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/

True mental health equity means ensuring every community has access to care that understands their unique, lived experiences.

In this episode of Be Yourself: Happy, Healthy, Hopeful, host Adriana Grande sits down with Giselle Vinsky, Social Worker, Team Lead for the AMANI program at the Windsor Essex Community Health Centre (weCHC), and recipient ofthe University of Windsor's 2026 Outstanding Field Instructor Award.

With over 12 years of international experience spanning Texas, Grenada, and Canada, Giselle brings an extraordinary depth of wisdom, global perspective, and heart to her work. Driven by the philosophy "To serve is to live," she pulls back the curtain on the AMANI program—a vital community initiative dedicated to providing culturally tailored mental health support for Blackyouth and families in Windsor-Essex.

In this episode, we explore:

· The Evolution of AMANI: How the programtransformed to meet the growing needs of our local community.

· Culturally Responsive Care: Whyidentity-affirming mental health services are essential for Black youth aged12–25.

· Navigating the System: What to expectduring the intake process, and what the physical support space actually feelslike.

· Behind the Scenes at weCHC: Themultidisciplinary team working alongside Giselle to break down care barriers.

· Hopes for the Future: How localinitiatives are paving the way for long-term health equity in Windsor-Essex.

Whether you are a young person seeking a safe space, a parent looking for guidance, or a healthcare professional wanting to support culturally specific care, this conversation offers actionable insights and a powerful message of hope.

Connect with the AMANI Program & Local Resources:

· Windsor Essex Community Health Centre(weCHC): wechc.org

· AMANI: https://amaniservices.ca/mental-health-substance-use-program/

· Follow BANA on Instagram: @banawindsor

· Explore BANA Online: bana.ca

· Read More: Pick up the latest edition ofthe BANA Be Yourself magazine for community health stories: https://bana.ca/magazine/

What does it actually mean for a community to be "food secure"? And how do we practice "food neutrality" in a culture dominated by strict diet messaging and rising grocery costs?

In this episode of Be Yourself: Happy, Healthy, Hopeful, host Adriana Grande sits down with Karen Bellemore, a Registered Dietitian, Public Health Dietitian, and chair-elect of the OntarioDietitians of Public Health. With over a decade of experience at the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU), Karen is at the forefront of advancing equitable, inclusive approaches to regional food systems. When she isn't transforming public health policy, she’s a busy hockey mom and goaliecoach right here in Windsor-Essex.

Together, Adriana and Karen unpack the critical intersection of food access, income, systemic policy, and our psychological relationship with what we eat. This is a must-listen episode designed to leave you informed about our local community andequipped with the tools to live a more food-neutral life.

What We Cover in This Episode:

• The Root of Food Insecurity: Why record-high food bank usage across Canada is fundamentally an income problem rather than a food problem.

• The Windsor-Essex Landscape: Key findings from the Windsor-Essex County Food Strategy Auxiliary Report, local "food deserts," and how food insecurity creates barriers to infant feeding and local breastfeeding rates.

• Demystifying "Food Neutrality": How language around nutrition has shifted throughout Karen’s career, and how to separate moral value from food choices.

• Supportive Environments for Kids: A deep dive into the new Supportive Food Environment in Schools Toolkit, the role teachers play in the classroom, and how parents can practice food neutrality at home.

Whether you are an educator, a parent, or a community member looking to build a more compassionate Windsor-Essex, Karen's insights offer an eye-opening look at the systems shaping our daily lives.

Connect & Resources:

• Explore WECHU’s Toolkits & Strategies: wechu.org
• Learn More About BANA’s Health Promotion Programs: bana.ca
• Read the Latest Insights: Check out the BANA Be Yourself magazine.
• Follow BANA on Social Media: @banawindsor

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Have you ever felt like exercise was a chore, a punishment, or a way to "earn" your food? For many, the fitness industry has turned movement into a transaction, leaving us disconnected from our own bodies and trapped in a cycle of guilt.

In this episode of Be Yourself: Happy, Healthy, Hopeful, hostAdriana Grande is joined by Martha Munroe, an expert in Applied Positive Psychology and author of the transformative book, Attuned Exercise.

Martha has spent over two decades evolving from a traditional fitness professional to an advocate for Positive Embodiment, helping people ditch the "burn it to earn it" mentality for good.

If you have ever felt "broken" by past fitness failures or struggle to find joy in movement, this conversation offers a gentle, evidence-based road map to rediscovering self-trust and life-enhancing movement.

In this episode, we explore:

• What is Attuned Exercise? Moving away from external rules and toward internal connection.
• The "Bus Bench" vs. "Park Bench" Metaphor: A simple but powerful way to view your fitness journey.
• Reframing Rest: Why "doing nothing" is actually an essential part of positive embodiment.
• Dismantling Fitness Myths: Challenging the "no pain, no gain" narrative that dominates our social feeds.
• Movement as Play: How to transition from using exercise as a tool for compensation to using it as an act of self-care.
• Parenting in Diet Culture: How to model a healthy relationship with movement for the next generation.

Whether you are in recovery or simply looking to heal your relationship with your body, Martha’s insights will help you find the joy in movement again.

Resources & Connection:

• Get the Book: Learn more about Attuned Exercise by Martha Munroe by visiting www.attunedexercise.com or on Instagram @attunedexercise
• Follow BANA on Instagram: @banawindsor
• Visit Us Online: bana.ca
• Deep Dive: Read more from Martha about positive embodiment in the BANA Be Yourself magazine.

Thehardest part of any journey is the very first step—picking up the phone. Formany, that moment is clouded by a single thought: "Am I sick enough todeserve help?"

Inthis episode of Be Yourself: Happy, Healthy, Hopeful,host Adriana Grande sits down with Alicia Regier, MSW, aRegistered Social Worker and BANA’s Intake Worker. Alicia is often the veryfirst voice a client hears when they reach out to BANA.

If you’ve ever wondered what actually happens when you callthe centralized 1-855 intake line, or if you’ve been paralyzed by the fear ofbeing "interrogated," this episode is for you. We are breaking downthe logistics, the emotions, and the roadmap to recovery so you never have tonavigate it alone.

Inthis episode, we discuss:

• The "Sick Enough" Myth: Why your struggle is valid exactly as it is, and why you don't need to reach a "breaking point" to call.
• The Anatomy of an Intake: Alicia walks us through the three-part process, from the online self-assessment to the clinical follow-up.
• Navigating Waitlists: Practical "mental triage" tips and self-guided tools you can use while waiting for a spot to open.

Recovery isn't just about food; it’s about reclaiming theability to enjoy a coffee with a friend or a family dinner without a cloud ofanxiety.

Readyto start? Here is your toolkit:

• The Starting Point: Take the anonymous Level of Care Self-Assessment (LoCSA)
• Learn More: Visit bana.ca for a step-by-step guide to intake services.
• Stay Connected: Follow us @banawindsor on Instagram for community support.
• Read: Dive into the BANA Be Yourself magazine for more stories of hope.