Recovery from an eating disorder is rarely a single, linearbreakthrough. Often, it begins with finding one small reason to hold on, and using whatever tools we have to process feelings when words fall short.

In this deeply moving and hopeful episode of Be Yourself: Happy, Healthy, Hopeful, host Adriana Grande sits down with Toronto-based photographer, artist, and advocate Joanna Roselli. Following her time in an intensive in-patient treatment program, Joanna turned to a daily drawing habit as avisual anchor. That creative practice became Recovery Road – an upcoming fine art exhibition featuring 60 pen-and-ink drawings created duringher treatment.

Together, Adriana and Joanna explore the emotional underpinnings of eating disorders, shifting the narrative away from food, weight, and numbers, and focusing instead on emotional regulation, vulnerability, and identity. Joanna opens up about processing emotions without digital distractions, forging connection with peers navigating recovery alongside her, stepping into concert photography, and learning that healing isn't about getting an "old life" back, but building a brand-new one worth showing up for.

In this episode, we explore:

• Art as a Safe Anchor: How picking up a pen helped Joanna process overwhelm, shame, and guilt during her 60-day in-patient stay.
• Connection Across Struggles: How drawing farewell portraits for peers bridged meaningful connections inside treatment.
• Reframing the Illness: Why eating disorders are fundamentally about emotional regulation rather than appearance and why we shouldn't wait to be "fully healed" before creating or giving back.
• Life After Treatment: Navigating the jarring transition out of a structured environment and moving toward a new sense of purpose.
• Identity Outside the Body: How stepping into concert photography helped Joanna build confidence rooted in storytelling rather than physical appearance.
• The Recovery Road Exhibition: A look ahead at her installation featuring 60 pen-and-ink drawingsbrought together to reflect the non-linear path of healing.

Whether you are navigating your own recovery journey,n supporting a loved one, or looking for inspiration on how creative expression can mend the spirit, this conversation offers a gentle, non-sensationalized space grounded in hope and authenticity.

Connect & Resources:

• Joanna Roselli & Recovery Road Exhibition: Learn more about her art and upcoming installation on November 15that joannaroselli.ca/recovery-road-art-exhibit
• Follow Joanna on Instagram: @joanna.roselli
• Bulimia Anorexia Nervosa Association (BANA): bana.ca
• Follow BANA on Instagram: @banawindsor
• Learn about more Canadian resources: nedic.ca
• Read More: Check out the latest issue ofthe BANA Be Yourself magazine for community wellnessstories and recovery resources. www.bana.ca/magazine.

Empowering Women, Transforming Mental Health: The WEST Journey with Rose Anguiano-Hurst & Jasmine Captan

Meaningful employment is about far more than financial independence. It is deeply tied to self-worth, mental well-being, and a sense of belonging in our community.

In this episode of the Be Yourself: Happy, Healthy, Hopeful podcast, host Adriana Grande sits down with Rose Anguiano-Hurst (Executive Director) and Jasmine Captan (Acting Programs Manager for Youth Programming & Communications Lead) from Women’s Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor Inc. (WEST). Together, they explore how skill-building, community partnerships, and tailored settlement supports empower newcomer, youth, and racialized women across Windsor-Essex.

From its origins in the mid-1980s to serving over 3,000 women annually today, WEST has spent nearly four decades breaking down systemic barriers. Rose and Jasmine share how removing friction, through accessible childcare, expanded geographic locations, and culturally responsive programming, helps women rebuild their confidence, navigate workplace biases, and step boldly into their futures.

In this episode, we explore:

• The Evolution of WEST: How a mission born out of an 80s economic downturn grew into a vital community anchor heading toward its 40th anniversary in March 2027.
• The 4 Pillars of Support: How youth, employment services, women in skilled trades, and immigrant/settlement services work seamlessly together.
• The Psychological Impact of Skill-Building: Why job training goes beyond practical mechanics to restore self-esteem, reduce anxiety, and foster hope.
• Overcoming Double Discrimination: Navigating the unique workplace biases facing newcomer and racialized women.
• Removing Practical Barriers: The life-changing role of WEST's licensed on-site daycare and expansion to Howard Avenue, Amherstburg, and Lasalle.
• The Ripple Effect: How one woman’s confidence and employment transform her family, children, and social network.
• Employer & Community Action: How local businessescan meaningfully partner with WEST to build inclusive, equitable workplaces.

Whether you are a newcomer woman taking your first steps toward a new career, an employer looking to support local talent, or a community member who believes in health equity, this episode is filled with practical wisdom and inspiration.

Connect with WEST & Community Supports:

• Women’s Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor (WEST): westofwindsor.com
• Bulimia Anorexia Nervosa Association (BANA): bana.ca
• Follow BANA on Instagram: @banawindsor
• Read More:Check out the latest issue of the BANA Be Yourselfmagazine for more stories on mental health and community wellness.

Beyond Mainstream Narratives: Cultural Sensitivity & Eating Disorders with Giselle Vinsky (Part 2)

Eating disorders do not discriminate, yet the mainstream narrative surrounding who they affect and how they present often leaves marginalized communities behind.

In Part 2 of this conversation on Be Yourself: Happy, Healthy,Hopeful, host Adriana Grande reconnects with GiselleVinsky (MSW), Social Worker, Team Lead for the AMANI program at the Windsor Essex Community Health Centre (weCHC), and recipient of the University of Windsor’s 2026 Outstanding Field Instructor Award.

Building on their exploration of the AMANI program in Part 1, Giselle dives into her recent specialized training in eating disorder care. Together, Adriana and Giselle discuss how Eurocentric beauty standards, cultural expectations aroundfood, and systemic bias impact Black, African, and Caribbean youth in Windsor-Essex.

Inthis episode, we explore:

• Bridging the Care Gap: Why the AMANI team identified eating disorder training as a vital need for local Black youth.
• Cultural Beauty Ideals vs. Diet Culture: How Eurocentric body standards intersect with, and conflict with,body ideals in Black, African, and Caribbean communities.
• Food as a Love Language: Navigating the family tension when disordered eating behaviors are misinterpreted as a rejection of culture or heritage.
• Overlooked Red Flags: Culturally nuanced warning signs that caregivers, teachers, and clinicians often miss.
• Avoiding Clinical Pitfalls: Actionable advice for healthcare providers aiming to deliver truly inclusive, bias-free eating disorder assessments.

Whether you are a healthcare professional looking to check your implicit biases, a parent navigating family dynamics around food, or a young person seeking a safe space to heal, this episode offers a compassionate and eye-opening frameworkfor care.

Connect & Resources:

• Listen to Part 1: Catch up on our deep dive into the AMANI program https://open.spotify.com/episode/6E37dEITIToAwuVF7RNP9g?si=xduRlYmtT5KNbdwbPtsPIg
• AMANI & Windsor Essex Community Health Centre(weCHC): wechc.org
• Bulimia Anorexia Nervosa Association (BANA): bana.ca
• Follow BANA on Instagram: @banawindsor
• Community Stories: Read the latest issue of the BANA Be Yourself magazine for more on body neutrality and mental health: https://bana.ca/magazine/