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

Mitochondrial researcher and dietitian Dr. Jacob May explains what happens inside the body, particularly in children, when ultra-processed foods dominate the diet. He discusses insulin resistance, gut microbiome disruption, and why breath biomarkers may become a future tool for metabolic … [Read more...] about Episode 273: Dr. Jacob May | How Ultra-Processed Foods Destroy Your Kids’ Metabolism

Clinical psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen, author of "How to Be Enough," joins Molly and Clarissa to explore where perfectionism comes from and how it fuels the binge-restrict cycle. The conversation distinguishes between rigid "rules" and grounded "values," and offers tools for building … [Read more...] about Episode 272: Dr. Ellen Hendriksen | How to Be Enough: Perfectionism, Shame & Self-Worth in Recovery

Clarissa Kennedy and Molly Painschab examine what happens when a clinician's own model or ego gets in the way of a client's healing. Drawing on the Rosenhan Experiment, they discuss "epistemic dismissal" — when professionals reject a client's lived experience — and distinguish between diagnosis … [Read more...] about Episode 271: Clinician’s Corner | “Nobody Ever Asked Me What I Wanted” — When Clinicians Stop Listening & Why It Harms Recovery

Plant-based chef Adina Mullen joins the show to discuss whether vegan and vegetarian eating can support food addiction recovery without relying on ultra-processed substitutes. She covers plant-based protein sources, flavor and texture strategies for satisfaction, and how cultural food traditions … [Read more...] about Episode 270: Adina Mullen | Plant-Based Keto & Sugar-Free Eating: Is It Possible?

Emotional eating expert Amber Romaniuk explains how cortisol, thyroid dysfunction, and hormone imbalances can drive binge and restrict cycles, especially in women. She shares her own recovery from binge eating and bulimia and discusses why restriction and over-exercise often worsen food addiction … [Read more...] about Episode 269: Amber Romaniuk – Why Emotional Eating Isn’t Your Fault (Hormones)

Dr. Richard Johnson, author of "The Fat Switch" and "Nature Wants Us to Be Fat," explains how fructose can activate an evolutionary metabolic pathway that increases hunger and drives fat storage. The conversation covers uric acid, insulin resistance, and why "calories in, calories out" doesn't … [Read more...] about Episode 268: Dr. Richard Johnson – It’s Not Willpower. It’s Biology. The Fat Switch Explained