Afleveringen
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In this episode of Food Junkies, Dr. Vera Tarman and Clarissa Kennedy sit down with Brian Baumal, a registered psychotherapist based in Toronto and owner of Aliva Psychotherapy, where he specializes in weight management, eating disorders, food addiction, and psychological support for bariatric surgery patients. Brian trained at the Gestalt Institute of Toronto and has been a licensed member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario since 2015. He's also a food addict in long-term recovery, having lost 100 pounds and kept it off for over 14 years.
Brian shares the moment that changed his understanding of food addiction forever β an intense, addictive reaction to a piece of chocolate at a holiday party that made him realize this was on an entirely different scale than an ordinary craving. From there, the conversation dives deep into perfectionism: how shame and diet culture create an idealized, unrealistic self-image; the difference between adaptive perfectionism (using structure and tools in service of recovery) and toxic or maladaptive perfectionism (an all-or-nothing mindset that treats any slip as total failure); and how perfectionism can quietly become a "runaway train," redirecting obsessive focus from food onto weight, exercise, or other behaviors.
Brian also explains how he uses a Gestalt therapy lens β treating what shows up in the room between therapist and client as the material for the work itself β to help clients build individualized, flexible recovery plans instead of rigid, punishment-driven rules. The group discusses distinguishing an addictive relapse from a psychological or shame-based slip, the role of relapse plans and "gathering data" after a slip, and why using tools (scales, timers, structure) isn't a sign of weakness but a sustainable part of long-term recovery.
The episode closes with Brian's reflections on chairing the Sugar and Food Addiction Professionals Network, a free Facebook community of nearly 200 food addiction professionals offering training, research updates, and access to leading voices in the field.
Topics Covered
Brian's personal food addiction story and his "aha moment" with chocolate at a holiday party What Gestalt therapy is and how it approaches defense mechanisms relationally How shame and diet culture create unrealistic, idealized self-images Adaptive vs. maladaptive (toxic) perfectionism in recovery Perfectionism as a "runaway train" β when focus shifts from food to weight, exercise, or other behaviors Distinguishing an addictive relapse from a shame-driven psychological slip Building individualized, flexible abstinence and relapse plans Using tools (scales, timers, structure) without turning them into self-punishment Vulnerability factors: trauma, family food dynamics, anxious or over-controlled personality styles Adaptive perfectionism as flexibility, not the absence of high standards The Sugar and Food Addiction Professionals Network on FacebookConnect with Brian Baumal
Website: Aliva Psychotherapy β https://alivapsychotherapy.com/WORKSHOP LINKS:
π¨Curious why cravings hit harder some days than others? Viktoria Hamma's two-part Circadian Rhythms & Red Light Therapy workshop breaks down the biology behind your body's internal clock and shows you exactly how morning light, meal timing, and red light therapy can work with your recovery instead of against it.
Grab your spot for Part 1: https://sweetsobriety.newzenler.com/courses/circadian-rhythm-and-red-light-therapy-educations
And Part 2: https://sweetsobriety.newzenler.com/courses/circadian-rhythms-red-light-therapy-part-2-understanding-your-body-s-internal-clock
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.
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CJ welcomes Lara, a former professional soccer player from Iceland, for a powerful and deeply honest conversation about food addiction and recovery. Lara began struggling with food at a very young age and recognized early that it was beginning to take over her life, even while competing as an elite athlete. She speaks with remarkable transparency about her experiences, their impact on her, and the path she has taken toward healing. Lara's willingness to share is so profound that she even wrote a book about her journey. CJ found her story fascinating and truly loved talking with her.
If you're considering personalized assistance, CJ, a Certified Addiction Professional specializing in Food Addiction, is here for one-on-one coaching. Reach out to CJ at [email protected]
Interested in sharing your recovery story on our show? We'd love to hear from you! Please email [email protected]
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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π’ A quick announcement from the Food Junkies team: For the first time, we're moving to a new release schedule β new episodes every other week, still featuring one Recovery Story each month. We'll share more about this decision in our next Clinician's Corner. Whether you've been with us from the beginning or just found us, thank you. This is also the perfect time to dive into our archive of hundreds of conversations with experts, clinicians, researchers, and people with lived experience. Our next episode launches on July 17th.
About Today's Guest
Dr. Susan Peirce Thompson is a cognitive psychologist with expertise in the psychology of eating and the founder and CEO of Bright Line Eating, a global program for abstinence-based recovery from ultra-processed food addiction and long-term weight management. She is an adjunct associate professor in Brain and Cognitive Sciences at the University of Rochester and the author of Bright Line Eating, ReZoom, On This Bright Day, The Official Bright Line Eating Cookbook, and her newest book, Maintain.
In 2025, Susan published a study in Frontiers in Psychiatry reporting six-year outcomes from the Bright Line Eating program that suggest an abstinence-based food addiction recovery approach can support clinically meaningful, long-term weight loss.
In This Episode
Vera and Clarissa sit down with Susan to unpack her research, her personal recovery story, and the deeper psychology of maintenance. Topics include:
Susan's journey from drug addiction to food addiction recovery β and why she found the food harder to quit How Bright Line Eating began, and why so many people won't walk into a 12-step room The honest story behind ReZoom: Susan's own break-and-resume cycles while leading a recovery movement The six-year follow-up study: methodology, sample, limitations, and what the numbers actually show How outcomes compare to published GLP-1 (semaglutide) data at long-term follow-up Why simply learning about the addictiveness of sugar and flour may "inoculate" people against further weight gain The four Bright Lines: sugar, flour, meals, quantities Who did best at six years β and the surprising role of morning accountability calls GLP-1 medications in food addiction recovery: Susan's "pro-choice" stance, the promise, the unknowns, and why we shouldn't pathologize medication for a brain-based disease The tension between weight loss outcomes and addiction symptom recovery β and protecting listeners in larger bodies who are doing everything "right" Lipedema: the under-recognized condition affecting an estimated 11% of women that doesn't respond to dietary intervention The three identity shifts in Maintain: becoming devoted, resourced, and liberated Grief work: why letting go of foods (and food-centered traditions) is a real loss that deserves real mourning Finish-line anxiety and the fear of liberation β who am I without the food and weight struggle? Willpower, habit stacking, and designing a life that works even on your worst day What's next for Susan: an alternative memoir about the dopamine-dominant brainConnect with Susan Peirce Thompson
Website: https://brightlineeating.com Books: Bright Line Eating, ReZoom, On This Bright Day, The Official Bright Line Eating Cookbook, and MaintainThe Food Junkies Podcast
Hosted by Dr. Vera Tarman, Clarissa Kennedy, and Molly Painschab β real conversations about food addiction, recovery, and the science that supports both.
βοΈemail us at [email protected]
Circadian Rythms and Food Addiction Workshop with Viktoria Hamma
πPart 1: https://sweetsobriety.newzenler.com/courses/circadian-rhythm-and-red-light-therapy-educations
πPart 2: https://sweetsobriety.newzenler.com/courses/circadian-rhythms-red-light-therapy-part-2-understanding-your-body-s-internal-clock
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.
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In this episode, Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with world-renowned nephrologist, researcher, and New York Times bestselling author Dr. Jason Fung to explore one of the most pressing questions in the food addiction community: Is fasting safe for the food addict?
Dr. Fung's latest book, The Hunger Code: Resetting Your Body's Fat Thermostat in the Age of Ultra-Processed Food, challenges the calorie-centric model of obesity and offers a deeper, more honest look at why we eat the way we do β and what it actually takes to change.
In this episode, you'll hear:
Why the calories in/calories out model fails β and what the hormonal model of obesity actually means The three types of hunger driving overeating: homeostatic, hedonic, and conditioned hunger β and why the social and emotional components may account for 90% of our eating behavior How ultra-processed foods are engineered to hijack the brain's reward system β and why that matters for food addicts The difference between fasting and starvation β and why the mindset behind fasting changes everything The dangers of using fasting as a punishment after a binge β and how to use it safely and intentionally instead Why a low-carb, higher-fat diet makes fasting more sustainable for people coming out of binge cycles Dr. Fung's honest take on GLP-1 medications like Ozempic β the benefits, the limitations, and why they're not the whole answer What Japan and Italy get right about eating culture that the U.S. has lost Why public policy β not just personal willpower β must be part of the solution to ultra-processed food addictionAbout Dr. Jason Fung:
Dr. Jason Fung is a Toronto-based nephrologist and one of the world's leading experts on therapeutic fasting and low-carb nutrition. He is the bestselling author of The Obesity Code, The Diabetes Code, The Cancer Code, and his newest release, The Hunger Code. He is also the co-founder of The Fasting Method, a coaching program helping people reverse obesity and type 2 diabetes through hormonal and lifestyle approaches.
π Learn more at thefastingmethod.com
The Food Junkies Podcast is hosted by Dr. Vera Tarman, Molly Painschab, and Clarissa Kennedy β dedicated to exploring the science, stories, and solutions behind ultra-processed food use disorder.
ποΈ Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen to podcasts.
βοΈ Email us at [email protected]
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.
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CJ is joined today by Keren, a vibrant young woman whose passion for recovery and love of life shine through in everything she does. With an infectious enthusiasm and deep gratitude for her journey, Keren is dedicated to sharing her experience, strength, and hope with others who may be struggling. Her commitment to helping people has even inspired her to launch her own YouTube channel, where she openly documents her recovery journey and encourages others to keep going. Full of energy, honesty, and heart, Keren brings a refreshing perspective to the conversation and reminds us all that recovery can be filled with purpose, joy, connection, and hope.
If you're considering personalized assistance, CJ, a Certified Addiction Professional specializing in Food Addiction, is here for one-on-one coaching. Reach out to CJ at [email protected]
Interested in sharing your recovery story on our show? We'd love to hear from you! Please email [email protected]
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What if the voice urging you to binge isn't really you β and you could learn to talk back to it? This week, Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Glenn Livingston, whose unconventional path from Fortune 500 food industry consultant to food compulsion researcher led him to develop one of the most distinctive frameworks in recovery: Never Binge Again.
Glenn shares how his own 80-pound weight loss journey β and nearly 2,000 clients later β shaped a method built on structured food rules, cognitive refutation, and understanding the neuroscience of cravings extinction.
In This Episode:
Why Glenn left lucrative food industry work and what he saw from the inside about how hyperpalatable foods are engineered The "inner pig" framework β and why separating from the voice that drives bingeing is the foundation of his approach How his self-funded study of 40,000 people shaped his thinking (and why the results surprised him) The four food rule categories: Never, Always, Conditional, and Unrestricted Why 1 in 3 people genuinely need abstinence β and how to tell if you're one of them The extinction burst: why cravings often get worse before they disappear (and why this is actually good news) The "screw it, just do it" response β what causes it and how to address it with self-regulation Commit with perfection, forgive with dignity β how to handle slips without derailing recovery Abstinence vs. moderation: where Glenn agrees with food addiction models, and where his philosophy diverges His take on GLP-1 medications and how they fit into the bigger picture The difference between his original Never Binge Again and his newer book Defeat Your CravingsResources Mentioned:
π Defeat Your Cravings β free at defeatyourcravings.com ποΈ Glenn's podcast on binge eating and food addiction recovery 90-day coaching program with Glenn (details at defeatyourcravings.com)Connect with Food Junkies:
π foodjunkiespodcast.com
π± Email us at [email protected]If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it.
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.
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Your eyes might be revealing metabolic disease long before your doctor catches it in bloodwork β and most people have no idea. In this episode, Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with Dr. Radka Toms, ophthalmologist, functional medicine practitioner, and founder of My Sugar Stop, to explore the fascinating and largely unknown connection between sugar, gut health, and your vision.
Dr. Toms shares her own story β from a "hardcore conventional doctor" eating chocolate bars for lunch to developing rosacea and insulin resistance and eventually pioneering the field of nutritional ophthalmology.
What You'll Learn:
ποΈ The Eye-Metabolic Health Connection β How your ophthalmologist may spot insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, and inflammation before your blood work does
π§ Dry Eye & Sugar β Why so many dry eye patients have a metabolic root cause, and how improving diet can reduce or eliminate symptoms
π¬ The Gut-Eye Axis β How bacteria in your gut produce metabolites that travel through the bloodstream and directly affect eye tissue β including the link to macular degeneration, glaucoma, and SjΓΆgren's syndrome
πΏ The 7 Types of Eye Conditions Linked to Metabolic Health:
Dry eye & ocular rosacea Diabetic retinopathy Age-related macular degeneration Glaucoma Cataracts Vascular/cardiometabolic changes in the eye SjΓΆgren's syndromeβοΈ Light as Medicine β Circadian biology, why 10 minutes outside within 20 minutes of waking matters, when to wear sunglasses (11amβ3pm), and how ceiling lights at night are confusing your brain
π₯ The PFF Framework β Dr. Toms' practical nutrition approach: Protein, Fat (especially omega-3s), Fiber, and Fermented foods β and why fiber is "the king"
π The DRRN Method β Define, Replace, Rebalance, Nourish: Dr. Toms' four-phase approach to helping patients reverse metabolic eye conditions through lifestyle change
Mentioned in This Episode:
My Sugar Stop β https://www.mysugarstop.com/ Matrix Eye Clinic & UHealth (UK-based in-person care): https://matrixeyeclinic.com/our-services/nutritional-ophthalmology/ Lipopolysaccharides as an early inflammatory marker Robert Lustig's early work on sugar and inflammationAbout Dr. Radka Toms: Dr. Toms completed her medical training in the Czech Republic and ophthalmology specialization in the UK, later adding functional medicine and integrative nutritional coaching. She is the founder of My Sugar Stop and Oko Health, and a pioneer in nutritional ophthalmology. She reversed her own rosacea and insulin resistance using the methods she now teaches.
"When you look at an acorn in isolation, you just see an acorn. You don't see its transformative capacity to become an oak tree. People have that same capacity." β Dr. Radka Toms
The Food Junkies Podcast is hosted by Dr. Vera Tarman, Molly Painschab, and Clarissa Kennedy. New episodes every week.
π§Email us at [email protected]
π Like, subscribe, and share if this episode resonated with you.
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.
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In this episode of Clinician's Corner, Molly and Clarissa get real about one of the most pervasive and painful barriers in recovery from ultra-processed food use disorder: shame and stigma.
Fresh off facilitating two back-to-back retreats (with Vera joining both!), they bring the depth of those in-person conversations directly to you. This is the kind of episode that meets you where you are β no toxic positivity, no oversimplified "just love yourself" advice, and absolutely no shaming you into change.
In this episode, you'll hear:
The ancient roots of stigma and how it evolved from physical branding to the labels we carry today How external stigma becomes internalized β and why that inner critic is the real battleground Why shame is rarely a catalyst for sustainable change (and why "hitting bottom" is not a recovery strategy) The ways shame quietly shrinks our lives: postponing travel, relationships, photos, joy β until we're "fixed" Whether shame can ever be an ally, and when it becomes maladaptive Why self-compassion is the antidote to shame β but it's not the whole story The difference between doing this work cognitively vs. somatically, and why both matter What it looks like to stop fighting shame and start collaborating with it instead Exploring Shame ResourceA note for listeners: This is a big ask. Everything we talk about today is deeply ingrained β not a simple reframe. Give yourself permission to take it slowly. You don't have to figure this out in 60 minutes (it's taken us decades, and we're still in it).
Connect with us:
π§ [email protected]
π https://www.sweetsobriety.ca/
If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it. And remember β your life is happening right now. Get in there and live it.
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.
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What do you do when your child will only eat three foods β and none of them are vegetables? For Natalie Peltro, certified nutritional therapist and lifestyle medicine expert, that was her reality. Her son was diagnosed with severe nonverbal autism at 18 months, and the journey to help him heal through food became the foundation of her entire career.
In this episode, Natalie shares the framework she's used with hundreds of families to overcome picky eating β not through force, pressure, or sneaky tricks that backfire β but through biology, nervous system awareness, and what she calls the Four E's.
Whether you're navigating picky eating in your household, supporting clients who struggle with ultra-processed food habits from childhood, or just trying to understand why your kid will eat mac and cheese but nothing green, this conversation is full of practical, compassionate strategies you can start using today.
In this episode, we cover:
How Natalie's son went from eating only 3 foods (nonverbal, severely autistic) to graduating mainstream school with honors Why "fed is best" may be an outdated framework in today's ultra-processed food environment The biology of picky eating β zinc deficiency, taste perception, and why green foods taste bitter to nutrient-deficient kids The 10% Fading Rule: how to transform mac and cheese into a nutrient-dense meal without your child noticing The Three Stages of Picky Eaters: Resistor, Adventurer, and Negotiator β and why the approach must be different for each The Four E's Framework: Expectation, Emotional Intelligence, Environment, and Encouragement Why "taste training" works faster in kids than adults (3β5 days vs. 7β14) How your nervous system is sabotaging mealtime β and what to do before you even pick up the plate The coupon system, safe plates, and other creative strategies that actually work How to talk to grandparents and caregivers about food changes without blowing up the relationshipAbout Natalie Peltro: Natalie is the co-founder of Blue Life RX and creator of the Neuronutrition Program (formerly "Bring the Fun Back to Mealtime"), which helps families with picky eaters β including children with autism and ARFID β expand their food diversity through biology-first, fun-first strategies. She's also the host of the upcoming Brilliant Brains podcast.
π Website: https://www.blueliferx.com/neuronutrition
π± Instagram: nataliepelto_blueliferx
β Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlueLifeRx
ποΈPodcast: Out in June 2026 β keep checking the website!!
The Food Junkies Podcast is hosted by Dr. Vera Tarman, Molly Painschab, and Clarissa Kennedy. New episodes every week.
π§Email us at [email protected]
π Like, subscribe, and share if this episode resonated with you. Leave a comment below β we'd love to know: what's your biggest challenge around picky eating or feeding your family real food?
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.
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What if the most powerful tool for mental health recovery isn't a medication β it's your metabolism?
Dr. Erin Louise Bellamy joins Dr. Vera Tarman for a deep dive into ketogenic metabolic therapy: what it is, how it works, and why it may be one of the most underutilized interventions in both psychiatric care and food addiction recovery.
Dr. Bellamy is a chartered psychologist, CEO of IKRT (International Ketogenic Research & Therapy), and a research fellow at the University of East London. She has been researching and applying ketogenic metabolic therapy in clinical settings since 2014, with a background that bridges eating disorders, psychiatric research, and metabolic health.
In this episode, Vera and Erin discuss:
How Erin went from eating disorder and alexithymia research to ketogenic metabolic psychiatry β and why the field's "biopsychosocial" model was missing the bio
The difference between metabolic psychiatry, ketogenic therapy, and therapeutic carbohydrate restriction β and why the terminology matters
What carbohydrate range actually produces therapeutic ketosis (and why "dirty keto" doesn't cut it)
The shared mechanistic pathways across psychiatric diagnoses β including mitochondrial dysfunction, insulin resistance, and neuroinflammation
Why antipsychotic medications create metabolic dysfunction, and how ketogenic therapy can help offset those side effects
The GABA/glutamate shift that makes ketones naturally anxiolytic β and why this may work differently than the serotonin model of depression
The "buffer effect": what it feels like to be in ketosis when you're a food addict β and why some people describe it as a pane of glass between themselves and a trigger food
How ketogenic therapy compares to GLP-1 medications (Ozempic/Wegovy) for reducing food noise β and Erin's concerns about the long-term research
MCT oil vs. exogenous ketones: when each is useful, and when exogenous ketones are counterproductive
Applying ketogenic therapy to people with ADHD, bipolar disorder, and co-occurring food addiction
How to support vegan or plant-based clients who want to pursue ketogenic therapy
Why the first week matters most β and how to help clients through withdrawal without triggering a binge
The 19-person IKRT group program published in Frontiers β and what's coming next in the research
Connect with Dr. Erin Bellamy:
πWeb: Integrative Ketogenic Research and Therapies | ketogenic diet and mental health
Food Junkies Podcast is hosted by Dr. Vera Tarman, Molly Painschab, and Clarissa Kennedy. New episodes every week.
Connect with Food Junkies Podcast:
πWeb: Food Junkies Podcast
βΆοΈ YouTube: Food Junkies Podcast - YouTubeπEmail: [email protected]
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.
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CJ is joined today by Peggy, whose story is as raw as it is relatable. From the age of six, Peggy began navigating a complicated relationship with food that would follow her into adulthood. She shares candidly about tying her worth to always having a boyfriend, and the deep need for validation that drove those choices. While she was able to walk away from cigarettes with ease, food proved to be a far more difficult battle. Through years of weight fluctuations and self-discovery, Peggy's authenticity shines. Her honesty, vulnerability, and insight will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to feel enough.
If you're considering personalized assistance, CJ, a Certified Addiction Professional specializing in Food Addiction, is here for one-on-one coaching. Reach out to CJ at [email protected]
Interested in sharing your recovery story on our show? We'd love to hear from you! Please email [email protected]
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What if the missing piece in your recovery isn't more willpower β it's resilience? In this deeply inspiring episode, Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with Dr. Stephen Sideroff, UCLA psychologist, researcher, and one of the world's leading experts on stress, addiction, and optimal performance. With over 40 years at the intersection of neuroscience and recovery, Dr. Sideroff breaks down his comprehensive Nine Pillars of Resilience model and shows exactly how it applies to recovery from food addiction.
ποΈ IN THIS EPISODE:
Why stress is the #1 driver of both addiction and relapse β and what to do about it
The real definition of resilience
All Nine Pillars of Resilience explained β and how each one applies to food addiction
Why your inner critic is keeping you stuck β and how to replace it
The nervous system truth behind burnout: why most of us are already on the continuum
How to "dress rehearse" recovery moments so you're prepared when cravings hit
Why saying "this is difficult" actually makes things harder
The biological age study Dr. Sideroff is running right now β and his own remarkable results
How joy is not a luxury but a physiological necessity for recovery and aging
Why anxiety and worry are a faulty strategy β and what to do instead
The concept of "the path" β and why you don't have to do everything at once
What quantum leadership has to do with recovery culture
Why 12-step programs work through the lens of the resilience model
ποΈ THE NINE PILLARS OF RESILIENCE:
Relationship Pillars:
Relationship with yourself β your inner voice, self-compassion, self-acceptance
Relationship with others β healthy boundaries, connection, support
Relationship with something greater β community, spirituality, purpose
Organism Balance & Mastery:
Physical balance & mastery β nervous system regulation, relaxation, parasympathetic recovery
Cognitive balance & mastery β mindset, growth orientation, releasing negative thoughts
Emotional balance & mastery β healing emotional wounds, reducing reactivity
Engaging with the World:
Presence β awareness of your environment and the energy you project
Flexibility β adapting to obstacles, shifting perspective, seeing through others' eyes
Power β courage, focus, goal-setting, taking action in spite of fear
π DR. SIDEROFF'S BOOK: The Nine Pillars of Resilience: The Proven Path to Master Stress, Slow Aging, and Increase Vitality
π CONNECT WITH DR. SIDEROFF:
π Visit Home - Dr. Stephen Sideroff for resources, his book, and the resilience questionnaire
π¬ CONNECT WITH FOOD JUNKIES:
π§ Email: [email protected]
π Website: foodjunkiespodcast.com
If this episode resonated with you, please leave us a review and share it with someone in recovery who needs to hear that healing is a path β not a single decision.
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.
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What if your body could warn you before a relapse happens? In this fascinating episode, Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with Bob Messerschmidt β biomedical engineer, inventor, and one of the architects behind the original Apple Watch's health-sensing technology β to explore a surprisingly simple but powerful biomarker: the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).
Bob is the founder of Core Health and has developed an FDA-registered at-home device that tracks chronic low-grade inflammation over time. For those of us in the food addiction and recovery world, this conversation opens a compelling new door: could inflammation tracking be the missing feedback loop for people working to stay abstinent from ultra-processed foods?
ποΈ IN THIS EPISODE:
Bob's personal health journey and how weight struggles led him to inflammation science What ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) is β and why it fell out of favor before we understood chronic inflammation Why inflammation is now understood to underpin nearly all chronic disease How ESR differs from CRP (C-reactive protein) and why its "slowness" is a feature What does a high ESR score mean β and what you can do about it Anti-inflammatory lifestyle interventions that move the needle (including one surprising nighttime trick) How the Core Health device works: a simple weekly finger-stick test from home The feedback loop concept: how seeing your own data creates self-efficacy and behavior change Whether inflammation can precede a relapse β and what the data currently shows How ESR compares to a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) as a recovery tool Bob's thoughts on the Theranos dream β and whether democratized blood diagnostics is truly possible The future of non-invasive glucose monitoring and wearable health techπ BOB'S ANTI-INFLAMMATORY TIPS FROM THE EPISODE:
Tart cherry juice (4 oz before bed β also improves sleep!) Ketogenic eating patterns Vegan dietary approaches Quality sleep Cold plunges Grounding practicesπ LEARN MORE & GET THE DEVICE:
π Core Health Website: Home - COR Health
π¬ CONNECT WITH FOOD JUNKIES:
π§ Email: [email protected]
π Website: foodjunkiespodcast.com
If this episode sparked your curiosity, please leave us a review and share it with someone in recovery who might benefit from understanding the inflammation connection.
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.
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Are you exhausted from chasing motivation that never lasts? In this Clinician's Corner episode, Molly Painschab and Clarissa Kennedy break down why motivation is actually an outcome, not a starting point β and what truly drives sustainable recovery from ultra-processed food use disorder.
Using the lens of Self-Determination Theory (SDT), they unpack the three psychological needs every person in recovery must have met: autonomy, relatedness, and competence β the often-overlooked key that separates short-term compliance from lasting change.
ποΈ IN THIS EPISODE:
Why "just get motivated" is the wrong advice β and what to focus on instead
The three pillars of Self-Determination Theory and how they apply to food addiction recovery
Why external pressure (shame, fear, "I should") can actually increase relapse risk
The difference between a stick-and-carrot and real motivation
What competence actually means
How the Foundations Program (81+ skills and tools!) was built around these principles
Why recovery is a learning process, not a decision
What the research now says about forced compliance
Small, practical ways to start building self-trust today
π οΈ WHAT'S IN THE FOUNDATIONS PROGRAM? The Sweet Sobriety Foundations Program includes 81+ skills and tools covering:
βοΈ Nervous system regulation
βοΈ CBT & DBT frameworks
βοΈ Mindfulness & self-compassion practices
βοΈ Recovery planning
βοΈ Craving and urge management
βοΈ Emotional awareness and distress tolerance
π¬ CONNECT WITH US:
π§ Email: [email protected]
π Website: foodjunkiespodcast.com
π Learn more about Sweet Sobriety: www.sweetsobriety.ca
If you found this episode helpful, please leave us a review and share it with someone who needs to hear that the problem was never their motivation.
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.
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CJ welcomes Heather to the podcast, a guest whose bright, charismatic energy lights up the conversation from the start. Heather is exceptionally open and instantly warming, sharing her journey with honesty and heart. She speaks candidly about living with diabetes, her long battle with sugar and ultra-processed food addiction, and the moment everything changed, when she realized she wanted to become a healthy, active grandmother for her grandchild. That love became her fuel for transformation. Heather's story is one of resilience, clarity, and choosing herself and her family again and again. I cannot wait for you to meet her.
If you're considering personalized assistance, CJ, a Certified Addiction Professional specializing in Food Addiction, is here for one-on-one coaching. Reach out to CJ at [email protected]
Interested in sharing your recovery story on our show? We'd love to hear from you! Please email [email protected]
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What does recovery look like β and how do we measure it? In this episode, we're joined by Dr. John Kelly, one of the world's leading addiction researchers and founder of the Recovery Research Institute at Harvard Medical School, for a deep dive into the science behind what makes recovery possible, sustainable, and real.
Dr. Kelly breaks down the difference between remission and recovery, shares what decades of research tells us about who gets better (spoiler: most people do) and unpacks the active ingredients that help people build lives they love. We also get into the language we use around addiction, why it matters more than you think, and what the latest science says about stigma, stages of change, and recovery capital.
Whether you are in recovery, supporting someone who is, or working in the field β this episode is packed with hope, science, and practical insight.
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π IN THIS EPISODE
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β’ What recovery actually means β and how it's different from remission
β’ Why 75% of people with substance use disorder do recover (and what that means for you)
β’ The CHIME model: the 5 active ingredients of lasting recovery
β Community | Hope | Identity | Meaning & Purpose | Empowerment
β’ Stages of Change (Prochaska & DiClemente) β and why just thinking about change counts
β’ Recovery Capital: what's in your "recovery bank account"?
β’ The power of language β why words like "abuser" cause measurable harm
β’ Stigma, genetics, and why addiction is nobody's fault
β’ What excites Dr. Kelly most about the future of addiction research
β’ Psychedelics and addiction treatment: cautious optimism from a Harvard researcher
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π€ ABOUT OUR GUEST
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John Kelly is the Elizabeth R. Spallin Professor of Psychiatry in the Field of Addiction Medicine at Harvard Medical School and founder and director of the Recovery Research Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is one of the world's leading researchers on addiction recovery, mutual help organizations, and reducing stigma in the addiction field.
π Recovery Research Institute: www.recoveryanswers.org
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ποΈ FOOD JUNKIES PODCAST
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The Food Junkies Podcast explores food addiction and ultra-processed food use disorder through honest conversations with clinicians, researchers, and people in recovery. Hosted by Dr. Vera Tarman, Clarissa Kennedy, and Molly Painschab.
π² Subscribe so you never miss an episode
βΆοΈ Find us on YouTube
π Like this video if it gives you hope
π¬ Drop a comment β what resonated most with you?
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.
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What if the key to understanding your relationship with food isn't willpower β it's neuroscience? In this fascinating episode, Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with Dr. Rachel Herz, neuroscientist, leading expert on the psychology of smell, and author of Why You Eat What You Eat and That's Disgusting. From the evolutionary roots of disgust to why ultra-processed foods bypass our natural aversion responses, this conversation will genuinely change how you think about what ends up on your plate β and in your mouth.
What You'll Learn in This Episode
Why disgust is almost entirely learned β and what the one innate exception is The neuroanatomy of smell and why scent is so deeply tied to emotion and memory How one bad experience with a food can create a lifelong aversion (one-trial learning) The difference between disgust and fear β and why that distinction matters for disordered eating Why non-tasters may be more prone to overeating than super tasters How ultra-processed food is engineered to bypass our natural "this isn't real food" signals Whether disgust could be a therapeutic tool in changing our relationship with UPFs Why Dr. Herz believes disordered eating is psychological and behavioral β and where she and the Food Junkies team respectfully differ on the addiction model Practical, science-backed strategies for becoming more intentional around eatingAbout Dr. Rachel Herz
Dr. Rachel Herz is a neuroscientist and faculty member at Brown University, widely regarded as the world's leading expert on the psychology of smell. She is a TED 2019 and TEDx 2024 speaker, has published 108 peer-reviewed research articles, and serves as an expert witness in legal cases involving smell. She is the incoming president of the International Society of Neural Gastronomy.
Her books include:
Sensation and Perception (widely used neuroscience textbook) That's Disgusting: Unveiling the Mysteries of Repulsion β a New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice Why You Eat What You Eat: The Science Behind Our Relationship with Food β named among the best food books of 2018 by Smithsonian and The New YorkerConnect with Dr. Rachel Herz
π rachelherz.com
Connect with Food Junkies
ποΈFood Junkies Podcast β available on all major platforms
π foodjunkiespodcast.com
βΆοΈ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FoodJunkiesPodcast
π Sugar-Free For Life: I'm Sweet Enough FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SugarFreeForLife
β¨ Back-to-Basics Workshop: https://sweetsobriety.newzenler.com/courses/back-to-basics
The Food Junkies Podcast is hosted by Dr. Vera Tarman, Molly Painschab, and Clarissa Kennedy. We are dedicated to honest, evidence-informed conversations about food addiction, ultra-processed food use disorder, and recovery.
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.
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Are you highly sensitive β and secretly using food to manage a world that feels like too much?
In this episode, Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with Esther Kane, MSW, a British Columbia-based psychotherapist with nearly 30 years of experience helping highly sensitive people (HSPs) break free from emotional eating and food addiction. Esther isn't just a clinician β she's an HSP herself who nearly died from an eating disorder and has spent decades figuring out what works.
If you've ever been told you're "too sensitive," struggled to explain why food feels like your only relief, or burned out trying to take care of everyone but yourself β this one's for you.
π In This Episode
What is a Highly Sensitive Person? Based on 40+ years of research by Dr. Elaine Aron, HSPs make up 15β20% of the population. Their nervous systems process everything more deeply β emotions, sensory input, other people's pain. It's not a disorder. It's a biological trait. And it comes with superpowers most people never develop.
Why HSPs are so vulnerable to food addiction The world is chronically overstimulating for HSPs. Food numbs the overwhelm. It turns the volume down. Add in chronic people-pleasing, self-abandonment, absorbing everyone else's emotions, and being told your whole life that you're "too much" and food addiction makes complete sense as a survival strategy.
What recovery looks like for HSPs Esther doesn't start with the food. She starts with the nervous system. You can't take away someone's coping mechanism until they have something else to hold onto. She walks through the somatic tools, boundary work, and root-cause healing that move the needle for highly sensitive people.
ποΈ Connect with Esther Kane
π estherkane.com πΊ YouTube: Compassionate Conversationsπ Are YOU a highly sensitive person?
Drop a π in the comments if this episode described you β or share it with someone who has always been told they feel too much. They need to hear this.
Subscribe so you never miss an episode of Food Junkies β real conversations about food addiction, recovery, and what it takes to heal.
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.
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Life doesn't pause for recovery β and right now, life is a lot. In this Clinician's Corner episode, co-hosts Molly Painschab and Clarissa Kennedy sit down for an honest, grounded conversation about what it looks like to stay connected to your recovery when the world feels like it's on fire and your personal life is a lot at the same time.
This isn't a pep talk. These are two clinicians talking real about the neuroscience of stress and cravings, the shame spiral that follows a slip, and what "minimum viable recovery" can look like when you're just trying to make it to tomorrow.
If you've been asking yourself why this is suddenly so hard? This episode is for you.
In This Episode, We Cover:
π§ Why your brain is working against you right now The neuroscience behind chronic stress and cravings β and why a recovering brain is already running harder than average before you add the weight of the world on top.
π The macro AND the micro From political instability and financial stress to grief, caregiving, and personal loss β we name what's happening and why pretending otherwise is doing you a disservice.
π± Setting boundaries with the news cycle How to stop the doom scroll from hijacking your nervous system β without swinging to total avoidance. Finding the middle path that keeps you informed without dysregulated.
π The shame spiral that turns slips into recurrences It's not always the slip itself that does the damage. Molly breaks down why the judgment after the slip often has far longer-lasting consequences β and how to interrupt that cycle.
π Minimum viable recovery What's the smallest version of recovery you can do today to make it to tomorrow? Clarissa introduces this framework and it will change how you think about hard seasons.
β Recovery anchors and non-negotiables The value of identifying a few tethering behaviors before you're in crisis β and why protecting those anchors can keep you from unraveling.
π Co-regulation and connection We are not wired to regulate alone. From turning on your camera in group to body doubling with an emotional support human β why connection isn't optional when things get hard.
πΏ Meaning-making, spiritual practice, and nature Reconnecting with your why β the deep one, not the diet-culture one β and how spiritual practice and time in nature can restore a felt sense of control when everything else feels uncertain.
Resources & Links Mentioned
βΆYouTube: Food Junkies Podcast - YouTube
π Sweet Sobriety membership & groups: https://sweetsobriety.newzenler.com/courses/group-coaching-2025
π§ Email us with topic requests or questions: [email protected]
If this episode resonated with you: β Share it with someone who needs to hear it right now β Come to group β even if you've been avoiding it, just go β If you're a professional, bring this conversation to your next supervision session
The Food Junkies Podcast is hosted by Dr. Vera Tarman, Molly Painschab, and Clarissa Kennedy. New episodes drop weekly.
ποΈ Subscribe, leave a review, and share with someone in recovery who could use a reminder that they're not broken β they're just carrying a lot right now.
BACK-to-BASICS WORKSHOP with Megan Sloan
What you'll walk away with: β’ Simple strategies to improve balance, posture & core stability β’ A deeper understanding of your body and how it communicates with you β’ Practical tools you can use immediately β’ A stronger sense of trust and connection with your body Saturday, April 25 at 10am EST 90 minutes Live + replay included $25 USDβ‘οΈ https://sweetsobriety.newzenler.com/courses/back-to-basics
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.
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What does it take to turn personal pain into policy change? In this episode, Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with ChΓ©rie St. Arnauld, Executive Director of Metabolic Revolution and a passionate advocate for metabolic health, to explore the power of grassroots mobilization in the fight against ultra-processed foods.
ChΓ©rie grew up in a household shaped by economic constraints and ultra-processed food. It was her sister's cancer diagnosis, and the radical dietary intervention that gave her 10 more years of life, that forever changed how ChΓ©rie understood the relationship between food and healing. Today, she's channeling that lived experience into one of the most dynamic grassroots organizations in the metabolic health space.
In this conversation, Vera and ChΓ©rie explore what the food addiction and metabolic health communities can learn from each other, and what it actually looks like to build a movement from the ground up.
ποΈ What We Cover:
β’ ChΓ©rie's story: growing up on ultra-processed foods, her sister's illness, and the whole-food dietary shift that changed everything
β’ How a ketogenic diet transformed ChΓ©rie's mental health and clarity
β’ The founding of Metabolic Revolution and its mission to empower individuals to demand change from their institutions
β’ The October 2024 Rally for Metabolic Health at the Washington Monument β how it happened, who spoke, and what it sparked
β’ The petition to ban ultra-processed foods from school meals β and the volunteer-led school lunch committee it inspired
β’ A halted ketogenic therapy research study at the University of Maryland β and how Metabolic Revolution took action
β’ The parallel between Big Food and Big Tobacco β and what a master settlement agreement could look like
β’ Grassroots strategies: rallies, community walks, petitions, state attorney general investigations, and more
β’ Why individual stories + research + cost data may be the most powerful combination in advocacy
β’ The intersection of food addiction and metabolic health β and why these movements are stronger together
β’ What the food addiction world can learn from Metabolic Revolution's bottom-up approach
π Resource(s) Mentioned:
β’ Metabolic Revolution: metabolicrevolution.org
π If you or someone you love is struggling with ultra-processed food use disorder, please visit us at sweetsobriety.ca and foodjunkiespodcast.com
Connect with Food Junkies:
ποΈ Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts
π» Website: foodjunkiespodcast.com
βΆοΈ YouTube: Food Junkies Podcast - YouTube
π Email: [email protected]
π Like, subscribe, and leave a review β it helps more people find us.
The Food Junkies Podcast is hosted by Dr. Vera Tarman, Molly Painschab, and Clarissa Kennedy. We explore the science, stories, and solutions behind food addiction and ultra-processed food use disorder.
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.
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