Shows
Behind The BiteEp. 240 Healing the Body You’ve Been Disconnected From: A Trauma-Informed Path Back to Trust, Pleasure, and Self With Cassie KrajewskiIn this episode of Behind the Bite, Dr. Cristina Castagnini speaks with therapist Cassie Krajewski about healing from trauma, eating disorders, and body disconnection. They explore the concept of embodiment versus disembodiment and how trauma impacts one’s relationship with their body and food. Cassie shares trauma-informed approaches, including Internal Family Systems and EMDR, to safely reconnect with the body. They also discuss the intersection of sexuality, body image, and trauma recovery. Finally, they highlight the importance of body liberation and trusting the healing process.SHOW NOTES: Click hereFollow me on Instagram: https://www.ins...2025-06-2644 min
Taking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiOn Being a Joyful Survivor of Trauma with Amy Lynch LCSWIn this expansive and heartfelt conversation, Cassie sits down with therapist, healer, and joy-seeker Amy Rose Lynch, LCSW (she/they), whose approach to therapy and life is anything but traditional — and deeply, refreshingly human. This conversation discusses therapy, identity, embodiment, and the liberating practice of choosing joy.
Amy brings a radically honest and intuitive approach to therapy, shaped by her lived experiences as a biracial (Mexican and Irish), queer, neurodivergent, ethically non-monogamous, and highly sensitive person. Together, Cassie and Amy explore how healing happens not in spite of complexity, but through it.
Together, they explore:
...2025-06-0542 minTaking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiSober Curious, Fully Alive with Nisha Patel, LPC and Sober CoachIn this episode, we welcome Nisha Patel, a therapist, sobriety coach, and speaker, who shares her personal journey of achieving sobriety and transitioning into helping others through their own recovery processes. Nisha discusses her decision to pursue a career in therapy following her own sobriety, which has now spanned over 16 years. She opens up about the challenges of staying sober, the importance of aligning personal and professional life, and how she helps others navigating similar paths. From practical tips to deeper reflections, this conversation is a treasure trove for anyone interested in mental health, holistic wellness, and finding purpose...2025-05-1549 minTaking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiExploring Movement in Recovery with Dr. Michelle LagingIn this episode of Taking Up Space, Cassie sits down with Dr. Michelle, a Denver-based physical therapist who’s redefining what healing can look like—especially when it comes to movement and eating disorder recovery.
Together, they explore what it means to return to your body through safe, supported, and attuned movement. Dr. Michelle shares how she helps clients rebuild trust with their bodies, drawing from her expertise in pelvic health and functional movement, while always centering consent, nervous system safety, and body autonomy.
We talk about why traditional approaches to exercise often fall short in re...2025-05-1250 minTaking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiRaising Securely Attached and Body Positive Kids with Eli HarwoodIn this powerful convo with Eli Harwood (@attachmentnerd), we explore how attachment shapes not just our connections with others, but also how we trust, care for, and take up space in our own bodies.
Eli, an author of two books focusing on securely attached relationships, shares her journey influenced by her own experiences of childhood trauma and therapy. She delves into the importance of understanding attachment patterns and fostering secure attachments with both ourselves and our children. Throughout the conversation, Eli emphasizes the necessity of shifting from a control-focused to a connection-focused parenting approach, highlighting the significance of t...2025-02-0747 minTaking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiEmbodiment as an Anchor in Challenging Times with Alison Leslie LCSWIn this episode of Taking Up Space, we sit down with Alison Leslie, a Bloomington-based therapist, EMDR trainer and consultant, and somatic experiencing practitioner, to explore the transformative power of embodiment in healing. Alison shares her personal and professional journey—how she moved from being a recreational enthusiast to a dedicated therapeutic practitioner—and the ways in which embodiment serves as a bridge between our internal and external worlds.
While embodiment is often a buzzword in wellness circles, Alison sees it as a dynamic and evolving practice of attuning to thoughts and bodily sensations without judgment. She discusses...2025-01-2241 minTaking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiBeyond the Labs: A Feminist Approach to Eating Disorder Medical Care with Dr. Jennifer GaudianiIn this enlightening episode of 'Taking Up Space,' we welcome Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani, a renowned internal medicine physician specializing in eating disorders. Dr. Gaudiani discusses her extensive experience and innovative approach to treating eating disorders through her outpatient clinic in Denver. Highlighting the importance of feminist, autonomy-forward, and relationship-focused care, Dr. Gaudiani emphasizes the need for medical interactions that respect and understand the patient's personal journey. The episode also delves into the biological and personal motivations behind Dr. Gaudiani's dedication to this specialized field, her advocacy for inclusivity, and the integration of social justice into medical practice. Additionally...2024-12-0554 minTaking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiThe Food and Money Connection (aka Money and Milkshakes) with Wendy Wright, Financial TherapistHave you ever noticed the parallels between your relationship with food and body and your relationship with money? In this enlightening episode of Taking Up Space, we sit down with financial therapist and intuitive eating counselor Wendy Wright LMFT to explore the complex and often overlooked intersection of money, food, and mental wellness. Wendy shares her unique approach to financial therapy, a field that merges financial coaching with emotional support, helping clients build healthier relationships with money.
Drawing parallels between our relationships with money and food, Wendy introduces her metaphor of "money and milkshakes" to illustrate the s...2024-12-0442 minTaking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiCrashing into Embodiment: Pregnancy, Birth, & Postpartum with Monica Pearson, RCCAt some point in our lives, all of us will have experiences of crashing into our bodies in ways that we couldn't have anticipated. In this episode, we host Monica Pearson, a therapist specializing in perinatal health based in Vancouver, British Columbia. We delve into Monica's unique background, including her transition from a genetic counselor to a therapist focusing on fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum challenges. Monica shares her personal journey, including her struggles with body shame and premature ovarian insufficiency, and how these experiences shaped her understanding and approach to helping others. The conversation also touches on the impacts...2024-10-161h 02Taking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiUnveiling the Witch Wound and Our Collective Trauma with Jacqueline Rose Richards-Shrestha, LPCToday we’re exploring the 'witch wound'—an intergenerational and collective trauma affecting women's voices and empowerment. Jacqueline explains how the historical persecution of women labeled as 'witches' continues to manifest today through behaviors like people-pleasing and perfectionism. The discussion also touches on the role of psychedelics in accessing subconscious healing and the importance of embodying one's true self for breaking cycles of trauma.
Jacqueline shares her journey from growing up in Minnesota to becoming a therapist, coach, and herbalist in Boulder, Colorado. She discusses how her passion for nature and foraging as a teenager led her to e...2024-10-0945 minTaking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiSmut, Spice, and Representation with Romance Writer, Katie DugganReclaiming smut and spice! Say hello to Katie Duggan (she/they), a romance author renowned for their spicy contemporary romances, shares their journey in writing and self-discovery. Katie, who identifies as fat, queer, and disabled, brings representation to the forefront of their work, emphasizing the importance of seeing diverse and marginalized identities in literature. Throughout the conversation, Katie delves into their early love for storytelling, the evolution of their writing to include authentic experiences of characters with identities similar to their own, and the impact of romance novels on healing and pleasure, particularly through the lens of body positivity...2024-10-0250 minTaking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiBody Politics and Body Justice with Allyson Inez Ford, LPCCWhat role do politics and power play in shaping the way we understand and treat eating disorders? This episode welcomes Allyson Inez Ford, a multiracial, queer, neurodivergent therapist specializing in Eating Disorders and OCD through a social justice lens. Alison shares insights from her extensive work in the mental health community, particularly through her social media and online courses. She discusses how her personal experiences as an eating disorder and OCD survivor fuel her passion for providing therapy. The conversation delves into topics such as the political nature of eating disorders, the stigmatization within the field, and the importance...2024-09-2547 minTaking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiReclaiming Bodily Autonomy from Purity Culture with Jesie Steffes, LPCIn this episode, we welcome Jesie Steffes, a licensed professional counselor from Colorado Springs. Jesie specializes in grief and body image and is also the founder of 'She's Well Fed,' a coaching business and podcast focused on body reclamation. The discussion dives deep into Jesie's personal journey with body liberation, the impact of purity culture, and the importance of reclaiming bodily autonomy. Jesie shares heartfelt stories, including her experience with high sensitivity and how she integrates this understanding into her practice and life. This conversation is a profound exploration of how we can all take up more space...2024-09-1850 minTaking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiThe Intersection of Trauma and OCD with Bronwyn Shroyer, LCSWWhat's trauma and what's OCD and how can we tell which is which? In this episode, we speak with Bronwyn Shroyer, a licensed clinical social worker in Indiana. Bronwyn shares her personal and professional journey, focusing on her work with OCD and PTSD through her private practice and her role as co-founder of OCD Training School. Bronwyn delves into her personal history with OCD, triggered by her mother's illness during her teens, and explores various treatments including Inference-Based CBT (ICBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). The discussion touches on the prevalence of OCD alongside PTSD and other conditions...2024-09-1149 minTaking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiHealing from Toxic Relationships and Narcissistic Abuse with Relationship Clarity Coach, Bre WoltaIn this episode, we welcome Bre Wolta, a relationship clarity coach, who shares her profound journey and expertise in helping women understand their relationship patterns, especially after experiencing narcissistic or emotionally manipulative relationships. Bre dives deep into her personal story of overcoming a toxic relationship and how it led her to support others facing similar struggles. She explains the nuances of narcissism, the dynamics of love bombing, and the challenges and importance of achieving self-awareness and contentment in aloneness. With a focus on embodiment and emotional regulation techniques such as EFT tapping, Bre provides valuable insights for those wanting...2024-09-1156 minTaking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiHealing from Spiritual Trauma and Disembodiment with Rachel Flowers, LMSWIn this engaging episode, Rachel Flowers, a seasoned clinical therapist from Michigan, shares her story and professional journey. With over 16 years in private practice and a strong background in treating severe disordered eating, Rachel introduces her love for EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy. She delves into her specialization in trauma, particularly spiritual and religious trauma, and discusses the effects of conservative religious upbringing on women's embodiment and self-care practices. The conversation explores how Rachel uses EMDR to help clients uncover and process deeply ingrained fear, shame, and disembodiment stemming from their spiritual experiences.
Rachel lists s...2024-08-2141 minTaking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiNavigating Fertility in a Bigger Body with Fertility Coach Nicola SalmonIn this episode of Taking Up Space, Cassie welcomes Nicola Salmon, a fat positive fertility coach who specializes in supporting fat individuals through their fertility journeys. Nicola shares her personal story of being diagnosed with PCOS at 16 and the impact that had on her life. She discusses her evolution into fertility coaching, her experiences with a positive, textbook pregnancy despite societal expectations, and advocating for fat individuals' rights to fertility treatments and supportive healthcare. Nicola introduces her fat positive fertility framework, which includes components like safety, advocacy, self-compassion, and trust. The conversation delves into the myths and realities around...2024-08-1445 min
Taking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiHealing from Binge Eating Disorder with Dr. Marianne Miller, LMFTIn this episode of 'Taking Up Space,' we are joined by Dr. Marianne Miller, an eating disorder therapist specializing in treating binge eating disorder and ARFID. Dr. Marianne shares her professional background and discusses her integrative approach to therapy, which includes leveraging her personal journey with an eating disorder and neurodivergence. They delve into the importance of addressing social justice in therapy, the stigma around atypical anorexia, and the intersections of multiple cultural and systemic influences on eating disorders. Dr. Marianne also highlights the significance of nourishment and self-care in recovery, offering insights into her specialized programs and...2024-08-0748 min
Taking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiBeyond BMI: Embracing Size Inclusive Medicine with Family Physician Dr. Mara GordonIn this episode, we welcome Dr. Mara Gordon, a family physician and medical educator, who shares her journey toward size inclusive medicine. Dr. Gordon, who practices in Camden, New Jersey, and resides in Philadelphia, reveals her transition from a weight-centric approach to a more inclusive practice that avoids emphasizing weight loss as a primary goal. She discusses the influence of reading literature by fat positive authors and the importance of viewing body health beyond just numbers on the scale. Dr. Gordon also provides practical advice for patients seeking size inclusive healthcare and highlights the significance of self-advocacy in medical...2024-07-3148 min
Taking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiThe Intertwining of Pleasure, Sexuality, and Liberation with Sex and Relationship Coach Dawn SerraIn this episode, Dawn Serra, a counselor and coach from British Columbia, shares her journey from hosting MLM sex toy parties to becoming a sex and relationship coach. She discusses her experiences with fat activism, body trust, and the importance of non-stigmatizing mental health care for people in larger bodies. Dawn emphasizes the significance of self-worth, boundary setting, and reclaiming pleasure and sexuality, particularly for marginalized groups. She also touches on the concept of desirability politics and how societal norms shape our perceptions of attractiveness and self-worth. Dawn's insights offer a profound look into how individuals can begin to...2024-07-2448 min
Taking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiHow to Navigate Dating in Diet Culture with Becca Moravec, LMFT, LPCToday we’re talking about dating and relationships in diet culture with therapist, Becca Moravec. The world of dating, where our bodies often feel like battlegrounds of judgment and bias. It's no secret that our culture's obsession with diets and body ideals can make finding love feel like an uphill battle, especially if you don't fit into society's narrow mold of beauty. Join us as we delve into Becca’s journey of dismantling diet culture and fatphobia to live authentically. Becca, once entrenched in these issues as a therapist, shares her transformation through Health at Every Size (HAES) and insi...2024-07-1746 min
Taking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiHow ADHD Influences Your Relationship with Food and Body with Aleta Storch, RD, LMHCToday, we’re diving into the tangled relationship between ADHD and our struggles with food and body image. Here’s the truth—people with ADHD are four times more likely to develop an eating disorder. And it’s a cycle that can feel impossible to break. When eating disorders go untreated, they can make ADHD symptoms even worse. And when ADHD isn’t managed, it can wreak havoc on our relationship with food and our bodies.
And I don’t think think eating disorder treatment world is talking about this overlap enough, nor is it adequately addressing the needs of...2024-07-1047 min
Taking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiReclaiming Movement in Toxic Fitness Culture with Dr. Rachel MillnerToday we explore the transformative journey of reclaiming movement. Our guest, Rachel Millner, an Eating Disorder Psychologist specializing in Body Trust, Joyful Movement, and Fat Activism, sheds light on the profound impact of systemic fatphobia in fitness and wellness spaces, and she articulates how mainstream fitness fails to consider diverse body types, leaving many individuals feeling unseen and unwelcome. We talk about how she’s advocating for body diversity in fitness instructors, what it means to reclaim movement and how not everyone is ready to incorporate that back into their life. Rachel guides us through the process of tuning in...2024-07-0250 min
Taking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiGiving Yourself Permission for Pleasure with Dr. Brittney EllersIn today’s episode we’re talking about our pelvis with pelvic health expert and physical therapist, Dr. Brittney Ellers. In this enlightening conversation, we explore the often overlooked realm of pelvic health, addressing common misconceptions, and shedding light on the importance of connecting with this aspect of our bodies. Whether you're seeking to enhance your understanding of pelvic health or are on a personal journey towards restoration, this episode serves as a beacon of guidance and support. Tune in as we uncover the keys to achieving holistic well-being and reclaiming control over your pelvic health. Get ready to emba...2024-06-1843 min
Taking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiEnvisioning Liberatory Care within Eating Disorder Treatment with Dr. Jennie Wang-HallToday we have Dr. Jennie Wang-Hall on the pod, a licensed eating disorder psychologist in California where we discuss anti-careral and liberatory eating disorder treatment. Jennie and Cassie explore the necessary shift to a more agentic and empowering form of eating disorder treatment. They unpack the ways in which traditional eating disorder treatment and mental health care can be carceral and paternalized. Jennie weaves together the web of systems into how she engages in her practice.
Guest Bio
Dr. Jennie Wang-Hall is a licensed psychologist in California who has treated eating disorders at all levels o...2024-06-1151 min
Taking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiMaking Space for All Bodies with Size Inclusive Yoga with Christy CalahanToday we talk with registered yoga teacher, Christy Calahan who specializes in educating yoga teachers on plus size inclusivity in their classes and in studios. Yoga can be a way that many folks on their embodiment journeys learn to inhabit their bodies differently and more fully, but there are a lot of body hierarchies in Westernized yoga culture, so I really appreciate all of the work Christy is doing to shift perspectives to make yoga truly more accessible and inclusive for all bodies.
Guest Bio:
Christy Calahan is an E-RYT 500 and a yoga educator (YACEP) wh...2024-06-0539 min
Taking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiWhen Our Partners and Families are Fatphobic: Experiencing Weight Stigma from the People We Love with Becky Belinsky LMFTGuest Bio
Dr. Becky Belinsky is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California who specializes in working with clients who struggle with eating disorders and any type of food and/or body image related issues. Her approach is size inclusive and fat positive, and she is passionate about exploring the societal and relational factors that contribute to eating disorders and disordered eating. She has conducted research around the intersection of weight stigma, eating disorders, and family relationships, and is also a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor. In addition to her work around eating disorders, Becky provides psychotherapy...2024-05-2946 min
Taking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiIntergenerational Trauma and Intergenerational Healing in Eating Disorders with Sam Dylan FinchToday’s conversation we’re talking with Sam Dylan Finch about his story and its intersection with intergenerational trauma. Sam Dylan Finch is a writer, content strategist, and daydreamer leveraging the power of digital media to inspire hope and challenge stigma. Sam is a recognized and trusted voice within mental health media, having reached millions of readers worldwide after his first of many viral articles back in 2014.
Since then, his unique combination of lived experience and authenticity, alongside his journalistic expertise, has led to memorable, culture-shifting moments across the web.
His work has not only shif...2024-05-221h 05
Taking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiDismantling Internalized Ageism with Body Liberation with Deb Benfield RDOverview
Deb invites you to blaze a liberating new path to a respectful, nurturing relationship with your aging body. She has helped hundreds of women heal their relationship with food, eating, and their bodies in her more than 35-year career as a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist and Registered Yoga Teacher specializing in preventing and treating disordered eating. Now in her 60s, she focuses her research, training, passion, clinical, and lived experience on the intersection of pro-aging and body liberation.
Her work is rooted in helping you: Shift your relationship with your body from your life’s proj...2024-05-1537 min
Taking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiAllowing Yourself to Be Seen: Reclaiming Your Body Image through Photography with Lindley AshlineEpisode Overview
Lindley Ashline creates photographs that celebrate the unique beauty of bodies that fall outside conventional "beauty" standards. She fights weight stigma by giving plus-size people a safe place to explore how their bodies look on camera and by increasing the representation of big bodies in photography, advertising, fine art and the world at large. Lindley is also the creator of Body Liberation Stock (body-positive stock images for commercial use) and the Body Love Shop (a curated resource for body-friendly products and artwork). Find Lindley's work and get her free weekly Body Liberation Guide at http...2024-05-1554 min
Taking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiRaising Kids Without Diet Culture with Oona HansonGuest Bio
Oona Hanson is an educator and parent coach who is passionate about helping parents raise kids who have a healthy relationship with food and their body. She works with parents who are navigating diet culture and anti-fat bias, including those who have a child in treatment for an eating disorder. Oona holds a Master's Degree in Educational Psychology and a Master's Degree in English. Her work has been featured widely, including on CNN, USA Today, Good Morning America, People, and Parents Magazine. She is a mother of two and lives in Los Angeles.
2024-05-1547 min
Taking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiWhat Does It Mean to Take Up Space?Overview:
In this inaugural episode of "Taking Up Space," host Cassie Krajewski invites you to join her on a journey of embodiment, healing, and body liberation. Throughout this episode, Cassie candidly shares aspects of her own body story and how it has shaped her passion for this work. From struggles with body image to moments of empowerment, she opens up about the journey of resisting smallness (in all its forms) and the lessons she garnered from her teachers along the way in how our body liberation is bound to one another. Through heartfelt conversations and empowering insights, "T...2024-05-1521 min
Taking Up Space with Cassie KrajewskiComing NEXT WEEK!! The Taking Up Space Podcast with Cassie KrajewskiThe anticipation is building and we cannot wait to share this podcast with the world! Coming soon, Wednesday May 15th, 2024 we will the first 4 episodes available to watch/listen to! See you all in a few days!!
Sneak peek from the intro transcript:
Welcome to "Taking Up Space," the podcast where we’ll explore what it means to inhabit our bodies fully, without shame or apology, and pursue body liberation. I’m Cassie Krajewski, your host and co-conspirator. This podcast is for the women and marginalized folks who have been living in a wo...2024-05-1002 min
The Therapy SistersWhose Body Is It Anyway: An Interview with body and trauma specialist, Cassie Krajewski, LCSWWelcome! We're so glad you're here. Grab a cup of coffee (or your drink of choice) and join the Therapy Sisters as they sit down with Cassie Krajewski, LCSW.
Cassie is an LCSW based in Denver, CO where she runs her private practice, Inner Atlas Therapy. She uses EMDR Therapy and Internal Family Systems Therapy to treat complex trauma, disordered eating and body image, and sex and relationships. Cassie is an EMDRIA Approved Consultant and a senior faculty member at Kase and CO, an EMDR training business where she offers an EMDR and Disordered Eating course for therapists.
In this...2024-04-3043 minThe Therapy SistersDisordered Eating and Other Body Image Impacts of Trauma: An Interview with Cassie Krajewski, LCSWWelcome to the Therapy Sisters Podcast! We are so glad you are here!!
Grab our FREE Guide: The Overwhelmed Woman’s Pocket Guide to Connecting Back to Her Life
On today’s show, The Therapy Sisters join in a beautiful conversation with Cassie Krajewski, LCSW, surrounding disordered eating, connecting back to our bodies and narratives formed about our bodies along our journies.
Cassie is an LCSW based in Denver, CO where she runs her private practice, Inner Atlas Therapy. She uses EMDR Therapy and Internal Family Systems Therapy to treat complex trauma, disordered eating and body image, and sex and relat...2023-06-1346 minThe Therapy SistersHow Trauma Impacts Body ImageWelcome to the Therapy Sisters Podcast! We are so glad you are here!!
Grab our FREE Guide: The Overwhelmed Woman’s Pocket Guide to Connecting Back to Her Life
On today’s show, The Therapy Sisters discuss trauma in the body and how trauma impacts body image. This is such an important topic when it comes to the body: How we feel in it and how it responds.
Listen as we discuss Big T, little T and complex traumas.
Listen as we discuss different types of dissociation and the expression of trauma in the body (aka how it might show up th...2023-06-0642 min