In this heartfelt and deeply personal episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with Danielle Bernock—award-winning author, international speaker, and trauma-informed faith-based self-love coach. Known as “that lady on the internet who loves you,” Danielle courageously shares her journey from childhood shame and emotional neglect to years of battling eating disorders, self-hatred, and trauma—before finding healing, faith, and self-love. Through raw storytelling, Danielle opens up about growing up feeling invisible and unwanted, coping with pain through disordered eating, and the pivotal road trip that set her on a path toward transformation. Together, she and Dr. Castagnini unpack how shame, neglect, and trauma manifest not only in emotions but in the body, leading to physical illness and destructive coping mechanisms. Listeners will hear Danielle’s insights on reclaiming choice as a “superpower,” the importance of safe relationships and community, and how unconditional love—both from others and within ourselves—becomes the foundation for true healing. This powerful conversation reminds us that while trauma shapes us, it doesn’t have to define us. Healing is possible, and self-love is the way forward.

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In this episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with therapist, author, and co-founder of the Center for Body Trust, Hilary Kinavey, for a powerful and deeply validating conversation on body trust, midlife transitions, and the complex emotions surrounding menopause and aging.

Hilary shares her personal and professional insights into how diet culture and beauty standards intersect with perimenopause, and how our society’s obsession with thinness, youth, and productivity intensifies body shame during these natural life transitions. The conversation explores the emotional, physiological, and social dimensions of menopause, while inviting listeners to step away from control-based approaches and move toward a more compassionate, liberatory path of healing.

Together, they challenge the dominant narratives of “fixing” the body, especially through diet fads or medications like GLP-1s, and instead call for a return to self-trust, grief work, and embodied wisdom.

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In this episode of 'Behind the Bite,' Dr. Cristina Castagnini explores the often overlooked 'messy middle' phase of therapy and recovery. Drawing from her own experiences and decades of professional expertise, Dr. Cristina Castagnini addresses common misconceptions about healing and emphasizes that progress is a gradual process filled with small, significant steps. She reassures listeners that feelings of confusion, exhaustion, and doubt are normal and crucial parts of the journey towards a better life. Dr. Cristina Castagnini also shares practical insights on recognizing subtle signs of healing and underscores the importance of perseverance and self-compassion. She encourages those in therapy to communicate their struggles openly and to see each step as a movement forward, no matter how challenging it may feel.

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The CBT Rewrite We’ve Been Waiting For: A Weight-Inclusive Path to Eating Disorder Recovery, featuring Drs. Lauren Muhlheim, Jen Averyt, and Shannon Patterson—three psychologists reshaping how we treat eating disorders through a radically inclusive new CBT workbook.

This episode of Behind the Bite, hosted by Dr. Cristina Castagnini, examines the evolution and shortcomings of traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for eating disorders, and unveils a newly developed, radically weight-inclusive CBT workbook. Joined by three expert psychologists—Dr. Lauren Muhlheim, Dr. Jen Averitt, and Dr. Shannon Patterson—the conversation provides insight into how culture, weight stigma, and inclusivity must reshape how clinicians and individuals approach eating disorder recovery.

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In this episode of Behind the Bite, Dr. Cristina introduces guest Ali Shapiro, host of the Insatiable Podcast, holistic nutritionist, and creator of the True Swift Food framework. Ali shares her personal journey with emotional eating, cancer survival, and eventual realization of the deep connections between food, safety, and belonging. The conversation delves into the often misunderstood aspects of emotional eating, the inadequacies of traditional treatment settings, and the importance of attuning to one’s body without rigid rules. Ali and Cristina discuss practical strategies for understanding the underlying reasons behind food struggles and emphasize the significance of creating a supportive and understanding community to foster true healing and authenticity.

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In this compelling episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with Dr. Joy Cox to explore the pervasive issue of weight stigma and fatphobia, particularly how it intersects with medicine, race, and gender. Dr. Cox shares her personal journey of living in a larger body and how a pivotal moment during her master's program ignited her passion to study and dismantle weight bias in society.

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This episode of Behind the Bite explores the crucial topic of preventing disordered eating in children, both at school and at home. Dr. Cristina Castagnini welcomes Anna Lutz, a pediatric eating disorder dietitian, to discuss how families and educators can shift the conversation around food, bodies, and health to foster a healthier environment for kids.

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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 of diet culture, the biological resistance to weight loss, and the importance of intuitive and mindful eating. Expert opinions emphasize that health is not determined by weight, critiquing the misuse of BMI and advocating for a weight-inclusive approach to wellbeing. The show aims to break down stigma, foster community support, and promote body acceptance.

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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 reconnect with the body. They also discuss the intersection of sexuality, body image, and trauma recovery. Finally, they highlight the importance of body liberation and trusting the healing process.

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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.

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