Bill Schubart is a writer and a cultural and political commentator. He’s chaired a lot of important boards here in Vermont. He’s really smart and he talks a lot and a lot of people listen to him. What he talks less about is that he’s struggled with being fat his entire life. He’s not averse to talking about it. In fact he wrote a brilliant collection of stories called Fat People in 2010. But it’s not the sort of thing that comes up in conversation.
In this show, we talk about it.
A link to Bill’s book, Fat People
Credits:
Music for this show by Brian Clark, who is awesome.
Thank you Tobin Anderson, as always
Headshot by Bill’s brother, Michael Couture
Biker photo by Erik Borg
Powerful
I’ve battled with obesity for most of my life, and to hear someone describe ME, oor what I’ve gone through in silence for so many years. It means more than I can say. Much more. Thank you so much Bill for being willing to talk about your life this way. You’ve given me a great gift.
I crossed paths many times with Bill over the years, mostly in a professional capacity, but I never connected with his heart or his creativity until I started to read his books. He’s a penetrating, compassionate & a powerful thinker about all things human. Thanks for doing this interview!
Whenever I see a new episode of your show I listen to it immediately and this episode is exactly why. I so deeply appreciate your ability to be compassionate to the people you’re interviewing even as you ask about things most people don’t talk about. As someone who is obese it’s so touching to hear you talk to Bill with such caring and compassion. I look forward to reading his book, he seems like a very interesting person. Going through life weighing exponentially more than one should is a very lonely road.
Bobbi, thank you for taking a moment to comment and I am so GLAD the conversation was useful to you personally. Best thing I’ve heard all day. Thank you.
Beautiful, heartbreaking and honest. Thanks Bill for being so honest. Thanks Erica for listening.
Bill Schubart is a brave and eloquent man, who speaks of personal pain with the poignant dignity of a great storyteller.
For me, the effect of his perfectly portrayed vignettes is heart-opening, rather than heart-breaking, and they help humanize my perception of people whom I’ve been inclined to judge and objectify: those whose bodies are more chubby than mine.
Thank you, Bill, for your candor, kindness and courage, and thank you, Erica, for another great episode—you’re on a mighty roll of wondrous shows!
Wow, what great show. I’ve read Bill Schubart’s commentary from time to time and felt that it was thoughtful but predictable. This podcast was anything but predictable. The measured, honest and sensitive way he described his life as a fat person I found incredibly touching and completely unexpected. The balance he struck between brutal honesty and sensitivity was perfect. I wish it had gone on longer.
Another gem, Erica! Just when I was starting to recover from your interview with “Officer Clemmons”! I’m beginning to think it’s no accident that you find the most interesting and talented people to interview. It takes one to find one, methinks.
Ben
My heart is broken open.
Tears.
I have known Bill since the mid 70’s. We have circled around several times over the years. Thank you, Erica for doing this with Bill and thank you Bill for who you are.
so very powerful.. incredible insight and relatability ..
Thank you so much for such a sensitive and powerful episode.
Echoing the other comments of gratitude for this honest and heart breaking episode. Thanks to both of you. I have listened to this episode 3 times because I have battled my weight all my life. The part that hit home for me was the boarding school experience. I too went to boarding school and was ridiculed and shamed the entire time for my weight. I was put on speed for three years and yoyoed up and down. I had very few friends and was told by the head master’s wife that my weight was the problem. I ate in secret, developed a severe eating disorder and lost the little self-confidence I had. Listening to Bill talk about the pain of that time brought back memories I have put off facing for 50 years. Thank you, Bill and Erica. Two wonderful people I am proud to know.
Bill is really a good story teller, it’s so heartbreaking to hear the big girl who told Bill that she faked the conversation with her not existent boyfriend on the communal train to Manhattan.
Erica Heilman is such a wonderful interviewer with special voice.
Thank you so much for this amazing podcast.
warmest regards,
from Shanghai