About this episode

Stephanie Fairyington discusses the intersection of aging, beauty, and societal perceptions in midlife.

What happens when aging and sexuality change not only how we look, but how much of the world looks at us? In this episode, writer Stephanie Fairyington joins David Stewart for a sharp conversation about beauty, the idea of “ugliness”, gender, queer identity, and the strange relief that can come when midlife loosens the grip of outside judgment. Fairyington, author of Ugly: A Letter to My Daughter, argues that ugliness is not a personal failure but a cultural construction, one tied to feminini...

People in this episode

Host: David Stewart

Guest: Stephanie Fairyington

Topics covered

• aging
• sexuality
• beauty
• gender
• queer identity
• cultural construction

Keywords

• aging
• sexuality
• beauty
• ugliness
• gender
• queer identity
• midlife

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Ugly: A Letter to My Daughter

More episodes of AGEIST

• Keep It Moving with Jill Brand · July 15, 2026 · 49 min
• Alisa Lask: The Exosome Era of Skincare · July 8, 2026 · 37 min
• Sheri Radel Rosenberg: A Midlife Trap Exposed · July 1, 2026 · 44 min
• Dr. William Li: Food, Fear, and Control · June 24, 2026 · 57 min

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