The NPRD

Dr. Eric Zhou, PhD, a specialist in sleep disorders, joins TheNPRD Podcast for the first episode of season 5. His expertise and care of many of so many patients utilizing CBTi (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia) has been incredibly beneficial to their mental health and overall well being. Join us as we discuss how and why CBTi can and does work and why for women in mid-life this is such a crucial piece to their wellbeing. Learning to ask our patients and ourselves ‘Are You Happy With Your Sleep?’ can be the first question into a thoughtful history, plan of care...

Kate Sweeney, MS, RDN (German Ernährungswissenschaftlerin) and Zoe Spranger, MSW, LCSW (German Psychologische Beraterin), join TheNPRD Podcast to discuss their new initiative, The Four Roots Collective.
Their team also includes Alexandra Coates, MS, Dipl. Psychologist (German Heilpraktiker für Psychotherapie) and Kristen Kiesow, MS, RDN (German Ernährungswissenschaftlerin).
In this episode we discuss:
• Eating disorder care landscape in Germany and Europe
• How dietitians and therapists can serve clients internationally
• Starting a business as female entrepreneurs abroad
Resources: If you need eating disorder, disordered eating, or body image support in Germany or Europe, contact t...

In this culminating episode of our three-part series with Stella Mental Health, we bring together Dr. Eugene Lipov and Dr. Brian Boyle for an in-depth exploration of interventional psychiatry. Both practitioners share a fundamental understanding that mental health treatment requires individualized approaches—there is no one-size-fits-all solution for addressing depression, post-traumatic stress injury, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety.

This episode takes a comprehensive look at specialized care and what a trajectory may look like for individuals navigating the intersection of perimenopause, menopause, eating disorders, disordered eating, and body image challenges. Dr. Boyle and Dr. Lipov demonstrate how targeted in...

In part 2 of our 3-part series with Stella Mental Health, we sit down with Dr. Eugene Lipov, Chief Medical Officer and co-founder of the Stella Centers, to discuss his pioneering work on the Dual Sympathetic Reset (DSR) procedure. Dr. Lipov explains how this minimally invasive treatment, involving small anesthetic injections near the stellate ganglion, has evolved from a pain management technique to a revolutionary non-hormonal option for treating vasomotor symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, as well as PTSI (Post Traumatic Stress Injury) and other psychiatric conditions. Join us as we explore the exciting potential of DSR technology and its...

Part 1 of 3-Part Series with Stella Mental Health

Dr. Brian Boyle, Chief Psychiatric Officer at Stella Mental Health, discusses moving the needle in patient care through integrated TMS treatment. Rather than replacing existing treatment foundations, TMS builds on them with additional tools for patients when current approaches aren’t quite enough.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation is one of the few neuroanatomically focused treatments targeting treatment-resistant depression and OCD, with evolving data for addictive disorders and anxiety disorders.

Join Heather Hirsch, MD, and me for one of the most fun and intimate podcast episodes to date! For both clinicians and consumers, we learn from Heather about how easy it is for women to feel better with – you guessed it – FDA approved hormone therapy. Heather shares her business acumen and the career advice she didn’t take – we’re thankful she didn’t because what she has created is truly amazing. This episode is full of personal stories mixed with professional expertise while including the most refreshing look at women’s health.

Johanna Kandel, founder and CEO of The National Alliance for Eating Disorders, joins us for the third time ahead of Not One More Weekend, February 28th, March 1st and March 2nd, 2025. She updates listeners on all of the Alliance growth over the past year including the community and support for those suffering with eating disorders, disordered eating and body image struggles as well as their loved ones. Have a listen for all of this weekend’s events accessible worldwide as well as parts of Johanna’s own story which are incredibly inspiring.

Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani, founder of the Gaudiani Clinic, providing expert medical care for eating disorders, joins TheNPRD podcast speaking incredibly eloquently on ‘Getting To Yes’. Getting to yes means being hyper-patient centric makes the difference in returning agency to our patients. Her advice and care focus suggesting ‘helping patients feel autonomy around what’s going on’ recognizes how these integral pieces can help heal medical trauma.

Leigh Van Dusen, MS, LDN, owner and director of clinical operations for Van Dusen Nutrition, has a group practice and started the STEP program in 2020. STEP is an acronym for Supplemental Treatment Based in Experiential and Exposure Programming bridging the gap between intensive outpatient and outpatient care. This additional level of care in recovery in an in person intimate setting can be the game changer for long term eating disorder recovery.

Break the glass ceiling on our relationship with body image and healing with Deb Schachter, LICSW, and Whitney Otto, MA, PCC discussing their book Body Image Inside Out. Deb and Whitney suggest finding a third way to connect to our bodies and body image referencing and building on years of experience in their workshops – the precipitants to their book. We can practice having different relationships with our body image through play, self compassion, mindful awareness, curiosity and letting go expectations of perfection.

Katie Gustamachio, MEd, RD, and Kate Craigen, PhD, both of Monte Nido Walden speak to the magic of community being privileged to work with humans and their sacred, vulnerable & honest journeys toward recovery from binge eating disorder within Free To Be. Binge eating disorder remains the most common eating disorder and having Free To Be as a virtual program licensed in over 20 states available to humans struggling is the topic of this episode of TheNPRD podcast. Hope for change is necessary and incredibly possible as we hear in this conversation.

How do clinicians learn to hold hands integrating cutting edge and long term research into clinical practice? Dr. James Greenblatt of Psychiatry Redefined joins TheNPRD podcast inclusive of his fellowship program, a rich discussion on ADHD and why women are diagnosed later in life, and what nutritional guidelines can enhance the diagnosis and treatment of this disorder. Definitely listen to this one all the way to the end!

Caryl James, PhD, and Melissa Freizinger, PhD, join TheNPRD podcast delving into the 4th annual conference titled ‘Dying To Be Beautiful’ held on December 6-8 in Kingston, Jamaica. We discuss trends in body image, eating behaviors and health in the Caribbean and those specific to Jamaica and the impetus of this amazing conference.

We’re celebrating our 50th episode today! Please join Jordan Rich, my co host, and I, as we talk about our awesome listeners and guests, milestones & moving forward. Keep tuning in, subscribe, and leave us a review on Apple. We are so fortunate to have all of you who have joined me and Jordan on this podcast journey.

Today’s guest on The NPRD podcast is Brandy Walker, CCI Certified ED Recovery Coach, of RecoverYouLLC.com. Brandy shares a trifecta of advice from her own recovery of complex trauma and an eating disorder to her career and being a woman entrepreneur. She shares how embracing her journey helped embody her whole being, inclusive of a thriving private practice as a remote and live-in eating disorder recovery coach.

A question parents and guardians often ask of children at any age with an eating disorder or disordered eating is ‘Why can’t they just eat?’. Jane Reagan, RDN, CEDS, MEd Counseling, and I discuss her self paced training made for parents and caregivers to aid in the eating disorder recovery of their children. While parents can’t heal their children, finding resources to learn around the journey to recovery are priceless.

Jeanette Alonso, MSEd, LMHC, Clinical Director of Galen Hope, shares her experience and clinical pearls after years of working with families in eating disorder treatment. We discuss how pivotal conversation and vulnerability between parents or caregivers and children of any age is in changing the trajectory towards healing.

Ibbits Newhall joins TheNPRD podcast sharing her own recovery story and that of her daughter both of which shaped her career with various treatment centers and her own consulting practice. We discuss the phrase ‘Go slow to go fast’ suggesting thoughtfulness in helping families and individuals find creative treatment solutions. A must listen for parents and caregivers.

Join Rebecca (Becky) Manley, MEDA Founder, MEDA board member, and owner of Manley Coaching!, and I as we discuss all things MEDA’s 30th birthday. We reflect on the question ‘Would You Take Your Own Advice?’ and delve into what recovery has been for Becky and how her view of this for all humans has shifted over time.

Lisa Pearl, MS, RDN, CED-S, and Fiona Sutherland, Accredited Practicing Dietitian, Yoga Teacher and Clinical Supervisor, join us on TheNPRD sharing their upcoming training for dietitians. Lisa, Fiona and I have a dynamic conversation on the evolution of reflective supervision in the field of dietetics cementing the elevating aspects their training has to offer.

We welcome back Amy Boyers, PhD, clinical psychologist, President and co-founder of Galen Hope, for one of her favorite topics: Getting Better vs. Getting Well. Amy and I discuss how patients move through getting better to getting well – the differences of these – and why we truly want patients to be and live well in their eventual recovery. Galen Hope is a sponsor of today’s podcast.

The National Alliance for Eating Disorders (formerly The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness), led by Johanna Kandel, joins us for the second time to speak to Not One More Weekend, this weekend, February 23, 24, 25, 2024, around their pillars of help, support and recovery. Listen in to hear all about this weekend’s upcoming events understanding support is available and accessible regardless of where you are nationally or across the world.

Jessica Setnick, MS, RD, CEDRD-S is an incredible entrepreneur in the eating disorder field. She has led the industry in Eating Disorder Boot Camp training for dietitians as well as authored what will be the 3rd Ed. (out in the fall of 2024) Pocket Guide to Eating Disorders for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Jessica’s Dietitians Guide To Professional Speaking is yet another endeavor as is the International Federation of Eating Disorder Dietitians. Jessica is funny, fierce and her forward thinking is insightful and inspirational.

Beth Mayer, LICSW, who was my own supervisor in the past and remains a mentor to me, is our very special guest for this episode. Beth is a gifted family therapist and has been in the field for nearly 40 years. She served as Executive Director of the Multi-Service Eating Disorders Associate (MEDA) in Newton, MA for more than 17 years. Her private clinical practice focuses on working with individuals, couples and families struggling with all types of issues including anxiety, depression and trauma with a specialty towards eating disorders and disordered eating. Please join us to hear more about why...

Jordan Rich, my good friend and producer of The NPRD, joins me on our first episode of season 3 of The NPRD. We talk about milestones of the podcast and future guests. As well as new resources for nurse practitioners working in the field of eating disorders (they’re free!). Robyn and Jordan also discuss what supervision is for clinicians and another big anniversary. So much to feel inspired about and help you practice with ease.

Have you ever met a person who has recovered from an eating disorder yet healed themself alone? Kate Sweeney, MS, RDN, LDN, Ernährungswissenschaftlerin (Germany) is a private practitioner with 10 years of experience in the eating disorders field. As you’ll hear we agree in today’s episode, healing is relational – we heal together. Kate provides nutrition therapy, meal support and group support to clients in the US and Europe. Her groups are for those studying abroad, post-grads, and for humans in recovered enough spaces to feel and be seen in this dynamic setting.

Sandy Klemmer,  MS, RD, LDN, E-RYT/YACEP, joins us on the podcast to discuss yoga as a way of being aside from physical poses. We learn more of her studies and personal philosophy devoted to exploring spirit and consciousness through sadhana including movement, meditation, wonder, nature, and academic study. In both roles – as a yoga teacher and nutritionist – Sandy works with individuals to mobilize newfound clarity towards greater purpose and joy.

In today’s episode we are celebrating the memory of Jaime Hyde, MA, MSW, LICSW, whose expertise most recently was in providing meal support recovery services for clients in collaboration with therapeutic teams. Jaime and I discuss the missing piece in ED treatment — meal coaching. Jaime was a trusted colleague, member of the Greater Boston Wellness Collaborative, and a dear friend.

Lauren Adler Dear, MS, RDN, is an expert in eating disorders and gastroenterology practicing in the greater Boston area. In this episode we cover gastroparesis and POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) and their relationship to those with eating disorders. We also hear about EDGItraining.com.This is an incredible up and coming resource for eating disorder registered dietitians looking to learn more about the co-occurence gastrointestinal diseases.

My daughter, Eve, age 10, joins us again, this time in the studio with Jordan Rich. We discuss an experience Eve had around being labeled because of her body size and shape. Robyn, Jordan and Eve talk about how to handle these tough situations.

Dr. Daniel Brenner, Founder and medical Director at Cambridge Biotherapies, takes us further into ketamine assisted psychotherapy (KAP) and how this works adjunctively for patients struggling with eating disorders and concomitant depression, anxiety, and trauma. Dan has been at the forefront of this treatment, and others such as MDMA and psilocybin – both soon to be available in Massachusetts –  as they continue to change the course of treatment for so many.

We welcome Amy Boyers, PhD, and Fiona Larosa Waters, BS, of Galen Hope and delve into their philosophy on what has been termed ‘treatment resistant’. We discuss better ways to serve patients –  and clinicians –  leaning away from use of this language and instead recognizing the need to pivot care and reframe treatment inclusive of symptoms and wellness.

The National Alliance for Eating Disorders (formerly The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness), led by Johanna Kandel, joins us to speak to Not One More Weekend, this weekend, February 24, 25, 26, 2023, around their pillars of help, support and recovery. Listen in to hear all about this weekend’s upcoming events understanding support is available and accessible regardless of where you are nationally or across the world.

Our 30th podcast is a very special one! We are joined by Dr. Diana Lemly of MassGeneral Hospital who’s practice focuses on eating disorders. She is triple boarded in internal medicine, adult and pediatric care. She has created a new clinic at MGH, providing specialized medical care for adolescents and adults with eating disorders, and she enjoys collaborating with therapists, dietitians and other physicians throughout the region. She also works with Equip Health, providing evidence-based, virtual eating disorder care.

Join Adrien Paczosa, RD, LD, CDERD-S, as she traverses us through her journey from running a large private practice employing dietitians to becoming Chief Clinical Officer of Nourish. Nourish is a telehealth company of dietitians, taking insurances, treating folks from across the nation within a weight inclusive lens. This episode is a must listen for nutrition and telehealth entrepreneurs.

Join Kathy Kates, FNP, Melissa Hines PT, DPT, also both women entrepreneurs, as we discuss their three amazing businesses including The Institute for Pelvic Health, Wellest Integrative Health, and WomanNPPlease. We also begin to delve into the intersection of the pelvic floor and eating disorders and our collaboration together as clinicians for our patients.

TheNPRD includes work life balance. My daughter Eve, age 10, joins me today and shares wisdom she has learned living with an NPRD Mom. Today’s podcast pertains to clinicians and patients. Get a glimpse of how we impart walking the walk and talking the talk in our home.

Amy Gardner, MS, CEDRD, RYT

Amy Gardner, MS, CEDRD, RYT, is a certified eating disorder registered dietitian and yoga teacher.
Join Amy and I as we hear all about her book ‘iMove, Helping Your Clients Heal from Compulsive Exercise’ and
training for clinicians enhancing their practice with a greater knowledge base on her trademarked iMove Method.
Amy also touches on business aspects as an owner of Metrowest Nutrition, a multi-disciplinary group practice with
several locations throughout the Greater Boston and MetroWest area.

Karen Chinca, LICSW, CEDS-S, Diplomate, Academy of Cognitive Therapy, joins us to discuss the phrase ‘drop the rope’ in treatment with our patients and clients. She is an expert in OCD and eating disorders, their dual diagnosis, and exposure therapy. Karen teaches us how and why we need to treat all of a person’s diagnosis in a dynamic, caring, thoughtful journey together with their anxiety as their best friend.

Lauren Manasse, LICSW, CEDS-S, and Robyn delve into EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), its origin, and how this type of therapy can be profound. Lauren’s professional experience and training is essential to continuing to strive for hope in our patients’ recovery journeys.