Madness Cafe
A feminist current events/social commentary podcast where we discuss politics, health and wellness and women's rights issues.
Episodes
180 episodes
180. The Truth About Immigration and H-4 Spouse Visas - Book Chat: Golden Handcuffs by Varuni Sinha
In this week's episode, we discuss Varuni Sinha's memoir, Golden Handcuffs: An Immigrant's Pursuit of Happiness. Varuni, a New York-based writer and multimedia producer, describes her book as a story of love, strength, and resilience written wi...
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1:00:29
179. "My father is my perpetrator." with guest Cindy Benezra
Sexual abuse is objectively a difficult topic. Even more so when the predator is your father. Cindy Benezra knows this all too well; her predator was her father. In her memoir, Under the Orange Blossoms, Cindy shares her story, along with how s...
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59:09
178. Pleasure, Play & Psilocybin: Microdosing for Maidens, Mothers & Crones with guest Leslie Draffin
Magic mushrooms, plant medicine, psilocybin - what came to mind when you read those words? If you grew up in the 80s, "just say no" probably popped up. But are all drugs bad? Can their powers be used for good? Sometimes, yes. Specifically, psil...
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1:04:18
177. Our Reactions to the 2024 Election: "The majority of the country is more comfortable with the devil they know than the leader they don't."
After a few days of processing the results of the election, we talk through our feelings about what happened, what's to come, our fears and hopes, and our plans going forward. The conversation doesn't stop here, and it doesn't stop with us; aft...
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Season 1
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Episode 177
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1:00:00
176. Book Chat: Our Time Is Now by Stacey Abrams
We read and discussed Stacey Abrams' Our Time Is Now before the results of the 2024 election were announced. We were excited and hopeful and wanted to share Stacey's message, information and talented wordsmithing with everyone. We're in a very ...
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Season 1
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Episode 176
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1:02:13
175. "Campaign joyfully. Show gratitude deliberately. Celebrate liberally." Run to Win with guest Christina Reynolds
Return guest Christina Reynolds, Senior Vice President of Communications and Content at EMILYs List, is back to talk about the book that she co-wrote with the President of EMILYs List Stephanie Schriock - Run to Win: Lessons in Leadership for W...
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Season 1
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Episode 175
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56:22
174. Sexual and Creative Energy - Where Can I Get More Of That? with guest Gao Motsemme
So many people walk through life wearing a mask, disconnected from themselves. How can we drop the mask and reconnect? According to this week's guest, Gao Motsemme, we have to get to the core of the issue and connect to source. That's how we ge...
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59:57
173. Changing the World Through Poetry: Poetic People Power with Tara Bracco and Karla Jackson-Brewer
Words matter. Words have power. Art is powerful. We explore just how powerful words, art, and poetry can be with guests Tara Bracco and Karla Jackson-Brewer. Tune in to hear some of that power as Karla reads a portion of one of her poems includ...
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Season 1
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Episode 173
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58:39
172. How Sensitive Souls Can Manage Overwhelm In A Chaotic World with guest Abby Humphrey
Sensitive, empathic, overwhelmed? Can you relate? Do you know someone who can? How can you protect yourself? How can you manage overwhelm in this time of chaos? This week's guest, Abby Humphrey, talks to Raquel and Jennifer about what can help....
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59:46
171. On The Wrong Side: How Universities Protect Perpetrators and Betray Survivors of Sexual Violence with Nicole Bedera
One common belief is that our colleges and universities are safe spaces and, if we are subjected to sexual violence, our schools will protect us. Unfortunately, that is not true for so many people. In fact, victims are often retraumatized by th...
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1:13:55
170. Choosing Not to Become a Mother: My So-Called Selfish Life with Therese Shechter
Is motherhood the default? Are people without children monsters? Is it ok to be childfree and happy? Raquel and Jennifer talk about all of this and more with this week's guest Therese Schechter.Therese Shechter is an award-winning filmm...
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59:53
169. Project 2025: Dismantling Democracy with Raquel and Jennifer
Project 2025 - it's all over the news and everyone's talking about it. Or they should be. What is it? Why should we care? To be fair, it's to be expected that a candidate for president will have a plan (not just a concept of a plan...) for how ...
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1:02:42
168. Boymom with Ruth Whippman
Are boys destined to become incels, misogynists, and emotionally stunted? When it does happen is patriarchy to blame? Can parents do something to prevent toxic masculinity from ruining their sweet little angels? Can grown men reparent themselve...
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58:54
167. Adulting: What Do We Need To Know About Car Insurance with guest Caroline Monsewicz
What do most of us really know about car insurance? Why is it necessary, besides that it might be legally required? What choices are best for me, for my family, for my new driver? We get into all of this (and more) with guest Caroline Monsewicz...
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1:13:16
166. Our Feelings About the Future Madam President
We are beyond excited about Vice President Kamala Harris as the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee! We share all of our feelings, hopes and dreams about the future of our country with Kamala Harris as our next president. Join the discussion a...
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Season 1
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Episode 166
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59:35
165. How to Deal with the Pain of Human Relationships with guest Celia Landman
We are all in relationship - with ourselves, family, friends, society. With that comes great joy and, sometimes, pain. How can we handle that pain in a way that doesn't add to the pain? How can we handle that pain so that we can show up for our...
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1:04:59
164. Former Racist & Ex-Con The White George Spills The Tea
What happens when a racist goes to jail? In George Sedberry, Jr.'s case, he becomes vulnerable enough to listen and learn, and his life opens up. Then his mission to visit all 100+ HBCUs and tell the little-known history of Black Americans begi...
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1:12:05
163. Book Chat: A Well-Trained Wife by Tia Levings - Raquel & Jennifer talk about Christian patriarchy
The conversation around Christian patriarchy continues in this week's episode as Raquel and Jennifer discuss Tia Levings memoir A Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy. Learn more about the movement that threatens to destroy ou...
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Season 1
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Episode 163
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51:48
162. At Your Cervix: Gynecological Teaching Associate Work and Medical Sexual Assault with guest A'magine Goddard
In this week's episode, Raquel and Jennifer talk to guest A'magine Goddard about the intersection of medical training and consent. A’magine Goddard has been teaching and speaking about feminism and sexuality for over two decades. A...
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1:01:37
161. Surrogacy, Judaism and Pregnancy Loss with Guest Kelila Green Siciliano
Being a surrogate is a selfless and noble act but it's also complicated and emotional. Add in religious considerations pregnancy loss and everything is heightened almost beyond measure. In this week's episode, Raquel and Jennifer speak with gue...
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57:35
160. What Is Your Anger Trying To Tell You? with guest Bronwyn Schweigerdt
We're talking about anger in this week's episode. Given the state of the world it's no wonder that anger is a repeat topic of conversation. Listen in as we speak with guest Bronwyn Schweigerdt about anger and what it might be trying to tell us....
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55:03
159. Breaking Away from Christian Patriarchy with guest Cait West
In this week's episode, Raquel and Jennifer speak with guest Cait West about her new book, Rift: A Memoir of Breaking Away from Christian Patriarchy, which chronicles her upbringing in the world of ultra-conservative, high control, patriarchal ...
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50:28
158. Natural Hair Has Always Been Political: Trauma, Tresses & Truth with guest Lyzette Wanzer
What is natural hair? Why are we talking about it? Find out in this week's episode where Raquel and Jennifer dive into it with guest Lyzette Wanzer. Lyzette Wanzer’s work appears in over thirty literary journals and books. Her book, TRA...
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Season 1
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Episode 158
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58:23
157. We Are Three! Happy Anniversary, Madness Cafe!
Many heartfelt thanks to everyone who supports the show!In this week's episode, Raquel and Jennifer celebrate their 3rd anniversary! Join in as they revisit the very first episode of the podcast, reminisce about their initial vis...
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Season 1
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Episode 157
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56:05