Bodywhys Podcast

Jenny and Harriet are joined by another special guest in this episode - Veronica Kamerling, a mother, carer, and someone who’s spent over 23 years supporting families affected by eating disorders and mental illness. Veronica supported both her daughters when they developed an eating disorder. She founded Eating Disorders & Carers, a space for families who, like hers, were doing their best in t...

Welcome back to the New Maudsley Carer Skills podcast - we are kicking off our third season with a very special guest - Prof. Janet Treasure OBE. Janet joins Harriet and Jenny to talk about supporting carers. Notes Jenny's website: https://newmaudsleycarers-kent.co.uk/ Bodywhys website: https://www.bodywhys.ie/

In this episode, Jenny and Harriet discuss the topic of the teenage brain and eating disorders, one of the topical sessions that Jenny runs regularly. We'll be thinking through the biology of the brain and how understanding it can help us better understand a teen's eating disorder, and most importantly how understanding the teen brain can help us support a teen with an eating disorder better. Note...

In this episode Jenny and Harriet are joined by Hannah Hickinbotham. Hannah was diagnosed with Atypical Anorexia aged 14, and she talks about the twists and turns of her recovery journey, finding a therapy that worked and how she has dealt with a more recent ADHD diagnosis as well. Notes Jenny's website: https://newmaudsleycarers-kent.co.uk/ Bodywhys website: https://www.bodywhys.ie/ Hannah&#3...

In this episode, Jenny and Harriet discuss the role of perfectionism in eating disorders, and how the New Maudsley Carer Skills can be used by carers to support their loved one to identify perfectionism and move away from the tyranny of perfectionism.  Notes Jenny's website: https://newmaudsleycarers-kent.co.uk/ Bodywhys website: https://www.bodywhys.ie/

In this episode, Jenny and Harriet talk about the role of exercise and compulsive exercise in eating disorders. How do we know if a person is exercising to an extreme and how can we support a person as they change their relationship with exercise. Notes Jenny's website: https://newmaudsleycarers-kent.co.uk/ Jenny is running a session for those supporting a person with an eating disorder titled 'Co...

In this episode, Barry speaks with clinical psychologist, Dr Agnes Ringer, about paradoxes in eating disorder recovery. We explore the role of workshops, the analytical questions, ambivalence, mechanical eating and agency. Notes Troublesome Bodies: How Bodies Come to Matter and Intrude in Eating Disorder Recovery | Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry Anorexia as Parody: Postmodern Feminism and the P...

In this episode, Barry speaks with Bridgette Becker about her MA thesis. They talk about the role of historical trauma in women's experiences of eating disorders and the role of the patriarchy. Notes Tending the Roots: Implications for Historical Trauma and Its Manifestations in Women's Eating Disorders - ProQuest

In this episode, Barry talks to Dr Laura Chapman, Senior Research Associate, University of Bristol, about the experiences and support needs of mothers with eating disorders. We explore previous research, and key themes, such as parenting as a double-edged sword and potential clinical implications of Laura's work. Laura also talks about her personal connection to eating disorders. Notes “I thin...

In this episode, Jenny and Harriet discuss body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), and body image distortion in eating disorder recovery. Although these are not the same thing, the terms are often interchanged. Jenny and Harriet talk about both, and how they may intersect when an eating disorder is in the picture. Notes Jenny's website Bodywhys.ie International OCD Foundation | Eating Disorders are No...

In this episode, Barry talks to Dr Elisa Lewis, London South Bank University. We explore hegemonic masculinity and its relationship to body image, appearance investment, male gender norms and key themes from Elisa's research. Notes “Awful Skinny Boys” – Male Musical Theatre Performers’ Experiences of Body Image: A Reflexive Thematic Analysis - Maria E. Carr, Elisa G. Lewis, 2025

In this episode, Jenny and Harriet talk through the difficult topic of NG feeding and how the Maudsley skills can be used to help tolerate the distress that goes with this. Notes Bodywhys website Jenny's website

In this episode, Barry talks to Catholic moral theologian, Dr Megan Heeder, University of Scranton. We explore moral judgements about food, temperance, prudence, connatural knowledge and the work of the late Beth Haile. Notes Aquinas's Unity Thesis and Grace: Ingredients for Developing A Good Appetite in a Contemporary Age The Beauty of a Good Appetite in a Social Media Age

In this episode, Barry speaks with Jinxu Li, Texas A&M University, about why people share their experiences of eating disorders on social media. Jinxu's episode focuses on research participants from China. We also discuss self-determination theory. Notes “I Want to Hold an Umbrella Over You Because I Have Been in the Rain”: Exploring Patient Influencers’ Motivations to Share Eating Disorde...

In this episode, Jenny and Harriet are joined again by Livia Sara. This time they talk about the fear of weight gain for autistic people in eating disorder recovery.   Notes Here are the links to Livia's podcasts mentioned in the episode.   Part One  Fear of Weight Gain in Autism and Anorexia[Part 1] Part Two  Autism, Anorexia, and Fear of Gaining Weight[Part 2] Part Three  Accepting Weight Ga...

In this episode, Jenny and Harriet talk through the third subtype of ARFID - fear of aversive consequences. Using real life examples, Jenny discusses the menu of Maudsley skills that can help carers supporting a person with this type of ARFID. Notes Bodywhys website Jenny's website

In this episode, Barry speaks with Dr Veya Seekis, Griffith University, about social media detox strategies, body image and well-being. We explore some of the appearance-related content people may encounter when they spend time on social media. Notes To detox or not to detox? The impact of different approaches to social media detox strategies on body image and wellbeing - ScienceDirect Growing ski...

In this episode, Barry speaks with Cato Benschop, Utrecht University, about the life project account of eating disorders. We explore what this alternative framework offers for understanding people's experiences. Notes The life project account of eating disorders: agency in the pursuit of dietary goals Cato's website

In this episode, Barry talks to Dr Madeleine Tatham, Norfolk Community Eating Disorders Service, about the impact of a podcast-based pre-treatment psychoeducation intervention. Dr Tatham also describes working with adults affected by eating disorders. Notes Enhancing assessment for eating disorders: the impact of a podcast-based pre-treatment psychoeducation intervention Keeping Safe Programme | C...

In this episode, Jenny and Harriet are joined by Livia Sara, a well-established autistic advocate, recovery coach and eating disorder (ED) survivor. Livia is passionate about supporting families to learn how to support their loved one to use their autistic and ADHD traits to their advantage in ED recovery through a combination of science and lived experience. Livia has created a vast treasure trov...

In this episode, Jenny and Harriet continue talking about binge eating, this time within the context of a person experiencing extreme hunger in recovery. They discuss hypermetabolism and coping with the difficulties this throws up for the person recovering and their carer. Notes: Bodywhys website Jenny's website Eating Disorder Recovery for Adults by Tabitha Farrar Livia Sara: Liv Label Free |...

In this episode, Barry speaks with Dr Andrea Goldschmidt, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, about FBT in the home. We explore the practicalities of how this works and potential benefits and some case studies. Notes Adapting family-based treatment for adolescent anorexia nervosa delivered in the home: A novel approach for improving access to care and generalizability of skill acquisition...

In this episode Jenny and Harriet explore binge eating within the context of adhd and autism. What drives binge eating behaviour? What carer skills can support a person struggling with binge eating? Kent New Maudsley website Bodywhys website

In this episode, Jenny and Harriet talk about the difficult situation of supporting a person (autistic or not) who is not ready to acknowledge they have a problem. They provide lots of suggestions for how to manage and approach this situation, and how as a supporter to not get totally exhausted when in this situation. Bodywhys website Jenny's website

In this episode, Barry speaks with Hanna Christian, Clinical Research Coordinator, University of Pennsylvania, about challenges with diagnostic crossover. Notes: “You’re Just Looking at One Piece of the Puzzle… My Weight”: A Phenomenological Examination of Diagnostic Crossover in Eating Disorders