Old School Food Freedom

If eating disorder recovery feels like progress some days and a fight against yourself on others, this episode is for you. Chrissy pulls a favorite from the archives with Brittany Braswell, registered dietitian and recovery coach, to name the three mistakes that quietly stall food freedom: waiting for your body to change before treating it kindly, chasing intuitive eating without the deeper work,...

If movement has always felt complicated, tangled up with body image, or the pressure to do more and look different, this episode is for you. Chrissy sits down with Leah Bryant, the producer of Old School Food Freedom, who woke up one day unable to feel anything below the waist. What followed was emergency spinal surgery, a cauda equina syndrome diagnosis, thirty days in rehab, and a slow, faith-fi...

If you have ever dreaded swimsuit season, felt that familiar wave of shame when the layers come off, or spent another summer hiding from your own life because of how you feel about your body, you’ll want to hear this episode. Chrissy sits down with psychotherapist Angelica Gonzalez for an honest conversation about overcoming body shame and what it looks like to move toward your body with compassio...

If you have ever felt trapped in the same exhausting thought loops, the impatience, the resentment, the frustration, no matter how hard you try to think your way out, you'll want to hear this episode.  Dr. Alisa Shanks is a licensed psychologist who loves Jesus and neuroscience, and in Part 2 of this conversation, she brings both to bear on something that will change the way you think about h...

If you know the verse " Take every thought captive ," but still feel completely at the mercy of the thoughts that won't stop coming, this episode is for you. Dr. Alisa Shanks is a licensed clinical psychologist with over two decades of experience in eating disorder recovery and university mental health, and she believes wholeheartedly in full recovery. What she brings to this conver...

What if the story you've been telling yourself about your body was never the true story to begin with? Chaplain Eva Bleeker joins Chrissy to explore narrative identity theory (stories) and what it means for women navigating disordered eating, body shame, and food freedom and faith. You'll learn why healing cannot happen in isolation, how the stories we absorbed from family and diet cultu...

Pregnant and feeling your eating disorder thoughts creeping back in? Your body is in a completely different season right now, and you deserve support that understands both.  Jessica-Lauren Newby, registered dietitian and certified eating disorder specialist, joins Chrissy to walk through exactly what eating disorder recovery during pregnancy looks like, from navigating cravings and morning sicknes...

If you've been told you need a higher level of care for your eating disorder and you don't know what that means or whether you're ready, this episode is for you. Amanda Sloan from Selah House, one of the nation's long-standing Christ-centered eating disorder treatment centers, joins us today to discuss residential eating disorder treatment, explain the difference between the le...

If you've been hiding your eating disorder because you think you're too far gone, or too deep in the binging and purging cycle to bring God into it, this conversation will meet you right where you are. Jayme Muller is a Christian blogger, author, and podcast host who opens up about her own bulimia recovery story, how all-or-nothing thinking kept her stuck for years, and what surrender to...

If you've heard the term body dysmorphia on social media and you're wondering whether what you're experiencing is actually body dysmorphic disorder or body image struggles, this conversation will finally help you understand the difference, and know if you need help. Dr. Erica Faulhaber is a licensed professional counselor and certified eating disorder specialist breaking down body d...

If you've been asking yourself whether you're physically, emotionally, and spiritually prepared for a relationship, or if you're navigating what dating looks like when food and body image are still really tender, this one's for you. Grace McCready is back with a story from her first date. She discovered her date had made health an idol instead of keeping Jesus first. Her takeaw...

If you've been curious about the long-term physical effects of eating disorders and dieting, this episode is for you. We're talking about what eating disorders can leave behind physically, and the hope that Jesus can still bring healing. This episode came from a brave listener request in our community about the long-term effects of eating disorders and dieting, and what healing can look...

“The scale has quietly become a false idol for many of us, stealing our peace and distorting our God-given identity." Dr. Kari Anderson is a licensed eating disorder counselor who gets it; she's walked through binge eating recovery herself. In this conversation, we're talking about how the scale has become a false idol, why body neutrality is the missing piece in healing your relati...

“Thankfully, the story does not end there. I figured it out. And God's absolute, total grace and faithfulness showed me the way and led me to the right help. Kristin Fickes’ story is relatable, and her experience is a gift. She’s someone we're linking arms with at FINDING balance in this fight against eating disorders. It's a Kingdom campaign and we're on it together. In this c...

Chrissy sits down with podcast growth strategist (and our incredible producer) Leah Bryant for an honest conversation about food freedom, body image, faith, and healing. Leah shares her story of growing up in 90s diet culture, the moment God began shifting how she saw herself, and why freedom in Christ isn’t achieved...it’s received . “Every yes, no matter how small, is a step toward freedom.”  Th...

From a young age, many girls are exposed to body image issues and eating habits that may not be the most uplifting. Years go by, and that young girl shows her daughter the very same habits. But it is possible to break the cycles passed down from generation to generation with God’s love, grace, and support. Chantia Sturman, licensed therapist and founder of Darling, Arise (which you’ll hear more ab...

“If you’re not intentionally giving your body the rest it needs, your body will rest when it's not convenient for you.” Wow! How much of a reality check is that? So once we recognize that drive to overexercise or avoid rest, what do we do about it? Registered Dietitian, Nicole Speeney, has walked this path both personally and professionally. In this episode, Nicole shares with us the behavior...

Clutter is about so much more than just the stuff piled in corners and stuffed into closets. You may even read that and not want to listen, but the Lord put this message in your path for a reason. There are quite a few similarities between body image, eating disorders, and a cluttered home. But the truth is that your body is a good body. It’s honorable and worthy of respect. And so is your home. I...

The word “somatic” has been making its rounds on the internet in recent years. But what does it actually mean? And is there a way to incorporate somatic-based treatment ideas into a Christ-centered eating disorder recovery plan?  This conversation was inspired by a listener who reached out to ask if we’d have Tracy back on the show. (We love hearing from you! If you have thoughts or questions for...

What if you could recognize the parts of yourself that hold you back, and finally live fully loved? In this follow-up conversation, Chrissy and licensed professional counselor Travis Stewart discuss the Three Chairs Framework. You’ll learn how to identify and work with your Child Self, False Self, and Wise Self, process emotions with grace, and begin moving toward freedom from shame and people-ple...

What if you had a way not only to understand but transform behaviors and habits you’re tired of struggling with? Because the truth is… You do have the freedom and the God-given right to live a full and happy life!   This episode marks the start of Season 7 of The Old School Food Freedom Podcast! In the first part of a two-part conversation, listener favorite, Travis Stewart, a licensed professiona...

All or nothing thinking doesn’t just show up with food struggles and body image issues—it also shows up in our relationship with social media. The last time Allie Marie Smith was on the podcast, she invited Chrissy to try a social media reset. What started as a few days, has stretched out to months . “That experience reshaped my connection with Jesus, with myself, and the people around me!” -Chris...

The enemy is so sneaky with how he uses the pressures of diet culture and goal setting. But what if you were to learn that there’s a way to take back this territory the enemy has held hostage from you—things like food, movement, and gentle nutrition? Amia Freeman found Christ through fitness, and today she’s sharing how God helped her reclaim this territory in this throwback episode!  With Amia, y...

We’ve all heard the term in the Bible, but what exactly is a “yoke?” As it turns out, there are a few meanings for the word. And the concept ties in beautifully with attachment styles (or attachment theory). In today’s episode, Ruth Harper—a Registered Dietitian and longtime friend of FINDINGbalance—shares more on the subject. You’ll learn what attachment theory is all about, how a healthy attachm...

What if your “healthy habits” are actually causing harm? God created us with such attention to detail! But sometimes… we seek control amidst the chaos of life and cause confusion to this delicate inner world He’s created. This is especially true in the case of Hypothalamic Amenorrhea(HA). Today’s guest, Ashley Smith of The HA Society, has firsthand experience with. From missing periods and inferti...