Episode 38: dr anita johnston

Recipe
Written By Ailey Jolie

08/05/2025

Join Ailey Jolie and Dr. Anita Johnston, clinical psychologist, storyteller, and author of Eating in the Light of the Moon, on this episode of In This Body. Together, they explore the symbolic language of food and body image, revealing how struggles with eating are often expressions of deeper, unspoken hungers. Through myth, metaphor, and archetype, Dr. Johnston shares how reconnecting with the inner feminine voice—and listening to the body as a source of wisdom—can support healing and liberation. They discuss the cultural narratives that silence women’s intuition, the role of storytelling in making meaning, and why the journey home to ourselves begins not with control, but with curiosity. This episode invites listeners into a tender, soulful dialogue on embodiment, empowerment, and the truths our hunger is trying to tell us. We hope you enjoy the episode.

About In This Body: Conversations with leading experts about the importance of embodiment in living an authentic life. In This Body asks the important questions: How does connecting to your body change your life? How will connecting to your body allow you to love better and live more authentically? And how does connecting to your body change the trajectory of our shared world?

In this episode:  

  • 03:11 The Evolution of Eating Disorder Treatment

  • 06:04 Understanding Disordered Eating as a Metaphor

  • 09:05 The Role of Storytelling in Recovery

  • 12:04 Archetypes and the Feminine Principle

  • 15:04 Connecting Emotions and Eating Behaviors

  • 18:12 Bringing Consciousness to Unconscious Patterns

  • 23:59 Understanding Emotional Eating

  • 29:22 The Language of Food and Emotions

  • 32:54 Reconnecting with Mother Nature

  • 36:49 Grounding and Body Awareness

  • 40:01 Cultural Pressures and Body Image

  • 41:24 The Journey to Self-Acceptance

To find out more about Anita:

To learn more about Ailey Jolie:

To follow along with the podcast:

Ailey Jolie

https://www.aileyjolie.com
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Episode 37: jaycee gossett