🥦 Nutrition Isn’t The Enemy: 3 Mindset Shifts to Go From Self-Control to Self-Care

In this episode of Shoulders Down, Leah sits down with Brittany Modell to explore the nuanced relationship between ADHD, body image, and eating behaviors — and how neurodivergence can shape our experience with food in ways that are often misunderstood.Brittany shares her personal story growing up immersed in diet culture, from early Weight Watchers meetings to navigating a lifelong sense of feeling “out of control” around food. Together, she and Leah unpack how ADHD can intensify food thoughts, disrupt hunger and fullness cues, and complicate traditional approaches to intuitive eating.This conversation brings much-needed compassion and clarity to the intersection of neurodivergence and anti-diet work — offering a perspective that moves beyond willpower and into understanding.You’ll hear about:How growing up in diet culture shapes early food and body beliefsThe connection between ADHD and constant thoughts about foodWhy traditional nutrition advice often falls short for neurodivergent peopleHow impulsivity, dopamine-seeking, and structure impact eating patternsWhat a more supportive, individualized approach to food can look likeMentioned in this episode:16 Satisfying Trader Joe’s Snack Ideas From An Intuitive Eating Dietitian🌵7 Unpopular Takes on Intuitive Eating & Body ImageMore From Brittany:Website: www.brittanymodellrd.comInstagram & TikTok: @nofoodfearsBlog: Why ADHD Makes Body Image More ComplicatedMore From Leah:📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackApply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]

In this episode of Shoulders Down, Leah sits down with Karly Borden, founder of The Public Run Club, to explore what it really looks like to rebuild a relationship with running after disordered eating.Karly shares her personal story of navigating eating disorder recovery and the often-overlooked challenge of returning to exercise in a way that feels safe, grounded, and self-trust-driven. Together, they unpack the tension between discipline and intuition, and why so many people feel stuck in the “murky middle” of movement — not fully disordered, but not fully free either.Leah and Karly also dive into Karly’s Intuitive Athlete Cycle, a powerful framework for approaching movement in a sustainable, non-extractive way that honors the body’s natural rhythms rather than forcing constant progress.You’ll hear about:Karly’s personal journey with running, disordered eating, and recoveryWhy movement is often the missing piece in eating disorder recoveryThe difference between extractive vs. regenerative movementHow to approach fitness goals without slipping into disordered patternsKarly’s Intuitive Athlete Cycle and how it supports sustainable movementPractical tools for tuning into your body before, during, and after exerciseMentioned in the Episode:🎢 My Story (unfiltered, the whole saga)🏃‍♀️ Disordered Eating in the Running Community with Serena MarieMore from Karly:Website: https://www.thepublicrunclub.comInstagram: @thepublicrunclubKind and Consistent Jump Start Waitlist: https://thepublicrunclub.com/kcjsMore From Leah:📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackApply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]📚 Sources 📚On the body as a site of self-trust: Inspired by Caldwell, C., & Leighton, L. B. (Eds.). (2018). Oppression and the Body: Roots, Resistance, and Resolutions. North Atlantic Books.On the hypothetical gaze, body-object, and eating disorders emerging in puberty: McBride, H. L. (2019). “Embodiment and Body Image: Relating and Exploring Constructs.” In H. L. McBride & J. L. Kwee (Eds.), Embodiment and Eating Disorders: Theory, Research, Prevention and Treatment. Routledge.

In this episode of Shoulders Down, Leah sits down with certified eating disorder specialist Sydney Greene, to explore the overlap between disordered eating and substance use.Sydney shares her personal story of growing up around addiction, developing orthorexia, and later navigating sobriety — only to find her compulsive behaviors shifting toward exercise, clean eating, and wellness. Leah and Sydney unpack how addiction and disordered eating often co-occur, why recovery isn’t always linear, and how socially praised behaviors can mask deeper struggles.Together, they discuss the concept of transfer addiction, how one compulsive behavior can replace another, and why healing requires addressing the underlying unmet needs — not just the behavior itself.⚠️ Content Warning ⚠️This episode includes discussion of substance use, addiction, suicidal thoughts, and grief. Listener discretion is advised.You’ll hear about:Sydney’s personal story with substance use and disordered eatingWhat “transfer addiction” means and how it shows up in recoveryWhy sobriety can sometimes intensify disordered eating behaviorsWhy intuitive eating may not be appropriate early in addiction recoveryThe overlap between orthorexia, compulsive exercise, and addictionMentioned in this episode:🥗 Orthorexia: When “Healthy" Eating Becomes Dangerous🧗‍♀️Wellness Culture in Mountain Towns with Katie Campbell🥛 Proteinification, Pilates, Glucose Monitors & The Wellness Trends That Shaped 2025💰Are You Binge Spending? Where Budget Culture Meets Diet Culture with Rachel Duncan More From SydneyWebsite: sydneygreenehealth.comInstagram: @greenehealthMore From Leah:📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackApply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]

In this episode of Shoulders Down, Leah sits down with plus-size style expert and reality TV producer Marcy Guevara-Prete to reflect on their experience participating in a viral Jubilee debate with fitness personality Jillian Michaels.Leah and Marcy unpack what it was like to engage in a highly charged, public conversation about body positivity, health, and weight — and how lived experience, media framing, and personal values shaped their perspectives in the moment and afterward.Marcy shares her journey from lifelong dieting to body acceptance and fat liberation, her nuanced perspective on health and movement, and the unexpected ways the debate impacted her own relationship with her body.⚠️ Content Warning ⚠️This episode includes discussion of weight stigma, diet culture, disordered eating, trauma, and intentional weight loss. It also includes nuanced and potentially conflicting perspectives on body positivity and health that may feel activating for some listeners. Please listen with care and take what serves you.You’ll hear about:What it was like to participate in the Jubilee debate with Jillian MichaelsHow reality-style media formats shape conversations about body and healthThe role of lived experience vs. scientific “evidence” in discussions of weightWhy shame, fear, and guilt are not sustainable motivators for changeThe tension between diet culture and finding a personal middle groundMentioned in this Episode:Surrounded Debate with Jillian Michaels (watch with caution)Is Body Positivity Disempowering? Follow-up ft Jillian Michaels and Marcy (watch with caution)🍫 Can You Be Addicted To Food?🌙 Fat & Beautiful: Unpacking Thin Privilege & Anti-Fat Bias with Debbie SaroufimNational Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA)More From Marcy:Instagram: @themarcyminuteWebsite: http://www.marcyguevara.com/Boutique: Perfect 10 Plus (Los Angeles)Mobile Boutique: The Plus BusMore From Leah:📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackApply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]

In this episode of Shoulders Down, Leah sits down with therapist Edie Stark, LCSW, to discuss their thoughts on the final edit of the Jillian Michaels x Body Positivity debate. Leah and Edie reflect on what they thought of the edit, how it felt to watch the video back (after experiencing it in real time a few months ago), and what frustrated them about the final video.Mentioned in this episode:First episode reflecting with Edie (before we saw the final edit)Watch the Debate Here! More From Edie Stark:Instagram: @ediestarktherapyTherapy Practice: Stark Therapy GroupConsulting & Media: ediestark.comMore From Leah:📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackApply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]

In this episode of Shoulders Down, Leah sits down with therapist Edie Stark, LCSW, to unpack their experience participating in a debate with fitness personality Jillian Michaels on the popular YouTube channel Jubilee.Leah and Edie reflect on what it was like to step into a highly produced debate environment discussing body positivity, weight stigma, and health claims — and how the format of viral media can shape the conversation in ways that prioritize spectacle over nuance.Together, they discuss the challenges of debating weight stigma in a reality-TV style setting, the misconceptions about body positivity and Health at Every Size®, and why conversations about weight and health must account for systemic factors like stigma, access to care, and social determinants of health.You’ll hear about:What it was like to participate in a debate with Jillian MichaelsWhy debating weight and health in a reality-TV format creates major limitationsCommon misconceptions about the body positivity movementHow weight stigma and systemic factors impact health outcomesWhy shame and blame are ineffective tools for supporting behavior changeWhat Leah and Edie hope viewers take away from the debateMentioned in this episode:Watch the Debate Here! National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA)The Plus BusMore From Edie Stark:Instagram: @ediestarktherapyTherapy Practice: Stark Therapy GroupConsulting & Media: ediestark.comMore From Leah:📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackApply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]

Is the backlash against ultra-processed foods really about health… or is it about control? In this episode of Shoulders Down, Leah and Laura Thomas, PhD, explore the growing moral panic around ultra-processed foods — and what’s really driving the conversation.Laura explains why much of the research linking ultra-processed foods (UPFs) to poor health outcomes is observational, and how these headlines often oversimplify complex public health data. The conversation goes beyond nutrition science to examine how food narratives are shaped by gender roles, class privilege, and today’s political climate.Together, Leah and Laura explore the connection between trad wife culture, GLP-1 use, beauty standards, and what Laura calls “body fascism” — unpacking the bigger cultural forces driving today’s conversations about food and bodies.You’ll hear about:What ultra-processed foods (UPFs) actually are — and why the definition is murkySocial determinants of health and the invisible labor of “food work”How the push to “cook from scratch” can reinforce gender roles and class privilegeTrad wife culture, the rise of GLP-1s, and the body politics of it allWhy this cultural moment is bigger than diet cultureMentioned in this episode:Lessons from the Fatosphere by Kate Harding & Marianne KirbyFearing the Black Body by Sabrina StringsMore From Laura Thomas:Newsletter: https://canihaveanothersnack.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurathomasphdLaura Thomas’ books: Just Eat ItHow to Just Eat ItMore From Leah:📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackApply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on Speakpipe

In this episode of Shoulders Down, Leah talks with Jamie (returning guest and close friend) about navigating wedding planning as a plus-size bride — without pursuing weight loss.Rather than changing her body for her wedding day, Jamie shares how she made intentional accommodations to support comfort, confidence, and presence. Together, Leah and Jamie explore wedding culture pressures, how to prioritize feeling like yourself, and practical advice for planning a wedding in a larger body.You’ll hear about:Why major life events often trigger body image anxietyChoosing accommodations instead of trying to change your bodyNavigating photos, expectations, and “picture shock”Letting go of appearance perfection and focusing on meaningHelpful strategies for feeling more comfortable and present in your bodyMentioned in Episode:💛 Lived Experience with Ozempic—Jamie's Story & An Overview of The FactsEmma Arletta (YouTube Creator referenced)More From Leah:📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackApply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]

In this episode of Shoulders Down Podcast, Leah takes a deep dive into Orthorexia Nervosa — a form of disordered eating that often hides behind “clean eating,” wellness, and the pursuit of health.Leah shares her personal experience with Orthorexia, explains how healthy eating can cross the line into rigidity and anxiety, and breaks down the symptoms, risk factors, and potential health consequences of an having an obsession with nutrition. She also explores how intuitive eating can support healing and food freedom.You’ll hear about:What orthorexia is and how it differs from general “healthy eating”Common signs and symptoms of orthorexiaHow “clean eating” and wellness culture reinforce restrictionThe physical, mental, and social consequences of orthorexiaHow intuitive eating supports healing from food fear and rigidityNext steps if you resonate with Orthorexia symptomsMentioned in this episode:Webinar / Presentation from Leah’s Dietetic InternshipPodcast Episode: “Did Diet Culture Hijack Your Values?”Podcast Episode: “Five Studies That Will Change the Way You Think About Food”Podcast Episode Featuring Christy Harrison Christy Harrison’s Book: The Wellness TrapPodcast Episode: “10 Principles of Intuitive Eating in 10 Minutes”Podcast Episode: “Intuitive Eating for Beginners”Podcast Episode about Food, Digestion & MetabolismMore From Leah:📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackApply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]

In this episode of Shoulders Down Podcast, Leah talks with Dr. Lauren Hartman, a double board-certified pediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist, about why dieting and weight-focused care can be especially harmful for children and teens — and what she’s seeing on the front lines of adolescent eating disorder treatment.Drawing from nearly 20 years of experience across hospital systems, outpatient care, and national leadership roles, Dr. Hartman explains why weight loss is rarely sustainable, how dieting increases eating disorder risk, and why a medicalized focus on weight often misses what young people actually need to thrive.Leah and Dr. Hartman also discuss the rise in eating disorders among adolescents, the role of social media and diet culture, and growing concerns around GLP-1 medications.You’ll hear about:A doctor’s perspective on why dieting and weight loss often backfireWhether eating disorders are on the rise among adolescents — and what’s driving the increaseHow social media and diet culture impact teens’ relationships with food and bodyGLP-1 medications and the risks of prescribing them to young peopleWhat informed consent should include when it comes to weight-loss interventionsHow parents can help protect children from diet culture and weight stigmaMore From Dr. Lauren Hartman: https://www.aspengroveayam.com/More From Leah:📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackApply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]