Therapists, helpers, and creatives — you weren’t made to burn out.

You were made to create from your Zone of Genius.
💛 Grab the free guide and start crafting work that energizes (not drains) you.
👉 https://pages.drshawnhondorp.com/zone

Episode 155: Listen to This Before You Pivot Your Career or Diversify Your Income

If you’re a therapist or helper feeling the pressure to pivot, niche down, diversify your income, or “future-proof” your career, this episode is an invitation to pause before jumping to strategy.

AI is evolving everything rapidly. The field of the...

Therapists, helpers, and creatives — you weren’t made to burn out.

You were made to create from your Zone of Genius.
💛 Grab the free guide and start crafting work that energizes (not drains) you.
👉 https://pages.drshawnhondorp.com/zone

Episode 154: When Play Feels Scary — What Guilt, Grief, and the Fear of Being Lazy Are Really Trying to Tell You

If you’ve ever felt pulled toward creativity or play — and immediately felt guilt, fear, or the worry you’re being “lazy” — this episode is for you.

Following joy should feel simple… but most of...

Therapists, helpers, and creatives — you weren’t made to burn out.
You were made to create from your Zone of Genius.
💛 Grab the free guide and start crafting work that energizes (not drains) you.

Episode 153. Dancing Myself Back to Life: What a Solo Taught Me About Healing and Aliveness

It’s not every day that you feel yourself come fully alive on stage.

This past Sunday at ArtPrize, I had the chance to perform a solo I choreographed — and it turned out to be one of the most healing, transformative experiences of my life...

Therapists, helpers, and creatives — you weren’t made to burn out.
You were made to create from your Zone of Genius.
💛 Grab the free guide and start crafting work that energizes (not drains) you.

Episode 152: Therapists & Creatives: Why Creativity Is a Burnout Antidote (+ Life Updates)

If you’ve felt the tug between meaningful work and your own wellbeing, you’re not alone. After a slow summer and a lot of reflection, I’m more grounded and aligned than I’ve ever been—and I want that for you, too. This post shares what shifted: embracin...

Episode 151: Why Creativity Isn’t Optional Anymore for Therapists and Helpers (Season 5 Finale)

✨ Free Resource: Uncover Your Zone of Genius
Feeling stuck or burned out? Consider this your permission slip to come alive again.
Grab my free Zone of Genius guide here: https://pages.drshawnhondorp.com/zone

What if your burnout is actually a signal that it’s time to shift?
What if the path back to fulfillment isn’t more certifications or better time management—but more creativity, play, and aligned living?

If you’re a therapist, helping professional, or creative...

Episode 150: Finding Community, Healing Together, and Living in Alignment with Randi Rubenstein

What does it mean to find real community in a world that often feels disconnected?

In this episode of The Innovative Therapist Podcast, I sat down with Randi Rubenstein for the final conversation in our three-part series on Creativity, Entrepreneurship, and Living an Aligned Life. This time, we explored the transformative role of community in healing, leadership, and building a more connected and joyful life.

From the mastermind group Randi accidentally created years ago to the healing communities I’ve found th...

Episode 150: Writing, Play, and the Power of Creative Connection with Michelle Ringle & Alyssa Jewell

Have you ever felt the quiet nudge to write something down, even if just for yourself?

In this heartwarming and deeply thoughtful episode, I sit down with two gifted educators and writers, Michelle Ringle and Alyssa Jewell, to explore the transformative power of creative writing. This conversation was one I truly looked forward to—and it didn’t disappoint. Michelle and Alyssa bring so much depth, honesty, and encouragement to the question so many of us carry: What might open up if w...

Episode 148: Recipes That Heal—Creativity, Courage, & Community Care with Elisa Pérez-Arellano, LMSW

What does it take to turn pain into purpose—and how can creativity, food, and cultural traditions transform how we approach mental health?

In this episode of The Innovative Therapist Podcast, I had the absolute pleasure of talking with Elisa Pérez-Arellano, LMSW—founder of Inclusive Empowerment Services and the visionary behind Recetas que Sanan (Recipes That Heal), a wellness initiative that reduces stigma and improves access to healing resources.

Elisa’s story is one of incredible resilience, innovation, and heart. Fro...

Episode 147: Redefining Success, Healing Through Business, and Sustainable Online Growth with Melvin Varghese, PhD

What if your business could be a source of healing—not just hustle?

In this episode of The Innovative Therapist Podcast, I had the joy of talking with Dr. Melvin Varghese—licensed psychologist, host of the Selling the Couch podcast, and founder of one of the most thoughtful, heart-centered online business communities for therapists.

Melvin is someone I deeply admire—not only because he’s built a wildly successful podcast and sustainable business—but because he’s done it with integri...

Episode 146: From Actor to Therapist—Reclaiming Identity & Embracing Self-Energy with Adeshola Nnamdi, LMFT

What does it look like to live with deep intention—and how can our past lives, creativity, and cultural roots shape the therapists we become?

In this episode of The Innovative Therapist Podcast, I had the absolute pleasure of talking with Adeshola Nnamdi, MA, LMFT—an actor who made a pivot into clinical psychology and psychotherapy, is IFS-trained, and deeply passionate about storytelling, healing, and identity. Shola is the first male guest on the podcast—and the first to serenade us too!

We...

Episode 145: Why Creativity Isn’t Optional Anymore—for Therapists, Helpers, and Healers Have you ever felt stuck in your work? Like you’re helping others but losing connection with yourself? You’re not alone. Many therapists, psychologists, and helpers reach a point where something feels off. You love helping people. But deep down, you want something more. You know you're wired to help in ways you can't within the current models of what a therapist does. You want to write. Build something. Start a podcast. Host a retreat. Lead in a new way. But the voice in your head says: “You don’t...

Episode 144: Finding Your Zone of Genius Through Culturally Immersive Travel with Kelsey Wilson & Amanda Cisneros Have you ever dreamed of experiencing travel in a way that fully immerses you in another culture—where you’re not just a visitor, but an active participant in the local community? That’s exactly what Kelsey Wilson and Amanda Cisneros have built with Travec Travel, a company specializing in culturally immersive travel for families and individuals. But beyond that, their journey is an inspiring look at how leaning into your Zone of Genius can create a career and life that feel deeply fulfilling. In this e...

Episode 143: Embodiment, Healing, and Community with Jen Bullen IntroductionWelcome back to The Innovative Therapist Podcast! In this episode, I’m thrilled to welcome Jen Bullen, an embodiment and somatic healing coach, body image whisperer, and diet culture rebel. Jen and I met in a truly serendipitous way—at my first retreat in October, when I needed a last-minute yoga instructor. The class she led was one of the most moving experiences of my life, and I knew then that I had to have her on the podcast to share her wisdom. Jen’s journey into this work is deeply personal and fi...

Episode 142. Empowering Your Financial Future: A Conversation with Laura Corbiani Welcome back to The Innovative Therapist Podcast! Today, we're diving into part two of my conversation with financial expert Laura Corbiani. If you missed part one, be sure to check it out, as we covered essential topics like money, power, and common mindset blocks around finances. This episode is all about tangible actions to become more financially empowered—because who doesn’t need that? We’ll discuss key topics like: Why and when you might want to hire a financial advisor Financial wellness basics How to build an emergency fund How to...

Episode 141: Money, Power & The Stories We Tell Ourselves with Laura Corbiani Money. Power. Self-worth. For so many of us—especially women—these words feel loaded. We’ve absorbed messages about money from a young age, often without realizing it. Some of us were taught that talking about money is rude or greedy. Others internalized the belief that wanting more meant taking from someone else. But what if talking about money openly could actually be empowering? In this week’s episode of The Innovative Therapist Podcast, I sat down with Certified Financial Planner Laura Corbiani to dive deep into the mindset blocks...

Episode 140: Leadership, Self Energy, & the Internal Family Systems Model with Rachel Bentley As therapists, business owners, and leaders, we often feel pressure to have all the answers. But what if the most impactful leadership doesn’t come from perfection—but from embracing our humanity and ongoing growth? That’s exactly what I explored in my conversation with Rachel Bentley on The Innovative Therapist Podcast (Episode 140). Rachel is an Internal Family Systems (IFS) Level 2 trained therapist, group practice owner, and business consultant. She leads a 40-clinician practice with locations in Michigan and helps therapists navigate leadership, self-energy, and sustainable business growth. In thi...

Episode 139: Creativity, Play, and Getting More of What You Want In this episode of The Innovative Therapist Podcast, Randi Rubenstein returns to dive deeper into the concept of Pack Leadership while exploring how creativity and play can transform our lives. We discuss the importance of leaning into your Zone of Genius, fostering meaningful connections through creativity, and how play has reshaped my approach to parenting and work. We’ll cover how humans are naturally wired to be generous, curious, and connected, and how we can cultivate environments that bring out these qualities in ourselves and those around us. Whether you’re a...

Episode 138: Pack Leadership: The Most Life-Changing Concept I’ve Learned Since Intuitive Eating As women, as leaders, as humans striving for connection and authenticity, we often find ourselves navigating the delicate balance of strength and vulnerability. Our energy is fierce yet compassionate, loving yet boundaried. We do things differently, and our leadership should reflect that. This concept of Pack Leadership, which I explored in my conversation with Randi Rubenstein on The Innovative Therapist Podcast (Episode 138: Pack Leadership: The Most Life-Changing Concept I’ve Learned Since Intuitive Eating), has completely transformed how I approach not just parenting, but every aspect of my l...

Episode 137: Creativity, Entrepreneurship, & Living an Aligned Life (Season 5) Welcome to Season 5! I’m so excited to kick off this season of The Innovative Therapist Podcast with a fresh approach: a seasonal model. In Episode 137, I share why I made this shift and how this season’s theme, Creativity, Entrepreneurship, & Living an Aligned Life, will guide us through meaningful and inspiring conversations. Taking extended breaks between seasons has been an intentional choice to allow time for rest, creativity, and alignment with what feels most life-giving—and I’m thrilled to bring this energy into Season 5. To start off this episode and season...

Episode 136: Joy, Rest, and Showing Up in Your Zone of Genius Welcome back to The Innovative Therapist Podcast! This episode marks a small milestone for the show—I've officially upgraded my mic setup! After 137 episodes of recording with a free noise-canceling headset (and occasionally in my car on my phone), I finally invested in a proper mic and pop filter. Let’s just say my tech journey involved a bit of user error, but here we are, and I hope the sound quality is noticeably better for you! But that’s not the heart of today’s episode. Instead, we’re diving...

Episode 136. I'm feeling more called to share things about the food relationship again lately, which has been kind of fun. I talk about this stuff all day every day with many of my 1 on 1 clients, and sometimes I forget that it isn't second nature to people, since I've spent many a year focusing on improving my relationship to food and body for myself. Today's episode walks you through what I did with my Halloween candy recently and why. It was also an opportunity to reflect on my business and the Body Respect Program I ran a few years ago. What...

Episode 134. Today's episode is Part 2 of 2 of my conversation with Becca Gibson. Please make sure to go back and listen to Part 1 first. In this part of the conversation we dive into the good stuff. The ways that therapists and other helpers accidentally cause harm, how to avoid this, and some of the things Becca really wishes people knew about people who have diagnoses of ADHD and Autism. Becca is a therapist who works primarily with high masking, late identified and late diagnosed autistic and ADHD people. Let's dive in! What to Expect in This Episode We cover the following: S...

Episode 133. I am so incredibly grateful for this conversation. I'm especially grateful for Becca's knowledge and openness about their personal and professional experiences in this realm. I'm also so glad I live in a time when therapists can come on a podcast and be open about their personal experiences. What a freaking gift. Becca is a therapist who works primarily with high masking, late identified and late diagnosed autistic and ADHD people. This conversation is a 2-parter, filled with information, resources and interwoven with Becca's story of becoming a therapist and late diagnosis of ADHD and autism. You're going to l...

Episode 132: Creativity, Healing & Building Empowering Communities with Elise Kutt of Mod Bettie “I knew I wanted to do something creative every day for the rest of my life.” – Elise Kutt Some conversations hit you right in the heart—and this one with Elise Kutt is exactly that kind of conversation. I’ve been looking forward to this interview for a while, and it was so worth the wait. Elise is one of the most creative, generous, and insightful entrepreneurs I’ve met. She’s the founder of Mod Bettie, an empowerment portrait studio, and Naughty Bettie, a Grand Rapids-based lingerie boutique. She’...

Episode 131. The 1st Annual Innovative Therapist Retreat is in the books! It's been almost 3 weeks, and it's time to share how it went. This episode is more about my experience hosting and some early reflections. More later on the healing power of community, and other's experiences. If you are thinking of creating something innovative, this episode is for you! What to Expect in this Episode I cover: The report on the Inaugural Innovative Therapist Retreat! (please listen to this previous episode about Creating Something Useful for the full retreat creation backstory) My intention with this event and what it involved W...

Episode 130. This episode is the first I've talked about my relationship to food in a while, but I woke up feeling compelled to share on this topic, so I went with it. I cover how our relationship with food can have parallels to our relationship to money and how all of this can impact our ability to trust ourselves and pursue work that feels aligned and good to us. I hope you find it helpful! Without further ado, let’s dive in! What to Expect in this Episode I cover: What I had for breakfast that morning (and why) - I p...

Episode 129. I have loved this quote from Howard Thurman for years: "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." The concept of Zone of Genius was introduced to me 2 years ago and I find it so incredibly helpful. So today, I'll be sharing it with you. Without further ado, let’s dive in! What to Expect in this Episode I cover: What is Zone of Genius and why should you care about it? Where I initially learned about it Wha...

Episode 128. I've never been more convinced of the power of creativity in creating amazing things in the world, in our bodies, and in our businesses. Today's episode is a solo episode where I dive into my thoughts on this based on my conversation last episode with Marlys Woods, LMFT. Check out that conversation here. Without further ado, let’s dive in! What to Expect in this Episode I cover the following: How we, and I, have de-valued music and the arts as a form of healing in the past Why I think it's essential now more than ever that we re...

Episode 127. Saddle up and get ready listeners! We are talking about music and healing today. Yes! I hope you are as excited as I am. I've been searching for the perfect guest to come on and talk about this, and let me tell you, I found her. How Music Can Heal Us (But Also Can Cause Harm) Marlys Woods of Get In Tune Music Therapy is a board certified music therapist and also a licensed marriage and family therapist. Without further ado, let’s dive in! What to Expect in this Episode We cover the following: How Marlys came to doi...

Episode 126. Welcome to the first solo episode of an experiment I'm really excited about! I've done around 60 podcast interviews now (!!) and I LOVE it. So freaking much. I want them to last forever and I have so much to say, but also I learn so much during and after the interviews. So my new experiment, starting now is I will do a solo episode where I dive in to the topics that arose for me during the previous interview episode, where I can reflect on it, what I learned, and share more of my experiences related to the topic in...

Episode 125. This week's podcast episode was so good. I had been following ​Megan Gunnell's​ work for a while. And then unexpectedly, she reached out to me. (!!) This sort of feels like what it might feel like for a celeb to reach out and ask to hang out. She asked if I might want to meet up and talk about the potential for collaboration. Umm... yes please! We talked about potential for collaboration sometime next year (yay), but first, we decided to record this podcast. A wealth of experience with THRIVING Megan really is a representation of how I want to feel...

Episode 124. I get a lot of podcast pitches. Many of them, it's clear they've never listened to my podcast and have zero idea about my audience. Others are pitching people that have truly nothing to do with what a do (men's hair removal expert, anyone? Just why?). Someone reached out to me to introduce Ann though and I was intrigued (I mean, read the bullets below, wouldn't you be?). I did my due diligence and listened to another podcast interview she did. And I immediately knew I had to have her on. Her willingness to be open about her unique...

Episode 123. Today's solo episode is all about my thoughts about Creativity. I've been thinking about this topic a LOT lately. And it's been incredibly fun. I read this book recently and already am re-listening to it. It's Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert and I've found it really inspiring. I have really been slowing down to think about how I can add creativity into my personal and professional life and how others can do the same. So this podcast episode is all about my thoughts on creativity, including how I've evolved to use creativity as a psychologist...

Episode 122. In deciding which episodes were worth replaying for you this summer, this one immediately came to mind for a few reasons. First of all, I've referenced this conversation many times since I had it in July 2021 (3 years ago!!). I've talked about it on the podcast, and I've referenced it in my head. To share how it's impacted me, we have to review one of my favorite Maya Angelou quotes: “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Dr. Maya Angelou I'll be ho...

Episode 121. One of the questions I get most often from people when they learn that I'm aligned with the Health at Every Size® movement is some version of this: "But I've worked for many years in XX setting and I've seen how people suffer when they have excess weight on their bodies. How can we really say that people can be healthy at every size?" Today's encore episode is a replay of my conversation with Dr. Jillian Murphy that answers this question incredibly well. I can't wait to share it with you! What To Expect in This Interview: We cover th...

Episode 120. I’ve said it before and I will say it again, I am often profoundly changed by the impact of the conversations I have on this podcast. I still remember quotes and concepts from people I interviewed a year ago, and I still sometimes re-listen to the conversations to remind myself of the lessons I learned from them. This conversation with Dalia Kinsey, RD, LD, from May 2022 was extra special though. And I’m actually having a hard time putting into words why exactly that is. I think part of it is Dalia’s presence, and the generosity and vulnera...

Episode 119. In today's solo episode, I'm going to share some of what I've learned about IFS and how it works based on both my personal and professional experiences thus far. I'm also going to talk about learning to slow down, how it's a journey I'm still on, and how IFS helps me actually do it, specifically focusing on my example of my Overworking Part, which I learned as I talked through this episode is very linked with my "Optimizing my Experience" Part (also described in my episode with Randi Rubenstein). In this episode I share my process of recognizing my...

Episode 118. Today's episode is a special conversation with Dr. Amy Neeren who has shown amazing resilience in terms of finding a career in psychology that felt right for her, and a big piece of that has been pursuing a career outside of her full-time work as a psychologist in writing fiction. She has published two children's books in the traditional publishing world (NO SMALL FEAT, as we learn in this conversation) and is working on a novel now. All of these writings have a tie to mental health, and to her story to some degree. We talk about how writing...

Episode 117. In today's solo episode, I'm going to share some of my healing journey and a bit of an update about where I'm a today. This will include reflecting back on what really helped me heal from binge eating disorder and the chronic dieting cycle, as well as what continues to help me build trust with myself today as I work to build a life that's aligned, joyful, and helps me avoid feelings of regret (as much as possible, since regret is a valuable teacher!). I'll cover how Internal Family Systems has factored into this for me over the past 2...

Episode 116. Today’s episode was a super interesting conversation with Sharon Depcinski, LMSW. Sharon is a Certified Sex Therapist and wonderful human being (that I actually got to meet in person a few hours after our conversation at a local therapist meetup!). Sharon reached out to me to share a newer therapy modality she was learning called TRIP, Trauma Regulation and Integration Processing which is a modality developed by Monique Hoving-Smeets. From there, we chatted about the fact that she's a certified sex therapist and the important of this topic (which we have never discussed on the podcast yet!), and her...

Episode 115. Today's episode was another "this sounds like a fun idea" that quickly came to fruition. I logged into the YouTube TV app on my phone and saw that the Oprah Special on the weight loss GLP-1 meds was being recorded. The show was titled: An Oprah Special: Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution I watched a little bit of it, but then decided to come back and watch the recording the next day. I quickly sent a Voxer text to Dr. Kim Daniels to ask if she was watching and if so, if she wanted to record a...

Episode 114. This week's episode is special. I was on the Mastermind Parenting podcast with Randi Rubenstein, my beloved parent coach recently. And the convo was so good, that we are replaying it here. So if you want to learn a little more about my story and how I got here, and hear me chat about it with one of the people who have been most influential in getting me here, this episode is for you! What to Expect in this Episode What to Expect in this episode: Some of my training and background and what I thought I was going...

Episode 113. This week's episode is all about my first 4 days of my Internal Family Systems Level 1 training! So if you're curious about what this IFS thing is, what the training is like, if it's worth the wait and the money, and what I'm learning, this episode is for you! What to Expect in this episode: My process with finding IFS and the long process of finally getting into a Level 1 training! The roller coaster that took me and on how I felt when I got it, versus how I feel now What the schedule of the training looked like The...

Episode 112. It's official. It is here. This week's episode is all about the new podcast, The Innovative Therapist Podcast. This name and shifting of the podcast reflects my internal shifts, and who I am becoming and permission for all of us to think more creatively with regards to how we think about healing. In this episode, I will tell you what to expect in the new podcast. What will be different and what will be the same. I will also share how I am different, and some of the experiences and people that led to those shifts. I cannot wait...

Episode 111. I just loved this conversation with Natalie Deering. Natalie is the host of the podcast That Wellness Podcast which is a podcast she started in February 2023 and she's already had some incredible guests including Dr. Richards Schwartz, Dr. Frank Anderson, and many others. We had a great conversation about many things, but Natalie really does a great job breaking down 3 different ways to connect with Parts of you, and how to do it, with some tangible next steps and resources. I also found it fascinating the ways she's decided what to focus on in her business, so make sure...

Episode 110. On this week's podcast, we talk to Pooja Arora who you are going to absolutely love. (Peyton, my intern who edits the podcast says it was one of her favorite episodes ever). Even though I feel really excited about this episode, a part of me is definitely anxious. Why? Because on the podcast, we talk about a variety of methods of healing that aren't all unequivocally supported by rigorous scientific research. We talk on the episode about interventions like Emotional Freedom Technique (aka EFT Tapping), Neurolinguistic Programming, among other interventions, including my personal experience with trying some of these...

Episode 109. Kate block is a gem. She's a therapeutic bodyworker, yoga teacher, and fellow science lover. She's also someone who walks the walk, meaning she listens to her body and what doesn't feel right for her, and makes uncomfortable changes when necessary. Today you get to hear her story, and a whole bunch of wisdom, and I am confident you will enjoy it as much as I did. I am realizing more and more that something that really lights me up is finding innovative solutions for healing for both myself and my clients. Kate is a wonderful example of that...

Episode 108. Hi all! This episode was a super fun one for me. Basically, you get to sit down and hear a conversation with my dear friend Dr. Allie Richards. In this conversation, our goal was to have an honest conversation about our career trajectories as psychologists and how we've both strayed fairly far from much of the training we got in how to conduct psychotherapy, and the truth about why. I laughed a lot in this conversation. Allie is incredibly smart, thoughtful, and honest in this conversation and I so appreciate her coming on the podcast and having this conversation w...

Episode 107. Hey everyone! I just did something kinda painful. I went back to this very large google document where I've been journaling and documenting my thoughts since I started my business in Jan 2021. In August 2021, my grandpa had just died. I was super lucky to know all 4 of my grandparents for many years, but my grandpa was the last of the 4. I was deep in grief and trying to get my work life under control. (My overworking part was QUITE active during that first year of business). I had written: Remember that you are in this for the long haul. I...

Episode 106. Hey everyone! In this interview with Dr. Cortney Warren we cover the gamut of topics. Dr. Warren has an incredible amount of personal and professional wisdom to share with us, and to be honest, I had a hard time containing my excitement and making sure I asked everything I wanted to. She shares such wisdom about various ways our cultural context impacts the lies we tell ourselves, and this is truly at the core of doing the deeper work we typically need to do to live a life that feels fulfilling and right for us. We cover the topic o...

Episode 105. Hey there, wonderful listeners! I'm so excited to be back with you today for this great conversation with Dr. Dina Goldstein Silverman. This episode is packed with insights that will leave you feeling inspired and ready to embrace positive shifts in your approach to health. And if you're anything like me, you'll feel optimistic that we are in fact making shifts in how we view bodies and health. Dr. Goldstein Silverman's Journey: A Personal Path to Professional Passion In this illuminating discussion, we uncover Dr. Goldstein Silverman's personal journey with weight and its impact on shaping her professional endeavors. H...

Episode 104. Embracing The Power of Doing Nothing. Welcome back to the Motivation Made Easy podcast! I'm thrilled to have Taylor joining me once again on today's episode where we take a moment to address the reason behind our podcast's short pause. (See you very soon on November 27th!). This pause feels sort of like the end of a very long "season 2", as we've taken a break last summer in conclusion of "season 1"; however, we will talk about the difference between these two breaks. Also, we'll delve into why breaks are important for wellness, the physical sensations, growing from the downtime, u...

Episode 103. Hey there, wonderful listeners! Dr. Shawn Hondorp here, and today, I am looking forward to sharing an important episode with you. In this episode, we're diving into the essential topics of inclusivity and emotional safety in the wellness space. Inclusivity and Emotional Safety: A Personal Reflection As a cis-gender white woman with various privileges, I come to understand more and more all the time the essential importance of addressing topics related to race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, weight/body size, ability, and more in the wellness space. Staying silent about these matters serves no one, and I...

Episode 102. In a world that is gradually becoming more open and accepting, there are still many areas where we have a long way to go when it comes to inclusivity and acceptance. In the world of running, Coach Sammie B stands out as a beacon of hope, focusing on inclusivity and creating safe spaces for the LGBTQIA+ community. Her dedication to spreading awareness about cycle syncing and inclusivity has inspired many to live their truth and embrace their authentic selves. In this episode of the Motivation Made Easy: Body Respect, True Health, podcast, Coach Sammie shares her incredible journey, and I...

Episode 101. Hey there, wonderful listeners! Dr. Shawn Hondorp here, and today, I am buzzing with excitement to share a truly enlightening episode with you. We're diving into the fascinating world of gut health, a topic that's been making waves lately but can also feel a bit overwhelming. Luckily, I had the pleasure of chatting with the brilliant Dr. Heather Finley, an expert in clinical nutrition with a wealth of experience in healing longstanding gut issues. Trust me when I say, she's the perfect guide to help us navigate through the noise and make sense of it all. Dr. Finley's calm...

Episode 100: Celebrating a Journey of Inspiring Insights and Life-Changing Quotes If I had a dollar for every time I thought about or referenced something one of my podcast guests said, I'd be a very rich woman. Over the course of this podcast, I've had the privilege of meeting and learning from some truly incredible humans, and today, I'm thrilled to celebrate them by sharing some of my favorite moments and quotes with you. Buckle up, because this is going to be a fun one! In this special episode, we'll dive into the heart of our conversations, unpacking some of the...

Episode 99. Sometimes things come into our life and we have no idea what it could do for us. In fact, sometimes we don't even realize we might be missing something until we experience it. That's how restarting dance as an adult was for me. I danced as a kid but never did tap. I got into adult tap dancing as a beginner two years ago. And it's just been the best. There's something magical about dance, or there can be. This episode is all about my journey with tap dancing and how I learned to reclaim dance in a super e...

Episode 98. Today's episode is directly from an amazing community member question. Her question was: I would love to know ways that I, as a dietitian, can support my clients and even ways to help nudge them toward working with a therapist if they aren't already. Are there simple ways to help explain the importance of therapy, mindset, stress on weight loss goals? Any books, trainings, other resources you could share would be wonderful! Have you ever had a question like this? If you are a dietitian or other helping professional, my guess is you have. If you've ever had a q...

Episode 97. Do you struggle with the concept of intuitive eating? Do you in theory think it sounds amazing, but have a hard time making it a reality in your or your client's life? Are you a professional (therapist or dietitian) who loves intuitive eating but notices that some clients really have a hard time "getting it"? If so, this conversation is for you! This is truly one of my favorite interviews I have done in a long time, because Dr. Kim Daniels really helps break down why intuitive eating may not be working for you or your clients, and what t...

Episode 96. More and more people and clinicians are talking about trauma. In this conversation with Dr. Greer Raggio, we cover what trauma is and how our understanding of it has changed. We talk about how crucial it is to understand, especially in eating disorders as 90% or so of people with binge eating disorder have a history of trauma. We talk about why the relationship between trauma and eating and weight develops and what you can do about it. Join Our Upcoming Workshop! Sign up today to join! What to Expect in this Interview In this interview, we cover: What are t...

Episode 95. Do you feel stuck with your clients who have disordered eating or eating disorders? Do you have a hard time helping them navigate things like a desire for weight loss, or rigidity and fears around food? Do you want to help them unlock the next level of healing for them, and perhaps even for yourself? If so, this episode is for you. As a psychologist training in the eating disorder and weight management field for years, I'm quite frustrated that I was never exposed to Internal Family Systems as an approach. I discovered it and over the past year...

Episode 94. Last episode I talked all about how Internal Family Systems (IFS) has changed my 1 on 1 practice. Check that episode out first if you haven't already because I give a general overview of IFS. This episode is all about some of the many ways IFS has impacted me personally, and some of the ways it's impacted me professionally and helped me think about our field in a more useful way. So excited to have you here! Join Our Upcoming Workshop! Sign up today to join! What to Expect in This Episode In this episode I will answer: How IFS has...

Episode 93. For this episode I recruited the wonderful Dr. Sapna Doshi back to interview me about my experiences in the past several months of immersing myself in the world of Internal Family Systems Theory. I've been learning IFS and beginning to apply it with several of my clients and have been seeing great results. It's also something I've been applying and to myself. Working with my parts (as IFS calls them) has been incredibly transformative for me. So in this two-part series, I will first share how Internal Family Systems has changed my 1 on 1 clinical practice, and in part 2 I...

Episode 92. In this episode I share more about my journey, where I'm at now, and what I've learned so far. We had our second kiddo in January 2020. Covid shutdown happened March 2020. I put notice in at work June 2020 and left December 2020. I started this podcast February 1st, 2021. Prior to that I started this blog in September 2019. They say owning a business, having kids are the ultimate self-growth journeys. If we add being a good therapist, and living through a global pandemic, this has been a heck of a growth period for yours truly! Today I'll share some of that journey...

Episode 91. Part 2 of my coffee chat with Dr. Sapna Doshi is here! So grab your favorite beverage of choice and join us for an honest conversation about the fields of weight management, eating disorders, and health. Our goal in this 2-part series is to have these episodes be relevant for: People (whether you are an individual looking for an empowering healthcare team) who want to be inspired and motivated to create optimal health and thrive Clinicians who work with people on their health, eating, and/or weight who want to have a full range of options and strategies to help...

Episode 90. This conversation is a looooong time coming! I'd like you to imagine this conversation is happening with Sapna and I at a little coffee shop in Philadelphia that was near Drexel University where we both went for grad school. Our goal in this 2-part series is to have these episodes be relevant for: People (whether you are an individual looking for an empowering healthcare team) who want to be inspired and motivated to create optimal health and thrive Clinicians who work with people on their health, eating, and/or weight who want to have a full range of options...

Episode 89. This is a conversation I've been wanting to have for a while. I loved talking to Sam in our episode in March of 2022. Check it out here. I brought her back on the podcast to help us better understand the pros and cons of high intensity exercise and help you to know whether or not it should be part of your journey now, or ever. Join Our Upcoming Workshop! Sign up today to join! What to Expect in this Interview In this interview, we cover: What is high intensity exercise? How we get little guidance on how to know...

Episode 88. When you think of your health and your health-related goals, what are the main areas you evaluate? Your eating habits Exercise routine Health data like weight, cholesterol levels, etc. What often is not considered as the first thought are things like sleep, stress and social relationships. And one of the (many) ways that diet culture and over focus on weight loss can be harmful, is when it distracts us from the work that would truly be beneficial to our health long-term. Today, we dive into one of those most important topics, your relationships. Mostly today we will focus on...

Episode 87. This is a conversation I've been anticipating for a while now, but likely wouldn't have had even as recently as a few years ago. To be honest, I was scared to do it. As a professional who believes that no one should feel pressure to lose weight, I don't want to have anyone see that I have a podcast about this topic and believe I think they should take these meds or be trying to shrink their body. But you know why I was most nervous to have the episode? Because I didn't want my professional colleagues to judge...

Episode 86. Y'all. I have a personal celebrity on the podcast today. What to Expect in this Interview In this interview, we cover: The value of collaboration among people who are self-taught, and people with more traditional training The parallels between shame in parenting and shame in eating and body stuff What to do if you're concerned that your kid is eating too much sugar (note here that Randi uses some language here that I don't necessarily use and could feel like diet culture or restrictive for some, however, you can find a way to have boundaries in a way that...

Episode 85. I am super excited to share this conversation for a few reasons. First, we talk about a topic that literally is relevant to everyone, regardless of your body size or history of how much you've struggled with your eating. Second, I've been wanting to connect with Dr. Robyn Pashby for a while now, so many people told us we should chat! I learned a lot in this conversation, and I'm sure you will too. What to Expect in this Interview In this interview, we cover: Why Dr. Pashby got into this work Why she uses the term obesity or...

Episode 84. Karen was spiraling. She had been doing so well. She was eating well, walking daily and feeling great. But for some reason today she felt off. She ate more than usual at lunch, maybe because she was scrolling mindlessly on her phone and saw a few upsetting posts about someone she went to high school with who is battling cancer. She kept scrolling, and before she knew it, she had eaten too much. She felt stuffed. Not super stuffed, but enough to feel uncomfortable. She got mildly frustrated with herself after this, but doesn't totally spiral out... yet. She...

Episode 83. We talk a lot on this podcast about the harmful ways weight is discussed in medical settings. But what about the harm that's caused when weight isn't discussed at all? I sat down with Dr. Emily Cordes, DO to have this important conversation. Dr. Cordes was trained in a traditional medical setting as a primary care physician. However, she quickly realized that this path wasn't giving her what she needed as a professional. And she learned this, partly because she realized she wasn't getting what she needed as an individual. Tune in to this great conversation all about how...

Episode 82. A common question I get from people considering weight loss surgery is "will bariatric surgery help with binge eating?", or "can I actually practice intuitive eating or a non-diet approach to eating after surgery"? or "How can I try to get rid of diet mentality if I have to follow a specific diet?" These are excellent questions and today you will get all my thoughts on these topics. Not interested in learning about weight loss surgery? Totally cool. However, you might want to stay tuned because a lot of this topic will still apply to you. The second question i...

Episode 81. "My metabolism is damaged." This is a common concern I hear. And I get it. Chronic weight loss dieting does often have a very negative impact on our bodies and our metabolism. Ignoring hunger, going long periods of time without eating, eating foods because some "expert" told us it was good for us, often leads to stress, inflammation, mistrust of our bodies signals and ultimately mistrust of ourselves. And yet, today's guest is Amy Braden, would generously shares her story and reminds us that our body still loves us, and there still is hope. There is also more than o...

Episode 80. What do you think is the reason for your binge eating or emotional eating? And when I say binge eating, what I mean is any eating you are doing where you feel even slightly out of control, guilty about it, feel like you "should" restrict certain foods, have certain food rules (even if they feel like they are "healthy" rules). Any and all of that is a form of disordered eating, and although it's very normalized, it does not need to be your reality. What to Expect in this Episode: My Iceberg Analogy for eating behavior (and why it...

Episode 79. Struggling with consistency for healthy habits? Over and over you have the intention, but it just isn't happening. It's good for you. You feel excellent after you do it. And yet, you keep failing. Guess what? It's time to change how you are talking to yourself. Today we are going to talk about how language affects our motivation for healthy habits and how one simple shift can make a big difference. "I Really Need to Lose Weight" Most people that come to see me know they need to work on their relationship with food and their body. They often...

"I know what I need to do to [stop binge eating/emotional eating], I'm just not doing it." If I had a dollar for every time a client said that to me, I'd be a very rich woman. I'm here to tell you, all the knowledge in the world probably won't be enough. I should know. I got my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology studying weight management and binge eating. And even after all of that, I couldn't solve my own binge eating and what I thought of as my "weight issue." As I was binge eating and gaining weight...

Episode 77. What Does My Body Image Have to Do With My Anxiety? For this special episode I sat down with my friend and colleague Dr. Julia King, a fellow psychologist who specializes in anxiety, body image and disordered eating. We cover a lot in this conversation including: How your anxiety is keeping you stuck in a cycle of disordered eating and poor body image The book that totally changed Dr. King's and my life, and how you can feel more empowered than ever with how you spend your time First steps to jump out of the emotional eating cycle and...

Episode 76. Have you ever thought... Why can't I stop emotional eating? Happy, sad, anxious, bored... eating is my go to! Why can't I just cope with my emotions without food like "normal people"! Or,Why can't I have a little more self-control and break out of the cycle? Well today we are going to answer all of those questions, but also I will address questions you may not know to ask, such as... What does emotional eating have to do with fear of death?How does diet culture influence my beliefs about my health and how does that influence my...

Episode 75. Hello my dear listeners and readers. I'm typically honest on this podcast and blog, but this time I'm going to break it down and be super honest. Despite being VERY intentional and trying everything I could try to not buy into hustle culture in my business, I fell into the trap. At times, I have pushed myself and my team too hard and ultimately this led to less quality work and some degree of failure. I've thought a lot about this over the past few months. Including, but not limited to: How diet culture and hustle culture overlap, How...

Episode 74. Today I am so excited to be speaking to Atheana Brown, RD, on an incredibly important topic area. Parenting, eating, and bodies -- all things that can bring up pain, struggle, and shame for so many of us. We are going to be covering all things related to raising kids as an intuitive eater, particularly if you are struggling with un-learning diet culture messages and trying to learn intuitive eating yourself. I learned a ton, and am definitely going to make some shifts based on our conversation. I think you are really going to like the conversation so lets...

Episode 73. For this episode, I had the opportunity to speak with Julie Satterfeal, MS, RD. We had a great conversation around common questions I get around how to incorporate nutritious eating within a non-diet (i.e., non-weight focused framework). What To Expect in This Interview: We cover the following topics: How Julie's noticing of her own thin privilege impacted the messages she got about food growing up and her desire to go into this career pathThe fact that she she graduated college the year that Intuitive Eating was first published, and how that has impacted thingsWhere she's see the field...

Episode 72. I've said it before and I will say it again, I am often profoundly changed by the impact of the conversations I have on this podcast. I still remember quotes and concepts from people I interviewed a year ago, and I still sometimes re-listen to the conversations to remind myself of the lessons I learned from them. This conversation with Dalia Kinsey, RD, LD, was extra special though. And I'm actually having a hard time putting into words why exactly that is. I think part of it is Dalia's presence, and the generosity and vulnerability that is shared, including...

Episode 71. What does March Madness have to teach us about our relationship to food and our eating habits? In this episode of the Motivation Made Easy podcast you will find out! What to Expect In This Episode What watching March Madness basketball teaches us about motivationHow we can understand the role of diet culture, pressure and body shame on our eating habits by looking at other experiences of pressure and expectationsHow to reduce excessive pressure to improve internal motivation for the changes you want to make in your lifeA fun fact about a basketball players eating habits Do you ever...

Episode 70. Today's post and episode is actually a replay of my conversation last summer with Dr. Jillian Murphy, ND. I don't replay episodes all that often, but I realized many people missed this one, and it's truly a crucial on in understanding this approach, understanding Health at Every Size, Intuitive Eating, and the somewhat less talked about concepts of Competent Eating and Division of Responsibility work lead by Ellyn Satter. Cutting the Diet Culture Cord One thing that really becomes evident in the conversation with Dr. Murphy, is that anti-diet, weight inclusive approaches benefit all bodies. Not just people with...

Episode 69. Frustrated with emotional eating and not sure where to turn? Have you tried all the things, all the diets, all the "lifestyle" change programs only to worry that you "self-sabotage" by emotional eating? Do you feel like if you could just "stop emotional eating" then all would be writh in the world? Well, today we will touch on what's keeping you stuck, and my top favorite books to help pull you out of the ineffective (and incredibly draining cycle). Today I'm doing a review of my very favorite books to improve your relationship with food and stop binge eating. I...

Episode 68. Today I’m so excited to talk with Jessi Holden. I found her via Google search, and then learned she lives right by me! We had a really cool conversation about the ways you can support autonomy and desire for weight loss all at the same time! What to Expect In This Episode In this interview, we cover: Can a weight inclusive approach (e.g., Health at Every Size®, Intuitive Eating) and pursuing weight loss go together?How does this relate to weight loss in general, and weight loss (bariatric) surgery?Some of the ways Health at Every Size® and...

Episode 67. Simplify. Play. Choose Joy. How does THAT sound to you, friends? In today's episode, I got to sit down with Dr. Michelle Segar, someone whose work I deeply admire, and this only was amplified after our conversation. It was a reminder to me that even people who have tons of research publications and two books have self-doubt, but that people doing the courageous work of questioning the status quo are essential to improving the way we do things, and help people. What to Expect in this Interview In this interview, we cover: What prompted Dr. Segar to get into...

Episode 66. Today I'm talking to Colleen Christensen, RD, ALL about Intuitive Eating, set point weight, and how to embrace the journey even when you are scared to do so. We cover the following (and more!): Colleen's history of an eating disorder, how she healed it, and how she can to doing this work.The main things that helped her break out of the diet cycle, and what she would do differently knowing what she knows now.What set point weight is, how to find it.The crucial shifts she sees people make to help them get over the fears of...

Episode 65. Today I'm talking to Courtney Gayle (I know her from middle school as Courtney Warford). Courtney Gayle is an Austin-based singer/model/actress. Known for her powerful-yet-intimate vocal style, she frequently performs solo and with groups throughout the country. As an actress, her one-woman show, “The Blurred Lines,” made a splash at the Metropolitan Room shortly before her musical theater debut at The Fulton Theatre.  Courtney frequently does print and influencer modeling, often showcasing her impressive red locks for brands including DevaCurl and EyeBuyDirect. Currently recording new music with her closest collaborators, Courtney is available for performances, modeling opportunities and v...

Episode 64. Today I have the pleasure of talking with Samantha Barash! What We Cover in This Week's Episode: Samantha’s personal experience with diet culture, How nutritional education is sending out mixed messages, The process of removing shame from fitness, The journey of transforming her cycle studio into a safe space for women to move freely, & Reframing the purpose of exercise and dispelling that it is solely a tool for weight loss. Samantha Barash is an intuitive eating registered dietitian and the owner of Tap Into Nutrition, a nutrition counseling service dedicated to supporting individuals to cultivate a healthy relationship wi...

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

Episode 62. Ever wondered what is beneath your pattern of emotional eating or binge eating? Often, it's dieting and restriction driving the cycle. However, underneath that, there many be something else going on too. If you've ever wondered what emotional eating or binge eating might be covering up, this conversation is for you? Dr. Sumer Ledet is a gem and a good friend of mine whose legs I've never seen. She is an incredible human being that I met online and now I consider her a very close support person in my life. I brought her on today because she has a...

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

Episode 60. Today's topic delves into something I feel strongly about and have thought about sharing for a while now. I've decided to share now for a few reasons: I believe stories are incredibly powerful and just sharing facts ain't going to cut it with this incredibly important topic.I've finally created a bit of time and space in my life to research the topic and form some coherent thoughts.I have many different privileges that afford me the opportunity to share this story, without as much fear of painful backlash as some other women might face. And that's messed up. ...

Episode 59. Young kids these days, they are all for body positivity, right?? In today's episode, I sat down with my 3 college aged interns. They all graduated this year or will soon graduate with their bachelor's degrees in psychology or nutrition. Want To Support Local Bookstores Near You? Buy your books from Bookshop! Support local bookstores near you and this blog and podcast and help prevent Amazon from completely squashing the local book market. "The most important thing I've learned was that I could leave dieting behind and still be healthy."-Sanya Kapur What to Expect In This Episode: They all s...

Episode 58. The Motivation Made Easy podcast turned 1! Did you miss Part 1 of the Happy Anniversary Episode? We covered: My favorite episodes and why you NEED to listen to themMME Episode Awards! Most downloaded interview and solo episodes, most talked about episodes, and the best kept secret episode, and my favorite episodes (consider this your binge listening guide)Top countries people are listening from!My main takeaways from a year of podcasting This week (Part 2 of the Anniversary Episode) will include: A breakdown of some episodes for specific purposes that you often tell me you have (e.g., best episodes to...

Episode 57. Oh my goodness, The Motivation Made Easy podcast is 1! A year ago, on February 1st, 2021, I did a thing I've always wanted to do, but was never really sure I could. I started a podcast. So today's episode I do some reflecting back on, so settle in this is going to be a fun and jam packed episode full of the key lessons I've learned, both from a year of podcasting, and just over a year of leaving healthcare and doing fully weight-inclusive work. We cover the following (and more!): My favorite episodes and why you NEED to listen...

Episode 56. I am not one for dramatic statements. At the same time, this episode could save your life or the life of someone you love.