Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions of childhood sexual assault, suicide, and suicidal ideation. Please listen with care and consider whether this content feels right for you at this time.
In this episode of Becoming Recovered: Body and Soul, Carolyn Costin sits down with retired Navy Senior Chief Leah Stiles for a powerful conversation about eating disorders in the military, the culture that can allow them to remain hidden, and what it takes to choose recovery after years of shame and secrecy.
Leah shares how an eating disorder that began before her military service followed her into the Navy, where strict weight standards, mandatory weigh-ins, discipline, and pressure to perform often blurred the line between behaviors that looked “fit” and those that were deeply harmful. She opens up about the trauma and struggles that shaped her relationship with food and her body, as well as the turning point that led her to begin feeding herself and pursuing recovery even when healing felt impossible.
Together, Carolyn and Leah explore the role of perfectionism, control, black-and-white thinking, and shame in keeping eating disorders alive—and how those same qualities can be redirected toward recovery. Leah also shares the practical tools and values that helped her interrupt long-standing behaviors and ultimately inspired her to create SeaWaves, an organization supporting service members, veterans, and military families affected by eating disorders.
Their conversation also highlights the urgent need for greater awareness, screening, and access to care within military communities, particularly where eating disorders and suicide prevention intersect. At its core, this episode is about learning to move through recovery one step at a time and discovering that healing is not about returning to who you were before, but becoming someone new on the other side.
Leah Stiles is a retired Navy Senior Chief, the CEO of SeaWaves, and the author of Battle Scars and Body Wars. Through her advocacy and her own recovery story, she works to bring greater awareness, support, and hope to military communities impacted by eating disorders.
ABOUT LEAH:
Leah Stiles is a retired U.S. Navy Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist and the Founder and Executive Director of SEA WAVES. After two decades of military service, she transformed her lived experience with an eating disorder into a powerful platform for education, prevention, advocacy, and support within the military community.
A recognized leader in military mental health reform, Leah develops programs that challenge stigma, promote early intervention, and connect service members, veterans, and families with life-saving resources. Her work centers on the critical intersection between eating disorders, suicide prevention, and readiness—issues too often overlooked in military culture.
Leah is the author of theBest Selling book Battle Scars & Body Wars: A Personal and Professional Journey Shining a Light on Eating Disorders in the Military and a sought-after keynote speaker who brings her story to life on national stages.
Leah’s mission is clear: to shine a light on what’s been hidden for too long and ensure that every service member, veteran, and family has access to the care and understanding they deserve. Through SEA WAVES and her advocacy, she carries forward one message above all: Need a light? Be a light.
SEA WAVES website: https://sea-waves.org/
Purchase the book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GPNN34LG?ref_=ppx_printOD_title_dt_b_fed_asin_title_0_0
Thank you for listening. Please take a minute to review our helpful links and resources below.
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Important Links:
Learn about the Carolyn Costin Institute
Apply to become a CCI Certified Recovery Coach
Follow the CCI Institute on Instagram
Subscribe to Carolyn's YouTube Channel
RECEIVE 20% OFF your purchase of the 8 Keys to Recovering from an Eating Disorder (book).
Recovery Resources and Support:
The National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA)
Project Heal
National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD)
Carolyn's Bio:
Carolyn Costin is a world-renowned eating disorder clinician, author, and speaker. Recovered from anorexia, she pi...
