173. Actor/Writer/Creator Jen Ponton on Fatphobia, Theater vs. Film, and Content Creation for Social Media

Jen Ponton is an actor, writer, and creator who seeks to make others laugh while also remaining true to her values as a queer fat activist. You may have seen her work on AMC's Dietland, The Unbreakable Jimmy Schmidt, Orange is the New Black, Love on the Run, or her new highly anticipated recurring role on Three Women opposite Shailene Woodley and Betty Gilpin. Recently, she wrote and produced a TikTok social media horror event called Caretaker. In this episode, I sit down with Jen to talk about her experience creating that film, what inspired her to make content specifically for social media, her transition from theater to film, and how loving herself completely changed her acting career for the better. Watch the Full Video Podcast Here! 00:12 — Intro 04:30 — Jen's TED Talk, MG, and the Spoon Theory 08:32 — Fatphobia in Theater vs. Film/TV 15:11 — Film/TV Casting Type Change 19:45 — What Could We Do Better 22:11 — Eating Disorders + Social Media 24:52 — Stopping the Pursuit of Thinness 28:03 — Body Positivity and Acting 32:22 — "Love on the Run", "Dietland", & "Deadbeat" 36:37 — Acting Classes 40:46 — Caretaker Film 59:10 — Making Your Own Content for Social Media 1:06:13 — Where to Find Jen Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Jen's Instagram Jen's IMDb Jen's Professional Website Follow @caretakerfilm on Instagram Follow @capemaycaretaker a #HorrorTok on TikTok Listen to Jen's TED Talk: "Hollywood's Fatphobia Problem" Learn More about MG - Myasthenia Gravis Learn More about the Spoon Theory "Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia" by Sabrina Strings Hollywood’s Secret New Weight Loss Drug, Revealed: The Hype and Hazards of Ozempic by Matt Donnelly The BGB Studio -------- Want more? Check out Patreon for bonus episodes, IG Close Friends content, and so much more. And don’t miss all the content on IG and as always at, OneBrokeActress.com And if you're needing some personalized help from Sam, you can schedule a chat with her right here. Don't forget to join the mailing list here!  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/one-broke-actress-podcast/message