Ep. 79 Becoming Your Own Best Friend: Healing Your Relationship with Food, Body, and Self w/ Marla Mervis-Hartmann

In this heartfelt episode, we dive into a powerful and necessary conversation about self-love, emotional eating, and body image with Marla Mervis-Hartmann. She shares the raw, real story behind her book and the pivotal realization that changed her life: the journey to healing begins when we become our own best friend.

We unpack why “self-love” often feels abstract or empty—and how shifting the lens to friendship with yourself can bring clarity, compassion, and real transformation. You’ll hear about the third path that goes beyond control or chaos—the one grounded in trust, listening, and inner safety.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in a cycle of shame, guilt, or food battles, this conversation will speak directly to your heart.

Do you love your body?

As the creator of Love Your Body, Love Yourself, Marla Mervis-Hartmann helps women access their yes! to that question. 

After experiencing years of dysfunction in relation to food, exercise, and body confidence, Marla transformed her life through the radical act of self-compassion and friending herself. She has since used her experiences to help empower women as they choose appreciation for their bodies, honor themselves through nourishing lifestyle choices, and cultivate confidence along the way. 

Marla works at Ai Pono  a Eating Disorder Recovery Center sharing Body-Love Reiki Circles and was known as the leading body image expert and Reiki Master at Journey Malibu–a Drug and Alcohol rehabilitation center. Most recently, she has been featured at TEDx Salinas. Her dedication to women’s studies has had several focuses including women’s sexual wellness, postpartum care, pelvic floor support, tantra and yoga instruction, massage therapy, and lifestyle coaching through Love Your Body, Love Yourself. 

Marla’s mission is to inspire women to feel good about themselves as they pursue the lives they desire. 

Currently, Marla lives in Maui with her husband, Olaf, and son, Aspen–where she works full-time as a professional coach, speaker, facilitator, and Living Light Reiki Master and Instructor. Marla will see her first book, Be-Friend Yourself on bookshelves October 2024.

💡 Practical takeaways, powerful insights, and permission to begin again—with grace.

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

Website: www.loveyourbodyloveyourself.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loveyourbodyloveyourselfalways 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loveyourbodyloveyourself, https://www.facebook.com/marla.mervis 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/marlamervis 

Book Launching October 1 https://www.loveyourbodyloveyourself.com/book 

Breaking the Cycle of Emotional Eating "https://goloveyourbodyloveyourself.com/emotionaleating" 

Connect with me:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidischalkcoaching 

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/femaleentrepreneursandleaders 

Spotlight to Scale: https://www.spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/ 

Ready to grow your biz: scalewithheidi.com