pod bites: The Eating Me podcast with Alicia Christian

“I feel like the more authentic and true you are in the stories that you're telling that gravitates that audience to you because it's like, oh, you're a real person.” 

Alicia Christian had the idea for her podcast come to her while on a flight to see her family. And when she told them what had come to her they were behind her 100%.

The Eating Me podcast is about Alicia’s relationship with food, her bariatric surgery journey and so much more.

In this episode you can learn why it’s important for Alicia to address these issues plus which podcast she loves to listen to.

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Links

The podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-eating-me-podcast/id1638940665 

The instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thealiciachristian/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Alicia’s podcast pick: 

We Can Do Hard Things: https://wecandohardthingspodcast.com/ 

Prefer to read? Read the transcript below.

Got a show you’d love to hear on my podcast? Tell me about it!

Alison: [00:00:00] Welcome to pod bites where we go behind the scenes with podcasters. My name is Alison Fraser and today's guest is Alicia Christian host of the eating me podcast.

So welcome to the show. Thank you so

Alicia: much for having me, Alison. It's a pleasure to be here and to, you know, have this opportunity to. Get to know your podcast then for you to get to know mine. So this is pretty awesome.

Alison: Awesome. So can you tell me what is the Eating Me podcast about?

Alicia: You know, so initially when I started my podcast, I started it because I, as long as I can remember, I've always had disordered eating, right?

And I didn't have the language for it. You know, even when I started this podcast, I just knew I had I loved eating, but I knew a lot of my eating concerns were a problem. Um, and then I love cooking. I love hosting. And so it's all these things that revolve around eating that are just so [00:01:00] complex, but at the same time.

Still need to have, there needs to be conversations around them. And so me starting this podcast was one to address the fact that I am taking this time to acknowledge that I do have eating concerns and I want to talk about that and share other people's stories around that too, as well as talk about like.

The, the beauty of eating and how eating brings us together, um, and just learning about different cultures around eating and what that looks like as well. And as I've gone through, I'm actually a year into my podcast, which is really exciting. I've expanded beyond, beyond that because when I named the podcast, the eating podcast, like I said, I initially thought it was all going to be just about my eating.

Hands down done. Right. But then I realized I'm a very curious person. And so it's like, Oh, certain topics eat at me. Right. So this is eating me. I need to know more about this. So I'm expanding beyond just the eating component and food and culture [00:02:00] around food and all that. It's just my curiosity and what certain like certain topics that are eating at me.

I want to talk about those things on the podcast as well. So it's been an amazing journey so far.

Alison: I love that evolution, the eating

Alicia: at me. Yeah. Yeah. And I, I had no idea. I literally no idea it would go that way. I mean, obviously I'm still talking about, you know, different eating concerns and just things that are, that are revolve around eating.

The month of August, it's me telling my story, uh, about, you know, how I got to this point with wanting to share my story about eating my, the first episode in the month of August was talking about my binge eating and how I came to that actual, um, realization that I was a binge eater and where that came from.

Uh, I grew up with. People that grew up in poverty, right? And to not have food [00:03:00] and then to get to a place where you can have food, it's a sign of wealth where I'm from. And so when your children want food, it's like, yes, of course, have all the food, have all the food. But then you have this, you know, ability to give them this food, but then this complexity of they might have trauma.

Like I had, I had childhood traumas that were affecting me. And so when I'm being offered this thing, like food that seems like amazing. It's comforting to me. And sometimes I would get this food at, you know, during times like after something traumatic would happen. And so it just became this pattern of me trying to manage my emotions, but also eating at a time where I was told, Hey, these emotions, let's squash them.

Like we don't cry or I'll give you something to cry about was a thing that I heard a lot, you know? So I was like, Me not being able to navigate those emotions, having this food as a crutch and then growing up and just, you know, 40 plus years later, here I am now trying to unravel that and [00:04:00] provide healing for myself.

Um, and so that's what that episode was about this, uh, today, actually, is that my, I have podcast episodes that come out on Mondays and Thursdays. Today's is about me actually having the bariatric sleeve surgery and how that came about and realizing that even with me having this surgery, my mindset was something that still needed to be shifted because in my mind, I was like, I'm going to have this surgery and it's all going to be solved.

Right. And then not realizing that it was so much more that went into me having this surgery and. You know, being grateful for the opportunity to have this actual surgery, because I didn't have what's called a shut off switch. Like some people can eat and feel like, Oh, I'm full. I feel, you know, satisfied.

I didn't have that. And for years, I would joke about that. I was like, I just don't know when to stop. Like, it's crazy.[00:05:00]

Alison: It sounds like in your show, you're, um, really open and vulnerable about everything that's happened to you around food.

And in a way, I guess that's helping listeners who may be able to relate to that come to some acceptance or understanding about

Alicia: their own life. Right. Exactly. And, you know, for me, it was a thing of just also beyond the vulnerability piece. Um, I wanted. To, well, yeah, that whole vulnerability piece was to engage other people that might have similar struggles and to say, Oh, it's I'm not on this island thinking that I'm some, you know, random person that is just unable to control themselves.

There are more people out here that have the same type of story or something similar. I can relate. And I. You know, and I went throughout my podcast episodes for the most part, I provide like resources. So [00:06:00] this actual episode, I provided some, um, information in my show notes about like emotional eating, uh, bariatric surgery, um, what that looks like and any resources that, that, you know, can be centered around that.

So people have the tools. So you just don't walk away with like, Oh my gosh, that's me. But now where do I go? And so I try to provide those resources because That's great that we have this thing in common, but how are you getting help? If I'm telling you I'm getting help, I want to let you know. I'm going to provide all the things so you just don't walk away just kind of like, cliffhanger, now what, you know?

Alison: Yeah.

What was your light bulb moment that led you to starting your podcast?

Alicia: It was weird. Um, what would you say? Weird. It was actually, I, we, I was on a plane and let me backtrack. In 2021, I walked away. I literally walked outta my job because I was so stressed.

I was burnt out and I. Didn't [00:07:00] realize at the time, you know, in retrospect, you start thinking about things. I I've always been a people pleaser. And so I just constantly be that yes person and never set boundaries. And I burnt myself out of my job so much so that I walked out. And so. In the process of me trying to figure out my next move, um, I was just searching for something, right?

Not even really a job at the point. I mean, thank God I was in a position at that time to not, um, have to worry about that. Um, but in that process, I was like, I need something else besides me looking for another job and going through the humdrums of life. Something in me is causing me to have this burnout.

Something within me is, it's beyond this external. And so when I started really... Delving into myself and just listening to myself, I was like, Oh, I need to address some other things that I have not dealt with since maybe even childhood and a lot of trauma, a lot of traumatic things. And I was like, somehow it's centered around eating [00:08:00] and I don't know how it is, but I need to start there because I know I've always struggled with eating.

I know that's always been a thing for me and I don't know how else to do this, but to talk it out. And I listened to podcasts. It's a podcast. Forever. And I just never knew how to start one, but I heard that it was a pretty, not simple process, but it's doable. Right. And so when I realized that I needed to talk it out, I was like, okay, I'm going to figure out this podcasting thing.

And I'm just going to start sharing my story, interviewing people who know about, you know, things that I am interested in as it relates to eating and we're just going to see where it goes. And so in April. Of 2021, I sat down, I was on an airplane to Atlanta, Georgia, and I am just on my phone in my notes section of my phone and I'm just writing out basically a brief description and some, like a basic outline of [00:09:00] what my podcast would be about.

And it was weird because I was actually listening to a podcast that was inspiring me to like go for something that I know that I'm meant to do. I knew there was more for me in this life, right? And once that podcast episode finished, it was just like the heavens opened up and I was just, it was, it was almost like an outer body experience.

I was like, how am I just typing this whole description? It was just the weirdest thing. And by the end of the plane ride, I was like, I have a full description. I have different topics already set. And I was sharing this information with my siblings because we all met. My niece graduated from college and so we're all at the house there.

And I was sharing this with them because we all have had our struggles with eating as well. They're like, Oh my gosh, yes, yes, yes. You need to do this because we all to some degree have been dealing with this. And I was like, I don't know where this is going to go guys, but what I do know is I need to do it.

[00:10:00] And so that's where it all started. And like I said, I've just been going ever since and it's been an amazing ride.

Alison: Congratulations on lasting the year and keeping going. That's awesome. So you were listening to a podcast when you had this download yourself. So what tip can you give to anyone thinking about starting a podcast

Alicia: themselves?

Oh my gosh, there's so many tips, but if one thing I would say, and I shared this with someone else, I'm in, I'm in a few podcasts, podcast groups, like support groups, and someone kind of poised the same question. And what I would say is, don't worry about it being perfect, like your episodes. Perfection. It's just not for me.

I feel like it's just not, it's not a thing. And I feel like the more authentic and true you are in the stories that you're telling that gravitates that audience to you because it's like, oh, you're a real person. You're not just someone who's kind of like figured it [00:11:00] all out and I can't reach you. You're just You know, you're not approachable.

You're a human being. That's why I just say, you know, accept your imperfections. I mean, obviously you want to make sure you're editing and all those things are as great as they can be, but at some point you have to let it go and say, this is what I'm producing and I'm giving it up and it's going to be what it's going to be, you know, seriously.

Yeah.

Alison: That's a very good tip because if you keep on. Trying to perfect it, you'll never get it out there.

Alicia: You'll never produce it because listen, initially I was so worried. Like I, when I first started, I, um, started recording my voice. And when I heard myself, I shut the recorder off. I was so like nervous.

Because I was like, Oh, that's my voice. That is me. Oh my gosh. Like, it was, and I don't know why that was so overwhelming to me. It was like, I am afraid of my own [00:12:00] self in some ways, right. And what I have to offer. And once I got past that, it just became. Like second nature. And it's like, sometimes I just get on because on Thursdays I have something that's called car confessions, which is completely me and my car randomly talking about whatever's on my mind, which is another reason why I love the whole imperfections of it.

Because it's like, it's literally me and my car, I hit record on my phone. And I'm just like talking about whatever, because I feel like. I don't know about you or anyone else. Sometimes I'm just in my car. I'm like, what in the, like, how is this happening? Like things that are happening in the world or whatever.

And it's just me processing in my head as I'm driving through, you know, New York city, and I know other people do that. And so I just thought, what a cool way to just. Bring in a whole other conversation to the podcast by just me processing my day to day thoughts and feelings, um, by way of just having a second, you know, part of my podcast, which is called car confessions.[00:13:00]

That's

Alison: cool. Again, it's another way that your show is evolving. And I mean, it's your show. You can do with it what you like.

Alicia: Yes. And that's another thing too. It's like, I guess that's another tip. I guess it is another tip. It's your show. So if you want to change up, you know. Say the title of your podcast, the music, the music that's your intro, your outro, whatever, whatever that looks like, it's your show.

And that's the beauty of it. It's like, no one can take that away from you. It's whatever you've created. And then, like I said, if it continues to evolve, let it do that. Cause maybe there are other things that you, you need to share with the world. Why not do that? Um, just to be stuck in like one particular area, um, if that might not be your calling.

And so. Just let it evolve and let it be what it's going to be, you know? Awesome.

Alison: Um, we've thought, we talked before about listening to other podcasts and, you know, the [00:14:00] shows that are on our playlist. So can you tell the listeners what's one podcast on your playlist that you would like to share?

Alicia: Oh my goodness.

I have so many, but there's one podcast that I look forward to every Tuesday and Thursday, and it's called, We Can Do Hard Things. And it's hosted by Glennon Doyle, her wife, Abby Wambach, and her, her sister, who they call sister, but her name is Amanda. And the three of them, like, they're just so Genuine and authentic.

And they're just telling their stories. Obviously they have different interviews with, you know, various people. And it's just talking about hard things that happen in life and how we can actually navigate ourselves through life, despite how hard it is. Like we can, we can do it. Um, It's such a beautiful podcast because like I said, they're just so vulnerable, particularly Glennon.

Uh, this past season she's really been talking about actually her eating concerns. She found that she was [00:15:00] actually anorexic and she's been just kind of like talking through that and what that, what her treatment has looked like and how hard it's been to really just kind of one, um, wrap her head around the fact that she has this diagnosis of anorexia and how to now navigate her life.

with how she's been so controlled around food and didn't realize that was the anorexia and trying to just kind of release that and be okay with food. Um, it's, it's such a beautiful podcast and it's beyond food, but you know, of course with food, of course, I have to bring that up.

Alison: I have actually listened to some of those episodes. Um, and yeah, I agree. It's a really good show, but it's interesting how it's tied in with now that your podcast theme, I mean, they talk about all kinds of stuff. But now they do this connection to

Alicia: you too. Yeah. I love that. I love that. They have that ability to talk about so many things that they, it still ties back into [00:16:00] the whole point of the show.

It's always like something that can be considered difficult, but how you can still make it through those difficult things and still thrive as a human and, and be okay with what we consider sometimes mistakes. It's just a part of our journey, you know, um, and I, and that's another thing too. It's just when I found.

As a podcaster and listening to other podcasts is that we're all this human experience is simply a journey. And for the longest I have been looking for this destination where we're going to reach this mountaintop stay on that mountaintop and it's gonna be amazing and blah blah blah and it's like no Oh friend, their, their peaks, their valleys, there's all the things, but despite it all, you know, just enjoy the process.

So that's like what I'm learning is just enjoying the process wherever I am. Um, and just also knowing that a lot of these things that we go through are temporary. So it's not, that's not our permanent existence. Um, so it's, it podcasting has saved my life in more ways than [00:17:00] one. I definitely can say that for sure.

Alison: Those are such sage points. And I think that's the perfect. Ending for this show. So thank you so much for coming on and telling us about the 18 week podcast and your journey. I think a lot of people will be inspired by what you have to share.

Alicia: Oh, thank you so much for having me on. And, you know, just my hope is just to continue to share.

The human experience, however that looks, whether it's through eating or just through just everyday, you know, trials and tribulations that we're going through or celebrations. So thank you again for just allowing me to have this time.

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