#217 — Ali Shapiro’s relationship with her health and wellness began when she battled cancer as a teenager. At the time, chemotherapy and radiation saved her life, but they left her health far worse in the process. In the decades since, Ali sought understand health and wellness so that she could do more living. To make that happen, she had to step outside of the mainstream paradigms that influence our health choices. In her wellness experiences, Ali observed that most “health programs” focused on weight loss as the goal. They ascribe to principles like control, discipline, restriction, and judgment instead of intuition, self-trust, choice, and compassion. These programs were largely unsuccessful, and Ali knew there had to be another way. Combining a values-based lens with functional medicine and the four tenets of adult learning, Ali managed to transform the relationship she has with her health. Then, she built a health business to helps others do the same — and it’s about so much more than avoiding illness and losing weight. Ali believes that when we’re in relationship with our bodies and trust our inner wisdom, we can make choices that honor our true needs instead of chronic symptom management. On this episode of the Startup Parent podcast, Ali joins host Sarah K Peck to talk about her health journey, the road to motherhood, and what we can learn when we listen to bodies. This conversation covers: Ali’s parenthood experience, including an infertility diagnosis, a miscarriage, and becoming a parent during a pandemic. Understanding the limitations of Western medicine, the role of a village in healthcare, and how Ali’s experience with cancer led her to functional medicine. The concept of psychological flexibility, and the importance of being able to hold multiple points of view at once. The challenges of being healthy as an adult and how the four tenets of adult learning relate to health and wellness. The importance of self-awareness, self-compassion, and self-trust, and finding a health plan that works for you. This episode is for anyone who has struggled with honoring their needs or finding their voice in a world that’s constantly telling you what to do and how to be. Ali’s wisdom is matched only by her wit, and this is a conversation you don’t want to miss. SHOW NOTES Full show notes at startupparent.com/217