Nourish & Empower

Jessica Coviello & Maggie Lefavor
  • 5.0 (14)
  • Mental Health

Have you ever felt like you could use a little extra support when working on your relationship with food and your body? Join Jessica, a Licensed Professional Counselor, and Maggie, a Registered Dietitian & Certified Eating Disorders Specialist, along with special guests, as we chat about mental health, nutrition, eating disorders, diet culture, body image, and so much more. Together, we have close to 20 years of experience working in eating disorders and mental health treatment. Let’s redefine, reclaim, & restore the true meaning of health on The Nourish & Empower Podcast.

  1. 6d ago

    The Audacity of Imposter Syndrome

    Send us Fan Mail Your brain can call you a fraud in seconds, even when you’ve done the work, earned the credential, or lived the experience. We get honest about what imposter syndrome actually feels like, starting with a surprisingly relatable moment: going back to the gym after time away and feeling sure everyone is watching, judging, and waiting for you to mess up. That same inner narrative can show up anywhere, from motherhood to friendships to big career steps. We also dig into why clinicians like therapists and dietitians are especially prone to imposter syndrome. Helping other people with emotional regulation, eating disorder recovery, and anxiety management doesn’t mean we never struggle ourselves, and that disconnect can create shame. We talk about how expectations and perfectionism fuel self-doubt, why “I don’t know, I’ll research it” can be a sign of professionalism, and how to challenge the “I’m not qualified” story with tangible evidence, real feedback, and a more grounded view of your skills. Then we tackle the accelerant most of us can’t avoid: social media comparison. When engagement, followers, and curated highlight reels become the measuring stick, it’s easy to feel behind or “not good enough,” even when you’re living a full, real life offline. We close with practical ways to build internal validation without over-relying on reassurance, plus a reminder that feelings aren’t facts. If you want more conversations like this, subscribe, share the show with someone who needs it, and leave a rating or review so more people can find Nourish and Empower. Show notes: Trigger warning: this show is not medical, nutrition, or mental health treatment and is not a replacement for meeting with a Registered Dietitian, Licensed Mental Health Provider, or any other medical provider. You can find resources for how to find a provider, as well as crisis resources, in the show notes. Listener discretion is advised. Resource links: Hilltop Behavioral Health: https://hilltopbehavioralhealth.com/  Alliance for Eating Disorders: https://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/  ANAD: https://anad.org/ NEDA: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/ NAMI: https://nami.org/home Action Alliance: https://theactionalliance.org/ NIH: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/ How to find a provider:  https://map.nationaleatingdisorders.org/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us https://www.healthprofs.com/us/nutritionists-dietitians?tr=Hdr_Brand Suicide & crisis awareness hotline: call 988 (available 24/7) Eating Disorder hotline: call or text 800-931-2237 (Phone line is available Monday-Thursday 11 am-9 pm ET and Friday 11 am-5 pm ET; text line is available Monday-Thursday 3-6 pm ET and Friday 1-5 pm ET) If you are experiencing a psychiatric or medical emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. Support the show

  2. Jul 22

    Contemplating Treatment? Let's Talk Admissions

    Send us Fan Mail The hardest part of getting help is often the moment before help begins: that first phone call. We sit down with Alycia Aldieri, a behavioral health professional, who leads admissions for eating disorder treatment programs, to explain what “higher level of care” actually looks like from the inside and how the admissions process can be supportive, clear, and deeply human. We walk through the real flow of admissions step by step: the first call that gathers basics and offers validation, the deeper clinical screening that reviews mental health history and eating disorder behaviors, and the practical pieces people worry about most like insurance verification, cost expectations, bed availability, and waitlists. Alycia shares how her team sets a “boutique” standard for caller experience so you are not repeating yourself, guessing what comes next, or feeling like a number. From there, we dig into the emotions that derail decisions. What do you do when fear shows up as twenty questions in an email? How do you respond to “I’m not ready” when an eating disorder thrives on delay? We talk about reading online reviews without letting anxiety drive the narrative, addressing concerns about treatment trauma, and answering parent fears about whether a teen might “learn” new behaviors in care. Alycia also explains the guardrails that protect clients, including supervision, boundaries, and what happens when someone cannot comply with safety expectations. If you are contemplating residential treatment, PHP, IOP, or any other level of eating disorder care, let this conversation be your map and your reminder that willingness can exist alongside anger, grief, and anxiety. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find steady guidance when they are ready to reach out. https://odysseybehavioralhealth.com/  Show notes: Trigger warning: this show is not medical, nutrition, or mental health treatment and is not a replacement for meeting with a Registered Dietitian, Licensed Mental Health Provider, or any other medical provider. You can find resources for how to find a provider, as well as crisis resources, in the show notes. Listener discretion is advised. Resource links: Hilltop Behavioral Health: https://hilltopbehavioralhealth.com/  Alliance for Eating Disorders: https://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/  ANAD: https://anad.org/ NEDA: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/ NAMI: https://nami.org/home Action Alliance: https://theactionalliance.org/ NIH: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/ How to find a provider:  https://map.nationaleatingdisorders.org/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us https://www.healthprofs.com/us/nutritionists-dietitians?tr=Hdr_Brand Suicide & crisis awareness hotline: call 988 (available 24/7) Eating Disorder hotline: call or text 800-931-2237 (Phone line is available Monday-Thursday 11 am-9 pm ET and Friday 11 am-5 pm ET; text line is available Monday-Thursday 3-6 pm ET and Friday 1-5 pm ET) If you are experiencing a psychiatric or medical emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. Support the show

  3. Jul 15

    Choosing Confidence in a Thin-Obsessed World

    Send us Fan Mail Your jeans fit yesterday, the “same size” won’t go past your shoulders today, and suddenly you are questioning everything. We are talking about the messy intersection of body image, clothing, and summertime pressure, and why it can feel so hard to stay present when your brain is nitpicking your body. Maggie and I keep this one conversational and real, including a quick trigger warning up front, because diet culture and eating disorder recovery topics deserve care.  We dig into a truth that does not get said enough: you can leave an argument with someone else, but you cannot step out of your body for ten minutes to cool off. That is why body image anxiety can swallow a whole day. We share coping skills for the “I hate this, I feel uncomfortable in my skin” moments, including how to mentally shelve the thought for later, how to ground quickly, and how to choose clothes that feel neutral so your outfit does not become the battleground. We also talk about shifting the question from “What size am I?” to “Do I feel like myself in this?”  Then we drop the bomb that explains so much shopping confusion: vanity sizing, also called size inflation. We break down how inconsistent sizing standards in the United States can be used to psychologically influence shoppers, why that can feel like warfare on your self esteem, and how comparison culture feeds the fear of confidence. We end with practical body image supports we actually use, like favorite colors, accessories, makeup as creativity, and choosing comfort even if it takes three outfit changes.  If you want more honest conversations about body image, mental health, nutrition, and diet culture, subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a rating and review so more people can find us. Show notes: Trigger warning: this show is not medical, nutrition, or mental health treatment and is not a replacement for meeting with a Registered Dietitian, Licensed Mental Health Provider, or any other medical provider. You can find resources for how to find a provider, as well as crisis resources, in the show notes. Listener discretion is advised. Resource links: Hilltop Behavioral Health: https://hilltopbehavioralhealth.com/  Alliance for Eating Disorders: https://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/  ANAD: https://anad.org/ NEDA: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/ NAMI: https://nami.org/home Action Alliance: https://theactionalliance.org/ NIH: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/ How to find a provider:  https://map.nationaleatingdisorders.org/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us https://www.healthprofs.com/us/nutritionists-dietitians?tr=Hdr_Brand Suicide & crisis awareness hotline: call 988 (available 24/7) Eating Disorder hotline: call or text 800-931-2237 (Phone line is available Monday-Thursday 11 am-9 pm ET and Friday 11 am-5 pm ET; text line is available Monday-Thursday 3-6 pm ET and Friday 1-5 pm ET) If you are experiencing a psychiatric or medical emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. Support the show

  4. Jul 9

    What If Meeting With A Dietitian Felt Safe?

    Send us Fan Mail People hear “dietitian” and picture rules, judgment, and a perfect plate. We want to replace that stereotype with something more honest: nutrition counseling that feels human, collaborative, and actually useful. We’re joined by Mia Bailey, RD, who works with eating disorders and body image using a HAES aligned, weight-inclusive, evidence-based approach. Together, we unpack why some clients have real “horror story” experiences with nutrition care and what it looks like to try again without forcing instant trust. Mia shares how she starts by asking what didn’t work before, explains her philosophy clearly, and lets the relationship build through actions rather than pressure. If you’ve ever felt nervous to be honest about what you eat, this conversation names that vulnerability and makes space for it. We also get practical about what dietitians really do. Yes, we talk meal timing, planning, groceries, and real life situations like holidays or big transitions. But we also talk about the deeper work: food neutrality, body image, triggers, societal pressure, and why recommendations are not the same thing as judgment. We dig into a common turning point in eating disorder recovery, when someone says, “I don’t think I need a dietitian anymore,” and how to tell the difference between true readiness and eating disorder avoidance. If you’re considering nutrition counseling, we break down what a first session typically includes and the question we love asking: where do you want your relationship with food to be in six months? Listen, then subscribe, share with someone who needs a steadier relationship with food, and leave a rating or review so more people can find the support they deserve. Show notes: Trigger warning: this show is not medical, nutrition, or mental health treatment and is not a replacement for meeting with a Registered Dietitian, Licensed Mental Health Provider, or any other medical provider. You can find resources for how to find a provider, as well as crisis resources, in the show notes. Listener discretion is advised. Resource links: Hilltop Behavioral Health: https://hilltopbehavioralhealth.com/  Alliance for Eating Disorders: https://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/  ANAD: https://anad.org/ NEDA: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/ NAMI: https://nami.org/home Action Alliance: https://theactionalliance.org/ NIH: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/ How to find a provider:  https://map.nationaleatingdisorders.org/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us https://www.healthprofs.com/us/nutritionists-dietitians?tr=Hdr_Brand Suicide & crisis awareness hotline: call 988 (available 24/7) Eating Disorder hotline: call or text 800-931-2237 (Phone line is available Monday-Thursday 11 am-9 pm ET and Friday 11 am-5 pm ET; text line is available Monday-Thursday 3-6 pm ET and Friday 1-5 pm ET) If you are experiencing a psychiatric or medical emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. Support the show

  5. Jul 1

    The Summer I Tuned Out Diet Culture

    Send us Fan Mail Summer can feel like a spotlight you never asked for. The beach, the pool, family photos, patio dinners, and travel routines can crank up body image anxiety, diet culture thoughts, and old eating disorder patterns even when you truly want to have fun. We talk honestly about what makes this season so activating and how to create more memories than regrets, without pretending it’s easy. We get practical about vacation prep: packing outfits that support your real body on real days, trying clothes on ahead of time, and using mantras that bring you back to the moment. We also dig into a key reframe for social settings: most people aren’t watching you the way your anxiety says they are, and even if they are, their opinions don’t get to run your trip. We zoom out from food, too, so meals stay part of the experience instead of the whole storyline. Then we tackle the added pressure many people feel this year with GLP-1 medications (Ozempic and others) showing up everywhere, from ads to friend groups. We name the comparison spiral, the grief and anger that can surface, and how to protect your peace when someone else’s choices collide with your recovery. Finally, we share a stepped exposure approach for beach days and summer events, plus why intention matters when a behavior could be either supportive or avoidant. If you’re working on body acceptance, eating disorder recovery, or simply wanting a calmer relationship with food and your body this summer, hit play, share it with someone who needs it, and please subscribe, leave a rating, and review so more listeners can find us. Show notes: Trigger warning: this show is not medical, nutrition, or mental health treatment and is not a replacement for meeting with a Registered Dietitian, Licensed Mental Health Provider, or any other medical provider. You can find resources for how to find a provider, as well as crisis resources, in the show notes. Listener discretion is advised. Resource links: Alliance for Eating Disorders: https://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/  ANAD: https://anad.org/ NEDA: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/ NAMI: https://nami.org/home Action Alliance: https://theactionalliance.org/ NIH: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/ How to find a provider:  https://map.nationaleatingdisorders.org/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us https://www.healthprofs.com/us/nutritionists-dietitians?tr=Hdr_Brand Suicide & crisis awareness hotline: call 988 (available 24/7) Eating Disorder hotline: call or text 800-931-2237 (Phone line is available Monday-Thursday 11 am-9 pm ET and Friday 11 am-5 pm ET; text line is available Monday-Thursday 3-6 pm ET and Friday 1-5 pm ET) If you are experiencing a psychiatric or medical emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. Support the show

  6. Jun 24

    GLP-1s, Boundaries, and Protecting Your Recovery

    Send us Fan Mail GLP-1 medications are no longer just a headline, they’re showing up at family parties, in group chats, and at work. When bodies change fast and the story is “I’m just eating cleaner,” it can stir up a messy mix of grief, anger, jealousy, confusion, and shame, especially for anyone healing their relationship with food. We wanted a real conversation that doesn’t flatten this into good or bad. We’re joined by Jillian Higbee, LPC and founder of Higbee Counseling, to unpack GLP-1s through the lens of eating disorder recovery, body image, and diet culture. We talk about why clients often assume their therapist or registered dietitian will judge them, and how we approach these decisions with body autonomy, informed consent, and ongoing check-ins. We also dig into the research gaps and the “experimental phase” reality, plus practical concerns like appetite suppression, GI side effects, consistent nutrition, protein needs, and muscle loss risk. A big thread is food noise: when quieting it can create breathing room and make recovery work possible, and when it can blur genuine hunger cues and increase disconnection. We also get concrete about boundaries, from limiting weight loss talk with loved ones to curating social media, especially as summer ramps up body-focused messaging. If you’re feeling triggered or conflicted, you’re not alone. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs nuance, and leave a review so more people can find support that actually helps. To learn more about Jillian, visit https://www.higbeecounseling.com/.  Show notes: Trigger warning: this show is not medical, nutrition, or mental health treatment and is not a replacement for meeting with a Registered Dietitian, Licensed Mental Health Provider, or any other medical provider. You can find resources for how to find a provider, as well as crisis resources, in the show notes. Listener discretion is advised. Resource links: Alliance for Eating Disorders: https://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/  ANAD: https://anad.org/ NEDA: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/ NAMI: https://nami.org/home Action Alliance: https://theactionalliance.org/ NIH: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/ How to find a provider:  https://map.nationaleatingdisorders.org/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us https://www.healthprofs.com/us/nutritionists-dietitians?tr=Hdr_Brand Suicide & crisis awareness hotline: call 988 (available 24/7) Eating Disorder hotline: call or text 800-931-2237 (Phone line is available Monday-Thursday 11 am-9 pm ET and Friday 11 am-5 pm ET; text line is available Monday-Thursday 3-6 pm ET and Friday 1-5 pm ET) If you are experiencing a psychiatric or medical emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. Support the show

  7. Jun 17

    Are We Self Diagnosing Typical Human Experiences?

    Send us Fan Mail The internet can hand you a mental health label in 30 seconds and that speed is exactly the problem. We sit down with Kyra McFadden, LPC and founder of the Emotional Processing Project, to talk about what gets lost when TikTok therapy turns complex clinical work into bite-sized “if you do this, you have that” certainty. We start by catching up on Kyra’s path since her last visit: earning her license, moving into doctoral work in applied psychology with a focus on equity in health systems, and publishing books and tools that center emotional awareness and honest reflection. Kyra shares why she chose self-publishing to protect her voice and how vulnerability can give other people permission to be truthful with themselves. Then we dig into the oversaturation of mental health content on social media and the rise of self-diagnosis. We break down why screeners and five-minute quizzes aren’t the same as a real assessment, why you can have a depressed moment without having depression, and how it feels when someone finally finds “the answer” and a clinician asks them to stay open to other explanations. We also talk over-medication, why medication can be temporary relief instead of a shortcut, and how responsible care means follow-up and root-work, not just symptom cover-ups. If you’ve ever wondered whether online mental health content is helping you or hijacking you, this conversation will ground you. Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find a calmer, more human way to talk about mental health. Show notes: Trigger warning: this show is not medical, nutrition, or mental health treatment and is not a replacement for meeting with a Registered Dietitian, Licensed Mental Health Provider, or any other medical provider. You can find resources for how to find a provider, as well as crisis resources, in the show notes. Listener discretion is advised. Resource links: Alliance for Eating Disorders: https://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/  ANAD: https://anad.org/ NEDA: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/ NAMI: https://nami.org/home Action Alliance: https://theactionalliance.org/ NIH: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/ How to find a provider:  https://map.nationaleatingdisorders.org/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us https://www.healthprofs.com/us/nutritionists-dietitians?tr=Hdr_Brand Suicide & crisis awareness hotline: call 988 (available 24/7) Eating Disorder hotline: call or text 800-931-2237 (Phone line is available Monday-Thursday 11 am-9 pm ET and Friday 11 am-5 pm ET; text line is available Monday-Thursday 3-6 pm ET and Friday 1-5 pm ET) If you are experiencing a psychiatric or medical emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. Support the show

  8. Jun 10

    Does Harm Reduction Have a Place in Eating Disorder Recovery?

    Send us Fan Mail Black-and-white recovery rules can sound “safe” on paper, but they often create the exact thing we’re trying to prevent: secrecy. We sit down with returning guest Johanna Scoglio, educator, writer, peer supporter, and author of *When the Water Still Holds Me*, to talk about harm reduction in eating disorder recovery and why it can be the missing bridge between clinical goals and real life. We unpack what harm reduction actually looks like in practice, including a concrete example around movement. Instead of “never move again,” we explore nuanced questions that protect safety while honoring autonomy: What’s driving the urge? What feels compulsive versus joyful? What boundaries and accountability help you stay grounded? We also talk about collaboration that truly includes the client, how to pace goals so they’re sustainable, and how providers can hold both compassion and clear limits without slipping into shame or power struggles. Treatment can also leave scars. Johanna shares what helps rebuild trust after harmful or traumatic care: validation, consistency, and a willingness to repair. We close with embodiment tools that don’t require constant body love, from yoga and breath work to sensory awareness and the surprising peace of being in the water. Sponsored by Hilltop Behavioral Health. If you found something helpful here, subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find the support they deserve. To get connected with Johanna, check out: https://www.adragonflysdream.com/ To learn about Johanna's memoir, check out: https://www.amazon.com/When-Water-Still-Holds-Long-Term/dp/B0GM8MWXT4  Show notes: Trigger warning: this show is not medical, nutrition, or mental health treatment and is not a replacement for meeting with a Registered Dietitian, Licensed Mental Health Provider, or any other medical provider. You can find resources for how to find a provider, as well as crisis resources, in the show notes. Listener discretion is advised. Resource links: Alliance for Eating Disorders: https://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/  ANAD: https://anad.org/ NEDA: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/ NAMI: https://nami.org/home Action Alliance: https://theactionalliance.org/ NIH: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/ How to find a provider:  https://map.nationaleatingdisorders.org/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us https://www.healthprofs.com/us/nutritionists-dietitians?tr=Hdr_Brand Suicide & crisis awareness hotline: call 988 (available 24/7) Eating Disorder hotline: call or text 800-931-2237 (Phone line is available Monday-Thursday 11 am-9 pm ET and Friday 11 am-5 pm ET; text line is available Monday-Thursday 3-6 pm ET and Friday 1-5 pm ET) If you are experiencing a psychiatric or medical emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. Support the show

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

Have you ever felt like you could use a little extra support when working on your relationship with food and your body? Join Jessica, a Licensed Professional Counselor, and Maggie, a Registered Dietitian & Certified Eating Disorders Specialist, along with special guests, as we chat about mental health, nutrition, eating disorders, diet culture, body image, and so much more. Together, we have close to 20 years of experience working in eating disorders and mental health treatment. Let’s redefine, reclaim, & restore the true meaning of health on The Nourish & Empower Podcast.

Information

  • Creator
    Jessica Coviello & Maggie Lefavor
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    93
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Nourish & Empower
  • Show Website
    Nourish & Empower

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