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Just a note, this series contains strong language and references to eating disorders.

If you or someone you know is struggling with your relationship with food,

we have included resources at the end of the episode and in our show notes.

Oh, summer in Manhattan. There is nothing quite like it.

And on this August day in 2018, it's the usual 1,400 degrees and the rats are living their best lives.

The sidewalk outside Chippriani downtown is packed with people having a good time,

hanging out, enjoying $30 salads.

A waiter brings out a piece of cake with a candle on it and delivers it to one of the tables.

Birthday almost to me.

My friend sends over the cake with the candle. They're pretty white meringue cake that they're famous for.

That's the almost birthday girl herself, Emily Gellis.

And before I go out to blow out the candle, I say something like, oh, I need to get an Instagram

for this. Like, I need to record this like influencer life.

Influencer life. At the sound of those two words, the woman sitting at the table next to her

pricks up her ears and said to me, like, oh, I heard you say you're an influencer.

This woman has long, dark brown hair and blindingly white teeth.

And what do you know? She's an influencer too.

She was like, oh, I'm so-and-so. I do this diet. I was like, oh, cool.

And then we took a video together because I think she wanted me to post that she was eating pasta or something.

Look what I bumped into at lunch. The queen of F-actor and nutrition and they're eating pasta.

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