Episodes

  • Episode 282: Dr. Erin Bellamy | Can a Diet Replace Psychiatric Meds? Ketogenic Metabolic Therapy for Food Addiction & Mental Health

    Episode 282: Dr. Erin Bellamy | Can a Diet Replace Psychiatric Meds? Ketogenic Metabolic Therapy for Food Addiction & Mental Health
    May 21 2026
    What if the most powerful tool for mental health recovery isn't a medication — it's your metabolism? Dr. Erin Louise Bellamy joins Dr. Vera Tarman for a deep dive into ketogenic metabolic therapy: what it is, how it works, and why it may be one of the most underutilized interventions in both psychiatric care and food addiction recovery. Dr. Bellamy is a chartered psychologist, CEO of IKRT (International Ketogenic Research & Therapy), and a research fellow at the University of East London. She has been researching and applying ketogenic metabolic therapy in clinical settings since 2014, with a background that bridges eating disorders, psychiatric research, and metabolic health. In this episode, Vera and Erin discuss: How Erin went from eating disorder and alexithymia research to ketogenic metabolic psychiatry — and why the field's "biopsychosocial" model was missing the bio The difference between metabolic psychiatry, ketogenic therapy, and therapeutic carbohydrate restriction — and why the terminology matters What carbohydrate range actually produces therapeutic ketosis (and why "dirty keto" doesn't cut it) The shared mechanistic pathways across psychiatric diagnoses — including mitochondrial dysfunction, insulin resistance, and neuroinflammation Why antipsychotic medications create metabolic dysfunction, and how ketogenic therapy can help offset those side effects The GABA/glutamate shift that makes ketones naturally anxiolytic — and why this may work differently than the serotonin model of depression The "buffer effect": what it feels like to be in ketosis when you're a food addict — and why some people describe it as a pane of glass between themselves and a trigger food How ketogenic therapy compares to GLP-1 medications (Ozempic/Wegovy) for reducing food noise — and Erin's concerns about the long-term research MCT oil vs. exogenous ketones: when each is useful, and when exogenous ketones are counterproductive Applying ketogenic therapy to people with ADHD, bipolar disorder, and co-occurring food addiction How to support vegan or plant-based clients who want to pursue ketogenic therapy Why the first week matters most — and how to help clients through withdrawal without triggering a binge The 19-person IKRT group program published in Frontiers — and what's coming next in the research Connect with Dr. Erin Bellamy: 🌐Web: Integrative Ketogenic Research and Therapies | ketogenic diet and mental health Food Junkies Podcast is hosted by Dr. Vera Tarman, Molly Painschab, and Clarissa Kennedy. New episodes every week. Connect with Food Junkies Podcast: 🌐Web: Food Junkies Podcast ▶️ YouTube: Food Junkies Podcast - YouTube 💌Email: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.
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    54 mins
  • Food Junkies Recovery Stories Ep 34: Peggy Bowers

    Food Junkies Recovery Stories Ep 34: Peggy Bowers
    May 15 2026

    CJ is joined today by Peggy, whose story is as raw as it is relatable. From the age of six, Peggy began navigating a complicated relationship with food that would follow her into adulthood. She shares candidly about tying her worth to always having a boyfriend, and the deep need for validation that drove those choices. While she was able to walk away from cigarettes with ease, food proved to be a far more difficult battle. Through years of weight fluctuations and self-discovery, Peggy's authenticity shines. Her honesty, vulnerability, and insight will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to feel enough.

    If you're considering personalized assistance, CJ, a Certified Addiction Professional specializing in Food Addiction, is here for one-on-one coaching. Reach out to CJ at cjnguy@myfoodaddictioncoach.com

    Interested in sharing your recovery story on our show? We'd love to hear from you! Please email FJRecoverystories@gmail.com

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    51 mins
  • Episode 281: Dr. Stephen Sideroff | The 9 Pillars of Resilience in Recovery

    Episode 281: Dr. Stephen Sideroff | The 9 Pillars of Resilience in Recovery
    May 14 2026
    What if the missing piece in your recovery isn't more willpower — it's resilience? In this deeply inspiring episode, Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with Dr. Stephen Sideroff, UCLA psychologist, researcher, and one of the world's leading experts on stress, addiction, and optimal performance. With over 40 years at the intersection of neuroscience and recovery, Dr. Sideroff breaks down his comprehensive Nine Pillars of Resilience model and shows exactly how it applies to recovery from food addiction. 🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE: Why stress is the #1 driver of both addiction and relapse — and what to do about it The real definition of resilience All Nine Pillars of Resilience explained — and how each one applies to food addiction Why your inner critic is keeping you stuck — and how to replace it The nervous system truth behind burnout: why most of us are already on the continuum How to "dress rehearse" recovery moments so you're prepared when cravings hit Why saying "this is difficult" actually makes things harder The biological age study Dr. Sideroff is running right now — and his own remarkable results How joy is not a luxury but a physiological necessity for recovery and aging Why anxiety and worry are a faulty strategy — and what to do instead The concept of "the path" — and why you don't have to do everything at once What quantum leadership has to do with recovery culture Why 12-step programs work through the lens of the resilience model 🏛️ THE NINE PILLARS OF RESILIENCE: Relationship Pillars: Relationship with yourself — your inner voice, self-compassion, self-acceptance Relationship with others — healthy boundaries, connection, support Relationship with something greater — community, spirituality, purpose Organism Balance & Mastery: Physical balance & mastery — nervous system regulation, relaxation, parasympathetic recovery Cognitive balance & mastery — mindset, growth orientation, releasing negative thoughts Emotional balance & mastery — healing emotional wounds, reducing reactivity Engaging with the World: Presence — awareness of your environment and the energy you project Flexibility — adapting to obstacles, shifting perspective, seeing through others' eyes Power — courage, focus, goal-setting, taking action in spite of fear 📖 DR. SIDEROFF'S BOOK: The Nine Pillars of Resilience: The Proven Path to Master Stress, Slow Aging, and Increase Vitality 🔗 CONNECT WITH DR. SIDEROFF: 🌐 Visit Home - Dr. Stephen Sideroff for resources, his book, and the resilience questionnaire 📬 CONNECT WITH FOOD JUNKIES: 📧 Email: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com 🌐 Website: foodjunkiespodcast.com If this episode resonated with you, please leave us a review and share it with someone in recovery who needs to hear that healing is a path — not a single decision. The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.
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    50 mins
  • Episode 280: Bob Messerschmidt | The ESR Marker That Could Change Recovery

    Episode 280: Bob Messerschmidt | The ESR Marker That Could Change Recovery
    May 7 2026

    What if your body could warn you before a relapse happens? In this fascinating episode, Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with Bob Messerschmidt — biomedical engineer, inventor, and one of the architects behind the original Apple Watch's health-sensing technology — to explore a surprisingly simple but powerful biomarker: the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).

    Bob is the founder of Core Health and has developed an FDA-registered at-home device that tracks chronic low-grade inflammation over time. For those of us in the food addiction and recovery world, this conversation opens a compelling new door: could inflammation tracking be the missing feedback loop for people working to stay abstinent from ultra-processed foods?

    🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE:

    • Bob's personal health journey and how weight struggles led him to inflammation science
    • What ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) is — and why it fell out of favor before we understood chronic inflammation
    • Why inflammation is now understood to underpin nearly all chronic disease
    • How ESR differs from CRP (C-reactive protein) and why its "slowness" is a feature
    • What does a high ESR score mean — and what you can do about it
    • Anti-inflammatory lifestyle interventions that move the needle (including one surprising nighttime trick)
    • How the Core Health device works: a simple weekly finger-stick test from home
    • The feedback loop concept: how seeing your own data creates self-efficacy and behavior change
    • Whether inflammation can precede a relapse — and what the data currently shows
    • How ESR compares to a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) as a recovery tool
    • Bob's thoughts on the Theranos dream — and whether democratized blood diagnostics is truly possible
    • The future of non-invasive glucose monitoring and wearable health tech

    🍒 BOB'S ANTI-INFLAMMATORY TIPS FROM THE EPISODE:

    • Tart cherry juice (4 oz before bed — also improves sleep!)
    • Ketogenic eating patterns
    • Vegan dietary approaches
    • Quality sleep
    • Cold plunges
    • Grounding practices

    🔗 LEARN MORE & GET THE DEVICE:

    🌐 Core Health Website: Home - COR Health

    📬 CONNECT WITH FOOD JUNKIES:

    📧 Email: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com

    🌐 Website: foodjunkiespodcast.com

    If this episode sparked your curiosity, please leave us a review and share it with someone in recovery who might benefit from understanding the inflammation connection.

    The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.
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    38 mins
  • Episode 279: Clinician's Corner | Why Motivation Isn't the Problem — Building Competence in Food Addiction Recovery

    Episode 279: Clinician's Corner | Why Motivation Isn't the Problem — Building Competence in Food Addiction Recovery
    Apr 30 2026
    Are you exhausted from chasing motivation that never lasts? In this Clinician's Corner episode, Molly Painschab and Clarissa Kennedy break down why motivation is actually an outcome, not a starting point — and what truly drives sustainable recovery from ultra-processed food use disorder. Using the lens of Self-Determination Theory (SDT), they unpack the three psychological needs every person in recovery must have met: autonomy, relatedness, and competence — the often-overlooked key that separates short-term compliance from lasting change. 🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE: Why "just get motivated" is the wrong advice — and what to focus on instead The three pillars of Self-Determination Theory and how they apply to food addiction recovery Why external pressure (shame, fear, "I should") can actually increase relapse risk The difference between a stick-and-carrot and real motivation What competence actually means How the Foundations Program (81+ skills and tools!) was built around these principles Why recovery is a learning process, not a decision What the research now says about forced compliance Small, practical ways to start building self-trust today 🛠️ WHAT'S IN THE FOUNDATIONS PROGRAM? The Sweet Sobriety Foundations Program includes 81+ skills and tools covering: ✔️ Nervous system regulation ✔️ CBT & DBT frameworks ✔️ Mindfulness & self-compassion practices ✔️ Recovery planning ✔️ Craving and urge management ✔️ Emotional awareness and distress tolerance 📬 CONNECT WITH US: 📧 Email: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com 🌐 Website: foodjunkiespodcast.com 🍓 Learn more about Sweet Sobriety: www.sweetsobriety.ca If you found this episode helpful, please leave us a review and share it with someone who needs to hear that the problem was never their motivation. The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.
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    41 mins
  • Food Junkies Recovery Stories Episode 33: Heather Miller

    Food Junkies Recovery Stories Episode 33: Heather Miller
    Apr 28 2026

    CJ welcomes Heather to the podcast, a guest whose bright, charismatic energy lights up the conversation from the start. Heather is exceptionally open and instantly warming, sharing her journey with honesty and heart. She speaks candidly about living with diabetes, her long battle with sugar and ultra-processed food addiction, and the moment everything changed, when she realized she wanted to become a healthy, active grandmother for her grandchild. That love became her fuel for transformation. Heather's story is one of resilience, clarity, and choosing herself and her family again and again. I cannot wait for you to meet her.

    If you're considering personalized assistance, CJ, a Certified Addiction Professional specializing in Food Addiction, is here for one-on-one coaching. Reach out to CJ at cjnguy@myfoodaddictioncoach.com

    Interested in sharing your recovery story on our show? We'd love to hear from you! Please email FJRecoverystories@gmail.com

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    48 mins
  • Episode 278: Dr. John Kelly | The Science of Recovery – What the Research Really Says

    Episode 278: Dr. John Kelly | The Science of Recovery – What the Research Really Says
    Apr 23 2026

    What does recovery look like — and how do we measure it? In this episode, we're joined by Dr. John Kelly, one of the world's leading addiction researchers and founder of the Recovery Research Institute at Harvard Medical School, for a deep dive into the science behind what makes recovery possible, sustainable, and real.

    Dr. Kelly breaks down the difference between remission and recovery, shares what decades of research tells us about who gets better (spoiler: most people do) and unpacks the active ingredients that help people build lives they love. We also get into the language we use around addiction, why it matters more than you think, and what the latest science says about stigma, stages of change, and recovery capital.

    Whether you are in recovery, supporting someone who is, or working in the field — this episode is packed with hope, science, and practical insight.

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    🔑 IN THIS EPISODE

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    • What recovery actually means — and how it's different from remission

    • Why 75% of people with substance use disorder do recover (and what that means for you)

    • The CHIME model: the 5 active ingredients of lasting recovery

    → Community | Hope | Identity | Meaning & Purpose | Empowerment

    • Stages of Change (Prochaska & DiClemente) — and why just thinking about change counts

    • Recovery Capital: what's in your "recovery bank account"?

    • The power of language — why words like "abuser" cause measurable harm

    • Stigma, genetics, and why addiction is nobody's fault

    • What excites Dr. Kelly most about the future of addiction research

    • Psychedelics and addiction treatment: cautious optimism from a Harvard researcher

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    👤 ABOUT OUR GUEST

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    John Kelly is the Elizabeth R. Spallin Professor of Psychiatry in the Field of Addiction Medicine at Harvard Medical School and founder and director of the Recovery Research Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is one of the world's leading researchers on addiction recovery, mutual help organizations, and reducing stigma in the addiction field.

    🔗 Recovery Research Institute: www.recoveryanswers.org

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    🎙️ FOOD JUNKIES PODCAST

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    The Food Junkies Podcast explores food addiction and ultra-processed food use disorder through honest conversations with clinicians, researchers, and people in recovery. Hosted by Dr. Vera Tarman, Clarissa Kennedy, and Molly Painschab.

    📲 Subscribe so you never miss an episode

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    👍 Like this video if it gives you hope

    💬 Drop a comment — what resonated most with you?

    The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.
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    46 mins
  • Episode 277: Dr. Rachel Herz | The Science of Disgust, Smell, and Why You Eat What You Eat

    Episode 277: Dr. Rachel Herz | The Science of Disgust, Smell, and Why You Eat What You Eat
    Apr 16 2026

    What if the key to understanding your relationship with food isn't willpower — it's neuroscience? In this fascinating episode, Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with Dr. Rachel Herz, neuroscientist, leading expert on the psychology of smell, and author of Why You Eat What You Eat and That's Disgusting. From the evolutionary roots of disgust to why ultra-processed foods bypass our natural aversion responses, this conversation will genuinely change how you think about what ends up on your plate — and in your mouth.

    What You'll Learn in This Episode

    • Why disgust is almost entirely learned — and what the one innate exception is
    • The neuroanatomy of smell and why scent is so deeply tied to emotion and memory
    • How one bad experience with a food can create a lifelong aversion (one-trial learning)
    • The difference between disgust and fear — and why that distinction matters for disordered eating
    • Why non-tasters may be more prone to overeating than super tasters
    • How ultra-processed food is engineered to bypass our natural "this isn't real food" signals
    • Whether disgust could be a therapeutic tool in changing our relationship with UPFs
    • Why Dr. Herz believes disordered eating is psychological and behavioral — and where she and the Food Junkies team respectfully differ on the addiction model
    • Practical, science-backed strategies for becoming more intentional around eating

    About Dr. Rachel Herz

    Dr. Rachel Herz is a neuroscientist and faculty member at Brown University, widely regarded as the world's leading expert on the psychology of smell. She is a TED 2019 and TEDx 2024 speaker, has published 108 peer-reviewed research articles, and serves as an expert witness in legal cases involving smell. She is the incoming president of the International Society of Neural Gastronomy.

    Her books include:

    • Sensation and Perception (widely used neuroscience textbook)
    • That's Disgusting: Unveiling the Mysteries of Repulsion — a New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice
    • Why You Eat What You Eat: The Science Behind Our Relationship with Food — named among the best food books of 2018 by Smithsonian and The New Yorker

    Connect with Dr. Rachel Herz

    🌐 rachelherz.com

    Connect with Food Junkies

    🎙️Food Junkies Podcast — available on all major platforms

    🌐 foodjunkiespodcast.com

    ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FoodJunkiesPodcast

    📘 Sugar-Free For Life: I'm Sweet Enough FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SugarFreeForLife

    ✨ Back-to-Basics Workshop: https://sweetsobriety.newzenler.com/courses/back-to-basics

    The Food Junkies Podcast is hosted by Dr. Vera Tarman, Molly Painschab, and Clarissa Kennedy. We are dedicated to honest, evidence-informed conversations about food addiction, ultra-processed food use disorder, and recovery.

    The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.
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    56 mins