Hello friends and welcome to your Sunday. We have our friend Kim Baldwin here with our Sunday offerings. Let them ease you through this never ending January feeling (I know it’s February I don’t want to talk about it). My humble offering is the coffee I suggest you make for yourself and the above confetti chocolate chip cookies because when all else fails, eat something rainbow. I’m so glad you’re here. Now, here’s Kim! —–>
Happy Valentine’s month! I hope you’re ready to be depressed! Just kidding, only one of my links will make you mad. Okay, two tops. Listen, anger is the only thing keeping me tethered to this mortal coil. Just let me have it. As usual, I’ve got a couple articles to make you think, some tv shows and podcasts to recommend, and you know I’m going to tell you about a book. Let’s get to it!
• This essay is a gut punch. I operate as a woman on the internet, so when someone like Aubrey sounds the alarm, I pay attention because this isn’t where it stops. This is where it starts. That’s How It Works When You’re a Woman on the Internet. (Substack)
• Abrupt pivot. Have you watched Yellowjackets? I LOVED it. Honestly, it’s worth the Showtime subscription. Here is Doreen St. Félix on the nineties-era survival drama your whole timeline is talking about: Horror and Hormones, Grief and Gore, in “Yellowjackets”. (The New Yorker)
• I struggle with plantar fasciitis, which, turns out, is a chronic condition. Fun! To try to help my broken feet, I joined Lauren Leavell Fitness and started taking online barre classes. Lauren was just added to SELF’s inaugural Future of Fitness advisory board, which is so cool. Read about how this board is challenging the way the fitness industry treats fatness. Lauren Leavell Fitness / Self)
• One of my all-time favorite authors is Hanif Abdurraqib and he wrote a children’s book. It’s called Sing, Aretha, Sing! and I have already ordered a copy. Do I have children? No. Am I going to read it to my cat? Yes. (Parnassus Books)
• Speaking of reading, in an earlier post, I talked about how reading is becoming a competitive sport on Instagram. Here is Kimberly Harrington reminding us that productivity culture is going to kill us all and to read like no one is watching. (Substack)
• In the past week, you may have heard “West Elm Caleb” and thought, do I even want to know what this is? I was listening to Pop Chat because they were talking about Euphoria and I accidentally learned what West Elm Caleb is. It’s both a journey and an education. (cbc.ca)
• Sticking with the podcast beat, Roxane Gay has a new podcast called The Roxane Gay Agenda and her first episode with Tressie McMillan Cottom has a ton of Nashville content. It’s the mullet conversation you didn’t know you needed. Listen on Apple Podcasts.
• It’s here! Virginia Sole-Smith wrote part 2 of Jeans Science. If you’ve ever wondered why it’s so hard to find a good fitting pair of jeans, especially if you’re above a size 6, this will explain it. (Substack)
• Fellow Nashvillian and supporter of all my cat-related content, Love and Olive Oil has a sour cream chocolate cake with glossy chocolate frosting that I am 100% making for Valentine’s Day. Lindsay, if you’re reading this, meowza.
• ICYMI: I’m teaching Social Media for Writers in Nashville on February 19. Right now the class is scheduled to be in-person. If it changes to virtual, I’ll announce it on my Instagram. (Porchtn)
Thanks for reading. See you in the comments!
Amber
Very helpful content… literally every day my husband and I discuss whether or not we should pay for a showtime subscription just so we can watch yellowjackets… sold, we’re doing it!
Kim
Hi Amber! OMG, I’m a Showtime influencer – haha! You won’t regret it. Report back after you watch Yellowjackets.
Nikki
I suffer from chronic plantar fasciitis (former teacher) and second the Vionic suggestion. They have some shoes that are actually cute! I have mostly resigned myself to ugly footwear, but if you find any other shoe/insert brands, I’d love to hear them.
Kim
OMG, who knew I’d accidentally start a JtB plantar fasciitis club LOL? I guess I really have to buy some Vionics now. Around the house, I wear Birkenstocks and then I bought Hokas for walks and hikes. My inserts are from my podiatrist. But I’ve heard/read the ones at running stores are pretty good. Thanks for reading!
Audra
I just want to say I loved this post. So many relatable reads! Thank you, Kim.
Kim
Audra, that is so nice to hear. Thank you! I know link round-ups aren’t the hardest thing, but I do work hard on picking links I think Joy’s readers will like.
samantha campanini
Thank you so much for these suggestions!!
Catharine G
as a healthcare worker on my feet for hours, plantar fasciitis was an issue for me too. May I suggest what helped me- Vionic shoes and their inserts for my “regular” shoes
Kim
Hi Catharine! Thanks for this suggestion. My podiatrist told me nurses are his number one client. I’ve got Birkenstocks and Hokas (and inserts), but I’ll look into Vionic shoes, too. Thanks!!
Kim
Hi Samantha! Thank YOU for reading. See you next month!
Stella
Kim,
Great articles today. The Aubrey Hirsch article, …Woman on the Internet, just about broke me. It’s so disgusting and disturbing and I wish there was some way these “keyboard terrorists” could be stopped, but not before they are publicly revealed.
As for jeans, I must confess my weakness is finding a brand that fits and then buying up all the pairs in my size. It never dawned on me how many options men do have when it comes to pants/sizing compared to women. WTH!
Kim
Hey Stella! Yeah, that Aubrey Hirsch article broke my brain. I knew it was bad, but holy crap. Re: jeans. I’ve done something similar. I love Universal Standard jeans and they always run a denim sale in December, so I stock up.
Julie F
That article by Aubrey Hirst was horrifying. And so downright sad that people feel the need to be so violent and cruel in their comments. I honestly didn’t know that there was so much hate. I mean I guess I did, but still…
Kim
Julie, 100% same.
Jaclyn
Oh man, the essay by Aubrey Hirst was gut-wrenching and also felt so normal I barely blinked in surprise, which is sad. I also found myself victim-blaming like “maybe she shouldn’t do xyz” which is crappy that that is such an automatic response we have when people share these stories. What is the answer? It feels like a hopeless landscape. “There is nothing the internet hates more than a woman who doesn’t hate herself.” Oof, I felt that.
The story from SELF made me so happy! My family has a book club and the book that was picked was a “self help” book but was filled with such intense fat-phobic language I couldn’t keep reading it. I shared as much with my cousins and aunts in the group. One Aunt messaged me after thanking me for recognizing and bringing up that issue and said in her lifetime she’s seen a shift and hope it continues. <3 It will take all of us, not only fat people, fighting to make a change!
Kim
Jaclyn – yes! It’s so insidious, isn’t it? That’s why I shouted-out Lauren Leavell in that SELF post – because she’s doing so much to push back against this. Plus, I just love her barre classes. If you’re interested, two books that really helped me were 1) Anti-Diet by Christy Harrison; and 2) What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Fat by Aubrey Gordon.
Alison
Aubrey Gordon also has a fantastic podcast out now – Maintenance Phase – that talks about so many different people / diets / books / etc that have contributed to our fat phobic language. She honestly might have covered the book you were trying to read with your family.
Kim
Hooray for Maintenance Phase! Man, I love that podcast. Thanks, Alison!
Renee Pletka
I hear you Jaclyn. I have stopped reading many “self-help” books due to their weight-stigmatizing, fatphobic content.
Kim — As an Intuitive Eating Counselor, I also recommend your two book suggestions to all my clients as well as Virginia Sole-Smith’s work. The discrepancy between the number of jean sizes available to men versus women is infuriating (and explains why I stopped wearing jeans over 10 years ago). Thank you also for highlighting the weight-inclusive fitness professionals.
And Alison, I also recommend Aubrey Gordon’s podcast. I’m a huge fan of all of her work.
Kim
Hi Renee. I’m so glad you’re here! I work with a CERD/intuitive eating counselor here in Nashville. You all are doing such needed work. Thank you. And yes, co-sign Burnt Toast. I’m a subscriber and recommend it to all my friends, especially parents. Thanks for reading and commenting!
Sonja
Oh, the frustration of plantar fascitis! I used to be on an endless cycle. When my feet felt good, I would get excited and run or speed walk. My feet would flare up, and I’d be in pain for months, knowing that every step set me up for more pain. I tried all sorts of interventions, some pretty severe. This went on for years before I found tai chi and gentle yoga with supports. So thank you for pointing me to Lauren Leavell! Wishing you happy feet.
Kim
Hi Sonja! My feet thank you for the well wishes. I’m kidding, but I’m also not. Thanks for telling me what works for you. I’m grateful that we can all find each other and share what helps. Broken feet club, rise up!
Tiberia
,,,,and that is why I haven’t worn jeans in years. YEARS. And you know what? I don’t miss them. There are a million other clothing options out there!
Kim
Hi Tiberia! Yes, exactly. I feel the same way. Although in full disclosure, I did do a mini version of Virginia’s Jeans Science and ended up with 2 good pairs of jeans. Who knew? Don’t worry, I still wear leggings every day.
Megan
I’m pretty sure my obituary will read “she died from the Plantar Fasciitis, she did”. It is no joke. I have tried stretching, compression socks, ever insert under the sun, and even cortisone shots. My doctor even said losing weight wouldn’t help. The only thing that has helped is wearing indoor birkenstocks at all times, even to get up and go use the bathroom, Power step insoles in every pair of shoes, and tracing the alphabet with my feet before getting out of bed. It is no joke. I feel like I’m 92 and I’m 41. It’s a lot. ??
Kim
Megan, my sister in pain. I feel you so hard on this. I have also tried literally everything. It just keeps coming back. Again, fun! I just go get cortisone shots every 6 months or so and I guess this is how I’ll live the rest of my life….??? TBD. Thanks for reading! And commenting!
K Doyle
Your comment on plantar fasciitis struck a chord with me. I suffered from it after I fractured my ankle and was in a cast for weeks. I worked in an operating room and was on my feet for 8-10 hours a day and could hardly walk! What saved me was sneakers made to address fasciitis from a company – KURU ! I recommend them highly. Give them a try.
Kim
OMG, K, did you just save all of us and our broken feet? I’m looking into these shoes ASAP. You should tell KURU you just influenced Joy’s 500K+ readers and ask for a percentage of their sales this month – hahahaha! Thank you!!