In this empowering episode of Coached Soul, Dr. Steve Hudgins is joined once again by Shirley Billigmeier, a pioneer in intuitive eating and body awareness, to explore what it truly means to trust your body when it comes to food, health, and self-care.

Together, they challenge common diet myths and unpack how external rules, beliefs, and social pressures disconnect us from our natural eating instincts. Shirley shares how reconnecting with your body’s signals like hunger, energy, and satisfaction - can transform your relationship with food and help you move toward lasting wellness.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why diet rules and food judgment don’t work long-term
• How to reconnect with your body’s natural hunger and fullness cues
• Why focusing on the scale and numbers creates stress - not solutions
• How beliefs and conditioning shape your eating habits
• The role of hormones, cravings, and emotions in food choices
• Practical ways to eat with intention, awareness, and self-trust

Whether you’re tired of dieting, struggling with food rules, or simply looking for a more balanced approach to eating, this episode offers clarity, freedom, and a new way forward.

🎧 Listen now and learn how to move from control and confusion to confidence and connection with your body.

Key Moments:

05:41 Listening to your body signals

09:10 Understanding non-value based beliefs

11:47 Respecting yourself during meals

13:45 Finding a personal eating schedule

16:29 Confusion around healthy eating choices

22:28 Listening to body’s nutritional signals

About the guest :

Shirley Billigmeier is an expert in eating behavior and the gut-brain connection, with over five decades of experience helping individuals restore a healthy, natural relationship with food. Long before the gut-brain connection was formally recognized by the medical community, Shirley was working with what she describes as our “God-given eating boundaries” - the innate signals of hunger, fullness, and taste that guide how we are meant to eat.

Her work is rooted in a simple but powerful truth: just like infants instinctively know when to start and stop eating, we are all born with the ability to trust our bodies. Over time, however, societal pressures, judgment, and external rules disrupt that connection. Shirley’s approach helps individuals remove those layers of confusion and return to their body’s internal wisdom.

Rather than focusing on diets, weight, or restriction, she guides people to reconnect with their natural rhythms - transforming eating from a source of stress into a source of energy, clarity, and freedom. Her mission is to help individuals come back “home” to their bodies, rediscover the joy of eating, and live in alignment with their true, authentic selves.

How to connect Shirley:

Instagram: Instagram.com/innergeticsmethod

Facebook Facebook.com/learn.innergetics

LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/shirleybilligmeier

LinkedIn Page: Linkedin.com/company/innergetics

Website: www.innergetics.com

About Coached Soul™:

Coached Soul™ is an empowering podcast hosted by Dr. Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Dr. Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through interviews with guests who have overcome significant challenges. Coached Soul is not just a podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/

In this forward-thinking episode of Coached Soul, Dr. Steve Hudgins sits down with Dr. Steve Haberlin, assistant professor at the University of Central Florida and author of Meta Meditation for Mental Health, to explore how artificial intelligence, neuroscience, and virtual reality are reshaping the way we approach meditation and emotional wellbeing.

As technology continues to evolve, so do the tools we use for healing, self-awareness, and personal growth. But with these advancements comes an important question: Can technology enhance mindfulness - or does it risk replacing the human connection at its core?

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How AI and neuroscience are transforming meditation practices
• The concept of Meta Meditation and its role in mental health
• The balance between ancient traditions and modern innovation
• Whether AI can truly replicate the human element in healing
• How technology is making mindfulness more accessible and personalized
• The opportunities and risks of integrating tech into emotional wellbeing

Whether you’re a meditation practitioner, a tech enthusiast, or simply curious about the future of mental health, this episode offers a thoughtful exploration of where we’re headed and how to stay grounded along the way.

🎧 Listen now and discover how technology and tradition can work together to support a more mindful, connected life.

Key Moments:

05:36 Human connection vs. technology evolution

09:12 Different types of meditation explained

11:27 How mantra meditation impacts the brain

15:57 AI making education accessible

18:27 Balancing tradition and new tech

21:16 Online yoga vs in-person outcomes

25:00 Future AI and mindfulness tech

27:16 Balancing fear and exploring AI

About Dr. Steve Haberlin:

Dr. Steve Haberlin, PhD, is an assistant professor in the College of Community Innovation & Education at the University of Central Florida. He researches and writes about the convergence of mindfulness and meditation with technology, including AI. His new book, Meta-Meditation for Mental Health: How Neuroscience, Virtual Reality, and AI are Changing Practice and How You Can Benefit, was released on April 7.

How to connect Dr. Steve Haberlin :

Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-haberlin-ph-d-22390b55/

Book Link : https://www.amazon.com/Meta-Meditation-Mental-Health-Neuroscience-Changing/dp/1041223587

About Coached Soul™:

Coached Soul™ is an empowering podcast hosted by Dr. Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Dr. Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through interviews with guests who have overcome significant challenges. Coached Soul is not just a podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/