Becky Mollenkamp and Taina Brown dive deep into the complex and often challenging journey of body liberation, body neutrality, and body positivity. They discuss their personal experiences with body image, health struggles, and how society's ever-changing beauty standards impact our relationships with our bodies. From the challenges of dealing with chronic illness like fibromyalgia and perimenopause to the liberating power of embracing body neutrality, this conversation is a candid exploration of what it means to live in a body that doesn’t always conform to societal expectations.

The episode also highlights the importance of trauma work in reconnecting with our bodies and finding true liberation. The hosts discuss the influence of pop culture, specifically Chappell Roan’s music, on the conversation around women’s pleasure and empowerment. They emphasize the significance of self-advocacy and staying true to oneself, whether in the pursuit of health or in the face of diet culture.

Key Discussion Points:

• Body Liberation vs. Body Positivity vs. Body Neutrality: The hosts explore the nuances between these concepts and share their personal journeys toward body acceptance.
• Trauma and the Body: How trauma can disconnect us from our bodies and the importance of trauma work in the journey toward body liberation.
• The Impact of Chronic Illness: Taina’s experience with fibromyalgia and Becky’s with perimenopause, and how these conditions have influenced their relationships with their bodies.
• The Influence of Society’s Beauty Standards: How changing beauty trends and diet culture can affect self-perception and the pursuit of body neutrality.
• Lizzo, Chappell Roan and Women’s Empowerment: The role of pop culture, specifically Chappell Roan’s music, in challenging societal norms and promoting women’s pleasure and body empowerment.
• Self-Advocacy and Perseverance: The importance of advocating for your own needs, both in health and in the broader context of living authentically.

Resources Mentioned:

• Becky’s “The Bad Influencer” newsletter
• Dacy Gillespie of mindful closet’s “Unflattering” newsletter
• The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

Subscribe & Review:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Messy Liberation on your favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us continue to bring you insightful conversations and valuable content.

LEARN MORE:

• Taina Brown WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | THREADS
• Becky Mollenkamp WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | THREADS | FEMINIST FOUNDERS

In this episode of Messy Liberation, Becky Mollenkamp and Taina Brown dive into the complex world of adult friendships. From navigating the awkwardness of making new friends to understanding the dynamics of friendship breakups, they explore the challenges that come with forming and maintaining relationships as adults. Drawing on personal experiences, they discuss the unique hurdles introverts face, the impact of societal expectations on how we view friendships, and the importance of community in resisting toxic individualism. Whether you’re struggling to connect with others or reevaluating the friendships you already have, this episode offers insightful perspectives and practical advice for fostering meaningful connections in a messy world.

Key Takeaways:

1. Friendship Dynamics: Adult friendships often differ from the extroverted, always-on relationships depicted in popular culture. Introverted friendships, in particular, may involve less frequent communication but can be just as deep and meaningful.
2. Navigating Breakups: Whether through ghosting or gradual drifting apart, friendship breakups are a common experience in adulthood. Understanding that not all friendships are meant to last can help us release the shame associated with these breakups.
3. Intentional Connections: Building and maintaining friendships as adults requires intentionality. Sometimes, it’s about being daring enough to reach out, even if it feels awkward. Small gestures, like sending memes or checking in, can go a long way in sustaining connections.
4. Community and Liberation: Friendships play a vital role in creating a sense of belonging and resisting toxic individualism. By fostering strong, supportive communities, we can collectively push back against oppressive systems and create spaces for mutual care and growth.
5. Grace and Self-Compassion: Both Becky and Taina emphasize the importance of giving ourselves and others grace when it comes to friendship. We’re all flawed, and that’s okay. What matters is the effort we put into understanding and supporting one another.

Resources Mentioned:

• Friendship IRL with Alex Alexander
• Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport

Subscribe & Review:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Messy Liberation on your favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us continue to bring you insightful conversations and valuable content.

LEARN MORE:

• Taina Brown WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | THREADS
• Becky Mollenkamp WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | THREADS | FEMINIST FOUNDERS

In this raw and honest episode of Messy Liberation, Becky and Taina dive deep into the emotional rollercoaster that can be triggered by a simple email. Becky opens up about how one small rejection can lead to a spiral of catastrophic thinking, touching on themes of abandonment, core wounds, and the difficulty of separating personal feelings from business realities.

Together, they explore how these deep-seated emotions impact their approach to business, relationships, and self-care. Taina shares her own struggles with similar issues, providing a supportive space for reflection and discussion. The conversation also delves into the importance of community, feeling your feelings, and how to manage and tend to your emotional wounds.

But it’s not all heavy. The episode takes a lighter turn as Taina shares a story about her problematic neighbor and the challenges of navigating relationships in a new home. Becky offers some no-nonsense advice on how to handle these tricky situations, all while staying true to yourself.

What we discussed:

• The impact of seemingly small triggers on mental health and well-being.
• The concept of catastrophic thinking and how it can derail your day.
• Exploring core wounds, especially related to abandonment, and their influence on business and personal life.
• The importance of feeling your feelings and treating emotions as valuable data points.
• The role of community in processing and navigating emotional challenges.
• The complexity of homeownership, including navigating relationships with neighbors.

We want to hear from you! How do you navigate relationships with your neighbors? Do you have any weird or funny neighbor stories to share? Send us your stories and questions at messyliberation@gmail.com or tag us on social media. We’d also love to know how you manage triggers and emotional spirals in your own life or business. Let’s keep the conversation going!

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Remember, it’s okay to not be okay, and sometimes the messiest conversations are the most liberating. Until next time, stay messy!

LEARN MORE:

• Taina Brown WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | THREADS
• Becky Mollenkamp WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | THREADS | FEMINIST FOUNDERS