Media by Others
Food Junkies
The Food Junkies Podcast evolved from the book. Each week, Vera Tarman, Clarrissa Kennedy, and Molly Painschab connect with scientists, Food Addiction clinicians, authors, and recovering Food Addicts to share fresh insights and tackle emerging debates.
Food Junkies Podcast: Are You Good Enough? Clinician's Corner with Dr Ellen Hendriksen,2026.
This week, Molly and Clarissa sit down with Dr. ...Ellen Hendriksen, clinical psychologist, core faculty at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders at Boston University, and author of How to Be Enough and How to Be Yourself. Ellen brings warmth, science, and radical compassion to one of the most common, and most quietly painful, struggles in recovery: perfectionism.
In this conversation, we explore:
🔹 Where perfectionism actually comes from — genetics, family of origin, AND the culture we're swimming in 🔹 Why shame fuels the binge-restrict cycle and how to begin replacing self-punishment with self-kindness 🔹 The crucial difference between rules and values — and how that distinction can transform your recovery 🔹 Why procrastination is never really about time (and what it's actually telling you) 🔹 How to build a stable, grounded sense of self-worth that isn't constantly up for evaluation 🔹 Why comparison is hardwired — and what to do with it instead of fighting it 🔹 The "already enough" practice that rewires how we see ourselves
Whether you're navigating food addiction recovery, disordered eating, or just the exhausting weight of never feeling like you measure up — this episode offers real tools, real grace, and real hope.
ABOUT DR. ELLEN HENDRIKSEN Dr. Ellen Hendriksen is a clinical psychologist specializing in anxiety and perfectionism. She is core faculty at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CARD) at Boston University and author of two books: How to Be Enough (perfectionism) and How to Be Yourself (social anxiety). Find her newsletter How to Be Good to Yourself When You're Hard on Yourself on Substack.
🔗 Find Ellen's books wherever books are sold 📬 Ellen's Substack: Search "How to Be Good to Yourself When You're Hard on Yourself"
CONNECT WITH US:
Food Junkies Podcast on YouTube: (2) Food Junkies Podcast - YouTube
📧 Email us at: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com
If this episode resonated with you, please leave us a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it. 💛
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
Now Playing
Food Junkies Podcast: Are You Good Enough? Clinician's Corner with Dr Ellen Hendriksen,2026.
Are you working hard, caring deeply, and still feeling like it's not ...
Are you working hard, caring deeply, and still feeling like it's not enough? You're not alone, and this episode is for you.
This week, Molly and Clarissa sit down with Dr. ...Ellen Hendriksen, clinical psychologist, core faculty at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders at Boston University, and author of How to Be Enough and How to Be Yourself. Ellen brings warmth, science, and radical compassion to one of the most common, and most quietly painful, struggles in recovery: perfectionism.
In this conversation, we explore:
🔹 Where perfectionism actually comes from — genetics, family of origin, AND the culture we're swimming in 🔹 Why shame fuels the binge-restrict cycle and how to begin replacing self-punishment with self-kindness 🔹 The crucial difference between rules and values — and how that distinction can transform your recovery 🔹 Why procrastination is never really about time (and what it's actually telling you) 🔹 How to build a stable, grounded sense of self-worth that isn't constantly up for evaluation 🔹 Why comparison is hardwired — and what to do with it instead of fighting it 🔹 The "already enough" practice that rewires how we see ourselves
Whether you're navigating food addiction recovery, disordered eating, or just the exhausting weight of never feeling like you measure up — this episode offers real tools, real grace, and real hope.
ABOUT DR. ELLEN HENDRIKSEN Dr. Ellen Hendriksen is a clinical psychologist specializing in anxiety and perfectionism. She is core faculty at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CARD) at Boston University and author of two books: How to Be Enough (perfectionism) and How to Be Yourself (social anxiety). Find her newsletter How to Be Good to Yourself When You're Hard on Yourself on Substack.
🔗 Find Ellen's books wherever books are sold 📬 Ellen's Substack: Search "How to Be Good to Yourself When You're Hard on Yourself"
CONNECT WITH US:
Food Junkies Podcast on YouTube: (2) Food Junkies Podcast - YouTube
📧 Email us at: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com
If this episode resonated with you, please leave us a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it. 💛
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
This week, Molly and Clarissa sit down with Dr. ...Ellen Hendriksen, clinical psychologist, core faculty at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders at Boston University, and author of How to Be Enough and How to Be Yourself. Ellen brings warmth, science, and radical compassion to one of the most common, and most quietly painful, struggles in recovery: perfectionism.
In this conversation, we explore:
🔹 Where perfectionism actually comes from — genetics, family of origin, AND the culture we're swimming in 🔹 Why shame fuels the binge-restrict cycle and how to begin replacing self-punishment with self-kindness 🔹 The crucial difference between rules and values — and how that distinction can transform your recovery 🔹 Why procrastination is never really about time (and what it's actually telling you) 🔹 How to build a stable, grounded sense of self-worth that isn't constantly up for evaluation 🔹 Why comparison is hardwired — and what to do with it instead of fighting it 🔹 The "already enough" practice that rewires how we see ourselves
Whether you're navigating food addiction recovery, disordered eating, or just the exhausting weight of never feeling like you measure up — this episode offers real tools, real grace, and real hope.
ABOUT DR. ELLEN HENDRIKSEN Dr. Ellen Hendriksen is a clinical psychologist specializing in anxiety and perfectionism. She is core faculty at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CARD) at Boston University and author of two books: How to Be Enough (perfectionism) and How to Be Yourself (social anxiety). Find her newsletter How to Be Good to Yourself When You're Hard on Yourself on Substack.
🔗 Find Ellen's books wherever books are sold 📬 Ellen's Substack: Search "How to Be Good to Yourself When You're Hard on Yourself"
CONNECT WITH US:
Food Junkies Podcast on YouTube: (2) Food Junkies Podcast - YouTube
📧 Email us at: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com
If this episode resonated with you, please leave us a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it. 💛
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
Now Playing
Food Junkies Podcast: Clinician's Corner-When Clinicians stop Listening, Why it Harms Recovery, 2026
Have you ever left a session feeling smaller than when you walked in? ...
Have you ever left a session feeling smaller than when you walked in? In this episode of Food Junkies: Clinician’s Corner, Clarissa and Molly explore one of the most important ...— and least talked about — dynamics in eating disorder, food addiction, and substance use treatment: what happens when the clinician's model gets in the way of the client's healing.
🔑 What We Cover in This Episode:
⬡ The Rosenhan Experiment — how psychiatric patients were misdiagnosed and then had their normal behavior interpreted as worsening symptoms, and what it reveals about clinical bias today
⬡ Epistemic dismissal — the active or passive rejection of a person's own knowledge and lived experience by the very professionals meant to help them
⬡ How diagnosis can be a flashlight or a floodlight — illuminating patterns vs. erasing the person
⬡ What happens when clients start performing recovery instead of living it
⬡ The role of ego in clinical practice — and why it doesn't always look like arrogance (sometimes it looks like certainty)
⬡ Why ambivalence is not pathology — and why allowing clients to explore moderation can be clinically sound
⬡ The difference between recovery and discovery, and why one may feel more alive than the other
⬡ How behaviors that look like symptoms are often solutions — and why treating the smoke instead of the fire keeps people stuck
⬡ Why autonomy predicts engagement and long-term change — and what that means for how we design treatment
⬡ Whose anxiety is actually driving the treatment plan?
🔗 Connect With Us:
📧 Topic suggestions & questions: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com
▶️ Watch on YouTube — subscribe to help us grow and reach more people who need this content!
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
🔑 What We Cover in This Episode:
⬡ The Rosenhan Experiment — how psychiatric patients were misdiagnosed and then had their normal behavior interpreted as worsening symptoms, and what it reveals about clinical bias today
⬡ Epistemic dismissal — the active or passive rejection of a person's own knowledge and lived experience by the very professionals meant to help them
⬡ How diagnosis can be a flashlight or a floodlight — illuminating patterns vs. erasing the person
⬡ What happens when clients start performing recovery instead of living it
⬡ The role of ego in clinical practice — and why it doesn't always look like arrogance (sometimes it looks like certainty)
⬡ Why ambivalence is not pathology — and why allowing clients to explore moderation can be clinically sound
⬡ The difference between recovery and discovery, and why one may feel more alive than the other
⬡ How behaviors that look like symptoms are often solutions — and why treating the smoke instead of the fire keeps people stuck
⬡ Why autonomy predicts engagement and long-term change — and what that means for how we design treatment
⬡ Whose anxiety is actually driving the treatment plan?
🔗 Connect With Us:
📧 Topic suggestions & questions: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com
▶️ Watch on YouTube — subscribe to help us grow and reach more people who need this content!
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
Now Playing
Food Junkies Podcast: Plant Based food and Food Addiction Recovery with Adina Mullen, 2026
Can you eat plant-based and still avoid sugar, carbs, and ...
Can you eat plant-based and still avoid sugar, carbs, and ultra-processed foods?
In this episode of Food Junkies, Dr. Vera Tarman is joined by Adina Mullen, plant-based chef, author of Vegan ...Flavors of the World, and founder of Adina’s Delicacies, to explore whether vegetarian or vegan eating can truly support food addiction recovery, low-sugar living, and even plant-based keto—without deprivation or rebound eating.
Adina brings a deeply grounded, real-world approach to plant-based cooking rooted in whole foods, cultural traditions, flavor, and satisfaction. This conversation goes beyond diet rules to focus on nourishment, satiety, and sustainability, especially for people healing their relationship with food.
🌱 What You’ll Learn in This Episode
✔️ Is plant-based keto actually possible?
✔️ Why many people fail on plant-based diets (and how to avoid rebound eating)
✔️ The difference between vegetarian, vegan, and whole-food plant-based
✔️ How to feel satisfied without sugar or ultra-processed foods
✔️ Best plant-based protein sources, including options for people on GLP-1s
✔️ Why preparation and texture matter more than restriction
✔️ How culture, memory, and comfort foods support long-term recovery
✔️ Common mistakes that leave people hungry, depleted, or triggered
🧠 Key Topics Covered
🥑 Plant-Based Keto & Low-Sugar Eating
Adina explains how low-carb, low-sugar plant-based eating can work using whole foods like vegetables, avocados, olive oil, coconut oil, tofu, and seeds—while also naming why keto isn’t sustainable for everyone.
🥦 Why “Vegan” Doesn’t Always Mean Healthy
Removing animal products and replacing them with ultra-processed vegan foods often leads to hunger, instability, and relapse. Whole foods, structure, and adequate fat and protein matter—especially in food addiction recovery.
🍲 Flavor, Texture & Satisfaction
Roasting vs boiling, crispy textures, homemade dressings, sauces, and slow cooking are key to making vegetables feel grounding and satisfying—not like deprivation food.
🌍 Culture, Memory & Healing
Food isn’t just fuel. Adina shares how honoring cultural and traditional meals—without animal products—helps people feel emotionally nourished and connected.
💪 Protein for Plant-Based & GLP-1 Users
Includes discussion of:
TVP (textured vegetable protein)
Tofu & tempeh
Nuts and seeds (chia, flax, hemp, pumpkin)
Smart prep for digestion and satiety
📘 About the Guest: Adina Mullen
Adina Mullen is a plant-based private chef and founder of Adina’s Delicacies, specializing in gourmet vegan cuisine inspired by global flavors, heritage, and memory. She is the author of Vegan Flavors of the World, featuring plant-based adaptations of traditional dishes from 12 countries, with a second volume coming soon.
✨ Key Takeaways
Healing doesn’t come from fighting food—it comes from letting food support you
Steadiness matters more than perfection
Satisfaction, fat, protein, and flavor are not optional in recovery
You don’t need more rules—you need nourishment, warmth, and trust
🔔 Subscribe for More Conversations Like This
If you’re navigating food addiction recovery, low-sugar living, plant-based nutrition, or metabolic health, subscribe to Food Junkies for evidence-based, compassionate conversations that go deeper than diet culture.
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FoodJunkiesPodcast
💌 Email us at: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
In this episode of Food Junkies, Dr. Vera Tarman is joined by Adina Mullen, plant-based chef, author of Vegan ...Flavors of the World, and founder of Adina’s Delicacies, to explore whether vegetarian or vegan eating can truly support food addiction recovery, low-sugar living, and even plant-based keto—without deprivation or rebound eating.
Adina brings a deeply grounded, real-world approach to plant-based cooking rooted in whole foods, cultural traditions, flavor, and satisfaction. This conversation goes beyond diet rules to focus on nourishment, satiety, and sustainability, especially for people healing their relationship with food.
🌱 What You’ll Learn in This Episode
✔️ Is plant-based keto actually possible?
✔️ Why many people fail on plant-based diets (and how to avoid rebound eating)
✔️ The difference between vegetarian, vegan, and whole-food plant-based
✔️ How to feel satisfied without sugar or ultra-processed foods
✔️ Best plant-based protein sources, including options for people on GLP-1s
✔️ Why preparation and texture matter more than restriction
✔️ How culture, memory, and comfort foods support long-term recovery
✔️ Common mistakes that leave people hungry, depleted, or triggered
🧠 Key Topics Covered
🥑 Plant-Based Keto & Low-Sugar Eating
Adina explains how low-carb, low-sugar plant-based eating can work using whole foods like vegetables, avocados, olive oil, coconut oil, tofu, and seeds—while also naming why keto isn’t sustainable for everyone.
🥦 Why “Vegan” Doesn’t Always Mean Healthy
Removing animal products and replacing them with ultra-processed vegan foods often leads to hunger, instability, and relapse. Whole foods, structure, and adequate fat and protein matter—especially in food addiction recovery.
🍲 Flavor, Texture & Satisfaction
Roasting vs boiling, crispy textures, homemade dressings, sauces, and slow cooking are key to making vegetables feel grounding and satisfying—not like deprivation food.
🌍 Culture, Memory & Healing
Food isn’t just fuel. Adina shares how honoring cultural and traditional meals—without animal products—helps people feel emotionally nourished and connected.
💪 Protein for Plant-Based & GLP-1 Users
Includes discussion of:
TVP (textured vegetable protein)
Tofu & tempeh
Nuts and seeds (chia, flax, hemp, pumpkin)
Smart prep for digestion and satiety
📘 About the Guest: Adina Mullen
Adina Mullen is a plant-based private chef and founder of Adina’s Delicacies, specializing in gourmet vegan cuisine inspired by global flavors, heritage, and memory. She is the author of Vegan Flavors of the World, featuring plant-based adaptations of traditional dishes from 12 countries, with a second volume coming soon.
✨ Key Takeaways
Healing doesn’t come from fighting food—it comes from letting food support you
Steadiness matters more than perfection
Satisfaction, fat, protein, and flavor are not optional in recovery
You don’t need more rules—you need nourishment, warmth, and trust
🔔 Subscribe for More Conversations Like This
If you’re navigating food addiction recovery, low-sugar living, plant-based nutrition, or metabolic health, subscribe to Food Junkies for evidence-based, compassionate conversations that go deeper than diet culture.
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FoodJunkiesPodcast
💌 Email us at: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
Now Playing
Food Junkies Podcast: Why Emotional Eating Isn't Your Fault (Hormones), with Amber Romaniuk, 2026
In this powerful episode of Food Junkies, Crissy and Molly are joined ...
In this powerful episode of Food Junkies, Crissy and Molly are joined by Amber Romaniuk, emotional eating and digestive health expert, to unpack the real drivers behind binge eating, food ...addiction, and the relentless restrict–overeat cycle.
Amber shares her personal recovery journey from binge eating, bulimia, and food addiction—and explains why lasting healing requires more than another diet or food plan. Together, we explore how hormones, thyroid function, nervous system stress, and shame shape our relationship with food in ways most people are never taught.
This conversation is especially important for women who feel like they “know better” but still struggle—and wonder why nothing seems to stick.
🎯 In this episode, we cover:
Why emotional eating is communication, not a lack of willpower
How cortisol, thyroid dysfunction, and low progesterone can drive cravings and binge cycles
Why fasting, restriction, and over-exercise often worsen food addiction patterns
How shame keeps people stuck—and what actually helps dissolve it
What “Body Freedom” really means beyond weight loss
First steps to identify emotional eating triggers without self-blame
Why healing your relationship with food must come before hormone repair can work
This episode is for you if:
✔ You struggle with binge or emotional eating
✔ Diets and food rules keep backfiring
✔ You suspect hormones or stress are part of the picture
✔ You’re exhausted by shame and ready for a deeper, kinder path forward
🔗 Connect with Amber Romaniuk
🌐 Website & free resources: https://amberapproved.ca
🎙 Podcast: The No Sugarcoating Podcast
📱 Instagram & YouTube: @AmberRomaniuk
👍 If this episode helped you, please like, subscribe, and share—it helps more people find compassionate, evidence-informed conversations about food addiction recovery.
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FoodJunkiesPodcast
💌 Email us at: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com
💬 Comment below: What part of this conversation resonated most with you?
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
Amber shares her personal recovery journey from binge eating, bulimia, and food addiction—and explains why lasting healing requires more than another diet or food plan. Together, we explore how hormones, thyroid function, nervous system stress, and shame shape our relationship with food in ways most people are never taught.
This conversation is especially important for women who feel like they “know better” but still struggle—and wonder why nothing seems to stick.
🎯 In this episode, we cover:
Why emotional eating is communication, not a lack of willpower
How cortisol, thyroid dysfunction, and low progesterone can drive cravings and binge cycles
Why fasting, restriction, and over-exercise often worsen food addiction patterns
How shame keeps people stuck—and what actually helps dissolve it
What “Body Freedom” really means beyond weight loss
First steps to identify emotional eating triggers without self-blame
Why healing your relationship with food must come before hormone repair can work
This episode is for you if:
✔ You struggle with binge or emotional eating
✔ Diets and food rules keep backfiring
✔ You suspect hormones or stress are part of the picture
✔ You’re exhausted by shame and ready for a deeper, kinder path forward
🔗 Connect with Amber Romaniuk
🌐 Website & free resources: https://amberapproved.ca
🎙 Podcast: The No Sugarcoating Podcast
📱 Instagram & YouTube: @AmberRomaniuk
👍 If this episode helped you, please like, subscribe, and share—it helps more people find compassionate, evidence-informed conversations about food addiction recovery.
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FoodJunkiesPodcast
💌 Email us at: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com
💬 Comment below: What part of this conversation resonated most with you?
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
Now Playing
Food Junkies Podcast: Why do we store fat? The fat switch explained, with Dr Richard Johnson, 2025
Does nature want us to be fat? Is there a built-in “fat switch” in our ...
Does nature want us to be fat? Is there a built-in “fat switch” in our genes—something nature designed to help us store fat for survival? And if so, what does ...that mean for food addicts living in a world saturated with ultra-processed food?
In this episode, Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with Dr. Richard Johnson, Professor Emeritus at the University of Colorado, former Chief of the Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, author of The Sugar Fix, The Fat Switch, and Nature Wants Us to Be Fat, and a researcher with 700+ scientific papers to his name.
Dr. Johnson explains how fructose (from sugar and high-fructose corn syrup—but also produced inside the body under certain conditions) can activate a powerful metabolic pathway that increases hunger, lowers cellular energy, and shifts calories toward fat storage. He connects this to uric acid, salt, high-glycemic carbohydrates, and the modern “perfect storm” of ultra-processed foods engineered to intensify cravings.
Together, they explore the evolutionary logic of fat storage, why visceral fat may have had survival value, why “calories in/calories out” fails to explain the whole picture, and what practical steps can help people restore metabolic flexibility—including carbohydrate reduction, movement that supports mitochondrial health, and the emerging role of GLP-1 medications as a tool (not a replacement) for nutrition change.
What You’ll Learn
🔥Why Dr. Johnson argues sugar isn’t “just a calorie,” and how fructose changes metabolism differently
🔥The role of uric acid in blood pressure, metabolic disease, and the fructose pathway
🔥How salt + starch + fat can amplify the “fat switch” (and why chips and fries are a perfect example)
🔥Why the body can make fructose from glucose, even if you aren’t eating fructose directly
🔥The survival biology behind fat storage—and why visceral fat may have had an adaptive purpose
🔥How insulin resistance can be a short-term protective mechanism (and how modern life turns it chronic)
🔥Why low-carb approaches may “reboot” sugar absorption and cravings in as little as 7–14 days
🔥What Dr. Johnson believes is a major dietary driver of Alzheimer’s risk
🔥How to support mitochondria through movement and nutrition
🔥Dr. Johnson’s perspective on GLP-1s: benefits, limits, and relapse risk after stopping
Resources Mentioned
Dr. Richard Johnson’s books: The Sugar Fix, The Fat Switch, Nature Wants Us to Be Fat
About Our Guest
Dr. Richard Johnson is Professor Emeritus at the University of Colorado, a former Chief of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, and the author of The Sugar Fix, The Fat Switch, and Nature Wants Us to Be Fat. His research explores how sugar—particularly fructose—drives kidney disease, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, and how modern food environments may overactivate ancient survival pathways.
If this episode helped you understand your cravings or your biology with more clarity and less shame, please share it with a friend, leave a review, and subscribe so more people can find recovery-focused science.
Email us: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com
Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FoodJunkiesPodcast
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
In this episode, Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with Dr. Richard Johnson, Professor Emeritus at the University of Colorado, former Chief of the Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, author of The Sugar Fix, The Fat Switch, and Nature Wants Us to Be Fat, and a researcher with 700+ scientific papers to his name.
Dr. Johnson explains how fructose (from sugar and high-fructose corn syrup—but also produced inside the body under certain conditions) can activate a powerful metabolic pathway that increases hunger, lowers cellular energy, and shifts calories toward fat storage. He connects this to uric acid, salt, high-glycemic carbohydrates, and the modern “perfect storm” of ultra-processed foods engineered to intensify cravings.
Together, they explore the evolutionary logic of fat storage, why visceral fat may have had survival value, why “calories in/calories out” fails to explain the whole picture, and what practical steps can help people restore metabolic flexibility—including carbohydrate reduction, movement that supports mitochondrial health, and the emerging role of GLP-1 medications as a tool (not a replacement) for nutrition change.
What You’ll Learn
🔥Why Dr. Johnson argues sugar isn’t “just a calorie,” and how fructose changes metabolism differently
🔥The role of uric acid in blood pressure, metabolic disease, and the fructose pathway
🔥How salt + starch + fat can amplify the “fat switch” (and why chips and fries are a perfect example)
🔥Why the body can make fructose from glucose, even if you aren’t eating fructose directly
🔥The survival biology behind fat storage—and why visceral fat may have had an adaptive purpose
🔥How insulin resistance can be a short-term protective mechanism (and how modern life turns it chronic)
🔥Why low-carb approaches may “reboot” sugar absorption and cravings in as little as 7–14 days
🔥What Dr. Johnson believes is a major dietary driver of Alzheimer’s risk
🔥How to support mitochondria through movement and nutrition
🔥Dr. Johnson’s perspective on GLP-1s: benefits, limits, and relapse risk after stopping
Resources Mentioned
Dr. Richard Johnson’s books: The Sugar Fix, The Fat Switch, Nature Wants Us to Be Fat
About Our Guest
Dr. Richard Johnson is Professor Emeritus at the University of Colorado, a former Chief of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, and the author of The Sugar Fix, The Fat Switch, and Nature Wants Us to Be Fat. His research explores how sugar—particularly fructose—drives kidney disease, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, and how modern food environments may overactivate ancient survival pathways.
If this episode helped you understand your cravings or your biology with more clarity and less shame, please share it with a friend, leave a review, and subscribe so more people can find recovery-focused science.
Email us: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com
Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FoodJunkiesPodcast
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
Now Playing
Food Junkies Podcast: Clinician's Corner - Can handle a crisis, can't sit still, 2026
In this month’s Clinician’s Corner, Molly and Clarissa take a deep ...
In this month’s Clinician’s Corner, Molly and Clarissa take a deep dive into the fix response—a lesser-named but incredibly common nervous-system survival strategy that shows up as over-functioning, urgency, problem-solving, ...and “doing something” to make discomfort go away.
This episode explores why fixing isn’t a personality flaw, control issue, or codependency—but a biologically wired, trauma-informed self-preservation response that once helped keep us safe.
Together, we unpack how the fix response shows up in food addiction recovery, relationships, work, parenting, and even helping professions—and why it so often leads to burnout, resentment, and cycles of shame when left unexamined.
In this episode, we discuss:
• What the fix response is (and what it’s not)
• Why fixing feels regulating in the moment, but often backfires long-term
• How fixing differs from healthy problem-solving
• Common fix patterns in food addiction recovery (constant plan changes, “starting fresh Monday,” adding rules after lapses)
• Over-functioning, hyper-responsibility, and lawn-mowing other people’s problems
• Why fixers struggle with rest, delegation, and asking for help
• How ADHD, dopamine, urgency, and novelty-seeking intersect with fixing
• The developmental and trauma roots of the fix response
• How fixing pairs with fawn, hyper-independence, and people-pleasing
• Why optimization culture and biohacking can reinforce dysregulation
• The cost of living in constant “fix mode”—burnout, resentment, disconnection, and relapse risk
• How to recognize fix mode in the body (jaw clenching, shallow breath, tight chest, restless urgency)
• Why the goal isn’t to eliminate fixing—but to update it
• How to build awareness, pause, discern responsibility, and bring choice back online
This conversation is especially relevant for clinicians, coaches, caregivers, helpers, parents, and anyone in recovery who feels exhausted from always being the one who “handles things.”
📺 Watch on YouTube and please subscribe—it helps us reach more people who need this conversation.
📩 Have a topic you want us to cover? Email us at foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction.Show More
This episode explores why fixing isn’t a personality flaw, control issue, or codependency—but a biologically wired, trauma-informed self-preservation response that once helped keep us safe.
Together, we unpack how the fix response shows up in food addiction recovery, relationships, work, parenting, and even helping professions—and why it so often leads to burnout, resentment, and cycles of shame when left unexamined.
In this episode, we discuss:
• What the fix response is (and what it’s not)
• Why fixing feels regulating in the moment, but often backfires long-term
• How fixing differs from healthy problem-solving
• Common fix patterns in food addiction recovery (constant plan changes, “starting fresh Monday,” adding rules after lapses)
• Over-functioning, hyper-responsibility, and lawn-mowing other people’s problems
• Why fixers struggle with rest, delegation, and asking for help
• How ADHD, dopamine, urgency, and novelty-seeking intersect with fixing
• The developmental and trauma roots of the fix response
• How fixing pairs with fawn, hyper-independence, and people-pleasing
• Why optimization culture and biohacking can reinforce dysregulation
• The cost of living in constant “fix mode”—burnout, resentment, disconnection, and relapse risk
• How to recognize fix mode in the body (jaw clenching, shallow breath, tight chest, restless urgency)
• Why the goal isn’t to eliminate fixing—but to update it
• How to build awareness, pause, discern responsibility, and bring choice back online
This conversation is especially relevant for clinicians, coaches, caregivers, helpers, parents, and anyone in recovery who feels exhausted from always being the one who “handles things.”
📺 Watch on YouTube and please subscribe—it helps us reach more people who need this conversation.
📩 Have a topic you want us to cover? Email us at foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction.Show More
Now Playing
Food Junkies Podcast, Visual:. Breaking Myths -Dr Thomas Seyfried on Cancer as a Metabolic Disorder
Breaking Myths: Dr. Thomas Seyfried on Cancer as a Metabolic Disease | ...
Breaking Myths: Dr. Thomas Seyfried on Cancer as a Metabolic Disease | Food Junkies Podcast
Is cancer a metabolic disease that can be managed by dietary changes? Join Dr. Vera Tarman ...in a compelling conversation with Dr. Thomas Seyfried, an American professor at Boston College with expertise in biology, genetics, and biochemistry. Dr. Seyfried challenges the traditional genetic mutation theory of cancer, proposing that cancer is primarily a mitochondrial metabolic disease. He discusses the effectiveness of metabolic therapies like ketogenic diets and caloric restriction over conventional chemotherapy. Learn about the role of sugar and ultra-processed food in cancer development and delve into the significance of glucose and glutamine as fuels for cancer cells. Discover how keeping mitochondria healthy through diet and exercise could potentially prevent cancer and why current cancer treatments may not be addressing the root cause effectively. Dr. Seyfried also highlights the importance of understanding the biology of cancer to develop more effective therapies.
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
00:14 Dr. Seyfried's Background and Career
01:21 Challenging the Genetic Mutation Theory of Cancer
02:02 Discovering the Link Between Epilepsy and Cancer
02:59 The Role of Ketogenic Diets in Managing Cancer
06:54 Historical Perspectives on Cancer Theories
09:42 The Evolution of Cancer Treatments
15:29 Understanding Cancer Metabolism
24:18 Preventing Cancer Through Mitochondrial Health
24:58 The Impact of Diet and Lifestyle on Cancer
30:46 Debunking the Myth: Is Sugar a Carcinogen?
31:17 The Link Between Blood Sugar and Tumor Growth
32:24 Managing Cancer with Nutritional Ketosis
33:10 The Role of Nutrition in Cancer Treatment
34:07 The Glucose Ketone Index Calculator
36:06 Nutritional Approaches to Cancer Regression
37:37 The Evolutionary Perspective on Chronic Diseases
40:58 Challenges in Traditional Cancer Treatment
45:56 The Future of Metabolic Therapy
52:59 Exploring Alternative Medications
54:29 Final Thoughts and Future DirectionsShow More
Is cancer a metabolic disease that can be managed by dietary changes? Join Dr. Vera Tarman ...in a compelling conversation with Dr. Thomas Seyfried, an American professor at Boston College with expertise in biology, genetics, and biochemistry. Dr. Seyfried challenges the traditional genetic mutation theory of cancer, proposing that cancer is primarily a mitochondrial metabolic disease. He discusses the effectiveness of metabolic therapies like ketogenic diets and caloric restriction over conventional chemotherapy. Learn about the role of sugar and ultra-processed food in cancer development and delve into the significance of glucose and glutamine as fuels for cancer cells. Discover how keeping mitochondria healthy through diet and exercise could potentially prevent cancer and why current cancer treatments may not be addressing the root cause effectively. Dr. Seyfried also highlights the importance of understanding the biology of cancer to develop more effective therapies.
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
00:14 Dr. Seyfried's Background and Career
01:21 Challenging the Genetic Mutation Theory of Cancer
02:02 Discovering the Link Between Epilepsy and Cancer
02:59 The Role of Ketogenic Diets in Managing Cancer
06:54 Historical Perspectives on Cancer Theories
09:42 The Evolution of Cancer Treatments
15:29 Understanding Cancer Metabolism
24:18 Preventing Cancer Through Mitochondrial Health
24:58 The Impact of Diet and Lifestyle on Cancer
30:46 Debunking the Myth: Is Sugar a Carcinogen?
31:17 The Link Between Blood Sugar and Tumor Growth
32:24 Managing Cancer with Nutritional Ketosis
33:10 The Role of Nutrition in Cancer Treatment
34:07 The Glucose Ketone Index Calculator
36:06 Nutritional Approaches to Cancer Regression
37:37 The Evolutionary Perspective on Chronic Diseases
40:58 Challenges in Traditional Cancer Treatment
45:56 The Future of Metabolic Therapy
52:59 Exploring Alternative Medications
54:29 Final Thoughts and Future DirectionsShow More
Now Playing
Food Junkies Podcast: Is Food Addiction Just a Cyclical Food Allergy? w Dr Adrienne Sprouse, 2026
Is the fact that you eat the same food every day the reason why you ...
Is the fact that you eat the same food every day the reason why you think you are food addicted?
Food Junkies Podcast: Is Food Addiction Just a Cyclical Food Allergy? ...w Dr Adrienne Sprouse, 2026
Dr Sprouse is a graduate of Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons medical school in New York and trained in: Emergency Medicine at Bellevue Hospital, Toxicology at the New York City Poison Center, and Nutrition, Allergy, Detoxification, and Clinical Ecology with the American Academy of Environmental Medicine. She later became a Faculty Member for this Academy and for 17 years, educated physicians worldwide on diagnosing and treating environmentally- induced illnesses . She has been the Medical Director of Manhattan Health Consultants for 36 years, served as an environmental medicine expert for Fox Good Day NY, and has been featured by major media outlets like ABC, NBC, and the NY Times. She is the author of a new book “Fifty Years of Twelve Step Recovery” where she explores the concepts of addiction physiology, the challenges of food, chemical, and behavioral addictions and the struggle to maintain abstinence.
Of special interest to us at the Food Junkies Podcast is to know that before Dr. Sprouse became a physician, she was a teacher and in the throws of what she believed to be an addiction to overeating. It was later that she learned she had become addicted to certain foods. By identifying her ‘sober foods’ and avoiding her addictive (binge) foods, she was able to shed 50 unwanted pounds and has maintained both an abstinence with food and her goal weight for the past 46 years…with only a two-pound fluctuation.
As a physician, Dr. Sprouse has revised the process that freed her from her food addictions and details it in her new book. She continues to follow the “Sprouse Rotational Eating Plan” (SREP) which resolves the physical part of food addiction and has followed the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous to heal from the emotional and spiritual components of the illness.
--
In this episode, Dr. Vera Tarman spoke with Adrienne Sprouse, MD, a Columbia-trained physician with extensive experience in emergency medicine, toxicology, and environmental medicine, as well as more than four decades of stable food recovery.
Adrienne reflected on how growing up in an alcoholic family system shaped her early coping strategies and how food became a primary source of comfort and regulation. Over time, she began to notice that certain foods didn’t simply soothe emotional distress but instead triggered a predictable cycle of cravings, symptoms, and relapse. This realization led her to distinguish between compulsive overeating as a behavioral response and food addiction as a physiological reaction to specific foods.
A central focus of the conversation was Adrienne’s Prouse Rotational Eating Plan, a structured four-day rotation approach rooted in the concept of cyclic food allergy, originally described by Dr. Herbert Rinkle. Adrienne explained the difference between fixed food allergy—where symptoms occur every time a food is eaten—and cyclic food allergy, where symptoms depend on frequency and amount. She described how repeated exposure to the same foods, common in modern eating patterns, can “stack” in the body and contribute to escalating symptoms such as bloating, edema, headaches, joint pain, and the familiar experience of temporarily “getting away with it” before relapse.
Adrienne also outlined the 24-day home food-testing process described in her book, which was designed to help individuals identify their “sober foods,” clarify which foods destabilize them, and create a rotation that supports long-term stability without relying on willpower alone.
Adrienne’s book, 50 Years of Twelve Step Recovery, was discussed as a synthesis of lived experience, physiology, and recovery practice, offering both individuals and clinicians a broader framework for understanding relapse cycles, abstinence, and whole-person healing.
In this episode:
How Adrienne differentiated compulsive overeating from food addiction physiology
What she meant by “sober foods” and why identifying them reduced chaos and cravings
Why cyclic food allergy patterns are often overlooked
How the four-day rotation was intended to reduce food “stacking” and stabilize symptoms
An overview of the 24-day food testing approach outlined in her book
How certain foods might be reintroduced medically, while acknowledging psycoogical and spiritual considerations
Why chemical exposures and non-organic foods were discussed as potential contributors to craving
Adrienne’s perspective on GLP-1 medications, including their limits in teaching coping skills
How 12-step recovery complemented biological interventions and supports long-term maintenanceShow More
Food Junkies Podcast: Is Food Addiction Just a Cyclical Food Allergy? ...w Dr Adrienne Sprouse, 2026
Dr Sprouse is a graduate of Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons medical school in New York and trained in: Emergency Medicine at Bellevue Hospital, Toxicology at the New York City Poison Center, and Nutrition, Allergy, Detoxification, and Clinical Ecology with the American Academy of Environmental Medicine. She later became a Faculty Member for this Academy and for 17 years, educated physicians worldwide on diagnosing and treating environmentally- induced illnesses . She has been the Medical Director of Manhattan Health Consultants for 36 years, served as an environmental medicine expert for Fox Good Day NY, and has been featured by major media outlets like ABC, NBC, and the NY Times. She is the author of a new book “Fifty Years of Twelve Step Recovery” where she explores the concepts of addiction physiology, the challenges of food, chemical, and behavioral addictions and the struggle to maintain abstinence.
Of special interest to us at the Food Junkies Podcast is to know that before Dr. Sprouse became a physician, she was a teacher and in the throws of what she believed to be an addiction to overeating. It was later that she learned she had become addicted to certain foods. By identifying her ‘sober foods’ and avoiding her addictive (binge) foods, she was able to shed 50 unwanted pounds and has maintained both an abstinence with food and her goal weight for the past 46 years…with only a two-pound fluctuation.
As a physician, Dr. Sprouse has revised the process that freed her from her food addictions and details it in her new book. She continues to follow the “Sprouse Rotational Eating Plan” (SREP) which resolves the physical part of food addiction and has followed the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous to heal from the emotional and spiritual components of the illness.
--
In this episode, Dr. Vera Tarman spoke with Adrienne Sprouse, MD, a Columbia-trained physician with extensive experience in emergency medicine, toxicology, and environmental medicine, as well as more than four decades of stable food recovery.
Adrienne reflected on how growing up in an alcoholic family system shaped her early coping strategies and how food became a primary source of comfort and regulation. Over time, she began to notice that certain foods didn’t simply soothe emotional distress but instead triggered a predictable cycle of cravings, symptoms, and relapse. This realization led her to distinguish between compulsive overeating as a behavioral response and food addiction as a physiological reaction to specific foods.
A central focus of the conversation was Adrienne’s Prouse Rotational Eating Plan, a structured four-day rotation approach rooted in the concept of cyclic food allergy, originally described by Dr. Herbert Rinkle. Adrienne explained the difference between fixed food allergy—where symptoms occur every time a food is eaten—and cyclic food allergy, where symptoms depend on frequency and amount. She described how repeated exposure to the same foods, common in modern eating patterns, can “stack” in the body and contribute to escalating symptoms such as bloating, edema, headaches, joint pain, and the familiar experience of temporarily “getting away with it” before relapse.
Adrienne also outlined the 24-day home food-testing process described in her book, which was designed to help individuals identify their “sober foods,” clarify which foods destabilize them, and create a rotation that supports long-term stability without relying on willpower alone.
Adrienne’s book, 50 Years of Twelve Step Recovery, was discussed as a synthesis of lived experience, physiology, and recovery practice, offering both individuals and clinicians a broader framework for understanding relapse cycles, abstinence, and whole-person healing.
In this episode:
How Adrienne differentiated compulsive overeating from food addiction physiology
What she meant by “sober foods” and why identifying them reduced chaos and cravings
Why cyclic food allergy patterns are often overlooked
How the four-day rotation was intended to reduce food “stacking” and stabilize symptoms
An overview of the 24-day food testing approach outlined in her book
How certain foods might be reintroduced medically, while acknowledging psycoogical and spiritual considerations
Why chemical exposures and non-organic foods were discussed as potential contributors to craving
Adrienne’s perspective on GLP-1 medications, including their limits in teaching coping skills
How 12-step recovery complemented biological interventions and supports long-term maintenanceShow More
Now Playing
Food Junkies Podcast: Clinician's Corner - Slips, lapses, recurrences, and relapses
Food Junkies' Molly and Clarissa discuss their focus words for 2025: ...
Food Junkies' Molly and Clarissa discuss their focus words for 2025: Flourishing (Clarissa) and Emanation (Molly).
Reflections on how these guiding concepts shape their personal and professional goals for the ...new year.
Main Topic: Slips vs. Recurrence in Recovery
Clarifying terminology: Slip, lapse, recurrence, and relapse—what they mean and why language matters in addiction recovery.
The role of compassion: How self-compassion serves as a tool for growth and a buffer against shame.
Identifying signs of vulnerability: Subtle indicators that may lead to slips or recurrences and strategies to recognize and address them early.
Empowering recovery: Practical steps to take after a slip and how to differentiate it from a recurrence.
Key Takeaways:
Recovery isn’t linear, and slips are not shameful
Language matters. Terms like “recurrence” or “return to use” can reduce shame and empower recovery.
Support systems, self-compassion, and curiosity are essential tools in navigating challenges.
Recovery is about resilience and learning, not perfection.
Mantras for Recovery:
Perseverance over perfection.
Consistency over intensity.
Compassion over criticism.
Resilience over regret.
Learning over guilt.
Connection over isolation.
Empowerment over temptation.
Listener Call-to-Action:
Share your feedback or topic suggestions for Clinician's Corner! Email us at foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com.
Looking Ahead:
Stay tuned for next month’s Clinician’s Corner and join the conversation on important topics in food addiction recovery.
Resources Mentioned:
Marty Lerner’s “So What, Now What” approach.
John Kelly’s research on recovery and remission timelines.
Let’s Connect:
Email: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com
Follow Sweet Sobriety for updates on workshops, conferences, and recovery tools.
Thank You for Listening! We’re grateful to have you on this journey. Remember: Recovery is about progress, perseverance, and connection. You’ve got this! 💪
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
Reflections on how these guiding concepts shape their personal and professional goals for the ...new year.
Main Topic: Slips vs. Recurrence in Recovery
Clarifying terminology: Slip, lapse, recurrence, and relapse—what they mean and why language matters in addiction recovery.
The role of compassion: How self-compassion serves as a tool for growth and a buffer against shame.
Identifying signs of vulnerability: Subtle indicators that may lead to slips or recurrences and strategies to recognize and address them early.
Empowering recovery: Practical steps to take after a slip and how to differentiate it from a recurrence.
Key Takeaways:
Recovery isn’t linear, and slips are not shameful
Language matters. Terms like “recurrence” or “return to use” can reduce shame and empower recovery.
Support systems, self-compassion, and curiosity are essential tools in navigating challenges.
Recovery is about resilience and learning, not perfection.
Mantras for Recovery:
Perseverance over perfection.
Consistency over intensity.
Compassion over criticism.
Resilience over regret.
Learning over guilt.
Connection over isolation.
Empowerment over temptation.
Listener Call-to-Action:
Share your feedback or topic suggestions for Clinician's Corner! Email us at foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com.
Looking Ahead:
Stay tuned for next month’s Clinician’s Corner and join the conversation on important topics in food addiction recovery.
Resources Mentioned:
Marty Lerner’s “So What, Now What” approach.
John Kelly’s research on recovery and remission timelines.
Let’s Connect:
Email: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com
Follow Sweet Sobriety for updates on workshops, conferences, and recovery tools.
Thank You for Listening! We’re grateful to have you on this journey. Remember: Recovery is about progress, perseverance, and connection. You’ve got this! 💪
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
Now Playing
Food Junkies Podcast: Hidden Challenges of PAWS in Food Addiction Recovery w Crissy and Molly, 2025
Food Junkies Podcast: Hidden Challenges of PAWS in Food Addiction ...
Food Junkies Podcast: Hidden Challenges of PAWS in Food Addiction Recovery with Clarissa Kennedy and Molly Painshab, 2025 .
In this insightful and compassionate episode, Clarissa and Molly take a deep ...dive into post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS)—an often overlooked but critical phase in ultra-processed food addiction recovery. While well-known in substance use disorder recovery, PAWS is rarely discussed in the context of food addiction, yet it shows up in significant ways.
Clarissa and Molly break down what PAWS is, why it happens, and how it can show up months or even years into recovery. They share real client experiences, neurobiological explanations, and clinical insights—plus, they normalize what can feel like a confusing and distressing time. They also offer practical strategies for clients and clinicians alike, always with compassion, humor, and a forward-thinking, growth-focused perspective.
💡 Key Takeaways:
✅ What is PAWS? Post-acute withdrawal syndrome describes the emotional, psychological, and physical withdrawal symptoms that can persist or reappear months or years after quitting a substance (including ultra-processed foods). It’s a normal part of recovery, not a failure or a sign that you’re “doing it wrong.”
✅ When it shows up: Typically around the 3-, 6-, and 12-month marks, but can happen later—Molly shared an example of it showing up at 22 months! Can be a surprise to those who believed the cravings and struggles were only short-term.
✅ What it feels like: Physical symptoms: low energy, sleep issues, fatigue, and “meh” motivation. Emotional symptoms: irritability, anxiety, low mood, feeling “flat” or joyless (anhedonia). Cognitive symptoms: brain fog, intrusive food thoughts, and the return of “food dreams.” A heightened sensitivity to emotional triggers and stress, feeling like everything is a “zing” or too much.
✅ It’s actually a sign of healing. The brain is rewiring—dopamine pathways are adapting and recalibrating. It’s part of long-term recovery, a sign that deeper healing is taking place.
✅ Common client fears: “I thought I had this figured out—why am I struggling again?”
“My coping skills don’t work anymore—what’s wrong with me?” Clarissa and Molly reframe this as an invitation to deepen your recovery work and adapt new strategies.
✅ What helps? Revisit the basics: simple structure with food, movement, sleep, and stress reduction. Connection and support: peer groups, Sweet Sobriety, or other safe spaces. Meaningful, non-food dopamine boosts: nature, creativity, connection, movement. Supplements: like omega-3s or l-glutamine (check with your provider!). Clinician support: not pushing but holding space with compassion and curiosity.
✅ For clinicians: Learn about PAWS from the substance use disorder literature—it’s crucial for validating and normalizing the client experience. Support clients without imposing your own fears about relapse—meet them with presence and empathy. Be mindful of co-occurring issues (trauma, chronic illness, medications) that can amplify PAWS. Don’t pathologize or shame—this is part of the healing arc!
This conversation is a powerful reminder that healing is not linear. PAWS can feel like a step backward, but it’s actually a sign of forward movement. As Clarissa and Molly beautifully put it: “You’re not broken—you’re healing.” When PAWS shows up, it’s a call to pause, reset, and give yourself the same compassion and patience you’d offer anyone else in deep healing.
Want to connect? Reach out to the team at:
📧 foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com
Get Mollys PAWs Presentation here: https://www.sweetsobriety.ca
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
In this insightful and compassionate episode, Clarissa and Molly take a deep ...dive into post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS)—an often overlooked but critical phase in ultra-processed food addiction recovery. While well-known in substance use disorder recovery, PAWS is rarely discussed in the context of food addiction, yet it shows up in significant ways.
Clarissa and Molly break down what PAWS is, why it happens, and how it can show up months or even years into recovery. They share real client experiences, neurobiological explanations, and clinical insights—plus, they normalize what can feel like a confusing and distressing time. They also offer practical strategies for clients and clinicians alike, always with compassion, humor, and a forward-thinking, growth-focused perspective.
💡 Key Takeaways:
✅ What is PAWS? Post-acute withdrawal syndrome describes the emotional, psychological, and physical withdrawal symptoms that can persist or reappear months or years after quitting a substance (including ultra-processed foods). It’s a normal part of recovery, not a failure or a sign that you’re “doing it wrong.”
✅ When it shows up: Typically around the 3-, 6-, and 12-month marks, but can happen later—Molly shared an example of it showing up at 22 months! Can be a surprise to those who believed the cravings and struggles were only short-term.
✅ What it feels like: Physical symptoms: low energy, sleep issues, fatigue, and “meh” motivation. Emotional symptoms: irritability, anxiety, low mood, feeling “flat” or joyless (anhedonia). Cognitive symptoms: brain fog, intrusive food thoughts, and the return of “food dreams.” A heightened sensitivity to emotional triggers and stress, feeling like everything is a “zing” or too much.
✅ It’s actually a sign of healing. The brain is rewiring—dopamine pathways are adapting and recalibrating. It’s part of long-term recovery, a sign that deeper healing is taking place.
✅ Common client fears: “I thought I had this figured out—why am I struggling again?”
“My coping skills don’t work anymore—what’s wrong with me?” Clarissa and Molly reframe this as an invitation to deepen your recovery work and adapt new strategies.
✅ What helps? Revisit the basics: simple structure with food, movement, sleep, and stress reduction. Connection and support: peer groups, Sweet Sobriety, or other safe spaces. Meaningful, non-food dopamine boosts: nature, creativity, connection, movement. Supplements: like omega-3s or l-glutamine (check with your provider!). Clinician support: not pushing but holding space with compassion and curiosity.
✅ For clinicians: Learn about PAWS from the substance use disorder literature—it’s crucial for validating and normalizing the client experience. Support clients without imposing your own fears about relapse—meet them with presence and empathy. Be mindful of co-occurring issues (trauma, chronic illness, medications) that can amplify PAWS. Don’t pathologize or shame—this is part of the healing arc!
This conversation is a powerful reminder that healing is not linear. PAWS can feel like a step backward, but it’s actually a sign of forward movement. As Clarissa and Molly beautifully put it: “You’re not broken—you’re healing.” When PAWS shows up, it’s a call to pause, reset, and give yourself the same compassion and patience you’d offer anyone else in deep healing.
Want to connect? Reach out to the team at:
📧 foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com
Get Mollys PAWs Presentation here: https://www.sweetsobriety.ca
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
Now Playing
Food Junkies Podcast: The Latest on GLP1s with Dr Nicole Avena, 2025
In this episode of the Food Junkies Podcast, Dr. Vera Tarman and ...
In this episode of the Food Junkies Podcast, Dr. Vera Tarman and Clarissa Kennedy welcome back Dr. Nicole Avena — neuroscientist, researcher, and author — to discuss her team’s latest ...paper exploring a provocative question: Could GLP-1 receptor agonists, while reducing food cravings, also negatively impact dopamine regulation, mood, and addiction risk?
Dr. Avena breaks down the science behind GLP-1 drugs, their effects on the brain’s reward pathways, and why these mechanisms might lead to unintended consequences such as anhedonia, apathy, and depressive symptoms. Together, they examine potential tolerance and rebound effects, the role of GABAergic neurons, and the paradox of eliminating “food noise” while risking a hypodopaminergic state. The conversation also covers dose-dependence, the importance of holistic support and mindful eating skills, and ethical considerations for use in vulnerable populations — especially those with a history of addiction or mental health challenges.
Listeners will gain nuanced insight into:
How GLP-1s work in the brain’s reward and motivation systems
Why side effects may be tied to dosing, individual sensitivity, and muscle loss
The risk of emotional flattening and its impact on recovery and quality of life
Strategies to use these medications responsibly, including lower-dose approaches and lifestyle integration
Broader implications for the food industry, public health, and prevention — including concerns about pediatric use
Dr. Avena also shares a preview of her upcoming talk at the International Food Addiction & Comorbidities Conference in September 2025, where she’ll address GLP-1 research, early-life risk factors for ultra-processed food addiction, and prevention strategies.
If you’ve ever wondered about the long-term story behind the GLP-1 craze — especially for those navigating food addiction recovery — this in-depth discussion is a must-listen.
Get your IN-PERSON or LIVESTREAM ticket(s) HERE! Use code SSO for a 40% discount!
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
Dr. Avena breaks down the science behind GLP-1 drugs, their effects on the brain’s reward pathways, and why these mechanisms might lead to unintended consequences such as anhedonia, apathy, and depressive symptoms. Together, they examine potential tolerance and rebound effects, the role of GABAergic neurons, and the paradox of eliminating “food noise” while risking a hypodopaminergic state. The conversation also covers dose-dependence, the importance of holistic support and mindful eating skills, and ethical considerations for use in vulnerable populations — especially those with a history of addiction or mental health challenges.
Listeners will gain nuanced insight into:
How GLP-1s work in the brain’s reward and motivation systems
Why side effects may be tied to dosing, individual sensitivity, and muscle loss
The risk of emotional flattening and its impact on recovery and quality of life
Strategies to use these medications responsibly, including lower-dose approaches and lifestyle integration
Broader implications for the food industry, public health, and prevention — including concerns about pediatric use
Dr. Avena also shares a preview of her upcoming talk at the International Food Addiction & Comorbidities Conference in September 2025, where she’ll address GLP-1 research, early-life risk factors for ultra-processed food addiction, and prevention strategies.
If you’ve ever wondered about the long-term story behind the GLP-1 craze — especially for those navigating food addiction recovery — this in-depth discussion is a must-listen.
Get your IN-PERSON or LIVESTREAM ticket(s) HERE! Use code SSO for a 40% discount!
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
Now Playing
Food Junkies Podcast: Dr. Carrie Wilkens on Rethinking Addiction without Shame, 2025
In this episode of the Food Junkies Podcast, Clarissa and Molly sit ...
In this episode of the Food Junkies Podcast, Clarissa and Molly sit down with psychologist Dr. Carrie Wilkens to unpack what it really means to help people change without shame, ...stigma, or power struggles. Drawing from decades of work in substance use, eating disorders, trauma, and family systems, Carrie invites us to rethink “denial,” “relapse,” “codependency,” and even the disease model itself, while still honoring the seriousness of addiction and the depth of people’s pain.
Together, we explore how self-compassion, curiosity, and values-based behavior change can transform not only individual recovery but also how families, helpers, and communities show up for the people they love.
About Dr. Carrie Wilkens
Carrie Wilkens, PhD, is a psychologist with more than 25 years of experience in the practice and dissemination of evidence-based treatments for substance use and post-traumatic stress. She is the Co-President and CEO of CMC: Foundation for Change, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing evidence-based ideas and strategies to families, communities, and professionals supporting people struggling with substances.
Carrie is a co-developer of the Invitation to Change (ITC) Approach, an accessible, skills-based framework that helps families stay engaged, reduce shame, and effectively support a loved one’s behavior change. ITC is now used across the U.S. and internationally in groups, trainings, and community programs.
She is co-author of the award-winning book Beyond Addiction: How Science and Kindness Help People Change, which adapts the Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) model for families, and co-author of The Beyond Addiction Workbook for Family and Friends, a practical, evidence-based guide for loved ones who want concrete tools to support change without sacrificing their own wellbeing.
Carrie is also Co-Founder and Clinical Director of the Center for Motivation and Change (CMC), a group of clinicians providing evidence-based care in New York City, Long Island, Washington, DC, San Diego, and at CMC: Berkshires, a private residential program for adults. She has served as Project Director on a large SAMHSA-funded grant addressing college binge drinking and is frequently sought out by media outlets including CBS This Morning, the Katie Couric Show, NPR, and HBO’s Risky Drinking to speak on substance use and behavior change.
Resources Mentioned
CMC: Foundation for Change – Family-focused trainings, groups, and resources: cmcffc.org
The Invitation to Change Approach – Overview of the ITC model and its core topics.
Beyond Addiction: How Science and Kindness Help People Change (Book)
The Beyond Addiction Workbook for Family and Friends (Workbook)
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
Together, we explore how self-compassion, curiosity, and values-based behavior change can transform not only individual recovery but also how families, helpers, and communities show up for the people they love.
About Dr. Carrie Wilkens
Carrie Wilkens, PhD, is a psychologist with more than 25 years of experience in the practice and dissemination of evidence-based treatments for substance use and post-traumatic stress. She is the Co-President and CEO of CMC: Foundation for Change, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing evidence-based ideas and strategies to families, communities, and professionals supporting people struggling with substances.
Carrie is a co-developer of the Invitation to Change (ITC) Approach, an accessible, skills-based framework that helps families stay engaged, reduce shame, and effectively support a loved one’s behavior change. ITC is now used across the U.S. and internationally in groups, trainings, and community programs.
She is co-author of the award-winning book Beyond Addiction: How Science and Kindness Help People Change, which adapts the Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) model for families, and co-author of The Beyond Addiction Workbook for Family and Friends, a practical, evidence-based guide for loved ones who want concrete tools to support change without sacrificing their own wellbeing.
Carrie is also Co-Founder and Clinical Director of the Center for Motivation and Change (CMC), a group of clinicians providing evidence-based care in New York City, Long Island, Washington, DC, San Diego, and at CMC: Berkshires, a private residential program for adults. She has served as Project Director on a large SAMHSA-funded grant addressing college binge drinking and is frequently sought out by media outlets including CBS This Morning, the Katie Couric Show, NPR, and HBO’s Risky Drinking to speak on substance use and behavior change.
Resources Mentioned
CMC: Foundation for Change – Family-focused trainings, groups, and resources: cmcffc.org
The Invitation to Change Approach – Overview of the ITC model and its core topics.
Beyond Addiction: How Science and Kindness Help People Change (Book)
The Beyond Addiction Workbook for Family and Friends (Workbook)
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More