In this episode of Shoulders Down, Leah sits down with therapist Edie Stark, LCSW, to unpack their experience participating in a debate with fitness personality Jillian Michaels on the popular YouTube channel Jubilee.
Leah and Edie reflect on what it was like to step into a highly produced debate environment discussing body positivity, weight stigma, and health claims — and how the format of viral media can shape the conversation in ways that prioritize spectacle over nuance.
Together, they discuss the challenges of debating weight stigma in a reality-TV style setting, the misconceptions about body positivity and Health at Every Size®, and why conversations about weight and health must account for systemic factors like stigma, access to care, and social determinants of health.
You’ll hear about:
- What it was like to participate in a debate with Jillian Michaels
- Why debating weight and health in a reality-TV format creates major limitations
- Common misconceptions about the body positivity movement
- How weight stigma and systemic factors impact health outcomes
- Why shame and blame are ineffective tools for supporting behavior change
- What Leah and Edie hope viewers take away from the debate
Mentioned in this episode:
- Watch the Debate Here!
- National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA)
- The Plus Bus
More From Edie Stark:
- Instagram: @ediestarktherapy
- Therapy Practice: Stark Therapy Group
- Consulting & Media: ediestark.com
More From Leah:
- 📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter Pack
- Apply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching program
- Join my self-paced course, The Return
- Subscribe to Leah's Youtube Channel
- Subscribe to my personal Substack
- Follow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rd
- Visit my website to learn more about my coaching offerings
- Subscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.
- Send me a voice message on Speakpipe
- Email me: Leah@leahkernrd.com
🍽️ Are you overwhelmed by figuring out what to eat without the structure of diet rules? Enroll in our upcoming live workshop, WHAT TO EAT, on August 10th @ 3pm PT. Use code PODCAST at checkout to get $7 off.