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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
Friday Jun 20, 2025
Friday Jun 20, 2025
Have you heard about the TikTok trend and the McDonald’s Migraine Hack—aka the McMigraine? If you haven’t, it’s OK, Brierley hasn't either. The premise of these viral videos is that a McDonald’s coke and French fries is an effective way to run off a migraine. So, in today’s episode, we broke down the science behind this trend and whether there’s any legitimacy to it. Let’s just say that if you’re a migraine sufferer or know someone who is, you’ll want to listen to this one. Let’s dive in!
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 Jun 12, 2025
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
If you’ve tried to book a therapy appointment, you know there’s a shortage of mental health professionals. It’s not unusual to have to wait weeks or months for an appointment. So, with the rise of platforms like Chat GPT, could we harness AI technology for talk therapy purposes to treat things like depression and anxiety? We were extremely skeptical that this topic would even warrant a full episode on the Happy Eating Podcast. But, as you’ve heard us confess before, we are sometimes pleasantly surprised once we dig into the research. So, did we change our mind after researching this topic?
References or Studies Mentioned:
Therabot AI Chatbox (https://www.trytherabot.com/)
Randomized Trial of a Generative AI Chatbot for Mental Health Treatment
When ELIZA meets therapists: A Turing test for the heart and mind
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
Friday Jun 06, 2025
Friday Jun 06, 2025
If you barely survived the chaos of May—aka Maycember, that sneaky second December (without the twinkle lights and Christmas cookies) packed with end-of-school madness, nonstop events, and not a minute to yourself—you’re in good company.
In this episode, we’re sharing three simple, sanity-saving, research-backed ways to recover from the mental whiplash and get back to feeling like yourself. Whether you're still catching your breath or trying to remember what a normal routine feels like, this one's for you.
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 May 22, 2025
Thursday May 22, 2025
Have you seen mats that claim to improve your health in your Instagram feed? You know we love to dig into a trendy product. So for this episode, Carolyn explored what these mats are all about and found that they’re based on something called grounding and there’s some legitimate science to support their use. What is grounding and are these grounding mats worth it? Listen in to learn about the potential perks of grounding, plus a DIY version.
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 May 20, 2025
Tuesday May 20, 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”.
Rant Therapy: Not Using The Sidewalk
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 May 15, 2025
Thursday May 15, 2025
You may be familiar with what we’re talking about today. And others of you may not. But I guarantee you know people who are using them. We’re talking about oral nicotine pouches, one of the most popular ones being the brand Zyn. They’re touted as being a healthier tobacco-free alternative to cigarettes, vapes, and chewing tobacco, but are they really? Today we’re taking a closer look at oral nicotine pouches, as well as the surprising effects they can have on your mental health, particularly ADHD.
References or Studies Mentioned:
Prevalence of Nicotine Pouch Use Among Youth and Adults in Great Britain-Analysis of Cross-Sectional, Nationally Representative Surveys
Nicotine Addiction and Psychiatric Disorders
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 May 13, 2025
Tuesday May 13, 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”.
Rant Therapy - Button-Fly Jeans
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 May 08, 2025
Thursday May 08, 2025
Many of us walk into our menopause journey blindly—and it’s not until things like out of the ordinary stress, ADHD-like symptoms when it comes to your ability to focus and concentrate, and seemingly overnight weight gain, that we scramble for control and often realize that our usual go-to tips and tricks don’t work like they used to. While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, certain diet and exercise approaches can help greatly. In today’s episode, we’re bringing back a favorite guest—Jenna Braddock who is a registered dietitian and menopause expert. With her, we delve into the science of perimenopause and menopause and explore straightforward nutritional and lifestyle approaches, like how much protein do you need? How can you hit that target? What type of physical activity is the most effective to get rid of that belly fat? Best of all, since each of us is going through perimenopause, we share our personal experiences about what’s worked for us—and what hasn’t.
This episode was developed in partnership with/in collaboration with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff.
Our Expert Jenna Braddock, RDN, CSSD
Jenna Braddock is a Florida-based Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD), and ACSM Certified Personal Trainer with a passion for helping individuals live with greater energy, purpose, and performance. With a dynamic background that spans community health, clinical nutrition, academia, sports nutrition, fitness, recipe development, and corporate wellness, Jenna brings a well-rounded and holistic approach to performance, health, and well-being. She specializes in performance nutrition and health optimization, helping all people, from elite athletes to average adults, perform at their best in the roles that matter most to them.
Visit her website (Jennabraddock.com) and follow her on Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.
1.0 CPEU Available for RDNs: Dietitians listening can go to beefnutritioneducation.org to receive their continuing education certificate for listening. This episode has been submitted to CDR for approval of 1.0 CPEU.
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!
happyeatingpodcast@gmail.com
Produced by Lester Nuby OE Productions
Tuesday May 06, 2025
Tuesday May 06, 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”.
Rant Therapy: Space Travel — No Thank You!
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 May 01, 2025
Thursday May 01, 2025
Even in your 20s and 30s understanding skincare and choosing the right products can be a little confusing. But then comes perimenopause and the hormonal changes associated with it—and navigating skincare and the plethora of products out there becomes even more overwhelming. We teamed up with the skincare experts at NOW® Solutions to get personal insight on the key ingredients, products, and supplements we need in our 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s to help manage our ever-changing skin. Let’s just say that Brierley and Carolyn both have a package of skincare products being delivered in the next week because of how helpful these experts are.
Our Skin Experts:
- Tina Tews, a licensed esthetician and brand manager for NOW® Solutions, is focused on bringing high quality, effective and affordable beauty products and aromatherapy to a global audience, to help support healthy, glowing skin at any age. Tews leverages her 15+ year tenure in the skincare industry to bring simple, natural, and real-life solutions that help people feel good in their skin, using only the most trusted ingredients from around the world. NOW Solutions products avoid harsh chemicals and synthetic ingredients, to provide a clean beauty line that’s inspired by nature, and the full line is certified cruelty-free via PETA’s Beauty without Bunnies program.
- Rosemary McConnell is the R&D Supervisor for both NOW Solutions and NOW’s Food category. She’s been with NOW for five years and has more than15 years of experience in the personal care industry, previously at other companies including Albert Culver and Blistex, where she’s developed many successful launches ranging from lip balms to baby care products.
Explore and Shop NOW Products:
Use code HAPPYEATING for 20% off at nowfoods.com through 12/31/25.
Offer valid through 11:59 PM Central Standard Time December 31, 2025. Offer valid only on nowfoods.com. Prices are as shown. Some exclusions apply. Must use coupon code HAPPYEATING in the Promotion Code field at checkout. While supplies last at nowfoods.com. This offer does not apply to applicable taxes or shipping and handling. Offer cannot be used on previous purchases. NOW Health Group, Inc. has the right to end any promotion at any time.
Here are some of Brierley and Carolyn’s favorite NOW products.
*This podcast was recorded in collaboration with and NOW Solutions
**These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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!
happyeatingpodcast@gmail.com
Produced by Lester Nuby OE Productions