Behind The Bite

In this special episode of 'Behind the Bite,' Dr. Cristina Castagnini celebrates the 4th of July by revisiting the best moments from previous episodes. Dr. Cristina Castagnini, a psychologist and certified eating disorder specialist, shares personal stories and professional insights on the struggles and successes surrounding food, body image, and weight. The episode covers the detrimental effects...

In this episode of Behind the Bite, Dr. Cristina Castagnini speaks with therapist Cassie Krajewski about healing from trauma, eating disorders, and body disconnection. They explore the concept of embodiment versus disembodiment and how trauma impacts one’s relationship with their body and food. Cassie shares trauma-informed approaches, including Internal Family Systems and EMDR, to safely reconnec...

This powerful episode dives deep into the challenges of living in a diet-obsessed culture and explores how to navigate conversations about weight, health, and body image. Dr. Castagnini and Karen Scheuner discuss the exhausting reality of being professionals in the eating disorder field while encountering diet culture messaging in everyday social situations. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Ins...

Lindley, a photographer and body liberation activist, discusses her journey combining photography with activism focused on marginalized bodies. She explains how societal messages about bodies are absorbed daily and shape our emotional reactions to photos of ourselves. The episode delves into the historical roots of body image issues, linking them to racism and the development of Western beauty sta...

In this insightful episode, Béa joins the show to discuss her journey from primary care and functional medicine to focusing on the psychology and nervous system aspects of health. The conversation explores the deep connections between mind, body, trauma, and the development of codependency, perfectionism, and people-pleasing habits. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram @behind_the_bite_po...

In this episode, Sheryl Lynn shares her personal journey from trauma, dysfunction, and searching for joy to founding Joyely, a lifestyle brand and community centered around the concept of joy intelligence. She discusses how joy is often misunderstood, the science behind it, and how it differs from happiness. Sheryl explains the core elements needed to prioritize joy—safety, presence, and joy itsel...

In this episode, therapist Becca shares her personal and professional journey from being immersed in diet culture to discovering intuitive eating and the Health at Every Size approach. She discusses the moment she realized she had an eating disorder, how working with a coach transformed her perspective, and her ongoing process of recovery. Becca and host Cristina explore the myths around eating di...

This episode features a deeply personal and candid conversation with Julia Trehane, an eating disorder recovery coach, podcast host, and speaker. Julia shares her journey through 40 years of battling anorexia nervosa, orthorexia, and exercise addiction, ultimately achieving full recovery and dedicating her life to helping others find freedom from eating disorders. Julia recounts her earliest memor...

In this heartfelt episode, Cristina Castagnini explores the complexities of body image and the pressures surrounding self-love and body positivity. She begins by expressing gratitude to listeners for choosing to invest in their healing and self-worth, acknowledging the effort it takes to engage with these important topics. Cristina challenges the pervasive cultural messages that urge people to “ju...

In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Cristina Castagnini speaks with Ava Manuel, editor-in-chief of the Los Angeles Tribune and Mrs. Enterprise America 2025. They discuss how one conversation and one belief shift changed everything for Ava, reigniting a decades-old dream and launching her on the road to the Mrs. America stage. This episode explores reclaiming joy, breaking up with perfectionism, an...

This episode of "Behind the Bite" explores the overlap between eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Dr. Cristina Castagnini interviews Allyson Ford, a therapist specializing in both disorders with personal experience. Ford shares her journey with orthorexia and anorexia as a teenager, which later led to the realization of underlying OCD tendencies. The discussion covers the si...

In this episode of Behind the Bite, Dr. Cristina Castagnini is joined by Abbie Attwood, a weight-inclusive nutritionist and host of the Full Plate Podcast. Together, they explore the complexities of disordered eating, recovery, and the cultural forces that shape our relationships with food and body image. Abby shares her deeply personal journey through competitive running, chronic illness, and rec...

In this solo episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini addresses the anxiety many people feel as summer approaches, particularly regarding body image concerns related to wearing summer clothing. She explores how social media trends and cultural messaging can trigger disordered eating patterns and offers practical strategies for maintaining a healthy relationship with your body during this challenging seaso...

In this powerful episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini interviews Nicola Salmon about the pervasive weight bias in fertility healthcare. They explore how systemic discrimination impacts people in larger bodies seeking reproductive care, challenging harmful myths about fertility, pregnancy, and body size. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram @behind_the_bite_podcast Visit the website: www.behin...

In this episode of Behind the Bite, Dr. Cristina Castagnini interviews Oona Hanson, a parent educator and eating disorder advocate. Oona shares her journey from being an educator to focusing specifically on eating disorders and diet culture after her own child developed an eating disorder. The conversation covers crucial information for parents about recognizing warning signs, navigating treatment...

In this powerful episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with Mallory Page, a non-diet dietitian and founder of Live Unrestricted, to explore the complex world of diet culture, intuitive eating, and personal healing from disordered eating patterns. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram @behind_the_bite_podcast Visit the website: www.behindthebitepodcast.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsW...

In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with journalist, professor, and author Harriet Brown to challenge deeply ingrained myths about weight, health, and body image. Brown shares her journey from diet culture adherent to myth-buster, exploring how society's obsession with thinness affects our well-being and self-perception. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram @beh...

This episode explores how trauma-informed yoga can support eating disorder recovery, contrasting it with fitness-focused yoga that might trigger disordered behaviors. Jennifer shares her personal journey with eating disorders and how yoga became instrumental in her healing process. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram @behind_the_bite_podcast Visit the website: www.behindthebitepodcast.co...

Dr. Cristina Castagnini interviews Julia Werth, a registered dietitian specializing in eating disorders, particularly among athletes. They discuss the complexities of eating disorder treatment, recovery challenges for athletes, and how diet culture impacts both athletes and non-athletes. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram @behind_the_bite_podcast Visit the website: www.behindthebitepodc...

In this conversation, Virgie Tovar shares her personal journey with weight stigma and eating disorders, rooted in her family background. She discusses the societal implications of weight stigma, the rise of GLP-1 drugs, and their impact on body positivity. Virgie emphasizes the importance of creating weight-neutral environments in corporate settings and challenges the narrative surrounding weight...

In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini and registered dietitian Vincci Tsui take a deep dive into the often-overlooked consequences of bariatric surgery. They discuss the physical, emotional, and psychological impacts that extend far beyond the operating room, challenging the common perception of this weight-loss procedure. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram @behind_the_bi...

In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with Dana Sturtevant, a registered dietitian, author, and co-founder of the Center for Body Trust, to explore why diets fail and how to develop a healthier relationship with food and body image. Dana discusses how to trust your body, the impact of social determinants on health, and why recovery from disordered eating requires more than...

In this enlightening episode of Behind the Bite, Dr. Cristina Castagnini interviews Deb Schachter, co-author of "Body Image Inside Out," exploring the complex and often misunderstood world of body image. The conversation delves deep into understanding body image as more than just physical appearance, revealing how emotional experiences, relationships, and personal transitions profoundly shape our...

In this insightful episode, Dr. Debi Silber, a leading expert on betrayal trauma, shares her expertise on understanding, healing, and recovering from betrayal. Dr. Silber explains the unique nature of betrayal as a trauma, its symptoms, and the five stages of healing. She also discusses how time alone doesn't heal betrayal trauma and offers actionable tips for those on the path to recovery. SHOW N...

In this episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini interviews Simi Botic, an attorney turned coach, intuitive eating counselor, and author of "Letting Go of Leo: How I Broke Up with Perfection." They discuss the deep connection between perfectionism, disordered eating, and exercise addiction, sharing their personal journeys of recovery and professional insights. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram...