The Full of Beans Podcast

Hannah Hickinbotham
  • 5.0 (6)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Full of Beans Podcast: Sharing the Unheard Voices in Eating Disorders Eating disorders are complex, often misunderstood, and wrapped in layers of stigma. That’s why Full of Beans is here - to open up the conversation and foster understanding through real, raw, and research-backed discussions. Hosted by Han, founder of Full of Beans and passionate mental health advocate, this podcast explores eating disorders through the lens of lived experience, clinical expertise, and the latest research. Each week, Han sits down with guests, including individuals with firsthand experiences, clinicians, researchers, and charities, who all share one goal: to raise awareness, challenge misconceptions, and support those affected by eating disorders. With a mix of heartfelt stories and professional insights, Full of Beans is a space for education, advocacy, and connection. Whether you're navigating your own eating disorder journey, supporting a loved one, or working in the mental health field, this podcast is here to provide knowledge, compassion, and hope. Join us in creating a community where eating disorders are understood, and no one feels alone in their struggles. (Please note: This podcast is for awareness and education purposes and is not a substitute for professional therapeutic support.)

  1. Supporting Girls in a Pressured World with Body Image, Puberty & Social Media with Dr Charlotte Markey

    2D AGO

    Supporting Girls in a Pressured World with Body Image, Puberty & Social Media with Dr Charlotte Markey

    Today I’m joined by Dr Charlotte Markey, Professor of Psychology at Rutgers University and a world-leading expert in body image research with over 25 years of research into body image and eating behaviours. Girls today are facing growing pressures around appearance, and with the rise of social media and the lasting impact of the pandemic, it’s becoming even harder for young people to feel confident and comfortable in their bodies. Charlotte’s updated book, The Body Image Book for Girls, is designed for ages 9–15 and gives practical, evidence-based tools to help girls understand puberty, navigate social media, challenge body image myths, and build a healthier relationship with their bodies. If you’re a parent, teacher, clinician, or someone who cares about the pressures young people are growing up with today, this conversation is for you. Key Takeaways: Why Charlotte released an updated edition, and what’s changed in recent yearsHow shame keeps body image struggles hidden, and why open conversations matterThe different body pressures facing girls and boys todayWhy body image concerns often linger, even in eating disorder recoverySocial media as a risk factor and how to make your feed saferWhy puberty can be a particularly vulnerable time for girls’ body imageHow parents and educators can respond: validate first, ask questions, and seek support earlyTimestamps: 00:00: Introduction and Charlotte’s background03:40: Why the book exists and the importance of early support12:20: Clinical insights: body image and eating disorder recovery21:35: Social media, algorithms, and taking breaks30:10: Puberty and body changes38:35: Supporting young people: what adults can doResources & Links The Body Image Book series: TheBodyImageBook.comConnect with Us: Subscribe to the Full of Beans PodcastFollow Full of Beans on InstagramCheck out our websiteListen on YouTube⚠️ Content Note: This episode includes discussion of body dissatisfaction, eating disorders, weight and appearance pressures, puberty, and social media. Please take care when listening. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share to help us spread awareness. Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛

    45 min
  2. Turning Hope Into Action Through Community and Collaboration with Vanessa Longley

    2D AGO

    Turning Hope Into Action Through Community and Collaboration with Vanessa Longley

    In this week's episode of Full of Beans, Han is joined by Vanessa Longley, CEO of BEAT, the UK’s eating disorder charity. Vanessa is also a mum to a 21-year-old who is in recovery, and she brings a deeply compassionate perspective on what it’s really like to support someone you love through an eating disorder. This conversation was recorded during Eating Disorder Awareness Week, where the theme is community, and it really sits at the heart of this conversation. From the fear carers often carry in silence, to the power of ordinary conversations and shared moments, Vanessa shares what helps people keep going through the hardest days. If you’re supporting someone with an eating disorder and feeling overwhelmed… if you’re in recovery and rebuilding trust with the people around you… or if you care about improving eating disorder support and services, this episode is for you. Key Takeaways: Why community can be a powerful protective factor in recoveryWhat carers often carry behind the scenes, and why they need support tooThe instinct to “rescue” and how to support without letting fear leadWhy you don’t need to be an expert in food, you need to be yourself The importance of ordinary conversations and shared interestsHow modelling a future, a life beyond the illness, supports recoveryWhy collaboration between charities, clinicians, researchers and lived experience mattersHow BEAT supports people with eating disorders and those who care about themVanessa’s message: recovery is possible, and asking for help is the first stepTimestamps: 00:00: Introduction and Vanessa’s role at BEAT04:30: Vanessa’s personal journey and experience as a parent10:30: Supporting carers and managing fear19:30: The role of community and finding support26:00: Supporting someone day-to-day and staying connected32:00: Collaboration, research, and improving services44:00: BEAT resources and where to get helpResources & Links Visit Beat's Website to find information, phone, webchat, and email support and the helpfinder for eating disorder support in your local areaConnect with Us: Subscribe to the Full of Beans PodcastFollow Full of Beans on InstagramCheck out our websiteListen on YouTube⚠️ Trigger Warning: Mentions of eating disorders, relapse, inpatient care, food restriction, carer stress/anxiety, and mortality risk. Please take care when listening. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help us spread awareness. Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛

    50 min
  3. The GLP-1 Conversation: Why Nuance and Psychological Support Matter with Dr Courtney Raspin

    FEB 16

    The GLP-1 Conversation: Why Nuance and Psychological Support Matter with Dr Courtney Raspin

    Today I'm joined by Dr Courtney Raspin, a Chartered Counselling Psychologist and Clinical Director of Altum Health, a specialist eating disorders and mental health clinic in London. Courtney has over 25 years of clinical experience, including a decade in one of the NHS's largest eating disorder services. She's just co-authored a book called The Weight Loss Prescription with psychiatrist Dr Max Pemberton (available 26th Feb!) - a book about the psychology of GLP-1 weight loss medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro. Given her background in eating disorders, Courtney has a nuanced perspective on weight loss medications, which I think is really important to hear. If you’re in eating disorder recovery and feeling unsettled by the rise of GLP-1 medications… if you’ve noticed feelings of jealousy, confusion or fear around them… or if you’re trying to understand where health support ends and diet culture begins, this conversation is for you. Key Takeaways: How Courtney’s work in eating disorders shaped her approach to weight managementThe warning signs of high drive for thinnessWhy weight loss doesn’t automatically improve body imageThe difference between body neutrality and body positivityWhy GLP-1 medications aren’t inherently harmfulThe risks of unregulated access, online prescribing, and counterfeit medicationThe various causes of “food noise” and why GLP-1 medications may helpWhat psychological support in weight management actually involvesCourtney’s guidance on GLP-1s and eating disorder recoveryTimestamps: 00:00 Courtney’s journey into weight management05:00 Body neutrality and realistic body image work08:30 Understanding GLP-1s: benefits, risks and misconceptions12:00 Food noise and why context matters16:00 The psychological work behind lasting change21:00 Health vs the thin ideal27:00 Tensions within the ED field and professional responses31:30 What to consider before starting GLP-1s34:30 Courtney’s book and final adviceResources & Links Follow @drcourtneyraspin on InstagramConnect with Us: Subscribe to the Full of Beans PodcastFollow Full of Beans on InstagramCheck out our websiteListen on YouTube⚠️ Trigger Warning: Mentions of eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, binge eating), restriction, weight loss, GLP-1 medications, and body image. Please take care when listening. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help us spread awareness. Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛

    39 min
  4. A Mother’s Story of Navigating Sensory Sensitivities, ARFID and Family Life with Jo Read

    FEB 9

    A Mother’s Story of Navigating Sensory Sensitivities, ARFID and Family Life with Jo Read

    In this episode of Full of Beans, Han is joined by Jo Read, a mum to two daughters, ARFID advocate and 1/3 of 3 Mums 1 Mission ARFID. Jo's youngest daughter, Ethel, is diagnosed with ARFID and is awaiting an autism assessment. Since supporting Ethel through her sensory-based eating difficulties, Jo has poured her energy into raising awareness, because when you’re living it, ARFID can feel unbelievably isolating. If you’re a parent or carer navigating food fears, sensory sensitivities, “helpful” comments that aren’t helpful, and the constant planning that comes with ARFID, this one is for you. You’re not doing it wrong. You’re responding to a very real, very complex need. Key Takeaways: The reality of ARFID as a genuine fear that can override hungerSensory sensitivities (texture, smell, predictability) are at the core of ARFIDWhy consistency and familiarity make certain foods feel saferThe limits of BMI as a marker of health in children with arfidHow sensory overload at mealtimes can increase food avoidanceThe impact of ARFID on family life, routines, siblings and social plansWhy “just stop feeding them” advice doesn’t work for ARFIDThe value of community, advocacy and finding people who understandHow progress in ARID can look small but still be meaningfulTimestamps: 00:00 Jo’s story and Ethel’s ARFID diagnosis02:20 Early Signs of ARFID 05:30 BMI and Nutrition10:50 Safe foods, Predictability and Super Senses 14:10 The Sensory Overload of Eating 17:00 Family Impact: Days Out, Siblilngs, Friends20:20 Social Judgement and Support29:00 Looking Ahead and Slow ProgressResources & Links Follow @eff_and_arfid on InstagramListen to the 3Mums1Mission ARFID PodcastConnect with Us: Subscribe to the Full of Beans PodcastFollow Full of Beans on InstagramCheck out our websiteListen on YouTube⚠️ Trigger Warning: Mentions of eating disorders, ARFID. Please take care when listening. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help us spread awareness. Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛

    37 min
  5. A Mother’s Story of Navigating ARFID, Anxiety and Autism with Sarah Woodruff

    FEB 2

    A Mother’s Story of Navigating ARFID, Anxiety and Autism with Sarah Woodruff

    In this episode of Full of Beans, Hannah is joined by Sarah Woodruff, mum to Grace and 1/3 of the podcast 3Mums1MissionARFID. Sarah co-created the podcast after feeling deeply isolated navigating her daughter’s eating difficulties, wanting to create a space where parents could hear stories that reflected their own and feel less alone. In this conversation, Sarah shares Grace’s journey in more depth, including the years of uncertainty, dismissal, escalation, and the ongoing reality of supporting a child with ARFID and autism. This episode is for parents, carers, and SEN professionals who are feeling unheard or wondering whether they’re “overreacting.” It offers reassurance that you’re not imagining it, permission to trust your instincts, and comfort in knowing that others have walked a similar path. Above all, it’s a reminder that ARFID is complex, individual, and never a result of bad parenting. Key takeaways: What ARFID can look like beyond early childhoodWhy the term “late-onset ARFID” deserves questioning.How autism, sensory overwhelm and anxiety can affect eatingWhy emetophobia (fear of vomiting) can make eating feel genuinely unsafeHow school stress and transitions can exacerbate ARFID in childrenHow ARFID differs from “fussy eating” How food avoidance can lead to weight loss, distress, or social isolationHow lowering pressure around food can support ARFID recoveryThe power of parental intuition, even when professionals dismiss concernsTimestamps: 02:50 Grace’s early eating and when things began to change07:40 Anxiety, school stress, and the escalation of food restriction10:10 ARFID, emetophobia, and reaching crisis point13:30 Hospital care, NG tube feeding, and diagnosis22:50 Autism, masking, and questioning “late-onset” ARFID29:00 What helped: reducing pressure and rebuilding safety36:20 A message for parents who are questioning themselvesResources & Links Listen to the 3Mums1Mission ARFID PodcastConnect with Us: Subscribe to the Full of Beans PodcastFollow Full of Beans on InstagramCheck out our websiteListen on YouTube⚠️ Trigger Warning: Mentions of eating disorders, ARFID, NG tube feeding. Please take care when listening. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help us spread awareness. Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛

    44 min
  6. A Mother’s Story of Navigating ARFID, Choking Fears and PEG Feeding with Michelle Jacques

    JAN 26

    A Mother’s Story of Navigating ARFID, Choking Fears and PEG Feeding with Michelle Jacques

    In this week's episode, Han is joined by Michelle Jacques. Michelle is a devoted mum of two who has lived with ARFID since her son started weaning. Through her own experience of supporting her son with ARFID, she has become a passionate advocate, working tirelessly to raise awareness and support others navigating life with this complex food intake disorder. She is the founder of @arfid_life_uk, where she raises awareness of ARFID by sharing her family's experience. This episode holds space for the grief, the guilt, the fight, and also the hope, including the unexpected shift Michelle has seen as her son’s body becomes nourished again. This week, we discuss: What ARFID can look like and how it can go beyond “picky eating.”How sensory differences, autistic eating, and ARFID can overlapHow illness can trigger choking fears and a trauma response that reinforces food avoidanceWhat it’s like when a child’s intake drops to just a couple of “safe” itemsWhat a PEG (gastrostomy tube) is and how PEG feeding can support ARFIDThe emotional impact of PEG decisions for parents, including grief andguiltWhy nutrition can change anxiety, rigidity, and capacityThe role of advocacy in ARFID awarenessHow to document ARFID symptoms to report to a doctorTimestamps: 03:10 Sensory differences, autism, and how ARFID developed over time07:40 Illness, choking fears, and how trauma can collapse food intake09:15 Hospitalisation: constipation and appendix surgery18:30 What a PEG is (and what people often misunderstand about it)29:40 How PEG feeding can support ARFID41:30 Guilt, grief, and learning to let the feelings exist45:10 ARFID Advocacy workResources & Links Follow @arfid_life_uk on InstagramListen to the 3Mums1Mission ARFID PodcastConnect with Us: Subscribe to the Full of Beans PodcastFollow Full of Beans on InstagramCheck out our websiteListen on YouTube⚠️ Trigger Warning: Mentions of eating disorders, ARFID, NG tube feeding. Please take care when listening. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help us spread awareness. Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛

    55 min
  7. Voices of Experience in Eating Disorders with Kel O'Neill

    JAN 19

    Voices of Experience in Eating Disorders with Kel O'Neill

    Kel O’Neill is a UK-based counsellor, educator, researcher, and lived-experience advocate specialising in eating disorders. She is the founder of Mental Health Bites, creator of The Eating Disorder Recovery Companion, and the curator of VOXED – Voices of Experience in Eating Disorders. Kel’s work focuses on ethical, trauma-informed practice, challenging stigma, and bridging the gap between lived experience and professional knowledge. This week, we discuss: What VoxED is and why Kel created it.Why eating disorder education often feels inaccessible, and what VoxED is doing differently.How VoxED broadens “lived experience” to include clinicians, carers, researchers and community voices.Why lived experience shouldn’t be tokenistic, and how it can be valued as expertise.Why the eating disorder field needs shared spaces for nuanced, difficult conversations.How recovery goes beyond food and weight to identity, meaning and living.Timestamps: 00:00: What is VoxED?02:10 :Where did the idea began (EDAW 2021)05:10: Who's speaking at VoXED06:40: Moving beyond “tick-box” lived experience08:10: The purpose of VoxED: shared space + shared power14:40: Why change has been slow in eating disorders (and what’s missing)21:10: Recovery beyond food and weight: identity, meaning, and living42:10: VoxED details: date, access, recordings, and low-cost ticketsVoxED conference details: Date: Friday 13th FebruaryFormat: Fully online (9:00–18:30, with breaks)Tickets: self-select pricing options £20 / £37 / £50Resources & Links Follow Kel on Instagram (@kel_mhb)Visit Kel's website (www.counsellingandtraining.co.uk) to find out more about VOXEDSubscribe to the Full of Beans PodcastFollow Full of Beans on InstagramCheck out our websiteListen on YouTubeIf you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help us spread awareness. Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛

    47 min
  8. 3 Mum’s 1 Mission ARFID (Part 1) with Michelle Jacques, Sarah Woodruff and Jo Read

    JAN 12

    3 Mum’s 1 Mission ARFID (Part 1) with Michelle Jacques, Sarah Woodruff and Jo Read

    In this week's episode, Han is joined by Michelle Jacques, Sarah Woodruff and Jo Read. Together, they are the hosts of 3Mums1MissionARFID, which is on a mission to raise awareness regarding ARFID as a result of their experience of navigating their own experience of supporting their children with ARFID. This week, we discuss: What ARFID is and how it differs from “fussy eating”How sensory sensitivity, gag reflexes, and nervous system overload affect eatingHow fear of choking and emetophobia (fear of vomiting) can drive food avoidanceHow illness and medical trauma can cause sudden drops in food intakeWhat it feels like to parent a child with ARFID, including guilt, grief, and constant vigilanceHow dismissal and judgment from professionals and others impact familiesWhat an ARFID diagnosis can offer, and where support often still falls shortHow NG and PEG feeding can become part of ARFID care and the complex emotions that come with itHow school stress, anxiety, and social pressures can contribute to late-onset ARFIDWhy peer connection and lived-experience support are so powerful for parentsTimestamps: 04:20 Why they started Three Mums One Mission: ARFID11:00 Jo: sensory sensitivity, gag reflex, and “typical” feeding advice that didn’t fit20:50 Michelle: illness triggers, supplements, and PEG feeding32:00 Sarah: late-onset ARFID, school anxiety, crisis point + hospital experienceResources & Links Follow @3Mums1MissionARFID on Instagram Connect with Us: Subscribe to the Full of Beans PodcastFollow Full of Beans on InstagramCheck out our websiteListen on YouTube⚠️ Trigger Warning: Mentions of eating disorders, ARFID, NG tube feeding. Please take care when listening. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help us spread awareness. Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛

    53 min
See All (259)

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Full of Beans Podcast: Sharing the Unheard Voices in Eating Disorders Eating disorders are complex, often misunderstood, and wrapped in layers of stigma. That’s why Full of Beans is here - to open up the conversation and foster understanding through real, raw, and research-backed discussions. Hosted by Han, founder of Full of Beans and passionate mental health advocate, this podcast explores eating disorders through the lens of lived experience, clinical expertise, and the latest research. Each week, Han sits down with guests, including individuals with firsthand experiences, clinicians, researchers, and charities, who all share one goal: to raise awareness, challenge misconceptions, and support those affected by eating disorders. With a mix of heartfelt stories and professional insights, Full of Beans is a space for education, advocacy, and connection. Whether you're navigating your own eating disorder journey, supporting a loved one, or working in the mental health field, this podcast is here to provide knowledge, compassion, and hope. Join us in creating a community where eating disorders are understood, and no one feels alone in their struggles. (Please note: This podcast is for awareness and education purposes and is not a substitute for professional therapeutic support.)

Information

  • Creator
    Hannah Hickinbotham
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    259
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Full of Beans Podcast 2021
  • Show Website
    The Full of Beans Podcast

You Might Also Like