All Bodies. All Foods.

In this powerful conversation, Sam and Laura sit down with Dr. Jen Gaudiani to explore the updated second edition of Sick Enough: A Guide to the Medical Complications of Eating Disorders and Undernutrition. With decades of experience with eating disorders, Dr. G. integrates her wisdom, compassion, and curiosity in her new book.   Join us as we unpack the impact of weight stigma in medical and eati...

If you’re in eating disorder recovery and living with ADHD, you might feel like you know what you’re supposed to do—but actually doing it can feel overwhelming, inconsistent, or just plain exhausting. In this episode, we’re joined by Natalie Stine to talk about why that happens—and what strategies can help. Natalie has dedicated herself to bridging her professional expertise and lived experience t...

In this empowering episode, clinical psychologist Dr. Lauren Napolitano, PsyD, explores the often-overlooked connection between intimate partner violence (IPV) and eating disorders. We break down what IPV and narcissistic abuse really mean, unpack trauma bonds and coercive control, and highlight key warning signs in relationships. You’ll learn why eating disorders and IPV frequently co-occur, how...

Depressive disorders and eating disorders frequently co-occur, but why does this happen and how do you treat both at the same time? In this episode, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Holly Willis, MSN, PMHNP-BC, breaks down the complex, bi-directional relationship between the two. She clarifies the difference between feeling low and having clinical depression, explores various depressiv...

Wondering what it’s like to meet with a psychiatrist during eating disorder treatment? In this episode, Dr. David Hahn, MD, psychiatrist and Medical Director at The Renfrew Center in Philadelphia, shares what collaborative psychiatric care really looks like. Dr. Hahn explains how sessions are structured, how trust is built, and how medication decisions are made collaboratively. We also discuss how...

Treating eating disorders alongside co-occurring substance use can be complex, and many individuals wonder what should be addressed first—or what support is available when you’re in treatment for an eating disorder. In this episode, Laura and Sam sit down with Alexis Hill, one of the Team Leaders at Renfrew’s residential program in Philadelphia, to explore these important questions. Alexis shares...

What happens when chronic illness, chronic pain, and eating disorders collide? In this deeply moving episode, therapist, professor, and author Tamie Gangloff, MA, MFT shares how her own journey with scoliosis shaped her relationship with her body and ultimately led her to write Chronic Illness and Eating Disorders: Assessment, Clinical Skills, and Lived Experiences. With authenticity and clinical...

In this expert-led episode, eating disorder therapists Dr. Kari Gerth, DSW, LCSW, and Emily Stein, MSW, MDiv, LCSW, break down what current research reveals about social media’s impact on body image, mental health, and eating disorder recovery. Drawing on both research and clinical experience, they discuss emerging trends, key psychological theories, and the insidious ways online platforms shape h...

Are you supporting a loved one through eating disorder recovery and feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to help? In this episode, Tiffany Phillips, LMFT, founder of Restoring Hope Therapy Services, shares the step-by-step strategies she uses in her sessions with families, based on Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), an evidenced-based approach originally developed by Dr. Adele LaFrance, P...

For those of you on your eating disorder recovery journey, you know that feeling stuck or unmotivated is often part of the healing process and sometimes it is difficult to remain hopeful. In this episode, we dive into the practice of Hope Mapping with Allyson Inez Ford. A tool originally created by Dr. Shane Lopez, Hope Mapping can help you set realistic goals, overcome obstacles, and find hope ag...

Loving someone with an eating disorder can feel overwhelming – but you’re not alone. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Dana Harron PsyD, author of Loving Someone with an Eating Disorder: Understanding, Supporting, and Connecting with Your Partner, shares practical ways to communicate with compassion, navigate tricky situations, and strengthen your relationship during recovery. Join hosts Sam and...

Struggling with body image? In this episode, authors Deb Schacter, MSW and Whitney Otto, MA, PCC share practical tools to navigate bad body image days, interrupt harmful cycles, and foster a deeper connection with your authentic self.  Learn how to "decode" your body image thoughts, turn judgment into curiosity, and strengthen the "BodySelf" muscles of awareness, curiosity, and compassion. They'll...

Harm reduction for eating disorders is often misunderstood, under-discussed, and sometimes controversial — yet it’s transforming the way we think about treatment and care. In this episode, Sam and Laura are joined by Brenda Velissaris, LPC-S, CEDS-C, to explore how a harm reduction approach to eating disorders can meet people where they are, reduce immediate risks, support autonomy, and improve qu...

Join Laura and Sam as they sit down with Alexandra Poole LCSW and Felicia Perez Campana Ed. S., LMHC – two of our clinical leaders from Renfrew’s virtual eating disorder treatment program, Renfrew@Home. As we continue to navigate virtual care, they’ll answer some important and commonly asked questions, such as: Is online treatment as effective as in-person therapy? How do I eat a meal in a virtual...

Shame is a deeply human emotion that can affect every part of our lives — impacting mental health, body image, relationships, and eating disorder recovery. In this episode, we talk with Ashley Moser, LMFT, CEDS about where shame comes from, how it drives secrecy and isolation, and how we can begin to loosen its grip. We explore the difference between shame and guilt, the impact of systemic shame,...

In this special episode, we say a heartfelt farewell to our beloved co-host Ashley and warmly welcome our new co-host, Laura McLain, PsyD, BC-TMH. Sam and Ashley reminisce about favorite moments from past seasons, unforgettable guests, and the joy of growing together through this podcast. Ashley shares what’s next for her and offers a touching message to you, our amazing listeners. Then, we meet L...

Is recovery from an eating disorder really possible? In this inspiring episode, Johanna Kandel — survivor, author, and founder of the National Alliance for Eating Disorders — shares her journey through anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder, and how she turned her pain into purpose. We dive into the realities of non-linear recovery, overcoming treatment barriers, and the power of community....

In this powerful episode, Paula Edwards-Gayfield, LCMHCS, LPC, CEDS-C (she/her), co-author of Black Women with Eating Disorders: Clinical Treatment Considerations, reveals the unique challenges Black women face in eating disorder diagnosis and care. Drawing on her expertise, Paula explores the cultural and systemic factors that contribute to treatment disparities and offers practical strategies fo...

Can body image really begin at age 3? According to the research – yes. And what parents say and do in those early years can be a powerful protective force. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Janet Boseovski and Dr. Ashleigh Gallagher, authors of Beyond Body Positive: A Mother’s Science-Based Guide for Helping Girls Build a Healthy Body Image. They share evidence-based insights on how mothers – a...

Join Ashley and Sam as they sit down with Dance/Movement Therapist and Embodied Clinician Susan Kleinman to discuss how movement and attunement within the therapeutic space can foster a sense of innate safety—an essential component in the healing process for folx with eating disorders. In this episode, Susan reflects on her decades of work, shares her definition of body image, and highlights her u...

Stephanie Spitz—Administrator, Adjunct Professor, and President of the Disability Caucus at Montclair University—joins Ashley and Sam to explore how her intersecting identities as an artist, disabled fat person, and advocate for marginalized communities have fueled her activism on campus. Drawing from lived experience and a deep commitment to amplifying often-silenced voices, Stephanie is known fo...

What if recovery isn’t about being perfectly healed, but about learning to live – and grow – in the messy, in-between spaces? In this heartfelt episode, accomplished journalist and author Mallary Tenore Tarpley shares the wisdom of “The Middle Place”, a compassionate framework for understanding eating disorder recovery as an imperfect and ongoing process. Drawing from her memoir SLIP: Life in the...

In this eye-opening episode, Monika Ostroff, LICSW, CEDS-S (she/they), a renowned expert in the eating disorder field, courageously shares her lived experience with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and Anorexia Nervosa (AN). With over 25 years of professional experience, Monika gives us an intimate look at the complexities of living with DID, explains how it complicates eating disorder recover...

Ashley and Sam welcome Janice Dada, CEDRD, CDCES, and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, to discuss diabetes care through a non-weight-focused lens. In this episode, Janice shares insights from her new book, Intuitive Eating for Diabetes: The No Shame, No Blame, Non-Diet Approach to Managing Your Blood Sugar, where she integrates the 10 principles of Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse...

Join us for a thoughtful conversation about the connection between trauma and eating disorders—and how both can be effectively treated. Dr. Laura McLain, PsyD, BC-TMH (she/her), Director of Training at The Renfrew Center, discusses why trauma is a common risk factor for eating disorders and how symptoms often serve as coping strategies for a dysregulated nervous system. We also explore Renfrew’s t...