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In this powerful and deeply personal episode of The Sober Butterfly Podcast, host Nadine sits down with journalism professor and author Mallary Tenore Tarpley to discuss the nuanced realities of eating disorder recovery—and its often-overlooked intersection with sobriety.

Mallary’s forthcoming book, Slip: Life in the Middle of Eating Disorder Recovery, explores the idea of the “middle place”—that in-between space where you’re no longer in crisis, but not yet fully healed. Together, Nadine and Mallary unpack their personal struggles with body dysmorphia, disordered eating, drunkorexia, and the pressure to appear “recovered.”

🔔 Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of eating disorders, body image, and co-occurring substance use. Please listen with care.

🔍 In This Episode:

• What it means to live in the “middle place” of recovery
• The overlap between eating disorders and substance abuse (aka “drunkorexia”)
• Social media’s impact on body image and recovery
• The difference between disordered eating and a clinical eating disorder
• How to practice self-compassion in non-linear healing journeys
• Nadine’s personal reflections on sobriety, mental health, and her recent sobriety anniversary
• Why recovery is ongoing—and that “slipping” doesn’t mean failing

📚 Pre-Order Mallary’s Book:

➡️ Slip: Life in the Middle of Eating Disorder Recovery
Pre-order here: https://amzn.to/40caUI6

Follow Mallary on Instagram

@mallarytenoretarpley

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