The Culture Of It All: 8 End-of-Year Reflections

Welcome pals, to our final episode of 2024!! In this reflective episode, I’m sharing my journey over the past eight months of podcasting, discussing 8 lessons learned, personal growth, positive shifts in my body image, and the importance of having my own back. What a journey it has been. This year started out feeling very heavy as I overcame the end of a friendship, finished a freelancing contract and then found myself at a bit of a crossroads – and that was just the first 30 days of the year 😮‍💨You’ll hear how I chose my words for 2024 during a wonderful workshop hosted by Susannah Conway. In previous years I had chosen words that I wanted to embrace, but within a few months I’d forgotten all about them. This year, my 3 words have supported me and been on my mind throughout all my moments of “what am I doing with my life?!”> Contentment> Knowing, and> AssuranceMy vision board has sat proudly, next to my computer all year as I’ve taken up space and dove into this podcasting journey. So many of the images from this board have been represented in my year, and I can’t wait to create my 2025 vision board with my dear friend Ashley, and the journaling community I’m a part of.Thank you SO much for being a part of this journey with me in 2024, and I cannot wait to get started on episodes for the next year. I’m full of ideas, and you can expect new content and episodes in 2025 in a segment I’m calling “Confessions of a Fat Gurl”... but more on all of this in January!TakeawaysThe journey of podcasting has been transformative and fulfilling.Reflection is essential before setting intentions or goals.Contentment is a valuable state of being, not mediocrity.We have the right to occupy spaces that resonate with us.Choosing who stays in our online communities is empowering.Health anxiety can be exacerbated by diet culture and weight stigma.It's okay to let go of past versions of ourselves and our work.Sharing personal stories can foster connection and understanding.The future holds exciting opportunities for growth and creativity.Chapters00:00 Reflections on the Journey10:22 Setting The Scene: The end of 202319:51 Embracing Visibility and Community26:53 Navigating Personal Feelings on Weight Loss Drugs31:53 Challenging Fat Stereotypes35:11 Retiring Previous Versions of My Business46:31 Looking Ahead to 2025Thank you for listening to The Culture Of It All! this podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive early posts, bonus material and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber on Substack. Come say 'hello' on social media! You'll find episode content on Instagram stories. Looking for more conversations around the politics of fashion? Join me on TikTok Until next time, pals — keep showing up, speaking up, and taking up space.