In this episode of the Food Junkies Podcast, Clarissa and Molly sit down with psychologist Dr. Carrie Wilkens to explore what truly helps people change without shame, fear, or power struggles. Carrie shares insights from decades of work in addiction, eating disorders, trauma, and family systems—inviting us to rethink concepts like denial, relapse, codependency, and even the disease model itself. Together, they discuss how curiosity, values, and self-compassion can transform recovery and reshape how families and communities support the people they love.

In this Clinician’s Corner episode, Clarissa and Molly unpack why the “Hella-Days”—that stretch from September through New Year’s—can feel like the Holiday Hunger Games for anyone navigating food addiction, recovery, or a sensitive nervous system. They explore why this season is so activating, how early family patterns still shape present-day reactions, and what it looks like to move through the holidays with values, boundaries, and deep self-compassion.

Expect practical tools, boundary scripts, harm-reduction strategies, and honest stories from their own holiday journeys—whether you’re surrounded by family, choosing not to attend events, or spending the season on your own.

In this moving and deeply insightful conversation, integrative oncologist Dr. Nasha Winters shares her journey from a terminal cancer diagnosis at 19 to becoming a global leader in metabolic oncology. We explore how ultra-processed foods disrupt our biology and sovereignty, why cancer must be understood as an ecosystem, and how values-based, non-perfectionistic choices can transform health. Nasha offers practical tools, metabolic wisdom, and a fiercely compassionate vision for reclaiming agency in a UPF-heavy world.

In this episode, Dr. Erica LaFata returns to share the development of the Food Addiction Severity Interview (FASI), the first clinician-administered diagnostic tool designed specifically for ultra-processed food addiction. We explore how FASI builds on the YFAS, why the field needs structured clinical assessment, and how clinicians can differentiate restrictive eating, binge eating, and true addictive patterns. Erica also offers insight into treatment implications, early exposure risks, practitioner competencies, and the hopeful path toward DSM recognition.

In this compelling conversation, Dr. Vera Tarman and Clarissa Kennedy sit down with Dr. Nicole Avena to address the most persistent critiques of food addiction head-on. They break down why self-report tools are valid, why one PET scan doesn’t disprove addiction, how withdrawal from ultra-processed foods works, and why food addiction is a distinct, evidence-supported diagnosis. For anyone who’s ever wondered “What’s wrong with me?”, this episode offers clarity, validation, and science-backed insight.

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Paul O’Malley, a leading biomimetic and holistic dentist reshaping how we think about oral health. He breaks down how sugar, grazing, mouth microbiome imbalance, and traditional “drill and fill” dentistry impact whole-body wellness. We explore practical, gentle steps to protect enamel, support healthy gums, and build long-term oral health from the inside out.

In this honest, insightful conversation, Molly and Clarissa unpack the hidden “rules” that quietly govern our thoughts, choices, and recovery—from family norms to cultural conditioning. They explore how to spot which rules still serve you, which are keeping you small, and how to transform them into flexible, values-aligned guardrails that nurture freedom instead of fear.

Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with Dr. Cate Shanahan—family physician, nutrition consultant, and author of Deep Nutrition and Dark Calories—to discuss her case against industrial seed oils, how they may influence metabolic and mental health, and why she believes they can intensify sugar cravings and insulin resistance. We explore mechanisms she proposes (oxidation, mitochondrial stress), the “Hateful Eight” oils, and practical swaps that listeners can try if they choose to reduce seed oils. This episode presents a viewpoint that’s debated in nutrition science; we encourage critical thinking, self-experimentation within a safe plan, and consultation with your care team.

Host Dr. Vera Tarman interviews citizen scientist and author Daniel Trevor about his book Unholy Trinity. They explore hyperinsulinemia as a “gateway” to disease, LDL particle size and CAC scores, statins debate, and practical, harm-reduction steps—testing, protein-forward meals, and sustainable swaps—to support recovery.

In this inspiring episode, Clarissa Kennedy speaks with Registered Dietitian and researcher Ellen Bennett, Operations Manager at Liberate with the Public Health Collaboration. Ellen shares her 14-year recovery journey, her PhD work on addiction-informed approaches to Ultra-Processed Food Addiction, and how compassion and evidence can coexist in lasting recovery.