Nope, That's Not Normal

In this episode, Jessica and Virgie explore the complexities of body neutrality, the impact of fat phobia, and the rise of GLP-1s as a weight loss solution. They discuss the historical context of diet culture, the allure of quick fixes, and the importance of body autonomy. Tovar emphasizes the need for empathy in discussions about weight loss while advocating for a long-term perspective on body positivity and activism. The conversation highlights the challenges of navigating societal pressures and the importance of informed choices regarding body image and health.* Connect with Nope on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicathiefels/* Connect with your host, Jessica, on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nopethatsnotnormal/Subscribe on Substack to get all of our podcast episodes plus more fresh content each week! https://nopethatsnotnormal.substack.com/Meet Our Guest, VirgieVirgie Tovar is a plus-size Latina author, lecturer, and leading expert on weight-based discrimination and body positivity with over a decade of experience. She is a contributor for Forbes.com where she covers the plus-size market and how to end weight discrimination at work.In 2011, Tovar completed a Master’s degree focused on the study of how weight-based discrimination impacted lifelong gender trajectories in women of color. In 2012, she edited the anthology Hot & Heavy: Fierce Fat Girls on Life, Love and Fashion (Seal Press). In 2013 she started the hashtag campaign #LoseHateNotWeight, and in 2018 Tovar gave a TedX talk on the origins of the campaign.She’s the author of You Have the Right to Remain Fat (Feminist Press, 2018), which was placed on the American Library Association’s Amelia Bloomer List, The Self-Love Revolution: Radical Body Positivity for Girls of Color (New Harbinger, 2020), and an interactive book, The Body Positive Journal (Chronicle Books, 2022).Tovar was named one of the 50 most influential feminists by B***h Magazine in 2018. She has received the Inspire Award from Project HEAL as well as Yale’s Poynter Fellowship in Journalism. Virgie has been featured by the New York Times, Tech Insider, BBC, MTV, NPR, and Yahoo Health. She lives in San Francisco. Please include all the links you want included in our shownotes.* virgietovar.substack.com* instagram.com/virgietovarWatch The Conversation: Body Neutrality in a World Obsessed With GLP-1s This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nopethatsnotnormal.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Jessica and Aaron get into the complexities of body image from a male perspective. They explore the journey of body acceptance, the impact of diet culture, and the societal pressures that shape our views on masculinity and body image. Aaron shares his personal experiences and insights on navigating these challenges, emphasizing the importance of self-compassion, emotional expression, and community support in the healing journey, along with some practical strategies for other men to start healing too.* Connect with Nope on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicathiefels/* Connect with your host, Jessica, on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nopethatsnotnormal/Subscribe on Substack to get all of our podcast episodes plus more fresh content each week! https://nopethatsnotnormal.substack.com/Meet Our Guest, AaronAaron Flores is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with a private practice in Calabasas, CA. He uses a weight-inclusive approach in his work to help individuals learn how to make peace with food and their bodies. He is a Certified Body Trust® provider, the host of the Men Unscripted podcast, and writes the Substack, The Unscripted Journey* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaronfloresrdn/* Website: aaronfloresrdn.com* Substack: aaronfloresrdn.substack.comWatch The Conversation: Men, Body Image and Healing This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nopethatsnotnormal.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Jessica and Katherine give you a strategy-packed episode to help navigate the holiday season as you’re healing your relationship with food and your body. They get into self-compassion, planning ahead, body image support tactics, and RAIN - an acronym you’ll want to know and remember. * Connect with Nope on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicathiefels/* Connect with your host, Jessica, on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nopethatsnotnormal/Meet Our Guest, KatherineKatherine Metzelaar, MS, RDN, CD, is the founder of Bravespace Nutrition and a dietitian who helps women break free from dieting, body shame, and disordered eating. Since 2017, she has guided hundreds of people to rebuild body trust and discover joy beyond diet and wellness culture. Katherine exposes the hidden ways diet & wellness culture steal self-worth and offers a liberating perspective that leaves listeners feeling seen, validated, and empowered. She is the creator of You’re Not Broken: A Beginner’s Body Image Healing Course For Women to help them transform their relationship to their body and Fearless Intimacy: a mini-course that empowers women to approach dating and intimate relationships with confidence, courage, and self-trust.* https://www.instagram.com/katherinemetzelaar/* https://www.youtube.com/katherinemetzelaar* https://www.tiktok.com/@katherinemetzelaar* www.bravespacenutrition.com* https://www.bravespacenutrition.com/body-image-groupWatch The Conversation: The Body Neutrality Holiday Survival Guide This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nopethatsnotnormal.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Jessica and Leslie discuss the journey toward body acceptance and neutrality through community and how this can support in overcoming societal pressures and systemic oppression. They explore how shared values and interests can foster connections that promote healing and liberation, the need for a supportive environment where individuals can thrive without the burden of unrealistic standards, and more.* Connect with Nope on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicathiefels/* Connect with your host, Jessica, on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nopethatsnotnormal/Subscribe on Substack to get all of our podcast episodes plus more fresh content each week! https://nopethatsnotnormal.substack.com/Meet Our Guest, LeslieLeslie Jordan Garcia, MBA, MPH, CERDS, CPT (she/her) is a wellness strategist, certified Eating Disorder Recovery Coach, and social justice consultant dedicated to healing and liberation. With dual master’s degrees in Business and Public Health and over a decade of experience across military, public health, and nonprofit sectors, Leslie brings depth and heart to her work. Through her practice, Liberati Wellness, she offers HAES®-aligned ED recovery coaching and inclusive movement support, while partnering with organizations like Austin Health Commons and the Hogg Foundation to embed equity and justice into health systems and helping professions, and currently as the Treatment Access Program Manager at Project HEAL.* https://www.instagram.com/liberatiwellness/Watch The Conversation: Radical Body Neutrality Through Community This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nopethatsnotnormal.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Jessica and Oona discuss the importance of body neutrality in parenting and how to create a supportive environment for children to develop a neutral relationship with their bodies. They explore the impact of societal messages on body image, the role of parents in modeling body acceptance, and practical strategies for navigating body-related conversations with children. Above all, Oona emphasizes the need for awareness, open dialogue, and the importance of fostering a body-neutral household.* Connect with Nope on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicathiefels/* Connect with your host, Jessica, on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nopethatsnotnormal/Subscribe on Substack to get all of our podcast episodes plus more fresh content each week! https://nopethatsnotnormal.substack.com/Meet Our Guest, OonaOona Hanson is a nationally recognized parent coach who supports families navigating diet culture and eating disorders. She is passionate about helping parents raise kids who have a healthy relationship with food and their body. A regular contributor to CNN, Oona has been featured widely, including on Good Morning America, The Washington Post, USA Today, US News & World Report, People, and Parents Magazine. Oona holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology and a Master’s Degree in English. She writes the Parenting Without Diet Culture newsletter and will publish her first book in 2026 with Cambridge University Press. She is a mother of two and lives in Los Angeles.* www.oonahanson.com* https://www.instagram.com/oona_hansonWatch The Conversation: Raising Body Neutral Kids This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nopethatsnotnormal.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Jessica and Christyna explore food noise, GLP-1 medications, and hunger signals. Christyna shares the potential dangers of malnutrition, as a result of trying to mitigate that “food noise” with GLP-1s, along with strategies to check in with yourself and connect with your hunger and fullness cues.* Connect with Nope on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicathiefels/* Connect with your host, Jessica, on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nopethatsnotnormal/Subscribe on Substack to get all of our podcast episodes plus more fresh content each week! https://nopethatsnotnormal.substack.com/Meet Our Guest, ChristynaChristyna Johnson is a registered dietitian based in Dallas, Texas. Using social media, Christyna has taught thousands how to feel peace and enjoyment around food. She has made it her mission as a dietitian to teach her clients how to have fun with food again. She specializes in eating disorders, disordered eating, and intuitive eating. When she’s not being a dietitian, she can be found with a good book, tending to her vegetable garden, or exploring nature.* https://www.instagram.com/encouragingdietitian* https://encouragingdietitian.comWatch The Conversation: Food Noise is Neutral… If You’re Feeding Yourself This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nopethatsnotnormal.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Jessica and Mallory explore the idea that body image exists on a spectrum—and, as Mallory puts it, is not a destination but an ongoing relationship. They discuss the nuances of body positivity and neutrality and the emotional experiences tied to body image. Plus, they share practical tips for healing, the impact of societal norms, and how to let go of what’s expected to just let your body be.* Connect with Nope on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicathiefels/* Connect with your host, Jessica, on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nopethatsnotnormal/Subscribe on Substack to get all of our podcast episodes plus more fresh content each week! https://nopethatsnotnormal.substack.com/Meet Our Guest, MalloryMallory Page is a non-diet dietitian and the founder of Live Unrestricted, guiding people in tuning out diet culture and listening to their own bodies so they can feel comfortable in their skin and confident in their choices with food and movement.Through her coaching, programs, podcast, Seems Like Diet Culture, and social media, she provides practical guidance on intuitive eating and body acceptance. Her approach removes the stress around food and body image so people can spend their energy on what truly brings them joy. Please include all the links you want included in our shownotes. I* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malloryjpage/?hl=en* Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@malloryjpage?lang=en* Website: https://liveunrestricted.org/* Free Discovery Call: https://liveunrestricted.org/discovery-call* Podcast: https://liveunrestricted.org/podcastWatch The Conversation: Understanding the Body Image Healing Spectrum This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nopethatsnotnormal.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Jessica and Dacy explore the complexities of body image, self-acceptance, and how all of that intersects with personal style. They discuss the impact of societal beauty standards, the journey towards body neutrality, and practical tips for dressing in a way that feels authentic and comfortable.Their conversation emphasizes the importance of buying clothes that fit, embracing individuality, and the mental and emotional work involved in shifting perspectives on body image and fashion so you can truly say “f*ck flattering!” and dress for you!* Connect with Nope on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicathiefels/* Connect with your host, Jessica, on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nopethatsnotnormal/Subscribe on Substack to get all of our podcast episodes plus more fresh content each week! https://nopethatsnotnormal.substack.com/Meet Our Guest, DacyAs a weight inclusive, anti-diet personal stylist, Dacy Gillespie helps her clients reject fashion rules and ideal standards of beauty imposed by the patriarchy, white supremacism, and capitalism so that they can uncover their authentic style.Through their work building a functional wardrobe, Dacy’s clients make a mindset shift from thinking they need to wear what’s flattering to unapologetically taking up space in the world. After a lifetime of jobs in high-stress careers that didn’t suit her highly-sensitive, introverted personality, Dacy started mindful closet in 2013 in an attempt to create a more emotionally sustainable lifestyle.Her work has been featured in Forbes, Real Simple, New York Magazine’s The Strategist, and Lifehacker, and she is a frequent podcast guest. Dacy lives with her husband and two children in St. Louis, Missouri.* dacygillespie.substack.com* mindfulcloset.com* instagram.com/mindfulclosetWatch The Conversation: How to Ditch Outdated Style Rules to Feel Good in Your Clothes This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nopethatsnotnormal.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Jessica and Melanie explore the concept of body neutrality, including personal experiences with body image, the impact of diet culture, and the challenges of navigating public perception in the age of social media. Melanie shares her journey towards body neutrality, emphasizing the importance of self-acceptance and the emotional toolkit needed to handle criticism.They also dig into misconceptions about body neutrality and intuitive eating, highlighting that choosing neutrality does not equate to neglecting health or well-being.* Connect with Nope on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicathiefels/* Connect with your host, Jessica, on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nopethatsnotnormal/Subscribe on Substack to get all of our podcast episodes plus more fresh content each week! https://nopethatsnotnormal.substack.com/Meet Our Guest, MelanieMelanie Knights, she/they, is the host of The Culture Of It All, a podcast that explores what it really means to ditch diet culture whilst living life in a larger body. As someone who has spent their entire life somewhere on the fat spectrum, and too many years to count participating in harmful and disordered behaviour, she looks at the ways diet culture affects every part of our lives. Melanie – a fashion enthusiast – is also a fierce advocate for size-inclusive fashion, and challenges the politics and current erasure of plus sizes across the fashion industry through her TikTok content.https://tiktok.com/melanieknightshttps://uk.pinterest.com/cultureofitallpod/https://instagram.com/cultureofitallpodWatch The Conversation: Choosing Body Neutrality is Not Choosing to “Not Care” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nopethatsnotnormal.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Jessica introduces us to the season 4 theme of Living Between Extremes and why she feels finding body neutrality in a world stuck between thin obsession and body love is more important now than ever before. She also talks through a few of the conversations you can expect to hear in the next few weeks! Bonus: find out what our question of the season is so you can start thinking about it for yourself as a tool for deeper healing.* Connect with Nope on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicathiefels/* Connect with your host, Jessica, on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nopethatsnotnormal/Subscribe on Substack to get all of our podcast episodes plus more fresh content each week! https://nopethatsnotnormal.substack.com/Meet Our Host, JessicaJessica is the founder and CEO of Echeveria Organic, host of Nope, That’s Not Normal, and a published author. After going through her own disordered eating and trauma-healing journey—and spending more than 13 years working in content marketing—she now helps mental health and eating disorder recovery organizations amplify their message with authentic and intentional content marketing. Find her on:Instagram: @JessicaThiefelsInstagram: @NopeThatsNotNormal.Watch The Season 4 Intro Episode This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nopethatsnotnormal.substack.com/subscribe