Madness Cafe

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...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! Girl dinner, girl boss, girl math, cool girls. There's so much more to girlhood than these (and other) phrases would have us believe. There is a power and greatness in girls, and in the way they show their resistance. Girls resist in big and small ways - at home, in society, around the world. Jody Myrum's and Ayat...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! Coming into your own and being your authentic self. Living a double life out of fear of losing your job. Both of these were true for this week's guest, Cory Allen. He writes about all of this and more in his debut memoir, Breaking Free: A Saga of Self-Discovery by a Gay Secret Service Agent. In this week's episode...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! In this week's episode, Raquel and Jennifer are joined by Dana Diaz, author of Gasping for Air: The Stranglehold of Narcissistic Abuse - the true story of her decades-long marriage to an emotionally and psychologically abusive narcissist. Despite the trauma, Dana emerges as a feisty, triumphant bad ass! Listen in to he...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! In this week's episode, Raquel and Jennifer are joined by Kirsten Rudberg - author, podcaster (Byte Sized Blessings), screenwriter, clergy (she has her MDiv),  and producer. One of the common denominators in all of this is Kirsten's belief in panentheism - that Spirit/Energy/God/Goddess is in everything, that magi...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! In this week's episode, Raquel and Jennifer speak with author Catherine Hiller about her book, Cybill Unbound, about a woman's sexual adventures from her 40s into her 70s. In stark contrast to society's (or maybe just Hollywood's) view of aging women, Cybill Unbound serves as an example of one woman&apos...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! In this week's episode, Raquel and Jennifer give some life updates and talk about what's on their minds these days. Mentioned in this episode: Podcast | Psychedelics Today Support the show Be part of the conversation by sharing your thoughts about this episode, what you may have learned, how the conversation affec...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! In this week's episode, Raquel and Jennifer speak with Barbra WhiteCrow about her book Trauma Can Be the Fertilizer to Your Bloom and her work around self-acceptance.  Barbra has dedicated her life to service after a life-changing spiritual experience in her early twenties. Her work has changed hundreds of lives and in...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! In this episode, Raquel and Jennifer are joined by speaker, author, consultant, and activist-minded educator Cara Tuttle Bell. In addition to being the author of the book that served as the basis of this conversation, Drowning in Timidity: Women, Politeness & the Power of Assertive Living, Cara has served as Director of...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! In this week's episode, Raquel and Jennifer speak with Arash Azizi - author of "What Iranians Want: Women, Life, Freedom" . Arash has a PhD from NYU and has been an activist for Iran for many years. He is also a Senior Lecturer in History & Political Science at Clemson University and a contributing writer...

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! In this week's episode Raquel and Jennifer are joined by a bevy of goddesses to celebrate Galentine's Day and female friendships. Are you wondering what Galentine's Day is? It's the brainchild of Amy Poehler's character Leslie Knope on the NBC comedy Parks and Recreation - a holiday observed on the...