Mad Tea

She warned them. No one listened. Then everything burned. In this episode of  Mad Tea , Matt and Megan take on the myth of Cassandra—the Trojan prophetess cursed to know the truth but never be believed. But this isn’t just ancient history. The curse lives on in today’s world, especially for those labeled mad. From psychiatric survivors to prophetic voices dismissed as delusional, we explore why so...

Mad Tea remains ad free, to help us in this effort please consider becoming a supporter for as little as $1 on Patreon, your support helps us continue what we do and will expand our vision. ⁠SUPPORT US HERE⁠ A man walks into a hospital seeking care. Days later, he’s dead—his body broken, his ribs shattered. The official response? “These things happen.” In this episode, Matt Bodett and Megan Sterli...

Politicians had a saying: "To the victor go the spoils." But what happens when the spoils are the lives of asylum inmates? In this episode, Matt and Megan unravel the  Boodlers’ Scandal —a web of corruption so deep it bled Cook County dry while inmates at Dunning starved, shivered, and suffered. From rotten meat and stolen funds to secret backroom deals in smoke-filled saloons, this was...

Chicago’s politicians had a saying: "To the victor go the spoils." But what happens when the spoils are the lives of asylum inmates? In this episode, Matt and Megan unravel the  Boodlers’ Scandal —a web of corruption so deep it bled Cook County dry while inmates at Dunning starved, shivered, and suffered. From rotten meat and stolen funds to secret backroom deals in smoke-filled saloons,...

This episode breaks down the alarming resurgence of asylum-like policies targeting disabled people, tracing the echoes of past abuses into today’s political landscape. As politicians propose work farms for the mentally ill and police detain people for appearing unstable, it’s clear that the rhetoric has shifted, but the oppressive mindset remains. We urgently examine how forced care is being weapo...

As Illinois grew, so did its need for asylums—but the path to so-called “care” was paved with legal loopholes, power struggles, and devastating personal costs. In this episode, Matt Bodett and Megan Sterling dive into the forgotten histories of madness in Illinois, tracing the forces that shaped its asylum system. From Dorothea Dix’s cross-country fight for humane treatment to Edward Mead’s ill-fa...

This is going to seem out of place... But.... we wanted to get this episode out to everyone before the exhitbion came down. So, listen to the episode and stop by the Center for Mad Culture March 28th or 29th to see the work before it comes down! Photographer melissa kreider joins Megan Sterling to discuss  WORTHY , an exhibition that sheds light on survivors of intimate partner violence who have b...

Before asylums stretched across the American landscape, madness was met with chains, neglect, and fear. Then came  moral therapy —a vision of kindness, calm, and care. It promised that mad people could be guided back to reason, not through force, but through routine, tranquility, and gentle hands. But was it truly freedom, or just another cage? In this episode, Matt and Megan trace the origins of...

Welcome to  Mad Tea , a podcast where madness is reclaimed as a cultural identity—bold, vibrant, and unapologetic. In this inaugural episode, Matt Bodett introduces the podcast’s purpose: to challenge dominant narratives, explore the histories and aesthetics of madness, and create space for mad voices. From ancient myths to modern psychiatry, madness has been shaped by power—feared, institutionali...