Misty Copeland made history when she became the first African American female principal dancer of the American Ballet Theatre, but her ascent to become one of the most iconic dancers of her time wasn't easy. She first found ballet when she was living in a motel room with her single mother and five siblings, practically homeless and lacking food.

Having dealt with food insecurity from a young age, Copeland is now a leading voice in the Naked Juice and Wholesome Wave #DrinkGoodDoGood social media campaign, which aims to bring fresh, high-quality produce to families across the country.

I sat down with Copeland to talk about this incredibly important campaign, and we ended up covering a whole lot more, including how she deals with body image issues as a dancer, what balance means to her, and the unconventional approach to meditation that keeps her sane. Whether you're a die-hard Copeland fan or are new to her story, we guarantee you'll walk away inspired.

To contact Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail podcast@mindbodygreen.com.

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