Beyond Beauty Project: The Podcast

Give yourself permission to own all pieces of yourself, to become your authentic self.Bridgett sits down with Liz Brunner, an award-winning journalist, coach, speaker, and former Miss America contestant. She shares how storytelling, presence, and self-talk can shift your confidence and transform your path. This episode explores how personal history shapes identity and how embracing it can unlock your voice, leadership, and power.Pick up Liz’s book, Dare to Own You: Taking Your Authenticity and Dreams into Your Next Chapter, and visit her website for coaching services. Takeaways: Owning your story builds confidence and quiets imposter syndrome.Presence is a learnable skill—rooted in self-awareness, not personality type.Family dynamics shape identity, but they don’t have to define your path.Your voice is powerful—how you speak, think, and show up matters.Limiting beliefs and negative self-talk can block personal growth.Mentorship, persistence, and reflection are tools for transformation.Every experience—good or bad—adds value to your journey.Subscribe to the newsletter: https://beyondbeautyproject.myflodesk.com/newsletter Learn about Keynotes & Workshops: https://www.beyondbeautyproject.com/workwithme For more, you can follow Beyond Beauty Project on Instagram, YouTube, and visit our website!Produced by Peoples Media

Solitude isn’t always isolation—it can be where healing begins. Bridgett is joined by Jesse Cody, founder of Hike The Good Hike, a nonprofit he created to help people reconnect with nature as a modality for mental health. After years of struggling with trauma, depression, and suicidal ideation, Jesse turned to the outdoors—a choice that led him to walk over 16,000 miles across the U.S. and fueled his mission to advocate for mental wellness. His personal healing journey sparked a deep passion for men’s mental health and his belief that telling your story can be the spark that ignites someone else’s.You can see more of Jesse’s work on his Instagram, LinkedIn, and by visiting hikethegoodhike.org.Takeaways:Self-sabotage often stems from deep-seated trauma and insecurityHealing begins with acknowledging childhood painNature can reconnect us to our inner selvesVulnerability is a form of courageSupportive community matters in the healing processHiking can be a powerful mental health toolSolitude allows for reflection and emotional processingMen are finding the courage to open upEmpathy is vital, especially for the youthSafe spaces make healing possibleSubscribe to the newsletter: https://beyondbeautyproject.myflodesk.com/newsletter Learn about Keynotes & Workshops: https://www.beyondbeautyproject.com/workwithme For more, you can follow Beyond Beauty Project on Instagram, YouTube, and visit our website!Produced by Peoples Media

In this week's episode, Bridgett speaks with Danni Adams—CO-CREATOR of the Institute for Body Image Coaching, speaker, and advocate for fat Black women—to unpack the deep connections between beauty standards, race, social justice, and self-worth. From navigating microaggressions to confronting healthcare bias, Danni shares her journey of reimagining beauty and building community. They discuss how historical narratives still shape body image today, the influence of social media on youth, and why representation is critical for healing and growth. Bridgett and Danni’s conversation reminds us that self-love isn’t linear—it’s an act of resistance, presence, and power. You can find Danni on Instagram and by visiting her website! Key Takeaways:Microaggressions are a daily reality for marginalized bodies.Healthcare systems often perpetuate weight stigma and bias against larger bodies.Young people are heavily influenced by social media beauty standards.Creating offline spaces for youth can help normalize body acceptance.Historical beauty standards continue to shape societal perceptions today. Helping people reimagine beauty is essential.Self-love is a continuous journey, not a destination.Feeling emotions is crucial for healing.Representation in media is currently lacking.Progress in body positivity is mixed with regression.Personal experiences shape our understanding of beauty.Navigating body shame requires vulnerability and honesty.Subscribe to the newsletter: https://beyondbeautyproject.myflodesk.com/newsletter Learn about Keynotes & Workshops: https://www.beyondbeautyproject.com/workwithme For more, you can follow Beyond Beauty Project on Instagram, YouTube, and visit our website!Produced by Peoples Media

The idea of self-care has been reshaped—and not for the better. What once centered on restoration and reconnection has become a billion-dollar industry driven by marketing and societal pressures, pulling us away from our true needs and lowering self-esteem, mental health, and emotional resilience.In Volume 4 of Beyond with B, Bridgett challenges how perfectionism and consumerism have hijacked the meaning of self-care. She shares her personal framework to help you reclaim it—rooted in intuition, authenticity, and true nourishment, not pressure or performance.If you’re feeling overwhelmed by "quick fixes," influencer collabs, and endless wellness trends, tune in for practical steps to reconnect with yourself, spot red flags, and embrace a more genuine approach to well-being.Key Takeaways:Self-care has strayed from its original purpose of restoration.The self-care industry profits from feelings of inadequacy.Marketing messages often undermine self-esteem.It's important to question the necessity of wellness products.Perfectionism can disguise itself as self-care.Emotional burnout can result from pressure to perform self-care.Women often face societal expectations around self-care.Reclaiming self-care starts with self-reflection.Self-care should be intuitive and not a checklist.You are enough just as you are.Subscribe to the newsletter: https://beyondbeautyproject.myflodesk.com/newsletter Learn about Keynotes & Workshops: https://www.beyondbeautyproject.com/workwithme For more, you can follow Beyond Beauty Project on Instagram, YouTube, and visit our website!Produced by Peoples Media

This week, Bridgett is joined by Dr. Morgan Francis, a Clinical Psychologist, Licensed Therapist, and fierce advocate for breaking the mental health shame game. With over 20 years of experience treating body image and eating disorders, Dr. Morgan shares her personal journey, unpacks the toxic grip of perfectionism, and helps us rethink what it means to truly nourish ourselves.Dr. Morgan Francis shares her expertise on intuitive eating, raising body-aware kids, and rebuilding trust in your body — plus why "the most addictive food is the one you tell yourself you can’t have." This is a must-listen for anyone ready to step off the hamster wheel of “not good enough” and embrace a more compassionate, attuned relationship with food and self.You can follow Dr. Morgan Francis on Instagram and visit her website for more! Subscribe to the newsletter: https://beyondbeautyproject.myflodesk.com/newsletter Learn about Keynotes & Workshops: https://www.beyondbeautyproject.com/workwithme For more, you can follow Beyond Beauty Project on Instagram, YouTube, and visit our website!Produced by Peoples Media

Bridgett welcomes Jenn Messina, a Registered Dietitian and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor from North Vancouver, B.C., passionate about holistic health and practices through the lens of Health at Every Size®, food neutrality, and Intuitive Eating. Initially educated in a weight-centric paradigm 17 years ago, Jenn reached a turning point, realizing there had to be a better way—not just for herself but also for her daughter. Determined to break the generational cycle of dieting she witnessed in her own family, Jenn shifted her focus toward an individualized, more compassionate approach to nutrition. Listen to Bridgett and Jenn’s valuable conversation on how embracing food as a source of culture, connection, and joy can help you overcome diet culture's pervasive influence and heal disordered eating patterns. Connect with Jenn on Instagram and explore her resources at www.jennmessina.com. Subscribe to the newsletter: https://beyondbeautyproject.myflodesk.com/newsletter Learn about Keynotes & Workshops: https://www.beyondbeautyproject.com/workwithme For more, you can follow Beyond Beauty Project on Instagram, YouTube, and visit our website!Produced by Peoples Media

Diet culture, ever-changing beauty trends, and the constant stream of "What I Eat in a Day" videos from influencers can disrupt your connection with your body's true needs, affecting how you nourish yourself.In Volume 3 of Beyond with B, Bridgett reflects on her experiences as a model during the late '90s "Waif Era," when ultra-thin figures dominated the fashion scene. Surrounded by disordered eating patterns, she unknowingly developed her own method of intuitive eating, Mind Your Body, Mind Your Plate—a self-care framework that integrates intuition, emotion, and rational thought—which she used to maintain her mental health.  Join Bridgett as she guides you through her method. This approach aims to help you achieve peace with your body by releasing micromanagement and encouraging meaningful connections during meals with family and friends.Subscribe to the newsletter: https://beyondbeautyproject.myflodesk.com/newsletter Learn about Keynotes & Workshops: https://www.beyondbeautyproject.com/workwithme For more, you can follow Beyond Beauty Project on Instagram, YouTube, and visit our website!Produced by Peoples Media

This week, Bridgett interviews Anita Bhagwandas, an award-winning journalist and beauty editor with over 15 years of experience in the industry. Anita has held senior editorial positions at prominent publications, including Stylist, Marie Claire, and Women's Health, and contributed to Vogue, Elle, Allure, i-D, Evening Standard, Glamour, The Telegraph, and many more. Currently, she serves as The Guardian's beauty columnist and freelance Beauty Director at Condé Nast Traveller. Her debut book, Ugly: Giving Us Back Our Beauty Standards, explores the origins and impacts of societal beauty norms, encouraging readers to redefine beauty on their own terms. ​In this episode, the two explore Anita's journey from using makeup to fit in to challenging conventional standards throughout her career. They chat about topics such as the influence of historical forces on beauty ideals, the role of social media, and the concept of "pretty privilege." Anita shares insights on the intersection of race and beauty standards and how we can rediscover joy in beauty beyond traditional definitions.Take a listen to discover the roots of beauty standards and how they manifest in our current social-media-driven world. Follow Anita on Instagram, subscribe to her substack, The Powder Room, and read her book UGLY!Subscribe to the newsletter: https://beyondbeautyproject.myflodesk.com/newsletter Learn about Keynotes & Workshops: https://www.beyondbeautyproject.com/workwithme For more, you can follow Beyond Beauty Project on Instagram, YouTube, and visit our website!Produced by Peoples Media