Amplified: Fat Voices, Bold Stories

Fat Voices: Advocating for Weight-Inclusive Public Health (ft. Evangeline Gardiner)

In this episode of Amplified, host Ellen Masson speaks with Evangeline Gardiner, a researcher and advocate for weight-inclusive public health. Evie shares her personal journey navigating the health system as a fat person and how her experiences with weight stigma, disordered eating, and body image have shaped her approach to public health. They also discuss her PhD research on weight-inclusive public health policy, her work with the NEDC, and the pivotal moments that solidified her commitment to advocating for systemic change.  Connect with Us: 🔹 Evangeline Gardiner - @healthliberated 🔹 Ellen Masson – @ellen.masson_ep [https://www.instagram.com/ellen.masson_ep] 🔹 Size Inclusive Health Australia – @sizeinclusivehealthau [https://www.instagram.com/sizeinclusivehealthau] 💌 Stay Connected: Subscribe to our newsletter or explore membership at Size Inclusive Health Australia [https://www.sizeinclusivehealth.org.au/join-us]. 🤝 Get Involved: Want to help grow our community? Reach out to us at sizeinclusivehealthaus@gmail.com.  See you in the next episode! 🎧✨

Bold Stories: Unlearning the “Weight Causes Pain” Myth (ft. Daniel Arbilla)

In this episode of Amplified, host Ellen speaks with fellow Exercise Physiologist Daniel Arbilla about the complex reality of pain and why it’s never as simple as “too much weight.” Together, they unpack the myth of “wear and tear,” exploring how pain is shaped by biological, psychological, and social factors rather than body size alone. Daniel and Ellen discuss how the belief that larger bodies cause pain fuels fear and avoidance of movement, and why representation of strong, fat bodies matters. They also share practical, weight-inclusive strategies for managing pain through movement, pacing, and self-compassion. Connect with Us: 🔹 Daniel Arbilla - @arbillaexercisephysiology [https://www.instagram.com/arbillaexercisephysiology?igsh=MW1qNzg1bTJ6NWUyNQ==] 🔹 Ellen Masson – @ellen.masson_ep [https://www.instagram.com/ellen.masson_ep] 🔹 Size Inclusive Health Australia – @sizeinclusivehealthau [https://www.instagram.com/sizeinclusivehealthau] Check out these cool fat folk doing cool things: 🔹@kersten_veronesi [https://www.instagram.com/kersten_veronesi?igsh=MWt2d3o2YTRuNTBsZA==] 🔹@fatbodypilates [https://www.instagram.com/fatbodypilates?igsh=MW15cWhmd3Nwd25qbw==] 🔹@sizeinclusiveyoga [https://www.instagram.com/sizeinclusiveyoga?igsh=bmFxa3RhN2hlZjNs] 🔹@rozthediva [https://www.instagram.com/rozthediva?igsh=aDV0MWY0YjFraHV4] 🔹@meg.boggs (crossfit) 🔹@thepowerliftingsocialworker (powerlifter) 🔹talkhadzelasha_offical [https://www.instagram.com/talakhadzelasha_official?igsh=dzJyNXNkY2JnMm80] (strongest male olympic weightlifter in the world)  🔹@marythesenlappen [https://www.instagram.com/marytheisenlappen?igsh=OXNhZ3dldG00MGMz] (female olympic weightligter)  🔹@journey2antoinette (yoga) 🔹@the_fat_athlete (running) 🔹@plus.size.sk8er (ice skater) 💌 Stay Connected: Subscribe to our newsletter or explore membership at https://www.sizeinclusivehealth.org.au/ 🤝 Get Involved: Want to help grow our community? Reach out to us at sizeinclusivehealthaus@gmail.com.  See you in the next episode! 🎧✨

Fat Voices: Rethinking Eating Disorder Prevention (ft. Hilary Smith)

In this episode of Amplified, Ellen speaks with Hilary Smith, Health Promotion Lead at the National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC). With over two decades in health and human services, Hilary brings deep insight into how systems can better prevent eating disorders through equitable, weight-inclusive approaches. They discuss Hilary’s lived experience as a neurodivergent person in a larger body, the development of the Eating Disorder Safe Principles, and how weight stigma continues to shape prevention, diagnosis, and recovery. Connect with Us: 🔹 Hilary Smith - The National Eating Disorder Collaboration @nedc_australia  🔹 Link to NEDC ED safe principles - Click Here [https://nedc.com.au/assets/NEDC-Publications/ED-Safe-Principles/Eating-Disorder-Safe-Principles_Final.pdf?2025081405] 🔹 Ellen Masson – @ellen.masson_ep 🔹 Size Inclusive Health Australia – @sizeinclusivehealthau [https://www.instagram.com/sizeinclusivehealthau] 💌 Stay Connected: Subscribe to our newsletter or explore membership at https://www.sizeinclusivehealth.org.au/ 🤝 Get Involved: Want to help grow our community? Reach out to us at sizeinclusivehealthaus@gmail.com.  See you in the next episode! 🎧✨

Bold Stories: The Power of Putting Toxic Fitness Rules in the Bin (ft. Sally McWilliams)

In this episode of Amplified, Ellen chats with Sally McWilliams a body positive personal trainer and studio owner in Meanjin/Brisbane. With nearly two decades in the fitness industry, Sally shares how she broke away from weight-centric fitness in 2017 to embrace a HAES-aligned, size-inclusive approach. Ellen and Sally discuss the realities of weight stigma in fitness spaces and their experiences of unlearning diet culture, including the guilt of past harm and the transformative power of listening to lived experience. Together, they explore what it means to create truly inclusive fitness spaces, offering practical recommendations that move beyond weight and towards joy, compassion and self-acceptance. Connect with Us: 🔹 Sally McWillams - https://fitwithsally.com/about/ - @fitwithsally 🔹 Ellen Masson – @ellen.masson_ep [https://www.instagram.com/ellen.masson_ep] 🔹 Size Inclusive Health Australia – @sizeinclusivehealthau [https://www.instagram.com/sizeinclusivehealthau] 💌 Stay Connected: Subscribe to our newsletter or explore membership at https://www.sizeinclusivehealth.org.au/  🤝 Get Involved: Want to help grow our community? Reach out to us at sizeinclusivehealthaus@gmail.com.  See you in the next episode! 🎧✨

Fat Voices: A Story of Stigma, Strength, and Showing Up (ft. Bridgette Williams)

What drives someone to become a fierce advocate for size inclusivity in health? In this episode of Amplified, Ellen sits down with Bridgette Williams, past president Size Inclusive Health Australia (SIHA), to hear how a university assignment in 2013 ignited a decade-long journey to radical fat acceptance and advocacy. Bridgette shares personal experiences navigating a medical system riddled with fat bias, including misdiagnosis, shame and anxiety-provoking treatment, and how those moments became fuel for change. Bridgette and Ellen discuss the who, what and why of SIHA: why it exists and how it’s working to reshape health systems to be inclusive of all bodies and is powered entirely by volunteers. Whether you're curious about getting involved with SIHA or simply want to feel less alone, this conversation is a powerful reminder that change is possible. And it starts with us.  Connect with Us: 🔹 Bridgette Williams - https://www.heldcounselling.com.au/ - @heldcounselling 🔹 Ellen Masson – @ellen.masson_ep [https://www.instagram.com/ellen.masson_ep] 🔹 Size Inclusive Health Australia – @sizeinclusivehealthau [https://www.instagram.com/sizeinclusivehealthau] 💌 Stay Connected: Subscribe to our newsletter or explore membership at https://www.sizeinclusivehealth.org.au/ 🤝 Get Involved: Want to help grow our community? Reach out to us at sizeinclusivehealthaus@gmail.com.   See you in the next episode! 🎧✨