Episode 128: “This is Your Body on Trauma” with Author Meg Bowman

Posted on by Wynne Leon

Life works best for me when I’m intentional. One of my favorite quotes is “Be sure to taste your words before you spit them out.” (unknown)

There’s a corollary that I regularly fail to heed which is tasting the food as it goes into my mouth. I often eat on the run and without much thought of what I’m eating except that it’s readily available.

So I love the recent How to Share podcast conversation I had with my co-host Vicki Atkinson and licensed nutritionist and author, Meg Bowman, How to Share Nutrition and Safety with Meg Bowman.

In her book, This is Your Body on Trauma, Meg writes, “Food is never just about food; it’s often a reflection of a deeper need for safety, stability, and ventral regulation.” After walking us through the model and research to understand how nutrition, our choices, impacts our central nervous Meg describes the importance of building two toolkits – one to deploy when we’re in survival mode and a second to use when we’re regulated. On an even keel.

This was a huge a-ha for me. I finally saw how my food choices are often responses to stress. Meg’s approach encourages clarity – more care and less judgment. Exactly what I needed to step back and consider some of my default choices, without shame, with wellness – whole body wellness in mind.

Takeaways

  • Safety is the most important nutrient for the nervous system.
  • How you eat is as important as what you eat.
  • Understanding your nervous system state can influence food choices.
  • Food is often a reflection of deeper needs for safety and stability.
  • Nutrition requires a personal and nuanced approach.
  • Creating a safe eating environment can enhance well-being.
  • The FIGS protocol helps assess individual nutritional needs.
  • Storytelling and emotional state impact our relationship with food.
  • Removing shame from food choices is crucial for healing.
  • Self-care should focus on centering individual needs.

Heads up! This is an episode that has already aired on the How to Share podcast so you may have already listened to it.

Here’s Meg’s fascinating perspective on how food is often a reflection of our deeper needs:

https://anchor.fm/s/d985a17c/podcast/rss

Here are some ways you can watch this fascinating and informative episode:

Episode 129: Wish I Was Here with Ilsa Rey – Sharing the Heart of the Matter

Wynne Leon and Vicki Atkinson talk with author Ilsa Rey about her book, Wish I Was Here that will be released on December 23, 2025. The conversation delves into the thrilling narrative where Anna's best friend Isaac invents an invisibility pill and is kidnapped for it. In a desperate attempt to save him, Anna takes the pill herself, leading to a race against time to find him and secure the antidote before she remains invisible forever.Ilsa tells us about her 10 year journey of writing the book as well as all the ways she used rejection and feedback to grow. We talk about writing in the zone as well as the research that goes into great books like Wish I Was Here.TakeawaysAnna's best friend Isaac invents an invisibility pill.Isaac is kidnapped for his invention.Anna takes the invisibility pill to save herself.She has one week to find Isaac and the antidote.Remaining invisible could lead to insanity and death.Anna must follow clues left by Isaac.The story explores themes of friendship and urgency.The narrative is filled with adventure and suspense.The invisibility pill serves as a catalyst for the plot.The stakes are high as Anna races against time.Links for this episode:For show notes and more great inspiration, please see https://sharingtheheartofthematter.comVideo Trailer for "Wish I Was Here": https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Py-B0EbMMmEV3QBsxDHxVX4Pfr3d04wy/view?usp=sharingPurchase Wish I Was Here on Black Rose WritingIlsa's blog: Writing and Martial ArtsFrom the Hosts:Vicki’s book about resilience and love: Surviving Sue; Blog: https://victoriaponders.com/Wynne’s book about her beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith; Blog: https://wynneleon.com/
  1. Episode 129: Wish I Was Here with Ilsa Rey
  2. Episode 128: This is Your Body on Trauma with Meg Bowman
  3. Episode 127: King Copper with Lauren Scott
  4. Episode 126: Cherry Whip with Michael Antman
  5. Episode 125: Jade's Broken Bridge with Michele Lee Sefton

Links for this episode:

How to Share Nutrition and Safety transcript

This Is Your Body on Trauma — Meg Bowman

This Is Your Body on Trauma | Book by Meg Bowman | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster

This Is Your Body on Trauma on Barnes & Noble and Amazon

Nutrition Hive

From the Hosts:

Vicki’s book about resilience and love: Surviving Sue; Blog: https://victoriaponders.com/

Wynne’s book about her beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith; Blog: https://wynneleon.com/

13 thoughts on “Episode 128: “This is Your Body on Trauma” with Author Meg Bowman”

  1. Such a powerful book and an important conversation. I’ve referenced Meg’s book several times since we talked with her. Supportive, informative…so good! ❤️❤️❤️

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  4. When Meg pointed out that many things she taught ten years ago were now debunked, I immediately thought of the Food Pyramid that became outdated due to flawed science. Good luck to you, Meg. Straighten those scientists out! Great interview Vickie and Wynne. 🙂

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  5. This was a great interview. A long time ago, I was told to always take 3 deep breaths before you start eating to tune into yourself and the food you’re consuming. Of course, I often forget this advice. So much of what Meg says makes sense, like safety being the most important nutrient for the nervous system….

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  6. The lines below resonate, Wynne and Vicki, and this is another conversation I look forward to listening to.

    “This was a huge a-ha for me. I finally saw how my food choices are often responses to stress. Meg’s approach encourages clarity – more care and less judgment.”

    I use more care now, but the past would say otherwise. 🙂 Thanks to you all! ❤️

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  7. Lovely and insightful conversation, Wynne and Vicki. So important to draw the connections between nutrition and lifestyle with our health – and how stress plays a vital role in it. It’s definitely work to find that right formula and balance but it’s so worth it. I enjoyed this conversation on my first workout in a few weeks – definitely been stress and busy filled – and you inspired me to change my post workout lunch to a healthier option. 🤣

    I’m a fan of the word self care – but also understand it’s not for everyone – and listening to this episode was a nice moment of self care. So thank you!

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