Podcast: The Nervous System Eats First
Episode: Eating Feels Impossible? 3 Food-Environment Fixes for Perimenopausal Neurodivergent Women
Guest: Michael Lawrence — Master Chef (World Master Chef Society), Licensed Architect

Episode summary:
Have you noticed the same meal is comforting in one space but exhausting in another? Chef–Architect Michael Lawrence joins Dr. Stacey to reveal how light, sound, temperature, color, and texture shape your appetite, attention, and digestion before the first bite. You’ll learn three food-environment fixes and a 60-second sensory reset you can apply tonight—at home or out—so eating feels calmer and more nourishing, especially in perimenopause.

Key topics & timestamps:

• 00:00 — Why eating feels “impossible” (it’s not your fault)

• 01:24 — Who this is for: late-diagnosed, high-masking autistic women in midlife

• 02:28 — Michael’s dual lens: Master Chef + Architect (sensory-first design)

• 06:20 — The room speaks first: invisible sensory cues (light/sound/texture)

• 07:48 — Fix #1: Quiet the Room (soften light, reduce noise, steady temperature)

• 08:25 — Fix #2: On-Plate Design (color + texture → grounding & satiety)

• 20:11 — Fix #3: 60-Second Sensory Reset (pre-bite downshift ritual)

• 20:23 — Nourish or Numb lightning round: car eating, candlelight, “perfect bowl”

• 24:24 — One gentle ritual if you’ve been eating in survival mode

• 25:24 — Where to find Michael + free quiz & resources

Takeaways:

• Environment is medicine: Your eating space can up- or down-regulate your nervous system.

• Perfect Bite > willpower: Pair warm/soft with crisp/fresh to invite appetite gently.

• Rituals beat rules: A 60-second pre-bite reset changes how your body receives food.

Resources & links:

• Free “Menopause Burnout” Quiz → https://drstaceydenise.com/menopause-burnout-quiz/
  
  
• Watch the video podcast → https://drstaceydenise.com/video-podcast/
  
  
• Listen to the audio podcast → https://drstaceydenise.com/audio-podcast/
  
  
• Guest — Michael Lawrence: LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-lawrence-ml-design-studio/ • Site → https://ml-design-studio.webnode.page/
  
  

Credits & CTA:
Hosted by Dr. Stacey Denise, Lifestyle Medicine Physician & Neuroaesthetic MD. If this helped, share it with a friend who’s eating on survival mode.

Subscribe on YouTube and your favorite podcast app, and take the free quiz to get your personalized reset rituals.