Madness Cafe
A feminist current events/social commentary podcast where we discuss politics, health and wellness and women's rights issues.
265. Liberate Your Business with guest Becky Mollenkamp
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In this episode guest Becky Mollenkamp comes back to Madness Cafe to discuss her new book, Liberate Your Business. In the book Becky delves into how business can be more than, different than, better than what we've always seen; business (and work, in general) can be liberatory and can help bring about the changes that we're longing for. As Becky states on her website, "The mediocre white man's playbook was never written for you." Shaped by Black feminist thought, disability justice, and abolitionist frameworks...
MINISODE: They're trying to break us, gaslight us, and put us in "our place".
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Trigger warning: violence. If you need to skip this episode to protect your peace, please do so and come back for the next episode.
In this week's episode, we talk about how the recent violence against women and people of the global majority is affecting us.
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264. We Have A Literacy Crisis
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In this episode, we talk about the current literacy crisis among both children and adults in the U.S.Â
Mentioned in or inspiration for this episode:
https://www.thenationalliteracyinstitute.com/2024-2025-literacy-statistics
https://edtrust.org/blog/the-literacy-crisis-in-the-u-s-is-deeply-concerning-and-totally-preventable/
https://edtrust.org/blog/how-complex-decoding-challenges-can-block-comprehension-for-older-readers/
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/01/americas-reading-crisis-that-no-one-wants-to-talk-about/
About The Right to Read Film — The Right to Read Film
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MINISODE: What Is End Times Fascism?
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This minisode was inspired by an episode of The New York Times podcast The Interview where guests Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor discuss end times fascism.
The Interview:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naomi-klein-and-astra-taylor-say-the-end-of-the-world/id1624946521?i=1000789153139
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263. BANNED BOOKS SERIES: The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood with guest Carolyn Crane
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This month's banned book is The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood, the second book in the MaddAdam trilogy. The first book in the trilogy, Oryx and Crake, was discussed in episode 189 which aired on February 6, 2025. We are fortunate to have our dear friend Carolyn Crane of The Whimsy Farm podcast on the show to discuss The Year of the Flood with us.Â
Where to find Carolyn Crane: https://whimsyfarm.net/
Mentioned in this episode: h...
262. Storytelling Is Powerful: Witchy Women Hammer with N.G. Avant
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This week's episode features return guest N.G. Avant joining us to discuss her new book Witchy Women: Hammer. In this book, the 4 main characters travel back in time for the greater good of women as well as that of society. Tune in to this episode to hear why storytelling is so important in imagining and bringing about a better future for all of us.Â
Where to find N.G. Avant:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p...
261. BANNED BOOKS SERIES: The Giver by Lois Lowry
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We’re back with another banned book discussion; this month’s book is The Giver by Lois Lowry. Tune in to hear our thoughts about The Giver.
Mentioned in this episode: https://thisbookisbanned.com/banned/the-giver-banned/
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260. The Geography of Desire with guest Linda Gambill
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At the young age of 14, guest Linda Gambill decided that she wanted to join the Peace Corps. In her early 20s, Linda took the plunge and became one of the many Peace Corps volunteers in 1978. In her memoir, The Geography of Desire, Linda takes us along as she revisits her time in The Gambia. If you ever wanted to know what it's really like to be a volunteer in a foreign land, this is the episode for you.Â
Linda Gambill has been a...
259. We Are Matriarchy with guest Sam Cross
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We're starting a new, periodic series on the show about envisioning matriarchy. This episode is such a great way to start this series. Our guest this week, Sam Cross, literally wrote a book about it - Manifesting Matriarcy. In this episode, we talk about what matriarchy really is, how it can show up now in our daily lives, and what we can do to help bring it about for all of us.Â
Sam Cross is a spiritual teacher and artist. She channels t...
258. BANNED BOOKS SERIES: The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris
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It's time for another installment of our Banned Books Series! This time we're discussing Zakiya Dalila Harris' debut novel, The Other Black Girl. Tune in to hear our conversation about the book and what it says about the lack of diverse representation in the publishing industry, tokenism, and what it means to be the "other Black girl".
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257. Midlife Women Are Full of Anger and Rage with guest Jen Gallagher
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In this episode, guest Jen Gallagher of Jen Gallagher Counseling LLC joins the show to talk anger and rage in midlife women. In her work as a limited licensed psychologist, owner of Jen Gallagher Counseling LLC, a certified menopause mental health provider and a recovering 'nice girl’, Jen focuses her practice on midlife women and their rage. Tune in to this conversation to learn more about rage and anger and their rightful place in the experiences of midlife women.Â
Whe...
MINISODE: Pink Pill Ideology
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The topic of this minisode is Pink Pill Ideology. Not quite sure what that is - here's the link to the Instagram post that inspired this conversation: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZaBSGMq29F/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Has your social media feed been infiltrated by Pink Pill Ideology? Or your real life? We'd love to hear about your experience!
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256. BANNED BOOKS SERIES: Well-Read Black Girl by Glory Edim
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What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “well read”? Books written by a bunch of dead white men probably comes to mind. Thankfully, Glory Edim’s anthology Well-Read Black Girl turns that on its head by focusing on literature written by Black women. Tune in to hear our thoughts.
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255. Changes
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Big changes are coming to Madness Cafe! We go into detail about what, when, and why in this episode.
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Be part of the conversation by sharing your thoughts about this episode, what you may have learned, how the conversation affected you. You can reach Raquel and Jennifer on IG @madnesscafepodcast or by email at [email protected].
Share the episode with a friend and have your own conversation. And don't forget to rate...
254. The Dementia Catch-22 with guest Erica Baccus
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Erica Baccus and her husband John were faced with the emotionally fraught decision of whether (and then how and when) to end John’s life when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Erica’s book A Promise Kept chronicles their love story and Erica’s promise to honor John’s wish to die with dignity. Death is a topic that our society doesn’t handle well; hopefully our discussion and Erica and John’s journey can help.
Where to find Erica Baccus and her...
253. BANNED BOOKS SERIES: Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
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The next book in our Banned Books Series is Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic. In it, Bechdel dives into her relationship with her father, their sexuality, and his death - all illustrated by the author. Each picture holds true to the adage that “a picture is worth a thousand words“.Â
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253. Cry For Help: What Are You Gonna Do About the State of Our World?
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You’ve seen us cry many times, but this episode feels different. The world is truly complicated and problematic at times - especially now. But, what do we do about it? This is our cry for help.
Photo by The New York Public Library on Unsplash
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252. Love and Narcissism with guest Dr. Susan E. Schwartz
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Narcissism, for good or bad, is a bit of a hot topic right now. But, what do we really know about narcissism? Dr. Susan E. Schwartz comes back to talk to us about narcissism (and love) from the perspective of Jungian analysis.Â
More about Susan E. Schwartz, PhD: Dr. Schwartz has trained in Switzerland as a Jungian analyst. A member of the International Association of Analytical Psychology, (IAAP) and a presenter at conferences, workshops and on YouTube, she has authored n...
251. Are There Two Distinct Feminine Wounds Under Patriarchy?
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Do Black women and white women experience patriarchy differently? If so, how? This conversation is inspired by a post on Instagram by @bunmisupreme.Â
The inspiration for this episode: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTx37k6DmE0/?igsh=MWtvMzQwamdna2pjMQ==
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250. One Million More Midwives with guest Liselotte Kweekel
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*** Correction: "I did notice one mistake at the end of the conversation regarding a statistic. I said that maternal mortality is 4 women per 1,000 live births in The Netherlands versus 1,000 out of 1,000 live births in other countries. What I meant to say was 4 per 100,000 and 1,000 per 100,000 live births." - Liselotte
May 5 is International Day of the Midwife and the theme this year is "One Million More Midwives". The message is simple but urgent: the...
249. BANNED BOOKS SERIES: Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller
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This month's installment of our Banned Books Series is Kirsten Miller's novel Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books. Joining the discussion this month is fan and friend of the pod Charie Procter (who also happens to be one of Raquel's sorority sisters from their alma mater Vanderbilt University). This month's book is a testament to the importance of books, the influence of librarians, and the significance of finding the right book at the right time. Tune in to hear the discussion and let...
248. GLP-1s, Body Fascism and the Effects of Fascism On Women's and Men's Bodies
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GLP-1s, trad wives, fat phobia, body policing, thinness as a moral imperative, performative masculinity and femininity. Everywhere you turn someone is talking about weight and fascism; but are the two related? We dive into the connection in this week's episode. Join us down this rabbit hole, won't you? What are your thoughts about body fascism?
Consulted for this episode:Â
Let Us Explain: Body Fascism – Scalawag
Feminism, Fascism, & the Future podcast - No Fat...
247. Turn to Stone: A Memoir with guest Emily Meg Weinstein
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In this week's episode author Emily Meg Weinstein joins us to discuss her memoir Turn to Stone. Emily does so much more than just chronicle a significant time in her life or regale the reader with tales of her rock climbing adventures, she examines her own fears and desires, leading to realizations that are simultaneously personal and universal. This is a conversation of and for the heart. We hope you enjoy it.
More about Emily Meg Weinstein:
Emily...
246. Book Chat: Just Pills by Rebecca Kelliher
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In this week's episode, we discuss Just Pills: The Extraordinary Story of a Revolution in Abortion Care by Rebecca Kelliher. This book details the history of mifepristone and misoprostol - the two pills used in medication abortions.Â
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245. BANNED BOOKS SERIES: The Vagina Monologues by V (fka Eve Ensler)
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This month's installment of our Banned Books Series is all about The Vagina Monologues - the play written by V (formerly known as Eve Ensler) in 1994. "Based on dozens of interviews V conducted with women, the play addressed women’s sexuality and the social stigma surrounding rape and abuse, creating a new conversation about and with women." The Vagina Monologues is just as important and powerful now as it was more than 30 years ago. Tune in to hear our thoughts about the play, vaginas, an...
244. Are Women Protecting the Patriarchy? with guest Mansi Sethiya
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We talk often on this show about the collapse of patriarchy, listening to new and different voices and perspectives, and the envisioning of a new way forward for society. It's also important to talk about how women are supporting patriarchy. This week's guest is one of those voices examining our present while envisioning a new future - Mansi Sethiya is an advocate, teacher, and institutional critic whose work bridges the classroom and the courtroom. She is also a TEDx Speaker who spoke about empowering...
243. The Epstein Files: We Deserve Better
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Content warning: In this week's episode, we share our thoughts about The Epstein Files. This is a heavy topic riddled with powerful emotions. Please take care of yourself and prepare yourself however you need to in order to listen. Or sit this one out if that is what is best for you.Â
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242. Decentering Men with guest Melissa Tiers
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Although this week's guest, Melissa Tiers, focuses professionally on coaching the unconscious mind via hypnosis, she speaks passionately and often on social media about issues near and dear to our hearts here at Madness Cafe; specifically, patriarchy, decentering men, and how we've all been primed to act (and, yes, believe) in certain ways by the world we live in. And that world is shaped in very large part by patriarchy. In this discussion, we wrestle with the following questions: How much are we effected...
241. BANNED BOOKS SERIES: Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
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The next book in our Banned Books Series is Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler. Published in 1993, this near dystopian, post-apocalyptic allegory explores themes of adaptation and change, environmental and social breakdown, survival and resilience, and hyperempathy and interconnectedness. Tune in to hear our discussion about the book, its relevance, and why society needs to hear the message contained in its pages.
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240. Mission: Motherhood with guest Cheri Bergeron
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Cheri Bergeron always knew that motherhood was in her future. Indeed, she made it her mission to become a mother. Cheri chronicles all that she went through on the way to motherhood in her memoir Mission Motherhood: Writing A New Fairy Tale of Love and Family. Tune in to this candid discussion to learn about all that our guest goes through to build her family. "If the glass slipper doesn't fit, screw the fairy tale! Become a mother on your own terms."
<...
239. Parasocial Relationships
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According to Psychology Today, parasocial relationships are "one-sided relationships in which a person develops a strong sense of connection, intimacy, or familiarity with someone they don’t know, most often celebrities or media personalities. These relationships exist only in the mind of the individual, who experiences a bond despite the lack of reciprocity. The term was coined by psychologists Donald Horton and R. Richard Wohl in 1956 when televisions became widely available, they noted that TV viewers began to develop the 'illusion of intimacy' with th...
238. The Sober Shift by Suzanne Warye
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"Dry January", "Sober Curious", "taking a break" - does any of this sound familiar? Many of us have questioned our relationship to alcohol, whether because of a rough morning after a night of debauchery, just because, or for any number of reasons. Our guest, Suzanne Warye, had her own reasons for stopping drinking. She writes about her experience in her new book The Sober Shift: A Moder-Day Guide to Living an Abundant Sober Life. In sharing her sober journey, Suzanne also provides helpful information...
237. Just STOP: Unsolicited Advice
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We've talked about consent and autonomy in relation to a number of topics on the show, but this is a bit different - unsolicited advice. We don't usually think about consent and autonomy in this regard but maybe we should. We dive right into how to handle receiving unsolicited advice and what to consider when tempted to give it.Â
After listening to the episode, let us know about your experience with unsolicited advice - either receiving it or giving it. Join the c...
236. BANNED BOOKS SERIES: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
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The 1st book in our 2026 Banned Books Series is Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Whether you've read the book or not, many of us know the story of Little Women. In this episode we go beyond the story told in the pages of Little Women to discuss Louisa May Alcott, how Little Women was influenced by her own life, the effect the book has had on so many, the movie adaptations, etc. We also dive into why it was important to us to...
235. Is Your Retirement Story Based Upon Fear?
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In this week's episode friend of the pod Tiffany Mazurek is back! This time she joins us to talk about retirement - current reality, dreams, possibilities, and underlying money stories. True to form, we're candid and vulnerable about our reality and fears around money and retirement. After tuning in, join the discussion and let us know your thoughts about your own retirement and how you're thinking about it.Â
Photo by - Landsmann - on Unsplash
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234. Miscellaneous Musings
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This week's episode is chock full of our musings about life and the things on our minds. Tune in to hear what we're thinking about these days - from last minute pivots to what to do for the next 50 years.
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233. Witchy Women with N.G. Avant
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Our guest this week, N.G. Avant, is an award-winning indie author who made the leap into fiction after working in municipal politics. Her first series, Capital City, grew out of her experience in politics. She joins us to discuss her new book Nexus, which is the first book in her new series, Witchy Women. This series continues N.G,'s focus on strong female leads, resilience, and empowerment while weaving in themes of politics, justice, and magic. Women, their journeys, their friendships, and...
232. 7 Types of Rest: Sleep Alone Is Not Enough
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Ah, rest - arguably most of us don't get enough of it. Did you know that sleep is only one way to rest? In fact, there are 7! Tune in to find out what the 7 types are and why they're important.
Photo by Baptista Ime James on Unsplash
Articles referenced for this episode:
https://www.apa.org/topics/mental-health/seven-rest-types
https://ideas.ted.com/the-7-types-of-rest-that-every-person-needs/
https://www.verywellmind.com/types-of-rest-11794029
...
231. BANNED BOOKS SERIES: Dear Martin by Nic Stone
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Dear Martin by Nic Stone stands as the final book in our 2025 Banned Books Series. Dear Martin tells the story of a Black teenager trying to work through the effects of being racially profiled by the police. But that's only one part of the story; there's quite a bit packed into this concise, tightly written book. Tune in to hear our reactions to Nic Stone's brilliant and thought-provoking debut. We also share our reflections on how we have been affected by reading and discussing...
230. Come On Now?!! Did Liberal Feminism Ruin the Workplace?
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By now, just about everyone has commented on the New York Times OpEd piece "Did Liberal Feminism Ruin the Workplace?". Well, now it's our turn. Tune in to hear our thoughts about the saga.
Mentioned in this episode:
- "Did Liberal Feminism Ruin the Workplace?" https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/opinion/women-workplace-feminism-conservative.html
- "Women Didn't Ruin the Workplace. Capitalism Did." https://www.salon.com/2025/11/10/women-didnt-ruin-the-workplace-capitalism-did/
- "When the Headline Gets It Wrong" https://msmagazine...
