What if your struggles with food aren't about willpower at all?
In this episode of the Mind Movement Health Podcast, Kate Boyle is joined by Stephanie Mara Fox, Somatic Nutritional Counsellor, educator and creator of Somatic Eating®, to explore why our relationship with food is deeply connected to our nervous system, emotional experiences and sense of safety.
If you've ever found yourself emotionally eating, feeling out of control around food, or struggling with body image despite knowing "what you should eat," this conversation offers a refreshing and compassionate perspective.
Rather than viewing eating behaviours as something to fix, Stephanie explains how they can be understood as intelligent adaptations—your body's way of communicating unmet needs and seeking safety.
Together, Kate and Stephanie unpack how regulating your nervous system can transform your relationship with food, helping you move away from guilt and restriction towards greater awareness, compassion and lasting food freedom.
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Episode Timestamps
(00:00) Introduction
(02:15) Stephanie's journey into Somatic Eating®
(07:30) Why food behaviours are about more than willpower
(13:20) Understanding the nervous system and emotional eating
(22:10) The hidden role of trauma in our relationship with food
(30:45) Learning to become curious about food urges
(39:30) Creating safety within your body and environment
(47:20) Practical strategies for nervous system regulation
(54:10) Final thoughts on food freedom and healing
More about Stephanie Mara Fox:
Stephanie Mara, MA is a Somatic Nutritional Counselor and Mentor and the creator of Somatic Eating®, a body-oriented, sensation-focused therapeutic approach to eating. She's among the few practitioners pioneering the intersection of somatics, nervous system science, trauma work, and nutrition.
With over 15 years of experience supporting women worldwide, Stephanie has built a fundamentally different approach to food and body healing — one that positions eating behaviors not as problems to fix, but as the body's wisest attempt to communicate unmet needs and maintain safety.
She holds a Master's Degree in Somatic Psychotherapy, is currently working toward her PhD, and has supervised thousands of coaches, counselors, wellness practitioners, and therapists. She's been published in the International Body Psychotherapy Journal and Somatic Psychotherapy Today, and featured in Authority Magazine and at the Somatic Healing Super Summit. Stephanie also hosts her own podcast, Satiated.
Website: https://www.stephaniemara.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_stephaniemara/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephaniemarafox
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmara/
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Enjoyed this episode?
If this conversation helped you see your relationship with food in a new light, please subscribe to the Mind Movement Health Podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who would benefit from a more compassionate approach to eating and body image.
Remember, lasting health isn't built through perfection, it's built through understanding, self-compassion and the small choices we make every day.
Connect with Kate:
Website: MindMovementHealth.com.au
Facebook: facebook.com/MindMovementHealth
Instagram: instagram.com/MindMovementHealth
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