Episode 286: Glenn Livingston | Never Binge Again — Taming the Voice That Drives You to Eat

What if the voice urging you to binge isn't really you — and you could learn to talk back to it? This week, Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Glenn Livingston, whose unconventional path from Fortune 500 food industry consultant to food compulsion researcher led him to develop one of the most distinctive frameworks in recovery: Never Binge Again. Glenn shares how his own 80-pound weight loss journey — and nearly 2,000 clients later — shaped a method built on structured food rules, cognitive refutation, and understanding the neuroscience of cravings extinction. In This Episode: Why Glenn left lucrative food industry work and what he saw from the inside about how hyperpalatable foods are engineered The "inner pig" framework — and why separating from the voice that drives bingeing is the foundation of his approach How his self-funded study of 40,000 people shaped his thinking (and why the results surprised him) The four food rule categories: Never, Always, Conditional, and Unrestricted Why 1 in 3 people genuinely need abstinence — and how to tell if you're one of them The extinction burst: why cravings often get worse before they disappear (and why this is actually good news) The "screw it, just do it" response — what causes it and how to address it with self-regulation Commit with perfection, forgive with dignity — how to handle slips without derailing recovery Abstinence vs. moderation: where Glenn agrees with food addiction models, and where his philosophy diverges His take on GLP-1 medications and how they fit into the bigger picture The difference between his original Never Binge Again and his newer book Defeat Your Cravings Resources Mentioned: 📘 Defeat Your Cravings — free at defeatyourcravings.com 🎙️ Glenn's podcast on binge eating and food addiction recovery 90-day coaching program with Glenn (details at defeatyourcravings.com) Connect with Food Junkies: 🌐 foodjunkiespodcast.com 📱 Email us at [email protected] If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear 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.