{"podcast":{"title":"Hot Mess Espresso","slug":"hot-mess-espresso-6478282","podcast_index_feed_id":6478282,"rss_url":"https://api.riverside.fm/hosting/MWxiFze4.rss","website_url":"www.hotmessespressopod.riverside.com","image_url":"https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/f8744283-c42d-48ea-a6c1-a0f99f85df33/logos/ef85979d-f637-4700-ae5d-4ba178d231e0.png","author":"Heather Herington","episode_count":137,"summary":"Hot Mess Espresso is a mental health podcast focused on honest conversations around healing, burnout, anxiety, self-growth, and navigating the chaos of everyday life. Through relatable stories, expert insight, and unfiltered moments, the podcast creates a safe space for listeners to feel seen, supported, and a little less alone while figuring life out one episode at a time. Want to follow along more? Follow us on IG: @hotmess.espresso & @heather.herington Business & guest inquiries: team@hotmessespressopodcast.com","last_synced_at":"2026-07-23T00:17:01.930574+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/hot-mess-espresso-6478282"},"episode":{"title":"(127) The Truth About Professional Mermaiding You Won't Hear in Circus Sideshows","slug":"127-the-truth-about-professional-mermaiding-you-won-t-hear-in-circus-sideshows","published_at":"2026-05-20T11:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/hot-mess-espresso-6478282/127-the-truth-about-professional-mermaiding-you-won-t-hear-in-circus-sideshows","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/hot-mess-espresso-6478282","url":"https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/67932022e779d12cca23f26d876c401c4115e6a27040f5d9e5b8cb3bc4e07731/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiI5NmM3M2U2Zi04MTgwLTRjODYtYWM1Yi0zNjU0OTU2OGFjODIiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiJmODc0NDI4My1jNDJkLTQ4ZWEtYTZjMS1hMGY5OWY4NWRmMzMiLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2NDk0YWQ4M2VhMGFjYTZmOTk4YzY3MzYiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNjlmZjljODIyYTdmN2ZmZDRhYjljMzRlL2hlYXRoZXItaGVyaW5ndG9ucy1zdHVkaW8tY29tcG9zZXItMjAyNi01LTlfXzIyLTQzLTQ2Lm1wMyJ9.mp3","audio_url":"https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/67932022e779d12cca23f26d876c401c4115e6a27040f5d9e5b8cb3bc4e07731/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiI5NmM3M2U2Zi04MTgwLTRjODYtYWM1Yi0zNjU0OTU2OGFjODIiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiJmODc0NDI4My1jNDJkLTQ4ZWEtYTZjMS1hMGY5OWY4NWRmMzMiLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2NDk0YWQ4M2VhMGFjYTZmOTk4YzY3MzYiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNjlmZjljODIyYTdmN2ZmZDRhYjljMzRlL2hlYXRoZXItaGVyaW5ndG9ucy1zdHVkaW8tY29tcG9zZXItMjAyNi01LTlfXzIyLTQzLTQ2Lm1wMyJ9.mp3","summary":"Ever wondered what it takes to turn a childhood dream into a radical community movement? Meet Che Monique, founder of the Society of Fat Mermaids, who went from stapling paisley fabric on a homemade tail to being one of Netflix’s most unexpected mermaid stars. Her journey is a splash of activism, creativity, and self-love, proving that liberation can start with a fantasy and blossom into a vibrant movement. In this episode, Che shares how a Pride Parade inspired her to create a size-inclusive mermaid fashion line that celebrates fat bodies, Black mermaids, and queer joy. You'll discover how representation fueled her dream, why mermaiding isn’t just costume play but a form of liberation, and how her viral Netflix documentary exposed both the magic and the pressure of being a visible fat mermaid influencer. Plus, she reveals how the community shifted her from silent supporter to a fierce advocate, and what’s next for her mission of radical acceptance. We break down the real stories behind fighting fat discrimination in healthcare, the importance of community-building through paid memberships, and the power of imagination in driving social change. Che drops gems on embracing transitions, the importance of self-awareness in a digital age, and how to start loving yourself today: no filters, just raw truth and some mermaid magic.","meta_description":"Ever wondered what it takes to turn a childhood dream into a radical community movement? Meet Che Monique, founder of the Society of Fat Mermaids, who wen…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3127,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/hot-mess-espresso-6478282/episodes/127-the-truth-about-professional-mermaiding-you-won-t-hear-in-circus-sideshows/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/hot-mess-espresso-6478282/127-the-truth-about-professional-mermaiding-you-won-t-hear-in-circus-sideshows.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}