Amanda’s Bio:
Amanda Gilliam is a super heavyweight Masters weightlifter and the creator of Big Girl Barbell, a fat-positive, body-positive community for athletes in strength sports. Her community-based work centers folk’s full humanity and is inspired by the vision that marginalized bodies can ultimately be tools of liberation. Outside the gym, she works full-time in higher education administration, volunteers with immigrant organizations in the New York City metro area, teaches outdoor education workshops, and plays the cello.
In this episode, we discuss:
the connection between fat phobia and anti-Black racism
the differences between body positivity and fat positivity
how she reclaims health and wellness by being able to stand in the space of failure
her experiences traveling outside the United States as a Black woman
why she created the Big Girl Barbell community on Instagram
Important Resources:
Connect with Amanda on Instagram: @unclejemima99
Big Girl Barbell on Instagram: @biggirlbarbell
You can read the transcript of this episode HERE.