WANTcast 043: On Woke Wellness, Feminist Fitness, Having Hard Conversations, and The History of "Happiness" with Natalia Mehlman Petrzela

Mar 8

Written By

Today's guest is one of the coolest chicks I know (and you too, soon!), and a conversation that's a LONG time coming: scholar/writer/teacher/activist Natalia Mehlman Petrzela. Natalia is a historian of contemporary American politics and culture and is currently writing a book on American fitness culture. She is the author of Classroom Wars: Language, Sex, and the Making of Modern Political Culture, and the co-host of Past Present Podcast, a show that turns hindsight into foresight by examining what's going on in America today through a historical lens. Natalia is Associate Professor of History at The New School, a co-founder of wellness education program Healthclass 2.0 and a Premiere Leader of intenSati, a fitness class that combines cardio with positive affirmations to make the ultimate uplifting workout. In this episode we talk about talking to kids about what's going on in our country/world in an "appropriate" way, where our quest for happiness and "following your bliss" really came from and if it's actually serving us, making wokeness more than a gimmick, locker room talk (no, not in THAT way), feminism/activism's place in the wellness industry, and so, SO much more. WANT Natalia: Listen on iTunes | Listen on Stitcher | Download | Support the pod by shopping on Amazon[bctt tweet="Maybe the next phase of happiness + fulfilment is a more realistic assesment of it. - @nataliapetrzela" username="katiehorwitch"][bctt tweet="What you do in the fitness studio is a low-stakes template for what you can do out in the world. - @nataliapetrzela" via="no"][bctt tweet="Finish this sentence: I want to be strong SO THAT I CAN... " username="katiehorwitch"]Show Notes: Website Past Present Podcast Instagram Facebook Twitter Choose Love, Not Fear in 2013 How “Empowered” Speech About Your Body Might Mask The Same Old IssuesDerek Beres (introduced us!)Gerren Liles (asked an awesome question!)Photo cred: Elena Mudd Like this episode? I’m so glad! Sign up for The (Good) Word, WANT’s weekly email group, at womenagainstnegativetalk.com, leave a review on iTunes (the more reviews and five-stars, the more our message is spread), share it on Facebook, tweet it out on Twitter, or post it on Instagram (and tag Natalia and I so we can send you love!). Be sure to use the hashtags #WANTcast, #womenagainstnegativetalk, and/or #WANTyourself!