Melissa Urban: Making Peace With the Past But Are You Thriving?

If you’ve ever tried the Whole30, you’ve benefited from the fruits of Melissa Urban’s labors. The co-founder of this mega-popular 30-day eating plan is regarded as a nutrition expert, but her health journey wasn’t always a straight and narrow one. 
In this episode of But Are You Thriving?, Thrive Market co-founder Nick Green speaks to Urban about growing the Whole30 community, becoming a bestselling author, and recovering from addiction—all while learning to set kind, healthy boundaries.
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Full Episode Summary: 
In this episode, Thrive Market co-founder and CEO Nick Green interviews Melissa Urban, the founder and CEO of Whole30. They discuss creating a healthy relationship with food and the importance of setting boundaries for personal growth. Melissa shares her personal journey and how it led her to create the Whole30 program, which focuses on understanding one's relationship with food and making healthier choices. She emphasizes that the program is not just about weight loss, but also about mindset shifts, self-confidence, and self-efficacy.
Urban also discusses the power of community and how the Whole30 program has fostered an active and supportive community of individuals seeking personal transformation. She attributes the program's success to the genuine impact it has on people's lives rather than solely relying on marketing strategies.
Beyond food, Urban expands her work to focus on freedom, empowerment, and setting boundaries. She highlights the importance of using one's voice, claiming space, and challenging societal expectations, particularly for women. By sharing her own experiences openly, Urban aims to inspire others to do the same, thus improving relationships, workplace cultures, and societal dynamics. She announces her new book, "The Book of Boundaries," which explores the topic in depth and has become a New York Times bestseller.
The discussion also explores gender differences and expectations surrounding setting boundaries. Urban explains that women have been conditioned to suppress their needs and prioritize others due to societal influences like the patriarchy and traditional gender roles. Overcoming these communication patterns and promoting healthier dynamics in relationships is crucial.
The conversation also covers Urban’s experience with a traumatic brain injury and the empathy she gained for individuals with chronic and invisible illnesses. She encourages self-compassion, redefining self-worth beyond external achievements, and prioritizing well-being while communicating needs effectively.
In summary, this conversation between Green and Urban highlights the importance of understanding one's relationship with food. They also emphasize the significance of setting boundaries for personal growth and improving relationships, particularly for women who have been conditioned to prioritize others. Urban’s journey of vulnerability and sharing personal challenges serves as an inspiration for others, while her experience with a traumatic brain injury promotes empathy and support for individuals dealing with chronic conditions or injuries.

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