Show notes
Do you divide carbs, fats, and calories into whether they are “good” and “bad?" This episode with Dr. Rachel Goldman, a clinical psychologist and cognitive behavioural therapy specialist, will separate physiological hunger from emotional hunger and consider why many women carry disordered eating patterns from their teens and 20s—just as those methods lose effectiveness.
"It's the thought that follows the behaviour that's more important than the behaviour." The cookie is rarely the problem. The shame spiral after it is.
This episode explores reading hunger signals, using a coping toolbox and a 10-minute pause to curb impulsive eating, rejecting food morality, and restoring pleasure via mindful eating and the raisin exercise. It examines when fasting becomes restriction—particularly for perimenopausal women—and addresses food noise, GLP-1s, avoiding speculation on celebrity bodies (and discussing them with children), supporting loved ones, and escaping societal appearance pressures.
OUR SPONSORS
QUALIA CREATINE+ - If you want to feel stronger, sharper, and more resilient, Qualia’s Creatine+ is my recommendation.Go to https://qualialife.com/better and use code BETTER to save.
ALGAECAL - You can try AlgaeCal Collagen and get a special discount on your first purchase through our special offer. Go to: https://drstephanieestima.com/algaecal
BON CHARGE - Recover Faster. Sleep Deeper. Look Better. Bon Charge brings you science-backed wellness technologies to enhance sleep, recovery, and beauty. Get 15% off the full suite at https://boncharge.com/better with code BETTER.
LMNT - Stay hydrated without the sugar, food dye, and other dodgy ingredients found in popular electrolyte and sports drinks. Get a special offer when you make a purchase at https://DrinkLMNT.com/Better
CHAPTERS
(0:00) Intro: Body Image, Thought Spirals, and Self-Care
(4:47) Physiological Hunger vs. Emotional Hunger: How to Tell the Difference
(11:19) Emotional Eating: The Thought After the Bite, Coping Tools, and the 10-Minute Pause
(16:59) Good Carbs vs. Bad Carbs: Why There Are No Good or Bad Foods
(25:51) Mindful Eating, the Raisin Exercise, and Why Discomfort Can Help
(32:17) Fasting and Disordered Eating: When Restriction Becomes a Problem
(39:52) Menopause, Food Noise, and GLP-1s: Tool or Crash Diet?
(45:26) Celebrity Bodies, Hollywood, and Why We Shouldn’t Comment on Weight
(54:23) How to Talk to a Daughter or Loved One About Disordered Eating
(59:17) Social Media, Physique Competitors, and Finding Your Why
(1:04:16) The Never-Ending Goalpost: Body Image in Midlife and the Scale
(1:10:36) The After Party: Dr. Stephanie’s Takeaways
RESOURCES MENTIONED
BIO
Dr. Rachel Goldman is a nationally recognized clinical psychologist and author of When Life Happens (April 2026). She specializes in cognitive behavioural therapy, with expertise in stress management, body image, health behaviour change, and the mind-body connection. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and maintains a private practice in New York City. More at https://www.drrachelnyc.com/about/
****************************
P.S. When you're ready, here are two ways Dr. Stephanie can help you:
Subscribe: The Mini Pause— My weekly newsletter packed with the most actionable, evidence-based tools for women 40+ to thrive in midlife.
Build Muscle: LIFT— My progressive strength training program designed for women in midlife. Form-focused, joint-friendly, and built for real results.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
Stay Connected
