Insatiable

You’ve probably heard the advice: “Feel your emotions.” But what does that actually mean in everyday life? Especially when so many of us believe we’re feeling our feelings when we’re actually thinking our feelings. And thus, not feeling better or resolving our stubborn bad habits.In this episode, Mary Tilson joins me to explore how we’ve each learned to stay with and move through our emotions.Mary also opens up about her journey with addiction and anorexia, offering an honest look at how activation, dysregulation, and stress show up in our bodies and minds.We discuss:Being with our feelings instead of “rising above” themPracticing mindful awareness with the R.A.I.N. acronymSimple (but effective!) ways to resource yourselfAddiction as an adaptationThe realities of recovery and finding joy every dayThe science of awe and the healing powers of nature More about our guest: Mary Tilson is a Certified Professional Recovery Coach and Somatic Practitioner with a Master’s Degree in the Psychology & Neuroscience of

This week, Beatriz Victoria Albina returns to Insatiable for part two of our conversation on ending emotional outsourcing — the habit of looking outside ourselves for validation, safety, and worth.In this episode, we explore the practices that help you come back home to yourself: tuning into your needs, regulating your nervous system, returning to your body, and reclaiming your center.It all begins with one simple but powerful question: What feels good right now?Join us as we explore what it means to live from that place of connection and self-trust.We discuss:How to reconnect with your biological impulsesFunctional freeze and how to feel your feelings (not think them)Why wellness is not about coffee enemas or random supplementsThe dangers of emotionally outsourcing to wellness professionalsHow we’re trained to prioritize productivitySomatic practice and praxisMore about our guest: Beatriz (Béa) Victoria Albina, NP, MPH, SEP (she/her) is a UCSF-trained Family Nurse Practitioner, Somatic Experiencing Practitio

Today, I’m joined by Beatriz Victoria Albina for a conversation about the emotions that often hide beneath common gut issues—and why codependency isn’t the real problem (and boundaries aren’t the full solution).We also dive into her new book, End Emotional Outsourcing: A Guide to Overcoming Codependent, Perfectionist, and People-Pleasing Habits, where Beatriz offers powerful reframes on parenting, community, and self-trust.This episode feels like a deep exhale—a reminder that healing isn’t about fixing yourself, but coming home to yourself.Join us for part one today, and come back next week for part two.We discuss:Our backgrounds with functional medicineWhat it means to end emotional outsourcingWhy codependency isn’t the problem and boundaries aren’t the answerHow patriarchy undermines caring for each other and ourselvesWhy perfectionism isn’t an identity - it’s a habitAttachment styles and “good enough” parentingHow to stop striving and actually relaxPolyvagal theory for healthy skepticsFunctional freeze and

Today I’m joined by everyone’s favorite poet, Kate Baer, for a tender conversation about midlife transitions, medical anxiety, and the power of female friendship.We talk about how to orient around ideas instead of problems, and we share a few poems from Kate’s forthcoming collection, How About Now, out November 4th.If you’ve been feeling a little lonely, uncertain, or in-between — or all three — this one is for you.We discuss:How the body makes itself known in midlifeBody neutrality, medical anxiety, and illnessThe public scrutiny around Kate’s weight lossParenting in a fatphobic world“Menopause is when all the girls you were come out to play”How to cultivate female friendships — even through conflictThe difference between community and friendsBeing erased from the male gaze as you ageMore about our guest: Kate Baer is the 3x New York Times bestselling author of What Kind Of Woman, I Hope This Finds You Well, and And Yet. Her work has also been published in The New Yorker, Literary Hub, Huffington Post and Th

This week Liz Wolfe returns to the show for a candid conversation about all the fitness myths we’re seeing around the wild world of wellness in 2025.Together, we get into why people are slapping the word “perimenopause” on everything, how to focus on agility as much as strength training, and everyone’s favorite fall purchase: weighted vests.We also discuss:Taylor’s new album and why we love her with TravisWhy strength is different than muscle massLiz’s tips for injury prevention at any ageThe nervous system benefits of proper formHow to reclaim your range of motion to prevent injuryPerfectionism as a protection strategyHow much muscle you can actually build (and maintain)The very real risks of under-eating in midlifeFinding yourself on the spectrum of detrained to trainedMuscle and strength don’t vanish from a few off weeks but at 4-6 weeks of no trainingWhat Liz really thinks about weighted vests More about our guest: Liz Wolfe is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, Certified Personal Trainer, best-selling a

This week, I’m joined by my former cohost Juliet Root for a fun, truth-seeking conversation about how our perspectives on food, body, and movement have shifted in 2025.Together, we share the biggest things we’ve changed our minds about—what no longer feels true, what surprised us, and what new possibilities opened up when we let old beliefs go.We discuss:Releasing restriction and shameProtein, fiber, and variety in our dietsDental care and holistic vs Western dentistsIs getting to the “root cause” endless? and reconsidering functional medicineUpdating our views on mammogramsThe nuanced truth about weighted vestsReal talk about “vanity weight loss”Where we stand with food tracking and GLP1sChanging our minds about zone two cardio & HIITThe value of community and how connection improves our health More about Juliet: Juliet Root is the co-founder of Ultralife, an online coaching platform, where she has spent nearly two decades helping people achieve lasting health, fitness, and longevity. As a certified pers

If you’ve ever thought “Why can’t I just stick with it?”, this episode is for you.Today I’m resharing a conversation I had with Noelle Tarr of Coconuts & Kettlebells for her podcast, Well-Fed Women.We discuss why willpower isn’t the problem, how shame hijacks true behavior change, and what it really takes to heal your relationship with food and your body. We also dive into emotional eating, weight loss without diet culture, and the mindset shifts that actually work—no guilt trips included.Questions we explore:How can people start to rethink the idea of willpower so it’s not the enemy?Why is it that I feel like a lot of us know what to do but we can’t follow through consistently?In your work, what is the biggest mindset shift for women struggling with food and fitness?How do we distinguish between emotional hunger and physical hunger, especially if it’s been disconnected for years?I’ve noticed a week before my period I have intense carb and sugar cravings. Is there a reason?Why do I still lie to myself eve

It’s officially back-to-school season! Which means you might be thinking it’s time for a new nutrition plan, exercise routine, or self-improvement challenge.But before you set out once again, I want you to ask yourself: “Will I just end up back here in six months if I don’t get to the root of what’s really going on with my relationship to food?”In this episode, I share the three most common things I hear when people are wrestling with “Why am I eating this now?” — and how each one points to deeper truths about your health and habits.Tune in for insights that go beyond quick fixes. And if you’re ready to create lasting change, join me in Why Am I Eating This Now. Doors close September 10th!I discuss:Fresh starts versus clean slatesThe little known mindset shift necessary for results that last (and you can enjoy)Why investing in our health is even more important when the world is on fireHow to re-think success for results beyond what you can imagine right now Mentioned in this episode:⭐️ Why Am I Eating This No

Tara Schmidt, M.Ed., RDN, LD is the lead dietitian for the Mayo Clinic Diet, host of the Mayo Clinic On Nutrition podcast, and Medical Editor of the Nutrition & Fitness channel.Today she joins me for a holistic, evidence-based conversation about GLP-1s, where we cut through the misinformation around these drugs and offer information you can really trust.If you’re already taking Ozempic or Wegovy, you want to start so you can lose weight, or maybe your doctor’s recommending it — this episode is for you.I hope you enjoy it, and if you do, RSVP for my FREE Workshop on September 3rd, Untangle Your Food Triggers: Catch Yourself Before You Fall Off Track.We discuss:What GLP-1s are and how they workThe place of medication and are these long term drugs?Micro-dosing and low-dosing GLP-1sWhich doctors should be prescribing metabolic drugsRegenerative healing from GLP-1sThe causes of food noiseHunger vs appetiteThe triggers for emotional eatingWhy eating for comfort makes senseReclaiming your agency so you want to c

Why Am I Eating This Now? is open for registration!Today I’m resharing a great conversation — and a powerful “Where are they now?” update — with two past Why Am I Eating This Now?: The Courage for Consistency participants who tell their powerful stories of going from “failing” at every program they tried to address the root issues of why they were falling off track with food.Tune in to hear Ginny and Isis talk about the diets they’ve been on, the health concerns they’re navigating, and how our work together transformed their eating habits, including food no longer being their go-to.We discuss:Our unique health priorities & how they relate to what we eatThe many ways popular diets shame & isolate usWhy Ginny & Isis decided to join Why Am I Eating This Now?How to know you’re ready to invest in yourselfSupport for pulling yourself out of feeling powerlessThe importance of having a flexible path (not a rigid rulebook)⭐️ Ready to catch yourself before you fall off track? RSVP for my free workshop on Se

Welcome to the 300th episode of Insatiable! To celebrate this milestone, I’m sharing three essential lessons every woman over 40 should know about health, weight loss, and nutrition in midlife.After years of making this show and working with real life clients, I’ve seen what actually works for women in perimenopause and menopause—and it’s not counting calories, cutting carbs, or blaming yourself when your body doesn’t respond the way it used to.Instead, we need to improve the quality of our food, quit punishing ourselves with exercise, and learn how to pivot without triggering our inner-perfectionist.Want to know more? Tune in and share this one with your friends. These insights will save you so much time, energy, and (maybe even) digestive distress.Learn about:The reality of counting calories and eating less over 40Why you need to eat carbs (especially if you can’t sleep)How to find joy in exercise (even if you’ve never been consistent!)Pivoting into a flexible mindset and prioritizing your health as you age

Body Stories is back — and we’re halfway through the journey.Sas Petherick returns to share what she’s learning six months into her year-long holistic weight loss experiment. She opens up about how her relationship with food is evolving, what strength feels like in her body now, and how all of it is reshaping her work as a coach.Together, we explore what it means to approach weight loss as an act of care — not punishment — especially in midlife, when everything from metabolism to motivation starts to shift.If you’re tired of all-or-nothing thinking about your health, this one’s for you. And if you're ready to untangle your own food triggers, RSVP for my free workshop on September 3rd.We discuss:The power of loving limits and keeping promises to yourselfHow diet culture, wellness influencers, and capitalism shape your body storyWhat “complexity fitness” means — and why it matters for you to hold the nuanceWhy taking a break from Instagram can change how you see yourselfWhy a glucose monitor won’t give you

Today Elise Loehnen returns to Insatiable for a much-needed reminder that you don’t have to be good. And in fact, focusing on being “good” or “nice” might perpetuate your battle with food and leave you feeling deeply unfulfilled.In this conversation, we unpack what it means to be whole, why it’s fine if some people don’t like you, and how to stop seeking external approval. We also tap into how the stories we tell about goodness impact our relationship to food and our body (including what the deepest layer of body image is really about).Tune in for a huge permission slip to rest and replenish — even when you’d rather push through (and learn how this supports staying on track with your food). And stick around until the end for a great reframe for envy!We discuss:How your desire to be “good” shows up in your daily lifeWays to unhook from external validationThe shadow & why it matters in midlife, health includedRejecting the “sin” of sloth & learning to restMAHA and why it’s not selfish yet essential to t

A few months ago, my exercise routine stopped working for me. I’d been focusing on strength training for years, but I just didn’t want to go to the gym anymore. I felt super apathetic.At first, I chalked it up to bad sleep and low energy. But then I realized that some sneaky Menopause 101 messaging was actually holding me back from doing what felt right for my body.In this episode, I take you behind-the-scenes on how I noticed I was falling off track and the method that helped me return to movement again.Tune in to hear about:How to bridge the Knowing-But-Not-Doing gapMy experience with Orange Theory as a cardio-skepticHow to find the triggers that get you off trackPolarity lessons I’ve learned from HIIT classesThe results I’ve noticed with my sleep, my energy, my mental health, and my weight since reintroducing cardio Mentioned in this episode:Next Level by Dr. Stacy SimsListen to Dr. Stacy Sims on Insatiable podcastTry a free Orange Theory classGet my free Masterclass: Untangle Your Food Triggers: Catch You

Our Body Stories series is back with another installment of my friend Sas Petherick’s intentional weight loss journey.We’re three months in now, and she’s discovering how her new routines are integrating into her daily life and reshaping her identity in the process.Tune in to hear us unpack the emotional body, the power of habits, and how to actually stop treating food as an escape.We discuss:Self-authoring and redefining what it means to “work out”How to cultivate self-compassion without resignationWays that Sas is handling “bad days” without turning to food as an escapeRated of Perceived Exertion (RPE) & the reasons we underestimate our abilityWhy support from others is so importantThe Kardashians' new food productHow much weight Sas has lost so far (stick around to the end for that!) More about our guest: Sas Petherick believes that healing our self-doubt is one of the most important contributions we can make to ourselves, our families, our work, and the world.Sas holds a Master's degree from

Today we continue our Body Stories series with Sas Petherick!She joined me on Insatiable last month (listen here!) to talk about her intentional weight loss journey. This week she returns so we can catch up on how things are going one month in.Tune in as we explore public weight loss, before and after photos, psychological flexibility, how it feels to eat more calories, healing our childhood wounds around sports, and more.And if you relate to anything in this episode, join me (Ali) for Your Emotional Eating Blueprint this spring! You can enroll or sign-up for a free sneak peek here: https://alishapiro.com/blueprint/We discuss:Why we shouldn’t judge a celebrity (or anyone) who loses weightHow it feels to be bombarded by before & after photosRejecting weight loss as a “hero’s journey”Discipline vs devotion & the myth of consistencyWhere Sas is going for support with eating, food & workoutsHow Sas felt when her trainer suggested she eat more calories per dayLearning about macros & how they impact

Do you feel trapped in a cycle of dieting and frustration? Why do your best efforts with food seem to fail when it matters most? Is it possible that your food struggles are about something deeper than food itself?In this episode of Wits & Weights Podcast, host Philip Pape explores the deeper roots of food consistency with Insatiable’s own Ali Shapiro!Tune in to learn all about:Why food struggles aren’t about foodUnderstanding emotional hungerTools Vs. Deeper psychological workFood and the human experienceStress, loneliness, secret eating, and falling off trackThe T.A.I.L. framework for emotional triggersFacing triggers and learning growthAli’s personal journey with food and healthFinding trust and meeting your needsCompassionate witness and feeling significant Mentioned in this episode:Philip’s episode of InsatiableAli’s Truce with Food programRegistration for Your Emotional Eating Blueprint is now open! You can enroll or sign-up for a free sneak peek here: https://alishapiro.com/blueprint/Send me (Ali) a

Here at Insatiable, we’re all about providing the education you need for perimenopause, menopause and aging. I mean, we did a whole season on it, and it's obviously been my own focus since going through early menopause a couple of years ago.But I'm starting to notice something alarming in terms of what we're not talking about — which is what these hormonal shifts mean for our stress and how this changes what works for our energy after 40.So this week, we’re diving into the often-overlooked topic of how hormonal shifts in perimenopause and menopause impact our emotional stress resilience.Because, did you know that the drop in estrogen and progesterone as we age removes a physiological stress buffer for cortisol? This means that the stress we're used to handling might now leave a mark on our energy, mood, and food choices.So if you’re experiencing stress and food struggles in midlife, tune in to this episode to learn about:The exhaustion-fueled cravings cycle that I see with clientsWhy our r

I love Philip Pape’s approach to health, because everything he teaches is evidence-based.So today he’s joining me on the podcast to unpack a few “trendy” nutrition and fitness topics like fat loss, muscle building, protein, calorie-counting, satiety, GLP-1s and more!Join us a we explore what’s really going on with health and weight loss — especially for women over forty. And don’t forget that this spring I’m teaching the first and only live round of Your Emotional Eating Blueprint: Why Am I Eating This Now? course, which you can hear more about by getting on my email list hereWe discuss:Mindset shifts for health over 40Why Philip uses the term “fat loss” instead of “weight loss”Over-fat vs under-muscled & why that’s a false dichotomyWhy crash diets don’t workHow Ali shifted her nutrition through perimenopause and menopauseProtein’s role in satiety and satisfactionWalking vs running and the importance of sleepGLP-1s and dieting More about our guest: Philip Pape is the host of Wits & Weights, a top 1% n

Today’s episode is with my long-time friend and colleague Sas Petherick. It’s about those times when you want to lose weight… but you also want to love your body.This is also the beginning of our new Body Series: ongoing conversations about the nuances of being in relationship with our bodies. And today I'm announcing the first live round of my Your Emotional Eating Blueprint: Why Am I Eating This Now? course, which you can hear more about by getting on my email list!We discuss:Sas’ relationship with her body + illnessDiet culture as “thin at all costs”Feeling peace within our bodiesCentering strength & health instead of weight lossHow Sas has changed her eating habitsWhy restriction is different than deprivationDoing the “good thing” vs actually feeling goodFinding satisfaction in our day-to-dayLetting go of the Weight Watchers “walk of shame” More about our guest: Sas Petherick believes that healing our self-doubt is one of the most important contributions we can make to ourselves, our families, ou