The Appetite

When injury sidelines an athlete—or performance outcomes fall short—it has a way of revealing growth edges within us.  Tune in to The Appetite as Opal Co-Founder and Director of the Exercise + Sport Program, Kara Bazzi, LMFT, sits down with high school distance runner and podcaster Nicholas Macha. In this powerful conversation, Nicholas shares how his injuries and performance disappointments led him to a deeper exploration of identity, relationships, faith, and the constant balancing act between sports, school, and social life. His honesty and insight as a young male athlete offer a refreshing and inspiring look at navigating challenges while maintaining a perspective of growth, clarity and hope.  Macha's podcast:  Opening Up About 2026 & What t… - The Sunday Shakeout - Apple Podcasts @thesundayshakeout Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com @opalfoodandbody @Opal.Movement   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios

In this episode, Gabe and Hank courageously open up about vulnerable moments through a process of group self-inquiry. Gabe explores the bitterness that arises from receiving positive affirmations after dance performances, while Hank examines the feelings of stupidity and pointlessness that surfaced when anger was physically expressed. Together with Opal Co-Founders Lexi Giblin, PhD, and Kara Bazzi, LMFT, Gabe and Hank offer each other the gift of provocative questions that elicit new learning. You are invited to kick back, notice what questions you might have asked and what questions hit something spicy for your own growth. To learn more about Self Inquiry listen to : Self Inquiry Overview episode   Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com @opalfoodandbody @Opal.Movement   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios

In this episode, Johanna Kandel, founder of the National Alliance for Eating Disorders, joins Julie Church, RDN, Co-Founder of Opal: Food+Body Wisdom, for an honest and inspiring conversation. Johanna shares how her own eating disorder recovery led her to create a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to care, support, and education in the eating disorder field. Listeners will hear more about the Alliance's impactful support groups, recent policy shifts shaping treatment access, and ways to get involved in advocacy (see links below).  Johanna's grounded presence and humble passion bring recovery to life in a conversation filled with hope, insight, and practical ways to support healing for yourself and others.  Find Johanna: The Alliance for Eating Disorders: https://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/team/ Here book:  https://www.harpercollins.com/products/life-beyond-your-eating-disorder-johanna-s-kandel?variant=39308848562210   Advocate with your local lawmakers for The Nutrition CARE Act and/or Kids Online Safety Act: https://eatingdisorderscoalition.org/email-your-legislators/   Register for Eating Disorder Coalition Advocacy Day on April 15, 2026 (virtual or in person in Washington DC): https://secure.everyaction.com/KEt8EKlzMUq5DoFK-CouzQ2   Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com @opalfoodandbody @Opal.Movement   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios  

GLP-1 medications are everywhere in the conversation about weight—but how much do we really understand? In this episode, Dr. Lexi Giblin, Executive Director of Opal, sits down with Meredith Blumenthal, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist in private practice, to unpack the most common misconceptions surrounding GLP-1s and body weight. Together, they explore what these medications actually do, what they don't do, and how changes in nutrition, metabolism, and food relationship occur for those taking GLP-1s.   Whether you're a clinician, patient, or just curious, this episode offers a thoughtful, evidence-based look beyond the headlines.   Connect with Meredith:  Nutrition with Meredith @nutritionwithmeredith   Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com @opalfoodandbody @Opal.Movement   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios    

Listen in to this one-of-a-kind episode of The Appetite as Opal's co-founders, Lexi Giblin, PhD, and Kara Bazzi, LMFT, sit down with Opal client Koa to explore her experience receiving in-person care at Opal. With honesty and vulnerability, Koa shares how her relationships with fellow clients and Opal staff became a pivotal part of her recovery, ultimately leading to profound and transformative change. Whether you're considering a higher level of care, currently in treatment, or hoping to better understand a loved one on their recovery journey, this episode offers meaningful insight and connection. Koa bravely invites listeners into an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at what in-person, intensive treatment can offer someone who is truly suffering.   Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com @opalfoodandbody @Opal.Movement   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios

How does your story with food from childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood impact your current relationship with food?  Opal Co-Founder, Julie Church, RDN interviews Jessica Setnick, RDN the creator of the "Healing Your Inner Eater" workshop and workbook which invites individuals to look back in order to move forward in one's relationship with food.  Listen in to Jessica's passionate story telling to learn about the three parts of your inner eater and how learning about your eating legacy could help heal your current eating concerns. This episode is like a buffet– there is something in it for everyone! Connect with Jessica: www.jessicasetnick.com Healing the Inner Eater Workbook – coupon code  "podcast"   Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com @opalfoodandbody @Opal.Movement   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios

Want to hear a secret? In this episode, Opal Co-Founders Julie Church, RDN, and Lexi Giblin, PhD, reveal Opal's unique approach to therapeutic meal support. Tune in to learn how the Opal team stepped beyond traditional meal support methods and embraced radically open dialectical behavior therapy (RODBT) to guide their work. This innovative approach has helped create a supportive community where eating becomes an experience of connection, curiosity, and courage—less about rigid rules and more about trust, play, and the belief that recovery is possible. To learn more about RODBT go here. or listen to some of our self-inquiry series podcasts, like:  The Appetite episode 134 or The Appetite episode 124   Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com @opalfoodandbody @Opal.Movement   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios

Join Lexi Giblin, PhD (Opal Co-Founder) for a heartfelt conversation with mother-daughter duo Kara Bazzi, LMFT (Opal Co-Founder and Director of Opal's Exercise+Sport Program) and Sophia, a soon-to-be collegiate athlete. Together, they walk down memory lane to explore the stand out intersections of parenting and running in Sophia's high school career.  With honesty and vulnerability, Kara and Sophia reflect on the joys and tensions of sharing a passion for the same sport, the challenges of navigating high-performance environments, and the influence of Kara's own eating disorder recovery on her parenting. Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com @opalfoodandbody @Opal.Movement   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios

Eating disorders don't exist in isolation—they are deeply connected to relationships. From the "why" behind disordered eating and movement patterns to the healing process, relationships have the power to either support or harm recovery.  In today's episode of The Appetite, Opal's Co-Founder & Clinical Director, Kara Bazzi, LMFT, sits down with therapist Nikki Wolf, LMHCA, to explore the role of relationship therapy in eating disorder treatment. They dive into what support people should (and shouldn't) do when walking alongside a loved one struggling with food, body, and movement concerns. Learn more about Opal's Family+Relationship Therapy, including our curated list of resources for family and loved ones of those struggling with eating disorders. To reach Nikki Wolf you can find her at Opal and at Wolf Heart Counseling, which gives details about her Family + Relationship Support Group - for loved ones of people with eating disorders. F.E.A.S.T. --Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders    Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com @opalfoodandbody @Opal.Movement   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios

In this episode, Delancey and Makaila wrestle with the gaze of others as their bodies change in eating disorder recovery. Off the mark, well-intentioned comments from others leave them flooded with shame and confusion.  Delancey wishes others would not perceive her while Makaila is in conflict, on one hand desiring to be "fetishized" and on the other hand, not wanting to be objectified at all.  Opal Co-Founders, Lexi Giblin, PhD and Kara Bazzi, LMFT, join Delancey and Makaila in drumming up the most provocative self-inquiry questions they can muster. Tune in to see which of these questions land with Delancey and Makaila while noticing what their work elicits in you. To learn more about Self Inquiry listen to : Self Inquiry Overview episode   Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com @opalfoodandbody @Opal.Movement   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios  

Join us for a trip down psychedelic lane! Temple Morris, LCSW-C and Dr. Brian Pilecki, PhD throw down their expertise in conversation with Opal Co-Founders, Kara Bazzi, LMFT and Dr. Lexi Giblin, PhD. Temple and Brian put to words what is often experienced as "beyond language" and help us understand the potential therapeutic value of psychedelics in "clarifying what matters" and fostering psychological flexibility.  To name just a few of the topics we cover, we touch on qualities of the psychedelic experience, the importance of integration work, risks of psychedelic use, and, of course, how psychedelics may treat eating disorders and body image.    For more information on Temple and Brian: Perspective Retreats True North Entropia Brian Pilecki's email: [email protected]   Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com @opalfoodandbody @Opal.Movement   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios

Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka, and Mary Cain all share something powerful in common: they've bravely opened up about their mental health journeys, using their platforms as elite athletes to advocate for change. Their courage is paving the way for a healthier, more supportive sports environment—especially for those facing mental health challenges.  On today's episode of The Appetite, Kara Bazzi, LMFT—co-founder and Clinical Director of Opal's Exercise+Sport program—chats with Katie Steele, former Division I runner at the University of Oregon and now a mental health therapist and co-author of The Price She Pays.  Together, they dive into Katie's new book and the critical conversation about athlete mistreatment and mental health.   Links:  Katie's book: The Price She Pays   Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com @opalfoodandbody @Opal.Movement   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios

Phoebe and Asha, friends who are both in eating disorder recovery, join Opal Co-Founders Lexi Giblin, PhD and Kara Bazzi, LMFT in studio for some self-inquiry action. It is Phoebe's last day in higher level of care and she wonders about her guilt related to nostalgia for her time in eating disorder treatment. Phoebe says treatment has been one of the "most connecting experiences of my life" and opens to exploration about her longing for her treatment days. Asha feels embarrassed for the high anxiety she experiences after a difficult dinner and gets curious about how her vulnerable emotions came to be a place of shame. Listen in and enter our on-air challenge network as we help Phoebe and Asha learn from their unwanted emotions.  To learn more about Self Inquiry listen to : Self Inquiry Overview episode Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com @opalfoodandbody @Opal.Movement   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios  

"Even within the male-centric model, women have accomplished incredible feats of athleticism, smashing long-held beliefs about what women can or cannot achieve. Imagine what would happen if everyone had access to better information and guidance." These are the words of Christine Yu, in the introduction of her book "Up to Speed: The Groundbreaking Science of Women Athletes". In this episode of The Appetite, Opal's Director of Exercise+Sport and Co Founder, Kara Bazzi, LMFT talks with Christine about her reflections on the intersection of sport and gender through the lens of her work as a journalist and author. Christine is working to disseminate much needed information (and highlighting the work that is still needed) to better understand gender differences in sport in an effort to support all athletes in their similar and differing experiences.  Links:  Up to Speed The Price She Pays Christine's Instagram Christine's newsletter Alyssa's instagram Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com @opalfoodandbody @Opal.Movement   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios  

Dr. Lisa Erlanger returns to the podcast for a conversation with Julie Church, RDN, CD on GLP-1 agonists, medications widely prescribed for weight loss. Through a weight-inclusive lens, Lisa explains GLP-1 agonists history, current use, and side effects with a special attention given to the unique considerations for individuals with current or past eating disorders.  Spoiler alert--- these medications are not game changers, bodies still need food and nourishment to thrive! Despite what the shiny marketing says about these being "miracle drugs", safe and long-term weight suppression is not possible.  To find Lisa:   Dr. Lisa Erlanger's website As mentioned on show:  GLP-1 Agonist Medications: Informed Consent Resource Medical Students for Size Inclusive Medicine Dr. Lisa Erlanger's Appetite Podcast interview, A Physicians Journey to Weight Inclusive Medicine Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com @opalfoodandbody @Opal.Movement   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios

Human stories are a powerful force in influencing the way we see the world and how we can expand or shift our perspective on any given subject matter. Rosalie Fish, a collegiate athlete and activist, has just that- an impactful story as a Native American distance runner who has used her sport to enact social change. Listen in as Kara Bazzi, LMFT, Opal's Co-Founder and Clinical Director, and Rosalie talk about how Rosalie's cultural identity has shaped her experiences as an athlete- from advocacy work with Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, to how her cultural heritage impacts her relationship to food and mental health as an athlete.    Find Rosalie  @rosaliefishx Missing and Murdered Indigenious Women   Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com @opalfoodandbody @Opal.Movement   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios  

Aleta Storch, MS, RDN, LMHC joins Julie Church, RDN to discuss how ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) can lead to different feeding and eating challenges. Her personal story highlights the benefit of understanding how the brain works for everyone, especially those desiring to heal from disordered eating and eating disorders.  Listen in for a sneak peek of a few practical tips from her model of care for ADHDers and expect this episode to give you a full dose of information about the brain, ADHD and neurodivergence. To learn more about Aleta: Website: https://www.wiseheartnutrition.com/ Membership: https://www.wiseheartnutrition.com/neurished Free FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/eatingwithadhdofficial @the_adhd_rd @wiseheart_nutrition   Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com @opalfoodandbody @Opal.Movement   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios

Dr. Lisa Erlanger joins Opal's Nutrition Director Julie Church, RDN to share the evidence and compassion that led her to evolve into a weight-inclusive physician.  Lisa explains how the body is impacted by dieting (aka starvation) and emphasizes the importance of adequate nourishment as a strong focus of weight-inclusive health care practices within eating disorder treatment and beyond.  She even gives some quick tips on how to help medical providers get out of their weight-centric trance and provide respectful medical care, regardless of body size.  Wherever you are on your journey of weight-inclusivity, this is a must listen! To find Lisa:   Dr. Lisa Erlanger's website And to see what she is doing to advance education of medical practitioners go to:  Size Inclusive Medicine Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com @opalfoodandbody @Opal.Movement   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios

Dr. Lexi Giblin, PhD and Kara Bazzi, LMFT, Opal Co-Founders, sit down with Poppy and Lily to do a self-inquiry double click on these two particular experiences of shame management.  Poppy shares an encounter with shame and disgust where her response is to "mask everything and puff up" while wanting her "old body back."  A "deep, profound worthlessness" prompts an urge for Lily to work hard to be likable, meet others' expectations, and "shrink" herself, not just physically. The group does their self-inquiry job and successfully hits on some angsty edges of learning for Poppy and Lily.   Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com @opalfoodandbody @Opal.Movement   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios

Fitness, movement and sport spaces continue to be saturated with diet culture rhetoric and belief systems that disrupt our innate connection, wisdom and joy to movement and our bodies. Diet culture is rooted in social justice issues where movement and sport spaces are not inclusive of all bodies and walks of life, particularly those who are most marginalized. Yet the story doesn't stop here. More and more folks are recognizing the harmful messaging and practices and are doing it differently! Meng Wang, a dietitian and yoga instructor at Opal, and Ashley Davies, co-founder of Club Seattle Run Division (CSRD) are two of these change-makers– disrupting the "normal" practices in mighty ways!  Listen in to this episode of The Appetite as Kara Bazzi, Opal's Director of the Exercise + Sport program, has a conversation with Meng and Ashley that will give inspiration and encouragement that we can all make meaningful change.  Links:  Find Ashley Davies @dreambig_davies Find Club Seattle Run Division @run_csrd Book: Deconstructing the Fitness Industrial Complex (Edited by Justice Roe Williams, Roc Rochon and Lawrence Koval) Book: The Body Liberation Project (Chrissy King) Opal's Stretch Your Learning is monthly for anyone who has a desire to create more inclusive movement spaces   To Learn more about Opal:  @opalfoodandbody @opal.movement www.opalfoodandbody.com   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios

Maddie Louder, Miss Washington 2021, joins Julie Church, Opal's Nutrition Director, to share her personal experience of how participating in pageants was both empowering and detrimental for her relationship with food and body. Maddie shares how advocacy work through the Miss Washington platform was important for her eating disorder recovery journey and also unpacks how the crowns and glitter of achievement culture can have its downfalls.  Maddie's experience highlights the limitations of the "all good or all bad" binary and invites us to embrace the nuances of contest and competition.    To reach Maddie:   simplysincerelymaddie.com @maddielouder  To learn more about pageants: www.misswashington.org   Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com @opalfoodandbody @Opal.Movement   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios  

If you are new to self-inquiry, start here!! This is your go-to episode when you need a quick self-inquiry tutorial, refresher or a little help coaxing you into the self-inquiry mood.  Dr. Lexi Giblin, PhD, orients you to the key components and process of self-inquiry.  With these basics in hand, you can more fully take in The Appetite's Self-Inquiry series and possibly begin your own self-inquiry journey.  For a deeper dive, go to Episode # 18 Emotion and Learning: The Self-Inquiry Process in Radically Open DBT. Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com @opalfoodandbody @Opal.Movement   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios

Take a deep breath and bend your ears towards Cozette and Marrow as they bravely explore the psychological forces at play in their eating disorder recoveries. Dr. Lexi Giblin, PhD and Kara Bazzi, LMFT, Opal Co-Founders, join Cozette and Marrow in their quest to use self-inquiry to learn from unwanted emotion. Shame is a starting point for both self-inquirers but the learning takes them to different places. Cozette grapples with urges to restrict food despite her motivation to recover, while Marrow reflects on how her desire to have a child played a role in her recent relapse.  Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com @opalfoodandbody @Opal.Movement   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios

Feeding and eating is a realm of family life that changes as kids get older, which is easy for some parents and more difficult for others.  What does empowerment and leadership look like as teens eat more socially and have more time away from the home? How can parents be a healthy part of a teen's relationship with food? In this episode two of Opal's Co-Founders, Julie Church, RDN, CD and Kara Bazzi, LMFT, CEDS offer invitations for parents to trust, talk and support their teens, using some of Ellyn Satter's materials to guide what is most important in the parent and teen feeding relationship.   Further resources: Ellyn Satter Institute Body Talk   Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com @opalfoodandbody @Opal.Movement   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios

And the Self Inquiry Series is off and running!  In this first self-inquiry episode, Dr. Lexi Giblin, PhD opens by giving us the 411 on RO DBT's self-inquiry process and then we turn to Sally and Andrea's live self-inquiry. Kara Bazzi, Opal Co-Founder, and the group pose questions to try to open up new learning for Sally and Andrea. Sally struggles with parenting guilt and wanting to do it "right".  Andrea wants to be a "good daughter". Listen in on how their distress gets opened up and challenged in new and interesting ways!   Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com @opalfoodandbody @Opal.Movement   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios

Has your life become all about setting and achieving goals? When you encounter problems in life, is your solution to do more, work harder, and put another goal in place only to turn around and repeat this cycle when the next problem presents itself? Listen to this episode of The Appetite where Opal Co-Founders, Lexi Giblin, PhD and Kara Bazzi, LMFT discuss how this compulsive striving approach to life can work for you AND against you. With a particular eye on disordered eating and movement, they ask questions to help you discern if your values or the achievement hustle is driving your life. With society's value on high productivity, this conversation offers a welcome reprieve from hustle culture and suggests that practicing the art of non-productivity is exactly what is most needed.    Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com @opalfoodandbody @Opal.Movement   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios

Listen in as Opal's Director of the Exercise + Sport program, Kara Bazzi, and Opal's Movement Coach, Caitlin Jacobsen have a conversation about "Good for a Girl", a newly released book written by former professional runner, coach and author, Lauren Fleshman. "Good for A Girl" is a memoir (and part manifesto) which follows Lauren's distance running career to the upper echelons of elite levels of sport performance. Although the elite distance running world is exclusionary, and centers the white, thin, able bodied, cis-male experience, Lauren's story highlights something that is relatable to a wider audience: how society's toxic cultural messaging about who "belongs" is a driving factor for developing disordered eating and eating disorders. Kara and Caitlin draw from their identities as distance runners as well as clinicians working in the eating disorder treatment field, as they highlight important themes from the book. They also use this as an opportunity to encourage and inform listeners about eating disorder treatment, which was a topic not discussed in the book. This episode offers hope that specialized treatment does exist for the athlete!  **Check out our other Shifting Toxic Sport Culture episode here.   Links: Lauren Fleshman + Link to her book "Good for a Girl" Wildwood Running Mind Body Endurance Athlete Edge EDCare Book:  Girls Running   Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com @The.Appetite.Podcast @Opal.Movement   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios

We are launching a new Self-Inquiry Series, within The Appetite podcast, where we will take the style of Opal's Self-Inquiry Group to the podcast airways.  We are looking for folks interested in doing private journal self-inquiry work followed by receiving questions from the podcast group - just like in Opal's Self-Inquiry Group (but recorded). Participants can call in to the show or join us at the studio in Seattle.  The Appetite will take measures to protect your identity, including using an alias, altering the sound of your voice, and editing out any identifying information disclosed post production. To be eligible, participants must actively be in individual therapy in order to have a place to process what may arise from the self-inquiry.  To apply, email us at [email protected] or  click here to go straight to the application form. If you want to hear former episodes where self-inquiry was done, check out: Episode #81: Rethinking Resolutions:  Self-Inquiry as Self-Improvement Episode #94:  Getting Emotional:  Using Self-Inquiry During the Coronavirus Pandemic   Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com @The.Appetite.Podcast @Opal.Movement   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Cultural Center Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/

"My story is a running journey, but at its heart, it's a story for anyone who has experienced the harm and powerlessness that comes from not fitting into society's expectations, anyone who has ever existed in the margins. It is a story of finding and creating your place and space." Listen into this episode of The Appetite where Alison Mariella Désir- runner, activist, disruptor- reflects and expands on parts of her powerful, newly released book, Running While Black. Kara Bazzi, LMFT, Director of Opal's Exercise+Sport Program, talks with Alison about belonging, creating and developing a culture of inclusion in sport, and the historical context that is often missing from the origin stories of the American distance running boom. If this is the first time you are introduced to Alison or you are already connected with her work, this episode will not disappoint!  Connect with Alison: Alison's website Buy Alison's book: Running While Black Watch Alison's TV show: Out and Back Alison's previous interview on The Appetite    Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com @The.Appetite.Podcast @Opal.Movement   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios

Connie Sobczak of The Body Positive gives us this wise nugget: "Aging is something we get to do, if we are lucky." Julie Church, Opal's Co-Founder and Nutrition Director, discusses with Connie the many considerations that arise as we age, covering the topics of appearance, body image, health, and self-care.  Listen here for invitations to gratitude, non-judgement, and consciousness that can start at any stage of life and help ease one into the gift of aging.  Connie shares openly about how she personally navigates aging with her eating disorder recovery and personal commitment to embodiment.   Links from show:   Maya Angelou interviews About the 70s  and About the 80s The 5 Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Fully Living Connect with Connie:   www.thebodypositive.org ConnieSobczak.com Connie's book:  Embody: Learning to Love Your Unique Body (and quiet that critical voice!)  Connie's artistic booklet, Bodies of Nature/Nature of Bodies  Medium.com essay, Experience Over Appearance.  TEDx talk link: Embracing Your Critical Voice: The Gateway to Self-Love   Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/

Are you a "perfectionist" who is exhausted and tired of hustling for your worth? Or perhaps you have entered perfectionism recovery but remain in a long term battle with compulsive perfectionistic striving? Either way, this podcast is just the ticket for you! Take a listen to Lexi Giblin, PhD, Maggie Ritnour, LMHC, LCAT, ATR-BC, RYT, CEDS and Noni Vaughn-Pollard, NDTR, MHC-LP chat about the difference between perfectionism and excellence, the importance of celebrating achievements, and shame as the birthplace of perfectionism. Lexi, Maggie and Noni look through a radically open dialectical behavior therapy (RO DBT) lens to shed light on the topic. Along the way, you will get the inside scoop on the origin story of the Opal mascot: The Owl. To find Noni and Maggie, go to: Roots Art Therapy at https://www.rootsarttherapy.nyc/ @afroandappetite @rootsarttherapy Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/

Part 3 of a 3 part series: "Creating Social Change in the Sport World"  Episode 3:  Power of Sharing Your Recovery Journey-- Most people who struggle with disordered eating or an eating disorder grapple with how much and to whom they share their struggle with. Amelia Boone, a world class obstacle racer and ultrarunner, is no exception. Amelia talks about her "why" of sharing vulnerably and openly about her recovery journey with an eating disorder to her social media community.  Listen as Kara Bazzi, co-founder and Clinical Director of Opal, and Amelia talk about the risks and rewards of sharing your story, both in the public and private domains. They explore how to discern when to speak up and when to set personal boundaries in service of your recovery. To get to know Amelia more:   http://www.ameliabooneracing.com/ @arboone11 Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/  

Part 2 of a 3 part series: "Creating Social Change in the Sport World"  Episode 2:  Power of Writing-- Diet culture messages pervade all media- from advertisements, to magazines, to Instagram and TikTok. It's no exception in the sport world- harmful, antiquated messages pop up everywhere that perpetuate disordered eating and body image distress. These harmful messages promote a particular athlete body ideal, overemphasizing the connection between weight and performance. Elizabeth Carey, author, writer and running coach, is determined to change the narrative in media and is taking meaningful action. As a journalist and author, she uses her experience in the sport of distance running, along with her talent and opportunities, to boldly combat the destructive myths that public forums of media serve us. Listen in as Kara Bazzi, Opal co-founder and Clinical Director, talks with Elizabeth about the power of writing to create necessary change. You will leave feeling inspired by hope in the "turning of the needle" that is happening in media, along with considering a personal invitation to use writing as a tool for individual change and healing. To learn more about Elizabeth Carey's work:  www.elizabethwcarey.com   Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com Facebook Instagram: @opalfoodandbody Youtube   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/

Part 1 of a 3 part series: "Creating Social Change in the Sport World" Episode 1: Power of Coaches-- The "win at all costs" sport culture needs to retire and be replaced by the "whole person athlete" culture. In this episode of The Appetite, Opal co-founder and Clinical Director Kara Bazzi, talks with two coaches who are doing just that-- actively working towards the "whole person athlete" sport culture. Listen as Marie Davis Markham and Robyn McGillis share their story as coaches who developed a community of learning called Wildwood Running to make an impact beyond their respective sport teams in the Portland, Oregon area. Wildwood Running's mission is to guide, empower, connect and educate young female runners and coaches that impact young female runners. Coaches and athletes, tune in to be inspired and learn that a healthy sports culture is possible! To learn more about Wildwood: www.wildwoodrunning.com Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com Facebook Instagram: @opalfoodandbody Youtube   Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Administrative support by Camille Dodson

We're excited to bring you our conversation with Christy Harrison MPH, RD, CEDRD author of Anti-Diet and host of the Food Psych podcast. Many of you might know of Christy's work, but might not know what led her to shift her career from working as a journalist reporting on food sustainability to becoming an anti-diet dietitian, author, and host. She breaks down her personal journey with food and eating disorder recovery and how it ultimately led her to write Anti-Diet, a culmination of her research on the history of diet culture, its roots in systems of oppression, Health at Every Size, intuitive eating, and so much more.   Connect with Christy: Website URL: https://christyharrison.com/ Instagram Handle: https://www.instagram.com/chr1styharrison/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/christyharrisonnutrition Twitter Handle: https://twitter.com/chr1styharrison iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/food-psych/id700512884 Book: Anti-Diet: Reclaim Your Time, Money, Well-Being, and Happiness Through Intuitive Eating  Podcast: Food Psych   Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com     Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Administrative support by Camille Dodson

"Food is fuel". " You are a machine". "You look fit". "You are what you eat". These are all messages about food and our bodies that are commonplace, yet born out of diet culture. Opal Co-Founder and Clinical Director Kara Bazzi talks with dietitian and endurance athlete Maria Dalzot, RD about how these messages are falling short and not supporting our athletes well-being and performance. In this episode, Maria passionately offers important alternatives to the cultural messages, informed by Intuitive Eating and trauma-informed care. She helps us understand the role our autonomic nervous system plays in our relationship to food and why we need to go beyond prescriptive nutrition interventions in talking with our athletes.    Links: Maria Dalzot RD   The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy: Engaging the Rhythm of Regulation (Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology): Dana, Deb, Porges, Stephen W.: 9780393712377: Amazon.com: Books   Social Determinants of Health | NCHHSTP | CDC   Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com     Thank you to our team...   Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Administrative support by Camille Dodson

You will be happy to bend your ear (maybe again) for this one!  Julie Church, RDN and Carter Umhau, LMHC talk with Erin Harrop (now doctor Erin Harrop, PhD, Assistant Professor at the University of Denver) about healthism, the use of the word "fat," fat liberation and intersectionality.  Dr. Harrop shares their personal experience to spotlight problems with the over-focus on weight in eating disorder treatment. The Appetite crew released this interview 3 years ago and it is even more relevant to our cultural conversation today.  If you are interested in learning more about Health at Every Size, you can join Julie Church for her yearly Introduction to Health at Every Size training this month! Julie's training is available as a pre-recorded webinar and will be followed by a live Q&A panel with Julie, Erin Harrop and Opal dietitian Alyssa Davis on March 23rd at 12pm. You can find more information here.  Links: Dr. Harrop's article in Women and Therapy (2018):  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31595100/   For more learning, Dr. Harrop recommends: 1. Fat Girls in Black Bodies by Joy Arlene Renee Cox Ph.D.  2. The Adipositivity Project: https://theadipositivityproject.zenfolio.com/all 3. Children's book: Free to be Me: Self Love for all Sizes  by Dr. Leslie Williams Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Opalfoodandbodywisdom/ Instagram: @opalfoodandbody Twitter: https://twitter.com/opalfoodandbody?lang=en Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OpalFoodandBody/videos      Thank you to our team... Thanks to David Bazzi for editing, Camille Dodson for podcast administrative and social media support.  Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/

If you haven't heard about or tuned into the Netflix docuseries, MOVE, now's the time! MOVE takes you through the lived experiences of dancers around the globe, and offers a visceral experience of movement that brings transformation and healing- both individually and collectively. These dancers are not motivated to lose weight or change their bodies- their dancing is about passion, healing, emoting and liberating from oppression. The series does a brilliant job of addressing social identities such as race, gender, class, and sexual expression within the context of dance. Kara Bazzi, LMFT, CEDS, Co-Founder, Clinical Director and Head of the Exercise+Sport team at Opal talks with Josh Spell, LICSW, Primary Therapist and Exercise Experiential therapist at Opal, as well as a former professional ballet dancer and consulting therapist for Pacific Northwest Ballet. Kara and Josh offer their reflections on MOVE, tying the themes of the docuseries into the work of healing one's disordered relationship to movement that often comes with the territory of an eating disorder.   If you want to hear more from Josh, talking about body image in dance, yoga and fitness, please consider registering for his upcoming seminar on January 14th at 10am PST. Link here: Body Image in dance, yoga and fitness: Am I contributing to the problem?    Links: MOVE- Netflix   Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Opalfoodandbodywisdom/ Instagram: @opalfoodandbody Twitter: https://twitter.com/opalfoodandbody?lang=en Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OpalFoodandBody/videos      Thank you to our team... Editing by David Bazzi Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Administrative support by Camille Dodson

Originally released in 2018, we felt this interview was worth repeating! At a time where sports and athletics are turned upside down due to the pandemic, a silver lining is that it's creating new time and space for both athletes and coaches to learn and become more centered in what is most important and enduring in athletics. In this conversation about the influential position a coach has on an athlete's life and performance, Opal Co-Founder Kara Bazzi LMFT, CEDS and Carter Umhau, LMHCA interview Sally Revere, head Cross Country and Track & Field coach at Lakeside High School in Seattle. Sally offers practical advice on how she addresses food and body concerns on her team, as well as addressing the power of coaching from a whole athlete perspective. Kara and Carter bring in questions about temperament as it relates to sport performance, and how a coach can facilitate a sense of community and joy on their team. If you are a coach or an athlete, you don't want to miss this episode! Sally offers incredible wisdom and inspiration from her 30 years of coaching experience. Resources: Letter to Coaches From a Mental Health Therapist, by Kara Bazzi: http://www.opalfoodandbody.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Letter-To-Coaches.pdf  Compulsive Exercise and Eating Disorders, by Caroline Meyer et al: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/erv.1122/abstract  Perfectionism versus excellence: https://wp.me/a5Br2M-7To    Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Opalfoodandbodywisdom/ Instagram: @opalfoodandbody Twitter: https://twitter.com/opalfoodandbody?lang=en Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OpalFoodandBody/videos    Thank you to our team… David Bazzi for editing. Camille Dodson for podcast administrative and social media support. Aaron Davidson for the original music  https://soundcloud.com/diet75/

How does being marginalized impact a person's health and physiology? Dr. Lindo Bacon, who has spent their career advocating for social justice at the intersection of weight and health, joins this episode to share about their newest book, Radical Belonging: How to Survive and Thrive in an Unjust World (While Transforming it for the Better). In conversation with Opal Co-Founder Julie Church and host and therapist Carter Umhau, Lindo shares how their experience of  being other-ed for their gender identity led them into their research on interpersonal neurobiology, and why self-help won't save us.    Links: Learn more about Dr. Lindo Bacon and their work at https://lindobacon.com/ Dr. Lindo Bacon on Instagram: @lindobacon Twitter and Facebook: @LindoBaconX   Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Opalfoodandbodywisdom/ Instagram: @opalfoodandbody Twitter: https://twitter.com/opalfoodandbody?lang=en Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OpalFoodandBody/videos      Thank you to our team... Editing by Hans Anderson: http://www.hfanderson.com/ Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Daniel Guenther at Jack Straw Cultural Center: http://www.jackstraw.org/ Host and Producer Carter Umhau: www.carterumhau.com

What does it look like to center narrative in racial identity work? Aiko Bethea is the principal and founder of Rare Coaching and Consulting, which offers executive coaching to leaders on their diversity, equity, and inclusion journey. She joins host Carter Umhau and Opal Co-Founders Lexi Giblin and Julie Church today in a tender and empowering conversation around what diversity and inclusion work can look like when narrative and shame resilience are part of the process. Aiko has been working with Opal Co-Founders Lexi Giblin, Kara Bazzi, and Julie Church over the last year to reflect on and analyze Opal's systems to make them more actively anti-racist.   Links: Follow Aiko on Instagram: @rare_coach And check out her website at https://www.rarecoaching.net/ and follow her on Linkedin.    Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Opalfoodandbodywisdom/ Instagram: @opalfoodandbody Twitter: https://twitter.com/opalfoodandbody?lang=en Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OpalFoodandBody/videos      Thank you to our team... Thanks to David Bazzi for editing, Camille Dodson for podcast administrative and social media support.  Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Daniel Guenther at Jack Straw Cultural Center: http://www.jackstraw.org/ Host and Producer Carter Umhau: www.carterumhau.com

How do you know when it's time to let go? On this more reflective and personal episode of The Appetite, Opal Co-Founder's Lexi Giblin, Kara Bazzi, and Julie Church join host  Carter Umhau to explore themes around loss, grief, accepting change, and letting go. Inspired by an announcement from Carter about her departure from the podcast, the crew reflects on where The Appetite has been and where we're headed next!    Links: Stay in touch with Carter Umhau, LMHC via www.carterumhau.com andwww.piththerapy.com   Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Opalfoodandbodywisdom/ Instagram: @opalfoodandbody Twitter: https://twitter.com/opalfoodandbody?lang=en Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OpalFoodandBody/videos      Thank you to our team... Host and Producer Carter Umhau: www.carterumhau.com and www.piththerapy.com Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Editing by David Bazzi And support from Camille Dodson

How has whiteness in the running world contributed to the toxicity around sport culture? Runner Alison Mariella Désir joins host and therapist Carter Umhau and Opal Co-Founder and Head of the Exercise + Sport Program, Kara Bazzi, to talk about the intersection of race and running, and why representation and mental health support in running—and the athletic world at large—matters. Alison Mariella Désir is a runner, mental health advocate, activist, speaker, and mother. She is the founder of the Harlem Run club, Meaning Through Movement, and Womxn Run the Vote. After the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, who was killed while running as a Black man, Alison called out the running community for being divided by race. She leads the running world in building a healthier and more inclusive community and, in this episode, it's clear why...Alison's passion, wisdom, and expertise are on full display!      Links:   Find Alison on Instagram @alisonmdesir and learn more about her here: http://alisonmdesir.com/ and here: https://www.oiselle.com/pages/alison-desir   Check out Alison Mariella's Meaning Through Movement events on fitness and mental health: https://www.meaningthrumovement.com/   Find out how you can be a part of the virtual relay, Womxn Run the Vote: https://racery.com/r/womxn-run-the-vote/ and on Instagram @Run4AllWomen Check out the Harlem Run Club: http://www.harlemrun.com/about and on Instagram @HarlemRun   Read Alison Mariella's article called Ahmaud Arbery and Whiteness in the Running World: https://www.outsideonline.com/2413115/ahmaud-arbery-murder-whiteness-running-community       Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Opalfoodandbodywisdom/ Instagram: @opalfoodandbody Twitter: https://twitter.com/opalfoodandbody?lang=en Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OpalFoodandBody/videos      Thank you to our team... Editing by Hans Anderson: http://www.hfanderson.com/ Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Daniel Guenther at Jack Straw Cultural Center: http://www.jackstraw.org/ Host and Producer Carter Umhau: www.carterumhau.com

Has your relationship to food changed since the pandemic began? Whether you're snacking more, eating a different variety of food, or finding yourself restricting or bingeing due to high emotions, we imagine a lot could have shifted. While a mainstream perspective might tell you to use this "opportunity" to "take control of your diet," we have a very different perspective. Opal Co-Founder and Nutrition Director Julie Church, RDN, CEDRD-S, CD and host and therapist Carter Umhau, LMHC are sharing their insights on the difference between emotional eating and binge eating, why you should give yourself grace right now (and always!), and how to reframe the expectations you may have right now for your eating. They'll be walking through specific scenarios that may have impacted your eating, as well as explaining what is happening in your body right now due to the collective stress of the coronavirus.    Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Opalfoodandbodywisdom/ Instagram: @opalfoodandbody Twitter: https://twitter.com/opalfoodandbody?lang=en Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OpalFoodandBody/videos      Thank you to our team... Editing by Hans Anderson: http://www.hfanderson.com/ Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Camille Dodson @opalfoodandbody.com Daniel Guenther at Jack Straw Cultural Center: http://www.jackstraw.org/ Host and Producer Carter Umhau: www.carterumhau.com

 Who are you outside of the identity of your job? Over the last year, Opal: Food + Body Wisdom's Co-Founders (Kara Bazzi, LMFT, CEDS, Julie Church, RDN, CEDRD-S, CD, and Lexi Giblin, PhD, CEDS) each took a month away from Opal in order to rest and recharge. They'll be sharing how they spent their free time, the questions of identity that arose, how their perspectives changed around work and life, and how they brought these changes back into their work lives upon returning to Opal. This conversation took place pre-coronavirus and addresses an experience that is certainly not comparable to the widely experienced circumstances around work now—skyrocketing unemployment rates, a whole new world of working from home, and the immense gratitude we feel for all the healthcare and essential workers that are putting themselves and their families on the line to take care of the rest of the world. Instead of never releasing this episode, we wanted to offer it with the hope that it will get your juices flowing on new ways to be thinking about the changes in work that you may be going through. At the very least, we hope it's entertaining!      Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Opalfoodandbodywisdom/ Instagram: @opalfoodandbody Twitter: https://twitter.com/opalfoodandbody?lang=en Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OpalFoodandBody/videos      Thank you to our team... Editing by Hans Anderson: http://www.hfanderson.com/ Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Daniel Guenther at Jack Straw Cultural Center: http://www.jackstraw.org/ Host and Producer Carter Umhau: www.carterumhau.com

Why does delight matter? We believe that, during the coronavirus pandemic, delight offers an opportunity for mindfulness, connectedness, and a boost to your mental health. Inspired by a This American Life episode called, "The Show of Delights," Opal Co-Founders Kara Bazzi, LMFT, CEDS, Dr. Lexi Giblin, PhD, CEDS, and Julie Church, RDN, CEDRD-S, CD are talking with host and therapist Carter Umhau, LMHC about what delight is, and how we can distinguish it from joy and pleasure. They'll also be sharing what delights each of them and how these things have a place in their lives, particularly during the time of COVID-19. Join us for this feel-good episode!   Links: We were so inspired by This American Life's episode about delight, that it became the jumping off point for this episode. Listen to it here and enjoy: https://www.thisamericanlife.org/692/the-show-of-delights Chatbooks:   https://chatbooks.com/   Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Opalfoodandbodywisdom/ Instagram: @opalfoodandbody Twitter: https://twitter.com/opalfoodandbody?lang=en Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OpalFoodandBody/videos      Thank you to our team... Editing by Hans Anderson: http://www.hfanderson.com/ Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Daniel Guenther at Jack Straw Cultural Center: http://www.jackstraw.org/ Host and Producer Carter Umhau: www.carterumhau.com

Did you tune into Netflix's docuseries, Cheer? What did you think of the Navarro team culture portrayed? In light of all the tv-watching that's been happening while sheltering in place, we decided to keep it casual for this episode and chat about our perspective on this inspiring and intense show that follows the Navarro College cheer squad as they train for competitive cheerleading championships in Daytona, Florida. Kara Bazzi, LMFT, CEDS is one of Opal's Co-Founders, head of the Exercise + Sport program, eating disorder expert, and a former collegiate athlete. She chats with host and therapist Carter Umhau, LMHC, about the coaching style of Monica Aldama, and how it straddles the lines between a demand for perfectionism versus excellence, discipline versus dogma, all while creating a true team family. As professionals that work closely with those struggling with compulsive exercise, athlete identity, and eating disorders, Kara and Carter had a lot to talk about!   Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Opalfoodandbodywisdom/ Instagram: @opalfoodandbody Twitter: https://twitter.com/opalfoodandbody?lang=en Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OpalFoodandBody/videos      Thank you to our team... Editing by Hans Anderson: http://www.hfanderson.com/ Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Daniel Guenther at Jack Straw Cultural Center: http://www.jackstraw.org/ Host and Producer Carter Umhau: www.carterumhau.com

 How have you been doing lately? Mental health is of utmost importance during the coronavirus pandemic. In this mini episode, we're offering you a Loving Kindness meditation, led by Opal Co-Founder, Executive Director and Radically Open DBT expert Dr. Lexi Giblin, PhD, CEDS. Lexi will walk you through this externally-focused meditation which will ask you to connect to your heart's center and offer love, warmth, and kindness to others. Allow yourself the time to pause, breathe deeply, and send loving thoughts to those out there that are on your mind--a far away friend, the healthcare workers at your local hospital, or even that worried-looking grocery clerk you saw earlier this week. We hope you feel free to return to this episode again and again when you need a moment to re-center.    Links:  http://www.radicallyopen.net/   Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Opalfoodandbodywisdom/ Instagram: @opalfoodandbody Twitter: https://twitter.com/opalfoodandbody?lang=en Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OpalFoodandBody/videos      Thank you to our team... Editing by Hans Anderson: http://www.hfanderson.com/ Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Daniel Guenther at Jack Straw Cultural Center: http://www.jackstraw.org/ Host and Producer Carter Umhau: www.carterumhau.com

How have social distancing and sheltering-in-place impacted your relationship to exercise? There is loss of all kinds during this time—there are relational and fiscal losses, losses of routine and identity, and of course, loss of life. However, as an embodied people, there is a lot freedom our bodies have lost—including when it comes to movement and exercise. Opal: Food + Body Wisdom Co-Founder and head of the Exercise + Sport Program, Kara Bazzi, LMFT, CEDS offers a way to understand your relationship to exercise through the lens of the stages of grief. In conversation with host and therapist Carter Umhau, LMHC, Kara shares how she's handling the grief of not getting to move in the ways she so enjoys and inspires curiosity in listeners about what and how they may be grieving during this pandemic.      Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Opalfoodandbodywisdom/ Instagram: @opalfoodandbody Twitter: https://twitter.com/opalfoodandbody?lang=en Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OpalFoodandBody/videos      Thank you to our team... Editing by Hans Anderson: http://www.hfanderson.com/ Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Host and Producer Carter Umhau: www.carterumhau.com Social Media and Publishing by Camille Dodson 

 How have you experienced unwanted energy and emotion during the coronavirus pandemic? The Appetite crew is getting vulnerable and answering this question, using the Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO DBT) skill of self-inquiry. Opal Co-Founder and RO DBT expert Dr. Lexi Giblin, PhD, CEDS shares how the skill of self-inquiry can be used during this time to move toward emotion in a compassionate, curious, and containing way. Lexi, along with Opal's other two Co-Founders—Kara Bazzi, LMFT, CEDS and Julie Church, RDN, CEDRD-S, CD—and host and therapist Carter Umhau, LMHC will each reflect on what has been coming up for them emotionally during the shelter-in-place order. We hope that this episode will serve as both companionship and inspiration to you during this time where emotions are high, and each one of them arrives with something to teach you.    Connect with Opal:  www.opalfoodandbody.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Opalfoodandbodywisdom/ Instagram: @opalfoodandbody Twitter: https://twitter.com/opalfoodandbody?lang=en Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OpalFoodandBody/videos      Thank you to our team... Editing by Hans Anderson: http://www.hfanderson.com/ Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/ Daniel Guenther at Jack Straw Cultural Center: http://www.jackstraw.org/ Host and Producer Carter Umhau: www.carterumhau.com