Light out of Darkness: Diwali & Eating Disorders with Vedica Podar

In this week’s podcast, Han is joined by Vedica Podar. Vedica is a passionate Advocate and Ambassador for Mental Health and Wellbeing. Besides being the Founder of Kangaroo Minds and Sport Beats Stigma, Vedica is a qualified Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aider, Active Listener, Suicide Gatekeeper, and soft-skills trainer.

This week, we discuss:

  • What is Diwali & what does it mean to Vedica as a Hindu?
  • Why might Diwali be difficult for someone with disordered eating?
  • Why commenting on someone's body image or food intake is normalised.
  • Vedica's tips for navigating Diwali when struggling with an eating disorder.
  • How you can support a loved one in their recovery from an eating disorder during Diwali.
  • What changes need to occur within Indian culture in order to reduce the stigma around mental health and open up conversations.

To find out more about Vedica, you can find them on Instagram & Twitter @kangaroominds or @vedica_podar, or on Facebook and LinkedIn as Kangaroo Minds.

Kindly note, that this episode delves into sensitive eating disorder topics. Remember to take care of yourself while listening, and always seek professional help if needed. This podcast is your bridge to insightful discussions, not a substitute for clinical guidance.

Recent Posts

By Hannah Hickinbotham March 16, 2026
Exploring ketamine as a treatment for people with anorexia and major depressive disorder: the EDEN study 
By Hannah Hickinbotham March 2, 2026
The Body Image Book for Girls
By Hannah Hickinbotham February 23, 2026
This is a subtitle for your new post
By Hannah Hickinbotham February 16, 2026
The psychology of weight loss support and eating disorder work is more similar than people think, both are about understanding your relationship with food, compassion, and deeper emotional work - Dr Courtney Raspin
By Hannah Hickinbotham February 9, 2026
ARFID is not fussy eating, it's a mental health condition coined by anxiety around food.
By Hannah Hickinbotham February 2, 2026
This is a subtitle for your new post
Show More