Episode 83 of Body Justice Podcast is something we all need to hear. There are not enough stories of people going through recovery from an eating disorder while food insecure- despite food insecurity being a top reason for eating disorder development. Elizabeth shares her powerful story and how her experience led her to founding a virtual food pantry- grounded in dignity and choice.

About Elizabeth Ayiku:

Elizabeth is a filmmaker, food justice organizer, and founder of Me Little Me Foundation, a nonprofit advancing food equity and providing free, culturally competent support to historically marginalized communities. Based in Los Angeles, she works to dismantle systemic barriers to mental health and well being, with a focus on meeting basic needs first.

She founded the Me Little Me Foundation in response to her own lived experience with food insecurity, racial inequity, and a deep understanding of the gaps in support for marginalized communities. Her personal journey fuels her unwavering commitment to social justice and community care.

Links to resources discussed:

Me Little Me Foundation

Me Little Me Narrative Feature film, based on Elizabeths journey recovering from an eating disorder.

• You can watch the film on Amazon, Apple or Pluto TV (free)

Disclaimer: this podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. This is not a replacement for individual therapy or medical advice. 

As always, you can find the host of this podcast, Allyson, on her website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.eatingdisorderocdtherapy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bodyjustice.therapist.⁠⁠⁠

Episode 82 of Body Justice Podcast is a follow up conversation with Deb Benfield, a registered dietitian and author of Aging Body Liberation, about the intersection of diet culture and ageism; as well as the covert ways disordered eating is becoming embedded into policy in the U.S.

We discuss our thoughts on: ultra-processed foods, seed oils, longevity medication and more.

More about Deb:

Deb Benfield, M.Ed., RDN, LDN, RYT, is a Registered Dietitian, nutrition therapist, and body image coach with 40 years of experience helping people heal their relationship with food, movement, and their bodies. Her work sits at the intersection of anti-ageism, body liberation, and trauma-informed care, offering a radically compassionate alternative to anti-aging, diet, and wellness culture, especially for those in midlife and beyond.

After turning 60, Deb began questioning the dominant narratives around aging, vitality, and beauty—and quickly realized how many resources still centered weight loss and youthful appearance as ultimate goals. In response, she created what she couldn’t find: a framework for nourishing the body that honors inner wisdom, prioritizes quality of life, and embraces the full spectrum of aging.

She’s the author of Unapologetic Aging: How to Mend and Nourish Your Relationship with Your Body and offers individual and group coaching to help others age unapologetically—on their own terms.

Disclaimer: this podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. This is not a replacement for individual therapy or medical advice. 

As always, you can find the host of this podcast, Allyson, on her website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.eatingdisorderocdtherapy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ or IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@bodyjustice.therapist.⁠⁠⁠

Educational resources mentioned:

Maintenance Phase- Ultra Processed Foods Episodes

Emily Oster- Seed Oils

Emily Oster- Microplastics

Episode 81 of Body Justice Podcast is all about the intersection of diet culture and ageism. We discuss how these systems impact our relationship to food and body, especially as we age. We explore how the skincare industry has emerged as the new diet culture and how it is rooted in a socialized fear of aging. Deb shares her own lived experience as a woman in her late 60s, a professional in the eating disorder field with decades of experience- and how she aims to challenge these harmful systems in her work with clients and anyone who follows her work.

More about Deb:

Deb Benfield, M.Ed., RDN, LDN, RYT, is a Registered Dietitian, nutrition therapist, and body image coach with 40 years of experience helping people heal their relationship with food, movement, and their bodies. Her work sits at the intersection of anti-ageism, body liberation, and trauma-informed care, offering a radically compassionate alternative to anti-aging, diet, and wellness culture, especially for those in midlife and beyond.

After turning 60, Deb began questioning the dominant narratives around aging, vitality, and beauty—and quickly realized how many resources still centered weight loss and youthful appearance as ultimate goals. In response, she created what she couldn’t find: a framework for nourishing the body that honors inner wisdom, prioritizes quality of life, and embraces the full spectrum of aging.

She’s the author of Unapologetic Aging: How to Mend and Nourish Your Relationship with Your Body and offers individual and group coaching to help others age unapologetically—on their own terms.

Disclaimer: this podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. This is not a replacement for individual therapy or medical advice. 

As always, you can find the host of this podcast, Allyson, on her website: ⁠⁠⁠www.eatingdisorderocdtherapy.com⁠⁠⁠ or IG: ⁠⁠⁠@bodyjustice.therapist.⁠⁠⁠

Episode 80 of Body Justice podcast is a compassionate and honest exploration of one person's journey of unlearning Zionism. Our guest is Natalie Katz, a Jewish eating disorder dietitian. In this episode we cover: 

• What Zionism is and how it connects to colonialism and other forms of oppression
• The historical context of Zionism within the Jewish and other religious communities
• An exploration of how Zionism hijacks the core values of Judaism 
• Natalie's journey to developing critical consciousness outside of Zionism-led propaganda 
• The connection between Zionism and the rise of anti-Jewish hatred
• Systemic oppression and scapegoating of Jewish people
• Why all of this matters for eating disorders

About Natalie:

Natalie is a registered dietitian and the founder of Feeding Your Soul Nutrition an outpatient insurance-based nutrition group practice specializing in eating disorder and non-diet nutrition care. Since 2017, she has grown the practice into a team of registered dietitians who provide compassionate, weight-inclusive support to clients of all ages, both virtually and in person. Natalie also provides clinical and business consultation to fellow clinicians in hopes of increasing eating disorder informed and inclusive care.

Visit Natalie's website here: https://feedingyoursoulnutrition.com/

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Disclaimer: this podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. This is not a replacement for individual therapy or medical advice.

As always, you can find the host of this podcast, Allyson, on her website: ⁠⁠www.eatingdisorderocdtherapy.com⁠⁠ or IG: ⁠⁠@bodyjustice.therapist.⁠⁠

In this episode of Body Justice Podcast, Allyson Inez Ford, LPCC sits down with Monika Orstroff, LICSW, CEDS-S, Executive Director of ⁠MEDA⁠ for part two of an honest and deeply informed conversation about dissociative identity disorder (DID) and eating disorders.

Monika shares her lived experience of being diagnosed with DID in 1993 (when it was still called 'multiple personalities disorder'), breaks down what DID actually is (and what it is not), and explains why dissociative systems are often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and stigmatized. Together, we explore how DID can shape eating disorder recovery, why treatment often fails when clinicians ignore or pathologize parts, and what it looks like to support safety, collaboration, and internal communication, without fear-based demands and expectations of neuronormativity.

Learn more about Monika’s work at ⁠healingmyparts.org⁠. You can also find her other resources through Healing My Parts, including her podcast and Substack.

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Disclaimer: this podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. This is not a replacement for individual therapy or medical advice.

As always, you can find the host of this podcast, Allyson, on her website: ⁠www.eatingdisorderocdtherapy.com⁠ or IG: ⁠@bodyjustice.therapist.⁠

In this episode of Body Justice Podcast, Allyson Inez Ford, LPCC sits down with Monika Orstroff, LICSW, CEDS-S, Executive Director of MEDA for an honest and deeply informed conversation about dissociative identity disorder (DID) and eating disorders.

Monika shares her lived experience of being diagnosed with DID in 1993 (when it was still called 'multiple personalities disorder'), breaks down what DID actually is (and what it is not), and explains why dissociative systems are often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and stigmatized. Together, we explore how DID can shape eating disorder recovery, why treatment often fails when clinicians ignore or pathologize parts, and what it looks like to support safety, collaboration, and internal communication, without fear-based demands and expectations of neuronormativity.

Learn more about Monika’s work at healingmyparts.org. You can also find her other resources through Healing My Parts, including her podcast and Substack.

_______________________________________________________________

Disclaimer: this podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. This is not a replacement for individual therapy or medical advice.

As always, you can find the host of this podcast, Allyson, on her website: www.eatingdisorderocdtherapy.com or IG: @bodyjustice.therapist.

What happens when hunger feels like a demand, and demands feel like threats?

In this episode, Allyson Ford, MA, LPCC (@bodyjustice.therapist) is joined by Livia (@livlabelfree) for a neurodivergent-affirming conversation about PDA and eating disorders. While PDA is often labeled “Pathological Demand Avoidance,” the neurodiversity affirming movement invites a different frame: Persistent Drive for Autonomy: a nervous-system response rooted in the need for safety and agency.

Together, we talk about:

• Why standard eating disorder treatment can mirror ED rigidity (protocol over person)

• How being labeled “defiant” or “treatment resistant” can miss the real need underneath

• Reframing “control” as safety and survival adaptation

• Why “recovery” can feel vague, pressurized, or even coercive; and how “discovery” offers a more spacious alternative

• What affirming care can look like for PDA-ers with eating disorders

Find Livia’s work: @livlabelfree | livlabelfree.com
Connect with Allyson: @bodyjustice.therapist

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not provide individual therapeutic, psychological, or medical advice. For personalized support, please consult a qualified licensed professional.

In episode 76 Allyson interviews guest speaker, Naomi Tapia, an associate therapist in CA with lived experience, specializing in eating disorders and body image, specifically in Latine culture. Naomi so graciously shares her own story of an eating disorder, trauma, SI, grief and loss. Naomi talks about what led her to healing, and shares so much great wisdom. Find Naomi on her IG @mylatinatherapist

Content warning: this episode does include mentions of SA and suicidality. Please listen at your own discretion and make sure to give yourself permission to take breaks, use coping skills or even skip this episode if listening to it would be harmful to your mental health right now.

About our guest speaker:

Naomi Tapia-Abrego, M.S., AMFT #128232, is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California and a member of a new practice, Warrior Path Therapy. As the eldest daughter of Mexican immigrants and a first-generation college graduate, she brings cultural depth, lived experience, and a little sass to every session. Fat, queer, and unapologetically herself, Naomi works virtually with Millennial and Gen Z clients navigating boundary-setting, family dynamics, disordered eating, imposter syndrome, and the many struggles that come with being a child of immigrants. She believes healing starts when we stop shrinking ourselves and finally take up the space we deserve.

This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute a provider-patient relationship.

Please seek the support of a local therapist if you are currently struggling and in need of treatment. To find out more about what therapeutic services I offer visit my website at: ⁠www.eatingdisorderocdtherapy.com⁠

As always, you can find me on IG ⁠@bodyjustice.therapist

In the field of Eating Disorders, we are seeing an increasing occurrence of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) in our clients. In this episode, we talk to Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani to learn more about this overlap, signs and symptoms of MCAS , how it impacts healing from an eating disorder and treatment.

Resources mentioned in the show:

• Four part blog series on MCAS and EDs by Dr. G
• Gaudiani Clinic MCAS Questionnaires (RASH-PF and Q)

About Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani

Jennifer L. Gaudiani, MD, CEDS-S, FAED, is the Founder and Medical Director of  the Gaudiani Clinic. Board Certified in Internal Medicine, she completed her  undergraduate degree at Harvard, medical school at Boston University School of  Medicine, and her internal medicine residency and chief residency at Yale. Dr.  Gaudiani served as the Medical Director at the ACUTE Center for Eating Disorders  prior to founding the Gaudiani Clinic, which is a Denver-based outpatient medical  clinic dedicated to people with eating disorders and disordered eating. The Gaudiani  Clinic is a HAES (Health At Every Size)®-informed provider and embraces treating  people of all shapes, sizes, ages, and genders. The Gaudiani Clinic is licensed to  practice in over 35 US states via telemedicine and offers international professional  consultation and education.

Dr. Gaudiani has lectured nationally and internationally, is widely published in the  scientific literature as well as on blogs, is a Fellow of the Academy for Eating  Disorders, and is a recent former member of the editorial board of the International  Journal of Eating Disorders and the Academy for Eating Disorders Medical Care  Standards Committee. Dr. Gaudiani’s first book, Sick Enough: A Guide to the Medical Complications of Eating Disorders (Routledge, 2018) is available on  Amazon.

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This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute a provider-patient relationship.

Please seek the support of a local therapist if you are currently struggling and in need of treatment. To find out more about what therapeutic services I offer visit my website at: www.eatingdisorderocdtherapy.com

As always, you can find me on IG @bodyjustice.therapist

In this episode of Body Justice, Allyson discusses sexual trauma and eating disorders with trauma therapist Seema Sharma, SEP, CST, MBA, PHD. Content warning: discussions of sexual abuse are explicitly discussed. Please listen with care and make sure you are resourced enough to proceed. It's normal for these conversations to bring up a lot of complicated feelings. Our hope is that you also feel less alone, and gain some insights into what the healing process can look like.

We'll explore what makes sexual trauma healing different than other traumas, the soul wounding that comes with sexual abuse, types of sexual trauma, helpful therapy approaches, the connection to eating disorders and more.

As always, you can find me on my website: www.eatingdisorderocdtherapy.com and my Instagram: @bodyjustice.therapist.

About our guest:

Seema Sharma, SEP, CST, LMFT is the founder of Holistic Trauma Therapy. Introduced to holistic healing as a young adult, she has devoted her life to exploring global healing traditions often overlooked in the West, traveling through Asia, Latin America, Africa, and Europe. With over 25 years of senior leadership experience at prestigious global companies, Seema brings a rare insight into the intersection of corporate culture, workplace trauma, and resilience. Her practice is redefining the way therapy is approached — integrating evidence-based methods with a whole-person focus on mind, body, and spirit. She specializes in sexual abuse trauma, childhood trauma, cultural trauma, religious trauma, and workplace trauma. Seema holds a Master’s in Integral Counseling Psychology and is a PhD candidate in Integral and Transpersonal Psychology, with an emphasis on the Contemplative Neuroscience of Consciousness Studies. As an integrative, depth-oriented, and experiential psychotherapist, Seema has extensive training in trauma and dissociation and guides clients on the path toward wholeness. Whether you are seeking somatic therapy, sex therapy, EMDR, or depth work, you can learn more at https://wwwholistictraumatherapy.com.