The Role of Intention in Recovery with Eric Pothen
In this week's episode of Full of Beans, Han is joined by Eric Pothen. Eric is a Certified Eating Disorder Recovery Coach and an eating disorder advocate who serves on the Peer Council for the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) and the Community Engagement Committee for the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD). After struggling with an eating disorder for several years, Eric now uses his lived experience to raise awareness and support others on their recovery journeys, particularly around eating disorders, disordered eating, and body image, with a special focus on men.Eric is currently pursuing a degree in Counselling at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, to become an eating disorder therapist, specialising in working with men and the LGBTQ+ community.In this week's episode, we discuss:Navigating shame, identity, and the onset of an eating disorderWhy recovery can feel messyReframing exercise and “food is fuel” in recoveryRecovery perfectionism vs. authentic recoverySupporting individuals as people first, not by gender stereotypesThe hidden and under-discussed behaviour of chewing and spittingThe importance of intention and reframing in long-term recoveryUnderstanding the intersectionality of identity in ED supportTimestamps:03:00 – Eating disorder onset: identity, stress & sadness08:00 – Shame & internalised stigma for men12:00 – People pleasing and external validation18:00 – Compulsive exercise & social reinforcement22:00 – Recovery as rewiring: food, movement & intention27:00 – The messiness of recovery & doing it solo30:00 – Alcohol, chewing/spitting & hidden behaviours34:00 – Marathon training: helpful or harmful?40:00 – Intersectionality and seeing the person, not the gender⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode contains detailed discussions of eating disorder behaviours including anorexia, compulsive exercise, chewing and spitting, and alcohol use. Please take care whlist listening. Resources & Links:Instagram: @ericpothanNEDA Peer Council: nationaleatingdisorders.orgConnect with Us:Subscribe to the Full of Beans Podcast hereFollow Full of Beans on Instagram hereCheck out our website hereIf you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help us spread awareness.Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛
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50 Shades of Grey on Eating Disorder Myths with Anne Richardson
In this week's episode of Full of Beans Han is joined by Anne Richardson. Anne is a Registered Nutritional Therapist, lecturer and supervisor. She has been practising for more than ten years and exclusively works in the field of disordered eating. Anne suffered with anorexia in her teens and now draws from her lived experience to blend her knowledge of nutrition with her CBT skills. She works with people all over Europe to help them achieve food freedom. She is also invested in helping other practitioners work with disordered eaters as she recognises that general nutritional advice can be extremely damaging to disordered eaters. Anne is also a mum, a maker of all things and especially a keen baker.This week, we discuss:The truth about eating late at night and weight gainWhy your brain needs carbohydrates to sleepThe truth about pasta and couscousHow black-and-white thinking harms recoveryMental vs. physical hunger: how restriction plays into cravingsNormalising emotional eatingFinding balanced nutrition in recovery Timestamps:05:30 – What a nutritionist does in ED recovery14:00 – The “don’t eat after 6pm” myth21:00 – Mental vs physical hunger30:00 – The truth about fear foods like pasta39:00 – Why emotional eating isn’t bad43:00 – Finding balance in recovery⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode discusses lived experiences of eating disorders, restrictive behaviors, and mentions of specific foods. Please take care when listening.Resources & Links:Follow Anne on Instagram @theeatingdisordernutritionistVisit her website theeatingdisordernutritionist.co.ukConnect with Us:Subscribe to the Full of Beans Podcast hereFollow Full of Beans on Instagram hereRead our latest blog hereIf you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help us spread awareness.Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛
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A Son and Mother's Journey to Anorexia Recovery with Harry & Jacqui Nye
In today’s episode, I’m joined by Harry and his grateful mum, Jacqui, who are the hosts ‘Don't Weight to Change?’ which began following my personal 10+ year battle with anorexia.By sharing their story, they aimed to help others struggling with mental health issues, especially young boys and men, creating a safe space for candid discussion and support.Their story is one of honesty, compassion, and the power of connection between parent and child, showing how recovery is not only about healing the individual, but also about transforming relationships and finding hope together.In this week's episode of Full of Beans, we discuss:Harry’s experience as the first male inpatient on a UK eating disorder wardThe impact of gender stereotypes on diagnosis, denial, and supportHarry's desire for male support and role models in recovery How exercise addiction and perfectionism mask disordered behavioursThe role of family in recovery The trauma and helplessness felt by parents and loved onesWhy the New Maudsley Method was a turning point in their recovery journeyHow the Don’t Wait to Change podcast is helping other men feel seen and heardTimestamps: 01:58 – Why they started their podcast, Don’t Wait to Change03:10 – Early signs and unhelpful eating disorder treatment06:46 – The lack of male-specific ED support10:27 – Inpatient experience as the only male 15:01 – The role of exercise and compulsive behaviours 22:10 – The impact on family and how they coped 43:02 – How vulnerability strengthened family bonds 49:42 – Why weight doesn't equal wellness 📍 Trigger Warning: This episode discusses eating disorder behaviours, medical trauma, and suicidal ideation. Please take care when listening.Resources & Links:Follow Harry & Jacqui on Instagram @dontweighttochangeListen to their podcast on Spotify Don't Weight To Change Connect with Us:Subscribe to the Full of Beans Podcast hereFollow Full of Beans on Instagram hereRead our latest blog hereIf you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help us spread awareness.Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛
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Supporting the Supporters in Eating Disorder Recovery with Harriet Parsons
This week, I’m joined by the incredible Harriet Parsons, CEO of BodyWhys, the Eating Disorders Association of Ireland.Harriet is a qualified psychotherapist with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders. Alongside her clinical background, she’s passionate about education, advocacy, and making services more accessible and compassionate for carers.Harriet joins us to discuss how services can better support the families, partners, and carers of people living with eating disorders, and why helping “the system around the person” is just as important as direct treatment.Together, we explore:The Pillar Programme and how it builds carer resilienceHow Maudsley Carer Skills can empower families to support recoveryThe myth of the “perfect carer” and why presence > perfectionThe importance of meeting carers where they are emotionallySupporting professionals to better understand the carer experienceHow carers can change their approach to support recoveryTimestamps:04:25 – Harriet’s pathway into ED work and psychotherapy08:10 – Understanding the unique needs of carers13:00 – Pillar Programme: what it is and how it works19:15 – Maudsley Carer Skills & emotional coaching24:45 – Why psychoeducation is game-changing30:40 – What Harriet wishes more professionals knew36:00 – Moving from “fixing” to “supporting”41:50 – Final reflections and words of encouragement⚠️ Trigger warning: This episode discusses eating disorders and caregiving. Please take care while listening.Resources & Links:Visit BodywshyConnect with Us:Subscribe to the Full of Beans Podcast hereFollow Full of Beans on Instagram hereRead our latest blog hereIf you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help us spread awareness.Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛
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Making Eating Disorder Services More Inclusive for Men with George Mycock
This week, I’m joined by my dear friend George Mycock, a PhD candidate at the University of Worcester, who is studying men’s help-seeking and access to care for Eating and/or Body Image Psychopathology (EBIP)George is also involved in several projects, including the Mental Health and Movement Alliance at the charity Mind, the steering group for the National Audit of Eating Disorders and the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and co-led a project with the Consider Male Eating Disorders Team from the University of Nottingham and King's College London.George joins us today to discuss his PhD research, focusing on how to make eating disorder services more accessible for men and his hope for future awareness.Together, we explore:The presence of imposter syndrome in academia and researchThe barriers men face when seeking help for eating disordersHow services and resources often unintentionally “other” menMuscle dysmorphia, body image pressures, and male experiences of disordered eatingGeorge’s work on developing inclusive guidance for servicesWhy hope, awareness, and representation matter for men’s recoveryTimestamps: 01:04 – George's PhD research on men and eating disorders 10:00 – Why terminology matters (EBIP vs eating disorders) 20:00 – Barriers men face in accessing services 30:00 – Research on clinician bias and awareness 40:00 – Developing inclusive guidance with lived experience 55:00 – Why opening up these conversations matters⚠️ Trigger warning: This episode discusses eating disorders, disordered eating behaviours, and body image concerns. Please listen with care and seek support if you are struggling.Resources & Links:Visit MyomindsReview paper from George's PhD"Touchy subject" paperLink to the guidance documentConnect with Us:Subscribe to the Full of Beans Podcast hereFollow Full of Beans on Instagram hereRead our latest blog hereIf you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help us spread awareness.Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛
Full of Beans Podcast: Sharing the Unheard Voices in Eating DisordersEating disorders are complex, often misunderstood, and wrapped in layers of stigma. That’s why Full of Beans is here - to open up the conversation and foster understanding through real, raw, and research-backed discussions.Hosted by Han, founder of Full of Beans and passionate mental health advocate, this podcast explores eating disorders through the lens of lived experience, clinical expertise, and the latest research. Each week, Han sits down with guests, including individuals with firsthand experiences, clinicians, researchers, and charities, who all share one goal: to raise awareness, challenge misconceptions, and support those affected by eating disorders.With a mix of heartfelt stories and professional insights, Full of Beans is a space for education, advocacy, and connection. Whether you're navigating your own eating disorder journey, supporting a loved one, or working in the mental health field, this podcast is here to provide knowledge, compassion, and hope.Join us in creating a community where eating disorders are understood, and no one feels alone in their struggles.(Please note: This podcast is for awareness and education purposes and is not a substitute for professional therapeutic support.)
Ireland