Thanks to the work of Black scholars, including Dr. Sabrina Strings, we know that anti-fatness comes from anti-Blackness as well as other oppressive forces. But WHY were certain beliefs about Black bodies created? Who started the myths, and what were they saying? How do those stereotypes about fat Black bodies manifest today? We are going back thousands of years to see where all this nonsense started. Using a variety of sources, including, of course, the go-to book for talking about this Fear of the Black Body by Sabrina Strings, as well as Belly of the Beast by Da’Shaun L. Harrison and concepts from bell hooks, Patricia Hill Collins, and more. TW: O words, anti-Blackness, slavery, sexism, brief mention of sexual assault, general white fuckery.

We’re constantly told that being fat is bad for us, that fat people are ticking time bombs and are pathetic, sad sacks. Is it true? Are fat people giant losers who are doomed to an “unhealthy,” miserable existence? In this episode, we flip the script and explore the surprising advantages of fatness. From better disease outcomes to unique social benefits, mental health perks, and even survival advantages, I share 49 benefits of being fat you probably haven’t considered. How many can you think of? TW: brief mention of O words.

How many of these do you resonate with? On my show, The Fierce Fatty Podcast, I go into these even deeper on episode 205 "Stages of Fat Identity: Signs You’re Thriving or Trapped." You can also hear the signs that perhaps you're still struggling with anti-fat and diet culture beliefs. If you’ve lived your whole life being told that fat is bad and dieting will be your salvation, then unlearning those messages can be hard. This episode will give you a roadmap to track your progress and celebrate your journey so far!

In episode 205 of the Fierce Fatty Podcast, "205: Stages of Fat Identity: Signs You’re Thriving or Trapped," I shared the details on the stages of fat identity, from “ugh, why am I fat?” to “heck yes, I’m fabulous, unapologetically me!” I also covered the 21 signs that maybe you're struggling with anti-fat bias and have internalized those messages. Go check out the episode (#205) to get all that juicy info anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Are you thriving in your fat identity, or still getting lured with the promises of diet culture (ahem, GLP-1s)? In this episode, I share the details on the stages of fat identity, from “ugh, why am I fat?” to “heck yes, I’m fabulous, unapologetically me!” Learn the signs that show you’re rocking self-acceptance alongside the traps that might still be holding you back. If you’ve lived your whole life being told that fat is bad and dieting will be your salvation, then unlearning those messages can be hard. This episode will give you a roadmap to track your progress and celebrate your journey so far!

A recent opinion video from The New York Times titled “Confessions of a Former Body Positivity Influencer” claims to expose the dangers of the body positivity movement. But does it actually represent what body positivity (and fat liberation) have historically stood for? Short answer: nope. In this episode, we watch the video in real time and break down the misinformation and subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways anti-fatness is repackaged as just “caring about your health.”

TW: anti-fat beliefs.

Does weight loss surgery make you thin and healthy? What percentage of people is it successful for? Are the side effects worth it and what are they exactly? This episode is a deep dive into "bariatric" surgery AKA "weight loss" surgery AKA stomach amputation. TW: There are mentions of the types of surgeries, outcomes and side effects as well as general awful stuff fat people endure.

It’s part 2 of the GLP 1 deep dive! In this episode, we are covering “food noise,” the weird things that people are reporting happening to their bodies on GLP-1s, horrid stuff that’s happening in the UK, lawsuits, safety planning for those taking the drugs, and whether taking GLPs goes against fat liberation. TW: for British anti-fatness, side effects, and mental health.

How can we convince healthcare providers to examine the harm they cause when they tell fat people to lose weight and deny us care? It can be pretty hard to realize that you haven’t been providing evidence-based care so it’s a challenge! That’s where the work of the disability community comes in with their medical and social models of disability. This lets us communicate how medicalizing fatness is not helpful in the same way it’s not helpful for many in the disability community. Alongside that, let’s talk about harm reduction ideas! We’re getting deep today, come join me :)