Madness Cafe

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! 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 the very people in authority who are supposed to help them. Why? What is happening?...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! 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 filmmaker and the founder of the production company Trixie Films . Over the past 20 year...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! 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 they will govern. But Project 2025 is more than that, it is The He...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! 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 themselves to get back to who they were before society took control? In the wake of #MeToo...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! 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. If you have a question for Caroline, scroll down for her contact information. (...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! 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 and share your thoughts with us. Mentioned in this episode: YouTube: (1) Kamala Ha...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! 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 loved ones in a way that is helpful rather than harmful? We delve into all...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! 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 begins. After all, Black history is American history. Where to find The White Ge...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! 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 our democracy and how Tia Levings escaped it and is now a shining example of h...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! 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. As a queer sexuality educator, she wanted to impact people who were entering the fie...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! 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 guest Kelila Green Siciliano about her decision to become a surrogate and...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! 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. Browyn Schweigerdt may be the most evocative psychotherapist you’...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! 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 religion. The discussion touches on how things started to shift for Cait, ho...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! 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, TRAUMA, TRESSES & TRUTH: Untangling Our Hair Through Personal Narratives (Chicago R...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! 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 visions for the show, and share new dreams for Madness Cafe. Support the show Be part of the...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! Women are woefully underrepresented in politics in the United States. ( https://www.statista.com/topics/10417/women-in-politics-in-the-us/#topicOverview ) But there's one organization dedicated to changing that - EMILYs List, the nation's largest resource for women in politics. EMILYs List works to elect Democrati...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! This week Raquel and Jennifer speak with guest Afarin Ordubadi Bellisario about her novel Silenced Whispers which tells the story of a young Iranian woman's fight for freedom and love amid the struggle between tradition and modernity at the beginning of the 20th century. Historical fiction that holds lessons for today&...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! This week, Raquel and Jennifer speak with Julie Bee - an award-winning entrepreneur who’s been dubbed the “small business fixer” by her clients and peers. With over 15 years in the entrepreneurial field, Julie has solidified her reputation as a dynamic consultant, a riveting speaker, and a leader who sheds light on the dark...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! In this week's episode, Raquel and Jennifer speak with Patrice Scott, Jr., recent graduate in Film and Video Production at Grand Valley State University, about the collaborative journey of creating his short film Songs from the Sky, his college journey, and how art can bring people together. Ways to connect with Patric...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! What comes to mind when you hear the word "erotica"? This week's conversation with guest erotica author Rachel Kramer Bussel may change your mind. Or maybe it won't, but why not listen to the episode and see what comes up. Raquel and Jennifer talk to Rachel about her new book, Lap Dance Lust: A Collectio...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! In this episode, Raquel and Jennifer talk to Dr. Amani Ballour about her experience of survival during Syria's civil war. Dr. Ballour is a distinguished Syrian pediatrician, activist and author. Her memoir, The Cave: A Secret Underground Hospital and One Woman’s Story of Survival in Syria depicts her experience running...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! In this week's episode, Raquel and Jennifer tackle the emotionally charged topic of white women's tears and their weaponization. It's a difficult, but necessary, conversation that needs to happen more often. Mentioned in, or consulted for, this episode: How White Women Use Tears as a Weapon | Awesomely Luvvie...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! In this week's episode, Raquel and Jennifer speak with guest April Brenneman about her transformation from evangelical Christianity to a wider, inclusive, and liberated spirituality. They also discuss April's work as a Somatic Spiritual Companion and her enthusiastic embrace of The Wise Crone. April Brenneman is a...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! In this episode, Raquel and Jennifer discuss reparations - what they are, why they're needed, when they've been paid, what needs to come next, and so much more. It's a big topic fraught with emotional and societal landmines, but that doesn't have to stop the conversation from happening. Be part of the co...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! In this episode, Raquel and Jennifer speak with Jezz Chung about their debut book, This Way to Change: A Gentle Guide to Personal Transformation and Collective Liberation, an inspirational roadmap to changing yourself and the world through self-healing, transformation, and decolonization. Listen in as they talk about the im...