Every Body’s Story

Hayden talks about his childhood, where from a young age he knew his gender despite those around him insisting otherwise. He describes feeling uncomfortable in his body and wanting to change it, a feeling which intensified upon entering a dance environment. Hayden speaks openly about how this feeling led to negative body thoughts and a battle with anorexia (*trigger warning*). We then delve into Hayden's experiences as an Irish dancer. From facing transphobia and bigotry, to feeling complete euphoria and finding a supportive dance community, Hayden shares it all! He chats about costumes, gendered steps, dance teachers, and more. Finally, we discuss the importance of trans visibility, educating ourselves, and embracing who we are. 

Find Hayden on Instagram & Twitter @hayden_seek94. He also co-runs the @IntersectionalIrishDancers pages on Instagram & Facebook. Check out the podcast on Instagram @everybodyspodcast or head to www.buymeacoffee.com/everybodysstory to donate. And don't forget to like, follow, review, and share!

Katie talks about her struggles with body image as a teen, and how this led to disordered eating habits. After numerous weight fluctuations, Katie started to find a weight that feels right for her and more freedom around food. She discusses the impact that a serious injury had on her life and sense of identity.  We dive into self-worth, anxiety, comments about weight, and how social media can help us appreciate and take care of our bodies. Katie shares her history and accomplishments as a runner, and the many benefits running has given her - more belief in herself, more body awareness, and the determination to set big goals. Finally, she explains how the time spent in lockdown during Covid-19 helped her become kinder, more accepting, and more grateful towards her body.

Find Katie on Instagram @katiebean10 and www.kaitlynbean.com. Check out the podcast on Instagram @everybodyspodcast and at www.buymeacoffee.com/everybodysstory to donate. And don't forget to like, follow, review, and share!

Mélissandre starts by sharing her experiences and struggles in the ballet world - feeling inadequate, always finding things wrong with her body, disordered eating, and teachers equating her weight to her value. Mélissandre eventually moved away from this environment and discovered new dance styles that allowed her to focus on sound and feeling rather than aesthetics. She then talks about her two pregnancies, both of which were quite body positive experiences. She discusses dancing while pregnant, body awareness, and striving for a balance between career and family life. Finally, Mélissandre explains the beautiful, but complicated relationship between her body and her newborn baby. 

Find us @everybodyspodcast, and check out www.buymeacoffee.com/everybodysstory to donate and help fund the podcast. And don't forget to follow, like, review, and share!

Elle talks openly about her lifelong struggles with negative body image and self-esteem. She explains that at one point, she was obsessively counting calories, comparing her appearance to everyone, and generally feeling unworthy. Elle tells us how social media became an important outlet to process her thoughts, and how she intentionally curates her social media feed (and real life relationships). We chat about diet culture and its pervasive messages, finding a support system, projecting our pain on others, and equipping ourselves with tools to handle negative body self-talk. Lastly, Elle reflects on her time spent in quarantine, and how slowing down has helped her move toward food and body freedom.  

Find Elle on Instagram @wellebalanced, and follow us @everybodyspodcast. Check out www.buymeacoffee,com/everybodysstory to donate and help fund the podcast. And don't forget to follow, like, review, and share!

Madalyn speaks about growing up as a dancer, feeling that she looked different from everyone else. She describes her struggles with comparison, especially when being compared to her sister. Madalyn talks about PCOS, weight fluctuations, chronic pain, and injuries. We discuss the “shoulds” in our life, particularly the ones about how much and which foods we eat. Finally, Madalyn tells us about her newest activity, rock climbing, and the joy she’s found in the community and the sport itself. 

Find Madalyn on Instagram @maddiestaudt and Tumblr at rina-san28. Plus, go listen to her podcast, Damhsa Saor. You can find us on Instagram @everybodyspodcast, and check out www.buymeacoffee.com/everybodysstory to contribute to podcast production. Remember to like, follow, review, and share!

May joins the podcast to discuss her own experiences and the larger systems in society that perpetuate fatphobia. She talks about the bullying she faced during childhood, being told that her body was wrong, and learning to defend herself. We both examine the ways we're trying to unlearn fatphobic messages, and just how pervasive these ideas are. May explains how fashion is used as a weapon against fat people, and how it's being reclaimed. We delve into privilege, barriers, neutralizing the word fat, and treating each other as humans. Finally, May gushes about her newfound love for boxing and the countless benefits it's given her. 

Check out May's personal Instagram @fatnisseverfeen, plus her show on Youtube and Instagram @RooftopConversations. Find us on Instagram @everybodyspodcast, and www.buymeacoffee.com/everybodysstory to donate to podcast production. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and share!

Hannah starts by sharing her childhood experiences with her body - from growing up in an outdoorsy, freeform environment, to eventually joining public school and facing new pressures related to appearance. She discusses gender fluidity, identity, and trying to fit the ideal body type. Hannah explains how camp impacted her as a kid and led her to find a career as a camp director. Finally, we delve into the many ways that Hannah is working to create an intentional culture around food and bodies at her camp. She talks about the methods they've implemented - treating food as fuel, asking for consent, and complimenting each other without talking about the way we look. 

Visit ywcavt.org to learn more about the camp that Hannah mentions. Plus! Check out www.buymeacoffee.com/everybodysstory to donate to the podcast. Find us on Instagram @everybodyspodcast, and remember to follow, rate, review, and share!

Elizabeth shares her lifelong experiences as a dancer, teacher, writer, and researcher. She knows a thing or two about adapting to an aging body - she's been dancing for an impressive 60 years! Elizabeth tells us about teaching, and the body image issues that affect her dance students as well as herself. She talks openly about living with multiple sclerosis, albeit a mild form, and its challenges. We discuss society's focus on youth, listening to your body, and the many health & healing benefits of dance. Elizabeth is passionate that dance can be experienced at any age, and she is determined to help make the art form more accessible and possible for everyone. 

You can find Elizabeth on Facebook & on Instagram @elizadance. Follow the podcast @everybodyspodcast, and get in touch to share your own story!

I'm going solo this week with the first (official) Emily's Edition! I talk about comparing ourselves, in real life and especially on social media. We discuss angles, airbrushing, and how Covid-19 could have led to even more scrolling. I delve into research relating to social media and body image. We cover #fitspo and how it may make us feel inadequate, how difficult it is to be vulnerable, and practical tips to cultivate a more diverse, healthy-for-you social media feed. 

Remember to rate, review, follow, and find us on Instagram @everybodyspodcast. And get in touch if you want to share your own story!

Jen, a musician and music teacher, joins the podcast to share her experiences with her body. She talks about injuries, both from sports and from playing music, and tells us how she discovered a love of fencing as an adult. Jen explains how teaching can be a very physical act, and how movement can help children (and adults) learn and focus better. Finally, she talks about growing up with ADHD, how she managed it, and how we might break the stigma around mental disorders. Jen's passion for teaching and music is undeniable, and you'll definitely learn something from her unique perspective. 

Follow Jen on Instagram @themusicteacherfences and @slaghtjk, and YouTube @ms.slaght. Follow us on Instagram @everybodyspodcast, and don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share with your friends!