Madness Cafe

Raquel Howard and Jennifer Bolanos
  • 5.0 (36)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A feminist current events/social commentary podcast where we discuss politics, health and wellness and women's rights issues.

  1. 242. Decentering Men with guest Melissa Tiers

    2D AGO

    242. Decentering Men with guest Melissa Tiers

    Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode! 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 by our environment? Are we even aware of the ways in which we're influenced by the world around us? How does that show up in our day-to-day interactions? What can we do about it? Heady stuff but, we're here for it.  Melissa Tiers is a multi-award-winning author, speaker, and hypnosis trainer. She is also the founder of The Center for Integrative Hypnosis and The Ethical Coaching Collective with an international private practice. Where to find Melissa Tiers: Instagram: @melissatiers Facebook: @melissa.tiers Website: Melissa Tiers | Coaching the Unconscious Mind Support the show 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 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!

    1h 23m
  2. 241. BANNED BOOKS SERIES: Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

    FEB 26

    241. BANNED BOOKS SERIES: Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

    Join 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 show 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 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!

    1h 15m
  3. 240. Mission: Motherhood with guest Cheri Bergeron

    FEB 19

    240. Mission: Motherhood with guest Cheri Bergeron

    Join 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 show 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 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!

    54 min
  4. 239. Parasocial Relationships

    FEB 12

    239. Parasocial Relationships

    Join 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 show 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 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!

    1 hr
  5. 238. The Sober Shift by Suzanne Warye

    FEB 5

    238. The Sober Shift by Suzanne Warye

    Join 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, @thesobermomlife Podcast: The Sober Mom Life Book: The Sober Shift Support the show 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 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!

    59 min
  6. 237. Just STOP: Unsolicited Advice

    JAN 29

    237. Just STOP: Unsolicited Advice

    Join 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 show 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 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!

    57 min
  7. 236. BANNED BOOKS SERIES: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

    JAN 22

    236. BANNED BOOKS SERIES: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

    Join 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 show 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 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!

    1h 2m
  8. 235. Is Your Retirement Story Based Upon Fear?

    JAN 15

    235. Is Your Retirement Story Based Upon Fear?

    Join 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 Unsplash Support the show 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 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!

    1h 5m
See All (245)

5
out of 5
36 Ratings

About

A feminist current events/social commentary podcast where we discuss politics, health and wellness and women's rights issues.

Information

  • Creator
    Raquel Howard and Jennifer Bolanos
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    245
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Madness Cafe
  • Show Website
    Madness Cafe