grief and lost time and opportunity, but then the question still remains, what do I want to do with my money instead?

It's also often helpful to examine other things we do to try to feel happier, like overspending on clothes and things and where we might be able to re-allocate that money. Look, I'm all for treating ourselves with things we enjoy, and minimalism isn't that. However, we need to look at if there's opportunities to spend money in places that might be more effective, like getting us out of the ineffective diet cycle to free up more time, money, and resources to focus on other things that will actually move us forward.

With regards to collecting less stuff, I highly recommend the Netflix documentaries Minimalism and Less is Now. They help illustrate that our immense need for more stuff is often trying to fill an emotional need it cannot fill.

Let's Spend Based on Principles of Efficiency (Work Smarter, Not Harder) and Think About How That Applies to our Health

In 2020, U.S. consumers spent an average of 8.6 percent of their disposable personal income on food—divided between food at home (5.0 percent) and food away from home (3.6 percent) (USDA website). 

In 1960, total percent of income spent on food was 17%.

Examples of New Ways to Spend Money or Time that Will Actually Improve Your Health and Well-Being (and Thus Save You Money Over the Long-Term)

Look for ways to reduce decision fatigue (and make the habit you want to do easier on your brain). One way to do this is to consider the aspects of meal planning and prep that tend to be taxing and outsource this. For many of us, myself included, this is the decision making process. Decision making is incredibly mentally taxing on our brains. The question of "What should we have for dinner?" feels like it shouldn't be taxing, and yet, for most of us it VERY MUCH is. Think about all the decisions that surround eating a meal prepared at home: planning it, finding the recipe, writing a list, getting the ingredients, preparing the meal, cleaning it all up after. I'm exhausted just writing this list! The reality is, we live in a hustle culture, where more men and women are working outside the home, leaving less time for these activities. Options include using a meal planner to reduce the need to come up with ideas, grocery list, recipes. Or you can use a meal service. If you don't like cooking, buy the pre prepared kinds or frozen meals (I'm a big fan of Amy's meals for single servings)Invest in support. Good therapy, a support group, a coaching program like ours. Make sure you get on our waitlist to find out when doors open to our community based group coaching program.Implement more plant-based nutrition. Plant-based eating can be incredibly affordable. If this feels restrictive right now, maybe don't do it. However, one option is to learn one plant-based recipe per week and try it out. I use the Forks Over Knives Meal Planner, but Dr. Yami one of my previous guests also has incredible tips for plant based eating from a non-diet framework you need to check out!Find an exercise or movement program that excites you. Joyn.co is actually free, but if like me you need some additional accountability to show up, try to find a class in person or online where you pay in advance for the class so you have more incentive to show up.

Support Independent Bookstores Near You!

Did you know that that if nothing slows their momentum, Amazon will have almost 80% of the book market by the end of 2025?

Look, I love the convenience of Amazon, but I got a super cool way that you can support local bookstores and my blog and podcast simply by buying books like you already do! You can choose any bookstore on the list in the US and Canada (they plan to expand to other counties in the future) OR you can just let the donation get split between all stories. As of this recording, they have raised 15 million dollars for local bookstores. On my bookshop, you will see my absolute favorite books related to health and wellness, courage and vulnerability, and even my favorite fiction and kids books!

My recent favorite related to improving the quality of our lives was Digital Minimalism. Our family actually has decided to do a optional screen free August to re-evaluate the role of screen time in our lives.

So if you believe in support local business, please consider buying your books through Bookshop from now on!

The Psychology of Wellness Bookshop Link.

Disclaimer: This blog and podcast is for informational and educationa

Episode 60. Today's topic delves into something I feel strongly about and have thought about sharing for a while now. I've decided to share now for a few reasons:

I believe stories are incredibly powerful and just sharing facts ain't going to cut it with this incredibly important topic.I've finally created a bit of time and space in my life to research the topic and form some coherent thoughts.I have many different privileges that afford me the opportunity to share this story, without as much fear of painful backlash as some other women might face. And that's messed up.

That said, this topic is hard to write and talk about. It still brings up grief and sadness that I frankly still often want to avoid. But it feels incredibly important, because stories and support are what helped me get through this immensely difficult experience. As a woman, I feel compelled to speak out for many reasons that I will explain further below (that is, this is related to health and well-being and your relationship to food and your body, and not just a random story about my experience).

“If we can let go of the shame and focus on the root cause, maybe then we could start making some headway.”- Dr. Sumer Ledet

This episode includes the following:

My personal experience with miscarriage and griefAn overview of some of the stats about miscarriage and how weight is typically discussed in this arena of health (and how this applies to most other health arenas)How correlation is different from causation and why we need to be super aware of this as we interpret research studies, and interact with medical providersWhat you need to know to empower yourself or your loved ones as you move towards taking great care of yourself on this incredibly vulnerable journey that is trying to conceive and have the family you want (or again, this example pretty much relates to most health related concerns that are blamed on weight)

Want To Support Local Bookstores Near You?

Buy your books from Bookshop! Support local bookstores near you and this blog and podcast and help prevent Amazon from completely squashing the local book market.

Are You New Here?

Welcome! I’m so glad to have you. You might be wondering what this blog and podcast are all about.

We relate everything in this podcast back to motivation, but not the hustle and grind kind. Truly sustainable motivation that keeps you feeling energetic and engaged in your life for the long haul. We talk about why “I’m just not motivated” is a myth, and why the TYPE of motivation you have is so important to fully understand. If you are ready to learn about motivation and respecting your body in an effective way so that you can live a life you truly love, you are in the right place.

Check out the Foundational Episodes of the Motivation Made Easy Podcast here!

Introduction: What is this podcast all about?Episode 1: Want to Get & Stay Motivated? A Crash Course on Motivation, Weight Loss, and HealthEpisode 2: How Dieting Steals Our MotivationEpisode 3: How To Get Motivated To Improve Your Health (Motivation 101)Episode 4: How to Transform Health Fears Into Forward Progress

Do you ever worry that you are wasting your life?

I definitely did. In fact, I wrote that in my journal many years ago when I was in the middle of the diet-binge roller coaster ride.

I woke up every day thinking about food, my body, and what I would eat that day to "be healthy"The notebooks I had filled with calories and points could fill up a spare bedroomSocial events and vacations immediately prompted the thought "they will notice I gained weight" or "I need to lose weight by then"Deep down I knew I wasn't living life the way I wanted to, but I didn't know how to pull myself out of it.

If this is you, I want you to imagine what it would feel like to feel empowered in your body and proud of your choices on a consistent basis. I promise you, it isn't too late.

Dieting steals our motivation. It makes us ineffective. It keeps us spinning our wheels in a system that was never built to work.

If you are ready take the first step to motivating yourself with what matters to you, download my free Cultivate Powerful Motivation guide (which is quite beautifully designed if I do say so myself), and walk through the 3 simple steps to cultivate motivation that works for YOU in 15 minutes or less. You will get a simple formula to write ONE SENTENCE you can use to motivate yourself on a daily basis.

You can write it on your bathroom mirror, put on the background of your phone, or just read it and repeat it in your mind.

Look, I know how much it hurts to live a life worrying you are missing out, not stepping into the person you were truly meant to be, vibrant, passionate, curious, vulnerable, and brave.

You can listen to the podcast all day, but taking that first step, putting pen the paper (or typing on your phone) is required for true change. It's time to start living my friend.

It's 100% free, so what are you waiting for? Grab your free copy of the guide today at DrHondorp.com/Motivate 

Our Pregnancy Loss Story

I don't really want to tell this story. Not because I'm ashamed, but because even though I've processed the pain a great deal, it's still incredibly intense and painful at times when I think about it in any focused way.

And yet, I feel compelled to. Because as immense as my pain is about our miscarriage, I had the privilege of going through that pain without the additional stress and strain of body shame, weight-biased medical information, or professionals or people implying, either directly or indirectly (or behind my back) that it was somehow my fault, something I could have prevented if I'd just "been healthier".

This Career Girl Never Wanted Something so Viscerally

We were so lucky. We wanted a family and we got to have one.

When it came time to try for a second kiddo, my good friend was already recently pregnant. So if I got pregnant soon, we could be pregnant together and have kids of similar ages! I was excited, but incredibly anxious. It felt like pressure.

In my experience, entering the trying to conceive phase feels almost impossible to do without a degree of anxiety and pressure. And for me, it was palpable.

For more detail about the events leading to our miscarriage, please listen to the podcast episode.

What Does This Have to Do With Body Shame and Weight Bias?

So why am I sharing this here? And why so much detail? But I need us to reflect on some things. I am a white woman who has size privilege. I have immense privilege in my healthcare access and I still got bounced around. This experience was immensely painful for myself, my husband, and the family who knew about it. At one point, I talked to a good friend's sister who was a physician to get a second opinion on the safety and risks/benefits of the D & C. Again, privilege.

And you know what else? The reason I'm sharing this here, is I got to experience this pain without the added stress or guilt of feeling like my body size or eating or movement habits had any role to play. Because of my body size, that was never implied.

And I know full well that if there was any indication by anyone that I might have done something or somehow been at fault here, I 100% would have blamed myself and had a harder time moving through the grief.

I'm NOT Suggesting that Many Women's Health Physician's Overtly Blame Women for Pregnancy Loss

Now to be clear here, I don't think that it's common for obstetrician's to necessarily imply that miscarriages are caused by body size. At least, I hope that is rare. Though I wouldn't be surprised to hear that has happened, it's not something I've heard often.

But I do think the implication is there for many women. I've heard so many stories of weight bias in medicine and pregnancy care, it's incredibly upsetting. I've heard things like:

Nurse says to newly pregnant mom (whose BMI is around 30): "we need to get you in RIGHT AWAY for your glucose test" and makes them to the intensive version of the test versus the standard version despite no other risk factors for gestational diabetes beyond body sizeComments like "better be careful" when mom gains 3 lbs in a week, without even checking the chart to see that she had lost weight the previous week (frankly, this comment is egregious no matter what the weight change was)

Research on Miscarriage, Fertility, and Weight

So what does the data say about miscarriage and weight?

As always, with research we have to look at the body mass index, even though there are many issues with this measure as a measure of individual health.

Like most health conditions, you don't have to look far to find studies stating that obesity or being of higher weight is ASSOCIATED with poor health outcomes, and miscarriage and fertility concerns is one of these outcomes. A quick google search will tell you in no uncertain terms that having a BMI in the obese range is associated with higher risk of miscarriage. Sadly, much of the language used, even in peer-reviewed research appears to attempt to suggest a causal relationship. For example, using terms like the "impact" of obesity on miscarriage, fertility, etc.

The reality is, that correlation does not imply causation. Let me explain.

Sleeping With Shoes on Causes Headache?

I forget where I first saw this example, so my apologies to that person for not being able to remember it to give credit where credit is due. But one of my favorite examples of this concept is the idea that people who wake up with a headache (aka a hangover) have a higher risk of having slept with their shoes on. So do we assume wearing shoes to bed causes a headache?

We do not!

The "third" or "confounding variable" here is the fact that people falling asleep with shoes on are more likely to have consumed a lot of alcohol and that is very likely what's causing their headache

Episode 59. Young kids these days, they are all for body positivity, right?? In today's episode, I sat down with my 3 college aged interns. They all graduated this year or will soon graduate with their bachelor's degrees in psychology or nutrition.

Want To Support Local Bookstores Near You?

Buy your books from Bookshop! Support local bookstores near you and this blog and podcast and help prevent Amazon from completely squashing the local book market.

"The most important thing I've learned was that I could leave dieting behind and still be healthy."-Sanya Kapur

What to Expect In This Episode:

They all share their relationship with food prior to the internship, and how the internship has changed things for themThey talk about their current education and how much (or how little) of what we talk about on this podcast was stuff they already knew or had been taughtThe myths and misconceptions that were dispelledHow they want to see things change in the future in regards to this work

Are You New Here?

Welcome! I’m so glad to have you. You might be wondering what this blog and podcast are all about.

We relate everything in this podcast back to motivation, but not the hustle and grind kind. Truly sustainable motivation that keeps you feeling energetic and engaged in your life for the long haul. We talk about why “I’m just not motivated” is a myth, and why the TYPE of motivation you have is so important to fully understand. If you are ready to learn about motivation and respecting your body in an effective way so that you can live a life you truly love, you are in the right place.

Check out the Foundational Episodes of the Motivation Made Easy Podcast here!

Introduction: What is this podcast all about?Episode 1: Want to Get & Stay Motivated? A Crash Course on Motivation, Weight Loss, and HealthEpisode 2: How Dieting Steals Our MotivationEpisode 3: How To Get Motivated To Improve Your Health (Motivation 101)Episode 4: How to Transform Health Fears Into Forward Progress

Do you ever worry that you are wasting your life?

I definitely did. In fact, I wrote that in my journal many years ago when I was in the middle of the diet-binge roller coaster ride.

I woke up every day thinking about food, my body, and what I would eat that day to “be healthy”The notebooks I had filled with calories and points could fill up a spare bedroomSocial events and vacations immediately prompted the thought “they will notice I gained weight” or “I need to lose weight by then”Deep down I knew I wasn’t living life the way I wanted to, but I didn’t know how to pull myself out of it.

If this is you, I want you to imagine what it would feel like to feel empowered in your body and proud of your choices on a consistent basis. I promise you, it isn’t too late.

Dieting steals our motivation. It makes us ineffective. It keeps us spinning our wheels in a system that was never built to work.

If you are ready take the first step to motivating yourself with what matters to you, download my free Create Powerful Motivation guide (which is quite beautifully designed if I do say so myself), and walk through the 3 simple steps to create motivation that works for YOU in 15 minutes or less. You will get a simple formula to write ONE SENTENCE you can use to motivate yourself on a daily basis.

You can write it on your bathroom mirror, put on the background of your phone, or just read it and repeat it in your mind.

Look, I know how much it hurts to live a life worrying you are missing out, not stepping into the person you were truly meant to be, vibrant, passionate, curious, vulnerable, and brave.

You can listen to the podcast all day, but taking that first step, putting pen the paper (or typing on your phone) is required for true lasing change. It’s time to start living my friend.

It’s 100% free, so what are you waiting for? Grab your free copy of the guide today at DrHondorp.com/Motivate 

Main Takeaways from this Episode

Sharing stories can be so pivotal and impactful in many people's journey.Your childhood experience can have a tremendous impact on your current relationship with your body.The pain that comes from diet culture is real and is quite common in young women.We still have a ways to go in terms of educating people on what HAES and weight-inclusive approaches.

Support Independent Bookstores Near You!

Did you know that that if nothing slows their momentum, Amazon will have almost 80% of the book market by the end of 2025?

Look, I love the convenience of Amazon, but I’ve got a super cool way that you can support local bookstores and my blog and podcast simply by buying books like you already do! You can choose any bookstore on the list in the US and Canada (they plan to expand to other counties in the future) OR you can just let the donation get split between all stores. As of this recording, they have raised 15 million dollars for local bookstores. On my bookshop, you will see my absolute favorite books related to health and wellness, courage and vulnerability, and even my favorite fiction and kids books!

My recent favorite related to improving the quality of our lives was Digital Minimalism. Our family actually decided to do an optional screen free August to re-evaluate the role of screen time in our lives.

So if you believe in supporting local businesses, please consider buying your books through Bookshop from now on!

The Psychology of Wellness Bookshop Link.

Disclaimer: This blog and podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for individual professional advice or treatment, including medical or mental health advice. It does not constitute a provider patient relationship.

Disclosure: Using the Bookshop.org links in this post means that I would get an affiliate fee if you purchase from the online bookshop (this supports my business, and local bookstores too!).

Episode 58. The Motivation Made Easy podcast turned 1!

Did you miss Part 1 of the Happy Anniversary Episode? We covered:

My favorite episodes and why you NEED to listen to themMME Episode Awards! Most downloaded interview and solo episodes, most talked about episodes, and the best kept secret episode, and my favorite episodes (consider this your binge listening guide)Top countries people are listening from!My main takeaways from a year of podcasting

This week (Part 2 of the Anniversary Episode) will include:

A breakdown of some episodes for specific purposes that you often tell me you have (e.g., best episodes to share with a loved one truly understand the non-diet approach; the best episodes to answer the question HOW do I truly get out of the diet binge cycle)What I've learned about my field doing this podcast and how my thinking has shifted dramatically just in the past year, despite being in this field for almost 20 yearsThe truths that were really revealed to me through these conversations about sustainable habit change that I never fully understood until now

Want To Support Local Bookstores Near You?

Buy your books from Bookshop! Support local bookstores near you and this blog and podcast and help prevent Amazon from completely squashing the local book market.

Are You New Here?

Welcome! I’m so glad to have you. You might be wondering what this blog and podcast are all about.

We relate everything in this podcast back to motivation, but not the hustle and grind kind. Truly sustainable motivation that keeps you feeling energetic and engaged in your life for the long haul. We talk about why “I’m just not motivated” is a myth, and why the TYPE of motivation you have is so important to fully understand. If you are ready to learn about motivation and respecting your body in an effective way so that you can live a life you truly love, you are in the right place.

Check out the Foundational Episodes of the Motivation Made Easy Podcast here!

Introduction: What is this podcast all about?Episode 1: Want to Get & Stay Motivated? A Crash Course on Motivation, Weight Loss, and HealthEpisode 2: How Dieting Steals Our MotivationEpisode 3: How To Get Motivated To Improve Your Health (Motivation 101)Episode 4: How to Transform Health Fears Into Forward Progress

Do you ever worry that you are wasting your life?

I definitely did. In fact, I wrote that in my journal many years ago when I was in the middle of the diet-binge roller coaster ride.

I woke up every day thinking about food, my body, and what I would eat that day to “be healthy”The notebooks I had filled with calories and points could fill up a spare bedroomSocial events and vacations immediately prompted the thought “they will notice I gained weight” or “I need to lose weight by then”Deep down I knew I wasn’t living life the way I wanted to, but I didn’t know how to pull myself out of it.

If this is you, I want you to imagine what it would feel like to feel empowered in your body and proud of your choices on a consistent basis. I promise you, it isn’t too late.

Dieting steals our motivation. It makes us ineffective. It keeps us spinning our wheels in a system that was never built to work.

If you are ready take the first step to motivating yourself with what matters to you, download my free Create Powerful Motivation guide (which is quite beautifully designed if I do say so myself), and walk through the 3 simple steps to create motivation that works for YOU in 15 minutes or less. You will get a simple formula to write ONE SENTENCE you can use to motivate yourself on a daily basis.

You can write it on your bathroom mirror, put on the background of your phone, or just read it and repeat it in your mind.

Look, I know how much it hurts to live a life worrying you are missing out, not stepping into the person you were truly meant to be, vibrant, passionate, curious, vulnerable, and brave.

You can listen to the podcast all day, but taking that first step, putting pen the paper (or typing on your phone) is required for true lasing change. It’s time to start living my friend.

It’s 100% free, so what are you waiting for? Grab your free copy of the guide today at DrHondorp.com/Motivate 

"What Exactly Are You Doing? Just Eating What You Want? That Doesn't Seem Very Healthy...."

The reality is, most people, maybe you, still don't really understand this approach.

It's very understandable. It's nuanced, and counter to so much of what we are taught throughout our lives.

And yet, as I mentioned last week, I've NEVER believed in it more. Not only the non-diet and weight inclusive approach, but the general approach of learning how to approach yourself with an autonomous mindset when it comes to your health. Basically, how to guide yourself to work smarter, not harder on your health, and what on earth that means.

But first, to put forth the effort that is required for such an approach like this (one that requires consistent effort, and dealing with uncomfortable previously avoided emotions), we must understand WHY we are doing it, and buy into the approach.

Top Episodes for Understanding Why Health at Every Size and Intuitive Eating Makes Sense at a Scientific and Biological Level

These are great episodes to listen to to better understand the statement "obesity causes health problems" is scientifically flawed and almost always unhelpful.

These might also be good episodes to share with someone who asks questions like:

"But what about someone who 'needs' to lose weight for health reasons?"

OR makes statements like:

"My doctor told me that X problem was related to my weight and I need to lose weight to improve it, so I can't do an anti-diet approach."

Episode 32 with Dr. Jillian Murphy. Go to 23:45 for her answer about what Health At Every Size is and breaking down the social component of HAES and also the science behind the movement and why it makes sense.

Episode 36 with Joanna Pustilnik

Episode 56 with Dr. Maggie Landes, MD. We break down why focusing on weight is counterproductive, and how this doctor finally broke out of the ineffective diet cycle after many years of yo yo dieting.

Top How To Episodes for Getting Out of the Binge Cycle

One of the things I've learned through owning my own business and being a mother is the importance of delegation. I primarily learned this through my business training Run Like Clockwork, which has been incredible.

One aspect of delegation that is hard, but crucial, is realizing that often, we feel like we need to do everything ourselves and that no one will do it to our standards. When in reality, though it can be incredibly hard on our ego, often people have strengths that lead them to do things better than us.

I've had to learn this in terms of raising my kids, that some people are simply better at teaching them things than I am, or even enjoy doing certain things with them more than I do, and that's 100% okay.

In terms of business, I've learned that some people are better than me at breaking down these nuanced topics, particularly as it relates to the Diet Binge Cycle. Often, ironically, these aren't clinicians by training, but they are SO GOOD at what they do.

In episode 53, Stefanie Michele does an incredible job sharing her story of 25 years of disordered eating and binge eating, many eating disorder treatment centers, and what finally helped her break free. We cover 5 questions to ask yourself to help you break from of the binge eating cycle, and you will NOT want to miss it.

Back in episode 35, Victoria Evans is another example of someone who went through the personal experience of disordered eating and binge eating and now coaches women in this area. She and Stefanie both has incredible gifts in this area, and her practical advice for how to build trust with your body, combined with Stefanie's you will not want to miss.

Top How To Episode for Practicing Self-Compassion

Dr. Adia Gooden is a rock star. My conversation with her about Unconditional Self Worth shook me to my core. Her ability to model language of how you can and should truly talk to yourself in moments of pain and shame is crucial, and is a skill I work on everyday and you should too. It impacts pretty much everything.

Dr. Alexis Conason is also incredible. She has an amazing new book and it was such a privilege talking to her about truly weight inclusive mindful eating and how it's essentially the key to everything. And don't worry, you can get the benefits of mindfulness without attending a 7 day mindfulness retreat.

Inspiring Stories Episodes

There are stories infused in most every episodes, but these stories continues to stay with me and with my listeners. All three of these women were kind enough to come on and share their journeys with us in these episodes. Make sure you listen in and key in on the differences that made the difference for them (I'll give you a hint, it relates to permission, freedom, and autonomy).

Shadoe BallJenn RadkeRacheal Rickabaugh

Episodes With Tips Covering Wholistic and True Wellness

One of the main messages in this episode is learning that we over focus on eating and exercise when it comes to health. Not that those things don't matter, but there's so much that matters so much more, that we barely focus on because we are so wrapped up in calorie tracking and the next weight loss plan.

What are we missing out on and not focusing enough on?

Sleep! Episodes 33 and 34 with Heather Gunn, PhD, go over Why Sleep Matters and How to Improve it from an incredibly sleep researcher who has a specialty in understanding autonomy and relationships!Culture Factors and Quality of Life. In the Lifestyle Medicine episode with Dr. Alyssa Vela, we delve into the field of Lifestyle Medicine and how broadening our view of health can serve everyone, regardless of body size or health status,...

Episode 57. Oh my goodness, The Motivation Made Easy podcast is 1!

A year ago, on February 1st, 2021, I did a thing I've always wanted to do, but was never really sure I could. I started a podcast. So today's episode I do some reflecting back on, so settle in this is going to be a fun and jam packed episode full of the key lessons I've learned, both from a year of podcasting, and just over a year of leaving healthcare and doing fully weight-inclusive work.

We cover the following (and more!):

My favorite episodes and why you NEED to listen to themMME Episode Awards! Most downloaded interview and solo episodes, most talked about episodes, and the best kept secret episode, and my favorite episodes (consider this your binge listening guide)Top countries people are listening from!My main takeaways from a year of podcasting

Next week's episode (Part 2 of the Anniversary Episode) will include:

I'll breakdown some episodes for specific purposes that you often tell me you have (e.g., helping yourself or a loved one truly understand the non-diet approach and why it's incredibly evidence-based; HOW do I truly get out of the diet binge cycle)What I've learned about my field doing this podcast and how my thinking has shifted just in the past year, despite being in this field for almost 20 yearsThe truths that were really revealed about sustainable habit change that I never fully understood until now

Want To Support Local Bookstores Near You?

Buy your books from Bookshop! Support local bookstores near you and this blog and podcast and help prevent Amazon from completely squashing the local book market.

Are You New Here?

Welcome! I’m so glad to have you. You might be wondering what this blog and podcast are all about.

We relate everything in this podcast back to motivation, but not the hustle and grind kind. Truly sustainable motivation that keeps you feeling energetic and engaged in your life for the long haul. We talk about why “I’m just not motivated” is a myth, and why the TYPE of motivation you have is so important to fully understand. If you are ready to learn about motivation and respecting your body in an effective way so that you can live a life you truly love, you are in the right place.

Check out the Foundational Episodes of the Motivation Made Easy Podcast here!

Introduction: What is this podcast all about?Episode 1: Want to Get & Stay Motivated? A Crash Course on Motivation, Weight Loss, and HealthEpisode 2: How Dieting Steals Our MotivationEpisode 3: How To Get Motivated To Improve Your Health (Motivation 101)Episode 4: How to Transform Health Fears Into Forward Progress

Do you ever worry that you are wasting your life?

I definitely did. In fact, I wrote that in my journal many years ago when I was in the middle of the diet-binge roller coaster ride.

I woke up every day thinking about food, my body, and what I would eat that day to “be healthy”The notebooks I had filled with calories and points could fill up a spare bedroomSocial events and vacations immediately prompted the thought “they will notice I gained weight” or “I need to lose weight by then”Deep down I knew I wasn’t living life the way I wanted to, but I didn’t know how to pull myself out of it.

If this is you, I want you to imagine what it would feel like to feel empowered in your body and proud of your choices on a consistent basis. I promise you, it isn’t too late.

Dieting steals our motivation. It makes us ineffective. It keeps us spinning our wheels in a system that was never built to work.

If you are ready take the first step to motivating yourself with what matters to you, download my free Create Powerful Motivation guide (which is quite beautifully designed if I do say so myself), and walk through the 3 simple steps to create motivation that works for YOU in 15 minutes or less. You will get a simple formula to write ONE SENTENCE you can use to motivate yourself on a daily basis.

You can write it on your bathroom mirror, put on the background of your phone, or just read it and repeat it in your mind.

Look, I know how much it hurts to live a life worrying you are missing out, not stepping into the person you were truly meant to be, vibrant, passionate, curious, vulnerable, and brave.

You can listen to the podcast all day, but taking that first step, putting pen the paper (or typing on your phone) is required for true lasing change. It’s time to start living my friend.

It’s 100% free, so what are you waiting for? Grab your free copy of the guide today at DrHondorp.com/Motivate 

Episode Awards

Most Downloaded Interview Episodes

Dr. Mary Dagen MD; What Makes Us Healthy?Annyck Besso, MSc, RD; Health at Every SizeDr. Karen Stewart; ADHD, Eating Behavior, & Weight: What You Need to Know

Most Downloaded Solo Episodes

Transforming Fear Into a Powerful Motivator4 Reasons to Share Your Story (And Why I Share Mine)You Need More Accountability (But Not the Kind You Think)

Most talked About Episode

Shadoe Ball; Fears and Objections about Intuitive Eating: Keys to Trusting the Process

Most Influential Conversations

Dr. Alexis Conason: The Diet Free Revolution Dr. Yami: How to do Plant-Based Eating 100% Shame FreeStefanie Michele: Questions You Must Ask Yourself to Escape the Restrict Binge Cycle

The Best Kept Secret

Unconditional Self-Worth with Dr. Adia Gooden

Country Awards

Top Countries:

US (by far)Canada and India have a lot! Following with less we have people listening in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Australia, Germany, Philippines, and Finland!

Make Takeaways Based On a Year of Podcasting

I've never believed in this approach more. I believe autonomy is the key to the lock that makes all of these complex topics make sense.Conversations change you in profound ways. It's hard to explain, but I feel profoundly changed and influences by these conversations. And more so the interview episodes, so I think it's more about conversations, at least for me. I've learned so much by listening and being curious. Ted Lasso has a great quote in the show, that he says is from Walt Whitman but the internet may disagree. So I'll quote the Ted Lasso character for now. I hope we can all work to become more curious, and not judgmental when it comes to each other's views of health and wellness, and how it impacts our eating and sense of self. There's so much richness there and opportunity for connection. There's SO much good here; see if you can't make some time to listen in 2022. If you are ready to binge listen, consider this your guide!

Support Independent Bookstores Near You!

Did you know that that if nothing slows their momentum, Amazon will have almost 80% of the book market by the end of 2025?

Look, I love the convenience of Amazon, but I’ve got a super cool way that you can support local bookstores and my blog and podcast simply by buying books like you already do! You can choose any bookstore on the list in the US and Canada (they plan to expand to other counties in the future) OR you can just let the donation get split between all stores. As of this recording, they have raised 15 million dollars for local bookstores. On my bookshop, you will see my absolute favorite books related to health and wellness, courage and vulnerability, and even my favorite fiction and kids books!

My recent favorite related to improving the quality of our lives was Digital Minimalism. Our family actually decided to do an optional screen free August to re-evaluate the role of screen time in our lives.

So if you believe in supporting local businesses, please consider buying your books through Bookshop from now on!

The Psychology of Wellness Bookshop Link.

Disclaimer: This blog and podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for individual professional advice or treatment, including medical or mental health advice. It does not constitute a provider patient relationship.

Disclosure: Using the Bookshop.org links in this post means that I would get an affiliate fee if you purchase from the online bookshop (this supports my business, and local bookstores too!).