Azélie says, “During lockdown I was most of the time alone with my mother who was sick. It was stressful. Many people used social media to communicate and to share and there were many messages around diet culture. Although my mother’s cancer was unpredictable, my eating disorder wasn’t predictable either, but it was a way of controlling my body; choosing to be sick, even though you don’t choose but it’s you orchestrating your own symptoms, when it’s cancer it’s more the body who is sick.

I don’t know how to formulate it without saying people with an eating disorder have a choice - I don’t think so! I just think that the control you think you have when you have an eating disorder was maybe for me, at the time, a response to the unpredictability of cancer.”

Azélie developed anorexia in response to her Mother’s cancer but it was during lockdown that she had the space to “indulge” it and use social media.

Her turning point came when joined a running club and felt her anxiety dissipate. In order to run well, she had to eat. Not just to fuel her body but also to align with her peers. What everyone was having for dinner was a regular and cheerful topic of conversation.

Azelie is the youngest guest I’ve had the pleasure to host on the podcast. I was greatly moved by her story, insight and emotional intelligence as I’m sure you will be. Tune in!

This episode is dedicated to Azélie’s Mum.

PS. Azélie mentions the book Famished: Eating Disorders and Failed Care in America by Rebecca Lester toward the end of this episode, which I heard as Rubika! When I asked afterwards, who is Rubika, (should have asked during the recording) we ascertained she meant Rebecca Lester.

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS:

• [03:34] - Food Friend or Foe
• [04:55] - Early Roots and Lockdown Triggers
• [08:16] - Relapse and Stress Abroad
• [09:44] - Control and Cancer Uncertainty
• [12:59] - Diet Culture and Social Media Spiral
• [21:00] - Recovery Is Not Linear
• [22:58] - Underlying Stress and Need for Control
• [24:49] - Exercise and Therapy
• [25:23] - Finding the Right Help
• [26:28] - Running Club Recovery
• [29:45] - Family Support and Loss
• [32:27] - Managing Relapse Risks
• [35:39] - Stigma and Stereotypes
• [40:12] - Beyond Diagnosis Labels
• [42:35] - Hope Through Research

CONNECT WITH AZÉLIE:

• Azélie's Instagram

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!

If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know your thoughts on Instagram @lovethisfoodthing and consider leaving an honest review and rating for the show - we’d be extremely grateful.

WAYS WE CAN HELP YOU:

• 6 Things to Help You on Your Road to Recovery [Free Download]
• The Guide You Need to Help You Recover and Live an Extraordinary Life!
• Stay on Track with Your Recovery Journey, Start or Accelerate Further with Our Creative Recovery Accelerator™
• Virtual 1:1 Mentorship with Jemma

Happy 2026!

One of the reasons I created Love This Food Thing was to help people find their way to good health and well being which is why we’re excited to bring you this new year episode with amateur expert mycologist Anna Middleton.

“The core reason I love mushrooms is to do with the health properties - physically, mentally and emotionally they are incredible - but they’re also great connectors. They help us connect to each other and ourselves. I have one foot in the science and one foot in the magic. Our relationship with funghi is old! I like to consider mushrooms as our ancestors.”

A brief overview:

1. Origins and history of Funghi
2. Medicinal and functional aspects of: reishi, chaga, cordyceps and Lion’s Mane.
3. Plus a psychedelic ending on Psilocybin and Flyer Garrick.

Always do your own research and consult a medical practitioner where necessary.

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS:

1. [00:18] - Meet Anna Middleton: Health and Nutrition Coach
2. [01:05] - The Healing Power of Mushrooms
3. [02:45] - Understanding Fungi: The Ancient Organisms
4. [07:48] - Mushrooms in History and Their Uses
5. [14:29] - Reishi: The Meditation Mushroom
6. [24:34] - Chaga: The King of Mushrooms
7. [35:31] - Enhancing Fertility and Libido with Mushrooms
8. [37:21] - Cordyceps: Energy and Performance Enhancer
9. [42:22] - Lion's Mane: The Brain-Boosting Mushroom
10. [58:35] - Exploring Psychedelic Mushrooms

CONNECT WITH ANNA:

1. Anna's Instagram
2. Anna's Website

For the products we mention you can either go straight to the supplier: thebristolfungarian.co, londonootropics.com, hybridherbs.com and hifasdaterra.com or you can order from naturaldispensary.co.uk using Anna’s affiliate code AMNI15 for a 15% discount.

Disclaimer: Anna receives a commission when you use this code.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!

If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know your thoughts on Instagram

Welcome back to our mini menopause series with nutritionist and health coach, Lisa G where we chat about some individual aspects of the menopause, or as we’re calling it ‘Four Short Dives from Two Short Divas’.

In this fourth and final episode, we chat about sex, because it’s important, and no one needs to suffer in silence - plenty do - around libido/sex drive, vaginal dryness, ways to feel more sensual and to remind you that everyone’s sexual drive fluctuates during menopause.

We discuss how hormonal changes can impact libido, body confidence, and vaginal comfort, and why women shouldn’t suffer in silence. Lisa shares practical insights around vaginal dryness, pain, UTIs, and the benefits of localised vaginal estrogen, probiotics, and pelvic health check-ups, alongside the importance of honest communication with partners.

The conversation also expands beyond sex into sensuality and self-connection; exploring how touch, creativity, rest, scent, movement, and simple self-care rituals can help women reconnect with their bodies.

Don't forget, Lisa is offering a free 20 min consultation, you can find her contact details on her website!

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS:

1. [00:40] - Sex Drive and Intimacy Issues
2. [01:36] - Addressing Vaginal Dryness
3. [03:05] - Importance of Communication with Your Partner
4. [06:40] - Sensuality and Self-Care
5. [08:38] - Embracing Change and Self-Love

CONNECT WITH LISA:

1. Lisa's Website
2. Lisa's Instagram

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!

If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know your thoughts on Instagram @lovethisfoodthing and consider leaving an honest review and rating for the show - we’d be extremely grateful.

WAYS WE CAN HELP YOU:

1. 6 Things to Help You on Your Road to Recovery [Free Download]
2. The Guide You Need to Help You Recover and Live an Extraordinary Life!
3. Stay on Track with Your Recovery Journey, Start or Accelerate Further with Our Creative Recovery Accelerator™
4. Virtual 1:1 Mentorship with Jemma

Welcome back to our mini menopause series with nutritionist and health coach, Lisa G where we chat about some individual aspects of the menopause, or as we’re calling it ‘Four Short Dives from Two Short Divas’.

In this episode we chat about the impact of declining estrogen on neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and adrenaline, and how this affects mood and stress. Lisa explains the importance of nutrients such as Vitamin C, B vitamins, L-Theanine, and magnesium for supporting adrenal health and mental well-being.

We also discuss food sources like leafy greens, supplements suitable for various dietary needs, and emphasise the importance of self-care (hello, Epsom salt baths!), understanding body changes, and making small, sustainable dietary adjustments during menopause.

Don't forget, Lisa is offering a free 20 min consultation, you can find her contact details on her website!

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS:

• [00:55] - Food, Mood, and Menopause
• [01:43] - Understanding Neurotransmitters and Hormones
• [02:59] - Supporting Adrenal Health with Nutrients
• [04:36] - Magnesium and Its Benefits
• [07:56] - The Importance of Gut Health
• [09:33] - Small Sustainable Changes for Menopausal Health
• [10:17] - Adapting Exercise During Menopause

CONNECT WITH LISA:

• Lisa's Website
• Lisa's Instagram

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!

If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know your thoughts on Instagram @lovethisfoodthing and consider leaving an honest review and rating for the show - we’d be extremely grateful.

WAYS WE CAN HELP YOU:

• 6 Things to Help You on Your Road to Recovery [Free Download]
• The Guide You Need to Help You Recover and Live an Extraordinary Life!
• Stay on Track with Your Recovery Journey, Start or Accelerate Further with Our Creative Recovery Accelerator™
• Virtual 1:1 Mentorship with Jemma

Welcome back to our mini menopause series with nutritionist and health coach Lisa G, where we chat about some individual aspects of the menopause.

In episode three of our four-part menopause mini-series, Jemma is joined again by Lisa to talk about one topic that comes up again and again for women in midlife: protein.

If you’ve ever felt more fatigued, foggy, hungry, or noticed your body responding differently to food during perimenopause or menopause — this episode is for you. And if you have a complicated relationship with food, you’re especially not alone.

This conversation gently explores why protein matters so much during menopause, without rules, pressure, or perfection.

Don't forget, Lisa is offering a free 20 min consultation, you can find her contact details on her website!

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS:

1. [00:30] - The Importance of Protein During Menopause
2. [01:26] - Challenges and Solutions for Protein Intake
3. [05:59] - Protein Sources and Recommendations
4. [08:56] - Practical Protein-Rich Meal Ideas

CONNECT WITH LISA G:

1. Lisa's Website
2. Lisa's Instagram

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!

If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know your thoughts on Instagram @lovethisfoodthing and consider leaving an honest review and rating for the show - we’d be extremely grateful.

WAYS WE CAN HELP YOU:

1. 6 Things to Help You on Your Road to Recovery [Free Download]
2. The Guide You Need to Help You Recover and Live an Extraordinary Life!
3. Stay on Track with Your Recovery Journey, Start or Accelerate Further with Our Creative Recovery Accelerator™
4. Virtual 1:1 Mentorship with Jemma

Laura Casey is the Director of Services at the Lois Treatment Centre for Eating Disorders in Dublin.

Laura says: “For the person to realise WHY… always helps their recovery because although they can’t change what happened, they can know why this happened. And then what their triggers are, which gets them to a point where they’re more resilient because they’ve done the work.”

Laura is passionate about a multi pronged approach for eating disorder recovery.

In this episode, we talk about the healthcare system, accessing treatment and how the lack of resources impedes a successful recovery.

And so much more!

I loved my chat with Laura. She's a ray of sunshine.

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS:

• [01:21] - Laura's Personal Relationship with Food
• [02:14] - Raising the Next Generation
• [06:31] - The Importance of Enjoying Food
• [08:08] - Laura's Career in Mental Health
• [09:31] - Understanding Eating Disorders and Trauma
• [20:12] - Challenges in the Healthcare System
• [28:43] - Challenges with Medication and Eating Disorders
• [31:55] - The Complexity of Eating Disorders
• [35:39] - Wellness Recovery Action Plan
• [38:12] - Support and Self-Compassion Strategies

CONNECT WITH LAURA CASEY:

• Lois Bridges Eating Disorder Treatment Centre
• Check Out Lois Bridges’ Instagram
• Laura's LinkedIn

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!

If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know your thoughts on Instagram @lovethisfoodthing and consider leaving an honest review and rating for the show - we’d be extremely grateful.

WAYS WE CAN HELP YOU:

• 6 Things to Help You on Your Road to Recovery [Free Download]
• The Guide You Need to Help You Recover and Live an Extraordinary Life!
• Stay on Track with Your Recovery Journey, Start or Accelerate Further with Our Creative Recovery Accelerator™
• Virtual 1:1 Mentorship with Jemma

Welcome to our mini menopause series with nutritionist and health coach Lisa G where we chat about some individual aspects of the menopause.

Or as we’re calling it Four Short Dives from Two Short Divas.

First up: Body Image and Perimenopause.

We discuss the mind**** nature of our bodies changing, when there’s nothing you can do about it.

Hormonal fluctuations. Embracing the change. Ways to get in touch with your body. Seeing menopause as a wonderful opportunity for a new beginning.

And there’s an extra add on where Lisa asks me some personal questions!

Lisa is offering a free 20 min consultation, you can find her contact details on her website.

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS:

• [01:01] - Understanding Perimenopause and Weight Gain
• [03:58] - Body Image Challenges During Menopause
• [06:12] - Embracing the Menopausal Journey
• [07:25] - Top Tips for Connecting with Your Body
• [09:44] - Recognising Perimenopause Symptoms
• [11:05] - Personal Experiences and Advice
• [11:36] - Q&A: Relationship with Food and Menstrual Cycle

CONNECT WITH LISA:

• Lisa's Website
• Lisa's Instagram

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!

If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know your thoughts on Instagram @lovethisfoodthing and consider leaving an honest review and rating for the show - we’d be extremely grateful.

WAYS WE CAN HELP YOU:

• 6 Things to Help You on Your Road to Recovery [Free Download]
• The Guide You Need to Help You Recover and Live an Extraordinary Life!
• Stay on Track with Your Recovery Journey, Start or Accelerate Further with Our Creative Recovery Accelerator™
• Virtual 1:1 Mentorship with Jemma

“I found I wanted to stop time. If I could stay the same size as when my Mum was alive I could be closer to her. So I ended up restricting my food intake not because I wanted to be skinny but because I wanted to feel small and safe.”

Mallary developed anorexia after the loss of her Mum. Some misguided nutritional education at school helped fuel her symptoms and OCD; a time consuming jumping habit. Young Mallary was determined to be perfect.

Many years later when Mallary was teaching journalists how to write restorative narratives and include the forgotten “messy middle/ middle place” she had a lightbulb moment.

What if she explored her own “middle place?” Would this put the brakes on her quest for perfection and open the space up with her ongoing recovery? The answer can be found in Mallary’s book: SLIP: Life In The Middle Of Eating Disorder Recovery.

I recorded this podcast with Mallary the morning after the launch of her debut book SLIP: Life In The Middle of Eating Disorder Recovery.

What a pro!

I really enjoyed our chat. It was full of insightful and lived experience wisdom.

Mallary made me think about my own stuff, which is always a plus. Enjoy.

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS:

• 00:27 - Mallary's Book and Its Themes
• 01:42 - Mallary's Relationship with Food
• 02:22 - Struggles with Anorexia
• 02:50 - Impact of Mother's Death
• 04:02 - Complications of Eating Disorders
• 08:56 - Mallary's Teenage Years
• 11:07 - College Challenges and Binge Eating
• 18:47 - The Concept of the Middle Place
• 26:44 - Struggles and Progress in Recovery
• 32:29 - Mallory's Book, Slip
• 33:06 - Motherhood and Recovery Challenges
• 35:11 - Obsessive Behaviours Postpartum
• 36:38 - Research and Awareness on Eating Disorders

CONNECT WITH MALLARY TENORE TARPLEY:

• Connect with Mallary on Instagram
• Pick Up a Copy of Slip
• Mallary’s Website

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!

If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know your thoughts on Instagram @lovethisfoodthing and consider leaving an honest review and rating for the show - we’d be extremely grateful.

WAYS WE CAN HELP YOU:

• 6 Things to Help You on Your Road to Recovery [Free Download]
• The Guide You Need to Help You Recover and Live an Extraordinary Life!
• Stay on Track with Your Recovery Journey, Start or Accelerate Further with Our Creative Recovery Accelerator™
• Virtual 1:1 Mentorship with Jemma