Immerse yourself in Matteson Gregory's pop tune, "Girl in the Photo," a raw, heartfelt exploration of modern societal pressures. This Indie Pop artist from Springfield, MO uses catchy melodies to tell a tale of self comparison in today's highlight-reel culture. Coinciding with the onset of Mental Health Month, the release amplifies the message of the unseen struggle behind perfect images, aiming to unite listeners in shared experiences. Matteson's bold authenticity fosters a space where everyone can feel seen and valued.

Girl In The Photo

In this episode, we aim to unpick the representation of women online and how this can affect those exposed to the content, particularly focusing on the picture-based platform, Instagram. We explore the foundations of these ideologies, where they came from and what fueled them, while also delving into case studies that highlight how these representations can affect how people view themselves. We ask ourselves how this may continue into the future and if it will affect the usage of these platforms.

Figures Online : From Photoshop to Filters

BODY IMAGE CHALLENGES

Twilight barking echoes through the porticos 
As the swallows dance in group hysteria 
Maybe they can feel what’s going on in here
Everywhere beauty. Beauty by design. Beauty for its own sake.
Beauty for permanence & power.
& I’m telling myself
‘Surely beauty has its place. 
Feeling worth it. surely that’s pride without pride
& I long to deserve that dress. 
Could I ever, would it ever be seen on this badly tied bundle Imported from a colder place

Everything is fine
You know your place but where is mine 
Everything is fine, fine, fine
But not when you’re marked down by design

In the Piazza Majore stands a balladeer 
Offering with blind passion
Something I would only throw away
Such solid satisfaction
That his sentiment is worthy
But in my land his song’s just a comodity
Honey you’re selling something
It gets cheaper when you dress it up
I told you,
yes I told you I come from a colder place.

Everything is fine
You know your place but where is mine 
Everything is fine
I’m in the dirt and you’re divine 
Everything is fine, fine, fine
But not when you’re marked down by design

Every day I tell myself
‘You’re worth it girl, you’re worth it girl’ Everyday I’m throwing it away

BY DESIGN
TRACK 1 - THE ROAD TO PAYSANDU by JOANNA EDEN
RECORDED by Gerardo Alonso at his studio in Montevideo 
MIXED by Steve Stewart at Waves Studio, Cambridge
VOICE Joanna Eden 
BASS Andrés Lafone 
PIANO Hugo Fattoruso 
DRUMS Albana Barrocas 
GUITAR Guillermo Hill

If I met Joni Mitchell - and dared to speak to her (I find her simultaneously inspirational and terrifying) - I would ask her if I was right in my suspicion that she writes her lyrics first, as poems, then sets them to music.

The result is a lyric which has to be pushed and pulled by Joni, to scan. And that explains her incredible singing style to me. Exploring, surprising, ducking and diving, rushing then languishing. Liberated!
I haven’t written many poems but I wrote one as soon as I got home from Bologna. A catharsis. It didn’t feel like a song. It was too depressing, too deep. But then I remembered my hunch about Joni. I’d always started songs whilst noodling at the piano and then a lyric would pop into my head and I’d be off. Songs would decide what they were about as we went along!
Sitting at the piano though, a noodle wouldn’t come! But I’d longed to try a poem song. Maybe this one could be the first. I had the poem but would need a musical prompt. I googled ‘music written in Bologna’ and up popped Mozart’s Quaerite primum regnum Dei in D minor with it’s beautiful opening melody. Teenage Mozart’s masterpiece gave me just the prompt I needed to capture the majesty of Bologna and contrast it with the ‘car-park at the back of Sainsbury’s’ vista of my body dysmorphia.

By Design

In today’s episode I help you understand what our body image is, and the difference between that and our body composition!

I discuss some of the things it can be influenced by, and why it’s important to address even if you do have goals to lose body fat or gain muscle tissue.

I hope you enjoyed this episode, and if you did - it would mean the world if you could share that you're listening on your Instagram story 🫶🏻

To enquire for 1-2-1 coaching, click here:

https://forms.gle/YXUb2LEGaNkdYqsJA

Subscribe to my email list here, it’s free:

https://dannibosworth.substack.com/

See you next week!

Danni x

Body Image - What Does It Even Mean?!

Ashley Carter and Jasmine Westbrooks-Figaro are the co-founders of an organization called the “EatWell Exchange Inc.” EatWell Exchange Inc. is a nonprofit organization that uses nutrition & education to decrease health disparities in low socioeconomic communities. They guide people in communities that are considered food deserts to make positive lifestyle changes while respectfully maintaining their culture.

They both join the show to debunk myths in regard to the health of 'soul food',  to talk about how body image can affect one' mental health, basic nutrition tips, and much more.

Ashley Carter & Jasmine Westbrooks-Figaro | Reality Check w/ Tonya Pendleton - 4.29.25

bodyimage - choke (meowington bootleg remix)

Welcome back to Appearance Matters: the podcast!

In this episode, Maia speaks to Ginny Ramseyer-Winter, an Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota, and Savannah Roberts, a PhD student at the University of Pittsburgh. This episode focuses on appearance and body image through the lens of sexuality, sexual health, and gender.  

Tune in to hear a great discussion reflecting on the role of appearance ideals and body image in the context of sexual health and relationships, appearance norms across different sexualities and genders, and the importance of intersectionality. 

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

Cover image: Igor Rand via Unsplash
Music by Sian Evans & John Landau: toplinefilm.com 
Episode developed and produced by Maia Thornton 


101: Appearance, Sexuality, and Gender


"Someone I Never Asked" by Dr. Elliot Lach is a song about identity, illusion, and the quiet heartbreak of loving someone who kept changing to be what they thought you wanted—never realizing they were enough from the start. With emotionally raw verses and a chorus that pleads for authenticity, the song explores how self-erasure in the name of love can end up leaving both people lost. This track blends vulnerability with sharp poetic insight, offering a mirror to anyone who's ever loved someone wearing a mask.

Someone I Never Asked


Welcome to our 2025 Summer Short Series! We're back with bitesize episodes showcasing recent work from our team at the Centre for Appearance Research! 

In this episode, we are joined by Emma Waite, Research Fellow at CAR, who tells us about her recent paper entitled: “Make sure that everybody feels there is a space for them”: Understanding and promoting appearance inclusivity at university." Emma discusses this qualitative piece of work and what it tells us about how we can improve appearance inclusivity in universities in a meaningful way. 

To read the full paper follow this link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1740144524001311 

Cover image by Nada via Unsplash 
Music by Sian Evans & John Landau: toplinefilm.com 
Episode developed and produced by Maia Thornton 


Summer Short Series: Appearance-Inclusive University

UK Singer-songwriter, mentor to Sam Smith

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

The Emmy Effect explores how manifesting your dream life begins with understanding and honoring your inner design. Join Emily as she shares insights, stories, and strategies to align with your true self and create a life you love.

WURD Radio is the only African-American owned and operated talk radio station in Pennsylvania, and one of few in the country. Taking a multimedia approach – on-air, online and in the community – WURD is widely recognized as the pulse of the African-American community locally, regionally, and nationally. From mayoral races to presidential elections, from the street corner to the corner suite, WURD has tackled the hard issues as an influential, respected and powerful voice in the marketplace.

Matteson Gregory is an Indie Pop Singer-Songwriter based in Springfield, MO. By using catchy melodies and honest, heartfelt lyrics, she has the ability to create a lyrical story that will linger in your head for days. Matteson writes about hope and youth, joy and heartbreak as well as struggles of the mind. Matteson has been sharing her personal struggles with depression, anxiety, and body dysmorphia in hopes to be a voice for the unseen suffering around her, and to help people find strength to continue moving forward. Matteson has always said the purpose of sharing her music is simple: "The goal with my music is to help people feel less alone in this world."

New tracks tagged #BodyImage