In this deeply emotional and inspiring conversation, Leslie sits down with entrepreneur and coach Xander Fryar to explore how pain, purpose, faith, and emotional healing can completely transform a person's life. Xander shares the devastating experience of losing his best friend, AJ, to suicide and how that moment forced him to confront mortality, question society's definition of success, and ultimately leave his six-figure engineering career at Cisco to pursue a more heart-led mission. Together, Leslie and Xander discuss how so many people stay trapped in logic, overthinking, and emotional suppression while desperately searching for fulfillment through external success. The conversation dives deeply into meditation, subconscious healing, and why emotional processing is essential for both personal growth and physical health. Xander explains how meditation helped him stop operating from fear and instead take courageous action aligned with his intuition and heart. Leslie and Xander also unpack the connection between emotional avoidance and behaviors like overeating, emotional eating, addiction, and burnout. They discuss the importance of fully feeling difficult emotions instead of trying to "positive think" them away, and how emotional release creates space for clarity, peace, and authentic healing. Xander also opens up about one of the most traumatic experiences of his life — when his wife Maddie nearly died from internal bleeding after a miscarriage complication in Costa Rica. In a raw and vulnerable moment, he shares how he believed he was losing the love of his life, the profound spiritual experience he had while waiting outside the operating room, and how the experience deepened his understanding of faith, service, and the fragility of life. The story becomes a powerful reminder that pain and suffering can often reconnect us to what matters most. Throughout the episode, Leslie and Xander emphasize that true success requires stepping beyond social conditioning, embracing discomfort, and believing in something greater than yourself. Whether listeners are struggling with emotional eating, fear, shame, lack of purpose, or simply feeling disconnected from themselves, this episode offers a powerful perspective on healing, conscious living, and finding fulfillment through purpose, connection, and courageous action. Standout Quote: "Success by definition is illogical. If you want more love, more impact, more freedom, and more fulfillment than average, you can't live by average logic." — Xander Fryar Timestamp Highlights: 0:01 – Introduction to Xander Fryar and his mission-driven work 1:29 – Losing his best friend AJ to suicide changed everything 4:46 – Why Xander quit his six-figure Cisco engineering career 5:54 – "Everybody knows they're going to die, but nobody accepts it" 6:38 – Leslie shares her own experience with grief and awakening 9:40 – Xander's meditation practice and how it transformed his life 11:21 – Why people chase tangible success instead of emotional fulfillment 12:22 – The law of attraction vs. courageous action 13:48 – How meditation creates clearer, more aligned decisions 16:59 – Xander shares the terrifying story of his wife nearly dying 21:18 – A spiritual moment in the hospital parking lot changed him forever 23:36 – Why pain gave him deeper clarity around purpose and service 24:11 – Leslie and Xander discuss emotional suppression and overeating 27:05 – "The only way through an emotion is through an emotion" 29:35 – How suppressed emotions stay trapped in the subconscious mind 31:04 – Xander's "emotional dump" practice for emotional healing 33:24 – Why fully feeling pain creates freedom and wisdom 36:00 – Emotional eating, crying, and authentic self-soothing 38:49 – Shame, fear of judgment, and fear of being seen failing 41:08 – Why success requires faith in something bigger than yourself 43:07 – Self-preservation vs. self-realization 44:30 – How purpose and connection impact emotional health and fulfillment 47:10 – Final advice: take scary action and trust the process Connect With Leslie Thornton: Book A Clarity Call Website Facebook LinkedIn Email: [email protected] If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes in under 60 seconds? It brightens our day and helps us bring you incredible guests for top-notch content. Plus, I cherish reading every review! Click here to make a difference!

In this deeply personal solo episode, Leslie opens up about one of the hardest seasons she's experienced in years. Over the last 60 days, she found herself struggling with anxiety, seasonal depression, emotional overwhelm, business stress, and feeling disconnected from joy, her body, and her relationship with God. Instead of hiding it, she shares the experience honestly to show listeners how emotional pain and unprocessed stress directly impact our relationship with food, weight, and health. Leslie explains how even after years of healing and freedom from food addiction, she could still feel the pull toward comfort eating, numbing, and wanting to escape her body during difficult times. She reflects on cravings for dairy and comfort foods, not from a place of shame, but from a deeper awareness that her body was signaling a need for safety, nurturing, and emotional support. Rather than panicking about the scale, she recognized that the real issue wasn't food. It was the emotional and subconscious pain underneath the surface. This episode is a powerful reminder that weight struggles are rarely about willpower, discipline, or finding the perfect diet plan. Leslie explores how unresolved grief, relationship pain, stress, fear, trauma, and emotional disconnection can quietly manifest through the body. She also shares stories from clients who experienced breakthroughs in their relationships and emotional lives, only to see their bodies naturally begin to change as a result. If you've been feeling exhausted, disconnected, emotionally overwhelmed, or stuck in cycles with food and body image, this episode offers compassion, honesty, and a reminder that healing begins when we stop trying to "fix" ourselves and start listening to what's actually hurting underneath the surface. "The weight is never just about the weight." Episode Highlights 0:02 – Leslie opens up about the hardest 60 days she's had in years 1:20 – Why emotional struggles often show up through the body and weight gain 2:18 – Feeling disconnected from joy, purpose, and everyday happiness 3:14 – Cravings for dairy and comfort foods during emotional distress 3:54 – Responding to weight gain without panic or self-hatred 4:30 – Feeling disoriented, overwhelmed, and emotionally exhausted 5:01 – The website glitch that impacted Leslie's business for two months 5:45 – The desire to numb, disconnect, and escape the body during stress 6:37 – Why weight loss struggles are not about discipline or willpower 7:18 – The deeper emotional causes underneath food and weight issues 8:28 – How unprocessed emotions stay stored in the body 9:22 – What happens when women ignore their emotional pain for too long 10:04 – Stories of illness, life changes, and finally listening to the body 11:07 – A client breakthrough: healing relationship struggles and body changes 11:36 – "The weight is never just about the weight." 12:14 – Feeling the emotional heaviness finally begin to lift 12:48 – The connection between mother wounds and not investing in yourself 13:11 – Leslie shares what she truly wants for women beyond weight loss 13:41 – Why healing and support should not be done alone 14:03 – Leslie invites listeners to explore "what's actually eating you" 14:33 – Using hypnosis and deep inner work to heal the root cause of emotional eating Connect With Leslie Thornton: Book A Clarity Call Website Facebook LinkedIn Email: [email protected] If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes in under 60 seconds? It brightens our day and helps us bring you incredible guests for top-notch content. Plus, I cherish reading every review! Click here to make a difference!

In this episode, Leslie sits down with Cytel Schultz for a deep conversation about authenticity, intuition, astrology, business alignment, and the connection between body, purpose, and success. Together, they explore how understanding yourself more deeply can transform not only your business and relationships but also your relationship with food, body image, and emotional well-being. Cytel shares her unexpected journey into astrology and entrepreneurship, explaining how learning to trust her intuition and spiritual guidance completely changed the direction of her life and business. Leslie and Cytel discuss the power of honoring your authentic communication style, why some people thrive through speaking while others thrive through writing, and how self-awareness creates confidence, alignment, and healthier relationships. The conversation also dives into emotional eating, body trust, spirituality, AI, feminine energy in business, and how caring for your body can dramatically expand your capacity for creativity and impact. Leslie reflects on how healing the deeper emotional patterns underneath food and weight struggles allows women to finally create lives that feel meaningful, aligned, and fulfilling. Whether you're struggling with perfectionism, trying to find your purpose, or looking for a more aligned way to grow your business and life, this episode is a reminder that true transformation begins with understanding yourself. "The more you know yourself, the better everything goes." Episode Highlights 0:01 – Introduction to Cytel Schultz and her work combining astrology and marketing 1:24 – Leslie shares why purpose matters more than obsessing over weight 3:12 – Using astrology as a tool for emotional awareness and healing 4:50 – Cytel's journey from skepticism about astrology to fully embracing it 6:55 – Why Cytel never originally planned to become an entrepreneur 8:13 – Cytel explains how she experiences intuitive "downloads." 9:42 – Leslie shares how intuition transformed her coaching approach 11:47 – Meditation, trance states, and receiving guidance 13:37 – Faith, spirituality, and respecting different beliefs 18:46 – Marketing as authentic communication and connection 20:39 – Why some people are naturally better at speaking vs. writing 24:43 – Following your own communication style instead of trends 26:04 – Leslie shares the spiritual moment that led her to leave nursing 28:24 – Cytel explains Leslie's astrology chart and spiritual business alignment 30:24 – The connection between body health and business growth 31:50 – Leslie discusses choosing purpose over perfectionism with food 33:34 – Why eating more actually helped both women feel healthier 34:44 – Learning to trust your body instead of fighting it 36:18 – AI, alignment, and creating a life by design 38:58 – How Cytel uses AI alongside astrology and intuition 41:18 – Creating personalized routines based on astrology 43:33 – Why AI should support human wisdom, not replace it 46:00 – The importance of human connection, intuition, and heart-led work 47:11 – Where listeners can connect with Cytel Schultz Connect With Leslie Thornton: Book A Clarity Call Website Facebook LinkedIn Email: [email protected] If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes in under 60 seconds? It brightens our day and helps us bring you incredible guests for top-notch content. Plus, I cherish reading every review! Click here to make a difference!  

In this episode, Leslie shares a deeper look into her private coaching experience and why some transformations go far beyond food and weight loss. She opens up about her personal journey, how her work has evolved, and why many clients discover that the real breakthroughs come from healing relationships, emotions, and patterns beneath the surface. If you've done "everything right" but still feel stuck, this episode shows why a more personalized, deeper approach might be what's missing. "When you work on what's underneath the surface, everything else starts to shift, including your relationship with food." Key Takeaways Weight loss struggles are often rooted in deeper emotional and relationship patterns Private coaching allows for deeper, personalized transformation beyond group work Many clients uncover hidden challenges like codependency, people-pleasing, and relationship stress Working on what's underneath the surface naturally reduces emotional eating True change comes from shifting identity, behaviors, and inner patterns—not dieting Consistent coaching + customized tools (like hypnosis) create faster breakthroughs Personal growth in one area (relationships, confidence) often impacts weight and health Timestamps 0:01 – Introduction to private coaching 1:15 – Leslie's personal journey with food and healing 3:20 – Why this work goes beyond weight loss 5:00 – Who private coaching is for 6:30 – Client story: relationship breakthroughs + weight loss 8:15 – Common theme: marriage and emotional patterns 9:50 – "Untangling" deeper life patterns explained 11:30 – Confidence, people-pleasing, and personal growth 13:30 – How to apply for private coaching Connect With Leslie Thornton: Book A Clarity Call Website Facebook LinkedIn Email: [email protected] If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes in under 60 seconds? It brightens our day and helps us bring you incredible guests for top-notch content. Plus, I cherish reading every review! Click here to make a difference!

If you've ever felt out of control around food, this episode will completely shift how you see it. Instead of blaming willpower, discipline, or yourself, you'll learn what's actually happening beneath those moments and why nothing has worked long-term. This conversation breaks down the hidden "trigger → relief → repeat" loop that keeps you stuck, and introduces a new way to finally change the pattern at its root. "You're not out of control. You're triggered, and that changes everything." Key Takeaways Feeling out of control with food doesn't mean something is wrong with you; you're triggered The real issue isn't discipline, it's an automatic pattern happening beneath awareness Dieting, restriction, and "trying harder" often make the cycle worse The brain prioritizes relief and safety, not logic, in triggered moments The temporary relief from eating is what reinforces the cycle Understanding the pattern is not enough; you need tools to change it True freedom means less mental noise, not perfect eating Timestamps 0:01 – Why this approach is different from traditional weight loss 1:00 – "There's nothing wrong with you" explained 2:14 – Why discipline-based advice fails 4:26 – The feeling of being "out of control" with food 7:10 – What actually needs to change 11:27 – The real reason the pattern keeps repeating 12:35 – Trigger vs willpower explained 14:15 – The trigger → relief → repeat loop 18:03 – Why diets, therapy, and knowledge aren't enough 21:29 – Orthorexia and the "new rules, same cage" problem 23:39 – How NLP helps change the pattern 25:00 – What life looks like when you're untriggered 29:00 – Why understanding alone doesn't create change 31:52 – What a Food Freedom Call is 33:08 – Final mindset shift: you're not broken Connect With Leslie Thornton: Book A Clarity Call Website Facebook LinkedIn Email: [email protected] If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes in under 60 seconds? It brightens our day and helps us bring you incredible guests for top-notch content. Plus, I cherish reading every review! Click here to make a difference!

Anne Cunningham shares her inspiring journey of breaking free from decades of dieting and food obsession. After years of feeling consumed by food, weight, and constant mental chatter, she discovered a completely different approach, one that focuses on emotional awareness, self-connection, and learning to listen to the body instead of controlling it. Through the program, Anne shifted from living in her head to truly connecting with her body, which helped her understand the deeper emotional patterns driving her behaviors. In this conversation, Anne opens up about how tools like emotional mastery, re-parenting, and belief work helped her uncover the root causes behind overeating. Rather than labeling herself as a "food addict," she learned to approach herself with compassion and curiosity. This shift not only improved her relationship with food but also created positive changes across her entire life, including her relationships, mindset, and daily peace. Now, Anne describes her life as freer and more balanced. She no longer follows strict rules or diets; instead, she checks in with her body, makes mindful choices, and lets go of guilt. While cravings still arise, she responds differently, with awareness rather than reaction. Her story is a powerful reminder that lasting transformation comes from within, and that real change is possible at any stage of life. "Get out of your head and into your body, that's where real change begins." Timestamps: 0:00 – Introduction & Anne's story 1:10 – Dieting exhaustion and shifting to body awareness 3:20 – Discovering a new approach through the podcast 6:40 – Emotional mastery and uncovering root causes 12:00 – How this work impacts life beyond food 16:00 – Making peace and "friends" with food again 19:30 – Moving from fear-based to love-based decisions 22:30 – The 3 steps to lasting transformation 25:30 – Daily life without food rules or obsession 28:30 – Handling cravings and improving self-talk 31:00 – Mindfulness, patience, and letting go of control 33:30 – Why real change happens in hard moments 36:30 – Final advice: give yourself a chance 38:00 – Closing and Anne's music Connect With Leslie Thornton: Book A Clarity Call Website Facebook LinkedIn Email: [email protected] If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes in under 60 seconds? It brightens our day and helps us bring you incredible guests for top-notch content. Plus, I cherish reading every review! Click here to make a difference!

Have you ever noticed how a vacation, something meant to be relaxing, can turn into stress, anxiety, and constant overthinking about food, weight, and how you look? In this episode, Leslie shares a powerful before-and-after transformation of her relationship with food, body, and weight, specifically around vacations. What used to feel like pressure, fear, and an exhausting mental loop has now become ease, balance, and presence. She walks you through the contrast between living in constant food noise and finally experiencing freedom where decisions feel natural, guilt disappears, and life is no longer controlled by "being on or off track." This episode is an invitation to step out of the all-or-nothing cycle and into a more peaceful, confident way of living where food is no longer the center of everything. "You can either spend your life worrying about food and weight… or you can learn how to live without that noise." — Leslie Thornton What you'll learn from this episode: 00:01 – Birthday reflections and why this transformation matters 01:14 – Before vs after: identity shift around food, body, and vacations 02:29 – Pre-trip anxiety: fear of weight gain, clothes, and "staying on track." 06:52 – Vacation patterns: being overly strict vs completely letting go 10:05 – The guilt cycle after vacation and trying to "fix it" 15:01 – Why the diet cycle never ends (holidays, events, routines) 17:53 – What true health really means beyond just food and weight 18:57 – Life now: no food anxiety, just presence and balance 22:09 – Ending food obsession and creating a normal relationship with eating 24:10 – The "mental chatter" problem and why it needs to be addressed 28:28 – Building confidence and self-trust through this journey 31:10 – Growth, coaching, and transforming your entire life Connect With Leslie Thornton: Book A Clarity Call Website Facebook LinkedIn Email: [email protected] If you enjoy the podcast, Would you please consider leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes in under 60 seconds? It brightens our day and helps us bring you incredible guests for top-notch content. Plus, I cherish reading every review! Click here to make a difference!

Have you ever felt like your struggle with food is something you just need to "fix" with more control, more discipline, or more willpower? In this episode, Leslie shares a powerful truth that challenges everything diet culture has taught us: it's not about the food. If you've been stuck in cycles of overeating, binge eating, or constantly thinking about food, this conversation will help you understand what's really going on underneath. She opens up about her own journey with weight, going from strict dieting to regaining it all back, and the guilt, shame, and frustration that came with it. Like many, she knew exactly what to do but still felt stuck. Leslie explains why focusing only on food is outdated and ineffective, and how true change happens when you address the deeper emotional patterns, triggers, and life experiences driving your behavior. From family dynamics and work stress to trauma and self-judgment, this episode uncovers the real reasons behind eating habits and how awareness and curiosity can help you finally break free. This episode is an invitation to stop fighting with food and start understanding yourself on a deeper level. "If you fix what causes the eating, you fix the eating." What you will learn from this episode: 00:00 – It's not about the food 01:13 – Why trying to control food doesn't work 02:02 – Dieting is outdated and not the real solution 03:29 – What actually causes overeating behaviors 04:19 – Fixing the root cause vs fixing the food 06:31 – Why knowledge is not the problem 07:13 – Understanding triggers and patterns 10:10 – Asking "why" behind eating habits 11:24 – How patterns control your behavior 13:05 – Family dynamics as a major trigger 15:59 – Work stress and career challenges 17:09 – Trauma and its impact on eating 18:29 – Self-judgment and diet mindset 21:14 – The importance of taking action 21:30 – Overthinking and mental exhaustion 22:36 – Biggest root causes recap 23:16 – Learning a healthy relationship with food 24:27 – Human connection vs AI 27:48 – Relationships and emotional eating 29:05 – Lowering your tolerance for feeling bad 30:12 – Final reminder: it's not about the food Connect With Leslie Thornton: Book A Clarity Call Website Facebook LinkedIn Email: [email protected] If you enjoy the podcast, Would you please consider leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes in under 60 seconds? It brightens our day and helps us bring you incredible guests for top-notch content. Plus, I cherish reading every review! Click here to make a difference!

Have you ever felt like you've tried everything to lose weight, diets, programs, rules, only to end up back in the same cycle? In this episode, Leslie sits down with Donna, a program graduate, who shares her deeply personal journey from years of dieting, emotional eating, and control patterns… to finally experiencing peace with food. Donna opens up about her past struggles with anorexia, growing up in a dysfunctional household, and how control over food became her way of coping. From people-pleasing tendencies to hiding food, rewarding herself with snacks, and navigating a toxic marriage, her story highlights how weight struggles are never just about food; they're about emotions, identity, and unmet needs. Through the program, Donna discovered something radically different from traditional diets: instead of rules and restrictions, she learned to understand her hunger, process her emotions, and set boundaries in her relationships. For the first time, she began eating like a "normal person" without guilt, obsession, or constant cravings. The shift wasn't just physical, but emotional and even spiritual. This conversation is a powerful reminder that real, lasting change doesn't come from willpower; it comes from doing the deeper inner work. When you stop trying to control food and start understanding yourself, everything changes. "You will actually be able to eat like a normal person… and you'll never have to diet again." — Donna Wilson What you will learn from this episode: 00:18 – The real reason behind emotional eating and weight struggles 01:17 – How trauma and life experiences shape eating behaviors 03:01 – Introduction to Donna and her background 05:30 – Donna's experience with anorexia and control patterns 07:01 – How food became a way to cope with a chaotic environment 09:14 – The impact of family and childhood conditioning on weight 10:48 – Why traditional diets fail long-term 11:27 – Recognizing emotional triggers behind eating habits 12:32 – How boundaries with people reduce emotional eating 13:33 – Breaking people-pleasing patterns and reclaiming self-worth 16:47 – What led Donna to finally seek a different solution 18:36 – Discovering hypnosis and trusting intuition 19:20 – Early results: weight loss without hunger or cravings 21:03 – The power of group support and subconscious work 21:52 – How hypnosis rewires habits and decision-making 22:56 – Using food as a reward and how that pattern shifts 24:17 – The connection between relationships, guilt, and eating 25:39 – Leaving a toxic marriage and reclaiming personal happiness 27:29 – How hiding, perfectionism, and low self-worth show up in food behaviors 29:20 – Overcoming fear, finances, and taking control of your life 32:50 – Why this work is "priceless" compared to traditional weight loss methods 34:31 – Letting go of cravings and emotional attachment to food 35:00 – Who this program is for (and who it's not for) 37:24 – Why belief and readiness are key for transformation 37:48 – The promise of never dieting again 38:24 – The importance of support and community in long-term success 39:18 – How to stop obsessing about food and finally feel free Connect With Leslie Thornton: Book A Clarity Call Website Facebook LinkedIn Email: [email protected] If you enjoy the podcast, Would you please consider leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes in under 60 seconds? It brightens our day and helps us bring you incredible guests for top-notch content. Plus, I cherish reading every review! Click here to make a difference!  

Have you ever felt like your mind is constantly attacking you about food, what you ate, what you shouldn't have eaten, what you'll eat next, and why you can't just "get it together"? In this episode, Leslie takes you inside that nonstop mental loop the exhausting cycle of being "perfect" on a diet one moment, and completely off track the next. She shares her own experience of living in this all-or-nothing pattern for years, where confidence only existed when everything was controlled and disappeared the moment it wasn't. The constant self-criticism, guilt, and pressure to get back "on track" create a cycle that feels impossible to escape. Leslie challenges the idea that dieting is the solution and instead presents a deeper truth: you can keep doing this forever, but it may cost you your peace, your happiness, and most of your life. She introduces a powerful shift from controlling food to understanding your relationship with it, revealing that the real issue isn't food, it's what's happening underneath. This episode is an invitation to make a decision: continue the cycle, or choose a new path, one where you face the real drivers behind your behaviors and finally create freedom around food, body, and weight. "You can spend 80% of your life worrying about your weight… or you can decide that you're not available for that anymore." — Leslie Thornton What you will learn from this episode: 00:02 – The exhausting cycle of dieting, weight gain, and self-criticism 01:28 – The 24/7 mental loop of food thoughts and self-judgment 02:24 – The "all-or-nothing" pattern: perfection vs. total frustration 03:09 – Why you can keep dieting forever but at what cost 04:30 – The 80/20 realization: most of life spent unhappy with food and weight 06:12 – The moment of decision to stop living in that cycle 07:00 – Option A: strict dieting, control, and forced accountability 09:10 – Option B: healing your relationship with food and your body 10:53 – Why life stress directly impacts your eating behaviors 11:30 – The role of lack of support in weight gain and emotional eating 14:24 – The deeper issues: people-pleasing, avoidance, and suppressed emotions 16:08 – Why both overeating and dieting are forms of numbing 17:34 – "There is intelligence in your suffering" – what that really means 18:45 – Breaking the cycle of guilt, dieting, and starting over 20:29 – Why dieting alone doesn't create lasting results 21:29 – Stop judging yourself, your struggle is valid 22:36 – Why you need support from people who truly understand 23:10 – The real root: emotional and identity-based issues, not just food 25:01 – The identity shift needed to master weight and eating habitsConnect With Leslie Thornton: Book A Clarity Call Website Facebook LinkedIn Email: [email protected] If you enjoy the podcast, Would you please consider leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes in under 60 seconds? It brightens our day and helps us bring you incredible guests for top-notch content. Plus, I cherish reading every review! Click here to make a difference!