If there is one thing I’ve learned in the past decade of working in the anti-diet space, healing your relationship with food and your body isn’t about fixing yourself — it’s about releasing the broken story you were handed. A story rooted in shame, control, and the myth that worthiness is earned through “discipline” and shrinking.
In this week’s episode, I’m joined by author Paulette Stout, who opens up about her own healing journey — one that moved her from self-judgement and secrecy to self-compassion and rebellion.
Her act of radical defiance this year? Buying clothes that fit now. Not in May. Not “once she shrinks.” But in the body she has today. That shift alone says: I deserve to take up space. Right here, right now.
Paulette’s new novel centers a character healing from an eating disorder, but it’s not just about the food — it’s about rejoining life. As Paulette says in the episode:
“I wanted to give Leslie a really bright rainbow to walk towards.”
And isn’t that what we all deserve? A life that’s full-color, full-plate, free from the shadow of shame.
In our conversation, we talk about the deep loneliness that often accompanies body shame and disordered eating — the eating in the dark, the secrecy, the fear of being “found out.” We also talk about the sacred power of story: how fiction can be a mirror, a soft place to land, and a spark for change.
Takeaway for the week:
If you’ve ever shrunk your life to fit diet culture’s mold — avoiding dinners, denying yourself pleasure from food, skipping joy, buying clothes for a fantasy self — you’re not alone. Maybe you try one small rebellion this week. A joy-restoring act. A step toward the idea that there is so much more to life than managing your hunger.
I think you’re going to love this conversation with Paulette. It’s fun, it’s empowering, and it will certainly leave you feeling better than you did when you hit play.
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