Body Neutrality, Boldness & Big Laughs with Nicole Byer

This week on Reclaiming, we sit down with Nicole Byer — comedian, actress, writer, and unapologetic force of nature whose humor has reshaped the boundaries of what comedy can hold. In this conversation, Nicole opens up about the loss of her parents and the lasting ways their absence continues to shape her outlook on life and love. She reflects on her honest, refreshingly relatable relationship with her body, how rejecting society’s unrealistic standards has become both a personal act of liberation and a cornerstone of her comedy, and how that candor eventually led to her successful book, “#VERYFAT #VERYBRAVE: The Fat Girl's Guide to Being #Brave and Not a Dejected, Melancholy, Down-in-the-Dumps Weeping Fat Girl in a Bikini”. Nicole also shares her lighthearted take on living with ADHD, why hecklers don’t stand a chance, and the joy she finds in turning the whole audience into her co-conspirators. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Body Neutrality 01:38 Welcome Nicole Byer to Reclaiming 02:21 Nicole's Podcast: Why Won’t You Date Me 05:39 Nicole’s Book: #VeryFat #VeryBrave 11:55 Working in Retail and Body Positivity 16:52 Childhood and Family Memories 25:04 Navigating Family Dynamics After Loss 27:00 Discovering a Passion for Comedy 33:49 Therapy and Mental Health 41:40 Dealing with Hecklers on Stage 49:07 Reclaiming Health and Well-being Watch more episodes of Reclaiming:    • Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky   Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on social:   / reclaimingwithmonica     / reclaimingwithmonica   Connect with Monica:   / monica_lewinsky   https://x.com/monicalewinsky   / monicalewinsky   Connect with Wondery: Connect with Wondery   / wonderymedia     / wonderymedia     / wonderymedia   https://x.com/wonderymedia About the show: If you’re interested in unexpected conversations that go uncharted places, are remotely self-aware and like to laugh, then please join me as I continue to find my public voice on Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky. (That’s me.) I will have honest, wide-ranging interviews with all kinds of people – recognizable names, regular folks, experts and friends – about what it means to reclaim what’s been lost or taken in the broadest sense. Every week, I’ll draw from my own unique experiences (like say, surviving a global scandal at 24 years old), and delve into the personal and often messy ways people find their way back to themselves. And because I love a good tangent, we’ll probably also touch on other stuff, too. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky premieres early and ad-free at https://wondery.com/shows/reclaiming-.... #monicalewinsky #podcast