EP63 – Is #fitspo Really #thinspo, and is ‘Strong’ Just ‘Skinny’ Rebranded? w/ Anna Kessel – Author of Eat Sweat Play

So excited to share this interview with Anna Kessel which was recorded live at the London Podcast Festival (which is why we sound like we’re underwater at some parts 🐡). Anna is a sports journalist and author who advocates for gender equality in sports, but don’t stress, she’s not preachy about it. Having spent her formative years dodging PE like the rest of us, Anna developed a relationship with sport a bit later in life. We talk about how that relationship has changed over the years, especially now she is a mother. We also discuss how movement can ground us in our bodies and help us develop a better body image instead of being outside and looking at it more critically. However, this is pretty antithetical to the message we get from the #fitspo and #noexcuses movements which use punitive messaging to shame people into working out, or prey on our insecurities about our physical appearance. We also talk about campaigns that get it right and really empower women, like This Girl Can. Plus why it’s so important that little girls have options besides party shoes for wearing to school. We also have some great questions from the audience at the end. Enjoy!

SHOW NOTES

{Anna on Twitter | Instagram}
{Eat Sweat Play}
{Maureen Lipman BT Advert}
{This Girl Can Old & New Ads}
{Anna on Girls’ school shoes}
{Why is #Fitspo a beauty contest?}
{Women’s Sport Trust}
{Hannah Witton on Youtube}
{What to say instead of “you’re not fat”}
{Eff Your Fitspo}
{Happy Healthy 50}