In this episode of Inclusive Movement & Nutrition Ireland, Maggie sits down with Dr. Marianne Miller, an eating disorder therapist who specialises in ARFID, binge eating disorder, bulimia and anorexia. Dr. Marianne brings a neurodivergent-affirming, trauma-informed, sensory-attuned approach to her work, and in this conversation, she helps us understand how eating disorders like ARFID are often misunderstood or missed altogether, especially in neurodivergent individuals.

They explore how sensory sensitivities, trauma, and social expectations can all influence eating behaviours, and how current cultural norms—both in parenting and the wellness industry—can unintentionally worsen disordered eating.

Key Highlights

• What is ARFID and why it’s often misdiagnosed or overlooked.
• How ARFID shows up differently from anorexia, bulimia or binge eating disorder.
• The intersection of neurodivergence and disordered eating.
• Why pushing “healthy” food in schools or home settings can backfire.
• How fitness and nutrition culture often ignores individual sensory and psychological needs.
• What workplaces and professionals can do to support, not shame.

Trigger Warning: This episode contains conversations about depression, mental health issues, and eating disorders. Please take care while listening.

About Dr. Marianne

Dr. Marianne Miller is a licensed therapist based in California, specialising in eating disorders including ARFID, binge eating disorder, bulimia, and anorexia. She takes a neurodivergent-affirming, trauma-informed, and sensory-attuned approach to therapy, working with both teens and adults. In addition to her clinical practice, she offers online courses, resources, and hosts the podcast Dr. Marianne Land, where she shares compassionate, practical insights into eating disorders and mental health.

Connect with Maggie:

Instagram: drmariannemiller

Website:www.drmariannemiller.com

About Maggie:

Maggie is the owner of Simple Strength Leixlip, a size-inclusive gym in Ireland that prioritizes evidence-based, non-diet approaches to movement. She’s passionate about creating welcoming, empowering spaces for people of all shapes, sizes, and abilities

Connect with Maggie:

Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/inclusive_movement_nutrition/

Business IG: https://www.instagram.com/simple.strength.leixlip/

Website: https://simplestrengthleixlip.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Inclusive Movement & Nutrition Ireland, Maggie sits down with mental health advocate Sean Blake, who shares his deeply personal journey with an eating disorder and the complex relationship between exercise, control, and recovery.

Sean has become a prominent voice in mental health advocacy, working with organizations like Shine, Mental Health Ireland, Supported Families and St. Patrick’s Mental Health Services. His mission is to break the silence around eating disorders, particularly in men, and highlight the role that compulsive exercise can play in their development and persistence.

Key Highlights

• How Sean’s disordered eating began long before he realized it
• The social praise and validation that fueled his excessive running
• When exercise stopped being healthy and became harmful
• His turning point: burnout, secrecy, and the need for help
• The unspoken risks of fitness culture, step challenges, and “clean eating”
• The emotional toll on his family, especially his wife
• Why running clubs, gyms, and workplaces need better awareness
• What helped in recovery—including therapy, dietitians, and self-compassion
• Sean’s advice for coaches, fitness instructors, and everyday exercisers

If you’re a coach, parent, fitness lover or anyone navigating conversations around health and body image, this is an essential listen. Sean’s story brings to light how disordered behaviours can be hidden in plain sight, masked by our culture’s obsession with fitness and weight loss.

About Sean:

Sean Blake is a mental health advocate and lived-experience speaker based in Ireland. After years of struggling with an eating disorder—one that was deeply entangled with compulsive exercise—Sean began sharing his story to raise awareness and reduce stigma, particularly around eating disorders in men. Sean’s advocacy is rooted in honesty, vulnerability, and a drive to create more compassionate, informed spaces in fitness, healthcare, and everyday life.

Connect with Sean:

Instagram

Visit the #EDinformed campaign for fitness and health professionals

About Maggie:

Maggie is the owner of Simple Strength Leixlip, a size-inclusive gym in Ireland that prioritizes evidence-based, non-diet approaches to movement. She’s passionate about creating welcoming, empowering spaces for people of all shapes, sizes, and abilities.

Connect with Maggie:

Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/inclusive_movement_nutrition/

Business IG: https://www.instagram.com/simple.strength.leixlip/

Website: https://simplestrengthleixlip.com/

Resources Mentioned:

• BodyWhys
• Shine Mental Health Support
• Patrick’s Mental Health Services
• Mental Health Ireland

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Inclusive Movement & Nutrition Ireland, Maggie shares her journey of how exercise evolved from a source of strength into a coping mechanism rooted in fear. What began as a healthy postpartum habit slowly became a way to avoid difficult emotions, mask undiagnosed postnatal depression, and seek external validation.

Through raw reflection, Maggie explores how even the most celebrated wellness behaviors—like running during pregnancy—can become unhealthy when driven by fear, perfectionism, or internalized pressure. She also challenges common fitness narratives around confidence, “bouncing back,” and mental health, offering a compassionate reminder that movement should serve you, not control you.

Key Highlights

• How postpartum running became a coping mechanism for undiagnosed postnatal depression
• The subtle shift from “healthy habits” to obsessive exercise and the fear that drove it
• Why running during pregnancy wasn’t about fitness but about control and fear of stopping
• The dark side of “bounce back” praise and how external validation fed unhealthy behaviors
• Red flags in your relationship with exercise and why obsession is often mistaken for discipline

If this episode resonates with you or someone you know, please share it. Let’s change the conversation around exercise and motherhood.

About Maggie:

Maggie is the owner of Simple Strength Leixlip, a size-inclusive gym in Ireland that prioritizes evidence-based, non-diet approaches to movement. She’s passionate about creating welcoming, empowering spaces for people of all shapes, sizes, and abilities

Connect with Maggie:

Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/inclusive_movement_nutrition/

Business IG: https://www.instagram.com/simple.strength.leixlip/

Website: https://simplestrengthleixlip.com/

Mental Health Support Ireland

HSE Mental Health Services

• Website: HSE.ie or YourMentalHealth.ie
• Freephone: 1800 929 539

St Patrick's Mental Health Services

• Website: stpatricks.ie
• Phone: (01) 249 3200

Mental Health Ireland

• Address: Marina House, 11-13 Clarence Street, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin
• Website: mentalhealthireland.ie

Perinatal Mental Health

HSE Specialist Perinatal Mental Health

• Access through HSE mental health services or your GP
• Website: HSE.ie

Body Image & Eating Disorder Support

Bodywhys - The Eating Disorders Association of Ireland

• Helpline: (01) 2107906
• Website: bodywhys.ie
• Address: PO Box 105, Blackrock, Co Dublin

St Patrick's Eating Disorders Programme

• Phone: (01) 249 3200
• Website: stpatricks.ie

Eating Disorder Clinic Ireland

• Website: eatingdisorderclinic.ie

Crisis Support

• Samaritans: 116 123 (free, 24/7)
• Text HELLO to 50808 (free crisis text line)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.