In this powerful episode, Rachel speaks with Natasha Kostalas, a former Head of English who traded her 10-year teaching career for the world of competitive bodybuilding, coaching, and authorship. Natasha bravely details her journey from a seemingly perfect, high-achieving life that masked chronic exhaustion, panic attacks, and body dysmorphia, to a transformative period of intense self-discovery.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The Hidden Cost of Ambition: Natasha's initial drive to succeed and prove herself led to severe burnout, anxiety, and a battle with panic attacks and an eating disorder, despite achieving a high level of professional success at a young age.

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• Fitness as a Catalyst for Change: Starting weight training was not about weight loss or superficial goals, but became a fundamental step towards reclaiming her power, developing self-discipline, and fostering emotional healing, ultimately leading her to abandon her high-pressure teaching career.

• The Turning Point: Making the Jump: A powerful confrontation and the realisation that she was consistently unhappy in her job led to the decision to leave her 10-year teaching career, proving that sometimes the biggest risks lead to the greatest relief and self-fulfilment.

• Beyond Aesthetics: The Bodybuilding Reality: Natasha highlights that competitive bodybuilding is an extreme sport that requires immense discipline and a multi-year commitment, but that the process itself was key to overcoming her body dysmorphia and learning to prioritize her health over external validation.

• Prioritize Self-Care and Reflection: The best advice for those feeling stuck is to reflect deeply on what truly brings happiness, find small ways to incorporate self-care (like journaling), and be brave enough to act on the inner voice that signals a need for significant change.

BEST MOMENTS

"The first day, I just remembered thinking, 'Oh my God, what have I done?' I had never felt so much out of place in my entire life."

"I was not willing to compromise all those years of work that I'd put in. That's why that choice was made."

"Strength training became less about how you looked and was more about you reclaiming your power."

"If something is in your head long enough, you know it's the truth... just go with your gut feeling."

"I realized that all the people I was listening to conversations... that was me, but that's not what I was anymore."

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HOST BIO

Rachel Elimelech is the warm, courageous voice behind Unspoken Emotions - a podcast that gives voice to the feelings we so often keep buried. A qualified Solicitor and Higher Court Advocate, Rachel combines professional insight with deeply personal lived experience - from surviving sexual abuse, loss, and single parenthood to rebuilding her life with quiet strength and unwavering resilience.

Her journey from teenage single mum to respected legal professional has shaped her gift for deep connection. With empathy and authenticity, Rachel creates a safe, judgment-free space where guests are invited to speak the unspoken - grief, guilt, shame, anger, fear - and begin to let go of what no longer serves them.

Through honest, unfiltered conversations, Unspoken Emotions explores how real people have turned pain into purpose and silence into healing. Rachel believes that healing begins the moment we speak the truth of our experiences - and that none of us should carry our emotions alone.