The Out of the Cave Podcast

In this solo episode, Lisa reflects on reaching episode ten of the solo series and the shift from self-doubt to claiming the podcast as her art — a space of joyful, honest self-expression rather than performance. She shares a compassionate, staged approach to behavior change that begins with non-judgmental awareness and an intentional “marination” phase before navigating the other stages, emphasizing the importance of regulating fear, distinguishing it from truth, honoring not knowing, and prioritizing learning before leaping. Throughout the episode, she explores strengthening mind-body connection, embracing beginnerhood and trial-and-error, and applying professional tools to personal recovery, while introducing High Involvement, Low Attachment (HILA) as an energetic framework for pairing full effort with non-attachment to outcomes, creating change that feels safer, steadier, and sustainable. Topics Include:Artful ExpressionFear vs TruthCompassionate ChangeHILA Framework[0:57] Lisa begins with a celebration of reaching ten solo episodes. She compares this achievement to the childhood joy of turning five years old—celebrating "two whole hands." She shares a personal "check-in" regarding her internal journey with the podcast; the fear, doubt, and anxiety regarding how her content would be received. Her view has shifted to see the podcast as a necessary form of "art" and self-expression.. [8:28] Lisa argues that believing one should intuitively know how to exercise is a limiting belief. Lisa shares her personal journey to debunk the idea that she "just knew" how to exercise. She details the specific, and sometimes unconventional, steps she took to educate herself after realizing she didn't know how to strength train properly or avoid injury. [15:52] Lisa discusses the common feeling of being stuck or fearful when facing uncertainty, particularly in areas like self-care, exercise, and nutrition. She shares that this feeling often manifests physically (tingling, tightness, holding breath) and is driven by an underlying fear of not having the right answers. Lisa shares that the first step is to acknowledge and process the fear associated with not knowing, without letting it control actions. [25:17] Lisa shares an anecdote about observing a certified personal trainer encountering a new piece of gym equipment. This experience provided insight into the learning process. The key to learning is not having all the answers but having the confidence to experiment, engage in trial and error, and be willing to be a beginner. [36:34] Lisa shares that a client shared a metaphor that likens the process of personal change to planning a trip. It involves distinct, sequential phases: looking at a travel brochure, going to a travel agent, booking the travel, packing, and then finally going on the trip. Lisa introduces a step between Contemplation and Preparation called "Marination." She urges listeners not to rush from awareness to action but to allow new realizations to "marinate" without judgment so that solutions can emerge from a place of calm rather than urgency.[57:02] Lisa wraps up this episode with an introduction to HILA. She shares that practicing High Involvement means actively taking all necessary steps within one's control to work towards a goal. Low Attachment is practiced by accepting that the outcome is not in your control, feeling the associated discomfort without letting it take over, and returning your focus to living in the present moment which is crucial for maintaining safety and sustainability.*The views of podcast guests do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Lisa Schlosberg or Out of the Cave, LLC.LISA IS NOW ACCEPTING: One-on-One Clients!⁠Purchase the OOTC book of 50 Journal Prompts⁠⁠Leave Questions and Feedback for Lisa via OOTC Pod Feedback Form ⁠Email Lisa: ⁠lisa@lisaschlosberg.com⁠⁠Out of the Cave Merch⁠ - For 10% off use code SCHLOS10Lisa’s Socials: Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠

In this solo series episode, Lisa invites listeners to rethink change beyond “fixing what’s wrong,” and into a more humane, nervous-system–smart way of becoming. She critiques pathology-first mental health models, centers a trauma-informed, strengths-based lens, and names the difference between compassionate, intentional change and fear-driven extremes. Moving through the six stages of change, Lisa reminds us that real progress is often quiet and internal and shows, through relatable examples, how small, steady steps can create lasting, sustainable change. Topics Include:Person-Centered DiagnosisJudgementStages of ChangeProcessing Emotions[2:17] Lisa begins this episode by revisiting a topic from a previous conversation. She clarified that her position is not to dismiss the reality of mental illness or to discard the DSM entirely. By labeling conditions as "disorders," the system inherently frames them as something wrong or broken within a person. Lisa argues for a shift in perspective, suggesting that these behaviors could instead be viewed as adaptive, wise, or even brilliant coping mechanisms developed in response to difficult circumstances.[11:26] Lisa explores the social-psychological concept of judgment. In our social context, we often believe we want to be judged positively and avoid negative judgment. Using body size as an example, she notes that someone who has experienced shame for being in a larger body might believe that changing their body to receive positive judgment will bring them happiness. The core human longing, she argued, is not to be judged, but to be seen. The goal is to understand that intentional change can be beneficial, if paired with the internal work of self-love and acceptance. [21:19] Lisa focuses on the "Stages of Change" model, a therapeutic framework for understanding how people change behavior. Lisa emphasizes that this model reveals change as a process, not a single event, and explains why simply deciding to change often fails. She outlines the six stages of change:Pre-contemplation: The person is not considering changing their behavior.Contemplation: The individual becomes aware of the issue but has not committed to action.Preparation: The person starts to plan, gather information, and make small, experimental changes.Action: The individual actively implements their plan and modifies their behavior.Maintenance: The focus shifts to sustaining the new behavior long-term and developing coping strategies for temptations.Recurrence/Relapse: Presented not as a failure but as an integral part of the process but an opportunity to learn about triggers, practice self-compassion, and restart the process with new knowledge.[29:53] Lisa points out that three stages occur before any concrete action is taken. She talks about how people often fail to make lasting changes because they try to jump directly from thinking about a problem to the "action" stage which is unrealistic and sets them up for failure.[59:54] Lisa discusses how the real work of change begins internally and invisibly. Lisa reiterates that traditional diets fail because they force individuals to jump from "pre-contemplation" directly to "action," ignoring the nervous system and emotional safety. Lisa revisits the concept of baby steps as the key to any sustainable change.  [1:07:17] Lisa emphasized that our actions are often attempts to solve emotional problems with physical solutions. The answer to "not feeling enough" is not to do more, but to sit with the feeling itself. *The views of podcast guests do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Lisa Schlosberg or Out of the Cave, LLC.LISA IS NOW ACCEPTING: One-on-One Clients!⁠Purchase the OOTC book of 50 Journal Prompts⁠⁠Leave Questions and Feedback for Lisa via OOTC Pod Feedback Form ⁠Email Lisa: ⁠lisa@lisaschlosberg.com⁠⁠Out of the Cave Merch⁠ - For 10% off use code SCHLOS10Lisa’s Socials: Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠

In this solo episode, Lisa takes a step back and asks a different question about “disorders”—especially eating disorders—not as something broken or pathological, but as ways the nervous system learned to survive. Lisa's discussion centers on healing through safety, trust, and behavior-first change—embodying new patterns until the nervous system habituates—through tender and fierce self-compassion, balanced integration, and very small, sustainable steps. Along the way, Lisa offers practical examples that apply to intuitive eating, weight loss, and everyday habits, inviting listeners into a more human, aligned, and compassionate way of changing.Topics Include:Survival StrategiesSelf-CompassionEmbodied ChangeHumanized Healing[0:55] Lisa welcomes listeners and encourages listeners to catch up for the full context of this episode. This chapter marks a transition toward topics she has long been eager to address more directly.[2:45] Lisa discusses graduate social work training where the DSM is treated as authoritative. Lisa discusses how eating disorder categories have expanded over time due to observed patterns, not necessarily because human behavior fundamentally changed.[7:58] Lisa contrasts dissociative identity disorder with Internal Family Systems (IFS), which validates natural inner parts or sub-personalities. She talks about how clients doing the work notice conflicting inner parts; she normalizes this as human, not psychosis..[10:45] Lisa challenges reframing things as not an eating disorder but a strategy to regulate the energetic mind-body-soul system involving food. Similarly, Lisa points out that it’s not about the substance or behavior but the function it serves and how it regulates the nervous system. [16:02] Lisa talks about how some addictions like overworking are socially rewarded; while others are condemned. She talks about how a person in a larger body overeating and a person in a smaller body undereating may be driven by comparable nervous-system conditions. Despite opposite behaviors, both can produce similar nervous-system sensations, reinforcing familiar physiology and cycles.[20:42] Lisa talks about not being impressed by things such as weight loss if they cost health, relationships, and well-being. She values outcomes integrated into a balanced, joyful life—sustainable, gradual changes with work-life balance, fulfillment, family time, and hobbies.  [27:18] Lisa shares her thoughts on how it's more that we accept the love we feel safe to receive, not necessarily the love we think we deserve. She discusses how many are conditioned through diet culture, hustle culture, family dynamics, social systems, into self-objectification and suppression of feelings, relating to themselves as bodies to control rather than whole beings. [31:09] Lisa discusses acting as if you are worthy and safe to receive care, even if feelings lag behind. She suggests one does not need to feel worthy to receive care but be willing to receive it and do the caring behaviors anyway. She states the method for this is baby steps to honor the nervous system; progress paced to sensitivity and regulation rather than idealized timelines.[56:04] Lisa closes the episode with a discussion of the growth zones, embraces the learning zone; avoids overshooting into danger and how discomfort is necessary for learning. She states to integrate action and acceptance across behaviors for sustainable change, one must pair outer steps with inner care.*The views of podcast guests do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Lisa Schlosberg or Out of the Cave, LLC.LISA IS NOW ACCEPTING: One-on-One Clients!⁠Purchase the OOTC book of 50 Journal Prompts⁠⁠Leave Questions and Feedback for Lisa via OOTC Pod Feedback Form ⁠Email Lisa: ⁠lisa@lisaschlosberg.com⁠⁠Out of the Cave Merch⁠ - For 10% off use code SCHLOS10Lisa’s Socials: Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠

In this episode, Lisa explores how addiction and compulsion extend far beyond substances to include any behavior that offers short-term relief at the cost of long-term freedom. Drawing on Gabor Maté’s framework and her own lived experience, she unpacks how dieting, restriction, productivity, and people-pleasing can quietly become addictive coping strategies that create an illusion of safety and control. Lisa introduces the concept of “dieting addiction” and addiction transfer, explaining how food restriction can be just as reinforcing as overeating, and why these patterns can live in the brain as learned responses to stress. With raw honesty, she shares her own breakdown and eating disorder diagnosis, and broadens the lens to include socially rewarded addictions like caffeine use and workaholism. Topics Include:Compulsion and AddictionDieting and RestrictionAddiction TransferGrief, Slowing Down, and Support[0:56] Lisa begins this episode by checking in with herself the way she does with all of her guests. She shares her feeling of nervousness and excitement about recording the solo episode. Lisa realized she has approached her solo podcast series with a habitual sense of urgency to get to the end of her notes and finish the chapter. She describes the urgency as similar to the pressure one might feel to lose weight quickly, even when there’s no real timeframe.[8:05] Lisa explains that her current intentional weight loss experience has triggered memories and trauma from her previous extreme weight loss. For Lisa to properly convey the depth and gravity of her current experience, she feels it's essential to first provide the context of her past struggles with dieting addiction.[14:41] Lisa presents a model comparing the physical actions of dieting with the psychological rewards. Lisa explains that on the surface, it looks like discipline and willpower, but psychologically, it can be an addiction where the person feels they can't not engage in the behavior out of fear. Lisa talks about how this demonstrates how the brain can equate not eating with stress relief and safety, making it difficult to stop dieting even when consciously desired.[29:48] Lisa explains that proponents of intuitive eating argue that food addiction isn't real, as addictive-like behaviors are often a direct result of either physical or mental restriction. Lisa partially agrees but maintains that for some, including herself, the behavior is a byproduct of the hippocampus storing the memory that food alleviates stress, making it a "drug of choice" independent of dieting. [50:31] Lisa discusses  that one doesn't need to have a formal diagnosis to address addictive behaviors and reclaim personal power. The key is to pay attention to the relationship with a behavior, not the behavior itself. Lisa explains that addiction is present when you feel you can't not do something, rather than choosing to do it freely.[54:48] Lisa talks about how society rewards other addictive behaviors, such as extreme weight loss and workaholism, creating "high-functioning" addicts who appear successful but are internally struggling. Lisa explains that creating safety often requires slowing down, which may mean accomplishing less. [1:12:18] Lisa closes this episode by discussing grief in the process and how one may need to grieve the identity of being a person who "does it all" to prioritize well-being. She compares the process to sitting shiva and when grieving old habits or identities, it is valid to allow oneself to be supported and cared for by others.*The views of podcast guests do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Lisa Schlosberg or Out of the Cave, LLC.LISA IS NOW ACCEPTING: One-on-One Clients!⁠Purchase the OOTC book of 50 Journal Prompts⁠⁠Leave Questions and Feedback for Lisa via OOTC Pod Feedback Form ⁠Email Lisa: ⁠lisa@lisaschlosberg.com⁠⁠Out of the Cave Merch⁠ - For 10% off use code SCHLOS10Lisa’s Socials: Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠

In this episode of her solo series, Lisa examines addiction dynamics in food and eating, integrating neurobiology, trauma, and behavioral psychology with personal narrative. She distinguishes substance vs. behavior addictions and reframes the “food addiction” debate as a semantic distraction, emphasizing why behaviors become compulsive. The discussion links binge eating and self-harm through positive and negative reinforcement, underscores capitalist food industry influence, and advocates grief, radical acceptance, and surrender as foundations for change. A personal story traces undereating/overexercise, malnourishment, cognitive impairment, medical oversight, and eventual surrender from rigid weight control to health-centric practices, leading to weight stabilization and improved well-being.Topics Include:Addiction ModelFood and Eating BehaviorsGrief, Acceptance, and SurrenderDisordered Eating[1:08] Lisa begins by acknowledging her own perfectionistic impulse and the importance of taking "messy action" to overcome it, revisiting the topic of addiction from the previous episode to clarify her stance on food addiction. [4:03] Lisa argues that the debate over whether food addiction is real misses the point; the conversation should focus on understanding and effectively treating the issue, acknowledging that it is both similar to and different from other addictions. She presents the addiction model distinguishing between substance addictions (e.g., drugs) and behavioral addictions (e.g., gambling). She explains that the relationship with food is unique because it involves both a substance (food) and a behavior (eating).[6:12] Lisa discusses how on the substance side, hyper-palatable, high-fat, high-sugar foods trigger a strong reward reaction (dopamine, serotonin) in the brain. On the behavior side, eating-related behaviors like overeating, undereating, and binging can become addictive. Lisa introduces Dr. Gabor Maté's definition of addiction. It shows that any behavior can provide temporary relief/pleasure and craving, but causes long-term negative consequences, with an inability to stop. This model applies to both overeating and undereating. Lisa clarifies she is not saying "food is a drug," but that "some people can use food like a drug" for emotional coping.[34:14] Lisa discusses radical acceptance of one's current reality as the first step toward transformation, which involves grieving the relationship with food one wishes they had.[51:43] Lisa shares a personal story about her weight loss journey. After losing about 80 pounds around December 2012, she experienced severe physical symptoms like lightheadedness, hair loss, and cognitive impairment due to malnourishment, even though multiple doctors offered no clear answers. Lisa’s personal research into the ACE study and the National Weight Control Registry revealed that both childhood trauma and the habits of successful dieters (low-calorie diet, daily exercise) were linked to her struggles.[1:00:20] Lisa’s big surrender moment when she chose to stop dieting, facing an unknown outcome, rather than continue a cycle she knew would lead to more weight gain. She stopped weighing herself, shifted her focus from weight-centric to health-centric goals, prioritized food quality over quantity, and incorporated practices like meditation. Surrender, though frightening and uncomfortable, is a crucial step.[1:19:46] Lisa closes this episode by sharing what topics are to come and inviting listeners to email her with any questions at lisaschlosberg@gmail.com⁠. *The views of podcast guests do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Lisa Schlosberg or Out of the Cave, LLC.LISA IS NOW ACCEPTING: One-on-One Clients!⁠Purchase the OOTC book of 50 Journal Prompts⁠⁠Leave Questions and Feedback for Lisa via OOTC Pod Feedback Form ⁠Email Lisa: ⁠lisa@lisaschlosberg.com⁠⁠Out of the Cave Merch⁠ - For 10% off use code SCHLOS10Lisa’s Socials: Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠

In Chapter 5 of this ongoing series, Lisa slows things down to focus on the groundwork that must come before true integration and lasting change. She explores radical acceptance, surrender, grief, and self-compassion as essential prerequisites for sustainable healing and intentional weight loss. She unpacks why integration and even fear of self-compassion demand a foundational understanding of our internal systems, challenges narratives of powerlessness around food and the body, and offers a more honest, collaborative view of agency—where tender and fierce self-compassion work together to restore connection, power, and trust.Topics Include:AuthenticityRadical Acceptance & GriefLearned HelplessnessPower & Trust[1:05] Lisa begins by emphasizing the importance of showing up imperfectly and authentically. Recording while exhausted, Lisa models imperfect, “messy action” guided by intrinsic motivation and a felt life force, showing how movement forward doesn’t require perfection or certainty. She argues that filtering oneself to please others prevents genuine, resonant expression. True transformation, particularly in contexts like weight loss, starts with radical acceptance of one's current reality. [4:39] Lisa reflects on authenticity, including her frequent use of strong language. She does not apologize for it, framing it as an aligned and sincere teaching style. She references public reactions to swearing and uses Gary Vaynerchuk (Gary Vee) as an example. He is polarizing for his intense and abrasive delivery, yet he often communicates empathy, love, and compassion. Lisa highlights the paradox that style and substance can coexist, which is about balancing masculine and feminine energy in communication and leadership.[14:30] Lisa emphasizes that acceptance typically comes as the final stage of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance). If acceptance feels elusive, it may be because grief has not been allowed or processed. Grieving the gap between hope and reality enables genuine acceptance and the inner peace that follows. Lisa shares that her pivotal moment for weight loss was a raw reckoning where she moved through anger and fear to a state of acceptance, realizing she was solely responsible for her situation and the only one who could change it. [20:03] Lisa explains how during the process of acceptance, an inner child may emerge, feeling that a situation is unfair. The correct response is not dismissal but tender self-compassion: validating these feelings by acknowledging the pain and perceived unfairness. This act of consciously seeing and accepting one's own state is a form of reparenting, ensuring one is no longer alone in their suffering.[54:13] Lisa discusses the "I am powerless" principle found in 12-step programs like Overeaters Anonymous (OA), arguing it is misaligned with a healthy relationship with food, from which one cannot abstain. This belief can lead to learned helplessness. Lisa’s critique targets ideology and its impact on beliefs and behavior, not individual outcomes. She explains a more effective framework is to understand that one has "total responsibility but only partial control." Not having total control doesn't mean having zero control. [40:28] Lisa explores creating a daily check-in routine to validate emotions and assess physical and emotional needs; schedule care actions as non-negotiables. She encourages listeners to map areas of power vs lack of control; practice fierce self-compassion and audit self-talk to replace disempowering beliefs.*The views of podcast guests do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Lisa Schlosberg or Out of the Cave, LLC.LISA IS NOW ACCEPTING: One-on-One Clients!⁠Purchase the OOTC book of 50 Journal Prompts⁠⁠Leave Questions and Feedback for Lisa via OOTC Pod Feedback Form ⁠Email Lisa: ⁠lisa@lisaschlosberg.com⁠⁠Out of the Cave Merch⁠ - For 10% off use code SCHLOS10Lisa’s Socials: Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠

In this solo episode, Lisa explores the spiritual and psychological practice of “following the call”—learning to live, decide, and heal without needing full certainty. She unpacks how fear-driven control blocks co-creation with life, the body, and spirit, and why true change begins with radical acceptance and self-compassion rather than force. Through tender and fierce self-compassion, embodied emotional processing, and humility about what we can and cannot control, Lisa shows how guidance reveals itself one step at a time. Drawing from personal transitions, nervous system wisdom, and lived spiritual trust, the episode invites listeners to practice surrender as an active, courageous relationship—one that builds safety, clarity, and faith by moving forward even when the path ahead isn’t fully visible. Topics Include:Spiritual TrustConscious Co-CreationSelf-CompassionEmotional Integration[1:08] Lisa starts by thanking her listeners for their engagement, feedback, and for creating a sense of community around the podcast.[2:11] Lisa shares that understanding concepts like tender and fierce self-compassion requires acknowledging one's spiritual nature, as emotional healing is inherently a spiritual process. Lisa explains that she has been contemplating the idea of "following the call," which refers to heeding one's inner knowledge or intuition about necessary life changes. She discusses how receiving guidance forces a confrontation with one's relationship with uncertainty and control, which often stems from fear.[17:31] Lisa explains the universe typically provides the "next right step" rather than a complete plan, requiring a step of faith into the unknown. Lisa talks about how living in the illusion of total control prevents co-creation with the universe, as it requires accepting that one is not in full command. She discusses how the experience of feeling fear and acting anyway is a practical way to build faith and experience co-creation.[23:52] Lisa explains how the relationship with control and surrender in life is mirrored in one's relationship with their body and food and that true health requires surrendering the illusion of total control over the body. Lisa discusses that the relationship with one's body should be a partnership, not a system to be commanded and that healing begins when one stops treating the body as a problem to solve.[40:28] Lisa explores how expressing difficult feelings, such as through journaling, is a powerful tool to move emotional energy and gain clarity, often revealing that no action is needed. She explains that to achieve clarity, it's necessary to feel and release your emotions and sometimes this clarity reveals that a life change is necessary. She further explains that the concept of surrender can provoke fear and physical tension and the practice is to notice this, breathe, and associate surrender with safety.[1:02:48] Lisa wraps up this episode by discussing how these foundational concepts discussed (self-compassion, acceptance, and surrender) are necessary building blocks for the future discussion on intentional weight loss.*The views of podcast guests do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Lisa Schlosberg or Out of the Cave, LLC.LISA IS NOW ACCEPTING: One-on-One Clients!⁠Purchase the OOTC book of 50 Journal Prompts⁠⁠Leave Questions and Feedback for Lisa via OOTC Pod Feedback Form ⁠Email Lisa: ⁠lisa@lisaschlosberg.com⁠⁠Out of the Cave Merch⁠ - For 10% off use code SCHLOS10Lisa’s Socials: Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠

In this solo episode, Lisa examines radical acceptance as the foundation for change: acceptance is not approval, agreement, or resignation, but the willingness to be fully with “what is” without fighting reality. Drawing on Danielle LaPorte’s quote and the paradoxical theory of change—transformation begins by fully being where you are—Lisa emphasizes that acceptance reduces suffering and grounds orderly behavioral change. Integrating tender and fierce self-compassion, she outlines physiological safety as a prerequisite for action, practical somatic tools to embody acceptance, and a middle-path approach to food and body that avoids the extremes of diet culture and anti-diet complacency. Topics Include:Radical AcceptanceParadoxical Theory of ChangePhysiological SafetyIntentional Weight Loss[4:28] Lisa clarifies the concept of radical acceptance, a foundational idea often misunderstood as approval, agreement, or resignation. She explains that it is presented as the paradoxical first step required for any meaningful personal change. Lisa explains that to achieve transformation, one must first fully accept their current reality, behaviors, and position without trying to force a change. This acceptance is not approval but the act of ceasing to fight against what is.[13:49] Lisa explains that understanding acceptance conceptually is not enough; it must be an embodied practice. Lisa discusses that resistance to one's current situation often manifests physically as a fight-or-flight response which signals danger to the brain preventing healthy change and the key is to shift this physiological state.[37:39] Lisa explains that it is possible to hold the duality of accepting the reality of a behavior's occurrence or a body's current state while simultaneously wanting to change it. The key is the order of operations: first, accept the reality without resistance to remove the internal conflict. Then, from that place of embodied safety, take intentional action toward change.[57:50] Lisa challenges labeling the part of oneself that resists food rules as an "inner rebel." It reframes this energy as a protective instinct and distinguishes between productive and unproductive uses of anger. Lisa explains that  recognizing that your behaviors aren't working is a moment of telling the truth and this act of taking ownership is a form of fierce self-compassion that motivates you to show up differently.  [1:04:14] Lisa explores Dr. Kristin Neff's concepts of tender self-compassion and fierce self-compassion, emphasizing that both are necessary for genuine change. Lisa talks about how diet culture exemplifies fierceness without tenderness, making it aggressive and disconnecting people from their bodies. The anti-diet movement can become tenderness without fierceness, leading to complacency and self-neglect. Lisa explains how a balanced, middle path is needed.[1:14:17] Lisa wraps up this episode with a summary of what is coming next: stages of change, how to actually move through some changes, how this relates to intentional weight loss, and what it looks like to really, again, integrate not just the energies of tender and fear self-compassion, but the behaviors, the changes, and all of the other follow-up thoughts that she might have on this episode.*The views of podcast guests do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Lisa Schlosberg or Out of the Cave, LLC.LISA IS NOW ACCEPTING: One-on-One Clients!⁠Purchase the OOTC book of 50 Journal Prompts⁠⁠Leave Questions and Feedback for Lisa via OOTC Pod Feedback Form ⁠Email Lisa: ⁠lisa@lisaschlosberg.com⁠⁠Out of the Cave Merch⁠ - For 10% off use code SCHLOS10Lisa’s Socials: Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠

In this episode, Lisa offers a deep dive into intuitive living and the practice of self-compassion. Beginning with intuitive living as an everyday spiritual practice, Lisa explores how learning to recognize and trust intuitive “hits” naturally extends into intuitive eating as a form of soul-level guidance, not just hunger management. At the heart of this practice is the balance of tender and fierce self-compassion. By distinguishing healthy guilt from paralyzing shame, Lisa shows how we can accept ourselves unconditionally without excusing behaviors that no longer serve us. The result is a grounded, integrated approach of equal parts “do no harm” and “take no shit” designed to foster deep healing, embodied self-trust, and lasting transformation.Topics Include:Mind-Body-Soul ConnectionFierce Self-CompassionOvercoming GuiltLasting Behavior Changes[1:07] Lisa begins by setting an intention to slow down and provide more detailed, nuanced content, recognizing the importance of the topics. She frames the episode as an ongoing conversation, with each new episode building upon the last.[05:37] Lisa clarifies that intuitive living isn't just for major life decisions but is found in mundane, everyday moments. She shares her realization that life itself is a spiritual experience if one remains open and connected. Lisa introduces the "clair senses" (e.g., clairvoyance, clairaudience, clairsentience) to explain the different ways people receive this information. Lisa identifies her primary mode as "claircognizance", a clear knowing. She shares personal examples that highlight the importance of honoring intuition even when it conflicts with personal desires.[18:09] Lisa introduces a model of the self consisting of the conscious adult, the inner child, and the Higher Self. When the Higher Self provides guidance that the conscious self resists, it creates an opportunity to practice self-compassion, similar to a parent lovingly managing a child's resistance.[23:55] Lisa recaps the practice of tender self-compassion which involves three steps: being mindful of one's pain, remembering shared humanity, and practicing kindness towards oneself. Lisa explains that tender self-compassion is about being present with the discomfort without judgment, which alleviates the second wound and allows for healing. It is a prerequisite for changing behavior.[43:17] Lisa explains the difference between tender and fierce self-compassion and that authentic living requires embracing both energies. Lisa discusses the difference between guilt (about a behavior) and shame (about oneself) when reflecting on actions. Lisa examines the need to hold yourself accountable and feel shame then looks at the proper response of meeting that painful emotion with tender self-compassion. She encourages listeners to visit her website for her virtual workshops on tender and fierce self-compassion. [1:31:00] Lisa explains that an integrated model balances "Do no harm" (tenderness) and "Take no shit" (fierceness); and that true wholeness comes from embodying both energies to achieve both inner healing and effective outer change.  *The views of podcast guests do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Lisa Schlosberg or Out of the Cave, LLC.LISA IS NOW ACCEPTING: One-on-One Clients!⁠Purchase the OOTC book of 50 Journal Prompts⁠⁠Leave Questions and Feedback for Lisa via OOTC Pod Feedback Form ⁠Email Lisa: ⁠lisa@lisaschlosberg.com⁠⁠Out of the Cave Merch⁠ - For 10% off use code SCHLOS10Lisa’s Socials: Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠

In this series opener, Lisa shares a pivotal shift in her work and identity—from offering high-level insights to teaching the deeper foundations behind why her approach creates lasting change. Drawing from her doctoral studies and lived experience, Lisa introduces this new series that explores self-compassion (both tender and fierce), discipline through doing less, intentional weight loss, intuitive living, and spiritual intelligence. Lisa weaves her personal journey from depression and hopelessness to resilience, energy, and gratitude, while reframing diet culture as a disconnection from the mind-body-soul relationship that fuels self-neglect and struggle. This episode lays the foundation for understanding intuitive eating as a byproduct of intuitive living and self-trust as the key to sustainable transformation.Topics Include:Intuitive LivingEmotional Resilience Self-CompassionReparenting[0:32] Lisa announces that the podcast will now be released weekly on Mondays instead of every other week, driven by inspiration and positive listener feedback. She explains that future episodes will expand on topics like discipline, self-compassion, intentional weight loss, and psychic abilities.[05:31] Lisa reflects on a past period of deep depression, contrasting it with her current state of energy and happiness. - She now experiences a genuine gratitude for life that she previously couldn't connect with, offering hope to listeners who may be struggling. [10:11] Lisa talks about how the most harmful impact of diet culture is not just its effect on our relationship with food, but the severing of the connection between mind, body, and soul. Lisa talks about how diet culture teaches people to ignore their body's signals, leading to a habitual disconnection from the self. She discusses that it conditions individuals to see themselves merely as a physical body, ignoring their spiritual dimension. Lisa explains that true healing requires reconnecting the mind and body to allow the soul's intuition to emerge and intuitive eating is a result of intuitive living.[32:39] Lisa theorizes that people who use food to cope are often highly empathic and energetically sensitive. She talks about how food serves as a numbing agent for overwhelming internal and external energy. Lisa shares her personal experience of feeling naked and extremely vulnerable after losing 150 pounds. She describes a visceral feeling of self-trust and the ability to protect oneself energetically, which made her realize she no longer needed excess body weight as a shield.[45:40] Lisa reframes intentional weight loss as a spiritual journey and how the commitment to this process builds self-trust. She identifies self-compassion as the secret sauce for her newfound sense of safety and strength. Lisa discusses the three step self-compassion practice as explained by Kristen Neff: mindfulness, shared humanity, and kindness. She encourages listeners to visit her website for resources as well as the Out of the Cave website for meditations. [1:00:46] Lisa explains that the purpose is not to eliminate pain but to sit with it without making it worse through self-criticism. Lisa offers an optional homework assignment of practicing the three steps on a minor issue that is a 3 or 4 out of 10 on an emotional discomfort scale. [1:25:19] Lisa closes this episode by explaining that if this resonated with anyone, they can contact her to explore working together one-on-one with her. *The views of podcast guests do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Lisa Schlosberg or Out of the Cave, LLC.LISA IS NOW ACCEPTING: One-on-One Clients!⁠Purchase the OOTC book of 50 Journal Prompts⁠⁠Leave Questions and Feedback for Lisa via OOTC Pod Feedback Form ⁠Email Lisa: ⁠lisa@lisaschlosberg.com⁠⁠Out of the Cave Merch⁠ - For 10% off use code SCHLOS10Lisa’s Socials: Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠

In this second series episode, Lisa continues to discuss her personal transformation, attributing her positive state to a consistent spiritual practice, including meditation and mindful exercise. She explores the importance of connecting with one's "higher self" to overcome social pressures and make authentic life choices. She addresses listeners who feel they lack time for self-care due to demanding schedules, urging them to audit their time and start with small, consistent steps. Lisa also announces a virtual mini-retreat and a significant shift in her business model.Topics Include:Self CareTime ManagementSpirituality Personal Growth[0:32] Lisa has an exciting announcement, especially for those who have never worked with her before, at the end of the episode. Lisa also announces that she is hosting a virtual mini-retreat, Befriending Your Body, on Wednesday, December 10,2026, at 6:00 p.m. for two hours for $10. She explains the format will be examining and re-writing foundational belief systems about the body that shape thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to food and body; cultivating harmony, peace, and cooperation with the body.[05:07] Lisa jumps into the second half of this series by explaining that she attributes her current positive state to her "non-negotiable, unfuckwithable" meditation practice. She explains that connecting with her "higher self" through meditation helps her disregard others' opinions and makes the social context of life feel less threatening. Lisa introduces a quote: "Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind, and spirit. When one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open." Lisa discusses how any exercise can become a mind-body practice if one intentionally connects the mind to the body and views exercise as a spiritual experience that opens the soul, noting her best ideas and epiphanies come during these moments of connection.[19:40] Lisa addresses listeners with kids and 9-to-5 jobs who feel they lack time for morning rituals, acknowledging her own privilege in creating a lifestyle with more free time. She shares an example of a friend with a full-time job and two kids who wakes up at 4 or 5 a.m. for her own sacred ritual. Lisa urges everyone to conduct an "honest inventory" of their time, questioning hours spent on passive activities like scrolling or watching TV. She stresses that a good morning starts the night before and that the key is to start with small "baby steps," like five minutes of meditation. Lisa emphasizes a commitment to self-care, which creates internal feelings of safety, worthiness, and acceptance.[29:25] Lisa discusses how by focusing on the mind-body connection, one can enter a "flow state" where the "higher self" receives guidance and clarity, unconcerned with external opinions. Lisa notes that clients who heal their relationship with food often develop stronger intuition, which is a natural result of reconnecting the mind and body and returning to one's "factory settings" of instinct and intuition.[41:40] Lisa wraps up the episode by announcing the upcoming changes to the Out of the Cave business model. She explains that the group coaching program is being discontinued to make space for a new one-on-one coaching offering. This change is driven by her desire to provide more individualized support for what is fundamentally a deep, spiritual healing journey. Lisa also teases that the next retreat at the Omega Institute will be offered in July 2026 with details to come later. *The views of podcast guests do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Lisa Schlosberg or Out of the Cave, LLC.LISA IS NOW ACCEPTING: One-on-One Clients!⁠Purchase the OOTC book of 50 Journal Prompts⁠⁠Leave Questions and Feedback for Lisa via OOTC Pod Feedback Form ⁠Email Lisa: ⁠lisa@lisaschlosberg.com⁠⁠Out of the Cave Merch⁠ - For 10% off use code SCHLOS10Lisa’s Socials: Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠

In the first episode of this series, Lisa shares her journey from skepticism to a deep spiritual awakening that transformed every part of her life. Rooted in childhood trauma and years of using food for comfort, Lisa’s story unfolds into one of healing, discipline, and self-trust; culminating in a five-hour morning ritual fueled not by obligation, but genuine inspiration. She bridges science and spirituality to explore what it means to be “a spiritual being made of energy,” weaving in lessons from meditation retreats, loss, and her evolution as a coach. Topics Include:Spiritual Transformation and HealingTrauma, Loss, and Emotional CopingIntegration of Masculine and Feminine Energy Practical Pathways to Transformation[0:32] Lisa introduces this new episode as the first installment of a multi-part series. She explains that the topic grew too large for a single episode, leading to a series that could extend to four, five, six, or more parts. [04:29] Lisa describes her current state as "phenomenal," attributing it to a new, extensive morning routine and a profound spiritual awakening. This transformation was not sudden but the culmination of a lifelong journey of healing and personal development, which began with her birth in 1993. Lisa discusses significant personal traumas like how the death of her younger sister when she was five caused her to disconnect from spirituality, which was a deeper layer to her using food to cope. Lisa’s spiritual awakening began in 2016 during a guided meditation where she connected with her "higher self" and had a profound realization that her past struggles with weight were a form of self-protection. Lisa talks about how father's death in 2018 and receiving a message from him through Caroline Lee Dewey accelerated her spiritual development, marking a clear "before and after" in her life. [33:54] Lisa discusses how her move from New York to California helped her to begin the balance of her masculine and feminine energies and become more spiritual. Lisa explains how her journey to become a yoga instructor helped on this journey to connect the two and how this journey has helped her in her move back to New York where she learned through her ancestry work is part of her heritage.[1:01:39] Lisa talks about how her epic morning ritual can last up to six hours. A cornerstone of this routine is meditation, which she describes as a non-negotiable practice for rewiring the brain. Lisa acknowledges that the initial experience can be extremely uncomfortable and emphasizes that consistent practice transformed it into a deeply grounding and essential experience. Lisa describes that the transformation went from intolerable to a cherished practice after months of daily effort. She advises that integrating such practices into a busy life is possible through intentional time management, such as waking up earlier and reducing time on distractions, starting with small, manageable steps. *The views of podcast guests do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Lisa Schlosberg or Out of the Cave, LLC.⁠Purchase the OOTC book of 50 Journal Prompts⁠⁠Leave Questions and Feedback for Lisa via OOTC Pod Feedback Form ⁠Email Lisa: ⁠lisa@lisaschlosberg.com⁠⁠Out of the Cave Merch⁠ - For 10% off use code SCHLOS10Lisa’s Socials: Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠Embracing Our Spiritual Journey: Insights on Morning Rituals and Self-Discovery

In this episode, Lisa sits down with Offie, an alum of the Out of the Cave (OOTC) group coaching program, to explore her powerful, trauma-informed journey of healing. As the conversation unfolds, Lisa and Offie reflect on her adolescence marked by shame, peer pressure, and disconnection — and how sobriety in her twenties transformed coping into control. Through the challenges of marriage, secrecy, and self-judgment, Offie’s path eventually led her to the Out of the Cave podcast — and then into the coaching program, where she began to understand her patterns through the lens of trauma, brain science, and compassion. Topics Include:Childhood LonelinessCoping MechanismsSelf-Compassion and Reparenting Trauma-Informed Recovery[3:09] Lisa introduces her former client, Offie, an artist with food, who decorates cakes and cookies, a hobby farmer who  has a couple of horses, chickens, dogs, cats, and a donkey. [06:24] Lisa and Offie discuss how her childhood was shaped by her father’s alcoholism, illness (cirrhosis), and death shortly after she turned 8. Offie talks about her experiences of frequent loneliness, being left alone, and household stress amid limited resources. Office shares how she dissociated emotionally following her father’s death and began using sugar and food for comfort, gaining weight around ages 10–11.[20:20] Offie shares with Lisa how working through modules 3–4 of the ACE during the group program brought up  memories of multiple abandonment-like episodes forward, linking trauma to food coping. Offie recounts multiple abandonment-like episodes: alone under her father’s care, babysitting far from town while adults stayed out after bars closed, and her mother going out while her sister isolated in her bedroom.[26:47] Offie talks with Lisa about becoming promiscuous and how she was sexually victimized by a teacher, how she carried candy to gain popularity, and struggled with romantic acceptance due to body image, expanding her coping mechanisms from food to sexual behaviors while her dissociation persisted. [36:48] Lisa and Offie discuss how she believed she was “just like her dad,” rationalizing cheating, heavy blackout drinking, and academic avoidance due to low self-esteem and fear. Offie shares with Lisa how traumatic events affecting someone close to her, led her to seek treatment. Sobriety shifted coping to control—restrictive eating, intense exercise, quitting smoking, and career/education gains—while her core wounds remained.[44:12] Lisa and Offie talk about how in an unhappy marriage, she resumed having affairs, began binge eating, alternated starving/eating, and used horse riding as a distraction and that she dissociated to avoid sadness and fear. Offie shares how therapy facilitated insight and separation from an unhealthy marriage and how her new romantic partnership enhanced her satisfaction and stability.[1:01:35] Offie shares with Lisa that on a road trip to visit her ill sister led to discovering the OOTC podcast and resonating with safety themes and familial alcoholism, prompting her participation in the mirror challenge and finally the group coaching program.[1:05:25] Offie shares that during the group she learned brain science, reframed narratives , and developed regulation tools. Lisa and Offie discuss how the group program differs by addressing the whole person, providing a safe group environment, reparenting practices, and boundaries. They wrap up the episode with Offie dedicating the episode to her sister, Ruth, who passed away last year.*The views of podcast guests do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Lisa Schlosberg or Out of the Cave, LLC.⁠Purchase the OOTC book of 50 Journal Prompts⁠⁠Leave Questions and Feedback for Lisa via OOTC Pod Feedback Form ⁠Email Lisa: ⁠lisa@lisaschlosberg.com⁠⁠Out of the Cave Merch⁠ - For 10% off use code SCHLOS10Lisa’s Socials: Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠

In this episode, Lisa and group coaching alum, Diane, explore her  journey from religiously shaped body image and emotional eating to trauma-informed healing. They discuss the cycles of restriction and shame, leaving a rigid church, identity reframing, somatic practices, mindful eating, acceptance, and setting boundaries. Through the coaching program, Diane learned reconnection, safety, empowerment over control, and differentiating physical vs. emotional hunger, leading to sustainable behavior change and autonomy.Topics Include:Religious UpbringingDiet CultureEmotional Healing Healthy Relationship with Food[0:56] Lisa introduces her former client, Diane, who identifies as a mother of four daughters, separated for over two years after a 28-year marriage, employed full-time, and at peace with current life circumstances. Diane discusses discovering Lisa via Instagram and the podcast and realizing she was missing the mind-body connection, and realizing she was an emotional eater.[07:00] Lisa and Diane dive into her childhood in a legalistic church and school with strict gender roles and dress codes. Diane shares that although she was sheltered from mainstream media, she still received strong body-related messaging within family and church contexts. Diane talks about how she internalized that body size relates to being ‘good enough’ and ‘put together,’ affecting perceived worth.[13:47] Diane shares with Lisa that she was molested as a child and that she realized later in life, after going to therapy,  that being called to the dining room for dinner felt safe, linking food/mealtimes with safety. Lisa acknowledges the magnitude of this trauma and its under-discussed influence on emotional eating.[18:30] Diane explains that her faith emphasized doing for others and suppressing personal feelings, leaving her without a safe space to express emotions. Lisa validates that lack of safety often leads people to use food for comfort and safety. Diane discusses joining Weight Watchers, counting points, and walking with her mom at the age of 15. Diane shares that despite not being morbidly overweight, she perceived herself as heavier and felt compelled to diet.[30:50] Lisa and Diane discuss how the unfair treatment after the hospital birth of her fourth child, led her to begin questioning her upbringing and church practices. Diane shares how during a family trip to the mountains, she knew she could not return or send children back to church school. Lisa and Diane examine how other diet programs can provide useful nutrition literacy but often entrench perfectionism and good/bad food dichotomies.[51:39] Lisa and Diane discuss her journey to the Out of the Cave group coaching program and how an early module helped Diane reframe her thinking to ‘I am a soul, I have a body,’ catalyzing significant perspective change and reconnection. They discuss how this reframing identity fosters self-compassion and opens a path to address emotional roots of eating.[1:12:43] Lisa and Diane talk about the lessons she learned during the group coaching program that have helped her learn to cope with her feelings and make different decisions in learning to feel her feelings and choosing herself. Lisa and Diane wrap up the episode by discussing how the program’s permission-based eating avoids shame and restriction, fostering empowered choices aligned with bodily signals.*The views of podcast guests do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Lisa Schlosberg or Out of the Cave, LLC.⁠Purchase the OOTC book of 50 Journal Prompts⁠⁠Leave Questions and Feedback for Lisa via OOTC Pod Feedback Form ⁠Email Lisa: ⁠lisa@lisaschlosberg.com⁠⁠Out of the Cave Merch⁠ - For 10% off use code SCHLOS10Lisa’s Socials: Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠

This episode features a conversation between Lisa and Jenny, a former OOTC client, about her long-term journey of healing her relationship with food and her body. Together, Lisa and Jenny cover the integration of mind-body practices, shifting from outcome-based goals to behavior-focused intentions, and the importance of self-compassion. They explore finding a balanced, individual approach to health and fitness, moving beyond the extremes of diet and anti-diet cultures, and building self-trust through compassionate action.Topics Include:Healing and Self-CompassionPersonal GrowthDiet and Anti-Diet Culture[1:06] Lisa introduces her former client, Jenny, who has returned to the podcast to discuss an email from Jenny describing her progress years after a coaching program. She reported no longer stressing about food, focusing on nutrition, enjoying social eating, improved sleep, and effortless weight loss by internalizing the program's principles over time. [07:27] Jenny aims to share what daily life looks like after these principles are integrated, offering a tangible perspective for listeners who are currently on their own journey and may be questioning the process. Jenny talks about how her journey started around 2021-2022, prompted by feeling disconnected from her body post-pandemic. Jenny shares that the first step was a small, consistent change: a daily dog walk and how this was a conscious decision to listen to her body rather than reverting to unsustainable diet and exercise regimes.[13:20] Lisa and Jenny discuss how her health goals have evolved from rigid, outcome-based targets (e.g., losing a specific amount of weight) to flexible, behavior-focused intentions. Jenny talks about actions that enhance overall well-being, such as mood and sleep, with weight loss being an acceptable but not primary outcome. Lisa talks about how health is measured by a multi-dimensional chart that includes mental, emotional, social, and physical aspects. Lisa and Jenny discuss how this approach encourages prioritizing different areas of health as needed, ensuring that physical goals do not overshadow emotional or social well-being, leading to a more integrated and balanced life.[23:52] Lisa and Jenny explore moving beyond the rigid doctrines of both diet culture and the reactive anti-diet culture and the key is to find a personal "middle ground" by assessing which behaviors feel safe on an individual level. Jenny explains how radical self-honesty is crucial to determine what is genuinely supportive for one's well-being, rather than applying blanket rules.[40:15] Jenny talks about how a sustainable health journey is not linear and that building self-trust over time allows for flexibility and resilience. Lisa and Jenny discuss that consistency is redefined not as perfection, but as the commitment to return to your practice after a break, viewing rest as part of the process rather than a failure. Lisa and Jenny explore how building trust with oneself is achieved by repeatedly honoring commitments and taking action, not just through kind self-talk. They also discuss how the 'pause' is an important tool to either reflect on resistance or decide to proceed with the action regardless of feeling.[1:13:25] Lisa and Jenny discuss the importance of recognizing oneself as a whole human with mental, emotional, and spiritual parts, not just a physical body. Lisa and Jenny highlight celebrating the win of choosing to listen to one's body and go home when tired, even if a planned workout is incomplete. *The views of podcast guests do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Lisa Schlosberg or Out of the Cave, LLC.⁠Purchase the OOTC book of 50 Journal Prompts⁠⁠Leave Questions and Feedback for Lisa via OOTC Pod Feedback Form ⁠Email Lisa: ⁠lisa@lisaschlosberg.com⁠⁠Out of the Cave Merch⁠ - For 10% off use code SCHLOS10Lisa’s Socials: Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠

In this follow-up episode, Lisa returns to further discuss what was left unsaid — the complicated truths about losing weight and intentional weight loss. Together with Theresa, Lisa explores the messy middle between diet culture’s false promises and anti-diet absolutes. Lisa and Theresa confront how weight loss can bring both relief and complications, revealing a more holistic path toward healing, nuance, and self-trust.Topics Include:The Messy MiddleSocial Stigma and SafetyIntentional Weight Loss vs. DietingFierce Self-Compassion[1:06] Lisa is once again interviewed by Theresa, a member of the 'Out of the Cave' community. Lisa felt that a couple of weeks of reflection revealed two key areas that were left unsaid. She feels nervous but compelled to discuss them for authenticity and to have a more complete conversation. [08:24] Lisa opens the discussion on the 'messy' and 'uncomfortable' truth that weight loss can have real benefits. She notes that this is a topic often avoided or resisted by the anti-diet movement, but she feels it's crucial to address the nuance and her own experiences with it. Research and data consistently show that for individuals with conditions like morbid obesity on the BMI chart, weight loss can lead to both physical and emotional benefits, thereby improving their quality of life.[18:24] Lisa discusses the 'complicated truth,' using her own experience of losing 150 pounds as an example. While she would have reported a higher quality of life at the time, she was also dissociated, starving, and her body was failing which wasn't part of that assessment. Reflecting on a group discussion about Oprah's Ozempic special, she recalls a member criticizing the show for implying life is better if you're not overweight. Lisa's internal conflict was acknowledging that 'sometimes it is' better.[20:18] Theresa points out the false promises from both extremes: diet culture suggests losing weight will fix all problems, while anti-diet culture suggests that abandoning restriction will do the same. She believes the truth is more complex. Lisa agrees with Theresa, stating the nuanced truth is the 'middle ground.' Diet culture says weight loss solves all problems, anti-diet culture says it solves none, but the reality is that it might solve some problems, which is a significant distinction.[48:15] Lisa describes her recent experience returning to a weight she hadn't been at for a decade, in a healthy, sustainable way without negative side effects like hair loss or fatigue. Theresa asks Lisa about the difference between dieting and intentional weight loss. Lisa describes dieting as often extreme, one-size-fits-all, and lacks bio-individuality. Lisa explains that intentional weight loss is flexible and accounts for real life. It follows a 'two steps forward, one step back' model, where gaining weight from a vacation is part of the plan, not a failure. This prevents the 'all or nothing' mindset.[1:06:37] Lisa explains that when you first start something, it's always hard, sloppy, and messy, just like learning to tie your shoes for the first time. But with practice, it will become a habit that doesn't require conscious thought. Lisa discusses how intentional weight loss is not impossible, but it requires "fierce self-compassion" and emotional work as the first step. [1:13:37] Lisa and Theresa wrap up the episode by expressing that this new approach, positioned between the typical anti-diet and pro-diet mentalities, is refreshing, different, and 'amazing.' Theresa believes the world may now be ready for this perspective. *The views of podcast guests do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Lisa Schlosberg or Out of the Cave, LLC.⁠Purchase the OOTC book of 50 Journal Prompts⁠⁠Leave Questions and Feedback for Lisa via OOTC Pod Feedback Form ⁠Email Lisa: ⁠lisa@lisaschlosberg.com⁠⁠Out of the Cave Merch⁠ - For 10% off use code SCHLOS10Lisa’s Socials: Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠

In this episode, Lisa is interviewed by Out of the Cave (OOTC) community member, Theresa. Lisa discusses her professional and academic work, including her doctorate in social work and upcoming programs. The core of the conversation focuses on healing one's relationship with food through self-reparenting, applying the Division of Responsibility framework, and the evolution of eating disorder treatment. Lisa also shares insights from her trauma-informed clinical program and her vision for the OOTC community.Topics Include:Reparenting through foodSatter’s Division of ResponsibilityDoctorate of Social Work ProgramFuture of the OOTC Program[0:32] Lisa is interviewed by Theresa, a member of the Out of the Cave community. The idea was suggested by Theresa, who was inspired by a similar episode from years prior. Lisa discusses concurrently managing her business and pursuing a Doctorate in Social Work (DSW). Lisa talks about the final cohort of her group coaching program and hosting a retreat at the Omega Institute in September 2025, which she considers a significant career milestone. [8:48] Theresa asks Lisa to rephrase the concept 'using food is the means with which we learn to repair ourselves' in a way that is understandable to those not familiar with the specialized vocabulary of the OOTC community. Lisa explains that the relationship with food serves as a mechanism for learning how to "reparent" or take care of oneself. This encompasses a physical dimension, which involves taking full responsibility for one's nutrition—planning, purchasing, preparing, and eating meals. She explains that it also involves an emotional dimension, which is the ability to manage the feelings that surface when changing eating habits, such as guilt or fear. This approach requires self-compassion and the capacity to sit with discomfort, embodying a form of loving discipline for one's own well-being.[22:31] Lisa and Theresa discuss Satter’s Division of Responsibility as a framework for establishing healthy eating boundaries. In this model, a parent is responsible for what, when, and where food is provided, and the child is responsible for how much and whether they eat.  Lisa talks about how this concept was personally transformative for helping her understand her own lifelong issues with food.[38:52] Theresa and Lisa discuss her doctorate program. Lisa explains that the curriculum in the trauma-informed clinical program is highly validating, as it covers topics like the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study, the neurobiology of trauma, polyvagal theory, and mindfulness, which are central to her own teaching and coaching. Lisa about how the experience confirms the validity of her approach. They discuss how the program provides deeper insight into the academic language and research methodologies used in the field. Lisa shares learning the distinction between 'emotional eating' and 'external eating' (environmental triggers for eating) and becoming familiar with formal screening tools and terminology used in academic literature. Lisa and Theresa examine how the conversation around eating disorders is moving from a polarized state of 'diet culture' versus 'anti-diet culture' to a more nuanced approach. [55:20] Lisa and Theresa wrap up the episode with a discussion of the future for Out of the Cave. They talk about the potential directions of continuing groups and retreats, publishing research, writing, teaching, and working with different demographics like children and families. *The views of podcast guests do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Lisa Schlosberg or Out of the Cave, LLC.⁠Purchase the OOTC book of 50 Journal Prompts⁠⁠Leave Questions and Feedback for Lisa via OOTC Pod Feedback Form ⁠Email Lisa: ⁠lisa@lisaschlosberg.com⁠⁠Out of the Cave Merch⁠ - For 10% off use code SCHLOS10Lisa’s Socials: Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠

In this episode, Lisa and guest expert Jenn Trepeck break down some of the most common myths and challenges around food and health. Together they dive into practical ways to make intentional eating feel less overwhelming, from writing meals down to using alarms as training wheels for new habits. Jenn also clarifies the role of carbohydrates, highlighting the importance of fiber-rich fruits and vegetables and how to balance starches for stable blood sugar.Topics Include:Intentional EatingIntermittent FastingSustainable Weight Management Mindful Nutrition[1:50] Lisa discusses the value of aligning with guests whose lived experience mirrors the struggles of her audience, making space for authentic and relatable conversations and asks Jenn to introduce herself. Jenn Trepeck is a health coach and host of the podcast Salad with a Side of Fries, came to wellness through her own “saga” of dieting and body struggles. After years on the weight-loss roller coaster, discovered an approach that transformed her relationship with food and inspired her to coach others. Since 2019, she’s been helping people reclaim their health and freedom around food through her practice and podcast.[12:41] Lisa asks Jen to elaborate on what she learned that she now teaches. Lisa notes that her teaching usually focuses on the mental/emotional side of food, and Jen's perspective on the physical/biological aspect is a valuable addition. Lisa and Jenn discuss how many food cravings are not about willpower but about biology, often driven by low blood sugar and how once she understood this, her choices became less emotional and more about listening to her body’s needs. Lisa talks about how what people often call “emotional eating” is frequently under-fueling throughout the day, which creates confusion and guilt.[15:38] Lisa and Jenn talk about how effective weight management is achieved by maintaining balanced blood sugar levels. Jenn uses a grocery store conveyor belt analogy to explain blood sugar. When food comes at a steady pace, insulin carries fuel properly, but spikes or dips push excess into fat storage. Lisa thinks this analogy is a powerful way to show how simple shifts in timing and balance can create stability rather than shame around food.[29:11] Jenn provides a framework for eating that focuses on food quality and uses hand measurements for portion sizes, rather than counting calories or macros. She believes that if the food is of high quality, the body can regulate the quantity on its own. This approach promotes balance without the need for restrictive counting.[44:09] Lisa acknowledges that being mindful about meal timing, size, and content is crucial for stability but represents a significant mental block for many people, as it can feel overwhelming to take on this responsibility. Jenn suggests writing down what you eat and when you eat it on paper to free up mental capacity. She explains that using alarms as reminders to check for hunger can also help with planning.[55:06] Jenn reminds listeners that not all carbohydrates are equal. Our meals should prioritize fiber-rich carbohydrates from vegetables and fruits. Jenn suggests that a healthy approach to weight focuses on "fat removal" and improving body composition rather than just lowering the number on the scale. [1:10:46] Lisa and Jenn wrap up the episode by discussing Jenn’s typical meals and how listeners can find Jenn. Jenn’s podcast, Salad with a Side of Fries |  Website | Instagram.*The views of podcast guests do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Lisa Schlosberg or Out of the Cave, LLC.⁠Purchase the OOTC book of 50 Journal Prompts⁠⁠Leave Questions and Feedback for Lisa via OOTC Pod Feedback Form ⁠Email Lisa: ⁠lisa@lisaschlosberg.com⁠⁠Out of the Cave Merch⁠ - For 10% off use code SCHLOS10Lisa’s Socials: Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠Reclaiming Peace With Food Retreat at the Omega Institute - September 7-12, 2025 

In this episode, Lisa sits down with Ann, a 71-year-old artist, dancer, and healer, who opens up about her lifelong journey with food, body image, and emotional healing. Ann takes us through the ups and downs of living in a body that often felt like both a battleground and a refuge. Through movement, dance, and the support of the OOTC community, she has found profound transformation—especially through her time in the Out of the Cave program.Topics Include:Food and Family DynamicsAdolescence and Body Shame   Movement as HealingCommunity and Support[:35] Lisa encourages listeners to register for the Reclaiming Peace With Food Retreat at the Omega Institute from September 7-12, 2025 and to sign up for the final group coaching cohort starting in September.[4:45] Ann introduces herself as a 71-year-old artist from Seattle. Her professional life has centered on performing and healing arts, including movement, dance, theater, and massage therapy. She expresses a deep curiosity about the human experience and the mind-body connection. Lisa and Ann discuss her childhood memories of food. Ann shares her earliest memory wasn’t about food but being 3 years old hiding in a cupboard with brown sugar. Ann remembers being a picky eater with little interest in food.  [9:29] Ann describes dinner times as tense due to her father’s presence. Ann talks about eating alone because of the tension at the table. Ann describes her struggles with body image, as she started linking her self-worth to her physical appearance during her teenage years. Lisa and Ann discuss how high school brought challenges with weight gain and body image, intensified by the school newspaper promoting an ‘ideal’ female figure. [20:35] Ann shares how her career as an aerobics instructor in her mid-20s prompted an understanding of food as fuel for performance. She describes how this period of high physical activity and improved nutrition led to enhanced mental clarity, an end to a long-term depression, and a return to college. Lisa and Ann talk about how the death of her father and subsequent diagnosis of her mother with cancer further compounded a period of profound grief and depression, resulting in significant weight gain from emotional eating and decreased physical activity. [31:29] Ann talks about how after her mother’s passing, she rediscovered dance through a mind-body practice called Nia. Ann became a Nia instructor for 13 years. Ann discovered that when she engaged in the movement she loved, her eating habits would improve.[41:50] Lisa and Ann discuss how in the summer of 2023, she was on a very restrictive diet, which made her angry at herself for ‘falling for it again’ and giving her power away to an external system, despite intuitively knowing that such methods are not a long-term solution. Ann shares with Lisa how finding her 14-week program provided an essential container for healing. Lisa and Ann emphasize the power of the group setting, where listening to others’ stories and feeling accepted creates a safe, powerful and transformative environment. [51:53] Lisa and Ann discuss how the program offers a unique, safe space to share vulnerabilities about food and body image. Ann shares that consistently experiencing safety and acceptance in a group is presented as the fundamental mechanism for transformation.*The views of podcast guests do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Lisa Schlosberg or Out of the Cave, LLC.⁠Purchase the OOTC book of 50 Journal Prompts⁠⁠Leave Questions and Feedback for Lisa via OOTC Pod Feedback Form ⁠Email Lisa: ⁠lisa@lisaschlosberg.com⁠⁠Out of the Cave Merch⁠ - For 10% off use code SCHLOS10Lisa’s Socials⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠Reclaiming Peace With Food Retreat at the Omega Institute - September 7-12, 2025 

In this podcast, Lisa meets with Internal Family Systems (IFS) practitioner and Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), Manya Ronay. Together they discuss a comprehensive approach to nutrition that integrates balanced dietary practices with emotional well-being. They address emotional eating, stress management, and the use of Internal Family Systems to balance dietary choices.Topics Include:Intuitive EatingFood Industry   IFS FrameworkEmotional EatingIntentional Weight Loss Strategies[:35] Lisa encourages listeners to sign up for the final group coaching cohort starting in September and the Reclaiming Peace With Food Retreat at the Omega Institute from September 7-12, 2025.[10:22] Manya introduces herself as a certified health educator, nutrition specialist, and practitioner trained in internal family systems, underscoring a commitment to nuanced health and eating narratives. Lisa encourages listeners to listen to the previous podcast episode with Manya. Lisa and Manya discuss nutritional science and its diverse expert opinions, political influences, and constant evolution. [15:14] Lisa discusses how her approach to food intake is like managing a financial budget, where understanding caloric surplus and deficit plays a key role. She explains how this method allows her to be aware of the calories in food without succumbing to judgment or rigidity, allowing for informed choices to maintain weight balance. [22:00] Manya expresses caution about the potential pitfalls of anti-diet and intuitive eating messages, how they gaslight by promoting absolute freedom from food monitoring. Lisa and Manya discuss the value of mindful eating, how balance is necessary to avoid counterproductive outcomes. [28:25] Manya discusses Kevin Hall’s experiment that showed that ultra-processed meals led to higher calorie consumption, while real foods increased satiety and reduced caloric intake, resulting in weight loss. Lisa discusses how her approach to maintaining her weight loss is eating for volume and choosing high-nutrient, low-calorie foods over calorie-dense, low-volume options.[49:30] Lisa and Manya discuss how her living in an environment of high stress has led to her using food to gain a sense of comfort and safety. They discuss how Manya should shift to managing stress and embracing embodied safety will help her with her intentional weight loss without a diet mentality. Manya talks about how the IFS framework is used to balance contrasting inner parts: firefighters, representing the urge to eat for comfort, and managers, which impose boundaries. Lisa and Manya explain how this integration supports healthy eating decisions while honoring the positive intention of every inner part.[1:18:56] Lisa and Manya wrap up the episode by discussing how listeners can learn more about Manya and connect at: Website | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn.  *The views of podcast guests do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Lisa Schlosberg or Out of the Cave, LLC.⁠Purchase the OOTC book of 50 Journal Prompts⁠⁠Leave Questions and Feedback for Lisa via OOTC Pod Feedback Form ⁠Email Lisa: ⁠lisa@lisaschlosberg.com⁠⁠Out of the Cave Merch⁠ - For 10% off use code SCHLOS10Lisa’s Socials⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠Reclaiming Peace With Food Retreat at the Omega Institute - September 7-12, 2025