"Worshipping Thinness" with Heather Creekmore

Heather Creekmore is a podcaster, mom of four, body image coach, and author. In our time together, Heather describes what inspired her to write her latest book, The 40-Day Body Image Workbook, as well as why she’s so passionate about guiding women out of diet culture and into truth.

Heather also describes what has helped her improve her own relationship with her body, she exposes lies associated with diet culture, and helps us reframe aging in a helpful way. If you have ever struggled with body image or beauty ideals, my hope is that Heather’s story and authentic reflections will help you feel less alone and bring you greater freedom.

Melissa KucharskiApril 15, 2024heathercreekmore, dietculture, bodyimage, impossiblebeauty, impossiblebeautypodcast

"Social Media, Body Image, & Body Dissatisfaction Among Boys" with Dr. Charlotte Markey

Dr. Markey is a body image expert, professor of psychology and director of the Health Sciences Center at Rutgers University-Camden. She has authored several books, including The Body Image Book For Girls: Love Yourself and Grow Up Fearless, Being You: The Body Image Book for Boys, and the forthcoming Adultish: The Body Image Book for Life.

In our time together, we talk about recent trends related to social media use and body image, how to build body confidence in ourselves and the next generation, as well as what’s behind the increasing rates of body dissatisfaction and eating disorders among males.

"Detoxing from Diet Culture: The Holiday Edition" with Lisa Diers, RDN, LD, E-RYT

Lisa Diers is a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified yoga teacher who specializes in supporting eating disorder and body image recovery. Lisa has a combined over 20 years of experience in nutrition and yoga services and previously served as the National Nutrition and Yoga Director for a large national eating disorder treatment program.

In our time together, Lisa and I discuss the prevalence of disordered eating, as well as what a balanced relationship with food actually looks like. Lisa also explains how nutrition and yoga can be instrumental and complementary in reconnecting with our bodies, why “carbs” and sugar aren’t the fear foods diet culture makes them out to be, and offers guidance for those struggling with body image this time of year.

"Reclaiming Body Trust" with Dana Sturtevant, MS, RD

Registered dietitian and author, Dana Sturtevant, believes that society has ruptured our relationship with food, movement, and our bodies. Food has become something to restrict and our bodies a project to tweak and “perfect.” But Dana believes it doesn’t have to be this way. She has spent more than 15 years helping people let go of chronic patterns of dieting and disordered eating and move into a more authentic, sustainable way to occupy and nurture their bodies.

Dana Sturtevant is the co-author of Reclaiming Body Trust: A Path to Healing and Liberation and the co-founder of the Center for Body Trust. In our time together, Dana discusses the origins of the Center for Body Trust, how diet culture so often gets in the way of trusting our bodies, how “health” has become an aesthetic, and how to engage joyful movement versus toxic fitness culture.

"The Story Behind My Book, ‘Soul-Deep Beauty,’" with Don Pape & Melissa Johnson

In honor of the release of my new book, Soul-Deep Beauty: Fighting for Our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless, I have a special episode in store for you. I recently sat down to have a conversation with my literary agent, Don Pape. Don has been a champion of my book and its message for years now and I can’t thank him enough.

In our time together, we talk about how Don ended up working in the publishing business, how he then became a literary agent, and the unique features of his company, Pape Commons. This conversation is a special one, as we talk about my heart and passion behind Soul-Deep Beauty, the need for this message amidst today’s media saturated culture, as well as some of the vulnerabilities and struggles that have come up along the way.

"Making Peace with Food & Body Through Intuitive Eating" with Elyse Resch, MS, RDN, CEDS-S

In this episode, I have the privilege of speaking with one of the co-creators of Intuitive Eating, Elyse Resch, MS, RDN, CEDS-S. Elyse is a nutrition therapist, with forty years of experience, specializing in eating disorders, Intuitive Eating, and Health at Every Size. She is the co-author of Intuitive Eating, now in its 4th edition, and is nationally known for her work in helping patients break free from diet culture through the Intuitive Eating process.

In my time with Elyse, we discuss what first drew her to the concept of Intuitive Eating, what Intuitive Eating is and how it differs from diet culture, sneaky ways diet culture is showing up these days, and how the concept of health can be expanded beyond weight.

"Why Disordered Eating is Everywhere" with Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani

Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani is an eating disorders expert physician and the Founder and Medical Director of the Gaudiani Clinic in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Gauidiani completed her undergraduate degree at Harvard, medical school at Boston University School of Medicine, and her internal medicine residency and chief residency at Yale. In 2008, she was one of the founding team members of the ACUTE Center for Eating Disorders at Denver Health.

In our time together, Dr. Gaudiani covers so many important topics, including the shocking percentage of people whom she believes have a disordered relationship with food, how diet culture has impacted the medical field, and how most doctors don’t understand eating disorders. She also talks about thin privilege, weight stigma, weight-inclusive medical care, and what a balanced relationship with food and our bodies looks like.

"Beauty Ideals, Social Media, and Selfies" with The Axia Project

This episode is all about beauty ideals, our relationship with our bodies and food, and social media. I can’t think of better conversation partners for this one than Lisa DeKam and Jacquie Danz, the founders of the Axia Project. Lisa is a physical therapist who works in the field of eating disorders and Jacquie is the mom of two teenage girls who is committed to changing the narrative that a females’ appearance is the most important thing about her. Together, Lisa and Jacquie are committed to teaching women that life is more than your appearance and help women build skills to actively live their God-given worth.

"Social Media, Sizeism, and Eating Disorders" with Maggie Meyers, DMFT, LPCC

Maggie Meyers is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and a Doctor of Marriage and Family Therapy. Maggie has worked with clients with various diagnoses; however, much of her work has been in the field of eating disorders. For years, she worked in various levels of care and in leadership roles at a nationally renowned eating disorder clinic. More recently, she has decided to fully commit her time at a private practice in the Twin Cities area, called Wholehearted Healing.

"Your Body is Not a Project" with Jess Connolly

Jess Connolly is an author, church leader, and coach. She’s also a woman who has experienced decades of shame and pain in her body. She’s been on a journey to break free from body shame using God’s truth and now she is inviting women to join her in her new book, Breaking Free from Body Shame: Dare to Reclaim What God Has Named Good. As we consider letting go of what beauty is not, it is so important to release the lies that have been spoken over our good bodies.

"Is Self-Love Indulgent?" with Karlyn Benn, LPC

Karlyn Benn is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Glō Coach. In her coaching work, she helps women live a life full of joy, confidence, and courage all while embracing the beautiful body they have right now. Karlyn specifically emphasizes the inner work that must take place within each of us so that we can show up confidently and authentically to shine in the world around us.

"Body Image and Beauty Standards" with Christyna Johnson

Christyna Johnson is a Dallas-based, Non-Diet Registered Dietician whose nutrition philosophy is rooted in the social justice framework of Health at Every Size (R) and seen through the lens of Intuitive Eating. In short, Christyna loves helping others find freedom in their bodies and with food. As Christyna puts it, “Life was not meant to revolve around food and thoughts about our bodies. It’s a big world out there just waiting to be explored!”

"Why I'm So Passionate About Beauty, Part Two" with Melissa Johnson

Today’s episode is a little different. Back in Episode 18, I shared a little about my story and why I’m so passionate about beauty and why I even started Impossible Beauty in the first place. In today’s episode, I share a bit more about why I care so much about this topic and why I hope you’ll join me in redefining beauty and seeking after true beauty.

"Letting Go of Comparison" with Javoni Cobb

Javoni Cobb is an eating disorder recovery coach at the Eating Disorder Center in Rockville, Maryland. She has her master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling and currently works with teens and adults struggling with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and body image issues. In her work with clients, Javoni seeks to help them break free from disordered behaviors to discover food freedom, body acceptance, and self-compassion.

"Exercise, Athletics, and Body Image" with Whitney Otto

In this episode, Whitney Otto talks about her experience as an endurance athlete, particularly as a world champion rower. Whitney was a member of the national rowing team and an alternate in the 2000 Olympics. She has also worked with Women’s Sports Foundation to help bring sport to girls in the inner city. Following her full-time rowing career, Whitney went on to get her masters degree in Counseling Psychology and work in the eating disorder field.

"Remembering Who We Are" with Arielle Estoria

Arielle is a Spoken Word Poet, author, and speaker. She has shared her work in keynote talks with companies such as Google, Lululemon, and Tedx and has emceed events such as Anchored in Love for teenage girls, featuring surfer Bethany Hamilton.

What strikes me about Arielle is the power of her words; not only the words themselves, but the conviction and artistry in her delivery. Her words have the power to pierce through life’s superficial trappings and speak directly to the soul; reminding us of Whose we are and calling forth the stirrings of our true self.

Melissa KucharskiOctober 29, 2020ArielleEstoria, Beauty, Beautyinthemess, bodyimage, MelissaJohnson, Impossiblbeauty