Sturdy Girl

In this bite-sized Sturdy Short, Jess spills the tea on three surprisingly simple things that seriously improved her body image—starting with breaking fashion “rules,” turning down the mind chaos with mindfulness, and learning that self-compassion isn’t just cozy vibes, it’s a power move. If you've been wondering where to start or just need a nudge, there’s a no-pressure “choose one” challenge at the end to help you get out of...

Do you ever feel like you’re doing all the right mindset work around body image, but something’s still…missing?

This week, we’re exploring embodiment—not as a buzzword, but as a powerful, research-backed tool to help you feel more at home in your body.

We’ll break down:
 ✨ What embodiment actually is (and isn’t)
 🧠 The difference between self-objectification and body connection
 🔬 The science behind how embodiment impro...

In this episode of Sturdy Girl, the focus is on breaking free from the mindset of waiting for the 'perfect' moment to start living fully. It challenges listeners, especially women, to stop delaying their dreams until they feel better about their bodies or circumstances. Key points discussed include the pitfalls of waiting for the ideal time, the illusion of waiting for motivation, and the importance of taking small steps ...

In episode 58 of Sturdy Girl, host Jess delves into the concept of body image flexibility as an empowering alternative to positive body image. She critiques the limitations of the 'love yourself' mantra and emphasizes the importance of accepting body image fluctuations. Jess explains how body image flexibility can reduce distress and disordered eating while improving mental health. She outlines practical ways to develop t...

In episode 57 of Sturdy Girl, host Jess delves into the pressure of loving every aspect of our bodies and instead promotes the more attainable goal of body acceptance. Key points include the unrealistic standards set by social media, the harmful effects of forced self-love, and practical steps such as curating social media feeds, using realistic affirmations, and practicing sensory awareness to cultivate a healthier body image. Jes...

In episode 56 of Sturdy Girl, Jess delves into understanding the difference between thoughts and beliefs and how they shape our body image. She introduces a game to identify these and explains the influence of media, personal experiences, and cultural norms on our perceptions of our bodies. Jess provides practical steps to unlearn harmful body image beliefs, including becoming aware of negative thoughts, challenging them, and repla...

In episode 55 of Sturdy Girl, host Jess guides listeners through a reflective journey, imagining themselves at age 96, contemplating life's meaningful moments rather than daily tasks and regrets. 

Key points include 

• prioritizing experiences over perfection, 
• finding joy and connections, 
• and the importance of living authentically. 
• She references insights from 'The Top Five Regrets of the Dying' by Brony Ware and &ap...

In episode 54 of Sturdy Girl, host Jess emphasizes the importance of setting goals that are meaningful, personally tailored, and aligned with your core values. She guides listeners through performing a 'goal audit' to ensure their goals are intrinsically rewarding and not influenced by external pressures. 

Key points include 

• making goals personally meaningful, 
• ensuring they are your own, aligning them with your values,...

This episode explores the concept of body image and provides research-backed keys to improve how we perceive our bodies. 

Key points include: 

• Body image is more about our thoughts than our physical bodies. 
• Personal anecdotes from Jess about her journey from obsessive running to powerlifting. 
• Defining and differentiating the four types of body image: perceptual, affective, cognitive, and behavioral. 
• The importance of awareness in...

In this Valentine's Day special episode of Sturdy Girl, host Jess challenges the conventional notion that self-love should be the end goal in building a relationship with oneself. Jess discusses the idea of finding a middle ground, focusing on self-respect, self-trust, and self-compassion as more practical and attainable alternatives. She explains the concept of body image flexibility and the importance of function over appear...

Let’s welcome Hannah Silva Breen, a PhD candidate in sports exercise and performance psychology and a practitioner in clinical mental health counseling. Jess and Hannah discuss Hannah's educational and professional journey, her focus on embodiment and mental performance consulting, and her personal experiences with body image, disordered eating, and athletic identity. Hannah elaborates on her research around embodiment in athl...

In this episode of Sturdy Girl, Jess welcomes Sabrina Del Duca, a confidence coach and dancer, to discuss body image, body dysmorphia, and mindset tools for building confidence. Sabrina shares her journey from a 10-year career in advertising to becoming a dance teacher and confidence coach. They delve into the impact of constant self-evaluation in the mirror, experiences with body image growing up, and the importance of accepting o...

Join Jess as she chats with Alissa Rumsey, a registered dietitian, intuitive eating counselor, and author of 'Unapologetic Eating: Make Peace with Food and Transform Your Life'. Alyssa shares her journey into nutrition, starting from her high school years filled with diet culture to discovering intuitive eating and recognizing the social justice components of her work. They discuss the process of unlearning diet culture, ...

In this episode of Sturdy Girl, Jess interviews Kristen, a mental performance coach who works with athletes, coaches, and parents to improve confidence, focus, and motivation. Kristen shares her journey from being a strength and conditioning coach to specializing in mental performance, emphasizing the importance of preparation and control. She discusses her methods for helping athletes of all ages, from youth to adult women's ...

In this episode of Sturdy Girl, Jess welcomes Claire, a counselor and parent educator, to discuss the challenges and joys of early parenthood. Claire shares her mission to make early parenthood enjoyable and less overwhelming through her online program, Beyond Birth. She discusses the unrealistic societal pressures of 'bounce back culture,' emphasizes the importance of postpartum support, and introduces the concept of &ap...

In this episode of Sturdy Girl, host Jess welcomes Rachel, a women's wellness coach and yoga/meditation teacher. Rachel shares her journey from experiencing burnout as a family nurse practitioner to finding new purpose in coaching women to appreciate and empower their bodies. The discussion covers the impacts of yoga, particularly yin yoga, on body image and mental health, the significance of mindfulness and meditation, the po...

In this episode of Sturdy Girl, the host introduces Kelsey Wiebe, a NASM certified personal trainer, nutrition coach, and holistic life coach. Kelsey shares her journey from personal struggles with disordered eating to becoming an empowering coach for women. They discuss her transformation, the principles of her 'Rediscover You' coaching program, and the importance of food freedom, mindful eating, growth mindset, and self...

In this episode, Jess and life coach, Melissa Lowe, delve into the essential strategies and tips for enhancing productivity. We explore various methods to optimize your workflow, manage your time effectively, and achieve your goals efficiently. Whether you're looking to boost your personal or professional productivity, this episode offers practical advice and actionable steps to help you succeed.

Connect with Melissa ...

Join Jess and Kira, a licensed therapist and founder of Pearl Wellness, to discuss the importance of body image, self-care, and community engagement. This episode delves into Kira's journey from Florida to D.C., her work with human trafficking victims, and her collaborative practice promoting mental health and eating disorder awareness. The episodes emphasize the significance of body image flexibility, the impact of early infl...