In this insightful and deeply personal episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with Asher M. Saruya, a psychotherapist whose lived experience with eating disorders, neurodivergence, and Jewish identity informs their clinical practice and advocacy work.Together, they unpack the complex intersections of culture, family, identity, and neurodiversity that shape how we experience food and body image. Asher shares their powerful story of struggling with restriction, bingeing, and perfectionism—alongside the deep healing that came from understanding how trauma, cultural messaging, and ADHD influenced their relationship with food.This episode explores how shame and self-judgment evolve through family systems, religious traditions, and social pressures, and how recovery means learning to exist more fully and compassionately in one’s own body. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_bite

In this deeply compassionate and informative episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini speaks with Jane Reagan, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, counselor, and creator of The Eating Disorder Recovery Roadmap for Parents.Jane shares both her professional expertise and her personal journey of supporting her own daughter through anorexia. Together, Cristina and Jane shed light on the challenges parents face when navigating their child’s eating disorder—dispelling myths, addressing guilt, and highlighting the powerful role parents can play as allies in recovery.The discussion covers practical strategies for supporting children at home, fostering open communication, managing family dynamics, and understanding that recovery is not just about food—it’s about healing what lies beneath. This episode is an essential listen for any parent who feels overwhelmed, unsure, or fearful while walking alongside their child’s recovery path. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_bite

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with Robyn Goldberg, RDN, a nationally recognized registered dietitian nutritionist, author, and podcast host.Robyn shares her journey as a lifelong athlete—from competing in tennis at the collegiate level to training for triathlons—and the painful lessons she learned when her body broke down after years of being told to 'just push through.' Her story highlights the harmful cultural and athletic messages around pain, performance, and identity, and how ignoring the body’s signals can have lasting consequences.Together, Cristina and Robyn explore topics such as how athletics shape body image, what perimenopause teaches us about longevity, and why families and clinicians urgently need better tools to support individuals with eating disorders. This candid conversation offers wisdom on resilience, reframing health, and the importance of truly listening to your body at every stage of life. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_bite

In this powerful and moving episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini welcomes Kerry Melachouris, a former performer turned CCI-certified Eating Disorder Coach and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Kerry brings both lived experience and clinical insight to the table as she shares her decades-long battle with anorexia, bulimia, overexercise, and atypical anorexia—and her journey to full recovery.Kerry’s story challenges two dangerous myths: that only certain bodies can recover and that if treatment hasn’t “worked,” you’re a lost cause. Through raw honesty and hope, Kerry sheds light on the realities of eating disorders in the performing arts, the trauma that often fuels them, and the systemic barriers patients face when seeking care.Together, Kerry and Dr. Castagnini unpack the flawed reliance on BMI and “normal labs,” the harmful role of industry pressures, and why primary care providers need more education on identifying eating disorders. Kerry also speaks candidly about her relapses, health consequences, and how she ultimately found lasting recovery and purpose as an advocate and professional helping others.This conversation is both validating and empowering, proving that recovery is possible at any size, at any stage, and for anyone. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_bite

In this insightful and heartfelt conversation, Dr. Cristina Castagnini welcomes Orlee Klempner, an integrative practitioner specializing in Internal Family Systems (IFS), mindfulness, and trauma-informed yoga. Orlee opens up about her personal journey of growing up in a culture steeped in dieting, body image pressures, and early medical trauma.Through her story, Orlee shares how shame and comparison shaped her relationship with her body—and how IFS became a transformative tool in helping her find self-acceptance and compassion. Together, they explore how parts work helps uncover the protective roles behind eating disorders, the importance of validating lived experiences, and how healing requires gentleness, empathy, and curiosity.This candid episode highlights the power of IFS in addressing eating disorders, trauma, and anxiety, while offering hope and concrete tools for anyone struggling with body image and self-worth. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_bite

In this episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini welcomes Dalia Kinsey, RD—a queer, Black registered dietitian and holistic wellness practitioner—for an honest and liberating conversation about food, body image, and diet culture.Together, they unpack why fear-based food rules backfire, how cultural messages shape our relationship with eating, and what it really takes to heal from toxic beliefs around food. Dalia shares personal insights on making eating joyful again, why under-eating often causes more harm than good, and the importance of building trust with your body.This discussion challenges conventional “nutrition as control” narratives and highlights the need for collaborative, trauma-informed care. With warmth and wisdom, Dalia offers a vision of food as connection, pleasure, and empowerment—especially for marginalized communities navigating intersecting pressures of culture, identity, and body expectations. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_bite

In this inspiring episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini talks with Samantha Brior, founder of Safe Sam’s, a unique product line and community resource designed to support individuals and families going through eating disorder recovery.Sam shares her personal story of recovery, how her lived experience inspired her to create snack bars specifically for those in treatment, and how her journey evolved into a mission-driven business that funds recovery-related needs. Through Safe Sam’s, she not only offers practical products like motivational blankets, journals, and self-care items but also helps cover real-life expenses—such as groceries or medical bills—that can otherwise be barriers to recovery.This heartfelt conversation explores how creativity, persistence, and compassion can transform personal pain into a force for good, offering hope to those navigating the difficult path of recovery. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_bite

In this deeply moving and inspiring conversation, Dr. Cristina Castagnini welcomes Haley Schiek, an eating disorder recovery coach and founder of COSANA Coaching, to share her personal journey from years of struggling with anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating to building a life of freedom, purpose, and joy. Haley recounts how childhood bullying, social media pressures, and the cultural obsession with thinness shaped her early sense of self and triggered her eating disorder. She opens up about her healing path—starting with yoga teacher training at just 15, discovering energy work and spiritual connection after college, and ultimately finding peace with her body and food. Together, Haley and Dr. Cristina explore how trauma, systemic pressures, and the “thin ideal” keep so many people trapped in cycles of shame and self-criticism, and why true recovery often requires addressing mind, body, and spirit—not just behavior. This episode is for anyone who has struggled to feel at home in their body, or who is curious about incorporating yoga, mindfulness, and energy work into their recovery process. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_bite

In this inspiring episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini welcomes Sherry Shaban, Certified Athletic Therapist, Osteopath, Hypnotherapist, and creator of the Make Peace With Food method. Sherry shares her powerful personal journey from being a competitive athlete, to a life-altering accident that left her in chronic pain, to rediscovering strength, and eventually questioning everything she had been taught about nutrition and fitness. Through her story, listeners will learn how diet culture and endless cycles of restriction create confusion, fear, and disconnection from the body. Sherry explains how nervous system dysregulation often lies at the root of emotional eating, bingeing, and food fear — and why true healing requires going beyond calories, macros, and meal plans. Together, Sherry and Dr. Cristina uncover why most diets fail, how fear drives food behaviors, and how cultivating self-compassion and emotional safety can transform not just eating habits, but overall well-being. This candid conversation offers a refreshing, hopeful approach: healing from the inside out. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_bite

In this special milestone episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini celebrates the 250th episode of Behind the Bite! Unlike most episodes, today it’s just Dr. Cristina—no guest—reflecting on the journey of this podcast and diving into one of the most insidious forces impacting our body image and relationship with food: media-driven diet culture. Dr. Cristina unpacks decades of harmful ads, reality TV shows, fashion campaigns, and celebrity influences that have shaped our collective beliefs about health, beauty, and worth. From the infamous “Are You Beach Body Ready?” campaign to The Biggest Loser, Friends, and TikTok diet trends, she reveals how fatphobia has been sold to us through shame, humor, and exclusion. This raw and passionate solo episode is both a celebration of how far the podcast has come and a call to keep questioning the messages we’re fed. Whether you’ve been here since episode one or are joining for the first time, this episode will empower you to see through the myths, challenge stigma, and reclaim your worth beyond the scale. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_bite

In this powerful and heartfelt conversation, Dr. Cristina Castagnini welcomes back Beatriz (Béa) Victoria Albina, NP, MPH, SEP—nurse practitioner, somatic life coach, and host of the Feminist Wellness Podcast. Béa returns to discuss her upcoming book, End Emotional Outsourcing: A Guide to Overcoming Codependent, Perfectionist, and People-Pleasing Habits (Hachette Balance, Sept. 30). Béa introduces the term “emotional outsourcing”—her reframe of the outdated concept of codependency. Rather than pathologizing love, care, and connection, she explains how people-pleasing, perfectionism, and self-erasure are survival strategies we once needed to stay safe. Now, however, these patterns keep us disconnected from our authenticity, self-trust, and worth. Through personal insights, metaphors (like “baby sweaters” and “newborn kitten steps”), and clinical wisdom, Béa and Dr. Castagnini explore how emotional outsourcing is deeply tied to body image, diet culture, and perfectionist pressures. Together, they outline pathways toward reclaiming self-trust, rebuilding body awareness, and setting loving boundaries—so we can live lives rooted in authenticity rather than external validation. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_bite

In this heartfelt and deeply personal episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with Danielle Bernock—award-winning author, international speaker, and trauma-informed faith-based self-love coach. Known as “that lady on the internet who loves you,” Danielle courageously shares her journey from childhood shame and emotional neglect to years of battling eating disorders, self-hatred, and trauma—before finding healing, faith, and self-love. Through raw storytelling, Danielle opens up about growing up feeling invisible and unwanted, coping with pain through disordered eating, and the pivotal road trip that set her on a path toward transformation. Together, she and Dr. Castagnini unpack how shame, neglect, and trauma manifest not only in emotions but in the body, leading to physical illness and destructive coping mechanisms. Listeners will hear Danielle’s insights on reclaiming choice as a “superpower,” the importance of safe relationships and community, and how unconditional love—both from others and within ourselves—becomes the foundation for true healing. This powerful conversation reminds us that while trauma shapes us, it doesn’t have to define us. Healing is possible, and self-love is the way forward. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_bite

In this episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with therapist, author, and co-founder of the Center for Body Trust, Hilary Kinavey, for a powerful and deeply validating conversation on body trust, midlife transitions, and the complex emotions surrounding menopause and aging. Hilary shares her personal and professional insights into how diet culture and beauty standards intersect with perimenopause, and how our society’s obsession with thinness, youth, and productivity intensifies body shame during these natural life transitions. The conversation explores the emotional, physiological, and social dimensions of menopause, while inviting listeners to step away from control-based approaches and move toward a more compassionate, liberatory path of healing. Together, they challenge the dominant narratives of “fixing” the body, especially through diet fads or medications like GLP-1s, and instead call for a return to self-trust, grief work, and embodied wisdom. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_bite

In this episode of 'Behind the Bite,' Dr. Cristina Castagnini explores the often overlooked 'messy middle' phase of therapy and recovery. Drawing from her own experiences and decades of professional expertise, Dr. Cristina Castagnini addresses common misconceptions about healing and emphasizes that progress is a gradual process filled with small, significant steps. She reassures listeners that feelings of confusion, exhaustion, and doubt are normal and crucial parts of the journey towards a better life. Dr. Cristina Castagnini also shares practical insights on recognizing subtle signs of healing and underscores the importance of perseverance and self-compassion. She encourages those in therapy to communicate their struggles openly and to see each step as a movement forward, no matter how challenging it may feel. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_bite

The CBT Rewrite We’ve Been Waiting For: A Weight-Inclusive Path to Eating Disorder Recovery, featuring Drs. Lauren Muhlheim, Jen Averyt, and Shannon Patterson—three psychologists reshaping how we treat eating disorders through a radically inclusive new CBT workbook. This episode of Behind the Bite, hosted by Dr. Cristina Castagnini, examines the evolution and shortcomings of traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for eating disorders, and unveils a newly developed, radically weight-inclusive CBT workbook. Joined by three expert psychologists—Dr. Lauren Muhlheim, Dr. Jen Averitt, and Dr. Shannon Patterson—the conversation provides insight into how culture, weight stigma, and inclusivity must reshape how clinicians and individuals approach eating disorder recovery. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_bite

In this episode of Behind the Bite, Dr. Cristina introduces guest Ali Shapiro, host of the Insatiable Podcast, holistic nutritionist, and creator of the True Swift Food framework. Ali shares her personal journey with emotional eating, cancer survival, and eventual realization of the deep connections between food, safety, and belonging. The conversation delves into the often misunderstood aspects of emotional eating, the inadequacies of traditional treatment settings, and the importance of attuning to one’s body without rigid rules. Ali and Cristina discuss practical strategies for understanding the underlying reasons behind food struggles and emphasize the significance of creating a supportive and understanding community to foster true healing and authenticity. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_bite

In this compelling episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with Dr. Joy Cox to explore the pervasive issue of weight stigma and fatphobia, particularly how it intersects with medicine, race, and gender. Dr. Cox shares her personal journey of living in a larger body and how a pivotal moment during her master's program ignited her passion to study and dismantle weight bias in society. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_bite

This episode of Behind the Bite explores the crucial topic of preventing disordered eating in children, both at school and at home. Dr. Cristina Castagnini welcomes Anna Lutz, a pediatric eating disorder dietitian, to discuss how families and educators can shift the conversation around food, bodies, and health to foster a healthier environment for kids. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_bite

In this special episode of 'Behind the Bite,' Dr. Cristina Castagnini celebrates the 4th of July by revisiting the best moments from previous episodes. Dr. Cristina Castagnini, a psychologist and certified eating disorder specialist, shares personal stories and professional insights on the struggles and successes surrounding food, body image, and weight. The episode covers the detrimental effects of diet culture, the biological resistance to weight loss, and the importance of intuitive and mindful eating. Expert opinions emphasize that health is not determined by weight, critiquing the misuse of BMI and advocating for a weight-inclusive approach to wellbeing. The show aims to break down stigma, foster community support, and promote body acceptance. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_bite

In this episode of Behind the Bite, Dr. Cristina Castagnini speaks with therapist Cassie Krajewski about healing from trauma, eating disorders, and body disconnection. They explore the concept of embodiment versus disembodiment and how trauma impacts one’s relationship with their body and food. Cassie shares trauma-informed approaches, including Internal Family Systems and EMDR, to safely reconnect with the body. They also discuss the intersection of sexuality, body image, and trauma recovery. Finally, they highlight the importance of body liberation and trusting the healing process. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_bite