The Women Are Plotting

Jane Gari, Etienne Rose Olivier, Heidi Willis
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Society & Culture

Do you know how to use a rotary phone? Worry about how much Aquanet you inhaled as a teen? Wonder about the creative worlds of writers? Believe belly laughs make the best ab workouts? Seek answers to the mysteries of menopause?    Then welcome to The Women Are Plotting -- a new podcast that allows a peek into the unfiltered minds of three Gen X writers. Give us a listen. And if you like what you hear, tell your friends.   If you have a story or an idea you'd like to share, we'd love to hear from you! Email us at info@thewomenareplotting.com 

  1. 3d ago

    The Women Are Plotting a Revolution: No Work, No Sex, No Patriarchy!

    What if women ran the world? Would we have fewer wars, happier families, better healthcare, and men who were actually allowed to cry? And more importantly, could we bring the patriarchy to its knees simply by refusing to cook, clean, work, or have sex for one week? In this episode of The Women Are Plotting, Etienne, Heidi, and Jane turn to the subject of matriarchy—and this time, they're not just talking about it. They're plotting a revolution! The conversation kicks off with fascinating examples of female-centered societies, from the Mosuo people of China and their unconventional walking marriages to the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, where clan mothers traditionally selected male chiefs and had the authority to remove them. Then Heidi takes everyone into the animal kingdom, where female bonobos, spotted hyenas, orcas, and elephants demonstrate some very different approaches to leadership, cooperation, and dealing with troublesome males. But what would a human matriarchy actually look like? The women imagine a society that values nurturing over competition, community over greed, and emotional well-being over rigid gender roles. They explore how patriarchal expectations hurt men as well as women, why caregiving should be a shared responsibility, and what might happen if we stopped organizing society around power, status, and wealth. Naturally, things take a turn when the discussion moves from imagining a better world to figuring out how to create one. Inspired by Iceland's historic women's strike, the ladies begin planning their own nationwide weeklong protest. No working. No cooking. No childcare duties. And absolutely no sex. Jane has questions. Before long, they're debating the best week to shut down the country, considering Thanksgiving, and dreaming up an entirely new Independence Day—this time featuring the Founding Mothers. Along the way, there's talk of bonobo justice, banishing bad guys to an island, women's solidarity, and whether the patriarchy might finally collapse if women simply stopped doing everything that keeps society running. It's bold, outrageous, occasionally profane, and surprisingly hopeful. Because maybe the answer isn't women becoming more like the men who've been running things. Maybe it's time to imagine an entirely different way of running the world. Join Etienne, Heidi, and Jane as they ask: What would happen if women collectively said, “We quit”? Send us Fan Mail Email us at info@thewomenareplotting.com, and find us on all the socials. Be safe and be excellent to each other.

  2. Oct 22

    No Means No. Why the F#ck Is This Still a Conversation?

    Content Warning: This episode contains candid discussions of sexual assault, rape, coercion, and childhood sexual abuse. Why are we still asking sexual assault survivors what they were wearing, how much they drank, or why they didn't fight back—instead of asking why someone violated their consent? In this deeply personal and unfiltered episode of The Women Are Plotting, Etienne, Heidi, and Jane confront sexual violence, victim-blaming, rape culture, and the devastating consequences of a society that too often protects perpetrators while questioning survivors. The conversation begins with disturbing statistics about sexual assault, including the often-overlooked reality that men can be victims, too. The women examine why so many assaults go unreported and why obtaining justice can be an exhausting, retraumatizing experience. Then the conversation becomes intensely personal. Jane shares the painful experience of disclosing abuse by her stepfather, only to find herself interrogated by her own mother. Heidi recounts sexual assaults she experienced, including one she didn't recognize as rape until years later, when she learned how coercion and trauma can shape a survivor's response. Etienne describes an encounter in which a man refused to let her leave his apartment until she performed a sexual act. Together, they explore the complicated psychology of survival, why some victims maintain relationships with their abusers, and how fear, pressure, and coercion can undermine consent even when someone eventually stops resisting. But this isn't just a conversation about trauma. It's also about accountability, anger, and the urgent need for change. The women challenge the normalization of sexual aggression, question the failures of the justice system, and discuss why men must hold other men accountable when they witness threatening behavior or hear language that glorifies sexual violence. They also tackle a fundamental truth that too many people still misunderstand: consent is required every single time, even within marriage, and it can be withdrawn at any moment. Raw, emotional, sometimes furious, and always unapologetic, this episode is about giving survivors a voice, confronting harmful cultural attitudes, and demanding a world where everyone can feel safe. Because sexual assault is never the victim's fault. And surviving should never mean having to justify what happened to you. Join Etienne, Heidi, and Jane for one of their most personal and important conversations yet. Send us Fan Mail Email us at info@thewomenareplotting.com, and find us on all the socials. Be safe and be excellent to each other.

  3. Oct 15

    Men, That's Not How Vaginas Work!

    How is it possible that we've put men on the moon, mapped the human genome, and developed artificial intelligence, yet some men still don't understand where women pee from? This week on The Women Are Plotting, Etienne, Heidi, and Jane tackle the astonishing—and sometimes downright hilarious—misconceptions men have about women's bodies. And trust us, some of these beliefs will leave you wondering whether anyone was paying attention in sex ed. From men who think women can hold in their periods like pee, to those who believe tampon sizes correspond to vagina sizes, the ladies uncover some truly spectacular examples of anatomical ignorance. Apparently, some men even think women's breasts are permanently stocked with milk, ready to dispense on demand! Jane shares the unforgettable story of how her future husband, after a night of drinking in New York City, decided to conduct his own anatomical research while she peed under a streetlight at 3 a.m. Meanwhile, Etienne draws on her nursing experience to explain just how tricky female anatomy can be—even for medical professionals. But the conversation goes much deeper than clueless men and questionable sex education. The women explore why female bodies have historically been overlooked in medical research, how little many of us learned about our own sexual anatomy, and why ignorance about women's reproductive health becomes especially dangerous when it influences medical treatment and legislation. They also get candid about menopause, hormone replacement therapy, urinary health, the clitoris, orgasms, and why women shouldn't have to accept uncomfortable symptoms as an inevitable part of getting older. Equal parts outrageous, educational, and unapologetically filthy, this episode is a hilarious reminder that women's bodies aren't some unsolvable mystery—we just need to start talking about them. Because if you don't know the difference between a vagina and a urethra, maybe it's time to stop pretending you're an expert on women's bodies. Join Etienne, Heidi, and Jane for another unfiltered conversation about sex, science, aging, and the spectacular things people still don't know about half the human population. Send us Fan Mail Email us at info@thewomenareplotting.com, and find us on all the socials. Be safe and be excellent to each other.

  4. Oct 8

    Can Astrology Predict Your Love Life? Birth Charts, Dating & Destiny

    Can the stars really tell us who we are, who we should date, and whether a relationship is destined to succeed—or is astrology just a bunch of cosmic b******t? This week on The Women Are Plotting, Etienne, Heidi, and Jane dive into the fascinating world of astrology, exploring everything from zodiac signs and birth charts to planetary influences, romantic compatibility, and the possibility that the universe might actually be trying to tell us something. Etienne kicks things off with a surprising discovery: depending on which astrological system you follow, you might not even be the zodiac sign you've believed you were your entire life. Heidi explains how astrology can serve as a tool for self-reflection, while Jane shares how a high school boyfriend first challenged her skepticism about whether the stars could influence our lives. But things get particularly interesting when the conversation turns to dating. Jane reveals how she secretly used detailed birth charts to evaluate potential boyfriends—including the man she's now been with for 26 years. Apparently, knowing a man's birth date, birthplace, and exact time of birth can be pretty valuable information. Especially when his chart suggests a combination of occasional temper tantrums, fierce loyalty, and mind-blowing sex. Meanwhile, Etienne explores her own astrological compatibility, discovers which zodiac signs might make the best romantic partners, and considers whether she should start asking men on dating apps for their birth certificates. The women even stumble upon astrology-based dating apps and contemplate putting them to the test. Along the way, they discuss Mercury retrograde, sun signs versus moon and rising signs, the ancient history of astrology, and whether birth charts can help identify relationship patterns before you waste years on the wrong person. Funny, candid, occasionally filthy, and surprisingly thought-provoking, this episode asks one big question: Is your love life written in the stars—or are we just looking for a better way to weed out the assholes? Join Etienne, Heidi, and Jane as they explore whether astrology is ancient wisdom, a useful tool for self-discovery, or simply a really entertaining way to explain why your ex was such a disaster. Send us Fan Mail Email us at info@thewomenareplotting.com, and find us on all the socials. Be safe and be excellent to each other.

  5. Oct 1

    Gen X: The Last Analog Generation in a Digital World

    Remember when you could make a complete ass of yourself without someone recording it and posting it on the internet? Welcome to the Gen X experience. This week on The Women Are Plotting, Etienne, Heidi, and Jane explore what it means to be the generation that grew up analog and somehow ended up living in an entirely digital world. From rotary phones, cassette tapes, Walkmans, and film cameras to smartphones, dating apps, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence, Gen X has experienced an extraordinary technological transformation. But just because we've embraced the digital revolution doesn't mean we have to like everything about it. The women reminisce about the freedom of growing up without social media, when your most embarrassing moments weren't permanently documented and you had to wait to develop your photographs to find out whether you actually captured anything worth keeping. Jane shares how testing a virtual tour at work left her curled up in a ball under her desk, while Etienne reveals the dating-app encounter that had a younger man asking her to fulfill his granny fantasy. And Heidi raises the question of whether all this technological convenience is worth the privacy we've surrendered along the way. The conversation also takes on AI, surveillance, subscription culture, increasingly complicated appliances, and the infuriating experience of trying to reach an actual human being in customer service. Through it all, one thing becomes clear: Gen X knows how to navigate the digital world, but we still remember when you could fix your own appliances, leave the house without being tracked, and make questionable decisions without leaving a permanent digital footprint. We may have adapted to the future, but that doesn't mean we've forgotten the past—or that we're particularly happy about all these f*****g subscriptions. Join us for a hilarious, nostalgic, and occasionally exasperated look at life as the generation caught between two very different worlds. Send us Fan Mail Email us at info@thewomenareplotting.com, and find us on all the socials. Be safe and be excellent to each other.

  6. Sep 24

    Digital Infidelity: Is It Cheating If You Never Touch?

    Does it count as cheating if you never actually touch the other person? This week on The Women Are Plotting, Etienne, Heidi, and Jane dive into the increasingly complicated world of digital infidelity—and quickly discover that cheating in 2026 looks a whole lot different than it did when they were young. From flirty emails and AOL chat rooms to sexting, secret DMs, dating apps, porn, Fitbit affairs, and even AI boyfriends and girlfriends, the women debate where harmless fantasy ends and betrayal begins. And this one gets personal. Etienne confesses that she was an early adopter of digital infidelity back in the 1990s, when an office email flirtation turned into a very real—and spectacularly regrettable—encounter. Jane reveals her own experience sexting strangers in AOL chat rooms during a rough patch in a long-term relationship. And then there's the woman who used Fitbit to flirt with strangers…until her suspicious husband created a fake account and unknowingly got his own wife to flirt with him. But things get even stranger when the conversation turns to AI. If you're married but getting emotional support, romantic validation, or sexual gratification from an AI companion, are you cheating—even though the “other person” isn't a person at all? Funny, candid, occasionally filthy, and surprisingly thought-provoking, this episode asks a very modern relationship question: If you'd have to hide it from your partner, does that make it cheating? Send us Fan Mail Email us at info@thewomenareplotting.com, and find us on all the socials. Be safe and be excellent to each other.

  7. Sep 17

    Finding Magic in a Harsh World: Signs, Synchronicities & Everyday Miracles

    What if the magic we’re looking for is already happening all around us? This week on The Women Are Plotting, Etienne, Heidi, and Jane explore how to find whimsy, joy, intuition, and those strange little moments that make you wonder if the universe might be trying to tell you something. Jane dives into the growing embrace of whimsy as a form of rebellion against doomscrolling, conformity, and an increasingly harsh world. Heidi shares why she believes in following the breadcrumbs—and how an annoying delay might sometimes turn out to be exactly what you needed. Then things get seriously weird. Jane recounts a vivid dream about dying in a car accident—only to find herself months later on the same road, hearing the same Billy Joel song from her dream just before a semi runs a red light. Etienne talks about meditation, manifestation, energy, and what happened when she started asking the universe for exactly what she wanted. And Jane shares the moving story of her daughter asking a late childhood friend to send her a deer as a sign…and what happened next. From premonitions and synchronicities to four-leaf clovers, manifestation, mysterious delays, and simply stopping to watch a bee disappear into a flower, the women ask: What happens when we stop dismissing the weird stuff and start paying attention? Maybe finding magic doesn’t require believing in the impossible. Maybe it just requires looking for it. Send us Fan Mail Email us at info@thewomenareplotting.com, and find us on all the socials. Be safe and be excellent to each other.

  8. Sep 10

    Stop Shrinking Yourself: The Gen X Guide to Being Authentic

    How much of yourself have you changed, hidden, or made smaller just to keep other people comfortable? In this deeply personal—and frequently hilarious—episode of The Women Are Plotting, Etienne Rose Olivier, Heidi Willis, and Jane Gari explore what it really means to live authentically, especially as Gen X women who grew up learning to be agreeable, fit in, and care far too much about what other people thought. The conversation begins with everything from targeted ads pushing the so-called “cool midlife fashion uniform” to the complicated meaning behind Shakespeare's famous “to thine own self be true.” But it quickly gets much deeper. Jane reflects on slowly losing parts of herself in a seven-year relationship and eventually realizing that the person she had become no longer wanted the same life. Etienne opens up about how gradually silencing herself in a relationship left her feeling trapped in her own home and disconnected from who she really was. Heidi discusses neurodivergent masking, making yourself smaller for others, and the freedom that comes when you finally stop trying to be the person everyone else expects. The women also explore authenticity at work, listening when your body tells you something is wrong, walking away from situations that no longer align with your values, finding “your people,” and why being yourself doesn't mean using authenticity as an excuse to be an a*****e. And because this is The Women Are Plotting, a thoughtful discussion about living your truth eventually leads to the ultimate test of intimacy: whether you're comfortable enough to fart in front of the person you love. At midlife, maybe authenticity isn't about discovering one permanent “true self.” Maybe it's about giving yourself permission to keep changing—and refusing to abandon yourself along the way. Send us Fan Mail Email us at info@thewomenareplotting.com, and find us on all the socials. Be safe and be excellent to each other.

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About

Do you know how to use a rotary phone? Worry about how much Aquanet you inhaled as a teen? Wonder about the creative worlds of writers? Believe belly laughs make the best ab workouts? Seek answers to the mysteries of menopause?    Then welcome to The Women Are Plotting -- a new podcast that allows a peek into the unfiltered minds of three Gen X writers. Give us a listen. And if you like what you hear, tell your friends.   If you have a story or an idea you'd like to share, we'd love to hear from you! Email us at info@thewomenareplotting.com 

Information

  • Creator
    Jane Gari, Etienne Rose Olivier, Heidi Willis
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    66
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Women Are Plotting
  • Show Website
    The Women Are Plotting