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Is it possible to eat your way to a better mood? Can foods really impact how the brain makes you think and feel? The “Happy Eating Podcast” was created after we couldn’t find the information that we needed for ourselves and our families. Join us as we break down the connection between food and mental wellness as we explore how food, diet, supplements, and daily habits can make for truly Happy Eating.
Episodes

11 hours ago
Beef Tallow: Worth It or Not?
11 hours ago
11 hours ago
Part of the “Make America Healthy Again” initiative is calling for the use of beef tallow instead of seed oils like canola, grapeseed, etc. And some major fast food chains have pledged to switch from frying in oil to frying with beef tallow. But what exactly is beef tallow—and will it make us healthier? In today’s episode we take a non-political look at beef tallow.
Listen to our past episode on seed oils: The Truth About Seed Oil
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-happy-eating-podcast/id1558793380?i=1000655800018
Thank you for listening to The Happy Eating Podcast. Tune in weekly on Thursdays for new episodes! For even more Happy Eating, head to our website!
https://www.happyeatingpodcast.com
Learn More About Our Hosts:
Carolyn Williams PhD, RD:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realfoodreallife_rd/
Website: https://www.carolynwilliamsrd.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RealFoodRealLifeRD/
Brierley Horton, MS, RD
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brierleyhorton/
Got a question or comment for the pod? Please shoot us a message!
Produced by Lester Nuby OE Productions

3 days ago
Rant Therapy - Prom Dress Code
3 days ago
3 days ago
The best (and cheapest) therapy for those small things that get under your skin is sometimes a good venting session so you can get it off your chest and move on with your life! And if you’re not privy to the first-hand vent-a-thon, then being a fly on the wall listening is hopefully equally therapeutic and also maybe entertaining.
Welcome to Rant Therapy, a podcast short powered by the hosts of the Happy Eating podcast, Brierley Horton and Carolyn Williams, where we periodically share our real-life venting sessions with each other—AKA what we’re “so over”.
Rant Therapy - Prom Dress Code
Thank you for listening to Rant Therapy on the Happy Eating Podcast. Tune in weekly on Thursdays for new episodes and new rants on Tuesdays. For even more Happy Eating, head to our website!
https://www.happyeatingpodcast.com
Learn More About Our Hosts:
Carolyn Williams PhD, RD:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realfoodreallife_rd/
Website: https://www.carolynwilliamsrd.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RealFoodRealLifeRD/
Brierley Horton, MS, RD
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brierleyhorton/
Got a question or comment for the pod? Please shoot us a message!
Produced by Lester Nuby OE Productions
To contact Lester -

Thursday Mar 20, 2025
Picky Eating…or Eating Disorder?
Thursday Mar 20, 2025
Thursday Mar 20, 2025
We’ve all experienced picky eaters—whether through friends, our kids, or maybe even you yourself are a picky eater. But when does picky eating crossover to extreme pickiness that could put your health at risk? And is there anything we can do to improve that pickiness? In today’s episode, we’re talking with registered dietitian and eating disorder expert, Kate Sayre, about a lesser-known eating disorder called ARFID. What is it? What are the common signs and symptoms? And how can you actually help someone who has ARFID?
Today’s Guest - Kathryn Sayre, MPH, RDN, LDN
Kate Sayre is a Registered Dietitian who owns a small private practice in Durham, NC. She specializes in disordered eating and is passionate about helping adults of all ages heal their relationship with food and their bodies. Kate is a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, a member of The International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (iaedp) and a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT). She recently completed Tier I of the Embodied Recovery for Eating Disorders training.
Books & Resources Mentioned:
The Picky Eater’s Recovery Book
ARFID Collaborative - Website with Resources and Providers
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
Thank you for listening to The Happy Eating Podcast. Tune in weekly on Thursdays for new episodes! For even more Happy Eating, head to our website!
https://www.happyeatingpodcast.com
Learn More About Our Hosts:
Carolyn Williams PhD, RD:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realfoodreallife_rd/
Website: https://www.carolynwilliamsrd.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RealFoodRealLifeRD/
Brierley Horton, MS, RD
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brierleyhorton/
Got a question or comment for the pod? Please shoot us a message!
Produced by Lester Nuby OE Productions

Thursday Mar 13, 2025
Memory Loss: What’s Normal and What’s Not
Thursday Mar 13, 2025
Thursday Mar 13, 2025
What’s “natural” and expected when it comes to a healthy aging brain? Is it normal to walk into a room and forget why you went in there? What about struggling to recall the exact word you want to use to articulate a concept? In today’s episode, we’re breaking down the difference between what’s typical for the aging brain (aka what you shouldn’t be worried about) and what’s considered a sign of mild cognitive impairment or even Alzheimer’s. If you’ve been experiencing memory lapses like Brierley and I have, we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with what we found.
Thank you for listening to The Happy Eating Podcast. Tune in weekly on Thursdays for new episodes! For even more Happy Eating, head to our website!
https://www.happyeatingpodcast.com
Learn More About Our Hosts:
Carolyn Williams PhD, RD:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realfoodreallife_rd/
Website: https://www.carolynwilliamsrd.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RealFoodRealLifeRD/
Brierley Horton, MS, RD
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brierleyhorton/
Got a question or comment for the pod? Please shoot us a message!
Produced by Lester Nuby OE Productions

Thursday Feb 27, 2025
Are Politics Making You Rethink Friendships? Here’s How to Stay Friends
Thursday Feb 27, 2025
Thursday Feb 27, 2025
Research tells us that politics—and thinking about political events—can be harmful to our mental wellness. So how do we get through this current political season of life? And how do we navigate friendships when we don’t align politically? In today’s episode, friendship expert, fellow podcaster and book author, Danielle Jackson advises us on what to do—and what not to do.
Learn More About Our Guest
Danielle Bayard Jackson is a female friendship coach and educator who speaks nationally about the science of women’s platonic connections. She is also the author of Fighting for Our Friendships (May 2024).
Danielle’s coaching business, Friend Forward, is dedicated to teaching women how to create and maintain better female friendships, and her expertise has been featured in The New York Times, NBC News, Psychology Today, Wall Street Journal, Oprah Magazine, Good Morning America, and a host of other media outlets. A former high school teacher, Danielle now uses her teaching skills and leverages her background to study what the latest research has to say about women’s cooperation, communication, and conflict.
As a member of the American Sociological Association, she uses the latest research to create tangible strategies to help women create more depth in their platonic relationships. Companies like TikTok, the NBA, NFL, and Etsy have all booked Danielle as a speaker to address the topic of connection psychology. She’s even served as Bumble’s resident friendship expert and spokesperson for its new app Bumble for Friends.
Danielle shares her insight weekly on The Friend Forward Podcast, has several viral videos on social media, and has written for Insider and Harvard Business Review. You can learn more about Danielle and her work by visiting www.betterfemalefriendships.com.
Follow Danielle on Instagram and TikTok
Listen to our 2022 episode with Danielle: Why Adult Friendships Are Always Unicorns and Rainbows
Thank you for listening to The Happy Eating Podcast. Tune in weekly on Thursdays for new episodes! For even more Happy Eating, head to our website!
https://www.happyeatingpodcast.com
Learn More About Our Hosts:
Carolyn Williams PhD, RD:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realfoodreallife_rd/
Website: https://www.carolynwilliamsrd.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RealFoodRealLifeRD/
Brierley Horton, MS, RD
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brierleyhorton/
Got a question or comment for the pod? Please shoot us a message!
Produced by Lester Nuby OE Productions

Thursday Feb 20, 2025
10 Simple Kitchen Swaps to Reduce Microplastic Exposure
Thursday Feb 20, 2025
Thursday Feb 20, 2025
You’ve likely heard about the dangers in some of your cookware and you may have even changed out a few for nontoxic pieces. But did you know there are other risky items you might want to swap out, too? Turns out, your kitchen is a major source of microplastics—food storage containers, of course, but also cooking utensils, sandwich bags, even certain sponges. In today’s episode, we’re talking about where those microplastics lurk, what the health effects of microplastics are, and how you can reduce your exposure with some simple swaps.
Studies Referenced Include:
Beyond the food on your plate: Investigating sources of microplastic contamination in home kitchens.
A systematic review of microplastics emissions in kitchens: Understanding the links with diseases in daily life
Thank you for listening to The Happy Eating Podcast. Tune in weekly on Thursdays for new episodes! For even more Happy Eating, head to our website!
https://www.happyeatingpodcast.com
Learn More About Our Hosts:
Carolyn Williams PhD, RD:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realfoodreallife_rd/
Website: https://www.carolynwilliamsrd.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RealFoodRealLifeRD/
Brierley Horton, MS, RD
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brierleyhorton/
Got a question or comment for the pod? Please shoot us a message!
Produced by Lester Nuby OE Productions

Tuesday Feb 18, 2025
Rant Therapy - Vagina Valium Update
Tuesday Feb 18, 2025
Tuesday Feb 18, 2025
The best (and cheapest) therapy for those small things that get under your skin is sometimes a good venting session so you can get it off your chest and move on with your life! And if you’re not privy to the first-hand vent-a-thon, then being a fly on the wall listening is hopefully equally therapeutic and also maybe entertaining.
Welcome to Rant Therapy, a podcast short powered by the hosts of the Happy Eating podcast, Brierley Horton and Carolyn Williams, where we periodically share our real-life venting sessions with each other—AKA what we’re “so over”.
Vagina Valium - UPDATE!
Thank you for listening to Rant Therapy on the Happy Eating Podcast. Tune in weekly on Thursdays for new episodes and new rants on Tuesdays. For even more Happy Eating, head to our website!
https://www.happyeatingpodcast.com
Learn More About Our Hosts:
Carolyn Williams PhD, RD:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realfoodreallife_rd/
Website: https://www.carolynwilliamsrd.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RealFoodRealLifeRD/
Brierley Horton, MS, RD
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brierleyhorton/
Got a question or comment for the pod? Please shoot us a message!
Produced by Lester Nuby OE Productions

Thursday Feb 13, 2025
10 Ways to Stimulate Your Vagus Nerve
Thursday Feb 13, 2025
Thursday Feb 13, 2025
If you don’t know what the vagus nerve is, you have to listen to this episode. And if you do know what the vagus nerve is, you’ll really want to listen to this episode. Here’s why: the vagus nerve plays a crucial role in regulating so many systems in our body, yet sustained periods of stress can lead to a dysfunctional vagus nerve that hinders your ability to de-stress when you need it most. The effects are mood changes, GI issues, and a whole list of others. In this episode, we talk about why a healthy vagus nerve is crucial and share 10 easy ways to stimulate your vagus nerve.
Thank you for listening to The Happy Eating Podcast. Tune in weekly on Thursdays for new episodes! For even more Happy Eating, head to our website!
https://www.happyeatingpodcast.com
Learn More About Our Hosts:
Carolyn Williams PhD, RD:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realfoodreallife_rd/
Website: https://www.carolynwilliamsrd.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RealFoodRealLifeRD/
Brierley Horton, MS, RD
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brierleyhorton/
Got a question or comment for the pod? Please shoot us a message!
Produced by Lester Nuby OE Productions

Tuesday Feb 11, 2025
Rant Therapy - Shoutout To Whole Foods
Tuesday Feb 11, 2025
Tuesday Feb 11, 2025
The best (and cheapest) therapy for those small things that get under your skin is sometimes a good venting session so you can get it off your chest and move on with your life! And if you’re not privy to the first-hand vent-a-thon, then being a fly on the wall listening is hopefully equally therapeutic and also maybe entertaining.
Welcome to Rant Therapy, a podcast short powered by the hosts of the Happy Eating podcast, Brierley Horton and Carolyn Williams, where we periodically share our real-life venting sessions with each other—AKA what we’re “so over”.
Shoutout To Whole Foods!
Thank you for listening to Rant Therapy on the Happy Eating Podcast. Tune in weekly on Thursdays for new episodes and new rants on Tuesdays. For even more Happy Eating, head to our website!
https://www.happyeatingpodcast.com
Learn More About Our Hosts:
Carolyn Williams PhD, RD:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realfoodreallife_rd/
Website: https://www.carolynwilliamsrd.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RealFoodRealLifeRD/
Brierley Horton, MS, RD
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brierleyhorton/
Got a question or comment for the pod? Please shoot us a message!
Produced by Lester Nuby OE Productions
To contact Lester -

Thursday Feb 06, 2025
Weighted Vest: Worth It or Not?
Thursday Feb 06, 2025
Thursday Feb 06, 2025
Surely you’ve heard about weighted vests, right? It’s hard to miss the recent uptick in people buying and walking in weighted vests. But are they worth it? Do they help with weight loss, do they increase your fat burning, can they improve your bone health, or are they just a fad like Suzanne Somer’s Thigh Master once was? After we complained in a Rant Therapy episode about seeing them everywhere, we decided we needed to dig into the research and assess their legitimacy. We can’t wait to share what we found!
Thank you for listening to The Happy Eating Podcast. Tune in weekly on Thursdays for new episodes! For even more Happy Eating, head to our website!
https://www.happyeatingpodcast.com
Learn More About Our Hosts:
Carolyn Williams PhD, RD:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realfoodreallife_rd/
Website: https://www.carolynwilliamsrd.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RealFoodRealLifeRD/
Brierley Horton, MS, RD
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brierleyhorton/
Got a question or comment for the pod? Please shoot us a message!
Produced by Lester Nuby OE Productions