Behind The Bite

In this powerful episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with Toni Curtis, the founder of Birthwise, to explore the profound loneliness and frustration that comes with being dismissed by the medical establishment. After suffering the tragic loss of her brother to a medical error and facing nearly two decades of "unexplained" infertility and chronic health struggles, Toni refused to accept the verdict that her body was a problem to be solved. Together, they discuss the transition from viewing the body as a collection of clinical parts to understanding it as a whole system requiring patience, curiosity, and somatic care. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone who has ever felt "small" in a doctor’s office and is seeking a path toward reclaiming their autonomy and trusting their body’s inherent wisdom. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram @behind_the_bite_podcast Visit the website: www.behindthebitepodcast.com

In this powerful episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with Olivia Soha, the founder of Uncovery, to discuss the often-invisible line between "wellness culture" and a life-threatening eating disorder. Olivia shares her harrowing journey from an early childhood struggle with ARFID to a medical crisis in her twenties that resulted in a near-death experience and a spiritual vision that changed her life forever. They explore the dangerous way society praises disordered behaviors as "healthy discipline" and the vital role that recovery coaching plays in bridging the gap between clinical treatment and reclaiming a real, lived life. Whether you are struggling yourself or supporting a loved one, Olivia’s story offers a profound map of resilience and the unwavering hope that full recovery is truly possible. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram @behind_the_bite_podcast Visit the website: www.behindthebitepodcast.com

In this episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with Binge Eating Recovery Coach Stefanie Michele to discuss the alarming parallels between modern "wellness" food guidelines and eating disorder behaviors. They dismantle the fear-mongering around carbohydrates, the elitism of "clean eating," and the dangers of new inverted food pyramid trends that demonize essential macronutrients. Stefanie shares her personal 25-year battle with eating disorders and how she finally found recovery at age 40. Together, they explore the dangerous intersection of GLP-1 medications and restrictive diet culture, offering a compassionate perspective on why you might feel stressed about food and how to find your way back to balance. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram @behind_the_bite_podcast Visit the website: www.behindthebitepodcast.com

In this episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with Virginia Newman, known as "The Radical Dietitian," to expose the dangerous line between wellness culture and Orthorexia. They discuss how the pursuit of "clean eating" and dietary purity can spiral into a debilitating eating disorder that shrinks your life while masquerading as health. Virginia shares her personal journey from a back injury that triggered a food obsession to finding true freedom through Body Trust. Together, they dismantle the myths of anti-fatness, explore the brutality of recovery in a diet-obsessed world, and explain why your body was never the problem to be solved. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram @behind_the_bite_podcast Visit the website: www.behindthebitepodcast.com

If January feels heavy — not motivating, not inspiring, not like a fresh start — this episode is for you. In this solo episode, I explore why so many people are quietly opting out of New Year’s resolutions and resonating with the idea of a “Soft January.” Not because they don’t care about growth — but because years of trying to do things the “right” way have left them feeling like failures when those plans inevitably didn’t stick. We talk about how January pressure mirrors diet culture, perfectionism, and people-pleasing — especially for those who’ve spent years believing they weren’t disciplined or consistent enough. I unpack why the problem was never you, but the systems that set you up to internalize failure. This episode isn’t anti-goals or anti-change.It’s about separating growth from self-worth — and learning how “good enough” can be a powerful corrective experience. If you’ve ever walked away from a resolution, a reset, or a new start feeling like you were the failure, this episode is for you. SHOW NOTES: Click here Follow me on Instagram @behind_the_bite_podcast Visit the website: www.behindthebitepodcast.com