Podcast
Madness Cafe
Hosted by Raquel Howard and Jennifer Bolanos · EN
A feminist current events/social commentary podcast where we discuss politics, health and wellness and women's rights issues.
30episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
241. BANNED BOOKS SERIES: Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
Feb 2601:15:04Tap to summarizeJoin the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode!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.Support the showBe 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 madnesscafepodcast@gmail.com.Share the episode with a friend and have your own conversation. And don't forget to rate and review the show wherever you listen!Thanks!
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240. Mission: Motherhood with guest Cheri Bergeron
Feb 1900:53:58Tap to summarizeJoin the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode!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."Where to find Cheri Bergeron:Website: https://www.cheribergeron.com/Cheri's Choice: https://www.cherischoice.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheribergeron/Support the showBe 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 madnesscafepodcast@gmail.com.Share the episode with a friend and have your own conversation. And don't forget to rate and review the show wherever you listen!Thanks!
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239. Parasocial Relationships
Feb 1200:59:34Tap to summarizeJoin the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode!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 the characters on the screen.”In our increasingly digital and online world, parasocial relationships can develop with YouTubers, content creators on social media, podcasters, celebrities - the list is practically endless. Tune in to hear about our parasocial relationships and our feelings about the phenomenon. Don't forget to share whether you have any parasocial relationships and with whom?Support the showBe 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 madnesscafepodcast@gmail.com.Share the episode with a friend and have your own conversation. And don't forget to rate and review the show wherever you listen!Thanks!
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238. The Sober Shift by Suzanne Warye
Feb 500:59:06Tap to summarizeJoin the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode!"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 and tools along with stories of other women's journeys with sobriety. Our conversation with Suzanne is hopeful, helpful, and full of compassion and humor. Where to find Suzanne Wayre:Instagram: @suzannewayre, @thesobermomlifePodcast: The Sober Mom LifeBook: The Sober ShiftSupport the showBe 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 madnesscafepodcast@gmail.com.Share the episode with a friend and have your own conversation. And don't forget to rate and review the show wherever you listen!Thanks!
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237. Just STOP: Unsolicited Advice
Jan 2900:56:45Tap to summarizeJoin the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode!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. After listening to the episode, let us know about your experience with unsolicited advice - either receiving it or giving it. Join the conversation!Support the showBe 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 madnesscafepodcast@gmail.com.Share the episode with a friend and have your own conversation. And don't forget to rate and review the show wherever you listen!Thanks!
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236. BANNED BOOKS SERIES: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Jan 2201:02:11Tap to summarizeJoin the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode!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 include Little Women in our Banned Books Series. If you've read Little Women, seen any of the movies or other adaptations, we'd love to know your thoughts. If you haven't read the book or seen any of the movies, why not - not interested, don't think it applies to you, haven't had time, etc.? Join the conversation and let us know!Support the showBe 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 madnesscafepodcast@gmail.com.Share the episode with a friend and have your own conversation. And don't forget to rate and review the show wherever you listen!Thanks!
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235. Is Your Retirement Story Based Upon Fear?
Jan 1501:05:02Tap to summarizeJoin the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode!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. Photo by - Landsmann - on UnsplashSupport the showBe 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 madnesscafepodcast@gmail.com.Share the episode with a friend and have your own conversation. And don't forget to rate and review the show wherever you listen!Thanks!
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234. Miscellaneous Musings
Dec 2500:58:32Tap to summarizeJoin the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode!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.Support the showBe 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 madnesscafepodcast@gmail.com.Share the episode with a friend and have your own conversation. And don't forget to rate and review the show wherever you listen!Thanks!
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233. Witchy Women with N.G. Avant
Dec 1800:58:24Tap to summarizeJoin the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode!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 their resilience are at the heart of both series. Tune into the discussion to hear how writing has been a huge part of N.G.'s healing while shaping her voice and her process. Where to find N.G. Avant: Website: ngavant.caInstagram: @NGAvantAuthorEmail: author@ngavant.caSupport the showBe 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 madnesscafepodcast@gmail.com.Share the episode with a friend and have your own conversation. And don't forget to rate and review the show wherever you listen!Thanks!
Transcribe →62. Shed Your Mask
Sep 1, 2022Tap to summarizeJoin the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode!Raquel and Jennifer get personal in this episode. They talk about melancholy, perimenopause, post menopause, societal conditioning and the mask many of us walk around with daily. It's time to shed your mask.Mentioned in this episode:Menopause: What We Deserve to Know with Dr. Jen Gunter - We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle, https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/menopause-what-we-deserve-to-know-with-dr-jen-gunter/id1564530722?i=1000558697157Better Sex & Lives in Menopause with Dr. Jen Gunter - We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle, https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-sex-lives-in-menopause-with-dr-jen-gunter/id1564530722?i=1000558932949Yoga with Adriene - https://yogawithadriene.com/, https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadrieneWe Wear the Mask by Paul Laurence DunbarWe wear the mask that grins and lies,It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—This debt we pay to human guile;With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,And mouth with myriad subtleties.Why should the world be over-wise,In counting all our tears and sighs?Nay, let them only see us, while We wear the mask.We smile, but, O great Christ, our criesTo thee from tortured souls arise.We sing, but oh the clay is vileBeneath our feet, and long the mile;But let the world dream otherwise, We wear the mask!Let Raquel and Jennifer know what you think about this and other episodes of Madness Cafe on IG @madnesscafepodcast or by email at madnesscafepodcast@gmail.com,And don't forget to rate and review the show wherever you listen!Thanks for listening and responding!Support the showBe 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 madnesscafepodcast@gmail.com.Share the episode with a friend and have your own conversation. And don't forget to rate and review the show wherever you listen!Thanks!
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