Undoing Disordered Thinking with Michelle Petties episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 24, 2025 · 32 MIN

Undoing Disordered Thinking with Michelle Petties

from Productive Joy · host Dr. Christie McMullen

In this episode of 'Productive Joy,' host Christie talks with food story coach, TEDx speaker, and author Michelle Pettus.Michelle shares her personal experience of losing and regaining 700 pounds over 40 years and how she discovered that emotional eating has more to do with our beliefs about food rather than the food itself. Michelle emphasizes the importance of questioning, awareness, and reclaiming control over our thoughts to break the cycle of emotional eating. The conversation delves deep into the power of self-awareness and the tools needed to foster productive joy in life.Dr. Christie McMullen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a best-selling author and 25-year educator turned entrepreneur who can help you make work fun! She has worked with thousands of adults in multiple industries at organizations like Aetna, ReMax, Solaris, and RISE to improve human interactions.With a master's and doctorate in Educational Leadership and two and a half decades of practical experience she is able to connect with CEOs, directors, educators, salespeople, and everyone in between.Episode Highlights:00:00 Introduction and Exciting News00:46 Meet Michelle Pettus: Food Story Coach and More01:34 The Emotional Connection to Food02:08 Michelle's Personal Journey with Weight04:26 Understanding Emotional Eating08:13 The Power of Questioning and Self-Discovery11:25 The Influence of Food Marketing15:04 Creating Desire for Healthy Choices16:11 Little Johnny's Birthday Dilemma16:23 Rethinking Treats for Kids17:34 The Concept of Productive Joy18:56 Purpose vs. Passion19:57 The Journey to Self-Discovery22:06 Michelle's Contact Information23:58 The Secret Formula for Transformation26:23 Rapid Fire Questions29:00 Final Thoughts and TakeawaysKeywords:TEDx speakerauthorfood story coachweight lossemotional eatingyo-yo dietingstress eatingbeliefsmemoriesself disciplineself-controlwillpowerknowledgefundamental understandingemotionsemotional overeaterseating habitsmicroaggressionmacro aggressionpost officesnack food companiesjunk food companiesfood desertsknowledgeself-discoveryawarenessaccess to foodprocessed foodsfood marketersconscious mindhealthy habitsemotional eatingtoolsfood storiesgood healthpersonal interrogatorymindset shiftconditioningnutritioncelebrationsdietsprogrammingself-awareness

In this episode of 'Productive Joy,' host Christie talks with food story coach, TEDx speaker, and author Michelle Pettus.Michelle shares her personal experience of losing and regaining 700 pounds over 40 years and how she discovered that emotional eating has more to do with our beliefs about food rather than the food itself. Michelle emphasizes the importance of questioning, awareness, and reclaiming control over our thoughts to break the cycle of emotional eating. The conversation delves deep into the power of self-awareness and the tools needed to foster productive joy in life.Dr. Christie McMullen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a best-selling author and 25-year educator turned entrepreneur who can help you make work fun! She has worked with thousands of adults in multiple industries at organizations like Aetna, ReMax, Solaris, and RISE to improve human interactions.With a master's and doctorate in Educational Leadership and two and a half decades of practical experience she is able to connect with CEOs, directors, educators, salespeople, and everyone in between.Episode Highlights:00:00 Introduction and Exciting News00:46 Meet Michelle Pettus: Food Story Coach and More01:34 The Emotional Connection to Food02:08 Michelle's Personal Journey with Weight04:26 Understanding Emotional Eating08:13 The Power of Questioning and Self-Discovery11:25 The Influence of Food Marketing15:04 Creating Desire for Healthy Choices16:11 Little Johnny's Birthday Dilemma16:23 Rethinking Treats for Kids17:34 The Concept of Productive Joy18:56 Purpose vs. Passion19:57 The Journey to Self-Discovery22:06 Michelle's Contact Information23:58 The Secret Formula for Transformation26:23 Rapid Fire Questions29:00 Final Thoughts and TakeawaysKeywords:TEDx speakerauthorfood story coachweight lossemotional eatingyo-yo dietingstress eatingbeliefsmemoriesself disciplineself-controlwillpowerknowledgefundamental understandingemotionsemotional overeaterseating habitsmicroaggressionmacro aggressionpost officesnack food companiesjunk food companiesfood desertsknowledgeself-discoveryawarenessaccess to foodprocessed foodsfood marketersconscious mindhealthy habitsemotional eatingtoolsfood storiesgood healthpersonal interrogatorymindset shiftconditioningnutritioncelebrationsdietsprogrammingself-awareness

NOW PLAYING

Undoing Disordered Thinking with Michelle Petties

0:00 32:18

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Productive Joy?

This episode is 32 minutes long.

When was this Productive Joy episode published?

This episode was published on July 24, 2025.

What is this episode about?

In this episode of 'Productive Joy,' host Christie talks with food story coach, TEDx speaker, and author Michelle Pettus.Michelle shares her personal experience of losing and regaining 700 pounds over 40 years and how she discovered that emotional...

Can I download this Productive Joy episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!