Ep 149: "Scrolling & Self-Esteem: Body Image in a Digital Age" with Dr. Charlotte Markey
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
Release Date: 12/19/2024
Ep 159: "How to Eat More Veggies and Make Them Delicious" with Jess Smith
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
Let’s be honest: most of us have tried to eat more —only to watch them slowly wilt in the back of the fridge. Or we associate veggies with bland, boring “diet food” and force ourselves to eat them when we’re feeling guilty, not because we actually enjoy them. In this episode, Alison chats with cookbook author , whose brilliant approach to vegetables reclaims them from diet culture and places them at the center of meals that are actually satisfying, flexible, and delicious. Jess’s cookbook flips the script on meal planning. Instead of figuring out how to “squeeze in”...
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Ep 158: "Rest is Fuel" with Erin Taylor
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
Are you constantly pushing through fatigue, thinking you’ll rest later—only to find that “later” never comes? In a culture that glorifies busyness, rest often feels like a luxury we can’t afford. But what if we told you that rest isn’t just a break—it’s a performance-enhancing strategy? In this episode, joins us to unpack the truth about rest as fuel—why we struggle with it, how our mindset around rest is all wrong, and the small but powerful ways we can integrate it into our daily lives. We dive deep into the idea that rest is not something that just happens—it’s a...
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Ep 157: Help Your Daughter Build a Positive Body Image with Drs. Janet Boseovski and Ashleigh Gallagher
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
We often associate poor body image and body dissatisfaction with teens and adult women. But the reality that the roots of negative body image take hold much earlier than that. In this week's episode, we dive deep into the science behind body image with Drs. Janet Boseovski and Ashleigh Gallagher, co-authors of Beyond Body Positive: A Mother’s Science-Based Guide for Helping Girls Build a Healthy Body Image. This conversation is a must-listen for moms, caregivers, and anyone looking to foster a healthier relationship with their body and break the cycle of toxic diet culture. From early...
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Ep 156: “The Science Behind Successful Habit Change” with Dr. Kyra Bobinet
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
Why is it so hard to change our habits—even when we know what to do? If you’ve ever struggled with sticking to your health goals, finding motivation, or breaking free from self-sabotage, you’re not alone. The real reason change feels impossible isn’t about willpower or discipline—it’s about your brain. In this episode, we’re diving deep into the neuroscience of behavior change with , a leading expert on habit formation. She breaks down how a tiny but powerful part of your brain—the habenula—can either fuel your motivation or shut it down completely. And, most importantly, she...
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Ep 155: “Breaking Free from Postpartum Body Pressure” with Marlene Andersson
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
What if the key to thriving in motherhood isn’t "bouncing back" to some old version of you—but moving forward into new postpartum potential and opportunities? In this empowering episode, I sat down with coach and former elite CrossFit athlete Marlene Andersson to dive into the pressures women face around "snapping back" after pregnancy. Together, we unpack the cultural myths that keep high-achieving women stuck in unrealistic expectations and explore a mindset shift that prioritizes self-compassion, growth, and sustainable health over outdated body ideals. Marlene shares her deeply...
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Ep 154: "Non-Financial Investments for Your Dream Retirement" with Suzanne Campi
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
Retirement planning isn’t just about financial planning—it’s about creating a life you love in your later years. In this episode, we sit down with , a coach specializing in life transitions, to talk about all the non-financial investments you can make now to ensure a fulfilling retirement. From relationships and adventure to purpose and health, Suzanne shares powerful insights on how to cultivate a meaningful, vibrant future beyond just saving money. Here’s Why We’re Obsessed with This Episode 🔥 Retirement is more than a 401k – Most of us have been told our whole lives to save...
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Ep 153: “Longevity = Training to Lift Weight, Not to Lose Weight” with Niki Sims
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
For many Gen X and Millennial women, fitness was introduced through the lens of —workouts were about burning calories and getting smaller. But as we've grown older, we’re realizing that those outdated messages aren’t serving us anymore. In this episode of the podcast, we explore a powerful shift: moving away from exercise as a means to shrink ourselves and instead embracing fitness as a way to enhance our quality of life and longevity. This week, I sat down with strength coach of to dive into the world of training and why women should be lifting weights for strength, not just for...
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Ep 152: "Understanding Diet Culture & Its Impact on Body Image"
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
is making a resurgence and we couldn't be more pissed off about it. The signs are everywhere. New weight loss drugs that are making people think our bodes are more changeable than they actually are and promise in their advertising the same shit diets have promised for generations and failed to deliver on -- the myth of transformation. Former champions of have gone to the dark side. Vogue Business is reporting a "worrying return to using extremely thin models" and a drop-off in size inclusivity in the fashion industry. There are whole industries out there that make billions of dollars each...
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Ep 151: "Cortisol: The Misunderstood Stress Hormone" with Dr. Carla DiGirolamo
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
We hear so much about cortisol, the " hormone," on social media these days. has become a buzz word in the health and fitness industry—part of a cautionary tale used to warn women away from intense bouts of exercise they age. From fear-mongering posts about how it’s ruining your health to questionable advice from "hormone coaches" selling pricey supplements and restrictive diets—it can be hard to separate fact from fiction. That’s why we brought in the expert, —a Board Certified Obstetrician/Gynecologist, Reproductive Endocrinologist, Certified Practitioner, and fitness enthusiast...
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Ep 150: 5 Beliefs to Leave Behind for an Epic New Year
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
With a new year, comes new goals and new . The end of one year and the beginning of another provide the perfect opportunity to pause, take stock, and reflect on the goals we want to achieve and the habits we hope to form. But what if the biggest obstacle standing in the way of your success wasn’t external? What if it was rooted in our own beliefs and thought patterns? That’s exactly what we explore in this week’s episode of , where I sat down with FBG Alex - a mindset coach passionate about helping individuals break free from limiting beliefs and step into their full potential - to break...
info_outlineBody image plays a critical role in shaping how we perceive ourselves, engage with others, and make lifestyle choices. But reaching a place of acceptance—or even joy—with our bodies is no small feat in today's world of social media, constantly-changing beauty standards, and rapidly evolving trends.
On this week's episode of the podcast, I sat down with Dr. Charlotte Markey, a psychologist, research scientist, and expert on body image at Rutgers University who brings nearly three decades of academic and practical experience to the table.
This episode goes beyond the usual shallow platitudes of “just love yourself” to provide evidence-based, actionable advice for improving how you see—and feel about—your body. Dr. Markey’s insights are empowering, practical, and grounded in research.
In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Markey dives into the nuances of body image, the difference between body positivity and body neutrality, and actionable strategies for improving how we feel in our own skin.
Together, we discuss modern influences on body image, debunk the myths surrounding body positivity, and explore the cultural messages that have shaped our perceptions of self-worth.
Whether you’re someone striving to feel more comfortable in your own body, a coach seeking evidence-based insights for clients, or simply curious about the psychology of body image, this episode has something for you.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- What “body image” really means and why it matters
- The difference between body neutrality and body positivity
- Why “just love yourself” can feel unhelpful — and what to aim for instead
- How focusing on your body’s functionality fosters a healthier mindset
- The powerful role family, culture, and societal pressures play in shaping body image
- Practical tips for reducing body surveillance and improving self-acceptance
- How the rise of weight loss drugs is impacting body image
About Dr. Charlotte Markey:
Charlotte Markey, Ph.D., is a body image scientist, who has studied body image and eating behaviors for nearly three decades. She is passionate about understanding how to help people have a healthy relationship with their bodies and food. Charlotte is a psychology professor at Rutgers University and a research scientist who has published over 100 scholarly articles and chapters about health issues.
Dr. Markey is also a book author, having most recently published The Body Image Book series (The Body Image Book for Girls in 2020; The Body Image Book for Boys in 2022, and Adultish: The Body Image Book for Life in 2024). She also recently co-edited the 3-volume Encyclopedia of Mental Health (2023). She writes regularly for news outlets such as Psychology Today and is often interviewed for TV, news articles, and podcasts including the NY Times, Washington Post, and NBC.
To learn more about Dr. Markey or her books, visit www.CharlotteMarkey.com or www.TheBodyImageBook.com.
Follow Dr. Markey on social media:
- Instagram: @char_markey
- Facebook: Dr. Charlotte Markey
- TikTok: @charmarkey
- Threads: @char_markey
- Substack: BODY TALK
Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
- Dr. Markey’s Body Image series (For Girls, For Boys, For Life): www.TheBodyImageBook.com
- Substack article about the difference between body positivity and body neutrality
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