I was on a podcast!
Or, how introverts sell books (hint: it involves a lot of panic and anxiety)
Hey Friends, it’s been a little longer than I’d planned between newsletters. I’m trying to get better at consistency, but book promotion is a giant beast and I find myself running from one thing to another without any clear sense of direction. However, I just made my first “content calendar” to help me stay focused. Hopefully it means I’ll get less distracted by shiny things (like a recent literary scandal that’s taken social media by storm - more on that later….maybe).
I’ve also been recovering from surgery for adenomyosis. My uterus is still intact, but I opted for a D&C and ablation to tackle heavy bleeding and anemia that I’ve been dealing with for years. Yes, I know that excision is likely a better option than ablation, but my OBGYN has had good success with her patients and trying to find a doctor who will do excision in Canada seems like an almost-impossible feat. So, I chose this option, and we’ll see what happens!
Recovery has been very smooth, and I have had almost zero pain. I’m itching to get back to Zumba, but I’m also listening to my body and waiting for another week before I start gyrating on the dance floor.
Anywho, that was a super long introduction to the main point of this newsletter, which was to say: I was on a podcast this week! This is super exciting for me, because any/all thoughts of public speaking and promoting my book have been very anxiety provoking. I’m a perfectly capable person who speaks eloquently and passionately about my book…until I’m put on the spot and I’m suddenly watching myself from above and wondering what the hell I’m saying.
But I had a breakthrough a few days ago when I recorded another podcast (which I’ll share more about in the coming weeks). I practiced grounding techniques: holding a warm cup of tea in my hands, feeling my feet on the floor, and fidgeting with something in my hands. And it worked! I was finally able to say exactly what I wanted to say, and I didn’t disassociate from my body. Huge win.
I’m telling you this because I think it’s really important to name and acknowledge our mental health struggles, and to reiterate the fact that I’m fully human and fully terrified of being rejected (as we all are! Some of us are just much more afraid than others). Also, saying it out loud takes away the power of the fear. I’ve decided that I’ll be telling everyone I’m nervous from now on, and it will become my standard disclaimer before any public talk. The pressure to appear “put together” and totally confident is bullshit, and I’d much rather just be me.
Journey of a Fearless Female Podcast
Thank you so much for Paola Rosser for having me as a guest this week. We talked about why women’s bodies aren’t broken, how emotions are created, and why our culture has a lot more influence on how we feel than we once thought. I also laid out my case for body-based therapies as a primary (or adjunct) treatment for women’s mental illness, because the “gold standard” CBT has many limitations that we have yet to understand or acknowledge (the biggest red flag is that CBT has been primarily studied in white populations).
Go watch or listen now!
Pre-Order Before the Holidays
Wondering if ALL IN HER HEAD is the right book for you? Author and #bookstagram influencer Laura Bates included my book in a list of new and exciting feminist reads coming out in 2024! She writes, “All In Her Head is a fascinating intersectional investigation into the ways societal misogyny and healthcare gender bias combine with devastating results for women’s mental health.”
If you’re in discussions with your book club, or just making plans for your 2024 reading list, keep me in mind!!
You can pre-order ALL IN HER HEAD now from your local bookstore, or online wherever you buy books:
In the UK: Waterstones