Episode 32: You Do Not Owe the World a Smaller Body
Food Shrinks
In this unapologetically honest and deeply validating conversation, the Food Shrinks crew dives into one of the hottest topics in food addiction recovery: weight as a false measure of success. Why do some professionals in the recovery field still equate smaller bodies with deeper healing? And what happens when people in larger bodies feel excluded—even when they're abstinent and thriving? Molly, Clarissa, and MP break down the damaging impact of internalized weight stigma, explore why body size is not a clinical marker of recovery, and call out harmful assumptions that show up even in...
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Episode 31: The Healing You’re Avoiding - Why Group Work Changes Everything
Food Shrinks
In this spontaneous and heart-forward episode, Molly C., Clarissa, and Molly P. crack open the resistance so many of us feel toward group work, and why that resistance might be precisely the sign we need more connection, not less. Together, the trio explores why group healing matters, how co-regulation works, and what it means to feel seen, safe, and mirrored in community. From AA meetings to clinical groups to retreats full of “I-don’t-do-group” folks turned soul sisters, they share raw stories about belonging, shame, and the life-changing magic of not doing recovery alone. If you’ve...
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Episode 30: GLP-1s in Food Addiction Recovery: Game-Changer or Controversy?
Food Shrinks
The Food Shrinks are back with a spicy, heartfelt conversation about one of the most polarizing tools in the recovery world right now—GLP-1 medications (like Ozempic and Wegovy). In this episode, they tackle the growing buzz (and backlash) around these drugs in eating disorder and food addiction spaces. Are GLP-1s a betrayal of “real” recovery, or can they be a supportive tool for healing? The hosts spill some behind-the-scenes tea, share their personal and clinical experiences, and ask hard questions: Who gets to decide what recovery looks like? Why is there so much shame around using...
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Episode 29: “Chronic Relapser”? Don’t Talk About My Friend Like That
Food Shrinks
In this compelling episode, the Food Shrinks team tackles one of the most used—and deeply harmful—labels in recovery spaces: “chronic relapser.” With both fire and tenderness, the Shrinks dismantle this shame-based term and offer a new way to understand recurrence through the lens of chronic ambivalence, self-compassion, and trauma-informed care. You’ll hear why language matters, how shame can block healing, and why we must stop reducing people to their most painful patterns. Instead, the team explores what it means to stay curious, build emotional safety, and make your recovery as...
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Episode 28: Let’s Talk About Volume
Food Shrinks
In this deeply honest and layered conversation, The Food Shrinks—Clarissa Kennedy, Molly Carmel, and Molly Painschab— dive into one of the most misunderstood and rarely talked-about experiences in food addiction recovery: volume of whole foods in food addiction recovery. What begins as a casual check-in quickly becomes a masterclass on the biological, psychological, and emotional roots of overeating. 🔍 What you’ll learn: 🌸Volume addiction might be harder to heal from than sugar and flour because it’s not just about what you eat, but how much and why. 🌸For many, volume eating...
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Episode 27: Help, I Posted on TikTok and Now I Need Therapy!
Food Shrinks
In this vulnerable and fiery episode, the Shrinks crack open a raw conversation about what happens when you dare to speak your truth in a world that’s not always ready to hear it. Molly C. shares the emotional fallout of going viral on TikTok — and getting slammed for it. What started as a conversation about food boundaries quickly turned into a deep dive on childhood bullying, impostor syndrome, clinical appeasement, and the gut-punch of online criticism. The shrinks hold space for one another while exploring big themes: Why it’s so hard not to dim your light when people don’t agree...
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Episode 26: When You Just Don’t Wanna: Recovery in a Motivation Slump
Food Shrinks
Feeling like you're slogging through sludge in your recovery? You're not alone. In this vulnerable and validating episode, the Shrinks get real about what to do when the motivation to stay on track just… isn’t there. From functional freeze to emotional flatness, we unpack what it means when everything feels like too much—even when you know what to do. We explore: Why recovery can feel like pushing through quicksand What “motivation collapse” and “functional freeze” look like in real life The grief that comes with ongoing transformation Why nervous system fatigue and willpower...
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Episode 25: You’re Not Fragile: Unpacking the Power of Fragilization
Food Shrinks
In this episode, the Food Shrinks crew explores a powerful, overlooked concept: fragilization. From personal stories to real recovery insights, the team explores how treating ourselves—or others—as too delicate can actually stall growth, deepen shame, and keep us stuck. Whether it’s in addiction recovery, mental health, or just day-to-day life, fragilization can quietly shape how we show up, ask for help, and relate to our own resilience. We talk about how fragilizing ourselves in depression or post-relapse moments can reinforce powerlessness, and how others fragilizing us—even with...
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Episode 24: Letting Go & Growing Up
Food Shrinks
Welcome to the Food Shrinks podcast! In this heartfelt and honest episode, the Food Shrinks team dives into a powerful listener-submitted question: What happens when the people, places, and things that once brought us comfort no longer fit in our healing and recovery journey? This week, we explore the grief and growth that come with outgrowing relationships, hobbies, environments, and identities that once felt like home. You’ll hear reflections on: • Why things that once felt safe can suddenly feel unbearable • How identity shifts in recovery can affect our...
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Episode 23: Why Can’t I Stay Abstinent—Even After a Health Scare?
Food Shrinks
In this powerful episode, we tackle a question that resonates deeply for so many in recovery: "Why can’t I stay off sugar, even after a life-threatening diagnosis?" We received a heartfelt listener question from someone who has been struggling with sugar addiction for years—even after a cancer diagnosis. This sparked a deep, honest conversation about the nature of addiction, why even fear or facts aren't always enough to inspire change, and how recovery takes more than just motivation—it takes connection, community, repetition, and reframing. 💬 In this episode, we cover: 🌱Why fear,...
info_outlineIn this thought-provoking episode of Food Shrinks, we challenge the concept of self-sabotage and explore a radical reframe—what if it’s not sabotage at all, but an attempt at protection? Join us as we unpack the deeper, more compassionate understanding of behaviors that are often mislabeled as sabotage. Together, we discuss how our brains are wired for survival, not destruction, and how unmet needs, fear, and safety-seeking responses shape our actions.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✔️ Why we don’t believe in self-sabotage—and what we think is actually happening
✔️ The difference between intentional harm (true sabotage) and subconscious protective mechanisms
✔️ How labeling behaviors as “sabotage” can create shame and keep us stuck
✔️ The role of childhood survival mechanisms and nervous system responses in our habits
✔️ Why language matters—how the words we use can either empower us or hold us back
✔️ The impact of chaos, stability, and safety on our decision-making and emotional responses
Key Takeaways & Highlights:
💡 "Your brain is wired for survival, not sabotage." The behaviors we often call sabotage are usually our brain’s way of keeping us safe from discomfort, fear, or overwhelm.
💡 Labeling creates limitations. When we call ourselves “self-saboteurs,” we’re reinforcing a belief that we are our own worst enemy rather than recognizing our need for new coping skills.
💡 Self-compassion is key. Understanding our behaviors through a lens of protection rather than destruction allows for healing and real change.
💡 It’s not sabotage—it’s an unmet need. Instead of asking, “Why am I sabotaging myself?” try asking, “What need is going unmet, and how can I address it in a healthier way?”
💡 Language shapes reality. The words we use—whether “sabotage,” “lazy,” “manipulative,” or others—carry energy and impact how we see ourselves.
Listener Reflection Questions:
🔹 Have you ever labeled your own behaviors as self-sabotage? How did that label impact you?
🔹 What if your “sabotage” was actually your brain trying to protect you? How might that change your perspective?
🔹 What language do you use to describe your struggles? Does it help or hinder your growth?
Join the Conversation:
We’d love to hear your thoughts! Do you believe in self-sabotage, or do you resonate with this reframe? Email us at [email protected] and let us know!
Support the Show!
If you loved this episode, help us keep Food Shrinks going!
✔️ Share this episode with a friend who might need to hear it.
✔️ Follow/subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode.
✔️ Rate & review us—it’s how we grow and stay alive in the podcast world!
Until next time, Food Shrinks—keep it real, keep it kind, and keep exploring! 🎙️🩷
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.