logo
episode-header-image
May 2020
1h 16m

#239: Pandemic Stress and Your Relations...

Christy Harrison, MPH, RD, CEDS
About this episode

Fat-positive sex and relationship coach and fellow podcast host Dawn Serra returns to the podcast to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting our relationships with food and highlighting existing social injustices, how diet culture robs us of our ability to embody pleasure, desirability politics and its links to diet culture and oppressive beauty standards, navigating romantic relationships while in recovery, and so much more. Plus, Christy answers a listener question about how to tell whether your eating and exercise are intuitive or compulsive amid COVID-19 stress.

Dawn Serra has dedicated her life to unraveling the cultural stories that impact our relationship to our pleasure, our bodies, and our lives. Dawn is considered a leader in the field of sexuality and relationships, with a focus in pleasure for people recovering from eating disorders and those in fat bodies. She is a therapeutic sex & relationship coach, a Certified Body Trust® Provider, speaker, podcaster, facilitator, consultant, and entrepreneur.

Host of the weekly feminist podcast, Sex Gets Real, and creator of the free annual online conference, Explore More Summit, Dawn has interviewed dozens of thought leaders from around the world.

As a white, cis, middle class, queer, fat, survivor, Dawn's work is a fiercely compassionate invitation for each of us to deepen our relationships with our bodies and our pleasure as an antidote to the trauma, disconnection, and isolation so many of us feel. Your pleasure matters. Your body is wise. Dawn's work is all about creating spaces and places for you to explore what that means on your terms. Find her online at DawnSerra.com.

This episode is brought to you by Betterhelp online counseling. Go to betterhelp.com/christy for a 7-day free trial to connect with a great therapist from the comfort and safety of home.

Christy's new book, Anti-Diet, is available wherever you get your books! Order online at christyharrison.com/book, or at local bookstores across North America, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.

Grab Christy's free guide, 7 simple strategies for finding peace and freedom with food, to get started on the anti-diet path.

If you're ready to break free from diet culture once and for all, come check out Christy's Intuitive Eating Fundamentals online course.

Ask your own question about intuitive eating, Health at Every Size, or eating disorder recovery at christyharrison.com/questions.

For full show notes and a transcript of this episode, go to christyharrison.com/foodpsych.

Up next
Jun 26
#336: Dispelling Diet-Culture Myths About Blood Sugar and Diabetes with Wendy Lopez and Jessica Jones
Registered dietitians and diabetes educators Jessica Jones and Wendy Lopez join us to discuss why weight loss isn’t necessary for managing blood sugar, why the popular wellness-culture notion of diabetes “remission” or “reversal” can be harmful, how the popularity of Ozempic and ... Show More
41m 17s
May 22
#335: GLP-1 Hype, Handling Haters, and Dating in a Larger Body with Virginia Sole-Smith
Journalist Virginia Sole-Smith joins us to discuss how GLP-1 hype has changed the conversation about diet culture, the importance of body autonomy, how “bro” diet culture became public policy, how she handles haters, the “fed is best” approach to parenting, and lots more. Behind ... Show More
39m 5s
Apr 24
#334: “Adrenal Fatigue” + Anti-Inflammatory Diets + Eating-Disorder Recovery with Oona Hanson
Parent coach Oona Hanson joins us to discuss how going to a physical therapist for back pain led her down a wellness-culture rabbit hole, why dietary restrictions to “fight inflammation” just ended up harming her relationship with food and her body, how she got the dubious diagno ... Show More
43m 23s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2023
Maintaining a Healthy Relationship with Food After the Honeymoon Phase of Intuitive Eating with past client Kerry
In this week’s episode, Bonnie is joined by past client Kerry, who joined group coaching almost 3 years ago in 2021.   In today’s episode Bonnie & Kerry will discuss:  Maintaining a healthy relationship with food What food freedom looks like years after taking your first steps  W ... Show More
36m 36s
Mar 2024
27. When diet culture destroyed my relationship to exercise: Reclaiming joyful movement
Unravel the tangled relationship between exercise and diet culture so you can reclaim a joyful relationship to exercise once again. If you're yearning to rediscover movement that truly feels good, this episode is your compass to navigating the complexities of post-diet cultu ... Show More
26m 44s
Aug 2023
Unlearning Mixed Messages Around Food and How Diet Culture Looks in the Latina Community with Zariel Grullon
In this week’s episode, Bonnie is joined by non-diet dietitian, Zariel Grullon. In today’s episode Bonnie & Zari will discuss:  Zariel’s personal story of healing their relationship with food & body Unlearning mixed messages about food & body from upbringing Clean Plate Club ment ... Show More
34m 6s
Apr 2017
91: Food, Sex and You
Stacey Gorlicky is a registered Psychotherapist and author of the book "Food, Sex and You". She was also the former host of a live call in show "Mind Matters". Her areas of specialization are addiction, trauma, anxiety and depression. As an Addictions Counselor, Stacey studied at ... Show More
48m 8s
Jul 2023
Improving Your Body Image and Breaking Free From Diet Culture in Your 40s with Past Client Haylee
In this week’s episode, Bonnie is joined by past client, Haylee. In today’s episode Bonnie & Haylee will discuss:  Improving body image  Breaking free of diet culture in your 40s Becoming an intuitive eater while managing an existing medical condition Dangers of wellness culture  ... Show More
41m 15s
Aug 2023
How Movement Can Help You Heal Your Food Relationship with Barb Puzanovova
Apply to group coaching! Leave shame, loneliness, and isolation behind and heal your relationship with food in a group setting. This program was created to transform your mindset around food and dieting, improve your body image, and teach you health-promoting nutritional habits. ... Show More
43m 42s
Mar 2024
Eating Disorder Awareness Week: How Disordered Eating Is Normalized In Diet Culture
Hey Rebel! Last week was an important week: Eating Disorder Awareness Week! Today I wanted to share some eating disorder statistics with you to shed light on the frequency and seriousness of these life-altering conditions.  Throughout this episode we will explore:  The role dieti ... Show More
26m 28s
Jun 2024
37. Breaking down myths- Anti-diet doesnt equal anti-weight loss with Krista Muench, RD, CIEC
Anti-diet does not mean anti-weight loss.  In this episode, Beth talks to colleague, Krista Muench about this common misconception and they dismantle the myths surrounding dieting and weight loss. They dive deep into discussions about the misconceptions that link intuitive eating ... Show More
39m 48s
Dec 2023
1067: "Rethinking Health Habits: From Diet Culture to Emotional Wellness" {Interview with Jenn Trepeck}
“Guilt has no place when it comes to eating." - Evelyn Tribole In this episode, Jenn shares her perspective and highlights: Creating a framework that supports your energy, sleep, stress, and activity levels while still enjoying the foods you love Understanding the emotional side ... Show More
37m 6s
Mar 2024
Emotional Eating and Changing Your Relationship with Food with Dr. Jud Brewer
There are as many ways to have a difficult relationship with food as there are ways to eat. It’s hard to get conversations about these challenges right, but today we’re taking the plunge and exploring the habit of eating when we’re not hungry with psychiatrist Dr. Jud Brewer. Dr. ... Show More
1h 21m