Send us a text The enemy is so sneaky with how he uses the pressures of diet culture and goal setting. But what if you were to learn that there’s a way to take back this territory the enemy has held hostage from you—things like food, movement, and gentle nutrition? Amia Freeman found Christ through fitness, and today she’s sharing how God helped her reclaim this territory in this throwback episode! With Amia, you’ll discover how God can support you in goal setting, how competition and fear impac...
Jul 01, 2025•46 min•Season 6Ep. 66
Send us a text We’ve all heard the term in the Bible, but what exactly is a “yoke?” As it turns out, there are a few meanings for the word. And the concept ties in beautifully with attachment styles (or attachment theory). In today’s episode, Ruth Harper—a Registered Dietitian and longtime friend of FINDINGbalance—shares more on the subject. You’ll learn what attachment theory is all about, how a healthy attachment style with God helps soothe food and body image struggles, and steps to take to c...
Jun 17, 2025•47 min•Season 6Ep. 65
Send us a text What if your “healthy habits” are actually causing harm? God created us with such attention to detail! But sometimes… we seek control amidst the chaos of life and cause confusion to this delicate inner world He’s created. This is especially true in the case of Hypothalamic Amenorrhea(HA). Today’s guest, Ashley Smith of The HA Society, has firsthand experience with. From missing periods and infertility to brain fog and hair loss, the signs and symptoms of HA are often mistaken for ...
Jun 03, 2025•45 min•Season 6Ep. 64
Send us a text It can be difficult to find treatment that fully integrates faith in Christ—especially in-person care. That’s why we’re excited to share this conversation with Amie Shields, founder of Charis Eating Disorder Care, a Christ-centered nonprofit treatment center in Florida. In this episode, Amie shares her powerful story of moving from bondage to breakthrough, the heart and mission behind Charis Eating Disorder Care, what Christian recovery can look like, and how to find help through ...
May 20, 2025•37 min•Season 6Ep. 63
Send us a text Every moment on social media matters. It shapes who we are and the women we will become. But even hearing that, it still feels impossible to break the habit of reaching for the phone to see what your friend has been up to, or what the latest trending Reel is, or even using these apps for work. So… what are you to do? Allie Marie Smith joins Chrissy to talk about this very thing! Her new book is called Social Media Reset . In this episode, you’ll hear messages she shares in her boo...
May 06, 2025•50 min•Season 6Ep. 62
Send us a text The voice of the enemy is loud and persuasive—and sometimes easier to hear than God’s tender, loving messages. Satan is sneaky with the agreements he lures us into. Once we realize the weight of all those lies we’ve believed, it can feel like a hopeless situation we can’t untangle from. But nothing could be further from the truth! Jordan and Marie Foote are back to help us understand how spiritual roots connect to agreements and how identifying and breaking those agreements with t...
Apr 15, 2025•50 min•Season 6Ep. 61
Send us a text Chrissy frequently references the concept of negative spiritual roots, but we've never spent an entire episode digging in to understanding how deep-seated emotions, beliefs, and experiences fuel harmful behaviors and perspectives. Often rooted in past hurts, trauma, or unaddressed sin, spiritual roots can hinder growth and distance us from God. Instead of avoiding the issue once it’s exposed, the Lord wants us to turn toward Him in our time of need. Today, Jordan and Marie Foote j...
Apr 01, 2025•48 min•Season 6Ep. 60
Send us a text No matter which generation you were born into, there are lessons we’d each love to go back and share with our teenage selves. While we can't change the past, we can certainly grow in the present with God's grace. Certified personal trainer, nutrition coach, and author Amy Connell joins Chrissy for this in-depth conversation. In this episode, Amy shares her top 5 lessons she has for her teenage self, staggering statistics about young women and body image, and one thing she’d encour...
Mar 18, 2025•46 min•Season 6Ep. 59
Send us a text Let’s say you find yourself scrolling for hours on social media. And when you’re able to pull yourself away, you go into intense shame mode. Is there possibly something more gentle and helpful that could be done in those moments? The answer is yes! God is there, and He’s waiting for us to turn to Him. Kirsten Schmidt returns to the podcast to discuss what information pollution is, how the enemy uses it to keep us stuck, how it prevents root-cause solutions, what to do when you fir...
Mar 04, 2025•45 min•Season 6Ep. 58
Send us a text The role of supporter is delicate and demanding—even more so when you’re trying to figure out how to support your significant other through an eating disorder. You question if you’re actually seeing disordered eating behaviors, how to get help, what help to get, and the weight of trying to manage a romantic relationship, to name a few. But hope and help is available! Amy Ozier is back for a conversation with Chrissy around the unique challenges of navigating an eating disorder or ...
Feb 18, 2025•52 min•Season 6Ep. 57
Send us a text Chrissy met Amy Ozier a year ago—and here they are now for a hope-filled discussion of helping a loved one through an eating disorder. It’s much harder than most people would know, and something no one is really ever ready for. But there are resources, support groups, and, of course, the Lord. The desire for this episode is to help anyone who is supporting someone they love through their journey to freedom from an eating disorder. That could include parents navigating the role as ...
Feb 04, 2025•57 min•Season 6Ep. 56
Send us a text Chrissy has firsthand experience of the struggles faced by those battling food issues, and the courage it takes to seek help. And while she’s still challenged by diet culture from time to time, she’s no longer held captive by it. Her mission is to help other women find Jesus in the middle of their struggles with food and body image, so they can know true freedom! In this episode, Chrissy shares key practices that have helped her strengthen her relationship with the Lord, turn to h...
Jan 21, 2025•43 min•Season 5Ep. 55
Send us a text Doesn’t it sound lovely to be able to remove the influence of diet culture from mealtime? Well, that doesn’t need to remain a pipe dream! From being single and feeling mentally drained, to having a household of picky eaters, to recovering from an eating disorder—the challenges are real. But mealtime can be made easier! Ann Kent joins Chrissy to share a great tool that helps remove the burden of meal planning and get a quick, nourishing meal on the table in the most non-diet-cultur...
Jan 07, 2025•51 min•Season 5Ep. 54
Send us a text It can be incredibly challenging to feel comfortable and safe being seen—especially in online support groups. And yet… without comfort and safety, it’s impossible to even open ourselves up to allow for healing. So where do we go from here? Enter: Josi Wahlert. Josi and Chrissy have never met in person, but Chrissy has experienced true growth and healing because God brought her into Chrissy’s life. She’s not only a supportive person; she’s also a coach who deeply believes in “gentl...
Dec 17, 2024•56 min•Season 5Ep. 53
Send us a text Today, Chrissy is talking with Leslie Schilling about how an unfed believer is easy prey, an easy target. There has been a trap set before us by the enemy who is the ringleader of the diet culture circus, and it’s gonna be talked about! They get into topics like The Weigh Down diet culture, weight-centric healthcare practices, and what Christ-centered agency looks like. Buckle up because they’re about to go there! GIVEAWAY! One listener will win a copy of Feed Yourself: Step Away ...
Dec 03, 2024•56 min•Season 5Ep. 52
Send us a text If you’re anything like me, you notice how body image struggles start to increase leading up to, during, and after the holidays. We’ve spent time in recent episodes talking specifically about food and the holidays, and this feels like a natural next step in the conversation. Thankfully, I have Rachael Gilbert here with me today! She’s sharing her story and why body image is such an important topic to her, tips on how to process old hurts, as well as some journal prompts to use dur...
Nov 19, 2024•42 min•Season 5Ep. 51
Send us a text Somewhere in September, holiday foods begin appearing on store shelves. It starts with candy and rolls into Thanksgiving and then Christmas baked goods. Before you know it, the New Year is here and you’re feeling such shame and guilt. But this year can be different! Kristen Williams joins us today for our 50th episode—where we have lots to celebrate! She’s sharing how to navigate odd meal times, how intuitive eating can be helpful, and how to handle comments from family and friend...
Nov 05, 2024•42 min•Season 5Ep. 50
Send us a text For many of us, the “sex talk” is a reminder that there’s shame around the topic of sex. And yet God has such a beautiful purpose for sex in a marriage! Men and women are living in such sexual shame—but that doesn’t have to be the case. You get to change the course of that story for your family! And there are plenty of resources available to you. Dr. Joy Skarka is back with me for Part 2 of this conversation (find Part 1 here) where we continue with the importance of talking about...
Oct 22, 2024•30 min•Season 5Ep. 49
Send us a text It is possible to find freedom in Christ from s3xual shame and struggles like p*rnography. (Ladies listen up, because this isn’t a topic that only applies to men.) Too many women are living with s3xual shame and guilt. And for many that spirals into eating issues and negative self-talk. Dr. Joy Skarka joins me for this 2-part conversation and we begin with her story. She also shares relevant eye-opening statistics, what parents need to know, and what we all need to hear about salv...
Oct 08, 2024•31 min•Season 5Ep. 48
Send us a text The 90s had no shortage of messaging that revolved around diet (mostly all things no or low fat) and exercise. From NordicTrack to our trusty VHS tapes, there was no shortage of fitness trends! And this 1995 issue of Shape Magazine I found stored in my old closet reminds us of that. Amy Carlson joins me for the second half of our look at diet culture over the years. (Be sure to check out the 80s Diet Culture Time Capsule episode.) In this episode, we continue our journey down memo...
Sep 24, 2024•43 min•Season 5Ep. 47
Send us a text 80s diet culture was confusing at best. And that’s from an adult woman’s perspective decades later! Imagine being a young girl and receiving messaging that tells you to both blend in and embrace your uniqueness. Good grief! Registered Dietitian, Amy Carlson, joins me for this episode. We’re taking a trip back in time—thanks to a pamphlet I was given at 10 years old that included diet, hair and skincare, and exercise tips so “you can, overall, look healthier, fitter, and prettier t...
Sep 10, 2024•54 min•Season 5Ep. 46
Send us a text After listening to our Q&A Mix Tape conversation in Season 2, our friend Erin Todd from the "Intuitive Eating for Christian Women Podcast" reached out. Like us, she’s seen so many women wrestle with one question we covered, “Are the Health at Every Size® principles Biblical?” She encouraged us to create a stand-alone episode with this as the focus, so here we are! Dr. Alisa Shanks of Colorado Christian University and Amy Schaller of FINDING balance join me to answer this liste...
Jul 15, 2024•20 min•Season 4Ep. 45
Send us a text If you sit with God’s word and reflect on what is shared about body shame and image you may just change your perspective—and your life. And that’s exactly what my prayer is for you today. When you change your mind, you change your life, and that can change the world! Joining me is Travis Stewart. His work has helped me personally and I knew I wanted to have a conversation with him on this podcast. (Check out the full version of the episode here !) Tune in to hear what God actually...
Jul 01, 2024•23 min•Season 4Ep. 44
Send us a text Aging is a journey filled with wisdom, beauty, and profound growth, and there's no need to fear or stigmatize it. In this enlightening episode of the Old School Food Freedom Podcast, host Chrissy Kirkman engages in a heartfelt conversation with Heather Creekmore about transforming our perceptions of aging. Join Chrissy and Heather as they attack the cultural messages and unrealistic expectations placed on women to maintain a youthful appearance, and how these pressures intersect w...
Jun 17, 2024•41 min•Season 4Ep. 43
Send us a text Summer is a great time to get outside and enjoy being with friends and family, and there's no need to continue waiting until you're a certain size to enjoy it. In this empowering episode of the Old School Food Freedom Podcast, host Chrissy Kirkman engages in an enlightening conversation with Heather Creekmore about transforming the way we see our bodies this summer. Join Chrissy and Heather as they discuss the pressures of altering our bodies for the season, the ...
Jun 03, 2024•40 min•Season 4Ep. 42
Send us a text In this episode of the Old School Food Freedom Podcast, host Chrissy Kirkman and guest Kaitlyn Cey talk all about the transformative power of personal testimonies. Kaitlyn courageously shares her journey of battling body image issues and chronic illness, revealing how God met her in her darkest moments. Through their conversation, they explore the profound connection between "calling" and "testimony," emphasizing how sharing our stories can foster authentic community and bring hop...
May 20, 2024•51 min•Season 4Ep. 41
Send us a text In this new episode of the Old School Food Freedom podcast, Chrissy Kirkman and guest Rebecca Feere share a deeply personal conversation about Rebecca's journey of overcoming an eating disorder and finding freedom through God's grace. Rebecca's story will resonate with many, as she navigates through feelings of inadequacy, body image dissatisfaction, and the relentless pursuit of perfection. Despite her achievements and outward success, Rebecca found herself trapped in a cycle of ...
May 06, 2024•57 min•Season 4Ep. 40
Send us a text In this sweet episode of the Old School Food Freedom Podcast, host Chrissy Kirkman and guest Liesel Maddox, RDN, LD, tackle a topic that's close to their hearts: tearing down the lies of diet culture within the Church. As they dive into the intersection of faith and food, Liesel highlights the importance of aligning our understanding of food and nutrition with biblical principles and rejecting the harmful message of diet culture for the freedom of God's people. Knowing that our sa...
Apr 15, 2024•56 min•Season 4Ep. 39
Send us a text Here's another info-packed episode of the Old School Food Freedom podcast! In this second half of a two-part conversation about nutrition, hormonal balance, and freedom from food issues in the midst of perimenopause, host Chrissy Kirkman and special guest Wendie Taylor, MBA, RDN talk about how to better support your body with nourishment and self-compassion. You'll be equipped with ideas and knowledge that will help you focus on flexibility rather than rigid food rules and adding ...
Apr 01, 2024•46 min•Season 4Ep. 38
Send us a text Oh, we've got a good one for ya, gals! Old School Food Freedom Podcast host Chrissy Kirkman invited her personal dietitian, Wendie Taylor, MBA, RDN to talk through the variety of changes women face during the fabulous perimenopause phase of life when diet culture and food struggles can feel even more overwhelming to navigate. They also touch on topics like infertility, miscarriage, and grieving what might have been. By being intentional to nourish both the body, care for your ment...
Mar 18, 2024•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 37
