The Happy Eating Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Top Nutrients for Teens—Are They Getting Enough? Sep 04, 2025

Show notes

Let's face it, most teens aren't exactly known for having the healthiest habits, but did you know that the adolescent diet is considered the poorest of all age and population groups? While nutrient gaps are concerning at any age, they’re especially critical during adolescence when teens gain up to 25% of their adult height, 50% of adult weight, and undergo significant brain changes. In today’s episode, we’re outlining which nutrients are most important during the teenage years and empowering parents and nutrition experts to successfully set teens up for optimal growth and development. Don’t tune out too early; we outline 3 superstar foods that deliver multiple essential nutrients and share which ones we stock in our own kitchen.

This episode was developed in partnership with the nutrition scientists and registered dietitians at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff.

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

Rant Therapy: The Motel 6 Sep 03, 2025

Show notes

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: The Motel 6

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!

happyeatingpodcast@gmail.com

Produced by Lester Nuby OE Productions

To contact Lester -

olelegante@gmail.com

What We’d Add Now: Magnesium, Cold Plunges & the Wellness Trap Jul 10, 2025

Show notes

In this special update episode, we’re revisiting three popular conversations—on magnesium supplementation, cold plunging, and wellness burnout—with the latest research and first-hand experience. Nutrition science doesn’t sit still, and neither do we. In today’s episode, we’re sharing what we’d add to these episodes if we were recording them today. Whether you’re still struggling with gut health, braving the freeze for the ‘health benefits’, or feeling the weight of wellness culture, this episode will leave you feeling more informed—and a little less overwhelmed.

We share updates related to these three episodes.

The Poop Episode: Why You Aren’t Regular Anymore and What to Do

Are the Freezing Cold Temperatures of Cryotherapy Worth It?

Wellness Burnout: How the Pursuit to “Be Well” Isn’t Working

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

The McMigraine: Can Fries & Coke Really Cure a Migraine? Jun 20, 2025

Show notes

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!

happyeatingpodcast@gmail.com

Produced by Lester Nuby OE Productions

Can You Really Use ChatGPT as a Therapist? Jun 12, 2025

Show notes

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!

happyeatingpodcast@gmail.com

Produced by Lester Nuby OE Productions

3 Ways to Recover From Maycember Jun 06, 2025

Show notes

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!

happyeatingpodcast@gmail.com

Produced by Lester Nuby OE Productions

What Is Grounding—And Should You Try It? May 22, 2025

Show notes

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!

happyeatingpodcast@gmail.com

Produced by Lester Nuby OE Productions

Rant Therapy: Not Using The Sidewalk May 20, 2025

Show notes

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!

happyeatingpodcast@gmail.com

Produced by Lester Nuby OE Productions

To contact Lester -

olelegante@gmail.com

The Zyn Episode: Are Nicotine Pouches Bad For You? May 15, 2025

Show notes

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!

happyeatingpodcast@gmail.com

Produced by Lester Nuby OE Productions

Rant Therapy - Button-Fly Jeans May 13, 2025

Show notes

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!

happyeatingpodcast@gmail.com

Produced by Lester Nuby OE Productions

To contact Lester -