Second Helpings isn’t just for people who avoid carbs and drink charcoal. But if you miss the taste of midnight pizza and want to start living your best life, welcome — you’re in the right place.
Shortlisted for the Independent Podcast Awards 2025, Second Helpings is an honest, darkly funny conversation about eating disorder recovery, mental health, and the pop culture that shapes how we see ourselves. From Normal People to Taylor Swift, #girldinner to the latest wellness trends, your hosts unpack the culture and stories we love — and the stories we tell ourselves.
One host is a clinical psychologist. The other is a writer who once skipped dessert because she thought it was a waste of calories. Together, they get real about recovery, body image, addiction, modern dating, and why “manifestation” still isn’t a substitute for therapy (sorry, TikTok).
Expect unscripted conversations, sharp humour, and two hosts who bring fresh perspectives on life in your late twenties.
New episodes of Second Helpings drop bi-weekly.
Wuthering Heights: Literature's most destructive relationship?
Wuthering Heights is often remembered as a great romance, but it’s really a story about emotional extremes — love that becomes obsession, grief that turns into anger, and pain that is passed from one generation to the next. The 2026 film starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi is based on the classic novel by Emily Brontë and directed by Emerald Fennell. Like the book, it tells the story of the intense and destructive relationship between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw.
In this episode, Alice and Maria ask what happens when trauma, abandonment, and jealousy are never processed? Ever. And how do those feelings shape the way people treat the people they love?
Second Helpings is an eating disorder and recovery podcast that uses our favorite art and culture to discuss mental health themes. It's hosted by Alice, a writer and recovering anorexic, and Maria, an actor and clinical psychologist.
If you’re struggling with an eating disorder or supporting someone who is, the following organisations offer resources and help:
UK — Beat Eating Disorders
USA — National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders)
Follow Alice and Maria!
#mentalhealth #selfhelp #recovery
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9 Jan 2026
Lemonade: Beyonce's album ten years on, restoring trust after cheating, and finding your power
It's been ten years since Beyoncé released her iconic album Lemonade. We break down the devastating themes, track list, and analyze why this record still feels current after a decade.
As usual, we're examining the album through a recovery lens, so expect an analysis of the impact of Jay-Z's affair on Beyoncé's creative process, and hear a psychologist's take on her journey.
Second Helpings is an eating disorder and recovery podcast that uses our favorite art and culture to discuss mental health themes. It's hosted by Alice, a writer and recovering anorexic, and Maria, an actor and clinical psychologist.
If you’re struggling with an eating disorder or supporting someone who is, the following organisations offer resources and help:
UK — Beat Eating Disorders
USA — National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders)
Follow Alice and Maria!
#mentalhealth #selfhelp #recovery
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
19 Dec 2025
Normal People: Toxic relationships, eating disorders, and knowing when it's time to move on
Skip to 25:00 for discussion of the book!
In this episode, Alice and Maria discuss Sally Rooney’s Normal People and unpack why its portrayal of young love feels so intimate, unsettling, and painfully familiar. What makes Connell and Marianne’s relationship so compelling — and so damaging? And why do stories about first love so often blur the line between connection and self-erasure?
In this episode, we discuss: Young love and toxic relationships, eating disorders and control as coping mechanisms
As always, we approach these themes through a recovery lens — asking how stories like Normal People can both validate lived experiences and quietly reinforce harmful ideas about love, suffering, and worth. We reflect on what it means to grow beyond relationships that once felt essential, and how tenderness doesn’t have to come at the cost of selfhood.
If you’re struggling with an eating disorder or supporting someone who is, the following organisations offer resources and help:
UK — Beat Eating Disorders
USA — National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders)
Follow Alice and Maria!
New episodes of Second Helpings drop bi-weekly.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
4 Dec 2025
The Fate of Ophelia: Taylor Swift, tragic heroines, and the myth of romantic salvation
In our Season 2 premiere, we unpack Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” and explore how the song reframes one of literature’s most famous tragedies. Why do we keep returning to the image of the doomed woman in love? And what does it mean when pop culture tells us — again and again — that romance is the cure for our deepest wounds?
In this episode, we discuss:
– Romantic love as a supposed saviour
– Ophelia as the quintessential tragic heroine
– How Swift’s new era reshapes melancholy, agency, and self-worth
– The album’s broader themes of grounding and recovery
– Allusions to Midnights and Swift’s ongoing narrative evolution
– Substance abuse, self-destruction, and why vulnerability in art matters
As always, we approach these themes through a recovery lens — looking at how storytelling can either reinforce old patterns or open up new ways of understanding ourselves.
If you’re struggling with an eating disorder or supporting someone who is, the following organisations offer resources and help:
UK
Beat Eating Disorders — https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk
USA
National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) — https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders) — https://anad.org
New episodes of Second Helpings drop bi-weekly.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
30 May 2025
Candid Friday #1: Crashing Out; 4 Tips for ED Recovery You Can Try Today
Alice Florence Orr shares her recent experiences with burnout and provides four actionable tips for eating disorder recovery, offering listeners practical strategies for self-care and mental well-being.
26 Apr 2025
How do I know if I'm dating "the one"? (Advice from a psychologist)
On today's special episode all about modern dating, Maria and Alice discuss how they knew that they had found "the one" and the perks of moving in together. Also on the menu: telling your date about your eating disorder, the worst parts of casual dating culture and how to tell when you should actually just block that person for your own sanity.
Note: This episode was re-uploaded to fix an audio issue.
TW: Eating disorders, depression, awful dating stories.
Love this episode? Join our Patreon community to ask questions and share your opinions. patreon.com/SecondHelpings
@aliceflorenceorr is a writer, podcast critic and former charcoal drinker.
@mikwiik is an actress and clinical psychologist from Norway.
Resources:
BEAT (UK)
NEDA (USA)
Keywords: eating disorders, mental health, recovery, self-awareness, coping mechanisms, perfectionism, weight restoration, therapy, personal growth, challenges.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
11 Apr 2025
How my gut healed in recovery (Patreon teaser)
In the first Patreon exclusive episode, Alice talks about how she overcame food sensitivities, digestive issues and restored her lust for life. (Hint: it didn't involve supplements or naturopaths!)
Get ready for an honest and unconventional discussion about digestive issues and bloating.
This Patreon series is about the physical side of recovery that might be embarrassing, confusing or TMI. Luckily, Alice has no shame.
Listen to the full episode on our Patreon.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
3 Apr 2025
Q&A: My ED story & dealing with setbacks in recovery
TW: eating disorders, depression, near-death experiences.
In her first solo Q&A episode, Alice fills in the gaps about her eating disorder from the beginning up to the present day. And if that wasn't depressing enough, she also answers questions about recovery setbacks and why she can't drink an iced matcha without cringing a little bit inside.
Love this episode? Join our Patreon community to ask questions and share your opinions. patreon.com/SecondHelpings
@aliceflorenceorr is a writer, podcast critic and former charcoal drinker.
@mikwiik is an actress and clinical psychologist from Norway.
Resources:
BEAT (UK)
NEDA (USA)
Keywords: eating disorders, mental health, recovery, self-awareness, coping mechanisms, perfectionism, weight restoration, therapy, personal growth, challenges.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
24 Mar 2025
We're back!
And this time, we mean business. Despite the fact that she has a cold and can't speak into a mic properly, Alice is back to tell you why she skipped out on the pod and that Second Helpings will return next on Monday for new weekly episodes.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
24 Dec 2024
Are wellness trends bad for us?
Send us a textWe're back! After a nasty depressive episode, Alice is functional and joined by Maria to discuss a topic that they've been dying to bring up: wellness trends. From reformer pilates and standing desks to juice cleanses and parasite detoxes, they've tried them all. But are wellness fads really masking a deeper problem, and do they encourage disordered eating?Love this episode? Join our Patreon community to ask questions and share your opinions. patreon.com/SecondHelpings@mikwiik i...
6 Nov 2024
Should we break up with social media?
Send us a textIn this episode, Alice and Maria discuss whether social media was the cause of their body image issues and how they consume it today. Is TikTok the source of all evil? Does Alice still watch triggering content? As always, there will be discussions of eating disorders and other mature content. Love this episode? Join our Patreon community to ask questions and share your opinions. patreon.com/SecondHelpings@mikwiik is an actress and clinical psychologist from Norway. @aliceflorenc...
15 Oct 2024
Jealous of John Mulaney’s intervention?
This episode of Second Helpings is a throwback conversation between Alice and Maria about shame, friendship and Alice’s eating disorder – and why she might be a little bit envious of John Mulaney’s intervention.If you’re struggling with any of the issues raised in this episode, it can get better. We’ve listed some useful resources below.BEAT (UK)NEDA (USA)Maria Wiik @mikwiik is an actress and clinical psychologist from Norway. Alice Florence Orr @aliceflorenceorr is a writer, podcast critic a...
1 Oct 2024
And then… I relapsed
We were supposed to launch Second Helpings over a year ago. But then Alice relapsed. In this episode, Alice explains why she decided to start the show anyway – and what listeners can expect from a podcast all about eating disorder recovery.If you’re struggling with any of the issues raised in this episode, it can get better. We’ve listed some useful resources below.BEAT (UK)NEDA (USA)Maria Wiik @mikwiik is an actress and clinical psychologist from Norway. Alice Florence Orr @aliceflorenceorr ...
12 Sept 2024
A New Recovery Podcast, ‘Second Helpings’
Second Helpings launches on 10/1.This podcast isn’t just for people who avoid carbs and drink charcoal – but if you miss the taste of midnight pizza and want to start living your best life, we’re so glad you’re here. Second Helpings is an honest conversation about eating disorder recovery with a healthy dose of dark humour. Because what’s funnier than spending years of life measuring out your cereal?One of your hosts is a clinical psychologist. The other used to avoid going on dates beca...
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.0 / 5
4 ratings
Spotify
4.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 10 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
7
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
Contact Second Helpings
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
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