Have you ever felt the energy of a live retreat? This week, we are talking to Nerissa Stewart, the CEO of Bariatric Society. We hear what the retreat means to her, why she and her partner in life and the Bariatric Society, Chris Stewart, took over the reins and Jason explains why it has been so powerful for him and his wife. LCSW and BariNation Member and Support Group Leader, Katie Booker, then joins the show to share a preview of what to expect at the retreat, and a sneak peak of what the panel on neurodivergency will be about. Tune in to learn why you should attend the retreat, and don’t forget we have a discount code: BARINATION24 , so grab your tickets today!

IN THIS EPISODE:

[0:53] What is the bariatric retreat and why is it so special to us?
[3:02] Why is the bariatric retreat so important to Nerissa, from the Bariatric Society?
[5:03] What led Nerissa and Chris to purchase the Bariatric Society?
[6:13] What is the fashion show about at the retreat?
[9:50] Katie joins the show to share about the retreat preview.
[11:42] We get a sneak peak into what Katie will talk about on the panel.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Attending a retreat can allow you to meet people that you have known digitally for years, there is just nothing like meeting people face to face!
There is a very empowering fashion show that takes place at the retreat, where people get to be comfortable in their skin, truly bringing tears to everyone’s eyes.
Find a community that can support you through all the ups and downs. BariNation is here to celebrate your highs and be there for your lows. We share stories, and have built such an incredible community.

RESOURCES:

Bariatric Society Website
Bariatric Retreat 2024 Tickets - Use code BARINATION24 when you purchase your Retreat ticket to let them know you are excited to connect with Jason, Katie, and BariNation Members at the event!
BariNation Website
Join the BariNation Membership community meetups to support you on your journey with obesity treatment - https://barination.com/pages/join-our-community
Want to see bonus content? Head over to Patreon to get more and to support the podcast for as low as $5 per month! https://www.patreon.com/BariNationPodcast

BIOGRAPHY:

Nerissa Stewart is the CEO of Bariatric Society and four years post-op VSG. Aside from her work within the Bariatric Community, Nerissa is a respected leader and speaker in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) field with over 15 years experience leading diverse teams and initiatives. In her corporate roles, Nerissa has worked for the inclusion of all and has received numerous awards including the distinction of Outstanding Black Alumni by her Alma mater Mary Baldwin University.

Katie is a mental health therapist in New York State that specializes in trauma. She is certified in EMDR, is a registered play therapist, and completes bariatric psychological evaluations for pre-surgery approval. She offers a unique perspective to the mindset work of bariatric surgery as a bariatric patient herself.

ABOUT:

If the BariNation podcast helps power your bariatric journey, become a monthly podcast supporter and help us produce the show! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com and help us support people treating the disease of obesity with humor, humility, and honesty.

About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians.

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