In Episode 12 of the Hot Fat Guy Club Podcast, titled "IT STARTED WITH THERAPY," host Alex Frankel dives deep into a powerful conversation with Donald, a recently divorced single dad who is also a late bloomer bisexual. This episode explores the intersection of masculinity, therapy, and confidence, shedding light on the emotional journey men often face when confronting societal expectations.

Donald shares his personal experiences of navigating a major life transition, including his divorce and the realization of his bisexuality. Together, they discuss how therapy has been a crucial tool in understanding and processing emotions, breaking free from traditional masculinity ideologies, and finding self-acceptance. Alex also highlights the importance of developing a broader emotional vocabulary and the role of positive male role models in today’s society.

Whether you're dealing with your own emotional struggles, exploring your identity, or simply looking for inspiration, this episode offers valuable insights into the challenges and rewards of self-exploration.

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11- BODY TYPE WITH MIKALA JAMISON. The Hot Fat Guy Club is honored to have writer Mikala Jamison on the Podcast this week.

Mikala Jamison is a professional editor and freelance writer who is also a curator of discourse about bodies and body image in the modern era: She publishes the bestselling Substack, Body Type, a two-time Substack Featured Publication, to offer essays and insights on those topics. As a result of her work in Body Type, Mikala is working on her first book; she is represented by Kayla Lightner at Ayesha Pande Literary.

Subscribe to her substack! https://bodytype.substack.com

She's worked as a reporter and editor covering stories such as a quadruple murder case, what it's like to rappel down a 31-story building, and the necropsy of a beached whale. She's won two Pennsylvania Newspaper Association awards, and her writing has appeared in The Atlantic, New York Magazine's The Cut, The Washington Post's The Lily, and several D.C.-local publications.

Mikala is also a live storyteller, and has performed all over D.C. and Philadelphia. In 2022 she created and produced The Body Show for the Capital Fringe Festival. It sold out its entire run and was a five-star, "Best of Fringe" pick by DC Theater Arts. The Body Show has been accepted into the festival for the second time in July 2024.

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10- WHOEVER GETS ON TOP FIRST, WINS. A catch up with Certified Hot Fat Guy Varun Jindal & our host Alex Frankel, CEO & Founder of the Hot Fat Guy Club. JOIN THE HOT FAT GUY CLUB: https://www.hotfatguyclub.com/join Varun's a NOLA-born, Texas-raised, Chi-town-bound marketer with a passion for fashion, film, and food. He shares his story and journey being a big boy to embracing looking like the warmest, sweetest bear who can tear up the dance floor. Varun opens up about navigating the dating world, how he's reached peak confidence only recently, and is now looking to search with intention for a partner. Ladies, he's single as of the airing of this episode. Always a good time catching up with my pal Varun and there's no doubt you'll be seeing and hearing more from him and Hot Fat Guy Club again. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more inspiring stories and practical advice from the Hot Fat Guy Club. Listen now on YouTube and Spotify! Sound Bites "Hot fat guys deal with insecurities and societal pressures." "Weight is often wrongly assumed to be the cause of health issues." "Many clothing options for hot fat guys are unflattering and of subpar quality." "We're never going to be off the rack people." "I want to start our own high-end fashion brand." "I can't trust the sizing." Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Personal Background 02:38 Early Experiences as a Hot Fat Guy 03:46 Getting Fat Shamed by my Uncle at Disney World 06:48 Embracing Fear, Fat Fashion, and Health at Any Size 09:40 HS Wrestling & Going Defeated 12:07 Fiercely Competitive to a Fault 16:33 Frustrations with the Clothing Industry 20:22 The Importance of Representation in Media and Entertainment 22:37 The Lack of Diversity in Big and Tall Fashion 24:54 The Need for Custom-Made Clothing 27:29 The Challenges of Finding Well-Fitting Clothing 31:24 The Desire to Start a High-End Fashion Brand 34:40 The Difficulties of Online Dating Apps 38:35 The Impact of Societal Beauty Standards 42:23 Hope for a More Inclusive and Diverse Dating Landscape 47:24 Pursuing Passions and Careers Outside of Societal Expectations JOIN THE HOT FAT GUY CLUB: https://www.hotfatguyclub.com/join WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? DM us on Instagram / / hotfatguyclub Follow us on TikTok / / hotfatguyclub #HotFatGuyClub #selfacceptance #BodyPositivity #WeightLossJourney #MentalHealth #mensmentalhealth #relationships #confidencebuilding #howtobehappy #podcast #homeschooling #publicschool #bodyimage #socializing