Ep 19 - Beyond the Scale: The Truth About Bariatric Surgery & Food Addiction with Bilge MacPhee
Release Date: 02/25/2025
Ep 24 - What 23 Juicy Conversations Taught Me (And What’s Next?)
Little Addicts Podcast
Show Notes: In this special episode, Kerene reflects on the journey (23 conversations diving deep into addiction, behaviour change, and what it means to be human). She shares her biggest takeaways: that addiction isn’t just about substances – it’s about our need to numb, to avoid, and to self-soothe in a world that says “be happy” at all costs. Hear excerpts from past episodes that cracked her open. She reminds us that real change begins not with white-knuckling or shame, but with curiosity, compassion, and the willingness to feel. This episode isn’t a farewell – it’s a pause...
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Ep 23 - Breaking Up with Diet Culture (Spoiler: It’s Toxic AF) with Lotta Dann
Little Addicts Podcast
In this refreshingly raw and witty episode, Lotta Dann—author, sobriety advocate, and anti-diet warrior—talks about the tangled web of body image, addiction, and freedom from toxic cultural norms. Lotta unpacks the truth behind diet culture and shares her own vulnerable journey from extreme dieting to empowered body acceptance. We discuss: Lotta’s Wake-Up Call No big bang—just a slow anti-diet awakening via social media Her “aha” moment: realising diet culture is a lie built on profit and control The Addiction Crossover How her battle with alcohol and diet culture shares common...
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Ep 22 - Fighting Meth Together: A Mother-Daughter Story of Survival and Hope
Little Addicts Podcast
Episode Overview: In this deeply moving episode, I speak with Izzy, a young woman in recovery from meth addiction, and her fiercely loyal mum, Lisa. Together, they peel back the layers of chaos, courage, love and connection. Life Before Addiction Izzy shares how her growing dependency on meth began. Emotional suppression and disconnection paved the way for substance use. Lisa reflects on the challenges of seeing your child in pain. The Chaos of Addiction – Living in the Messy Middle Izzy describes the raw realities of life gripped by addiction: shame, secrecy, and survival. The breakdown...
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Ep 21 - Everybody Self-Soothes: You’re Not Broken—You’re Wired with Kerene and Philly
Little Addicts Podcast
In this raw and resonant episode, Philly Powell interviews Kerene Strochnetter about Chapter One of her upcoming book. Kerene unpacks the origins of self-soothing and why we reach for wine, work, sugar, our phones, or even people-pleasing to feel better. This episode is a loving wake-up call. You’ll laugh, maybe squirm a little, and come away seeing your own patterns with more clarity and compassion. About the Book Kerene’s upcoming book (title TBC) explores how evolutionary brain patterns, cultural myths, and unconscious behaviours drive unhealthy habits and addiction—and how to...
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Ep 20 - Addiction, Trauma & Change: A Systemic Rethink with David Hanna
Little Addicts Podcast
David Hanna is a fifth-generation Tangata Tiriti (people of the Treaty), a leader in community-led development, and the director of Wesley Community Action. This conversation delved into addiction, trauma, social systems, and how grassroots initiatives can bring about meaningful change. David challenges us to rethink how we address addiction, not just as an individual issue but as a symptom of broader systemic challenges. We discussed: The Role of Compassion and Judgment in Leadership David shares insights into his leadership philosophy, emphasising the importance of...
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Ep 19 - Beyond the Scale: The Truth About Bariatric Surgery & Food Addiction with Bilge MacPhee
Little Addicts Podcast
Join me for a fascinating chat with nutritionist Bilge MacPhee as we explore the power of food, the truth about bariatric surgery, and why ultra-processed foods are designed to keep us hooked. Bilge MacPhee is a Wellington-based nutritionist with a background in biological sciences and human nutrition. Her holistic approach to health is deeply influenced by her Mediterranean roots, emphasising the connection between food and disease. She specialises in bariatric nutrition, supporting patients before and after weight loss surgery. Key Topics Discussed Bilge’s Journey into Nutrition ...
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Ep 18 - Shop, Snack, Sex, Repeat... or Find Inner Peace with Natalie Snooke
Little Addicts Podcast
Breaking free from the endless cycle of craving—whether through shopping, food, or relationships—Natalie Snooke explores how self-awareness, meditation, and the Enneagram can lead to true inner peace beyond external validation. Natalie Snooke is an experienced life and leadership coach, mindfulness facilitator, humanitarian, yoga and meditation teacher. She is the founder and director of Momentum Coaching & Yoga. A specialist of the ‘inner life’ Natalie has maintained a committed yoga and meditation practice for over 18 years. She has participated in more 10-day Vipassana...
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Ep 17 - Beyond Burnout: Kicking Achievement and Exercise Addiction with Lotty Roberts
Little Addicts Podcast
Lotty is a forward thinker in Emotional Culture, Change and Resilience, with over 20 years of experience leading and coaching people through large-scale change and transformation programmes. During her journey as a senior leader, competitive runner and mum of 3 boys, Lotty discovered the power of Mindfulness and Emotional Intelligence to help her with various challenges, including an auto-immune condition, chronic pain, double hip replacement and corporate burnout. Through her experience, learning and research into the wisdom of emotions and mindfulness-based practices to attend to the...
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Ep 16 - NEAD to Stop: Our One-Year Experiment of Not Eating After Dinner with Philly Powell
Little Addicts Podcast
In this episode, I’m joined by my friend Philly Powell, the Wellness Provocateur and founder of Wellbeing Tick. Philly helps businesses ditch burnout, rethink work, and create cultures where people don’t just survive—they thrive. A few months ago, over a meal, we both admitted to snacking after dinner. Right then and there, we decided we wanted to stop, and NEAD was born. NEAD stands for not eating after dinner. After giving up alcohol, we thought NEAD would be easy…it wasn’t! This podcast is about why we decided to stop EAD and the insights and hurdles we’ve...
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Ep 15 – Breaking the Chain: From Addiction to Spiritual Freedom with James Dear
Little Addicts Podcast
James Dear is a recovering drug addict. He was severely addicted but has been sober for over 5 years. In 2018, he started a movement called ‘Break The Chain’ to raise awareness and provide information about addiction and mental health after tragically losing a close friend to suicide. He took his advocacy to the next level by training as a counsellor and now works in a residential drug and alcohol treatment centre. In this episode, James talks about his personal experience with addiction and how practising meditation, yoga, and spirituality ‘broke the chain’ for him… In this...
info_outlineJoin me for a fascinating chat with nutritionist Bilge MacPhee as we explore the power of food, the truth about bariatric surgery, and why ultra-processed foods are designed to keep us hooked.
Bilge MacPhee is a Wellington-based nutritionist with a background in biological sciences and human nutrition. Her holistic approach to health is deeply influenced by her Mediterranean roots, emphasising the connection between food and disease. She specialises in bariatric nutrition, supporting patients before and after weight loss surgery.
Key Topics Discussed
Bilge’s Journey into Nutrition
- Growing up in Germany with Turkish heritage, food played a central role in daily life.
- Inspired by her grandmother’s belief in the healing power of food.
- Transitioned from biological sciences to nutrition, developing a passion for holistic health.
Bariatric Surgery: What It Is & Who It's For
- A life-changing operation for those struggling with severe metabolic health issues.
- Not a quick fix but a tool for patients who have exhausted other weight-loss methods.
- Involves a rigorous pre-surgery assessment, including consultations with a nutritionist, psychologist, and surgeon.
Common Misconceptions About Bariatric Surgery
- "It's the easy way out" – In reality, it requires significant lifestyle changes and commitment.
- "It’s a waste of taxpayer money" – Research shows it reduces long-term healthcare costs by preventing conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
- "People regain weight because they lack willpower" – Success is often tied to access to proper post-surgery support.
The Role of Food & Addiction
- Bilge challenges the term "food addiction," arguing that ultra-processed foods are not ‘food’ and chemically engineered to be addictive.
- The food industry, like the tobacco industry, designs products to manipulate cravings and create dependency.
- Nutrient-dense, whole foods do not trigger addiction in the same way as processed foods.
Post-Surgery Challenges & The Importance of Support
- Patients must learn new eating habits, such as mindful chewing and portion control.
- Emotional and psychological adjustments are key to long-term success.
- Those who attend follow-up care and support programs tend to have the best outcomes.
Dangers of Overseas Bariatric Surgery
- Cheaper options in countries like Turkey and Mexico may lack the necessary post-surgery care.
- Without ongoing nutritional and psychological support, patients are at a higher risk of complications and weight regain.
Listen now for an eye-opening conversation about food, health, and the real impact of bariatric surgery!
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