Opal’s Co-founder and Exercise and Sport Program Director, Kara Bazzi speaks about Exercise, Sport, Movement and Mental Health Opal’s Kara Bazzi speaks about her experience as a collegiate runner and an eating disorder therapist, as well as the work being done at Opal to work with athletes and others experiencing food and body concerns…
The Appetite Episode 97: Reflections on Netflix’s Cheer: Thoughts from the Eating Disorder Treatment World on Team Culture Did you tune into Netflix’s docuseries, Cheer? What did you think of the Navarro team culture portrayed? In light of all the tv-watching that’s been happening while sheltering in place, we decided to keep it casual for…
The Appetite Episode 95: Exercise in the Time of Coronavirus: How to Move Through Your Grief How have social distancing and sheltering-in-place impacted your relationship to exercise? There is loss of all kinds during this time—there are relational and fiscal losses, losses of routine and identity, and of course, loss of life. However, as…
The Appetite 92: Why an Elite Runner Stopped Running to Recover True Health: An Interview with Tina Muir What might it be like to be a professional athlete—the symbol of health and strength in our culture—and to have a gut instinct that something is not well in your body? This was the case for…
The Appetite Episode 88: Sport Performance: Should Weight Ever be Manipulated? “Leaning out” and manipulating body weight have been widely accepted modes of performance preparation for elite athletes. But as the sports world wakes up to the harm that the emphasis on weight manipulation can have on athletes’ mental and physical health (like in runner…
The Appetite Episode 82: Good Coaching Matters: A Conversation with University of Washington’s Center for Leadership in Athletics What makes a good coach? With no agreed upon definition of a “qualified coach,” this is a question often ignored! Julie McCleery, PhD, of the Center for Leadership in Athletics at the University of Washington, joins…
The Appetite #79: Shifting Toxic Sports Culture: Reflections on Runner Mary Cain’s Story Does sport culture need to change? We say, absolutely—and especially around weight! Mary Cain was the fastest high school distance runner in the world until she joined the best distance running program in the country, the Nike Oregon Project, coached by…
Dear Coach, Let’s get re-acquainted. I know there’s been some tension in our relationship and I’m hoping we can clear the air by getting to understand each other better. This is what I assume about you: you are doing your best. period. I also assume that some days you probably enjoy the influence you have…
Last week, the New York Times published a brave post by distance runner Mary Cain. She is boldly using her voice (and her justified anger) to advocate for change in sport culture. We are so grateful for this story and others that bring awareness to the harm that is done when coaches and sport…
The Appetite Episode #74: Diet, Exercise, and Your Period: What You Need to Know Is it normal to lose your period when changing up your diet or exercise routine? Nicola Rinaldi, PhD joins the podcast today to discuss her journey to recover her period once it was lost, and offers her wealth of knowledge…