The Culture Of It All
The Culture Of It All is a weekly podcast where we don’t just talk about ditching diet culture, we unlearn together, heal our body image, and fight for fat acceptance and true size inclusivity.
Your host, Melanie Knights [she/they] — is an unapologetically fat, fashion content creator, storyteller, introverted Aquarius with a fondness for all things fat and spooky.
This is a space where the fat community is seen, heard, and celebrated. It's where you can come to unlearn, heal, and find connection — and where everyone, in every body, is invited to listen, learn, and actively advocate for change.
Together, we'll challenge weight stigma, confront fat stereotypes, and dive deep into how diet culture impacts every part of our lives.
Episodes
45 episodes
Ep. 39 | The Magick of Soft Rebellion
Take What You Need. It’s Okay To Go Slow.In today’s episode, we’re talking about soft rebellion — the kind of quiet, grounded resistance that comes from slowing down, listening to your body, and refusing to perform the hustle cult...
•
Episode 39
•
28:58
Ep. 38 | Take Care, Take Up Space: Learning to Trust Your Body
In this episode, Melanie discusses body trust, and learning to be comfortable with taking up space physically, mentally and emotionally. She explores how diet culture prevents us from trusting our own bodies, and how anti-fat rhetoric keeps fol...
•
Episode 38
•
28:46
Ep. 37 | F*ck Flattering: Fashion as Resistance
In this episode, Melanie discusses the politics of plus size fashion, reflecting on her personal journey as a fashion enthusiast who also lives her life in a fat body. She explores the discrimination within the industry, the challenges fat folk...
•
Episode 37
•
1:02:16
Ep. 36 | Spoiler Alert: You Were Never Too Much
After a much needed break, Melanie returns to The Culture of It All with a new sound, new energy, and a heartfelt reminder that you were never too much. In this episode, she shares what inspired her new digital zine Full Volume — a fat, nostalg...
•
Episode 36
•
26:47
[REPLAY] Ep. 11 | Fat Positive Fall
As we wrap up this season of The Culture Of It All, we’re rewinding to an episode that holds a very special place in my heart — Fat Positive Fall. In this cozy, reflective replay, I share how autumn feels like coming home to myself and how this...
•
Season 4
•
39:17
Ep. 35 | Revisiting My Old Thoughts on Diet Culture (And Cringing a Bit)
In this episode, I’m reflecting on an old podcast episode I recorded back in 2020, before I had the language or tools to really understand diet culture and fat liberation. I’m sharing clips from that original episode and responding to what I go...
•
44:02
Ep. 34 | Reclaiming Self-Care in a Fat Body
Self-care isn’t just for thin, white, able-bodied people—but it’s often marketed that way. In this episode, I’m exploring what weight-neutral self-care really looks like for those of us in larger bodies. I talk about how self-care spaces exclud...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 34
•
26:51
Ep. 33 | Marketing Health, Selling Shame: Who Can We Trust?
In episode 33 of The Culture Of It All, we're digging into the diet industry's favorite disguise: health. But when "health" is actually code for thinness, who really benefits? And who gets left behind? I’m asking honest questions about trust, m...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 33
•
37:47
Ep. 32 | 3 Unexpected Lessons From Ditching Diets
This summer has been exceptionally warm and this time of year always reminds me of the unexpected lessons I’ve learned since ditching diets and divesting from diet culture. The lessons that had nothing to do with food or movement, and everythin...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 32
•
27:48
[REPLAY] Summer Series: 5 Summer Survival Tips From A Fat Gal
As I write this, it’s currently a gloomy summer day. The damp tension is in the air, a promise of thunderstorms and cooler temperatures just outside my office window. And whilst I impatiently wait for the real thing, I have a ‘Summer Storm’ sou...
•
Season 4
•
32:04
[REPLAY] Summer Series: From Pursuing Thinness to Prioritising Body Peace
Over the next couple weeks I’m taking some time to focus on a few creative projects, and will be replaying some of my most popular episodes, which also happen to be from last year's summer series ☀️This week I’m resharing episode 05, Fr...
•
Season 4
•
39:46
Ep. 31 | Exploring Food Noise: What it is & Why we have it
NOTE: I am not a medical professional or therapist, this episode is not to be used as medical advice it is based on my experiences, thoughts and opinions.Welcome to episode 31 of The Culture Of It All! this week we’re exp...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 31
•
46:53
Ep. 30 | Fat Chat: Why do people still believe fatness is a choice?
In this minisode, we’re sitting down for a ‘fat chat’ and exploring WHY people still believe that being fat is simply a choice. We’ll discuss the reasons why I continue to see comments repeating the same set of fatphobic beliefs, and challenge ...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 30
•
18:47
Ep. 29 | What Makes A Diet? The 3 Dieting Red Flags
In this episode, we’re delving into the complexities of diet culture, discussing the 3 red flags associated with every single diet, and the manipulative tactics of the diet industry. We’ll address the importance of understanding personal prefer...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 29
•
38:27
Body Shame to Body Neutrality: My Story Of Diet Cycling
In this episode, Melanie shares her personal journey towards body neutrality and fat acceptance, exploring the negative impact which dieting had on her physical, emotional and mental health from a young age. She reflects on her childhood, and t...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 28
•
54:10
Ending Body Shame: Raising Kids Who Respect Their Bodies
Unlearning my internalised fatphobia, ditching diets, and healing my body image is one of the best things I did for myself AND my kid. I don’t claim to be an expert, I’m doing my best and figuring it out as I go, but as I share in this episode ...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 27
•
38:44
Mini-sode: Fat phobia & The Rise Of GLP-1s
In last week's episode, I shared that fatphobia has always stemmed from the belief that weight is mostly controlled by diet and exercise. It’s why we’ve been subjected to decades of diet programs, products and books focused on calories in and c...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 26
•
20:14
6 Tips for Unlearning Internalised Fatphobia
Fatphobia is on the rise, so today, we’re going to talk about it.Fatphobia, or anti-fatness, is the often socially acceptable form of discrimination and negative attitudes towards folks in fat bodies. This includes stereotypes an...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 25
•
38:33
Mini-sode: Understanding Diet Culture & The Diet Industry
We talk a lot about diet culture and the diet industry on the show, and I thought now would be a great time to revisit both of them and take a mini deep dive in this episode.My very first episode took a look at diet culture, but to be h...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 24
•
12:14
Fat Chat: 3 Lessons From Going Viral on TikTok?
Welcome to season 4 of The Culture Of It All! We’re starting off the new season with a catch up, because whilst I took a break from recording I’ve been busy finding a wonderful fat community on
•
Season 4
•
Episode 23
•
31:31
Confessions of a Fat Girl: On Diets, Distraction & Daring to Exist
This is a very special bonus episode for you to enjoy in between seasons. Season 4 will be arriving around April 8th.Below is a snippet of the written versions of today's episode, to get the full blog
•
Season 3
•
19:08
More Than a Size: Erasure, Access & the Politics of Plus-Size Fashion
Content warning: this episode will contain conversations around my binge eating disorder, body image, anti-fat stereotypes, socioeconomics, and how these impact folks in larger bodies, specifically within the clothing industry.I’m...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 22
•
39:29
Can Spirituality & Fat Liberation Co-Exist?
In this episode, I’m exploring the multifaceted nature of spirituality, sharing my personal journey and how it intersects with fat liberation. I’ll be discussing the evolution of my spiritual practices, particularly during the pandemic, and the...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 21
•
25:42
The Art of Slow Living (In A Fat Body)
In this episode, we’re exploring slow living and its significance in today's fast-paced world. I’ll be sharing my personal journey towards embracing a slower lifestyle, the challenges I’ve faced, and the intersection of slow living with diet cu...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 20
•
29:25