Episode description:

In this episode of Peace Meal, we sit down with Mallary Tenore Tarpley, journalist, professor, and author of the forthcoming book Slip. Mallary opens up about her personal journey with anorexia, her path to treatment, and her concept of the “middle place” in recovery—a space between acute illness and full recovery that is rarely discussed but widely experienced.

Mallary shares how her early experiences with grief, media influences, and cultural messages about food and bodies contributed to the development of her eating disorder. She also talks about the power of persistence, small steps toward healing, and the importance of support and community along the recovery journey.

About Mallary:

Mallary Tenore Tarpley is a journalism and writing professor at the University of Texas at Austin's Moody College of Communications and McCombs School of Business. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and other publications. She graduated from Providence College and has an MFA in nonfiction writing from Goucher College. Mallary lives outside of Austin, TX, with her husband and two children.

We cover:

How Mallary’s mother’s death and suppressed grief contributed to the onset of her eating disorder

Her treatment experiences, including a 17-month stay in residential care

The concept of the “middle place” and why she wants to destigmatize slips in recovery

The five pillars of recovery that guided her healing journey

Why persistence, small victories, and community support are essential

How Slip blends personal narrative with research and the voices of others

In Mallary’s words:

On why she titled her book Slip: “Sometimes we think that slips equal failure. And that is the reason I titled the book Slip... I want to destigmatize slips in the recovery process and recognize that slips can be opportunities for growth rather than grounds for failure.”

On the “middle place” in recovery: “For a long time I thought that I was the only one in this space, because I never heard anyone else talk about it... when I began to interview people for the book, I realized that this space is quite populous, and yet it's not talked about very often.”

On persistence and progress: “Sometimes the idea of trying to attain full recovery can feel a bit daunting and insurmountable... I like to think a lot about ‘more recovery.’ Maybe that's a half [of] a percent one day, maybe it's ten percent another day. Those very tiny steps can accumulate over time.”

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Mallary’s book, Slip, comes out on August 5, but you can preorder it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or at your local bookstore today. You can connect with Mallary, learn more about her, and follow her newsletter on her website, mallarytenoretarpley.com. You can also follow her on Instagram (@mallarytenoretarpley) and LinkedIn.

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About the podcast:

Peace Meal is a podcast hosted by The Emily Program that covers topics related to eating disorders, body image, and how society may influence our thinking.

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