Melissa Urban on Boundaries, Empathy, and the New Whole30

This week, I’m excited to welcome back Melissa Urban to the show to discuss her new book, The New Whole30: A Fresh Approach to Food and Life. Melissa Urban is the co-creator and CEO of the Whole30 program, a New York Times bestselling author, and a respected voice in the wellness community. Her new book reintroduces the Whole30 program with updates based on recent science and her personal evolution, making the program more inclusive, empathetic, and accessible.

In this conversation, we cover:

• The Whole30 Framework: Melissa revisits the Whole30 as a 30-day elimination and reintroduction program designed to help individuals identify how foods affect their health and well-being. It’s not a diet or detox but a personalized tool to find your "food freedom."
• The Evolution of Whole30: Melissa explains the updates in the new book, including changes in tone and scientific understanding, as well as new accommodations for vegetarians, vegans, and plant-based eaters.
• Boundaries and Wellness: Drawing from her book The Book of Boundaries, Melissa explores the role of boundaries in improving relationships and mental health, showing how the Whole30 is a “boundary bootcamp” for better self-awareness and confidence.
• Emotional and Psychological Challenges: Melissa shares insights on navigating emotional attachments to food, managing social dynamics, and overcoming fears related to dietary changes. Her empathetic approach acknowledges these challenges while offering practical solutions.
• Why 30 Days Matters: The Whole30’s duration strikes a balance between accessibility and effectiveness, helping participants experience life-changing benefits in energy, sleep, digestion, and mental clarity, with a gradual reintroduction phase to solidify learnings.

Learn more about Melissa Urban and the Whole30 at Whole30.com

Connect with Erik:

• LinkedIn 
• Facebook 
• Bluesky

This Podcast is Powered By:

• Descript
• Descript 101
• Castmagic
• Ecamm
• Podpage
• Rodecaster Pro
• Top Productivity Books List

Make sure to support the show by checking out the sponsors!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

• Make sure to grab Shortcasts from Beyond The To-Do List by Blinkist. A Shortcast is a 7-10 min version of a podcast where you get the core takeaways.