2022 | Appearance Matters: the Podcast

Listen in to learn about Topity - a chatbot designed to improve body image among Brazilian adolescents. 

~Timestamps~
Dr Juliana Meireles & Professor Ana Carolina Soares Amaral - 5.22
Gabriela Mora (UNICEF Brazil) - 18.55
Lucila Suarez Battan (Talk 2 U) - 26.54
Dr Emily Matheson - 43.22

Topity Protocol Paper: https://bit.ly/3GBszwO

Let us know what you think: https://twitter.com/car_UWE    
To find out more about CAR: www.uwe.ac.uk/car    

Episode developed and produced by Dr Nadia Craddock. 
If you found this episode useful, please rate us on Apple Podcasts – it really DOES help.

66: Topity - A Body Image Chatbot for Brazilian Adolescents

This month, Bruna and Jade discuss the topic of craniosynostosis, with a focus on the experiences of parents of children with the condition. On the episode, Bruna and Jade are joined by several guests: Nicola Stock, Associate Professor at the Centre for Appearance Research; Karen Wilkinson-Bell, Director of Headlines Craniofacial support; and Lucy, Kris and Michelle, parents of children with craniosynostosis.

To find out more about the Centre for Appearance Research, follow us: 
•	On Twitter: twitter.com/CAR_UWE 
•	On Instagram: www.instagram.com/car_uwe/ 
•	On Facebook: www.facebook.com/AppearanceResearch 

To find out more about the work of Headlines Craniofacial Support, and to access the parent booklet that was referenced in this episode, visit: www.headlines.org.uk

Please share, subscribe, rate and review. It really does mean a lot. 
Thank you! B & J x 

Music by Sian Evans & John Landau: toplinefilm.com 
Cover photo from Headlines Craniofacial Support (with special thanks to Monty, Lucy and Kris).

Episode developed & produced by Bruna Costa.

67: Parenting a Child with Craniosynostosis

This month, the whole podcast team join together (for Jade’s final farewell!) to discuss the important topic of the impact social media has had during COVID-19 on teens. They are joined by Sabrina Meechem, a PhD researcher (and fellow zoo member) at the Centre for Appearance Research, who has been researching how social networking sites influence adolescent body image for her PhD.

~Timestamp~
Sabrina Meechem - 8.25

To find out more about the Centre for Appearance Research, follow us: 
•	On Twitter: twitter.com/CAR_UWE 
•	On Instagram: www.instagram.com/car_uwe/ 
•	On Facebook: www.facebook.com/AppearanceResearch 

Please share, subscribe, rate and review. It really does mean a lot. 

Thank you! Jade, Nadia and Bruna x 

Music by Sian Evans & John Landau: toplinefilm.com 
Episode developed & produced by Jade Parnell

68: Being a Teen with Social Media During COVID-19

This month, we welcome a new podcast co-host – Abbi Mathews. Abbi is a Research Associate at CAR, with experience working in the area of CMN.

CMN stands for Congenital Melanocytic Naevi, and is characterised by birthmarks which can in some cases cover large areas of the body.

Bruna and Abbi ask: what’s it like to be a young person with CMN? To help them answer this question, they’re firstly joined by Ella Guest, Jodi Whitehouse, Hannah Cree, and Katy Jackson. Ella is a Research Fellow from the Centre for Appearance Research (CAR) who has been exploring the experiences of young people with CMN. Jodi, Hannah and Katy join us from Caring Matters Now – a UK charity supporting those affected by CMN. Jodi is the founder and CEO, and has personal experience of CMN. Hannah is the support pathway co-ordinator, and has a son who was born with CMN. Finally, Katy, who also has CMN, is the young adults support contact. Last, we hear from three young people with CMN - Becky, Scarlett and Dan – who share with us their personal experiences of the condition.

To find out more about CAR, follow us: 
On Twitter: twitter.com/CAR_UWE 
On Instagram: www.instagram.com/car_uwe/ 
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/AppearanceResearch 

To find out more about the work of Caring Matters Now, visit:
Their website:  www.caringmattersnow.co.uk 
Their socials: Instagram @CaringMattersNow; Twitter @cmnsupportgroup; Facebook.com/CaringMattersNow

To access the teens resource that was referenced in the episode, visit:
https://www.caringmattersnow.co.uk/support/teens-support/online-teens-support-resource/ 
Illustrations by Celyn Hunt www.celfcelyn.com; Instagram @celf.celyn 

Please share, subscribe, rate and review. It really does mean a lot. 

Thank you! B & A x 

Music by Sian Evans & John Landau: toplinefilm.com 
Cover photo by Celyn Hunt
Episode developed & produced by Bruna Costa and Abbi Mathews

69: Young People with CMN

Having light-coloured skin has been a key feature of societal appearance ideals for women in many parts of the globe, including Indonesia - the world's fourth most populated country. 

On this episode, we hear from CAR-collaborator Dr Ayu Saraswati, Associate Professor of Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies at the University of Hawaii to learn more about the light skin appearance ideal in Indonesia. We discover that the preference for lighter skin predates European(specifically Dutch) colonialism and that, lighter skin is not always considered better if the racialized group is not also positioned as desirable. Ayu also explains why the promotion of skin lightening products and the promotion of skin tanning products are not two sides of the same coin, though both are rooted anti-blackness. 

To find out more about CAR, follow us: 
On Twitter: twitter.com/CAR_UWE 
On Instagram: www.instagram.com/car_uwe/ 
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/AppearanceResearch

To read more about the work CAR is doing in Indonesia:
https://www.researchprotocols.org/2022/1/e33596
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-021-11770-0

To find out more about Ayu, visit:
https://drsaraswati.com

Please share, subscribe, rate and review. It really does mean a lot.
Thank you! The CAR podcast team xx

Credits:
Music by Sian Evans & John Landau: toplinefilm.com 
Episode hosted by Nadia Craddock and Maia Thornton
Episode developed and produced by Nadia Craddock

70: Racism, Colourism, and Constructing Whiteness in Indonesia

This month, Bruna and Nadia consider what it means to be a man with a visible difference. On the episode, Bruna first speaks with Fabio Zucchelli – a researcher at the Centre for Appearance Research who has recently carried out some work in this area. Then, Bruna speaks with Dola Akinnibosun – a wellbeing practitioner at Changing Faces. Changing Faces is a UK charity, dedicated to supporting those affected by visible differences. As part of her role, Dola delivers 1-1 support, and has experience of supporting men with visible difference. Finally, Bruna speaks with Ryan Foan – a Changing Faces volunteer campaigner, with lived-experience of visible differences.

Interview Timestamps:
Fabio: 02.02
Dola: 24.21
Ryan: 44.40

To find out more about the Centre for Appearance Research, follow us: 
•	On Twitter: twitter.com/CAR_UWE 
•	On Instagram: www.instagram.com/car_uwe/ 
•	On Facebook: www.facebook.com/AppearanceResearch 

To read more about, and sign up to, the ongoing research project that Fabio discussed (about the social and economic impacts of alopecia), please visit: go.uwe.ac.uk/alopecia

Alopecia UK are currently in the process of developing a section on their website specifically for me, and this should be available from July 2022. To find out more, please visit the Alopecia UK website: alopecia.org.uk 

To find out more about the work of Changing Faces, visit: https://www.changingfaces.org.uk

For more about Ryan, you can read:
•	His story https://www.changingfaces.org.uk/story/ryans-story-question-ideas-that-cause-shame/
•	An opinion piece about the use of disfigurement in media and storytelling: https://inews.co.uk/opinion/james-bond-villains-facial-disfigurements-life-harder-people-like-me-1221524
•	A blog about the impacts of staring https://www.changingfaces.org.uk/story/ryan-reflects-on-staring/
•	A blog about the importance of mental health and well-being support: https://www.changingfaces.org.uk/story/ryan-mental-health-wellbeing-support/

Please share, subscribe, rate and review. It really does mean a lot. 

Thank you!
The CAR podcast team x

Music by Sian Evans & John Landau: toplinefilm.com 
Episode developed by Bruna Costa, co-produced by Bruna and Nadia.

71: Men with Visible Differences

Appearance Matters: The Podcast! Is the official podcast of the Centre for Appearance Research - a world leading research centre investigating body image and appearance psychology research, based at the University of the West of England in Bristol, UK.

Hosted and produced by Nadia Craddock, Bruna Costa, Maia Thornton, and Abbi Mathews.

New music by: https://toplinefilm.com