Ep.78 – P.S. Paper Tigers, Embodied Activism, Spiritual Gaslighting, & A Whistleblower ‘Reality’ Check | Special Guests

Welcome to another Patreon Sampler. Over a dozen conversations have dropped while Candice has been on break from the main feed (that's here), and there are currently 60+ ‘cult’ure series related bonus episodes now streaming over on Patreon. Episode #78 features some of the best moments from recent releases. On activism, diet 'cult'ure, & self-care >> Aimee Van Ausdall shares about her very-public exit from ‘the Org’, how she's...

DD#57 – Leaving Loudly: Bullies, Paper Tigers, & A Size-Stigma Reality Check | Aimee Van Ausdall – Part 1 of 2

"It is not, and it has never been disloyal to question things." - Aimee Van Ausdall Please help me welcome Aimee Van Ausdall to the pod! A few weeks ago, Aimee and I sat down for a candid, heart-hitting conversation; and this week, I'm releasing the first half. In Part 1, Aimee shares what motivated her to separate from 'the Org' in a very public way. We talk social justice. And she adds to our ongoing diet 'cult'ure convo. dd #57 - Leaving...

DD#56 – What My Body Is For: Self-Acceptance & Embodied Activism w/ Sara Avery

In this week's episode of Deconstructing Dogma, I sit down with new friend of the pod, Sara Avery, to discuss how she's discovered body acceptance and how a lifetime of being marginalized as a fat woman fuels her ongoing commitment to social activism. Content Warning: This episode makes brief mention of suicide. dd #56 - What My Body Is For: Self-Acceptance & Embodied Activism w/ Sara Avery " hat's the thing that will allow the ladder of...

DD#53 – Surviving Anti-Fat Bias & Discovering Intuitive Wellness w/ Dr. Melissa Durfey

"We're all supposed to love ourselves. But where is that supposed to come from when our entire lives we've been told that our bodies are wrong?" - Dr. Melissa Durfey This week, I'm delighted to be circling back to the topic of diet 'cult'ure with long-time friend and special guest, Dr. Melissa Durfey. Melissa & I met back in 2017 - in a business networking group that might've also been a little bit culty. 🤷‍♀️ I ask you, where is it...

BONUS Convo – Part 2 w/ Susan McCulley

Here it is!... the follow-up to Episode 76 with Susan McCulley. If you enjoyed Part 1, you definitely won't want to skip the second half of this conversation. In Part 2, we talk: Food Monitoring - We share about our motives & why it was always shrouded in secrecy. Anti-Fat Bias - I speak about a course I took way back in college & what I learned about the insidious nature of fat prejudice; some of what I learned might surprise you....

Ep.76 – When Did I Start Hating My Body? ‘Snapshots From The Body Image Brink’ | Susan McCulley

This week, we’re keeping our finger on the pulse of diet ‘cult’ure. Our guest is a former affiliate of 'the Org' and a valued contributor in the Deconstructing Dogma series over on Patreon. Susan McCulley recently joined Candice for heart-to-heart, and we’re sharing the first half of the convo here on the main feed. In 2016, Susan wrote a powerful essay about the double-life she was living as a holistic fitness instructor touting...

Ep.75 – Our Bodies & Our Biases: Where We Get It Wrong & Why | Tara Wike – Part 2

We’re back with the second half of our conversation with Tara Wike. (If you missed Part 1, you'll wanna circle back and start there). In the lead-in, Candice reads from listener comments & lays the foundation for Part 2. Then, picking up where we left off last week, Tara shares how changing her ‘visual diet’ is expanding her definition of beauty; and also, speaks to the culty collateral damage done when we critique our bodies...

Ep.74 – Breaking Free From Diet ‘Cult’ure & Embracing Health At Every Size | Tara Wike – Part 1

Plans have changed and the ‘cult’ure series isn’t wrapping just yet! Back after another long break, Candice shares why she’s decided to keep at it; then she lays the foundation for this week’s convo. Originally recorded as a Patreon bonus, Candice and wingwoman, Tracy Stamper, welcome special guest Tara Wike to the pod for a two-part deconstruction of diet ‘cult’ure. In Part 1, Tara shares a bit about her personal background, time...

Choc Pecan Pie

Yesterday I made chocolate pecan pie. Because it’s my step-mama’s killer recipe & it’s freakin’ delicious. And also because it’s January, and I wanted to drown out the noise of diet ‘cult’ure. Tomorrow I’ll be dropping an episode on the main feed of the pod on this very topic. ‘Diet’ may not be a word you resonate with. But if you’re anything like me you’ve detoxed and purified… fasted and/or logged your meals…...

What no longer fits

Tomorrow I start teaching again. And, another reminder that the photo I posted a few days ago of me dancing is from eleven(ty-million) years ago - a point that’s very relevant to this story. About an hour ago, I dug out some dance attire that I haven’t worn in years. What you see here is what I’ve held onto after two decades of teaching - 32 pairs of dance pants, 20 sports bras in almost every color, and about two dozen tops (not pictured...