In this week’s episode, Han is joined by Laura Annikal. Laura is a professional ballet dancer and sociology graduate, who has faced the pressures of body image and eating disorders in the ballet world, inspiring her to write a thesis on the subject. In ballet, where thinness is equated with success, dancers often conform to harmful body standards at the expense of their well-being. Many eating disorders go unnoticed or untreated, due to a lack of education among teachers and directors. She is dedicated to promoting body acceptance and addressing eating disorders in the ballet community, advocating for valuing health over thinness.

This week, we discuss:

• Laura's experience of developing an eating disorder and how the body standards enforced in ballet led to disordered behaviours.
• The impact of disordered eating on Laura's dancing, as well as her mental and physical health.
• The way Laura perceived her eating disorder, as she didn't have anorexia or appear emaciated, but rather struggled with bulimia.
• The different pressures put on men and women at ballet school, and how this can impact the development of disordered eating.
• The change required within the dance profession to make it more accessible, reduce the pressure to confirm to certain body types, and avoid dancers developing eating disorders and disordered eating.

Kindly note, that this episode delves into sensitive eating disorder topics. Remember to take care of yourself while listening, and always seek professional help if needed. This podcast is your bridge to insightful discussions, not a substitute for clinical guidance.

In this week’s podcast, Han is joined by Amalie Lee! Amalie is a trained coach with a background in Psychology. Frustrated with the lack of easy-to-understand, science-backed eating disorder information online, Amalie started Let's Recover during her recovery from Anorexia Nervosa over a decade ago. Amalie is especially interested in the biopsychology of eating disorders, reactive hunger, and the cognitive-behavioural effects of undernourishment. In addition to coaching, Amalie hosts the podcast 'Recovery Talk', and writes the Substack newsletter 'Let's Recover'.

This week, we discuss:

• Our thoughts behind extreme, or reactive, hunger and why this occurs during eating disorder recovery.
• The change in hunger and energy levels during an eating disorder vs recovery, why this happens and how to navigate it.
• The secret nature of an eating disorder that makes you feel special, and how to swap this narrative.
• How to navigate intrusive thoughts from your eating disorder around your weight and food, and how to keep eating through recovery.
• The difficulty quasi-recovery brings, how to challenge eating disorder beliefs and the importance of recognising where eating disorder behaviours arise.
• The theory behind cravings and a famine response in anorexia.
• Amalie's advice when clients experience reactive hunger and how to keep engaged in recovery.

To find out more about Amalie, you can follow them on Instagram @amalielee, visit their website or check out their podcast, Recovery Talk.

Kindly note, that this episode delves into sensitive eating disorder topics. Remember to take care of yourself while listening, and always seek professional help if needed. This podcast is your bridge to insightful discussions, not a substitute for clinical guidance.

In this week's episode, Han is joined by Dr. Lara Zibarras, a food freedom psychologist and an eating disorder recovery coach. She combines a background in psychology and training in nutrition, intuitive eating, and eating disorders to help clients heal their relationship with food and body image. Her 20s and 30s were riddled with food anxieties and disordered eating, so finding food freedom was truly life changing. She now runs coaching programs and online courses to help clients find health without obsession and the freedom and joy in eating again.

This week, we discuss:

• Lara's experience of an eating disorder, and how this has brought her to work as an eating disorder recovery coach.
• Lara's experience of bulimia and the relief purging gave her.
• How Lara navigated the feeling of fullness which she had come to find extremely uncomfortable.
• The pressure of "bouncing back" after having a baby and losing weight for a wedding, and how this was normalised despite Lara's history of an eating disorder.
• The rise of wellness culture and how this triggered the development of orthorexia for Lara.

Kindly note, that this episode delves into sensitive eating disorder topics. Remember to take care of yourself while listening, and always seek professional help if needed. This podcast is your bridge to insightful discussions, not a substitute for clinical guidance.

This week, Han is joined by David Coyle. David is a Consultant Psychiatrist, and the Clinical Lead for Adult Eating Disorder Services across multiple Trusts in Northern Ireland. With a career spanning 18 years in mental health and 7 years specialising in eating disorders, David is dedicated to his clinical work, especially where he can be creative and innovative. He is also passionate about teaching and provides training for various regional healthcare disciplines. One of his notable interests is exploring the treatment options available for severe and complex eating disorders.

This week, Han and David discuss:

• David's journey as a consultant psychiatrist and how he began working in eating disorders.
• David's perspective on using diagnostic labels and the importance of accessing treatment.
• The importance of getting to know a patient and their difficulties to provide adequate recovery treatment.
• The need for weight restoration in recovery as well as the uncertainty this can bring in recovery.
• David's perspective on the descriptor "Severe and Enduring Eating Disorder" and when this may be supportive for patients.
• David's perspective on the Mental Health Act and when it may be appropriate to detain a patient or not.
• David's experience of supporting a patient with palliative care and the reasons for when this may be necessary.
• How to determine if a patient has the capacity to decide on palliative care. Kindly note, that this episode delves into sensitive eating disorder topics such as the Mental Health Act and palliative care. Remember to take care of yourself while listening, and always seek professional help if needed. This podcast is your bridge to insightful discussions, not a substitute for clinical guidance.

In this week's episode, Han is joined by Priya Tew. Priya is an award-winning, experienced registered eating disorder dietitian who specialises in IBS. Priya has experience working in the NHS and private hospitals, working with people on a 1-1 basis and as outpatients. Priya now works with clients 1-1 and in her Recovery Tribe group sessions as part of her private practice to support eating disorder recovery.

This week, we discuss:

• Common diet myths and how Priya works to reduce these in society.
• The hype around gluten-free products and why this has become a diet trend.
• The overlap between eating disorders and IBS symptoms and digestive issues.
• Tips for individuals going through recovery and experiencing digestive issues.

You can learn more about Priya by following her on Instagram @priya_tew or visiting their website.

Priya is also taking bookings for her 12-week eating disorder recovery course, The Recovery Tribe! The next course will open in September and only 10 places will be available! Each week will involve small group sessions with your community. Group sessions allow you to share recovery highs and lows with others, receive support between sessions, access an expert dietitian at an affordable cost, and engage in structured learning through video resources each week! Sign up for the Recovery Tribe waitlist here!

Kindly note, that this episode delves into sensitive eating disorder topics. Remember to take care of yourself while listening, and always seek professional help if needed. This podcast is your bridge to insightful discussions, not a substitute for clinical guidance.

In this week’s episode, Han is joined by Joel Frost. Joel is a qualified Health Coach & Eating Disorder Specialist. Joel founded Re-minded who support sporty and active people who have recognised that they have a disordered relationship with food and movement. Re-minded aims to empower them with the tools and education to perform at the highest level possible whilst optimising their lives further than the sports pitch. Joel was inspired to build Re-minded following his journey grappling with an eating disorder for 5 years which coincided with his dreams of pursuing a career as a professional golfer.

This week, Han & Joel discuss:

• Joel's eating disorder experience and how his dream to be a professional golfer impacted this.
• The impact of stepping away from golf on Joel's recovery.
• The impact of reframing Joel's relationship with golf, and how this has transformed his mindset on and off the course.
• Joel's relationship with alcohol and how he used this negatively during his eating disorder.
• Joel's mission with Re-minded and his hopes for supporting individuals in sport to find food and exercise freedom. To find out more about Joel, you can follow him on Instagram @joelo_frost or @re___minded. You can also visit the Re-minded website at https://www.re-minded.co.uk/. Kindly note, that this episode delves into sensitive eating disorder topics. Remember to take care of yourself while listening, and always seek professional help if needed. This podcast is your bridge to insightful discussions, not a substitute for clinical guidance.

In this week's episode, Emma is a specialist Eating Disorder Dietitian and a Certified Intuitive Eating Counsellor. She works as a dietitian in a community NHS Eating Disorder Service and at Food Life Freedom, supporting people to take the stress out of food and build trust and confidence in their bodies.

Emma uses a process of reframing how you think and feel around food, building connection and trust with your unique body, and then building confidence in navigating conflicting food and body messages so you no longer get overwhelmed by food and health information.

This week, we discuss:

• Emma's introduction to the world of disordered eating and how intuitive eating can support this.
• The truth behind the use of medical tests and equipment for specific conditions and promoting them on a population level to "support health", which are actually weight-management mechanisms.
• The impact wellness programmes have on your trust and relationship with your body.
• Tips for individuals looking to move away from diet culture, as it can be scary when it is normalised in society.
• The importance of intention and flexibility around behaviours and how these behaviours may be supportive in some circumstances.
• The difference between wellness programmes and diet programmes, and how product placement can make it more enticing to sign up. You can find out more about Emma by following her on Instagram @food.life.freedom or check out their website to access Emma's service and online course. Emma is also the host of the Food & Life Freedom Podcast and has a free e-book and video training available to download.

Kindly note, that this episode delves into sensitive eating disorder topics. Remember to take care of yourself while listening, and always seek professional help if needed. This podcast is your bridge to insightful discussions, not a substitute for clinical guidance.

In this week’s episode, Han is joined by Jade Grantham. Jade is the author of“Accept That You Are Imperfect”, a book about her personal journey and recovery with bulimia nervosa which started when she was 12 years old. Jade wrote her book not as one person’s struggle or self-help book, but a call for awareness, understanding, and early intervention, preventing the silent epidemic that is bulimia.”

This week, we discuss:

• The need for Jade's book about bulimia resulting from the stereotypes and stigmas associated with bulimia.
• The role that bulimia played in Jade's life and how it moved from a weight-driven behaviour to an unavoidable ritual.
• The personality traits Jade believes made her susceptible to bulimia to feel accepted.
• The secrecy associated with bulimic behaviours and why Jade didn't want to tell anyone about her eating disorder.
• How Jade imagines recovery and her hopes for the future.

You can find out more about Jade and her book, Accept That You Are Imperfect by connecting with her on LinkedIn or following her on Instagram (@jadegrantham1).

Kindly note, that this episode delves into sensitive eating disorder topics, including bulimia and associated behaviours. Remember to take care of yourself while listening, and always seek professional help if needed. This podcast is your bridge to insightful discussions, not a substitute for clinical guidance.

In this week's episode, Han is joined by Molly Forbes. Molly is an author, campaigner and journalist, and the executive director and founder of the Body Happy Organisation. The Body Happy Organisation aims to help adults help the children in their care be friends with their bodies by creating environments that allow the body image of children and young people to thrive. Molly has written two books about body image, provides workshops to schools with educators and children and holds corporate training sessions for brands invested in creating a culture of positive body esteem.

This week, we discuss:

• Molly's motivation behind starting the Body Happy Organisation.
• How to converse with a child about body diversity, as a caregiver or a teacher.
• The messaging pushed on boys and girls in children's media to align with gender stereotypes.
• The importance of body image discussions with teachers and how this supports engaging conversations in the classroom.
• Why celebrating body diversity supports self-esteem and encourages children to appreciate their bodies, enjoy sports and engage in health-promoting behaviours.
• How to remove the common barriers that may cause children to withdraw from sport, and increase body diversity to ensure all children feel represented and included to engage in sport.
• An exclusive look at Molly's new book, Every Body, which you can find here.

You can find out more about Molly and the Body Happy Organisation by visiting their Instagrams at @bodyhappyorg and @mollyjforbes or visiting the Body Happy Organisation website.

You can also find Molly's books and other fun body image resources in the Body Happy Organisation shop.

Kindly note, that this episode delves into sensitive eating disorder topics. Remember to take care of yourself while listening, and always seek professional help if needed. This podcast is your bridge to insightful discussions, not a substitute for clinical guidance.

In this week’s episode, Han is joined by Marilyn Okoro. Marilyn is an Olympic Medallist, Athlete Welfare Changemaker, public speaker, Life Coach and Mentor. Marilyn is a champion of women and girls and is on a mission to drive change in professional sport and athlete welfare she founded a podcast series called Detach the Stigma. Marilyn is also an ACGP governance practitioner and founder of the podcast, Detach the Stigma.

This week, we discuss:

• Marilyn's experience as an athlete and how her early years led to her Olympic career.
• The difference between Marilyn's young athletic experience compared to being an elite athlete.
• The importance of athlete support, particularly at an elite level.
• Marilyn's experience of bulimia and the motivations behind bulimic behaviours.
• The need for change in athlete welfare and education of coaches.
• How Marilyn coped with her changing body during retirement from her Olympic carer.

You can find out more about Marilyn by following her on Instagram @marilynokorooly or LinkedIn.

Kindly note, that this episode delves into sensitive eating disorder topics. Remember to take care of yourself while listening, and always seek professional help if needed. This podcast is your bridge to insightful discussions, not a substitute for clinical guidance.