Explore every episode of the podcast Bright Line Living™ - The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

What if your Food Addiction Susceptibility Score doesn’t tell the whole story? This week, I’m answering a fascinating question about two different systems in the brain, and why understanding them could change how you approach your Bright Lines.

Take the Food Addiction Susceptibility Quiz here: https://ble.life/sscz0f

FOR THIS EPISODE and MORE: https://ble.life/ari79h
Susceptibility Scores for Substance vs. Process Addiction | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

Years ago, a fellow researcher said something to me about childhood obesity that I’ve never forgotten. This week, I’m revisiting that conversation and sharing news of an exciting international conference that could help change how we approach food addiction in children.

Get your conference ticket here: https://tinyurl.com/IFACC-2026-Tickets

FOR THIS EPISODE and MORE: https://ble.life/hatlju

Addressing Food Addiction and Obesity in Children | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

Why does Bright Line Eating sometimes feel almost magical the first time, but so much harder when we’re trying to get our Bright Lines back again? This week, I’m exploring the fascinating brain science behind that difference, including dopamine’s role and how our brains respond to relapse. Most importantly, I’ll share how you can recreate some of that early magic and find your way back to peace and freedom around food.

FOR THIS EPISODE and MORE: https://ble.life/xzmd5c 
Why the First Time Feels Magical | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

Have you ever had a craving, gone out of your way to get exactly the food that would satisfy it, and then not even enjoyed eating the food? Why does that happen? And what can be done about it? The answer lies in the brain. Tune into this week’s vlog to find out.

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Wanting vs. Liking in Food Addiction | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

Dopamine does more than create cravings. It also constantly compares what you expect with what happens, and the difference can shape what your brain wants next. This week, I’m exploring the science of reward prediction error, why a Bright meal can become its own reward, and why disappointment or delay can sometimes trigger surprisingly intense feelings.

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Reward Prediction Error and What It Means for You | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

GLP-1 medications can feel almost miraculous: less food noise, less hunger, and significant weight loss. But they may also affect dopamine, food choices, stress responses, and more. This week, I’m looking at five things about GLP-1s that don’t get talked about enough, especially if you’re taking one, considering one, or wondering what happens if you eventually want to stop.

*This event is now over.

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5 Things No One Tells You About GLP-1s (Not Even Doctors) | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

When someone you love is struggling with addiction, it can be hard to know when you’re helping and when you’re making things worse. In my conversation this week with Kate Duffy of Tipping Point Recovery, she offers a compassionate, practical framework to help family members step out of the chaos and respond differently and more effectively.

Schedule a call with Tipping Point Recovery: https://ble.life/cbtnn1 

Click here to download the FREE Disarming Statements Guide from Tipping Point Recovery.

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Interview with Kate Duffy—Healing the Family Disease of Addiction | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

What if something as simple as tracking your Bright habits could help rebalance your brain? This week, I talk about the difference between desire dopamine and control dopamine, and why checklists, calendars, and habit stacks play a real role in recovery.

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Desire Dopamine and Control Dopamine | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

Sometimes the minute we tell ourselves “I can’t have that,” the desire for it gets even stronger. This week, I’m talking about why that happens, and how changing the way we think and talk about our choices can help you keep your Bright Lines strong.

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Overcoming Psychological Reactance | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

*This event is now over.

Holiday weekends can be joyful, but surprisingly risky for keeping to our Bright Lines. This week, I look at the subtle ways we sometimes stop taking care of ourselves around food, and what helps us stay grounded instead.

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Avoiding Self-Abandonment on Holiday Food Weekends | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

*This event is now over.

There’s a new tool in the landscape of weight loss and food addiction, and not everyone feels the same way about it. This week, I want to talk about how we navigate those differences while staying grounded in love and respect.

FOR THIS EPISODE and MORE: https://ble.life/v2lse8 
On Accepting GLP-1s in the BLE Community | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

For years, I’ve wondered why something like sugary colonoscopy prep didn’t seem to trigger people with food addiction. New research on expectation-driven dopamine helps explain why your motives matter, and why even a food that shouldn’t cause problems can sometimes start lighting up the brain.

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Expectation-Driven Dopamine Release | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

Childhood trauma profoundly affects the brain and can significantly impact later eating patterns and adult weight. How? Why? What can be done? Watch this week’s vlog to find out.

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How Early Trauma Affects Eating and Weight | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

What if the best way to keep moving forward isn’t to push harder? In this vlog, I explain why taking a deliberate pause in weight loss can sometimes be the wisest path to long-term success, and how a maintenance break can give your body and mind a chance to recover before you continue the journey.

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The Maintenance Break | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

Sometimes flexibility is exactly what you need. Sometimes it’s your food addiction trying to negotiate. How can you tell the difference? In this vlog, I share a practical framework for evaluating exceptions without sacrificing your peace.

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Safe vs. Unsafe Exceptions | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

Support is meant to help someone move forward, but sometimes it quietly makes it easier for them to stay stuck. In this vlog, I look at how that happens in buddy relationships and what it takes to shift the dynamic.

Access the Failsafe Feedback Framework here: https://ble.life/z1zqqv 

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Support vs. Enabling | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

If you've ever wondered why your body hasn't responded the way you expected, despite faithfully following your Bright Lines, this conversation may be for you. Emma Cloney, president and co-founder of Lipedema Canada, answers our community's questions about lipedema. It’s shockingly common and explains some frequently-experienced challenges in Bright Line Eating.

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Lipedema Questions and Answers | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

You’ve reached Maintenance, but what if the weight range you chose isn’t the range where you’ll find lasting peace? In this vlog, I explore the difference between a goal range and a peace range, and why true success may be about more than the number on the scale.

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Goal Range vs. Peace Range | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

Today is my birthday, and in the months leading up to turning 52 I started seriously asking one of the biggest questions any of us can: What is the meaning of life? In this week’s vlog, I share the journey I took and the answer I came to.

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The Meaning of Life | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

Why do we reach for food when we don't intend to? Sometimes the answer is emotion. Sometimes it's addiction. Often, it's both. In this week's vlog, I explore the important differences between emotional eating and addictive eating, how they overlap, and why understanding them can help you navigate recovery with greater clarity and compassion.

Click here to register for the free webinar.

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Emotional Eating vs. Addictive Eating | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

GLP-1 medications may quiet cravings and reduce compulsive eating, but do they actually treat sugar addiction? In this week’s vlog, I explore what the science says about dopamine, food noise, and whether lasting recovery requires more than medication alone.

Click here to check out the Bright Line Eating 14-Day Challenge.

FOR THIS EPISODE and MORE: https://ble.life/2vdbeb 
Do Weight-Loss Drugs Treat Sugar Addiction? | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

This week's vlog is an interview that begins as a weight-loss success story and ends as something much deeper. Dixie King's journey offers powerful insights about gratitude, connection, healing, and the realization that none of us has to earn love.

FOR THIS EPISODE and MORE: https://ble.life/k4aqkt 
Interview with Dixie L. King | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

In this week's vlog, I'm exploring a condition that wasn't on my radar until recently: lipedema. It's estimated to affect millions of women, yet many people have never heard of it. What I've learned has completely changed the way I think about certain cases of stubborn, resistant fat loss. If you've ever struggled with unusually slow weight loss—or know someone who has—you won't want to miss this conversation.

*Note: We are no longer taking question submissions. Listen to the Weekly Vlog: Lipedema Questions and Answers, published on July 15, 2026 here: https://www.brightlineeating.com/podcasts/bright-line-living-the-official-bright-line-eating-podcast/episodes/2149229970. 

FOR THIS EPISODE and MORE: https://ble.life/tm7cfy 
Bright Line Eating and Lipedema | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

What happens when a medical situation seems to collide with your Bright Lines? In this week’s vlog, I share a personal story from my own pregnancies, and the option that my doctor and I settled on that allowed me to take care of my health while still honoring my Bright Lines.

FOR THIS EPISODE and MORE: https://ble.life/k4syok 
How to Pass the Glucose Tolerance Test Without Drinking Sugar | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

What if the key to long-term success with your Bright Line Eating program isn’t perfection—but alignment? This week, I’m exploring a concept that changed the way I think about identity, personalization, and what it really means for a program to “fit.” If you’ve ever felt guilty for adapting your program so it works with your life, this conversation may open a whole new door for you.

*This event is now over.

FOR THIS EPISODE and MORE: https://ble.life/zvjtle 
Get Aligned | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

Most people think IBS is something you just have to manage—but what if that’s not the full story? In this week’s vlog, I sat down with Dr. Izabella Wentz to explore the root causes of IBS and how gut health connects to so many aspects of overall well-being. If you’ve been struggling with digestive issues—or any chronic health challenge—this conversation may open up a new way of understanding what your body is trying to tell you.

FOR THIS EPISODE and MORE: https://ble.life/nuojhd 
Interview with Dr. Izabella Wentz | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

What if addiction isn’t as simple as we think it is? In this week’s vlog, I explore a question that came up in a recent conversation with a Bright Lifer—one that led to a deeper look at the difference between dependence and addiction, and how we recognize the patterns that shape our behavior.
It’s a perspective that may invite you to look at things a little differently.

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The Family Resemblance of Addiction | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

Many people think weight loss is about food and willpower, but that’s not the whole story. In this week’s vlog, I talk about two deeper forces that can quietly keep you stuck. If you’ve ever found yourself regaining weight or struggling with maintenance, this may be why.

Learn more about Maintain and order your copy at JoinTheMaintenanceMovement.com

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Overcoming the Barriers to Weight-Loss Maintenance | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

Learn more about Maintain and order your copy at JoinTheMaintenanceMovement.com

Many people think that losing weight is the hard part, and that maintenance will take care of itself. But that belief is one of the biggest reasons people struggle long-term. In this vlog, I walk through the five most common myths about weight-loss maintenance. As we launch my fifth book this week, Maintain, it’s worth taking a close look at what maintenance actually means.

Learn more about Maintain and order your copy at JoinTheMaintenanceMovement.com

FOR THIS EPISODE and MORE: https://ble.life/csjrms 
5 Myths of Weight-Loss Maintenance | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

Click here to start the 14-Day Challenge today! 

I talk to so many people who want to change—but are afraid to try again. If that’s you, I want you to know you’re not alone. The 14-Day Challenge is back, and it’s designed to make starting feel safe again. You don’t have to be all-in. You don’t even have to believe it will work. Just take the first step and let the process unfold. I’d love to walk it with you.

Click here to start the 14-Day Challenge today! 

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The 14-Day Challenge is Back! | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

Click here to register for our launch week events and order your copy of MAINTAIN. 

It’s one week until my new book, MAINTAIN, is out in the world, and I couldn’t be more excited. We’ve created a full lineup of launch-week events to celebrate—and to support you in stepping into true Maintenance. This isn’t just about a book. It’s about becoming someone who keeps the weight off for good. If you’ve been on the rollercoaster of losing and regaining, this is your moment to step into something different. I hope you’ll join me.

Click here to register for our launch week events and order your copy of MAINTAIN. 

FOR THIS EPISODE and MORE: https://ble.life/oudkdk 
Special Edition Vlog: MAINTAIN BOOK LAUNCH! | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

Click here to learn more and join the Maintenance Database.

This week, I’m inviting you into something I’ve wanted to build for a long time—the Maintenance Database. After more than a decade of helping people lose weight and keep it off, I know there are thousands of you living in maintenance… but we’ve never had a way to truly see you. What does it mean to “be in maintenance,” really? And what can we learn from those who have found lasting freedom with food? If you’re devoted, resourced, and liberated—even imperfectly—I want to invite you to stand up and be counted.

Click here to learn more and join the Maintenance Database.

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The Maintenance Database | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

I had such a thought-provoking conversation this week with Dr. Marion Nestle. She’s the most famous nutritionist in the world—you’ve probably seen her in lots of movies (like Super Size Me and so many more). We talked about how to think about food in a world where so much of what’s available is ultra-processed and engineered to keep us coming back for more. We also explored the role of policy, agriculture, and consumer influence in shaping the food landscape. There’s a lot here to reflect on—and I’m still thinking about parts of it.

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Interview with Marion Nestle | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

A note about this conversation:
This interview explores food policy, which can intersect with political topics. While Bright Line Eating does not typically engage in political discourse, we are sharing this conversation because food policy is an important part of the broader food landscape.

The views expressed by Marion Nestle are her own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Susan or Bright Line Eating, its members, or its team.

To preserve a safe and supportive environment for recovery, we ask that political discussions not be brought into our Support Community.

Click here to access the webinar.

I’ve cried in the shower over things that didn’t make sense. I’ve eaten in ways that felt completely out of my control. What I’ve learned is this: hormones are incredibly powerful—but they’re not the whole story. If you’ve ever felt like your eating is being driven by something you can’t quite control, you’re not imagining it. There’s a reason it feels this hard—and there’s also a way forward. I’ll be sharing more in a live conversation this week, and I’d love for you to join me.

Click here to access the webinar.

FOR THIS EPISODE and MORE: https://ble.life/eo1r5m 
Hormones and Emotional Eating | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

For years, meditation felt impossible for me. Every time I tried to quiet my mind, it felt uncomfortable—sometimes even painful. But over time, I discovered how to create meditation habits that I could manage. In this week’s vlog, I’m sharing the four types of meditation I’ve come to know through 23 years of daily practice—and how giving myself permission to try one approach finally made meditation work for me.

*This webinar is no longer available. If you’d like to be notified when the next webinar or workshop opens, you can add your name to the waitlist. https://ble.life/waitlist 

FOR THIS EPISODE and MORE: https://ble.life/5zoxjb 
The 4 Types of Meditation | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

There was a time in my life when I needed more support than I knew how to find. In today’s vlog, I’m announcing a partnership I wish had existed back then. Bright Line Eating is officially collaborating with Milestones, a residential treatment center specializing in eating disorders and food addiction. If getting Bright has felt out of reach, this may be an option worth exploring.

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Introducing the Milestones + Bright Line Eating Partnership | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

Click here to order your copy of MAINTAIN by Susan Peirce Thompson, PhD.

Most weight-loss programs fail because they ignore one thing: Maintenance. In this week’s vlog, I’m breaking down how to design your Bright Line Eating program so it actually fits your life, your brain, and your cravings. Also—I’ve got BIG exciting news for you… You’ll get the inside scoop on my upcoming book, MAINTAIN, and fun pre-order bonuses that are available. And I’ll share details on a brand-new free webinar happening THIS WEEKEND.

Click here to order your copy of MAINTAIN by Susan Peirce Thompson, PhD.

FOR THIS EPISODE and MORE: https://ble.life/aqthci 
Design Your Weight-Loss Program | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

Is focusing on yourself selfish—or essential for healing? This week, I unpack the difference between self-centeredness and true self-care—and why protecting your Bright Lines may be the most generous thing you can do.

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Self-Centered vs. Self-Caring | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

Why do some people recover—and others don’t? In this Best Of vlog, we dive into the Big Book’s haunting phrase: “cannot or will not.” Is it about motivation? Willpower? Something deeper? If you’ve ever wondered why food addiction can feel impossible—and how a cannot can turn into a can and will—this one is for you.

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The Best of The Weekly Vlog: Cannot or Will Not | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

I have often said that I have just one pet peeve in life: the word “carbs.” That word irks me because it conflates sugar and flour with apples and carrots, resulting in people (lots and lots of people) who are literally afraid to eat an apple. But I may actually be developing a new pet peeve, and it has to do with how people are starting to talk about personal growth. Curious? I explain it all in this week’s vlog…

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Growth is Not Linear | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

There’s a part of your brain that grows every time you do something hard but healthy, and it plays a major role in willpower and long-term success. In this vlog, I explain how it works, why it matters for Bright Line Eating, and how simple daily challenges can strengthen motivation over time.

FOR THIS EPISODE and MORE: https://ble.life/vsw2bd 
Grow Your Tenacity Circuit | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

*Note: This event is now over. Click here to join the waitlist for The Bright Reset.

People always say that diets don’t work, that you need to change your lifestyle. But what does that really mean? Turns out, it’s about more than developing new habits and behaviors. Diet mentality runs deep and it may just be the number one blocker to a contented life of sustained weight loss. Do you have diet mentality? What exactly is it, anyway? And how do you break free? Tune in to this fan-favorite vlog to find out.

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The Best of The Weekly Vlog: Diet Mentality | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

Diet Mentality was originally published on September 11, 2024: https://www.brightlineeating.com/podcasts/bright-line-living-the-official-bright-line-eating-podcast/episodes/2148864201 

I’ve been diving into The Forever Strong Playbook by Dr. Gabrielle Lyon, and it’s reshaping how I think about strength, protein, and longevity. From muscle as the agent of aging well to simple, portable movement and recovery, my conversation with her opened my eyes. If you’re curious about how much protein you really need and how to live strong in the second half of life, you’ll want to watch this vlog.

Click here to order The Forever Strong Playbook and access the author interview!

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The Forever Strong Playbook | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

What is the meaning of life? How do we create a life that feels meaningful to us? How much is it wise to risk? What kinds of experiences should we be seeking? This week I share my thoughts on these topics. I’ve come to a perhaps counterintuitive conclusion, after running a bunch of my own experiments. I’ll be curious to hear what you think.

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Experience More | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

In this fan favorite vlog, I share my single best piece of advice for those starting out with BLE. Most people start Bright Line Eating focused on weight loss. That’s natural. But true success comes from learning how to maintain that loss long-term. Here, I share the one decision I believe matters most for building a stable, sustainable future.

Advice for Someone Starting Bright Line Eating was originally published on June 7, 2023: https://www.brightlineeating.com/podcasts/bright-line-living-the-official-bright-line-eating-podcast/episodes/2147958753 

FOR THIS EPISODE and MORE: https://ble.life/3mitzb 
The Best of The Weekly Vlog: Advice for Someone Starting BLE | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

There’s a saying I come back to again and again because it illuminates so much about change and accountability, especially around food and personal growth. In this vlog, I unpack what it means (and explain how it helps you figure out whether you’ve broken your Bright Lines or not). It’s the perfect frame of mind for entering 2026 strong and resourced. Happy New Year!

*Our special event has now ended.

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When You Become Aware You Become Responsible | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

When we’re tired, stressed, or overstimulated, social situations can quickly spiral into insecurity and self-doubt. In this vlog, I walk through two powerful mental tools I use to manage negative thinking, interact with others with wisdom and grace, and find my way back to contentment in the present moment.

FOR THIS EPISODE and MORE: https://ble.life/duzm7w 
ANTs and WAIT | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

If you’ve ever felt wildly inspired, full of ideas, and unable to slow down—I see you. I’ve been living there lately myself. In this vlog, I share a practice I’m using to transform that “rev” into something calmer, steadier, and deeply joyful—without losing the magic of creativity.

FOR THIS EPISODE and MORE: https://ble.life/i4hahb 
Channel Excitement Into Gratitude | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

If you’ve ever wondered whether your struggles could actually become the source of your strength, this vlog is for you. I’m open about my past—and how I learned to rewrite my story into something extraordinary. Here, I show you how to make meaning out of your own challenges and struggles.

FOR THIS EPISODE and MORE: https://ble.life/0m9bzy 
Meaning Making | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast

If you lived through childhood trauma, you’ve likely heard of Anna Runkle. The million-plus subscribers at her YouTube channel, Crappy Childhood Fairy, have used her ideas and encouragement to heal. She’s also a Bright Lifer, and in my conversation with her, we talked about the overlap in the two programs, as well as nervous system healing, CPTSD, and the daily practices that transformed her life.

FOR THIS EPISODE and MORE: https://ble.life/rqxuh4 
Healing Trauma: An Interview with Anna Runkle | Bright Line Living | The Official Bright Line Eating Podcast