WOW!!! This episode is a must-listen, especially for those in eating disorder recovery or dealing with any kind of disordered eating. In just one hour, Dr. Anita will enlighten you with her wisdom, humor, and helpful tools for healing your relationship with food.

You will learn...
- how disordered eating can be healed through spiritual stories and metaphors
- why an eating disorder is a unique type of addiction
- the role of “power” in one’s struggle with food - how to uncover symbolic meanings in food
- why recovery is FUN!
- how to find your hunger and fullness cues - and so. much. more.

Remember: full recovery is possible (this is coming from a renowned psychologist who runs a residential treatment center and has helped thousands of people recover for good).

Anita Johnston, Ph.D., is a Depth Psychologist, Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, and author of Eating in the Light of the Moon: How Women Can Transform Their Relationships with Food Through Myth, Metaphor, and Storytelling, which has been published in seven languages. A pioneer in the field, Dr. Johnston has been treating eating difficulties and body image distress for over 35 years. She has developed eating disorder programs nationally and internationally and currently serves as Founder & Executive Director of ‘Ai Pono Hawaii Eating Disorders Programs which has a Residential Program in Maui. She is the co-creator of the Light of the Moon Café, an online resource with interactive and self- study courses for women around the world.

Get Dr. Anita’s free Food Metaphor Guide here.

And sign up for her Feminine Psyche course here.

As a recognized international workshop presenter, Dr. Johnston lectures globally to professional organizations, conferences, universities, medical institutions, and the community at large and provides virtual consultations. She is best known for integrating metaphor and storytelling into her training as a clinical psychologist to explain the complex issues that underlie disordered eating behavior and other struggles with eating and body image. You can find Dr. Anita at https://dranitajohnston.com/ and follow Dr. Anita on Instagram: @dranitajohnston

Mary shares her candid thoughts on modern dating, relationships, marriage and how to approach romantic love with self-love. From the age-old debate about who should pay for the first date to the importance of embodying the qualities you seek in a partner, this episode is filled with honest reflections and thought-provoking insights. Mary challenges traditional relationship narratives, encourages self-reflection, and reminds us that love is not the only path to a fulfilling life.

You will learn about...

• why the person who makes the invitation should pay for the date (and why this often falls on men)
• the unseen emotional and energetic labor women contribute to relationships
• the importance of becoming the person you want to be with
• rethinking the idea that relationships must be hard work
• why love alone is not always enough

Remember: You teach people how to treat you by how you treat yourself.

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify. Your feedback helps Mary’s Cup of Tea reach more people who need these self-love reminders!

Get Mary’s self-love books:

1. The Gift of Self-Love, an interactive workbook that will help you build confidence, recognize your worth, and learn to finally love yourself.
2. 100 Days of Self-Love, a guided journal with 100 prompts to help you calm self-criticism and learn to love who you are.

Mentioned In This Episode...

• Ep. 231 talking neurodivergence and 2025 goals with my bestie Dahli Durley
• Ep. 219 of Mary’s Cup of Tea: Should Your Partner Be Your Best Friend? with Rhaina Cohen
• Ep. 234: Reflecting on my trip to Cuba

If you’ve gone through a break-up recently, this episode is for you. We're talking with breakup coach Kendra Allen to learn...

• how to cope with a situationship ending
• why going “no contact” is beneficial to a break-up
• ways that break-ups are similar to addiction recovery

Kendra Allen is a breakup coach, host of the Heal Your Heartbreak Podcast, author of The Breakup Workbook, and founder of Break Up Bestie. After going through a series of painful breakups, Kendra realized there was a huge gap online for practical and healthy heartbreak advice and she set out to fill it. She first launched the @yourbreakupbestie Instagram account in 2017. Since then, Kendra has helped hundreds of thousands of people recover from heartbreak through her blog, social media, coaching, and podcast. Kendra has been featured in Cosmopolitan, On Air with Ryan Seacrest, ABC News, and more.

Follow Kendra on Instagram: @yourbreakupbestie

Learn more about Kendra’s breakup courses

And if you enjoyed this episode, screenshot it and share it on social media! Make sure to tag @maryspodcast and @yourbreakupbestie