Talking with Emma: Stop fighting food & weight

[This episode is part of the Weight-Neutral Health Care In Aotearoa NZ Series] This week I'm talking with Dr. Meg Vardy, founding chair of JourneyED, about why taking weight off the table is central to eating disorder peer support, and what it actually means to rebuild trust with your own body. In this episode:What peer support actually is, how it's different from clinical treatment and recovery coaching, and why "fixing" or diagnosing isn't the jobWhy a weight-neutral approach to peer support matters, and how eating disorders that don't fit the "underweight" stereotype get missedThe U-shaped relationship between weight and health, why BMI doesn't hold up, and how framing obesity as a disease creates its own harmWhy moralising food and bodies (even well-meaning tools like Health Star Ratings) keeps people stuckOn rebuilding trust with your body: "My body is for me, my body is safe, and my body is home." Meg's words on what it's taken to get there — and why it's still very much an ongoing practice, not a switch you flip.About Meg Vardy: Meg grew up in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) and now lives in Ōtepoti (Dunedin) with her whānau. She has a background as an academic researcher, including time in London researching psilocybin-assisted treatment for anorexia (recently published). Meg has lived experience of anorexia and is the founding chair of JourneyED, Aotearoa New Zealand's eating disorder peer support organisation.Connect with JourneyED: Website [link]Resources mentioned in this episode:Unshrinking by Kate Manne: https://www.katemanne.net/unshrinking.htmlMrs D is not on a Diet: https://www.unitybooks.co.nz/products/mrs-d-is-not-on-a-dietBite Back by Genevieve Mora: https://www.penguin.co.nz/books/bite-back-9781776950447Body Confident by Emma Wright: https://www.harpercollins.co.nz/9781775542421/body-confident/Loved this episode? Subscribe to Wait.What? to stay in the loop: https://emmawright.co.nz/waitwhat/

Part of the Weight Neutral Health Care in Aotearoa NZ.Therapist Nicole Gaviria, founder of Binge Free Bestie, talks about her binge eating disorder, why bariatric surgery didn't fix it, and the three real triggers behind binge eating.We unpack why the number on the scale was never the actual problem, and Nicole walks through the three triggers she sees behind binge eating in the women she works with: physical restriction, mental restriction (diet rules and food morality), and a dysregulated nervous system. We also get into a GLP-1s — not from a pro- or anti-drug stance, but what happens to food noise, body image, and eating disorder risk when the injectable stops working and the underlying relationship with food is not addressed.This is a raw, unedited conversation, as all Talking with Emma episodes are.ABOUT NICOLE GAVIRIA Nicole Gaviria is a registered counsellor based in Christchurch, New Zealand, and the founder of Binge Free Bestie, where she works with women on binge and emotional eating using a weight-neutral, anti-diet approach. She also hosts her own podcast and runs a 90-day program called The Breakup, focused on breaking up with diet culture and binge eating.Website: https://bingefreebestie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bingefreebestie/ Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hNizRK1dJAfy52fq9odV5?si=846ea7959d7b4e43 The Break Up: https://checkout.bingefreebestie.com/the-break-upIf this episode resonated with you, please like and share it. For more from Talking with Emma in your inbox, subscribe to the Wait.What? newsletter at https://emmawright.co.nz/waitwhat/

[This episode is part of the Weight-Neutral Health Care In Aotearoa NZ Series]This week I'm talking with journalist and author Niki Bezzant about paying attention to what our bodies actually need in midlife, vs chasing numbers on the scale. In this episode:Why Niki spent years internalising the idea that thinness equals goodness — and why she no longer believes thatThe diet industry's business model, and why it depends on you not succeedingWhy midlife body changes can feel like waking up in a stranger's body — and why that's not a personal failingHow to reframe health as a lifelong practice instead of an event with a finish lineOn perfection vs. consistency: "I felt like I'd done a half-assed that workout" — until Niki realised showing up, even imperfectly, was the win. We talk about why consistency beats intensity every time.About Niki Bezzant: Niki is a New Zealand-based writer, journalist and author who has built a reputation for translating complex health and science jargon into easy-to-understand information for everyone over more than 20 years. A trusted advocate and sought-after speaker on menopause, perimenopause and midlife, Niki is passionate about women’s health, especially empowering midlife women to become vibrant, kick-ass old ladies. She now spends much of her time on menopause education and awareness in workplaces and communities. Connect with Niki: Website for books and speaking equires: nikibezzant.comInstagram: @nikibezzantLoved this episode? Subscribe to Wait.What? to stay in the loop: https://emmawright.co.nz/waitwhat/

In this episode, I look at that sneaky ingrained belief that if we just try harder — eat better food, be more disciplined, stick to the plan — we’ll finally feel better. But the issue isn’t a lack of willpower or time management. It’s a culture that taught us to fight our bodies instead of working with them.I share the story of a client who broke this cycle and introduce you to one of my core self-coaching tools: “Work with your body, not on it.” It’s a small but radical shift that can change everything.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why trying harder keeps you fighting yourself and feeling exhaustedThe reason willpower isn't the problemWhat happens when we stop controlling and start collaborating with our bodiesA practical self-coaching technique to begin todayJoining my Wait.What? newsletter:A newsletter for proactive women who are done with fighting their body and their food: https://emmawright.co.nz/waitwhat/Curious about working together?I’m currently taking 1:1 clients. Book a consultation where we'll create and individualized plan for you to stop trying harder and be more effective. Whether we work together or not, you'll know your next steps. If you have a minute:Subscribe or follow the podcsat, it's the only way new listeners will find the show and it means you'll see new episodes when they drop. Stay connected:🌐 Emma's Website📱 Follow on Instagram, and LinkedIn

In this episode we talk about Harriet Moir's Eat Damn Sausage show and why it's such a great way for women to reject beauty standards and find empowerment. We talk about Challenging Body Standards:The Influence of PatriarchyThe Power of StorytellingPracticing Body AcceptanceRole Modeling for Future GenerationsWe look at Harriet's professional work beyond her comedy. She discusses her podcast, "Tell Me Moir," which covers serious topics like divorce and relationship property, and her Women's Empowerment Experience Retreats.Connect with Harriet here: https://www.instagram.com/harrietmoirentertainermc/On Sundays, I look at one health trend, idea, premise I used to believe without question, how it affected me and what I think now. Subscribe to Wait.What here: https://emmawright.co.nz/waitwhat/

Is food noise loud in your head? In this episode, I break down what food noise actually is, why your brain produces it, and why using a GLP-1 is a mask, not a fix. If you or someone you love is weighing up a weight loss drug, this gives you the fuller picture before you decide.Please note: I say the number of Intuitive Eating Studies is around 190. I mean to say 100. I walk through the three phases your body goes through to end food noise without medication.I also look at a broad overview of what the data says happens when people stop taking GLP-1s, and why researchers like Ragen Chastain, Angela Meadows, and Louise Adams argue these drugs follow a similar pattern to all intentional weight loss effort — they are not the exception the marketing claims.Sources referenced in this episode:Chastain, R., Meadows, A., & Adams, L. (2026). GLP-1 Medications for Weight-Loss: A Triumph of Marketing Over Patient Care. Fat Studies.Mann, T., et al. (2007). Medicare's search for effective obesity treatments: Diets are not the answer. American Psychologist.Tribole, E., & Resch, E. — Intuitive Eating research overview, intuitiveeating.org (over 100 studies to date)If you're tired of the weight cycling rollercoaster and want to get more of my work, subscribe to my newsletter, Wait, What? https://emmawright.co.nz/waitwhat/

Why do so many smart, capable women feel like failures when it comes to money? In this episode, I talk with therapist and Hi Money co-author Rachel Davies about the hidden beliefs, shame, and socialisation that shape how women relate to money — and how the patterns are almost identical to diet culture.Rachel Davies is a therapist, and co-author of *Money Money Money* with Angela Meyer. After realising at 49 that she had no KiwiSaver despite years of "knowing better," Rachel discovered that the missing piece wasn't more financial knowledge — it was understanding what was driving her behaviour with money in the first place.In this conversation, Rachel and I explore:- Why women are statistically more likely to retire into poverty, and the invisible "death by a thousand cuts" that causes it - How the patriarchy isn't "men" — it's a system, and why that distinction matters for how women relate to both money and their bodies- The belief that money (or thinness) will arrive in the future and finally make everything okay — and how to come back to the present instead- Why "you have to work hard for money" is a lie that keeps women stuck in shame- The role trauma and nervous system regulation play in our ability to manage money, food, and self-worth- Why shame and silence are the tools that keep both diet culture and money culture in place — and what happens when women start talking about itIf you've ever felt like everyone else got the "how to handle money" manual and you somehow missed it, this episode is for you.Connect with Rachel Davies:Hi Money: https://himoney.co/Book - Money Money Money: https://www.paperplus.co.nz/shop/books/money-money-money-1488946Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hihi_money/----Want to get know more about my work? Subscribe to Wait, What? — Emma's substack style newsletter: https://emmawright.co.nz/waitwhat/

Register for the WHERE TO START WITH BODY IMAGE & ADULT KIDS IN A GLP-1 TSUNAMI? masterclass here: https://emmawright.co.nz/where-to-start/Worried about your young adult daughter and the weight loss drugs — but don't know what to say? This free masterclass will help you have the conversation without pushing her away.In this class you'll learn:How body image is formed — and why that helps in their decision-making processWhat they are trying to get by going on the drugs - a question they may never have been askedThree ways to talk to your adult daughter about bodies that create connection, not defensivenessThis class is for you if:Your daughter (18–30) is talking about GLP-1s — Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro — and you're worriedYou've done your own work around diet culture and don't want her to go through what you went throughYou want to say something, but you don't want to make it worseFriday 17 July | 12 noon | Live and free[Register here: emmawright.co.nz/where-to-start]

Weight loss drugs are everywhere right now — in ads, in conversations, even being trialled on children as young as six. So what does that mean for how we talk to our kids about food, bodies, and weight?In this episode I'm joined by Oona Hanson, parent coach and educator based in Los Angeles, who helps families raise kids with a healthy relationship to food, exercise, and their bodies — including families navigating eating disorder recovery.We talk about:— What parents actually need to know about how accessible these medications are becoming for kids and teens— The difference between having a hard day with body image and something that needs professional support — and the signs Oona watches for as a coach— Why representation matters more than ever, as larger-bodied public figures disappear from our screens — and what this means for kids whose bodies are supposed to be growing, not shrinking— How to talk to teenagers about diet culture and weight loss drugs without lecturing — including practical scripts for opening these conversations in the car, doing the dishes, or on the couch— Why "they look healthy" is one of the most dangerous things we can say, and how this kept Emma's own eating disorder hidden for years— How to advocate for your child at the doctor when you're worried about weight stigma — and the questions to ask your GP ahead of time— Why Oona believes "we can't just talk about it, we need to be about it" when it comes to modelling body image for our kids— And why there's real reason for hope, even in a culture saturated with weight loss messagingThis episode follows on from Emma's earlier conversation with Louise Adams on the marketing of weight loss drugs — if you haven't listened to that one yet, it's worth going back to.Find Oona Hanson: https://www.oonahanson.com/Substack (Parenting Without Diet Culture): https://oonahanson.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oona_hanson/ Mentioned in this episode:Dr. Lauren Hartman's book, Freeing Children and Young Adults from Shame, Scales, and Stigma:  https://www.amazon.com/Freeing-Children-Adults-Scales-Stigma/dp/1041141009Eating Disorder Association of New Zealand (EDANZ): https://www.ed.org.nz/Louise Adams episode on weight loss drug marketing: https://open.spotify.com/episode/46YpLnCFUttZgbOIfq3F8s?si=j5OaiN1lRS-QcdzdMxrerQLoved this episode? The biggest thing you can do to help more people find this conversation is share it with someone who needs it.For more on exiting diet culture — subscribe to Emma's Sunday newsletter, Wait, What? https://emmawright.co.nz/waitwhat/

If you keep going around and around on a decision — and no amount of Googling or talking it through is helping — this episode will help.Confusion feels like an information problem. It isn't. It's a protective strategy your brain uses to keep you from feeling something uncomfortable. And once you understand that, you can actually get out of it.In this episode, Emma walks you through a four-question tool to get yourself out of the loop — whether you're stuck on something big, like a relationship or a work situation, or something that should feel simple, like what to order for lunch.You'll learn:Why confusion is not a thinking problem — and what it actually isWhy women in particular get stuck in this loop (and why it makes complete sense)What people pleasing has to do with feeling confusedFour questions that help your brain find a way throughWhat to do once you've worked through the questionsThis tool works best when you approach it with kindness toward yourself. Emma explains why that's not just a nice idea — it's the only way the tool actually works.Subscribe to Wait, What? — Emma's newsletter: https://emmawright.co.nz/waitwhat/Talking with Emma is hosted by Emma Wright — certified cognitive behavioural coach, Intuitive Eating coach, author of Body Confident, and holder of a Masters degree grounded in feminist theory. Emma helps high-achieving women build a life that feels as good on the inside as it looks on the outside.

You know what you're supposed to do. Protein. Sleep. Movement. Stress. Fun. Relationships. And yet — underneath all of that knowledge — there is a persistent, grinding feeling that you are behind. That you haven't arrived yet. That you'll get there when the routine is sorted, when you lose a few kilos, when you finally feel on top of it.SUBSCRIBE TO WAIT.WHAT? https://emmawright.co.nz/waitwhat/In this episode, I unpack what lies underneath why we have so much info about being well, but struggle to put it into action. And how that in itself detracts from our health. WHAT YOU'LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE— Why knowing exactly what to do is not the same as being able to do it — and what is actually getting in the way— The connection between perfectionism and burnout, and why it makes complete sense that high-achieving women end up here— What "capacity for the human experience" means, and why building it matters more than optimising your routine— How the emotions we push down in service of getting it right are the same emotions quietly driving the cycle— Emma's own experience of trying to do her body image work perfectly — and what she understands now that she didn't then— One practice to try the next time you miss the gym and your brain immediately starts telling you what it means about you ABOUT ME, Emma Wright, the podcast hostI'm a certified cognitive behavioural coach, Intuitive Eating coach, and the author of Body Confident. I have a Masters degree grounded in feminist theory. I work with high-achieving women who are done with diet culture and to exit as fast and as well as possible. My approach doesn't involve plans, protocols, or accountability tracking — it starts with understanding what is driving the compulsion to get it all right.Learn more about my offerings, both free and paid: https://emmawright.co.nz/ WAIT, WHAT? — THE SUNDAY NEWSLETTEREvery Sunday Emma sends out Wait, What? — a newsletter for women who are smart enough to be cynical about wellness culture and still want to feel well.Subscribe here:  https://emmawright.co.nz/waitwhat/

If you've yo-yo'd down and up more than once, this episode is for you.Emma Wright shares what she learned after 65 (or more) weight loss cycles and what you can do to address it.She introduces her free upcoming workshop — THE YO-YO SOLUTION THAT ISN'T WELLNESS HOGWASH — where she walks you through the steps to solve yo-yo cycle in way that's specific to your own dieting history.This episode covers:— Why weight loss is the most reliable predictor of weight gain (and what the research actually says about long-term dieting outcomes)— The question nobody in the diet or wellness industry ever asks — and why it's the one that changes things— A three-step method to end the cycle without giving up on your health---REGISTER FOR THE FREE WORKSHOP emmawright.co.nz/yoyoThe Yo-Yo Solution That Isn't Wellness Hogwash12 June | Noon | Replay availableMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEBefore You Take Ozempic, Listen to This — with Louise Adams---ABOUT EMMAEmma Wright is a certified Health and Body Image Coach with training in Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioural Coaching and Intuitive Eating. She holds a Master's degree grounded in feminist theory and is the author of Body Confident (HarperCollins). Find Emma at: https://emmawright.co.nz/Subscribe to the Wait, What? newsletter: https://emmawright.co.nz/waitwhat/

The marketing around Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound is relentless — and is only telling you one very small part of the story.Louise Adams is a clinical psychologist, author, podcaster and founder of Untrapped. She has spent more than 20 years in the non-diet and Health at Every Size field. She recently co-authored a peer-reviewed paper — GLP-1 Medication for Weight Loss: A Triumph of Marketing Over Patient Care — which cut through the noise to look at what the clinical trials actually show, what the drug companies are not highlighting, and why informed consent is so critical before taking a weight loss medication.This episode is not about telling you whether to take a GLP-1 medication or not. It is about making sure that whatever you decide, you have the full picture.In this episode we coverWhy almost everyone talking about GLP-1s in a positive light has a financial relationship with at least one drug company — and what that means for the information you are receivingWhat the clinical trials actually show about weight loss outcomes — including the significant variation in results, the plateau at around 12 months, and what happens when you stopWhy GLP-1 medications are weight suppression drugs, not a cure — and why your body's response to that is not a personal failureThe side effects that are not getting the spotlight they deserve, including gastric paralysis, pancreatitis, and the growing number of lawsuits citing lack of informed consentHow the framing of larger body size as a disease was built — and why the comparison to how other conditions have been pathologised throughout history mattersThe difference between weight-dependent and weight-independent health outcomes — including why cardiovascular benefits from GLP-1s appear to occur regardless of whether you lose weightHow to ask better questions of your health provider, and which weight-inclusive resources can help you do thatA practical framework for making a genuinely informed decision: what do you actually want from this, what are the short and long-term pros and cons, and which of your goals are truly weight-dependentResources mentioned in this episodeLouise Adams' paper: GLP-1 medication for weight loss, a triumph of marketing over patient care -- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21604851.2026.2646492Louise Adams -- meet Louise and her work: https://untrapped.com.au/meet-louise/Louise Adams untrapped academy, newsletter and podcast All Fired Up:  https://untrapped.com.auRagen Chastain's Weight and Healthcare Substack: https://weightandhealthcare.substack.com/AWIM GLP-1 Informed Consent document: https://sizeinclusivemedicine.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MSSI-GLP1-Informed-Consent-10.pdfHAES Health Sheets: https://haeshealthsheets.com/Association for Size Inclusive Medicine: https://weightinclusivemedicine.orgIf this episode resonated with youShare it with a woman in your life who is being targeted by the GLP-1 marketing machine — and who deserves the full story before she decides.Learn more about feminist health coaching and a completely different approach to your health and your body. The Wait.What? newsletter is a good place to start.https://emmawright.co.nz/waitwhat/

In this rerelease I dive into one of the most pervasive and exhausting beliefs I see in my coaching practice: the idea that your body is a problem that needs to be fixed. Even for those of us who reject diet culture or adopt intuitive eating, this belief often runs deep and unconsciously influences how we perceive ourselves. I explore the systems of belief that reinforce the "fix-it" mentality—from diet culture and patriarchy to wellness culture and emotional avoidance.Plus, I share a client story that beautifully illustrates what it looks like to break free from this cycle. If you're ready to get relief from feeling like you're always falling short and start approaching your health and wellbeing in a more productive way, this one's for you.Subscribe to the Wait.What? newsletter: https://emmawright.co.nz/waitwhat-ama/Links & Resources:🎧 Download the Midlife Body Image Assessment + audio guide. It helps you see what’s really driving your food and body noise — and what to do to get relief. Curious about working together?I’m currently taking private clients. Book a consultation where we'll create an individualised plan to stop fixing your body and start feeling good enough. Whether we work together or not, you'll know your next steps.Let’s stay connected:🌐 Emma's Website📱 Follow on Instagram, and LinkedIn

Why do women stay in bad relationships — even when they know, in their heart of hearts, that the situation doesn't suit them? This week I'm joined by Sallyanne Hartnell, a divorce coach who helps women navigate every stage of relationship breakdown — from the first quiet question to coming home to themselves on the other side.We talk about good girl conditioning: the deeply ingrained belief that belonging depends on acting like a girl. Being good. Looking good. Not asking for too much. And what happens when your own values start to whisper that something needs to change — but following that whisper means risking everything you've been trained to protect.What struck me most was how closely this mirrors what I see with diet culture. The same conditioning that keeps women in relationships that don't fit them keeps them trying to fix their bodies — long after the evidence tells them it isn't working.In this episode we cover:- Why women stay in bad relationships — and what good girl conditioning has to do with it- The "quiet questioning" phase: what it means when you lie awake wondering "is this all there is?"- How worthiness and self-trust are built — and why they matter more than willpower- The real cost of staying in situations that no longer serve you- What the journey from quiet questioning to coming home to yourself actually looks like- Why leaving diet culture and leaving a relationship that doesn't fit follow a surprisingly similar path- The one question Sallyanne asks clients that reframes everything: how much of you is it costing you to stay?- Laura McKowen (links below) and her work on leaving behind the things that no longer serve us If you've ever felt like you should be okay with something you're not okay with — in a relationship, in your body, or anywhere else — this episode is for you. ABOUT SALLYANNE HARTNELL:Sallyanne Hartnell is a multi-award-nominated divorce coach, podcaster, and blogger who supports women at every stage of relationship breakdown — from the first quiet questioning through to life on the other side. Her work helps women move from performing for belonging to coming home to themselves.Website: www.reflectcoaching.com.auInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/reflectcoaching/Podcast: Reflect, Reclaim & Liberate: https://reflectreclaimliberatewithsallyannehartnell.buzzsprout.comALSO MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Laura McKowen — author and writer on recovery, belonging, and leaving behind what no longer serves you.Substack: https://lauramckowen.substack.com/ABOUT EMMA WRIGHT:Emma Wright is a certified cognitive behavioural coach and Intuitive Eating coach, author of Body Confident, and host of the Talking with Emma podcast. She helps high-achieving, resourceful women stop fighting their bodies and start living the way they want to.Subscribe to Wait, What? — Emma's free Sunday newsletter: https://emmawright.co.nz/waitwhat/Work with Emma: https://emmawright.co.nz/

Have you ever set a goal, genuinely wanted it, done all the right things and still found yourself not following through? You're not lazy. You're not lacking willpower. And you are not the problem.>> Subscribe to Wait, What?In this episode of Talking with Emma, cognitive behavioural coach and Intuitive Eating coach Emma Wright shares the real reason most women struggle to stick to health and wellness goals, and why the usual advice of habit stacking, accountability, and pushing harder almost always makes it worse.Emma opens with a personal story: years of trying to get to the gym regularly, despite truly wanting to go. She tried every productivity trick in the book. Nothing worked until she stopped trying to force herself and got curious instead. What she found surprised her. She wasn't avoiding the gym because of laziness or lack of discipline. She was avoiding it because it felt lonely.That insight made going to the gym straightforward.This episode introduces a simple four-question framework rooted in cognitive behavioural coaching that helps you understand what is actually driving your behaviour around health goals. No willpower required. No shame involved. Just a genuinely different way of looking at why you do what you do.Emma walks through each question slowly and in depth, with real examples, so you can follow along and apply it to your own life before the episode is even over.This episode is for you if you have ever felt cynical about your ability to change. If you have tried the plans, the apps, the challenges, and the habit trackers — and you are starting to wonder whether the problem is you. It is not. But understanding what is actually going on is where real change begins.What you will learn in this episode: why health and wellness goals fail even when you genuinely want them, how diet culture has trained us to treat ourselves like productivity problems rather than human beings, what cognitive behavioural coaching reveals about avoidance and behaviour, the four-question framework for understanding what is really driving your actions, and how to stop fighting yourself and start working with yourself instead.Topics covered include: goal setting, behaviour change, diet culture, intuitive eating, cognitive behavioural coaching, body image, health and wellness, women's health, motivation, habit formation, and food noise.If this episode resonated with you, share it with a woman you know who has been hard on herself for not following through on her health goals. She needs to hear this.Subscribe to Wait, What? — Emma's free Sunday newsletter for the woman who has become cynical about health trends because she has tried so many things. Every week Emma takes you down the diet culture off-ramp with personal stories that will make you think: wait, what — I've been lied to? Subscribe here. 

What happens when life-saving medication changes your weight, but the medical system keeps focusing on it?Katie Rickson lives with bipolar. She has been hospitalised. She has been through the years of misdiagnosis - depression, anxiety, ADHD - before finally getting an answer that made sense of her life. And having been to the doctor, seriously unwell, a psychiatrist noted in a report that she was a "slim young woman."So we talk about it. Katie is now, by her own account, the heaviest she has ever been. She is also the most mentally well. In this episode, we talk about what it actually takes to get there — and what the medical system, and diet culture, gets wrong along the way.In this episode we coverWhat bipolar disorder actually is — and why it takes an average of 9.5 years to diagnoseWhy Katie's mental health is better now in a bigger body than it ever was when she was slimThe real reason bipolar medications cause weight gain — and why that is not a side effect to simply fixBeing offered weight loss injections by a doctor who was not asking the right questionsHow Katie learned to separate nutrition from body size — and what she asked her dietician to focus on insteadThe Spoon Theory — a practical tool for understanding your energy capacity on any given dayThe "grand bargain" Katie has with the people close to her, and why it mattersEmotional literacy — what it is, why most of us were never taught it, and how to startHow changes in appetite can be an early signal that something needs attentionWhy food belongs in the coping toolkit — and how to use it consciously rather than shamefullyPractical ways to protect yourself in medical appointments when you know weight will come upThe self-compassion practice Katie credits with changing her relationship with food and her body — including the work of Dr Kristin NeffFind KatieKatie's websiteBusiness in the BathLinkedInInstagram: @katie.writes.edits / @businessinthebathFind EmmaEmma's website  ·  Follow on LinkedInIf this episode resonated with you, please share it with a woman you love. The more we talk about leaving diet culture, the more women get to stop fighting themselves and start living the way they want to.

What does it look like to leave diet culture behind — to truly walk away from it?Lotta Dann did it with alcohol. Then, a few years into sobriety, she found herself deep in a diet hole — losing weight, receiving praise, feeling like she was "floating on a cloud of thin." Inevitably, it all fell apart.In this conversation, Lotta and I talk about what happened next: how she found anti-diet content, what helped her see the lies diet culture has her believe, and what it actually took — emotionally, practically, and culturally — to leave.This is a conversation I have wanted to have for a long time. In this episode we coverHow Lotta went from sobriety to a strict diet — and why the language of addiction made it seem like the answerWhat "floating on a cloud of thin" was so compelling, and what it costThe moment she stumbled across anti-diet content and why it clicked so fastThe biggest lies diet culture tells us — and the one Lotta found most heartbreakingHow leaving dieting compares to leaving alcohol — and where it is much harderWhy weight gain is almost always part of the process, and how to navigate itThe behaviours to stop immediately, and the practical steps that actually help"Thinness is highly valued in our culture — you're deemed a success regardless of your mental health or how you're actually functioning day to day.""I refuse to feel bad about my body size. I've built a fierce defence against it — and it took time, mantras, and a lot of practice to get there."— Lotta DannMentioned in this episodeMrs D is Not on a Diet — Lotta Dann's book on leaving diet cultureLiving Sober — Lotta's free online community for people quitting drinking@mrs_d_alcoholfree — Lotta on InstagramMidlife Body Image Guide — Emma's free guide for women ready to stop fighting their bodiesEmma's website  ·  Follow on LinkedInIf this episode resonated with you, please share it with a woman you love. The more we talk about leaving diet culture, the more women get to stop fighting themselves and start living the way they want to.

You have done everything right. You have been eating well, making good choices, feeling in control. And then something happens — a birthday dinner, a celebration, a moment of genuine pleasure around food — and suddenly the noise is back. Loud, familiar, exhausting.Register for the End Food Noise Without Weight Loss Jabs Here.In this episode, I talk about the emotion that almost nobody names in the wellness space — and why it is one of the most powerful drivers of food noise there is. What you will learn in this episode:Why the fear of gaining weight is a completely rational response to the culture we live in, and why knowing that intellectually is not enough to make it go awayWhat fatphobia actually means — and why it is less about individual cruelty and more about a belief system so deeply internalised it feels like realityHow the fear of a bigger body keeps the restriction cycle going even when you know restriction is not workingA two-step compassion practice you can use the next time fear shows up after eating — one that works at the nervous system level, not just the thinking levelMentioned in the episode:Free masterclass, End Food Noise Without Weight Loss Jabs (or giving up on health).  I walk you through an exercise that shows you exactly which type of hunger is driving your food thoughts.The masterclass will give you a completely different way of understanding what has been happening.Register here.Curious about working together?I’m currently taking private clients. Book a consultation to discuss what you want to achieve, and you’ll leave with a clear, step-by-step, individualised plan to achieve it. Whether I can help you achieve your goal or not, you’ll leave knowing what the next steps are.🌐 Emma's Website📱 Follow on LinkedInIf you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Let’s help more women stop fixing their bodies and start trusting them. Keywords: food noise, fear of weight gain, fatphobia, emotional eating, intuitive eating, body image, why can't I stop thinking about food, diet culture, women's relationship with food, how to stop food noise, feminist health coaching, Emma Wright, Talking with Emma

If you have ever had the experience of eating well all day and then finding yourself in the kitchen cupboards, wondering what just happened — this episode is for you.Most of us have been taught that food noise, cravings, and loss of control around food are willpower problems. They are not. They are hunger problems. And specifically, they are a type of hunger that almost nobody in the wellness space talks about.In this episode, I introduce the three types of hunger — physical, emotional, and diet backlash — and break down the one that is almost certainly behind your loudest food thoughts.What you'll learn in this episode:Why humans are biologically wired to think about food, and why that is not a character flawThe difference between physical hunger, emotional hunger, and diet backlash hunger — and why they need completely different responsesWhat diet backlash hunger actually looks and feels like in real life — including the "I've already blown it" spiral, and why the foods on your forbidden list are the exact ones you can't stop thinking aboutWhat restriction has to do with the loudness of your food noiseWhat weight loss jabs actually do to hunger signals, and why the backlash returns when they stopWhy you are not broken, bad at weight loss, or lacking willpower — and what is actually going on insteadMentioned in the episode:Free masterclass, End Food Noise Without Weight Loss Jabs (or giving up on health).  I walk you through an exercise that shows you exactly which type of hunger is driving your food thoughts.The masterclass will give you a completely different way of understanding what has been happening.Register here.Curious about working together?I’m currently taking private clients. Book a consultation to discuss what you want to achieve, and you’ll leave with a clear, step-by-step, individualised plan to achieve it. Whether I can help you achieve your goal or not, you’ll leave knowing what the next steps are.🌐 Emma's Website📱 Follow on LinkedInIf you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Let’s help more women stop fixing their bodies and start trusting them. Keywords: food noise, diet backlash hunger, emotional eating, intuitive eating, how to stop thinking about food, food cravings, why am I always hungry, weight loss jabs and hunger, how to stop obsessive food thoughts, women's relationship with food, end food noise, Emma Wright

If the first thing you think about when you wake up is food and you'd like that to end, I'm hosting a free workshop to help — End Food Noise Without Weight Loss Jabs.You'll learn:where your unique food noise came from, a tool to start reducing it straight away, a clear picture of what will make it stop without compromising your health.Workshop details: Date: April 10, lunchtime. Free to attend. Register here

When Jennifer Heuett was body-shamed in a LinkedIn comment, she didn't scroll past. She tracked down the commenter's employer, contacted the CEO directly — and days later, that employee lost his job. In this episode, Jennifer shares that story and the practical tools that helped her find the courage to act.You'll learn:Why staying silent is actually the riskier choiceHow to give yourself a "permission slip" to speak upThe love letter exercise that reconnects you with your self-worthKey questions to ask yourself when fear kicks inConnect with Jennifer:-Instagram and The Small Wins Co on InstagramLinkedInwebsite  Curious about working together?Download the Midlife Body Image Guide I’m currently taking private clients. Book a consultation where I can help you create a clear step-by-step individualised plan to get where you want to with your health and wellbeing. Whether I can help you achieve your goal or not, you’ll leave knowing what the next steps are.🌐 Emma's Website📱 Follow on LinkedInIf you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Let’s help more women stop fixing their bodies and start trusting them. 

This week I'm re-releasing one of my most popular episodes. Given the state of the world at the moment, the tools you'll learn in this episode have never been more useful or needed.In the episode, I walk you through a simple, three-step process for bringing self-compassion into any big emotion. You’ll learn:Why emotions like anxiety are not a personal flaw, but your body’s way of keeping you safeThe fastest way to calm your nervous system (hint: it starts with your hands, not your thoughts)The short kindness script that replaces self-criticism with care in under a minuteA client story that shows how quickly this can shift how you feelYou’ll finish the episode knowing exactly what to do the next time emotion takes over: Normalise. Touch. Kindness.Because you’re not your emotions — you have emotions.And that means you can work with them, not against them.Links & Resources:🎧 Download the Midlife Body Image Guide to manage your anxiety without eating your feelings. Curious about working together?I’m currently taking private clients. Book a consultation where will discuss what you want to achieve, what you’ve currently been doing, and you’ll leave with a clear step-by-step individualised plan to achieve it. Whether I can help you achieve your goal or not, you’ll leave knowing what the next steps are.🌐 Emma's Website📱 Follow on LinkedInIf you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Let’s help more women stop fixing their bodies and start trusting them. 

Have you ever cancelled plans because getting dressed felt too hard?Did standing in front of the mirror, trying things on, and seeing your body from every angle suddenly make the whole evening feel overwhelming?In this episode of the Talking with Emma Podcast, Emma Wright explores the hidden emotional pattern behind why so many women struggle with body image, confidence, and getting dressed for social situations.Many women believe that body confidence will come once they become more disciplined — eating better, losing weight, or exercising more.But behaviour science tells us something different.Our actions are driven by emotion, not discipline.That means the moment in front of the mirror is often less about how your body looks — and more about how you feel about your body.In this episode, Emma shares the story of a client who regularly cancelled plans because getting dressed triggered shame and self-doubt. Once she understood the emotional pattern behind this behaviour, everything changed.In this episode we explore:Why getting dressed can feel emotionally overwhelmingThe hidden body image pattern that leads women to cancel plans or avoid social situationsWhy discipline and confidence often miss the point when it comes to body imageHow thoughts about your body trigger emotions like shame and anxietyWhy your nervous system tries to escape those feelingsThe surprising power of body neutralityHow understanding your emotional patterns can help you feel more comfortable in your bodyTake the Body Image Score AssessmentIf you recognise yourself in this episode — avoiding photos, feeling anxious about getting dressed, or cancelling plans because of how you feel about your body — the next step is understanding your current patterns.Take the Body Image Score assessment (part of the Body Image Guide) to see how thoughts and emotions about your body may be influencing your confidence and behaviour.Curious about working together?I’m currently taking private coaching clients. Book a consultation to discuss what you want to achieve and create a clear step-by-step individualised plan to achieve it. Whether I can help you archive your goal or not, you’ll leave knowing what the next steps are.🌐 Emma's Website📱 Follow on LinkedInIf you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Let’s help more women stop fixing their bodies and start trusting them.  

In this episode, Emma shares a powerful insight from a recent talk where not a single woman in a room of 90 had never tried to lose weight.That moment reveals something bigger than personal struggle.It reveals a culture.If nearly every woman has tried to shrink herself — and most still feel dissatisfied — the problem is not individual failure. It’s the system we’ve been trained to participate in.Emma unpacks:The powerful link between self-worth and sustainable health behavioursThe four components of body image most people don’t understandHow “thinking first” coaching creates change that actually sticksIf you’ve tried to action your way into feeling better about yourself — and ended up exhausted — this episode will help you understand why.And more importantly, what to do instead.Mentioned in the episode:Download the Midlife Body Image Guide to get a picture of your current body image, thinking and eating patterns. Curious about working together?I’m currently taking private coaching clients. Book a consultation to discuss what you want to achieve and create a clear step-by-step individualised plan to achieve it. Whether I can help you achieve your goal or not, you’ll leave knowing what the next steps are.🌐 Emma's Website📱 Follow on LinkedInIf you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Let’s help more women stop fixing their bodies and start trusting them. 

In this powerful episode, I talk with Jane Guy, about how women are socialized to think about money and success. Jane brings a unique perspective on what keeps women stuck around money - their internal stories, cultural narratives and black and white thinking.We looked at how similar our money stories are to our body image stories and how both keep us playing small in smiliar ways. Jane helps women rewrite their relationship with money through her business coaching where she turns the intellectual into the practical. This conversation is a bold reminder of the impact of our socialisation on every aspect of our lives.It was also a hugely hopeful episode where we help women navigate their way to a very different relationship with money and body image to impact a more postive sense of worthiness. What you’ll learn in this episode:Where our money stories start How to change our money story so it's more empoweringThe link between how we feel about our bodies and how we are with moneyThe best place to start to make change stickMentioned in the show:Jane guy business coach helps women articulate their value so their work is clearly understood, recognised, and resourced. With over 20 years of experience supporting women and a reputation for sharp, no-fluff strategy with a huge side of laughter, Jane helps women move from being busy and capable to being known as high-impact problem-solvers and leaders. Find Jane on LinkedIN, Instagram and FacebookGet on her mailing list hereAlso mentioned in the show:Download the Midlife Body Image Guide to get early access to workshop details and ticket release dates. Curious about working together?I’m currently taking private coaching clients. Book a consultation to discuss what you want to achieve and create a clear step-by-step individualised plan to achieve it. Whether I can help you archive your goal or not, you’ll leave knowing what the next steps are.🌐 Emma's Website📱 Follow on LinkedInIf you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Let’s help more women stop fixing their bodies and start trusting them. 

This episode is about how stress eating, night eating and unconscious eating are biological responses, not a weakness you need to overcome.Emotional eating a topic the wellness and nutrition world often makes out is a personal weakness - stress eating or night eating or unconscious eating - but is a very normal biological response. Knowing this takes a huge struggle out of your eating and ends the battle you have with yourself. Mentioned in the episode:The Emotional Eating Solution Workshop: Learn a powerful tool to end night eating, unconscious eating and stress eating. Feb 19 | Noon | Recording avaiableDownload the Midlife Body Image Guide to get early access to workshop details and ticket release dates. Curious about working together?I’m currently taking private coaching clients. Book a consultation to discuss what you want to achieve and create a clear step-by-step individualised plan to achieve it. Whether I can help you archive your goal or not, you’ll leave knowing what the next steps are.🌐 Emma's Website📱 Follow on LinkedInIf you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Let’s help more women stop fixing their bodies and start trusting them. 

In this episode of Talking with Emma we're going to unpack emotional eating from a unique standpoint, so that you can see that it may not be the problem you feel it currently is, and you can actually do something about it.The Emotional Eating Solution Workshop: Learn a powerful tool to end night eating, unconscious eating and stress eating.Feb 19 | Noon | Recording avaiableMentioned in the episode:Download the Midlife Body Image Guide to get early access to workshop details and ticket release dates. Curious about working together?I’m currently taking private coaching clients. Book a consultation to discuss what you want to achieve and create a clear step-by-step individualised plan to achieve it. Whether I can help you archive your goal or not, you’ll leave knowing what the next steps are.🌐 Emma's Website📱 Follow on LinkedInIf you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Let’s help more women stop fixing their bodies and start trusting them. 

The pursuit of weight loss is almost universally talked about in positive terms. But it has huge costs. This episode outlines many of the side effects that women are unaware of or not told about when they embark on weight loss behaviour.It goes through 38 side effects over four categories: Physical, Social, Psychological, and Behavioural. Mentioned in the episode:Download the Midlife Body Image Guide to get early access to workshop details and ticket release dates. Curious about working together?I’m currently taking private coaching clients. Book a consultation to discuss what you want to achieve and create a clear step-by-step individualised plan to achieve it. Whether I can help you archive your goal or not, you’ll leave knowing what the next steps are.🌐 Emma's Website📱 Follow on LinkedInIf you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Let’s help more women stop fixing their bodies and start trusting them. 

In this episode we talk about weight gain in a way you've probably never heard it discussed, especially if you're a midlife woman. This episode is for you:You dislike diet culture but still fear weight gainYou feel uncomfortable in a changing bodyYou want relief from body-related fear, not another planIn this episode, you’ll explore:The cultural beliefs that teach women to feel like weight gain is a moral failureWhy dieting is an amazing emotional coping strategy if you don't have another way to feel hard feelingsHow control what we eat can feel safer than uncertainty, even when it costs youHow to get what you want - confidence, self-respect, feeling good enough - without 'having' to lose weightYou’ll also hear why wanting weight loss does not make you shallow or wrong.Mentioned in the episode:The Normalising Weight Gain workshop on March 21.Half-day workshopRecorded and available by replayFocused on tools, not mindset forcingDesigned for midlife women who want relief, not controlLimited to 15Download the Midlife Body Image Guide to get early access to workshop details and ticket release dates. 

Sexual wellbeing often changes in midlife. Bodies change. Desire changes. But you don't have to settle for being dissatisfied. Yet very few women are given tools to talk about it without shame, pressure, or self-blame.In this episode, I explore the often-overlooked link between body image and sexual wellbeing — and why your thoughts and emotions play a bigger role than your appearance ever could.Drawing on insights from a women’s and sexual health doctor, alongside my own lived experience and coaching work, I break down:• Why the brain is the most important sexual organ• How cultural messages about women’s bodies shape intimacy• Why pressure, duty, and “shoulds” kill desire• What body image actually is — beyond the mirror• How shame quietly impacts connection and communication• Why working with thoughts and emotions changes what’s possible• Practical ways to approach intimacy This episode is for you if:• You feel disconnected from your body or desire• You feel a bit hopeless or frustrated and like you have to settle• Communication feels hard Mentioned in this episodeTalking with Emma – Episode 24: How to Handle Anxiety A deeper dive into working with intense emotions like anxiety and shame, and how to stay present instead of shutting down.A free 50-minute consult to do a short body image assessment to see where it is getting in the way, look at what you want and create personalized step-by step process to achieve it. Whether we work together or not, you’ll know your next steps. 👉 Book your free consult hereWant to connect with Emma?The best way is to download the Midlife Body Image Guide. You'll also get first access to free masterclasses on emotional eating, body acceptance, and getting obsessive food thinking out of your brain. 

These two shifts are based on what I’ve been seeing in clients I coached in 2025—the wins and the challenges the women faced going about their day-to-day lives.These are not wellness trends or research insights. They are what I've noticed women saying from their lived experience. That’s where today's podcast comes from.The two shifts I’ve noticed: Women don’t want more information. They need support to make change sustainable.Weight loss drugs have changed the body image conversation.Links & Resources:🎧 Download the Midlife Body Image Guide + audio guide. Curious about working together?Emma is currently taking private clients. To see if coaching is for you, book a consultation where you discuss what you want to achieve, what you’ve currently been doing, and you’ll leave with a clear step-by-step individualised plan to achieve it. 

In today’s short episode, Emma explains why most goal-setting methods fail women — not because we lack discipline, but because the systems we’ve been taught rely on overhauls, pressure, and all-or-nothing thinking.Links & Resources:Join: Plan to Enjoy 2026Curious about working together?I’m currently taking private clients. Book a consultation where will discuss what you want to achieve, what you’ve currently been doing, and you’ll leave with a clear step-by-step individualised plan to achieve it. Whether I can help you achieve your goal or not, you’ll leave knowing what the next steps are.🌐 Emma's Website📱 Follow on LinkedInIf you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Let’s help more women stop fixing their bodies and start trusting them. 

Most women think they’re inconsistent because they lack discipline.But the real problem is the way we’ve been taught to approach exercise — big, punishing, all-or-nothing plans that collapse the moment life gets busy.In this episode, you’ll learn a completely different way to think about how to make movement consistent.You’ll hear how to:Spot the cultural beliefs that keep you stuck in the start–stop loopUnderstand why shame and overwhelm make consistency impossibleLearn the process to create long-term sustainable health behavioursKeep going even when you miss days or lose motivationLinks & Resources:Join: Plan to Enjoy 2026Curious about working together?I’m currently taking private clients. Book a consultation where will discuss what you want to achieve, what you’ve currently been doing, and you’ll leave with a clear step-by-step individualised plan to achieve it. Whether I can help you achieve your goal or not, you’ll leave knowing what the next steps are.🌐 Emma's Website📱 Follow on LinkedInIf you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Let’s help more women stop fixing their bodies and start trusting them. 

Even when you’ve done a lot of work on body respect, off-hand comment can send your nervous system into a spin.In this episode, you’ll learn a simple in-the-moment process to help when someone says something thoughtless about your body or your food.You’ll hear how to:• Expect comments so you’re not blindsided• Understand why these moments trigger such a strong reaction• Calm your nervous system without having to educate or engage• Step away, redirect or take a break without guilt• Set a boundary if it feels safe — and what a real boundary actually is • Support yourself, even if others don’t changeYou’ll walk away with a plan you can use at any dinner table, family gathering, or social situation where body talk tends to show up.Links & Resources:Join: Plan to Enjoy 2026Curious about working together?I’m currently taking private clients. Book a consultation where will discuss what you want to achieve, what you’ve currently been doing, and you’ll leave with a clear step-by-step individualised plan to achieve it. Whether I can help you achieve your goal or not, you’ll leave knowing what the next steps are.🌐 Emma's Website📱 Follow on LinkedInIf you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Let’s help more women stop fixing their bodies and start trusting them. 

If you’ve ever wondered why health feels like the one area of life you can’t get sorted, this episode gives you a fresh perspective.I walk you through a new way of seeing health — one where you’ll learn how to work with your body, not against it.In this episode, you’ll hear:• Why so many women get stuck between caring about their health and avoiding diet culture • How cultural conditioning teaches us to see our bodies as a problem • Why your body is remarkable, adaptive and already working hard for you • What health actually is — across your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual bodies • What you can and cannot control about health • Why sustainable habits come from enjoyment and support, not discipline • A simple way to start thinking about health behaviours you can live withBy the end, you’ll see health through a wider, more compassionate lens — one that makes taking care of yourself feel easier.Links & Resources:Join: Plan to Enjoy 2026Curious about working together?I’m currently taking private clients. Book a consultation where will discuss what you want to achieve, what you’ve currently been doing, and you’ll leave with a clear step-by-step individualised plan to achieve it. Whether I can help you achieve your goal or not, you’ll leave knowing what the next steps are.🌐 Emma's Website📱 Follow on LinkedInIf you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Let’s help more women stop fixing their bodies and start trusting them. 

If you’ve ever thought:“Why can’t I stick to anything?”“I know what to do, I just don’t do it.”“I get a few weeks in… and then I fall over again,”this episode is for you.You’ll hear why your past attempts at behaviour change haven’t stuck — and it’s not because you lack discipline or motivation. It’s because you’ve been taught to start from fixing yourself, instead of respecting yourself.Inside the episode, I walk you through a simple 4-step process to create behaviour change that actually lasts:Hear the thoughts you have about your behaviourNotice the feelings those thoughts createSeparate your worth from your habitsChoose the smallest action you can start with and build up from thereYou’ll also hear a real client story that shows how powerful this shift is when you stop treating your body like a problem and start treating it like something remarkable you get to care for.If your health goals have always been driven by fear, shame, or the belief you need to “sort yourself out,” this episode gives you a whole new way to approach change — one that feels more respectful, and surprisingly doable.Links & Resources:Join: Plan to Enjoy 2026Curious about working together?I’m currently taking private clients. Book a consultation where will discuss what you want to achieve, what you’ve currently been doing, and you’ll leave with a clear step-by-step individualised plan to achieve it. Whether I can help you achieve your goal or not, you’ll leave knowing what the next steps are.🌐 Emma's Website📱 Follow on LinkedInIf you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Let’s help more women stop fixing their bodies and start trusting them. 

Summer holidays are a time to rest, connect, and step out of the pace of the year. But they’re also when the pressure to lose weight hits it's peak. This year the noise is even louder. Weight-loss drugs are being marketed in every podcast ad. Swimwear is shown on bodies that look pre-pubescent. And family gatherings often come with comments you didn’t ask for.If you’re tired of it and want to protect yourself from it all, this episode gives you ten practical ways — without isolating yourself, without getting swept up in other people’s beliefs, and without stepping away from your own values.The tools you learn will help you protect your peace, enjoy your summer, and stay grounded in what matters to you — not in what diet culture wants from you.If you liked this episode and want to stay connected with Emma and the tools she shares, the next best step is to download the Midlife Body Image Guide. You'll also get first access to free masterclasses on emotional eating, body acceptance, and getting obsessive food thinking out of your brain.Links & Resources:🎧 Download the Midlife Body Image Guide + audio guide. Curious about working together?I’m currently taking private clients. Book a consultation where will discuss what you want to achieve, what you’ve currently been doing, and you’ll leave with a clear step-by-step individualised plan to achieve it. Whether I can help you archive your goal or not, you’ll leave knowing what the next steps are.🌐 Emma's Website📱 Follow on LinkedInIf you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Let’s help more women stop fixing their bodies and start trusting them. 

Feeling apologetic about your body isn’t a personal flaw. It’s cultural conditioning. And once you see where these thoughts come from — and how they’re reinforced — you can start to unlearn them.In this episode, Emma walks you through the KNOW → GROW → GLOW method she uses with clients who want to feel unapologetic in their bodies:KNOW See where your body thoughts actually come from and how they became so automatic.GROW Learn how to feel and process the emotions that sit underneath body criticism — so you stop reacting from shame and start responding with clarity.GLOW Shift into small, believable thoughts and actions that build body respect — the real foundation of becoming unapologetic.You’ll learn: • Why positive thinking and “body love” won’t work • How cultural messaging shaped your beliefs about your body • Why emotions like shame and dread show up around your reflection • How to feel emotions without needing to fix your body • What respectful body actions look like in real life • How to start building confidence from evidence, not appearanceIf you liked this episode and want to stay connected with Emma and the tools she shares, the next best step is to download the Midlife Body Image Guide. You'll also get first access to free masterclasses on emotional eating, body acceptance, and getting obsessive food thinking out of your brain.Links & Resources:🎧 Download the Midlife Body Image Guide + audio guide. Curious about working together?I’m currently taking private clients. Book a consultation where will discuss what you want to achieve, what you’ve currently been doing, and you’ll leave with a clear step-by-step individualised plan to achieve it. Whether I can help you archive your goal or not, you’ll leave knowing what the next steps are.🌐 Emma's Website📱 Follow on LinkedInIf you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Let’s help more women stop fixing their bodies and start trusting them. 

In this episode, Emma looks at how you can finally step out of the binge restrict cycle using a method grounded in behavioural science and emotional safety.You’ll hear Emma weave together her own lived experience with the evidence-based tools she teaches her clients — so you can understand why this pattern has felt so impossible to break, and what you can start doing today to change it.You’ll learn:• Why restriction is a trigger for bingeing• What weight loss has been promising you emotionally — and why it can’t deliver• How to meet your emotional needs directly instead of through food rules• The three skills that create real confidence and self-belief• What feminist health coaching actually looks like in practiceThis episode gives you a way out of a cycle that has probably felt confusing and shameful for years.If you liked this episode and want to stay connected with Emma and the tools she shares, the next best step is to download the Body Image Self-Assessment. You'll also get first access to free masterclasses on emotional eating, body acceptance, and getting obsessive food thinking out of your brain.Links & Resources:🎧 Download the Midlife Body Image Guide + audio guide. Curious about working together?I’m currently taking private clients. Book a no-cost consultation where we’ll talk about your goals and see if I’m the right coach to support you.🌐 Emma's Website📱 Follow on LinkedInIf you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Let’s help more women stop fixing their bodies and start trusting them. 

If you spend a lot of time in your head — replaying conversations, overthinking food choices, or worrying about how you look — this episode is for you.In today’s episode, I’ll take you on a guided walk. It’s not a mindset lesson or another thing to get right. It’s a simple, practical walk designed to help you reconnect with your body.You’ll be invited to:Notice what you see, hear, and feel around youTune in to how your body moves and respondsLet your breath lead rather than your thoughtsFeel the ground under your feet and come back to the present momentThis is a short, real-world practice you can return to any time you feel disconnected or anxious. All you need is a pair of shoes and 10 minutes outside (or even inside if that’s what’s available).If your body feels like the enemy or your head never switches off, this walk will help you find a sense of calm and connection again.If you liked this episode and want to stay connected with Emma and the tools she shares, the next best step is to download the Midlife Body Image Guide. You'll also get first access to free masterclasses on emotional eating, body acceptance, and getting obsessive food thinking out of your brain.Links & Resources:🎧 Download the Midlife Body Image Guide + audio guide. Curious about working together?I’m currently taking private clients. Book a consultation where will discuss what you want to achieve, what you’ve currently been doing, and you’ll leave with a clear step-by-step individualised plan to achieve it. Whether I can help you archive your goal or not, you’ll leave knowing what the next steps are.🌐 Emma's Website📱 Follow on LinkedInIf you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Let’s help more women stop fixing their bodies and start trusting them. 

If you’ve ever thought, “I know I should accept my body, but that feels like giving up,” this episode is for you.This week I share the best body image question you can ask yourself — one that changes the entire way you see your body.We’ll unpack where the pressure to “fix” our bodies comes from, why that instinct feels so normal, and what actually happens when you stop treating your body like a project and start living in it again.If you’ve tried loving your body and it felt fake, or you’ve been scared that acceptance means giving up, this episode will help you see a very different perspective.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why so many women confuse acceptance with “letting themselves go”The  cultural conditioning that makes “fixing” feel normalWhat body acceptance looks like day to day — no affirmations requiredListen to this episode if:You’re tired of trying to “fix” your body but don't want to let yourself goYou’ve tried “body love” and found it didn’t stickYou want to feel more peaceful and present in your body without forcing positivityIf you liked this episode and want to stay connected with Emma and the tools she shares, the next best step is to download the Midlife Body Image Guide. You'll also get first access to free masterclasses on emotional eating, body acceptance, and getting obsessive food thinking out of your brain.Links & Resources:🎧 Download the Midlife Body Image Guide + audio guide. Curious about working together?I’m currently taking private clients. Book a consultation where will discuss what you want to achieve, what you’ve currently been doing, and you’ll leave with a clear step-by-step individualised plan to achieve it. Whether I can help you archive your goal or not, you’ll leave knowing what the next steps are.🌐 Emma's Website📱 Follow on LinkedInIf you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Let’s help more women stop fixing their bodies and start trusting them. 

If you hate feeling anxious or other big emotions and have tried to find a way to handle them, but nothing really works, this episode is for you.Today I’m walking you through a simple, three-step process for bringing self-compassion into any big emotion. Whether it’s anxiety, shame, guilt, sadness, embarrassment, or grief — these three steps work in real time, wherever you are.You’ll learn:Why emotions like anxiety are not a personal flaw, but your body’s way of keeping you safeThe fastest way to calm your nervous system (hint: it starts with your hands, not your thoughts)The short kindness script that replaces self-criticism with care in under a minuteA client story that shows how quickly this can shift how you feelYou’ll finish the episode knowing exactly what to do the next time emotion takes over: Normalise. Touch. Kindness.Because you’re not your emotions — you have emotions. And that means you can work with them, not against them.If you liked this episode and want to stay connected with Emma and the tools she shares, the next best step is to download the Midlife Body Image Guide. You'll also get first access to free masterclasses on emotional eating, body acceptance, and getting obsessive food thinking out of your brain.Links & Resources:🎧 Download the Midlife Body Image Guide + audio guide. Curious about working together?I’m currently taking private clients. Book a consultation where will discuss what you want to achieve, what you’ve currently been doing, and you’ll leave with a clear step-by-step individualised plan to achieve it. Whether I can help you archive your goal or not, you’ll leave knowing what the next steps are.🌐 Emma's Website📱 Follow on LinkedInIf you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Let’s help more women stop fixing their bodies and start trusting them. 

If you’ve ever found yourself saying, “I want to exercise more — but it always turns into another thing I’m failing at,” this episode is for you.In this week’s episode of Talking with Emma, we take a fresh look at movement — not as a project to perfect, but as a way to respect and enjoy your body.Emma unpacks why so many midlife women lose their motivation for exercise — not because they’re lazy or uncommitted, but because decades of cultural conditioning have taught them to treat movement like a moral test.You’ll learn a new framework — The 3Rs of Respectful Movement — to help you rebuild a relationship with exercise that feels calm, doable, and free from guilt.Recognise when you’ve slipped into fixing modeRespect what your body needs todayRegain Consent — and choose movement that feels right for youAlong the way, Emma shares two powerful client stories that show what can happen when you shift from control to care. This isn’t about willpower or perfection. It’s about getting back in the driver’s seat of your own body — with respect, not repair.What You’ll LearnWhy the old “discipline” mindset makes motivation disappearHow to reconnect to your body’s cues about movementA simple 3-step tool to make exercise feel easier and more sustainableWhy neutrality and care create more consistency than control ever canLinks & Resources:🎧 Download the Self Assessment + audio guide. It helps you see how — discover how patriarchal structures have impacted your health and wellbeing.Curious about working together?I’m currently taking private clients. Book a no-cost consultation where we’ll talk about your goals and see if I’m the right coach to support you.Let’s stay connected:🌐 Emma's Website📬 Join the Talking with Emma newsletter📱 Follow on Instagram, and LinkedInIf you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Let’s help more women stop fixing their bodies and start trusting them. 

In this special episode of Talking With Emma, I’m doing something different.Instead of teaching a tool or exploring a concept, I’m sharing my story — from childhood through midlife — and how my own experiences with food, weight, and the diet, restrict cycle shaped the work I do today.You’ll hear about:How culture and childhood that shaped my beliefs about health, beauty, and worthThe years I spent trying to “fix” my body — and the cost of thatThe turning pointsWhy I now coach through a feminist, non-diet, weight-neutral lensAnd what I’ve learned about rebuilding trust with yourself after decades of food and body noiseThis isn’t a highlight reel. It’s the truth behind the work — and why I believe so deeply that your body has never been the problem.Links & Resources:🎧 Download the Self Assessment + audio guide. It helps you see how — discover how patriarchal structures have impacted your health and wellbeing.Curious about working together?I’m currently taking private clients. Book a no-cost consultation where we’ll talk about your goals and see if I’m the right coach to support you.Let’s stay connected:🌐 Emma's Website📱 Follow on Instagram, and LinkedInIf you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Let’s help more women stop fixing their bodies and start trusting them. 

Women can find themselves struggling when it comes to food and exercise. Not because they don’t know enough. Not because they’re lazy or weak. But because of the cultural mindsets that sneak in and run the show.In this episode of Talking with Emma, I unpack three of the most common food mindsets that sabotage women’s health goals:All-or-nothing thinking — why perfectionism keeps you swinging between being “on track” or spiralling into “I blew it.”The “what’s wrong with me?” question — how this one sneaky question fuels confirmation bias and keeps you stuck in self-blame.Outcome obsession — why focusing on weight, performance, or results sets you up for discouragement, and why behaviours are the true markers of health.Links & Resources:🎧 Download the Self Assessment + audio guide. It helps you see how patriarchal structures have impacted your health and wellbeing, so you can evolve your relationship with food and your health.Curious about working together?I’m currently taking private clients. Book a no-cost consultation where we’ll talk about your goals and see if I’m the right coach to support you.Let’s stay connected:🌐 Emma's Website📱 Follow on Instagram, and LinkedInIf you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Let’s help more women stop fixing their bodies and start trusting them. 

This week on Talking with Emma, I’m diving into one of the most emotionally charged topics in the health world: food addiction. But instead of recycling the same old narratives, I’m offering a different lens — one that cuts through the confusion, the shame, and the pseudoscience. We’re pulling apart what people really mean when they say they feel addicted to food — and why that feeling is often more about cultural conditioning, restriction, and stigma than about the food itself.If you've ever felt like you can’t trust yourself around chocolate or chips, or like food has power over you, this episode is for you. We’ll explore why the research around food addiction is messy and inconclusive, how shame and restriction create the very behaviours we label as addiction, and what you can do to shift the narrative and start healing your relationship with food.Key TakeawaysFood addiction isn’t a settled science. The evidence is unclear, and the definitions vary — is it a substance addiction like alcohol, or a process addiction like gambling? The science doesn’t agree.“Addictive” foods often reflect restriction + shame. When women say they feel addicted to food, it’s often the result of biological hunger colliding with dieting rules and cultural judgment.Restriction fuels the binge cycle. Most studies overlook the impact of restriction, even though it’s a major driver of feeling out of control around food.Cultural meaning shapes how we experience food. Pizza isn’t just calories — it’s memories, messages, and morality. The brain responds to all of it, not just the ingredients.Eating disorders and “food addiction” scores strongly overlap. This shows how easily we pathologise normal responses to restriction and shame.Weight stigma distorts everything. When you’ve been taught your body is a problem, it’s no wonder food feels like a battleground.Healing requires unlearning, not more control. Naming cultural scripts, questioning restrictions, and responding to your actual needs is the way out.If you liked this episode and want to stay connected with Emma and the tools she shares, the next best step is to download the Midlife Body Image Guide. You'll also get first access to free masterclasses on emotional eating, body acceptance, and getting obsessive food thinking out of your brain.Links & Resources:🎧 Download the Midlife Body Image Guide + audio guide. Curious about working together?I’m currently taking private clients. Book a consultation where will discuss what you want to achieve, what you’ve currently been doing, and you’ll leave with a clear step-by-step individualised plan to achieve it. Whether I can help you archive your goal or not, you’ll leave knowing what the next steps are.🌐 Emma's Website📱 Follow on LinkedInIf you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Let’s help more women stop fixing their bodies and start trusting them.  

Today, we’re flipping the script on emotional eating. I’m saying what most wellness advice won’t: Eating your feelings isn’t a personal failure. It’s actually your biology doing its job. In this episode, we look at why food is such an effective (and totally sane) way our bodies seek calm after stress, and how cultural conditioning has layered shame, fear, and perfectionism on top of that very human behaviour.I break down the powerful cultural forces that taught us to see emotional eating as a moral weakness—from "good girl" programming to anti-fat bias. You’ll hear real client stories that illustrate how emotional eating works as a survival tool, and I walk you through the S.A.F.E. Method, a four-step approach to move from shame and autopilot to respect and choice. If you’ve ever felt stuck in the cycle of stress, food, and guilt—this episode is your permission slip and practical guide to a kinder, more effective way out.Links & Resources:🎧 Download the Self Assessment + audio guide. It helps you see how — discover how patriarchal structures have impacted your health and wellbeing.Curious about working together?I’m currently taking private clients. Book a no-cost consultation where we’ll talk about your goals and see if I’m the right coach to support you.Let’s stay connected:🌐 Emma's Website📱 Follow on Instagram, and LinkedInIf you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Let’s help more women stop fixing their bodies and start trusting them. 

What to Do When Getting Dressed Ruins Your DayWe’ve all had those mornings. You get dressed, catch your reflection — or feel your clothes pinch — and suddenly the whole day feels hijacked. The shame hits hard, especially if you “know better” and still find yourself spiraling.Here’s the truth: you’re not failing. You’re not weak. You’re not broken.You’re learning a new skill — and like any new skill, it takes practice.In this episode of Talking with Emma, you’ll learn:Why your brain still serves up those old body-shaming scripts — even if you’ve done the work.A three-step tool to handle the aftermath when getting dressed derails you.How to bring compassion instead of criticism, and why celebrating tiny wins makes change stick.Real client stories of women who moved from spiraling to steady — and what progress actually looks like.By the end, you’ll have a practical way to calm the noise, reclaim your day, and start building a more empowered relationship with clothes and your body.If you liked this episode and want to stay connected with Emma and the tools she shares, the next best step is to download the Midlife Body Image Guide. You'll also get first access to free masterclasses on emotional eating, body acceptance, and getting obsessive food thinking out of your brain.Links & Resources:🎧 Download the Midlife Body Image Guide + audio guide. Curious about working together?I’m currently taking private clients. Book a consultation where will discuss what you want to achieve, what you’ve currently been doing, and you’ll leave with a clear step-by-step individualised plan to achieve it. Whether I can help you archive your goal or not, you’ll leave knowing what the next steps are.🌐 Emma's Website📱 Follow on LinkedInIf you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Let’s help more women stop fixing their bodies and start trusting them. 

You’ve been told that changing your mindset and loving your body will stop the food and body noise. But those messages, well-meaning as they are, may have  been keeping you stuck. In this episode, I’m diving into why I don’t coach mindset—and why I don’t teach body love either.Instead of piling on more affirmations or chasing a feeling of love about your body still centers women's worthiness around appearance. I am offering you something different: the power of embodiment and the quiet, profound relief of body neutrality. I share how cultural narratives around positivity and beauty have let midlife women down, and why the true transformation happens not in your thoughts, but in your nervous system.If you’ve ever felt like mindset work didn’t “work” for you, or like body love was another impossible standard—you’re not broken. Let’s explore what leads to a sustainably calm mind and true confidence in yourself.[Timeline Summary][1:35] - Why I stopped coaching mindset and body love — and what I teach instead [4:48] - How mindset became self-help’s golden ticket — and where it goes wrong [9:32] - The problem with body love [13:21] - My personal story of chasing perfection and the turning point to embodiment [18:44] - The difference between mindset work and embodied transformation [23:17] - A client example that shows how safety and nervous system healing shift everything [28:09] - Why body respect (not body love) creates lasting change and true confidenceLinks & Resources:🎧 Download the Midlife Body Image Assessment + audio guide. It helps you see what’s really driving your food and body noise — and what to do to get relief. Curious about working together?I’m currently taking private clients. Book a no-cost consultation where we’ll talk about your goals and see if I’m the right coach to support you.Let’s stay connected:🌐 Emma's Website📬 Join the Talking with Emma newsletter📱 Follow on LinkedInIf this episode felt like a breath of fresh air, please follow the show, share it with a friend, or leave a review. Talking with Emma is here to help you stop fixing your body—and start living your life. See you next week!