The BodPod

26. Talking Body with Reena Ruparelia

Welcome to another episode of the BodPod! Today, we are thrilled to have Reena Ruparelia, a mindfulness junkie, empowerment speaker, skin positivity advocate, and the voice behind the Psoriasis Thoughts Instagram community, on the show! Reena aims to empower, educate, and connect those living with psoriasis in an authentic and meaningful way. As someone who has been living with psoriasis for over 25 years, she began advocating for the condition in 2016 when she launched her online community of Psoriasis Warriors who come together to share inspiration and connect through live chats. In this episode, Reena will explain what exactly psoriasis is, what her journey to diagnosis entailed, and her relationship with her skin. She will also discuss why she launched her online platform and how that helped her come to terms with her condition. Last but not least, Reena will talk about how she deals with the negative thoughts surrounding her psoriasis including mindfulness and meditation practice, how she got to know herself better, and how this led to her respecting her body more. Keep listening to hear how Reena is encouraging others to never give up and to listen to their bodies too. Instagram: @psoriasis_thoughtsWebsite: https://reenarup.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

25. Talking Body with Katrina Nichole

Welcome back to the BodPod! Today, we are so excited to be chatting with Katrina Nichole, a plus-sized model, content creator, and fitness enthusiast whose platform is focused on body positivity, fitness for everybody, and the newest fashion trends that she hopes will inspire women of all sizes to learn to love themselves exactly as they are. Katrina’s confidence is evident in her content and her honest reviews make her feel like she is the BFF you can trust. We are thrilled to be Katrina’s first ever podcast interview!In this episode, Katrina will discuss the origins of her fashion and fitness platform, how she grew up in an environment that encouraged her to be her true self, and her approach to fitness. She will also open up about her anxiety going back to the gym, the importance of trying new things in order to find what works for you, and her own body image journey including her experience with restrictive diets and disordered eating. Last but not least, we’ll talk about the way in which media and clothing brands shape our thoughts about larger bodies, how this has inspired Katrina to post real and genuine content, and how Katrina navigates diet culture while also wearing the kinds of clothes she wants. Keep listening to hear how Katrina is working to encourage women to live their most authentic lives!Instagram: @thekatrinanicholeBe sure to follow, like, and subscribe to get the latest body confidence news!Watch the BodPod on YouTubeFollow us @thebodconGet your BodCon 2023 tickets

24. Talking Body with Danielle Catton & Virgie Tovar

Welcome back to a very special episode of the BodPod! Today, we are so excited to have Danielle Catton, a Canadian mental health, self-love, and body confidence advocate, take over the podcast. Danielle uses her platform to shine light on the daily struggles of anxiety that many suffer from and she hopes to normalize mental health as well as start inclusive conversations to further education on the topic. Danielle will be sitting down with body confidence trailblazer Virgie Tovar who is one of the nation’s leading experts and lecturers on fat discrimination and body image. She holds a master’s degree in sexuality studies with a focus on the intersections of body, race, and gender. She is also creator of the campaign #LoseHateNotWeight and is an accomplished writer having authored multiple books as well as being a frequent contributor for Forbes and Bedsider. Recently, Virgie was named one of the top 50 most influential feminists by magazine and is a recipient of the Poynter Fellowship in Journalism at Yale University. In this episode, Virgie will discuss how she became an advocate for fighting against weight discrimination, her book titled The Self-Love Revolution: Radical Body Positivity for Girls of Colour, and her personal journey with body confidence and acceptance. In addition, Virgie will share how she was taught to believe that all of her mental health issues were connected to her weight, how she worked to unlearn this, and how she came to the realization that she was at her best mental health when she was at her highest weight. Last but not least, Virgie will touch on the way we’ve been taught to believe that love, acceptance, and happiness are equated with a certain body weight and how this is actually a lesson in rape culture. Keep listening to hear how Virgie is working to combat fat phobia and teaching others to do the same. Plus, she will give some sneak peaks into her new book coming out next year!Danielle’s Instagram: @danielle catton Danielle’s website can be found here.Virgie’s Instagram: @virgietovarVirgie’s website can be found 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

23. Talking Body with Neon MUA Darius McKiver

Today, we are pleased to welcome Darius McKiver a.k.a Neon MUA to the BodPod! Darius is a makeup artist enthusiast and content creator whose style focuses on the combination of avant-garde concepts with everyday wearable beauty. His mission is to help bring awareness to the way beauty is represented for black creators, especially black beauty boys and other bodies, and he has done this by co-creating the hashtag #ColourPopMeBlack and developing the Dusk To Dawn face palettes with Midas Cosmetics’. Darius’ goal in this industry is to pave the way for black creators and to ensure that any black body that loves makeup can truly feel beautiful. In this episode, Darius will share how his journey with makeup and makeup artistry began, how he himself became a social media mogul, and what his platform is all about. We will also discuss the lack of foundation options for people of colour, how that inspired the variety of shades in Darius’ palette collaboration with Midas Cosmetics’, and how the #ColourPopMeBlack hashtag came about including the change it spurred with one specific makeup brand. Last but not least, Darius will talk about the intersection of beauty and body confidence and his own body confidence journey. Keep listening to hear how Darius is working to make the beauty industry more inclusive for people of all skin complexions.Twitter: @neonmMUAInstagram: @neonmua   YouTube: Neon MUADarius’ collaboration with Midas Cosmetics’ can be found 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

22. Talking Body with EVIO Beauty’s Brandi Leifso

Welcome back to the BodPod! Today, we are pleased to welcome Brandi Leifso, founder and CEO of Canadian clean beauty company Evio Beauty, to the show. At the age of 21, Brandi was living in a women’s shelter where she created the concept for a cosmetics brand and lets just say, the rest is history! Not only has she secured a spot as an alumni member of the esteemed Sephora Accelerate program in 2018, but she was also selected as one of Chatelaine Magazine’s 2018 women of the year. Brandi believes change can happen through small, conscious, and consistent actions and Evio continues to show their dedication to this through their numerous charitable initiatives and actions, including the Break Things podcast and the “Did I Make Myself Clear” campaign. Brandi was also recognized as one of 2020’s top 25 women of influence.In this episode, Brandi will open up about living in a shelter, the origins of Evio, and how she found herself in a male-dominated beauty industry almost a decade ago. Brandi will also talk about the shift she sees in an industry that is not necessarily geared toward men in power and women consuming anymore, especially given the multitude of men’s products and genderless products coming out nowadays. She will also discuss the challenges of trauma, PTSD, and stress, including the importance of exercising your mind just as much as your body. Last but not least, Brandi will reflect on the harmful ways in which we define people, often based on physical appearance. Keep listening to hear how Brandi is using her beauty company and podcast to break stigmas, provide “kind luxury,” and to start the conversation of reallocating funds from domestic violence police units to support organizations keeping our communities safe.EVIO WebsiteInstagram:@eviobeauty@brandileifsoBe sure to follow, like, and subscribe to get the latest body confidence news!Watch the BodPod on YouTubeFollow us @thebodconGet your BodCon 2023 tickets

21. Talking Body with Brenda James

Today on the BodPod, we are pleased to welcome Brenda C. James, a management consultant turned model. After an unexpected photoshoot led to the start of a budding modelling career in her 70s, Brenda was signed by an agent and learned to embrace this brand new world. In February of 2020, she was one of 13 models chosen by Knix to appear in their “Age Doesn’t Matter” campaign and she continues to model and act for print and video content around the world.  In this episode, Brenda will share how she moved from a human resources role to modelling and acting, including landing that unforgettable Knix campaign, five television commercials, and more. She will also open up about the importance of not putting limits on herself and not caring what others think, all while learning the ins and outs of the modelling industry. Last but not least, Brenda will discuss how life-changing it was to model in a campaign that celebrates women of all ages, shapes, and colours, her own body confidence, and the importance of changing society’s views on aging. Keep listening to hear how Brenda is encouraging others - including her children and grandchildren - to feel confident in themselves rather than listening to external influences like social media.Instagram: @bcj_ggBe sure to follow, like, and subscribe to get the latest body confidence news!Watch the BodPod on YouTubeFollow us @thebodconGet your BodCon 2023 tickets

20. Talking Body with Scott Stuart

Welcome to another episode of the BodPod! Today, we are excited to be chatting with Scott Stuart, a best-selling children’s book author from Melbourne, Australia. Scott is on a mission to create content that empowers young kids to be their unique selves and encourage parents to accept their children. His books have appeared on many best-seller lists and have garnered numerous nominations including Children’s Book of the Year and Picture Book of the Year for My Shadow is Pink. After a video of Scott and his son Collin both dressed as Queen Elsa from the Frozen films went viral, he began posting about Collin’s adventures with fashion and about breaking down the stigmas with parenting, gender, and much more. In this episode, Scott will discuss his new book called The Very First You and the importance of representation in children’s books. He will also talk about the way in which his son inspired the diversity in his books, helped him realize his own biases, and how dressing up as Queen Elsa together turned into one of the most beautiful experiences. Last but not least, Scott will open up about how uncomfortable he was with his body while growing up, how that changed when he became a parent, and the advice he offers his son about remaining true to himself. Keep listening to hear how Scott is inspiring others to work through their own discomfort and challenge their own biases.Instagram: @scottcreatesTikTok: @scott.creates Website: https://scottstuart.co/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

19. Talking Body with The Alliance for EDA

Welcome back to another very special episode of the BodPod! This week, we are so pleased to have the Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness take over the podcast.Mimi Cole is the founder of The Lovely Becoming blog and podcast, is currently pursuing her master’s degree to become a therapist in North Carolina, and is passionate about disordered eating and obsessive compulsive disorder. As a patient assistant for individuals with eating disorders, Mimi has experience working in a residential and out-patient level of care and hopes to practice from a health-at-every-size, trauma-informed lens.Johanna Kandel is the founder and CEO of the Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness and the author of Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder. After a decade-long battle with various eating disorders, Johanna founded the Alliance in October 2000 to bring information and awareness about eating disorders to hundreds of thousands of individuals. She is a passionate advocate for mental health and eating disorders legislation and has spent a lot of time meeting with various members of congress. Johanna was also part of the first-ever eating disorder roundtable at the White House and is a proud member of the Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee meeting under the Department of Health and Human Services, a member of the board of directors for the Eating Disorders Coalition, and a member of the Eating Disorders Leadership Summit. In this episode, Johanna will share her personal experience with eating disorders and how that has motivated the work she does today. Johanna and Mimi will also discuss eating disorder recovery, the myths surrounding eating disorders, and prevention efforts. Last but not least, Mimi will share the origins of her online platform including her experience with eating disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder. Keep listening to hear how Johanna and Mimi are using their voices to shift the conversation around eating disorders. Connect on Instagram at:@alianceforeda@the.lovelybecomingBe sure to follow, like, and subscribe to get the latest body confidence news!Watch the BodPod on YouTubeFollow us @thebodconGet your BodCon 2023 tickets

18. Talking Body with Katie Sturino

Today on the BodPod, we are excited to be chatting with Katie Sturino, an entrepreneur, body acceptance advocate, and influencer. Katie uses her voice and personal style to empower women of all shapes and to raise awareness for size inclusivity. She is also the founder of Megababe, an innovative body care brand offering problem-solving products to help women feel more comfortable and confident in their own skin. Not only has she dedicated her life to learning and unlearning all the beauty standard BS, but she also uses her blog, Instagram, Boob Sweat podcast, and solution-oriented beauty products to share the message that changed her life: your body is not the problem! This past Spring, Katie released her book, Body Talk: How to Embrace Your Body and Start Living Your Best Life, which serves as an illustrated guide-meets-workbook that encourages you to spend less time thinking about how you look and what you eat and more time discovering your inner fierceness.In this episode, Katie will discuss how her blog, The 12ish Style, came to be, the hashtag campaigns she ignited on social media, and the origins of Megababe. She’ll also share what inspired her book and how she hopes to help others rather than herself with this project. Last but not least, Katie and I will talk about the importance of carefully selecting who you follow on social media, learning not to apologize for your body, and the generational cycle of body image. Keep listening to hear how Katie is helping others expand their horizons and learn more about themselves. Katie’s Instagram: @katiesturinoKatie’s book: https://linktr.ee/KatieSturinoBookMegababe website: https://megababebeauty.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

17. Talking Body with Kimmie Singh

Welcome back to the BodPod! Today, we are excited to be chatting with Kimmie Singh, a registered dietician based in N.Y.C., an active member of the International Federation of Eating Disorder Dieticians, and co-host of the PCOS and Food Peace podcast with Julie Duffy Dillion. As an associate at LK Nutrition, Kimmie supports her clients with a fat-positive, anti-oppressive framework and has a special passion for working with people that have PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), something she has personal experience with. Kimmie has also presented at various national and regional conferences on the harmful effects of weight stigma in healthcare, eating disorder treatment, food insecurity, and weight inclusivity in dietetics training.In this episode, Kimmie will share how she eventually ended up calling herself “the fat N.Y.C. dietician and nutritionist,” her experience going to school to become a nutritionist, and her personal journey with eating disorders. She will also explain the Health at Every Size approach that LK Nutrition participates in, the role that media and reality television play in our body images, and the gender and racial gap within the medicine and nutrition communities. Last but not least, Kimmie will open up about her experience with PCOS. Keep listening to hear how Kimmie is turning down the volume on diet culture to help others get to know their bodies. Instagram: @bodypositive_dietitianWebsite: https://www.bodypositivedietitian.com/Association for Diversity and Health: https://asdah.org/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