🙏 Cancer Healing, Intuitive Eating & Stopping Self-Blame with Erika Bent

In this episode of Shoulders Down, Leah sits down with licensed psychotherapist Paula D. Atkinson to explore the intersection of body image, eating disorders, social justice, and body liberation.Paula shares her personal journey from growing up as a fat child, developing anorexia as a teenager, and eventually becoming a therapist, educator, and advocate for body justice. Together, Leah and Paula discuss the history of fatphobia, the limitations of weight-centric definitions of health, and why healing body image requires more than individual self-acceptance.Their conversation explores the role of systemic oppression in shaping body image, the power of critical thinking in diet culture recovery, and how anger can become a catalyst for liberation rather than something to suppress.You'll hear about:Paula's journey from anorexia recovery to becoming a body liberation therapist and educatorWhat teaching a university course on weight, health, and society revealed about diet culture and the "obesity epidemic"The role of rage in disordered eating and body image healingWhy external validation can never replace genuine self-acceptanceHow body image healing intersects with social justice, oppression, and collective liberationPaula's perspective on anger, psychedelics, and other unexpected pathways to body liberationMore From Paula:Website: https://www.pauladatkinson.comInstagram: @pauladatkinsonMore 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]🍽️ Are you overwhelmed by figuring out what to eat without the structure of diet rules? Enroll in our upcoming live workshop, WHAT TO EAT, on August 10th @ 3pm PT. Use code PODCAST at checkout to get $7 off. 

Being in touch with your body’s cues is one of the central pieces of intuitive eating. But what if, when asking your body “what are you craving?” you hear crickets… In this episode, Leah helps you think through how to actually figure out what you’re craving. She covers several practical tips you can implement immediately to help guide you towards what you’re body is asking for.👉 ENROLL IN WHAT TO EAT, a workshop on August 10th, 2026Mentioned In This Episode:https://www.buzzsprout.com/1961653/episodes/19362722More 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]🍽️ Are you overwhelmed by figuring out what to eat without the structure of diet rules? Enroll in our upcoming live workshop, WHAT TO EAT, on August 10th @ 3pm PT. Use code PODCAST at checkout to get $7 off. 

In this episode of Shoulders Down, Leah sits down with Chelsea Levy, MS, RDN, a weight-inclusive dietitian specializing in eating disorders, PCOS, diabetes, and endocrine-related conditions.Chelsea shares her personal journey from chronic dieting and weight cycling to discovering intuitive eating while studying to become a dietitian. Together, Leah and Chelsea explore the realities of living in a weight-centric world, the impact of weight stigma on healthcare and body image, and why body respect can sometimes be a more accessible goal than body love.They also discuss body image grief, the challenges of navigating medical spaces in larger bodies, and how self-compassion can help us move toward a more peaceful relationship with ourselves.You'll hear about:Chelsea's experience with chronic dieting and weight cyclingHow discovering intuitive eating changed her relationship with food and bodyWhat it means to practice weight-inclusive careWhy body image healing often involves griefWhat the medical industry is getting wrong about PCOS and diabetes recommendationsThe difference between body positivity, body neutrality, and body respectMore From Chelsea Levy:Website: https://chelsealevynutrition.comInstagram: @chelsealevynutritionMore 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]🍽️ Are you overwhelmed by figuring out what to eat without the structure of diet rules? Enroll in our upcoming live workshop, WHAT TO EAT, on August 10th @ 3pm PT. Use code PODCAST at checkout to get $7 off. 

In this solo episode, Leah talks about why it can feel so hard to figure out what to eat when you’re coming from a history of dieting.She outlines some of the main obstacles she sees clients running into, and then offers a solution for how to transition into intuitive eating without feeling like you’re free falling.She gets into:Why figuring out what to eat is likely a muscle you haven’t strengthenHow loosing the structure of dieting can feel destabilizing and overwhelming.The obstacle of knowing what sounds good but not knowing how to reconcile that with what would feel good in your body.The missing nutrition education necessary to be able to make informed eating decisions.A brand new tool Leah created to give you gentle structure in figuring out what to eat, without rigid diet rules.👉 ENROLL IN WHAT TO EAT, a workshop on August 10th, 2026More 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]🍽️ Are you overwhelmed by figuring out what to eat without the structure of diet rules? Enroll in our upcoming live workshop, WHAT TO EAT, on August 10th @ 3pm PT. Use code PODCAST at checkout to get $7 off. 

In this episode of Shoulders Down, Leah sits down with Ragen Chastain, speaker, researcher, board-certified patient advocate, and leading voice in the fields of weight science, weight stigma, and healthcare.Ragen shares her personal journey from years of chronic dieting and an eating disorder to becoming a weight-inclusive health advocate. She explains what happened when she conducted an extensive review of the weight loss literature and discovered that the evidence did not support many of the claims she had been taught to believe.Together, Leah and Ragen explore the intersection of weight science, healthcare, and stigma, unpacking why weight-inclusive care is an evidence-based approach and how weight-centered healthcare can create harm for patients in larger bodies.You’ll hear about:Ragen's experience with dieting, weight cycling, and eating disorder recoveryCommon misconceptions about weight science and healthcareThe impact of weight stigma on patient careHow Ragen became involved in fat activism and weight-inclusive healthcare advocacyWhat healthcare providers often get wrong about weight and healthThe growing influence of GLP-1 medications and how they are being marketedMore From Ragen:Newsletter: Weight and HealthcareHealth at Every Size® Health SheetsBlog: Dances With FatInstagram: @ragenchastainMore 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]🍽️ Are you overwhelmed by figuring out what to eat without the structure of diet rules? Enroll in our upcoming live workshop, WHAT TO EAT, on August 10th @ 3pm PT. Use code PODCAST at checkout to get $7 off. 

In this episode, I respond to and unpack some of the most common comments I received after the viral Jillian Michaels vs. Body Positivity debate video was published.I’ll be honest: it took me a long time to record this episode. Reading through hostile and misinformed comments is unpleasant. But I ultimately decided this conversation was worth having, because the comments reveal deep misunderstandings about weight, health, and what ethical nutrition care actually looks like.In this episode, I cover:Why I said that I believe its unethical to encourage  weight los ( and how this differs from judging people who choose to pursue weight loss.The flawed assumption that a dietitian’s role is to control someone’s body sizeWhy weight is not a measure of healthThe criticism I received from fellow dietitians and why this hurt the mostMentioned in the episode:Behind the Scenes of the "Jillian Michaels vs Body Positivity" Debate with Edie StarkWe Watched The Jillian Michaels Debate Back... And Had Thoughts with Edie StarkUnpacking the Viral Jubilee Body Positivity Debate with Marcy GuevaraYou're Not Wrong For Desiring Weight Loss 5 Reasons Why Your Weight Doesn't Determine Your Health🍽️ Are you overwhelmed by figuring out what to eat without the structure of diet rules? Enroll in our upcoming live workshop, WHAT TO EAT, on August 10th @ 3pm PT. Use code PODCAST at checkout to get $7 off. 

In this episode of Shoulders Down, Leah reconnects with former client Lizzie Marks for a conversation about what intuitive eating looks like five years later — and how healing your relationship with food can ripple into every area of life.Lizzie shares how her early intuitive eating journey began with swinging fully away from rigid food rules and exercise habits, and how she eventually found her way toward a more nuanced middle ground with movement, nutrition, and self-trust.Together, Leah and Lizzie explore how concepts from Internal Family Systems (IFS) and parts work have helped Lizzie navigate the return of old diet thoughts without fear or shame. They also discuss how Lizzie now approaches group fitness, movement, and food choices with more flexibility, nuance, and an ongoing commitment to trusting her intuition around food and body.You’ll hear about:What intuitive eating looks like for Lizzie in the early stages vs. nowHow intuitive eating can impact decision-making in other areas of lifeReclaiming exercise classes and fitness challenges from diet cultureUsing parts work and IFS to navigate lingering diet thoughtsIntegrating cycle-syncing and how even that requires an intuitive approachWhat Lizzie is focused on as she continues her intuitive eating journeyMore 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]🍽️ Are you overwhelmed by figuring out what to eat without the structure of diet rules? Enroll in our upcoming live workshop, WHAT TO EAT, on August 10th @ 3pm PT. Use code PODCAST at checkout to get $7 off. 

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]🍽️ Are you overwhelmed by figuring out what to eat without the structure of diet rules? Enroll in our upcoming live workshop, WHAT TO EAT, on August 10th @ 3pm PT. Use code PODCAST at checkout to get $7 off. 

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.🍽️ Are you overwhelmed by figuring out what to eat without the structure of diet rules? Enroll in our upcoming live workshop, WHAT TO EAT, on August 10th @ 3pm PT. Use code PODCAST at checkout to get $7 off. 

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]🍽️ Are you overwhelmed by figuring out what to eat without the structure of diet rules? Enroll in our upcoming live workshop, WHAT TO EAT, on August 10th @ 3pm PT. Use code PODCAST at checkout to get $7 off.