Episode 261: Real Food Recovery: Holistic Healing, Harm Reduction & Building Lifelong Recovery Roots with Jamie Reno and Paige Alexander
Food Junkies Podcast
In this episode, Paige and Jamie from Real Food Recovery join us to explore the powerful intersection of holistic health, nervous system regulation, and long-term recovery from ultra-processed food addiction. They share why they wrote their book, the four core branches that anchor recovery, and why recovery isn’t about perfection—it’s about resilience, compassion, and sustainable support systems that hold us when life falls apart. With honesty and courage, Jamie shares her story of leaving an abusive relationship and navigating destabilization while protecting her recovery....
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Episode 260: Healing Trauma, Shame, and Food Addiction through the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model with Jan Winhall
Food Junkies Podcast
Jan Winhall is a psychotherapist, author, educator, and the developer of the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model (FSPM), a groundbreaking framework that integrates trauma therapy, polyvagal theory, and embodied focusing to understand and treat addiction and trauma. Over more than four decades of clinical work, Jan has specialized in supporting survivors of sexual violence, complex trauma, and addiction with a deeply de-pathologizing, feminist, and body-based lens. She is the founder of the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model Institute, teaches internationally, and collaborates closely with leaders in the...
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Episode 259: Dr. Carrie Wilkens, PhD on Rethinking Addiction Without Shame
Food Junkies Podcast
In this episode of the Food Junkies Podcast, Clarissa and Molly sit down with psychologist Dr. Carrie Wilkens to unpack what it really means to help people change without shame, stigma, or power struggles. Drawing from decades of work in substance use, eating disorders, trauma, and family systems, Carrie invites us to rethink “denial,” “relapse,” “codependency,” and even the disease model itself, while still honoring the seriousness of addiction and the depth of people’s pain. Together, we explore how self-compassion, curiosity, and values-based behavior change can transform not...
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Episode 258: Clinician’s Corner – Holidays Edition: Boundaries, Nervous Systems & the Hella-Days
Food Junkies Podcast
In this Clinician’s Corner episode, Clarissa and Molly dive into what they lovingly (and accurately) call the “Hella-Days”—that stretch from early fall through New Year’s where routines disappear, food is everywhere, emotions are high, and nervous systems are fried. Together, they unpack why this season is so activating for people with food addiction and nervous system sensitivity, and how to navigate it with values, boundaries, and a whole lot of self-compassion—whether you’re surrounded by family or spending the holidays on your own. In This Episode Clarissa & Molly...
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Episode 257: Dr. Nasha Winters, ND, FABNO - Cancer, UPFs, and Metabolic Healing
Food Junkies Podcast
In this episode, we sit down with integrative oncologist and metabolic health pioneer Dr. Nasha Winters (who insists we call her Nasha) to explore the powerful intersection of cancer, ultra-processed foods, metabolism, and sovereignty. Nasha shares her astonishing personal story: years of dismissed symptoms, normalized suffering, and relentless gaslighting that culminated in a diagnosis of end-stage ovarian cancer at age 19—and being sent home to die. Thirty-four years later, she’s very much alive and leading a global movement to rethink cancer as a metabolic, terrain-driven disease rather...
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Episode 256: Dr. Erica LaFata - Diagnosing Ultra-Processed Food Addiction with FASI
Food Junkies Podcast
On this episode of the Food Junkies Podcast, we welcome back Dr. Erica LaFata to dive into her groundbreaking work developing the Food Addiction Severity Interview (FASI) — a clinician-administered diagnostic tool modeled after the SCID alcohol use disorder module and adapted for ultra-processed foods. Building on self-report tools like the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) and mYFAS, Erica explains why the field urgently needs a structured clinical interview to validate ultra-processed food addiction as a distinct psychiatric presentation and move toward formal recognition in the DSM....
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Episode 255: Challenging the Naysayers with Dr. Nicole Avena
Food Junkies Podcast
In this powerful episode, Dr. Vera Tarman and Clarissa Kennedy welcome back Dr. Nicole Avena, one of the first researchers to scientifically validate the concept of food addiction. Together, they unpack the latest critiques of food addiction and explore why this diagnosis is still being challenged – and why the science strongly supports it. 🔍 Key Questions We Tackled Is food addiction “too broad” to be useful? Can we really rely on self-report tools like the Yale Food Addiction Scale? What about brain imaging – doesn’t Kevin Hall’s PET study “disprove” food addiction? Are...
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Food Junkies Recovery Stories Episode 30: Ashley Elizabeth
Food Junkies Podcast
C J shares a moving conversation with Ashley Elizabeth, a woman whose honesty and courage shine through her recovery journey. Ashley is remarkably open about her experience with food addiction and the lifelong impact of being put on a diet at a very young age. Like so many, she spent years trapped in the cycle of obsession, shame, and the constant search for control, returning to foods she didn’t even like just to get her fix. When Ashley first entered a 12-step program, she approached her food plan like another diet, and for a while, it worked. But true transformation came when she embraced...
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Episode 254: Dr. Paul O'Malley
Food Junkies Podcast
Dr. Paul O’Malley is a Los Angeles-based dentist who’s redefining what it means to care for your teeth—and your whole body. With more than 30 years of experience, Dr. O’Malley specializes in biomimetic and holistic dentistry, which basically means he works with your body, not against it. His focus is on preserving your natural tooth structure, using biocompatible materials, and avoiding the “drill and fill” mindset that leaves so many people anxious about the dentist’s chair. He earned his DDS from Creighton University and completed a residency at Baylor University, but what...
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Episode 253: Clinician's Corner - From Rules to Guardrails: Rewriting the Manual for Recovery
Food Junkies Podcast
Molly and Clarissa get real about the spoken and unspoken “rules” we inherit—from family, culture, religion, peers, and recovery spaces—and how those rules can quietly run our lives. They explore when structure is protective (especially early recovery) and when rigidity shrinks our world. The invitation: notice the rule, name whose voice it is, examine its intention, and rewrite it as a flexible, values-aligned boundary (a loving guardrail) that serves your recovery today. What we cover Invisible operating systems: How covert rules (“Don’t cry in public,” “Finish your plate,”...
info_outlineIn this episode, Vera and Renae explore bulimorexia—a term used for people who oscillate between restriction and binge/purge behaviors—and how this mixed pattern might help explain stubborn relapse rates across eating disorders and food addiction. Dr. Norton shares her clinical lens on risks (medical and psychological), why some traditional programs may miss the mark, and what a holistic, skills-based, harm-reduction treatment can look like (family involvement, gentle re-feeding, DBT/EMDR, food quality, and relapse prevention).
Note: Some views expressed are the guest’s opinions and experience. This episode is educational and not medical advice. Please consult your care team.
What we cover
Defining “bulimorexia”: alternating restriction with binge/purge; how it differs from anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa; why it’s easier to hide than classic anorexia.
Continuum vs. categories: where binge eating disorder fits; overlap with food addiction.
Why relapse is common: risks of aggressive refeeding; short-stay residential models; lack of individualized care; missing family systems support.
Medical risks (high-level): cardiac arrhythmias and hypotension, esophageal tears/GERD, laxative misuse and constipation, electrolyte disturbance, kidney strain, dental/enamel erosion, parotid swelling, menstrual disruption and fertility concerns.
Psychological load: anxiety/OCD traits, depression, social avoidance; the “addiction to restricting” and the short-term ‘high’ of hunger.
Treatment principles Dr. Norton uses:
Gentle, stepwise re-feeding (small, frequent meals; stabilize blood sugar; avoid triggering extremes).
Skills over meal plans (shop, prep, and eat whole foods; mindful interoception).
DBT for arousal regulation, plus EMDR and trauma work as indicated.
Family-based involvement (Maudsley-style boundaries and support).
Movement re-entry: slow, safe progression; curbing compulsive exercise.
Relapse prevention: strong parent/caregiver alignment, food routines, anxiety skills, and ongoing monitoring.
Contested terrain: ultra-processed food, additives, and differing regulations by region; the guest’s emphasis on “clean/organic” sourcing.
Intermittent fasting cautions: for restrict-prone folks, it can mask restriction; prefer regular, structured eating.
What recovery can look like: decreased self-hatred, restored relationships, school/work re-engagement, and more flexible functioning.
Resources from the guest: forthcoming book Below the Radar: What They’re Not Telling You About Your Food; wellness tools she finds helpful.
Suggested chapter markers
00:00 Welcome & guest intro
02:20 What is “bulimorexia”? How it differs from AN/BN
10:55 Why relapse stays high; critique of standard programs
18:30 Medical complications: heart, GI, dental, endocrine
28:15 Psychological patterns: anxiety, OCD traits, depression
34:40 Treatment pillars: re-feeding, DBT/EMDR, family work
45:05 Food quality and UPFs: guest’s perspective & debate
53:10 Intermittent fasting cautions; safe movement
58:20 Relapse prevention & outcomes
1:04:10 Advice to clinicians, families, and society
1:08:00 What’s next for Dr. Norton & closing
Key takeaways (listener-friendly)
Mixed patterns (restricting and binge/purge) may be under-recognized and can carry high medical risk.
Slow, individualized re-feeding plus emotion-regulation skills (DBT) and family involvement improve safety and engagement.
If you’re prone to restriction, consistent meals beat fasting.
Recovery gains include less self-hatred, more connection, and functional life goals—progress over perfection.
Sensitive content note
This episode discusses eating-disorder behaviors (restriction, purging, laxatives, insulin manipulation) and medical complications. Please use discretion and support.
Links & mentions
Dr. Renae Norton — Norton Wellness Institute / Mind, Weight & Wellness Pro
Book (forthcoming): Below the Radar: What They’re Not Telling You About Your Food
Maudsley/Family-Based Treatment (FBT) overview
DBT skills resources (distress tolerance, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness)
If you need help now: NEDA (US), BEAT (UK), local crisis lines, or your clinician.
For clinicians
Screen for mixed presentations (restrict + purge), including non-vomit purging (laxatives, insulin manipulation).
Prioritize medical monitoring (vitals, electrolytes) during re-feeding; avoid one-size-fits-all calorie jumps.
Integrate DBT skills, caregiver coaching, and regular eating structure; track arousal and urge patterns.
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcareprovider'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.