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Food Junkies Podcast

Clarissa Kennedy

Welcome to the "Food Junkies" podcast! Here we aim to provide you with the experience, strength and hope of professionals actively working on the front lines in the field of Food Addiciton. The purpose of our show is to educate YOU the listener and increase overall awareness about Food Addiction as a recognized disorder. Here we discuss all things recovery, exploring the many pathways people take towards abstinence in order to achieve a health forward lifestyle. Most importantly how to THRIVE rather than just survive. So stay positive, make a change for yourself, tell others about your change, and hopefully the message will spread.

The content on our show does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder or mental health concern.

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  • Thursday · 50 min

    Episode 291: Dr. Matt Bernstein, MD | Metabolic Psychiatry, Ketosis, and Food Addiction

    Can changing what you eat treat depression, anxiety, and even psychosis more effectively than medication alone? In this episode of Food Junkies, Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with Dr. Matt Bernstein, MD, psychiatrist and CEO of Accord, to unpack the emerging field of metabolic psychiatry — and what it means for people recovering from food addiction. Dr. Bernstein trained at Columbia, Penn, and the MGH-McLean Psychiatry Program before shifting from traditional hospital-based psychiatric care toward lifestyle-based interventions: nutrition, sleep, light, and movement. He now serves on the advisory board of Metabolic Mind and helped organize the first public conference on metabolic psychiatry in 2023. In this conversation, Dr. Bernstein and Dr. Tarman explore how brain energy metabolism — not just neurotransmitters — may be a root driver of conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's, and why ketogenic and low-carbohydrate approaches are showing early but compelling results for food cravings, food noise, and psychiatric symptom relief. In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why Dr. Bernstein moved away from conventional psychiatric medication models toward metabolic approaches How brain insulin resistance can contribute to depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia The role of mitochondria, oxidative stress, and the gut-brain axis in mental illness How ketones act as an alternative brain fuel — and why that matters for insulin-resistant neurons The connection between brain insulin resistance and Alzheimer's risk decades before symptoms appear How ketogenic and low-carb diets naturally reduce food cravings and "food noise" for people with food addiction What a day in the Accord immersive metabolic psychiatry program actually looks like Why combining diet, exercise, circadian rhythm alignment, and mind-body practices produces faster results than any single intervention alone How GLP-1 medications compare to ketogenic diets for reducing food noise and cravings — and where each may fall short The risks of rapid or unsupported psychiatric medication tapering, and why "hyperbolic tapering" matters What to watch for (and troubleshoot) if a ketogenic diet isn't producing results after several weeks Guest Dr. Matt Bernstein, MD is a psychiatrist and CEO of Accord, an immersive metabolic psychiatry program near Boston. He is a leading voice in metabolic psychiatry, sits on the advisory board of Metabolic Mind, and helped organize the first public conference dedicated to the field in 2023. Connect with Dr. Matt Bernstein & Accord Website: https://accordmh.com/ Releasing What's Not Ours: Healing Food & Body Struggles Through IFS with Vanessa Kredler 👉Learn more here: https://sweetsobriety.newzenler.com/courses/releasing-whats-not-ours Connect with Food Junkies 🎧 Subscribe for new episodes 🌐 Learn more about food addiction recovery at https://www.sweetsobriety.ca/ 📩 Have a guest suggestion or topic request? Send it our way: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

  • July 30 · 58 min

    Episode 290: Dr. Carolyn Dean | Magnesium, Yeast Overgrowth & Sugar Cravings

    Fatigue. Brain fog. Cravings that never quit no matter how "good" you're eating. In this episode of Food Junkies, Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with Dr. Carolyn Dean — MD, naturopath, and author of more than 50 books including The Magnesium Miracle — to unpack a piece of the addiction and recovery puzzle that rarely gets airtime: magnesium deficiency and its tangled relationship with yeast overgrowth, sugar metabolism, and chronic cravings. Dr. Dean has spent over five decades in integrative and functional medicine, and in this conversation she lays out her theory that a huge share of chronic symptoms — anxiety, insomnia, heart palpitations, muscle tension, even conditions mistaken for neurological disease — trace back to a mineral most conventional labs never test properly. She also digs into candida overgrowth, why restrictive diets like keto and carnivore may be working for reasons people don't realize, and why sugar cravings might be your gut asking for something other than sugar. This episode isn't a replacement for individualized medical or clinical treatment, and it isn't an endorsement of any product mentioned. As always, we encourage listeners to bring these questions to their own care team. In this episode, you'll learn: Why magnesium is required to produce ATP — the energy currency of every cell — and what happens when your body can't get enough The difference between a magnesium compound and a bioavailable magnesium ion, and why so many supplements underdeliver How soil depletion and modern agriculture have quietly lowered magnesium in the food supply over the past century The link Dr. Dean draws between candida/yeast overgrowth, leaky gut, and persistent sugar cravings Why she believes some people on restrictive diets (keto, carnivore, paleo) may be managing yeast overgrowth without realizing it The connection between sugar metabolism, vitamin C, and cardiovascular health Her recommended starting point for anyone wanting to address deficiency: diet, timing, and sequencing of supplementation About Our Guest Dr. Carolyn Dean, MD, ND is a physician and naturopath with over 50 years of experience in integrative and functional medicine. A graduate of Dalhousie University's medical school, she is the author of more than 50 books, including The Magnesium Miracle, Detox Your Body, and multiple works on sugar toxicity and mineral deficiency. Her clinical focus centers on magnesium, mineral absorption, and yeast overgrowth as root contributors to chronic fatigue, cravings, and metabolic dysfunction. Learn more: drcarolyndean.com Her product site: rnareset.com About Vanessa Kredler's Upcoming IFS Workshop: 👉Releasing What's Not Ours: Healing Food & Body Struggles Through IFS Not every struggle with food and body belongs to you. Some of it was handed down — a mother's dieting, a culture's obsession with thinness, a family that never said "I love you" out loud but said "eat" instead. In this 3-part live series, clinical counsellor Vanessa Kredler — a PACFA-registered therapist, certified food addiction professional (INFACT), and Level 2-trained IFS practitioner — draws on her work in addiction, complex trauma, and intergenerational trauma to help you untangle what's actually yours from what you inherited. Using Internal Family Systems, you'll learn to recognize the legacy and cultural burdens shaping your relationship with food, understand why parts of you hold onto them, and take part in a guided practice to begin letting them go — with the same compassionate, trauma-informed approach Vanessa brings to her own clinical work (and, as she'll tell you, her own recovered life). 👉Link: https://sweetsobriety.newzenler.com/courses/releasing-whats-not-ours About Food Junkies Food Junkies is a podcast about food addiction, hosted by Dr. Vera Tarman, Clarissa Kennedy, and Molly Painschab — clinicians, researchers, and advocates working to bring visibility, science, and community support to ultra-processed food use disorder (UPFUD). New episodes feature conversations with leading researchers, clinicians, and people in recovery. Subscribe for new episodes, and find us wherever you listen to podcasts. The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

  • July 16 · 52 min

    Episode 289: Brian Baumal | Perfectionism, Shame, and Food Addiction Recovery

    In this episode of Food Junkies, Dr. Vera Tarman and Clarissa Kennedy sit down with Brian Baumal, a registered psychotherapist based in Toronto and owner of Aliva Psychotherapy, where he specializes in weight management, eating disorders, food addiction, and psychological support for bariatric surgery patients. Brian trained at the Gestalt Institute of Toronto and has been a licensed member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario since 2015. He's also a food addict in long-term recovery, having lost 100 pounds and kept it off for over 14 years. Brian shares the moment that changed his understanding of food addiction forever — an intense, addictive reaction to a piece of chocolate at a holiday party that made him realize this was on an entirely different scale than an ordinary craving. From there, the conversation dives deep into perfectionism: how shame and diet culture create an idealized, unrealistic self-image; the difference between adaptive perfectionism (using structure and tools in service of recovery) and toxic or maladaptive perfectionism (an all-or-nothing mindset that treats any slip as total failure); and how perfectionism can quietly become a "runaway train," redirecting obsessive focus from food onto weight, exercise, or other behaviors. Brian also explains how he uses a Gestalt therapy lens — treating what shows up in the room between therapist and client as the material for the work itself — to help clients build individualized, flexible recovery plans instead of rigid, punishment-driven rules. The group discusses distinguishing an addictive relapse from a psychological or shame-based slip, the role of relapse plans and "gathering data" after a slip, and why using tools (scales, timers, structure) isn't a sign of weakness but a sustainable part of long-term recovery. The episode closes with Brian's reflections on chairing the Sugar and Food Addiction Professionals Network, a free Facebook community of nearly 200 food addiction professionals offering training, research updates, and access to leading voices in the field. Topics Covered Brian's personal food addiction story and his "aha moment" with chocolate at a holiday party What Gestalt therapy is and how it approaches defense mechanisms relationally How shame and diet culture create unrealistic, idealized self-images Adaptive vs. maladaptive (toxic) perfectionism in recovery Perfectionism as a "runaway train" — when focus shifts from food to weight, exercise, or other behaviors Distinguishing an addictive relapse from a shame-driven psychological slip Building individualized, flexible abstinence and relapse plans Using tools (scales, timers, structure) without turning them into self-punishment Vulnerability factors: trauma, family food dynamics, anxious or over-controlled personality styles Adaptive perfectionism as flexibility, not the absence of high standards The Sugar and Food Addiction Professionals Network on Facebook Connect with Brian Baumal Website: Aliva Psychotherapy — https://alivapsychotherapy.com/ WORKSHOP LINKS: 🚨Curious why cravings hit harder some days than others? Viktoria Hamma's two-part Circadian Rhythms & Red Light Therapy workshop breaks down the biology behind your body's internal clock and shows you exactly how morning light, meal timing, and red light therapy can work with your recovery instead of against it. Grab your spot for Part 1: https://sweetsobriety.newzenler.com/courses/circadian-rhythm-and-red-light-therapy-educations And Part 2: https://sweetsobriety.newzenler.com/courses/circadian-rhythms-red-light-therapy-part-2-understanding-your-body-s-internal-clock The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

  • July 13 · 40 min

    Food Junkies Recovery Stories Episode36: Lára Pedersen

    CJ welcomes Lara, a former professional soccer player from Iceland, for a powerful and deeply honest conversation about food addiction and recovery. Lara began struggling with food at a very young age and recognized early that it was beginning to take over her life, even while competing as an elite athlete. She speaks with remarkable transparency about her experiences, their impact on her, and the path she has taken toward healing. Lara's willingness to share is so profound that she even wrote a book about her journey. CJ found her story fascinating and truly loved talking with her. If you're considering personalized assistance, CJ, a Certified Addiction Professional specializing in Food Addiction, is here for one-on-one coaching. Reach out to CJ at cjnguy@myfoodaddictioncoach.com Interested in sharing your recovery story on our show? We'd love to hear from you! Please email FJRecoverystories@gmail.com

  • July 2 · 57 min

    Episode 288: Susan Peirce Thompson, PhD — Six-Year Outcomes, GLP-1s & the Identity Shifts Behind Lasting Recovery

    📢 A quick announcement from the Food Junkies team: For the first time, we're moving to a new release schedule — new episodes every other week, still featuring one Recovery Story each month. We'll share more about this decision in our next Clinician's Corner. Whether you've been with us from the beginning or just found us, thank you. This is also the perfect time to dive into our archive of hundreds of conversations with experts, clinicians, researchers, and people with lived experience. Our next episode launches on July 17th. About Today's Guest Dr. Susan Peirce Thompson is a cognitive psychologist with expertise in the psychology of eating and the founder and CEO of Bright Line Eating, a global program for abstinence-based recovery from ultra-processed food addiction and long-term weight management. She is an adjunct associate professor in Brain and Cognitive Sciences at the University of Rochester and the author of Bright Line Eating, ReZoom, On This Bright Day, The Official Bright Line Eating Cookbook, and her newest book, Maintain. In 2025, Susan published a study in Frontiers in Psychiatry reporting six-year outcomes from the Bright Line Eating program that suggest an abstinence-based food addiction recovery approach can support clinically meaningful, long-term weight loss. In This Episode Vera and Clarissa sit down with Susan to unpack her research, her personal recovery story, and the deeper psychology of maintenance. Topics include: Susan's journey from drug addiction to food addiction recovery — and why she found the food harder to quit How Bright Line Eating began, and why so many people won't walk into a 12-step room The honest story behind ReZoom: Susan's own break-and-resume cycles while leading a recovery movement The six-year follow-up study: methodology, sample, limitations, and what the numbers actually show How outcomes compare to published GLP-1 (semaglutide) data at long-term follow-up Why simply learning about the addictiveness of sugar and flour may "inoculate" people against further weight gain The four Bright Lines: sugar, flour, meals, quantities Who did best at six years — and the surprising role of morning accountability calls GLP-1 medications in food addiction recovery: Susan's "pro-choice" stance, the promise, the unknowns, and why we shouldn't pathologize medication for a brain-based disease The tension between weight loss outcomes and addiction symptom recovery — and protecting listeners in larger bodies who are doing everything "right" Lipedema: the under-recognized condition affecting an estimated 11% of women that doesn't respond to dietary intervention The three identity shifts in Maintain: becoming devoted, resourced, and liberated Grief work: why letting go of foods (and food-centered traditions) is a real loss that deserves real mourning Finish-line anxiety and the fear of liberation — who am I without the food and weight struggle? Willpower, habit stacking, and designing a life that works even on your worst day What's next for Susan: an alternative memoir about the dopamine-dominant brain Connect with Susan Peirce Thompson Website: https://brightlineeating.com Books: Bright Line Eating, ReZoom, On This Bright Day, The Official Bright Line Eating Cookbook, and Maintain The Food Junkies Podcast Hosted by Dr. Vera Tarman, Clarissa Kennedy, and Molly Painschab — real conversations about food addiction, recovery, and the science that supports both. ✉️email us at foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com Circadian Rythms and Food Addiction Workshop with Viktoria Hamma 🔗Part 1: https://sweetsobriety.newzenler.com/courses/circadian-rhythm-and-red-light-therapy-educations 🔗Part 2: https://sweetsobriety.newzenler.com/courses/circadian-rhythms-red-light-therapy-part-2-understanding-your-body-s-internal-clock The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

  • June 25 · 57 min

    Episode 287: Dr. Jason Fung | Is Fasting Safe for the Food Addict?

    In this episode, Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with world-renowned nephrologist, researcher, and New York Times bestselling author Dr. Jason Fung to explore one of the most pressing questions in the food addiction community: Is fasting safe for the food addict? Dr. Fung's latest book, The Hunger Code: Resetting Your Body's Fat Thermostat in the Age of Ultra-Processed Food, challenges the calorie-centric model of obesity and offers a deeper, more honest look at why we eat the way we do — and what it actually takes to change. In this episode, you'll hear: Why the calories in/calories out model fails — and what the hormonal model of obesity actually means The three types of hunger driving overeating: homeostatic, hedonic, and conditioned hunger — and why the social and emotional components may account for 90% of our eating behavior How ultra-processed foods are engineered to hijack the brain's reward system — and why that matters for food addicts The difference between fasting and starvation — and why the mindset behind fasting changes everything The dangers of using fasting as a punishment after a binge — and how to use it safely and intentionally instead Why a low-carb, higher-fat diet makes fasting more sustainable for people coming out of binge cycles Dr. Fung's honest take on GLP-1 medications like Ozempic — the benefits, the limitations, and why they're not the whole answer What Japan and Italy get right about eating culture that the U.S. has lost Why public policy — not just personal willpower — must be part of the solution to ultra-processed food addiction About Dr. Jason Fung: Dr. Jason Fung is a Toronto-based nephrologist and one of the world's leading experts on therapeutic fasting and low-carb nutrition. He is the bestselling author of The Obesity Code, The Diabetes Code, The Cancer Code, and his newest release, The Hunger Code. He is also the co-founder of The Fasting Method, a coaching program helping people reverse obesity and type 2 diabetes through hormonal and lifestyle approaches. 🔗 Learn more at thefastingmethod.com The Food Junkies Podcast is hosted by Dr. Vera Tarman, Molly Painschab, and Clarissa Kennedy — dedicated to exploring the science, stories, and solutions behind ultra-processed food use disorder. 🎙️ Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen to podcasts. ✉️ Email us at foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

  • June 22 · 37 min

    Food Junkies Recovery Stories Episode 35: Keren

    CJ is joined today by Keren, a vibrant young woman whose passion for recovery and love of life shine through in everything she does. With an infectious enthusiasm and deep gratitude for her journey, Keren is dedicated to sharing her experience, strength, and hope with others who may be struggling. Her commitment to helping people has even inspired her to launch her own YouTube channel, where she openly documents her recovery journey and encourages others to keep going. Full of energy, honesty, and heart, Keren brings a refreshing perspective to the conversation and reminds us all that recovery can be filled with purpose, joy, connection, and hope. If you're considering personalized assistance, CJ, a Certified Addiction Professional specializing in Food Addiction, is here for one-on-one coaching. Reach out to CJ at cjnguy@myfoodaddictioncoach.com Interested in sharing your recovery story on our show? We'd love to hear from you! Please email FJRecoverystories@gmail.com

  • June 18 · 59 min

    Episode 286: Glenn Livingston | Never Binge Again — Taming the Voice That Drives You to Eat

    What if the voice urging you to binge isn't really you — and you could learn to talk back to it? This week, Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Glenn Livingston, whose unconventional path from Fortune 500 food industry consultant to food compulsion researcher led him to develop one of the most distinctive frameworks in recovery: Never Binge Again. Glenn shares how his own 80-pound weight loss journey — and nearly 2,000 clients later — shaped a method built on structured food rules, cognitive refutation, and understanding the neuroscience of cravings extinction. In This Episode: Why Glenn left lucrative food industry work and what he saw from the inside about how hyperpalatable foods are engineered The "inner pig" framework — and why separating from the voice that drives bingeing is the foundation of his approach How his self-funded study of 40,000 people shaped his thinking (and why the results surprised him) The four food rule categories: Never, Always, Conditional, and Unrestricted Why 1 in 3 people genuinely need abstinence — and how to tell if you're one of them The extinction burst: why cravings often get worse before they disappear (and why this is actually good news) The "screw it, just do it" response — what causes it and how to address it with self-regulation Commit with perfection, forgive with dignity — how to handle slips without derailing recovery Abstinence vs. moderation: where Glenn agrees with food addiction models, and where his philosophy diverges His take on GLP-1 medications and how they fit into the bigger picture The difference between his original Never Binge Again and his newer book Defeat Your Cravings Resources Mentioned: 📘 Defeat Your Cravings — free at defeatyourcravings.com 🎙️ Glenn's podcast on binge eating and food addiction recovery 90-day coaching program with Glenn (details at defeatyourcravings.com) Connect with Food Junkies: 🌐 foodjunkiespodcast.com 📱 Email us at foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it. The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

  • June 11 · 50 min

    Episode 285: Dr. Radka Toms | Can Your Eye Doctor Spot Sugar Damage Before Your Blood Work?

    Your eyes might be revealing metabolic disease long before your doctor catches it in bloodwork — and most people have no idea. In this episode, Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with Dr. Radka Toms, ophthalmologist, functional medicine practitioner, and founder of My Sugar Stop, to explore the fascinating and largely unknown connection between sugar, gut health, and your vision. Dr. Toms shares her own story — from a "hardcore conventional doctor" eating chocolate bars for lunch to developing rosacea and insulin resistance and eventually pioneering the field of nutritional ophthalmology. What You'll Learn: 👁️ The Eye-Metabolic Health Connection — How your ophthalmologist may spot insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, and inflammation before your blood work does 💧 Dry Eye & Sugar — Why so many dry eye patients have a metabolic root cause, and how improving diet can reduce or eliminate symptoms 🔬 The Gut-Eye Axis — How bacteria in your gut produce metabolites that travel through the bloodstream and directly affect eye tissue — including the link to macular degeneration, glaucoma, and Sjögren's syndrome 🌿 The 7 Types of Eye Conditions Linked to Metabolic Health: Dry eye & ocular rosacea Diabetic retinopathy Age-related macular degeneration Glaucoma Cataracts Vascular/cardiometabolic changes in the eye Sjögren's syndrome ☀️ Light as Medicine — Circadian biology, why 10 minutes outside within 20 minutes of waking matters, when to wear sunglasses (11am–3pm), and how ceiling lights at night are confusing your brain 🥑 The PFF Framework — Dr. Toms' practical nutrition approach: Protein, Fat (especially omega-3s), Fiber, and Fermented foods — and why fiber is "the king" 💊 The DRRN Method — Define, Replace, Rebalance, Nourish: Dr. Toms' four-phase approach to helping patients reverse metabolic eye conditions through lifestyle change Mentioned in This Episode: My Sugar Stop — https://www.mysugarstop.com/ Matrix Eye Clinic & UHealth (UK-based in-person care): https://matrixeyeclinic.com/our-services/nutritional-ophthalmology/ Lipopolysaccharides as an early inflammatory marker Robert Lustig's early work on sugar and inflammation About Dr. Radka Toms: Dr. Toms completed her medical training in the Czech Republic and ophthalmology specialization in the UK, later adding functional medicine and integrative nutritional coaching. She is the founder of My Sugar Stop and Oko Health, and a pioneer in nutritional ophthalmology. She reversed her own rosacea and insulin resistance using the methods she now teaches. "When you look at an acorn in isolation, you just see an acorn. You don't see its transformative capacity to become an oak tree. People have that same capacity." — Dr. Radka Toms The Food Junkies Podcast is hosted by Dr. Vera Tarman, Molly Painschab, and Clarissa Kennedy. New episodes every week. 📧Email us at foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com 👍 Like, subscribe, and share if this episode resonated with you. The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

  • June 4 · 49 min

    Episode 284: Clinician's Corner | Shame, Stigma & Ultra-Processed Food Use Disorder

    In this episode of Clinician's Corner, Molly and Clarissa get real about one of the most pervasive and painful barriers in recovery from ultra-processed food use disorder: shame and stigma. Fresh off facilitating two back-to-back retreats (with Vera joining both!), they bring the depth of those in-person conversations directly to you. This is the kind of episode that meets you where you are — no toxic positivity, no oversimplified "just love yourself" advice, and absolutely no shaming you into change. In this episode, you'll hear: The ancient roots of stigma and how it evolved from physical branding to the labels we carry today How external stigma becomes internalized — and why that inner critic is the real battleground Why shame is rarely a catalyst for sustainable change (and why "hitting bottom" is not a recovery strategy) The ways shame quietly shrinks our lives: postponing travel, relationships, photos, joy — until we're "fixed" Whether shame can ever be an ally, and when it becomes maladaptive Why self-compassion is the antidote to shame — but it's not the whole story The difference between doing this work cognitively vs. somatically, and why both matter What it looks like to stop fighting shame and start collaborating with it instead Exploring Shame Resource A note for listeners: This is a big ask. Everything we talk about today is deeply ingrained — not a simple reframe. Give yourself permission to take it slowly. You don't have to figure this out in 60 minutes (it's taken us decades, and we're still in it). Connect with us: 📧 FoodJunkiesPodcast@gmail.com 🌐 https://www.sweetsobriety.ca/ If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it. And remember — your life is happening right now. Get in there and live it. The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

  • May 28 · 53 min

    Episode 283: Natalie Peltro | From Picky Eater to Plate Adventurer — Helping Kids (and Adults) Fall in Love with Real Food

    What do you do when your child will only eat three foods — and none of them are vegetables? For Natalie Peltro, certified nutritional therapist and lifestyle medicine expert, that was her reality. Her son was diagnosed with severe nonverbal autism at 18 months, and the journey to help him heal through food became the foundation of her entire career. In this episode, Natalie shares the framework she's used with hundreds of families to overcome picky eating — not through force, pressure, or sneaky tricks that backfire — but through biology, nervous system awareness, and what she calls the Four E's. Whether you're navigating picky eating in your household, supporting clients who struggle with ultra-processed food habits from childhood, or just trying to understand why your kid will eat mac and cheese but nothing green, this conversation is full of practical, compassionate strategies you can start using today. In this episode, we cover: How Natalie's son went from eating only 3 foods (nonverbal, severely autistic) to graduating mainstream school with honors Why "fed is best" may be an outdated framework in today's ultra-processed food environment The biology of picky eating — zinc deficiency, taste perception, and why green foods taste bitter to nutrient-deficient kids The 10% Fading Rule: how to transform mac and cheese into a nutrient-dense meal without your child noticing The Three Stages of Picky Eaters: Resistor, Adventurer, and Negotiator — and why the approach must be different for each The Four E's Framework: Expectation, Emotional Intelligence, Environment, and Encouragement Why "taste training" works faster in kids than adults (3–5 days vs. 7–14) How your nervous system is sabotaging mealtime — and what to do before you even pick up the plate The coupon system, safe plates, and other creative strategies that actually work How to talk to grandparents and caregivers about food changes without blowing up the relationship About Natalie Peltro: Natalie is the co-founder of Blue Life RX and creator of the Neuronutrition Program (formerly "Bring the Fun Back to Mealtime"), which helps families with picky eaters — including children with autism and ARFID — expand their food diversity through biology-first, fun-first strategies. She's also the host of the upcoming Brilliant Brains podcast. 🌐 Website: https://www.blueliferx.com/neuronutrition 📱 Instagram: nataliepelto_blueliferx ⓕ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlueLifeRx 🎙️Podcast: Out in June 2026 – keep checking the website!! The Food Junkies Podcast is hosted by Dr. Vera Tarman, Molly Painschab, and Clarissa Kennedy. New episodes every week. 📧Email us at foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com 👍 Like, subscribe, and share if this episode resonated with you. Leave a comment below — we'd love to know: what's your biggest challenge around picky eating or feeding your family real food? The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

  • May 21 · 54 min

    Episode 282: Dr. Erin Bellamy | Can a Diet Replace Psychiatric Meds? Ketogenic Metabolic Therapy for Food Addiction & Mental Health

    What if the most powerful tool for mental health recovery isn't a medication — it's your metabolism? Dr. Erin Louise Bellamy joins Dr. Vera Tarman for a deep dive into ketogenic metabolic therapy: what it is, how it works, and why it may be one of the most underutilized interventions in both psychiatric care and food addiction recovery. Dr. Bellamy is a chartered psychologist, CEO of IKRT (International Ketogenic Research & Therapy), and a research fellow at the University of East London. She has been researching and applying ketogenic metabolic therapy in clinical settings since 2014, with a background that bridges eating disorders, psychiatric research, and metabolic health. In this episode, Vera and Erin discuss: How Erin went from eating disorder and alexithymia research to ketogenic metabolic psychiatry — and why the field's "biopsychosocial" model was missing the bio The difference between metabolic psychiatry, ketogenic therapy, and therapeutic carbohydrate restriction — and why the terminology matters What carbohydrate range actually produces therapeutic ketosis (and why "dirty keto" doesn't cut it) The shared mechanistic pathways across psychiatric diagnoses — including mitochondrial dysfunction, insulin resistance, and neuroinflammation Why antipsychotic medications create metabolic dysfunction, and how ketogenic therapy can help offset those side effects The GABA/glutamate shift that makes ketones naturally anxiolytic — and why this may work differently than the serotonin model of depression The "buffer effect": what it feels like to be in ketosis when you're a food addict — and why some people describe it as a pane of glass between themselves and a trigger food How ketogenic therapy compares to GLP-1 medications (Ozempic/Wegovy) for reducing food noise — and Erin's concerns about the long-term research MCT oil vs. exogenous ketones: when each is useful, and when exogenous ketones are counterproductive Applying ketogenic therapy to people with ADHD, bipolar disorder, and co-occurring food addiction How to support vegan or plant-based clients who want to pursue ketogenic therapy Why the first week matters most — and how to help clients through withdrawal without triggering a binge The 19-person IKRT group program published in Frontiers — and what's coming next in the research Connect with Dr. Erin Bellamy: 🌐Web: Integrative Ketogenic Research and Therapies | ketogenic diet and mental health Food Junkies Podcast is hosted by Dr. Vera Tarman, Molly Painschab, and Clarissa Kennedy. New episodes every week. Connect with Food Junkies Podcast: 🌐Web: Food Junkies Podcast ▶️ YouTube: Food Junkies Podcast - YouTube 💌Email: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

  • May 15 · 51 min

    Food Junkies Recovery Stories Ep 34: Peggy Bowers

    CJ is joined today by Peggy, whose story is as raw as it is relatable. From the age of six, Peggy began navigating a complicated relationship with food that would follow her into adulthood. She shares candidly about tying her worth to always having a boyfriend, and the deep need for validation that drove those choices. While she was able to walk away from cigarettes with ease, food proved to be a far more difficult battle. Through years of weight fluctuations and self-discovery, Peggy's authenticity shines. Her honesty, vulnerability, and insight will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to feel enough. If you're considering personalized assistance, CJ, a Certified Addiction Professional specializing in Food Addiction, is here for one-on-one coaching. Reach out to CJ at cjnguy@myfoodaddictioncoach.com Interested in sharing your recovery story on our show? We'd love to hear from you! Please email FJRecoverystories@gmail.com

  • May 14 · 49 min

    Episode 281: Dr. Stephen Sideroff | The 9 Pillars of Resilience in Recovery

    What if the missing piece in your recovery isn't more willpower — it's resilience? In this deeply inspiring episode, Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with Dr. Stephen Sideroff, UCLA psychologist, researcher, and one of the world's leading experts on stress, addiction, and optimal performance. With over 40 years at the intersection of neuroscience and recovery, Dr. Sideroff breaks down his comprehensive Nine Pillars of Resilience model and shows exactly how it applies to recovery from food addiction. 🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE: Why stress is the #1 driver of both addiction and relapse — and what to do about it The real definition of resilience All Nine Pillars of Resilience explained — and how each one applies to food addiction Why your inner critic is keeping you stuck — and how to replace it The nervous system truth behind burnout: why most of us are already on the continuum How to "dress rehearse" recovery moments so you're prepared when cravings hit Why saying "this is difficult" actually makes things harder The biological age study Dr. Sideroff is running right now — and his own remarkable results How joy is not a luxury but a physiological necessity for recovery and aging Why anxiety and worry are a faulty strategy — and what to do instead The concept of "the path" — and why you don't have to do everything at once What quantum leadership has to do with recovery culture Why 12-step programs work through the lens of the resilience model 🏛️ THE NINE PILLARS OF RESILIENCE: Relationship Pillars: Relationship with yourself — your inner voice, self-compassion, self-acceptance Relationship with others — healthy boundaries, connection, support Relationship with something greater — community, spirituality, purpose Organism Balance & Mastery: Physical balance & mastery — nervous system regulation, relaxation, parasympathetic recovery Cognitive balance & mastery — mindset, growth orientation, releasing negative thoughts Emotional balance & mastery — healing emotional wounds, reducing reactivity Engaging with the World: Presence — awareness of your environment and the energy you project Flexibility — adapting to obstacles, shifting perspective, seeing through others' eyes Power — courage, focus, goal-setting, taking action in spite of fear 📖 DR. SIDEROFF'S BOOK: The Nine Pillars of Resilience: The Proven Path to Master Stress, Slow Aging, and Increase Vitality 🔗 CONNECT WITH DR. SIDEROFF: 🌐 Visit Home - Dr. Stephen Sideroff for resources, his book, and the resilience questionnaire 📬 CONNECT WITH FOOD JUNKIES: 📧 Email: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com 🌐 Website: foodjunkiespodcast.com If this episode resonated with you, please leave us a review and share it with someone in recovery who needs to hear that healing is a path — not a single decision. The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

  • May 7 · 38 min

    Episode 280: Bob Messerschmidt | The ESR Marker That Could Change Recovery

    What if your body could warn you before a relapse happens? In this fascinating episode, Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with Bob Messerschmidt — biomedical engineer, inventor, and one of the architects behind the original Apple Watch's health-sensing technology — to explore a surprisingly simple but powerful biomarker: the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Bob is the founder of Core Health and has developed an FDA-registered at-home device that tracks chronic low-grade inflammation over time. For those of us in the food addiction and recovery world, this conversation opens a compelling new door: could inflammation tracking be the missing feedback loop for people working to stay abstinent from ultra-processed foods? 🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE: Bob's personal health journey and how weight struggles led him to inflammation science What ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) is — and why it fell out of favor before we understood chronic inflammation Why inflammation is now understood to underpin nearly all chronic disease How ESR differs from CRP (C-reactive protein) and why its "slowness" is a feature What does a high ESR score mean — and what you can do about it Anti-inflammatory lifestyle interventions that move the needle (including one surprising nighttime trick) How the Core Health device works: a simple weekly finger-stick test from home The feedback loop concept: how seeing your own data creates self-efficacy and behavior change Whether inflammation can precede a relapse — and what the data currently shows How ESR compares to a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) as a recovery tool Bob's thoughts on the Theranos dream — and whether democratized blood diagnostics is truly possible The future of non-invasive glucose monitoring and wearable health tech 🍒 BOB'S ANTI-INFLAMMATORY TIPS FROM THE EPISODE: Tart cherry juice (4 oz before bed — also improves sleep!) Ketogenic eating patterns Vegan dietary approaches Quality sleep Cold plunges Grounding practices 🔗 LEARN MORE & GET THE DEVICE: 🌐 Core Health Website: Home - COR Health 📬 CONNECT WITH FOOD JUNKIES: 📧 Email: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com 🌐 Website: foodjunkiespodcast.com If this episode sparked your curiosity, please leave us a review and share it with someone in recovery who might benefit from understanding the inflammation connection. The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

  • April 30 · 41 min

    Episode 279: Clinician's Corner | Why Motivation Isn't the Problem — Building Competence in Food Addiction Recovery

    Are you exhausted from chasing motivation that never lasts? In this Clinician's Corner episode, Molly Painschab and Clarissa Kennedy break down why motivation is actually an outcome, not a starting point — and what truly drives sustainable recovery from ultra-processed food use disorder. Using the lens of Self-Determination Theory (SDT), they unpack the three psychological needs every person in recovery must have met: autonomy, relatedness, and competence — the often-overlooked key that separates short-term compliance from lasting change. 🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE: Why "just get motivated" is the wrong advice — and what to focus on instead The three pillars of Self-Determination Theory and how they apply to food addiction recovery Why external pressure (shame, fear, "I should") can actually increase relapse risk The difference between a stick-and-carrot and real motivation What competence actually means How the Foundations Program (81+ skills and tools!) was built around these principles Why recovery is a learning process, not a decision What the research now says about forced compliance Small, practical ways to start building self-trust today 🛠️ WHAT'S IN THE FOUNDATIONS PROGRAM? The Sweet Sobriety Foundations Program includes 81+ skills and tools covering: ✔️ Nervous system regulation ✔️ CBT & DBT frameworks ✔️ Mindfulness & self-compassion practices ✔️ Recovery planning ✔️ Craving and urge management ✔️ Emotional awareness and distress tolerance 📬 CONNECT WITH US: 📧 Email: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com 🌐 Website: foodjunkiespodcast.com 🍓 Learn more about Sweet Sobriety: www.sweetsobriety.ca If you found this episode helpful, please leave us a review and share it with someone who needs to hear that the problem was never their motivation. The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

  • April 28 · 48 min

    Food Junkies Recovery Stories Episode 33: Heather Miller

    CJ welcomes Heather to the podcast, a guest whose bright, charismatic energy lights up the conversation from the start. Heather is exceptionally open and instantly warming, sharing her journey with honesty and heart. She speaks candidly about living with diabetes, her long battle with sugar and ultra-processed food addiction, and the moment everything changed, when she realized she wanted to become a healthy, active grandmother for her grandchild. That love became her fuel for transformation. Heather's story is one of resilience, clarity, and choosing herself and her family again and again. I cannot wait for you to meet her. If you're considering personalized assistance, CJ, a Certified Addiction Professional specializing in Food Addiction, is here for one-on-one coaching. Reach out to CJ at cjnguy@myfoodaddictioncoach.com Interested in sharing your recovery story on our show? We'd love to hear from you! Please email FJRecoverystories@gmail.com

  • April 23 · 46 min

    Episode 278: Dr. John Kelly | The Science of Recovery – What the Research Really Says

    What does recovery look like — and how do we measure it? In this episode, we're joined by Dr. John Kelly, one of the world's leading addiction researchers and founder of the Recovery Research Institute at Harvard Medical School, for a deep dive into the science behind what makes recovery possible, sustainable, and real. Dr. Kelly breaks down the difference between remission and recovery, shares what decades of research tells us about who gets better (spoiler: most people do) and unpacks the active ingredients that help people build lives they love. We also get into the language we use around addiction, why it matters more than you think, and what the latest science says about stigma, stages of change, and recovery capital. Whether you are in recovery, supporting someone who is, or working in the field — this episode is packed with hope, science, and practical insight. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🔑 IN THIS EPISODE ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ • What recovery actually means — and how it's different from remission • Why 75% of people with substance use disorder do recover (and what that means for you) • The CHIME model: the 5 active ingredients of lasting recovery → Community | Hope | Identity | Meaning & Purpose | Empowerment • Stages of Change (Prochaska & DiClemente) — and why just thinking about change counts • Recovery Capital: what's in your "recovery bank account"? • The power of language — why words like "abuser" cause measurable harm • Stigma, genetics, and why addiction is nobody's fault • What excites Dr. Kelly most about the future of addiction research • Psychedelics and addiction treatment: cautious optimism from a Harvard researcher ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 👤 ABOUT OUR GUEST ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ John Kelly is the Elizabeth R. Spallin Professor of Psychiatry in the Field of Addiction Medicine at Harvard Medical School and founder and director of the Recovery Research Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is one of the world's leading researchers on addiction recovery, mutual help organizations, and reducing stigma in the addiction field. 🔗 Recovery Research Institute: www.recoveryanswers.org ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🎙️ FOOD JUNKIES PODCAST ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ The Food Junkies Podcast explores food addiction and ultra-processed food use disorder through honest conversations with clinicians, researchers, and people in recovery. Hosted by Dr. Vera Tarman, Clarissa Kennedy, and Molly Painschab. 📲 Subscribe so you never miss an episode ▶️ Find us on YouTube 👍 Like this video if it gives you hope 💬 Drop a comment — what resonated most with you? The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

  • April 16 · 55 min

    Episode 277: Dr. Rachel Herz | The Science of Disgust, Smell, and Why You Eat What You Eat

    What if the key to understanding your relationship with food isn't willpower — it's neuroscience? In this fascinating episode, Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with Dr. Rachel Herz, neuroscientist, leading expert on the psychology of smell, and author of Why You Eat What You Eat and That's Disgusting. From the evolutionary roots of disgust to why ultra-processed foods bypass our natural aversion responses, this conversation will genuinely change how you think about what ends up on your plate — and in your mouth. What You'll Learn in This Episode Why disgust is almost entirely learned — and what the one innate exception is The neuroanatomy of smell and why scent is so deeply tied to emotion and memory How one bad experience with a food can create a lifelong aversion (one-trial learning) The difference between disgust and fear — and why that distinction matters for disordered eating Why non-tasters may be more prone to overeating than super tasters How ultra-processed food is engineered to bypass our natural "this isn't real food" signals Whether disgust could be a therapeutic tool in changing our relationship with UPFs Why Dr. Herz believes disordered eating is psychological and behavioral — and where she and the Food Junkies team respectfully differ on the addiction model Practical, science-backed strategies for becoming more intentional around eating About Dr. Rachel Herz Dr. Rachel Herz is a neuroscientist and faculty member at Brown University, widely regarded as the world's leading expert on the psychology of smell. She is a TED 2019 and TEDx 2024 speaker, has published 108 peer-reviewed research articles, and serves as an expert witness in legal cases involving smell. She is the incoming president of the International Society of Neural Gastronomy. Her books include: Sensation and Perception (widely used neuroscience textbook) That's Disgusting: Unveiling the Mysteries of Repulsion — a New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice Why You Eat What You Eat: The Science Behind Our Relationship with Food — named among the best food books of 2018 by Smithsonian and The New Yorker Connect with Dr. Rachel Herz 🌐 rachelherz.com Connect with Food Junkies 🎙️Food Junkies Podcast — available on all major platforms 🌐 foodjunkiespodcast.com ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FoodJunkiesPodcast 📘 Sugar-Free For Life: I'm Sweet Enough FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SugarFreeForLife ✨ Back-to-Basics Workshop: https://sweetsobriety.newzenler.com/courses/back-to-basics The Food Junkies Podcast is hosted by Dr. Vera Tarman, Molly Painschab, and Clarissa Kennedy. We are dedicated to honest, evidence-informed conversations about food addiction, ultra-processed food use disorder, and recovery. The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

  • April 9 · 46 min

    Episode 276: Esther Kane, MSW | Highly Sensitive People

    Are you highly sensitive — and secretly using food to manage a world that feels like too much? In this episode, Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with Esther Kane, MSW, a British Columbia-based psychotherapist with nearly 30 years of experience helping highly sensitive people (HSPs) break free from emotional eating and food addiction. Esther isn't just a clinician — she's an HSP herself who nearly died from an eating disorder and has spent decades figuring out what works. If you've ever been told you're "too sensitive," struggled to explain why food feels like your only relief, or burned out trying to take care of everyone but yourself — this one's for you. 🕐 In This Episode What is a Highly Sensitive Person? Based on 40+ years of research by Dr. Elaine Aron, HSPs make up 15–20% of the population. Their nervous systems process everything more deeply — emotions, sensory input, other people's pain. It's not a disorder. It's a biological trait. And it comes with superpowers most people never develop. Why HSPs are so vulnerable to food addiction The world is chronically overstimulating for HSPs. Food numbs the overwhelm. It turns the volume down. Add in chronic people-pleasing, self-abandonment, absorbing everyone else's emotions, and being told your whole life that you're "too much" and food addiction makes complete sense as a survival strategy. What recovery looks like for HSPs Esther doesn't start with the food. She starts with the nervous system. You can't take away someone's coping mechanism until they have something else to hold onto. She walks through the somatic tools, boundary work, and root-cause healing that move the needle for highly sensitive people. 🎙️ Connect with Esther Kane 🌐 estherkane.com 📺 YouTube: Compassionate Conversations 👇 Are YOU a highly sensitive person? Drop a 🙋 in the comments if this episode described you — or share it with someone who has always been told they feel too much. They need to hear this. Subscribe so you never miss an episode of Food Junkies — real conversations about food addiction, recovery, and what it takes to heal. The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

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