Posts Tagged “Podcast”

Episode description:

In this episode of Peace Meal, dietitian Gretchen Wallace joins us to explore how we can protect the next generation’s relationship with food. Together, we unpack why body image struggles in adolescence shouldn’t be dismissed as a harmless phase—and why the fact that these struggles are common doesn’t mean they’re acceptable or something young people should simply have to endure.

Gretchen sheds light on the environmental influences that shape kids’ views of food and bodies, from developmentally inappropriate health class curricula to the highly curated world of social media. She challenges the idea that nutrition should feel like a math problem, offering a more compassionate, body-trusting framework instead.

With warmth and wisdom, Gretchen outlines a hopeful, practical roadmap for families—one that emphasizes supportive boundaries, curiosity, and compassion as the foundation for lasting food freedom.

Episode description:

It happens like clockwork: a new year arrives, and with it, renewed pressures to shrink, sculpt, or “fix” ourselves. According to the Pew Research Center, nearly 80% of people who set New Year’s resolutions focus on changing their bodies, eating habits, or fitness routines.

For those living with an eating disorder, working to protect their recovery, or simply feeling worn down by body talk over the holidays, this seasonal flood of body-focused messaging can feel particularly destabilizing. In this episode, Dr. Jillian Lampert shares how to move through this season with greater awareness and support—and what actually helps when eating disorder thoughts get stirred up.

Episode description:

Coming home for the holidays when an eating disorder is in the mix can be deeply complicated—for the person navigating it, and for the people who love them.

In this episode of Between Bites, Dr. Jillian Lampert reflects on her own experience returning home from college while struggling with an eating disorder, and offers clear, compassionate guidance for young adults facing similar homecomings. Whether the eating disorder is known, hidden, or somewhere in between, Jillian shares tangible strategies to help make this season feel more manageable. With deep care, she holds space for anyone who might be quietly struggling—and for those who want to help, or say something, but aren’t sure how.

Episode description:

In this episode of Peace Meal, we’re joined by two North Carolina-based Emily Program clinicians, Mem Wood and Elysse Thebner Miller, to talk all things Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, or ARFID.

Mem and Elysse unpack what makes ARFID different from ordinary food preferences, why it can emerge at any age, and how symptoms may affect nutrition, growth, medical stability, and daily life. They describe the three ARFID subtypes, share what treatment actually looks like, and highlight signs that often indicate it’s time to seek support.

This episode also introduces The Emily Program’s new specialized residential and inpatient programming for adults with ARFID in the Raleigh–Durham area—the only dedicated adult program of its kind nationwide.

Episode description:

In this episode of Between Bites, Dr. Jillian Lampert explores Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)—an eating disorder characterized by limited food intake in terms of total volume, variety, or both. Unlike other eating disorders, ARFID isn’t driven by concerns about weight or body image.

Jillian breaks down the three main ways ARFID can present: lack of interest in eating, fear-based avoidance (often after choking or vomiting), and sensory sensitivities that make certain foods feel impossible to approach.

She also discusses how restricted intake affects physical health, growth, and participation in everyday life—and how life transitions like starting school or moving away to college often bring these challenges to the surface. You’ll hear how ARFID is treated, what makes that treatment different from other eating disorder care, and why specialized support can make recovery possible.

Episode description:

Halloween kicks off months of food-focused holidays, and for people with eating disorders, the candy-centered celebration can create significant stress. In this Between Bites episode, Dr. Jillian Lampert discusses how to approach Halloween, whether you’re supporting the kids in your life or navigating your own recovery. She explains why limiting kids’ access to candy can intensify their desire for it, offers specific ways to plan for a challenging day, and suggests treating Halloween as practice for the upcoming holiday season—with an emphasis on open communication and asking for the support you need.

Episode description:

In this episode of Peace Meal, Abby Kurszewski reflects on how years of weight-related comments from family and doctors shaped her relationship with food and body image. She explains that these experiences—along with a ninth-grade calorie-tracking assignment—were among the factors that fueled disordered eating during her teenage years. Abby recalls the painful disconnect of being praised for weight loss while suffering inside.

She also speaks candidly about weight bias in healthcare, where providers dismissed her concerns because she lived in a larger body—barriers that delayed access to the care she needed. In 2022, Abby entered The Emily Program’s intensive day treatment and finally felt seen. With support from her treatment team and her dad—her “rock” throughout recovery—Abby began to reclaim herself: “It gave me part of my spark back.”

Episode description:

In this episode of Between Bites, Dr. Jillian Lampert explores the topic of weight stigma and its harmful effects on health and healthcare. She defines weight stigma as judgment or discrimination based on body size, shape, or appearance—and explains how it shows up in everyday life, from jokes in the media to treatment in the doctor’s office.

Dr. Lampert highlights how weight stigma in healthcare can lead to serious consequences, including patients avoiding care altogether. She underscores the importance of separating weight from health and focusing on holistic well-being instead. With Weight Stigma Awareness Week approaching, she shares opportunities to learn more, take action, and create change through kindness, education, and advocacy.