Second Helpings

Wuthering Heights is often remembered as a great romance, but it’s really a story about emotional extremes — love that becomes obsession, grief that turns into anger, and pain that is passed from one generation to the next. The 2026 film starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi is based on the classic novel by Emily Brontë and directed by Emerald Fennell. Like the book, it tells the story of the intense and destructive relationship between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw.

In this episode, Alice and Maria ask what happens when trauma, abandonment, and jealousy are never processed? Ever. And how do those feelings shape the way people treat the people they love?

Second Helpings is an eating disorder and recovery podcast that uses our favorite art and culture to discuss mental health themes. It's hosted by Alice, a writer and recovering anorexic, and Maria, an actor and clinical psychologist.

If you’re struggling with an eating disorder or supporting someone who is, the following organisations offer resources and help:

UK — Beat Eating Disorders

USA — National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders)

Follow Alice and Maria!

#mentalhealth #selfhelp #recovery

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It's been ten years since Beyoncé released her iconic album Lemonade. We break down the devastating themes, track list, and analyze why this record still feels current after a decade.

As usual, we're examining the album through a recovery lens, so expect an analysis of the impact of Jay-Z's affair on Beyoncé's creative process, and hear a psychologist's take on her journey.

Second Helpings is an eating disorder and recovery podcast that uses our favorite art and culture to discuss mental health themes. It's hosted by Alice, a writer and recovering anorexic, and Maria, an actor and clinical psychologist.

If you’re struggling with an eating disorder or supporting someone who is, the following organisations offer resources and help:

UK — Beat Eating Disorders

USA — National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders)

Follow Alice and Maria!

#mentalhealth #selfhelp #recovery

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Skip to 25:00 for discussion of the book!

In this episode, Alice and Maria discuss Sally Rooney’s Normal People and unpack why its portrayal of young love feels so intimate, unsettling, and painfully familiar. What makes Connell and Marianne’s relationship so compelling — and so damaging? And why do stories about first love so often blur the line between connection and self-erasure?

In this episode, we discuss: Young love and toxic relationships, eating disorders and control as coping mechanisms

As always, we approach these themes through a recovery lens — asking how stories like Normal People can both validate lived experiences and quietly reinforce harmful ideas about love, suffering, and worth. We reflect on what it means to grow beyond relationships that once felt essential, and how tenderness doesn’t have to come at the cost of selfhood.

If you’re struggling with an eating disorder or supporting someone who is, the following organisations offer resources and help:

UK — Beat Eating Disorders

USA — National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders)

Follow Alice and Maria!

New episodes of Second Helpings drop bi-weekly.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our Season 2 premiere, we unpack Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” and explore how the song reframes one of literature’s most famous tragedies. Why do we keep returning to the image of the doomed woman in love? And what does it mean when pop culture tells us — again and again — that romance is the cure for our deepest wounds?

In this episode, we discuss:

As always, we approach these themes through a recovery lens — looking at how storytelling can either reinforce old patterns or open up new ways of understanding ourselves.

If you’re struggling with an eating disorder or supporting someone who is, the following organisations offer resources and help:

UK

USA

New episodes of Second Helpings drop bi-weekly.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In her first weekly episode of Candid Fridays, Alice goes solo to discuss her recent crash out, the pressures of quitting your job, and shares four tips to mark World Eating Disorders Action Day 2025.

TW: Eating disorders, depression, mental health issues.

@aliceflorenceorr is a writer, podcast critic and former charcoal drinker.

@mikwiik is an actress and clinical psychologist from Norway.

Resources:

BEAT (UK)

NEDA (USA)

Keywords: eating disorders, mental health, recovery, self-awareness, coping mechanisms, perfectionism, weight restoration, therapy, personal growth, challenges.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's special episode all about modern dating, Maria and Alice discuss how they knew that they had found "the one" and the perks of moving in together. Also on the menu: telling your date about your eating disorder, the worst parts of casual dating culture and how to tell when you should actually just block that person for your own sanity.

Note: This episode was re-uploaded to fix an audio issue.

TW: Eating disorders, depression, awful dating stories.

Love this episode? Join our Patreon community to ask questions and share your opinions. patreon.com/SecondHelpings

@aliceflorenceorr is a writer, podcast critic and former charcoal drinker.

@mikwiik is an actress and clinical psychologist from Norway.

Resources:

BEAT (UK)

NEDA (USA)

Keywords: eating disorders, mental health, recovery, self-awareness, coping mechanisms, perfectionism, weight restoration, therapy, personal growth, challenges.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the first Patreon exclusive episode, Alice talks about how she overcame food sensitivities, digestive issues and restored her lust for life. (Hint: it didn't involve supplements or naturopaths!)

Get ready for an honest and unconventional discussion about digestive issues and bloating.

This Patreon series is about the physical side of recovery that might be embarrassing, confusing or TMI. Luckily, Alice has no shame.

Listen to the full episode on our Patreon.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TW: eating disorders, depression, near-death experiences.

In her first solo Q&A episode, Alice fills in the gaps about her eating disorder from the beginning up to the present day. And if that wasn't depressing enough, she also answers questions about recovery setbacks and why she can't drink an iced matcha without cringing a little bit inside.

Love this episode? Join our Patreon community to ask questions and share your opinions. patreon.com/SecondHelpings

@aliceflorenceorr is a writer, podcast critic and former charcoal drinker.

@mikwiik is an actress and clinical psychologist from Norway.

Resources:

BEAT (UK)

NEDA (USA)

Keywords: eating disorders, mental health, recovery, self-awareness, coping mechanisms, perfectionism, weight restoration, therapy, personal growth, challenges.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Alice and Maria discuss whether social media was the cause of their body image issues and how they consume it today. Is TikTok the source of all evil? Does Alice still watch triggering content? As always, there will be discussions of eating disorders and other mature content.

Love this episode? Join our Patreon community to ask questions and share your opinions. patreon.com/SecondHelpings

@mikwiik is an actress and clinical psychologist from Norway. @aliceflorenceorr is a writer, podcast critic and former charcoal drinker.

Ideas and books mentioned:

Susan Sontag's 'On Photography'

Marshall McLuhan on the "medium is the message"

Resources:

BEAT (UK)

NEDA (USA)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

*This episode has been re-uploaded with better audio*

After a nasty depressive episode, Alice is functional and joined by Maria to discuss a topic that they've been dying to bring up: wellness trends.

From reformer pilates and standing desks to juice cleanses and parasite detoxes, they've tried them all. But are wellness fads really masking a deeper problem, and do they encourage disordered eating?

Love this episode? Join our Patreon community to ask questions and share your opinions. patreon.com/SecondHelpings

@mikwiik is an actress and clinical psychologist from Norway. @aliceflorenceorr is a writer, podcast critic and former charcoal drinker.

Thank you for listening!

Resources:

BEAT (UK)

NEDA (USA)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices