Episode 70 of Body Justice is truly a gift of wisdom from my dear friend and colleague, Alishia McCullough. In this episode we talk about some of the core concepts from her book, Reclaiming the Black Body.

In this episode we explore:

• How EDs show up for Black girls/women
• Shifting terminology from Eating Disorders to Eating Imbalances
• Adultification Bias and the Hypersexualization of Black women and femmes
• The ties between colonization, the trans Atlantic slave trade and eating imbalances
• The trafficking of Saartjie Baartman and the conflation of fatness and blackness
• Intergenerational body trauma
• Maternal disdain and rejection of daughters as a survival tactic from enslavement
• What healing looks like through this lens, what it means to truly Reclaim the Black Body

About Alishia:

Alishia McCullough (LCMHC) is a millennial Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist and owner of Black and Embodied Consulting PLLC. 

She specializes in somatic therapy, trauma healing, and eating disorder treatment with a focus on cultivating embodiment and fostering anti-oppression. In 2020, Alishia co-founded the Amplify Melanated Voices Movement, a global movement to elevate the voices of Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color online and in-person. Alishia currently runs the self-paced online course Reimagining Eating Disorders 101. She  was awarded the 2023 Alumni Award from the Department of Psychology for the noteworthy contributions she has made to the field. An accomplished writer, Alishia is the author of a collection of poems called Blossoming, and  Reclaiming the Black Body now available in bookstores nationwide. 

In her work, Alishia centers the intersectional narratives of Black, Brown, Indigenous, Asian, dual-heritage, and individuals indigenous to the Global South, andor those who have been racialized as 'ethnic minorities' experiencing mental and emotional distress. She also specializes in working with those living with eating disorders, upholding the values of body justice and fat liberation. She was one of the Mental Health Influencers in Meta's 2022 Well-Being Collective. Alishia's work has been featured in Bustle, WordInBlack, STAT News, BlackGirlNerds, Essence, Reckon, Wondermind, Pen America and Forbes.

*As always this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute individual medical or therapeutic advice.

Please reach out if you are interested in becoming a therapy or coaching client: www.eatingdisorderocdtherapy.com or visit my instagram for more info: @bodyjustice.therapist

Episode 69 is a solo episode from me. I want to offer you all some insights around building hope- how it's messy and dark, not easy and joyful. We'll explore how hope is a relational concept, how it grows through action, and we'll draw on wisdom from BIPOC activists and how they remained hopeful during times of political unrest and oppression. We'll also explore the concept of relative safety, and practice cultivating it in our own bodies. The purpose of this episode is to offer education and tools to help us navigate hard collective and personal times. You are not alone.

Find me on my website to work with me or a member of my team- we offer therapy in CA, WA, UT & FL, as well as recovery coaching for eating disorders and OCD worldwide.

www.eatingdisorderocdtherapy.com

I am also on IG @bodyjustice.therapist

Thank you for supporting Body Justice!

*This podcast is not individual medical or therapeutic advice, it is for educational purposes only!

Episode 68 is a very special and tender episode. Listen in to hear my colleague and friend share her vulnerable and important story of navigating infertility in a fat body. Sarah shares not only her experience but also her wisdom, ways of coping and resources for anyone else navigating this difficult journey. Infertility is hard enough, but navigating the weight stigma in the medical field when you just want your child, is brutal. As always, you can find me on my website: www.eatingdisorderocdtherapy.com or on IG @bodyjustice.therapist.

About Sarah:

Sarah Jane Thomas (she/her) is a licensed therapist who works virtually with folks navigating body image, trauma, and recovery from diet culture. Her California-based practice centers fat liberation, body autonomy, and the kind of therapy that actually honors your whole messy, beautiful self.
Sarah identifies as fat, queer, neurodivergent—and also happens to be in the middle of a solo fertility journey. So when it comes to talking about weight stigma in the infertility world, she brings both personal and professional truth. She’s passionate about calling out the harm in “weight loss before care” policies and advocating for inclusive reproductive support that doesn’t shame people for their bodies.
She’s also working on something new: Body Rebel Club, a coaching space and community for folks reclaiming body trust on their own terms—open to people anywhere in the world. It’s launching soon, so head to bodyrebelclub.com and follow @bodyrebelclub on Instagram to be the first to know.
If you're in California and looking for therapy that honors lived experience and liberation, visit sarahjanethomas.org or follow@embodiedself_therapy on Instagram to connect.

**This epsiode is for educational purposes only. It is not individual medical or therapeutic advice.

Tune in to episode 67 of Body Justice where Ericka Leonard and I discuss the connection between Interpersonal Violence (domestic violence) and Eating Disorders. As always, you can find out more about my work as an Eating Disorder and OCD therapist via my website: https://www.eatingdisorderocdtherapy.com

In this episode we cover:

• What IPV is and how it can trigger eating disorders/body image distress
• How perpetrators weaponize mental health struggles against survivors
• Relationship red flags & love bombing
• What healing looks like
• Resources for IPV
• Personal experiences related to IPV

Resources mentioned:

• https://www.thehotline.org
• Strong Hearts Native Hotline
• RAINN
• Power and Control Wheel

About Ericka Leonard LCSW:

Ericka Leonard, LCSW-C, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker practicing in Maryland, Virginia, and DC. She owns a private practice and specializes in complex trauma treatment (primarily using a relational approach and EMDR) as well as eating disorders. and has years of clinical experience working with children, adolescents and adults in a variety of settings. Prior to opening her own private practice in 2021, Ericka’s experience as a Social Worker included serving as the Program Director of a residential eating disorder program for adolescents, as well as working as the lead clinical therapist/Assistant Director at a domestic violence shelter. Additionally, Ericka worked as a Forensic Interviewer for a local Child Advocacy Center. Prior to entering the field of Social Work, Ericka was a middle school French and Spanish teacher. In her free time, Ericka enjoys traveling, running, playing with her dog, and Crossfit. Find her via her website: www.joiedevivretherapy.com

*Please note that this podcast is meant for educational and informational purposes only. It is not individual medical or therapeutic advice.

Tune in to episode 66 of Body Justice Podcast to hear a recovery story from ED Survivor & Therapist Winter Groeschl. I love connecting with other people who have wisdom to share from their own lived experience. Everyone's journey is so unique, and there is a lot the community can learn from listening to a variety of perspectives. In this episode we discuss what HLOC was like for Winter, deconstructing from purity culture, strengths and barriers to recovery in her experience and so much more. As always, you can find me on my website: www.eatintdisorderocdtherapy.com or IG: @bodyjustice.therapist

About Winter:

Winter Groeschl (she/her/they/them) is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Arizona, passionate about providing competent, compassionate care and support for those navigating their healing journey with substance use disorders, eating disorders, disordered eating, body image, depression, anxiety, trauma, and more. They have experience working at all levels of care within Arizona’s mental health system. She utilizes an integration of trauma conscious modalities and inclusive approaches with her clients, pulling from ACT, mindfulness-based approaches, DBT/CBT, polyvagal theory, Compassion Focused therapy, and Client Centered modalities. Winter offers care from a social justice, weight neutral, inclusive lens. Winter is a member and advocate of the LGBTQIA+ community and is devoted to providing an affirming and safe space for all individuals from all walks of life.

Her vision is to assist each client in exploring their true self while connecting to their immense capacity for growth, a restored sense of self, and a consistent feeling of empowerment in all that they do.

Please note: this podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute a provider-patient relationship. This is not meant for individual medical or therapeutic advice.

Tune in to episode 65 of Body Justice to hear our thoughts on decolonization and eating disorders. This was a fun and insightful reverse interview with a friend and colleague, Shikha Advani. Shikha is deeply committed to social justice in eating disorder treatment and it was an honor to be apart of her research project.

From Shikha: Hi! I’m Shikha Advani, a doctoral student at the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work. I hold master’s degrees in nutrition and social work, and my research focuses on eating disorders, weight stigma, and decolonization. Clinically, I work as an eating disorder therapist supporting individuals with complex trauma and marginalized identities. I aim to bridge clinical and research worlds to promote anti-oppression and decolonial practices in the ED field. Outside of work, I love spending time with my cat Jellybean, reading, and trying new food.

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

Please know that this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not meant for individual health or therapeutic advice. Listening to this podcast does not constitute a provider-patient relationship.

I hope you enjoy this insightful and thought provoking conversation with a dear friend and colleague of mine, Stacie Fanelli. Stacie Fanelli is a late-discovered AuDHD licensed clinical social worker specializing in the intersection of eating disorders, autism, and ADHD in California and Pennsylvania. She also provides case consultation and supervision to both neurodivergent clinicians looking to better understand anti-oppressive eating disorder care and eating disorder clinicians seeking non-traditional approaches to facilitate their neurodivergent clients' healing. She facilitates a free monthly support group for autistic and ADHD adults struggling with their relationship to food and body. Follow her always-evolving introspections on this intersection on Instagram: @edadhd_therapist

Reminder that this podcast is not a substitute for individual therapy or medical advice. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. This podcast does not constitute provider-patient relationship. If you would like to work with Allyson or a member of her team, please visit our website and schedule a free consultation to see if we are the right fit for you: ⁠www.eatingdisorderocdtherapy.com⁠

As always, find me on IG @bodyjustice.therapist or via my website: ⁠⁠www.eatingdisorderocdtherapy.com⁠

This convo was a pleasure to have. Body image in our 30's is not something discussed enough and the truth is- body image distress impacts people throughout the lifespan. I hope you feel seen, understood and motivated to divest from beauty standards that don't align with your values and/or are not serving you. As always, find me on IG @bodyjustice.therapist or via my website: www.eatingdisorderocdtherapy.com

About Colleen:

Dr. Colleen Reichmann is a licensed clinical psychologist, practicing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is the founder of a group eating disorder practice, Wildflower Therapy. She is an eating disorders specialist, and has worked at various treatment facilities including University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro Center for Eating Disorder Care, and The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt. She has lived experience of anorexia, as well as infertility, IVF, and recurrent pregnancy loss-which has led to her inability to stop chattering away about the nuanced relationship between reproductive grief, motherhood, and our bodies. She is a lucky mom of two, and an intersectional feminist through and through. Substack: Musings from a feminist mother 
Tiktok @drcolleenreichmann
Instagram @drcolleenreichmann
Website: www.wildflowertherapyllc.com
Book: The Inside Scoop on Eating Disorder Recovery: Advice From Two Therapists Who Have Been There
Podcast: The Motherhood Body Chronicles

Reminder that this podcast is not a substitute for individual therapy or medical advice. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. This podcast does not constitute provider-patient relationship. If you would like to work with Allyson or a member of her team, please visit our website and schedule a free consultation to see if we are the right fit for you: www.eatingdisorderocdtherapy.com

Hello and welcome to Body Justice! This episode is a re-release of #59 where discussed the genocide in Palestine and how it relates to Eating Disorders. There has been a lot of silence in the field around this topic, but Malak has been speaking up since day one as it is an issue near and dear to her heart.

Malak Saddy RD, LD/LDN is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist and Size Inclusive Advocate. She uses her lived experiences of growing up in a first-generation American Lebanese Muslim household and attributes her career to her cultural background. Currently, Malak works with clients 1:1, providing individualized nutrition counseling sessions in IL, TX, WI, FL, MA, LA. She also provides supervision and case consultation to clinicians and is a keynote speaker working with professional organizations and corporations to educate participants on working towards healing their relationship with food and body image.  Learn more about Malak on her IG @malaksaddy

Reminder that this podcast is not a substitute for individual therapy or medical advice. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. This podcast does not constitute provider-patient relationship. If you would like to work with Allyson or a member of her team, please visit our website and schedule a free consultation to see if we are the right fit for you: www.eatingdisorderocdtherapy.com

In Episode 63, Allyson and Abbie discuss the harmful cultural trend back to extreme thinness and the pursuit of losing weight by any means necessary. We also explore how this is connected to right-wing extremism, and why divesting from these ideals (though extremely hard) is an act of resistance. We hope this episode feels like validation, comfort and motivation to keep pursuing body acceptance and liberation in spite of the increasing pressure on all of us- but particularly those in large bodies.

If you are looking for support on these topics, Allyson and her team are here to help! Visit our website for more info on our therapy and coaching services: www.eatingdisorderocdtherapy.com and IG @bodyjustice.therapist

About Abbie:

Abbie Attwood (she/her) is an anti-diet, weight-inclusive provider with a master's in clinical nutrition. She is the founder of Abbie Attwood Wellness, where she offers virtual nutrition therapy and body image coaching for individuals and groups. She also hosts The Full Plate Podcast and writes the accompanying newsletter, exploring the complexities of healing from diet culture with nuance, warmth, and science.

Abbie’s passion for this work is deeply personal. Her own experience with an eating disorder—shaped by the intersection of competitive running, OCD, and chronic illness—fuels her commitment to supporting those who don’t always see themselves in the traditional narrative of disordered eating.

She works with clients worldwide, helping them break free from chronic dieting, body shame, compulsive exercise, and disordered eating. Her approach is grounded in self-compassion, social justice, and body liberation, guiding people toward a more peaceful and respectful relationship with their bodies.

Abbie splits her time between Maine and the Bay Area with her husband and their two quirky rescue pups. She’s a devoted lover of breakfast, books, the ocean, and all the ice cream.

Please note this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for individual medical or therapeutic advice. This podcast does not constitute a provider-patient relationship.