In this episode of the Body Grievers Club, Bri shares a personal story about the struggles of finding plus-size clothing, per her very own "Bathing Suit Gate". This story explores the emotional toll of fatphobia, systemic retail issues, and societal biases against larger bodies. Bri also identifies the need for radical body acceptance, encourages self-exploration, and shares strategies for coping with body image issues. The importance of reframing harmful thoughts, building healthier self-perceptions, and seeking community support to challenge and unlearn anti-fatness are highlighted throughout this episode as well.

TIME STAMPS:

01:53 Bathing Suit Gate: The Story Begins

04:21 The Search for a Plus Size Bathing Suit

08:20 The Reality of Anti-Fatness

19:51 Books and Resources for Body Liberation

22:14 The Ladder of Beauty Standards

28:06 Navigating Body Image in Relationships and Coping Strategies

Books Referenced:

Fearing the Black Body by Sabrina Strings

The Body is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor

Want more of Bri?

Instagram: @bodyimagewithbri

Website: https://bodyimagewithbri.com/

In this episode of the Body Grievers Club, hosts Bri and Jana welcome Margaret Doherty, a licensed marriage and family therapist, to discuss her experiences with pregnancy as a person in a larger body. Margaret shares her journey toward body acceptance, the challenges she faced with medical professionals, and the lack of representation and support for plus-size pregnant women. They also discuss the importance of advocating for oneself in medical settings and the societal pressure on pregnancy. Despite the hardships, Margaret expresses the joy and fulfillment she feels as a new mother and emphasizes that every pregnancy experience is valid, regardless of body size.

TIME STAMPS:

01:41 Margaret's Journey to Body Acceptance

03:42 Pregnancy Fears and Realities

04:43 Navigating Doctor's Appointments

10:49 The Fear of Gestational Diabetes

20:20 Navigating High-Risk Pregnancy Concerns

21:10 The Changing Relationship of Body Image and Pregnancy

23:21 Grief and Expectations of the Body During Pregnancy

26:18 Challenges with Plus-Size Maternity Clothing

28:38 Hospital Experiences and Systemic Issues

35:38 Advocating for Yourself in Healthcare

Want more of Margaret?

Instagram: @margaretd_lmft

Want more of Bri?

Instagram: @bodyimagewithbri

Website: https://bodyimagewithbri.com/

In this episode of the Body Grievers Club, Bri and Jana invite Nicola Salmon, a fat-positive fertility coach and advocate, to discuss the unique challenges faced by individuals in larger bodies who seek to grow their families. Nicola shares her personal journey with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), pregnancy, and body advocacy. The conversation covers common myths about fertility and body size, ways to find supportive healthcare providers, and strategies to navigate medical appointments. Nicola emphasizes the importance of self-worth and community support while challenging diet culture's impact on health and fertility. Practical advice is given on advocating for oneself and nurturing physical and emotional health during the fertility journey.

TIME STAMPS:

01:22 Nicola's Journey into Fat Positive Fertility

05:06 Challenges and Myths in Fat Fertility

10:48 Navigating Healthcare and Advocacy

26:16 Anti-Diet Approaches to Fertility

39:20 Final Thoughts and Resources

Want more of Bri?

Instagram: @bodyimagewithbri

Website: https://bodyimagewithbri.com/

Want more of Nicola?

Instagram: @fatpositivefertility

Website : www.nicolasalmon.co.uk

Book: Fat and Fertile (available on Amazon)

In episode 71 of the Body Grievers Club, hosts Bri and Jana are joined by Hannah (they/them), a neurodiverse and gender-queer fitness professional.

The group chats about Hannah's experiences with ADHD and potential autism, the challenges of body image, navigating diet culture, and how movement plays a vital role in managing stress and mental health.

Additionally, Hannah highlights their community, the Body Liberation Playground, which fosters an inclusive and non-judgmental space for diverse abilities. Listeners are encouraged to embrace a trauma-informed approach to movement as well as to prioritize mental and emotional well-being over societal expectations when integrating exercise/movement into their lives.

01:39 Hannah's Journey Through Struggles with Diet Culture and Fitness

14:01 Reclaiming Body Autonomy through movement and self-compassion

18:35 Empowering Movement and Self-Compassion **reword

23:00 Practical Steps for Body Liberation

26:27 Movement as a Self-Awareness Tool

27:40 Trauma-Informed and Enjoyable Movement

32:39 Fitness Myths and Realities

37:03 Reclaiming Movement and Enoughness

41:17 Ways to Integrate Movement with Accomodations

Want more of Hannah?

Instagram: @hannahhusband

Get a special discount for the Body Liberation Playground HERE: https://www.hannahhusband.com/bodyliberationplayground-bri

Want more of Bri?

Instagram: @bodyimagewithbri

Website: https://bodyimagewithbri.com/

In episode 70 of The Body Grievers® Club, hosts Bri and Jana engage with opera singer and model Alex Frankel, founder of the Hot Fat Guy Club, to discuss topics such as body positivity, challenging societal biases, and redefining masculinity. 

The conversation covers personal journeys through weight cycling, battling body shame, and navigating traditional gender expectations from adolescence to adulthood. Key discussions highlight how to embrace self-confidence and authentic self-expression, strategies to cultivate  confidence, and the significance of unconditional love and self-acceptance.

00:23 The Birth of the Hot Fat Guy Club

02:02 Body Image from a Male Perspective

05:46 Learning Body Hatred

09:31 The Role of Representation

13:32 Masculinity and Fatphobia

18:41 Positive Fat Male Role Models

23:11 Self-Confidence and Self-Worth

30:23 Creating an Alter Ego for Confidence

34:16 The Hot Fat Guy Club

36:31 Exploring Masculinity and Body Image

FOLLOW ALEX:

IG: ⁠alexfrankel_the_lionhaired⁠ + ⁠@hotfatguyclub⁠

TikTok: ⁠alexfrankel_the_lionhaired⁠

Website: ⁠https://www.hotfatguyclub.com/⁠

WORK WITH BRI:

⁠Click here ⁠for the most up to date ways to work with Bri!

In episode 69 of the Body Grievers® Club podcast, guest Jay Salazar (he/him), a TikTok educator known for his comedic and political content, discusses his experiences with bariatric surgery and then subsequent journey in finding food freedom 

This episode includes:

• Challenges faced post-surgery, including criticism from the bariatric community
• Transitioning to intuitive eating post bariatric surgery
• Navigating towards body positivity
• The pressures of existing in both the awareness of anti-diet and the lingering desire for weight loss

00:00 Trigger Warning and Introduction

02:33 Jay's Bariatric Surgery Journey

05:48 Post-Surgery Realizations and Food Freedom

11:40 Navigating Social Media and Criticism + Health Care

14:53 Navigating Healthcare Challenges

19:44 Facing Criticism and Finding Peace

22:14 Reflections on Body Image

24:24 The Ongoing Journey of Self-Acceptance

To Find Jay's funny + insightful content, follow him:

Instagram: @thejaysalazar_

TikTok: thejaysalazar

WORK WITH BRI:

Click here for the most up to date ways to work with Bri!

In episode 68 of The Body Grievers Club, hosts Bri and Jana welcome guest Lindley Ashline, a photographer and body liberation activist from Seattle.

Lindley shares her journey towards becoming a fat positive advocate, influenced by her strong sense of justice rooted in her autism. The conversation covers her experiences with body image growing up, the importance of visibility for all body sizes, and overcoming 'picture grief.' 

Here’s what to expect from this episode:

02:03 Lindley's Journey to Fat Positivity

03:08 The Impact of Diet Culture

06:21 Discovering Fat Positivity Online

08:40 The Role of Justice in Body Liberation

12:50 The Power of Representation in Photography

21:59 Challenging Historical Erasure of Fat Bodies

24:58 Navigating Bias in Photography

26:35 Managing Grief Through Photography

27:51 Addressing Physical and Emotional Needs during photos

29:16 The Importance of Feeling Safe

30:02 Personal Experiences and Client Stories

32:52 The Value of Being in Photos

40:10 Preparing for a Photo Shoot

43:57 Resources and Final Thoughts

Join Bri and Lindley in their collaborative picture grief masterclass, Unseen: How to Become Part of the Memories Again. This 75 min master class will  dig deep into the emotional complexity and cultural layers of picture grief.

Learn more about UNSEEN here. 

Save $10 with early bird code: BESEEN10

To work with Lindley

Check out: https://bodyliberationphotos.com

• Learn more about her program SEEN: a 1:1 opportunity to explore your photos:  https://bodyliberationphotos.com/seen
• A Free Resource: How to Find a Body-Positive Photographer: https://bodyliberationphotos.com/how-to-find-a-bodypositive-photographer
• A Free Resource: Body Liberation Guide: http://bit.ly/bodyliberationguide 
• Emily Nagoski quote from Come As You Are:

"Images matter. They tell us what’s possible, what things go together, what belongs and what doesn’t belong. And we’re all just trying to belong somewhere.” 

To work with Bri:

Click here for the most up to date ways to work with Bri!

WELCOME to Ep. 67 of the podcast!

In this special episode of the Body Grievers Club, host Bri hot seat coaches herself on an IG LIVE where she addresses a significant body image hurdle following a trip from Costa Rica. She recounts her experience of refusing a wheelchair at the Miami airport despite needing one.  This IG live turned podcast episode demonstrates the use of the very same CORE BELIEF framework that she uses with clients toexplore her own body image hurdle.

Here’s what to expect in this episode:

01:08 Exploring Core Beliefs and Internalized Ableism

10:08 Facing the fears of losing mobility ( PS *crying starts here*)

13:18 Bri’s movement story

16:14 Understanding the Head to Heart Disconnect

And so much more!

REGISTER FOR A FREE Webinar: UnavoidableBody Grief: Register Here

Welcome back to another episode of The Body Grievers Club! In the beginning of episode 66, I give you 2 questions for reflection.

1. If my body image wasn't holding me back, how would I show up differently in my life?
2. Why is my body holding me back from doing this?

In episode 66, you will explore:

• How to identify the ways your body image might be holding you back.

• The importance of living your best life now, regardless of body size.
• Understanding and addressing "unavoidable body grief."
• Actionable steps towards body liberation and self-acceptance.

We will delve FURTHER into this difficult topic in my FREE WEBINAR: UNAVOIDABLE BODY GRIEF.

Join me as we explore this further and learn how to navigate and heal our relationship with our bodies so we can live our best, unapologetic, big beautiful life.

Click here to join the free webinar.

Welcome to episode 65 of the Body Grievers Club.

In this episode, hosts Bri and Jana welcome enneagram experts Becca + Mark on how exploring the Enneagram can help us understand our body image.

Here's what to expect in this episode:

• an overview of what the Enneagram is and how it can help you understand yourself
• how each Enneagram type experiences body image issues differently
• how the Enneagram can help foster self-acceptance and compassion

• a rapid fire segment analyzing potential core fears about body image for each Enneagram type

Don't know your enneagram type? take the test here.

To learn more about Mark follow him on instagram at @ennealifecoaching or go to his website: www.ennealifecoaching.com

To learn more about Becca, follow her on instagram at @TakingBackTherapy or go to her website https://fullbloomcounseling.com/

To connect with Jana, message her @bodygrieversclub

Click here for the most up to date ways to work with Bri!