In this powerful and deeply vulnerable episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini welcomes Nikki DuBose, a model, author, advocate, and PsyD student, who shares her courageous journey from childhood trauma and eating disorders to a thriving modeling career that masked deep internal struggles, and ultimately to full recovery and healing.

For years, Nikki lived the life everyone envied—gracing magazine covers, walking runways, and embodying what society calls "perfection." But behind the flawless images was a young woman falling apart inside, battling an eating disorder that began at age eight and a relentless pursuit of external validation that could never fill the void within.

Through therapy, spirituality, and profound self-discovery, Nikki learned that the most beautiful transformation doesn't happen on the outside—it happens when you finally come home to yourself. Together, Dr. Castagnini and Nikki explore the reality behind the glamorous facade, the pressures of the modeling industry, and what it truly means to find peace from the inside out.

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In this heartfelt and deeply relatable episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini welcomes Heidi Dueweke, a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Personal Trainer, who shares her powerful journey from years of self-criticism and rigid food rules to true healing and self-acceptance.

For much of her life, Heidi believed discipline, control, and self-denial would finally bring her peace. Instead, those beliefs led her down a path of perfectionism, food obsession, and shame. Through therapy, education, and self-discovery, she came to understand that you can’t hate your body into healing—and that real change begins when we shift from control to compassion.

Together, Dr. Castagnini and Heidi explore the cultural pressures that normalize disordered eating, the hidden links between anxiety, ADHD, and food behaviors, and the freedom that comes from redefining “healthy” on your own terms. This episode offers hope for anyone stuck in the cycle of self-doubt, restriction, or comparison.

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In this powerful and eye-opening conversation, Dr. Cristina Castagnini welcomes Dr. Erin Harrop (they/them) — a licensed medical social worker, assistant professor at the University of Denver, and leading researcher on eating disorders, weight stigma, and inclusive healthcare.

Dr. Harrop brings both professional expertise and personal lived experience to the discussion, shedding light on how systemic biases and cultural myths about body size shape who receives care — and who gets ignored.

Together, they explore the harmful message that some people are “not sick enough” for treatment and the devastating effects of weight stigma in the medical system. Through compelling real-life examples and research insights, Dr. Harrop helps listeners understand how eating disorders present across diverse bodies, why atypical anorexia remains misunderstood, and what needs to change in healthcare.

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In this enlightening episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini welcomes Dr. Jillian Lampert, one of the nation’s leading experts in eating disorder treatment and policy. Together, they unpack the complexities of navigating eating disorder care—from identifying the right level of treatment to understanding how virtual care has reshaped access in the modern era.

Dr. Lampert blends three decades of professional expertise with her personal journey of recovery, offering both compassion and clarity for anyone facing the confusion and stigma that often surround eating disorders. Listeners will gain valuable insights into what “the right level of care” means, why weight bias continues to impact diagnosis, and how hybrid and virtual treatment options are improving accessibility nationwide.

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In this insightful and deeply personal episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with Asher M. Saruya, a psychotherapist whose lived experience with eating disorders, neurodivergence, and Jewish identity informs their clinical practice and advocacy work.

Together, they unpack the complex intersections of culture, family, identity, and neurodiversity that shape how we experience food and body image. Asher shares their powerful story of struggling with restriction, bingeing, and perfectionism—alongside the deep healing that came from understanding how trauma, cultural messaging, and ADHD influenced their relationship with food.

This episode explores how shame and self-judgment evolve through family systems, religious traditions, and social pressures, and how recovery means learning to exist more fully and compassionately in one’s own body.

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In this deeply compassionate and informative episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini speaks with Jane Reagan, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, counselor, and creator of The Eating Disorder Recovery Roadmap for Parents.

Jane shares both her professional expertise and her personal journey of supporting her own daughter through anorexia. Together, Cristina and Jane shed light on the challenges parents face when navigating their child’s eating disorder—dispelling myths, addressing guilt, and highlighting the powerful role parents can play as allies in recovery.

The discussion covers practical strategies for supporting children at home, fostering open communication, managing family dynamics, and understanding that recovery is not just about food—it’s about healing what lies beneath. This episode is an essential listen for any parent who feels overwhelmed, unsure, or fearful while walking alongside their child’s recovery path.

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In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with Robyn Goldberg, RDN, a nationally recognized registered dietitian nutritionist, author, and podcast host.

Robyn shares her journey as a lifelong athlete—from competing in tennis at the collegiate level to training for triathlons—and the painful lessons she learned when her body broke down after years of being told to 'just push through.' Her story highlights the harmful cultural and athletic messages around pain, performance, and identity, and how ignoring the body’s signals can have lasting consequences.

Together, Cristina and Robyn explore topics such as how athletics shape body image, what perimenopause teaches us about longevity, and why families and clinicians urgently need better tools to support individuals with eating disorders. This candid conversation offers wisdom on resilience, reframing health, and the importance of truly listening to your body at every stage of life.

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In this powerful and moving episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini welcomes Kerry Melachouris, a former performer turned CCI-certified Eating Disorder Coach and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Kerry brings both lived experience and clinical insight to the table as she shares her decades-long battle with anorexia, bulimia, overexercise, and atypical anorexia—and her journey to full recovery.

Kerry’s story challenges two dangerous myths: that only certain bodies can recover and that if treatment hasn’t “worked,” you’re a lost cause. Through raw honesty and hope, Kerry sheds light on the realities of eating disorders in the performing arts, the trauma that often fuels them, and the systemic barriers patients face when seeking care.

Together, Kerry and Dr. Castagnini unpack the flawed reliance on BMI and “normal labs,” the harmful role of industry pressures, and why primary care providers need more education on identifying eating disorders. Kerry also speaks candidly about her relapses, health consequences, and how she ultimately found lasting recovery and purpose as an advocate and professional helping others.

This conversation is both validating and empowering, proving that recovery is possible at any size, at any stage, and for anyone.

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