In 2010 Sam Ikin was working as a television news reporter in Sydney when he began to feel he might have a disordered relationship with food and body image.
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"I have always had a problem with my own body image and I guess as far back as I can remember I have probably had disordered eating patterns," he said.
"My early 20's, I think that is when it started to become a major problem for me.
"I had a really poor body image, I had really poor self esteem and I thought there was a lot wrong with me."
Sam was able to get help through The Butterfly Foundation, the peak body helping people who have eating disorders, and now about 10 years later he is hoping he can help others through the Butterfly: Let's Talk podcast.
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"Butterfly was there for me when I was struggling, and I'm thrilled to be able to work with this fantastic team on such a vital project. It's affected every aspect of my life, and I can't think of anything else in the world that I would like more than to be free from this disorder," Mr Ikin said.
The podcast is about body image issues and eating disorders.
Sam is hoping it will start a healthy national discussion about the problems and stigmas associated with eating disorders.
"The idea of starting the podcast is that we would start a conversation and give people a chance to hear from others who have gone through a similar experience," Mr Ikin said.
"Every eating disorder is unique and everybody experiences it in their own way but to hear from other people who have been there before them, to realise that recovery is possible and to realise that there are services they look for.
"Each episode we are going to look at a different aspect of the experience."
The first episode of the podcast discussed how people living in regional areas may not have access to some of the services available in major cities.
Episode two will discuss eating disorders and body images issues in men.
"We are talking to a quite well known football player and a few other people from all walks of life about their experience," Mr Ikin said.
Butterly Foundation chief executive officer Kevin Barrow said the podcast will be an important tool to help increase society's understanding of eating disorders.
"Having open discussions about eating disorders is critical," he said.
"Eating disorders are still not very well understood as the serious mental health conditions that they are.
"We are seeing with depression and anxiety that the world has come a long way over the last ten years. But with eating disorders, there is still quite a degree of stigma attached.
"We also know that the best way to break that stigma is to talk about it."
Mr Ikin said people still don't believe him when he tells them he has an eating disorder.
"A lot of people just don't believe it, a lot of people look at me and they think of eating disorders as things that effect young girls," he said.
"We are starting to make some inroads in that and there are definitely a lot of young women who need support and we are trying to include all of the people who are affected by eating disorders in this podcast."
The podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts.
- If you or anyone you know is experiencing an eating disorder or body image concerns we encourage you to reach out for support. You can call the Butterfly Foundation National Helpline on 1800 33 4673.
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