Why You Eat When You’re Not Hungry — and How to Stop with Dr. Jud Brewer

For full show notes and resources, visit: https://www.plantstrongpodcast.com/bl... Why do we eat when we’re not hungry? Why does willpower so often fail? And how can we finally stop the shame spiral around cravings and overeating? In this episodem Rip welcomes Dr. Jud Brewer — addiction psychiatrist, neuroscientist, professor at Brown University, and author of The Hunger Habit: Why We Eat When We’re Not Hungry and How to Stop. Dr. Jud explains the brain science behind cravings, emotional eating, hedonic hunger, and habit loops. He also shares why ultra-processed foods are designed to keep us coming back for more, why shame can make food struggles worse, and how awareness and curiosity can help us change our behavior from the inside out. This conversation is a powerful reminder that cravings are not a character flaw — and that with practice, self-kindness, and real food, we can begin to reconnect with our bodies and build a more peaceful relationship with eating. Learn more about Dr. Jud Brewer: Website: https://drjud.com Substack: https://judbrewer.substack.com/ 0:05 Cravings Aren't Character Flaws 2:02 Summer Sips and Vital Signs 4:21 Meet Dr. Jud Brewer 9:13 Why Habits Beat Willpower 14:17 What Is the Hunger Habit? 17:43 Hunger Versus Cravings 25:05 Why Willpower Fails 31:03 Awareness Changes Reward 37:59 Measuring Mindfulness 41:50 Breaking Shame Spirals 44:49 Retraining Healthy Cravings 47:46 Trust Your Body’s Signals 51:37 How Long Change Takes 52:43 Where to Find Jud