The host of Mary's Cup of Tea: the Self-Love Podcast for Women remembers the first stages of her eating disorder. Mary Jelkovsky was only 11 years old then. Her step-grandmother poked at her stomach and said she needed to lose weight. At the same time, the grandparent also made tasty baked goods and watched the child's every bite. That taught Mary from a young age that thinness equals value, leading to her bulimia.
The illness completely overtook the podcast host's life in high school. She went from ballet classes to bodybuilding and bikini fitness competitions. All the while, she spent hours in the gym and extreme dieting. After years of suffering, Mary reached a breaking point and saw a doctor. In an open conversation about her binge-eating, she finally understood a painful fact. She worried too much about what other people think, and that was a big part of her illness.
From that moment, Mary went on a self-healing journey. She started reading books, listening to podcasts, and working with life coaches. Anything she could do to empower her body and mind. Mary shared her journey on her website and Instagram, leading to a wide following. Soon came a TedX talk, wellness retreats, and even a book, The Gift of Self-Love. The podcast is another step in Mary's mission to invite others into a healing process. However, the topics here may be triggering for some.
Some episodes of Mary's Cup of Tea: the Self-Love Podcast for Women are solo installments. In those, the host reveals more about her insecurities, vulnerabilities, and how she overcomes them. It's an intimate conversation with the listeners, where she hopes to make them feel less alone. In other episodes, Mary speaks to health care professionals and other influencers. She interviews anyone from nutritionists to psychologists and life coaches. They talk about topics ranging from sexual trauma to the perils of self-comparison. New episodes of the podcast come out on Thursdays.
Episodes