McCall Dempsey, founder of Southern Smash, is an eating disorder survivor and passionate recovery advocate. After a 15-year battle, McCall sought treatment at the Carolina House in December 2010. Since then she has made eating disorder awareness and prevention her life’s work and passion.
McCall travels the country, sharing her story of hope and healing with audiences everywhere. From high school auditoriums to treatment centers to corporate meetings, her message of authenticity and embracing your inner-uniqueness transcends all ages.
McCall also writes the popular blog, Loving Imperfection. Her writing has been featured in various national television, print and online publications, including Today Show, Women’s Health Online and HuffPostLive.com.
A Louisiana native, McCall now resides in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, with her husband, Jordan, and her two children, Manning (8) and Marjorie (5). For more information on bringing McCall to your event email info@southernsmash.org or download her speaking kit here: McCall Dempsey Speaking Information
McCall not only shares her recovery journey, but includes helpful skills and tools learned through life’s ups and downs. McCall speaks and passionately shares how she overcame an eating disorder and used those recovery skills to cultivate a strong resiliency for life beyond her eating disorder.
“We are all dealt rough cards in life, but it is up to us to decide how we handle them.”
college. sorority. high school. In this talk, McCall recounts her journey of recovery from a 15-year battle with an eating disorder. From how she found peace with food and body to breaking the mental health stigma to taking leaps of faith in life, nothing is off limits.
middle school. We all know middle school is a difficult time. In addition to eating disorder and mental health education, McCall focuses on how important it is to be kind to one another. Using current news and social media stories, McCall reinforces the dangers of bullying, gossip and social media and gives advice on how to navigate the sometimes dangerous waters of social media and self esteem.
grade school. At some point in our lives, we receive the message that we aren’t good enough. In this talk, McCall reinforces the message of self-love and embracing what makes us different. The more we can remind our children of how uniquely awesome they are, the more resilient they can be against the negative messages society sends them.
parents. In a society that is obsessed with appearance, food and body, our children are the ones suffering the greatest. They are exposed to an alarming amount of negative body messages every single day. The pressure to live up to such a narrow beauty standard, affects all ages, genders and races both physically and mentally. How can we, as parents, protect our children from these negative messages? The solution starts with you. In this powerful talk, McCall Dempsey shares how you can raise body positive kids!
college & university
auburn university // centenary college of louisiana // duke university // elon university // kennesaw state // louisiana state university // meredith college // north carolina state university // ole miss // samford // tulane // ucla // university of florida // university of georgia // university of miami // university of mississippi // university of north carolina chapel hill // university of north florida // university of south carolina // university of virginia // vanderbilt // vcu
grade schools & high schools
academy of the sacred heart (new orleans, la) // baylor school (chattanooga, tn) // bolles school (jacksonville, fl) // carrollton school of the sacred heart (miami, fl) // episcopal school (baton rouge, la) // girls preparatory school (chattanooga, tn) // montgomery academy (birmingham, al) // palmer catholic academy (ponte vedra beach, fl) // ravenscroft school (raleigh, nc) // saint james school (baton rouge, la) // saint joseph’s academy (baton rouge, la) // saint mary’s school (raleigh, nc)
events
international women’s day (tampa, fl) // alliance for eating disorders walk (boca raton & tampa, fl) // kappa delta sisterhood event (ole miss) // kappa kappa gamma sisterhood retreat (lsu) // ieadp winter gala (tampa, fl) // mary kay regional conference // mcr foundation mommy & me tea (chattanooga, tn) // neda conference // neda walk (biloxi, ms) // neda walk (newark, delaware) // neda walk (st. louis, mo) // seed conference // unc chapel hill panhellenic // unc chapel hill new member retreat // salt lake city, utah //
treatment centers & hospitals
carolina house (durham, nc) // alsana (st. louis, mo) // alsana (birmingham, al) // clementine (miami, fl, twin lakes, va) // focus treatment center (chattanooga, tn) // oliver-pyatt (miami, fl) // reasons eating disorder treatment center (los angeles, ca) // river oaks hospital (new orleans, la) // rosewood (santa monica, ca) // veritas collaborative (durham, nc)
