Today Virginia is chatting with Annie Nardolilli and Louisa Hall, of the band Griefcat.   Their new album Late Stage Capitalism, dropped April 19 and explores how unbridled capitalism has invaded every facet of modern life, from workplace politics to interpersonal relationships, and even our most private moments.  To tell us YOUR thoughts, and to get all of the links and resources mentioned in this episode, as well as a complete transcript, visit our show page.  If you want more conversations...

It's the one year anniversary of FAT TALK, so we're celebrating with a special episode for you today: Virginia is reading Chapter 11! The title is “I Got Taller and Gymnastics Got Scarier.” That’s a quote from Camille, a 13-year-old former gymnast in Boise, Idaho, who you’ll hear from shortly. Camille and so many other kids talked about how youth sports and dance—these activities that should be entirely body positive and health promoting—can often end up being wildly unsafe environments for...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit virginiasolesmith.substack.com It's time for your April Indulgence Gospel! Which we recorded in the same room! The banter should be more delightful than ever!  Here’s what we’re getting into: What to say if your tween switches to Diet Coke? How to embrace “joyful movement” when you hate exercise. Are electrolyte drinks a fun “end of day” beverage? Virginia’s most unpopular opinion (yes it’s about skinny jeans).  If you are already...

Introducing the Unflattering x Burnt Toast Style Challenge! Corinne and Virginia are joined by Dacy Gillespie, stylist and author of the Unflattering newsletter to talk about why style challenges can feel like diets and what we're going to do differently. (No but really!)  To get all of the links and resources mentioned in this episode, as well as a complete transcript, visit our show page.  Also, don't forget to order Fat Talk: Parenting In the Age of Diet Culture! Get your signed copy...

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit virginiasolesmith.substack.com/subscribe Welcome to Indulgence Gospel After Dark! It's time for your April Extra Butter!  This month we’re answering a thorny mix of listener questions: Do we ever get tempted to buy back into diet culture? Is weight-loss surgery (and meds) not “doing it the old-fashioned way?” And what should you say when your daughter’s pants don’t fit—and...

Today Virginia is chatting with Mary Mahoney, co-host of the Dolls of Our Lives podcast, co-author of Dolls Of Our Lives: Why We Can’t Quit American Girl, and author of Landline.  Dolls Of Our Lives is available in the Burnt Toast Bookshop! Don’t forget, you can always take 10 percent off that purchase if you also order (or have already ordered!) Fat Talk from Split Rock Books! (Just use the code FATTALK at checkout.) To get all of the links and resources mentioned in this episode, as well as...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit virginiasolesmith.substack.com It's time for your March Indulgence Gospel! Corinne and Virginia are talking about their new favorite comfy jeans, Paleo waffles, and whether wanting to lose weight is always because of the patriarchy.  If you are already a paid subscriber, you’ll have this entire episode in your podcast feed and access to the entire transcript in your inbox and on the Burnt Toast Substack. To get all of the links...

Today Virginia is chatting with Christyna Johnson (@encougagingdietitian on Instagram and TikTok). Christyna is a registered dietitian specializing in eating disorders, disordered eating, and body image work. She also talks a lot about the intersection of consumerism, diet culture and white supremacy — and that giant topic is what we’re getting into today.  To tell us YOUR thoughts, and to get all of the links and resources mentioned in this episode, as well as a complete transcript,...

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit virginiasolesmith.substack.com/subscribe Welcome to Indulgence Gospel After Dark! It's time for your March Extra Butter! This month we’re answering a reader question about baggy, black clothes. Then Virginia takes Corinne down a rabbit hole to unpack the rainbow produce, and subtle food- and fat-shaming, of Kids Eat in Color. If you are already an Extra Butter subscriber,...

Today Virginia is chatting with Lyz Lenz, author of the newsletter Men Yell at Me and the brand new book This American Ex-Wife: How I Ended My Marriage and Started My Life. This American Ex-Wife is available in the Burnt Toast Bookshop! Don’t forget, you can always take 10 percent off that purchase if you also order (or have already ordered!) Fat Talk from Split Rock Books! (Just use the code FATTALK at checkout.) To get all of the links and resources mentioned in this episode, as well as...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit virginiasolesmith.substack.com It's time for your February Indulgence Gospel! Corinne is here. This month instead of the usual listener questions, we are going to tell you about a bunch of new books we are very about. All of these titles are available in a special Book Gospel section of the Burnt Toast book store over at Split Rock books, where you can take 10% off any title from today’s episode with the code “bookgospel” through...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit virginiasolesmith.substack.com Today Virginia is chatting with Wendy Lopez and Jessica Jones, founders of the beloved Food Heaven podcast and the brand new Diabetes Digital.  To get all of the links and resources mentioned in this episode, as well as a complete transcript, visit our show page.  If you want more conversations like this one, please rate and review us in your podcast player! And become a paid Burnt Toast...

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit virginiasolesmith.substack.com/subscribe Welcome to Indulgence Gospel After Dark! It's time for your February Extra Butter! Today we're talking about the strange new trend of plus size influencers pursuing public weight loss. (We also get into walking pads, for reasons that will become clear.)  CW: Discussion of intentional weight loss. If you are already an Extra Butter...

Today Virginia is chatting with Ash Brandin, a middle school teacher librarian better known as The Gamer Educator. Ash helps caregivers navigate screen time boundaries, to ensure it benefits the whole family. And we're going to talk about how screen time attitudes can intersect so much with diet culture and anti-fatness. To get all of the links and resources mentioned in this episode, as well as a complete transcript, visit our show page.  If you want more conversations like this...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit virginiasolesmith.substack.com It's time for your January Indulgence Gospel! Corinne is here. We’re getting into 1000 hours outside (is it a diet?), eating sugar when you're sick (does it trash your immune system?), and many, many recs. If you are already a paid subscriber, you’ll have this entire episode in your podcast feed and access to the entire transcript in your inbox and on the Burnt Toast Substack. To get all of the links...

Welcome to the first ever LIVE episode of Burnt Toast! We recorded this on December 3, at Seattle’s Town Hall. This was the official end of the Fat Talk book tour, but I promise it’s not a regular book promo conversation. Because it’s author Angela Garbes and Virginia, talking about books, but also talking about bodies and big life transitions and other good stuff. All of Angela's and Virginia's books, are available in the Burnt Toast Bookshop! Don’t forget, you can always take 10 percent off...

Today Virginia is chatting with author and feminist philosopher Kate Manne, about her new book Unshrinking: How To Face Fatphobia. Kate is also an associate professor of philosophy at Cornell University and author of Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny and Entitled: How Male Privilege Hurts Women. All of Kate’s books, including Unshrinking, are available in the Burnt Toast Bookshop! Don’t forget, you can always take 10 percent off that purchase if you also order (or have already ordered!) Fat...

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit virginiasolesmith.substack.com/subscribe Welcome to Indulgence Gospel After Dark! It’s time for your January Extra Butter episode. This month, we’re doing a few listener questions on how to find fat-friendly fitness spaces, how to deal with those coded “you look so great!” compliments, and how to tune out the mainstream media’s often relentless fatphobia (especially in...

Burnt Toast is on winter break this week, so we're rerunning a favorite conversation from last year, with author Lyz Lenz about divorce and diet culture.  This conversation was inspired in part by a piece Virginia wrote in fall of 2022 about how diet culture shows up in co-parenting. Lyz writes the excellent newsletter Men Yell at Me. She’s also the author of God Land: A Story of Faith, Loss, and Renewal in Middle America, and Belabored: A Vindication of the Rights of Pregnant Women. And she...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit virginiasolesmith.substack.com It's time for your December Indulgence Gospel! Corinne is here. We’re getting into fat boots, fat travel challenges, and ofc, diet culture during the holiday season. We got you!  If you are already a paid subscriber, you’ll have this entire episode in your podcast feed and access to the entire transcript in your inbox and on the Burnt Toast Substack. If you are not a paid subscriber, you'll only get...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit virginiasolesmith.substack.com Today Virginia is chatting with Jessie Diaz-Herrera. Jessie is a body affirming dancer, health and wellness influencer, and fitness enthusiast. You might know her on Instagram as @curveswithmoves, or from her Free the Jiggle classes. The first half of this episode is for everyone, and then paid subscribers will get to hear Jessie answering your listener questions about size-inclusive fitness. Here’s...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit virginiasolesmith.substack.com Today Virginia is chatting with Crystal Maldonado, a YA author who writes inclusive rom-com novels about fat brown girls. If you want more conversations like this one, please rate and review us in your podcast player! And become a paid Burnt Toast subscriber to get all of Virginia's reporting and bonus subscriber-only episodes.  Don’t forget, you can always take 10 percent off that purchase if you...

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit virginiasolesmith.substack.com/subscribe Welcome to Indulgence Gospel After Dark! It's time for your November Extra Butter! We are dissecting 75 Hard (it's not a diet, it's about mental toughness). And Virginia has thoughts on her post-divorce body.  If you are already an Extra Butter subscriber, you’ll have this entire episode in your podcast feed and access to the entire...

Today Virginia is chatting about body autonomy, diet culture, and chronic health conditions, with Leigh Kamping-Carder, who writes The Heart Dialogues. If you want more conversations like this one, please rate and review us in your podcast player! And become a paid Burnt Toast subscriber to get all of Virginia's reporting and bonus subscriber-only episodes.  And don’t forget to check out our new Burnt Toast Podcast Bonus Content!  Disclaimer: Virginia is a journalist and human with a lot of...