Talking with Emma: Stop fighting food & weight
Talking with Emma is the podcast for women who are tired of obsessive food thinking, struggling with body image and feeling like food and weight is the one thing they can’t get sorted.
I’m Emma Wright — feminist health coach, author, and someone who knows exactly how exhausting it is to live like not matter how much you try, your health is never quite “good enough.”
After years of controlling my weight, focusing on food, exercising harder, and constantly feeling like a failure, I discovered something different — and more powerful:
Coaching tools that help you trust yourself again - and take charge of your health the way you want to.
Each episode, I’ll share the tools I use with clients who want relief health feeling so confusing — and who are ready end emotional eating, stop thinking about food all the time and improve their body image.
If you’re ready for those things, this podcast is for you.
📥 Want to go deeper?
Download the Self-Assessment — a free tool to evaluate what’s really going on beneath the food and body thinking.
Curious about working together?
I’m currently welcoming new 1:1 clients. Book a no-cost consultation where we’ll talk about how to achieve the health goals you have and what kind of support you need to do that, and of course, whether coaching with me feels like the right fit.
Talking with Emma: Stop fighting food & weight
12: You Don't Need More Willpower
If you’re tired of swinging between trying really hard and giving up entirely, if you’re worn out by the idea that more discipline is the answer — this episode will feel like a breath of fresh air.
In this episode, I unpack one of the most common (and most damaging) myths midlife women carry: that they’re the problem. That if they could just get more willpower, they’d finally be able to eat better, move more, and feel good in their skin. Spoiler alert: You’re not the problem. You’re smart. You’re capable. You’re also a human being — not a machine in need of better programming. What you need isn’t more force. It’s more respect.
I’ll introduce you to the 3Rs — a practical, powerful tool that helps you move from self-criticism to self-respect. This isn’t another health plan. This is how we actually make health habits stick — with care, not control.
Timeline Summary:
[1:18] - The seductive lie of willpower — and why it’s not working
[4:44] - The hidden cultural conditioning behind “sticking to the plan”
[8:32] - Why control feels safe — but leaves us exhausted
[12:15] - Sarah’s story: from burnout to sustainable change
[18:47] - Step 1: Recognise — see your thoughts for what they are
[23:20] - Step 2: Respect — listen to the need underneath the pattern
[28:30] - Step 3: Rechoose — act from care, not coercion
[32:10] - Why this work is simple — but not easy (and totally worth it)
Links & Resources:
🎧 Download the Midlife Body Image Assessment + audio guide. It helps you see what’s really driving your food and body noise — and what to do to get relief.
Curious about working together?
I’m currently taking private clients. Book a no-cost consultation where we’ll talk about your goals and see if I’m the right coach to support you.
Closing Thoughts:
If this episode gave you that “oh-my-god-it’s-not-just-me” feeling, share it. Text it to a friend. Post it in your group chat. And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the show — it helps this work reach more women who are ready to quiet their internal narratives and feel more calm and confident in themselves.
Let’s stay connected:
🌐 Emma's Website
📬 Join the Talking with Emma newsletter
📱 Follow on Instagram, and LinkedIn