Food Shrinks

• Episode 46: Kids, Food, and Family Fears

  In this episode of Food Shrinks, Molly Carmel, Clarissa Kennedy, and Molly Painschab tackle two heartfelt listener emails about food, weight, and grandchildren. The questions: How do I navigate my fear that my grandkids will inherit my struggles with food addiction? And how do I talk to my grandkids about food without shaming or harming them? 💬 Topics we cover: • Why “hands off the body” is one of the most powerful family rules • The difference between offering food with love versus testing or shaming kids • How weight stigma—not weight itself—can harm children’s confidence and eating patterns • Bliss point, ultra-processed foods, and what early exposure really means • Why codependency, fear, and our own unresolved wounds often shape how we parent and grandparent • Practical tools: keeping the focus on yourself, checking your nervous system, and modeling healthy boundaries ✨ Takeaways: • Love is complicated, and fear often shows up as overprotection or control. • Children need to be loved and accepted—not monitored or managed around every bite. • Your relationship with your own body and food is the most powerful influence you bring to the table. • Noticing when your concern is really about your own history can help you heal and protect the next generation. If you’ve ever worried about your children or grandchildren’s relationship with food—or struggled to know when to step in and when to let go—this episode offers compassionate, honest insight from three therapists who have been there. 📩 Got a question for us? Email [email protected]. ⭐ Love the show? Subscribe, leave us a five-star rating, and share this episode with a friend who cares about breaking cycles in their family. 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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• Episode 45: Overwhelm, Fawning, and Boundaries

  In this episode of Food Shrinks, Molly Carmel, Clarissa Kennedy, and Molly Painschab open up about the everyday struggles of saying no, setting boundaries, and navigating the fawn response. With humor, honesty, and lived experience, the trio explores how people-pleasing, guilt, and self-abandonment show up in both personal and professional spaces—and how these patterns often connect to food, stress, and recovery. 💬 Topics we cover: • Why setting boundaries feels so uncomfortable (and why “no” rarely feels like enough) • The fawn response and how it fuels overwhelm, resentment, and food use • Codependency, trauma responses, and the Karpman drama triangle (rescuer, persecutor, victim) • The link between guilt, self-abandonment, and eating as regulation • Real stories of how boundaries get tested between friends, family, and colleagues • Why practicing boundaries is messy but essential for recovery and well-being ✨ Takeaways: • Boundaries are a daily practice, not a one-time skill. • Guilt doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong—it often means you’re breaking old patterns of self-abandonment. • Observing your reactions and slowing down can create space for wise mind choices. • Progress matters more than perfection—each “no” is a step toward self-respect and self-care. If you’ve ever found yourself saying yes when you meant no, or using food to soothe the stress of people-pleasing, this conversation is for you. 📩 Got a question you’d like us to answer on the podcast? Email us at [email protected]. ⭐ Love the show? Subscribe, give us a five-star rating, and share this episode with a friend who needs it! 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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• Episode 44: Unpacking the Shame- Recovery, Laxative Abuse, and Grace in Healing

  In this raw and courageous conversation, Molly C, Molly P, and Clarissa shine a light on one of the most hidden and stigmatized struggles in eating disorder recovery: laxative abuse. What begins as a listener request turns into a deeply personal and honest discussion about secrecy, shame, and the painful realities of this often-overlooked behavior. Clarissa shares her lived experience of recovery—what it took to stop, how her body responded, and the emotional toll of trying to heal without compassionate support. Together, the Food Shrinks explore the intersections of addiction, distress tolerance, body image, and the grace-filled moments that can spark change. This episode dismantles stigma, validates lived experience, and reminds listeners that they are not alone. Recovery is possible, even when it feels messy, uncomfortable, or overwhelming. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Key Themes: • Why laxative abuse is rarely discussed—and why it must be. • How secrecy, shame, and medical misunderstanding keep people trapped. • The brutal reality of recovery: water retention, discomfort, and the patience it requires. • Grace as a catalyst for change—and how to act on those fleeting moments. • The power of telling the “uncomfortable” stories and finding compassion in the shadows. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________  Takeaways: • You’re not alone: Many people struggle in silence with behaviors that feel too shameful to name. • Recovery is worth it: While challenging, the body and spirit can heal with time, support, and persistence. • Grace is real: Sometimes the smallest, quietest voice inside us says “enough”—and that moment can be life-saving. • Hard conversations matter: Talking about the dark, messy realities creates space for healing and connection. 👉 Have a question or a topic you’d like the Food Shrinks to discuss? Email us at [email protected] 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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• Episode 43: Sick, Guilty, and Learning to Rest - Choosing Self-Compassion in Recovery

  What happens when getting sick stirs up shame, fear, and old recovery patterns? In this vulnerable and heartfelt episode, Molly, Molly, and Clarissa open up about how illness collides with productivity, worthiness, and the deep-seated belief that saying “no” makes us unlovable. From midnight panic at a friend’s house to pushing through vacations with fevers, the Food Shrinks get honest about how hard it is to prioritize rest—and how powerful it is when we finally give ourselves permission. Through personal stories and raw reflection, they explore: • Why illness can feel so personal and shameful, even years into recovery. • The tug-of-war between people-pleasing and self-care. • How childhood invalidation around sickness echoes into adulthood. • Practical ways to practice grace, compassion, and trust when your body demands rest. This episode is equal parts funny, relatable, and deeply validating for anyone who’s ever felt guilty about slowing down. Spoiler: your worth is not tied to productivity, and you are lovable—even in bed with the flu. Takeaways: • Small choices (like saying “no” to plans while sick) can be huge wins in recovery. • Self-compassion often means taking the advice you’d give a friend. • Old stories about being “too much” or “a burden” may resurface when we’re ill—and that’s where healing work lives. • Rest isn’t weakness; it’s resistance to burnout and a radical act of self-love. 👉 Have a question or topic you’d like the Food Shrinks to tackle? Email us at [email protected] 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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• Episode 42: When “Help” Hurts

  In this raw, unfiltered episode of Food Shrinks, Molly Carmel, Clarissa Kennedy, and Molly Painschab dive deep into the experience of chronic invalidation—how it shapes us in childhood, follows us into adulthood, and can even show up in professional settings where we expect safety and support. The conversation starts with a reflection on how easy it is to compare our insides to others’ outsides when we’re struggling, then moves into a powerful exploration of what chronic invalidation really is: having your emotions minimized, dismissed, or shut down repeatedly until you learn to hide them for safety. The trio unpacks how this often leads to people-pleasing, disconnection from feelings, and even attracting relationships that repeat those early patterns. Molly P. shares a deeply personal and recent story of seeking medical treatment for depression and anxiety—only to be met with invalidating, oversimplified advice from a provider. Together, the hosts dissect why such “just love yourself” and “befriend your depression” comments can be not only unhelpful but harmful, especially for people with trauma histories. They discuss the power dynamics at play, the nervous system’s response to speaking up, and the difference between spiritual bypassing and genuine therapeutic support. Listeners will walk away with: A clear understanding of what chronic invalidation is and how to spot it. Why “always” and “never” statements are red flags. How invalidation can masquerade as help, even from professionals. The importance of repair in relationships and why healing doesn’t happen in isolation. The reminder that you’re not broken—you just need support to live life on life’s terms. If you’ve ever walked away from a conversation or appointment feeling unseen, minimized, or “made the problem,” this episode will help you name that experience and begin reclaiming your voice. 📧 Have a question or topic idea? Email: [email protected] 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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