In this heartfelt and deeply relatable episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini welcomes Heidi Dueweke, a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Personal Trainer, who shares her powerful journey from years of self-criticism and rigid food rules to true healing and self-acceptance.

For much of her life, Heidi believed discipline, control, and self-denial would finally bring her peace. Instead, those beliefs led her down a path of perfectionism, food obsession, and shame. Through therapy, education, and self-discovery, she came to understand that you can’t hate your body into healing—and that real change begins when we shift from control to compassion.

Together, Dr. Castagnini and Heidi explore the cultural pressures that normalize disordered eating, the hidden links between anxiety, ADHD, and food behaviors, and the freedom that comes from redefining “healthy” on your own terms. This episode offers hope for anyone stuck in the cycle of self-doubt, restriction, or comparison.

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In this powerful and eye-opening conversation, Dr. Cristina Castagnini welcomes Dr. Erin Harrop (they/them) — a licensed medical social worker, assistant professor at the University of Denver, and leading researcher on eating disorders, weight stigma, and inclusive healthcare.

Dr. Harrop brings both professional expertise and personal lived experience to the discussion, shedding light on how systemic biases and cultural myths about body size shape who receives care — and who gets ignored.

Together, they explore the harmful message that some people are “not sick enough” for treatment and the devastating effects of weight stigma in the medical system. Through compelling real-life examples and research insights, Dr. Harrop helps listeners understand how eating disorders present across diverse bodies, why atypical anorexia remains misunderstood, and what needs to change in healthcare.

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In this enlightening episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini welcomes Dr. Jillian Lampert, one of the nation’s leading experts in eating disorder treatment and policy. Together, they unpack the complexities of navigating eating disorder care—from identifying the right level of treatment to understanding how virtual care has reshaped access in the modern era.

Dr. Lampert blends three decades of professional expertise with her personal journey of recovery, offering both compassion and clarity for anyone facing the confusion and stigma that often surround eating disorders. Listeners will gain valuable insights into what “the right level of care” means, why weight bias continues to impact diagnosis, and how hybrid and virtual treatment options are improving accessibility nationwide.

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In this insightful and deeply personal episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with Asher M. Seruya, a psychotherapist whose lived experience with eating disorders, neurodivergence, and Jewish identity informs their clinical practice and advocacy work.

Together, they unpack the complex intersections of culture, family, identity, and neurodiversity that shape how we experience food and body image. Asher shares their powerful story of struggling with restriction, bingeing, and perfectionism—alongside the deep healing that came from understanding how trauma, cultural messaging, and ADHD influenced their relationship with food.

This episode explores how shame and self-judgment evolve through family systems, religious traditions, and social pressures, and how recovery means learning to exist more fully and compassionately in one’s own body.

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In this deeply compassionate and informative episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini speaks with Jane Reagan, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, counselor, and creator of The Eating Disorder Recovery Roadmap for Parents.

Jane shares both her professional expertise and her personal journey of supporting her own daughter through anorexia. Together, Cristina and Jane shed light on the challenges parents face when navigating their child’s eating disorder—dispelling myths, addressing guilt, and highlighting the powerful role parents can play as allies in recovery.

The discussion covers practical strategies for supporting children at home, fostering open communication, managing family dynamics, and understanding that recovery is not just about food—it’s about healing what lies beneath. This episode is an essential listen for any parent who feels overwhelmed, unsure, or fearful while walking alongside their child’s recovery path.

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In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with Robyn Goldberg, RDN, a nationally recognized registered dietitian nutritionist, author, and podcast host.

Robyn shares her journey as a lifelong athlete—from competing in tennis at the collegiate level to training for triathlons—and the painful lessons she learned when her body broke down after years of being told to 'just push through.' Her story highlights the harmful cultural and athletic messages around pain, performance, and identity, and how ignoring the body’s signals can have lasting consequences.

Together, Cristina and Robyn explore topics such as how athletics shape body image, what perimenopause teaches us about longevity, and why families and clinicians urgently need better tools to support individuals with eating disorders. This candid conversation offers wisdom on resilience, reframing health, and the importance of truly listening to your body at every stage of life.

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In this powerful and moving episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini welcomes Kerry Melachouris, a former performer turned CCI-certified Eating Disorder Coach and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Kerry brings both lived experience and clinical insight to the table as she shares her decades-long battle with anorexia, bulimia, overexercise, and atypical anorexia—and her journey to full recovery.

Kerry’s story challenges two dangerous myths: that only certain bodies can recover and that if treatment hasn’t “worked,” you’re a lost cause. Through raw honesty and hope, Kerry sheds light on the realities of eating disorders in the performing arts, the trauma that often fuels them, and the systemic barriers patients face when seeking care.

Together, Kerry and Dr. Castagnini unpack the flawed reliance on BMI and “normal labs,” the harmful role of industry pressures, and why primary care providers need more education on identifying eating disorders. Kerry also speaks candidly about her relapses, health consequences, and how she ultimately found lasting recovery and purpose as an advocate and professional helping others.

This conversation is both validating and empowering, proving that recovery is possible at any size, at any stage, and for anyone.

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In this insightful and heartfelt conversation, Dr. Cristina Castagnini welcomes Orlee Klempner, an integrative practitioner specializing in Internal Family Systems (IFS), mindfulness, and trauma-informed yoga. Orlee opens up about her personal journey of growing up in a culture steeped in dieting, body image pressures, and early medical trauma.

Through her story, Orlee shares how shame and comparison shaped her relationship with her body—and how IFS became a transformative tool in helping her find self-acceptance and compassion. Together, they explore how parts work helps uncover the protective roles behind eating disorders, the importance of validating lived experiences, and how healing requires gentleness, empathy, and curiosity.

This candid episode highlights the power of IFS in addressing eating disorders, trauma, and anxiety, while offering hope and concrete tools for anyone struggling with body image and self-worth.

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In this episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini welcomes Dalia Kinsey, RD—a queer, Black registered dietitian and holistic wellness practitioner—for an honest and liberating conversation about food, body image, and diet culture.

Together, they unpack why fear-based food rules backfire, how cultural messages shape our relationship with eating, and what it really takes to heal from toxic beliefs around food. Dalia shares personal insights on making eating joyful again, why under-eating often causes more harm than good, and the importance of building trust with your body.

This discussion challenges conventional “nutrition as control” narratives and highlights the need for collaborative, trauma-informed care. With warmth and wisdom, Dalia offers a vision of food as connection, pleasure, and empowerment—especially for marginalized communities navigating intersecting pressures of culture, identity, and body expectations.

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In this inspiring episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini talks with Samantha Brior, founder of Safe Sam’s, a unique product line and community resource designed to support individuals and families going through eating disorder recovery.

Sam shares her personal story of recovery, how her lived experience inspired her to create snack bars specifically for those in treatment, and how her journey evolved into a mission-driven business that funds recovery-related needs. Through Safe Sam’s, she not only offers practical products like motivational blankets, journals, and self-care items but also helps cover real-life expenses—such as groceries or medical bills—that can otherwise be barriers to recovery.

This heartfelt conversation explores how creativity, persistence, and compassion can transform personal pain into a force for good, offering hope to those navigating the difficult path of recovery.

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