Podcasts have become an increasingly popular way to learn about eating disorders and related experiences such as body image for people living with an eating disorder, families, supports, and practitioners. They are a way to access information and enhance knowledge and understanding at a time and in a place that suits the listener. People can multi-task (go for a walk, do chores around the house, go for a drive) and fit podcasts into their daily lives, while at the same time learning from practitioners and people with lived experience.
We have collated several podcasts contributed to or developed by eating disorder organisations across Australia. In these podcasts, there is information to support clinician knowledge and practice, while other episodes and series are designed to cater to families, supports and people with lived experience.
NEDC-MHPN
Dr Beth Shelton, NEDC National Director, and Belinda Caldwell, CEO of Eating Disorders Victoria (EDV), co-host Eating Disorders: Beyond the Unknown, a podcast series produced in partnership by the NEDC and the Mental Health Professionals Network (MHPN).
In this four-part series, Beth and Belinda engage people with lived experience of an eating disorder, their supports, and dietitian Shane Jeffrey in wide-ranging and thought-provoking discussions in understanding what it’s like to live with, care for and provide support for someone living with an eating disorder.
The first episode will be available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify on 3 November, with new episodes every Wednesday.
Listen to the trailer here.
Listen to Episode 1 - Eating Disorders Unpacked here or click on image below.
Listen to Episode 2 - Understanding Anorexia here or click on the image below.
To learn more about the hosts and guests for these episodes, or to access the supporting resources, please visit the MHPN website here.
SBS
The Disruptive Companion podcast series features NEDC Strategy and Policy Lead Louise Dougherty. Listen here:
Episode 1 – Carers: features Deakin University researcher Genevieve Pepin and co-founder Eating Disorders Families Australia Christine Naismith.
Episode 2 - Early intervention features Eating Disorder Victoria CEO Belinda Caldwell, Butterfly Foundation Clinical Director Ranjani Utpala, and The Royal College of General Practitioners spokesperson Dr Caroline Johnson.
Episode 3 - First Nations stories: features Butterfly Foundation Clinical Director Ranjani Utpala, NEDC Strategy and Policy Lead Louise Dougherty, and Black Dog Institute Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategy Director Leilani Darwin.
Episode 4 - Men, the untold story: features NEDC Strategy and Policy Lead Director Louise Dougherty, Eating Disorder Victoria CEO Belinda Caldwell, and Body Image Research Unit Lead at Monash University Dr Gemma Sharp.
Episode 5 – Migrants' stories: features May Zaki, an Egyptian-Australian, and clinical psychologist Dr Maala Lal.
Butterfly Foundation
Two seasons of Butterfly's Let's Talk podcasts feature experts, people with a lived experience and their families and carers, covering topics such as mental health, teens and body image, social media and difficulties accessing care.
Listen here
Eating Disorders Families Australia
To mark Body Image and Eating Disorder Awareness Week, EDFA’s Christine Naismith, GP Dr Jenny Conway, and a parent and EDFA member spoke to the ABC podcast The Conversation Hour.
Find out more here
Eating Disorders Victoria
EDV Candid Conversations is a podcast that looks at a different aspect of recovery.
Find out more here
InsideOut Institute for Eating Disorders
Issues discussed include exercise, trauma, recovery, anxiety and eating disorders among First Australians with Dr Adam Burt.
Listen here
Eating Disorders Queensland
EDQ's Carer's Helpkit includes access to podcasts on overcoming an eating disorder, recovering from anorexia in mid-life and more.
Listen here