12 Comments

Thank you for sharing with us Christy! What I an working towards this year is shifting my perspective on IBS and on what needs to be done to manage it. Trying to take a more holistic picture, i.e. taking more care of my needs as a sensitive person. In line with that, I am also learning about how the nervous system works and how to soothe myself.

Thank you for this space Christy!

Expand full comment

Thanks so much for sharing! I love that idea of taking your sensitivity and nervous system into account in managing IBS, and that strikes me as a much more truly holistic approach than many deemed "holistic" in wellness culture (which actually just focus on cutting out foods etc.). I think the nervous system could definitely be a good topic for a future podcast :)

Expand full comment

By the way Christie, I was thinking about another topic that would be interesting for you to explore should you have interest (and I hope I haven't missed an episode on that!): sleep. There is so much being said about sleep and there is a whole "business" behind it. I was listening to the podcast episode "Sleep: the hostage of anxiety" from The OCD stories, an episode which has been a lifesaver for me. Some things made me think about how you question the wellness world (but I am in now way denying the solid research done on sleep, just the way it is communicated - without nuances - and the way a market around it has been created).

Expand full comment

Sorry I got your name wrong Christy!!

Expand full comment

Thanks Anne, that's a great idea. I've been having some of my own sleep struggles that I'll share about sometime soon, and I've wondered the same thing!

Expand full comment

By the way Christie, I was thinking about another topic that would be interesting for you to explore should you have interest (and I hope I haven't missed an episode on that!): sleep. There is so much being said about sleep and there is a whole "business" behind it. I was listening to the podcast episode "Sleep: the hostage of anxiety" from The OCD stories and some things made me think about how you question the wellness world (but I am in now way denying the solid research done on sleep, just the way it is communicated - without nuances - and the way a market around it has been created).

Expand full comment

Thanks so much for sharing this--it was fascinating to hear you talk about the ways that being anti-diet and anti-wellness culture conflict, or how these discussions seem to conflict. But as you said, they don’t have to! We definitely need more public intellectuals/“thought leaders” who can provide an example of how to apply critical thinking here. I think your experience with chronic illness has a valuable part to play, too. It’s not about blindly accepting the medical establishment as SCIENCE! and inarguable. And it’s also not about blindly experiment with alternative medicine bc it’s “natural” or something. It’s a nuanced conversation that needs air! So I’m really excited to hear where you go with it.

I hope 2024 is a big improvement over 2023. Love to you, Christy!

Expand full comment

Thanks so much, Maggie! Grateful for your support, and I really appreciate the way you articulated those nuances. I'm excited to see where it goes, too! Love to you <3

Expand full comment

This was a wonderful article, Christy. Thanks so much for sharing a little bit about your personal situation, even though I agree that this can be hard to do and sometimes and in some places, unwise. But I was laughing out loud thinking about your daughter saying, "having a hard time!" I think I will adopt that.

I have followed you for years and you have completely healed my life-long "diet mentality." I'm so done with that. However, I notice I am really struggling with body acceptance especially as I age. I'm working on it, partly through participating in gentle yoga on line. Between you and Anna Guest-Jelley's Curvy Yoga, I can feel my body acceptance growing. However, it's still an issue and an issue for so many I know that this is something I'd like to hear more of. I can stand in front of the mirror for ages trying to find clothing that makes me look less fat.

Thanks for everything you do. I'm glad I have the opportunity to support your work (bought both books and am a paid subscriber here). Take good care as you also remind yourself you are precious.

Expand full comment

Thank you so much, Mary! I really appreciate your kind words and support, and I'm so glad my work has been helpful to you.

I really appreciate what you said about body acceptance and aging, and I think that could be a great topic for a future interview. I'll put that on the list! Thanks again and wishing you all the best <3

Expand full comment

I thoroughly enjoyed this article, Christy and your "shared scars" - such good advice! I can totally recall my first child challenging me with the bedtime routine many (29) years ago. And your struggles are real for 2023! What a silver lining that you have come out on the other side with a new direction for the Pod and your important work! I value your written and spoken work because you are a journalist, writer and RD who is thoughtful about the way questions are answered and ideas are presented. I would l like to see you delve more into the "parenting an intuitive eater" side of diet/wellness culture. I also think raising a little girl in this world of diet culture, will be another learning path for you and your listeners. Now that your lived experience is launched into parenting, I think you will have good information to share that may reach into yet another, larger audience - parents who are struggling to feed their little ones. I'm a pediatric RD with 30 years working and the topic of feeding/parenting children in a household is a constant, ongoing education that I think you will be a valuable contributor towards. I'm aware of other guests, colleagues, and professionals that are navigating this topic, but I think you have a unique ability to facilitate and collaborate with those professionals of this space! So, hoping you give that some thought. As for my personal goals, living and functioning in a larger body against all the wellness and diet ideals continues to be a daily challenge. Compassion, acceptance and caring for my body amidst feelings of "wanting" to be able to get down on the floor comfortably with the little ones in my life takes daily (and sometimes hour-to-hour) practice while keeping the diet culture noise out of my head. SO, any interviews in that space, I know, would be appreciated by likely more than just me. I'm thankful for you and wishing you well in 2024!

Expand full comment

Thank you so much, Jody! I appreciate your sharing, and I'll definitely take those ideas into consideration <3 Grateful for your support, and wishing you well in 2024 too!

Expand full comment