You’re listening to Burnt Toast! I’m Virginia Sole-Smith, and today my guest is Claire Ayoub. Claire is the writer and director of the brand new feature film—opening tomorrow!!— called Empire Waist, a heartfelt comedy about teens learning to love their bodies through fashion design and friendship. I saw Empire Waist a couple of days before I interv…

Today Virginia is chatting with Claire Ayoub. Claire is the writer and director of the brand new feature film—opening tomorrow!!— called Empire Waist, a heartfelt comedy about teens learning to love their bodies through fashion design and friendship. Empire Waist opens in movie theaters across the country tomorrow, September 27! Go to empirewaistfi…

You’re listening to Burnt Toast! I’m Virginia Sole-Smith, and today my guest is Nicola Salmon. Nicola is a leading voice for fat folks seeking fertility support, and author of the book Fat and Fertile. As a fertility coach and fat activist, Nicola works to challenge the fertility industry’s entrenched weight bias and empower marginalized folks to t…

Today Virginia is chatting with Nicola Salmon. Nicola is a leading voice for fat folks seeking fertility support, and author of the book Fat and Fertile. As a fertility coach and fat activist, Nicola works to challenge the fertility industry’s entrenched weight bias and empower marginalized folks to take control of their reproductive health. (You m…

Welcome to Indulgence Gospel After Dark! This month we’re talking about… dating while fat! This is a topic many of you have requested, and sent in questions about—so our resident dating expert (Corinne) finally answers them all! We also share a lot of amazing listener-submitted advice. We’ll get into how to talk about fatness on your profile, how t…

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 September Extra Butter! Today we are discussing... dating as a fat person! We'll get into navigating the apps, Corinne's rules for …

You’re listening to Burnt Toast! I’m Virginia Sole-Smith, and today my guest is romance author . 🔥 Nisha is a young adult and adult contemporary romance writer whose books have been included in “Best Of” lists by the New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Cosmopolitan, The Washington Post, Time Magazine and more. When she’s not writing about people …

Today Virginia is chatting with romance author Nisha Sharma, author of Marriage & Masti. We discuss Nisha's own writing and get into some big questions about the romance genre: What is happening with bodies? How do romance authors think about fatness? And where are all the fat male love interests already? Marriage & Masti is available in the Burnt …

Hello Burnt Toasties! We’re back from summer break—how I’ve missed you! And look, I will never rush the end of summer (still 3 more weeks to go thank you, dahlias are going strong!). But my kids head back to school today and I’ve got that fresh new pencils/lfggg feeling. Especially because—as always happens when I take a writing break—there have be…

You’re listening to Burnt Toast! We are Virginia Sole-Smith and Corinne Fay, and it’s time for another Indulgence Gospel. It’s the last week of our summer break, so we’ll be back after Labor Day with all new podcast episodes for you. We so appreciate everyone who has been continuing to listen and support the podcast during our hiatus. It means a lo…

You’re listening to Burnt Toast! We are Virginia Sole-Smith and Corinne Fay, and it’s time for another Indulgence Gospel. It’s the last week of our summer break, so we’ll be back after Labor Day with all new podcast episodes for you. We so appreciate everyone who has been continuing to listen and support the podcast during our hiatus. It means a lo…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit virginiasolesmith.substack.com You’re listening to Burnt Toast! We are Virginia Sole-Smith and Corinne Fay and it’s time for your Indulgence Gospel! We’ll be getting into: * How to navigate it when you’re taking a semaglutide for your health but your kids are noticing your weight loss? *…

You’re listening to Burnt Toast! We are and and it’s time for your Indulgence Gospel! We’ll be getting into: How to navigate it when you’re taking a semaglutide for your health but your kids are noticing your weight loss? Fat fashion, obvs. Some good old fashioned hate mail. And Corinne got a tattoo! This is a paywalled episode. That means to hear …

You’re listening to Burnt Toast! I’m Virginia Sole-Smith, and today I am chatting with the brilliant Laura Thomas, PhD. Laura is a Registered Nutritionist who specializes in responsive feeding and anti-diet, body affirming nutrition. Her work centers on helping parents and families end inter-generational dieting and body shame, and work towards a g…

You’re listening to Burnt Toast. I’m Virginia Sole-Smith. Today I am chatting with the brilliant Laura Thomas, PhD. Laura is a Registered Nutritionist who specializes in responsive feeding and anti-diet, body affirming nutrition. Her work centers on helping parents and families end inter-generational dieting and body shame, and work towards a great…

Welcome to Indulgence Gospel After Dark! This month we’re unpacking content from Rosey Beeme, Brianne Huntsman, and other influencers who long identified as body positive, plus size fashion folks—and now are talking proudly about their intentional weight loss journeys. But it’s not a moral failing if you can’t wipe your own ass. CW: This episode in…

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! This month we’re unpacking content from Rosey Beeme, Brianne Huntsman, and other influencers who long identified as body positive, plus size fashion f…

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 T…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit virginiasolesmith.substack.com It's time for your July Indulgence Gospel! We’ll be getting into: Millennial vs Gen Z feelings about socks How to even begin a closet reorganization project What to do when the roller coaster doesn’t fit your body. And so much more! To hear the whole conver…

Today Virginia is chatting with Anita Bhagwandas, author of Ugly: Giving Us Back Our Beauty Standards. Ugly 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 tell us YOUR tho…

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 July Extra Butter! Today we are discussing the intersection of sobriety and diet culture—and taste testing a whole bunch of mocktai…

Today Virginia is chatting with Melissa Walker, head of Giving Circles at The States Project about how to save democracy. The States Project works to flip state legislations blue around the country. In 2022, Burnt Toast raised over $28,000 to hold ground in the Arizona State Senate. Last year we raised over $15,000 to elect majority making candidat…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit virginiasolesmith.substack.com It's time for your June Indulgence Gospel! We’ve got an old-fashioned listener Q roundup today, including: How should we think about breast reductions—are they medically necessary or diet culture or both? How are we solving chub rub this summer? Do they mak…

Today Virginia is chatting with Angel Austin and Ani Janzen from the Association for Size Diversity and Health. 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 like this one, please rate and review us in your podcast …

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 June Extra Butter! Today we are giving you a behind-the-scenes look at how we make Burnt Toast. And yes, finally addressing some of…

Today Virginia is chatting with Jenn Romolini, author of the memoir Ambition Monster, which just came out on Tuesday! Ambition Monster 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 che…

Today Virginia is chatting with Emma Copley Eisenberg, author of the hybrid nonfiction book The Third Rainbow Girl, and the new novel, Housemates, which just came out on Tuesday! Housemates 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 f…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit virginiasolesmith.substack.com It's time for your May Indulgence Gospel! And it's FAT SWIM WEEK so we are doing an entire swim-themed episode for you! We’ll get into: Can we reclaim the swim dress? (And should we?) Why is the Lands End swimsuit website so bad? How to get sunscreen in imp…

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 May Extra Butter! Today we are talking about the bodies of Bridgerton. If you’re listening to this the day it drops, season three i…

Today Virginia is chatting with Jeanie Finlay, director of Your Fat Friend, a film about fat activist and author Aubrey Gordon. Your Fat Friend is streaming online at Jolt.Film until June 17! 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 w…

Welcome to the Unflattering Toast Challenge debrief! Corinne and Virginia are joined by Dacy Gillespie, stylist and author of the Unflattering newsletter to talk about how we did with 3 weeks of breaking rules, finding "safe outfits," and exploring our style. To get all of the links and resources mentioned in this episode, as well as a complete tra…

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 …

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 s…

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 e…

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…

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 cul…

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!) Fa…

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 …

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 int…

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 rab…

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 T…

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 …

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 …

Come and see Burnt Toast live in Oxford on Thursday 14th March at the Old Fire Station with Six Figure Success: the 26th Douché essential oils world distributor convention! Book tickets to the live, interactive comedy show now at https://oldfirestation.org.uk/whats-on/six-figure-success/

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 al…

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…

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 t…

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 …

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 availa…

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 d…