Episodes

“I’m doing everything right, but nothing’s working.” I bet you've heard that before! In this episode, I’m joined by registered dietitian Devin Breedon to talk about the hidden barriers that impact weight loss, blood sugar, and overall health. We also pull back the curtain on what registered dietitians actually do during a patient session, why behavior change matters more than meal plans, and how medical providers can make stronger, more effective referrals to dietitians. What You’...

3 Mistakes We Make When Talking About Nutrition I spoke at 2 different conferences, 4 lectures in total, this weekend and all of them had a similar thread: HOW we communicate our recommendations matter. Enjoy this quickie episode summarizing one of my presentations at the American Association of Physician Associates in New Orleans. Shoot me a DM @examroomnutrition and vote: T/F: When you Know Better, You Do Better. What do you think?? Any Questions? Send Me a Message Support the show Co...

Weight loss doesn’t fail overnight. It usually happens slowly… through all-or-nothing thinking, unrealistic expectations, and patients feeling like they have to “start over” every Monday. In this episode, I’m joined by registered dietitian Sam Barone for a conversation about sustainable weight loss, behavior change, and why the best “diet” might not be a diet at all. We unpack the real reason patients struggle to maintain weight loss, how to shift away from perfectionism, and why focusing onl...

Social Media Is Confusing Your Patients. In this episode, I’m joined by endocrinology PA Emily Stevens to discuss diabetes, insulin resistance, and blood sugar control and help you explain it in a way your patients will actually understand. If your patients are asking about glucose spikes, CGMs, keto, or supplements like berberine, this episode will give you clear, practical answers you can use in clinic this week. What You’ll Learn: Why "glucose spikes" are normal and how to explain this to...

Teen Athletes Need Different Fuel. What happens when well-meaning parents apply adult nutrition rules to teenage athletes? You get under-fueled kids, missed performance potential… and a whole lot of confusion in the exam room. In this episode, I sit down with sports dietitian and former D1 athlete Maria Vallasciani to break down what teen athletes actually need and why most of them aren’t getting it. From skipped breakfasts to overhyped protein powders, we unpack the real drivers of performan...

Why Patients Overeat and Feel Out of Control What’s really driving overeating: hunger, habit, or emotions? In this episode, I’m joined by Kate Johnston, a physician assistant turned eating habits and weight loss coach, to unpack why patients eat past fullness, why nighttime eating feels so out of control, and how to quickly uncover what’s actually going on beneath the behavior. Here’s what you’ll learn: The difference between feeling satisfied and feeling full, and why that distinction matter...

When Weight Loss Hides Something Deeper In this episode, I’m joined by Shawna Melbourn, a Registered Dietitian with over 20 years of experience in eating disorder care, to unpack whether the most celebrated effects of GLP-1 medications, appetite suppression, is actually masking something deeper Here’s what you’ll learn: Why appetite suppression isn’t always a win (and how it can reinforce restriction) The difference between “quieting food noise” and actually healing a patient’s relationship w...

Daily Habits Your Patients Need For Brain Health. If your patients are asking how to protect their brain, and you’re defaulting to “eat better and exercise more”, this episode will challenge that in the best way. In this episode, I’m joined by Eric Collett, a brain health expert, to unpack a more practical, real-world approach to cognitive health. We cover everything from how food fuels the brain at a cellular level to why movement throughout the day may matter more than a single gym session....

"It’s not just what children are eating. It’s how they’re experiencing food that shapes their habits." In this episode, I’m joined by Alicia Eaton, a behavior change therapist and author, to unpack what’s really happening beneath the surface when kids struggle with food. Because it’s not just about what’s on the plate. It’s about the environment, the language, and the emotional experience surrounding it. What We Talk About: Why phrases like “just try one bite” can increase anxiety around food...

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 ...