
Fierce Fatty Podcast
Join Vinny Welsby (they/them), TEDx speaker, best-selling author, and certified Fierce Fatty as they teach you how to love your fat body without going on yet another ever again. 95-99% of diets fail, it’s not your fault you’ve never succeeded at losing weight! Wear the damn bikini, rock that crop top, and embrace that curvy body. Break down limiting negative self-beliefs and root out the reasons why you think your plus-size body is not ok. Episodes topics include - fatphobia, diet culture, intuitive eating, how to be confident, dating while plus-size, health at every size, overcoming stigma and shame, and taking over the world one fatty at a time!
Latest episodes

Feb 28, 2023 • 1h 8min
158: Fatness as a Disease and “Ob*sity” Medicine’s Giant Flaws
The discussion dives into the controversial classification of fatness as a disease, questioning its implications on health and stigma. They challenge misleading statistics on fat-related deaths while advocating for a more inclusive dialogue in medical research. The conversation also explores the societal biases against fatness and the role of pharmaceutical companies in perpetuating harmful narratives. Lastly, it highlights the significance of fat liberation, equal treatment in healthcare, and finding joy in life's little moments.

Feb 14, 2023 • 1h 21min
157: Intergenerational Food Trauma
What did you learn from the people who raised you about food and weight? How did their caregivers talk to them about diets and fatness? Today we have a super VIP special guest; my Mum! We talk about The Great Starvation (Irish Potato Famine), and British colonialism and look at research on trauma passed down the generations. Even if you don't come from a family that experienced something similar, day-to-day trauma around food and size can be incredibly impactful for many generations. Episode show notes: http://www.fiercefatty.com/157 Support me on Ko-Fi and get the Size Diversity Resource Guide: https://ko-fi.com/fiercefatty/tiers. Intergenerational Food Trauma Exploring Irish Multigenerational Trauma and Its’ Healing: Lessons from the Oglala Lakota (Sioux): https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276489566_Exploring_Irish_Multigenerational_Trauma_and_Its'_Healing_Lessons_from_the_Oglala_Lakota_Sioux Summary of "It Didn't Start With You" by Mark Wolynn: https://backend.quickread.com/files/400/books/ebooks/mark_wolynn_it_didn%E2%80%99t_start_with_you_400.pdf?player=1 Intergenerational Trauma In Modern Ireland: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dht6aYNPWrA Effects of Hunger: https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/impact-of-hunger Did the Irish Famine trigger mental illness in the Irish?: https://www.irishcentral.com/news/irish-famine-mental-illness-connection#:~:text=Irish%20historian%20Oonagh%20Walsh%20believes,Ireland%20and%20those%20who%20emigrated

Feb 7, 2023 • 1h 18min
156: Part 2: Is Wegovy/Ozempic the Miracle Weight Loss Drug It’s Made Out to Be? (Part 2)
Dive into the world of controversial weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, exploring personal stories from users and the scandals surrounding their marketing practices. The discussion highlights ethical concerns and severe side effects faced by many. There's a closer look at legal issues involving the drug manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, and its history. Listen to the challenges of informed consent and societal pressures linked to weight management while advocating for body diversity and self-acceptance.

Jan 31, 2023 • 56min
155: Part 1: Is Wegovy/Ozempic the Miracle Weight Loss Drug It’s Made Out to Be?
The podcast dives into the phenomenon of weight loss drugs, particularly Wegovy and Ozempic, asking if they truly live up to the hype. It discusses Novo Nordisk's controversial marketing strategies and ethical dilemmas surrounding fatness. The show also reveals the dual use of Semaglutide and its potential risks for long-term users. Additionally, it examines the shortcomings of clinical trials and the myriad side effects associated with these medications, sparking a broader conversation about sustainable weight loss methods.

Jan 24, 2023 • 56min
154: Fat Bias in the News
An analysis of the news representations of fat bodies in the last year has been completed by NAAFA which we will go over in today’s episode. Out of 19,000+ mentions of fatness in the news last year, how many are talking about weight loss, diets, and ill health, and how many focus on fat liberation and weight stigma? I also share my own traumatizing experience of being featured in the media which almost lead to my de@th. How fat people are represented in reporting is super important and I’ll share why and the state of where we're at today. TW: Mention of s*icide ideation Episode show notes: http://www.fiercefatty.com/154 Come with me to the Dominican Republic: https://trovatrip.com/trip/north-america/dominican-republic/dominican-republic-with-vinny-welsby-jun-2023 Donate on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/fiercefatty/tiers Come with me to the Dominican Republic: https://trovatrip.com/trip/north-america/dominican-republic/dominican-republic-with-vinny-welsby-jun-2023 NAAFA- Fat Bias in The Media: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e7be2c55ceb261b71eadde2/t/63a3f27c0ef4d901a80b8cac/1671688836910/The+Size+of+It-Fat+Bias+in+the+News-2022+Study+by+NAAFA+%26+Pamela+Mejia.pdf

Jan 18, 2023 • 1h 11min
153: When You Don’t Believe Your Partner Is Attracted to You
Dive into the complex feelings of disbelief regarding attraction in relationships for those in larger bodies. Discover how internal struggles and societal pressures shape self-image and emotional intimacy. Hear personal stories about navigating compliments and the challenges of accepting beauty. Explore practical self-love strategies that promote healthier connections and enhanced self-acceptance. Plus, find out how the community can support one another in the journey toward body positivity!

Jan 12, 2023 • 1h 14min
152: Diet Culture and Religion
In this fascinating discussion, guest Vinny Welsby, a guide to the Dominican Republic, uncovers the deep-rooted connections between diet culture and religious beliefs. They explore how historical concepts of indulgence still influence modern eating habits. Vinny challenges listeners to consider how both secular and faith-based moralizing around food impacts body image and self-acceptance. This thought-provoking dialogue not only reveals the origins of fatphobia but also encourages a critical look at our ingrained beliefs about health and morality.

Jan 5, 2023 • 1h 3min
151: The Whale: Fatphobic Misery P*rn
The movie ‘The Whale’ is now out in cinemas. The fat community has been dreading the release ever since the trailer dropped. Is it as bad as we had feared or is the story told with compassion? What about other films that depict super fat folks who spend their life indoors, are they empathetic or reinforcing the same old tropes? Episode show notes: http://www.fiercefatty.com/151 Come with me to the Dominican Republic: https://trovatrip.com/trip/north-america/dominican-republic/dominican-republic-with-vinny-welsby-jun-2023 The Cruel Spectacle of ‘The Whale’: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/10/opinion/the-whale-film.html Behind paywall: https://archive.ph/Iw3iU https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/the-whale-review-49039630 https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-whale-review-darren-aronofsky-brendan-fraser/ https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/10/opinion/the-whale-film.html https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/elaminabdelmahmoud/the-whale-brendan-fraser-darren-aronofsky-review https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-whale-movie-review-2022 The Exhausting Fatphobia of "The Whale" by VICTORIA EDEL: https://www.popsugar.com/author/victoria-edel Fatphobia Sinks Darren Aronofsky’s Drama, Mark Hanson: https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-whale-review-darren-aronofsky-brendan-fraser/

Dec 13, 2022 • 1h 10min
150: When the People in Your Life Are Anti-fat and Pro-diet
One of the biggest barriers people who are trying to unlearn anti-fat bias has, is dealing with other people who won’t stop talking about diets and how much they don’t want to be fat. Often these are friends or loved ones and commonly they aren’t talking negatively about YOU directly, but about THEMSELVES (of course there are many exceptions to this). But the message they are sharing is that fatness is bad, they don’t want to look like you or that dieting is a good solution to fatphobia. How the heck do we deal with these people? I am answering real-life scenarios from followers today and the biggest culprit that comes up is” mother-in-law”….lol, ugh. Episode show notes: http://www.fiercefatty.com/150 Come with me to the Dominican Republic: https://trovatrip.com/trip/north-america/dominican-republic/dominican-republic-with-vinny-welsby-jun-2023 WeightWatchers in Germany: https://newsingermany.com/tinder-ad-with-paul-ripke-weight-watchers-responds-to-criticism/ Podcast reviews: https://chartable.com/podcasts/fierce-fatty-podcast/reviews Remove, Reduce, Protect: https://www.instagram.com/p/CfCeIFAO491/

Dec 6, 2022 • 1h 12min
149: Atypical Anorexia
What’s the deal with atypical anorexia? Is it actually “atypical” and where did the diagnosis come from? Learn the in’s and out’s of this eating disorder and the ways in which weight bias stops people from getting treatment and even diagnosis. Plus: is it true that to be “really” starving you would be thin? Episode show notes: http://www.fiercefatty.com/149 Join me in the Dominican Republic: https://trovatrip.com/trip/north-america/dominican-republic/dominican-republic-with-vinny-welsby-jun-2023 NYT You Don’t Look Anorexic: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/18/magazine/anorexia-obesity-eating-disorder.html and free from paywall link: https://archive.ph/3D1b6#selection-635.0-641.483 Sharon Maxwell IG: https://www.instagram.com/heysharonmaxwell/?hl=en Sharon Maxwell TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heysharonmaxwell?lang=en Perversion of the ego: https://ia600708.us.archive.org/view_archive.php?archive=/22/items/crossref-pre-1909-scholarly-works/10.1016%252Fs0140-6736%252800%252946510-4.zip&file=10.1016%252Fs0140-6736%252800%252948519-3.pdf https://childmind.org/article/what-is-atypical-anorexia-nervosa/ https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/information/atypical-anorexia https://iamsober.com/blog/what-is-atypical-anorexia-causes-signs-treatment/ Anorexia Nervosa: https://ia600708.us.archive.org/view_archive.php?archive=/22/items/crossref-pre-1909-scholarly-works/10.1016%252Fs0140-6736%252800%252946510-4.zip&file=10.1016%252Fs0140-6736%252800%252948519-3.pdf Atypical Anorexia in Youth: Cautiously Bridging the Treatment Gap: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9221982/ Eating disorders in adolescent boys and young men: an update: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7867380/ Duration of untreated eating disorder and relationship to outcomes: A systematic review of the literature: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/erv.2745 Defining "significant weight loss" in atypical anorexia nervosa: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28436084/