FLAT is where it's at

Beth Messler does so much for so many. Here are some pics:

Here is Beth.

Here is Beth's tattoo.

Beth and her wife, Nitza

Here she is with her sister-in-law, Tricia. For some reason, the computer really wants this picture sideways!! Sorry!

Beth and her granddaughter, Lyla.

I start this episode with an impassioned plea to my flat sisters. After that, we meet 22 year survivor and brilliant artist and my best pal, Marcia Connolly.

Here is her picture, Spring.

Here is Summer. Notice the birds on her lap and her shoulder.

Here is Fall. See the songs coming out of the bird's beaks? There is one singing on the roof of the building in the background, too.

And, Where She Steps, She Makes the Grass Grow

And, still a work in progress, the Bob Whites. He's singing to his love and the letters are backwards because he's singing to her, not paying attention to us. And the woman way in the background is hearing the song.

And finally, me and my pal.

Christine Klein is a German ex-pat living in Ireland. She is an author, a social worker, and a single mom. She offers a different view of cancer. She has previously published a book called, "You've cat to be kitten me". Here's a link to how to get it. She is currently writing, "C-EIZE THE LIGHT, BREAST CANCER AND SPIRITUALITY- AN INNER JOURNEY."

You can read more from her here.

Here are pics of her and her lovely daughter.

To quote from the back of her book, "The biggest triumph of Flat is how it carefully upends the breast cancer narrative in smart, surprising ways...Sharp, funny, and thought-provoking." Mike Scalise

In this episode, we visit with the author of this sharp, funny book. A book you can find here. https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781510732919

Katie P. Fink is an activist and flat advocate. She is one of the founders of flatclosurenow.org

She runs Moon Studios Photography

And here's what you've been waiting for.....pics of Katie!

Googly eyes

Freezing her ---- off....

And, of course, Elf on a Shelf!

And one that says it all....

During the interview, Katie explained how Melanie Testa was the first woman she saw with a flat chest and that Melanie was happy and confident and was a supportive pal to her during her procedure. Melanie is an artist. Here she is getting prepared to be a genderless golden fae.

The one BIG outrageous thing that is said to us that I did not re-visit in this episode is "I left a little in case you change your mind." That is the supreme insult many of us have received from our surgeons. Every day some woman is left with a misshapen, saggy, bumpy chest because some surgeon thinks he's doing her a favor by NOT listening to her request to be flat.

Thanks for visiting! As always you can find me on instagram as flatiswhereitsat. I realized I didn't even say who I am in this episode. I'm Stephanie Astalos-Jones. :)

Here is Beatrice Compagnon, creator of the app, Booby Trap.

And here is Liv Kizewski

Zoe made the decision to have a prophylactic mastectomy when faced with the genetic odds that breast cancer would eventually come to her.

We talk with Jenny Lundstrom who is a wonderful Special Ed teacher and a happy flattie.

In this episode we meet Denise Stein who went along with her doctors and tried implants, but found nothing but pain and illness.

In this episode, we talk to Kimberly Bowles about flat closure. More info can be found at flatclosurenow.org and www.notputtingonashirt.org