Toxic Toxic podcast hosted by Amanda Kippert and Jenna Brandl

Survivor Rachel Bellesen thought she was free after escaping a horrifically abusive husband who started grooming her at just 15 years old. But his abuse never stopped, even after Rachel remarried. Even after her ex victimized other women—he still came for Rachel. In 2020, when she fought back, the courts called her the perpetrator and threatened to send the mom of two to prison for life or possibly even execute her.
According to statistics compiled by the ACLU, women who kill their partners will spend an average of 15 years behind bars, while men who kill their female partners will serve on average between 2 to 6 years. At least 90 percent of women in prison for killing men report having been abused by those men. Listen to the incredible story of Rachel's survival and ask yourself, why are women being punished every day for trying to stop abuse?

Former Playboy Mansion live-in girlfriends Holly Madison and Bridget Marquardt came out with a new podcast recently, Girls Next Level, in which they walk through each episode of the reality show "Girls Next Door" that aired between 2005 and 2009. Coincidently during that same time period, Amanda may have also frequented the Mansion for parties, a period of her 20s that she looks back on slightly differently now in her 40s. In this episode, we'll unpack what the Mansion stood for back then, what Holly and Bridget say about their experience and how the man most people thought Hugh Hefner to be was far from who he was behind closed doors. 

We're back! Back again. Toxic's back. Tell a friend.
One of the most toxic men of history has to be the guy we were all indoctrinated to heroicize as kids—Christopher Columbus. He sailed the ocean blue! He had three ships and we'll never forget their names! Most importantly, we were fed the lie time and time again that he discovered America. Truth is, he never even once set foot on U.S. soil and the only thing he discovered was indigenous people who already lived in Central America whom he promptly killed or enslaved. While this guy still has a federal holiday named after him, luckily, we're now beginning to recognize Indigenous People's Day (we're 500 years late, btw). Still, the atrocities he kickstarted need to be known (lest we repeat them) so won't you join us for this re-history lesson.

"What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger." "God only gives you as much as you can handle!" Toxic positivity is positivity that's taken a wrong turn. It dismisses our true feelings, minimizes what we're going through and leaves us with feelings of guilt for being unhappy. And it's typically rooted in someone else's uncomfortableness with vulnerability. In this episode, Jenna and Amanda unpack the most annoying ways one can add a dose of toxicity into their support and give ideas for better ways to respond when someone drops bad news on us. 
This episode is going to wrap up Season 2 for Toxic. Take a few weeks to catch up on any episodes you may have missed and we'll be back with Season 3 on Oct. 10. Also, don't forget to take our quickie 2-minute, 10-question survey on ToxicthePodcast.com to help us better shape the next season AND be entered to win some free merch. TIA. 

The audacity of men continues with Alex Jones, conspiracy theorist who denies peddling conspiracy theories about the Sandy Hook massacre to make millions after he was sued by the grieving parents for millions more, and Andrew Tate, a random dude who realized he could get other dudes to send him money if he started spouting violently sexist b******t on social media. This is the world we live in (wait...why are women afraid to date men?!). 
Also, we talk about two missing girls, Kiely Rodni and Kadence Morrell (among many other women who are also actively missing) and why the media is only talking about one. I bet you can guess why. Their missing posters are linked on ToxicthePodcast.com. 
Finally, now through Sept. 15, head to our website to enter our first-ever listener survey. Let us know your thoughts on how we're doing with Toxic and what you want to see more of. Ten questions, two minutes tops, and you'll be entered to win Toxic merch of your choice.

Enjoy this mini episode devoid of your typical a-hole-ish abusers to celebrate us making it to 50 episodes of Toxic! Get to know Jenna and Amanda, how Toxic came to be and why Jenna can't cook a pizza in an efficient manner. Thank you for your support over 50 episodes of calling out and shutting down toxic masculinity poster boys. Here's to 50 more and counting....because, unfortunately, there's no shortage. 
Also, now through Sept. 15, head to our website to enter our first-ever listener survey. Let us know your thoughts on how we're doing with Toxic and what you want to see more of. Ten questions, two minutes tops, and you'll be entered to win Toxic merch of your choice.