Best 12 Week Weight Loss Challenge Podcasts (2025)

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#334: “Adrenal Fatigue” + Anti-Inflammatory Diets + Eating-Disorder Recovery with Oona Hanson 43:23

5d ago43:23

43:23

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 diagnosis of “adrenal fatigue,” and more. Behind the paywall, we get into ho…

1
#333: Blood-Sugar Myths and Intuitive Eating for Diabetes with Janice Dada 31:32

1M ago31:32

31:32

Dietitian and diabetes educator Janice Dada joins us to discuss why there’s so much stigma and blame on people with diabetes, the wellness-culture belief that people can “reverse diabetes” by restricting foods and taking a bunch of supplements, why people don’t “give themselves diabetes” by eating too much sugar, the myth that people with diabetes …

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21. How I Lost 67 Pounds | MSgt. Jan Jackson 55:50

1M ago55:50

55:50

In this powerful "How I Did It" episode, Jan Jackson shares an extraordinary story of transformation—rising from high school dropout to Air Force Master Sergeant through sheer determination. Confronting a family history marked by tragedy—early deaths and physical challenges linked to poor nutrition—she boldly declared, "I am not my past. I want to …

1
20. AmpleHarvest.org (Fighting Food Waste & Food Insecurity) | Gary Oppenheimer 45:23

2M ago45:23

45:23

Learn how to fight food waste & food insecurity right in your own backyard! Garry Oppenheimer created AmpleHarvest.org to help gardeners donate fresh produce to local food pantries. Food pantries get just-in-time fresh produce to hungry families in a day or two -instead one to two weeks- and gardeners get to avoid the dilemma of what to do with exc…

1
19. How I Lost 100 Pounds | Tommy Thomaidis 40:12

2M ago40:12

40:12

You know how Jesus said, "It’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to get into heaven". Well, Tommy Thomaidis is doing everything he can to get there! Hear Tommy share his journey from struggling with obesity to becoming a community food advocate, and especially how he left his Wall Street career behind to focus on …

1
#332: "All Instinct, No Rational Thought," and Other Myths About Intuitive Eating - with Elyse Resch 35:51

2M ago35:51

35:51

Registered dietitian and INTUITIVE EATING co-author Elyse Resch returns to help dispel myths about intuitive eating, including that it means *only* listening to instinct and not the rational brain, that it’s incompatible with eating-disorder recovery, that it’s impossible in an environment rife with “ultraprocessed” foods, and more. She also shares…

1
18. National Farm To School Network | Miguel Villareal 1:02:21

3M ago1:02:21

1:02:21

Join us as Miguel Villarreal, Interim Co-Executive Director, National Farm To School Network & school food service veteran, shares how culinary education and community collaboration are transforming student health and school wellness. From growing farm-to-school programs to addressing food inequities, Miguel reveals how parents, educators, and food…

1
17. How I Lost 70 Pounds | Curt Campbell 33:53

3M ago33:53

33:53

From everyday dad to Ironman competitor - Curt's 70-pound weight loss journey started with simple daily changes, not extreme diets. With encouragement from his wife and support from a health coach friend, he reshaped his approach to food and fitness, tackling hidden sugars and discovering the power of meal prep. His candid take on prioritizing heal…

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#331: How Is Your Relationship with Alcohol? Ft. Jenna Hollenstein 41:02

3M ago41:02

41:02

Dietitian and author Jenna Hollenstein joins us to discuss her experience with alcoholism and recovery, the intersection of disordered eating and disordered drinking, the sobriety trend in wellness culture, Dry January, mindful drinking, “food addiction,” and more. (This episode is cross-posted from our other podcast, Rethinking Wellness.) Paid sub…

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16. VA's MOVE! Weight Management Program | Kelley Hagerich, MD 35:16

4M ago35:16

35:16

How can we better support our veterans in their journey to better health? Dr. Kelly Hagerich, National Lead Physician Champion for the Veterans Administration's MOVE! weight management program, dives into a few of the unique challenges veterans face, from managing chronic diseases to addressing the impacts of sexual assault and traumatic brain inju…

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#330: Fashion for Every Body, Functional-Medicine Failings, and Finding Your True Style with Dacy Gillespie 39:10

4M ago39:10

39:10

Anti-diet personal stylist Dacy Gillespie joins us to discuss diet and wellness culture, her bad experience with functional medicine (and what attracted her to it in the first place), how she’s dealing with her chronic symptoms now, and why she doesn’t think clothes should be “flattering.” Behind the paywall, we get into how to shop for clothes aft…

1
15. How I lost 85 pounds | Shanon Adams 50:54

4M ago50:54

50:54

In this "How I Did It" episode, Shanon Adams, a 47-year old President & COO of a 200 person market research firm shares her 85 pound weight loss journey. If you're still on the fence about GLP-1 inhibitors, or think weight loss is all "mindset" & "willpower", this episode is for you. Listen to the #MoveEatGive by INTERRUPT HUNGER podcast on all you…

1
14. Employee Gardens by StartOrganic | Troy Smothermon 46:06

6M ago46:06

46:06

Hear how Troy Smothermon, co-founder of Start Organic, turned a passion for gardening into transformative corporate programs for companies like PayPal, Apple, and Tesla. Discover how growing food isn’t just about plants—it’s about reconnecting with nature, reducing stress, and building community in unexpected places. Topics 00:00 — Introduction: St…

1
#329: Challenging the Hype About Gut Health and Ultra-Processed Foods with Laura Thomas 38:29

6M ago38:29

38:29

Registered nutritionist, author, and friend of the pod Laura Thomas joins us to unpack the problematic notion that you need to eat a ridiculously large number of plants per week for gut health, and what we actually know about how plant foods affect the gut microbiome. We also get into how to distinguish good science from hype, how ultra-processed f…

1
13. How I lost over 200 pounds | Kim Greer (50) 35:33

6M ago35:33

35:33

In this "How I Did It" episode, Kim Greer shares her transformative weight-loss journey. Coming from Afro-Caribbean roots, where "food is love," Kim reached 396 pounds. After losing 120 pounds through motivation and mindset, she sought counseling and underwent gastric sleeve surgery to reach her goals. Down over 200 pounds, Kim reveals the key habi…

1
12. Culinary Medicine: The future of healthcare | Jaclyn Albin, MD 1:03:23

7M ago1:03:23

1:03:23

Dr. Jaclyn Albin, Director of Culinary Medicine, UT-Southwestern (Dallas, TX) a pioneer in culinary medicine, is here to change the way we think about food. Imagine blending health, flavor, and culture into every meal—whether it’s sneaking mushrooms into tacos or transforming family favorites into nutritional powerhouses. Her approach makes eating …

1
#328: Escaping Diet and Wellness Culture in Fashion and Dietetics with Shana Minei Spence 31:27

7M ago31:27

31:27

Registered dietitian and author Shana Minei Spence joins us to discuss how a career in fashion affected her relationship with food and her body, her experience with a holistic provider who recommended elimination diets, how values and social norms influenced her use of alternative medicine, her disordered motivations for becoming a dietitian, and m…

1
11. How I lost 85 pounds | Traci Brown (47 yo) 34:13

7M ago34:13

34:13

In this "How I Did It" episode, Traci Brown, a 47-year-old health coach from Boerne, TX, shares her inspiring journey from nearly 250 pounds to a thriving, healthy lifestyle. She opens up about how a shocking photo from her 20-year reunion motivated her to take control of her health, lose 85 pounds, and ultimately transform her life. She’s now empo…

1
10. How to Scale Lifestyle Medicine | Sami Mansfield 1:01:37

7M ago1:01:37

1:01:37

Sami is a key player in the world of lifestyle medicine, especially when it comes to cancer care. She’s all about making exercise programs work for survivors, sharing her insights on how to implement these strategies effectively. Whether you’re a patient looking to get healthier or a provider looking to implement a #LifestyleMedicine program, Sami’…

1
#327: Hormone-Health Myths and Facts with Endocrinologist Gregory Dodell 49:17

8M ago49:17

49:17

Endocrinologist Gregory Dodell joins us to discuss myths and facts about hormones, including the problems with doing diets and supplement protocols for “hormone balancing,” why weight-loss recommendations aren’t helpful for hormone health, how to manage thyroid conditions without falling prey to wellness fads, the truth about “adrenal fatigue,” the…

1
9. How I lost 150 pounds | Robert Chase (33 yo) 59:23

8M ago59:23

59:23

In this "How I did it" episode, Robert Chase, a 33 yo firefighter paramedic (who at 4 yo, happened to be the Ring Bearer at our wedding) shares how a moment of self-reflection on his 23rd birthday prompted him to make significant lifestyle changes, leading him from 340 pounds to 190 pounds. Then "not being happy being small" proceeded to add muscle…

1
8. Can Obesity Cause Infertility? | Courtney Younglove, MD 46:17

9M ago46:17

46:17

Jollie talks with Courtney Younglove, MD about the connections between obesity, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and infertility. Dr. Younglove is one of a handful of physicians in the country dual-board certified in OB/GYN & Obesity Medicine, so she is the perfect expert for this discussion. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review…

1
#326: Body Image: What the Evidence Really Says, with Charlotte Markey 43:02

9M ago43:02

43:02

Psychologist and body-image researcher Charlotte Markey joins us to discuss myths and misinformation about body image, how chronic illness and pain affect perceptions of our bodies, the body positivity vs. body neutrality debate, the potential body-image harms of social media (and how to mitigate them), how the discourse about GLP-1 weight-loss dru…

1
7. Healthiest Small Town Series: How to Start a Food Pantry | Angela Black, MD 43:28

9M ago43:28

43:28

Continuing our Healthiest Small Town series, we're exploring how to bring a food pantry into a medical practice (works for small businesses or faith organizations too!). Angela Black, MD is a pediatrician with Corridor Pediatrics in San Marcos, TX & host of the "Eat Your Greens with Dr. Black" podcast. She shares her experience & shows it's simpler…

1
#325: Recovering in a Larger Body with Shira Rosenbluth 54:18

10M ago54:18

54:18

Eating-disorders therapist Shira Rosenbluth returns to discuss how she was able to get into solid eating-disorder recovery after many years of struggling, her experience of recovering into a larger body and how she navigated weight stigma in that process, being a plus-size bride, how the hype around GLP-1s has affected her recovery (and her clients…

1
6. Healthiest Small Town Series: How to start a school garden | Kelly Douglas 1:04:40

10M ago1:04:40

1:04:40

In this first episode of the “Healthiest Small Town” series, Jollie sits down with the energetic and inspiring Kelly Douglas to discuss how to start a school garden. Kelly, a motivational speaker and self-described Ambassador of Agricultural Joy, is all about spreading joy through dirt & kids. Starting as Oregon’s 500th school garden at Molalla Hig…

1
#324: Weight-Loss-Industry Influence in "Obesity" Research with Alexis Conason 38:47

11M ago38:47

38:47

Eating-disorders psychologist Alexis Conason joins us to discuss her background in “obesity” research, how she came to question the conventional weight paradigm and move to a weight-neutral approach, the industry influence behind the American Medical Association’s decision to classify obesity as a disease in 2013, the mental-health effects of baria…

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5. Can Exercise Fight Cancer? | Kathryn Schmitz, PhD 1:05:26

11M ago1:05:26

1:05:26

Today's guest is one of the top researchers in the world in a beautiful field of medicine called Exercise Oncology. Kathryn Schmitz, PhD joins Jollie for a powerful discussion on exercise's incredible benefits across the cancer continuum. Jollie shares his gripping personal story of how a triathlon likely saved his life by catching leukemia early. …

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4. How I Lost 90 Pounds | Brenda Richan (63 yo) 46:12

11M ago46:12

46:12

In this "How I did it..." episode, at 57, Brenda Richan had obesity, was pre-diabetic, and struggled with chronic knee and back pain from her 28-year nursing career. Then she got hit with a kidney cancer diagnosis that became her wake-up call. Instead of being defeated, Brenda got determined. She walked into a CrossFit gym at 244 lbs using a cane &…

1
3. It’s Not Your Fault: The biology of cravings & weight loss 33:36

11M ago33:36

33:36

Karli Burridge, a Physician Assistant, President of Gaining Health & President of PAs in Obesity Medicine discusses the biology behind cravings and weight loss. Karli explains that weight is highly regulated in the brain, specifically in the hypothalamus, and that hormones play a significant role in appetite regulation. She discusses how stress and…

1
2. How I Lost 52 Pounds | Jeremy Johnson (54) Charlotte, NC 29:56

12M ago29:56

29:56

In this "How I Did It..." episode, Jeremy Johnson openly shares his physical/emotional turning points, simple exercise routine, mindful eating approach, and how Interrupt Hunger's Donate Your Weight program motivated him to lose over 50 pounds. Jeremy opens up about his physical and emotional turning points, the practical exercise routine that work…

1
#323: The Hidden Risks of Weight-Loss Drugs: Behind the GLP-1 Hype with Ragen Chastain 38:49

12M ago38:49

38:49

Writer, speaker, and weight-inclusive health/fitness professional Ragen Chastain joins us to discuss the potential side effects and other downsides of using GLP-1 drugs (like Ozempic and its ilk) for weight loss, the massive influence the manufacturers of these drugs are having on the public discourse about them, why the media don’t often report on…

1
1. Obesity Bias & Stigma | Patty Nece 41:09

1y ago41:09

41:09

Out of the countless topics we could have chosen for our first episode, obesity bias & stigma seemed like the right place to start. It's really hard to #loveyourneighbor when we're busy judging them. But when you start to ask why & take time to care, you realize everyone hurts. And as you realize everyone hurts, you'll find judgments are a lot hard…

1
#322: From Picky Eating to Peace with Food: Feeding Kids with Heidi Schauster 57:55

1y ago57:55

57:55

Dietitian and author Heidi Schauster joins us to discuss why putting kids on gluten-free diets or other elimination diets in the name of health often backfires; how parents can help kids develop a good relationship with all foods, including demonized ones like sugar; developmentally appropriate ways to talk to kids about nutrition; why pleasure is …

1
#321: Eating-Disorder Healing and the Importance of Community Support with Akiera Gilbert 49:08

1y ago49:08

49:08

Project HEAL CEO Akiera Gilbert joins us to discuss her relationship with food growing up, why she didn’t realize she had an eating disorder, how she finally began to find healing, the importance of community in disordered-eating recovery, what to do if community feels tricky to you, and more. Akiera Gilbert (she/her), CEO of Project HEAL, reminds …

1
Preview: Let Your Community Be Your Compass with Akiera Gilbert 12:39

1y ago12:39

12:39

In honor of Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW), we’re sharing a teaser of next month’s episode. It’s with Akiera Gilbert, the new CEO of Project HEAL, whose theme for EDAW is “let your community be your compass.” In this mini-episode, Akiera shares the importance of community when it comes to eating-disorder recovery, her goals with Project HEA…

1
#320: Healing from Emotional Eating, Chronic Dieting, Binge Eating, and Body Shame with Judith Matz and Amy Pershing 1:00:58

1y ago1:00:58

1:00:58

Therapists and authors Judith Matz and Amy Pershing join us to discuss our new collaboration, The Emotional Eating, Chronic Dieting, Binge Eating & Body Image Workbook; why the typical diet-culture response to emotional eating is unhelpful, and what to do instead; how to know if you’re a chronic dieter (as opposed to just a “healthy eater”); the ro…

1
Are You Looking for Support with Intuitive Eating? New Course Enrolling Now! 3:21

1+ y ago3:21

3:21

Hey there! It’s been a minute, but I wanted to pop in and let you know that my Intuitive Eating Fundamentals course is enrolling a new cohort now. I designed the course for anyone who wants to give up dieting, make peace with food, and see what life is like without diet culture in charge. The course normally has open enrollment, but if you join now…

1
"Struggles & Progress " simultaneously 4:11

2y ago4:11

4:11

Savoring both the struggles & and prog together. Why it's important to understand and address them .

1
"A Transforming You " 3:36

2y ago3:36

3:36

What are your transformation goals? Join me daily for the transformation vitamin and begin to tap into your own transformations.

1
#319: Rethinking Wellness: The Wellness Trap with Christy Harrison and Katie Dalebout 1:19:56

2y ago1:19:56

1:19:56

Katie Dalebout guest-hosts the show to interview Christy about her new book, The Wellness Trap! Christy shares why she wanted to write a book about wellness, the potential harms of integrative and functional medicine (and why we’re understandably attracted to these approaches), the connections between wellness culture and diet culture, the legacy o…

1
#318: Do You Really Need to Track Your Body? 16:11

2y ago16:11

16:11

In the penultimate episode of Food Psych, Christy answers an audience question about the wellness-culture trend of monitoring every bodily function, and whether it’s compatible with intuitive eating. Pre-order Christy's upcoming book, The Wellness Trap, for its April 25 release! If you're ready to break free from diet culture and make peace with fo…

1
#317: Rethinking Wellness: The Wellness to Woo Pipeline and the Kids in the Long Shadow of Clean Eating with Laura Thomas 1:00:19

2y ago1:00:19

1:00:19

Nutritionist and author Laura Thomas joins us to discuss what it’s like for kids living in the long shadow of “clean eating,” the “almond mom” trend on TikTok, the "wellness to woo pipeline," how parents and caregivers can let go of wellness-culture beliefs about food for themselves and their kids, and more. Laura Thomas is an anti-diet Registered …

1
#316: The Truth About Those New Diet Drugs 17:17

2y ago17:17

17:17

Christy answers a listener question about Ozempic and other GLP-1 agonist drugs, and why we all should be extremely wary of any new diet drug being hailed as a "miracle." Pre-order Christy's upcoming book, The Wellness Trap, for its April 25 release! If you're ready to break free from diet culture and make peace with food, come check out Christy's …

1
#315: Rethinking Wellness: The Problems with "Natural" Wellness with Alan Levinovitz 1:00:05

2y ago1:00:05

1:00:05

Alan Levinovitz, religious-studies scholar and author of Natural and The Gluten Lie, joins us to discuss the problems with framing eating and wellness practices as “natural,” the weird parallels between gun culture and wellness culture, the tricky balance between empathizing with why people are driven to harmful wellness practices and being clear i…

1
#314: Do Autoimmune Diets Really Work? 15:44

2y ago15:44

15:44

We discuss whether autoimmune diets really work, placebo effects and the problem with anecdotal evidence about diets, and the harmful side effects that can come from restricting what you eat. For lots more on wellness culture, check out the new Rethinking Wellness podcast! Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or sign up to get it in your inbox ea…

1
#313: Rethinking Wellness: Wellness Culture and Infertility, the Challenges of Baby Feeding, and Unpacking Food Sensitivities with Jenee Desmond-Harris 1:01:08

2y ago1:01:08

1:01:08

Jenée Desmond-Harris, Slate Magazine's Dear Prudence advice columnist, joins us to discuss her path toward making peace with food and realizing she didn’t have food sensitivities, how infertility can make people desperate enough to try dubious wellness-culture treatments, the harmful wellness messages she’s gotten while navigating her son’s sensiti…

1
[Repost] #278: Honoring Your Subtle Hunger Cues 14:48

2y ago14:48

14:48

Christy answers an audience question about how to avoid eating too little throughout the day and ending up in an unintentional restrict-rebound cycle. We discuss how to reframe the issue so that you’re not forcing yourself to eat or demonizing “overeating,” and explore why tuning into subtle signs of hunger is essential for self-care. (This episode…

1
[Repost] #277: 5 Things You May Not Know About Emotional Eating 17:48

2y ago17:48

17:48

Are you “doing intuitive eating wrong” if you find yourself eating just because you feel bored/tired/sad/otherwise emotional, or just because you *want* to eat, without being hungry per se? Christy responds, with 5 key ideas to consider. (This episode originally aired on June 13, 2022.) Pre-order Christy's second book, The Wellness Trap, for its Ap…

1
#312: Health Anxiety, Wellness Misinformation, and Media Literacy with Casey Gueren 1:04:44

2y ago1:04:44

1:04:44

Casey Gueren, award-winning health journalist and author of It's Probably Nothing, joins us to discuss how to deal with health anxiety, strategies for recognizing and avoiding wellness misinformation online, how to develop greater media literacy, and more. Pre-order Christy's second book, The Wellness Trap, for its April 25 release! If you're ready…

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12 Week Weight Loss Challenge Podcasts

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