The Culture Of It All

A reflective wrap-up for 2025.This is our final episode of 2025, and what a year it has been. In this episode, I’m reflecting on what it truly meant for me to live at full volume this year: in my work, in my body, in my creativity, and in community with all of you.I wrap up the year with honesty, gratitude, and a look ahead to 2026’s anti–New Year energy.If you’ve been a longtime listener, thank you. If you’re new here, welcome.In “Joy, Style, Softness: A Year at Full Volume” we’re exploring:What living “at full volume” looked like this yearHow an unexpected viral TikTok video helped shape my workWhat it looked like to parent my child (and myself) through body shamingHow my style has evolved without shrinking, performing, or reinventing myselfWhat I’m bringing with me into 2026Takeaway to Hold Onto:"Softness isn’t the opposite of strength — it’s the space where I meet myself with honesty and enoughness."Thank 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.

This week we’re talking about something so many folks in larger bodies have experienced: what happens when you find yourself trying to dress a body you’ve spent most of your life trying to shrink?If you’ve ever:✨ held onto “some day” clothes✨ bought outfits for the fantasy body (not the body you live in)✨ felt disconnected from your own style✨ or realised you’ve never dressed without shame, rules, or fear…this one is for you.We explore what happens when you stop trying to shrink, start dressing your current body, and discover that style can be a source of comfort, self-trust, and joy — not punishment.In “Reclaiming Style After Diet Culture” we’re exploring:How diet culture disrupts your identity, your style, and your relationship with your bodyThe “some day wardrobe” — why so many of us had oneClothing as motivation vs. clothing as informationDressing the fantasy body vs. the now-bodyFear, visibility, and the fashion rulebook handed down like an unwanted family heirloomThe moment you realise you’ve never actually explored your own styleHow experimenting with clothes can rebuild body trustThe power of comfort as a value — not a failureHow I’ve developed my personal style instead of following trends, and included legacy and comfort in my wardrobeWhat changes when you let your wardrobe fit your life (not the other way around)Links mentioned:Read my full article at UnflatteringThe TikTok crop-top moment I mentionedThank 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.

Take What You Need. It’s Okay To Go Slow.In today’s episode, we’re talking about soft rebellion — the kind of quiet, grounded resistance that comes from slowing down, listening to your body, and refusing to perform the hustle culture version of “success.”This one weaves rest, cyclical living, post-pandemic shifts, unlearning hustle culture, anti-diet work, and the tenderness required to live in a world that constantly tells us to go harder, do more, shrink more, be less.Thank 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.

In this episode, Melanie discusses body trust, and learning to be comfortable with taking up space physically, mentally and emotionally. She explores how diet culture prevents us from trusting our own bodies, and how anti-fat rhetoric keeps folks in larger bodies in a cycle of distrust and body hate. Melanie shares reflective questions and journaling prompts that we can use to repair our body trust and practise taking up space.Reflection Questions MentionedTake these to your journal, screenshot them, or come back to them whenever you need:What would it feel like to trust my body?What would it feel like to make decisions from a place of deep trust instead of fear?What is possible if I don’t fear my body?In what ways can I practice body trust this week?Thank 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.

In this episode, Melanie discusses the politics of plus size fashion, reflecting on her personal journey as a fashion enthusiast who also lives her life in a fat body. She explores the discrimination within the industry, the challenges fat folks can face when finding clothes and discovering their own style. Melanie shares tools and reframed language that she uses to heal her body image, breaking fashion rules and embracing her personal style.In this episode:Why weight loss isn’t the solution to a systemic issueThe lack of care and consideration that goes into plus size fashionWhat I wish straight sized people understood about the plus size shopping experienceHow fat phobia prevents us from finding our own personal styleFive tools and language reframes for healing our body image🧡 Things to check out:Listen to episode 22 of The Culture Of It All!Check out Viva Voce on socialsThank 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.

After a much needed break, Melanie returns to The Culture of It All with a new sound, new energy, and a heartfelt reminder that you were never too much. In this episode, she shares what inspired her new digital zine Full Volume — a fat, nostalgic, rebellious love letter to those who grew up not seeing their bodies represented in the glossy pages of their favourite teen mags. Melanie unpacks the evolution of the show, why softness can be political, and how fat joy, rest, and rebellion all coexist.Things to check out:Full Volume: The Autumn Issue — Melanie’s fat-positive digital zineMelanie’s guest episode over at Nope That’s Not NormalPinterest board for Full Volume: Autumn ‘25Thank 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.

As we wrap up this season of The Culture Of It All, we’re rewinding to an episode that holds a very special place in my heart — Fat Positive Fall. In this cozy, reflective replay, I share how autumn feels like coming home to myself and how this season has often marked a time of clarity, creativity, and joy in my fat body. I talk about what it means to pursue joy, how I’m learning to shift away from the constant “fight,” and why rest, rage, and radical softness all belong in our fat liberation work.Whether you’re planning spooky season activities or just looking for inspiration to create more joy and ease in your fat body this autumn, I hope this episode feels like a warm cup of something delicious and a reminder that you’re not alone.Let’s create a fat positive fall, on our own terms. 🍁Chapters:00:00 Welcome to The Culture of It All01:20 Fat Positive Fall: Embracing the Season07:01 The Complexities of Body Positivity12:33 Choosing Joy Over Negativity17:25 Pursuing Joyful Activities This FallThank 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.

In this episode, I’m reflecting on an old podcast episode I recorded back in 2020, before I had the language or tools to really understand diet culture and fat liberation. I’m sharing clips from that original episode and responding to what I got right, what I hadn’t yet learned, and how my relationship with body image and fat acceptance has evolved since then. This work isn’t linear, but growth is powerful—and this episode is full of it.Thank 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.

Self-care isn’t just for thin, white, able-bodied people—but it’s often marketed that way. In this episode, I’m exploring what weight-neutral self-care really looks like for those of us in larger bodies. I talk about how self-care spaces exclude fat folks, how wellness culture co-opts our care, and why self-care doesn’t need to be aesthetic to be valid. I also share my personal self-care menu—and invite you to reflect on what you need today, without guilt or performance.🎧 Listen to this episode on Substack, subscribe and get every episode a week early.Thank 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.

In episode 33 of The Culture Of It All, we're digging into the diet industry's favorite disguise: health. But when "health" is actually code for thinness, who really benefits? And who gets left behind? I’m asking honest questions about trust, marketing, and the hidden shame of being sold weight loss in the name of self-care. If you've ever wondered whether that wellness product is helpful or harmful, then this episode is for you. I’m also sharing my personal journey in online business, the negative impact of bro marketing, and the manipulative tactics used in the diet industry. Listen to this episode on TakeawaysMarketing should not be involved in our health.Once you see the manipulative tactics, you can't unsee them.The diet industry thrives on creating problems to sell solutions.Being in a larger body is absolutely fine and should be accepted.Self-care is often misrepresented by the diet industry as weight loss.Diets are not a sustainable solution for health.Recognizing the tactics used in health marketing is crucial.The wellness industry often mirrors the diet industry's practices.Weight loss is not synonymous with health.We need to reclaim self-care for all body types.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Diet Culture and Marketing13:54 The Dangers of Marketing in Health23:39 Manipulative Marketing TacticsThank 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.

This summer has been exceptionally warm and this time of year always reminds me of the unexpected lessons I’ve learned since ditching diets and divesting from diet culture. The lessons that had nothing to do with food or movement, and everything to do with my body image and the unrealistic beauty standards laid out by the patriarchy. You’ll hear 3 of these lessons today, and I’ll also be touching on the ways in which diets can be socially isolating and how this affects our lives.Chapters:00:00 Misconceptions Of Ditching Diets06:43 Lesson One: Caring for my fat body14:57 Lesson Two: Embracing My Body & Being Visible20:10 Lesson Three: Missing Out On Life25:37 Finding Freedom Beyond Diet CultureThank 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.

As I write this, it’s currently a gloomy summer day. The damp tension is in the air, a promise of thunderstorms and cooler temperatures just outside my office window. And whilst I impatiently wait for the real thing, I have a ‘Summer Storm’ soundscape playing on Insight Timer. Gloomy weather is my vibe.My soul craves cosiness, even in the warmer months and over the past few years I’ve discovered ways that I can embrace my love of all things Autumn, and it helps me survive the summer.This week I’m bringing you another wonderful episode from last year's Summer Series, 5 Summer Survival Tips From A Fat Gal! Chapters:00:00 Welcome07:18 Tip One: Manage Your Expectations10:41 Tip Two: Practise Taking Up Space14:52 Tip Three: Do Things That Bring You Joy, Coziness and Happiness18:04 Tip Four: Embrace Comfort19:30 Tip Five: Start Small & Be Gentle With Yourself21:09 Checking In With Yourself & Journal PromptsThank 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.

Over the next couple weeks I’m taking some time to focus on a few creative projects, and will be replaying some of my most popular episodes, which also happen to be from last year's summer series ☀️This week I’m resharing episode 05, From Pursuing Thinness to Prioritising Body Peace. I listened back through this episode, and it’s a great introduction to the summer months. We’ll explore the barriers for fat bodies in summer, the way body positivity can bypass our lived experiences, and take a look at the body appreciation spectrum.Chapters00:00 Reclaiming Summer: A Journey of Body Acceptance00:00 Introduction and Summer Series01:44 The Manifestation of Negative Body Image05:59 Body Image & Weight Loss Negotiations10:08 The Body Appreciation Spectrum25:02 Prioritising Self-Advocacy and Seeking Comfortable Products and Spaces29:06 From Pursuing Thinness to Prioritising Joy and Inner PeaceThank 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.

NOTE: I am not a medical professional or therapist, this episode is not to be used as medical advice it is based on my experiences, thoughts and opinions.Welcome to episode 31 of The Culture Of It All! this week we’re exploring the term ‘food noise’. Since 2022, as weight loss jabs have become a casual part of conversation, so has the term ‘food noise’, but what does it mean? What is food noise, and why do some people not experience it? In this episode I’ll be sharing my thoughts about the term, how food noise develops, and ways we can quieten the noise without the use of GLP-1s. There is a content warning and context for this episode at the beginning; please note I will be discussing hunger, appetite, cravings, emotional eating, food addiction and intuitive eating.Chapters:00:00 Content Warning For Episode02:04 Understanding GLP-1s and Their Impact03:38 NHS Guidelines for GLP-1s04:34 The Impact Of Diet Culture And Concerns Over Prescribing GLP-1s14:03 Defining Food Noise16:11 The Biological Responses to Hunger18:42 The Influence of Genetics on Eating Behavior24:22 Other Ways We Can Quieten The Noise30:11 Body Change and Intuitive Eating32:45 The Misunderstanding of Food Addiction37:40 The Nuances of Intuitive Eating: Trusting Ourselves42:53 Autonomy and Informed Choices in DietingThank 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.

In this minisode, we’re sitting down for a ‘fat chat’ and exploring WHY people still believe that being fat is simply a choice. We’ll discuss the reasons why I continue to see comments repeating the same set of fatphobic beliefs, and challenge the pervasive myth that fatness is a choice, emphasizing the impact of diet culture and the societal pressures that lead folks to pursue weight loss. My hope is that this current “thin is in” era will eventually come to an end, and we will see a shift towards fat acceptance.Chapters:00:00 Introduction and Welcome01:35 Social Media and Fatphobia06:21 Diet Cycling and Personal Experiences10:15 Fundamental Misunderstandings of Fat Bodies13:06 Societal Narratives and Weight Loss17:12 Hope for Fat Acceptance and LiberationThank 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.

In this episode, we’re delving into the complexities of diet culture, discussing the 3 red flags associated with every single diet, and the manipulative tactics of the diet industry. We’ll address the importance of understanding personal preferences in eating and the subjective nature of what constitutes “healthy eating”. I encourage you to practice discernment with your food choices and to recognise the pervasive influence of diet culture within our society.TakeawaysDiet culture is pervasive and manipulative.Not all diets are labeled as diets; many disguise themselves as lifestyle changes.Understanding dieting red flags can help navigate diet culture.Personal preference in food choices is crucial for intuitive eating.Healthy eating is subjective and varies across cultures.Dieting behaviors can lead to disordered eating and negative self-talk.It's important to recognize the emotional aspects of food.Self-care and self-respect should not be tied to body size.Food policing reinforces fatphobic narratives.It's not your fault; diet culture is everywhere.Chapters00:00 Why The Language We Use About Diets Matters17:37 The 3 Dieting Red Flags25:26 But, What About Health?28:25 Food Policing & The Restriction Rebellion Pendulum33:10 3 Takeaways From The EpisodeLinks:Maintenance Phase Podcast with Aubrey Gordon and Michael HobbesThank 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.

In this episode, Melanie shares her personal journey towards body neutrality and fat acceptance, exploring the negative impact which dieting had on her physical, emotional and mental health from a young age. She reflects on her childhood, and the struggles of being a teen and trying to fit in and conform to certain stereotypes. She discusses the challenges she experienced when starting a business, making weight loss her career because it was the only constant in her life, and how her life of dieting impacted her success. You’ll hear how Melanie started to question different areas of her life, what led to her quitting diets all together and what she’s working towards now. Chapters00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflections07:35 Content Warning For This Episode08:59 Childhood Experiences with Diet Culture17:56 CW: hiding food, binge eating19:33 90s Diet Culture, Teens & Conforming to Feminine Ideals25:22 Married Life & The Pursuit of Thinness29:43 Experiencing Body Privilege32:42 Pregnancy & Body Image38:08 Personal Development & Weight Stigma43:15 Reflecting on a Decade of Change49:32 Reminder That Our Thoughts Can Change, Just Like Our BodiesThank 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.

Unlearning my internalised fatphobia, ditching diets, and healing my body image is one of the best things I did for myself AND my kid. I don’t claim to be an expert, I’m doing my best and figuring it out as I go, but as I share in this episode a number of friends have asked me how I’m building this body positive relationship with my kid and it’s been a topic of conversation on my socials too.So I thought we should take a deep dive and talk about ways we can encourage body respect in young people, and end the inheritance of body shame.Topics discussed in episode 27:The negative impact of restrictive food behaviors in childrenWhy I don’t believe it’s my responsibility to prevent fatness in my childHow I supported my child after he was body shamedLanguage and tools that encourage him to respect his and other people bodiesThe negative impact of diet talk and diet culture in the householdQuestions I ask myself when navigating body image related questions or experiences with my kidChapters:00:00 Exploring Parental Responsibility in Body Image02:44 The Impact of Fat Shaming on Children03:38 Creating a Trusting Parent-Child Relationship06:01 Breaking the Cycle of Diet Culture09:53 Reflecting on Childhood Body Image14:44 Navigating Parenting with Body Image Issues20:42 Raising A Body Confident Kid & Teaching Body Respect25:52 Parental Responsibility in a Fatphobic World30:42 Questions for Weight Neutral ParentingNext week: Thank 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.

In last week's episode, I shared that fatphobia has always stemmed from the belief that weight is mostly controlled by diet and exercise. It’s why we’ve been subjected to decades of diet programs, products and books focused on calories in and calories out. It has also perpetuated the narrative that if you “try hard enough” you can also be thin, or manage your weight. With the rise in use of GLP-1s for weight loss, and the ease at which people can access them privately with very little screening – we’ve watched as diet talk has shifted from how many calories someone is eating to whether it’s an injection day and they’re going to crap themselves.Seriously. These are the casual, and dangerous conversations happening across social media. And whilst my personal view is these drugs are going to cause more harm in the longterm, I also know people are prescribed this medication for health reasons, and they deserve access to the healthcare their body needs.In today’s mini episode we’re going to explore how we went from the rise and decline of body positivity in the 2010s to ‘thin is in’ and how this is leading to an increasingly fatphobic society. We’ll also talk about how politics, and facism play a part in this rhetoric, and why it’s going to cause more harm, not just for fat folks, in the long term.Takeaways:There is a correlation between the rise in GLP-1s and the rise in fatphobia.Fatphobia is more complex than just a fear of fat people.The diet industry thrives on control and fear.Weight loss drugs are marketed as an act of self-care.Fatness is not a choice, and it is not a moral failing.Unlearning fatphobia is crucial for mental health.Diet behaviors go beyond just counting calories.The rise in fatphobia is a system designed to fail.Internalised fatphobia has nowhere to go after weight loss.The marketing of weight loss drugs reinforces fatphobic attitudes.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Fatphobia and GLP-1s01:59 Understanding Fatphobia: Definitions and Misconceptions04:21 The Role of Diet Culture and Weight Loss Drugs06:37 Marketing Tactics and the Perception of Weight Loss08:27 Political Instability and the Rise of Fatphobia10:25 The Impact of Weight Loss on Fatphobia12:13 Internalized Fatphobia and Its Consequences14:13 Fashion Rules and Body Image15:42 Conclusion: Unlearning Fatphobia for Better HealthThank 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.

Fatphobia is on the rise, so today, we’re going to talk about it.Fatphobia, or anti-fatness, is the often socially acceptable form of discrimination and negative attitudes towards folks in fat bodies. This includes stereotypes and misconceptions that fat folks are less disciplined or lack self-control compared to their smaller bodied peers. Fatphobia is not just name calling or bullying someone for their size, it’s rooted in racism, and the transatlantic slave trade.In this episode we will be exploring:What fatphobia is, and why it’s harmfulExamples of fatphobia within society, specifically healthcareExamples of internalised fatphobia, and ways we were exposed to it, even as childrenAnd, I’ll be finishing the episode with 6 tips for unlearning our internalised fatphobia.Unlearning our own internalised fatphobia is something we have to do as an individual, accepting that we have also been part of the problem - no matter our body size - and recognising some of the thoughts and judgements we make to ourselves and others.If you’ve ever heard yourself say…“I’m not as fat as that person”“Have you seen how much weight they’ve gained?”“I’m never going to let myself get like that…”Or, perhaps assumed you know someone’s health, lifestyle or ability based on their size?That’s fatphobia.You can file this under “Once you see it, you can’t unsee it!”So dive in with me, we’re covering a lot, and I promise you it’s worth it.Takeaways:Fatphobia is a societal issue that affects everyone.Internalized fatphobia can lead to self-discrimination and negative self-image.Fatphobia is rooted in racism.Weight is influenced by numerous factors beyond personal control.Unlearning fatphobia requires conscious effort and self-reflection.Social media can perpetuate harmful beauty standards.Advocacy for marginalised bodies is crucial in the fight against fatphobia.Diverse voices in the fat acceptance movement are essential for change.Challenging diet talk in everyday conversations is important.Recognising one's worth is not tied to body size. Chapters:00:00 Introduction & Content Warning03:36 Melanie's Personal Experience With Fat Phobia06:36 Understanding Fatphobia: Definitions and Examples09:34 The Impact & Harm Of Fat Phobia12:46 The Harmful Effects of Internalised Fatphobia16:38 Understanding Internalized Fatphobia19:30 Tip 1: Stop correlating weight & health with worth21:20 Tip 2: Consider the experiences of people whose bodies differ from your own23:41 Tip 3: Unfollow Accounts Perpetuating Fat Phobia25:49 Tip 4: Reframing Fat Phobic Thoughts28:56 Tip 5: Ditch The Diet Talk33:55 Tip 6: Learn from fat liberationists & anti diet professionalsNext Week: Mini-sode: Fat phobia & The Rise Of GLP-1sThank 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.

We talk a lot about diet culture and the diet industry on the show, and I thought now would be a great time to revisit both of them and take a mini deep dive in this episode.My very first episode took a look at diet culture, but to be honest, my experience of diet culture, the diet industry, and understanding of the two has evolved in the last year. I have learned a lot more. I've experienced a lot more. I feel a lot more confident in the way in which we can talk about it with you today.In this episode, I'm going to be answering the questions:What is diet culture? How is it different from the diet industry? Do they impact us in different ways?And I encourage you to stick around till the end of the episode because I will be posing a question that completely knocked me off my diet culture axis the first time I heard it. It could also be used as a journal or writing prompt.Takeaways:Diet culture is a system of beliefs that centers thinness.The diet industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that preys on insecurities.Diet culture impacts our mental health and self-worth.Weight loss drugs may not lead to long-term health benefits.Informed choices are crucial when considering health options.Diet culture distracts us from pursuing our true passions.The societal ideal of thinness is rooted in various forms of oppression.Reflecting on health goals without weight loss is liberating.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Diet Culture01:54 Understanding Diet Culture04:26 The Impact of Diet Culture05:18 The Diet Industry Explained06:46 Do They Impact Us In Different Ways?07:27 The Cycle of Diet Culture08:42 Personal Reflections on Dieting10:04 Encouragement for Informed ChoicesLinks Mentioned:Fategories by Fluffy Kitten PartyThank 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.

Welcome to season 4 of The Culture Of It All! We’re starting off the new season with a catch up, because whilst I took a break from recording I’ve been busy finding a wonderful fat community on TikTok. It all started with my fashion videos, sharing my experiences as a fat person trying to find their ‘casual style’ and it’s kinda snowballed from there.And then in early March I made a little video, like 15 seconds and it went sort of, kinda, maybe viral? At least viral for me. I’ve been creating content for a decade, and have never experienced something like this. Over a few days I was confronted with all of my biggest fears, some of which had been festering since 2016, and I survived… and when you tune into episode 23 you'll hear the good, the bad and the unhinged.Finally, I’d be so grateful if you could spread the word about The Culture Of It All, the easiest way for you to do this is by leaving a 5 star rating and review. When I started the show last year, I knew it was about laying a foundation, getting myself comfortable with speaking up and finding my flow. For the first time in my career, I’m not afraid to toot my own horn TOOT TOOT, and ask for support. I’m ready for The Culture Of It All to be SEEN 👀 HEARD and CELEBRATED, just like the fat community. Thanks for being here, listening and any support you can offer. In this episode:Melanie discusses the fears that have held her back as a fat content creator.She highlights the negative impact of diet culture and fatphobia on her visibility.The conversation touches on the difference between skinny shaming and fat shaming.Melanie shares her experience with a viral video addressing an AI filter that promotes fat shaming.She emphasizes the importance of community support Melanie reflects on her journey towards confidence and using her voice.The episode discusses the need for safe spaces for fat individuals online.Melanie expresses her commitment to advocating for fat acceptance and liberation.She concludes with a call to action for listeners to embrace life outside of dieting.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Season Four00:25 The Journey of a Fat Content Creator04:50 The AI Chubby Filter11:40 The Impact Of Visibility As A Fat Content Creator15:58 Building Community and Support on TikTok19:57 3 Much Needed Reminders From TikTok25:38 Fashion, Body Image, and Fat Liberation29:06 Conclusion and Future DirectionsNext week:Mini-sode: Diet Culture vs The Diet IndustryThank 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.

This is a very special bonus episode for you to enjoy in between seasons. Season 4 will be arriving around April 8th.Below is a snippet of the written versions of today's episode, to get the full blog join us over on Substack.These are not confessions of a former fat girl, or a fat girl who lost 100lbs and wants to preach about how nothing tastes as good as thin. I’m not a fat girl with a somewhat acceptable larger body, curves in all the “right places”. I don’t fit into society's beauty standards.You’d think that it would hurt my feelings, but it was actually a breath of fresh air, to realise that no matter what, I will never fit in.On an exhale I simply asked myself, then what’s the point in trying? Who is all this for? This being the hunger, the mental arithmetic, the hatred towards myself for simply existing in this skin. Thank 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.

Content warning: this episode will contain conversations around my binge eating disorder, body image, anti-fat stereotypes, socioeconomics, and how these impact folks in larger bodies, specifically within the clothing industry.I’m finishing up this season of the show with a conversation that started in the comments of some of my TikTok videos. In one video I said: I’m sure we can all agree that the solution to a lack of sizing is not weight loss.Well, someone didn’t agree, which is a-okay, in fact it led to a lot of richer conversations around the topic of plus size clothing; the rules we follow, the lack of sizing, the politics of plus size clothing and why some of the most anti fat people in society are former fat folks… but all that for another time.In episode 22 we’re exploring:Why weight loss isn’t the solution to the lack of clothing options for folks in larger bodiesHow size bias and discrimination within clothing influences more than just the fashion industryMy experiences growing up plus size, and the impact on my body imageThe erasure of plus size models, plus size departments and stores3 reasons clothing brands don’t want to invest in the plus size marketAnd, at the end of the episode I have TWO calls to action for y’all, one for the fat community and one for listeners in straight sized bodies. I’m going to just bare my soul here; this is the kind of content I’ve always wanted to create. At the age of sixteen I had BIG dreams of working in fashion, but I guarantee you that in all those dreams I was in a smaller body. The belief that I needed to be smaller stole my dreams from me, because I believed to achieve what I wanted in life, first I had to be thin. This work heals my inner teen, the younger version of me who had no idea how to execute her dreams.Sometimes social media and the online space can at the very least be insensitive, at its worst it causes serious harm and danger to marginalised communities. But one of the best things is that it has allowed us to find community, connection and common ground amongst some of our worst experiences.The next season of The Culture Of It All is coming in April, and I’m deep in ideas and planning, so if you have any topics you’d like covered, or questions you want answered send me a message!Chapters00:00 Next Season & Fat Gurl Sticker Sale02:56 Why Weight Loss Isn't The Solution13:51 growing up plus size, OOTD and healing my inner teen18:45 The Struggle To Find Your Own Style22:15 Erasing Plus Size Bodies Within Plus Size Brands25:35 Weight Bias, Discrimination & Stereotyping in Plus-Size Fashion34:34 Call To Actions for Plus Sized & Straight Sized FolksThank 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.

In this episode, I’m exploring the multifaceted nature of spirituality, sharing my personal journey and how it intersects with fat liberation. I’ll be discussing the evolution of my spiritual practices, particularly during the pandemic, and the challenges of reconciling these practices within spiritual spaces often permeated by diet culture.I’d like to note that these practices are often individual and interpersonal, and I recognise that we need community and structural changes to fight back against the injustices we are witnessing today. I also know that right now many of us are trying to find that balance between informed and overwhelmed, finding comfort, slowness, peace in practices on a personal level allows us to be better equipped to fight back against these systems of oppression.TakeawaysPractices should be flexible and adaptable to individual needs.Spirituality can coexist with activism and personal values.Diet culture often infiltrates spiritual spaces, creating challenges for fat positive activists.Spiritual practices can serve as acts of rebellion against societal norms.Self-care rituals can be supportive for navigating overwhelming times.Chapters00:00 Exploring Spirituality: A Personal Journey05:32 Navigating Spirituality and Fat Advocacy08:54 The Intersection of Spirituality and Diet Culture13:51 Witchcraft and Rebellion: Here We Go Again16:28 Finding Individual Practices Amongst The NoiseThank 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.

In this episode, we’re exploring slow living and its significance in today's fast-paced world. I’ll be sharing my personal journey towards embracing a slower lifestyle, the challenges I’ve faced, and the intersection of slow living with diet culture. We’ll be discussing the importance of self-care, and how rest is an act of rebellion against societal expectations that dictate our worth based on productivity and appearance. Through personal reflections, I’m encouraging you to find comfort in your own experiences and to challenge the norms that often lead to burnout and dissatisfaction.TakeawaysSlow living, or intentional living, has various interpretations and meanings.Hygge is an atmosphere of coziness, comfort, and contentment.Choosing to slow down is a form of rebellion against societal norms.Diet culture thrives on our insecurities and encourages us to hustle.Personal satisfaction should take precedence over societal expectations.Slowing down can be challenging for folks in larger bodies due to the stigma and stereotypes associated with fatness.Resting is essential and should be prioritised over productivity.Our lived experiences are powerful and should be shared.Ditching diet culture is integral to embracing a slower lifestyle.Chapters00:00 Slow Living, and Hygge: Acts Of Rebellion06:14 The Intersection of Slow Living and Diet Culture09:51 Challenging Societal Expectations and Personal Goals15:11 The Impact of Patriarchy on Self-Worth19:40 Embracing a Slow Season and Personal Reflection23:16 The Power of Lived Experience and Self-AcceptanceThank 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.

Welcome to a new season of The Culture Of It All, and our first episode of 2025!No need to sugar coat it, this first month of 2025 has felt like a metric fuck ton of hot garbage. Like so many of you, most days I’ve struggled to find the fuzzy line between staying well informed and falling into a spiral of sadness, empathy and anger at the state of the world.Yes, I do talk about it in this episode, and if you’d like to skip some of it then skip 06:35 - 09:35… however, I’d also like to be transparent and everything I talk about in this episode and all episodes is of course political and a reflection on the state of the world we live in.Diet culture IS political.If we don’t like the state of the world right now, we have to ask ourselves how diet culture plays a part in keeping us quiet? How is diet culture distracting us from the important social issues? How do our Governments use fat folks as a scapegoat in their political policies, and cause more harm to marginalised communities whilst taking away basic human rights and access to care?We don’t have the time to be distracted, and we need to be well fed and rested in order to fight. So, yes you can skip part of this episode but my political opinions, and where I stand is woven throughout it. Please take care of your mental health, pause, come back to it, do what you need to do in order to take care of yourself.Chapters for Ep. 01900:00 Navigating Parenting Challenges and Personal Growth06:35 Reflections on Political Climate and Social Responsibility10:35 The Intersection of Diet Culture and Social Media23:24 Creative Outlaw: Embracing Authenticity and Self-Expression31:10 Nurturing Relationships and Personal DevelopmentTopics discussed in Ep. 019The rigidity and failure connected to goal settingThe wave of ‘New Year New Me’ marketing and GLP-1 advertisingThe shifts in social media, and how this connects to diet cultureMy words of the year, and how they reflect my intentions for 2025How we can embrace being a creative outlaw Thank 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.

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.

Welcome to episode 17! I want to address our straight sized friends, folks who want to support the fat community and be better equipped to advocate for us and speak up in spaces where we are ignored. This episode is an important one for all of us, because many of these topics are things I had just accepted as ‘normal’, and believed it was the way I deserved to be treated.Pals, you can ask for, and expect more.In this episode:Exploring the ways society discriminates against folks in larger bodiesExamples of every day weight stigma and anti fat narrativesDefining thin privilege and how to use it for advocacyPractical ways to start supporting the fat community todayLinks Mentioned:Daring Fat Instagram AccountFat & FuckedThe Body Grievers ClubMaintenance PhaseThe Satisfaction FactorFats On FilmChapters:00:00 Understanding Anti Fatness & Stigma03:36 1. Unpack Your Own Internalised Anti Fatness05:06 Examples of Discrimination in Public Spaces10:04 2. Diversify Your Feed And The Media You Consume12:30 3. Using Thin Privilege for Advocacy16:37 Practical Steps for Advocacy18:22 Exciting Plans for 2025🗓️ Next week…[EXCLUSIVE TO SUBSTACK] Bonus: Doing Business in a Bigger Body Thank 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.

We’re kicking off November talking about food and intuitive eating with our very first guest, Naomi Katz from Happy Shapes Coaching. We’re exploring the complexities of intuitive eating, particularly during the holiday season, but as you’ll learn, these hot takes are not just for the holidays!! We discuss the emotional responses to food, the importance of autonomy in food choices, and the 10th principle of Intuitive Eating, gentle nutrition. Naomi shares her insights on navigating food relationships, the normalcy of eating past fullness, and the significance of focusing on one's own plate rather than comparing with others.Now more than ever, is a time to be gentle with ourselves, and our food choices.You’ll also hear how you can support the communities within Asheville in the wake of Hurricane Helene. You can learn more about Naomi and her coaching at www.happyshapes.co, or by following her on Instagram @happyshapesnaomi, or by listening to her podcast, Satisfaction Factor, available on all podcast platforms.Learn more about Beloved Asheville and how you can support the community rebuild.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Intuitive Eating Journey03:00 Navigating Food Relationships During Holidays05:50 Understanding Feelings Around Food09:03 The Normalcy of Eating Past Fullness11:41 Gentle Nutrition: Balancing Science and Personal Needs14:39 The Autonomy of Food Choices17:41 Eyes on Your Own Plate: Avoiding Comparisons20:31 Community Support and Recovery EffortsThank 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.

In this episode, we’ll be exploring the cycle of fear and blame the diet industry has created and how this impacts our body image and relationship to food. We’ll also look at some of the nuances, including the erasure of fat folks from history, and why it appears to be socially acceptable to discriminate against someone based on their body size/weight. We’ll also take a look at how the diet industry uses fear based marketing practices to sell their products, and the outcomes when the ‘solution’ doesn’t work.If you’d rather not hear my life, podcast and business update, skip forward to 12:21Content Warning: use of the word o*esity within context at 13:40Takeaways:Fat people have always existed, even before the invention of BMI and the diet industryFat bias does not respond to exposureIf we care about people’s health, then we should care about their mental healthThe diet industry is worth $70billion a year!The Cycle:Create A Problem > Create Fear > Sell “The Solution” > Blame IndividualChapters:00:00 Halloween Preparations and Personal Updates07:02 Reflections on the Podcast Journey12:09 Haunting Diet Myths: Introduction to the Topic20:15 The Diet Industry Cycle Explained32:03 Understanding Body Diversity and AcceptanceLinks mentioned:instagram.com/historicalfatpeopleThank 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.

Our F-word for this episode is ‘food’. In this episode we’ll be discussing food neutrality, in particular how messaging online, and the binary language we often use around food can lead to complicated relationships with food.We’re going to explore:Why we have binary feelings about foodFear-based messaging & our relationship to foodDefining food neutrality & exploring our fearsNeutral food practices for HalloweenTakeawaysFood is often associated with guilt and shame due to diet culture.Finding joy in food can lead to a healthier relationship with it.BMI is an outdated and flawed measurement.Practising food neutrality means recognizing that all foods have value.The diet industry thrives on creating fear around food choices.Self-trust is essential in developing a positive relationship with food.Challenging societal norms around food can empower individuals.Engaging in non-food related activities can help reduce food focus during holidays.The nutrition content of food does not define one's worth.Chapters00:00 Introduction 00:25 Embracing Food Neutrality During Halloween12:05 Understanding Diet Culture and Its Impact31:06 Practising Food Neutrality and Intuitive EatingThank 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.

This week our ‘F-word’ is fitness; specifically the negative associations many of us have with fitness and dieting. I’ll be sharing some of my experiences growing up, from learning to dislike sports in high school, and always focusing on ‘all or nothing’. You’ll also hear how, despite my lack of athleticism, I decided to pursue a career in fitness and the negative impact this left on my mental and physical health. By reframing our understanding and beliefs about movement, fitness and exercise, we are able to prioritise personal preferences, joy and self-worth rather than applying external expectations.Questions to help you reframe movement:Would you still want to achieve those goals if weight loss was not on the table?Am I inspired to do this or am I trying to motivate myself?What has happened that's triggered this, this feeling?Why am I having this thought?Do I actually want to do this? Is this actually something that I'm choosing to prioritise in my life right now?What is the bare minimum?Takeaways:Many people's struggles with fitness begin in childhood.The diet industry heavily influences perceptions of fitness.It's important to question the motivations behind fitness goals.The concept of 'bare minimum' can help simplify fitness expectations.Reframing fitness can reduce the pressure from diet culture.Everyone is worthy, regardless of their fitness journey.Chapters:00:00 Navigating the Complex Relationship with Fitness03:30 Childhood Experiences and Early Influences on Fitness10:45 The Negativity of the Diet Industry & Fitness14:43 The Complicated Journey of Becoming A Trainer19:44 The Shift Away from Traditional Fitness21:17 Intuitive Eating and Reframing Movement25:51 Reframing Fitness: Questions to Consider31:41 The Complications of the Diet Industry and FitnessThank 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.

Welcome to episode 12, today we are chatting about 3 connected f-words that have negatively impacted my body image, confidence, and love of fashion. Flattering. Femininity. Fitting-in.In particular, we will be focusing on the impact these words have had on folks growing up in larger bodies, and the ways in which I’ve found my way back to myself BEFORE the world told me I was too much.Content warning: at 23:15, loss of a parent, and my personal experience of grief as a teenager. Whilst I will not be discussing what happened, it’s an important part of my story. Please take care of your mental health, and either skip forward 60 seconds or miss this episode.TakeawaysWe cannot heal our relationship with clothes sizes if brands are just NOT making the sizes.There are many small businesses and brands doing the work, making the effort – which proves that it’s not about cost, big clothing brands do not care about fat people.The Cambridge Dictionary defines ‘flattering’ as: “making someone look or seem better or more attractive than usual”The relationship we have with our body size, and our intention when dressing our bodies is often a result of how society has told us we SHOULD look or behave.Get curious about colours, silhouettes and the clothes we wear, especially if you feel your clothes don’t reflect who you are or how you feel.Challenge the stereotypes that impact the way you show up in the world, especially if they hold you back from self expression.Thank 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.

Welcome to a brand new season of The Culture Of It All! I’m back this season to explore and discuss the F Words with y’all. You’ll hear from me, and some incredible guests as we chat about topics such as the Fashion Industry, Fat Representation, Fiction, Plus Size Fitness, and Food.In this episode I am easing us into this new season and discussing fat positivity with a twist. When I started this podcast, I realised very quickly that even when you surround yourself with anti diet and body positive content, the diet culture and weight loss content also ramps up. Meta, and I’m sure other platforms, don’t recognise anti diet culture content and assume I want to see weight loss accounts.At the same time, I am hyper aware of how other content creators are treated online and it’s really daunting to speak up and put your larger body online. I’ve noticed that more intrusive and negative thoughts about my body have popped up, I’m able to navigate through them, but want to focus on the energy of this quote: “There’s so much more to the fat experience than just the horror stories.” - from Brooke Hull via BodyLiberationPhotos.ComYes, the horror stories fuel this work, I will use my voice to advocate for those who don’t feel seen and heard, and I also want to embrace more fat joy and positivity. This summer was not as hard as the previous years, I was super prepared and I’m taking so much of what I’ve learned into this new season with me.TakeawaysMelanie introduces the new season of her podcast, 'The Culture of It All,' where she explores and discusses various topics related to ditching diet culture and living life in a larger body.She emphasises the importance of joy, healing, and positive experiences in a larger body, and shares her personal intentions for a 'Fat Positive Fall.'Melanie reflects on her journey of being more visible online and the challenges and rewards that come with it.Melanie discusses the impact of diet culture on mental and emotional well-being, and the need to challenge societal norms and expectations."Quitting dieting feels like an audacious act."Chapters00:00 Introduction and Season Overview03:53 The Evolving Relationship Of Being Visible Online05:47 Fat Positivity + My Relationship With My Body13:44 Navigating Negativity and Trolls on Social Media15:18 The Audacious Act of Quitting Dieting20:38 Pursuing Gentle and Joyful Movement23:04 Finding a Comfortable Pace in Work and Life24:47 Getting Dressed, Styling Outfits, and Sharing Fashion28:25 Excitement for Fall Activities and Plans🗓️ Coming Up in SeptemberSeptember 10th - Myth Busting Minisode: eating in Moderation, 80/20 and balance ONLY ON SUBSTACKSeptember 17th E012: Flattering, Femininity & Fitting In: How I Reclaimed My Passion for Fashion (in a larger body)September 24th Bonus: From bingeing to only having one: why it feels impossibleONLY ON SThank 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.

We’ve made it to our final episode of the Summer Series, and today I’m reflecting on 10 things I’ve learned about myself this summer. I’ll be discussing lessons in business, and marketing as well as the importance of community and my struggle to trust my body. We’ll of course be talking about how I’ve felt both physically and emotionally this summer and what my plans are for The Culture Of It All!Chapters00:00 Introduction and Overview02:17 Lessons in Building and Growing a Business06:40 The Power of Community and Content Creation10:51 Learning to Trust and Embrace Your Body16:43 Embracing Personal Style and Rediscovering Passions21:56 Comfort and Advocacy This Summer22:55 Navigating Self-Promotion and Selling26:04 Making Changes To The Way I Do Business27:10 Pursuing The Things I Love As A Career28:32 Creating A Fat Positive Community and Online Shop30:44 Journal Prompts for Self Reflection and Growth32:20 A big thank you and reflection We'll be back on September 3rd!Thank 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.

In this penultimate episode of our summer series, I’m sharing one of my favourite past times with you; reading. I’ll be sharing not only my passion for reading, but exploring the importance and power of fat representation within the stories I read. I’ll share a few wonderful plus size reads from this summer from cosy romances, to dark paranormal relationships. And because I have so many recommendations, I’m sharing a few more with even more diversity and representation amongst their pages. This is a super cosy episode, so grab a drink and settle in.Chapters00:00 Catch up05:57 The Power of Representation in Literature10:39 Favorite Plus-Size Reads of the Summer19:28 Exploring Mental Health Representation and Polyamorous Relationships in BooksMy book recommendations:PLEASE CHECK CONTENT WARNINGS BEFORE READING.Playing for Keeps by Tristen CroneCash by Mary WarrenCome Out, Come Out by Alexia OnyxLove, Utley by S.J. TillyStructure Damage & Structural Support by Sloan SpencerTrick Shot by Kayla GrosseJust For The Cameras by Viano Oniomoh Pucking Around by Emily RathThank 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.

In this episode, I’m sharing five practical summer self-care tips for folks in larger bodies. We’ll be exploring the definitions of self care, and what self care practices can mean for folks in larger bodies. We’ll also discuss the barriers that marginalised bodies face in accessing self-care and the need for allies to challenge these barriers.Key TakeawaysExploring self care through the lens of diet cultureChallenging the status quoCreating simple self care practiceHow to stick with your self care practiceWays in which self care can lead to burn outCreating a self care menu, and journal promptsJournal Prompts:What do I need?What are your core values, and how can these influence your self care practise?Am I sacrificing my own needs on behalf of others? If yes, exploreWhat does success mean to me?Do I expect too much of myself?Are these even my expectations?What am I most passionate about?When was the last time I felt inspired?Thank 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.

The body positive rhetoric that shows up at this time of year is failing folks in larger bodies. So in this episode, I’m rewriting the narrative, and sharing 7 ways in which you can prioritise joy and honour your needs, especially during the uncomfortable summer months. We’ll explore the difference between joy and happiness and some of the ways I struggle with the concept of joy in a larger body. I encourage you to think about what you enjoy about the summer and to focus on those activities, emphasising the importance of getting creative and finding ways to nourish oneself emotionally and mentally. You’ll also hear me talk about my recent experience watching the film 'Your Fat Friend', what I’m working on and the upcoming Summerween sticker sale starting July 1st.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflection01:52 My Thoughts & Feelings After Watching Your Fat Friend Film10:52 Feeling Like An Imposter in The Anti Diet Space13:05 What I'm Working On17:57 Why I'm Prioritising Joy This Summer22:07 Prioritising Joy As A Fat Person29:09 What do you like about summer?33:01 Getting Creative: Creating A Summer Bingo Board or Bucket List37:26 Host A Summerween38:34 Making Virtual Plans for Connection41:25 Reading Plus-Sized Stories for Representation44:17 Finding Support in Fat Communities47:21 Practising the Bare Minimum for Self-Care52:56 Journal Prompts for ReflectionThank 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.

In this episode, Melanie shares five summer survival tips from the perspective of a fat girl. She emphasises the importance of managing expectations, practising taking up space, embracing joy and comfort, starting with small steps, and checking in with oneself. Melanie also encourages journaling as a way to reflect and navigate the summer season.Chapters00:00 Empowerment and Self-Discovery: A Plus-Size Journey07:18 Tip One: Manage Your Expectations10:41 Tip Two: Practice Taking Up Space14:52 Tip Three: Do Things That Bring You Joy, Coziness and Happiness18:04 Tip Four: Embrace Comfort19:30 Tip Five: Start Small & Be Gentle With Yourself21:09 Checking In With Yourself & Journal PromptsThank 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.

We’re kicking off our summer series with what I believe to be the BIGGEST turning point in my personal anti diet journey: body image. More specifically, how body image affects self-advocacy and what is possible when the perspective we have of our body shifts into a more positive area of the Body Appreciation Spectrum.We explore the body appreciation spectrum, which includes body respect, body acceptance, body neutrality, body appreciation, body peace, and body confidence, and discuss the importance of body respect and acceptance, rather than striving for a singular body image feeling.As always, we’re finishing the episode with prompts and questions to help listeners explore their relationship with their bodies and advocate for themselves.Chapters:00:00 Introduction and Summer Series01:44 The Manifestation of Negative Body Image05:59 Body Image & Weight Loss Negotiations10:08 The Body Appreciation Spectrum25:02 Prioritising Self-Advocacy and Seeking Comfortable Products and Spaces29:06 From Pursuing Thinness to Prioritising Joy and Inner Peace------------Check out the latest bonus episode of The Culture Of It All, now available on SubstackSimple Summer Self Care Routine for Folks in Larger BodiesThank 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.

Our Summer Series Starts May 28th!There are many negative anti-fat stereotypes associated with the summer; from sweat, and thigh chafe to wearing weather appropriate clothing or having skin showing…I am a cold weather person to my soul, and whilst I’m dreaming of pumpkins, cosy socks and apple cider in June – I cannot control the weather. The summer isn’t going anywhere, and it’s probably going to get hotter.So whilst I reserve the right to be vocal about my discomfort when it’s as hot as satan's asshole, I REFUSE to feel ashamed for being a hot, sweaty fat person this summer…  I decided I’m going to take back the summer. Reclaim it. And even if I don’t enjoy it, I want to make it as comfortable as possible for me, and for you too.I know firsthand how uncomfortable it is during hot weather in a larger body, not just the physical discomfort, the mental discomfort too. Over the past year I have been testing out products, and mentally preparing myself for summer 2024. Personal hygiene, self care and unsexy products are rarely discussed in relation to larger bodies, so over the next 3 months I’ll be sharing it all with you from my body acceptance and self advocacy journey to my favourite products and routines.So are you ready to challenge the Culture Of It All this summer? Let’s do this!Thank 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.

In this episode, we continue our exploration of the intersection of diet culture, hustle culture, and online business. We’l continue to explore the paradoxical nature of these cultures and how they can negatively impact mental health. I’m sharing some stories of my personal experience “growing up” in the online business culture, and feeling like I never fit in and wanting to be successful in my own venture. We also highlight the tendency to blame the consumer or client when desired results are not achieved, rather than questioning the effectiveness of the product or method. We explore spiritual bypassing and how this often leads to toxic positivity and a failure to address systemic oppression and privilege amongst online business coaching communities. As always, we finish the episode with some journal prompts and reframes to help us deepen our personal anti-diet work.Chapters:06:53 Melanie's Journey To Starting An Online Business09:59 Following The Rules & Fear Of Failure13:28 Leaving The Business Coaching Bubble19:41 Inflated Testimonials & Lack of Context24:06 Selling The Next Best "Secret" & Marketing 'Pain Points'28:04 Moving The Goalposts32:46 Spiritual Bypassing, Toxic Positivity and Systemic Oppression in Online Business34:49 Undermining Trust, Intuition & Autonomy37:17 Ditching Diets & Online Business Coaching38:36 Reclaiming Lost Parts of Myself40:57 Anti diet journal prompt & reframe43:30 Navigating the Online SpaceThank 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.

Melanie explores the intersection of diet culture, hustle culture, and online business culture. She discusses how these cultures profit and uphold systems of oppression, and how they manipulate spending power and fear tactics to control individuals. Melanie also highlights the similarities between these cultures, such as the emphasis on hard work, the blame placed on individuals when programs fail, and the disregard for privilege and accessibility. She challenges the notion that health is the responsibility of the individual and questions the cost and benefits of constantly pursuing societal beauty standards and external validation.Chapters00:00 Introduction and a BIG thank you!05:40 Content Warnings06:36 The Intersection of Diet Culture, Hustle Culture, and Online Business Culture07:45 Description of Hustle Culture19:13 Examples of Diet, Hustle and Online Business Culture in Action23:01 Ignoring Privilege and Accessibility: The Inaccessible Promises of Health and Success23:44 Wellness, Biohacking and The Marketing of Meal Replacements30:26 Healthism and the Healthy Hustle Paradox: Equating Worthiness with Physical Health34:26 Questioning the Cost and Benefits: Is the Pursuit of Health and Success Worth It?Thank 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.

In this episode, Melanie discusses five ways to practise anti-diet work with compassion. She emphasises the importance of applying kindness and thoughtfulness as we navigate this challenging work. Melanie shares her personal journey with diet culture and how she came to embrace anti-diet work. She explores the practice of looking for and celebrating diverse bodies, recognizing the difference between wants and needs, dressing safely in a body-positive way, setting boundaries, and practising self-compassion. In this part of the conversation, Melanie discusses the concept of dressing safely as a tool to check in with oneself and reduce social anxiety and hyper visibility. She also explores the importance of reading fat stories and how it can help in practising anti-diet work. Lastly, she talks about the challenging but crucial practice of self-advocacy and shares personal experiences of advocating for herself.Chapters00:00 Introduction: Practising Anti-Diet Work with Compassion12:56 Embracing Diverse Bodies and Challenging Societal Norms19:07 Seeing Bodies Through Our Own Gaze21:55 Asking Ourselves What We Need30:08 Dressing Safely in a Body-Positive Way35:06 Setting Boundaries and Practising Self-Compassion33:24 The Power of Reading Fat Stories45:21 Practising Self-AdvocacyCome say 'hi' on social media:Instagram Threads TikTok Check out my journals and stickers at Outlaw Creatives This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cultureofitallpod.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Melanie explores diet culture and its relationship with body positivity. She defines diet culture as a system of oppression that centres thin, able-bodied people and promotes weight loss and food restrictions. Melanie emphasises that ditching diets is just the starting point of the anti-diet journey and that it requires ongoing self-reflection and compassion. She also discusses the intersectionality of diet culture with racism, ableism, sexism, and social economics. The episode concludes with a journal prompt for listeners to deepen their own anti-diet work.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Anti-Diet Culture03:19 Understanding Diet Culture06:29 The Complexity of Ditching Diets09:28 The Intersectionality of Diet Culture11:14 Expanding Body Positivity12:32 The Role of Journaling in Anti-Diet WorkCome say 'hi' on social media:Instagram Threads TikTok Check out my journals and stickers at Outlaw Creatives This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cultureofitallpod.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome friends to the Culture of It All podcast. I am absolutely thrilled that you are here and I can't wait to start having conversations with you about what it really means to ditch diet culture whilst living life in a larger body. No matter where you are on your own anti-diet journey, we’re in this together, and will continue unpacking and unlearning diet culture so that we can take up space right now.As the name of this show suggests, being anti-diet is about more than a meal plan or a food list, it's about the culture of all. It's a cultural system of beliefs and myths that centre thinness, promote weight loss and unrealistic beauty standards. It demonises food by labelling them as good or bad and attaching your self-worth by association.Diet culture oppresses people who do not fit into this system of beliefs, and it disproportionately harms women, femmes, trans folk, people in larger bodies, people of colour, and people with disabilities, damaging both their mental and physical health.The Culture of It All podcast launches on April 16th. So go ahead and subscribe and you'll get access to new episodes every Tuesday. Come say 'hi' on social media:Instagram Threads TikTok Check out my journals and stickers at Outlaw Creatives This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cultureofitallpod.substack.com/subscribe