Food Psych Podcast with Christy Harrison

SEASON 7 FINALE! Fat activist, author, speaker, and podcaster Victoria Welsby returns to the podcast to discuss the intersection of fatphobia and healthism, why all weight-loss advice is a form of weight stigma, the moralization of different health conditions, the role of thin allies in fat activism, and so much more. Plus, in our new “Ask Food Psych” segment, co-host Vincci Tsui answers a listener question on how the anti-diet and intuitive eating frameworks address health. Victoria Welsby is a world-leading expert on body image and confidence, TEDx speaker and best-selling author. She went from being homeless, abused with self-esteem that was achingly low into the courageous fat activist and change maker she is today. Victoria helps people fall in love with themselves and is dedicated to shifting the way society views fat bodies. Find her online at FierceFatty.com. Vincci Tsui (she/her) is a former bariatric dietitian turned certified intuitive eating counselor and Health At Every Size® advocate. She is the author of The Mindful Eating Workbook: Simple Practices for Nurturing a Positive Relationship with Food, and is the Community and Content Associate for Food Psych Programs. Vincci is passionate about helping people find freedom in their relationship with food and with their body, so that they can confidently step away from diet culture and live life on their own terms. She believes that health and happiness have little—if anything—to do with weight. Ultimately, Vincci is on a mission to make dignity, respect, happiness, and health accessible to all bodies. Find her online at VincciTsui.com. For full show notes and a transcript of this episode, go to christyharrison.com/foodpsych. Ask your own question about intuitive eating, Health at Every Size, or eating disorder recovery at christyharrison.com/questions. Christy's book, Anti-Diet, is available wherever you get your books. Order online at christyharrison.com/book, or at local bookstores across North America, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Grab Christy's free guide, 7 simple strategies for finding peace and freedom with food, for some ideas of how to get started on the anti-diet path. If you're ready to break free from diet culture once and for all, come check out Christy's Intuitive Eating Fundamentals online course.Our Sponsors:* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/psychAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Fat-liberation activist Angelina Moles joins us to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic perpetuates oppression and trauma, her shift from body positivity to fat liberation, why subtle forms of weight stigma can sometimes be more harmful than overt ones, the trauma of medical fatphobia, and so much more. Plus, Christy answers a listener question about how to dismantle the fatphobic belief that having a larger-bodied population is supposedly a barrier to universal healthcare. This interview was recorded in April 2020, before the recent uprising for racial justice. Angelina is a fat liberationist who seeks to educate about the misinformation around bodies, weight stigma, and “health.” As an educator, Angelina teaches communication studies and is working on creating an online seminar on Fat Liberation and why we all need it. Angelina has a Master of Arts degree in Communication Studies with an emphasis in Performance Studies and Fat Studies. They have created multiple performance pieces on fatphobia and how it affects people at an ideological, institutional, interpersonal, and internalized level. Angelina seeks to force fat into the conversation in order to have justice for fat people, especially super fats, disabled fats, and the most marginalized fat people. You can find Angelina and all her fat queer glory on their Instagram page @fiercefatfemme. For full show notes and a transcript of this episode, go to christyharrison.com/foodpsych. Ask your own question about intuitive eating, Health at Every Size, or eating disorder recovery at christyharrison.com/questions. Christy's book, Anti-Diet, is available wherever you get your books. Order online at christyharrison.com/book, or at local bookstores across North America, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Grab Christy's free guide, 7 simple strategies for finding peace and freedom with food, for some ideas of how to get started on the anti-diet path. If you're ready to break free from diet culture once and for all, come check out Christy's Intuitive Eating Fundamentals online course.  Our Sponsors:* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/psychAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Anti-diet writer Kelsey Miller returns to the podcast to share her experiences of pregnancy in a larger body, adjusting to postpartum body changes, being a new mom, navigating the wedding industry as a plus-size bride, and so much more. Plus, Christy answers a listener question about eating-disorder recovery while living at home with a parent who pushes diet culture on you. Kelsey Miller is a bestselling author and speaker based in Brooklyn, New York. While on staff at Refinery29, she created and wrote the award-winning Anti-Diet Project, one of the site's most popular franchises. In her role as Senior Features Writer, she covered a broad spectrum of topics, including popular culture, current events, body positivity and anti-diet culture, fitness, advice, and "weird history." Kelsey is the author of the memoir Big Girl (Grand Central Publishing, 2016) and I'll Be There For You (Hanover Square Press, 2018), a pop-culture study on Friends. Kelsey and her work have been featured in The New York Times, Glamour, Vulture, Women's Health, Cup of Jo, Entertainment Weekly, Refinery29, People, Good Housekeeping, The Hairpin, Literary Hub, Ladies' Home Journal, SundanceNOW, The Rumpus, Bustle, and more. Find her online at KelseyMiller.com. Christy's book, Anti-Diet, is available wherever you get your books. Order online at christyharrison.com/book, or at local bookstores across North America, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Grab Christy's free guide, 7 simple strategies for finding peace and freedom with food, for some ideas of how to get started on the anti-diet path. If you're ready to break free from diet culture once and for all, come check out Christy's Intuitive Eating Fundamentals online course. Ask your own question about intuitive eating, Health at Every Size, or eating disorder recovery at christyharrison.com/questions. For full show notes and a transcript of this episode, go to christyharrison.com/foodpsych.Our Sponsors:* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/psychAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Eating-disorders therapist and fellow podcaster Asher Pandjiris joins us to discuss chronic illness in the context of body acceptance, the experience of living with an autoimmune disorder, the intersection of eating disorders and trauma, how the “personal responsibility” narrative perpetuates stigma, how being queer and non-binary has affected Asher’s relationship with their body, and so much more. Plus, Christy answers a listener question about whether trying to let go of restrictions in order to heal from diet culture means that you can’t follow Kosher customs. Asher Pandjiris is a psychotherapist and host of the Living in this Queer Body Podcast. Asher is a queer, white, non-binary (she/they pronouns) parent. Asher is also someone living with auto-immune based chronic health issues. They served as the Program Director at Balance Eating Disorder Treatment Center and have years of experience working with issues related to trauma and its impact on the body. Asher has published on the topics of intergenerational trauma transmission, the treatment of eating disorders, sexual assault in the music industry and gender dysphoria. Most recently, Asher published "Tenuous Embodiment: In Queer Communities, Disordered Eating Has Complex Roots" for Bitch Magazine. Find her online at LivingInThisQueerBody.com. Christy's book, Anti-Diet, is available wherever you get your books. Order online at christyharrison.com/book, or at local bookstores across North America, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Grab Christy's free guide, 7 simple strategies for finding peace and freedom with food, for some ideas of how to get started on the anti-diet path. If you're ready to break free from diet culture once and for all, come check out Christy's Intuitive Eating Fundamentals online course. Ask your own question about intuitive eating, Health at Every Size, or eating disorder recovery at christyharrison.com/questions. For full show notes and a transcript of this episode, go to christyharrison.com/foodpsych.Our Sponsors:* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/psychAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Anti-diet dietitian Anna Lutz joins us to discuss why it doesn’t make sense to provide both eating-disorder treatment and weight management, the influence of diet culture on parenting, how to provide structure for kids’ eating without creating restriction, managing picky eating, and so much more. Plus, weight-inclusive yoga teacher Rachel Estapa returns to give us an update on her experience of having and recovering from COVID-19 in a larger body. Anna Lutz is an Anti-Diet Registered Dietitian in Raleigh, NC with Lutz, Alexander & Associates Nutrition Therapy. She specializes in eating disorders and pediatric/family nutrition and sees clients locally and virtually. In addition to her clinical work, she writes about nutrition and family feeding, free of diet culture, at Sunny Side Up Nutrition along with Elizabeth Davenport. Anna received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Duke University and Master of Public Health in Nutrition from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a Certified Eating Disorders Registered Dietitian (CEDRD) and an Approved Supervisor, both through the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (iaedp). Anna provides trainings, workshops and clinical supervision to other clinicians on eating disorders, family feeding, and weight-inclusive healthcare. Find her online at SunnySideUpNutrition.com and LutzAndAlexander.com. Rachel Estapa, founder and CEO of More to Love, is passionate about empowering people to love and appreciate their bodies. Her own path to body acceptance began many years ago. After yo-yo dieting throughout her teenage years and into adulthood, Rachel took stock of her life and realized she wasn’t happy. Even when she reached her “goal weight,” she felt something was missing. That’s when she decided she would stop trying to change her body and instead she would focus on loving the body she has. Find her online at MoreToLoveYoga.com. Christy's book, Anti-Diet, is available wherever you get your books. Order online at christyharrison.com/book, or at local bookstores across North America, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Grab Christy's free guide, 7 simple strategies for finding peace and freedom with food, for some ideas of how to get started on the anti-diet path. If you're ready to break free from diet culture once and for all, come check out Christy's Intuitive Eating Fundamentals online course. Ask your own question about intuitive eating, Health at Every Size, or eating disorder recovery at christyharrison.com/questions. For full show notes and a transcript of this episode, go to christyharrison.com/foodpsych.Our Sponsors:* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/psychAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Coach and educator Ilya Parker of Decolonizing Fitness joins us to discuss moving away from toxic fitness culture toward an intuitive relationship with movement, how diet culture has shape-shifted to hide its racist roots, the experience of being a Black trans person trying to get gender-affirming medical care, toxic masculinity in white trans-masculine culture, and so much more. Plus, Christy answers a listener question about how health and mental-health providers with various forms of privilege can work to help create a weight-inclusive world without perpetuating systems of oppression.   Ilya (pronouns he/they) is a grassroots organizer and educator whose work centers gender, racial, and healing justice. He is also a Physical Therapist Assistant and Medical Exercise Coach. Ilya decided to merge their love for restorative based movement practices and community advocacy to create Decolonizing Fitness, LLC which is a social justice platform that provides affirming fitness services, community education and apparel in support of body diversity. Find him online at DecolonizingFitness.com.   Christy's book, Anti-Diet, is available wherever you get your books. Order online at christyharrison.com/book, or at local bookstores across North America, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Grab Christy's free guide, 7 simple strategies for finding peace and freedom with food, for some ideas of how to get started on the anti-diet path.   If you're ready to break free from diet culture once and for all, come check out Christy's Intuitive Eating Fundamentals online course.   Ask your own question about intuitive eating, Health at Every Size, or eating disorder recovery at christyharrison.com/questions.   For full show notes and a transcript of this episode, go to christyharrison.com/foodpsych.Our Sponsors:* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/psychAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Anti-racism educator and author Monique Melton joins us to discuss why doing anti-racism work is a prerequisite to dismantling diet culture and other systems of oppression, the difficulty of raising Black children in our white-supremacist culture, how to move beyond performative activism and allyship, why anti-racism work is never-ending, and so much more. Monique Melton is an anti-racism educator, published author, international speaker, and host of the Shine Brighter Together podcast. She is also the founder of Shine Brighter Together, which is a community dedicated to healthy relationships & diverse unity. She travels the world speaking at conferences and events on topics related to anti-racism, personal growth, diversity, and relationships. She’s been published in magazines, featured in blogs and podcasts, and has touched the lives of people all over the world. She is a natural big-bold dreamer and a deeply rooted woman of faith. She is a proud Navy wife to her high-school sweetheart, and she is a loving mother to two little ones. She has a BA in social science with an emphasis in sociology & psychology and two years of graduate school education in Clinical Counseling from Johns Hopkins University. She believes it's not all about your comfort, but it's about your growth. Find her online at MoniqueMelton.com. For full show notes and a transcript of this episode, go to christyharrison.com/243.Our Sponsors:* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/psychAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Writer and activist Sonya Renee Taylor joins us to discuss why we need more radical body love in the world, how to deal with weight gain and weight stigma while learning intuitive eating, what mainstream body positivity gets wrong, why understanding oppression and intersecting identities is the key to creating a world that's *truly* body-positive, how to navigate diet culture as a body-acceptance activist, how to begin to untangle internalized oppression, and lots more. (This interview originally aired on July 17, 2017.) Plus, in a new 2020 introduction, Christy offers a list of anti-racism resources for people who are looking to learn more. Sonya Renee Taylor is the Founder and Radical Executive Officer of The Body is Not An Apology, a digital media and education company committed to radical self-love and body empowerment as the foundational tool for social justice and global transformation. TBINAA.com reaches over 1 million people each month in 140 countries with their articles and content focused on the intersection of bodies, personal transformation and social justice. Sonya is also an International award winning Performance Poet, Activist, speaker, and transformational leader whose work continues to have global reach. She has appeared across the US, New Zealand, Australia, England, Scotland, Sweden, Germany, Canada and the Netherlands. Sonya and her work has been seen, heard and read on HBO, BET, MTV, TV One, NPR, PBS, CNN, Oxygen Network, The New York Times, New York Magazine, MSNBC.com, Today.com, Huffington Post, Vogue Australia, Shape.com, Ms. Magazine and many more. She has shared stages with such luminaries as Carrie Mae Weems, Theaster Gates, Harry Belafonte, Dr. Cornell West, Hilary Rodham Clinton, the late Amiri Baraka and numerous others. Sonya continues to perform, speak and facilitate workshops globally. Find her online at sonyareneetaylor.com and thebodyisnotanapology.com. For full show notes and a transcript of this episode, go to https://christyharrison.com/242.Our Sponsors:* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/psychAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Sociologist and author Sabrina Strings joins us to discuss her new book, Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia; the history of how “race science” led to the development of diet culture; the many problems with using weight as a measure of health; how culture influences science; and so much more! Plus, Christy answers a listener question about how to tell the difference between diet-culture rules and intuitive observations about foods that help us feel our best. This episode was originally published May 20, 2019. Sabrina Strings is Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Irvine, and a former Berkeley Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Sociology and the School of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley. Her work has appeared in the Journal of Women in Culture and Society, The Feminist Wire, and Feminist Media Studies. Find her online at uci.academia.edu/SabrinaStrings. Get full show notes and a full transcript of this episode at christyharrison.com/196.Our Sponsors:* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/psychAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Body-liberation activist Patrilie Hernandez joins us to discuss how COVID-19 is highlighting health disparities in America; why social determinants of health are more important than individual behaviors; how dieting could worsen COVID-19; the role of intuitive eating, Health At Every Size®, and social justice in her eating-disorder recovery and in her career; and so much more. Plus, Christy answers a listener question about cravings for sweets during the pandemic. Patrilie (she/they) is a nutrition and health specialist with over 12 years of professional experience in education, advocacy and policy-making revolving around food, nutrition, and health. After being diagnosed with an eating disorder in 2017, Patrilie has focused on recovering and healing from diet culture, fatphobia, disordered eating, and negative body image. She uses her own journey towards Body Liberation to turn the local health and nutrition community on its head (disrupt the status quo) and advocate for a weight-neutral paradigm in health and educational settings. Find them online at EmbodyLib.com. This episode is brought to you by Betterhelp online counseling. Go to betterhelp.com/christy for a 7-day free trial to connect with a great therapist from the comfort and safety of home. Christy's new book, Anti-Diet, is available wherever you get your books! Order online at christyharrison.com/book, or at local bookstores across North America, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Grab Christy's free guide, 7 simple strategies for finding peace and freedom with food, to get started on the anti-diet path. If you're ready to break free from diet culture once and for all, come check out Christy's Intuitive Eating Fundamentals online course. Ask your own question about intuitive eating, Health at Every Size, or eating disorder recovery at christyharrison.com/questions. For full show notes and a transcript of this episode, go to christyharrison.com/foodpsych.Our Sponsors:* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/psychAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy