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In this week’s episode of Full of Beans, I’m joined by Joshua Hills, a nutritionist, sports therapist, and author of You Can Eat That, whose work challenges diet culture and helps people feel calmer, more flexible, and more themselves around food. Joshua shares how growing up alongside his mum’s experience of anorexia shaped the way he understands food, connection, and recovery. In this episode, we discuss: Joshua’s experience of growing up with a parent with anorexiaHow his mum’s relationship with food shaped his interest in nutritionWhy food is about more than nutrients, and also about connection and enjoymentThe difference between helpful nutrition habits and more disordered patternsWhy the same behaviour can feel supportive for one person, but unhelpful for anotherEmotional eating, and why it is not always something to fearBuilding an “emotional toolbox” rather than relying on one coping strategyHow to start making changes around food without going all-or-nothingWhy balance looks different for everyoneJoshua’s new book, You Can Eat ThatConnect with Us: Subscribe to the Full of Beans PodcastFollow Full of Beans on InstagramCheck out our websiteListen on YouTubeConnect with Joshua via Instagram or email [email protected]⚠️ Content Note: This episode includes discussion of eating disorders, anorexia and disordered eating. Please look after yourself as you listen. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share to help us spread awareness. Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛

In this week’s episode of Full of Beans, I’m joined by Jacqui Russon, an occupational therapist and accredited DBT therapist, to explore the overlap between eating disorders and addiction. We talk about the obsessive thinking, shame, rigidity, and emotional pain that can sit beneath both, and what this means for recovery. In this episode, we discuss: The similarities and differences between eating disorders and addictionWhy neither are simply a “choice”Obsessive thoughts, rigidity, and compensatory behavioursThe role of shame, guilt, and emotional avoidanceWhy understanding the function of behaviours mattersDeveloping safer, more supportive coping strategiesAnger, boundaries, and finding your voice in recoveryWhat occupational therapy actually is (and why it matters)Why recovery needs to involve real-life practice, not just talkingConnect with Us: Subscribe to the Full of Beans PodcastFollow Full of Beans on InstagramCheck out our websiteListen on YouTubeConnect with Jacqui via Purpose People or the Nightingale Hospital⚠️ Content Note: This episode includes discussion of eating disorders, addiction and trauma. Please look after yourself as you listen. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share to help us spread awareness. Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛

In this episode, Hannah is joined by Judy Krasna, Executive Director of F.E.A.S.T. (Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment for Eating Disorders). Judy is a writer and eating disorder advocate based in Israel, and after volunteering for F.E.A.S.T. in multiple capacities, she became the organisation's Executive Director in February 2021. Judy joins Hannah for a deeply moving and insightful conversation about what it means to be a parent supporting a child through an eating disorder: the isolation, the guilt, the exhaustion, and the incredible power of love and community. Judy also shares her own personal journey, including the tragic loss of her daughter Gavriella, who passed away in 2020 after a 13-year battle with anorexia nervosa. This one is raw, honest, and so important. We hope it brings comfort and clarity to any parent or loved one who needs it. In this episode, we talk about: What F.E.A.S.T. is and how it supports families across the worldWhy eating disorders can be so isolating for parents and carersThe damaging impact of parent blame in treatmentWhy families should be seen as part of the solution, not the problemThe long-term impact of trauma on parents supporting a loved oneHow eating disorders can distort trust, self-trust, and family relationshipsWhy support systems are so important in recoveryThe challenge of balancing protection with independenceWhat Judy wants parents at breaking point to knowJudy's incredibly honest reflections on losing her daughter, Gavriella Connect with Us: Subscribe to the Full of Beans PodcastFollow Full of Beans on InstagramCheck out our websiteListen on YouTubeConnect with FEAST via their website (feast-ed.org/)⚠️ Content Note: This episode includes discussion of eating disorders and suicide. Please look after yourself as you listen. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share to help us spread awareness. Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛

In this episode, I'm joined by Mel Nelson, a qualified counsellor, Senior Counsellor at an eating disorder charity (SWEDA), and autism-informed practitioner, to discuss the intersection of undiagnosed neurodiversity, compulsive exercise, and eating disorder behaviours. Mel spent over 25 years working in the dance and fitness industry before retraining as a counsellor, and she brings together a really rare combination of lived experience and professional expertise. We got into some really honest territory in this one, and I think so many of you are going to hear yourselves in this conversation. In this episode, we cover: Why bulimia stays hidden for so long (and the shame that keeps it that way)The "fitting in" feeling and why it can make an eating disorder so hard to spotHow neurodivergence and eating disorders can look so similar from the outsideWhy routine isn't always just a neurodivergent thing (and how to tell the difference)What compulsive exercise and purging have more in common than people realiseThe late diagnosis that changed everything, and why it's never too lateWhy recovery sometimes has to start with the smallest of changesConnect with Us: Subscribe to the Full of Beans PodcastFollow Full of Beans on InstagramCheck out our websiteListen on YouTubeConnect with Mel via her website (newday-counselling.co.uk) or Instagram (@newday_counselling)⚠️ Content Note: This episode includes discussion of eating disorders, compulsive exercise, bulimia, depression, and neurodivergence. Please look after yourself as you listen. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share to help us spread awareness. Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛

This week on the podcast, I’m joined by Holly Marsh, a psychotherapeutic counsellor who specialises in eating disorders in private practice, and someone who also brings her own lived experience of recovery into the room. Holly shares how, during her own recovery, she often found parts of treatment confusing… especially when they seemed to echo the very voice she was trying to challenge of not being "sick enough". That experience has really shaped how she now thinks about recovery, both personally and professionally. What We Cover in This Episode What the “eating disorder voice” actually is (and why it can feel confusing)How the eating disorder can shape-shift and mimic your own thoughtsThe “superpower” feeling and why it can be so hard to let goWhy recovery can feel worse before it feels betterThe role of values in guiding recoveryHow to start separating your thoughts from the eating disorderThe short-term “payoff” that keeps people stuckNavigating relationships and rebuilding trust with loved onesHonesty, identity, and the role of lived experience in recovery and professional workConnect with Us: Subscribe to the Full of Beans PodcastFollow Full of Beans on InstagramCheck out our websiteListen on YouTube⚠️ Content Note: This episode includes discussion of eating disorders, anorexia and recovery. Please take care when listening. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share to help us spread awareness. Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛

In this episode of the Full of Beans Podcast, I’m joined by Professor Hubertus Himmerich, Consultant Psychiatrist and Reader in Eating Disorders at King’s College London, and the principal investigator of the EDEN study. The EDEN study is the first study of its kind exploring whether low-dose oral ketamine, compared with placebo, could support people living with both anorexia nervosa and major depressive disorder. Depression affects around 50% of people with anorexia, and when low mood, anxiety and hopelessness are present, it can make recovery feel incredibly difficult. Traditional antidepressants often don’t work well for people with anorexia, which is why researchers are exploring new approaches. What We Cover in This Episode Why is depression so common in anorexia nervosaWhy SSRIs often don’t work well in this populationThe science behind ketamine and how it affects brain plasticityWhy the EDEN study focuses on improving mood rather than weightHow depression can reduce hope and motivation in recoveryThe difference between medical ketamine treatment and recreational ketamine useHow the study has been shaped by people with lived experienceWhy new treatment approaches needed in the eating disorder fieldIf you're interested in taking part in the EDEN study, the team are currently recruiting participants! Please email [email protected] to find out more! Connect with Us: Subscribe to the Full of Beans PodcastFollow Full of Beans on InstagramCheck out our websiteListen on YouTube⚠️ Content Note: This episode includes discussion of eating disorders, depression, ketamine use and mental health treatment.. Please take care when listening. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share to help us spread awareness. Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛

In this episode of the Full of Beans Podcast, I’m joined by Mel Ciavucco, an integrative counsellor, writer and trainer, to talk about weight stigma and the impact it has on eating disorder treatment and recovery. This conversation explores something that often sits at the heart of eating disorders but is still too often left unspoken: the fear of weight gain, the internalised beliefs people hold about larger bodies, and the ways those beliefs can show up in therapy, treatment, and recovery. In this episode, we explore: What weight stigma is and why it matters in eating disorder workWhy fear of fatness is often central to eating disorder distressHow diet culture and anti-fat bias shape treatment and recoveryWhy people in larger bodies are often overlooked or misunderstood in servicesThe harm caused by focusing on weight loss instead of relationship with foodWhy “don’t worry, we won’t let you get fat” is so problematic in treatmentThe importance of curiosity over reassurance when exploring fear of weight gainHow therapists’ own internalised biases can affect ethical practiceWhy body acceptance and safety are crucial for recoveryHow self-worth, anger, compassion, and social justice can all play a role in healingThis is such an important conversation about compassion, nuance, and creating a world where recovery feels safer for everybody. Connect with Us: Subscribe to the Full of Beans PodcastFollow Full of Beans on InstagramCheck out our websiteListen on YouTubeVisit Mel's website or follow her on Instagram @melciavuccocounsellingContent warning: This episode includes discussion of eating disorders, body image, weight stigma, fatphobia, and disordered eating.

Today I’m joined by Dr Charlotte Markey, Professor of Psychology at Rutgers University and a world-leading expert in body image research with over 25 years of research into body image and eating behaviours. Girls today are facing growing pressures around appearance, and with the rise of social media and the lasting impact of the pandemic, it’s becoming even harder for young people to feel confident and comfortable in their bodies. Charlotte’s updated book, The Body Image Book for Girls, is designed for ages 9–15 and gives practical, evidence-based tools to help girls understand puberty, navigate social media, challenge body image myths, and build a healthier relationship with their bodies. If you’re a parent, teacher, clinician, or someone who cares about the pressures young people are growing up with today, this conversation is for you. Key Takeaways: Why Charlotte released an updated edition, and what’s changed in recent yearsHow shame keeps body image struggles hidden, and why open conversations matterThe different body pressures facing girls and boys todayWhy body image concerns often linger, even in eating disorder recoverySocial media as a risk factor and how to make your feed saferWhy puberty can be a particularly vulnerable time for girls’ body imageHow parents and educators can respond: validate first, ask questions, and seek support earlyTimestamps: 00:00: Introduction and Charlotte’s background03:40: Why the book exists and the importance of early support12:20: Clinical insights: body image and eating disorder recovery21:35: Social media, algorithms, and taking breaks30:10: Puberty and body changes38:35: Supporting young people: what adults can doResources & Links The Body Image Book series: TheBodyImageBook.comConnect with Us: Subscribe to the Full of Beans PodcastFollow Full of Beans on InstagramCheck out our websiteListen on YouTube⚠️ Content Note: This episode includes discussion of body dissatisfaction, eating disorders, weight and appearance pressures, puberty, and social media. Please take care when listening. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share to help us spread awareness. Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛

In this week's episode of Full of Beans, Han is joined by Vanessa Longley, CEO of BEAT, the UK’s eating disorder charity. Vanessa is also a mum to a 21-year-old who is in recovery, and she brings a deeply compassionate perspective on what it’s really like to support someone you love through an eating disorder. This conversation was recorded during Eating Disorder Awareness Week, where the theme is community, and it really sits at the heart of this conversation. From the fear carers often carry in silence, to the power of ordinary conversations and shared moments, Vanessa shares what helps people keep going through the hardest days. If you’re supporting someone with an eating disorder and feeling overwhelmed… if you’re in recovery and rebuilding trust with the people around you… or if you care about improving eating disorder support and services, this episode is for you. Key Takeaways: Why community can be a powerful protective factor in recoveryWhat carers often carry behind the scenes, and why they need support tooThe instinct to “rescue” and how to support without letting fear leadWhy you don’t need to be an expert in food, you need to be yourself The importance of ordinary conversations and shared interestsHow modelling a future, a life beyond the illness, supports recoveryWhy collaboration between charities, clinicians, researchers and lived experience mattersHow BEAT supports people with eating disorders and those who care about themVanessa’s message: recovery is possible, and asking for help is the first stepTimestamps: 00:00: Introduction and Vanessa’s role at BEAT04:30: Vanessa’s personal journey and experience as a parent10:30: Supporting carers and managing fear19:30: The role of community and finding support26:00: Supporting someone day-to-day and staying connected32:00: Collaboration, research, and improving services44:00: BEAT resources and where to get helpResources & Links Visit Beat's Website to find information, phone, webchat, and email support and the helpfinder for eating disorder support in your local areaConnect with Us: Subscribe to the Full of Beans PodcastFollow Full of Beans on InstagramCheck out our websiteListen on YouTube⚠️ Trigger Warning: Mentions of eating disorders, relapse, inpatient care, food restriction, carer stress/anxiety, and mortality risk. Please take care when listening. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help us spread awareness. Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛

Today I'm joined by Dr Courtney Raspin, a Chartered Counselling Psychologist and Clinical Director of Altum Health, a specialist eating disorders and mental health clinic in London. Courtney has over 25 years of clinical experience, including a decade in one of the NHS's largest eating disorder services. She's just co-authored a book called The Weight Loss Prescription with psychiatrist Dr Max Pemberton (available 26th Feb!) - a book about the psychology of GLP-1 weight loss medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro. Given her background in eating disorders, Courtney has a nuanced perspective on weight loss medications, which I think is really important to hear. If you’re in eating disorder recovery and feeling unsettled by the rise of GLP-1 medications… if you’ve noticed feelings of jealousy, confusion or fear around them… or if you’re trying to understand where health support ends and diet culture begins, this conversation is for you. Key Takeaways: How Courtney’s work in eating disorders shaped her approach to weight managementThe warning signs of high drive for thinnessWhy weight loss doesn’t automatically improve body imageThe difference between body neutrality and body positivityWhy GLP-1 medications aren’t inherently harmfulThe risks of unregulated access, online prescribing, and counterfeit medicationThe various causes of “food noise” and why GLP-1 medications may helpWhat psychological support in weight management actually involvesCourtney’s guidance on GLP-1s and eating disorder recoveryTimestamps: 00:00 Courtney’s journey into weight management05:00 Body neutrality and realistic body image work08:30 Understanding GLP-1s: benefits, risks and misconceptions12:00 Food noise and why context matters16:00 The psychological work behind lasting change21:00 Health vs the thin ideal27:00 Tensions within the ED field and professional responses31:30 What to consider before starting GLP-1s34:30 Courtney’s book and final adviceResources & Links Follow @drcourtneyraspin on InstagramConnect with Us: Subscribe to the Full of Beans PodcastFollow Full of Beans on InstagramCheck out our websiteListen on YouTube⚠️ Trigger Warning: Mentions of eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, binge eating), restriction, weight loss, GLP-1 medications, and body image. Please take care when listening. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help us spread awareness. Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛

In this episode of Full of Beans, Han is joined by Jo Read, a mum to two daughters, ARFID advocate and 1/3 of 3 Mums 1 Mission ARFID. Jo's youngest daughter, Ethel, is diagnosed with ARFID and is awaiting an autism assessment. Since supporting Ethel through her sensory-based eating difficulties, Jo has poured her energy into raising awareness, because when you’re living it, ARFID can feel unbelievably isolating. If you’re a parent or carer navigating food fears, sensory sensitivities, “helpful” comments that aren’t helpful, and the constant planning that comes with ARFID, this one is for you. You’re not doing it wrong. You’re responding to a very real, very complex need. Key Takeaways: The reality of ARFID as a genuine fear that can override hungerSensory sensitivities (texture, smell, predictability) are at the core of ARFIDWhy consistency and familiarity make certain foods feel saferThe limits of BMI as a marker of health in children with arfidHow sensory overload at mealtimes can increase food avoidanceThe impact of ARFID on family life, routines, siblings and social plansWhy “just stop feeding them” advice doesn’t work for ARFIDThe value of community, advocacy and finding people who understandHow progress in ARID can look small but still be meaningfulTimestamps: 00:00 Jo’s story and Ethel’s ARFID diagnosis02:20 Early Signs of ARFID 05:30 BMI and Nutrition10:50 Safe foods, Predictability and Super Senses 14:10 The Sensory Overload of Eating 17:00 Family Impact: Days Out, Siblilngs, Friends20:20 Social Judgement and Support29:00 Looking Ahead and Slow ProgressResources & Links Follow @eff_and_arfid on InstagramListen to the 3Mums1Mission ARFID PodcastConnect with Us: Subscribe to the Full of Beans PodcastFollow Full of Beans on InstagramCheck out our websiteListen on YouTube⚠️ Trigger Warning: Mentions of eating disorders, ARFID. Please take care when listening. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help us spread awareness. Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛

In this episode of Full of Beans, Hannah is joined by Sarah Woodruff, mum to Grace and 1/3 of the podcast 3Mums1MissionARFID. Sarah co-created the podcast after feeling deeply isolated navigating her daughter’s eating difficulties, wanting to create a space where parents could hear stories that reflected their own and feel less alone. In this conversation, Sarah shares Grace’s journey in more depth, including the years of uncertainty, dismissal, escalation, and the ongoing reality of supporting a child with ARFID and autism. This episode is for parents, carers, and SEN professionals who are feeling unheard or wondering whether they’re “overreacting.” It offers reassurance that you’re not imagining it, permission to trust your instincts, and comfort in knowing that others have walked a similar path. Above all, it’s a reminder that ARFID is complex, individual, and never a result of bad parenting. Key takeaways: What ARFID can look like beyond early childhoodWhy the term “late-onset ARFID” deserves questioning.How autism, sensory overwhelm and anxiety can affect eatingWhy emetophobia (fear of vomiting) can make eating feel genuinely unsafeHow school stress and transitions can exacerbate ARFID in childrenHow ARFID differs from “fussy eating” How food avoidance can lead to weight loss, distress, or social isolationHow lowering pressure around food can support ARFID recoveryThe power of parental intuition, even when professionals dismiss concernsTimestamps: 02:50 Grace’s early eating and when things began to change07:40 Anxiety, school stress, and the escalation of food restriction10:10 ARFID, emetophobia, and reaching crisis point13:30 Hospital care, NG tube feeding, and diagnosis22:50 Autism, masking, and questioning “late-onset” ARFID29:00 What helped: reducing pressure and rebuilding safety36:20 A message for parents who are questioning themselvesResources & Links Listen to the 3Mums1Mission ARFID PodcastConnect with Us: Subscribe to the Full of Beans PodcastFollow Full of Beans on InstagramCheck out our websiteListen on YouTube⚠️ Trigger Warning: Mentions of eating disorders, ARFID, NG tube feeding. Please take care when listening. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help us spread awareness. Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛

In this week's episode, Han is joined by Michelle Jacques. Michelle is a devoted mum of two who has lived with ARFID since her son started weaning. Through her own experience of supporting her son with ARFID, she has become a passionate advocate, working tirelessly to raise awareness and support others navigating life with this complex food intake disorder. She is the founder of @arfid_life_uk, where she raises awareness of ARFID by sharing her family's experience. This episode holds space for the grief, the guilt, the fight, and also the hope, including the unexpected shift Michelle has seen as her son’s body becomes nourished again. This week, we discuss: What ARFID can look like and how it can go beyond “picky eating.”How sensory differences, autistic eating, and ARFID can overlapHow illness can trigger choking fears and a trauma response that reinforces food avoidanceWhat it’s like when a child’s intake drops to just a couple of “safe” itemsWhat a PEG (gastrostomy tube) is and how PEG feeding can support ARFIDThe emotional impact of PEG decisions for parents, including grief andguiltWhy nutrition can change anxiety, rigidity, and capacityThe role of advocacy in ARFID awarenessHow to document ARFID symptoms to report to a doctorTimestamps: 03:10 Sensory differences, autism, and how ARFID developed over time07:40 Illness, choking fears, and how trauma can collapse food intake09:15 Hospitalisation: constipation and appendix surgery18:30 What a PEG is (and what people often misunderstand about it)29:40 How PEG feeding can support ARFID41:30 Guilt, grief, and learning to let the feelings exist45:10 ARFID Advocacy workResources & Links Follow @arfid_life_uk on InstagramListen to the 3Mums1Mission ARFID PodcastConnect with Us: Subscribe to the Full of Beans PodcastFollow Full of Beans on InstagramCheck out our websiteListen on YouTube⚠️ Trigger Warning: Mentions of eating disorders, ARFID, NG tube feeding. Please take care when listening. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help us spread awareness. Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛

Kel O’Neill is a UK-based counsellor, educator, researcher, and lived-experience advocate specialising in eating disorders. She is the founder of Mental Health Bites, creator of The Eating Disorder Recovery Companion, and the curator of VOXED – Voices of Experience in Eating Disorders. Kel’s work focuses on ethical, trauma-informed practice, challenging stigma, and bridging the gap between lived experience and professional knowledge. This week, we discuss: What VoxED is and why Kel created it.Why eating disorder education often feels inaccessible, and what VoxED is doing differently.How VoxED broadens “lived experience” to include clinicians, carers, researchers and community voices.Why lived experience shouldn’t be tokenistic, and how it can be valued as expertise.Why the eating disorder field needs shared spaces for nuanced, difficult conversations.How recovery goes beyond food and weight to identity, meaning and living.Timestamps: 00:00: What is VoxED?02:10 :Where did the idea began (EDAW 2021)05:10: Who's speaking at VoXED06:40: Moving beyond “tick-box” lived experience08:10: The purpose of VoxED: shared space + shared power14:40: Why change has been slow in eating disorders (and what’s missing)21:10: Recovery beyond food and weight: identity, meaning, and living42:10: VoxED details: date, access, recordings, and low-cost ticketsVoxED conference details: Date: Friday 13th FebruaryFormat: Fully online (9:00–18:30, with breaks)Tickets: self-select pricing options £20 / £37 / £50Resources & Links Follow Kel on Instagram (@kel_mhb)Visit Kel's website (www.counsellingandtraining.co.uk) to find out more about VOXEDSubscribe to the Full of Beans PodcastFollow Full of Beans on InstagramCheck out our websiteListen on YouTubeIf you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help us spread awareness. Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛

In this week's episode, Han is joined by Michelle Jacques, Sarah Woodruff and Jo Read. Together, they are the hosts of 3Mums1MissionARFID, which is on a mission to raise awareness regarding ARFID as a result of their experience of navigating their own experience of supporting their children with ARFID. This week, we discuss: What ARFID is and how it differs from “fussy eating”How sensory sensitivity, gag reflexes, and nervous system overload affect eatingHow fear of choking and emetophobia (fear of vomiting) can drive food avoidanceHow illness and medical trauma can cause sudden drops in food intakeWhat it feels like to parent a child with ARFID, including guilt, grief, and constant vigilanceHow dismissal and judgment from professionals and others impact familiesWhat an ARFID diagnosis can offer, and where support often still falls shortHow NG and PEG feeding can become part of ARFID care and the complex emotions that come with itHow school stress, anxiety, and social pressures can contribute to late-onset ARFIDWhy peer connection and lived-experience support are so powerful for parentsTimestamps: 04:20 Why they started Three Mums One Mission: ARFID11:00 Jo: sensory sensitivity, gag reflex, and “typical” feeding advice that didn’t fit20:50 Michelle: illness triggers, supplements, and PEG feeding32:00 Sarah: late-onset ARFID, school anxiety, crisis point + hospital experienceResources & Links Follow @3Mums1MissionARFID on Instagram Connect with Us: Subscribe to the Full of Beans PodcastFollow Full of Beans on InstagramCheck out our websiteListen on YouTube⚠️ Trigger Warning: Mentions of eating disorders, ARFID, NG tube feeding. Please take care when listening. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help us spread awareness. Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛