How do you grow a podcast?
Think laterally about guests (audience size and alignment with your content), consider doing live shows for direct audience validation, get featured on platforms like the iTunes homepage for growth spikes, and be prepared for both increased support and increased negative attention.
How do you manage intrusive anxious thoughts?
Using a CBT technique: acknowledge the anxious thought, verify the facts (e.g., check all doors/cupboards), tell yourself 'that's just a thought, not my reality,' thank the thought for trying to protect you, and then let it go — though this requires ongoing practice.
How do you do a fitness or health challenge without triggering disordered eating patterns?
Shift the focus from aesthetics/calories to performance — use tools like a heart rate monitor and train for specific heart rate zones rather than punishing the body for food, and recognize that many fitness/bikini competitions mask unhealthy relationships with food.
What are warning signs that someone might be struggling with disordered eating or mental health issues?
Watch for drastic mood changes, social isolation (declining invitations to dinners, drinks, parties), and behavioural changes around food and alcohol.
How should you approach intervening with someone you're worried about?
Even though it's uncomfortable and may cause conflict, you have to do it; coordinate with the person's close friends and family to decide who is best placed to have the conversation, and act before it's too late.
