The BodPod

46. Talking Body with Ali Stroker

Welcome back to the BodPod! Today, we are thrilled to have Ali Stroker on the show! Ali is a New York-based actor, singer, and author who won the 2019 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her role as Ado Annie in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma. She has also appeared in a number of series including The Glee Project, Ozark, Only Murders in the Building, Ten Days in the Valley, and will be appearing as a series regular in Netflix’s upcoming limited series Echoes. Ali made history as the first actor who uses a wheelchair to appear on Broadway in the 2015 revival of Spring Awakening and continues to delight audiences through her soloing and theatrical performances. She recently co-wrote a novel, The Chance to Fly, and is gearing up to release her debut picture book, Ali and the Sea Stars, later this spring. In this episode, Ali will share with us her back story, her experience growing up, and how she discovered her passion for theatre. Ali will also discuss her body confidence journey including her relationship with her body, clothes and food, as well as being in a body that you can’t feel. Besides this, we’ll chat about being othered, looking in the mirror for fun versus to be critical, and how our feelings about our bodies change when we want to be desired. Last but not least, Ali will talk about how external messages have shaped how she thought about her body and what being the first actor to use a wheelchair to appear on Broadway has taught her. Keep listening to hear how Ali is working to improve the lives of others through the arts, disabled or not. Instagram: @alistrokerWebsite: https://www.alistroker.com/Book: The Chance to FlyBe sure to follow, like, and subscribe to get the latest body confidence news!Watch the BodPod on YouTubeFollow us @thebodconGet your BodCon 2023 tickets

45. Talking Body with Nikki Garza

Welcome back to the BodPod! Today, I am joined by the one and only Nikki Garza! Nikki is a , Latina, plus size actor, content creator, and model known for her roles on Dynasty and Monarch. Her goal is to create diverse media that she herself did not see while growing up. Sharing her message of personal empowerment and loving yourself with her community, she hopes to be the representation that was lacking in her upbringing. Nikki will also be joining us as part of our Hollywood and Body Diversity panel at this year’s BodCon!In this episode, Nikki will share what her career path has looked like so far and how she had been pigeonholed into certain roles while working in theatre. We’ll also chat about how Nikki was the first plus size character on Dynasty, representation in movies and television shows, and the fear and emotional work that comes with wardrobe as a plus size actor, model, and/or performer. Last but not least, Nikki will talk to us about her body confidence journey, the role that social media has played in this, and the advice she has for other plus size people when it comes to feeling confident in their clothes. Keep listening to hear how Nikki is working to help others love their bodies.TikTok: @itsnikki.gInstagram: @itsnikki.gTwitter: @itsnikkigarzaBe sure to follow, like, and subscribe to get the latest body confidence news!Watch the BodPod on YouTubeFollow us @thebodconGet your BodCon 2023 tickets

44. Talking EveryBody On Stage with Greg Carruthers

Welcome back to the BodPod! Today, we are thrilled to have Greg Carruthers on the show! Greg is a Toronto-based choreographer, actor, body positive activist, and the founder/artistic producer of EveryBody on Stage, an initiative that aims to break down stigma and fat-phobia in the arts. As a choreographer, Greg’s work has toured to Dubai and won awards for the long-running Toronto production of Disney’s Mary Poppins. He has served as the resident director/choreographer for Canada’s Wonderland and co-wrote and directed the Patron’s Pick of the 2017 Toronto Fringe Festival’s KidsFest. As a performer, Greg was most recently seen on the U.S. tour of Trey Parker’s Cannibal! The Musical. His organization, EveryBody on Stage was the recipient of our inaugural Impact grant and he will be joining us as part of the Body Diversity and Entertainment Industry panel at this year’s BodCon.In this episode, Greg will share with us his performing origin story including how he began dancing and his time going to school for musical theatre. Besides this, we’ll discuss body shaming, body dysmorphia, and disordered eating in the theatre/performance industry and the need for audience support. We’ll also share our experiences with body shaming and dieting including the roles we didn’t receive because of our bodies. Last but not least, Greg will talk about how and why EveryBody on Stage came to be and what they are up to now. Keep listening to hear how Greg is fighting for representation by giving marginalized performers the opportunity to showcase their talents.  Greg’s Instagram: @gregcarruthersEveryBody on Stage’s Instagram: @everybodyonstageEveryBody on Stage’s YouTube can be found hereBe sure to follow, like, and subscribe to get the latest body confidence news!Watch the BodPod on YouTubeFollow us @thebodconGet your BodCon 2023 tickets

43. Talking Body with Melanie Field

Welcome back to the BodPod! Today, we are joined by actress, writer, and singer Melanie Field! Melanie is known for starring in Heathers, season two of You, Florida Girls, Shrill, The Alienist, and the upcoming Amazon Prime series A League of Their Own. A graduate of NYU and the Yale School of Drama, Melanie started her career on Broadway in shows including The Phantom of the Opera and Evita as well as the first national tour of Wicked. Melanie is passionate about representation and changing the narrative in Hollywood and as result, debuted her music video for Now I Know which chronicles her own body struggles and journey to acceptance. In this episode, Melanie will open up about how she got into performing, why she decided to leave New York to attend the Yale School of Drama, and how she navigated the audition process as a curvy woman. Besides this, Melanie will also talk about her struggle with her body, the continued marginalization of curvy women in the acting industry, and how she came to address her body image journey in her Now I Know music video. Last but not least, we’ll discuss diversity and media representation. Keep listening to hear how Melanie is working to make plus size women feel seen and heard. Instagram: @melanie__fieldYou can watch Melanie’s music video for Now I Know here.Be sure to follow, like, and subscribe to get the latest body confidence news!Watch the BodPod on YouTubeFollow us @thebodconGet your BodCon 2023 tickets

42. Talking Body with Lauren Chan

Welcome back to the BodPod! Today, we are thrilled to be chatting with Lauren Chan, a size inclusion advocate, model, fashion writer, and the CEO/founder of Henning, an ethical brand of luxury, plus-size clothing. Her writing has been published in outlets like Vogue, Interview, the New York Times, Glamour - where she served as the fashion features editor and the voice of the plus-size fashion beat - and more. Most recently, Lauren founded her clothing line, Henning, which offers luxury women’s wear available in sizes 12 to 26. In this episode, Lauren will talk about how she got her start in the fashion world as a curve model, how she went from modelling to becoming the voice of plus-size fashion at Glamour to designing a fashion line, and her experience pitching stories within the plus-size fashion space. Besides this, we’ll discuss how Lauren built Henning, the learning process she went through, and why it was important for her to create a plus-size line that is luxury. Last but not least, Lauren and I will dive into the complexities of fast fashion, how brands can become more size inclusive, and the body confidence and body positivity movement. Keep listening to hear how Lauren is working to make an impact in the fashion world. Instagram: @lcchan & @henningBe sure to follow, like, and subscribe to get the latest body confidence news!Watch the BodPod on YouTubeFollow us @thebodconGet your BodCon 2023 tickets

41. Talking Body with Supermodel Emme

Welcome back to the BodPod! Today, we are so excited to have Emme on the show. Emme is a model, brand spokesperson, television personality, Revlon’s first full-figured spokeswoman, and was crowned the godmother of the full-figured industry by Oprah Magazine. Often considered to be the first plus-sized supermodel, Emme made history as the first plus-sized model to land on People’s 50 Most Beautiful list, the first plus-sized model to appear on a billboard in Times Square, and the first plus-sized model to land her own contract with a major beauty company. Emme continues to make waves as an advocate and was the first celebrity body image and self-esteem champion invited to speak before a congressional subcommittee in Washington, D.C. to increase awareness of the dangers of eating disorders and poor body image. Through her work as a plus model and designer, she saw the gap in the education system for designers which led to her developing Fashion Without Limits, a global initiative established at her alma mater, Syracuse University, where young designers are taught an inclusive fashion education. Emme also made her New York Fashion Week debut for Chromat in 2017. In this episode, Emme will tell us how she fell into modelling, how she felt being the first plus-sized model in the 90s, and how she left her comfort zone to embrace this career path. Besides this, Emme will also talk about how she maintained her confidence in the face of criticism, how she continues to take care of her body today, and when she became aware of her relationship with her body. Last but not least, we will discuss diet culture including diet products, body perception, and more. Keep listening to hear how Emme is working to spread kindness, empathy, and inclusivity through her work and initiatives. Instagram: @theofficialemmaTwitter: @SupermodelEmmeWebsite: https://www.emmestyle.com/Be sure to follow, like, and subscribe to get the latest body confidence news!Watch the BodPod on YouTubeFollow us @thebodconGet your BodCon 2023 tickets

40. Talking 2021 with Meaghan Wray

Welcome back to the BodPod! Today, we are joined by BodCon alum Meaghan Wray to chat about the best and the worst of 2021 with regards to body confidence. Meaghan is a Toronto-based freelance writer and editor with a passion for body liberation and fat positivity. She creates body positive content on Instagram as a side hobby and is currently working on her first book about fatness and desirability. Her work can be found in Chatelaine, Best Health Magazine, Flare.com, and much more!In this episode, Meaghan will share a bit about herself and her passion for writing about experiencing life in a bigger body. Besides this, we will discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of the past year when it comes to our bodies, including the media’s role in how we perceive weight, society’s obsession with bodies, and the hypersexualization of young women. We’ll also touch on fashion including companies that are branded as size-inclusive but who’s sizes don’t necessarily match up to the marketing. Of course, we’ll also talk about those new Hooters shorts, Victoria's Secret’s rebrand, and the racist costume Dollarama stores in Ontario offered this past Halloween. But don’t worry, because we will also chat about the positives we saw this year such as representation in movies and television shows and more. Keep listening to hear our body confidence takeaways from 2021!Instagram: @mggghnWebsite: https://meaghanwray.com/Be sure to follow, like, and subscribe to get the latest body confidence news!Watch the BodPod on YouTubeFollow us @thebodconGet your BodCon 2023 tickets

39. Talking Body with Your Latina Nutritionist Dalina Soto

Welcome back to the BodPod! Today, we are chatting with Dalina Soto, a registered dietitian and licensed dietitian nutritionist. She works as one of the few Spanish speaking RDs in the Philadelphia area and virtually across the country, teaching her clients how to ditch the diet mentality and keep their culture alive. Through her online platform as Your Latina Nutritionist and through her signature Chula method courses, she aims to help clients drop the weight – the weight of body shame and chronic dieting that is! In this episode, Dalina will talk a bit about her journey to becoming a nutritionist and dietitian, why it was important for her to intersect her cultural identity with her work, and her experience going to dietetic school. We’ll also discuss the impact she has had on the Latinx community as a Latina nutritionist and dietitian, the way some foods are marketed as health and unhealthy, and Dalina’s Chula method. Last but not least, Dalina will share her advice for those who struggle with food, their bodies, and criticism from family members during the holidays, including how to set New Year’s intentions without getting sucked into diet culture. Keep listening to hear how Dalina is helping others feel good about their bodies just the way they are. Instagram: @your.latina.nutritionistTikTok: @yourlatinanutritionistBe sure to follow, like, and subscribe to get the latest body confidence news!Watch the BodPod on YouTubeFollow us @thebodconGet your BodCon 2023 tickets

38. Talking Body with Stephanie Chinn

Welcome back to the BodPod! Today, we are thrilled to have Stephanie Chinn on the show. Stephanie is an illustrator, best-selling author, speaker, and body confidence advocate whose work focuses on illustrating the different ways we can remind ourselves that we are enough the way we are while unpacking the ways we’ve been led to believe we are not. She began sharing her work on Instagram in 2019 and grew her audience to over 50,000 followers within the year. Recently, she released her debut book Here Sister, Let Me Help You Up which is a collection of original, body-positive feminist artwork. In this episode, Stephanie will tell us how she shifted gears from journalism to art, how art became a form of therapy for her while recovering from addiction, and her relationship with her body throughout her addiction and recovery. Besides this, we’ll also discuss how Stephanie went from using art as therapy for herself to using it as a form of advocacy on social media, how her art ebbs and flows based on what she’s going through, and imposter syndrome. Keep listening to hear how Stephanie is inspiring others to live in the moment, try new things, and let go of their shame. Instagram: @stephaniechinnartWebsite: https://www.stephaniechinn.com/ Be sure to follow, like, and subscribe to get the latest body confidence news!Watch the BodPod on YouTubeFollow us @thebodconGet your BodCon 2023 tickets

37. Talking Body with Nikki Blonsky

Welcome back to the BodPod! Today, we are chatting with Nikki Blonsky, an American actress best known for her starring role as Tracy Turnblad in the 2007 musical film, Hairspray. The role earned her several prestigious award nominations including a Golden Globe nomination. She’s also starred in other movies such as the Lifetime original movie Queen Sized, ABC Family original series Huge, and Geography Club. Most recently, Nikki launched her own podcast called Nikki Nights where she talks with celebrities and industry professionals about current issues, quarantine, pop culture, and anything else on their minds. In this episode, Nikki will give us some insight into her background including how she landed her role in Hairspray while working at a Cold Stone Creamery, her relationship with co-star John Travolta, and the support she received from her family. Besides this, we’ll also discuss Nikki’s body confidence journey, the advice her grandmother gave her that changed her view of the human body, and her role models in the industry. Last but not least, we’ll talk about the way plus-sized characters are often portrayed as the victim in media, how she was often put in a box when auditioning for new roles, and her journey in coming out as a woman. Keep listening to hear how Nikki is inspiring others to believe in themselves and live their truths.Nikki’s Instagram: @nikkiblonskyBe sure to follow, like, and subscribe to get the latest body confidence news!Watch the BodPod on YouTubeFollow us @thebodconGet your BodCon 2023 tickets