Molly Painschab and Clarissa Kennedy use Self-Determination Theory to explain why motivation is a result of recovery, not a prerequisite for it. They unpack the three psychological needs — autonomy, relatedness, and competence — and why shame-based pressure often backfires. The episode connects … [Read more...] about Episode 279: Clinician’s Corner | Why Motivation Isn’t the Problem — Building Competence in Food Addiction Recovery

Harvard addiction researcher Dr. John Kelly, founder of the Recovery Research Institute, breaks down the science of what actually makes recovery possible and sustainable. He explains the CHIME model of recovery, why most people with substance use disorder do get better, and how language and … [Read more...] about Episode 278: Dr. John Kelly | The Science of Recovery – What the Research Really Says

Neuroscientist Dr. Rachel Herz, an expert on the psychology of smell, discusses how disgust is mostly a learned response and how ultra-processed foods are engineered to bypass our natural "this isn't real food" signals. She and Dr. Vera Tarman explore the links between smell, memory, and eating … [Read more...] about Episode 277: Dr. Rachel Herz | The Science of Disgust, Smell, and Why You Eat What You Eat

Psychotherapist Esther Kane, MSW, discusses why highly sensitive people (HSPs) are especially vulnerable to emotional eating and food addiction. She explains how an overstimulating world drives HSPs to use food to numb overwhelm, and describes a nervous-system-first approach to recovery rather … [Read more...] about Episode 276: Esther Kane, MSW | Highly Sensitive People

In this Clinician's Corner, Molly Painschab and Clarissa Kennedy talk candidly about staying connected to recovery when life feels overwhelming. They cover the neuroscience of stress and cravings, the shame spiral that follows a slip, and the concept of "minimum viable recovery" for getting … [Read more...] about Episode 275: Clinician’s Corner | Recovery in Unsettled Times

Chérie St. Arnauld, Executive Director of Metabolic Revolution, shares how her sister's cancer diagnosis and a whole-food dietary shift shaped her advocacy work. She and Dr. Vera Tarman discuss grassroots strategies — rallies, petitions, and school lunch reform — used to push back against … [Read more...] about Episode 274: Chérie St. Arnauld | Grassroots Mobilization — How We Push the Message of Food Addiction Forward