The Appetite

julie@opalfoodandbody.com

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#147: Reorienting Priorities with Period Health and Sport Performance: A Conversation with Heather Caplan, RDN

June 08, 2026

Does better education around period health, proper fueling, and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport actually lead to healthier behaviors in female athletes?  In this episode, Opal's Director of Exercise + Sport, Kara Bazzi, LMFT, sits down with seasoned provider Heather Caplan, RDN to share what they're seeing firsthand in their clinical work. Together, they unpack the systemic pressures that push teen and young adult athletes to prioritize performance over long-term health. Heather also shar...

#146: A Teen Male's Perspective on Sport and Identity: An Interview with Nicholas Macha

May 01, 2026

When injury sidelines an athlete—or performance outcomes fall short—it has a way of revealing growth edges within us.  Tune in to The Appetite as Opal Co-Founder and Director of the Exercise + Sport Program, Kara Bazzi, LMFT, sits down with high school distance runner and podcaster Nicholas Macha. In this powerful conversation, Nicholas shares how his injuries and performance disappointments led him to a deeper exploration of identity, relationships, faith, and the constant balancing act betw...

#145: Self Inquiry Series: Performance Validation and Anger Expression

April 02, 2026

In this episode, Gabe and Hank courageously open up about vulnerable moments through a process of group self-inquiry. Gabe explores the bitterness that arises from receiving positive affirmations after dance performances, while Hank examines the feelings of stupidity and pointlessness that surfaced when anger was physically expressed. Together with Opal Co-Founders Lexi Giblin, PhD, and Kara Bazzi, LMFT, Gabe and Hank offer each other the gift of provocative questions that elicit new learning...