Tell us your story! “Thankfully, the story does not end there. I figured it out. And God's absolute, total grace and faithfulness showed me the way and led me to the right help. Kristin Fickes’ story is relatable, and her experience is a gift. She’s someone we're linking arms with at FINDINGbalance in this fight against eating disorders. It's a Kingdom campaign and we're on it together. In this conversation, we’re talking about how the entire family is impacted when someone is walking throug...
Tell us your story! Chrissy sits down with podcast growth strategist (and our incredible producer) Leah Bryant for an honest conversation about food freedom, body image, faith, and healing. Leah shares her story of growing up in 90s diet culture, the moment God began shifting how she saw herself, and why freedom in Christ isn’t achieved...it’s received. “Every yes, no matter how small, is a step toward freedom.” That is why we exist as an organization. That's why this podcast exists as...
Tell us your story! From a young age, many girls are exposed to body image issues and eating habits that may not be the most uplifting. Years go by, and that young girl shows her daughter the very same habits. But it is possible to break the cycles passed down from generation to generation with God’s love, grace, and support. Chantia Sturman, licensed therapist and founder of Darling, Arise (which you’ll hear more about), joins Chrissy to share how moms can build body confidence in daughters...
Tell us your story! “If you’re not intentionally giving your body the rest it needs, your body will rest when it's not convenient for you.” Wow! How much of a reality check is that? So once we recognize that drive to overexercise or avoid rest, what do we do about it? Registered Dietitian, Nicole Speeney, has walked this path both personally and professionally. In this episode, Nicole shares with us the behavioral, physiological, and emotional signs that can indicate excessive exercise, as...
Tell us your story! Clutter is about so much more than just the stuff piled in corners and stuffed into closets. You may even read that and not want to listen, but the Lord put this message in your path for a reason. There are quite a few similarities between body image, eating disorders, and a cluttered home. But the truth is that your body is a good body. It’s honorable and worthy of respect. And so is your home. In this episode with professional organizer, Susan Stewart, we discuss the me...
Tell us your story! The word “somatic” has been making its rounds on the internet in recent years. But what does it actually mean? And is there a way to incorporate somatic-based treatment ideas into a Christ-centered eating disorder recovery plan? This conversation was inspired by a listener who reached out to ask if we’d have Tracy back on the show. (We love hearing from you! If you have thoughts or questions for us while you’re listening, use the one-way text button above to share w...
Tell us your story! What if you could recognize the parts of yourself that hold you back, and finally live fully loved? In this follow-up conversation, Chrissy and licensed professional counselor Travis Stewart discuss the Three Chairs Framework. You’ll learn how to identify and work with your Child Self, False Self, and Wise Self, process emotions with grace, and begin moving toward freedom from shame and people-pleasing through Christ. If you haven't yet listened to Part 1 of this conversa...
Tell us your story! What if you had a way not only to understand but transform behaviors and habits you’re tired of struggling with? Because the truth is… You do have the freedom and the God-given right to live a full and happy life! This episode marks the start of Season 7 of The Old School Food Freedom Podcast! In the first part of a two-part conversation, listener favorite, Travis Stewart, a licensed professional counselor, returns to guide us through an easy way to understand ours...
Tell us your story! All or nothing thinking doesn’t just show up with food struggles and body image issues—it also shows up in our relationship with social media. The last time Allie Marie Smith was on the podcast, she invited Chrissy to try a social media reset. What started as a few days, has stretched out to months. “That experience reshaped my connection with Jesus, with myself, and the people around me!” -Chrissy In this episode, you’ll discover how to recognize if you’re possibly exper...
Tell us your story! The enemy is so sneaky with how he uses the pressures of diet culture and goal setting. But what if you were to learn that there’s a way to take back this territory the enemy has held hostage from you—things like food, movement, and gentle nutrition? Amia Freeman found Christ through fitness, and today she’s sharing how God helped her reclaim this territory in this throwback episode! With Amia, you’ll discover how God can support you in goal setting, how competition...
Tell us your story! We’ve all heard the term in the Bible, but what exactly is a “yoke?” As it turns out, there are a few meanings for the word. And the concept ties in beautifully with attachment styles (or attachment theory). In today’s episode, Ruth Harper—a Registered Dietitian and longtime friend of FINDINGbalance—shares more on the subject. You’ll learn what attachment theory is all about, how a healthy attachment style with God helps soothe food and body image struggles, and steps to ...
Tell us your story! What if your “healthy habits” are actually causing harm? God created us with such attention to detail! But sometimes… we seek control amidst the chaos of life and cause confusion to this delicate inner world He’s created. This is especially true in the case of Hypothalamic Amenorrhea(HA). Today’s guest, Ashley Smith of The HA Society, has firsthand experience with. From missing periods and infertility to brain fog and hair loss, the signs and symptoms of HA are often mist...
Tell us your story! It can be difficult to find treatment that fully integrates faith in Christ—especially in-person care. That’s why we’re excited to share this conversation with Amie Shields, founder of Charis Eating Disorder Care, a Christ-centered nonprofit treatment center in Florida. In this episode, Amie shares her powerful story of moving from bondage to breakthrough, the heart and mission behind Charis Eating Disorder Care, what Christian recovery can look like, and how to find help...
Tell us your story! Every moment on social media matters. It shapes who we are and the women we will become. But even hearing that, it still feels impossible to break the habit of reaching for the phone to see what your friend has been up to, or what the latest trending Reel is, or even using these apps for work. So… what are you to do? Allie Marie Smith joins Chrissy to talk about this very thing! Her new book is called Social Media Reset. In this episode, you’ll hear messages she shares in...
Tell us your story! The voice of the enemy is loud and persuasive—and sometimes easier to hear than God’s tender, loving messages. Satan is sneaky with the agreements he lures us into. Once we realize the weight of all those lies we’ve believed, it can feel like a hopeless situation we can’t untangle from. But nothing could be further from the truth! Jordan and Marie Foote are back to help us understand how spiritual roots connect to agreements and how identifying and breaking those agreemen...
Tell us your story! Chrissy frequently references the concept of negative spiritual roots, but we've never spent an entire episode digging in to understanding how deep-seated emotions, beliefs, and experiences fuel harmful behaviors and perspectives. Often rooted in past hurts, trauma, or unaddressed sin, spiritual roots can hinder growth and distance us from God. Instead of avoiding the issue once it’s exposed, the Lord wants us to turn toward Him in our time of need. Today, Jor...
Tell us your story! No matter which generation you were born into, there are lessons we’d each love to go back and share with our teenage selves. While we can't change the past, we can certainly grow in the present with God's grace. Certified personal trainer, nutrition coach, and author Amy Connell joins Chrissy for this in-depth conversation. In this episode, Amy shares her top 5 lessons she has for her teenage self, staggering statistics about young women and body image, and one thing she...
Tell us your story! Let’s say you find yourself scrolling for hours on social media. And when you’re able to pull yourself away, you go into intense shame mode. Is there possibly something more gentle and helpful that could be done in those moments? The answer is yes! God is there, and He’s waiting for us to turn to Him. Kirsten Schmidt returns to the podcast to discuss what information pollution is, how the enemy uses it to keep us stuck, how it prevents root-cause solutions, wh...
Tell us your story! The role of supporter is delicate and demanding—even more so when you’re trying to figure out how to support your significant other through an eating disorder. You question if you’re actually seeing disordered eating behaviors, how to get help, what help to get, and the weight of trying to manage a romantic relationship, to name a few. But hope and help is available! Amy Ozier is back for a conversation with Chrissy around the unique challenges of navigating an eati...
Tell us your story! Chrissy met Amy Ozier a year ago—and here they are now for a hope-filled discussion of helping a loved one through an eating disorder. It’s much harder than most people would know, and something no one is really ever ready for. But there are resources, support groups, and, of course, the Lord. The desire for this episode is to help anyone who is supporting someone they love through their journey to freedom from an eating disorder. That could include parents navigati...