Episode #12
From People-Pleasing to Peace: Her Path Back to Herself | S2E12
Lauren sits down with Mia, also known as phoodietings, for a candid conversation about queer identity, people-pleasing, and the mental load of hiding who you are. Mia shares how growing up Filipino and Catholic shaped her early experiences, how she came to understand her sexuality later in life, and how creating content helped her build confidence and community. They also get practical, discussing ADHD diagnosis, setting boundaries without guilt, and why authenticity matters in both relationships and content creation. Key Topics The origin story of Mia’s @phoodietings Instagram The DMV Foodie Crew community of creators Filipino food and culture ADHD diagnosis in adulthood, including restlessness, trouble focusing, and trying different medications Mia’s experience growing up in a Catholic home and masking her identity Coming out later in life, including Mia’s first crushes, dating women privately, and the relief of finally living authentically The emotional cost of people-pleasing, especially when there’s no queer community or safe outlet to process dating experiences Coming out publicly on social media Mia’s advice on boundaries, self-trust, and choosing yourself even when fear is present Chapters 02:52 Starting with a breathing exercise 04:03 Highs and lows of the week, including entrepreneurship dreams and ADHD challenges 05:32 What led Mia to seek an ADHD diagnosis as an adult 10:04 Mia’s content creator origin story and how phoodietings began 11:03 Why Filipino content resonated and the role of food in love and hospitality 12:40 Family expectations, Catholic guilt, and early people-pleasing 14:12 Coming out later in life and realizing attraction to women 15:40 Masking, dressing to fit in, and the emotional strain of hiding identity 17:22 Lauren shares her own bisexual identity journey 20:59 Family reactions, internalized homophobia, and the path toward acceptance 22:23 Mia’s Hinge story and how she met her fiancé 25:33 Dating women in secret and what people-pleasing looked like in practice 27:24 The loneliness of hiding dating life from family and friends 30:54 How podcasts and a solo Miami trip helped Mia prepare to come out 32:31 Coming out to close people through Diana Ross’s “I’m Coming Out” 34:21 Why Mia chose to come out publicly on social media 36:55 Letting go of outside approval and feeling truly happy 39:12 The mental health toll of forcing herself into a straight box 40:01 Therapy and feeling free 42:29 A practical boundary: waiting 24 hours before saying yes 44:50 Advice for people afraid to live authentically Action items Try a 24-hour delay before agreeing to plans or favors Ask yourself whether a yes is coming from alignment or people-pleasing Post the creative thing, even if it feels cringe at first If you know someone who could benefit from listening to this episode, please share it with them. As always, I welcome your thoughts and feedback. You can also support the podcast by subscribing, rating, reviewing, and/or commenting on your favorite platform. Thank you! Newsletter: https://thenakedtruthwithlauren.kit.com/newsletter Email: hello@thenakedtruthwithlauren.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/thenakedtruth.pod Contact Us: https://www.thenakedtruthwithlauren.com/contact Connect with Mia: IG: https://www.instagram.com/phoodietings/ & https://www.instagram.com/toma_ventures/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@phoodietings YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TOMAVENTURES Thank you to our partners this week: Cozy Earth: Get 21% off bamboo sheets, pajamas, & more with code TRUTH at https://promocode.to/cozy-earth/truth-4zy More Labs: Get 25% off clinically proven recovery energy drinks with code NAKED at https://promocode.to/more-labs/naked-tjj
