If you’ve ever felt “out of control” around food—whether it’s binge eating and/ or constantly feeling guilty when you eat—this episode will help you release any residual shame you might be carrying. Mary sits down with therapist + nutritionist Ryann Nicole to unpack why binge eating recovery is less about food and more about how we relate to it.

You will learn...

- a mantra for releasing food guilt

- why binge eating is not really about the food itself

- how to handle fear foods

- how to recover from disordered eating if you’re living with someone else and their foods can potentially trigger you

You’ll also walk away with hope and encouragement for wherever you are in your eating disorder recovery journey.

Ryann Nicole is a licensed therapist, certified nutritionist, and recovered binge eater. She’s known for revolutionizing how people heal their relationship with food—not with more rules or rigidity, but with simplicity, self-trust, and a massive perspective shift. Her signature mantra, “You don’t have to make it mean so much,” has become a lifeline for those learning to let go of shame, release perfectionism, and get back into living their life. Using her binge eating recovery story as the heart of her message and her clinical expertise as the backbone of her work, Ryann brings a refreshing, relatable voice to the wellness space, here to redefine what it means to live a healthy and fulfilling life.

Follow Ryann on Instagram: @itsryannnicole

Check out Ryann’s courses and programs for binge eating recovery: https://itsryannnicole.com/coaching

And if you enjoyed this episode, screenshot it and share it on social media! Make sure to tag @maryspodcast and @itsryannnicole

Mentioned In This Episode...

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

Video of Ryann’s toddler walking

If you want to stop binge eating or recover from bulimia, then we must address the deeper emotional roots of disordered eating. Mary sits down for a Part 2 with eating disorder psychologist, Dr. Anita Johnston, author of Eating in the Light of the Moon. In Part 1, we talked about the spiritual side of eating disorder recovery. Now in part 2, we zoom into the emotional layer beneath bulimia and binge eating.

Dr. Johnston sheds light on the deeper emotional roots of disordered eating, especially the often-overlooked role of repressed anger and how learning to process it can be the key to lasting recovery.

You will learn about...
- common personality traits of those who struggle with disordered eating
- the role of ANGER in eating disorder recovery
- the ONE skill you need to effectively process anger
- how storytelling and metaphors can help us heal from an eating disorder
- how to address emotional patterns that lie beneath bulimia and binge eating

Dr. Johnston also shares how her very first psychology professor—THE Viktor Frankl, the author of Man’s Search for Meaning—inspired her approach to eating disorder recovery.

Remember: Eating disorders are not about food. So to recover, we must explore the deeper layers of our struggle.

Get Dr. Anita’s free Food Metaphor Guide here.

Anita Johnston, Ph.D., is a Depth Psychologist, Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, and author of Eating in the Light of the Moon: How Women Can Transform Their Relationships with Food Through Myth, Metaphor, and Storytelling, which has been published in seven languages. A pioneer in the field, Dr. Johnston has been treating eating difficulties and body image distress for over 35 years. She has developed eating disorder programs nationally and internationally and currently serves as Founder & Executive Director of ‘Ai Pono Hawaii Eating Disorders Programs which has a Residential Program in Maui. She is the co-creator of the Light of the Moon Café, an online resource with interactive and self- study courses for women around the world.

As a recognized international workshop presenter, Dr. Johnston lectures globally to professional organizations, conferences, universities, medical institutions, and the community at large and provides virtual consultations. She is best known for integrating metaphor and storytelling into her training as a clinical psychologist to explain the complex issues that underlie disordered eating behavior and other struggles with eating and body image. You can find Dr. Anita at https://dranitajohnston.com/ and follow Dr. Anita on Instagram: @dranitajohnston

This episode is my honest reflection on a breakup that happened 7 years ago—long before I met my husband. It was a relationship that was equal parts toxic and transformative for my self-love journey. It ended up breaking my heart and somehow healing it, too. I’ve shared bits and pieces over the years, but today I’m telling you my full breakup story—not just for the sake of storytelling, but to offer you insights into what healing really looks like, especially after a hard breakup. Tune in for a vulnerable chat + breakup advice.

You will learn how to...
- reclaim your identity after a toxic or codependent relationship
- navigate the grey areas in relationships: where healing and hurt coexist
- find strength in letting go of relationships that no longer serve you
- embrace self-love through the pain of a breakup

Remember: Healing is not about erasing the past—it’s about choosing how to carry it forward.

And—hint hint—this episode gives you a big clue about the location of my next self-love retreat… Join the retreat priority list to get early access to all the details!

Follow Mary on IG: @maryscupofteaa and @maryspodcast

Mentioned In This Episode...
Martha Beck on The Mel Robbins Podcast

Let’s talk about how to help kids build a healthy relationship with food and their bodies. Whether they’re your own kids or perhaps your siblings/ nieces/ nephews/ students, then I’m sure you want to create a body positive environment for them. Psychotherapist Zoë Bisbing, MSW, LCSW is here to teach you HOW.

You will learn...
- what to say if a child asks, “Am I fat?”
- how to approach conversations about healthy eating and weight loss in developmentally-appropriated ways
- what if your kid has a real health condition? how should parents approach their child’s food and weight then?
- what to say to stop family members from commenting on your child’s weight

Remember: building a body positive home starts with your own mindset first. As a parent, it’s important to heal your own beliefs about food, fat, weight, and health.

Zoë Bisbing, MSW, LCSW is a licensed eating disorders therapist as well as a wonderful content creator. Zoë holds a Master of Social Work from New York University, a Bachelor of Arts from Smith College, and a certification in Family-Based Treatment from the Institute for Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders. She is the director of Body-Positive Therapy NYC and Body-Positive Home (formerly The Full Bloom Project), an educational resource offering workshops and body image workouts for the whole family. She loves teaching parents and professionals how to creatively build spaces where children of all ages, sizes, and gender expressions can naturally boost immunity to our appearance-obsessed culture and decrease risk for disordered eating and body image injury.

Follow Zoë on Instagram: @mybodypositivehome
Subscribe to her Substack for more body positive parenting advice.

If you enjoyed this episode, screenshot it and share it on social media! Make sure to tag @maryspodcast and @mybodypositivehome

Four years ago, The Gift of Self-Love was officially published—a journey that started with a little ebook and the sweetest surprise from someone who believed in me. In this episode, I’m sharing the full-circle story of how this book came to be, plus two big life lessons on support and long-term growth.

And as a special treat, you’ll get to hear the first part of the audiobook! If it resonates, consider getting your own copy—because self-love is a gift that keeps on giving.

The Gift of Self-Love: a workbook that will help you build confidence, recognize your worth, and learn to finally love yourself

Follow Mary on IG: @maryscupofteaa and @maryspodcast

A special in-person conversation with Victoria Hutchins, a beloved poet, yoga teacher, and now author. CW: eating disorders and brief allusion to suicidal feelings.

Victoria and Mary talk about…
- A Little Life, a novel by Hanya Yanagihara - privilege, hustle culture, and mental health
- mutual struggles with bulimia
- thoughts on weight loss, Ozempic, and bariatric surgery
- how nuance is disappearing from our culture
- how to hold onto hope and harness joy

Remember: make believe… make yourself believe in whatever makes you happy and hopefully, at the very least, believe in yourself.

Victoria Hutchins, known as @thedailyvictorian on social media, is a beloved poet and yoga teacher with an online community of over 1.5 million followers. Prior to her current career, Victoria was an attorney at one of the largest law firms in the world and then at a publicly traded tech company. She holds a bachelor of arts from Columbia University and a juris doctorate from Vanderbilt University. Victoria is always seeking beauty, hope, and truth in the mess of life. Her debut poetry book, Make Believe, is an invitation for readers to join her in the search featuring nostalgic prose on returning to childlike joy, reconnecting with your body, and reclaiming a sense of optimism.

Follow Victoria on Instagram: @thedailyvictorian
Get Victoria’s new poetry book, Make Believe
Listen to Victoria’s podcast, Soul Gum.

And if you enjoyed this episode, screenshot it and share it on social media! Make sure to tag @maryscupofteaa and @thedailyvictorian

Mentioned In This Episode...
A Little Life, a novel by Hanya Yanagihara

This episode is for my ED warriors. Let’s reflect on lessons learned in eating disorder recovery and how this journey is a gateway to spiritual awakenings and deeper self-awareness.

You will learn...
- Mary’s favorite mantras for getting through recovery and any hard times
- Why chasing happiness is futile (and what to do instead)
- How to stop beating yourself up and practice self-compassion

Remember: This too, shall pass. Both the bad and the good.

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends to spread the gift of self-love!

Deepen your self-love journey with Mary’s books:
1. The Gift of Self-Love, an interactive workbook that will help you build confidence, recognize your worth, and learn to finally love yourself.
2. 100 Days of Self-Love, a guided journal with 100 prompts to help you calm self-criticism and learn to love who you are.

Follow Mary on IG: @maryscupofteaa and @maryspodcast

Mentioned In This Episode...
Ep. #2: How to Fall in Love with Yourself

Have you ever looked back at an old photo or memory and suddenly felt a pang of jealousy for your past self? Maybe you used to be more motivated, more social, more confident—or at least, that’s the story your brain is telling you. In this episode, we’re unpacking why we romanticize the past and compare ourselves to who we used to be.

You will learn...
- the different ways we compare our current selves to our past selves
- the psychological reason behind this self-comparison
- how sociocultural conditioning promotes competition and comparison
- how to stop comparing yourself and embrace who you are now

Remember: Your past self isn’t better than you—she’s just different. She has wisdom to offer you, just as you have wisdom to offer her. Allow all parts of yourself to sit at the table.

Mentioned In This Episode...
TED Talk: The Riddle of Experience vs. Memory by Daniel Kahneman
The Myth of Meritocracy Runs Deep in American History
TED Talk: How to talk to the worst parts of yourself by Karen Faith
Movie Recommendation: Midnight in Paris

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends to spread the gift of self-love!
Follow Mary on IG: @maryscupofteaa and @maryspodcast

Deepen your self-love journey with Mary’s books:
1. The Gift of Self-Love, an interactive workbook that will help you build confidence, recognize your worth, and learn to finally love yourself.
2. 100 Days of Self-Love, a guided journal with 100 prompts to help you calm self-criticism and learn to love who you are.