Eat the Rules with Summer Innanen
I’m chatting with Victoria Welsby, Confidence and Body Love Coach from BAM POW LIFE, about why we are so scared of fat, what you can do to change your internal bias and what to do if you’re afraid your partner will leave you if you gain weight. We talk about:
- Victoria’s story of being homeless, experiencing abuse and low self-esteem and how her adversity made her more resilient and helped her become an awesome fat activist, 
- We explore why society is so afraid of fat and what Victoria learned when she did a social experiment asking people their thoughts on fat bodies,
What the good fatty/bad fatty dichotomy is and why our culture is so obsessed with health,
How to challenge and change the internalized fatphobia and help others to see their biases,
What Victoria did when her partner told her that he would find her more attractive if she was thinner,
What to do if you’re in a relationship where you are afraid your partner will leave you if you gain weight,
Whether it’s possible to change your partner’s point of view and help them challenge their social conditioning,
And so much more!
Direct download: 95_episode.mp3
Category:Health -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

I’m chatting with Kelly Diels, Feminist Marking Consultant, about the Female Lifestyle Empowerment Brand (FLEB). We’re talking about how empowerment is being misused and co-opted in the online world, how this upholds patriarchal systems, why self-care is a collective issue and what you can watch out for as a consumer to advocate for yourself and demand better. Specifically, the ways in which Kelly noticed how “empowerment” and social triggers were being used to market services and how this was misaligned with true empowerment. What the Female Lifestyle Empowerment Brand (FLEB) is and how to watch out for it. The ways in which FLEB uphold patriarchal systems and maintain authority over other women. How to become a more astute consumer and the specific tactics to watch out for. Why we need collective social change and personal success strategies to overcome our obstacles and have more successful self-improvement models. How women are conditioned to be “brands” (objects for consumption) and the ways this perpetuates feelings of inferiority. How coaches can become better at marketing their services and truly stand for empowerment, plus, so much more! 

Direct download: 94_episode.mp3
Category:Health -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

I’m chatting with Jennifer Rollin, MSW, LCSW-C, about the difference between eating disorders and disordered eating, how weight-stigma creates issues within eating disorder recovery and healthcare and our thoughts on ED before and after pics. We talk about: The difference between an eating disorder and disordered eating. Whether or not eating disorders would exist in the absence of diet culture. How weight stigma creates problems in eating disorder recovery and the healthcare system. How to improve eating disorder recovery rates at an institutional level. What you can do for yourself to find better healthcare and support if you feel like you are being discriminated against. What to do at the doctor when they request that you get weighed. Our perspectives on eating disorder before and after pictures – are they problematic or helpful? Plus, so much more! 

Direct download: 93_episode.mp3
Category:Health -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

I’m chatting with Mara Glatzel, MSW – intuitive guide and energy healer – about how to advocate for yourself, stop being chained to your to-do list and realize you are enough exactly as you are, regardless of your productivity and imperfections. In this episode, we chat about: How to recognize your needs and advocate for yourself, even when you don’t feel like you’re worth it. How to overcome the fear and hesitation that accompanies receiving and advocating for ourselves. How to identify and set boundaries for yourself. The importance of rest, why rest does not mean sleeping and how to create a more restful existence for yourself. Why being productive won’t make you more worthy and how to step away from your to-do list. How mothering has changed Mara and helped her become more aligned to her purpose, plus so much more. 

Direct download: 92_episode.mp3
Category:Health -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

I’m talking about why body positivity and intentional attempts at weight loss cannot co-exist and answering common questions associated with this debate. In this episode, I talk about: What do we mean when we talk about weight loss in the context of body positivity. What body positivity really is and why it is different than “loving your body." Why the statement “You can love your body and still want to change it” is perhaps true, yet not body positive. Why the promotion and labeling of weight loss as “body positivity” is destructive and harmful to fat acceptance. How I respond to common pushback and questions around weight and body positivity. What to do if you need to lose weight “for health reasons." What kind of discussions belong in body positive spaces. Why I don’t make the rules on any of this crap and who to follow for more advice. Plus, so much more! 

Direct download: 91_episode.mp3
Category:Health -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

I am interviewing Anita Johnston, author of Eating in the Light of the Moon. She talks about the neuroscience and psychology behind our body image and relationship with food, how to get back in touch with who you are and the art of feeling feelings. In this episode, we chat about: How we lose the capacity to be intuitive and express who we are as children and why this influences our relationship with food and our bodies. The masculine systems that contribute to the suppression of our emotions and intuition and their influence on the way we feel about ourselves. The neuroscience of why we feel bad about ourselves and how to change it. The contract between belonging and fitting in and why the desire to fit in creates a disconnect from who we are. Three questions to ask yourself to get in touch with who you are and what you desire. Why loneliness is really about a disconnection from ourselves versus a disconnection from others. The art of feeling feelings and why it’s necessary. Plus, so much more! 

Direct download: 90_episode.mp3
Category:Health -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

I’m chatting with Krystal Thompson – Professional Yoga Therapist and Intersectional Body Positivity Activist. She talks about how the body positive movement can be more inclusive, what it means to practice body positive yoga, how it can help you heal your body image and details on our upcoming virtual workshop – The Self-Care Shakedown. We also talk about: The moment she decided she was done with dieting and diet culture and how yoga helped her to heal her relationship with her body. How the body positive movement can be more inclusive and expand representation in an effort to uphold the belief that all bodies are worthy of love and respect. Why “all bodies are good bodies” is an exclusionary statement. Blowing up the BS around statements like “as long as she’s happy and healthy”. The co-opting of body positivity in yoga culture and all of the different reasons this is problematic. The various systems of oppression that benefit from you feeling bad about yourself and how to fight back. Everything you need to know about The Self-Care Shakedown. Plus, so much more! 

Direct download: 89_episode.mp3
Category:Health -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

I’m chatting with Dianne Bondy – Yoga Teacher, Social Justice Activist & leading voice of the Yoga For All movement. She talks about the intersection of racism and diet and yoga culture, why diet culture and yoga cannot co-exist and the white-washing of the yoga industry. What she noticed about yoga culture and how this prompted her to become a social justice activist. Dianne’s experience with discrimination and racism and the influence of this on her body image and self-worth. How the media’s portrayal of people of colour creates stereotypes, perpetuates racism and impacts the self-worth of women of colour. The “white-washing” of yoga culture and how this is counter to the roots of yoga and yoga philosophy. The co-opting of body positivity in yoga culture and all of the different reasons this is problematic. How to study your privilege and viewpoints to be a better ally. How diet culture permeates into yoga culture and why it’s counter to fundamental principles of yoga. Plus, so much more! 

Direct download: 88_episode.mp3
Category:Health -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

I’m chatting with Mallorie Dunn – creator of SmartGlamour. She gives us a behind the scenes perspective on the fashion industry as it relates to body positivity, including how misleading sizing charts are and how clothing can help you with body acceptance. In this episode, we chat about: What SmartGlamour is all about, why it’s accessible for ALL bodies and why it’s blazing the trail for body positive clothing retailers. The importance of diverse representation in the fashion industry and why the majority of retailers are falling short with their attempts at “body positivity”. How we can support body positivity with our dollars and not just attitudes. How sizing charts are really created, why they are misleading and why you shouldn’t care. Why we need to reclaim the word “flattering” back to its true definition and how it’s current use is demoralizing. How to enjoy the shopping experience and explore new styles. What to look for when shopping if you have a changing body and how clothing can support your body acceptance. Plus, so much more! 

Direct download: 87_episode.mp3
Category:Health -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

I’m chatting with Melissa Toler – writer, speaker and coach - about the intersection of racism and diet culture, why dieting is violence and how it strips us of our humanity and so much more. Melissa’s experience growing up as a Black woman and how this influenced her body image. The intersection of diet culture and racism and how this influences women of colour. The “Whiteness” of the wellness industry, how this has bled into body positivity and how its messaging is inaccessible to marginalized groups. What women of privilege need to know to do better and help liberate all bodies. Why dieting is violence against ourselves and how it robs us of our humanity. Why the pursuit of weight loss is not a personal choice, even though you may think it is. What to do to reclaim your humanity and autonomy amongst the pressures of diet culture. Plus, so much more! 

Direct download: 86_episode.mp3
Category:Health -- posted at: 6:00am EDT