If you feel stuck in cycles with ultra-processed food, cravings, weight struggles, and a loss of control, you are not broken, and you are not alone. Hosted by Paige Alexander, this podcast goes beyond diets, calorie counting, and quick fixes to uncover what’s really driving your relationship with food.
You’ll learn how to:
• Break free from ultra-processed food dependency
• Rebuild trust with real, whole, single-ingredient foods
• Understand the science behind cravings and habits
• Heal the emotional patterns tied to food
• Create sustainable weight loss without obsession
This isn’t about restriction, it’s about restoration. In this new chapter of Real Food Recovery, Paige brings a deeper, more personal approach to what it truly takes to find freedom with food. If food isn’t the answer…let’s start asking better questions.
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The Truth About Food on the Brain: How it Affects Mental Health (Maria Cross)
Episode 6
Thursday, April 2, 2026 • Duration 58:17
Are we being told the full truth about cholesterol—and its role in heart disease?
In this episode of the Real Food Recovery Podcast, Paige Alexander sits down with Maria Cross, author of How to Feed Your Brain, to explore the connection between cholesterol, brain health, metabolism, and the modern diet.
In a world driven by ultra-processed food, rising anxiety, and chronic health struggles, many people are left confused about what actually supports healing. This conversation breaks down the science and challenges common beliefs about food while connecting them to mental health, gut health, the immune system, and long-term wellness.
Maria Cross specializes in nutrition and brain health, with a growing focus on adults over 55 who want to maintain a sharp mind, stable mood, and metabolic health as they age.
Together, we explore:
The truth about food and brain health
How processed food impacts brain function and mood
The connection between gut health, immunity, and metabolism
Why the body must be viewed as a complete, interconnected system
Practical ways to support long-term cognitive and physical health
If you’ve ever felt confused, frustrated, or overwhelmed trying to “do the right thing” for your health, this episode will help you reconnect to what actually works.
Real Food Recovery helps people break free from processed food addiction and rebuild a life rooted in nourishment, peace, and self-trust.
You are not alone in this.
📩 Share your questions or story: realfoodrecovery4u@gmail.com
Your Liver Can Heal: Reversing the Damage of Ultra Processed Foods
Episode 5
Thursday, March 26, 2026 • Duration 01:04:58
Real Food Recovery Podcast developed from a society wrestling with processed food addiction and the deep ache that comes with feeling trapped in destructive patterns. After decades of obsession, frustration, and starting over more times than can be counted, Paige Alexander holds this space to speak honestly about what it takes to heal. Each episode opens the door to the real, raw, and often messy journey of recovery—offering compassion, lived experience, and the practical tools that helped rebuild a life grounded in peace instead of chaos.
Join us as we welcome functional medicine practitioner, Dr. Vohn Watts. Dr. Watts is at the forefront of gut‑brain, functional medicine, helping thousands translate “symptoms as signals” into lasting recovery. A former military intelligence professional turned clinician, he blends systems‑level thinking with evidence‑informed practice to solve the two upstream drivers of chronic illness, deficiency and toxicity. As the author of Foundational Wellness: The Simple System That Ends Doctor Dependency Forever, he offers a clear, stepwise framework that turns complex science into simple daily habits. Today, he advises executives, teams, and media on building energy, focus, and resilience in a high‑stress, digital‑first world. You can find Dr. Watts at https://aegisformulas.com/
Every conversation is an invitation to feel less alone. Alongside personal stories, Paige takes time to share listener questions about addiction, recovery, mindset, and the emotional work that makes lasting change possible. If you’re searching for hope, understanding, or simply someone who “gets it,” this podcast is here to walk with you.
Questions, stories, or thoughts can be shared anytime at realfoodrecovery4u@gmail.com, and more resources can be found at www.realfoodrecovery4u.com.
Real Food Recovery™ is an original educational podcast focused on sustainable nutrition, self‑trust, and recovery‑aligned living.
You Are Not Broken with Michelle Petties
Episode 4
Friday, March 20, 2026 • Duration 01:01:40
Real Food Recovery Podcast developed from a society wrestling with processed food addiction and the deep ache that comes with feeling trapped in destructive patterns. After decades of obsession, frustration, and starting over more times than can be counted, Paige Alexander holds this space to speak honestly about what it takes to heal. Each episode opens the door to the real, raw, and often messy journey of recovery—offering compassion, lived experience, and the practical tools that helped rebuild a life grounded in peace instead of chaos.
Don’t miss this opportunity to fall in love with Michelle. Michelle Petties is a TEDx speaker, Food Story coach, and author of the award-winning memoir Leaving Large: The Stories of a Food Addict. She reveals how emotional wounds, cultural expectations, and personal history—not hunger—often shape how we manage food. After battling emotional overeating for over four decades and gaining and losing over 700 pounds, Michelle discovered that the key to lasting weight loss wasn’t another diet—it was rewriting the stories behind her eating.
Through workshops, retreats, and her ebook Mind Over Meals, she helps others uncover their food truths, rewire their thinking, and create lasting change from the inside out.
Real Food Recovery Podcast developed from a society wrestling with processed food addiction and the deep ache that comes with feeling trapped in destructive patterns. After decades of obsession, frustration, and starting over more times than can be counted, Paige Alexander holds this space to speak honestly about what it takes to heal. Each episode opens the door to the real, raw, and often messy journey of recovery—offering compassion, lived experience, and the practical tools that helped rebuild a life grounded in peace instead of chaos.
Real Food Recovery Podcast developed from a society wrestling with processed food addiction and the deep ache that comes with feeling trapped in destructive patterns. After decades of obsession, frustration, and starting over more times than can be counted, Paige Alexander holds this space to speak honestly about what it takes to heal. Each episode opens the door to the real, raw, and often messy journey of recovery; offering compassion, lived experience, and the practical tools that helped rebuild a life grounded in peace instead of chaos.
Welcome back to Real Food Recovery. We took a short, intentional pause over the past month, and today we’re stepping into a new season of the podcast, one that’s more deeply aligned, more focused, and grounded in the full picture of healing. Moving forward, you can expect conversations that go beyond food to include grief, trauma, nervous system regulation, and motivational, real-life stories that offer a roadmap for sustainable recovery. This time away strengthened the direction of this work, and we’re excited to be back and moving ahead with greater clarity and purpose. During this brief pause, Paige was able to complete additional training in trauma- and grief-informed support, which has helped further shape the direction of the conversations you’ll be hearing here. It’s deepened our focus on the nervous system and the root causes behind our relationship with food.
With that being said we have the honor of being here w Shae today, our resident certified functional nutrition counselor and certified health and life coach, with trauma-informed and nervous system training; here to help us make sense of our bodies, minds, and stories, while aiming to keep us grounded in real, honest, and raw ways, all while staying totally human along the way. Today we wanted to talk about a topic that’s been heavy on our minds, and that isVerbal Grounding: Say It to Stay Safe: Using Verbal Grounding in Recovery and Grief!!!
Every conversation is an invitation to feel less alone. Alongside personal stories, Paige takes time to share listener questions about addiction, recovery, mindset, and the emotional work that makes lasting change possible. If you’re searching for hope, understanding, or simply someone who “gets it,” this podcast is here to walk with you.
Questions, stories, or thoughts can be shared anytime at realfoodrecovery4u@gmail.com, and more resources can be found at .
Reclaim Your Brain with Real Food
Episode 1
Friday, March 20, 2026 • Duration 14:44
Real Food Recovery Podcast developed from a society wrestling with processed food addiction and the deep ache that comes with feeling trapped in destructive patterns. After decades of obsession, frustration, and starting over more times than can be counted, Paige Alexander holds this space to speak honestly about what it takes to heal. Each episode opens the door to the real, raw, and often messy journey of recovery; offering compassion, lived experience, and the practical tools that helped rebuild a life grounded in peace instead of chaos.
If you have ever wondered, what has been done to my nervous system? Why does it feel like my body is betraying me? Then you are in the right place! Welcome to the Real Food Recovery Podcast. I'm Paige Alexander, host and creator, and this podcast exists to help people understand one powerful truth: When we reconnect with real food, we don't just change our diet. We change our brain. We change our nervous system. And often… we change the entire trajectory of our lives. And I know this because it was me. So buckle up and listen in as we take a deep look into the world of ultra processed food use disorder, and all of its many effects.
Every conversation is an invitation to feel less alone. Alongside personal stories, Paige takes time to share listener questions about addiction, recovery, mindset, and the emotional work that makes lasting change possible. If you’re searching for hope, understanding, or simply someone who “gets it,” this podcast is here to walk with you.
Questions, stories, or thoughts can be shared anytime at realfoodrecovery4u@gmail.com, and more resources can be found at www.realfoodrecovery4u.com.
CHAPTERS: 00:00 "Real Food Recovery Podcast"
03:46 "Sugar: Comfort or Misery?"
09:26 "Survival Mode and Food Cycle"
12:04 "Restoring Balance Through Biology"
GLP1 Medications, Weight Loss and Food Addiction Recovery
Episode 20
Thursday, July 9, 2026 • Duration 45:35
Food addiction, ultra processed food recovery, and weight loss medications are explored in this episode of Real Food Recovery Podcast™. This conversation focuses on GLP 1 medications and how they interact with appetite, behavior change, and recovery from ultra processed food patterns.
Real Food Recovery Podcast™ was created from a society wrestling with ultra-processed food addiction and the deep exhaustion that comes from feeling trapped in destructive patterns. After decades of obsession, frustration, and starting over, Paige Alexander holds this space to speak honestly about what it takes to heal, offering lived experience, grounded perspective, and practical tools to rebuild a life rooted in peace instead of chaos.
Today’s conversation focuses on a growing topic in recovery, the use of GLP 1 receptor agonists like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Monjaro for weight loss. Whether you are currently using one of these medications, considering it, or simply trying to understand how they fit into recovery, this episode offers a more balanced and grounded perspective.
Paige and Shae explore how these medications impact appetite, behavior, and decision making, and why they can be a tool but not a cure when it comes to healing from ultra processed food patterns. They also discuss the importance of continuing the internal work of rebuilding self trust, awareness, and sustainable habits alongside any external support.
This conversation creates space for nuance, helping you think through your own choices without judgment, pressure, or extremes. If you are navigating weight loss, recovery, and the role of medication, this episode will meet you where you are.
Questions, stories, or thoughts can be shared anytime at realfoodrecovery4u@gmail.com and more resources can be found at www.realfoodrecovery4u.com.
Real Food Recovery Podcast™ is an original educational podcast focused on sustainable nutrition, self trust, and recovery aligned living.
Binge Relapse and I Blew It Thinking in Food Addiction Recovery | Connie Bennett
Episode 19
Thursday, July 2, 2026 • Duration 01:06:30
Binge Relapse and I Blew It Thinking in Food Addiction Recovery | Connie Bennett
Food addiction, ultra processed food recovery, and relapse patterns are explored in this episode of Real Food Recovery Podcast™. This conversation focuses on binge episodes, “I blew it” thinking, and how shame and all or nothing patterns impact recovery from ultra processed food addiction.
Real Food Recovery Podcast™ was created from a society wrestling with ultra-processed food addiction and the deep exhaustion that comes from feeling trapped in destructive patterns. After decades of obsession, frustration, and starting over, Paige Alexander holds this space to speak honestly about what it takes to heal, offering lived experience, grounded perspective, and practical tools to rebuild a life rooted in peace instead of chaos.
In this episode, Paige is joined by Connie Bennett, author of I Blew My Diet! Now What?, to talk about a moment so many people know well, the moment you think, “I blew it.” Whether it is a binge, a spiral, or a series of choices that feel out of control, this conversation reframes what that moment actually means in recovery.
Together, Paige and Connie unpack what is happening emotionally, neurologically, and mentally after a slip, and why shame often becomes louder than the original behavior. They explore how the “start over” cycle keeps people stuck, and what it looks like to respond differently in a way that supports real, lasting change.
This conversation offers a more grounded approach to setbacks, helping you shift from self judgment into awareness, and from all or nothing thinking into consistency.
If you have ever felt like one moment erased all your progress, this episode will meet you where you are.
Learn more about Connie Bennett at www.connieb.com and connect with her on social media: Facebook (Connie Bennett), Instagram (@ConnieBennettAuthor), X (@SmartHabitsGirl), and LinkedIn (Connie Bennett).
Ultra Processed Food Addiction Recovery Story | Braci Dutton
Episode 10
Thursday, April 30, 2026 • Duration 49:21
Food addiction, ultra processed food patterns, and recovery are explored in this episode of Real Food Recovery Podcast™. This conversation focuses on real life healing from ultra processed food addiction and what sustainable recovery can actually look like in everyday life.
Real Food Recovery Podcast™ was created from a society wrestling with processed food addiction and the deep ache that comes from feeling trapped in destructive patterns. After decades of obsession, frustration, and starting over more times than can be counted, Paige Alexander holds this space to speak honestly about what it truly takes to heal. Each episode opens the door to the real, raw, and often messy journey of recovery, offering compassion, lived experience, and practical tools that help rebuild a life grounded in peace instead of chaos.
In this episode, Paige sits down with Braci Dutton, who shares her real life experience with ultra processed food addiction and how she found a way to take her life back through simple, sustainable changes. Her story is honest, relatable, and deeply encouraging for anyone who feels stuck in cycles of food obsession and frustration.
Together, they explore what it looks like to move out of overwhelm and into clarity, how small shifts can create powerful momentum, and why recovery does not have to be complicated to be effective. Braci’s approach is grounded, practical, and rooted in real life application, making this conversation especially powerful for those who feel like they have tried everything and are still searching for a way forward.
If you are struggling with ultra processed food patterns, feeling out of control around food, or looking for a more realistic and sustainable path to recovery, this episode will remind you that change is possible and it may be simpler than you think. Follow Braci Dutton on social media to learn more and stay connected to her work.
Real Food Recovery Podcast™ is an original educational podcast focused on sustainable nutrition, self trust, and recovery aligned living.
Gut Health, Leaky Gut & Ultra-Processed Food Recovery | Lola MacLean
Episode 9
Thursday, April 23, 2026 • Duration 01:00:42
Real Food Recovery Podcast™ was created from a society wrestling with ultra-processed food addiction and the quiet exhaustion that comes from feeling stuck in destructive patterns. After decades of obsession, frustration, and starting over, Paige Alexander holds this space to speak honestly about what it actually takes to heal, offering lived experience, grounded insight, and practical tools to rebuild a life rooted in peace instead of chaos.
Today’s conversation challenges a common narrative: being told your symptoms are “normal” or that your labs look “fine.” Gut health is not a trend. Leaky gut, clinically known as intestinal permeability, is a real breakdown of the gut lining that can contribute to inflammation, immune dysfunction, food sensitivities, and chronic symptoms long before anything shows up on paper.
Paige is joined by Lola MacLean to unpack what is happening inside the body after years of ultra-processed food exposure, why healing often begins with slowing down instead of adding more, and how simple, consistent shifts can help restore resilience in both the gut and the nervous system.
If you are recovering from the effects of ultra-processed foods and looking for clarity, stability, and a more sustainable path forward, this conversation will meet you where you are.
Learn more about Lola MacLean: Functional Health Consulting for Women with Gut Health Issues Instagram: Click Here! LinkTree: Click Here!
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Every conversation is an invitation to feel less alone. Alongside personal stories, Paige takes time to share listener questions about addiction, recovery, mindset, and the emotional work that makes lasting change possible. If you’re searching for hope, understanding, or simply someone who “gets it,” this podcast is here to walk with you.
Questions, stories, or thoughts can be shared anytime at realfoodrecovery4u@gmail.com, and more resources can be found at www.realfoodrecovery4u.com.
Real Food Recovery™ is an original educational podcast focused on sustainable nutrition, self‑trust, and recovery‑aligned living. Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of this content is prohibited. This podcast feed and all episodes are original works created and owned by Paige Alexander under Real Food Recovery™
Every conversation is an invitation to feel less alone. Alongside personal stories, Paige takes time to share listener questions about addiction, recovery, mindset, and the emotional work that makes lasting change possible. If you’re searching for hope, understanding, or simply someone who “gets it,” this podcast is here to walk with you.
Questions, stories, or thoughts can be shared anytime at realfoodrecovery4u@gmail.com, and more resources can be found at www.realfoodrecovery4u.com.
