Stop, Collaborate, and Listen

What if movement felt more like solving puzzles than burning calories? Today, we talk with Hayden Thomas from North Mass Boulder to explore why indoor climbing has become one of the fastest-growing forms of movement, and why it's about so much more than strength. We talk about how bouldering encourages curiosity, resilience, confidence, and connection. Whether you've never stepped foot in a climbi...

The problem isn't Ariana Grande . In this episode, unpack the online conversation surrounding Ariana Grande to explore the bigger issues of body image, eating disorders, celebrity culture, and systemic oppression. We discuss why public commentary about women's bodies is so normalized, how social media fuels unrealistic beauty standards, and why eating disorders cannot be identified by appearance a...

Episode Summary: Is pilates really just for thin women in matching sets? Vanessa Hutchins, founder of MVMT House, joins us today to explore what it means to build a joyful, inclusive relationship with movement. We discuss the evolution of Pilates, common misconceptions, and why movement should be accessible to all bodies, ages, and experience levels. Vanessa shares how MVMT House prioritizes commu...

✨ Episode Summary: Friendship doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when we choose to show up. Our Summer Movement Series continues with FrancesMary Loughead, founder of BFF Indy, a community helping women build authentic friendships that feel more connected to where they live. This conversation expands the idea of movement beyond exercise and into community, connection, and belonging.  We talk...

✨ Episode Summary: What if movement was about joy—not punishment? We are joined by Abbey Griffith, owner and founder of Clarity Fitness, to explore what eating disorder-informed fitness can look like in practice. We discuss how movement can support recovery, mental health, and body autonomy when it's rooted in joy rather than punishment. Abbey shares the philosophy behind Clarity Fitness, includi...

✨ Episode Summary: Who decided adults had to stop dancing? Kicking off our Summer Movement Series, we are joined by Gabby McLemore, owner of DanceWorks Indy, to explore the power of dance in adulthood. We talk about how movement can support confidence, emotional expression, self-trust, and connection! Gabby shares how inclusive dance spaces can challenge perfectionism, reduce barriers to particip...

✨ Episode Summary: Does recovery coaching really add much to eating disorder recovery? In this episode, Jen and Allison are joined by Taylor Griebe to discuss the role of recovery coaching in eating disorder treatment. If you’ve ever wondered how recovery coaches support clients outside of the traditional therapy and dietitian sessions, this episode is for you. We talk about the value of lived ex...

✨ Episode Summary: In this episode, Allison and Jen are joined by Mary Margaret-Sweeney, LCSW, CST,  to explore the intersection of eating disorders, sexual health, trauma, and body image. We discuss how disembodiment, control, medications, stress, and cultural messaging can impact sexual functioning and overall well-being. Clinicians will learn how to better support clients by normalizing conver...

✨ Episode Summary: Engaging with food in eating disorder recovery can be a challenge! In this episode, we are joined by Megan Rothschild, dietitian turned kitchen coach, to explore how kitchen coaching can support eating disorder recovery and mental health. We cover why cooking often feels overwhelming in recovery, how to approach the kitchen with more safety and flexibility, and what it looks li...

✨ Episode Summary: The emotional complexity of living in the gray zone in eating disorder recovery can be challenging, to say the least! In this episode, Allison and Jen are joined by 3 clients who share the realities of their unique recovery journeys. Join us as we unpack common misconceptions, relapse prevention, how to manage urges, and why recovery is an ongoing process—not a final destinatio...

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is so much more than just picky eating — and the lived experience is far more complex. In this episode, we’re joined by veteran podcast guest Cilla Moore-Massey, LCSW, to discuss her personal journey with ARFID, including the impact of sensory sensitivities, a gluten allergy, food insecurity, and neurodivergence. We explore how ARFID presents acros...

✨ Episode Summary: Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is often misunderstood and frequently misidentified as “picky eating.” In this episode, we’re joined by clinicians Valerie Reesner, PhD, HSPP, and Amanda Garant, RD, LD, to explore how ARFID presents, how it differs from other eating disorders, and what effective treatment can look like across the lifespan. We discuss diagnostic...

✨ Episode Summary: America’s Next Top Model shaped a generation’s body image. In this episode, Jen and Allison are joined by fellow CCN clinician, Brenna Banard, LMHC, to take a critical look at America’s Next Top Model and its lasting impact on body image, eating disorder risk, and media ethics. We unpack how the show normalized extreme beauty standards, reinforced diet culture, and exposed cont...

✨ Episode Summary: Intuitive eating gets talked about a lot — and misunderstood even more. In this episode, we’re slowing things down and having a real, nuanced conversation about what intuitive eating actually is (and what it definitely isn’t). We break down the foundations, unpack common myths, and explore how intuitive eating can be adapted — especially for folks navigating eating disorder rec...

✨ Episode Summary: Can diabetes care be approached from a non-diet,  weight-neutral lens? In today’s episode, Jen and Allison break down what actually matters for blood sugar management, including natural fluctuations, how tools like continuous glucose monitors can help, and the role of consistent nourishment. They unpack diabetes stigma, common misconceptions, and the role diet culture and the w...

✨ Episode Summary: What can the Olympics teach us about eating disorder awareness, autonomy, and the scrutiny placed on women’s bodies? Using recent conversations in elite sports as a starting point, Jen and Allison unpack how female athletes’ bodies are often publicly judged, privately criticized, and politically weaponized. The discussion highlights how performance culture, body surveillance, a...

✨ Episode Summary: What happens when eating disorder recovery support isn’t enough — but you don’t need a higher level of care? In this episode, we talk about the often-overlooked “in-between” stage of eating disorder recovery, when weekly outpatient therapy doesn’t feel like enough but returning to higher levels of care doesn’t feel right either. The conversation also introduces the Transitional...

✨ Episode Summary: In this episode, we are joined by CCN therapist and former school counselor, Michelle Butler, LCSW, to explore the often-misunderstood role of school counselors in supporting youth mental health. We talk about how school environments shape body image and eating disorder risk, what counselors actually do behind the scenes, and how schools can become safer, more supportive spaces...

✨ Episode Summary: In this episode, we are joined by Farah Myers, FNP, DipACLM, nurse practitioner and direct primary care provider, to unpack how weight stigma shows up in healthcare—and why it causes real harm. We explore how weight-centric care can delay diagnoses, overlook eating disorders, and erode trust between patients and providers. This conversation highlights the mental health impacts...

✨ Episode Summary: In this episode, we explore communication in romantic relationships through a trauma-informed, neurodivergent-affirming lens. Joined by a couple's therapist, Sara Blacklidge, LPCC, we unpack why communication breaks down, how emotional regulation and safety shape conflict, and what happens when ADHD, neurodivergence, or eating disorders are part of the relationship dynamic. We...

✨ Episode Summary: Buckle up, because we are diving into all things GLP-1s in today’s episode! We take a critical look at GLP-1 medications—cutting through the hype to examine their mental health impacts, weight-loss marketing, and lack of long-term data. We unpack “food noise” as a mental health concern, the systemic pressures driving weight-centric care, and why GLP-1s can pose real risks for p...

✨ Episode Summary: In this episode, Jen and Allison are joined by Wren Buse, a board-certified music therapist, to explore how music therapy can support emotional regulation, embodiment, and systemic liberation efforts like fat and body justice. Discover practical insights into how music can be a healing force for clients of all backgrounds. 🎶 Wren's Music Therapy and Body Image Support Group Gr...

✨ Episode Summary:  In this episode, we’re joined by Lauren Harding, a therapist specializing in OCD and eating disorders, to unpack what OCD actually is—and what it isn’t. We discuss common misconceptions and why it so often overlaps with eating disorders. We explore the obsession–compulsion cycle, what effective treatment looks like, and why recovery isn’t about eliminating thoughts. 🧰 Takeawa...

✨ Episode Summary:  Welcome back for Season 2 of Stop, Collaborate, and Listen! In this episode, we talk with our RD boss and favorite voice of reason, Lauren Rieker. And today’s episode is… a little spicier than usual. We’re talking about the new Dietary Guidelines that are being marketed as revolutionary… but in reality are confusing, misleading, and honestly kind of dangerous.  In this convers...

✨ Episode Summary:   In this season finale of the podcast, we reflect on our journey through the first season, discussing our favorite episodes, achievements, and the impact of celebrity culture on body image. We delve into the Hollywood thinness trend, the societal pressures surrounding body image, and the importance of navigating these conversations with care.  🎧 Rate & Review: If you love...