logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2024
42m 42s

Throwback: ‘It’s So Hard to Have a Body ...

LEMONADA MEDIA
About this episode

This episode originally aired on July 30, 2024.

In this throwback episode, Ricki speaks with writer Virginia Sole-Smith. Virginia was a skinny teenager who became a fat adult. She now writes about anti-fat bias, from finding clothes to accessing medical care. On this episode, hear Ricki open up about her own weight journey as she and Virginia talk about how weight discrimination shows up across the fat spectrum, how to let your kids make their own decisions about what they put in their bodies, and whether or not Ricki herself has contributed to fatphobia. Get ready for one of the most open and honest conversations about weight you’ve ever heard.

Check out Virginia’s books, Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture and The Eating Instinct: Food Culture, Body Image, and Guilt in America.

Subscribe to Virginia’s Substack newsletter, Burnt Toast.

Follow Ricki Lake @rickilake on Instagram. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Sep 23
Introducing: Since You Asked
This week we’re popping in your feed to tell you about a new show from Lemonada Media, Since You Asked. Who doesn’t need advice—and who doesn’t love giving advice? Since you asked, we’re happy to answer. Each week, two friends—Gretchen Rubin, a happiness researcher, and Lori Gott ... Show More
10m 24s
Sep 9
Listen Now: Talkaboutable
We’re excited to share a new call-in advice show from Lemonada Media called Talkaboutable. It’s hosted by a child and adolescent psychiatrist and mom of four kids, Dr. Susan Swick, and she’s here to help parents tackle challenges with humor, curiosity, and empathy. Through candid ... Show More
8m 32s
Aug 21
Introducing: The Dan Buettner Podcast
We’re excited to share a new podcast from Lemonada Media: The Dan Buettner Podcast. In his groundbreaking Blue Zones research, National Geographic explorer and bestselling author Dan Buettner uncovered the secrets to longevity and happiness from the world’s longest-lived populati ... Show More
7m 21s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 19
The Internet Taught Me to Diet, Then Saved Me With Weightlifting
Casey Johnston grew up in a family where being thin mattered. In college, the internet told her to eat 1,200 calories and do endless cardio if she wanted to lose weight. That habit followed her into her late twenties, until she came upon a Reddit post about weightlifting that cha ... Show More
54m 57s
Aug 2024
#326: Body Image: What the Evidence Really Says, with Charlotte Markey
Psychologist and body-image researcher Charlotte Markey joins us to discuss myths and misinformation about body image, how chronic illness and pain affect perceptions of our bodies, the body positivity vs. body neutrality debate, the potential body-image harms of social media (an ... Show More
43m 2s
Jan 2019
TMHS 328: The Intersection Of Health, Fitness, And Faith - With Guest Isabel Price
If weight loss and the process of reaching optimal health can be reduced to a simple science, why are so many people sick, unhealthy, and overweight? Don’t get me wrong, principles like hormone function and metabolism are very real, and building blocks like movement and diet do m ... Show More
1h 14m
Aug 19
Death, Sex & Money | The Internet Taught Me to Diet, Then Saved Me With Weightlifting
Casey Johnston grew up in a family where being thin mattered. In college, the internet told her to eat 1,200 calories and do endless cardio if she wanted to lose weight. That habit followed her into her late twenties, until she came upon a Reddit post about weightlifting that cha ... Show More
54m 57s
Jun 2025
What No One’s Saying About GLP-1s, Body Shaming and the DC Cheerleader Controversy - 1205
If you've ever caught yourself celebrating taking out the trash like it's a major life achievement—girl, you're not alone. In this episode, Chalene gets real about body image, the emotional toll of performance culture (hello, Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders), and why something as simp ... Show More
1h 5m
May 2024
Body Talk
This week, Christina and Jamie open up about their battles with eating disorders and self-esteem. They reflect on the moments that changed their lives, and discuss body dysmorphia, societal conditioning, how they each got to a healthier place, and more.*Trigger warning: discussio ... Show More
55m 57s
Dec 2024
Fat Phobia & Diet Culture in the LGBTQ Community with Liza Katsman
Mal is joined by intuitive eating coach Liza Katsman this week to discuss societal fatphobia and its impact on the LGBTQ, as well as broader diet culture and body image in today's society. Liza shares her personal struggle with disordered eating including severe bulimia, and her ... Show More
1h 15m
May 2025
Real Talk on Aging, Back Fat, Hormones & Laughs with My Friend Natalie Jill - 1190
Ladies, if you've been wondering what the heck is going on with your body lately — think back fat, weird weight gain, and just not feeling like yourself — this episode is for you. Chalene is joined by her longtime friend and fellow health and fitness expert, Natalie Jill, for a t ... Show More
54m 8s
May 2024
Body Positivity, Fat Liberation, Health at Every Size - my thoughts
💖 “All bodies are beautiful!”   🎊 “Let’s celebrate and accept larger bodies!”   🙅🏼‍♀️ “Intentional weight loss doesn’t work!”   😡 “You’re promoting obesity!”   🙄 “Just eat more and exercise less…have more discipline”   ❌ “Stop pretending…no one wants to be fat”   👆The conv ... Show More
1h 22m