The Fat Psychologist

In this episode of The Fat Psychologist Podcast, Ninna is joined by fellow psychologist and self-proclaimed geek, Catherine Richardson, founder of Geek Mental Wellbeing. Together, they explore how representation in media—especially of fat and neurodiverse people—shapes our wellbeing, identity, and sense of belonging. We talk about: How pop culture and gaming can support mental health and self-unde...

Fat Counselling: Therapy and Fat Liberation with Jo Reader and Cat Chappell In this episode Ninna is joined by Jo Reader and Cat Chappell, known as The Fat Counsellors, for a rich and affirming conversation about therapy, fat liberation, and the need to challenge fat bias in therapeutic spaces. Jo and Cat share how their personal experiences and professional paths led them to create The Fat Counse...

Happiness at Every Size: Self-Acceptance, Wellbeing, and Challenging Fat Bias Join psychologist Ninna Makrinov as she explores the concept of happiness at every size in this insightful episode. Ninna, known as The Fat Psychologist, delves into self-acceptance, contentment, and the importance of social support. Reflecting on her personal journey and current research, she examines the relationship b...

In this deeply personal and thought-provoking episode, Ninna is joined by author, activist, and future priest Amanda Martinez Beck to explore the powerful idea of diet culture as a religion. Together, they unpack how societal norms around body size, food, and morality mirror religious structures—and how we can begin to unlearn these harmful beliefs. From shared experiences of Catholicism and fat l...

Feel It to Heal It: Emotions with Juan Pablo Kalawski Welcome to another episode of The Fat Psychologist Podcast. This week, Ninna Makrinov, aka The Fat Psychologist, is joined by psychologist and Alba Emoting master teacher Dr Juan Pablo Kalawski for a deep and heartfelt conversation about emotions—what they are, how we experience them, and how we can use them to heal and grow. We explore: What e...

"Pleasure is going to be my ultimate beacon in this life." – Erica Sosa Season 1 Episode 8 In this episode of the Fat Psychologist Podcast, host Ninna Makrinov is joined by guest Erica Sosa to discuss body positivity and the impact of societal stigma on mental health. They delve into topics such as desirability politics, the harmful effects of diet culture, and the importance of embracing pleasure...

In this powerful and deeply validating episode, Ninna Makrinov explores the political nature of fat bodies and the systems that shape our perceptions of them. Joined by the brilliant Erica Sosa, writer of Revolutionary Hotness, they unpack how fatness intersects with systems of power like religion, capitalism, and white supremacy. Together, they reflect on personal journeys, cultural expectations,...

In this heartfelt episode, Ninna Makrinov, The Fat Psychologist, delves into the complexities of embracing authenticity and the courage it takes to be oneself. Ninna shares her personal journey, exploring themes of self-acceptance, vulnerability, and the impact of societal expectations on our sense of self. She discusses the importance of inclusivity and how we can be happy at every size, backed b...

Ninna and Sheri explore the power and necessity of laughter, especially in times of sadness. Ninna emphasizes the importance of laughing for its own sake and finding moments of joy even in difficult circumstances.  00:00 Intro to The Fat Psychologist podcast 01:08 The Power of Humor and Laughter 03:58 Sheri's Standup Comedy Journey 09:58 Americana: Being a migrant 10:51 A bit of politics 12:27 Exp...

In this episode of the Fat Psychologist Podcast, I explore the concept of resilience, rebranding it as 'bouncing back' from adversity, failure, and trauma. I critique the traditional view of resilience as a personal trait, advocating instead for a process-oriented perspective that includes social and environmental factors. I delve into recent wellbeing research, including systematic literature rev...

Ninna talks with author and nurse Angela Mae Morrison about resilience and her book Coming Out of a Dark Place. They discuss the importance of social support and sharetheir stories of supporting their children through difficult times in their lives. If you like my podcast, follow @TheFatPsychologist , visit my website https://thefatpsychologist.com and sponsor me at https://buymeacoffee.com/thefat...

Ninna talks about the history of fat activism, fat liberation, fat positivity and body neutrality. She considers all the aims that all these movements share. For the newbies, Ninna talks about some of the lingo used in the fat community and the terms she hates people using (spoiler alert: avoid overweight, plus size... and most definitely ban "morbidly obese"). She delves into research that demons...

Ninna and Nina talk about our identities and how they link to happiness and belonging. Faith shares her research on how fat liberation and Health at Every Size are portrayed on social media. Faith Stadnyk is an academically-trained intersectional feminist, critical health, fat studies, critical disability studies, and critical eating dis/order studies researcher and advocate for social justice.  N...

Listen to hear why you should listen to my podcast. A little bit about me and the first season Happiness at Every Size. Transcript: Hi, I’m Ninna Makrinov. I’m a psychologist. And, yes I am fat. I am The Fat Psychologist. I struggled with my weight for almost as longs as I can remember. As a child, my family had me on a calorie restricted diet since I was 8. I was told no-one would ever love me un...