This Is (Not) About Your Body

In this episode Jessi does a deep dive into the constant ways we are communicating things about us in a non-verbal fashion. This could be anything from facial expressions, how we wear our hair, or what kind of car we drive, even beyond the purely visual. Our presence in the world and how that is communicated often comes into conflict with body image issues and this episode seeks to untangle some o...

In this episode Jessi discusses the evolution in the conversation about gender. A lot of us grew up with the ideas of sex and gender being interchangeable and this episode will focus on where we were with those ideas, where we're headed, and where some other parts of the world already are. How does "political correctness" factor into this? How does the gender binary impact people's lives directly?...

In this episode Jessi explores how the patriarchy screws everyone over when it comes to sexual rejection, and how this happens on all sides. The cultural associations with roles in a sexual space can create tricky dynamics where both you and your partner(s) might suffer feelings of embarrassment or rejection if someone isn't in the mood. The question becomes: what could it mean to measure the secu...

In this episode Jessi discusses how we can experience intense swings between feeling really good about themselves and feeling loved, feeling secure, to feeling quite the opposite. This could be about body image, a sense of safety in the world, how you feel in partnership, how you feel outside of partnership, etc. This week will be a deep dive into myriad ways this manifests and how some factors ca...

In this Halloween special Jessi breaks down some common costume conventions and how they fall along the spectrum of body image issues. This calls back to earlier episodes on disgust and arousal (eg. realistic zombie costume or sexy nurse) and what the costume attributes might actually be signifiers of. Intro to the 4 Body Image Avatars: https://youtu.be/SsxQ9qO0-a4 Get my full Body Image Avatar Gu...

In this episode Jessi discusses our culture's obsession with anti-aging and the societal mechanisms we encounter almost every day. Jessi also touches on personal experiences with aging and what comes up in those moments and the evolution of those feelings. Intro to the 4 Body Image Avatars: https://youtu.be/SsxQ9qO0-a4 Get my full Body Image Avatar Guide here: https://jessikneeland.com/products/av...

In this episode Jessi dives into the ever present social media platform: TikTok. This will be an exploration of how modern trends carry markers of some very old social constructs like the "you should smile more" line that so many women hear. Intro to the 4 Body Image Avatars: https://youtu.be/SsxQ9qO0-a4 Get my full Body Image Avatar Guide here: https://jessikneeland.com/products/av ... Find more...

In this episode Jessi discusses how regardless of how much re-education work you do around body image issues brought about by external factors, you may still end up in a place where you're experiencing pain. Jessi breaks down the differences between "Top Level" needs and "Bottom Level" needs and how this dynamic plays out. Intro to the 4 Body Image Avatars: https://youtu.be/SsxQ9qO0-a4 Get my full...

In this episode Jessi explores what comprises the desire to emulate or fit in with "fantasy" ideals. If you're watching a show or observing a particular social group you may encounter some drive to be part of that or live a life that reflects those images and this can often manifest in your approach to your body and body image issues. Intro to the 4 Body Image Avatars: https://youtu.be/SsxQ9qO0-a4...

In this episode Jessi dives into how the socially networked world we live in creates avenues for interaction that sometimes...misses the point, to put it gently. Jessi's work often stirs conversation and with that invariably there's conflict that comes along with it. This is a frank conversation about how topics (particularly fatphobia and weight stigma) might be making (the royal) you defensive....

In this episode Jessi discusses how simply looking fit will change how people engage with you in the world and how this has very little correlation with actually being healthy. This is going to dive into the concept of thin privilege which is definitely not a contentious topic that's well received by all! Should be fun! (Also, sorry about the fiddling with headphones, didn't realize the scratchy s...

In this episode Jessi talks about the interesting phenomena of how receiving "unconditional" love/affection/attention sometimes leads to resentment by the recipient. Some people end up feeling "held accountable" by their partner's standards and if their partnership is given unconditionally then the accountability ceases to exist. Jessi will explore how this feeling of being worthy in your partner'...

In this episode Jessi explores a personal anecdote where unexpected body image issues flared up. This will touch on how body image issues at times actually function as signifiers or the "canary in the coal mine" for other (potentially larger) mental or physical health issues. Intro to the 4 Body Image Avatars: https://youtu.be/SsxQ9qO0-a4 Get my full Body Image Avatar Guide here: https://jessiknee...

In this episode Jessi talks about the experience of watching the film The Matrix for the first time...and specifically Trinity. This week is an exploration of thoughts and reflections on bisexuality and queerness upon re-watching the film and how experiences Jessi had years ago now have an entirely new context. Intro to the 4 Body Image Avatars: https://youtu.be/SsxQ9qO0-a4 Intro to the Self Objec...

In this episode Jessi talks about a topic that comes up with clients all the time that doesn't seem to get discussed all that often in this space: "What about men??" This will be a deep dive into the convergence of body image issues when it comes to partnering with men and what those men (and men in general) might be grappling with, and how that ties into common markers of the 'Self Objectifier' B...

CW: mentions of fatphobia, internalized homophobia and queerphobia In this follow up episode Jessi dives deeper into the concept of disgust and how it might manifest such as the visceral reaction to betrayal or how it becomes a marker of things that society deems "morally corrupt". Intro to the 4 Body Image Avatars: https://youtu.be/SsxQ9qO0-a4 Get my full Body Image Avatar Guide here: https://jes...

Building off of the last few episodes, Jessi delves more specifically into the ideas that come along with "Self Disgust" and the journey towards Body Neutrality. This will also explore how Body Neutrality "wins" might feel somewhat anti-climactic...and why that's not a bad thing. Intro to the 4 Body Image Avatars: https://youtu.be/SsxQ9qO0-a4 Intro to the Self Objectifier: https://youtu.be/2tnN4J2...

This follow up episode deals with the flip side of disgust: arousal. Jessi discusses how we can unpack our held biases and provides some historical context for how attraction, or what society deems attractive, has evolved. What is "moral attraction"? Let's (re)discover the hotness! Intro to the 4 Body Image Avatars: https://youtu.be/SsxQ9qO0-a4 Intro to the Self Objectifier: https://youtu.be/2tnN4...

In this episode Jessi breaks down the complex relationship between disgust and arousal/attraction; how they're related, and how drastically they diverge. Some aspects hold evolutionary benefits while others are learned and continue to evolve to this day! Intro to the 4 Body Image Avatars: https://youtu.be/SsxQ9qO0-a4 Intro to the Self Objectifier: https://youtu.be/2tnN4J2rIME Get my full Body Imag...

In this inaugural episode Jessi talks about how a person who falls into the High Achiever Body Image Avatar may experience their "rewards system" and validation. This often manifests as body control in the forms of restriction and exercise to achieve that validation. This episode will explore how this shows up throughout a person's life, the difficulty in pushing past it, and ultimately some tools...