Dismantling Diet Culture with Michael Ulloa

Ever heard the phrase "Train like a beast, look like a beauty"? Or, "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels." Or, "Eat it now, pay for it later." There are so many similar messages aimed at using shame or misinformation in order to convince people that they are one gym routine or diet away from the body that they are told is achievable, especially as we find ourselves scrolling through social media. Thankfully, people like Michael Ulloa exist.  Michael Ulloa is a personal trainer and nutritionist living in Edinburgh, Scotland. His message is that the fitness industry sets people up to seek out incorrect information and he's built an Instagram following using facts couched in funny videos that call out diet culture and the dangers it presents. It doesn't get much more pop culture-y than combining social media trends with real information about health! In this conversation we talk about the truth behind diet trends, what misinformation is out there regarding the fitness industry, and how health should be presented on social media. I also fangirl over Michael's hilarious videos that expose the absurd nature of diet culture! You can find more information about Michael via his website, www.michaelulloa.com or his Instagram @michaelulloaptDr. Adrienne Trier-Bieniek is a gender and media scholar who has published books on gender and pop culture, Beyoncé's influence in music, Tori Amos's fandom, as well as publications focused on the ways pop culture can help heal from trauma. Dr. Adrienne has been featured in publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and NBC News and can be found at www.adriennetrier-bieniek.com or on Instagram @dr.adriennetb Supplemental teaching resources and more info for instructors is shared monthly via Dr. Adrienne's newsletter. Sign up at www.adriennetrier-Bieniek.com. Support the show here. (Unless you are a current student. In that case, keep your money and remember, on Wednesday's we wear pink.)