Today's episode is a deeply personal one.

I was devastated to hear of the passing of James Van Der Beek. Like so many of you, I grew up watching Dawson's Creek. But for me, it was even more than a show. My very first job was working on Dawson's Creek in Wilmington, North Carolina. My parents got to see their little girl step onto a set they watched in our living room every week... and that memory means everything to me.

Years later, I had dinner with James and his wife Kimberly (who was one of the very first guests ever on Food Heals episode 6). That night, James sat with me, looked me in the eyes, and told me my parents were proud of me. He held space for me in a way most people never do. He didn't have to. But that's who he was.

In this episode, I'm joined by:

Reality TV producer Jessica Sirikulbut, who shares her heartfelt reflections on James' character, his spiritual depth, and the emotional impact this loss has had on our generation.

Ryan Bailey, host of So Bad It's Good, who brings his thoughtful pop culture lens to James' legacy and the profound way he shaped so many of our lives.

Together, we reflect on:

• The impact Dawson's Creek had on our generation
• James' powerful final interviews about love and worthiness
• What cancer teaches us about presence and perspective
• The emotional and spiritual layers of healing
• Why "I am worthy of love" might be the most important mantra of all

James wasn't just a talented actor. He was a light. A father of six. A devoted husband. A man who meditated, journaled, and led with love. And in a world that feels so divided, his passing feels like a wake-up call to return to what actually matters.

Love.
Presence.
Connection.
Forgiveness.
Sweetness in life.

If this episode moves you, and you feel called to support his family during this unimaginable time, you can contribute here:

💛 GoFundMe for James Van Der Beek's Family:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-james-van-der-beeks-family

Thank you for being part of Food Heals Nation. Hold your loved ones close. Forgive quickly. Believe you are worthy of love.

Because you are. 💛

In this episode, Allison Melody opens with a no filter Q&A that goes everywhere the mainstream won't.

From the hidden reality of the dairy industry and why cows only produce milk when they're pregnant, to what really happens when creators are censored, reinstated, and quietly invited back after years of being silenced.

She shares her personal experience with peptides, what she's learned so far, and why she believes they should be approached thoughtfully and with the right medical support.

Then things get a little spicy.

Allison spills the tea on a former Food Heals guest who is now making waves on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, the rise of manifestation gurus, and what happens when empowerment crosses the line into grifting.

After the Q&A, Allison welcomes award winning author and longtime vegan Ellen Kanner, author of Miami Vegan, for a vibrant conversation about food, culture, and sex.

They talk about:

• Tropical flavors and plant based living inspired by Miami

• Why vegetables should be the star of the plate

• How to make vegan food sexy, flavorful, and accessible

• Aphrodisiac foods you should be cooking for date night

• The surprising connection between watermelon, nutmeg, avocado, and sex

• How plants can support intimacy, circulation, and connection

Plus, practical tips for eating plant based on a budget, navigating restaurants as a vegan, and making the transition without feeling deprived.

If food is medicine, this episode proves it can also be pleasure.

Get Ellen's book Miami Vegan and learn more at soulfulvegan.com.

2026 is not a continuation of the old story.
It's a clean slate.

In this raw, unfiltered episode, Allison Melody shares 11 powerful shifts that can change your health, mindset, money, relationships, and overall direction in life. These aren't "steps" or a rigid formula. They're real-life upgrades, mindset resets, and non-negotiables for anyone who is done repeating the same patterns and ready for something better.

From updating your algorithm and rewiring your brain, to healing your body, forgiving for real, building wealth, and being intentional about who you let into your life, this episode is a wake-up call and a permission slip wrapped into one.

Allison also shares a deeply personal reflection on podfading, burnout, resilience, and why believing in yourself is not optional if you want your life to change.

If you've been feeling stuck, exhausted, uninspired, or like you know you're meant for more, this episode is for you.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why your past does not get to decide your future

• How your algorithm, environment, and habits shape your reality

• Healing your body through testing, fasting, and nutrition

• Using creativity, evidence, and repetition to rewire your brain

• Why forgiveness is essential for emotional and physical healing

• How to build wealth without waiting for permission

• Being intentional about relationships and self-worth

• Why "delulu" belief can actually be a superpower

• A raw personal update from Allison on burnout, podfading, and coming back stronger

This is not about perfection.
It's about intention.
And it starts now.
#FoodHeals

Get ready to fall in love with vegan Italian food. In this delicious episode of Food Heals, Allison sits down with Chef Tara Punzone, founder of LA's award-winning vegan restaurant Pura Vita, and renowned author Gene Stone (Forks Over Knives, How Not to Die) to talk about their brand new cookbook, Vegana Italiana.

From mouthwatering pastas and creamy vegan ricotta to tiramisu you'll dream about, this episode explores how simple, clean ingredients and a little love can create unforgettable meals that are as good for you as they are for the planet.

You'll discover:

• The story behind the first vegan Italian organic restaurant in the U.S. and how it survived Covid and thrived

• How Tara and Gene teamed up to bring her recipes and stories to life in Vegana Italiana

• The secret to making authentic Italian flavors without dairy or meat (hint: it starts with olive oil and San Marzano tomatoes)

• Why real Italian food makes you feel good instead of bloated and how ingredients grown in Italy differ from those in the U.S.

• What "biodynamic wine" actually means (and why you'll never drink the same way again)

• Tara's top favorite recipes from the book, including her vegan tiramisu, handmade gnocchi, and addictive mozzarella

• How to stock your "Essential Vegan Italian Pantry" for success

• The mindset shifts that helped Tara manifest her dream restaurant and now, her dream cookbook

Listen now to learn how to cook, eat, and live the Italian vegan way, full of passion, flavor, and love.

We've all heard the promises of The Secret. If you think positive thoughts and raise your frequency, you can have, be, and do anything you want. But what happens when your nervous system is stuck in trauma and doesn't feel safe enough to receive? That's when manifestation stops working and survival mode takes over.

In this episode of Food Heals, Allison Melody chats with Empowerment Strategist JJ Flizanes to explore the 4 survival states, how they block our manifestation, and how to move from trauma to transformation.

Fight is when your body gears up to defend at all costs. Think Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games or Will Smith at the Oscars yelling, "Keep my wife's name out of your f--king mouth."

Flight is when your system tells you to run or avoid the situation entirely. Scooby-Doo and Shaggy bolting from monsters. Forrest Gump's iconic "Run, Forrest, run." Meredith Marks disengaging.

Freeze is when you shut down, dissociate, or feel paralyzed. Think Ophelia in Hamlet, frozen and silenced by grief. Harry Potter stunned into stillness when Voldemort reappears.

Fawn is when you abandon your own needs in order to appease or please others. Kyle Richards feeling guilty when Kathy has to apologize to her, Sansa Stark pledging her loyalty to King Joffrey in Game of Thrones just to survive.

In today's episode, you will learn:

• Why traditional Law of Attraction teachings stop at the mind and miss the body

• How trauma and unprocessed emotions can keep you stuck in survival states

• Tools to shift from survival into safety so you can finally align with your desires

• The exact steps JJ takes herself when she feels triggered and needs to reset

Listen now to discover how to move from survival mode into flow so you can finally create the life you have been vision-boarding. Get tickets to JJ's event October 17–19 and save $250 with the code FOODHEALS250 at jjflizanes.com/unleash.

Ten years into Food Heals, Allison Melody broadens the lens: from food as medicine to the health of our culture. In this deeply personal episode, Allison processes the news of a public assasination, her visceral grief as a daughter who lost her father, and the chilling implications for public figures, creators, podcasters, and anyone who speaks publicly.

She traces how social media outrage, algorithmic incentives, and political extremism erode empathy and makes the case that love (not hate, not fear) is the only path to individual and collective healing. Along the way, she shares her family's story, why she started Food Heals, and how to protect your "information diet" the same way you protect your plate.

Theme: Hate does not heal hate. Only love heals.

This episode contains discussion of murder, political violence, cancer, grief, social-media harassment, and deplatforming.

• Why "the health of our nation depends on more than food" and what that means for free speech

• Allison's visceral reaction to the news and how it connects to losing both parents to cancer

• The attention economy: how algorithms reward outrage and dehumanization

• A practical "information diet" for your mind and nervous system

• Powerful messages from fellow creators about responding with active love (not more anger)

• A simple framework to shift your state: breath, music, gratitude, service

• A rallying call for creators: "A microphone is not a shield…the First Amendment does not make us bulletproof—but it should make us brave."

• Your voice matters, even when it is inconvenient. Free speech is not about agreement, it is about human dignity and the right to speak without violence.

• Protect your mind like your body. Curate your inputs, fast from outrage, and refuse dehumanizing content, no matter the target.

• Gratitude is medicine. A daily "what's good?" practice shifts your state and ripples outward.

• Love is an action. Compassion, curiosity, and disciplined, justice-honoring love are stronger than hate.

• If this episode resonated, please rate and review the show and share it with someone who needs a dose of hope, sanilty and logic.