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Ep. 63 - Why You Crave Junk Food When You're Stressed: The Gut-Brain Link Behind Anxiety & Emotional Eating with Sarah Weiss, RD, LDN, IFNCP

The Holistic Counselor

Release Date: 07/02/2025

Ep. 68 - Is It Autism or Trauma? Diagnosing Adults on the Spectrum with Dr. Benson Fox, Psy.D. show art Ep. 68 - Is It Autism or Trauma? Diagnosing Adults on the Spectrum with Dr. Benson Fox, Psy.D.

The Holistic Counselor

What does it really mean to be “on the spectrum”—and why are so many adults just now getting diagnosed? In this powerful and heartfelt conversation, Diana sits down with Dr. Benson Fox, Psy.D., an Orthodox Jewish psychologist, school counselor, professor, and group leader of Adulting on the Spectrum, to explore the truths, myths, and real-life challenges of navigating adult life as a neurodivergent person. They unpack the confusion around late diagnoses, the overlap with trauma, and how stigma shows up—especially in faith-based, immigrant, and culturally...

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The Holistic Counselor

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Hello there, fearfully and wonderfully made human—and welcome to another episode of The Holistic Counselor Podcast. I’m your host, Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP, CTP, QS—founder of  and . Today’s guest is the powerful and compassionate Sowania Germain, LMHC-D, PMHC—also known as The Mama Therapist. Sowania joins us to share her courageous story of escaping a spiritually abusive, cult-like church and how her healing journey led her to become a trauma-informed therapist and ministry leader. We unpack how faith can be weaponized, the signs...

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The Holistic Counselor

In this powerful conversation, host Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP, sits down with renowned sociologist and author Dr. Corey Keyes — the pioneer who coined the term languishing. If you’ve ever felt stuck in the fog between burnout and depression but weren’t sure how to name it, this episode is a must-listen. Dr. Keyes unpacks the groundbreaking Mental Health Continuum model and the five daily “vitamins” of flourishing — evidence-based habits that promote resilience, emotional healing, and a renewed sense of purpose. Diana and Dr. Keyes dive into the role...

info_outline Ep. 63 - Why You Crave Junk Food When You're Stressed: The Gut-Brain Link Behind Anxiety & Emotional Eating with Sarah Weiss, RD, LDN, IFNCP show art Ep. 63 - Why You Crave Junk Food When You're Stressed: The Gut-Brain Link Behind Anxiety & Emotional Eating with Sarah Weiss, RD, LDN, IFNCP

The Holistic Counselor

Welcome back, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made friend! In this powerful episode, I sit down with functional dietitian Sarah Weiss, founder of Weiss Choices, to explore the often-overlooked connection between food, mood, and emotional well-being. Sarah shares her personal journey of emotional eating, healing her gut, and leaving behind a high-stress career as a stockbroker to help others reclaim their health through functional nutrition. We break down the gut-brain axis, emotional eating cycles, blood sugar crashes, and the inflammation-anxiety link—plus share real-life...

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In this powerful episode of The Holistic Counselor Podcast, host Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP, sits down with Daniel Rubin, LMHC, LPC, founder of Transcend Wellness IOP, for an unfiltered and deeply healing conversation about men’s mental health, emotional isolation, porn addiction recovery, and the impact of unresolved trauma. We explore the hidden struggles of high-performing men who silently carry shame, spiritual confusion, and emotional neglect. This episode is a call to wholeness, vulnerability, and kingdom-centered healing.  Key Topics We Cover: The...

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Welcome back, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made friend! In this powerful episode, I sit down with functional dietitian Sarah Weiss, founder of Weiss Choices, to explore the often-overlooked connection between food, mood, and emotional well-being.

Sarah shares her personal journey of emotional eating, healing her gut, and leaving behind a high-stress career as a stockbroker to help others reclaim their health through functional nutrition. We break down the gut-brain axis, emotional eating cycles, blood sugar crashes, and the inflammation-anxiety link—plus share real-life tools you can use right away.

If you’ve ever wondered why you crave junk food when you’re stressed, or how nutrition can impact your energy, focus, and mood—this episode will give you hope, insight, and practical tools to shift, heal, and grow.

🧰 What You’ll Learn:

  • The real reason we crave sugar, chips, and comfort food when we’re anxious

  • What the gut-brain connection really means (and how it’s impacting your mental health daily)

  • How inflammation and blood sugar instability affect your mood

  • Simple, functional nutrition habits that reduce anxiety and boost focus

  • Why poop matters more than you think (yes, we talk stool charts!)

  • How to spot hidden causes of fatigue, burnout, and brain fog

  • Why calorie-counting isn’t the answer—and what to do instead

  • How your inner narrative about food and your body can block healing (and how to rewrite it)

  • What neuroplasticity has to do with changing your palate

  • Encouragement for those who feel stuck or ashamed about their eating habits

🧠 Quotes to Remember:

“If you have a crappy gut, you're going to have crappy thoughts.” – Sarah Weiss
“It’s never all or nothing with your health. It’s one step at a time.” – Sarah Weiss
“Your body isn’t broken—it’s trying to talk to you.” – Diana S. Rice
“We live in a society that’s addicted to quick fixes, but healing takes real understanding.” – Diana S. Rice

🔗 Resources & Mentions:

🙌 Connect with Diana S. Rice: