Madness Cafe

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We're trying something a bit different here at Madness Cafe - minisodes! These are a chance for us to pop in from time to time when we feel the urge to chat a little about a timely topic in the zeitgeist. Our very first minisode is about Black trad wives. We have opinions! (Shocker!) 

What do you think about Black trad wives? 

DM us on Instagram (@madnesscafepodcast) or email us (madnesscafepodcast@gmail.com) and let us know!

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What is ethical non-monogamy? Is it the same as polyamory? Are we talking about swinging? We're talking about all that and more with Lauren Hayes, a relationship coach specializing in supporting ethically non-monogamous (ENM) couples, including swingers and the ENM-curious. You might be surprised about what you learn in this episode.

Lauren Hayes, trained in both life and relationship coaching, helps couples navigate and engage the swinging and non-monogamous community in the healthiest of ways. Her approach aims to help couples build...

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How much do we really know about our parents, grandparents, and our family history? How do they fit into the backdrop of history as a whole? Susan Servais' mother Kathe Mueller Slonim gave her family the gift of her story in the book Escape From Dachau: A True Story of Survival, Courage, and A Daring Escape in the Face of Unthinkable Evil. This book is a memoir couched in history that reads like a novel. Tune in to hear our conversation with Susan about...

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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 with the intention of spreading peace and harmony. Golden Handcuffs is all that and so much more; it's the true story of what so many South Asian (and other immigrant) women endure in America - legal immigrants held down by 21st century laws that threaten their right to...

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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 she healed, in the hopes of helping others. 

Behind the accomplished author, speaker, entrepreneur, philanthropist and advocate is a sexual abuse victim that is passionate about bringing awareness to the impact of sexual trauma through meaningful conversations and system-changing discussions. K...

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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, psilocybin.

We talk about this (and so much more!) with guest Leslie Draffin, a trauma-trained somatic coach, psychedelic microdosing guide & breath and meditation teacher with a special focus on helping women learn the language of their body.  She helps m...

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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; after you listen, please share your thoughts and feelings. Community is going to help us through this. You're a part of this community and we want to hear from you.

We're in for a long ride and we need all...

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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 different emotional space right now, but we still want everyone to read Our Time Is Now. We stand by our view that Stacey Abrams' book is vital and important. And necessary. The truth remains that we aren't taught everything about our system of government and...

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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 Women Changing the World. Timely topic, no? But trust that the lessons in the book are for all women looking to lead and make change whether that's as a business owner, head of household, or future president of the United States. Listen to the...

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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 get to the sexual and creative energy that the patriarchy is so afraid of. That's how we connect to the queen within and let her thrive!

Gao Motsemme is a mother of three who emerged from the ashes...

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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 included in the book, Poetic People Power.

For 20 years, the New York City-based spoken word group Poetic People Power has creatively explored social and political topics, offering insights and solutions to issues that affect our everyday lives and...

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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.

Abby Humphrey has been practicing acupuncture in Ann Arbor since 1999. In 2001, she co-founded the Center for Sacred Living. She has lectured on Chinese Medicine at the University of Michigan School of Public Health and in the intensive Interflex program at the...

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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? What isn't happening? What can be done? We delve into that with guest Nicole Bedera, PhD as we discuss her new book On the Wrong Side: How Universities...

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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 years, she has created a body of work that fuses humor, activism, and personal storytelling to explore a host of thorny questions around women’s roles and identities.

Therese’s mo...

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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 Heritage Foundation's plan which would have lasting negative, earthshattering consequences. In short, it's a plan to dismantle democracy. In this episode, Raquel and Jennifer...

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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, pregnant with her third son, this week's guest, Ruth Whippman, was thinking about all of this and much more. Have a seat and listen in to our conversation with Ruth about...

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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. (Don't forget to ask her about add-on uninsured/underinsured motorist and bodily injury insurance!)

Caroline Monsewicz is a trial attorney with...