Dr. Claire Wilcox returns to the Food Junkies Podcast to discuss her brand-new book, Rewire Your Food-Addicted Brain—a science-backed, shame-free guide to breaking free from ultra-processed foods. Inspired by this very podcast, Claire combines cutting-edge neuroscience, lived experience, and compassionate strategies to support anyone on the food addiction spectrum. From diagnostic clarity and harm reduction to personalized food plans and recovery beyond the scale, this episode is packed with hope, healing, and practical tools for lasting change.

In this illuminating episode, Dr. Vera Tarman and Molly Painschab sit down with Dr. Rafael Cuomo—biomedical scientist, global health expert, and author of Crave: The Hidden Biology of Addiction and Cancer. Dr. Cuomo dives deep into how chronic addiction—whether to food, substances, screens, or stress—not only hijacks our minds but also reshapes our biology at the molecular level, creating the perfect storm for chronic diseases, including cancer. He explains how overstimulation, emotional dysregulation, and trauma create a “molecular terrain” where disease thrives and recovery becomes more difficult. From childhood adversity to dopamine dysfunction, this conversation is essential listening for anyone working in or affected by addiction, cancer prevention, or public health.

In this powerful and tender conversation, Dr. Hillary McBride invites us into a deep exploration of embodiment, healing, and spiritual reclamation. With warmth and wisdom, she shares how trauma, disembodiment, and spiritual wounding shape our sense of self—and how coming home to the body can be a profound act of resistance, resilience, and belonging. From psychedelic integration to body image recovery, Hillary offers a de-pathologizing, hopeful lens on what it means to heal.

In this compassionate and validating episode, Clarissa and Molly explore post-event collapse—the crash that often follows big emotional or stimulating experiences like vacations, therapy sessions, or vulnerable group shares. They unpack the science, psychology, and nervous system responses behind the dip, and offer real-world recovery tools for soft landings, reentry, and self-compassion. A must-listen for anyone navigating food addiction recovery or supporting those who do.

In this episode, clinical psychologist and ACT expert Dr. Diana Hill joins us for a deeply enriching conversation on how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can transform our relationship with movement, body image, and values. Drawing from her personal practice and decades of experience, Diana offers science-backed tools like urge surfing, savoring, and body image flexibility to support recovery from shame and disconnection. Together, we explore how movement becomes meaningful when rooted in values, why motivation isn’t everything, and how small shifts in awareness can return us to the lives we want to live. Whether you’re navigating food recovery, healing from diet culture, or seeking a more compassionate path to well-being, this episode is a generous and grounding resource.

In this eye-opening episode, Ashka Naik, human rights advocate and food policy expert, joins Dr. Vera Tarman and Molly Painschab to expose the hidden power of language in shaping our food systems. From ultra-processed products to neocolonial food politics, Ashka reveals how industry co-opts science, culture, and perception—why it matters what we call “food,” and how reclaiming ancestral wisdom is an act of resistance and healing.

In this compelling episode, Dr. David Kessler—former FDA Commissioner, public health leader, and author of The End of Overeating and Diet, Drugs & Dopamine—joins us to discuss the biology of food addiction, his personal journey with weight regain, and the urgent need to move beyond willpower-based narratives. He breaks down the neuroscience of cue-induced craving, the promise and limitations of GLP-1 medications, and why weight regain should be seen as relapse, not failure. Dr. Kessler also explores the dangers of toxic visceral fat, the mismatch between our evolutionary wiring and modern food environments, and how long-term recovery requires emotional regulation, community support, and food sovereignty. With compassion and clarity, he calls for bridging the divide between the food addiction and eating disorder communities, championing science-based tools and shared understanding as the path forward.

In this validating and eye-opening episode, Clarissa and Molly explore Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) as it applies to ultra-processed food addiction recovery. While widely recognized in substance use recovery, PAWS is rarely acknowledged in food addiction—and yet, it can hit hard months or even years into recovery. With clinical insight, lived experience, and their signature compassion, they explain what PAWS is, why it happens, how it feels, and most importantly—what helps. This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the long game of recovery or supporting others through it.

🧠 You’re not broken—you’re healing.

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Filippa Juul, a leading researcher on ultra-processed foods (UPFs), to explore why these engineered products are more than just empty calories. Dr. Juul breaks down the NOVA classification system, explains how UPFs disrupt hunger cues and metabolic health, and shares why they're linked to obesity, chronic illness, and food addiction. We also discuss what it will take—individually and systemically—to reclaim nourishment and protect public health.

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Cynthia Bulik—global leader in eating disorder research—to explore the groundbreaking idea that eating disorders are metabo-psychiatric conditions. From the genetic roots of anorexia to the overlap with food addiction, Dr. Bulik shares how understanding biology can dismantle shame, shift treatment paradigms, and bridge the gap between the eating disorder and addiction worlds. This is a must-listen for anyone seeking science-backed hope and a more compassionate model for recovery.

Dr. Alexandra Sowa—board-certified in internal and obesity medicine and author of The Ozempic Revolution—joins us to unpack the complex intersection of GLP-1 medications, metabolic health, and food addiction recovery. With clinical rigor and heartfelt empathy, Dr. Sowa explores what GLP-1s like Ozempic are really doing to food noise, why outcomes vary, and how sustainable change requires more than medication alone. We dive into the emotional grief of losing food as comfort, the role of behavioral and lifestyle interventions, and how clinicians and food addiction counselors can unite for true, lasting healing. Whether you're a provider, patient, or person in recovery, this is a must-listen.

Dr. Vera Tarman interviews renowned oncology researcher Dr. Thomas Seyfried, whose groundbreaking work challenges the dominant genetic theory of cancer. Dr. Seyfried argues that cancer is primarily a mitochondrial metabolic disease, fueled by glucose and glutamine fermentation. He discusses how ketogenic diets, caloric restriction, and targeting specific metabolic pathways may offer a more effective and less toxic approach to cancer prevention and treatment. This conversation dives deep into cancer biology, therapeutic fasting, and the impact of ultra-processed foods on mitochondrial health.

In this episode of Clinician’s Corner, Molly and Clarissa dive into what it really takes to sustain long-term recovery from ultra-processed food addiction. Moving beyond the early, crisis-focused phase of recovery, they explore the research-backed foundations of lasting change—like routine, stress management, mindfulness, and community connection. They share personal insights, clinical experience, and hopeful reminders that recovery is a lifestyle renovation, not a quick fix. Whether you're early in the journey or navigating years of sobriety, this conversation offers encouragement, perspective, and practical tools for creating a life you no longer want to escape from.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Jen Unwin to discuss two groundbreaking studies on Ultra-Processed Food Addiction, including a global expert consensus and a 12-month recovery outcomes paper. We also spotlight the upcoming IFACC 2025 conference in London and a special event happening this Saturday that supports it. Whether you’re a clinician, coach, or in recovery yourself, this episode is filled with insight, inspiration, and hope.

In this heartfelt episode, Dr. Vera Tarman and Bitten Jonsson share their personal journeys with food addiction—from childhood sugar obsessions to professional breakthroughs. Together, they reflect on decades of lived experience, evolving science, and how they pioneered treatment approaches that go far beyond diet culture. A powerful conversation about truth-telling, healing, and hope.

In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Eike Buabang, cognitive neuroscientist at Trinity College Dublin, joins us to unpack the science of habits and how they impact recovery. We explore why we repeat behaviors that no longer serve us, how stress shifts our brain from goal-directed to automatic actions, and what it really takes to build lasting change. This one is packed with insight, hope, and practical tools.

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In this Clinician’s Corner episode, Clarissa Kennedy and Molly Painschab rethink the concept of “self-sabotage” in food addiction recovery. They reveal how these behaviors are not signs of failure, but adaptive coping strategies rooted in survival. With compassion and clinical insight, they explore how reframing shame-based language can open the door to healing, connection, and nervous system awareness.

In this compelling episode, Dr. Vera Tarman and Molly Painschab sit down with Dr. David Wiss to unpack the complex intersection of food addiction and eating disorders. Together, they explore the historical divide between the two fields, the impact of trauma and structural inequality, and why a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work. Whether you're a clinician or someone in recovery, this conversation offers deep insights, practical tools, and a call for compassionate, individualized care.

In this episode of Food Junkies, we explore the powerful connection between food insecurity and food addiction with Dr. Lindsey Parnarouskis, a clinical psychologist and researcher specializing in the intersection of economic marginalization and overeating behaviors. Dr. Parnarouskis shares groundbreaking research revealing that individuals experiencing food insecurity are nearly four times more likely to struggle with food addiction, highlighting the critical role of stress, limited access to whole foods, and intermittent food availability in reinforcing addictive eating patterns. We discuss the social justice implications of food addiction, why policy changes are essential, and how clinicians can compassionately support individuals navigating both food insecurity and addictive eating. Tune in for an eye-opening conversation that challenges conventional thinking and advocates for systemic solutions to a growing public health crisis.

Dr. Weaver explains how Alzheimer’s may be an autoimmune disorder triggered by chronic inflammation, with diet being one of the most significant modifiable risk factors. They explore the role of the immune system, the impact of sugar and processed foods on brain health, and potential preventative measures. Dr. Weaver also shares insights on emerging treatments, including GLP-1 receptor agonists, and emphasizes the urgent need for public awareness about Alzheimer’s prevention through lifestyle changes.