The Appetite

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: pilecki@gmail.com   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