The Body Grievers® Club

In this episode of The Body GrieversⓇ Club, Bri shares how receiving five perfectly fitting gowns from Sydney's Closet sparked a corrective experience that contrasted with her 2007 prom season, when a dream dress wouldn't zip and intensified shame, restriction, and a fixation on weight loss that later contributed to pursuing bariatric surgery. She reflects on being pre-diabetic at 16, the discouragement of dieting and being blamed for "not doing it right," and how clothes not fitting became a lasting scar tied to dating, food anxiety, and self-worth. As an eating-disorder-trained clinician with lived experience, Bri names anti-fat bias as stronger than capitalism, grieves exclusion and lack of choice in fashion, critiques the weight-loss-as-health narrative, and describes her current life at 35 as fat, healthier, and free from food obsession, while still navigating structural inaccessibility. 01:58 Flashback to 2007 02:53 Diet Plan and Pressure 05:16 The Prom Dress Dream 06:57 Prom Night Breakdown 09:37 Aftermath and Lasting Scar 11:09 Privilege of Choice 12:22 Sad Truths About Fashion 15:06 When Weight Loss Fails 17:09 Bigger Than Clothes 21:18 Healing Beyond the Scale 23:08 Letter to My 16 Year Old Self 26:11 You Are Worthy EPISODE RESOURCES: Stunning gowns designed exclusively for plus sizes at https://sydneyscloset.com/ WANT MORE OF BRI? *Instagram: @bodyimagewithbri *Website: https://bodyimagewithbri.com/ *Bri's Free Resource: 7-Step Guide to Shift Body Grief to Radical Body Acceptance https://www.bodyimagewithbri.com/seven-steps

In this episode of The Body GrieversⓇ Club, Bri interviews anti-diet, weight-inclusive personal stylist Dacy Gillespie about clothing grief, style, and size accessibility. Dacy shares how styling clients revealed the need to address body feelings and how "flattering" advice often aims to make bodies appear smaller, rooted in white supremacy, patriarchy, and capitalism, referencing work by Sabrina Strings and Sonya Renee Taylor. They discuss real scarcity in plus-size clothing, including brands dropping extended sizes, and the grief and privilege tied to beauty standards. Dacy shares some of her practical tips for rejuvenating your closet through size changes, while still taking care of your own emotional wellbeing. 01:50 How Mindful Closet Began 03:58 Size Access and Hidden Grief 07:42 Unpacking "Flattering" Culture 13:34 Scarcity Mindset vs Reality 25:52 Client Clothing Grief Questions 30:19 Move Clothes Aside 33:02 Budget Shopping Tips 37:04 Unlearning Body Shame 44:30 Dream Your Style EPISODE RESOURCES: "Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fatphobia" by Sabrina Strings "The Body Is Not An Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love" by Sonya Renee Taylor "Belly of the Beast: The Politics of Anti-Fatness as Anti-Blackness" by Da'Shaun L. Harrison Episode 67: Being SEEN: picture grief with Lindley Ashline Summer Support Anti-Diet Panel Study on Women's Clothing Size WANT MORE OF DACY GILLESPIE? Join Dacy's newsletter at https://dacygillespie.substack.com/ "Mindful Closet" styling services with Dacy https://www.mindfulcloset.com/ Watch for Dacy's upcoming book, "Unflattering: A Radical New Way to Get Dressed" WANT MORE OF BRI? *Instagram: @bodyimagewithbri *Website: https://bodyimagewithbri.com/ *Bri's Free Resource: 7-Step Guide to Shift Body Grief to Radical Body Acceptance https://www.bodyimagewithbri.com/seven-steps

In this episode of The Body Grievers® Club, Brianna interviews TikTok creator and author Allora Dannon, who describes herself as a plus-size "accidental late bloomer spokesperson." Allora explains how she reframed "late bloomer" to mean not dating or experiencing physical intimacy until her thirties, and she shares how growing up as the oldest of ten in a supportive religious family still left her feeling embarrassed, isolated, and "left behind" as her sisters married while she received little romantic attention. Together, Bri and Allora discuss the cultural whiplash around sex and inexperience, the impact of fatphobia on dating, the desire to be wanted without tying worth to men's attraction, and how platitudes about dating can be more harmful than validation. TIMESTAMPS: 01:27 Meet the Guest: 'Accidental Late Bloomer' Allora Dannon 04:13 Her Background: Big Family, Faith, and Feeling 'Too Much' 10:25 Wanting to Be Desired Isn't a Moral Failing 13:16 Modern Dating Is Brutal: Apps, Anxiety, and Outdated Advice 21:12 Season of Bravery: Dating Apps, Rules, and Asking People Out 33:13 First Relationship After Late Blooming: Beautiful Firsts & Red Flags 36:14 A 'Season of Bravery': Dating Apps, One-Month Rule & Meeting Her Fiancé 40:31 Do It Scared, Not Traumatized: Nervous System, Anxiety Meds & Expanding Attraction 46:26 Intimacy as Healing: Sleeping Naked, Loving Your Shape & Protecting Your Progress 51:16 Ode to the Apron Belly: Body Dysmorphia, Moving Goalposts & Finding Neutrality 56:47 Closing Advice & Community: The Memoir Plug, Where to Start Healing, and Where to Find Her EPISODE RESOURCES: "Who Is She? A Late Bloomer's Survival Guide" by Allora Dannon "Thank You, More Please: A Feminist Guide to Breaking Dumb Dating Rules and Finding Love" by Lily Womble WANT MORE OF ALLORA DANNON? https://www.alloradannon.com/ @alloradannon On All Social Channels WANT MORE OF BRI? *Instagram: @bodyimagewithbri *Website: https://bodyimagewithbri.com/ *Bri's Free Resource: 7-Step Guide to Shift Body Grief to Radical Body Acceptance https://www.bodyimagewithbri.com/seven-steps

In this episode of The Body Grievers® Club, Bri discusses the challenges of self-advocacy within the context of body image and core beliefs. She recounts a personal experience at the Sacramento Airport where she found herself struggling to ask for a wheelchair accommodation due to an injury. Bri explores the layers of body image distress, internalized ableism, and the difficulty of allowing oneself to ask for help. Through examining core beliefs and emotional triggers, she identifies a deep-seated fear of being perceived as a fraud by her clients and herself. The episode highlights the importance of understanding and reframing core beliefs, the role of emotional work in body image healing, and the necessity of compassion and patience in the journey toward self-acceptance. Bri offers practical advice on navigating distressful body image moments and emphasizes the value of vulnerability in the healing process. 00:53 Core Beliefs and Body Image 01:13 A Personal Story from Sacramento Airport 03:33 The Struggle with Asking for Help 03:45 Injury and Vulnerability 05:32 Unpacking Body Image Distress 11:58 Core Beliefs Worksheet: A Practical Guide 16:37 The Emotional Weight of Self-Advocacy 24:50 Reframing Core Beliefs 28:08 Conclusion: Embracing Vulnerability WANT MORE OF BRI? *Instagram: @bodyimagewithbri *Website: https://bodyimagewithbri.com/ *Bri's Free Resource: 7-Step Guide to Shift Body Grief to Radical Body Acceptance https://www.bodyimagewithbri.com/seven-steps

Kimmie Singh, a registered dietitian focusing on PCOS and eating disorders, challenges traditional weight-loss narratives. In a candid conversation, she highlights the need for body liberation and the stigmas faced by fat dietitians. Kimmie debunks myths about PCOS management, emphasizing the importance of a weight-neutral approach to nutrition. The discussion covers lesser-known symptoms of PCOS and the role of self-care as political resistance. With practical insights, Kimmie encourages compassionate movement and thoughtful dietary choices while tackling misconceptions head-on.

A candid conversation about body image and the radical idea of accepting your body. Talks about how weight loss often seeks social privilege rather than health. Explores the concept of body grief and why grieving expected losses matters. Highlights real harms of fatphobia and how therapy helped shift toward compassion and liberation.

In this episode of The Body Grievers Club, Bri sits down with therapist, drama therapist, and creative arts therapist Dani Bryant—a fat, neurospicy clinician from upstate New York and one of Bri's dear friends. Together they unpack the messy, beautiful intersection of neurodivergence, ADHD, body image, and body liberation. Bri and Dani talk about what it means to work with your brain instead of against it—how perfectionism, masking, and executive dysfunction show up in everything from laundry to therapy notes. They explore the grief that comes with realizing your brain (and body) may never operate like everyone else's, and how to build systems, compassion, and community around that truth. They also dig into the overlap between body liberation and neurodivergence, from shame and self-blame to the ways capitalism, ableism, and diet culture all demand conformity. Expect laughter, tangents, and a lot of "same, same" moments as they name what's hard, hilarious, and healing about existing in a brain and body that don't fit the mold. If you've ever wondered whether you're "just lazy" or living in a world not built for you, this conversation will remind you: you're not broken. You're living in a system that wasn't designed with you in mind. And you deserve care that honors both your body and your brain. TIMESTAMPS: 05:00 Interrupting, hyperfocus, and why voice memos help our brains 13:10 Pandemic clarity, fidgets, and "something's off" → assessment 16:00 Bri's "wait, do I have ADHD?" moment in real life 18:30 Executive dysfunction: notes, laundry, and tasks-within-tasks 22:10 Systems that fit you: redefining "done," micro-steps, and dopamine 25:10 Burnout cycles, urgency mode, and freeze vs. rest 27:50 Missed diagnoses in women/AFAB folks + masking as survival 30:40 ADLs with compassion: showers, brushing teeth, and ritual > routine 33:10 Habit stacking, duplicates (chargers everywhere), and shame as the enemy 36:00 All-or-nothing thinking, internalized ableism, and seeing ADHD as disability 39:00 Curiosity > criticism: Finch, allowances, novelty, and changing what no longer works 41:50 Interoception, meds, intuitive eating adaptations, and sleep/circadian quirks 45:00 Energy rhythms, gray-scale phone, capacity planning, and Mondays vs. Fridays 47:30 Boundaries, FOMO parts, and letting people be disappointed (community = annoyance sometimes) 50:10 Assessing "stay home or go?"—facts, context, and momentum vs. depletion 52:00 Culture check: conformity pressures (thinness, ableism) and finding your people 54:00 GLP-1s vs. stimulants: safety, autonomy, and why changing size ≠ changing beliefs 56:00 Spectrum ≠ line: the "pie chart" view + how presentation varies widely RESOURCES: Mentioned in this episode: Love Dani Donovan's art and writing on ADHD: Comics: https://www.adhddd.com/comics/ The Anti-Planner: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/122842465-the-anti-planner KC Davis's Strugglecare: https://www.strugglecare.com/resources A Radical Guide for Women with ADHD: Embrace Neurodiversity, Live Boldly, and Break Through Barriers by Sari Solden and Michelle Frank: www.newharbinger.com/9781684032617/a-radical-guide-for-women-with-adhd/ srsltid=AfmBOoqIlhzeA5jvKuvaBqnjZZcQUZeGo5LMRX1vThmBMYFM1pWa2Otn Gifted kid with ADHD essay: https://blackgirllostkeys.com/adhd/double-trouble-navigating-life-as-a-gifted-kid-with-adhd/ This person is writing about Neurocomplexity in a interesting way: https://lindseymackereth.substack.com/ ADHD & Nutrition @rds_for_neurodiversity WANT MORE OF DANI BRYANT? * Instagram: @danibtherapy * Website: www.danibryant.com WANT MORE OF BRI? *Instagram: @bodyimagewithbri *Website: https://bodyimagewithbri.com/ *Bri's Free Resource: 7-Step Guide to Shift Body Grief to Radical Body Acceptance

In this episode of The Body Grievers Club, Bri sits down with Registered Dietitian and Certified Body Trust® Specialist Aaron Flores, RDN. They dig into how grief shows up in men's body image work, why "optimization culture" keeps so many dudes stuck, and what it really means to move from control to trust without the shame-fix-rush. Bri and Aaron unpack the lifelong messages men receive about "fixing" their bodies, the pressure to perform masculinity, and the quiet grief of losing the hope of thinness, rippedness, or former abilities. They talk about straddling two ships, diet culture and body liberation, and why permission to be in the in-between is often the bridge to values-aligned change. They also explore community as an antidote to isolation, how empathy (not fixing) rewires the story, and why acceptance = "the willingness to receive my body as it is." From Big Mouth's "shame wizard" to Yoda's wisdom, this convo uses metaphor to make the work doable. If you've ever felt like you should just "hack" your way to a better body, this episode offers a different path: zoom out, name the grief, and build trust - slowly, gently, on purpose. TIMESTAMPS: 02:10 Aaron's story: from running a VA weight-loss program to Body Trust 06:05 Men, diagnosis, and why eating disorders are under-recognized 09:30 The two ships: straddling diet culture and body liberation 13:20 Masculinity, "optimization," and the illusion of control 17:45 Grief themes: anger, fear, urgency, shame—and moving without a rush 22:15 Community + witnessing: why healing must be seen to be felt 25:40 Body Trust basics: zooming out, C-level work, and self-compassion 2 9:20 Partners & attraction: unlearning beauty standards + holding your ground 33:10 Parenting & modeling: the relationship you want your kids to have with their bodies 36:00 Big Mouth's "shame wizard," parts work, and building new neural grooves 39:20 Star Wars metaphors: fear, the dark side, and choosing values over control 42:10 Final takeaways for dudes: your body isn't a project; find your people RESOURCES: Mentioned in this episode: * Center for Body Trust® (rupture → reckoning → reclamation) * Big Mouth (Netflix): The "shame wizard" metaphor * Star Wars quotes & metaphors (Yoda, fear → suffering) * Book: Manhood: The Bare Reality by Laura Dodsworth (photo essays + narratives) * Aaron's 5-module body image course for dudes (via his website) WANT MORE OF AARON FLORES, RDN? * Instagram: @aaronfloresrdn * Website: www.aaronfloresrdn.com * Substack: The Unscripted Journey * Podcast: Men Unscripted WANT MORE OF BRI? *Instagram: @bodyimagewithbri *Website: https://bodyimagewithbri.com/ *7 Steps Guide from Body Grief to Body Acceptance

Jenna Talleda, a registered dietitian and certified intuitive eating counselor, dives into her experiences with weight stigma in healthcare and the struggles of advocating for boundaries at medical appointments. She shares her journey as a provider in a larger body, emphasizing the emotional toll of being dismissed by doctors. Jenna challenges common practices like mandatory weigh-ins and sheds light on the connection between trauma responses and people-pleasing. This conversation highlights the importance of self-advocacy and the power of saying 'no' for better health.

The host dives deep into the debate of whether being fat and healthy can coexist. She challenges traditional definitions of health, emphasizing it’s not a moral scorecard. The discussion touches on medical fatphobia, the importance of social connections for longevity, and the stark realities of research on weight. Listeners learn practical tips for navigating healthcare and the significance of body autonomy. Ultimately, the episode encourages embracing discomfort and shifting focus from weight to holistic well-being.