In this enlightening episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with Dr. Jenny Talbert to explore the pervasive issue of weight stigma within the healthcare system. Dr. Talbert shares her deeply personal journey of battling atypical anorexia and orthorexia while navigating the demands of medical training, revealing how the industry meant to heal can often cause profound harm. Together, they discuss the systemic barriers larger-bodied patients face—such as being denied necessary surgeries based on BMI—and offer a critical look at the current GLP-1 medication craze. Whether you are a patient who has felt dismissed by a doctor or a provider looking to offer more compassionate care, this conversation provides a roadmap for returning to body trust and authentic health.

SHOW NOTES: Click here

Follow me on Instagram @behind_the_bite_podcast

Visit the website: www.behindthebitepodcast.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this moving episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with Michelle Rogers, the creator behind the popular Instagram account @bodyposipower, to explore her transformative journey from an anonymous blogger to a prominent body acceptance advocate. Michelle candidly shares the challenges of navigating an eating disorder while living in a larger body, highlighting the systemic harm of weight stigma and the "not sick enough" myth that often prevents individuals from receiving the care they deserve. From traumatic medical encounters to finding healing through a global online community, Michelle and Dr. Castagnini discuss how sharing one's truth can break down barriers of shame and pave the way for a recovery that celebrates all bodies.

SHOW NOTES: Click here

Follow me on Instagram @behind_the_bite_podcast

Visit the website: www.behindthebitepodcast.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this inspiring episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with Alli Bollinger, a former Radio City Rockette who turned her struggle with an eating disorder into a platform for healing. Alli shares how her lifelong identity as "the dancer" became a double-edged sword during her collegiate BFA program, where innocent health goals spiraled into a restrictive and isolating illness. After a life-altering intervention by her professors and a necessary environmental reset during the pandemic, Alli achieved the ultimate full-circle moment: performing on the world’s most famous stage while fully recovered. Now an eating disorder recovery coach, Alli explains the mental shifts required to reach elite professional heights and why she believes the hardest chapters of our lives often prepare us for our greatest triumphs.

SHOW NOTES: Click here

Follow me on Instagram @behind_the_bite_podcast

Visit the website: www.behindthebitepodcast.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this enlightening episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with Registered Dietitian Colleen Christensen to unpack the confusing landscape of "food freedom." Many individuals escaping the clutches of diet culture find themselves swinging from rigid restriction to a state of rebellion where they feel out of control with food. Colleen explains why this "pendulum swing" is a normal part of the process and introduces the solution: finding a sustainable middle ground. By marrying the principles of intuitive eating with the foundational science of nutrition, Colleen and Dr. Cristina discuss how to transition from a "no rules" rebellion into a life where food is no longer the center of your world, but rather a tool for nourishment and joy.

SHOW NOTES: Click here

Follow me on Instagram @behind_the_bite_podcast

Visit the website: www.behindthebitepodcast.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this moving episode of Behind the Bite, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with Katie Kiliszewsk to explore a deeply personal journey through the shadows of anorexia and substance abuse. Katie opens up about the childhood roots of her eating disorder—from being teased by neighborhood kids to the damaging influence of a sports coach—and the sixteen-year battle that followed. They discuss the "all-in" mentality required for true healing, the difficult transition from using exercise as an escape to using it as a source of joy, and how motherhood became the ultimate catalyst for her recovery. This episode is a powerful testament to the fact that no matter how long the struggle lasts, there is always light on the other side.

SHOW NOTES: Click here

Follow me on Instagram @behind_the_bite_podcast

Visit the website: www.behindthebitepodcast.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this insightful episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with psychotherapist Dana Colthart to explore the frequently overlooked connection between Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and eating disorders. While many view eating disorders as being strictly about food or willpower, Dana highlights how underlying traits like perfectionism, rigidity, and "black and white" thinking create a perfect storm for disordered eating. Listeners will learn how eating disorder behaviors often serve as a coping mechanism for OCD-related distress and why traditional talk therapy might not be enough without the inclusion of specialized exposure work. Whether you're a professional or someone on a personal recovery journey, this episode offers a roadmap for rewiring the brain’s fear response to find true freedom from rituals and rules.

SHOW NOTES: Click here

Follow me on Instagram @behind_the_bite_podcast

Visit the website: www.behindthebitepodcast.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this powerful episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with Heidi McLachlan to discuss the devastating impact of being labeled "chronic" by the very experts meant to provide hope. Heidi shares her two-decade-long journey with anorexia, which began as a search for identity and quickly became a "safety net" that trapped her in a cycle of hospitalizations and despair. After years of being told that full recovery was impossible and that she simply had to "manage" her symptoms, Heidi reached a breaking point during her journey through motherhood. By shifting her perspective from being a "broken patient" to an empowered individual, and utilizing nervous system regulation and somatic work, Heidi finally found the sustainable recovery she was told would never happen. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who has been told they are a "lost cause" and is seeking proof that healing is always possible.

SHOW NOTES: Click here

Follow me on Instagram @behind_the_bite_podcast

Visit the website: www.behindthebitepodcast.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Psychiatric medication is often one of the most misunderstood and emotionally charged aspects of mental health treatment, particularly when it involves children, adolescents, and eating disorders. In this insightful episode, host Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with Dr. Peyman Tashkandi, a double board-certified psychiatrist, to demystify the role of medication in the recovery process. Dr. Tashkandi explains his human-centered approach to psychiatry, moving beyond "one-size-fits-all" prescriptions to look at the complex biosocial factors that influence a patient's health. Whether you are a parent fearful of the long-term effects of medication on a developing brain or an individual struggling with the medical complexities of an eating disorder, this conversation provides a grounded, expert perspective on why treatment must be comprehensive, collaborative, and deeply compassionate.

SHOW NOTES: Click here

Follow me on Instagram @behind_the_bite_podcast

Visit the website: www.behindthebitepodcast.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.