5 Podcast Episodes to Listen to During Pride Month

Eating disorders thrive in secrecy and shame. For those with LGBTQ+ identities who have an eating disorder, the sense of isolation is often compounded by the unique stressors and added layers of stigma and prejudice facing this historically marginalized community. A large population of LGBTQ+ individuals with eating disorders often fail to seek treatment or face having their struggles dismissed, in part, because of a lack of cultural competency and representation in eating disorder media.

Honest conversations that amplify LGBTQ+ voices and experiences with eating disorders, gender identity, body dysphoria/dysmorphia, and harmful societal messages are essential for making visible and interrupting the disproportionately high incidence of eating disorders in sexual-diverse, gender-diverse, and trans individuals.

This Pride Month, we’ve rounded up a collection of podcast episodes that offer safe spaces for these conversations. Join us in continuing to learn and listen to the experiences and leadership of LGBTQ+ individuals, so that we can all become more compassionate, informed, and empowered advocates for change. 

1. Food Psych #200: How Diet Culture Harms the Gay Community with Jeff Iovannone, Gender-Studies Scholar and LGBTQ Activist

In this episode of Food Psych, a podcast hosted by journalist, registered dietitian, and certified intuitive eating counselor Christy Harrison (she/her), Christy interviews Jeff Iovannone (he/him). Jeff is an activist-scholar, writer, and researcher who specializes in gender and LGBTQ studies. During the conversation, Jeff delves into the topic of detrimental body ideals within the gay community and the influence of oppression and the AIDS crisis on the development of the prevailing “normate gay” aesthetic, defined as slim, toned, white, cisgender, and non-disabled. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing that every body is a celebration of Pride and offers insights on establishing a movement for body liberation among gay men. 

2. Recovery Bites #58: Two Queer Perspectives On Eating Disorder Recovery with ThirdwheelED

Recovery Bites, a podcast hosted by Karin Lewis (she/her), MA, LMFT, CEDS, is centered on eating disorder recovery and interviews people within the field and people with lived experience. In this particular episode, Karin interviews Jamie (OJ) Bushell (they/them/theirs) and Jamie Dannenberg, MS, RDN, LDN (she/they). They discuss their social media advocacy platform, thirdwheelED, which aims to amplify the visibility of the disproportionate impact of eating disorders and other mental illnesses on the LGBTQIA+ community. In addition, they delve into the valuable clinical trainings they offer on fostering affirming eating disorder treatment for LGBTQIA+ communities. 

3. We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle #168: Sonya Renee Taylor: What If You Loved Your Body?

Following Glennon Doyle’s (she/her) anorexia diagnosis in early 2023, the bestselling author and activist took to her podcast, We Can Do Hard Things, to unpack body shame, the pitfalls of “body positivity,” and the worthwhile labor of radical self-love with Sonya Renee Taylor. Sonya (she/her/we) is a world-renowned activist, award-winning artist, transformational thought leader, and author of six books, including The Body is Not an Apology. Sonya also holds the identities of queer, fat, cisgender, and neurodivergent. In this powerful conversation, Sonya uses a self-love framework to examine the ways we talk to our bodies and how we can all work to shift our relationship with our bodies to one based on trust instead of control. 

4. Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness #189: How Grateful Are We To Live Beyond the Gender Binary? With ALOK

In this re-release of a Getting Curious episode from 2019, host Jonathan Van Ness (they/he/she) sits down with ALOK (they/them), an internationally acclaimed gender non-conforming writer and performance artist. ALOK joins Jonathan to discuss their experiences embracing life beyond the gender binary, examples of gender fluidity throughout history, and how we can all reimagine a new, expansive world outside our society’s limited, traditional understanding of gender.

5. Peace Meal #36: Eating Disorder Recovery as a Non-Binary Person with Debbie Seacrest

In this episode of our own podcast, Peace Meal, host Dr. Jillian Lampert (she/her), PhD, MPH, RD, LD, FAED, speaks with Debbie Seacrest (they/them), PhD, about their experience with an eating disorder as a non-binary person. Debbie shares body image’s important role in their gender journey and eating disorder recovery. They also advocate for an end to the stigmatizing, narrow cis-white woman picture of an eating disorder sufferer, sharing how the eating disorder community can be more gender-affirming and competent in the language used and services provided.

Finding inclusive and affirming eating disorder treatment for LGBTQ+ individuals can be challenging. The Emily Program recognizes that culturally competent providers are vital for lasting recovery. We stand in solidarity with LGBTQ+ individuals this and every month, aiming to provide whole-person, affirming, and expert care at each step of the treatment process. If you or a loved one is seeking eating disorder care in a gender-diverse and inclusive environment, call us at 855-875-5812 or fill out our online form to get started today.