173. Actor/Writer/Creator Jen Ponton on Fatphobia, Theater vs. Film, and Content Creation for Social Media

Jen Ponton is an actor, writer, and creator who seeks to make others laugh while also remaining true to her values as a queer fat activist. You may have seen her work on AMC's Dietland, The Unbreakable Jimmy Schmidt, Orange is the New Black, Love on the Run, or her new highly anticipated recurring role on Three Women opposite Shailene Woodley and Betty Gilpin. Recently, she wrote and produced a TikTok social media horror event called Caretaker. In this episode, I sit down with Jen to talk about her experience creating that film, what inspired her to make content specifically for social media, her transition from theater to film, and how loving herself completely changed her acting career for the better.

Watch the Full Video Podcast Here!

00:12 — Intro

04:30 — Jen's TED Talk, MG, and the Spoon Theory

08:32 — Fatphobia in Theater vs. Film/TV

15:11 — Film/TV Casting Type Change

19:45 — What Could We Do Better

22:11 — Eating Disorders + Social Media

24:52 — Stopping the Pursuit of Thinness

28:03 — Body Positivity and Acting

32:22 — "Love on the Run", "Dietland", & "Deadbeat"

36:37 — Acting Classes

40:46 — Caretaker Film

59:10 — Making Your Own Content for Social Media

1:06:13 — Where to Find Jen

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Jen's Instagram
• Jen's IMDb
• Jen's Professional Website
• Follow @caretakerfilm on Instagram
• Follow @capemaycaretaker a #HorrorTok on TikTok
• Listen to Jen's TED Talk: "Hollywood's Fatphobia Problem"
• Learn More about MG - Myasthenia Gravis
• Learn More about the Spoon Theory
• "Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia" by Sabrina Strings
• Hollywood’s Secret New Weight Loss Drug, Revealed: The Hype and Hazards of Ozempic by Matt Donnelly
• The BGB Studio

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