234 - Healing From My Eating Disorder & Letting Go of Perfection | Life Happens ft. Zosia Mamet
Life Happens with Barb & MichelleShow Notes
What if the very thing you’re ashamed of is actually the thing that sets you free? In today’s episode, we explore the truth that being messy is part of being human — and why perfection is the biggest lie we’ve ever been sold. 💫 This week on Life Happens with Barb & Michelle, we’re joined by actress, comedian, and author Zosia Mamet for a deeply honest conversation about recovery, self-acceptance, and learning to embrace our imperfections. In a world that glorifies thinness, achievement, and flawlessness, it’s easy to feel like you’ll never be “enough.” Zosia shares her raw journey through eating disorder recovery, the pressure to be perfect, and the unexpected power of community and vulnerability. If you’ve ever struggled with self-worth, comparison, or feeling alone in your pain — this episode is your reminder that you are worthy, lovable, and not alone. ✨ Episode Highlights • Releasing Comparison: How social media fuels unrealistic expectations—and how to break free. • Healing From an Eating Disorder: Understanding the roots of addiction and why support is essential. • The Importance of Community: Why you don’t have to (and shouldn’t) struggle alone. • Learning From Imperfection: Growth happens in the mistakes, the messiness, and the trying again. This conversation is a soft place to land — a safe space to breathe, heal, and remember who you really are. 🌸 DEAR FRIEND: USA TODAY & INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER We are so proud to announce that Michelle’s book Dear Friend is now a USA TODAY and International Bestseller! This moment is only possible because of YOU — your support, your reviews, your love, and your belief in this work. Dear Friend offers 365 daily reflections to help you return to yourself with compassion, clarity, and peace. 👉 Order your copy here: https://amzn.to/3Us9eqg 💛 Episode Topics • How to break free from comparison and impossible beauty standards • The truth about perfectionism—and its impact on your mental and emotional well-being • Zosia Mamet’s honest journey through eating disorder recovery • Why community, vulnerability, and support are essential for healing • How to embrace imperfection and begin accepting yourself from the inside out 💬 We’d love to hear from you! Which insight or moment resonated with you the most in this episode? Share in the comments below—we truly read every single one. 📅 Subscribe & Join Us Next Tuesday for another heartfelt episode of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle! 💕 ⭐ Special Guest: https://www.instagram.com/zosiamamet/ And grab a copy of her amazing book: https://bit.ly/484YFRW ✨ Your New Must-Have Mindfulness Mug ✨ PMPL x Uncommon Goods This isn’t just a mug—it’s a daily pause, a breath, a moment to return to yourself. Every sip becomes a gentle reset, with year-round reflections designed to help you slow down, reconnect, and ground your day in intention. Make self-care simple, beautiful, and meaningful. Shop your Mindfulness Mug here: https://www.uncommongoods.com/product/daily-mindfulness-interactive-qr-mug 🎙️ Host by:
https://www.instagram.com/peaceful_barb/
https://www.instagram.com/michellemaros/
Join our community⬇️ YouTube: www.youtube.com/@LifeHappensThePodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifehappensthepodcast/ Substack: https://lifehappensthepodcast.substack.com/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lifehappensthepodcast
Listen to our podcast anywhere→ https://michellemaros.com/podcast/ 🎙️ New episodes of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle are released every Tuesday
✨ Available Now✨ Order Dear Friend to receive daily doses of clarity, hope, and heartfelt encouragement.💌 https://amzn.to/3Us9eqg
Our Sponsors: * Check out Time4Learning: https://www.time4learning.com
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
More from Life Happens with Barb & Michelle
“It’s not about you needing to be fixed. It’s about you needing to understand that you already are worthy.” - Barb Self-love, toxic relationships, and feeling overwhelmed: these are just a few of the topics in this week’s episode of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle, where the mother-daughter duo are back with one of their favorite formats, a Q&A from their community. Barb shares how she gets through difficult family gatherings, from volunteering for the grocery run to taking the grandkids out for ice cream. Michelle reflects on Scott Peck’s line that life is difficult, and how once you accept that, it can take the edge off when someone rubs you the wrong way. They then get into how to build self-love and how to keep it even when it feels like life is knocking you down.
"I'm okay with people having their opinions … but I'm not okay with them saying it's the only way." – Barb
"People are walking around asking, 'Is it okay if I'm just me?'" – Cory Allen
In today’s episode of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle, Barb and Michelle are joined by writer, speaker, and advocate Libby Ward, author of Honest Motherhood: On Losing My Mind and Finding Myself. In a deeply moving and vulnerable conversation, we talk about the realities of modern motherhood, including the mental load, overwhelm, the pressure to do it all, and what it takes to let go of perfection. Together, Libby, Barb, and Michelle explore the hidden roots of rage, overstimulation, and people-pleasing, unpacking how childhood trauma and hypervigilance make setting simple boundaries feel like a matter of life or death. Libby shares her candid "Granola Bar" story, a pivotal moment of maternal rage that forces her to confront her limits and explains why genuine repair and self-compassion are the true keys to breaking generational cycles. From validating our children's experiences to unlearning the myth of the "perfect mother," this episode offers an honest, hopeful blueprint for reconnecting with your authentic self.
On this week’s episode of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle, Barb and Michelle are joined by Kelly Rizzo, host of the podcast Comfort Food and widow of beloved comedian Bob Saget. In this vulnerable conversation about grief and loss, Kelly shares the deep love she had for Bob, the heartbreak that followed his death in 2022, and how she continues to manage her relationship with grief and the trauma she experienced processing such a loss in the public eye. Kelly also shares her personal experience of finding love again after loss, how she knew she was ready to date again, and also talks of her personal experience of choosing to live child-free. We felt such a beautiful connection with Kelly in this episode and we hope you love it as much as we do! Episode Highlights: Grief after sudden loss while grieving in the public eye The trauma of grief, PTSD, and the blessing of sharing your story to help others Finding love again and the importance of not settling in relationships Choosing a child-free life and breaking free from societal expectations