The Full of Beans Podcast

by Hannah Hickinbotham

Season 2

A Mother’s Story of Navigating ARFID, Choking Fears and PEG Feeding with Michelle Jacques

In this week's episode, Han is joined by Michelle Jacques. Michelle is a devoted mum of two who has lived with ARFID since her son started weaning. Through her own experience of supporting her son with ARFID, she has become a passionate advocate, working tirelessly to raise awareness and support others navigating life with this complex food intake disorder. She is the founder of @arfid_life_uk, where she raises awareness of ARFID by sharing her family's experience. This episode holds space for the grief, the guilt, the fight, and also the hope, including the unexpected shift Michelle has seen as her son’s body becomes nourished again. This week, we discuss: What ARFID can look like and how it can go beyond “picky eating.” How sensory differences, autistic eating, and ARFID can overlap How illness can trigger choking fears and a trauma response that reinforces food avoidance What it’s like when a child’s intake drops to just a couple of “safe” items What a PEG (gastrostomy tube) is and how PEG feeding can support ARFID The emotional impact of PEG decisions for parents, including grief andguilt Why nutrition can change anxiety, rigidity, and capacity The role of advocacy in ARFID awareness How to document ARFID symptoms to report to a doctor Timestamps: 03:10 Sensory differences, autism, and how ARFID developed over time 07:40 Illness, choking fears, and how trauma can collapse food intake 09:15 Hospitalisation: constipation and appendix surgery 18:30 What a PEG is (and what people often misunderstand about it) 29:40 How PEG feeding can support ARFID 41:30 Guilt, grief, and learning to let the feelings exist 45:10 ARFID Advocacy work Resources & Links Follow @arfid_life_uk on Instagram Listen to the 3Mums1Mission ARFID Podcast Connect with Us: Subscribe to the Full of Beans Podcast Follow Full of Beans on Instagram Check out our website Listen on YouTube ⚠️ Trigger Warning: Mentions of eating disorders, ARFID, NG tube feeding. Please take care when listening. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help us spread awareness. Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛

S2 · E254

Jan 26, 2026

55:02

Voices of Experience in Eating Disorders with Kel O'Neill

Kel O’Neill is a UK-based counsellor, educator, researcher, and lived-experience advocate specialising in eating disorders. She is the founder of Mental Health Bites, creator of The Eating Disorder Recovery Companion, and the curator of VOXED – Voices of Experience in Eating Disorders. Kel’s work focuses on ethical, trauma-informed practice, challenging stigma, and bridging the gap between lived experience and professional knowledge. This week, we discuss: What VoxED is and why Kel created it. Why eating disorder education often feels inaccessible, and what VoxED is doing differently. How VoxED broadens “lived experience” to include clinicians, carers, researchers and community voices. Why lived experience shouldn’t be tokenistic, and how it can be valued as expertise. Why the eating disorder field needs shared spaces for nuanced, difficult conversations. How recovery goes beyond food and weight to identity, meaning and living. Timestamps: 00:00: What is VoxED? 02:10 :Where did the idea began (EDAW 2021) 05:10: Who's speaking at VoXED 06:40: Moving beyond “tick-box” lived experience 08:10: The purpose of VoxED: shared space + shared power 14:40: Why change has been slow in eating disorders (and what’s missing) 21:10: Recovery beyond food and weight: identity, meaning, and living 42:10: VoxED details: date, access, recordings, and low-cost tickets VoxED conference details: Date: Friday 13th February Format: Fully online (9:00–18:30, with breaks) Tickets: self-select pricing options £20 / £37 / £50 Resources & Links Follow Kel on Instagram (@kel_mhb) Visit Kel's website (www.counsellingandtraining.co.uk) to find out more about VOXED Subscribe to the Full of Beans Podcast Follow Full of Beans on Instagram Check out our website Listen on YouTube If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help us spread awareness. Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛

S2 · E253

Jan 19, 2026

46:55

Season 1

Compulsive Exercise and Eating Disorder Informed Gyms with Sophie du Plessis

This week on the Full of Beans podcast, Han is joined by Sophie du Plessis, a final-year Master of Nursing student in Adult and Mental Health Nursing at King's College London and founder of ED Informed. Sophie previously studied psychology at the University of Toronto, where she capped off a 15-year career as a national-level swimmer, co-captaining the varsity women's team to a second-place finish at Canadian Nationals. Drawing on her background in competitive sport and her own lived experience of an eating disorder, Sophie set up ED Informed, a campaign calling on gyms and fitness spaces to become eating disorder informed. She's currently working with Beat to develop accredited training for fitness staff to help them recognise and signpost people at risk of disordered eating and compulsive exercise, alongside piloting screening measures at the King's College London campus gym. In This Episode: Sophie's journey from competitive swimming to compulsive exercise and eating disorder Spotting the difference between healthy training and compulsive exercise Why disordered exercise can sneak in quietly, unnoticed Discipline vs wellness culture vs compulsive exercise Signs gym staff can look out for in clients Sophie's work piloting eating disorder awareness training for gyms Rebuilding a healthy relationship with exercise after an eating disorder Sophie's vision for ED Informed and eating disorder-informed gyms ⚠️ Content note: this episode discusses eating disorders, compulsive exercise, and body image. Please take care while listening. Connect with us: Subscribe to the Full of Beans Podcast Follow Full of Beans on Instagram Check out our website Listen on YouTube Connect with Sophie and ED Informed via her website or Instagram (@edinformed) Health policy petition: https://www.change.org/EDInformed_HealthPolicy

S1 · E284

Aug 24, 2026

38:37

Why Binge Eating Disorder Is Being Missed by GPs: Screening, Stigma & GLP-1s with Dr Stella Kozmér

S1 · E283

Aug 17, 2026

49:43

Food Freedom after 17 Years of Disordered Eating and Body Dysmorphia with Elle Mace

Explicit

This week on the Full of Beans podcast, Han is joined by Elle Mace, a food psychology and body image practitioner, international speaker and debut author of Food Freedom, published by Vermilion/Penguin later this year. Elle brings together years of clinical training with her own lived experience to help people find a calmer, more peaceful relationship with food. Alongside her one-to-one and speaking work, Elle hosts the More to Life podcast. She delivers accredited training for fitness and sports professionals on body image, disordered eating and GLP-1 medications. Elle's approach is simple: food freedom is psychological, and everyone deserves the understanding and support to get there. In this episode, we explore: Elle's journey to writing Food Freedom and putting her disordered eating experience into words Why awareness is the hardest, and most essential, first step in recovery How toxic wellness culture can disguise itself as something healthy Elle's experience of body dysmorphia and how it showed up beyond just weight and shape Elle's shift between different eating disorders over the years, and why none of them ever really "ended" on their own The rock-bottom moment that led Elle to ask for help What eating disorder recovery actually looked like for Elle Why relationships, jobs and old patterns sometimes have to shift as part of getting well Protecting your energy in recovery, and why that isn't the same as being selfish Why hearing relatable, lived experiences can land differently to clinical information Connect with Us: Subscribe to the Full of Beans Podcast Follow Full of Beans on Instagram Check out our website Listen on YouTube Connect with Elle via Instagram (@iamellemace), LinkedIn or via her website www.ellemace.com ⚠️ Content Note: This episode discusses eating disorders (including restriction, binge eating and bulimia), body dysmorphia, and body dissatisfaction. Please take care while listening.

S1 · E282

Aug 10, 2026

40:55

Bulimia Recovery, Gender Transition and Making Fitness Feel Safe Again with Zelah Glasson

This week on the Full of Beans podcast, Han is joined by Zelah Glasson. Zelah is a trans man, content creator and fitness coach who has been openly sharing his transition journey over the past two and a half years, and has lived experience of bulimia. Zelah recently made history as the first transgender man to appear on the ITV version of Big Brother, further amplifying his voice and visibility. He is now building an online personal training business focused on supporting and empowering others within his community. In this episode, we explore: Zelah's journey to personal training for trans and queer clients Zelah's bulimia recovery story and NHS eating disorder treatment gaps The difference between "In recovery" vs "recovered" How shame and control are related to bulimia The impact of public conversations about men's eating disorders Zelah's experience of gender dysphoria, body dysmorphia and transitioning The importance of trans representation in fitness Using exercise as a coping mechanism and understanding the difference between exercise and compulsive exercise How to build sustainable fitness habits centred on enjoyment, flexibility, and body awareness Connect with Us: Subscribe to the Full of Beans Podcast Follow Full of Beans on Instagram Check out our website Listen on YouTube Connect with Zelah via Instagram (@zelahglasson) and TikTok (@zelahglasson) ⚠️ Content Note: This episode includes discussion of eating disorders (bulimia), body dysmorphia, gender dysphoria, and the relationship between exercise and disordered eating. Please take care while listening.

S1 · E281

Aug 3, 2026

44:44

The Healing Power of Art Therapy in Eating Disorder Recovery with Jessica Mackney

This week, Han is joined by Jessica Mackney, an HCPC-registered Art Psychotherapist passionate about how art therapy can help people explore experiences that may be difficult to put into words and build meaningful therapeutic relationships, while increasing awareness of the role art therapy plays in supporting recovery in eating disorder treatment. Working from a trauma-informed, non-judgemental approach, Jess supports people across the lifespan with eating disorders, autism, SEN, and complex trauma, across the NHS, education, and non-profit sectors, with a particular focus on young people and eating disorders. In this episode, we explore: What art therapy actually is beyond common misconceptions ("just drawing or painting") How the relationship between therapist, client and the artwork itself carries meaning Why perfectionism and control (often present in eating disorders) can make engaging with art materials difficult How art therapy offers a route into communication when verbal expression feels inaccessible or unsafe The role of choice, agency and non-judgement in the therapy space Working with people who are non-verbal or struggling to access words for their experience How the connection between body, senses and materials can support reconnection for those with eating disorders Han's own experience of art, perfectionism, and rediscovering creativity after her eating disorder How art can hold and express difficult emotions — including anger and frustration — safely Ways people can explore the benefits of creative expression at home, distinct from clinical art therapy Connect with Us: Subscribe to the Full of Beans Podcast Follow Full of Beans on Instagram Check out our website Listen on YouTube Connect with Jessica via LinkedIn. ⚠️ Content Note: This episode includes discussion of eating disorders, disordered eating, and self-harm. Please take care while listening, and know that this podcast is always here to come back to.

S1 · E280

Jul 27, 2026

39:57

No Longer Legally Detained: From Inpatient Care to Activism, Empowerment and Art with Hannah Whitfield

Have you ever been in and out of hospital so many times that everyone around you quietly stopped believing you'd ever get better, so you started to believe it too? This episode is for you." This week on the Full of Beans Podcast, I'm joined by Hannah Whitfield, a creative activist, writer, speaker, performer and founder of Legally Detained - a lived-experience-led creative platform transforming survival into power through art, activism and unapologetic storytelling. Her work explores neurodivergence, trauma, mental health systems, eating disorder recovery, inclusion and the power of creative expression. Through speaking, writing, performance, consultancy and her podcast No Longer Legally Detained, Hannah challenges systems that ask people to become smaller to survive, and instead creates work that says: we were never broken - we were surviving worlds that were never built with us in mind. In this episode, we explore: Where Legally Detained came from Hannah's experience of psychiatric admissions Being placed on a ward that didn't believe her eating disorder was "real" Becoming a "revolving door patient" across CAMHS, adult services, and secure care The problem with BMI criteria as a gatekeeper for treatment Where restrictive practice crosses the line from safety into cruelty The rock-bottom moment that changed everything How an ADHD diagnosis helped Hannah understand her own patterns for the first time Reframing recovery: it's not a "utopia," it's learning to ride the wave Why purpose and belonging, not just words, are what help people recover Connect with Us: Subscribe to the Full of Beans Podcast Follow Full of Beans on Instagram Check out our website Listen on YouTube Connect with Hannah via Instagram @legallydetained, her website, blog, or podcast: No Longer Legally Detained. ⚠️ Content Note: This episode contains discussions of eating disorder treatment, inpatient care, and iatrogenic harm. Please take care of yourself while listening.

S1 · E279

Jul 20, 2026

55:53

When the System Wasn't Built for You: Trans Identity, Neurodivergence and Eating Disorders with Eva Echo

Have you ever walked into a healthcare setting and felt like one part of your identity was being used to explain away everything else? This one is for you. Eva Echo (she/they) is a distinguished activist, writer, and TEDx speaker, focusing on transgender+ rights, intersectionality, and eating disorders. After hearing Eva speak at the Dump the Scales march, I basically ran after her to get her on the podcast, and I am so glad I did. Eva has spent years fighting for trans+ people in healthcare, including taking NHS England to the High Court over unlawful waiting times, and many other incredible projects. She also has her own lived experience of an eating disorder, autism, and ADHD, and this conversation weaves all of that together in a way I haven't heard anywhere else. In this episode, we explore: Eva's experience of restrictive eating and how it developed alongside her identity as a trans woman How autism and ADHD intersect with her eating disorder The moment a GP told Eva she couldn't have an eating disorder and it's lasting impact Eva's experience of Trans broken arm syndrome What medical gatekeeping looks like across eating disorders, gender identity, and neurodivergence, Eva's legal challenge against NHS England and the landmark ruling that came from it Why the NHS can feel like a conveyor belt instead of individualised care Eva's path analogy in relation to eating disorder recovery Eva's message to anyone who has never felt truly seen or heard Eva's message is simple, and I think it is everything: be your own kind of beautiful. Connect with Us: Subscribe to the Full of Beans Podcast Follow Full of Beans on Instagram Check out our website Listen on YouTube Connect with Eva via Instagram (@evaech0) ⚠️ Content Note: This episode contains discussions of eating disorders, medical gatekeeping, gender identity, neurodivergence, and experiences of suicidal ideation. Please take care of yourself while listening. Photo credit: Lunar Sea.

S1 · E278

Jul 12, 2026

46:29

Holding Two Truths: When Eating Disorder Care Both Helps and Harms with Dr Tanya Frances

Have you ever sat in a treatment room and felt like the real you was completely invisible, like the system was so focused on your weight, your behaviours, your diagnosis, that it forgot there was a whole person underneath? This episode is for you. This week on the Full of Beans Podcast, I'm joined by Tanya Francis, a research psychologist, lecturer at the Open University, and psychotherapist in private practice, who also brings her own lived experience of an eating disorder to this conversation. Tanya's background is in domestic violence research and gender-based violence, and the more she looked at how systems respond when someone is harmed, the more she saw uncomfortable parallels with eating disorder care. In this episode, we explore: What iatrogenic harm means and why care systems can sometimes cause harm The role of BMI and weight in treatment, How rigid care centralising numbers can reinforce eating disorder logic How weight stigma in healthcare shuts people out before they've even begun The culture of mistrust around eating disorders and the damage it does Why people pleasing in treatment can look like recovery but lead straight back to relapse Moral injury and what happens when clinicians can't act on their own values Tanya's own experience of not being believed in her body during inpatient care Why truly humanising care is both simpler and more complex than it sounds How two things can be true at once, e.g. a broken system and incredible people working within it Connect with Us: Subscribe to the Full of Beans Podcast Follow Full of Beans on Instagram Check out our website Listen on YouTube Connect with Tanya via Instagram (@drtanyafrances), LinkedIn or her website ⚠️ Content Note: This episode contains discussions of eating disorder treatment, inpatient care, and iatrogenic harm. Please take care of yourself while listening.

S1 · E277

Jul 6, 2026

46:29

1 of 29