Thunder Thighs and Bedroom Eyes, Ep. 11 - Sell Me Pants! A Conversation with Fat Positive Therapist Kayla Stansberry

In this episode of Fat and Fucked, your hosts Krista Nabar and Suzy Hooker are joined by the marvelous Kayla Stansberry (she/her). Kayla's not just a fatty with the same love for cheese and cookies as us, she's a licensed clinical professional counselor who champions anti-oppression and fat positivity, in the most delightful way! Kayla is the owner of Intuitive Growth Counseling, and works as a therapist primarily with fat folks. She is a certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, and is a fat, cisgender, queer, neurodivergent and white femme.

In this episode, we get to hear about Kayla's experiences with organizing a body-positive retreat, the hurdles faced in making spaces more accessible, and oddly enough, bunk bed nightmares. Kayla also raises some serious topics about body diversity, fat trauma, challenging the harmful theories around fatness, emotional struggles, and mental health. And she was a great sport in her willingness to school us in our game "Liberate me, baby" - get ready to unlearn some nonsense!

As always, "Be fat, be fab, and be free." You don't want to miss this enlightening episode with Kayla Stansberry - we guarantee you're in for a rich and raw conversation. Tune in, folks! It's about to get real.

Resources

Kayla Stansberry - Instagram @fatpositivetherapist

https://www.intuitivegrowthcounseling.com/

TikTok @fatpositivetherapist

https://kayla-stansberry-llc.business.site/

The Body is Not An Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love - Sonya Renee Taylor https://www.sonyareneetaylor.com/books/the-body-is-not-an-apology-the-power-of-radical-self-love-h2x6p

Plus Raleigh - (fat community group in Raleigh-Durham, NC) instagram @plusraleigh

The Appalachian Retreat and Spa (retreat center designed with fat and disabled accessibility in mind) - https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-appalachian-retreat-spa#/

Instagram @theappalachianretreatandspa

The Body Keeps the Score - Bessel van der Kolk - https://www.besselvanderkolk.com/resources/the-body-keeps-the-score

Katelyn Scott Photography - https://katelynscott.com/, Instagram @katelynscottboudoir

Time Stamps

02:19 Struggling with body image, society's expectations.

13:48 Feedback from clients about therapists' anti-fat bias.

23:06 Kayle discusses fat retreat

30:42 “Liberate Me Baby” - Myth: Inside every fat person is a thin person waiting to get out.”

36:24 Sizing standards in the fashion industry are problematic

40:59 Sexual stigma for fat folks hinders conversations, dating.

47:26 Fat folks and personality development

49:44 Intuitive eating, neurodivergent, fixation meals, ADHD, nutrients.