Healing Your Body Image From the Inside Out | Whitney Otto - EP 787

**John R. Miles** (0:00)
Coming up next on Passion Struck.

**Whitney Otto** (0:02)
You know, anything that we practice, we get better at. So if we are practicing, criticizing ourselves, looking for that part of ourselves we don't like, wishing a part of ourselves were different, or all of ourselves were different, we are practicing wanting to be different, want and not liking ourselves, and thinking we need to fix ourselves. And that practice can follow us into other areas of our lives, right?

**John R. Miles** (0:30)
Welcome to Passion Struck. I'm your host, John Miles. This is the show where we explore the art of human flourishing, and what it truly means to live like it matters. Each week, I sit down with change makers, creators, scientists, and everyday heroes to decode the human experience, and uncover the tools that help us lead with meaning, heal what hurts, and pursue the fullest expression of who we're capable of becoming. Whether you're designing your future, developing as a leader, or seeking deeper alignment in your life, this show is your invitation to grow with purpose and act with intention. Because the secret to a life of deep purpose, connection, and impact is choosing to live like you matter.
Hello, friends, and welcome back to episode 787 of Passion Struck. Over the past month, we've been talking about the connection crisis. We've explored loneliness, attachment, identity, belonging, leadership, and the ways modern life can leave us feeling disconnected from one another and sometimes from ourselves. But at some point, every conversation about what's broken has to lead somewhere. It has to lead to a bigger question.
What does a healthy, flourishing life actually look like? That's where we're headed this month. Our new series is called Flourishing, how humans become fully alive. Over the next few weeks, we're going to explore what helps people wake up to their lives, change old patterns, build environments that support growth, contribute their gifts, and keep becoming the people they're meant to be. We're starting at a place that touches every single one of us. Whether we talk about it or not, our relationship with our bodies, because it's hard to flourish when you're fighting yourself every day. It's hard to be present with the people you love when so much energy is spent wishing you look different, weighed less, or measured up to somebody else's standard. My guest today is Whitney Otto.
Whitney is an executive coach and former therapist whose work sits at the intersection of performance, psychology, and well-being. Before coaching leaders and executive teams, she competed at the highest levels of rowing, serving on the US. National Team and as an alternate for the 2000 Olympic Games. She and her co-author, Deb Schachter, have written a book called Body Image Inside Out, and what I appreciate about their approach is that they don't ask us to wage another battle against our bodies. They ask us to get curious about the stories, relationships, and experiences that shape the way we see ourselves.
In today's conversation, we talk about why jealousy can actually teach us something. How relationships become mirrors for the way we view ourselves, and what it looks like to move from criticizing our bodies to becoming more curious about them. If you've ever looked in the mirror and thought, if I could fix just one thing, everything else would feel better. I think this episode is going to speak to you. Before we get started, if these conversations are helping you, please share them with a friend or family member. And if you haven't already, leaving a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify helps more people discover the show. You can also download today's companion workbook and reflection guide at theignitedlife.net. And now, let's dive into this conversation with Whitney Otto. Thank you for choosing Passion Struck and choosing me to be your host and guide on your journey to creating an intentional life that matters. Now, let that journey begin.
I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Whitney Otto on Passion Struck. Welcome Whitney, how are you?

**Whitney Otto** (4:14)
Hi John, I'm really excited to be here.

**John R. Miles** (4:16)
Well, I'm excited to have you too, and I wish we had your co-author Deb Schachter as well, but I am so happy to have you here. And I think the reason I mentioned Deb is because I'd really like to understand since you wrote the book Body Image Inside Out, what made the two of you come together to write this book?

**Whitney Otto** (4:37)
So I'm currently an executive coach, but I started out as a therapist. So I was working in the field of eating disorders and body image, and Deb and I were colleagues and friends. And so the origin story is that not only were we working in the field, but we were also still healing our own body image. And we just found that when we were having body image, thoughts and dialogues by ourselves, they were full of shame and depression and very heavy.