Shows
Food ShrinksEpisode 40: Family Systems, Cinnamon Buns, and the Art of Self-Care: A Mid-Summer ReckoningIn this raw and revealing episode, the Shrinks dive deep into the complexities of family dynamics, emotional regression, and how recovery shows up when you're trapped on a cruise ship with people who know your buttons—and how to press them. From boundary-setting in the Yukon to confronting childhood roles that no longer fit, this conversation touches on grief, growth, and the power of self-care in triggering environments. It’s honest, funny, deeply human, and a reminder that healing isn’t linear—but connection helps. ✨ What We Talk About: Navigating old family roles while trying to live your...2025-07-2919 minFood ShrinksEpisode 39: Let’s Talk About Weight Loss—For Real This TimeIn this honest, heart-centered conversation, Molly P and Molly C tackle one of the most sensitive and frequently tiptoed-around topics in recovery spaces: weight loss. After receiving an email from a listener asking why they don’t speak more directly about it, the Mollys dive in—with nuance, humility, and a whole lot of truth. Together, they explore: The difference between structure and restriction How to discern whether a desire to lose weight is rooted in recovery or disordered thinking The role of spiritual alignment, shadow work, and trusted counsel Why urgency is a red flag How...2025-07-2220 minFood ShrinksEpisode 38 - Telling a New Story: Our First Conversation on Spirituality in RecoveryIn this soulful and vulnerable episode of Food Shrinks, Molly C and Molly P sit down for a heartfelt conversation about spirituality, what it means, how it manifests in recovery, and why it has become the cornerstone of their healing. With Clarissa off on vacation (an Alaska cruise, anyone?), the Mollys dive deep into how spirituality is not about finding answers, but about the willingness to see life differently. They share personal stories, therapeutic insights, and unexpected turning points, from early resistance to mindset shifts, to dreamcatchers in correctional facilities, to how trauma, addiction, and spiritual transformation...2025-07-1519 minFood ShrinksEpisode 37: Self-Compassion Isn't Woo - Finding Your Voice After Shame, Trauma, and Diet CultureThe Food Shrinks open up about their personal journeys with self-compassion—from eye rolls and resistance to finding voices that finally felt true. They explore how trauma, neurodivergence, addiction, and childhood conditioning make self-compassion feel foreign, even threatening. With humor, honesty, and lived experience, they share how they’ve begun to chip away at old patterns of self-hate and embrace compassion as a lifelong practice, not a magical fix. This episode is real talk for real people who are tired of shaming themselves into change and are ready to try something gentler. 🧠 Key Topics Covered: Why...2025-07-0819 minFood ShrinksEpisode 36: Knowing Better Isn’t Doing Better - Ambivalence, Ego, and Compassionate ChangeIn this heartfelt and hilarious episode, the Shrinks dive into one of the most relatable recovery challenges: the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it. Whether it’s flossing your teeth, sticking to a food plan, or showing up for yourself with compassion, the struggle is real—and it’s not about laziness or failure. It’s about nervous system responses, shame scripts, feelings phobia, and learning to be with our shadows. Join Molly C, Clarissa, and Molly P as they explore ambivalence, ego death, and what it means to change from the inside out, without shame.2025-07-0121 minFood ShrinksEpisode 35: The Fourth Week - Patience, Pain, and the Miracle That FollowsIn this raw and reflective episode, Molly C, Clarissa, and Molly P dive into the messy, beautiful work of staying with the hard stuff, especially when it would feel easier to bolt. Inspired by Molly C’s bougie pup Danny and his enforced recovery rest, the team explores the emotional equivalent of “week four”: the moment when things feel better, but the healing isn’t finished, and the temptation to return to old habits is loudest. 💡 Topics We Explore: Why the hardest part of healing often comes right before the miracle Recovery drop-offs and the fear of facing d...2025-06-2420 minFood ShrinksEpisode 34: Body Talk - The Noise, The Anger, The HopeHey Food Shrinkies — it's Molly C, Clarissa, and Molly P, diving even deeper into the conversation we thought we wrapped up last week. Spoiler: We weren’t done. Not even close. Last week, we cracked open the Pandora’s box of body image in recovery — and this week, we’re standing in the storm. Clarissa shares what surfaced for her after playing it “safe” last episode and comes back with fire, truth, and an angry love letter to the body image bullying that’s haunted her for decades. Molly joins with her own mix of sorrow and advocacy, and to...2025-06-1720 minFood ShrinksEpisode 33: Are We Allowed to Care About Our Bodies? – A Candid Post-Game Chat on Body Image, Thinness, and RecoveryIn this unfiltered, vulnerable episode of Food Shrinks, Molly, Clarissa, and MC hit record on what was meant to be a private post-game debrief—and ended up diving into one of the most tender, tangled topics in recovery: body image. Following last week's episode on the industry’s obsession with weight, this conversation becomes personal. Like, really personal. From sharing fears about thinness and relapses into compulsive behaviors, to naming the grief, anger, and cultural betrayal that can come with inhabiting a body that doesn’t match the world’s expectations, the trio explores what it means to care...2025-06-1012 minFood ShrinksEpisode 32: You Do Not Owe the World a Smaller BodyIn this unapologetically honest and deeply validating conversation, the Food Shrinks crew dives into one of the hottest topics in food addiction recovery: weight as a false measure of success. Why do some professionals in the recovery field still equate smaller bodies with deeper healing? And what happens when people in larger bodies feel excluded—even when they're abstinent and thriving? Molly, Clarissa, and MP break down the damaging impact of internalized weight stigma, explore why body size is not a clinical marker of recovery, and call out harmful assumptions that show up even in professional spaces. Th...2025-06-0319 minFood ShrinksEpisode 31: The Healing You’re Avoiding - Why Group Work Changes EverythingIn this spontaneous and heart-forward episode, Molly C., Clarissa, and Molly P. crack open the resistance so many of us feel toward group work, and why that resistance might be precisely the sign we need more connection, not less. Together, the trio explores why group healing matters, how co-regulation works, and what it means to feel seen, safe, and mirrored in community. From AA meetings to clinical groups to retreats full of “I-don’t-do-group” folks turned soul sisters, they share raw stories about belonging, shame, and the life-changing magic of not doing recovery alone. If you’ve...2025-05-2721 min
Real Food RecoveryRecovering With Molly PainschabWelcome to Real Food Recovery, a podcast created by two lifelong processed food addicts with over 100 years of addiction (and recovery) between them. Paige Alexander and Jamie Morgan Reno use their Real Food Recovery podcast and social media channels to share their struggles, lessons learned, tools, tips, and resources that freed them from decades of food addiction, obsession, and loss. In this episode, we have a fascinating conversation with Molly Painschab, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) with a passion for helping individuals overcome the challenges of food addiction and f...2025-05-2250 minFood ShrinksEpisode 30: GLP-1s in Food Addiction Recovery: Game-Changer or Controversy?The Food Shrinks are back with a spicy, heartfelt conversation about one of the most polarizing tools in the recovery world right now—GLP-1 medications (like Ozempic and Wegovy). In this episode, they tackle the growing buzz (and backlash) around these drugs in eating disorder and food addiction spaces. Are GLP-1s a betrayal of “real” recovery, or can they be a supportive tool for healing? The hosts spill some behind-the-scenes tea, share their personal and clinical experiences, and ask hard questions: Who gets to decide what recovery looks like? Why is there so much shame around using...2025-05-2018 minFood ShrinksEpisode 29: “Chronic Relapser”? Don’t Talk About My Friend Like ThatIn this compelling episode, the Food Shrinks team tackles one of the most used—and deeply harmful—labels in recovery spaces: “chronic relapser.” With both fire and tenderness, the Shrinks dismantle this shame-based term and offer a new way to understand recurrence through the lens of chronic ambivalence, self-compassion, and trauma-informed care. You’ll hear why language matters, how shame can block healing, and why we must stop reducing people to their most painful patterns. Instead, the team explores what it means to stay curious, build emotional safety, and make your recovery as big as your disease. Whether yo...2025-05-1320 minFood ShrinksEpisode 28: Let’s Talk About VolumeIn this deeply honest and layered conversation, The Food Shrinks—Clarissa Kennedy, Molly Carmel, and Molly Painschab— dive into one of the most misunderstood and rarely talked-about experiences in food addiction recovery: volume of whole foods in food addiction recovery. What begins as a casual check-in quickly becomes a masterclass on the biological, psychological, and emotional roots of overeating. 🔍 What you’ll learn: 🌸Volume addiction might be harder to heal from than sugar and flour because it’s not just about what you eat, but how much and why. 🌸For many, volume eating is a trauma response...2025-05-0621 minFood ShrinksEpisode 27: Help, I Posted on TikTok and Now I Need Therapy!In this vulnerable and fiery episode, the Shrinks crack open a raw conversation about what happens when you dare to speak your truth in a world that’s not always ready to hear it. Molly C. shares the emotional fallout of going viral on TikTok — and getting slammed for it. What started as a conversation about food boundaries quickly turned into a deep dive on childhood bullying, impostor syndrome, clinical appeasement, and the gut-punch of online criticism. The shrinks hold space for one another while exploring big themes: Why it’s so hard not to dim your l...2025-04-2919 minFood ShrinksEpisode 26: When You Just Don’t Wanna: Recovery in a Motivation SlumpFeeling like you're slogging through sludge in your recovery? You're not alone. In this vulnerable and validating episode, the Shrinks get real about what to do when the motivation to stay on track just… isn’t there. From functional freeze to emotional flatness, we unpack what it means when everything feels like too much—even when you know what to do. We explore: Why recovery can feel like pushing through quicksand What “motivation collapse” and “functional freeze” look like in real life The grief that comes with ongoing transformation Why nervous system fatigue and willpower overload matter How val...2025-04-2220 minFood ShrinksEpisode 25: You’re Not Fragile: Unpacking the Power of FragilizationIn this episode, the Food Shrinks crew explores a powerful, overlooked concept: fragilization. From personal stories to real recovery insights, the team explores how treating ourselves—or others—as too delicate can actually stall growth, deepen shame, and keep us stuck. Whether it’s in addiction recovery, mental health, or just day-to-day life, fragilization can quietly shape how we show up, ask for help, and relate to our own resilience. We talk about how fragilizing ourselves in depression or post-relapse moments can reinforce powerlessness, and how others fragilizing us—even with good intentions—can feel invalidating. You’ll hear raw...2025-04-1520 minFood ShrinksEpisode 24: Letting Go & Growing UpWelcome to the Food Shrinks podcast! In this heartfelt and honest episode, the Food Shrinks team dives into a powerful listener-submitted question: What happens when the people, places, and things that once brought us comfort no longer fit in our healing and recovery journey? This week, we explore the grief and growth that come with outgrowing relationships, hobbies, environments, and identities that once felt like home. You’ll hear reflections on: • Why things that once felt safe can suddenly feel unbearable • How identity shifts in recovery can affect our social lives • Why it’s normal to...2025-04-0817 min
Food Junkies PodcastEpisode 223: Clinicians Corner - From Survival to Self-Compassion: Understanding Our Protective BehaviorsIn this thought-provoking Clinician’s Corner episode, Clarissa Kennedy and Molly Painschab dive deep into the ever-popular term “self-sabotage” — and why they believe it’s not only inaccurate but potentially harmful in the context of food addiction recovery. Together, they explore how behaviors often labeled as self-sabotage are actually maladaptive coping strategies, formed through years of survival. These are not signs of brokenness, but evidence of brilliance in navigating pain, trauma, and unmet needs. The duo discusses how using shame-based language like “chronic relapser” or “self-sabotage” can derail healing, and instead, offer curiosity, compassion, and nervous system awareness as more empowering alternat...2025-04-0345 minFood ShrinksEpisode 23: Why Can’t I Stay Abstinent—Even After a Health Scare?In this powerful episode, we tackle a question that resonates deeply for so many in recovery: "Why can’t I stay off sugar, even after a life-threatening diagnosis?" We received a heartfelt listener question from someone who has been struggling with sugar addiction for years—even after a cancer diagnosis. This sparked a deep, honest conversation about the nature of addiction, why even fear or facts aren't always enough to inspire change, and how recovery takes more than just motivation—it takes connection, community, repetition, and reframing. 💬 In this episode, we cover: 🌱Why fear, force...2025-04-0120 minFood Junkies PodcastEpisode 222: Dr. David Wiss - Food Addiction or Eating Disorder? Rethinking the DivideIn this powerful and deeply nuanced episode, Dr. Vera Tarman and Molly Painschab welcome back Dr. David Wiss to explore one of the most important—and often misunderstood—topics in the field: the intersection of food addiction and eating disorders. With his unique background in both nutrition and public health, Dr. Wiss walks us through the historical divide between the food addiction and eating disorder communities, the philosophical and clinical tensions between rigidity and flexibility, and how trauma, ACEs, and access to food complicate both diagnosis and treatment. Whether you're a clinician confused about how to d...2025-03-2753 minFood ShrinksEpisode 22: When Life Feels Too Heavy - Coping When It All Piles OnIn this episode: Clarissa opens up about a deeply personal and challenging season in her life—navigating grief, fear, and emotional overwhelm as unexpected hardships pile up. From her puppy's serious health concerns to her mother’s cancer recurrence, Clarissa vulnerably shares what it’s like to face wave after wave of uncertainty. The Food Shrinks dive into what happens when emotional pain feels relentless, and all the usual tools start to feel... not enough. Together, they explore: 💡How to manage emotional pain when it feels like you’re at capacity 💡The dance between...2025-03-2520 minFood ShrinksEpisode 21: Self-Sabotage: What’s Really Happening?In this thought-provoking episode of Food Shrinks, we challenge the concept of self-sabotage and explore a radical reframe—what if it’s not sabotage at all, but an attempt at protection? Join us as we unpack the deeper, more compassionate understanding of behaviors that are often mislabeled as sabotage. Together, we discuss how our brains are wired for survival, not destruction, and how unmet needs, fear, and safety-seeking responses shape our actions. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✔️ Why we don’t believe in self-sabotage—and what we think is actually happening ✔️ The difference between intentiona...2025-03-1819 minFood ShrinksEpisode 20: Food, Cravings & Coping: Is There Always a New Addiction Waiting?In today’s episode, we dive deep into a thought-provoking listener question: Will there always be something waiting in the wings to take the place of old addictive patterns? Molly C. shares a personal experience about her resolution to avoid blue light before bed—and how she noticed an urge to watch TV after a fun night out. This sparks a rich discussion on self-awareness, nervous system regulation, and the evolving nature of cravings and coping mechanisms in recovery. In This Episode, We Discuss: ✅ The idea of whether food (or other behaviors) will always...2025-03-1118 minFood Junkies PodcastEpisode 219: Clinicians Corner - The Importance of Belonging in RecoveryHosts Clarissa Kennedy and Molly Painschab explore the critical theme of belonging in recovery. They discuss the concept of "othering"—feeling unseen, unheard, or misunderstood—and its deep impact on individuals in their healing journeys. The episode is framed around a powerful quote from George Orwell about the loneliness of being misunderstood, setting the stage for a rich discussion on attachment, connection, and the need for belonging. Clarissa and Molly share personal experiences of feeling different, whether in family dynamics, social settings, or recovery groups. They examine how attachment styles—secure, avoidant, anxious, and disorganized—shape our ability...2025-03-0843 minFood ShrinksEpisode 19: Feeling Othered, Vulnerability, and the Power of ConnectionIn this episode, Molly C, Molly P, and Clarissa dive deep into the feeling of being "othered"—that sense of not quite fitting in, even among close friends or trusted spaces. We explore: ✅ The fear of being too different—what happens when our thoughts, experiences, or intuition don’t align with those around us ✅ The connection between feeling othered and food behaviors—how discomfort leads to numbing or binging ✅ The armor we put up when we feel excluded—why we protect ourselves instead of reaching out ✅ The power of naming our feelings—and how vulnerability in...2025-03-0419 minFood ShrinksEpisode 18: Sneaking, Hiding, and the Amplified Reward Cycle of Food AddictionIn this episode of Food Shrinks, we’re shaking things up! With one shrink missing, we dive into how we handle scheduling conflicts as a team and the importance of open, honest conversations in problem-solving. Then, we transition into a powerful discussion about a common struggle in food addiction recovery: sneaking, hiding, and lying about food. We explore how secrecy and shame amplify dopamine release, making the behavior even more rewarding—just like in other substance addictions. By illuminating these patterns, we can dismantle them and find practical ways to break free from the cycle. Key...2025-02-2521 minFood ShrinksEpisode 17: Hormones, Hunger, and HealingIn this insightful and heartfelt episode of Food Shrinks, we explore the complex relationship between hormones, perimenopause, and food addiction recovery. Inspired by listener questions, we share our journeys, client experiences, and the science behind hormonal changes—whether you're still cycling, in perimenopause, or navigating menopause. 🌿 In This Episode: 🧘 Hormones and Recovery: How shifts during the menstrual cycle, perimenopause, and menopause can affect food cravings and emotional eating. 💡 Luteal Phase Insights: The science behind increased hunger, metabolism spikes, and why cravings often hit hardest before your period. 🧠 The Grief of Change: Exploring the emotional impact...2025-02-1820 minFood ShrinksEpisode 16: Breaking Free from Social Media AddictionIn this episode of Food Shrinks, Molly C. shares a significant life shift—she's entirely off social media! Coming back from a retreat, she realized how much screen time was impacting her nervous system, focus, and ability to engage with life. She opens up about the moment she knew she had to step away, the withdrawal symptoms she experienced, and how she transitioned off social media with the help of the Freedom app. Molly and Clarissa also explore the broader topic of digital addiction, drawing connections to food addiction and other compulsive behaviors. They discuss insights from Dr...2025-02-1119 minFood ShrinksEpisode 15: When Is It Time to Go Deeper in Recovery?In this episode of Food Shrinks, we dive into an important question: When do we need to go deeper than recovery coaching, and when is it enough to stay at that level? 🔑Key Topics Discussed: 🔒Two Approaches to Healing – Clearing out the body and mind first vs. addressing deeper emotional work upfront. 🔒When Coaching Isn’t Enough – How to recognize when therapy, trauma work, or other professional support is needed. 🔒The Rush to Go Deeper – Why there’s no need to sprint toward deeper work and how cultural pressure impacts this mindset. 🔒Intuition as a Guide – Ho...2025-02-0420 min
Beyond Binge EatingSelf Determination in Recovery & The Fight For Recognition of Food Addiction | Molly PainschabIn this podcast episode, Molly Painschab describes the controversial and challenging process of advocating for the recognition of food addiction. We explore the often unseen struggles behind the scenes of global health advocacy and the innovative approaches being taken to redefine recovery. She also shares gems of wisdom explaining the benefits of self determination in recovery.Here’s what we’ll cover:The Fight for Recognition: Unpacking the journey and the immense challenges faced in getting food addiction recognized by major health organizations. She highlights the extensive collaborative efforts needed to change entrenched medical perspectives acro...2025-01-3032 minFood ShrinksEpisode 14: Conflict, Communication, and Repair in Healthy RelationshipsIn this episode, Molly, Clarissa, and Molly (aka The Food Shrinks) dive deep into healthy conflict resolution and how it impacts relationships, recovery, and our connection with food. Through personal stories, the hosts share their challenges and breakthroughs when it comes to communication, boundaries, and repair. 📌 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Molly’s 2025 Resolution 🩷Why she’s committing to ending people-pleasing and learning to say “no” without guilt. 🩷How people-pleasing behaviors can show up in recovery and eating habits. Turning Conflict into Growth 🩷A behind-the-scenes look at a recent scheduling conf...2025-01-2819 minFood ShrinksEpisode 13: Exploring Psychedelics in Recovery and HealingIn this candid and impromptu episode of The Food Shrinks, Molly Carmel, Clarissa Kennedy, and Molly Painschab dive deep into their personal experiences with psychedelics, focusing on their potential as tools for emotional and psychological healing. From ketamine-assisted therapy to psilocybin journeys, the hosts share raw insights into their transformative—yet challenging—experiences. This conversation emphasizes the importance of preparation, professional guidance, and integration, underscoring that psychedelics are not a quick fix but a profound tool in the toolbox of recovery and self-growth. Key Topics Discussed: 🔥The unexpected start to this heartfelt conversation on psychedelics. 🔥Molly Carm...2025-01-2024 minFood ShrinksEpisode 12: Decoding "Diet Culture Vultures" and Empowering Self-DeterminationToday the Food Shrinks unpack what "diet culture vultures" represent in the context of diet culture and self-help programs, emphasizing the importance of self-determination and how to recognize manipulative tactics in various industries, including healthcare, food recovery, and coaching. This honest conversation also explores personal vulnerabilities, the importance of critical thinking, and the need to trust one’s inner wisdom. Key Topics Discussed: ⛄Defining "Diet Culture Vultures": ❄How vultures prey on insecurities and vulnerable moments, often selling unrealistic promises of quick fixes. ❄Examples: Diet programs, coaching, self-help services, medical treatments, and even books or summi...2025-01-1422 minFood ShrinksEpisode 11: Breaking the Impulse Buy Cycle: Navigating Wellness Marketing TrapsIn this thought-provoking episode of The Food Shrinks delve into the allure—and pitfalls—of wellness programs, self-help summits, and fitness courses that promise transformation but often lead to unfulfilled intentions. The trio unpacks the psychological and emotional drivers behind impulsive purchases, the cultural conditioning of "quick fixes," and strategies to make more intentional decisions about investments in personal growth. Key Topics Discussed: 🔑The pervasive marketing tactics targeting pain points in wellness and recovery. 🔑The emotional and psychological reasons behind impulsive purchases include fear of missing out (FOMO) and searching for external validation. 🔑The damaging cycl...2025-01-0724 minFood ShrinksEpisode 10: Facing Vultures, Shame, and Self-AbandonmentIn this candid and deeply personal episode, the Food Shrinks—Molly Carmel, Clarissa Kennedy, and Molly Painschab—dive into the challenging topic of self-abandonment, appeasement, and the consequences of chasing quick fixes. From past experiences with expensive treatment programs to navigating shame and self-doubt, this episode offers valuable insights for anyone struggling to hold on to themselves in moments of uncertainty. The hosts share their missteps, lessons learned, and actionable strategies to help listeners recognize and reclaim their power. Key Takeaways: The Cost of Quick Fixes: 🏔️Clarissa reflects on her experience with an overprice...2024-12-3124 minFood ShrinksEpisode 9: You're Not the Problem, You're the Solution.In this episode, the Food Shrinks—Molly C., Molly P., and Clarissa—gear up to combat the "diet culture vultures" that descend during the New Year season. They discuss empowering listeners to reclaim their role as the solution to their challenges rather than falling victim to shame-based marketing tactics. This conversation is packed with insights into navigating January's pressures with mindfulness, self-compassion, and an emphasis on long-term recovery. Key Takeaways: 🔥"You're Not the Problem" Mantra: Shift the narrative—you're not the problem; you're the solution. 🔥Avoiding Shame-Based Marketing: Recognize when urgency or fear tactics are being us...2024-12-2324 minFood Junkies PodcastEpisode 208: Gurpreet Singh Padda, MD (Part 1)In this insightful episode, Dr. Vera Tarman and Molly Painschab sit down with Dr. Gurpreet Singh Padda to explore the fascinating concept of meta-inflammation and its role in chronic pain, obesity, and addiction. Dr. Padda shares his unique journey and extensive expertise in addressing metabolic dysfunction and inflammation through a sound nutritional approach. Episode Highlights Understanding Meta-Inflammation What is meta-inflammation, and how does it connect chronic pain, obesity, and addiction? The role of the omega-3 to omega-6 ratio in reducing inflammation and improving metabolic health. Food Addiction and Dopamine How processed foods...2024-12-1752 minFood ShrinksEpisode 8: 12 Steps, Many Paths: Finding What Works for YOU in RecoveryIn this heartfelt and thought-provoking episode, your hosts, Molly Painschab, Molly Carmel, and Clarissa Kennedy, dive into the topic of 12-step programs and their role in food addiction recovery. This conversation explores their diverse experiences with 12-step recovery, its benefits, challenges, and alternatives, offering valuable insights for anyone navigating their own path to healing. Key Takeaways from the Episode 🩷Personal Experiences with 12-Step: Molly Carmel shares her transformative journey through OA (Overeaters Anonymous), from initial skepticism to finding a foundation for her spirituality and emotional recovery. Meanwhile, Clarissa Kennedy reflects on how her experience with AA...2024-12-1723 minFood ShrinksEpisode 7: To Weigh or Not to Weigh? Navigating Recovery and the ScaleEver wondered whether stepping on the scale supports or sabotages your food recovery? This week on Food Shrinks, we're tackling this tricky topic head-on! Today, the Shrinks discuss the complexities of weighing oneself during recovery, the potential triggers, and the importance of tailoring recovery to individual needs. Key discussions include: 🔥The dangers of focusing on weight loss over recovery. 🔥How scales can act as triggers and distractions for those in recovery. 🔥The power of spiritual and emotional growth in stabilizing recovery. 🔥Understanding recovery non-negotiables for long-term success. Takeaways: 🔥Recovery over weight loss: Fo...2024-12-1022 minBeyond Binge EatingFood Addiction vs. Binge Eating: What’s the Difference and Why It Matters with Dr. Vera TarmanIn this episode, Kristina talks with Dr. Vera Tarman, medical director and food addiction expert, about the complexities of food addiction and the journey of true recovery. Dr. Tarman shares her deep understanding of food addiction, comparing it to substance addiction, and discusses the challenges individuals face with compulsive eating behaviors that persist despite clear negative consequences.✨ Key Topics Discussed:The Difference Between Abstinence and Recovery:Dr. Tarman explains that abstinence is just the starting point. True recovery requires a deeper transformation that involves social, psychological, and spiritual changes. Without these, a person ri...2024-12-1038 minFood ShrinksEpisode 6: Navigating Vulture Coaching, Vulnerability, and Empowerment in Recovery⚠️Please forgive the poor internet connection in this episode! In today’s episode, the Shrinks go off-script to discuss a topic that lit a fire in Molly C.’s heart last night while scrolling Instagram. This raw and authentic conversation unpacks the challenges, complexities, and nuances of navigating advice in the recovery and coaching space—especially when it comes to weight loss, bariatric surgery, and GLP-1 medications. Molly C. shares her visceral reaction to a controversial Instagram post suggesting that people should only consider medical interventions after “getting straight with God.” From there, the discussion evolves into e...2024-12-0322 minFood ShrinksEpisode 5: Navigating Food and Holiday Challenges with Compassion and StrategyIn this episode, The Shrinks explore the complexities of the holiday season, particularly for those managing food addiction or emotional challenges tied to festivities. With a mix of humor, science, and heartfelt personal experiences, the hosts discuss strategies to navigate the season authentically and with self-compassion. From preparing in advance and managing food temptations to setting boundaries and taking timeouts, this conversation is packed with practical advice for handling both food and family dynamics. Whether you love the holidays or find them overwhelming, this episode offers insights to help you approach the season with confidence and care. 1. Diverse Experiences with H...2024-11-2627 minFood ShrinksEpisode 4: Triggers, Transitions, and Truth with Molly CarmelWelcome back to another heartfelt episode of Food Shrinks! This week, we’re diving deep into what triggers us and how they show up in our lives. It’s Molly C.’s turn to share, and her honesty and vulnerability bring so much wisdom to the table. Molly opens up about navigating big life transitions, like her recent move from North Carolina, back to the Northeast. She shares how underestimated stressors—like moving, saying goodbye, and caring for a sick pet—combined with her “I’m fine” coping mechanism led to a challenging time in her recovery journey. ...2024-11-1822 minFood ShrinksEpisode 3: From Overwhelmed to Empowered: Molly P. Manages Triggers and Overwhelm in RecoveryIn this episode, The Shrinks dive deep into identifying and managing triggers on the path to recovery, with a special focus on insights from Molly P. We discuss how overwhelming schedules, feeling controlled, and people-pleasing tendencies can drive emotional eating or even binge-eating episodes. Molly reflects on her journey and the importance of recognizing when she's overextending herself, neglecting self-care, or shouldering more than she can bear—all classic triggers in her recovery. Key takeaways include the value of setting boundaries and prioritizing yourself in the face of external demands. Our panel emphasizes creating space in your sc...2024-11-1225 minFood ShrinksEpisode 2: Taste, Triggers, and Triumph: Clarissa's Inspiring Recovery JourneyIn this episode Clarissa shares one of her latest challenges in Food Addiction Recovery. The shrinks dive into a heartfelt and inspiring conversation about resilience and recovery in the face of unexpected health challenges. After Clarissa lost her sense of taste and smell due to long COVID, she found herself navigating a tricky path back to healthy eating and sobriety. She opens up about how these changes impacted her relationship with food, triggering old patterns and even leading to a brief return to use. Together, they explore how to keep a balanced food plan, manage fatigue, and f...2024-11-0425 minFood ShrinksEpisode 1: Get to Know Your Food ShrinksWe’re beyond excited to bring you real recovery talk with some of your closest friends. Welcome to Food Shrinks, where your hosts— Molly Carmel, Clarissa Kennedy, and Molly Painschab —serve up candid, compassionate conversations about food addiction, recovery, and finding true freedom with food. In every episode, we dive deep into the messy, meaningful realities of healing your relationship with food. Drawing from years of clinical experience and personal insight, we share what we’ve learned, what’s worked, and practical tools to guide you along your journey. This is not just expert adv...2024-10-2931 minFood Junkies PodcastEpisode 198: Dr. Laurie MarbasIn this enlightening episode of the Food Junkies Podcast, Molly Painschab sits down with Dr. Laurie Marbas to discuss the complex relationship between hormonal health and food addiction. Dr. Marbas, a board-certified family physician, shares her expertise on the impact of hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause, as well as conditions like PCOS, on women’s physical and mental well-being. Key Topics Discussed: Hormones and Women's Health: Dr. Marbas explains the hormonal fluctuations during perimenopause and menopause and their impact on mood, metabolism, sleep, and overall health. The importance of recognizing th...2024-10-101h 03Food Junkies PodcastEpisode 196: Charlotte Schön Poulsen (GLP-1s)In this insightful episode, Dr. Vera Tarman and Molly Painschab welcome Charlotte Schön Poulsen, an expert in biomedical science and addiction, to discuss the fascinating world of GLP-1 medications, specifically Semaglutide, and their effects on cravings for ultra-processed foods. Charlotte's recent graduate thesis explores the impact of Semaglutide on cravings, and she shares the highlights of her research, the role of GLP-1s in food addiction, and what this means for those struggling with ultra-processed food cravings. Charlotte brings a wealth of knowledge from her work at the LevaSockerfri Treatment Center and her establishment of Know A...2024-09-2646 minFood Junkies PodcastEpisode 194: Anna FruehlingIn this episode of the Food Junkies Podcast, Dr. Vera Tarman and Molly Painschab sit down with Anna Fruehling, co-founder of SUGARx Global and a powerful voice in the food addiction recovery space. Anna shares her personal journey through addiction, recovery, and her mission to help others overcome their struggles with sugar and ultra-processed food addiction. With over 35 years of recovery from drug addiction and eight years clean from food addiction, Anna brings a wealth of experience, both personal and professional, to the conversation. Key Takeaways: Anna’s Journey to Recovery - Anna’s battle...2024-09-011h 00Food Junkies PodcastEpisode 191: Dr. Ashley Gearhardt, Ph.D.Dr. Ashley Gearhardt, Ph.D., is an esteemed psychologist and Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Michigan. She is renowned for her pioneering research on the intersection of addiction, eating behavior, and obesity. Dr. Gearhardt earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Yale University, where she co-created the Yale Food Addiction Scale, a widely used tool to assess food addiction and its parallels with substance dependence. Her research focuses on understanding how highly processed foods may contribute to addictive-like eating behaviors and the broader implications for public health. Dr. Gearhardt's work has been extensively...2024-08-2156 min
Compassionate Conversations with Esther Kane, MSWThe Role that Nutrition Plays in Mental Health Conditions: Dr. Georgia EdeSend us a textIn this episode, Esther Kane interviews Dr. Georgia Ede of Diagnosis Diet, a nutritional psychiatrist, about her new book, Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind. Dr. Ede explains the link between metabolism and the state of our mental health. She also discusses the exciting finding in the growing field of metabolic psychiatry that many people are able to greatly reduce or eliminate psychiatric medications when they eat a biologically appropriate diet.Episode Contents0:00 Compassionate Conversations Intro0:24 Introducing Dr. Georgia Ede2:35 Why mental health practitioners aren't educated on t...2024-06-281h 07Food Junkies PodcastEpisode 175: International Food Addiction Consensus ConferenceDr. Jen Unwin, PsyD, FBPSs co-founder of Food Addiction Solutions (FAS) Jen is a Clinical Psychologist who worked for over 30 years in the NHS in the UK. She specialised in the role of hope in quality of life and was chair of the UK Association for Solution-Focused Therapy. After a lifetime of addiction to sugar and carbohydrates, she finally understood that the solution was abstinence and trained in Holistic Addiction Medicine with Heidi. They have been working together to devise and evaluate successful treatment approaches to food addiction and to raise awareness of the condition internationally. Jen’s...2024-05-0246 minFood Junkies PodcastFJ Recovery Stories Episode 03: Molly PainschabOn today's podcast episode of Food Junkies: Recovery from Food Addiction Stories, CJ Nguy is joined by Molly Painschab. Molly is a thoughtful and authentic person who speaks from her heart and is passionate about Food Addiction Recovery. She has a wealth of experience in the area of Food Addiction and is known for their ability to connect with audiences on a personal level. I'm confident that you'll enjoy and learn from Molly’s story today. Feel free to join our supportive community on Facebook: Sugar-Free for Life Support Group - where we believe "I'm Sweet Enough." ht...2024-02-1257 minFood Junkies PodcastEpisode 151: Molly Painschab, Clarissa Kennedy, Bethany Mazereeuw - What to Look For in a CounsellorOn todays podcast registered social workers and dual licensed mental health and addiction counsellor Molly, Bethany and Clarissa discuss what to look for in a counsellor and some questions to ask them before you start working with them. Here is a helpful guide we created for you as well! Questions to ask a Food Addiction Professional Before Working with them Education / Training / Certifications: What is their educational background? Where did they receive their degree/training in counseling/psychology/food addiction/coaching? How long have they been practicing? What licenses and certifications do...2023-11-1642 min
Your WellnessFood AddictionsHi, I'm Lisa Lounsbury, your Wellness Coach, and you've tuned in to another episode of "Your Wellness."
In today's episode, I'm joined by Certified Mental Health Addiction clinicians, Clarrisa Kennedy from Ontario, Canada, and Molly Painschab from Montana, USA. Together, we embark on a journey to explore the intricate world of food addiction and its profound impact on individuals' lives.
We'll delve into the inception and evolution of food addictions, shedding light on their life-altering effects. Clarrisa and Molly will also offer hope by explaining the positive outcomes that arise when patients are accurately diagnosed...2023-09-2634 min
Low Carb MD PodcastEpisode 292: Clarissa Kennedy and Molly PainschabThank you for joining us for another episode of the Low Carb MD Podcast. Molly Painschab is a dual-licensed mental health and addiction counselor and has worked in the field since 2005. She is co-chair of the Sugar & Food Addiction Professional Network. Molly is also a member of the Academy of Eating Disorders and in the Substance Use Disorders Special Interest Group. Clarissa Kennedy is a Clinical Social Worker and the founder of Reinvent Your Bliss Point. She has a diploma in Professional Addiction Studies and is a registered member of the Ontario Association of Mental...2023-08-1447 minFood Junkies PodcastEpisode 132: Ally HoustonAlly Houston is a former physicist who fixed his brain with food. After suffering from ADHD, seasonal depression, chronic anxiety, and a host of other metabolic problems, a paleo ketogenic diet and lifestyle change resulted in a quantum leap in his health. The effect was so profound that he switched career. He is now a metabolic mental health coach trained by PreKure and Dr. Georgia Ede. Molly Painschab and Clarissa Kennedy (and I) asked Ally Houston about how changing his diet changed his life and career. Ally shared his story of how he was quite unwell from...2023-07-051h 03Compassionate Conversations with Esther Kane, MSWHighly Processed Food Addiction with Dr. Joan IflandSend us a textDr. Ifland is considered to be the world's leading expert in processed food addiction.She is the author of the textbook, Processed Food Addiction.Dr. Ifland educates health practitioners on using food addiction recovery to put diet-related diseases into remission.She was selected by the Oprah Winfrey Network as food addiction specialist, is a Fellow of the American College of Nutrition, and an innovator in food addiction recovery programs.In this episode, we discuss: - the Standard American Diet (SAD) being filled with highly-processed, lo...2023-06-2855 minFood Junkies PodcastEpisode 130: Marc LewisMarc Lewis, PhD, is a neuroscientist and professor of developmental psychology. He has authored or co-authored more than fifty journal articles in neuroscience and developmental psychology. Presently, he speaks and blogs on topics in addiction science, and his critically acclaimed book, Memoirs of an Addicted Brain, is the first to blend memoir and science in addiction studies. His newly released book, The Biology of Desire, debunks the currently popular disease model of addiction. In this episode: In this episode Dr. Lewis shares: His personal/professional journey Memoir of an Addicted Brain – ad...2023-06-2159 minFood Junkies PodcastEpisode 129: Brenda Wollenberg (Part 2)Brenda Wollenberg is an author and educator. She combines her education and experience as a nutritionist, social worker, and co-pastor in her work as a body /mind /spirit wellness coach. Over the past five years, she has expanded her training and scope of practice to help her clients understand how genetics influences overall wellness. She has worked for decades using metabolic typing to inform food plans, exercise routines, and stress management tools. With the added epigenetic component, however—examining how behaviors and environment can cause changes that affect genes' expression—she now works, 1-1 and in a group setting, to hel...2023-06-151h 12Compassionate Conversations with Esther Kane, MSWHow to Break Free of Food Addiction: Clarissa Kennedy and Molly Painschab of Sweet SobrietySend us a textAre you a food addict? Do you need some simple and practical tools to break free? Watch this video where Eating Disorders Therapist, Esther Kane interviews Clarissa Kennedy and Molly Painschab of Sweet Sobriety. They take a deep dive into how to break free of food addiction for good. Episode Contents:0:00 Compassionate Conversations Intro0:24 Body Image Series Intro2:44 Introducing Clarissa and Molly4:20 Molly's personal story with food addiction 14:28 Clarissa's personal story with food addiction 29:00 Their focus on highly processed foods as addictive38:14 Using a ha...2023-03-2255 min
The Kick Sugar Coach PodcastClarissa Kennedy and Molly Painschab: Breaking the Cycle of Food AddictionClarissa Kennedy and Molly Painschab are recovering food addicts and certified mental health and addiction clinicians with over 20 years of combined experience. They have been in private practice working with clients while continuing to learn and advance the field of treatment for Food addiction.In January 2021, they partnered with Dr. Vera Tarman to launch The Food Junkies Podcast and later participated in clinical research with Dr. Jen Unwin, Heidi Giaever (UK), Charlotte Poulsen, and Frida Sandin (Sweden), to audit treatment interventions for ultra-processed food addiction. Their findings were published in Sept. 2022 in Frontiers in Psychiatry. In this...2023-02-2450 minFood Junkies PodcastEpisode 113: Emily AugustEmily August is an Associate Professor of Literature at Stockton University. She holds a PhD in English from Vanderbilt University, and an MFA in creative writing from University of Minnesota. As a longtime body liberation proponent, she focuses on the human body in her research and writing. Her scholarly work examines representations of the body in 19th-century literature, art, and scientific discourse. She seeks to understand how a very narrow, specific version of the body became the authoritative medical standard defined as healthy and normative—and how this standard continues to impact clinical practice and societal power relations. ...2023-02-2455 minFood Junkies PodcastEpisode 112: Vanessa KredlerVanessa is a counsellor and psychotherapist registered with the Australian Counselling Association. She has lived experience and takes a compassionate and curious approach to working with clients with a focus on addiction, complex trauma and the intergenerational nature of trauma. Vanessa’s special area is food addiction, because that was the first addiction that forced her into recovery. Her approach is trauma-informed, person-centred and informed by Internal Family Systems. Vanessa has an MA in Counselling (UNE), is a certified food addiction counsellor (INFACT), and has undertaken a range of trainings specific to Internal Family Systems. Vanessa’s work...2023-02-171h 01
What You're Craving with Molly CarmelHow to Break the Cycle of Food Addiction with Clarissa Kennedy and Molly PainschabOn this episode of What You're Craving, Molly is joined by addiction specialist Clarissa Kennedy and her Food Junkies podcast co-host Molly Painschab. Clarissa shares her personal experience with food and alcohol addiction, discussing how changing her eating habits helped her overcome her alcohol addiction. Molly Painschab also shares her experience working in the field and her own journey of addressing her food addiction. This conversation delves into important aspects of food addiction, including how it presents itself, the benefits of a low-exposure food plan, and the underlying causes. The episode also explores the role of mindfulness...2023-02-1559 min
Unsweetened Sio167 - Relapse Prevention with Zipporah LivnehIn today's episode I talk with Zippi about her own story of recovery, how she helps clients globally with her GPS program, and how to protect our recovery. Zippi Livneh, is a nurse and certified food addiction counselor. She is licensed in the sugar/food addiction assessment tool SUGAR® and is the creator of the GPS Program that teaches people how to live in recovery from sugar and ultra-processed food addiction. She herself struggled for many years with obesity and sugar addiction and has been living in recovery and helping others do so for over 25 years. After learning about the...2022-12-2851 minFood Junkies PodcastEpisode 101: Food Addiction Research Clinical Study (FARCS)Hey there Food Junkies Listeners! Molly here! Clarissa and I are super excited for this episode of the podcast. But before I tell you about that – I have an announcement for those of you who have been waiting for group coaching to return! Clarissa and I are excited to invite you to a pre-launch of Sweet Sobriety with monthly group coaching. You will have the opportunity to join us 5 times a week each month for $25 per month. To learn more or join us – go to www.sweetsobriety.ca NOW for Today’s episode – we at Food Junkies Podcast...2022-12-0158 minUnsweetened Sio160 - Sweet Sobriety with Clarissa Kennedy & Molly PainschabIn today's episode I talk with Clarissa Kennedy and Molly Painschab about the clinical study they did on food addiction and what they learned. Clarissa and Molly are both certified mental health and addiction clinicians who have over 20 years combined experience working in this field. For the past 3 years they have both been in private practice working with clients one-on-one towards treatment for Food Addiction while continuing their studies and doing research in the field of treatment on food addiction. In January 2021, they partnered with Dr. Vera Tarman to launch The Food Junkies Podcast which now has over 300,000 downloads...2022-11-0956 min
Life After Sugar094. The 4 levels of sugar addiction: MollyYou may self-identify as a sugar addict... But are you really "addicted"?In this episode, I'm talking to my friend Molly Painschab, who is a mental health professional, addiction strategist, behavior specialist, and certified international food addiction counselor.Molly has her own personal experience of a disordered relationship with food. She experienced gestational diabetes, weight gain and health issues, and these led her to discover a branch of addiction that she hadn't studied before.Sugar addiction.In this episode Molly describes the 4 different levels of sugar or food addiction (or "substance...2022-10-3040 min