Episodes

Processed Food “Kills”. That message is everywhere right now. Social media posts, viral headlines, even Super Bowl commercials warning that processed foods are dangerous. But what do we actually mean when we say “ultra-processed food”? In this episode, I sit down with nutrition researcher Dr. Mandy Willig to unpack the science behind ultra-processed foods, the NOVA classification system, and why the conversation online is often missing important nuance. We also break down new research compari...

How To Decide Between Bariatric Surgery and Obesity Medications I’m joined by Kate Fuss, PA-C to unpack how GLP-1 medications and bariatric surgery actually work together, when each option makes sense, and what primary care clinicians should understand when caring for patients before or after bariatric surgery. We also dive into the psychological side of weight loss, because hitting a number on the scale doesn’t always translate into better mental health. What You’ll Learn How to shift patien...

Did the Dietary Guidelines ignore culture? In this special roundtable episode, I’m joined by four registered dietitians from Indian, Mexican, Filipino, and Nicaraguan backgrounds to unpack a major concern in the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans: the absence of explicit cultural inclusivity. Because food isn’t just carbs and protein. It’s identity, tradition, and community. And when guidelines ignore that, it impacts how we counsel patients in the exam room. In this episode, we discuss:...

Mental Health Nutrition Starts Here. When a patient opens up about their mood, we think therapy. We think medication. But do we ever pause and ask… are they eating enough to support their brain? In this episode, I’m joined by registered dietitian Jennifer Hanes, who specializes in nutrition and mental health. We unpack how food impacts mood, why under-eating can worsen anxiety and depression, and how clinicians can confidently talk about nutrition without oversimplifying it. You’ll learn: Wh...

Discuss Pediatric Weight Gain Without Triggering Shame What would you say if a parent asked, “Can you tell my son he needs to lose weight?” That question sits at the center of one of the hardest conversations in pediatrics. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Amy Beck, clinical psychologist and expert in teen mental health and weight stigma, to unpack how we address pediatric obesity without causing unintended harm. Because this isn’t just about weight. It’s about protecting kids in a culture ...

Randomized controlled trials. Cohort studies. Abstracts. Methods sections. If your brain starts spinning just hearing those words, you’re not alone. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Carlene Starck, a protein biochemist and nutrition scientist, to help clinicians who aren’t researchers learn how to spot high-quality research in a world full of misinformation. Together, we walk through how a researcher evaluates a paper, what matters, what doesn’t, and why social media influencers often get t...

If you’ve ever had a patient training for a marathon (or you are that patient) this episode will change how you think about fueling, injury risk, and longevity in running. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why runners over 35 are uniquely vulnerable to injury, even when they "eat healthy" Why so many runners under-consume carbohydrates (and how to explain carbs without triggering fear) How inadequate fat intake may increase injury risk High-yield screening questions clinicians can ask runners i...

Patient-Centered Weight Management | Dr. Robert Kushner on the Six-Factor Questionnaire, GLP-1s, and Lifestyle Counseling “Eat less, move more” might be the fastest way to lose your patient’s trust, according my my guest Dr. Robert Kushner, a passionate doctor, educator, and researcher who has spent more than four decades improving care for people living with overweight and obesity. Dr. Kushner shares the framework from his new book, Patient-Centered Weight Management: The Six-Factor Professio...

What’s missing in obesity care? It’s not another diet plan or more willpower. In this episode Colleen is joined by Dr. Robyn Pashby, clinical health psychologist and co-author of The New Food Fight, to unpack the mental and emotional side of obesity care (the part most clinicians were never trained to address) Together, they break down why shame, stigma, and oversimplified “just eat less and move more” messaging continue to derail patient progress, even in the era of GLP-1 medications. Dr. Pas...

The 2026 Dietary Guidelines for Americans just dropped and the new upside-down food pyramid caused quite the chatter online this week. In this special Nutrition Newsroom roundtable, Colleen Sloan, PA, RDN, brings together nine nutrition experts to break down what the new guidelines actually are (and what they’re not), what stayed the same, what changed, and what’s missing. You’ll hear respectful disagreement, real-world clinical concerns, and practical talking points you can use the next time ...

Today’s episode is a mashup of my favorite moments, quotes, and “clinic gems” from the year. These are the tools that made conversations easier, built more trust, and helped patients actually follow through… and I’m bringing all eight of them with me into 2026. Inside this episode, you’ll learn: The simple mindset shift that instantly reduces clinician burnout The question that uncovers barriers faster than any advice ever will How to start tough conversations about weight without creating d...

"What’s good for the heart is good for the brain." Can better cholesterol management in midlife actually lower your patient’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease? In this episode, I’m joined by returning guest Josh Wageman, PhD, PA-C, a clinical lipid specialist who studied cholesterol disturbances in Alzheimer’s disease. Together, we unpack how cholesterol, APOB, APOE4, insulin resistance, and statins intersect with Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline, and what clinicians can...

GLP-1 medications are changing the game in obesity care. Patients are losing weight, feeling full faster… and often eating less overall. But less food can also mean less muscle, unless we guide them toward the right nutrition. In today’s episode, we unpack how clinicians can better counsel patients using anti-obesity meds, and how nutrient-dense, affordable options like pork can support satiety, muscle maintenance, and sustainable weight loss. In this episode, we cover: How GLP-1 medications ...

Menopause nutrition and weight management aren’t as simple as “eat less, move more.” In this episode, menopause expert and RD Dr. Su-Nui Escobar breaks down what’s really driving midlife weight changes and what clinicians should focus on instead. What You’ll Learn: How fluctuating estrogen affects fat distribution, metabolism, inflammation, and cardiometabolic risk Why traditional weight-loss advice fails during perimenopause High-impact nutrition strategies: protein targets, fiber, anti-inf...

How To Address Weight In A Body Positive Culture In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Tzvi Doron, a board-certified Family and Obesity Medicine physician and lipidology expert, to unpack the middle ground between body neutrality and evidence-based obesity care. We talk about how to approach weight without shame, how weight loss impacts lipids and cardiometabolic risk, and why protecting lean mass should be your new top priority in weight management. Key Takeaways Weight ≠ worth. But it still ...

Creatine isn’t just for athletes. In this episode, Dr. Scott Forbes joins Colleen Sloan, PA-C, RDN, to unpack the latest research on creatine safety, dosing, timing, and real-world use. Plus who should (and shouldn’t) take it. This one supplement can support muscle, bone, and brain health and has over 600 clinical trials backing its safety. Too good to be true? Nope. That’s creatine. Dr. Forbes shares the latest research, safety data, and practical recommendations for using creatine across the ...

It’s not your job to make patients change. Your job is to create the environment where change feels possible. In this conversation, I sit down with Staci Belcher, RDN, an Internal Family Systems–informed dietitian, to unpack how to use curiosity, compassion, and counseling techniques to unlock motivation. You’ll learn practical ways to apply behavior change psychology and motivational interviewing principles in real exam-room conversations. Staci shares how resistance often hides wisdom, why f...

AI is everywhere. Is it coming for our jobs… or just taking mundane tasks off your plate? If you’ve felt equal parts curious and cautious, this conversation will calm the noise and show you some brilliant ways AI makes your life easier, both professionally and personally. In today’s episode, I’m joined by Raul Palacios, Registered Dietitian, educator, and AI-in-healthcare tinkerer who’s my go-to AI guru. Key Takeaways: AI terminology. A plain-English way to explain predictive analytics vs. ge...

What happens when a dietitian and a PA sit down to talk about heart disease—from both sides of the exam room? In this episode, Colleen brings together two heart health experts: Michelle Routhenstein, MS, RD, CDCES, a cardiovascular dietitian known for her evidence-based prevention strategies, and Josh Wageman, PA-C, PhD, a clinical lipid specialist who’s spent his career studying cholesterol disturbances and Alzheimer’s. Together, they tackle one of medicine’s most common (and confusing) topic...

What happens when a woman in menopause, a man considering bariatric surgery, and a young adult on a GLP-1 all walk into clinic? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Leslie Golden, a dual board-certified physician in Obesity Medicine and Family Medicine and founder of Weight in Gold Wellness. She brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to her work—helping patients heal their relationship with food while addressing the complex biology of weight. Together, we walk through how she appro...

In this episode, I sit down with Julie Duffy Dillon, RDN, therapist, and author of Find Your Food Voice, to help clinicians replace diet-culture with practical, patient-centered coaching. We dig into what a “food voice” is, why so many people get disconnected from it, and how you can guide patients back to hunger/fullness cues without meal plans, shame, or quick fixes. You’ll leave with language you can use tomorrow in clinic—plus simple interventions (like CHiPs check-ins and “letters to food”...

If your prenatal visit keeps getting hijacked by TikTok misinformation (hello, “folic acid causes autism”), this is the episode you’ll want in your back pocket. In this epsiode, I sit down with women’s health dietitian Jane Leverich to map out exactly what to cover from preconception through postpartum: realistic calorie needs, how to talk about weight gain without harm, what prenatals actually do (and why the neon-yellow urine), the folic acid vs. methylfolate debate, five high-impact nutrient...

For years, parents were told to delay introducing allergenic foods like peanuts and eggs. Now, the advice is the complete opposite—and your families are confused, anxious, and looking to you for answers. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Carina Venter—one of the world’s leading experts in pediatric food allergies. Together, we unpack the science, the guidelines, and the practical “how-to” steps clinicians need to confidently guide parents through early allergen introduction. From maternal die...

Meal replacements are an excellent tool for weight management. But they aren't the same as protein shakes. Medical weight-loss dietitian Julia Axelbaum joins me to clear up the confusion, define the difference (they are not interchangeable), and map out exactly when to use each—on their own or alongside evidence-based tools like GLP-1s. You’ll walk away with a 3-step label checklist you can teach patients, practical strategies to curb evening cravings, and a step-by-step plan for transi...