Today, we’re talking about food and your brain. Sure, we’ve all heard how food affects your weight, your energy, and your gut, but what about your brain? It turns out, the connection between what we eat and how our brain functions is pretty incredible—and maybe even life-changing.

We’re joined by Dr. Uma Naidoo, Harvard psychiatrist and author of This Is Your Brain on Food, to explore the foods that boost brain health, improve mood, and sharpen cognition. From combating anxiety and depression to supporting focus and memory, we’re breaking down the science of what to eat—and what to avoid—for a healthier, happier brain.

In today’s episode, in honor of World Diabetes Day, we’re diving deep into diabetes. Did you know that one in two people in the United States have either prediabetes or diabetes? This means that even if you don’t have diabetes, someone you love probably does. Today, we break down what diabetes is, the differences between type 1 and type 2, whether prediabetes and diabetes are reversible, and most importantly, why having diabetes should never be a source of shame. We’re joined by the two lovely ladies from the Diabetes Digital Podcast, and if you have more questions, you can find additional information on their website.

In this episode, we're tackling burnout and attention overload with Professor Gloria Mark from UC Irvine. Ever feel like you’re drowning in distractions—from Slack messages and emails to the endless scroll of social media? Professor Mark helps us break down the science behind why our focus is constantly slipping and what’s driving us to the brink of exhaustion. We dig into everything from the myth of multitasking to why our attention spans are shorter than ever. Plus, we get some practical strategies to reclaim your day, your mental clarity, and your energy. Don't miss this one—it's time to reset, refocus, and finally take control.

In this episode, we’re exploring a question we don’t ask enough: when does good health advice go too far? We break down the risks of taking advice to the extreme, whether it’s about diet, fitness, or everyday wellness habits. We also tackle the stress of trying to follow health trends that may be doing more harm than good. If you’ve ever wondered when “healthy” starts to feel unhealthy, this episode is for you!

In this episode, we're diving deep into a topic that ties into everything we discuss: metabolism. We're breaking down this often misunderstood concept and answering some of the most common questions—like, does metabolism really slow as you age? And why do some people seem to have a "faster" metabolism than others? Whether you're curious about boosting your metabolism or just want to learn more, this episode is full of tips and facts you won’t want to miss!

In this episode, we’re tackling an often overlooked aspect of health: relationships. We sit down with Dr. Robert Waldinger, Director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, to explore how your childhood shapes your adult relationships. From romance to friendships to work, we break down how attachment styles affect every connection. We dive into the origins of attachment theory, the latest research, and practical tips to help you move towards a more secure style. Whether you’re dating, in a relationship, or just looking to improve your connections, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

In this episode, we dive into the murky waters of omega-3 supplements with the esteemed Dr. JoAnn Manson from Harvard MEdical School. Are fish oils the miracle cure they’re hyped up to be, or are we all just falling for another health fad? We’re breaking down the biggest myths, diving into what the research actually says, and figuring out who really benefits from these supplements. Plus, we’re answering your burning questions: Are plant-based omega-3s just as good? Do you really need to refrigerate that pricey bottle? Find out in today's episode. 

Today, we talk to esteemed food and public health advocate Marion Nestle about the politics of food. No, this has nothing to do with political parties and ballots; it’s about who has the power to decide what goes on your plate. While you may think you’re the one making the decisions, there’s a whole host of hidden influences shaping the food we eat. From government dietary guidelines to nutrition labels and even how supermarkets are set up, we are often the last to be involved in our food choices. Why is nutrition research often driven more by money than health? Who truly controls the U.S. dietary guidelines? How did we contribute to creating the obesity epidemic? And what do Big Food and Big Tobacco have in common? Tune in to find out.

Today, we continue our conversation about what we have learned from six years of hosting this podcast. Last time, we went over all our food epiphanies. Today, we go through how the podcast has changed our approach to weight and weight stigma, exercise, relationships, and mindset.

Today, we continue our conversation about what we have learned from six years of hosting this podcast. Last time, we went over all our food epiphanies. Today, we go through how the podcast has changed our approach to weight and weight stigma, exercise, relationships, and mindset.

We've been hosting this podcast for a long time. In over eighty episodes with over sixty experts, we've learned A LOT. In this episode, we wanted to discuss what we've learned from all our years of doing Food We Need to Talk. In this podcast, we focus specifically on diet. What has stuck with us over the years? How have our habits around caffeine, ice cream, Starbucks, and protein changed? Stay tuned to find out. 

Today, we talk to Professor Frank Scheer from Harvard University all about one of the most important things that we do every day: sleep. For many of us, sleep may seem like a waste of time or an inconvenience. In fact, sleep is one of the most vital ways to maintain our health. Today, we learn why sleep quality is just as important as sleep quantity. What are the different phases of sleep and their functions? How do caffeine, alcohol, and sleeping pills affect our slumber? Are alarms good or bad? Should we be taking naps? If you feel tired all day, or can't seem to get a good night's rest, this is the episode for you!

If you feel like autoimmune disorders have seemed to be on the rise recently, you may be right. Over the past couple decades, we've seen skyrocketing rates of autoimmune disorders such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, type I diabetes and so on. What could be causing this recent increases in autoimmune disorders and allergies? Today, we talk to Professor Cezmi Akdis all about the environmental factors that might be responsible.

Do you ever find yourself eating when you're not hungry? Perhaps it's because you're bored, tired, stressed, or sad? Do your food cravings sometimes feel unbearable? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this is the episode for you. Today we talk to Professor Judson Brewer from Brown University all about food cravings and why we eat. We discuss the neurobiology of why eating food feels so good, why it so hard to change our eating habits, and how we can begin to change them. 

Perhaps you have succumb to the kale craze or the acai acclaim. But what makes these foods “superfoods?” A lot of the time, the answer seems to be antioxidants. Today, we talk to Professor Mauro Serafini to get to the bottom of the superfood and antioxidant obsession. What are antioxidants? Why are they important for our health? What do they have to do with superfoods? And are superfoods a real thing?

As you all know, over here at FWNTT, we are not the most kitchen savvy individuals. But after today… we just might be! J. Kenji Lopez-Alt shares with us some insights from his incredible career as a chef, food writer, and food science enthusiast. We learn the best ways to improve our cooking, why knife skills matter, why you shouldn’t feel bad for taking longer than the recipe time suggests, and when to use high vs. low heat.

Today, we are talking to a real-life cookbook author all about how to get your kids to eat healthy! We are constantly getting questions from parents about how to help their kids to eat better. It can be tricky, especially when kids are surrounded by friends who maybe don’t eat the same way they do at home. Today, we talk to Sally Sampson from Chop Chop Family Magazine all about how to get your kids to love cooking!

Today, we bring back one of our favorite episode format: the Q&A. What are our thoughts on weight loss shakes and meal services? How does cortisol impact weight loss? What is our best advice for starting a podcast? And, how can we push through fitness plateaus?

Today we speak to Dr. Walter Willett from Harvard T.H. Chan’s School of Public Health. Walter is the most cited nutritionist in the world. Our conversation goes over some of nutrition science’s greatest successes: the banning of trans fats. We also talk about what the biggest problem in our diet today is, what nutrition science has gotten wrong, why there seems to be so much conflicting information about what to eat, and more.

Today, we speak to world-renowned coach Joel Jamieson about all things cardio. We love to talk about resistance training on this show, but it’s finally time to show cardio some love. Joel tells us all about why cardio is one of the most important activities we should be doing for our health. We go through what the different heart rate zones are, how cardiovascular training is different from resistance training, how you can balance the two, and how cardiovascular training changes your mitochondria.