Diet culture and weight loss is really complicated. Following my episodes a few months ago on body image and diet culture with my good friend Kate Anthony, I was genuinely curious about what I may not know as it relates to diet culture, holistic nutrition and even the body positivity movement. I knew I had to ask an expert - all.the.things. And so, joining me this week is integrated health coach, host of the podcast Insatiable, and founder of Truce with Food®, Ali Shapiro.

Today, Ali shares candidly her journey to body acceptance in her twenties, many years following her battle with childhood cancer, weight issues (she had her first Weight Watchers weigh-in at age 11) and emotional eating. We also talk in-depth about the many layers of diet culture, self-sabotage, and the difference between being self-aware rather than self-critical.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• Ali’s journey to body acceptance and how she got to where she is today 
• Ali’s view on diet culture and how she describes it as a product of patriarchy, white-supremacy, and capitalism 
• Three patterns of conflict styles, self-sabotage and your inner-protector 
• Vulnerability, belonging and how it relates to food/body struggles 
• Listening to your body in a more methodical way 
• The one question we need to ask when our mental food/body doubts creep in 

This episode is so rich with information, you may have to listen to it more than once.

http://yourkickasslife.com/244

I recently came across a video created by a young woman named Claire Wineman. Terminally ill with Cystic Fibrosis, she says that even though she’s going to die sooner than most and that no one can control the fact that their going to die someday, what can can control is if we’re living a life we’re proud of. I LOVED this message because that’s also my mission. The mission of YKAL is two-fold. I help women feel less alone and help them create and live a life they are proud of. 

So, how do we do this? What’s the path? Of course I don’t have all the answers, to all the things, but in my decade of experience helping women create lives their proud of and from walking through my own fire, creating a life I’m proud of, I think I have a handle on it. Here’s some questions I compiled to help you do this: 

Do you know what your values are and what they look like? 

Do you know what it means and looks like to have compassion for yourself? And do you practice it? 

Do you know what it means to have compassion for others? (Because when we don’t, check what kind of expectations you have. The expectations you have of others are often directly correlated to the expectations you have of yourself.)

Do you know where you need to set boundaries? Do you know how to do that? 

Do you show up for the few people in your life that need you? Like really show up? 

Do you ALLOW people to show up for you? And when they do, do you show them ALL of you, not just “the facts”? 

Do you take care of your physical body? 

Do you feel your feelings or do you stuff them and numb them away? 

Do you take care of your spirit? 

Do you take care of your financial house? 

Is there anything else you feel in your soul that you need to change that will make you proud of who you are?

http://yourkickasslife.com/243

Corinne Zupko is my guest this week on the podcast. She is the author of the best-selling book, From Anxiety to Love: A Radical New Approach For Letting Go of Fear and Finding Lasing Peace. And yes, today we are talking all about anxiety. In fact, anxiety focused episodes are the most popular episodes of the podcast. So, I know it’s what many of you want to hear about!

In today’s episode, we talk about Corrine’s book and her inspiration to write it on this topic. She shares openly about her personal experiences with anxiety, panic attacks and phobias; and how her introduction to a particular kind of spirituality helped her recover from her anxiety and panic disorder. Plus, I share some of my own experiences with panic attacks and anxiety. And, later, Corrinne shares her thoughts on meditation and a three-step recipe for healing. Even if you don’t struggle with clinical anxiety, this episode touches on topics and information that is helpful to all.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• Corinne’s inspiration to write a book on anxiety (5 minutes and 12 seconds)
• Corinne’s take on spirituality and her work with anxiety and healing (13:19)
• Distinguishing between the inner therapist voice (intuition) and the ego voice (inner critic) (19:30)
• A three-step recipe for healing (34:05)

Resources from this episode

Corinne’s website
Corinne’s book
Episode 153: Listener Q & A on anxiety and what to do about it
Corinne’s podcast episode with John Mark Straud: Episode 8: “How to ‘hear’ guidance”
----

There are FOUR spots left for The Mentorship, which is a group program that incorporates The Daring Way™ and so much more. This is for women who are ready to take their personal development to the next level.

I’ve decided to hop on a video call on August 28th at 3pm Eastern time (noon Pacific). No need to sign up for anything, just put this link in your calendar and join me at that date and time! Plus, it costs ZERO dollars!

I’ll be covering:

• The four main topics to study in your life that will help you IMMENSELY with your confidence, relationships with others, and your general well-being.
• What the process of shame resilience actually is.
• The BIG surprise I had in 2011 which made me change the course of my coaching practice and go in the direction I’ve stayed in all these years.
• Plus, any questions you have about The Mentorship!

I love doing these live videos with you (and yes, there will be a replay if you can’t be there live!) and sharing this work with you! Even if you don’t think The Mentorship is for you right now, you don’t want to miss this on the 28th!

See you there!

http://yourkickasslife.com/242

I am excited, on so many levels, to have Geneen Roth on the show with me this week. She is the author of ten books, including the just released This Messy Magnificent Life. I was first introduced to Geneen and her writing, when I read her book, Women Food and God. It was one of the first books I read about how what we eat is connected to our core beliefs. I have since consumed many of her books and one of the reasons why I am happy she was my guest.

In this episode, Geneen and I talk about her newest book, the evolution of her relationship with food and some of our meditation failures. Plus, we talk all about the inner critic, which Geneen calls, “the crazy aunt in the attic,” and Geneen offers some ways to manage her.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• Wanting something more and deeper (7 minutes and 4 seconds)
• How Geneen’s relationship with food evolved over time and how the journey is depicted through her books (9:05)
• Our failures at meditation and insightful advice for those that are about to get started (15:49)
• All about the crazy aunt in the attic and how Geneen teaches people to deal with her (20:52)
• How to catch the background noise of the inner critic (28:10)

http://www.yourkickasslife.com/241

This week on the podcast, my guest is Amber Rae, author of the book Choose Wonder Over Worry: Move Beyond Fear and Doubt to Unlock Your Full Potential. And, y’all, you know I get really excited when I have a guest on the show to talk about their new book. I cannot wait to introduce Amber to you. Amber is also an artist and speaker whose work invites you to live your truth, befriend your emotions, and express your gifts.

Today, Amber and I talk about playing small, how to move beyond fear and instead go all in. Plus, Amber shares her unique way of classifying wonder and worry, listening to your inner guide and how to turn life’s messy moments into something beautiful.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• How to distinguish when choosing small projects, how to say no, and to claim the life you really want (18:24)
• Classifying wonder & worry in distinct ways (21:44)  
• Some ways we can be more in tune with our inner guide (27:37)
• How to turn something messy and fearful into something beautiful (32:52)
• The fear of rejection and what others think of you (38:24)

http://www.yourkickasslife.com/240