Episode 16

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Published on:

16th Apr 2025

Do You Eat to Cope? Finding Real Food Freedom from Emotional Eating Without Restriction with Alana Kessler

In this episode, host Spencer Moore and registered dietitian Alana Kessler of Be Well By AK dive into the complexities of emotional eating, exploring how it often stems from deeper issues than mere hunger. They unravel Alana's personal journey of overcoming disordered eating and her holistic approach to healing through nutrition, , connection, yoga and mindfulness.

The conversation highlights the importance of understanding our relationship with food and overcoming the layered pressures that often shape our eating behaviors.

Alana shares her expertise on navigating the challenges of emotional overeating, emphasizing the significance of creating a connection with oneself and fostering a healthy mindset. They discuss the concept of "food noise" and the controversial use of GLP-1 medications, challenging the notion that thin people don't struggle with food-related thoughts. Alana introduces her "Sober Eating Mentorship," offering support and sustainable practices for those seeking to heal their relationship with food.

Timestamps:

00:00 Emotional Eating: A Universal Issue

08:41 Disordered Eating Struggles

10:35 Struggling with Disconnection

19:24 Mind-Body Connection in Self-Care

25:23 Intuitive Eating Failures

35:44 Self-Sabotage

38:14 Societal Impacts

46:48 Mindful Eating and Body Image

47:42 Rethinking Eating Habit Myths

57:58 Be Well By AK’s Sober Eating Mentorship

01:03:41 Lasting Skills

01:06:12 Embracing Community and Connection

Join the conversation and learn how to transform your relationship with food into one of balance and empowerment. Access valuable insights and find your support network by visiting www.BeWellByAK.com and following Alana Kessler on IG at: @bewellbyak

Pluck This Segment!

Alana Kessler offers her Sober Eating Mentorship to help heal emotional eating and obsessive dieting at the root, so you can finally trust yourself around food and feel at home in your body.

Sign up for her 90 program at: https://www.bewellbyak.com/the-sober-eating-mentorship-w

ABOUT THE HOST

Spencer Moore is a creative professional, creative wellness advocate, and host of The Hairy Chin Podcast. Originally from Raleigh, NC, Spencer has resided in Barcelona, Spain since 2016. Her warmth, humor and authenticity bring light to tough conversations about female wellness. Drawing from personal battles with chronic illness and early-stage breast cancer, she is committed to breaking taboos and empowering women in their health journeys.

Website: http://www.thehairychin.com

DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition. This content should not be considered medical advice or a substitute for professional healthcare guidance. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any medical decisions, starting a new treatment, or altering your health regimen.

#TheHairyChinPodcast #EmotionalEating #SoberEatingMentorship #MindBodyConnection #FoodRelationships #DietCulture #OvereatingSolutions #WellnessPodcast #FemaleHealth #NutritionJourney #YogaAndHealing #EatingDisorders #FoodAddiction #EmotionalWellbeing #Mindfulness #FoodNoise

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About the Podcast

The Hairy Chin Podcast
The Hairy Chin Podcast is a female health advocacy show helping women move from being told to advocate for themselves to actually knowing how, with structure, language, and clarity to navigate their healthcare.
The Hairy Chin is a women’s health advocacy podcast focused on the mechanics behind self advocacy. Because here’s the truth: women are told they must advocate for their health, but rarely they are explained how. This show breaks down the practical skills women can learn to navigate medical systems more clearly, from preparing for appointments and communicating symptoms in usable language, to organizing health information and understanding how decisions are made inside the room.
Hosted by Spencer Moore, a patient turned advocate with over thirty years of experience navigating complex health systems (in the US and Spain), this podcast is built on lived experience, interviews with medical professionals, and the patterns that repeat across women’s stories.
This is not a wellness trends podcast. It’s not about biohacking or chasing root causes. It’s about learning how healthcare actually works, and how to participate in it without minimizing yourself, over explaining, or leaving unsure of what just happened.
Through structured advocacy series, conversations with women telling their advocacy in real life stories, and expert interviews, you’ll learn how to show up prepared, communicate clearly, and walk out of appointments with next steps you understand.
Self advocacy is not a personality, it’s is a skillset. And skills can be learned.
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About your host

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Spencer Moore

Spencer Moore is the founder of The Hairy Chin and host of The Hairy Chin Podcast, where she teaches women the lifelong skill they deserve most: self-advocacy. After navigating decades of chronic illness, mental health challenges, and an early-stage breast cancer diagnosis, Spencer turned her lived experience into a mission to help women understand their bodies and trust their voices. Through candid conversations, expert insights, and creative storytelling, she empowers women to take control of their health and well-being on their own terms.