Drake, a 56-year-old husband and father, shares what it's like to carry decades of silent shame about his weight, shaped by comments from family, masculinity expectations, and the belief that "men handle it themselves." Only recently did he begin unpacking this through therapy, walking, and discovering this podcast. Drake talks about separating health from body size, questioning GLP-1 medications, noticing joy return, and learning to speak openly for the first time in his adult life. A grounded, honest conversation about fear, embodiment, and the long journey toward self-compassion.

Links:

Andor (Disney+)

Shrinking (Apple TV+)

Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)

The Moth Podcast

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (audiobook highly recommended)

Uncripted Journey Substack

Your Body Unscripted Online Course

1:1 Coaching with Aaron

Men's Group Info

Men Unscripted Playlist on Spotify

In this episode, Walter shares his story of growing up in deep diet culture, navigating the pressures of acting and masculinity, and the moment everything changed when he discovered Health at Every Size. He talks about what it was like to internalize fear and shame at a young age, how acting shaped his relationship with his body, and the messy, liberating work of rebuilding trust with food. Walter also discusses the role of mindfulness, Buddhist practice, and community in helping him feel more grounded and less alone.

What We Cover:

• Growing up surrounded by dieting, medical fear, and body scrutiny

• Pressure from acting and performance culture

• The chaos of college eating after years of restriction

• Discovering HAES and liberation-based thinking

• Meditation, embodiment, and reconnecting with his body

• Masculinity, identity, and shape-shifting between worlds

• What recovery actually looks like day to day

Resources mentioned include Health at Every Size by Lindo Bacon, ASDAH (Association for Size Diversity and Health), The Wakeful Body by Lama Willa Blythe Baker, and drummer/composer Jonathan Blake's album My Life Matters.

• Uncripted Journey Substack
• Your Body Unscripted Online Course
• 1:1 Coaching with Aaron
• Men's Group Info
• Men Unscripted Playlist on Spotify

Trigger Warning: Brief discussion of GLP-1 medications toward the end of the episode.

Corey shares an honest, moving story about growing up in diet culture, navigating shame, masculinity, ADHD, and early messages about "good" and "bad" bodies. He talks about finding intuitive eating, becoming a therapist, exploring health concerns with compassion, and making space for nuance—including around medications like GLP-1s. A vulnerable, hopeful look at healing, embodiment, and what it means to feel loved exactly as you are.

• Uncripted Journey Substack
• Your Body Unscripted Online Course
• 1:1 Coaching with Aaron
• Men's Group Info
• Men Unscripted Playlist on Spotify
• The Anti-Diet by Christy Harrison, MPH, RD
• Intuitive Eating by Elyse Resch, MPH, RDN, CEDRD-S, FAND and Evelyn Tribole, MS, RDN, CEDRD-S
• The Gluten Lie by Alvin Levinovitz, PhD
• The Broken Earth Series by N.K. Jemisin
• The Expanse Series

This episode includes discussions of suicidal thoughts and internalized fatphobia. If these topics are difficult or unsafe for you to hear at this time, please consider skipping this episode or listening with support.

In one of the most vulnerable Men Unscripted conversations yet, Luke opens up about a lifetime of struggling with body image, weight stigma, and self-acceptance. From being teased as a child to the complex intersection of gender, sexuality, and size, Luke shares what it feels like to live in a body that has always been labeled "different."

Through moments of humor, honesty, and deep reflection, we talk about how culture teaches us to hate our bodies, how grief shows up in recovery, and what it means to keep going even when the inner critic is loud. Luke's story reminds us that healing isn't about perfection — it's about learning to see yourself with compassion, even when it feels impossible.

• The roots of body shame and early childhood messaging

• Internalized fat-phobia and learning to unlearn it

• The emotional toll of diet culture and yo-yo dieting

• Living with a genetic disorder and navigating masculinity

• The role of therapy and self-compassion in recovery

• How creativity, comedy, and community offer moments of connection

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or an eating disorder, please reach out for help.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call or text 988 (US)

NEDA Helpline – Call or text (800) 931-2237

Links

• Good Mythical Morning
• House of the Dragon
• Uncripted Journey Substack
• Your Body Unscripted Online Course
• 1:1 Coaching with Aaron
• Men's Group Info
• Men Unscripted Playlist on Spotify

Lee joins Men Unscripted to share a candid look at growing up "the big kid," developing an eating disorder during his dietetics training, and learning self-compassion after years of shame. We talk about masculinity, coping, connection, and how drumming, movement, and rest help Lee feel grounded today. A powerful conversation for anyone who's ever struggled with their body or their relationship with food.

Links:

• Uncripted Journey Substack
• Your Body Unscripted Online Course
• 1:1 Coaching with Aaron
• Men's Group Info
• Men Unscripted Playlist on Spotify

Host Aaron Flores, RDN shares exciting updates — Men Unscripted returns soon with new, anonymous stories from men exploring body image, masculinity, and healing.

Aaron also invites listeners to join the show, subscribe to his Substack, and check out his online course Your Body Unscripted — a self-paced program for men learning to unlearn body shame and build compassion.

👉 Be a guest: Email Aaron
📰 Subscribe on Substack: aaronfloresrdn.substack.com
🎥 Explore the course: Your Body Unscripted
🌐 Website: aaronfloresrdn.com

Summary

In this episode, Aaron Flores interviews a guest named Blake, who shares his experience with an eating disorder. Blake discusses his journey from feeling hopeless and trapped in his eating disorder to finding a path towards recovery. He talks about the impact of diet culture and societal expectations of masculinity on his body image and self-esteem. Blake also highlights the importance of hearing other people's stories and finding hope in their recovery journeys. Throughout the conversation, they touch on topics such as the all-consuming nature of eating disorders, the challenges of coming to terms with having an eating disorder, and the realization that achieving a specific body image does not bring happiness or confidence. The conversation concludes with discussing the movie 'Back to the Future' and its themes of taking control of one's future and appreciating the present moment.

Keywords

eating disorder, body image, recovery, hope, masculinity, diet culture, self-esteem, recovery, success stories, difficult emotions, therapy, journaling, body acceptance,

Takeaways

• Eating disorders can consume every thought and moment of a person's day, making it difficult to break free from the mindset.
• Coming to terms with having an eating disorder can be a challenging process, often involving denial and resistance to seeking help.
• Societal expectations of masculinity and the idealization of a certain body image can contribute to the development and perpetuation of eating disorders.
• Recovery from an eating disorder involves questioning and challenging deeply ingrained beliefs about food, body image, and self-worth.
• Hearing other people's stories of recovery can provide hope and inspiration for individuals struggling with eating disorders.
• Success stories can inspire and motivate individuals to make positive changes in their own lives.
• Allowing oneself to feel difficult emotions is an integral part of the healing process.
• Therapy and journaling can provide support and help in coping with emotions.
• Engaging in activities that bring joy and reconnecting with one's body are essential in recovery.
• Saying yes to new experiences and challenging avoidance behaviors can lead to personal growth.
• The movie 'Back to the Future' highlights the themes of taking control of one's future and appreciating the present moment.

Life Without ED - Jenni Schaefer

Brain Over Binge - Kathryn Hansen

Back to the Future - Netflix

Follow Aaron Flores on IG: @AaronFloresRDN

Body Image Coaching for Men

Learn more about Within Health

Summary

In this episode of the Men Unscripted podcast, host Aaron Flores interviews Star-Lord, an anonymous guest, about his body image and relationship with food. Star-Lord shares his experience as a man navigating diet culture and toxic masculinity. He discusses the impact of banter and jokes on body image, his childhood experiences with body shaming, and the influence of fitness and athletic pursuits on his body image. The conversation also touches on the role of magazines like Men's Health in perpetuating body shame and the obsession with achieving a particular physique. Star-Lord shares his journey from rugby to CrossFit and how it further fueled his body image concerns. The episode highlights the pressure to conform to societal ideals and the need for more open conversations about body image among men. Star-Lord eventually discovered Intuitive Eating and body acceptance, which led to a shift in his approach to nutrition and fitness. He emphasizes the importance of finding body functionality and appreciating what the body can do rather than solely focusing on appearance. Star-Lord also highlights the need for men to recognize that they are not alone in their struggles and that seeking support is not a sign of weakness.

Keywords

body image, diet culture, toxic masculinity, body shaming, fitness, disordered eating, fitness industry, performance-enhancing drugs, intuitive eating, body acceptance,

Takeaways

• Toxic masculinity and diet culture contribute to body image struggles among men.
• Banter and jokes about body size and shape can significantly impact body image.
• Childhood experiences of body shaming can shape one's body image perception.
• Fitness and athletic pursuits can both enhance and exacerbate body image concerns.
• Magazines like Men's Health often perpetuate body shame and unrealistic ideals.
• The pressure to conform to societal ideals can lead to obsession and unhealthy behaviors.
• Open conversations about body image are crucial for men's mental and physical health.
• Navigating disordered eating and body image issues in the fitness industry can be challenging.
• Intuitive eating and body acceptance can lead to a healthier relationship with food and body.
• Men need to recognize that they are not alone in their struggles and that seeking support is not a sign of weakness.

Intuitive Eating

David Gemell - Amazon

Michael Bublé

Luck Be A Lady Tonight - Guys and Dolls

Follow Aaron Flores on IG: @AaronFloresRDN

Body Image Coaching for Men

Learn more about Within Health