The Full Plate Podcast with Abbie Attwood, MS

Oona Hanson, educator and parent coach who supports families navigating diet culture and eating disorders, joins the pod to talk about midlife body challenges as well as the pressures teens are facing around food and weight. Specifically, we get into what it's like to be navigating perimenopause while your kids are hitting puberty.

Tune in for more on:* The overlap between perimenopause and puberty, and what it means for family dynamics

* How diet culture sneaks into every corner of parenting and self-worth

* Practical ways to support teens and college students around food and...

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Ragen Chastain is back to continue our conversation about weight, health, and diet culture — this time answering listener questions about the GLP-1s you’ve been hearing so much about: Wegovy, Ozempic, and other weight-loss drugs.

Following up on last week’s episode, Ragen helps us separate hype from reality. We dive into how these drugs actually work — and don’t — their risks and side effects, and the broader context around the pharmaceutical industry and public discourse on weight.

In this...

We’ve all heard it: fatness automatically equals poor health. It’s treated like an unquestionable fact, reinforced by headlines, medical guidelines, and cultural narratives. But is it really true? And what does the research actually say about weight and health outcomes?

In this episode, I’m joined by the incredible Ragen Chastain — researcher, writer, speaker, and thought leader in weight science and weight stigma. Together, we unpack one of the biggest myths upholding diet culture and anti-fat bias: “Isn’t being fat bad for your health?”

We explore the origins of the so-called “obesity epidemic,” the f...

When we talk about eating disorder recovery, we tend to imagine two extremes: acutely ill or completely healed. You’re either in crisis or you’re “all better.”

But what about the space in between?

The messy, unglamorous, everyday middle place.

That’s where journalist and author Mallary Tenore Tarpley found herself — and it’s what her new book is about. She writes about living in that liminal space: no longer in “danger” the way she once was, but not walking around with a tidy “fully recovered” bow tied on top either.

We talk about:

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Sandi James — a registered psychologist and Certified Eating Disorder Recovery Coach — joins Abbie to talk about her lived experience with both eating disorders and substance abuse, and how her own healing has profoundly shaped her work.

Listen in for a compassionate conversation on:

- The overlap between substance use and eating disorders as coping strategies

- Sandi’s early experiences with hush-hush, shame-based treatment in Australia

- The impact of COVID, loneliness, and financ...

MAHA, diet culture, and toxic fitness ideals...this is the second half of my conversation with Ilya Parker. We go deeper into the toxic roots of mainstream fitness culture and explore how ableism, conformity, and control are built into the system.

Ilya draws SO many incredible connections in this episode...between patriarchy, body ideals, the current political climate, and the goals of mainstream fitness culture. They ultimately challenge us to reimagine what movement can look like when it’s rooted in compassion, accessibility, and community care.

You don't want to miss this one. I promise.

Ilya Parker, founder of Decolonizing Fitness, joins Abbie to share how gender transition, weight stigma, and ableism shaped their path into fitness and ultimately inspired a new vision for movement. They unpack the toxic culture of mainstream fitness and imagine a world where wellness means compassion, accessibility, and bodily autonomy.

This episode is for anyone who’s felt alienated by gyms, group classes, or wellness spaces—and anyone who’s curious about how fitness can transform when it’s rooted in care, inclusion, and liberation.

Because every minute of this conversation felt sacred, we’re airing it...

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribe

In this week’s episode, I sat down with Julie Dillon, an RD who has spent years supporting folks at the intersection of PCOS and disordered eating. And we explore a different path. One that’s rooted in the truth that your body is not broken—and that real care doesn't require body control, food stress, or fear.

Tune in for more on:

* What PCOS really is (fun fact: it starts in the brain)

* Why it is misunderstood and so often mistreated

* How diet culture sneaks into PCOS care and what it cos...

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This might be my favorite conversation we’ve had on this podcast. It's a conversation I had with Edie Stark (an ED therapist) and Sharon Maxwell (a fat activist and weight-inclusive consultant), and we’re answering a very important – very hard – listener question.

The essence of it is: “I believe in body liberation and anti-diet culture. But what if I’m just uncomfortable being fat?”

Tune in for:

* How and why Sharon relates to this listener, and...

In midlife, women are often handed diets disguised as wellness. More ways to stay young, stay thin, stay "timeless."

Debra Benfield, RDN, joins me for a conversation that sits right at the intersection of diet culture, anti-fatness, and anti-aging. Together we talk about how these forces converge in midlife—often making women particularly vulnerable to disordered eating and harmful messaging at exactly the stage when we deserve peace, rest, and joy.

Some of the things we get into…

* Perimenopause and menopause diet culture messages

* Why aging creates heightened vulnerability to diet and...

Dr. Colleen Reichmann—a clinical psychologist, author, and eating disorder specialist—joins me this week to talk about hopelessness and despair in eating disorder recovery.

We explore how disordered eating, body shame, and perfectionism can create a landscape of deep emotional pain—and how that pain can lead to thoughts of giving up.

Gentle Content Warning: This episode includes a nuanced discussion about suicidal ideation and eating disorders. It is hopeful, and without any graphic detail. That said, please take care while listening, and know that it’s okay to skip this one or come back to...

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Lately, intermittent fasting has been getting more attention as a possible approach for women in midlife. And as with most health trends, this has sparked a lot of questions — and just as many opinions.

Inside this bonus episode, we look at:

* What intermittent fasting is and the variations that exist

* Common claims about its benefits during menopause

* What current research suggests — and where findings are still emerging

* The context of aging, well...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com

Vinny Welsby (@fiercefatty) joins me for a lot of laughs this week, but mostly for a deeply important conversation about the dangers of weight-centric medical care.

Tune in this week for more on:

* How Vinny discovered fat liberation—and the moment everything started to shift

* What food, culture, and identity have to do with our bodies and our healing

* The sneaky and not-so-sneaky ways anti-fat bias shows up in healthcare settings

* Re...

Nutritionist and eating disorder expert Chris Sandel joins me on the pod to unpack one of the most pivotal (and haunting) studies in nutrition science: the Minnesota Starvation Experiment.

We explore the psychological, emotional, and physical impacts of semi-starvation — and how this study helps us better understand modern-day disordered eating, diet culture, and the realities of recovery. Chris shares powerful insights into the biological realities of hunger, why restriction so often leads to feelings of food obsession and binge eating, and why recovery isn't about “willpower” — it's about safety, nourishment, and compassion.

We talk about so much...

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Abbie is joined by Dr. Rachel Millner — a brilliant, deeply compassionate psychologist and fat liberationist (and return guest!) — to talk about the overlap between GLP-1 use and disordered eating. They explore how these drugs impact the body, including the side effects and mechanisms of action, but also how they stir up old stories of control, restriction, worthiness, and shame.

This podcast is ad-free and support comes from your support on Substack. Subscribe HERE.

Some of what you’ll hea...

What does it mean to live in a body that doesn’t always do what you wish it would?A body that’s unpredictable, maybe in pain, maybe exhausted — a body shaped by chronic illness, disability, or the long echoes of medical trauma?

This week on the podcast, I’m joined by the brilliant and deeply compassionate Dr. Jennifer Caspari, a psychologist who specializes in health psychology and lives with cerebral palsy. Her personal and professional wisdom come together in such a powerful way — this conversation felt like a breath of fresh air in a world that so often a...

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In this bonus episode, I’m answering a listener question that so many of us have carried, even quietly:

Why does seeing a photo of myself — especially in a group — make me want to shrink my body, even though I know better?

And so, this episode offers both understanding and tools. A soft landing, and also a gentle nudge toward reflection and repair.

Here’s a little of what we explore:

* Why photos can feel...

“I want people to know that their bodies are not problems to be fixed, or problems to be solved. I want us to examine how do we look at ourselves — especially BIPOC folks, fat folks, and folks with chronic illnesses. What if we didn't have to fix anything? What if our bodies aren't broken? What if it’s society and not us?”

— Jessica Wilson, RD on Full Plate Podcast

Every once in a while, a conversation cuts through the noise — and makes space for something deeper to settle in.

This week on Full Plat...

If you’ve been intrigued by all the benefits that intermittent fasting claims to offer, you are not alone, and this week’s podcast episode is for you. I’m joined by a special — and beloved (so you’ve told me) returning guest — my husband, Jeb!

Jeb gives his own thoughts on the research behind intermittent fasting, his personal experience with addiction and how it reflects some of the same behaviors, and provides the comic relief, as he likes to say. Though I am clearly the funnier of the two of us. I also talk about how fasting show...

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What happens when a body goes quiet in its own defense? What systems shut down when we’re under-eating? (yes, even when we’re under-eating by “just a little bit”)

Maybe you’ve experienced a missing period yourself.Maybe you’re deep in the perimenopause transition.Maybe you’re worried that your past dieting and intense exercise habits are showing up in ways you’re only now beginning to understand.Or maybe you simply want to better understand how our bodies speak...

Eating disorders can show up in a multitude of ways in athletes. From how a body “should” look if we play a certain sport, to how we “should” eat for performance, to the inevitable comparison trap of teammates and competitors.

I'm joined by Lex, a client I've worked with for many years now. She is incredibly special to me. We began working together when she was in high school struggling with an eating disorder and unable to participate in the sport she loves, and she recently graduated college.

Lex also opens up about her family dynamics...

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In this week’s episode (a much-requested topic, by the way!) I sit down with fat-positive sex therapist Noelle Benach to explore the deeply complex terrain of sex, intimacy, body image, and pleasure.

The first part of the episode is free for all listeners, and the full episode is available for paid subscribers on Substack. Upgrade to paid right here.

Topics We Discuss:

How childhood experiences with food and body shape our understanding of intimacy

Desiree Adaway joins the pod to help us through hard conversations in politics, body liberation, and beyond.

She shares her insights on nourishment, the (white) male gaze, workplace equity, community, and why conflict is actually required in personal and societal transformation.

* Desiree’s upbringing and why it lacked diet culture

* Breakfast as an act of reconnection with self

* Why she doesn’t give a s**t about the male gaze

* What Toni Morrison taught her about bodies

* The role of imagination in liberation

* Why change can’...

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Anti-Diet Dietitian Leah Kern joins the pod to discuss her experience with all the ways that the “crunchy granola identity” can create a funnel into disordered eating, body image struggles, and overall suffering. She and Abbie share their experiences with anxiety, the intersection of spirituality and environmentalism, and how the personal responsibility narrative can become harmful with food choices.

Listen to hear more on:

- Leah’s experience with disordered eating

- Her path to becomi...

In this week’s episode, I’m joined by author Paulette Stout, who opens up about her own healing journey — one that moved her from self-judgement and secrecy to self-compassion and rebellion.

Her act of radical defiance this year? Buying clothes that fit now. Not in May. Not “once she shrinks.” But in the body she has today. That shift alone says: I deserve to take up space. Right here, right now.

Paulette’s new novel centers a character healing from an eating disorder, but it’s not just about the food — it’s about rejoining life. Duration: 01:00:10

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com

The first part of this episode is free, the second part is for paid subscribers. Upgrade to paid on Substack right here

Can we ever get enough support with our body image? Probably not. So, Abbie welcomes Deb Schachter, an incredible therapist who specializes in body image, for a deeper dive into the messy, multi-dimensional nature of body image. 

This conversation touches on analogies and helpful reframes that we haven't yet talked about on the pod -- f...

Is anti-diet anti-health? Anti-nutrition? Anti-weight loss? What is this all actually about, and is it getting "extreme"?

If you’ve been wondering if giving yourself permission to eat freely means giving up on your health and experiencing a “free-for-all” with food, this one is for you. It’s also for you if you’re struggling to articulate a definition of diet culture to friends and family members, or are feeling conflicted about your own desire for weight loss. 

In this episode, Abbie explores the myths surrounding the anti-diet movement, addressing misconceptions about how the approach handles hea...

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Registered dietitian and diabetes care specialist Janice Dada joins the show this week to explore diabetes management from a non-diet, weight-inclusive lens.

Tune in to unpack the myths that dominate diabetes care — from the demonization of rice and bread, to fears about processed foods, to the idea that weight loss is a solution, to the panic that surro…

"Eating disorders are dissociative by nature. It's very difficult to be connected to your feelings while you're engaging in eating disorder behaviors. So it makes a lot of sense that people develop eating disorders as a way of keeping themselves as “safe” as possible."

In this special episode, Abbie is joined by the incredible Monica Ostroff, a therapist and eating disorders specialist, to explore Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and its overlooked intersection with eating disorders. They also have a deeper conversation about the relationship between trauma and disordered eating.

Monika shares her personal journey, detailing her...

This is a free preview of a paid episode: the first 30 minutes are available to everyone, but to hear the full conversation, upgrade to paid on Patreon: patreon.com/fullplate   (thank you, your support is what makes this podcast possible!)

Abbie chats with Jo Walduck, a recovery coach, about the intersection of gender, mental health, and personal growth. Jo shares her multifaceted identity and journey through recovery from both disordered eating and alcohol use while navigating the world as a trans person. She discusses the complexities of healing through multiple identities while overcoming addiction and chronic illness. 

"Dress for your body type", "define your waist", and "only wear what is flattering". The anti-fat bias we talk about on this podcast all the time extends into how we dress ourselves and what we feel worthy of wearing.

As our bodies change (as they will continue to do throughout our life), many of us are met with barriers to body acceptance. And our clothes are a massive part of that. But they can also be a pivotal part of our liberation.

This week we're joined by Dacy Gillespie, a weight-inclusive anti-diet personal stylist. We...

Abbie is on the other side of the mic in this episode -- being interviewed on self-compassion, recovery, body changes, and healing from the toxicity of diet culture. This is an exploration of the importance of trusting your body’s signals—whether it’s hunger, rest, or grief—and how everyday acts of self-kindness can transform your relationship with your body and your whole self. 

Listen to the episode for more on:

You're listening to the FREE version of this episode. To hear the FULL episode, upgrade to paid on Patreon! Your support is so deeply appreciated.

In this episode, Abbie welcomes Amanda Martinez Beck to the pod. Amanda is a fat activist and educator, and she shares her journey with eating disorder recovery, diabetes, the importance of self-care, and the complexities of growing up in a body that didn't fit societal norms. She also talks openly about parenting, and what it means to her to foster a food-positive and body-inclusive environment at home.

Behind the paywall...

Charlotte Markey, PhD joins the pod to speak with Abbie about her research on body image and what the evidence really says about what shapes and influences the way we feel about ourselves. 

As Dr. Markey says in this episode, "body image touches everything." And that’s why it’s so important that we talk about it — not just as a fluffy concept that centers on our appearance, but as a multifaceted concept that influences the way we show up in the world.

Listen to hear more about:

If you've ever felt exhausted by trying to meet the expectations of others, worried about people's opinions, or frustrated and depleted by never feeling quite good enough, this one is for you.

Beatriz Albina, nurse practitioner and somatic life coach, joins Abbie to explore the concept of emotional outsourcing, the importance of self-validation, and the journey of reclaiming our voice and authenticity. 

They discuss cultural connections through food, the significance of understanding and addressing our inner critics. This conversation is one that helps us return to the need for compassion, bring awareness to the impact o...

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Ten years into recovering from an eating disorder, I was diagnosed with OCD. It was like discovering a missing puzzle piece—one that had been there all along but never quite fit until that moment. When it finally clicked into place, so did so many childhood experiences: the panic attacks, the relentless body image struggles, the deep, aching sense that …

This is a free preview of a bonus episode. You can hear the full conversation when you upgrade to paid on Patreon: www.patreon.com/fullplate

In this episode, Abbie sits down with Elizabeth, a long-time listener and passionate reader and baker, to discuss her journey through recovery, how neurodivergence plays a role in EDs, the challenges of unlearning diet culture, and the role of perfectionism in both disordered eating and healing. Elizabeth shares her personal experiences with treatment, the pressure to “get away with” restrictive behaviors, reclaiming baking from diet culture, and how she ultimately found a mo...

If you’re struggling with chronic pain, alongside body image or disordered eating challenges, this episode is for you.

🎧 The first 40 minutes of this conversation are FREE! Listen to the extended version of this episode when you subscribe to Patreon starting at just $5/month or $50/year.

Abbie is joined by DK Ciccone to talk about all things chronic pain, delving into its impact on movement, identity, and mental health. Together, they explore how to rebuild our relationship with movement after years of diet culture and "punishing" or feeling "let down" by our bodies. 

In thi...

This is a free preview of a bonus episode. To hear the full conversation, become a paid subscriber to the show on Patreon: www.patreon.com/fullplate. Your support on Patreon is what makes this show possible. Thank you so much!

Abbie answers a listener question about the challenges of dating and relationships amidst diet culture  -- especially while navigating a history of body control, body shame, and disordered eating. Our listener's concerns are about dating men who are overly focused on fitness and diet, and how to know whether those concerns are a reflection of her gu...

Dr. Jenn Huber joins us to talk all about protein and how to approach eating with menopause in mind (hint, it’s not as scary as you’ve been led to believe!). 

It seems like every day, diet culture finds a new way to make us feel guilty for our bodies changing. It’s not news that women in menopause are a group preyed on by diet culture, but lately this pressure has been heavily centered around protein. We hear it in the news, on social media, and in advertising: How much is enough? Can eating a lot of p...

In this week's VERY special episode, we are joined by Abbie's client, Kimberly.

She speaks from the heart in bravely sharing her body story — from childhood adversity and weight stigma, to the decision to get weight loss surgery, to dealing with the aftermath of that experience, to learning how to create real safety and belonging in her life.

Kimberly has magnetic energy, and is an example of why vulnerability is true courage and strength. She doesn’t just talk the talk, she walks the walk, and is a beautiful example of what it looks like to m...

Therapists Ashley Wilfore and Sarah Louer know what it's like to have dieting and body shame passed down to you like a family heirloom. We discuss what it means to experience intergenerational trauma, how disordered eating and body hatred get inherited and perpetuated through family values and behaviors, and what it's like to grow up surrounded by diet culture in your home. Ashley and Sarah and speak with honesty, compassion, and humor about their experiences letting go of the pursuit of thinness, and trying to raise their own children while being cycle-breakers.

Tune in to hear more...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com

The first 45 minutes of this conversation are FREE! Listen to the extended version of this episode when you subscribe to Patreon here. (or go to: www.patreon.com/fullplate)

Dr. Mara Gordon joins the pod to share what it means to be a size-inclusive physician and why it’s time to rethink weight in medicine.

We discuss why it’s harmful to center medical care on a patient’s weight, the stigma and negative health consequences of medical...

Shira Rosenbluth, LCSW, returns to discuss what it means to live a full life in a fat body. She catches us up on eating disorder recovery (two years after her first time on the pod), coming out as queer, how her relationship with her fiance has impacted her body image, planning a wedding as a plus-size bride, and what it's felt like to witness the constant chatter of GLP-1s while recovering from a life-long eating disorder.

Last time she was on the pod, we spoke about her experience with atypical anorexia and quasi- recovery. Now, two...

What is alive in you right now? What does it mean to return to your body as the place where you experience life?

As we head into a new year, nothing feels more important than staying close to ourselves. Neathery Falchuk (they/them) joins Abbie to talk about the true meaning of embodiment, how it differs from mainstream conversations about body image, and why healing happens in the presence of safety and feeling completely seen and understood. 

Take a listen to this "best of 2024" episode to hear more about…

We're revisiting this conversation with Dr. Diana Gordon, and it's everything. Big picture, Abbie and Diana discuss how to approach mental health in a sea of diet and wellness misinformation -- including whether or not movement and nutrition have a meaningful impact on anxiety and depression. They get into what it's like to ping pong back and forth between dieting and intuitive eating, how diet culture seizes on our fear of uncertainty to sell us a faulty product, and how to sit with and process our collective health anxiety. 

Topics discussed...

This is a free preview of a bonus episode! You can access the full podcast episode here when you support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/fullplate.

Abbie’s husband, Jeb, joins the pod (back by popular demand!) to help answer holiday questions from listeners. The questions get at the heart of all the ways the holiday season can impact our thoughts, anxieties, and behaviors around food, body image, and close relationships.

Topics include reverting to only eating safe foods when presented with a lot more food than usual, feeling restless with unplanned ti...

Author and podcaster Mary Jelkovsky (@maryscupofteaa) joins us to share her journey about the harms and toxicity of becoming a fitness influencer, how fitness culture pushed her further into an eating disorder, and how she's healed from the damage to her sense of self. We also get into self-love versus self-compassion, confidence versus self-worth, healing from comparison, and why it's so stressful to worry about what other people think of your body.

"I prided myself on being this person who didn't give a s**t what anybody thought of her. I was doing this food and body...

Were you labeled a "picky eater" growing up? Or are you raising a child with sensory preferences, feeding differences, or neurodivergence? In this episode, we’re diving deep into Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), its connection to neurodivergence, and the misconceptions surrounding so-called “picky eaters.”

We also discuss the intense pressure parents face from diet culture and social media, the impact of disembodying feeding practices on kids, and why “normal” eating doesn’t exist.

You'll hear more about...

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“I believe in body liberation and anti-diet culture. But what if I’m just uncomfortable being fat?”

This is a free preview of this week’s bonus episode, and truly, it’s not to be missed. It just might be my favorite conversation we’ve had yet on this podcast. This is the second part of a conversation with Therapist Edie Stark and Fat Activist Sharon Maxwell, and we’re answering a very important – very hard – listener question. 

To hear this full...

Two returning guests join us (who happen to be my amazing friends and colleagues): therapist Edie Stark and fat activist Sharon Maxwell. We're getting into the impact of GLP-1s (like Ozempic, Wegovy, etc.) on disordered eating recovery, body acceptance, and generally navigating this world in a human body amidst the constant chatter about weight loss medications. 

Edie and Sharon share their wisdom and lived experience as we talk about how we can keep hopeful in the face of increasingly problematic diet culture messaging, GLP-1s, and general uncertainty in the world. We explore the differences between i...

Shana Spence, a registered dietitian (who you might know as @thenutritiontea on social media), joins the pod to bust myths about processed foods and to discuss how family, culture, privilege, and societal influences shape our relationship with food.

Listen Ad-Free on Patreon!

We recorded this conversation before the election, but given the outcome, we're going to see an influx of misinformation about wellness, health, and nutrition -- so this episode feels timely.

Shana shares how her initial career path and disordered eating fueled her decision to become a dietitian, and reflects on how...

Hi, my friends. In this last-minute episode, I am talking to you about election anxiety, and why times of political and personal uncertainty can stir up disordered eating thoughts and behaviors. From control to distraction, we often tend to turn to bodies as a coping tool. Join me for this brief (but hopefully meaningful) conversation about these thoughts, why they surface, and  supportive tools to nurture yourself through challenging times. I hope this is a compassionate reminder on why and how we are reclaiming our power when we choose food, rest, and radical self-care. We're in this together -- y...

This is a free preview of a BONUS episode! To hear the full episode, make sure you're subscribed on Patreon. Your support is what keeps the lights on around here, so, thank you!

It's Halloween time. And that means...plenty of candy. Maybe more than usual? Maybe not. In this special bonus episode, I'm answering a listener question about what to do if you feel like you can't eat candy without binge-eating it, how to approach candy with your kids, and whether we can truly give ourselves unconditional permission to eat all that sugar.

👉 Listen to t...

Author and well-being educator Nakeia Homer joins us to talk about releasing things (habits, people, beliefs) we've clung to for years—sometimes decades. As Nakeia beautifully explains, letting go is rarely about the thing or person itself, but rather what it symbolizes for us.

We discuss self-forgiveness, finding our people, making peace with other people’s opinions of us, and what real self-care is all about. Nakeia also walks us through the process of building habits that help us heal; that help us become whole; that help us find ourselves.

Things that stood out to me mo...

Chrissy King is BACK for her second round on the pod. This time, we’re diving deep into the intricate ways diet culture, body autonomy, dating culture, and yes, even childless cat ladies, are all connected. I promise there’s a through-line here—and it’s more liberating than any “hot girl summer” meme you’ve ever scrolled past.

Some of the things we chat about...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com

This is a free preview of a paywalled episode. To hear the FULL episode, join Patreon here. Patreon supporters make this show possible and keep the lights on around here, so, thank you!

In this bonus episode, I'm answering a listener question about why seeing photos of ourselves—especially in group settings—can trigger feelings of body shame and comparison. The question is specifically about hating a photo and feeling the strong desire to lose weight (despite knowing intellectually that...

Have you ever wondered how alcohol fits into diet culture, or how it can intersect with and impact restrictive eating? We're diving into the connection between drinking and diet culture in this episode. Lael Atkinson, a recovery coach, joins Abbie to share their experiences with disordered eating, alcohol, and body image, how these issues have intersected with queerness, and other manifestations of these coping tools in their life. The conversation also explores the differences and similarities between drinking and dieting, how shame and body disconnection can show up in both, the overlap of substance abuse and disordered eating, and...

Summer returns for her second (!!) time on the pod to speak with Abbie about the challenges of body image during perimenopause. With the ever-present pressure from diet culture -- preying on our insecurities, selling us anti-aging creams, 'fixes' for menopause symptoms, and endless diets to keep our bodies as small as possible -- it’s exhausting. This conversation takes a deeper look at what's happening as we age out of the beauty standard, the challenges we face with body grief, and how we can truly support ourselves and our changing bodies.

We chat about so much in th...

Welcome to a very special bonus episode, where Abbie hosts a live Q&A call with the Full Plate Patreon community. This is a FREE preview of the conversation, but you can hear the FULL episode right here as a member of Patreon.

To join Patreon and hear the episode, as well as all future bonus episodes and newsletters, visit: www.patreon.com/fullplate.

In this episode...

Natalie Rose (@wakeupandsmelltherosay), therapist and wonderful human, joins us to share her journey with disordered eating, which began during her high school years due to social pressures and a desire for acceptance. We talk about her struggles with body image that led to a cycle of restriction and binge eating, exacerbated by a heart condition that limited her ability to exercise. Natalie also shares how her mother’s cancer diagnosis reignited her obsession with "healthy eating", pushing her into orthorexia.

We explore perfectionism, health anxiety, relationships, and what it actually means to lean into self-kindness over self-hatred (pl...

We're chatting with my friend Jenna Werner (@happystronghealthy on IG), a registered dietitian and intuitive eating counselor, to explore the complexities of our relationship with movement—including her own history with compulsive exercise, the importance of ditching the “all-or-nothing” mentality, and what it means to find peace and attunement amidst the noise of fitness culture.

Topics discussed:

Jenna’s history of disordered exercising

How toxic fitness culture fuels over-exercising

A specific incident she had with a trainer 

The impact of “shedding for the wedding”

Disordered exercise and o...

Hello, hello! This is a free preview of a bonus episode. You can hear the FULL episode right here when you subscribe and support the show on Patreon.

This week, we're going deep on emotional eating and whether "everything in moderation" is the healthiest approach to food.

Here are the questions from our Patrons:

Moderation:

Hi, Abbie. As someone who has been trying to heal from diet culture, I've heard a lot about the concept of moderation. Can you explain whether practicing moderation with food can actually be helpful or...

You cannot cause diabetes by eating sugar and carbs. And if that sounds wild to you, please tune in. Because today we're debunking common myths about diabetes to give you a deeper understanding of this condition, its connection to disordered eating, how to spot misinformation about nutrition for diabetes management, and ways to care for yourself without diet culture tactics. Erin and Abbie discuss the foundation of a weight-inclusive approach, and address rampant weight stigma and anti-fat bias in the diabetes space. 

Topics discussed include...

Diabetes and insulin resistance (physiology)

Risk factors for d...

In the latest episode of Full Plate Podcast, I’m joined by Veronica Perretti (a yoga teacher, astrologer, and client of mine) to talk about how she has been (and continues to) recover from a lifetime of trying to control other people’s opinions of her body. 

This episode has so much laughter and so much depth, simultaneously. Veronica is incredibly vulnerable in sharing her truth-iest experiences with body shame, the areas of her life where she still struggles to divest from diet culture, the impact her food freedom has had on her marriage, and the crucial compo...

Don't MISS this one! Yasmine Cheyenne joins the pod this week to help us heal as we walk some of our most challenging paths: self-forgiveness, people-pleasing, unhealthy relationships, and comparison.

Yasmine helps us navigate the inevitability of the human experience: from how we can make certain choices to prevent ourselves from the suffering that stems from perfectionism, to the red flags that lead to painful and repetitive cycles, and how we can learn to put ourselves first. 

Some topics we get into:

Setting boundaries to protect yourself from burnout 

Yasmine’s new...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com

NOTE: This is a free preview of a bonus episode. You can hear the full episode on Substack if you're a paid subscriber. The podcast audio will say Patreon for the paid content, but we’ve moved to Substack!

In this special bonus episode, Abbie and her husband talk through a listener question about healing and recovery, and whether all the hardship -- including divesting from diet culture in a world that is still very much steeped in diet cu...

This conversation will heal you. What started as an episode meant to be about recovery during pregancy expanded into one that spans across our lifetime of healing. Allyson Inez Ford, MA, LPCC (also know as @bodyjustice.therapist on IG) joins Abbie in an episode that we all need to hear.

Topics include: Navigating body grief, how white supremacy fuels eating disorders, Allyson's experience as a multiracial child, what it looks like to show up for your partner in recovery, the impact of chronic illness on disordered eating and body image, finding support through community, how...

Many of us stumble into a disordered relationship with food unknowingy -- perhaps thinking we were being "healthy", following a doctor's dieting advice, or having just always had a restrictive mentality from our upbringing.

In this revisited episode, Abbie sits down with one of her incredible clients, Dory, to talk about accidental disordered eating, the binge-restrict cycle, and how to keep going when everyone around you seems to be stuck in diet culture.

This episode was the first time Abbie had a client on the pod. It's so important that we hear diverse stories and...

The incredible Dr. Whitney Trotter (RD / RN) joins us in this revisited episode to talk about intersectionality, trauma-informed care, and how eating disorder treatment fails BIPOC communities (plus, of course, what needs to be done to improve access and approaches to care).

We discuss...

Virginia Sole-Smith joins me on this revisited episode to talk about one of the most difficult, yet most important, pieces of healing from the effects of diet culture: Not passing it on to the next generation.

Virginia is such an important voice on raising kids in an anti-diet and weight-inclusive way, on confronting anti-fatness as a parent, and looking back to our own upbringing. She is also a talented writer and journalist (I highly recommend both of her books!) and I highly recommend her podcast, Burnt Toast.

There is something for everyone in this episode. Bec...

On a revisited conversation -- one that left a lasting impact on me -- the incredible Savala Nolan joins us to talk about belonging versus conforming, understanding the body as our home, and how to walk away from a lifetime of disordered eating.

Savala is warm, funny, kind, smart as hell, and she will blow your mind open when she explains really hard, complex, and nuanced topics. I felt so at home speaking with her, and I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did.

Our conversation covers…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To listen to the full conversation, support the show on Patreon!

In this week's VERY special episode, I am joined by my client, Kimberly.

She speaks from the heart in bravely sharing her body story — from childhood adversity and weight stigma, to the decision to get weight loss surgery, to dealing with the traumatic aftermath of that experience, to learning how to create real safety and belonging in her life.

Kimberly has magnetic energy, and is an example of why vulnerability is true courage an...

Therapist Edie Stark joins the pod to chat all about anxiety, perfectionism, disordered eating, red flags to look out for when finding or working with a therapist, and how to protect our peace on social media.

Edie has become a dear friend of mine, and I had so much fun chatting with her about her lived experience with mental health and learning differences, what drove her to become a therapist, and coping strategies to create calm and safety in our lives. Most importantly, we discuss chocolate chip cookies for a good ten minutes at the start of...

Have you ever thought about how diet culture has impacted your professional life, the career path you've chosen, or how you've been able to show up in that area of your life more generally?

In this conversation, Abbie is joined by career and leadership coach Rachel Garrett (who is also a client of Abbie's!). We explore Rachel's story with her body and food -- from childhood influences and coping mechanismsm, to her ongoing struggle with self-acceptance, and the constant pursuit of aligning her life with her values.

In particular, we focus on the intersection between...

This is a free preview of a bonus episode. To listen to the full conversation, you'll need to be a paid supporter on Patreon.

Join the Full Plate Patreon right here!

Ragen Chastain is back for part two with us this week. This time, we continue our "is being fat bad for your health?" conversation by answering your questions about GLP-1s. We chat about the current hype around weight-loss drugs, how they "work" (or don't), and the truth about their risks and side effects.

If you haven't listened to part one of...

The idea that fatness and weight gain are synonymous with poor health has become a seemingly incontestable truth in our society. So much so that you have undoubtedly heard that “we’re in the midst of an obesity epidemic”. But where did this claim originate? And what does the research actually say about the relationship between weight and health outcomes?

These two things may be connected, but not in the way we’ve been led to believe.

This week, I am joined by the incredible and incomparable Ragen Chastain — who is a groundbreaking researcher in weight sci...

You're in for a treat! This week on the pod we’re chatting with the incredible Becca King (who you may know as @adhd.nutritionist on Instagram), a registered dietitian and certified intuitive eating counselor who specializes in helping folks with ADHD heal their relationship with food. Becca is an ADHDer herself, so we chat about her personal experience with disordered eating, the interplay of neurodivergence with the binge/restrict cycle, and how she approaches nutrition now for herself and for her clients.

Becca is here to help us bust myths about nutrition for ADHD as we de...

This is a free preview of a bonus episode! You can hear the full episode at patreon.com/fullplate. 

This week, I’m joined by body image coach and children’s book author, Debbie Saroufim. We delve into why it's vital to adopt a fat-positive, anti-diet perspective when it comes to children's well-being, and how parents can take an active role in supporting their children’s body image. We also discuss practical strategies to help kids foster body acceptance, navigate conversations about weight and health, and cultivate body autonomy with food.

Listen to hear mor...

"Dress for your body type", "define your waist", and "only wear what is flattering". How about...no. 

As our bodies change (as they will continue to do throughout our life), many of us are met with barriers to body acceptance. And our clothes are a massive part of that. But they can also be a pivotal part of our liberation.

Tune in to this week's episode to hear my conversation with Dacy Gillespie, a weight-inclusive anti-diet personal stylist. We untangle the mess of our closets, dismantle from patriarchal ideas of fashion, and challenge our sense o...

On this week's episode, we're joined by Leslie Schilling, registered dietitian and author. We focus on themes in her second book, Feed Yourself, which explores the intersection of diet culture and religion — how diet culture shows up in the safest spaces, including places of worship.

We discuss interrogating the church, and how diet culture is perpetuated through its messaging and ideologies. From weight to food choices, to health and morality, to the lies that instill shame and guilt – specifically when it comes to our bodies.

I’ve really admired and respected Leslie for years. We’re conne...

This is free preview of a paywalled episode, which is available to our wonderful supporters on Patreon. To listen to the full episode, you can upgrade to paid on Patreon!

This episode is an answer to a question submitted on Patreon from Erica, who asked:

“How can I manage my acid reflux without restriction? I've been told over and over that I should eliminate certain foods, but just thinking about restricting is triggering me. Other than limiting my caffeine intake I'm really trying not to cut out any specific foods because honestly I kno...

Kirsten Morrison (@intuitive_rd on Instagram) joins us this week on the pod to discuss her experience as a former weight loss surgery dietitian. We explore the consequences on physical and mental health, her journey from working in bariatrics to now specializing in intuitive eating, how dietitians often experience their own disordered eating, and the overlap of disordered eating and bariatric surgery.

I really appreciate Kirsten’s perspective as someone that was closely involved in the weight-loss surgery practice. She and I discuss her firsthand observations on the process and its impact on the patients involved.

This week we are joined by the incredible Lauren Fleshman, New York Times bestselling author of "Good for a Girl", to discuss the systemic ways that our sports culture fails women and girls, and how we can create a better future for the next generation of female athletes. 

We dive into how the natural and expected changes in a young women’s body during adolescence are met with misunderstanding and pathology, and how the sports systems that girls and women find themselves in are built by men, for men and boys. They don’t currently account for or su...

There is a special brand of diet and wellness culture that comes for you when you're pregnant. From the “permission” for your body to change, to pressure around food choices, to beauty standards for pregnant people, we're getting into it all. 

Artist Bri Custer joins the pod to share, vulnerably, about what pregnancy has been like as she heals from a lifetime of disordered eating, and works towards a peaceful relationship with her body. Bri is so special to me as a human being, a friend, and a client. She has done so much reflection around these topic...

This is a free preview of a paid episode, which is available to our wonderful supporters on Patreon.

To listen to the full episode, you can upgrade to paid on Patreon!

If you’ve ever been curious if intermittent fasting’s claims about health benefits during menopause are true, this is the episode for you. This week on Full Plate, we're digging into the claims, the science, and debunking the myths around intermittent fasting during this season of life.

If intermittent fasting has been something you've tried, have considered trying, or seem to find...

This week I am so thrilled to be joined by Kimmie Singh, RD to discuss PCOS: what it is, common misconceptions, why medical providers are so confused about it, its relationship to disordered eating, how to take a weight-inclusive and trauma-informed approach, and more.

We also get into the nuances of weight and health in general around diagnosis and treatment, trusting your body and intuition, and navigating weight-centric recommendations for managing symptoms.

Beyond just PCOS, we talk about grief, particularly expected and anticipated grief.

I hope you get as much out of this...

What is alive in you right now? What does it mean to return to the body as the place where we experience life?

The concept of embodiment has become more present in the lexicon of body image and body liberation. While deeply important to our collective divestment from diet culture, exploring your own embodiment may feel confusing, intangible, or incongruent with your lived experience.

Neathery Falchuk, LCSW-S, CGP (they/them) joins us this week to dig all the way in: What is embodiment, really? What does it look like? Feel like? Is it a destination...

Emma Green joins us this week to talk about her diagnosis of autism as an adult and how it impacts her understanding of her eating disorder as a teen, as well as how healthism, ableism, and anti-fatness intersect. We can’t talk about disordered eating and eating disorders without acknowledging healthism and ableism, and this conversation brings in both Emma’s lived experience and a discussion on how to build inclusive, supportive spaces for neurodivergent folks. We discuss the connection between autism and disordered eating behaviors, and how common it is to receive a misdiagnosis. If you listened to the...

This is free preview of a paywalled episode, which is available to our wonderful supporters on Patreon. To listen to the full episode, you can upgrade to paid on Patreon!

This episode is an answer to a question submitted on Patreon from Andy, who asked:

How can we approach meal planning without falling into old patterns? Every time I start to think about meal planning or meal prep, it triggers me, and reminds me of dieting. But as a parent, I know I’ll go nuts if I don’t have some kind of plan to g...

The co-occurence of OCD and disordered eating is a topic we've wanted to cover for some time now. It was a big part of Abbie's lived experience, and something that comes up consistently with clients in her practice. It's a common overlap that isn't discussed enough, and when it is, it rarely comes through an anti-diet culture lens. This episode features guest Jenna Overbaugh, LPC, who specializes in OCD and anxiety. Together, Abbie and Jenna discuss the misconceptions, steriotypes, and assumptions that do a disservice to those with OCD, and unearth the truths about what it means to live...

Cole Kazdin, author of What's Eating Us: Women, Food, and the Epidemic of Body Anxiety, joins us to explore, what it would mean to truly be free of disordered eating. Not just the behaviors -- but the constant mental chatter, the critical voice, and the restrictive thoughts. We ask the tough questions about whether full recovery possible, and how for much of her life, Cole wondered if freedom was ever possible, or if disordered eating is more of a chronic condition that ebbs and flows throughout life. 

Tune in to hear more, including...

This is a free preview of a paid Q&A bonus episode, which is available on Patreon!

Three listener questions are covered, all submitted by Patrons of the show. We're talking about what the science actually says about hydration (how much water do we REALLY need?), how eating fast food impacts our health, and whether we can engage in body checking without it being harmful to our body image.

To listen to the FULL episode, upgrade to paid to support the show on Patreon!

Here are the listener questions discussed on this episode:<...

Dr. Diana Gordon joins us today, and you don't want to miss this conversation. It's everything. Big picture, we're discussing how to approach mental health in a sea of diet and wellness misinformation -- including whether or not movement and food have a meaningful impact on anxiety and depression. We get into what it's like to ping pong back and forth between dieting and intuitive eating, how diet culture seizes on our fear of uncertainty to sell us a faulty product, and how to sit with and process our collective health anxiety. 

Topics discussed...

I can't think of a better conversation through which to enter the new year. We're revisiting a fan-favorite with Chrissy King, author of "The Body Liberation Project", who joins the pod to talk about her journey through and away from the harms of diet and fitness culture. This is a conversation about loving ourselves, reclaiming our power and purpose in this world, and how to navigate the oppressive systems that continue to exist despite our personal healing. 

Topics discussed:

As we close out this year, we are revisiting a fan-favorite and incredibly healing conversation with Dr. Anita Johnston. Listen in as we discuss the magic of metaphors and story-telling in ED recovery, and how we can return home to our authentic selves to find lasting freedom from food restriction and body dissatisfaction. Abbie and Anita discuss why highly intuitive and deeply feeling people tend to be most vulnerable to eating disorders, and how to use those gifts as superpowers.

Topics covered:

I can't wait for you to hear this episode, because I'm joined by Lex, a client I've worked with for many years now. She is incredibly special to me. We began working together when she was in high school struggling with an eating disorder and unable to participate in the sport she loves, and now she's a college athlete -- working through the nuances of recovery and reclaiming her relationship with food and running. 

Eating disorders can show up in a multitude of ways in athletes. From how a body “should” look if we play a certain sport...

Anjali Prasertong joins me on this week’s episode to explore what it means to approach nutrition through the lens of culture, antiracism, and food equity.

Tune in as Anjali helps us think through social justice in food systems, debunk white-washed fantasies of the “perfect” diet, and examine how cultural appropriation shows up in the culinary world.

Topics discussed include…

What does safety in our body mean? How can we create inner safety, even amidst external barriers? And when we talk about healing our relationship with our body, what does that mean in the context of chronic illness or having a marginalized identity?

Our current eating disorder landscape only caters to the young, white, cis, able-bodied archetype. Often, the method for recovery is "just eat more". What is missing from the conversation about body dissatisfaction and disordered eating? A lot. But in a big way, the current narrative leaves out marginalized communities and in particular the prevalence...