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Shoulders Down

Advertise on podcast: Shoulders Down

Rating
★★★★★
4.9
from
66 reviews
This podcast has
151 episodes
Language
English
Publisher
Leah Kern
Explicit
No
Date created
2022/03/30
Latest episode
2026/10/05
Average duration
47 min.
Release period
13 days

Description

When you live in the diet mindset, you spend much of your time living in your head- constantly tallying, dwelling, and stressing over your food and lifestyle choices. When you become an intuitive eater, you learn to drop into your body and start living shoulders down. The territory below your shoulders contains your innate wisdom and power. Shoulders Down is a podcast designed to teach you how to harness your intuition to govern not just how you eat but also how you live. Shoulders Down Podcast is hosted by Anti-Diet Dietitian and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Leah Kern, who works with clients to heal their relationships with food in her private practice, Leah Kern Nutrition. Disclaimer: All content in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. The information and education provided is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis.

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Check latest episodes from Shoulders Down podcast


🫶 It's Not About Food: What’s Underneath Emotional Eating with Kathy Most, LCSW
2026/10/05
In this episode of Shoulders Down, Leah chats with psychotherapist, mindset coach, and author Kathy Most to explore what’s really underneath emotional eating and binge eating. Kathy shares her own experience developing disordered eating in college and how that experience ultimately led her to a career helping others heal their relationships with food and their bodies. Together, Leah and Kathy unpack how food can become a coping skill for uncomfortable emotions and unmet needs. The role of control in emotional eating, and how self-compassion and curiosity can break cycles of shame and self-judgment. They also explore the mind-body connection, how our thoughts shape our experiences with food and body image, and why learning to feel our feelings and reconnect with the body is essential for rebuilding self-trust and intuition. You’ll hear about: Kathy’s personal experience with emotional eating and binge eating and how it shaped her career as a therapistWhy food is often the symptom rather than the underlying problemThe connection between emotional eating, control, uncomfortable emotions, and unmet needsHow self-compassion and curiosity can help interrupt cycles of shame and self-judgmentWhat it actually means to feel your feelings and rebuild trust with your bodyMentioned in this episode: E-Squared by Pam Grout: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/601492/e-squared-by-pam-grout/The Guest House by Rumi: https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/guest-house/👩‍🔬 How Intuitive Eating Impacts Your Metabolism and Digestion - Leah’s previous episode exploring how your thoughts and beliefs about food can impact digestion and your body’s physiological responseMore from Kathy Most: Website: https://kathymost.comKM Mindset Library on SubstackKM Mindset Library on Insight TimerLife Lessons from Both Sides of the Couch, available October 6thMore From Leah: Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackApply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah’s Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]🎧 Join the waitlist for my audio course, 10 Steps To Food Freedom. Doors open in early November and waitlisters get an exclusive 30% off discoumt code.
🍍The Wellness Culture Rabbit Hole: Orthorexia, Anxiety & Conventional Medicine with Sarah Jane Garcia
2026/09/21
In this episode of Shoulders Down, Leah sits down with Sarah Jane Garcia, a certified intuitive eating counselor and specialty pharmacist, to talk about her journey from bingeing and restriction into obsessive “clean eating,” and ultimately toward a more peaceful relationship with food. Sarah Jane shares how her pursuit of health gradually pulled her deeper into wellness culture, even leading her to become an integrative health practitioner herself. She opens up about how pregnancy and motherhood intensified the pressure she felt to optimize her health, from restrictive protocols and supplements to fears about feeding her children the “right” foods. She shares the experiences that helped her recognize her orthorexia, discover intuitive eating, and begin dismantling the beliefs she’d absorbed about food, health, and personal responsibility. Leah and Sarah Jane also explore the tension between wellness culture and conventional medicine, Sarah Jane’s evolving relationship with her work as a pharmacist, and the importance of making room for nuance rather than trading one rigid framework for another. You'll hear about: How Sarah Jane’s relationship with food evolved from bingeing and restriction into orthorexiaThe ways wellness culture can prey on anxiety, perfectionism, and the pressure to optimize our healthHow pregnancy and motherhood intensified Sarah Jane’s food fearsSarah Jane’s experience navigating wellness culture and conventional medicine as a pharmacistFinding nuance around medication, mental health, food, and wellnessMore From Sarah Jane: Website: sarahjgarcia.comintuitiveeatingcollab.com a membership for moms healing their relationships with food and body while working to break the cycle for their children👆Use code SHOULDERS19 for the exclusive listener discount of $19/monthMore From Leah: 📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackApply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]🎧 Join the waitlist for my audio course, 10 Steps To Food Freedom. Doors open in early November and waitlisters get an exclusive 30% off discoumt code.
🌀 GLP-1s, Informed Consent, & the Fight for Size-Inclusive Healthcare with Jackie Liu
2026/09/08
In this episode of Shoulders Down, Leah sits down with Jackie Liu, a third-year medical student at Harvard Medical School and co-lead of advocacy for Medical Students for Size Inclusivity (MSSI), to explore weight stigma in medicine and what it takes to create more size-inclusive healthcare (HINT: GLP-1s are NOT the answer). Jackie shares their personal journey from struggling with disordered eating and body image to discovering fat studies and weight-inclusive approaches to health. Together, Leah and Jackie unpack how weight bias can become embedded in medical training, the ways fat phobia shows up in healthcare settings, and the incredible work MSSI is doing to advocate for more equitable care. They also discuss the rise of GLP-1 medications and why informed consent and patient autonomy are essential components of size-inclusive medicine. This conversation offers a hopeful look at the medical students and future providers working to challenge weight stigma from within the healthcare system. You'll hear about: Jackie's journey from struggling with body image and disordered eating to discovering fat liberation and weight-inclusive careHow weight bias and fat phobia can become embedded in medical education and healthcare cultureWhy Medical Students for Size Inclusivity exists and how the organization is working to create changeThe barriers to providing truly weight-inclusive healthcareGLP-1 medications, informed consent, and the importance of protecting patient autonomyMentioned in this Episode: 📊 The Weight Loss Research Nobody Talks About with Ragen Chastain💛 Lived Experience with Ozempic—Jamie's Story & An Overview of The FactsMedical Students for Size Inclusivity (MSSI)Association for Weight and Size Inclusive MedicineMore From Jackie: MSSI's GLP-1 Informed Consent GuideMore From Leah: 📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackApply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]🎧 Join the waitlist for my audio course, 10 Steps To Food Freedom. Doors open in early November and waitlisters get an exclusive 30% off discoumt code.
📢 You're allowed to care about health.
2026/08/24
Less podcast episode, more PSA.  More From Leah: 📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackApply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]🎧 Join the waitlist for my audio course, 10 Steps To Food Freedom. Doors open in early November and waitlisters get an exclusive 30% off discoumt code.
🏃‍♀️ What If Movement Wasn't About Changing Your Body? Exploring Attuned Exercise with Martha Munroe
2026/08/10
In this episode of Shoulders Down, Leah sits down with Martha Munroe, author of Attuned Exercise, to explore what it means to build a healthier relationship with movement. Drawing from over two decades in the fitness industry and her background in positive psychology and embodiment, Martha shares a compassionate alternative to the shame, guilt, and perfectionism that so often define exercise routines. Martha shares how her perspective on fitness evolved after recognizing the harm caused by weight-centric messaging and toxic fitness culture. Together, she and Leah unpack the difference between exercising from a place of self-criticism versus self-compassion, why motivation rooted in shame rarely lasts, and how reconnecting with your body can make movement feel supportive rather than punishing. Whether you're recovering from chronic dieting, healing your relationship with exercise, or simply looking for a more sustainable approach to movement, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective rooted in curiosity, body trust, and self-respect. You'll hear about: What attuned exercise is and how it differs from traditional fitness cultureWhy self-compassion is a more sustainable motivator than guilt, shame, or self-criticismHow diet culture and beauty ideals shape our relationship with movementThe role of embodiment and body trust in creating a healthier exercise practicePractical ways to reconnect with movement after burnout, perfectionism, or chronic dietingMentioned in this episode: 🏄‍♀️ Finding Pleasure in Movement with Hannah Husband🏃‍♀️ Extractive vs. Regenerative Movement: Reframing Your Relationship with Running with Karly Borden💪 Diet-Culture Free, Weight Neutral Fitness with Kira OnyskoMore From Martha: Website: https://www.attunedexercise.com/Instagram: @attunedexerciseAttuned Exercise BlogAttuned Exercise Book & WorkbookMore From Leah: 📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackApply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]🎧 Join the waitlist for my audio course, 10 Steps To Food Freedom. Doors open in early November and waitlisters get an exclusive 30% off discoumt code.
✊ Rage is the Answer: Body Liberation, Psychedelics, & Unlearning Fatphobia with Paula D. Atkinson
2026/07/27
In this episode of Shoulders Down, Leah sits down with licensed psychotherapist Paula D. Atkinson to explore the intersection of body image, eating disorders, social justice, and body liberation. Paula shares her personal journey from growing up as a fat child, developing anorexia as a teenager, and eventually becoming a therapist, educator, and advocate for body justice. Together, Leah and Paula discuss the history of fatphobia, the limitations of weight-centric definitions of health, and why healing body image requires more than individual self-acceptance. Their conversation explores the role of systemic oppression in shaping body image, the power of critical thinking in diet culture recovery, and how anger can become a catalyst for liberation rather than something to suppress. You'll hear about: Paula's journey from anorexia recovery to becoming a body liberation therapist and educatorWhat teaching a university course on weight, health, and society revealed about diet culture and the "obesity epidemic"The role of rage in disordered eating and body image healingWhy external validation can never replace genuine self-acceptanceHow body image healing intersects with social justice, oppression, and collective liberationPaula's perspective on anger, psychedelics, and other unexpected pathways to body liberationMore From Paula: Website: https://www.pauladatkinson.comInstagram: @pauladatkinsonMore From Leah: 📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackApply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]🎧 Join the waitlist for my audio course, 10 Steps To Food Freedom. Doors open in early November and waitlisters get an exclusive 30% off discoumt code.
🧇 How to Figure Out What You're Craving
2026/07/13
Being in touch with your body’s cues is one of the central pieces of intuitive eating. But what if, when asking your body “what are you craving?” you hear crickets…  In this episode, Leah helps you think through how to actually figure out what you’re craving.  She covers several practical tips you can implement immediately to help guide you towards what you’re body is asking for. 👉 ENROLL IN WHAT TO EAT, a workshop on August 10th, 2026 Mentioned In This Episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1961653/episodes/19362722More From Leah: 📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackApply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]🎧 Join the waitlist for my audio course, 10 Steps To Food Freedom. Doors open in early November and waitlisters get an exclusive 30% off discoumt code.
🍎 Fat-Lived Experience as a Dietitian, Body Grief, and Endocrine Conditions with Chelsea Levy
2026/07/06
In this episode of Shoulders Down, Leah sits down with Chelsea Levy, MS, RDN, a weight-inclusive dietitian specializing in eating disorders, PCOS, diabetes, and endocrine-related conditions. Chelsea shares her personal journey from chronic dieting and weight cycling to discovering intuitive eating while studying to become a dietitian. Together, Leah and Chelsea explore the realities of living in a weight-centric world, the impact of weight stigma on healthcare and body image, and why body respect can sometimes be a more accessible goal than body love. They also discuss body image grief, the challenges of navigating medical spaces in larger bodies, and how self-compassion can help us move toward a more peaceful relationship with ourselves. You'll hear about: Chelsea's experience with chronic dieting and weight cyclingHow discovering intuitive eating changed her relationship with food and bodyWhat it means to practice weight-inclusive careWhy body image healing often involves griefWhat the medical industry is getting wrong about PCOS and diabetes recommendationsThe difference between body positivity, body neutrality, and body respectMore From Chelsea Levy: Website: https://chelsealevynutrition.comInstagram: @chelsealevynutritionMore From Leah: 📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackApply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]🎧 Join the waitlist for my audio course, 10 Steps To Food Freedom. Doors open in early November and waitlisters get an exclusive 30% off discoumt code.
😐 Why It Feels So Hard to Figure Out What To Eat (& How To Fix It)
2026/06/29
In this solo episode, Leah talks about why it can feel so hard to figure out what to eat when you’re coming from a history of dieting. She outlines some of the main obstacles she sees clients running into, and then offers a solution for how to transition into intuitive eating without feeling like you’re free falling. She gets into: Why figuring out what to eat is likely a muscle you haven’t strengthenHow loosing the structure of dieting can feel destabilizing and overwhelming.The obstacle of knowing what sounds good but not knowing how to reconcile that with what would feel good in your body.The missing nutrition education necessary to be able to make informed eating decisions.A brand new tool Leah created to give you gentle structure in figuring out what to eat, without rigid diet rules. 👉 ENROLL IN WHAT TO EAT, a workshop on August 10th, 2026 More From Leah: 📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackApply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]🎧 Join the waitlist for my audio course, 10 Steps To Food Freedom. Doors open in early November and waitlisters get an exclusive 30% off discoumt code.
📊 The Weight Loss Research Nobody Talks About with Ragen Chastain
2026/06/22
In this episode of Shoulders Down, Leah sits down with Ragen Chastain, speaker, researcher, board-certified patient advocate, and leading voice in the fields of weight science, weight stigma, and healthcare. Ragen shares her personal journey from years of chronic dieting and an eating disorder to becoming a weight-inclusive health advocate. She explains what happened when she conducted an extensive review of the weight loss literature and discovered that the evidence did not support many of the claims she had been taught to believe. Together, Leah and Ragen explore the intersection of weight science, healthcare, and stigma, unpacking why weight-inclusive care is an evidence-based approach and how weight-centered healthcare can create harm for patients in larger bodies. You’ll hear about: Ragen's experience with dieting, weight cycling, and eating disorder recoveryCommon misconceptions about weight science and healthcareThe impact of weight stigma on patient careHow Ragen became involved in fat activism and weight-inclusive healthcare advocacyWhat healthcare providers often get wrong about weight and healthThe growing influence of GLP-1 medications and how they are being marketedMore From Ragen: Newsletter: Weight and HealthcareHealth at Every Size® Health SheetsBlog: Dances With FatInstagram: @ragenchastainMore From Leah: 📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackApply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]🎧 Join the waitlist for my audio course, 10 Steps To Food Freedom. Doors open in early November and waitlisters get an exclusive 30% off discoumt code.
✌️Responding To Hate Comments From The Jillian Michaels Debate
2026/06/08
In this episode, I respond to and unpack some of the most common comments I received after the viral Jillian Michaels vs. Body Positivity debate video was published. I’ll be honest: it took me a long time to record this episode. Reading through hostile and misinformed comments is unpleasant. But I ultimately decided this conversation was worth having, because the comments reveal deep misunderstandings about weight, health, and what ethical nutrition care actually looks like. In this episode, I cover: Why I said that I believe its unethical to encourage  weight los ( and how this differs from judging people who choose to pursue weight loss.The flawed assumption that a dietitian’s role is to control someone’s body sizeWhy weight is not a measure of healthThe criticism I received from fellow dietitians and why this hurt the mostMentioned in the episode: Behind the Scenes of the "Jillian Michaels vs Body Positivity" Debate with Edie StarkWe Watched The Jillian Michaels Debate Back... And Had Thoughts with Edie StarkUnpacking the Viral Jubilee Body Positivity Debate with Marcy GuevaraYou're Not Wrong For Desiring Weight Loss 5 Reasons Why Your Weight Doesn't Determine Your Health🎧 Join the waitlist for my audio course, 10 Steps To Food Freedom. Doors open in early November and waitlisters get an exclusive 30% off discoumt code.
🌞 Intuitive Eating 5 Years Later: Parts Work, Group Fitness, & Cycle Syncing with Lizzie
2026/05/25
In this episode of Shoulders Down, Leah reconnects with former client Lizzie Marks for a conversation about what intuitive eating looks like five years later — and how healing your relationship with food can ripple into every area of life. Lizzie shares how her early intuitive eating journey began with swinging fully away from rigid food rules and exercise habits, and how she eventually found her way toward a more nuanced middle ground with movement, nutrition, and self-trust. Together, Leah and Lizzie explore how concepts from Internal Family Systems (IFS) and parts work have helped Lizzie navigate the return of old diet thoughts without fear or shame. They also discuss how Lizzie now approaches group fitness, movement, and food choices with more flexibility, nuance, and an ongoing commitment to trusting her intuition around food and body. You’ll hear about: What intuitive eating looks like for Lizzie in the early stages vs. nowHow intuitive eating can impact decision-making in other areas of lifeReclaiming exercise classes and fitness challenges from diet cultureUsing parts work and IFS to navigate lingering diet thoughtsIntegrating cycle-syncing and how even that requires an intuitive approachWhat Lizzie is focused on as she continues her intuitive eating journeyMore From Leah: 📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackApply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]🎧 Join the waitlist for my audio course, 10 Steps To Food Freedom. Doors open in early November and waitlisters get an exclusive 30% off discoumt code.
🧠 ADHD, Body Image & Intuitive Eating: Making Sense of the Overlap with Brittany Modell
2026/05/11
In this episode of Shoulders Down, Leah sits down with Brittany Modell to explore the nuanced relationship between ADHD, body image, and eating behaviors — and how neurodivergence can shape our experience with food in ways that are often misunderstood. Brittany shares her personal story growing up immersed in diet culture, from early Weight Watchers meetings to navigating a lifelong sense of feeling “out of control” around food. Together, she and Leah unpack how ADHD can intensify food thoughts, disrupt hunger and fullness cues, and complicate traditional approaches to intuitive eating. This conversation brings much-needed compassion and clarity to the intersection of neurodivergence and anti-diet work — offering a perspective that moves beyond willpower and into understanding. You’ll hear about: How growing up in diet culture shapes early food and body beliefsThe connection between ADHD and constant thoughts about foodWhy traditional nutrition advice often falls short for neurodivergent peopleHow impulsivity, dopamine-seeking, and structure impact eating patternsWhat a more supportive, individualized approach to food can look likeMentioned in this episode: 16 Satisfying Trader Joe’s Snack Ideas From An Intuitive Eating Dietitian🌵7 Unpopular Takes on Intuitive Eating & Body ImageMore From Brittany: Website: www.brittanymodellrd.comInstagram & TikTok: @nofoodfearsBlog: Why ADHD Makes Body Image More ComplicatedMore From Leah: 📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackApply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]🎧 Join the waitlist for my audio course, 10 Steps To Food Freedom. Doors open in early November and waitlisters get an exclusive 30% off discoumt code.
🏃‍♀️ Extractive vs. Regenerative Movement: Reframing Your Relationship with Running with Karly Borden
2026/04/27
In this episode of Shoulders Down, Leah sits down with Karly Borden, founder of The Public Run Club, to explore what it really looks like to rebuild a relationship with running after disordered eating. Karly shares her personal story of navigating eating disorder recovery and the often-overlooked challenge of returning to exercise in a way that feels safe, grounded, and self-trust-driven. Together, they unpack the tension between discipline and intuition, and why so many people feel stuck in the “murky middle” of movement — not fully disordered, but not fully free either. Leah and Karly also dive into Karly’s Intuitive Athlete Cycle, a powerful framework for approaching movement in a sustainable, non-extractive way that honors the body’s natural rhythms rather than forcing constant progress. You’ll hear about: Karly’s personal journey with running, disordered eating, and recoveryWhy movement is often the missing piece in eating disorder recoveryThe difference between extractive vs. regenerative movementHow to approach fitness goals without slipping into disordered patternsKarly’s Intuitive Athlete Cycle and how it supports sustainable movementPractical tools for tuning into your body before, during, and after exerciseMentioned in the Episode: 🎢 My Story (unfiltered, the whole saga)🏃‍♀️ Disordered Eating in the Running Community with Serena MarieMore from Karly: Website: https://www.thepublicrunclub.comInstagram: @thepublicrunclubKind and Consistent Jump Start Waitlist: https://thepublicrunclub.com/kcjsMore From Leah: 📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackApply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]📚 Sources 📚 On the body as a site of self-trust: Inspired by Caldwell, C., & Leighton, L. B. (Eds.). (2018). Oppression and the Body: Roots, Resistance, and Resolutions. North Atlantic Books.On the hypothetical gaze, body-object, and eating disorders emerging in puberty: McBride, H. L. (2019). “Embodiment and Body Image: Relating and Exploring Constructs.” In H. L. McBride & J. L. Kwee (Eds.), Embodiment and Eating Disorders: Theory, Research, Prevention and Treatment. Routledge.🎧 Join the waitlist for my audio course, 10 Steps To Food Freedom. Doors open in early November and waitlisters get an exclusive 30% off discoumt code.
🔄 Transfer Addiction: When Substance Recovery Shifts Into Orthorexia with Sydney Greene
2026/04/13
In this episode of Shoulders Down, Leah sits down with certified eating disorder specialist Sydney Greene, to explore the overlap between disordered eating and substance use. Sydney shares her personal story of growing up around addiction, developing orthorexia, and later navigating sobriety — only to find her compulsive behaviors shifting toward exercise, clean eating, and wellness. Leah and Sydney unpack how addiction and disordered eating often co-occur, why recovery isn’t always linear, and how socially praised behaviors can mask deeper struggles. Together, they discuss the concept of transfer addiction, how one compulsive behavior can replace another, and why healing requires addressing the underlying unmet needs — not just the behavior itself. ⚠️ Content Warning ⚠️ This episode includes discussion of substance use, addiction, suicidal thoughts, and grief. Listener discretion is advised. You’ll hear about: Sydney’s personal story with substance use and disordered eatingWhat “transfer addiction” means and how it shows up in recoveryWhy sobriety can sometimes intensify disordered eating behaviorsWhy intuitive eating may not be appropriate early in addiction recoveryThe overlap between orthorexia, compulsive exercise, and addictionMentioned in this episode: 🥗 Orthorexia: When “Healthy" Eating Becomes Dangerous🧗‍♀️Wellness Culture in Mountain Towns with Katie Campbell🥛 Proteinification, Pilates, Glucose Monitors & The Wellness Trends That Shaped 2025💰Are You Binge Spending? Where Budget Culture Meets Diet Culture with Rachel Duncan More From Sydney Website: sydneygreenehealth.comInstagram: @greenehealthMore From Leah: 📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackApply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]🎧 Join the waitlist for my audio course, 10 Steps To Food Freedom. Doors open in early November and waitlisters get an exclusive 30% off discoumt code.

Podcast reviews

Read Shoulders Down podcast reviews


4.9 out of 5
66 reviews
★★★★★
Tktk4455 2026/08/24
Love this show!
This show has helped me so much with my relationship with food and Leah is so knowledgeable. Intuitive eating and healing your relationship with food ...
★★★★★
msj2002 2024/09/17
Erica’s discussion!!!
Thank you for this valuable interview with Erica. this podcast is so timely for me personally as I am newly diagnosed with cancer and an intuitive eat...
★★★★★
Vnash96 2024/07/29
Highly recommend!
This podcast is the most genuine intuitive eating podcast I’ve found. I love the humanness Leah brings to the work. Highly recommend this show for any...
★★★★★
calliee123 2024/05/20
Add shoulders down to your rotation
Leah is a thoughtful and engaging host who is able to connect with her guests and listeners in a meaningful way. Add shoulders down to your podcast ro...
★★★★★
AishaSKR 2024/05/15
Leah is a powerhouse
Leah’s knowledge of intuitive eating and nutrition is a powerhouse. I learn so much every time I listen, and the message is so important and necessary...
★★★★★
_Sophie_B 2024/03/18
Thank you, Leah!!
I consider myself incredibly fortunate to be a part of Leah's listening community! Her podcast has been instrumental in guiding and shaping my thought...
★★★★★
Dr.littlebeet 2023/07/05
This podcast is dynamic! I feel heard! Validated! This is what I needed!
Leah is a wonderful story teller and interviewer as she is able to fully give her guests the stage to share their story, while also threading the need...
★★★★★
DCW94 2023/07/03
Leah is an incredible and empathetic host and listener
This podcast not only has an amazing selection of guests, but the conversations with each one achieves a level of depth that helps connect the listene...
★★★★★
gameguru11 2023/06/26
Great job!
Informative, honest and relatable: keep up the good work! Ann F.
★★★★★
Kkkkkooren 2023/06/22
So helpful
I love how Leah interviews and comes up with such great content without ever shaming anyone for whatever stage they are in. I’m just discovering intui...
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