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.

After returning from the International Food Addiction & Comorbidities Conference (and a soul-filling Scotland adventure), Molly and Clarissa dive into the fawn response—often mislabeled as “people-pleasing.” They explore how it forms, how it shows up in recovery and relationships, and gentle, practical steps for healing: awareness, boundaries, parts work, somatic tools, and self-compassion.

Why do junk food cravings return even after weeks of abstinence? Dr. Vera Tarman speaks with Dr. Guillaume de Lartigue, whose research uncovers how the brain’s memory circuits drive food cravings. They explore hedonic vs. memory-cued hunger, the role of fats and sugars in addictive food memories, and how marketing, stress, and early exposure shape vulnerability—plus strategies for recovery.

Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with Dr. Anna Barbieri—gynecologist, menopause practitioner, and integrative medicine physician—to explore how hormones shape women’s appetite, cravings, and relationship with food. From PMS to menopause and PCOS, they discuss estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, thyroid, and appetite-regulating hormones, plus treatment and lifestyle strategies to support women’s health.

Dr. Vera Tarman talks with Dr. Bart Kay—nutrition scientist and outspoken “myth-buster”—about carbs, fat, and recovery from ultra-processed food addiction. They unpack the Randle cycle, insulin resistance, seed oils, low-carb vs. carnivore approaches, and why abstinence, staged change, and harm-reduction strategies can help people protect both health and recovery.

In this Food Junkies episode, Dr. Vera Tarman and Dr. Renae Norton dive into bulimorexia—the cycling between restriction and binge/purge behaviors—and explore how it fuels relapse in eating disorders and food addiction. Dr. Norton outlines the medical and psychological risks, critiques common treatment gaps, and shares her holistic, skills-based, family-involved approach to recovery.

In this episode of the Food Junkies Podcast, Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with Dr. Michael Greger to unpack the hype around GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic. They explore the risks, benefits, and natural ways to boost GLP-1 through whole foods, fiber, and lifestyle—offering evidence-based insights for weight loss, cravings, and food addiction recovery.

In this episode of the Food Junkies Podcast, Dr. Vera Tarman speaks with registered dietitian Bonnie Newlin about lipedema—a misunderstood connective tissue disorder often mistaken for obesity. Bonnie shares her personal journey, explains how lipedema overlaps with food addiction, and offers evidence-based strategies for managing symptoms through anti-inflammatory nutrition, lifestyle tools, and emerging treatments.

In this episode of the Food Junkies Podcast, Dr. Vera Tarman and Clarissa Kennedy speak with neuroscientist and author Dr. Nicole Avena about her latest research on GLP-1 receptor agonists. They explore how these drugs reduce food cravings, the potential risks of dopamine suppression, anhedonia, and rebound cravings, and why dose management, holistic support, and mindful eating skills are essential — especially for those in food addiction recovery.

In this episode, Dr. Tro Kalayjian—board-certified in Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine—shares how his personal 150-pound weight loss journey shaped his mission to help others overcome food addiction and metabolic disease. We explore his clinic’s groundbreaking research showing that a bundled approach—low-carb nutrition, real-time medical support, psychological care, and metabolic monitoring—can significantly reduce binge eating and food addiction symptoms. Dr. Tro dives into the science of biological drivers, the limits of willpower, and why sustainable recovery demands compassion, community, and comprehensive care.

In this Clinician’s Corner episode, Clarissa Kennedy and Molly Painschab explore chronic invalidation as a trauma response, shedding light on how repeated emotional dismissal can lead to perfectionism, people-pleasing, and emotional suppression. They unpack its origins in early caregiving dynamics, its impact on adult relationships and self-concept, and offer compassionate, trauma-informed strategies for healing. With practical tools, therapeutic insights, and a grounding somatic practice, this episode empowers clinicians to support clients in reclaiming their emotional truth and building self-trust through validation, curiosity, and connection.

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.