July 22, 2025

Love You More

Ep 66: Parenting Beyond Diet Culture with Oona Hanson

Episode summary:

Grab your coffee and settle in for a heartfelt conversation with writer, educator, and parent coach Oona Hanson to explore how diet culture affects families, especially boys, in today’s appearance-focused world. Oona shares personal and professional insights, including her own child’s experience with an eating disorder, and reflects on the often-overlooked body image pressures boys face around fitness, leanness, and muscularity.

Oona offers compassionate, practical advice for parents raising sons who may be internalizing harmful cultural messages. From gym culture to restrictive “healthy” eating, she helps parents spot red flags and respond in ways that support their child’s well-being. She encourages families to build resilience and stay connected in the face of challenges.

More about Oona:

Oona Hanson is a nationally recognized writer, educator, and parent coach who supports families navigating diet culture and eating disorders. With master’s degrees in Educational Psychology and English from California State University Northridge and Middlebury College, and an undergraduate degree from Princeton, she brings a rich academic background to her work.

Oona has worked as a Family Mentor at Equip Health, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to treat children with eating disorders, and she founded Common Sense Camp to help parents teach essential life skills to kids. She has been featured on CNN, People, USA Today, and The Washington Post, and she has presented at major professional conferences and published in academic journals.

Favorite Quotes:

“We’re so steeped in diet culture that we don’t even recognize it. It’s like the air we breathe or the water we swim in. And that makes it harder to spot when something is going wrong.” - Oona

“Your body isn’t the problem. The culture is the problem. And not everyone knows that bodies come in all sizes.” - Oona

“It’s tempting to rush in and fix it, but we actually need to sit with our kids in their discomfort. That’s how they know they’re safe with us.” - Oona

“We are influencers too. If we want our kids to feel good about their bodies, we have to work on feeling good about ours.” - Oona

“Being anti-diet is not anti-health. We can support our kids’ well-being without sending them down a restrictive path.” - Oona

Resources:

Oona’s Website
Oona's Instagram
Oona’s Substack- Parenting Without Diet Culture
Zoe Bisbing's Website- Body Positive Home
Zoe Bisbings's Substack
Freedom App
Ellyn Satter Institute

Substack
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website

Support the show

July 8, 2025

Love You More

Ep 65: Life Coach Lessons on Getting Grounded

Episode summary:

In this episode, Jen reflects on what it means to feel grounded and how her work with life coach and psychologist Amy Johnson has helped her get there.

She shares how tough it can be to follow a gut feeling instead of getting caught up in racing thoughts, and why learning to trust that inner sense has made such a difference. Jen also talks about weaving what she’s learned from her training with Amy into both her everyday life and her work with clients—bringing more awareness and intention into everything she does.

Favorite Quotes:

"I have ways of looking at things that just feel so beautiful and true and has been incredibly perfect for what I do in working with my clients in this nutrition and wellness space."

"When we're able to separate ourselves from our thoughts and to see that we are, not the thought that pops up, there's a lot of freedom there."

"If we're not our thoughts, then what are we?"

Resources

Dr Amy Johnson's Website
Helen's Website

Substack
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website

Support the show

June 24, 2025

Love You More

Ep 64: Sobriety as a Sacred Practice with Liz McCandless

Episode summary:

In this episode, Jen chats with the lovely Liz McCandless about her deeply personal journey to sobriety. After a big wake-up moment, Liz realized life was slipping by—and decided it was time to make a change. She opens up about her experience in rehab, the power of slowing down, and how sobriety helped her reconnect with who she really is. They dive into all the feels—grief, growth, boundaries—and how tools like yoga and sound baths have supported her healing along the way. It’s honest, empowering, and full of heart.

More about Liz:

Liz is a dedicated yoga instructor and certified sound bath practitioner, blending movement and sound for a holistic experience. She began her yoga journey in 2009 and completed her teacher training in 2024. Liz teaches a range of styles—including vinyasa, restorative, yoga nidra, and meditation—with a focus on mind-body connection, self-discovery, and healing. Her classes create space for growth and transformation, both on and off the mat.

Favorite Quotes:

"Resting and napping is a big part of my life and really trying to embrace it and not feel guilty about it." - Liz

"...you just take the time to listen to what you need and honor it in a moment when you can..." - Jen

"I know you can do more, but can you do less" -Joy

"There is exponential growth of sense of self, understanding myself, without alcohol." - Jen

Resources:

Rehab/Treatment:

• Cirque Lodge

Recovery Plans:

• AA
• AA Online meetings 24 hours a day/all over the world
• Apps:
  • Meeting Guide
  • Pink Cloud
  • Everything AA
• Refuge Recovery (Buddhist influenced approach to recovery)
• Recovery St. Louis

Sober coaching/recovery healing:

• Accountable

Books:

• It Takes a Family: Creating Lasting Sobriety, Togetherness & Happiness by Debra Jay
• A Woman’s Way Through the 12 Steps by Stephanie S. Covington, Ph. D.
• Unbottled Potential by Amanda Kuda (good for the sober curious woman, but really resonated for me as an alcoholic as well)
• Refuge Recovery: A Buddhist Path to Recovering from Addiction by Noah Levine

Podcasts:

• Recovery Rocks Podcast

Liz's Yoga Practice
Substack
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website

Support the show

June 10, 2025

Love You More

Ep 63: It All Falls on Me

Episode summary:

In this episode, Jen talks about the strain that can come with summer and how she often feels like everything is on her. Through her work with a life coach, she’s been focusing on being more present—paying attention to how her body feels instead of getting stuck in her head. She’s noticing that the need to feel in control often creates its own kind of suffering. But when she lets go, even just a little, and allows life to unfold, things tend to fall into place with a more natural rhythm.

If you are interested in working with Jen, click the link for the McDaniel Nutrition Website below. There you will find information regarding the services offered as well as book an appointment.

Favorite Quotes:

"This sense of responsibility that something all falls on us isn't really related to the content of life it's more about this feeling that we have from time to time..."

"There is just this level of trust and seeing in this bigger picture that I really don't have control and that for me is actually a beautiful thing that there is something bigger...moving us through this path of life."

"When I am flowing with the day and not letting my mind lead the charge but, I'm letting life lead the charge, there is a whole different rhythm and it feels better, it feels easier, it feels more peaceful, and content."

"Let's just play around with a little less mind and a little more sensing our beautiful selves."

Resources
Substack
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website

Support the show

May 27, 2025

Love You More

Ep 62: Urges

Episode summary:

In this solo episode, Jen dives deep into the nature of urges—whether it's the craving for food, alcohol, or the impulse to escape an uncomfortable emotion. She reflects on how we often turn to these behaviors for comfort rather than allowing ourselves to truly feel what’s beneath the surface.

Drawing from her professional experience, Jen shares how she once helped clients avoid certain foods, only to later realize the urge itself holds valuable insight. We need to slow down and notice what an urge feels like in the body. We can explore the deeper part of ourselves by sitting with the discomfort and discovering what’s going on underneath the surface.

Favorite Quotes:

"I am learning that thoughts almost 100% of the time in those sort of situations are not helpful."

"What I need to give credit to is what I am sensing in my body."

"No wave stays at it peak. It eventually moves on and usually crashes into the beach and another one comes."

Resources
Substack
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website

Support the show

May 13, 2025

Love You More

Ep 61: What if We Did Different with Sandy Weiss, PT, GCFP

Episode summary:

In this episode, Jen is thrilled to welcome Sandy back to the podcast for the third time! Jen shares how the work she’s done with Sandy has been nothing short of life-changing. They explore the idea of stepping away from rigidity and instead ask, what if things didn’t have to be so fixed? What if slowing down, tuning in, and sensing ourselves could open up a whole new way of being? What if we tried a new approach—one with more play, more curiosity, and a little less rigidity?

They also unpack a handful of "S words"—stomach, stretch, slow, and strive. The conversation challenges the idea that looking good equals feeling good. They also talk about the power of slowing down and truly sensing ourselves, and the toll constant striving can take on the nervous system. It’s a thoughtful reminder that who we are doesn’t have to be tied to how hard we push.

More about Sandy:

Sandy learned about the Feldenkrais Method early in her career as a Physical Therapist since 1989 but didn't fully embrace it until sometime around 2008. In an attempt to ameliorate some overuse patterns she had developed as an Ironman triathlete she returned to The Feldenkrais Method(R) because Physical Therapy interventions were not resolving her difficulties. She has sense become a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner, GCFP and believes that the “whole self” messages delivered by this method allow greater and deeper change in functional mobility.

Favorite Quotes:

“Because we look good we think we feel good.” -Sandy

“We love to sense ourselves through other peoples’ opinions of us.” -Sandy

“There is a lot of freedom in allowing yourself just to be with what feels good…” -Jen

“What about this makes me feel good?” -Sandy

“The slower the smaller the movement the more the brain has a chance to sense and to adjust and to learn.” -Jen

“Slow creates a moment where a lot can be attended to and our system loves it when we pay attention to it.” -Sandy

“People do not understand the beauty of their existence when they cannot go slow.” -Sandy

Resources:

My Body Science Website
Feldenkrais Method Website

Substack
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website

Support the show

April 29, 2025

Love You More

Ep 60: Menopause Strong with Brooke Kalisiak, PT, DPT

Episode summary:

In this episode, Jen sits down with Brooke Kalisiak, a pelvic floor physical therapist and founder of Legacy Physical Therapy in St. Louis, to dive into all things menopause. Brooke shares her own self-care routines and offers an inside look at the approach to pelvic floor therapy at her practice. Together, Brooke and Jen have created Menopause Strong — a program designed to help women stay strong and resilient through the menopause transition. The program is packed with evidence-based information that's easy to put into practice. Brooke offers a series of helpful exercises and insights into the sexual changes women might experience, while Jen provides practical, real-world nutrition strategies to support this stage of life.

More about Brooke:

Brooke Kalisiak PT, DPT (she/her) is Saint Louis’s leading physical therapist who helps people overcome frustrating, confusing and embarrassing pelvic health issues. She is passionate about making sure people do not end up suffering with pelvic health symptoms for years, giving up activities they love, or undergoing unnecessary surgeries.

Favorite Quotes:

"The most important way to move is the way that feels best and you're gonna be able to continue doing it" -Jen

"Too many women get caught up in, well, this isn't the absolute best for me so I might as well not do anything" -Brooke

"You gotta think of your own body like a car." -Brooke

Resources:

Legacy Physical Therapy
Menopause Strong
Substack
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website

Support the show

April 15, 2025

Love You More

Ep 59: So, I Went on a Silent Retreat

Episode summary:

Last month Jen went on a silent retreat and we're lucky enough to have a front row seat to the debrief of her experience. The journey to a silent retreat started when her life coach, Helen, introduced her to the work of Amy Johnson—the woman who facilitated the retreat. Amy’s book Just a Thought, along with her other teachings, deeply resonated with Jen and helped her see herself in a way no other form of therapy had before.

After following Amy’s work for several months, Jen felt called to take the leap and experience a silent retreat firsthand. For Jen, the retreat was a powerful and grounding experience that she highly recommends. And she leaves us with the reminder that beneath the busyness of everyday life, there’s always a place of calm and stillness waiting to be found.

Favorite Quotes:

“Silence, for her, was such a powerful experience.”-Jen

“I had this deep moment of feeling like I was held by something.”-Jen

“By the end of the retreat…I felt my energy just continuing to grow.”-Jen

"When you’re in that space of silence everything is so much more vivid."-Jen

“…underneath all of it is this calm still place.”-Jen

Resources
Just a Thought
Changeable Podcast
Dr Amy Johnson's Website
My Secret is Silence
Sweet Potato Tooth

Substack
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website

Support the show