Today, Explained: Swole Girl Summer Release Date: June 27, 2025 | Hosts: Sean Rameswaram & Noel King

Introduction

In the episode titled "Swole Girl Summer," Vox's Today, Explained delves into the evolving landscape of women's fitness over the past fifty years. Hosts Noel King and guest Constance Grady explore the shift from traditional cardio-centric workouts to the rising popularity of strength training among women. They discuss historical milestones, cultural shifts, influential figures, and the ongoing challenges within this transformation.

Historical Milestones: Jan Todd and the Pioneers

The discussion opens with a reflection on Jan Todd, a trailblazer who, fifty years ago, challenged societal norms by lifting weights in an era when it was deemed inappropriate for women.

• Noel King [00:03]: “2025 marks 50 years since a trailblazer named Jan Todd decided to go to the gym with her little boyfriend.”

Jan's bold move against the backdrop of a male-dominated gym culture set the stage for future generations of women to embrace strength training.

• Casey Johnston [00:10]: “I had started going with Terry to the gym just because, you know, he's your cute boyfriend and you love him and like you want to spend all your time together not thinking about being an athlete at all.”

Jan faced significant resistance, including gyms where women were either scarce or outright banned from lifting weights.

• Noel King [00:19]: “There were no other women at that gym. It wasn't considered appropriate for ladies to lift weights. Some gyms even banned it.”

Despite societal pushback, Jan's perseverance led her to set records, model in magazines, and inspire millions of women to take up weightlifting.

• Noel King [00:36]: “Feeling spicy that day, Jan squatted down and deadlifted 225 pounds, which is a lot of pounds. She went on to lift more weights, set a bunch of records, model in magazines, and inspire other women to lift weights.”

The Evolution of Women's Fitness Ideals

The conversation transitions to the broader shift in fitness trends, highlighting how women's focus has moved from primarily cardio to incorporating strength training.

• Constance Grady [02:16]: “You recently wrote about a trend that has emerged that involves women and weightlifting. What's happening in women's fitness?”

Constance elaborates on how weightlifting became the fastest-growing sport among women in 2024, challenging the long-held belief that cardio was the sole path to fitness.

• Constance Grady [03:02]: “If you read women's magazines, they're all telling you you need to start strength training. There's a bunch of recent research that says strength training is really important for everyone's health as they grow old. But actually, especially for women.”

Shifting Cultural Narratives: From Heroin Chic to Body Positivity

The hosts delve into the cultural narratives that have influenced women's body image over the decades, contrasting the "heroin chic" era with the modern body positivity movement.

• Noel King [04:14]: “Do you remember heroin chic?”

• Constance Grady [04:21]: “Nothing tastes as good as skinny. It didn't feel like a particularly bold statement at the time.”

The late 90s and early 2000s emphasized ultra-thin ideals, often leading to body shaming and unhealthy dieting practices.

• Noel King [04:39]: “There also were moments where a celebrity was suddenly put on the COVID of magazines and it was to show us how much weight she'd gained and how big she'd gotten. Jessica Simpson had that happen to her very famously.”

Constance reflects on the pervasive negativity towards women's bodies during that period.

• Constance Grady [05:28]: “That was just the way that we talked about women and their bodies at the time. There was always this sense that your natural default state is to be fat and disgusting, and you constantly had to be disciplining yourself into being as thin and flat and untextured as possible.”

However, a significant cultural shift began with the rise of the Kardashians and body positivity activists, gradually moving the focus towards strength and health rather than mere thinness.

• Constance Grady [06:06]: “First of all, there's the advent of the Kardashians... they really popularize a body ideal that has a lot more emphasis on curves than the heroin chic look of the 1990s.”

• Noel King [07:39]: “Starting this month, Women's Health magazine has decided to ban all body shaming language. It's part of the Body positive movement, which promotes being happy with your body and at any size.”

The Rise of Strength Training Among Women

Strength training has surged in popularity due to a combination of cultural shifts, increased representation, and the advocacy of influential figures.

• Constance Grady [09:41]: “How are you? I'm good.”

• Casey Johnston [09:51]: “I know that Casey Johnston is personally responsible for this shift among, like, half of the women that I know.”

Casey Johnston, a science journalist and powerlifter, has been instrumental in promoting strength training through her media presence, including her Substack "She's a Beast" and her memoir A Physical Education.

• Constance Grady [10:09]: “She had a lifting advice column on the hairpin. Now she has a substack that's called She's a Beast.”

Additionally, mainstream influencers and fitness personalities have embraced and popularized strength training, making it more accessible and appealing to a broader audience.

• Constance Grady [10:55]: “There's a ton of more mainstream influencers who have really made strength training their niche.”

Challenges and Criticisms of the New Fitness Paradigm

While strength training marks progress, it is not without its challenges. The hosts discuss the potential for obsessive behaviors and the commercialization of fitness.

• Noel King [11:36]: “This feels a lot healthier than the position we were in, than the ultra-thin ideal of 20 years ago. But building muscle, it also is difficult...”

Constance expresses concerns about the cultural obsession with self-improvement, where even strength training can become another avenue for body policing.

• Constance Grady [12:35]: “It's a system where whatever exercise you're doing, whatever diet you're following, it is never enough. It can always be better.”

Moreover, the rise of opposing trends like "Skinny Talk" on platforms like TikTok presents a conflicting landscape, promoting unhealthy paths to skinniness despite the positive strides in strength training.

• Constance Grady [12:40]: “The other big news of the past year or so is the rise of Skinny Talk. That's a community on TikTok that is devoted to getting skinny at all costs...”

Personal Journey: Casey Johnston’s Transformation

A significant portion of the episode highlights Casey Johnston's personal journey from a cardio-focused regimen to embracing strength training. Her memoir, A Physical Education, chronicles this transformation and its impact on her mental and physical well-being.

• Casey Johnston [16:47]: “My name is Casey Johnston and I am a writer and author. My book is called A Physical Education.”

Casey recounts her struggles with running and dieting, which led to injuries and a sense of disconnect from her body. Discovering weightlifting on Reddit was a turning point that offered her the physical and emotional benefits she had been missing.

• Casey Johnston [17:10]: “I was into running, got into running when I was in college... So I from that point had to know more about what she was doing.”

She emphasizes the importance of self-inquiry during workouts, which helped her rebuild a connection with her feelings and body.

• Casey Johnston [19:55]: “I loved the sort of alternating between doing a set of reps and then you rest for a minute, and you're basically asking yourself, how did that feel?...”

Casey's deliberate decision to gain weight through bulking challenged the prevailing narrative focused on weight loss, leading to newfound strength and confidence.

• Casey Johnston [21:37]: “It was the most incredible feeling when you're used to sort of finding your struggle point pretty easily, and suddenly your struggle point is so much farther down the line than you think.”

Balancing Fitness and Wellness

The episode concludes by addressing the importance of balancing fitness goals with overall well-being, ensuring that strength training remains a positive force rather than a source of obsession.

• Noel King [23:02]: “We talked in the first half of the show about, you know, 20 years ago, the obsession was with women being very, very, very tiny...”

Casey advocates for viewing fitness activities as tools for personal growth and health, rather than as ends in themselves.

• Casey Johnston [23:20]: “Lifting weights is a tool. Even running, which I had a problematic relationship with, is a tool.”

She shares how strength training has been instrumental in her personal healing and self-discovery, fostering a healthier relationship with her body and emotions.

• Casey Johnston [24:00]: “The practice of asking how things felt in this really focused and contained way really helped me...”

Conclusion: Progress Amidst Ongoing Challenges

While acknowledging the progress made in redefining women's fitness and body image, the hosts recognize that challenges persist. The transformation towards strength and health is a significant step forward, but continued efforts are necessary to foster a truly inclusive and positive fitness culture.

• Noel King [25:39]: “How much do you bench?”

• Casey Johnston [25:42]: “The most I've ever benched in the gym. So not in a meet, but it was 142 pounds.”

The episode wraps up by celebrating the strides made in women's fitness while remaining mindful of the complexities and societal pressures that continue to shape personal and collective narratives around health and body image.

Produced by: Gabrielle Burbay
Edited by: Jolie Meyers
Engineered by: Andrea Christian's Daughter

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