In this deeply personal episode of Kept, FAT, & Free, Katrina Monique explores the impact of generational patterns, family expectations, and the difference between being witnessed and being truly seen. Through her own story, she unpacks how the need for approval—and the legacy of a mother’s unspoken wounds—can shape our relationship with our bodies, our worth, and our ability to rest.

Mentioned in this episode:

• The reality of not feeling “enough” until you’re praised or productive
• How your mother’s shame or silence can echo in your self-talk
• Why so many of us learned to perform for love and approval
• The distinction between being “witnessed” and being “affirmed”
• The practice of mothering yourself, reparenting your inner child, and breaking free from conditional worth
• How to reclaim your reflection—and your wholeness—outside of anyone else’s validation

If you’ve ever felt unseen, undervalued, or stuck in someone else’s definition of enough, this episode offers a mirror and a path back to your own self-acceptance.

Want to continue the conversation? Connect with Katrina: www.katrinamonique.com | Instagram

Resources:

• Kept, FAT, & Free quick reference checklist
• Behind-the-scenes blog at HowSheGotFreePodcast.com/keptfatfree

In this first official episode of Kept, FAT & Free, Katrina Monique goes in on the difference between honesty and harm when talking about fatness, wellness, and self-worth. This is the episode for anyone tired of walking on eggshells around the word “FAT”—and ready to claim radical, loving truth for themselves.

Katrina unpacks why not every comment about weight is “fatphobic,” why generational patterns matter, and what it means to reclaim your body story in the face of shame, softness, or other people’s projections.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Why calling something “fatphobic” doesn’t always mean it’s hateful or violent
• What it really feels like to have lived every version of “fat”—from gym fat to depression fat to healed fat
• The difference between critique, honesty, and true phobia
• How Gen X, Millennials, and younger women interpret “tone” vs. “truth”
• The call to stop weaponizing your feelings against honest accountability
• The power of radical self-acceptance (even when it stings)

If you’re ready to confront your own story, sit with some uncomfortable truth, and let go of shame—you’ll feel seen in this episode.

Want to continue the conversation? Connect with Katrina: www.katrinamonique.com | Instagram

Welcome to Kept, FAT & Free—a special 6-part series inside the How She Got Free podcast with Katrina Monique. This isn’t another weight loss program. It’s an honest, blunt yet soft space for Black women who are ready to stop shrinking for love, reclaim their bodies, and become free from the inside out.

In this intro episode, Katrina shares:

• The story behind Kept, Fat & Free and why this season of her journey matters
• The real meaning of being “Kept”—well-resourced, held, spiritually aligned, and free in your body
• Why she’s never been a fan of chasing skinny and focusing on consistency, clarity, and deep transformation
• How this series will unfold: real voice notes, lived wisdom, science-backed rituals, and embodied permission to be well

If you’re ready to listen to your body, trust your own rhythm, and master softness over struggle—this series is for you.

Connect with Katrina: www.katrinamonique.com | Instagram | TikTok

Mentioned in this episode:

• Why I created Kept, Fat & Free—and what “kept” really means in my own life
• The story of chasing weight loss vs. finding true body wisdom
• My journey through diet culture, family patterns, and learning to listen to my own body
• How being “kept” is about more than size—it’s about being well-resourced, spiritually aligned, and deeply cared for
• What to expect in this series: voice-note episodes, honest behind-the-scenes shares, and my commitment to documenting the process (not perfection)
• My new intention: consistency, clarity, and letting my body return to her natural weight (instead of obsessing over a number)