Épisodes

  • Wellness Culture, You Can Sit Down Now

    Wellness Culture, You Can Sit Down Now
    Jul 30 2025
    “If you have felt left out of wellness culture, it's not because you've failed; it's because it was never built for you in the first place. No matter what we look like, what our experiences are, what we're dealing with, we are all worthy of care. Healing is not a branding opportunity, and it is a birthright.” —Donna Piper Ever felt like wellness advice wasn’t written for your body—or your life? When smoothies, sunrise meditations, and superfoods feel more like pressure than peace, maybe the problem isn’t you… maybe it's the culture. If you’ve ever silently wondered, “Why does nothing work for me?”—this episode will hit home in the best way. Donna has done all the things wellness culture says should work—only to discover they often do more harm than good. And when she finally realized how her invisible, complex conditions intersect with fatphobia, performative health, and outdated medical systems, she stopped chasing quick fixes and started building a sustainable path rooted in self-trust, rest, and radical honesty. Join Donna as she reclaims healing as a birthright, unpacks the myths that dominate mainstream wellness, and gives practical, lymphatic-friendly tools that actually honor your body. You don’t need to be fixed—you need to be heard. Connect with Donna: Website: https://www.donnapiper.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnapiper Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lipedema_donna Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedonnapiper YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedonnapiper Episode Highlights: 01:21 Unlearning the Wellness Culture 04:43 The Complexity of Chronic Conditions 16:14 Supporting the Lymphatic System 24:36 Myths and Misconceptions in Wellness 28:21 Embracing a New Wellness Paradigm Resources: 🤔Got a question for me? Every month, I do a listener coaching episode—and I’d love to hear from you! Send your questions, stories, or flare-up confessions to donna@donnapiper.com, and you just might hear your answer on the show. X: Tired of being told to “just detox” when your body is fighting for its life? Your host, Donna Piper, unpacks the gaslighting in wellness culture + what real healing looks like. Tune in for truths, tools & lymphatic love. #DearBodyImListeningPodcast #Lymphedema #lipedema #MCAS #ChronicIllness #WellnessMyths #WellnessCulture #Fatphobia #HealingJourney #RestIsMedicine Quotes: 28:44 “If you have felt left out of wellness culture, it's not because you've failed, it's because it was never built for you in the first place. No matter what we look like, what our experiences are, or what we're dealing with, we are all worthy of care. Healing is not a branding opportunity, and it is a birthright.” —Donna Piper 02:11 “When you're navigating a complex diagnosis like lipedema, MCAS, hypermobility, the full spectrum of EDS to HSD, POTS and chronic fatigue... this wellness culture is not made for our bodies.” —Donna Piper 04:30 “There is no one map, one thing: Do this, and you'll get better.’ Actually doing those wellness culture things made me feel bad; it didn’t work.” —Donna Piper 04:55 “Even when I did get answers from my doctors, which—that was a relief—but they didn’t give me a straightforward plan.” —Donna Piper 07:34 “Our version of wellness isn’t what the mainstream version of wellness is.” —Donna Piper 10:07 “The only thing that's going to help realign your system is not about doing more, it’s about doing less.” —Donna Piper 10:57 “I had to stop viewing myself with harsh eyes and through other people’s expectations.” —Donna Piper 11:57 “You are doing healing right for you. We are not doing healing wrong.” —Donna Piper 12:26 “So much of wellness culture and just how people view things now… is rooted in ableism, fat phobia, and a polished aesthetic.” —Donna Piper 13:24 “It’s not about performative wellness. It’s not about trying to do things to force our bodies into a way.” —Donna Piper 23:11 “Resting—it's not laziness, it's not willpower—it's really more about biology. You need rest.” —Donna Piper 28:10 “I release all the shoulds. I let go of wellness shame and just feel good about that. I know that my wellness looks different, and I stand with pride in that.” —Donna Piper Meet Your Host: Donna Piper is a Relationship Coach, Trauma Expert, and Akashic Records Healer dedicated to empowering successful single women to transform their love lives and attract fulfilling partnerships without sacrificing their professional ambitions. With a holistic approach blending therapeutic coaching, trauma-informed techniques, and Akashic Records wisdom, she guides clients to release limiting beliefs, heal emotional blocks, and cultivate unshakable self-trust. Her work focuses on aligning mind, body, and spirit to create lasting change—helping clients refine communication, deepen ...
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    31 min
  • The Weight I Carry Isn’t Just Physical

    The Weight I Carry Isn’t Just Physical
    Jul 23 2025
    "Shame lives in the body, but so does compassion." —Donna Piper If shame could be seen, would you finally believe it’s not your fault? So many of us carry invisible burdens—chronic symptoms, exhaustion, and the silent weight of feeling misunderstood or blamed for what we can’t control. The real struggle isn’t just in our bodies, but in the stories we tell ourselves when healing doesn’t look the way the world expects. Donna Piper knows this journey firsthand. After years of being dismissed and doing everything “right” but still getting sicker, she’s learned how shame embeds itself in our bodies—and how compassion and psychological flexibility can set us free. Tune in as Donna unpacks the truth about shame, busts the myth of willpower, and guides you through a powerful practice to help you move from self-blame to self-love. Connect with Donna: Website: https://www.donnapiper.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnapiper Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lipedema_donna Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedonnapiper YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedonnapiper Episode Highlights: 01:27 Understanding and Addressing Shame in Chronic Illness 03:15 The Role of Self-Compassion and Psychological Flexibility 09:34 The Impact of Shame on Healing and Relationships 17:04 Practical Techniques for Shame Release 23:10 Myth-Busting: Willpower vs Shame Resources: 🤔Got a question for me? Every month, I do a listener coaching episode—and I’d love to hear from you! Send your questions, stories, or flare-up confessions to donna@donnapiper.com, and you just might hear your answer on the show. X: Ever feel like your body’s pain is only half the battle? Discover how shame shapes healing & learn to break the cycle in this week’s episode as Donna shares tips, tools, & truth! #DearBodyImListeningPodcast #Lymphedema #lipedema #MCAS #BodyShame #SelfCompassion #InvisibleIllness #HealingJourney #PsychologicalFlexibility #ShameRelease #SelfCare #ChronicFatigue Quotes: 02:08 Shame lives in the body, but so does compassion." —Donna Piper 02:13 "Shame just isn't a feeling, it's a somatic experience. It gets stored in your body— in your thighs, and in your belly, and in your nervous system— and over time, it becomes a lens you see yourself through." —Donna Piper 03:35 "Shame is very prevalent. It's very silent. It hides in the shadows, and it's lurking over everything that we want to do, and how we see who we are." —Donna Piper 04:17 "Self-compassion means speaking to yourself in a way that you would to a dear friend, and it sounds like this: This part of me is hurting. This part of me deserves care." —Donna Piper 05:00 "We want to feel part of a group, that's just how we're made. We want to have community and connection and be understood." —Donna Piper 06:39 "Psychological flexibility... just really means allowing uncomfortable emotions to exist without letting them control your choices. It's noticing the shame without becoming ashamed, choosing your values over your fear, and letting your truth lead the way." —Donna Piper 09:21 "Shame is like any other emotion. Once it's seen, once it's acknowledged, then it can move through you. So it's not a life sentence, it's just another level of awareness." —Donna Piper 09:46 "Resting is self-care… Resting is critical. It's part of the healing." —Donna Piper 12:57 "[Lipedema] isn't about laziness. This isn't about willpower. It is a medical condition rooted in inflammation and hormones, and it deals with connective tissue issues." —Donna Piper 14:47 "Be compassionate with yourself and be loving with yourself. This is something that you didn't cause." —Donna Piper 15:47 "Willpower isn't the problem, it's the shame." —Donna Piper 16:43 "You could be doing everything right and still see no change. That doesn't mean that you or I have failed. It's just a mismatch about the care that's available and what our bodies are experiencing." —Donna Piper 17:51 "What I do need is a little more love and compassion and education for how my body responds." —Donna Piper 19:30 "You don't have to explain your shame to anyone— that's not really liberating… because the people around you may not be equipped to hear. If it doesn't land in the right place, then it creates more trauma, and it doesn't have the healing effect that you think it is." —Donna Piper 22:46 "I hold myself with love, even when the world doesn't." —Donna Piper Meet Your Host: Donna Piper is a Relationship Coach, Trauma Expert, and Akashic Records Healer dedicated to empowering successful single women to transform their love lives and attract fulfilling partnerships without sacrificing their professional ambitions. With a holistic approach blending therapeutic coaching, trauma-informed techniques, and Akashic Records wisdom, she guides clients to release limiting beliefs, heal emotional blocks, and cultivate ...
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    26 min
  • The Inflammation Fix: How Keto Diet Supports Your Lymphatic System

    The Inflammation Fix: How Keto Diet Supports Your Lymphatic System
    Jul 16 2025
    "It's not all about obesity, it's not all about weight. It is about giving your body the nutrients it needs to be healthy." —Leslyn Keith Forget calories-in-calories-out. If you’re eating "clean" but still battling swelling, fatigue, or pain, the problem isn’t your willpower—it’s how your food fuels (or strangles) your lymphatics. Carbs don’t just go to our hips—they clog our body’s drainage system. And when our lymphatics are drowning in carbs, every symptom—from brain fog to stubborn weight—becomes a distress signal. Leslyn Keith, a lymphatic therapist and researcher with 25 years of clinical experience, reveals how the ketogenic diet isn’t just about weight loss—it’s a lifeline for stagnant lymphatics, inflammation, and conditions like lipedema. With brutal honesty and science-backed insights, she dismantles the myth that fat is the enemy and shares why protein and healthy fats are the unsung heroes of lymphatic drainage. Tune in as Donna and Leslyn unpack why carbs sabotage your lymph flow, how keto can reduce pain and swelling before the scale moves, and the one dietary shift that could finally make your body feel like yours again. Connect with Donna: Website: https://www.donnapiper.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnapiper Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedonnapiper Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedonnapiper YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedonnapiper Episode Highlights: 04:52 Why We Get Fat 09:43 The Impact of Keto Diet on the Lymphatic System 19:53 Understanding Your Body’s Needs 27:29 Body Fat vs Dietary Fat 34:03 Challenges, Benefits, and Practical Tips for Adopting to Keto Diet 47:13 The Lymphatic Code Correct 49:33 Proper Nutrients Matter Resources: Book The Lymphatic Code: Using a Ketogenic Lifestyle to Enjoy a Robust Lymphatic System That Promotes Overall Health and Wellness by Leslyn Keith Buy the print soft cover on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3oAVSbQ X: Your ‘healthy’ diet could be starving your lymphatic system. Game-changing convo with lymphatic therapist and researcher Leslyn Keith on why keto = lymphatic rescue. and the #1 thing to eat instead. Don’t miss this week’s episode! #DearBodyImListening #KetogenicDiet #LymphaticHealth #ChronicInflammation #MetabolicHealing #FatDisorder Quotes: 03:38 “I was on a diet or a cleanse for 40 years because I was trying to figure out why my body didn't respond." —Donna Piper 04:25 "I wanted to make sure my food, what I could eat was servicing the body that I had with all these conditions." —Donna Piper 10:31 “There's something that is inflammatory about a high carbohydrate diet, and it's particularly inflammatory to the lymphatics, so they don't work as well." —Leslyn Keith 13:37 "We try to impress upon people is that you got to heal first, then the pounds come off." —Leslyn Keith 14:26 "It's all those other non-scale victories that are telling you that you are healing and you're doing better. For a lot of people, that pain reduction or resolution is the ultimate motivator, because they go into it thinking, ‘I just want the scale to go down, but if, in two weeks, they have a lot less pain, well, I'm going to stick with this way of eating just because of that’, because that that's huge." —Leslyn Keith 18:20 "Using a Keto or carnivore diet is the easiest to modify to accommodate each of those individual needs— your comorbidities, your preferences, what you like to eat— all those things. We can do this in a way that is going to promote your health." —Leslyn Keith 26:59 “There was a point where my body was craving more fat. Because I was a teenager in the 80s and up, so fat was bad, like fat would make you fat. And that is really not true." —Donna Piper 27:30 “It's quite a disservice that that we have the same word for body fat as what we eat in dietary fat. Because that's it's very easy to come to that conclusion that if I eat fat, it will make me become more fat. And it's simply not true. It is the carbohydrates that get turned into fat in your body." —Leslyn Keith 40:11 “It's daunting because of how people treat too, and how they perceive you because most people see obesity as a lifestyle poor willpower, and it is your fault that you're there." —Leslyn Keith 44:41 "It's not all about obesity, it's not all about weight. It is about giving your body the nutrients it needs to be healthy." —Leslyn Keith 43:57 “If I would have known that lipedema was a thing when I was 15, how I viewed my body and how I viewed dieting or not dieting would have been different." —Donna Piper Connect with Leslyn: Leslyn Keith is a certified lymphedema therapist and has a Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy with an emphasis on lymphedema and obesity. Dr. Keith has started four lymphedema therapy programs in California including two in private practice. She has treated lymphatic and fat disorders for ...
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    51 min
  • My Body Changed Overnight… and Finally, I Got Answers

    My Body Changed Overnight… and Finally, I Got Answers
    Jul 9 2025
    "Remember, your symptoms aren't just physical, and your healing won't be either. Listen to your body, it's been whispering the truth all along." —Donna Piper Your body changes overnight—sudden weight gain, relentless pain, and doctors who dismiss it as "just aging." What if it’s not? Donna shares her shocking journey from unexplained swelling and crushing fatigue to life-changing diagnoses: lipedema, mast cell activation syndrome, and hypermobility. For years, her symptoms were brushed off as "normal," but rapid physical changes forced her to dig deeper. As a movement therapist and chronic illness navigator, Donna reveals how these invisible conditions masquerade as everyday health struggles—and why trusting your body’s signals is the first step to answers. If you’ve ever felt betrayed by your body or gaslit by the system, this episode is your roadmap to validation and actionable next steps. Listen now—your healing starts here. Connect with Donna: Website: https://www.donnapiper.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnapiper Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lipedema_donna Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedonnapiper YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedonnapiper Episode Highlights: 02:18 A Sudden Weight Shift 07:56 Exploring the Body’s Signals 11:07 The Importance of Tracking and Seeking Medical Advice 19:06 Weekly Feel Good Flow 22:36 Listen to Your Body! Resources: 🤔Got a question for me? Every month, I do a listener coaching episode—and I’d love to hear from you! Send your questions, stories, or flare-up confessions to donna@donnapiper.com, and you just might hear your answer on the show. 🔗Links Dr. Emily Iker: https://lymphedemacenter.com/ Dr. Perrin Technique: https://theperrintechnique.com/ X: Just exercise more’ didn’t fix my pain. Why? Donna found out the REAL culprit. If your body’s screaming, don’t silence it—investigate. Tune in to find out more! #DearBodyImListeningPodcast #Lymphedema #lipedema #MCAS #Hypermobility #bonespurs #HealthAwareness #ChronicPain Quotes: 00:25 "Always know that your instincts are valid, and it could be a multitude of things." —Donna Piper 06:28 "When my body started screaming through the swelling, the weight gain, the pain, and the mobility loss, I had no choice but to listen." —Donna Piper 08:42 “It's not just fat. It was a disordered fat, a condition, a real one— one that I have never heard of before." —Donna Piper 11:55 "This sudden shift was my wake-up call. And as painful and scary as it was, I'm grateful for it now, because it cracked me open up to the truth, to the science, and to healing." —Donna Piper 22:38 "Just listen to your body, support, and allow the healing to begin." —Donna Piper 23:02 "If your body is changing fast, don't panic. Get curious. You pretty much know your body." —Donna Piper 23:19 "Remember, your symptoms aren't just physical, and your healing won't be either. Listen to your body, it's been whispering the truth all along." —Donna Piper Meet Your Host: Donna Piper is a Relationship Coach, Trauma Expert, and Akashic Records Healer dedicated to empowering successful single women to transform their love lives and attract fulfilling partnerships without sacrificing their professional ambitions. With a holistic approach blending therapeutic coaching, trauma-informed techniques, and Akashic Records wisdom, she guides clients to release limiting beliefs, heal emotional blocks, and cultivate unshakable self-trust. Her work focuses on aligning mind, body, and spirit to create lasting change—helping clients refine communication, deepen self-worth, and build the foundation for healthy, loving relationships. Donna’s sessions are a safe haven for those ready to break cycles, embrace vulnerability, and design a love life that harmonizes with their thriving careers. For women committed to both personal and professional fulfillment, she offers tailored strategies to unlock their full potential and step into the relationship of their dreams.
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    24 min
  • Hot Girls Wearing Compression

    Hot Girls Wearing Compression
    Jul 2 2025
    "Compression might not be cute by mainstream standards... but compression is healing. And healing is hot." —Donna Piper What if compression gear could be your secret weapon against chronic pain and swelling— while making you feel confident, not constrained? This week, Donna reveals how symptoms like swelling and pain were once dismissed as "normal" struggles, and how compression has become a lifeline for managing inflammation, fibrosis, and daily discomfort. From decongestion wrapping to custom flat-knit garments, Donna breaks down the science and self-care rituals that help her reclaim her health—and her confidence—while navigating invisible illness. Listen now to discover how healing can be hot—and why your compression gear might just become your favorite accessory. Connect with Donna: Website: https://www.donnapiper.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnapiper Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lipedema_donna Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedonnapiper YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedonnapiper Episode Highlights: 02:59 Body Positivity: More Than Just Feeling Hot 07:00 Lymphatic Rescue: Decodign Decongestive Therapy 10:30 Medical Gear and Compression Basics 13:00 Fashion Meets Function 17:04 Self-Care Lymphatic Massage 22:34 Thank Your Body For What It Can Do Resources: 🤔Got a question for me? Every month, I do a listener coaching episode—and I’d love to hear from you! Send your questions, stories, or flare-up confessions to donna@donnapiper.com, and you just might hear your answer on the show. 🔗Links Solidea Compression Garments https://solideaus.com/collections/active-compression/products/solidea-active-massage-compression-opaque-legging Complete Decongestive Therapy https://www.physio-pedia.com/Complete_Decongestive_Therapy_(CDT)#:~:text=Historically%2C%20it%20is%20an%20intensive,as%20psychologica X: Hot girls wear compression—and no, it’s not about aesthetics. Learn the truth about custom compression, lymphatic health, and self-love in this week’s episode, with your host, Donna Piper! #DearBodyImListeningPodcast #Lymphedema #lipedema #MCAS #CompressionGear #painmanagement #ChronicIllnessWarrior #Inflammation Quotes: "There's absolutely nothing glamorous about pulling on full pantyhose or thigh-high compression hose or even socks, especially in the summer!" —Donna Piper "Function is not the opposite of beauty." —Donna Piper "It's about being present, it's being about hydrated and supported and doing what your body needs to make it feel good." —Donna Piper "I know when I wear my compression hose, I don't feel sexy, but I do know I have less pain, and I wear them a lot." —Donna Piper "Compression might not be cute by mainstream standards... but compression is "Sometimes you just have to make yourself feel cute, whether it's glasses or accessories." —Donna Piper "I have tried to integrate some of these practices a little bit more so I could start looking at my body and start accepting it more, and start giving a little bit more love and nourishment and thanking it for what it does do, not what it's not doing." —Donna Piper Meet Your Host: Donna Piper is a Relationship Coach, Trauma Expert, and Akashic Records Healer dedicated to empowering successful single women to transform their love lives and attract fulfilling partnerships without sacrificing their professional ambitions. With a holistic approach blending therapeutic coaching, trauma-informed techniques, and Akashic Records wisdom, she guides clients to release limiting beliefs, heal emotional blocks, and cultivate unshakable self-trust. Her work focuses on aligning mind, body, and spirit to create lasting change—helping clients refine communication, deepen self-worth, and build the foundation for healthy, loving relationships. Donna’s sessions are a safe haven for those ready to break cycles, embrace vulnerability, and design a love life that harmonizes with their thriving careers. For women committed to both personal and professional fulfillment, she offers tailored strategies to unlock their full potential and step into the relationship of their dreams.
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    24 min
  • So Flexible It Hurts: Living with Hypermobility & EDS

    So Flexible It Hurts: Living with Hypermobility & EDS
    Jun 29 2025
    "If you call yourself lazy or out of shape, you really are not. You're an Olympic-level competitor, because your body is doing so much more than everyone else." —Donna Piper Modern medicine often misses this critical truth: flexibility can be a disability. Hypermobility forces your body to burn energy just to maintain basic stability. For Donna Piper, 'flexibility' wasn't a gift—it was a hidden disability that stole her energy and fueled chronic pain. As a movement therapist, Donna believed her hypermobile joints were an advantage, until they triggered fatigue so severe she couldn't drive without bracing herself. In this episode, Donna reveals how Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) forces muscles to work overtime just to hold joints in place, why this drains energy "like running a marathon while holding a Jenga tower," and the surprising link between "bendy" joints and conditions like POTS, MCAS, and lipedema. Join in and learn how to do the side-lying breath reset technique that calms hypermobile joints without overstretching. Connect with Donna: Website: https://www.donnapiper.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnapiper Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lipedema_donna Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedonnapiper YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedonnapiper Episode Highlights: 02:47 Living with Hypermobility and EDS 04:15 Connective Tissue Disorders and Their Impact 08:46 Hypermobility and Energy Management 12:34 Side-Lying Breath Reset Technique 15:10 The Importance of Community and Self-Advocacy in Managing Chronic Illness Resources: 🤔Got a question for me? Every month, I do a listener coaching episode—and I’d love to hear from you! Send your questions, stories, or flare-up confessions to donna@donnapiper.com, and you just might hear your answer on the show. 🔗Links EDS: https://www.ehlers-danlos.com/what-is-eds/ EDS/MCAS: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9022617/ Hypermobility: https://www.ehlers-danlos.com/what-is-hsd/ Dr. Melissa Koehl, PT Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.melissakoehl.pt/?hl=en Website: https://www.chimera-health.com/ X: Your 'double-jointed' party trick? For EDS patients, it's actually their muscles working overtime 24/7. Learn why hypermobility = chronic fatigue in this week’s episode! #DearBodyImListeningPodcast #Hypermobility #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #EDS #ChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #HSD #POTS #MCAS #Lipedema Quotes: 02:51 "What they didn't see, and what I didn't realize, was that flexibility comes with pain and fatigue. The way my body could overwork itself just to hold it together." —Donna Piper 03:43 "I didn't realize that gripping wasn't supposed to be there. I realized that it was creating a lot of symptomology, and I just didn't know how to take care of myself." —Donna Piper 04:53 "Now I understand how much effort it takes to go on a car ride, or just hold myself up from the inside." —Donna Piper 05:01 "The wild part is EDS, HSD, lipedema, POTS, MCAS— they're all connected, and not everyone knows that." —Donna Piper 07:01 "Everything is highly, highly, highly individualized." —Donna Piper 10:46 "All of that extra work that I'm doing to substitute what my body needs for stability takes a lot of energy." —Donna Piper 12:24 "If you call yourself lazy or out of shape, you really are not. You're an Olympic-level competitor, because your body is doing so much more than everyone else." —Donna Piper Meet Your Host: Donna Piper is a Relationship Coach, Trauma Expert, and Akashic Records Healer dedicated to empowering successful single women to transform their love lives and attract fulfilling partnerships without sacrificing their professional ambitions. With a holistic approach blending therapeutic coaching, trauma-informed techniques, and Akashic Records wisdom, she guides clients to release limiting beliefs, heal emotional blocks, and cultivate unshakable self-trust. Her work focuses on aligning mind, body, and spirit to create lasting change—helping clients refine communication, deepen self-worth, and build the foundation for healthy, loving relationships. Donna’s sessions are a safe haven for those ready to break cycles, embrace vulnerability, and design a love life that harmonizes with their thriving careers. For women committed to both personal and professional fulfillment, she offers tailored strategies to unlock their full potential and step into the relationship of their dreams.
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    17 min
  • Chronic Fatigue… Huh, Is That Even Real?

    Chronic Fatigue… Huh, Is That Even Real?
    Jun 28 2025
    “Rest is medicine, and I even wear a monitor now to track how much energy I'm truly using. Even if I think I'm taking it easy, it shows me that I might be expending too much energy, and I'm able to take rest breaks purposely so I don't feel guilty about resting." —Donna Piper They called it burnout. They called it depression. They were wrong. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), isn't psychological—it's neurological. This invisible illness poisons your nervous system while leaving lab tests 'normal,' making it medicine's greatest blind spot. When world-renowned specialist Dr. Perrin examined Donna, he found something shocking: her lymphatic system was flowing backward, flooding her brain with toxins. Discover how this structural dysfunction creates the "crash days" of ME/CFS, why "pushing through" makes ME/CFS worse, the 5 physical signs of ME/CFS most doctors ignore, the 'feet up the wall' technique, the test that reveals if your nervous system is in overdrive, and the wearable device that exposes hidden energy expenditure (even during "rest"). Connect with Donna: Website: https://www.donnapiper.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnapiper Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lipedema_donna Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedonnapiper YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedonnapiper Episode Highlights: 01:48 Introduction to ME/CFS 06:22 The Perrin Technique and Why It Matters 08:52 Chronic Fatigue— Beyond Psychological 14:29 Feel Good Flow Time Resources: 🔗Links Dr. Raymond Perrin: https://theperrintechnique.com/ The Perrin Technique: How to diagnose and treat CFS/ME and fibromyalgia via the lymphatic drainage of the brain, 2nd Ed: https://a.co/d/3fXHbZD The Concise Perrin Technique: A Handbook for Patients: https://a.co/d/6yM60D7 Through the Looking Glass: Diagnosing and treating long COVID using the Perrin Technique: https://a.co/d/fpglYdD X: Fatigue isn't 'in your head'—it's in your LYMPH. Tune in as Donna shares the structural cause of ME/CFS plus the 4 foods that worsened Donna’s fatigue (and the weird swap that helped). #DearBodyImListeningPodcast #MECFS #ChronicFatigue #BrainFog #LymphaticHealth #MedicalGaslighting #SpoonieLife Quotes: 01:45 "If you're running on 30% and pretending you're running on 100%, you are not alone here." —Donna Piper 08:52 "Chronic fatigue syndrome isn't psychological. It's structural. So it's not just that you think you're tired, it's actually a physiological thing happening that's not working right." —Donna Piper 09:07 "Blocked or sluggish lymphatic drainage in the brain and the spine causes toxic buildup. This overload stimulates the sympathetic nervous system— your fight or flight mode— which keeps you stuck in the survival and that causes those deep, mysterious crashes." —Donna Piper 11:11 "Rest is a huge part of what is prescription. Do half of what you think you can because the more you push yourself, it takes longer for your body to detox." —Donna Piper 14:07 "Rest is medicine, and I even wear a monitor now to track how much energy I'm truly using. Even if I think I'm taking it easy, it shows me that I might be expending too much energy, and I'm able to take rest breaks purposely so I don't feel guilty about resting." —Donna Piper Meet Your Host: Donna Piper is a Relationship Coach, Trauma Expert, and Akashic Records Healer dedicated to empowering successful single women to transform their love lives and attract fulfilling partnerships without sacrificing their professional ambitions. With a holistic approach blending therapeutic coaching, trauma-informed techniques, and Akashic Records wisdom, she guides clients to release limiting beliefs, heal emotional blocks, and cultivate unshakable self-trust. Her work focuses on aligning mind, body, and spirit to create lasting change, helping clients refine communication, deepen self-worth, and build the foundation for healthy, loving relationships. Donna’s sessions are a safe haven for those ready to break cycles, embrace vulnerability, and design a love life that harmonizes with their thriving careers. For women committed to both personal and professional fulfillment, she offers tailored strategies to unlock their full potential and step into the relationship of their dreams.
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    18 min
  • What Is MCAS and Why Do I Look 6 Months Pregnant by Lunch?

    What Is MCAS and Why Do I Look 6 Months Pregnant by Lunch?
    Jun 27 2025
    "If you've ever been told it's all in your head, well, your body is not lying and neither are you." —Donna Piper What if your 'healthy' diet was secretly poisoning you? For decades, Donna ate kale, bone broth, and fermented foods—only to discover these 'superfoods' were flooding her body with histamines and leaving her bloated like a balloon by noon. In this episode, Donna pulls back the curtain on Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)—the invisible illness that turned her immune system against everyday foods. She reveals how doctors misdiagnosed her chronic bloating as "just stress" for 15 years, why high-histamine "health foods" worsened her symptoms, and the shocking link between MCAS, lipedema, and chronic fatigue. Join in to discover the 3 most surprising high-histamine foods (you’re probably eating them daily) and how Donna finally silenced her body’s false alarm system. Connect with Donna: Website: https://www.donnapiper.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnapiper Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lipedema_donna Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedonnapiper YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedonnapiper Episode Highlights: 01:55 What is MCAS? 07:28 Symptoms and Triggers of MCAS 14:59 Diagnosis and Treatment 16:01 The Link Between MCAS and Other Conditions 19:36 Practical Tips and Resources for Managing MCAS Resources: 🔗Links SIGHI: https://www.histaminintoleranz.ch/downloads/SIGHI-Leaflet_HistamineEliminationDiet.pdf Leslyn Keith: https://www.leslynkeith.com/lipedema.html Dr. Emily Iker: https://lymphedemacenter.com/ Histamine Intolerance Food List: https://a.co/d/irix6O3 X: Ever feel “fine” on the outside but exhausted inside? Discover the truth about MCAS, bloating, and invisible illness as Donna offers practical tips for daily relief and self-advocacy. #DearBodyImListeningPodcast #MCAS #HealthTips #SelfAdvocacy #Bloating #Histamines #ChronicSymptoms Quotes: 00:56 "If you've ever been told it's all in your head, well, your body is not lying and neither are you." —Donna Piper 05:58 "I had definitely no idea that my mast cells were such a part of the immune system, and they were in full revolt." —Donna Piper 07:56 "Not everyone behaves the same way and reacts the same way. You have to trial and error, so I think it's exhausting." —Donna Piper 12:30 "MCAS can make you feel like you're allergic to everything." —Donna Piper 13:34 "The more your food stays out... the more histamines it has." —Donna Piper 16:47 "MCAS is not linear, and unfortunately, it doesn't come with a clear food plan." —Donna Piper 18:27 "I had put my stock in some doctors saying this is what you need to do to feel better, and I kept on feeling worse, and I never got the right diagnosis. So I'm more agitated and irritated that doctors aren't trained to look for this, and that could have saved me, like, 10s of 1000s of dollars and 10s of years of this pain." —Donna Piper 18:56 "It is not fun to have days where you don't feel like doing anything. It does take a toll, even though it's a gradual toll typically, but how you start to live your life is a lot different." —Donna Piper 19:27 "It's hard to explain to someone really what you're going through, unless they either understand you because they've gone through it, or they're a medical provider that has more knowledge about it and sees patients with it." —Donna Piper Meet Your Host: Donna Piper is a Relationship Coach, Trauma Expert, and Akashic Records Healer dedicated to empowering successful single women to transform their love lives and attract fulfilling partnerships without sacrificing their professional ambitions. With a holistic approach blending therapeutic coaching, trauma-informed techniques, and Akashic Records wisdom, she guides clients to release limiting beliefs, heal emotional blocks, and cultivate unshakable self-trust. Her work focuses on aligning mind, body, and spirit to create lasting change—helping clients refine communication, deepen self-worth, and build the foundation for healthy, loving relationships. Donna’s sessions are a safe haven for those ready to break cycles, embrace vulnerability, and design a love life that harmonizes with their thriving careers. For women committed to both personal and professional fulfillment, she offers tailored strategies to unlock their full potential and step into the relationship of their dreams.
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    24 min