Trigger Warning: On our conversation, we discuss some themes around food intake, exercise, and body alterations. Please take care of yourselves as you listen and avoid if these topics might be triggering for you.
Everyone please welcome Aidan Rees to Continued Conversations! Aidan and I have known each other for a long time now, and I was so excited to sit down with her to talk body image. We both met in the acting space, and Aidan is both a brilliant actor, teacher, and all-around creative human being. I cannot wait for you to dive into this one!
In our conversation, we discussed…
“Creative person” is a real title of work
Losing her mom at an early age and growing up with her dad leading the charge when it comes to body stuff
Conscious curiosity about the distinct nuances of our own bodies
Training our brains to divert to neutrality when it comes to what our bodies look like
Embracing the things about our bodies we’re taught to dislike
Meeting aging with open arms instead of trying to fight it
Seeing the uniqueness and the beauty in others instead of immediately comparing yourself to them
Shutting down negative self-talk narratives when they come up in conversations we’re involved in
Properly fueling our bodies and removing the narrative of “bad” food
Rejecting societal beauty standards
The body liberation movement and learning how capitalism and patriarchy impact how we view our bodies
Truly examining the why behind your choices when it comes to your body
Aidan shared so much of her story and also dropped some incredible knowledge in our conversation. We went deep into the body image talk, and we unpacked a LOT in this hour-long chat. Please, please enjoy Aidan’s brilliance and thoughts and shares. I walked away from our conversation thinking about these themes and topics for days after, and I hope that you take as many golden nuggets away from our converstion that I did!
“ I'm like super pale, and I bruise super easily, and I've had spider veins since I was a kid, which you usually don't get until you're a senior. I do have memories of being like, “Oh my god, how do I already have spider veins?” And then now — again, I don't really know how it happened, but I really consciously just choose to, if not like it, go, “Whoa, cool,” or “That's so interesting, I can see my veins.”
- Aidan Rees
Originally from Salt Lake City, Aidan is based in LA where you can find her acting, writing, doing comedy, and playing soccer. Honored to be an Angeleno, Aidan believes it is a privilege to be a transplant and finds joy participating in local mutual aid. She is a graduate of AMDA College and Conservatory, The Second City, and has found her home in sketch and storytelling. Her proudest piece of work is her solo show Smoochy Girl. She was once asked, “Aidan, why can’t you just sing the melody for once?”
If you want to be a part of the conversation… either reach out to me via email at themegangill@gmail.com to schedule a conversation or fill out this form to share your body image story anonymously.
A couple of notes to ensure this is a safe space for my guests to share their intimate and vulnerable body image stories in:
These conversations are quite nuanced, complex, and oftentimes very vulnerable. Remember that everyone has their own body image story, and while someone else’s might look differently than yours, I encourage you to keep an open mind and stay empathetic.
That being said, I welcome your support of my guests in the comments. Please be kind and considerate with your words.
Thank you for being here. By sharing this type of content, my hope is to inspire collective reflection and cultural questioning. Thank you for supporting me in exploring the effects of our society’s beauty norms and body standards on human beings existing in today’s world.
Do you have a friend, family member, or peer who might be interested in being a part of the conversation? I’d be honored if you could help me spread the word about Continued Conversations!
While I’m not a licensed therapist, registered dietician, or medical health professional and cannot speak to body image topics from a clinical, trauma-informed place, I am an expert of lived experience. I’m an academic of my own body, and I’m passionate about facilitating conversations with other humans about their relationships with their bodies. I believe it’s important to continue conversations about healthy body image in creative spaces as a means to heal individuals as well as the collective whole. But just know the information presented in this medium is not professional mental health advice or medical advice, and any questions or concerns you have should always be directed to your health providers.
