The Woman Who Refused to Give Up: Johanna Kandel’s Inspiring Story of Eating Disorder Recovery and Advocacy
- Jeremy Demate
- Oct 15
- 4 min read
“Healed people heal people.” — Johanna Kandel
Some stories remind us that hope can heal.
This week on The She Believed She Could™ Podcast, I sit down with one of my dearest friends and one of the most influential voices in mental health — Johanna Kandel, the Founder and CEO of the National Alliance for Eating Disorders.
Together, we celebrate 25 years of advocacy, awareness, and impact, while reflecting on Johanna’s incredible journey from personal recovery to global changemaker.
Behind every movement that changes lives is a woman who chose to believe — even when it wasn’t easy.
Johanna Kandel is that woman.
After recovering from her own eating disorder, Johanna realized how limited access to care truly was. At just 21 years old, armed with determination and compassion, she founded what began as the Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness — now known as the National Alliance for Eating Disorders, a leading nonprofit that supports thousands of individuals and families each year.
Her journey from survivor to advocate has transformed into a 25-year mission dedicated to breaking the silence and stigma around eating disorders. Under her leadership, the Alliance offers:
Free therapist-led support groups serving more than 30,000 participants annually.
A helpline that answers over 8,000 calls each year.
Findedhelp.com, a referral database with nearly 300,000 searches annually.
Johanna is also an author, speaker, and international advocate whose work has reached more than 88 countries. She collaborates with major social media platforms and AI innovators — including OpenAI and Google Cloud — to create better systems for connecting people to care.
Beyond the professional accolades, Johanna is a woman whose compassion is contagious. Her warmth, humor, and humanity are evident in everything she does. She’s the kind of leader who listens, leads with empathy, and still co-facilitates support groups to stay connected to the heart of the work.
“I founded The Alliance as my love letter to the community. I never wanted anyone to feel as alone as I once did.” — Johanna Kandel
At 21, Johanna made a life-altering choice: to transform her pain into purpose.
After years of struggling to find the right support, she became determined to create what she needed but couldn’t find — a place for people to feel seen, heard, and cared for.
What began as a one-woman mission and a fax machine (yes, really!) has grown into a thriving national organization that saves lives every single day.
“No doesn’t have to be the final answer — you just have to find another way to make it work.” — Johanna Kandel
Over the past 25 years, Johanna has built a global movement rooted in hope and community. Her story reminds us that lasting impact doesn’t come from perfection — it comes from persistence.
Through innovation, collaboration, and sheer determination, she’s helped redefine what eating disorder support looks like in the modern world. From hosting global awareness events at the United Nations to partnering with mental health leaders worldwide, Johanna continues to pave the way for more compassionate care.
“We’re better together. That’s why it’s called The Alliance.” — Johanna Kandel
This episode dives deep into what it truly means to turn pain into purpose and to build a legacy from healing. Me and Johanna reflect on our shared experiences in the mental health space and how vulnerability and connection can transform stigma into strength.
Together, we explore how community-based care — including therapist-led groups and accessible online resources — can save lives for those who otherwise might never reach help.
“Hope is the one thing I was missing in my struggle, and now it’s what I fight to give others.” — Johanna Kandel
As The Alliance celebrates its 25th anniversary, Johanna is still dreaming forward. Her next goals include expanding the helpline to seven days a week, strengthening partnerships, and continuing to push boundaries in advocacy, innovation, and outreach.
Her leadership philosophy? Collaboration over competition, compassion over perfection. She knows that true impact is built together — one courageous conversation, one call, one life at a time.
✨ Why You’ll Love This Episode
Together, we discuss:
How Johanna transformed her personal recovery into a global movement.
The Alliance’s life-saving programs — from free groups to the helpline and referral tools.
Why advocacy, awareness, and access to care matter now more than ever.
How technology and AI are expanding mental health access.
The mindset shifts that helped Johanna lead with resilience and purpose.
👉 Tune in to this week’s She Believed She Could™ Podcast episode — a must-listen for anyone passionate about mental health, healing, and creating a meaningful impact.
💙 Final Thoughts
Johanna Kandel’s story is more than one of recovery — it’s a testament to what happens when you lead with love and refuse to give up. She reminds us that you don’t need a perfect plan to make a difference — you just need the courage to start.
As I beautifully shares in the episode, Johanna is truly “the woman who refused to give up. ”And because she didn’t, countless others now have the hope and support they deserve.
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