More Than Tracy Turnblad

In honor of Stephen Sondheim's passing, Abby speaks about what his work means to her and to theatre people everywhere. Then stand-up comedian Jenny Zigrino comes on the podcast for a chat about the advantages of being a fat female comedian, dating, fertility, Rebel Wilson, diet culture, OnlyFans, and the challenges of making fat positive comedy. **This episode contains two conversations about...

Welcome back from hiatus!! Our big bonus episode will be on Fat Amy/Rebel Wilson and it will be coming out after the rest of Season 2. On this episode, Abby vents her feelings about turning 25, and discusses the intersection of fatphobia and ageism. Then she is joined by Katelyn Brawn, an author and TikTokker, to read some truly heinous romance novel descriptions of fat women and talk about fat re...

It's time to vote for your favorite of 4 possible bonus episode topics! You can do that on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok ,  Facebook  or by emailing us at morethantracyturnblad@gmail.com. THE TOPICS ARE: - Fat Amy - Fat Monica - My Mad Fat Diary - Roseanne Let us know your pick and stay tuned for a deep dive episode into the one with the most votes, coming after the rest of season 2! Regular e...

No interview this week or next week, but we're planning cool new things and need your help! Email morethantracyturnblad@gmail.com or DM us on Instagram @morethantracyt and tell us what piece of fat representation (movie, TV show, play or musical, book, ad campaign, public figure, etc.) should be discussed on this podcast! Answers will be shared on the podcast next week, and the most common su...

Happy day after Halloween! Abby laments the difficulties of finding a last-minute plus size Halloween costume. Then she is joined by actress, writer, podcaster, and absolute queen Lauren Ash to discuss dropping out of acting school, how sizing has changed over the years, what entertainment considers fat, why everyone should brag more, and of course, the famous sexy Halloween costume she wore on Su...

It's almost Halloween, so of course we had to talk about horror movies this week! Abby is too afraid to watch them, so she brings on her childhood friend Lauren Kelley to do an investigation into fatphobia in body horror. (This is the closest More Than Tracy Turnblad will ever get to being a true crime podcast.) Then, Sarah Shear aka Princess Scissors, a creative artist and body activist base...

This week you get to meet the person behind the posts: More Than Tracy Turnblad's social media guru, Maya Ballester (they/she)! First, Abby discusses why nobody moralizes the fatness of animals and how much she hates the word "chonk" (a lot). Then Maya comes on the podcast to talk with Abby about their past diets, childhood trauma, Kelly Clarkson, the origin of fatphobia, what it&ap...

Abby discusses the Facebook whistleblower's reveal that pro-anorexia content is being promoted to teen girls on instagram, and how it relates to wellness culture and 2010s "pro-ana" Tumblr. Then she is joined by actor and content creator Georgia Sky aka @bawdyqueen to talk Sharpay Evans, moving to LA, the pressure to be "sassy" as a fat Black woman, Big Momma, TikTok fame,...

Is fangirling still a thing? Because if so, there's a lot of it in this episode! First, Abby shares her thoughts on celebrity weight loss, and specifically Rebel Wilson's. Then she is joined by Joy Nash, phenomenal actress and star of Dietland (which you may already know is Abby's favorite fat rep!), to discuss the early days of the internet, discovering skirts, being too smart to a...

Abby discusses labor exploitation in theatre, in light of recent controversies around Jagged Little Pill and the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Then she is joined by Caitlin Magnall Kearns, an Irish playwright and director. They make lists of what they want in a romantic partner and discuss working with fat collaborators, medical discrimination and fertility treatment, queerness, My Mad Fat Diary,...

This week, Abby asks the hard-hitting question: is Tony Soprano actually great fat representation? Then, generative artist and cultural dramaturg Amara Janae Brady comes on the podcast to talk acting school horror stories, questioning authority, NYC vs. regional theatre, finding your people, Pride & Prejudice, desirability, Issa Rae, and why she hates the Jo March "I'm so lonely&quot...

This week, Abby goes on a passionate rant about fat representation (or lack thereof) in books. Then she is joined by theatre scholar Ryan Donovan, whose work focuses on the role body politics play in the casting process. Abby and Ryan discuss body standards for short men, Annie, competitive suffering, historical attitudes toward fatness onstage, thin women who have played Effie in Dreamgirls, Ryan...

This week, Abby discusses the controversy around Sarah Paulson's fat suit in Impeachment: American Crime Story, which was the subject of the New York Post article she was quoted in this week! Then Philadelphia-based actor/musician/educator Rob Tucker comes on to discuss fatphobia at college auditions, Hollywood idealism, Grindr, Into the Woods, his experiences living in London, and the concep...

WE'RE BACK, BABY!!! In the first episode of season 2, Abby discusses Beanie Feldstein's casting as Fanny Brice and what it means for fat representation. Then she is joined by actress/writer/podcaster Jen Ponton to discuss 30 Rock, the fat blogosphere, diversity showcases, The Lord of the Rings, Jewish womanhood, speech and debate, Jen's mom's wig room,  and more! Jen's Ins...

This week we're jumping back in for the second half of Abby's conversation with Katrina Rose! They discuss Katrina's role in making Nadia thin in Bare: The Musical, her time on The Voice, body neutrality, Janis Joplin, the beauty of saying "f*ck it," and more! This episode marks the end of Season 1 and the launch of our fund raiser for season 2. Donate here and get psyched...

It's the beginning of the end (of the beginning)! AKA the first part of the final episode of the first season of More Than Tracy Turnblad. In this episode, Abby lists some red flags of fatphobia in educational theatre programs. Then Katrina Rose joins her to spill the beans about playing Tracy Turnblad, generational fatphobia, weight distribution, getting booed as a standby, and searching for...

If you ever wanted to hear Abby attempt a Gollum voice, this is the episode for you!!! This week, she reveals that there is actually one fat trope she loves (the soft, sensitive, kind fat boy) and notes that most of them are named Sam. Then she is joined by singer/songwriter Elle Baez (she/her) and healing artist Marlee Dater (she/they), founders of Curvy Artists Collective, an online community fo...

Alternate title for this episode: "I made it through our entire interview without obnoxiously complimenting Jenny's accent, are you proud of me???" First, Abby debunks the stereotype that fatness is associated with (and caused by) depression. Then she is joined by Jenny O'Leary, a West End musical theatre actress who originated the role of Martha Dunnstock in Heathers in the UK...

In honor of season 3's recent release, Abby lists all the wonderful things about Shrill! Then she is joined by actor, social media manager, and branding coach Jenna Leigh Miller to discuss self-limitation, brand v. type, rock musicals, Ado Annie, looking for the fattest dancer in every Broadway show, and Jenna's experience playing Tracy Turnblad twice. Jenna's web site: https://www....

Abby talks about her recent PCOS diagnosis and why people don't need to be absolved of responsibility for their fatness. Then she is joined by performance artist and space maker Provvidenza Catalano (they/them) to discuss desirability politics, emotional labor, The L Word, transmasculine beauty standards, and how fatness intersects with queerness. Provvidenza's web site: https://www.prov...

Abby gives her take on the controversy around the recent New York Times article that cited performers' weight gain as an impediment to Broadway reopening. Then she is joined by plus model and actress Clare Rea (she/her). They discuss the difference between entertainment industry fat and real life fat, Clare's appearance in Seventeen Magazine, Katy Perry's Firework, giving up dieting...

Abby rants about heteronormative height preferences in the arts and in dating. Then she is joined by Maddie McClouskey (they/she), an actor, writer, singing server at Marie's Crisis, and host of Theatre Games on Pop Culture Coop. Abby and Maddie discuss Doc Martens, early puberty, trauma responses, being weighed in elementary school math class, industry abuse, Spongebob, size and gender expre...

It's the longest episode yet because we love talking oops! First, Abby raves about how all movies should be like Thunder Force. Then Lexi Schreiber, aka @thefatingenue, comes on to explain her grad school thesis on feminist musical theatre analysis of Jeanine Tesori's work. They also discuss body neutrality, capitalism, Khloe Kardashian, the pressure for fat actresses to belt high, bidin...

Did you catch the HAIRSPRAY in the title??? Get it??? Cause this podcast is called More Than TRACY TURNBLAD??? Anyway, on a more serious note, Abby opens the episode with a discussion about the Scott Rudin reckoning and how the culture of the entertainment industry enables abuse. Then she is joined by plus size fashion blogger/creative director/theatre producer and director Brianna McDonnell to ta...

This episode marks a very important podcast milestone: the first time we forgot to press record and had to redo the entire interview! But as Ashley says in the episode, that was just a preview and now you get to listen to opening night. First, Abby explains how fat tropes in media implicitly give the audience permission to be cruel to fat people. Then Ashley Monique Menard, performer, host of The...