Welcome to the next in the Podcast Showcase series, where we share podcasts with you in the words of the podcasters themselves. This time, we talk to Friend of Marilyn.
Sum up your podcast in three sentences.
Friend of Marilyn provides unapologetic fat-positive counter programming to the normal conversations and media surrounding fatness. Across its 300 episodes, Friend of Marilyn has cultivated a repository of global fat voices. It is show about fatness for fat people by fat people.
Who is your ideal listener? Who loves your show?
Anyone interested in social justice is the ideal listener. But especially those who are keen to understand the role that body norms and ideals play in the oppression of people in bodies of all sizes.
What made you start this podcast?
A station manager at a local access radio station approached me several times, inviting me to host my own show. I was resistant, convinced that he was confused about what I do in my work; surely he doesn’t want a fat-positive show? But after speaking with him more about what my show would be about (fatness, fat rights, fat politics, rad fat people around the world) and what it would NOT be about (diets, weight loss, apologies), I realised that he was keen. Back then (Aug 2011) there were not many other fat podcasts – Two Whole Cakes from Lesley Kinzel & Marianne Kirby, Femme Cast from Bevin Branlandingham, and The Body Love Wellness Podcast from Golda Poretsky were the only three that I knew – so I thought there was something I could add into that space.
What have you learned about your subject thanks to this podcast?
This podcast has allowed me to broader my own understanding of how fatness is experienced by fat people around the world. I began a digital world tour in 2016 – inviting guests onto my show based on location, like I was doing a physical tour. I started in New Zealand and the tour has travelled through Oceania, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and began shows from the Americas at the start of this year. It has been incredible to meet so many fat people around the world – sad to see the shared experiences of stigma and oppression, but hopeful for the future of fat liberation. This work is being done on every continent (except maybe Antarctica) by amazing rad fatties!
What has your experience of podcasting been? What do you love / hate about the process?
My experience has been positive, without question. I have technical support from the radio station, and they help promote the show as well. Every time I have brought them a new idea for the show, they have found a way to me to make it happen. I’ve also had the most generous guests on the show – that’s my favourite part. It is such a good excuse to connect with people I admire; inviting them on my show lets me be an unapologetic fangirl. There are so many amazing fat people doing amazing things in the world, and I am so grateful that my show gives me an opportunity to learn about their work and get to know them.
If someone wants to start listening to your podcast, which episode would you recommend they start with? Why?
Honestly, they could jump in anywhere. Each episode is largely self-contained and contains a reflective piece from me, an interview, and a blog I love. If they wanted some more history about the show (without going back to #1 in 2011, which is available on the YouTube channel), they could tune into the 300th episode (5 March 2020), which was a special live episode. Among other things, my guest is the show’s namesake, Marilyn Wann. Marilyn is a fat activist in the USA and was generous to grant me the use of her name for my work when I started.
Which other podcasts do you love listening to?
There are so many great fat-positive podcasts to choose from now! Some of my favourites include Fatty Boom Boom from Whitney in South Africa, Fat. So? from Amena and Pallavi in India, and The Fat Lip from Ash in the USA. Another favourite is Made of Human from Sofie Hagan in Denmark/London, and her guest is often fat positive. The Black Joy Mixtape from Jazmine “Da K.O.S.” Walker and Amber J. Phillips in the USA was fantastic; it ended a few years ago. I’m also obsessed with politics in the USA (my home country), so I listen daily to the Rachel Maddow podcast, and many of the Crooked podcasts, like Pod Save America and Pod Save the World.
If people want to find you online, where can they do so? Drop all your links here (social media, podcast subscription, etc.)
- About Me (landing page): https://about.me/friendofmarilyn
- Friend of Marilyn Blog: https://friendofmarilyn.com/
- Blog about starting the show: https://friendofmarilyn.com/2011/08/
- Blog about the 100th episode: https://friendofmarilyn.com/2014/02/
- Friend of Marilyn Radio Show on Manawatu People’s Radio: https://www.mpr.nz/Shows/Show-Details.aspx?PID=9ade45fc-00be-429d-8bd0-9f2c100a1223
- Friend of Marilyn on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/friend-of-marilyn/id462034226?mt=2
- Friend of Marilyn on Access Media NZ: https://www.accessradio.org/ProgrammePage.aspx?PID=9ade45fc-00be-429d-8bd0-9f2c100a1223
- Friend of Marilyn on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FOMNZ
- Friend of Marilyn on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FriendofMarilyn/
- Friend of Marilyn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fomnz/
- Friend of Marilyn on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/FriendofMarilyn
- Friend of Marilyn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cat-paus%C3%A9-05359931/
- Friend of Marilyn email: friendofmarilyn@massey.ac.nz
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