Welcome to Light Work — a soft place to land in what could otherwise be a hard moment. 

We’re two sisters walking the path of healing together. In this space, we share honest conversations about the practices that have helped us reconnect with presence and a deeper sense of meaning in our daily lives.

This episode is the second part of our multi-part series on healing modalities, beginning with something beautifully simple and profoundly accessible: meditation — or presence practice, if structure isn’t your thing.

Today we’re continuing our conversation about what meditation can look like in real life, how it can be easily accessed in ordinary moments that don’t take you away or require you to plan or “make time” for it.

We touch on why embodied presence practice touches deeply into the feminine (not female, but feminine) and why structured, hierarchical, masculine (not male, but masculine) practices like silent, seated meditation often feel so removed from daily life and unachievable. 

Our aim is to gently bring presence practice back to where it lives — in the breath, the body, the senses, and the everyday moments we’re already moving through.

Whether you’re drawn to noticing your breath, feeling the aliveness within your body, spending time in nature or finding presence while washing your hands or eating, we hope this conversation encourages you to explore what feels natural and kind for you.

You don’t need to be a seeker, a healer, or anything in particular to be here — just curious, open, or tiring under the weight of what feels like unending chaos.

As always, love, light & good night 🤍

Welcome to Light Work — a soft place to land in what might otherwise be a hard day. 

We wanted to offer up a short, unguided drumming meditation as another way to rest the thinking mind and allow the body and nervous system to lead.

The buffalo drum has deep roots in Indigenous and shamanic traditions across many cultures. This offering is shared with respect for those lineages, without claim to title or ancestry, and with gratitude for the wisdom carried through rhythm, frequency, and vibration.

The drum is played at a rhythm of 3–4 beats per second, a tempo that can gently guide the brain into a theta state. This is a slower, dreamlike brainwave often associated with deep relaxation, meditation, creativity, and inner imagery. Through a natural process called entrainment, your nervous system will begin to match the drum’s rhythm, allowing your body to relax and your mind to loosen its grip.

This kind of meditation practice can be especially supportive for those who find guided meditation distracting or effortful. Rather than following words or instructions, the vibration of the drum offers a direct, somatic invitation. It’s a call to the most ancient, instinctive parts of ourselves that remember how to rest and recalibrate.

You don’t need to visualise, journey, or “do” anything. Simply allow the sound to move through you - it might  feel grounded and heavy, spacious, emotional, or simply calming. All responses are right.

We invite you to meet this practice with curiosity rather than judgement, and to return to it whenever you’re seeking a different way to unwind, release, and gently reset.

We recommend listening while sitting or lying down in a safe, comfortable space. This practice is not intended to be used while driving or doing anything that requires your full attention.

After listening, move slowly and give yourself a little time to re-enter your day. Make as much space as possible for hydration and good nutrition to support your body.

Love, light & good night 🤍

Welcome to Light Work — a soft place to land in what might otherwise be a hard day.

We wanted to offer up a short embodied presence practice for moments that feel heavy, loud, or disconnected. Making time in your day to pause & connect back in is a beautiful way to be present.

In this practice, we focus on the body and the breath first and then notice the subtle aliveness that’s always present in us beneath thought, tension, and distraction.

Whether you’re new to mindfulness, a returning practitioner, or just in need of a moment of steadiness, this practice is here to meet you.

You don’t need to feel calm, be spiritual, or have any intention other than a willingness to pause and listen inward.

Come back whenever you need space, softness, or a reminder that presence is always available.

After listening, move slowly and give yourself a little time to re-enter your day. Make as much space as possible for hydration and good nutrition to support your body.

Love, light & good night 🤍

Welcome to Light Work — a soft place to land in what could otherwise be a very hard day. 

We’re two sisters walking the path of healing together. In this space, we share honest conversations about the practices that have helped us reconnect with presence and a deeper sense of meaning in our daily lives.

This episode opens our multi-part series on healing modalities, beginning with something beautifully simple and profoundly accessible: meditation — or presence practice, if structure isn’t your thing.

We talk about what meditation actually looks like in real life, how it shows up in ordinary moments, and why so many of us feel we’re “doing it wrong” before we’ve even begun. We explore the myths and expectations that can make meditation feel distant or unreachable, and gently bring it back to where it lives — in the breath, the body, the senses, and the everyday moments we’re already moving through.

Whether you’re drawn to noticing your breath, feeling the aliveness within your body, spending time in nature or finding presence while washing your hands or eating, we hope this conversation encourages you to explore what feels natural and kind for you.

You don’t need to be a seeker, a healer, or anything in particular to be here — just curious, open, or tiring under the weight of what feels like unending chaos.

As always, love, light & good night 🤍

Welcome back to you - and to us! We're returning to our regularly scheduled podcasting (sort of) and we're so excited to take you along on our amazing journey of exploring different healing modalities and ways to bring lightness, and Light Work, into all of our lives.

We're looking forward to sharing the future with you - it's going to be a beautiful ride...

Lisa & Jen xo

Welcome to season 5 of the Dear Patriarchy Podcast -  we're back, baby!

Season 5 is the beginning of our evolution of the Dear Patriarchy offering. A year and a half ago, we stepped away to start healing and we're bringing back what we've learned and want to continue the healing journey with you.

Our first conversation is with the incredible Kat Courtney, founder of Plant Medicine People, who has been involved in the plant medicine and shamanism communities for the last 2 decades. She is a loving source of wisdom and this episode is an outpouring of her knowledge, gained through 20+ years of experience in ceremonial healing.

In this episode, we discuss what plant medicine actually is, specifically focusing on ayahuasca, and discuss Kat's journey with this beautiful medicine. Kat deep dives into her experiences of finding patriarchy within plant medicine & shamanism communities, and gives us a guideline of how to find safe retreat spaces, including things to look out for and red flags to be aware of. She shares her decades-long experience of sitting in, and holding, ceremony space and how plant medicine can not only heal, but also offer support and wisdom in helping you find purpose in the work that you're most passionate about. Towards the end of the episode, she offers up a powerful process for transmuting anger into purpose which we hope will help you as profoundly as it has helped us.

We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode once you've listened - share with us on Instagram or at patriarchypod@gmail.com

If you want more Kat Courtney in your life (because of course you do!), find her here:

• Discover the Plant Medicine People community
• Dive into excellent articles by Kat here & here
• Read Kat's fantastic book "Plant Medicine Mystery School Volume I"
• Connect on Instagram with Kat here and with Plant Medicine People here
• Retreat scholarship information

Welcome to the ninth episode of series 4, where we’re focusing on the educators, activists, and influencers who inspire and guide us.

In this week’s episode, Lisa chats to the fabulous Nila Varman, host of the Nila Extract, an award winning radio show and educational platform that amplifies the voices of those from minority ethnic communities, dispels stereotypes and navigates socially pressing issues that are not spoken about enough. Nila has won many awards for her work, including a Diana award, Frontline 50 award, and SRA & BBC Award for Best Student Radio Presenter. 

We dive right into how Nila’s journey into activism was accelerated by the surge in global awareness of social justice issues at the start of the pandemic. Nila shares how, as a “British Tamil gal”, clearly seeing the everyday racism directed towards Tamil and South Indian communities, as well as occurring inside them, made her eager to speak out about its impact as well as other “taboo” topics.

Nila is a passionate creative and speaks beautifully about how her work affects her own life and the lives of those around her. She talked about the constant pressure to create and how she finds balance on platforms that demand continuous content production.

Listening to Nila, it’s impossible to miss the joy that infuses her work which, a lot of the time, is focused on heavy, hard issues. Nila consistently brings lightness to these important conversations, an invaluable skill which sets her apart as a truly joyful activist.

You can find Nila & her award winning work here:
- Nila’s website 
- Find Nila on Instagram at @the_nila_extract and on TikTok at @thenilaextract
- Listen to The Nila Extract podcast, available on all major streaming platforms!

-  Continue the conversation by picking up our book Dear Patriarchy: The Gaslit Women's Guide to the (Corporate) World

• International orders
• North American orders

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author.

- Find out more about Nubefy, the amazing artists behind the graphics we use, here.

Welcome to the eighth episode of series 4, where we’re focusing on the educators, activists, and influencers who inspire and guide us.

In honor of Beltane (roll on summer!), this week’s episode is a re-release of our amazing conversation with Shifra Nerenberg (she/ her), owner of Spiral Intuitive & an intersectional feminist based in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. 

With more than 20 years experience as an Intuitive Advisor, Shifra guides clients all over the world in connecting with their own powerful inner wisdom. Shifra does her best to increase the kindness & hope in our world. Her work is centered around helping intuitive folk trust themselves & shine their individual lights, spreading more of the bright light needed in the world. 

We talked with Shifra about the importance of connecting back to our bodies and grounding ourselves so that we can connect to our communities and work against capitalism and oppressive systems of control, which work best when we are isolated and alienated from each other. We discussed how knowing yourself and leaning into your intuition is an important tool to battle patriarchy, systemic racism, heteronormativity, ableism, and xenophobia.  We end by working through Shifra’s techniques and strategies to keep from getting stuck in heaviness while remaining rooted in your power and plugging back in to your community with love.

- All things Shifra:

• Find her on Instagram: @spiralintuitive
• Spiral Intuitive Website

-  Continue the conversation by picking up our book Dear Patriarchy: The Gaslit Women's Guide to the (Corporate) World

• International orders
• North American orders

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author.

- Find out more about Nubefy, the amazing artists behind the graphics we use, here.

Welcome to the seventh episode of series 4, where we’re focusing on the educators, activists, and influencers who inspire and guide us.

Due to the unprecedented onslaught of anti-trans legislation and the steep rise in anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric in the United States of America, we’re re-releasing our last episode in the hopes that it will spread some much needed truth about trans youth and the support they require. 

In this episode we speak to the incredible Joshua Jernigan, a trans rights activist and philanthropist based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Josh started the GEN (Gender Education Network) organization which helps transgender and gender diverse kids aged 12 and younger. As you’ll hear in the episode, Josh is a born educator and is deeply passionate about ensuring every child has a safe and loving home to nurture their growing identities.

In this episode, we’re breaking down myths about the experiences of trans youth: What does gender affirming care REALLY look like for kids 12 and younger? What can adults actually do to actively support trans youth? Josh also dives into where he sees parents of gender diverse kids get tripped up or stuck when trying to educate themselves and support their kids as well as giving advice to parents and family members of gender diverse kids in order to help them survive and thrive. 

We talk about the importance of trans kids having a consistent affirming, loving adult presence in their lives and how we all have it in us to be that person. With the rise of anti-trans policies being brought forward in the United States, the UK, and around the world, Josh shares his hopes for the future: That we all be cycle breakers for our children and parent our children in ways which are right for them, ignoring what doesn't fit or is outdated and dangerous. We hope this educational episode sparks your activism - trans and gender diverse kids need your voice!

How you can find Josh & GEN:

• Gender Education Network website (donation link at the top of the page!)
• GEN on Facebook 

- Josh mentions the Gender Spectrum website during our conversation which is a fabulous resource for parents, educators, therapists, WHOEVER, to learn more about how to support the health & wellbeing of gender diverse children & teens.

-  Continue the conversation by picking up our book Dear Patriarchy: The Gaslit Women's Guide to the (Corporate) World

• International orders
• North American orders

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author.

- Find out more about Nubefy, the amazing artists behind the graphics we use, here.

Welcome to the sixth episode of series 4, where we’re focusing on the educators, activists, and influencers who inspire and guide us.

In this week’s episode, we’re hosting the incredible Joshua Jernigan, a trans rights activist and philanthropist living in Charlotte, North Carolina. Josh started the GEN (Gender Education Network) organization which helps transgender and gender diverse kids aged 12 and younger. Josh is a born educator and is deeply passionate about ensuring every child has a safe and loving home to nurture their growing identities.

In this episode, we cover big topics: What does gender affirming care look like for kids 12 and younger? What do parents of gender diverse kids get tripped up by or stuck on when trying to educate themselves and support their kids? Josh expertly breaks these topics down and gives advice to parents and family members of gender diverse kids and also what gender diverse kids need in order to survive and thrive. We talked about the importance of trans kids having a consistent affirming, loving adult presence in their lives and how we all have it in us to be that person. With the rise of anti-trans policies being brought forward in the United States, the UK, and around the world, Josh shares his hopes for the future: That we all be cycle breakers for our children and parent our children in ways which are right for them, ignoring what doesn't fit or is outdated and dangerous. We hope this educational episode sparks your activism - trans and gender diverse kids need your voice!

How you can find Josh & GEN:

• Gender Education Network website (donation link at the top of the page!)
• GEN on Facebook 

- Josh mentions the Gender Spectrum website during our conversation which is a fabulous resource for parents, educators, therapists, WHOEVER, to learn more about how to support the health & wellbeing of gender diverse children & teens.

-  Continue the conversation by picking up our book Dear Patriarchy: The Gaslit Women's Guide to the (Corporate) World

• International orders
• North American orders

-  Check out our website AND our new feminist merch collection

• Dear Patriarchy Podcast Website

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author.

- Find out more about Nubefy, the amazing artists behind the graphics we use, here.

Welcome to the fifth episode of series 4, where we’re focusing on the educators, activists, and influencers who inspire and guide us.

In this week’s episode, we’re hosting Jessica Olzak and Shannon Collins, creators and co-hosts of Rainbow Connections from the Abington library, a program designed to give youngsters a safe space in which to discuss LGBTQ+ themed books and topics.

We started our love fest by chatting with them about the origins of their ground-breaking youth program: How & why they set it up, the challenges they faced, and how you, too, could get a program going in your community. We spoke with Shannon about their Youthphoria program and how they use photography as activism. We discussed how they keep their cups full while doing their important work, the statistics for LGBTQ+ youth & how just one affirming adult in the life of an LGBTQ+ child is a game changer. 

We hope you love the episode as much as we do: It’s an emotional & gratitude-filled journey. 

• Abington Library website 
  • Rainbow Connections Next Event
  • Rainbow Connections LGBTQ+ Resources
  • Link to the Rainbow Connections Webinar via the PLA 
• Jessica Olzak contact - jolzak@mclinc.org
• Shannon Collins contact - shannon@shannoncollins.com 
  • Youthphoria website 

Rainbow Connections Guests include:

• 03/2022 - Vanessa & JR Ford, authors of Calvin
• 05/2022 - Lily Freeman, teen trans activist and creator of the IG campaign, @projectuncensored
• 07/2022 - Lindz Amer, CEO of Queer Kid Stuff
  • IG:  @lindzamer
  • Queer Kid Stuff website
• 08/2022 - Amy Schneider, 40-time Jeopardy champion and writer
  • Twitter: @Jeopardamy
• 10/2022 - C.K. Malone, author of A Costume for Charly
  • Twitter: @CKMalone2
• 11/2022--Kyle Lukoff, author
  • Kyle's website
• 11/2022--Gavin Grimm, trans activist
  • Twitter: @GavinGrimmVA 

-  Pick up our new book here:

• International orders
• North American orders

-  Check out our website to pick up our new book or via our IG: @dea

Welcome to the fourth episode of series 4, where we’ve been focusing on the educators, activists, and influencers who inspire and guide us. However, because this week is Trans Awareness Week, we're taking a short break from hosting guests to focus on the trans community and how cis people can be better supporters and allies.

We're using information from the excellent Schuyler Bailar, the Human Rights Campaign, and PFLAG to guide this conversation and we've linked back to all of these educators & organizations (and more) below. 

We start off by running through Schuyler Bailar's "cheat sheet" about how to re-frame the language you use when talking about, or interacting with, transgender people. We then move through a list of disinformation, anti-trans tropes and rhetoric that many people believe to be true, and dispel the myths around each item.  We discuss the importance of moving away from the patriarchal gender binary and how we can support each other, and the trans, non-binary and LGBTQ+ community in general by leaving behind harmful and false heteronormative gender expectations.

If you learned something from this episode, please share with those you know and love who may need more education on this important topic. Have the hard conversations, spread love, and reach out to the communities that need your support.

- Schuyler Bailar:

• Find Schuyler (and his Trans Awareness Week Cheat Sheet) on IG: @pinkmantaray
• Schuyler's website

- Human Rights Campaign

• Myths & Facts: Battling Disinformation About Transgender Rights
• Be an Ally: Support Trans Equality

- Trevor Project

• A Guide to Being an Ally to Transgender & Non-Binary Young People

Additional Transgender, Non-Binary & LGBTQ+ Resources:

• PFLAG website
• Marsha P. Johnson Institute website
• We mentioned Alok V. Menon in the episode as well who is an excellent gender educator and author - find them on IG @alokvmenon

-  Continue the conversation by picking up our book Dear Patriarchy: The Gaslit Women's Guide to the (Corporate) World

• International orders
• North American orders

-  Check out our website AND our new feminist merch collection

• Dear Patriarchy Podcast Website

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author.

- Find out more about Nubefy, the amazing artists behind the graphics we use, here.

Welcome to the third episode of series 4, where we’re focusing on the educators, activists, and influencers who inspire and guide us.

In this week’s episode, we’re hosting Shifra Nerenberg (she/ her), owner of Spiral Intuitive & a lifelong feminist based in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. With more than 20 years experience as an Intuitive Advisor, she guides clients all over the world in connecting with their own powerful inner wisdom.  Shifra does her best to increase the kindness & hope in our world. Her work is centered around helping intuitive folk trust themselves & shine their individual lights, spreading more of the bright light needed in the world. 

We talked with Shifra about the importance of connecting back to our bodies and grounding ourselves so that we can connect to our communities and work against capitalism and oppressive systems of control, which work best when we are isolated and alienated from each other. We discussed how knowing yourself and leaning into your intuition is an important tool to battle patriarchy, systemic racism, heteronormativity, ableism, and xenophobia.  We end by working through Shifra’s techniques and strategies to keep from getting stuck in heaviness while remaining rooted in your power and plugging back in to your community with love.

AND - the best way to use that power and help your community is to VOTE!! We’re looking at you USA!! If you’re struggling with getting info on where to cast your vote, who to support and where you stand on measures, please check out the following resources:

- You better vote b🐱tch:

• VoteSaveAmerica Website
• Ballot Ready Website 

- All things Shifra:

• Find her on Instagram: @spiralintuitive
• Spiral Intuitive Website

-  Continue the conversation by picking up our book Dear Patriarchy: The Gaslit Women's Guide to the (Corporate) World

• International orders
• North American orders

-  Check out our website AND our new feminist merch collection

• Dear Patriarchy Podcast Website

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author.

- Find out more about Nubefy, the amazing artists behind the graphics we use, here.

Welcome to the second episode of series 4 where we’re focusing on the educators, activists and influencers who inspire and guide us.

In this week’s episode, we’re hosting Gonzy, the fabulous owner of sustainable, feminist British brand Sasspatch. Gonzy's designs uplift you while keeping you grounded, and she specialises in Sassy Positivity: Sweet designs mixed with savage honesty. 

We talk about the struggle to balance motherhood with paid (and unpaid) work, how all parents need to get therapy, preferably before becoming parents, and how important equity is in everything we do. Gonzy is a passionate intersectional feminist, proponent of slow fashion and speaks beautifully on how much both matter to her and to the company ethos of Sasspatch. Gonzy closes our short (but very sweet) conversation with the perfect words: The good stuff is always worth waiting for.

- All things Sasspatch:

• Find her on Instagram: @sasspatchworld
• Sasspatch Website

-  Continue the conversation by picking up our book Dear Patriarchy: The Gaslit Women's Guide to the (Corporate) World

• International orders
• North American orders

-  Check out our website AND our new feminist merch collection

• Dear Patriarchy Podcast Website

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author.

- Find out more about Nubefy, the amazing artists behind the graphics we use, here.

Welcome to the first episode of series 4 where we’re focusing on the educators, activists and influencers who inspire and guide us.

In this week’s episode, we’re hosting the incredible writer Uju Asika. She’s based in London, runs the “Babes About Town” social media accounts and is the author of two incredible books: Bringing up Race: How to Raise a Kind Child in a Prejudiced World and A World for Me and You.

We discuss creative processes, particularly writing processes, and how the fear of writing about charged topics (like systemic racism, patriarchy and other oppressive systems) can be debilitating. Uju talked us through how she keeps herself balanced, feeds her activism and connects with her work in pursuit of change. In her (beautiful) words: This work is more important than your discomfort.

- All things Uju Asika:

• Find her on Instagram: @babesabouttown
• Website
• Bringing up Race: How to Raise a Kind Child in a Prejudiced World
• A World for Me and You

- During our discussion, Uju recommended two  books by Natalie Goldberg:

• Wild Mind 
• Writing Down the Bones 

-  Continue the conversation by picking up our book Dear Patriarchy :

• International orders
• North American orders

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author.

- Find out more about Nubefy, the amazing artists behind the graphics we use, here.

Welcome to Episode 20, the finale of series 3! This is our series recap where we discuss which episodes were the most important to us and how we feel the series progressed. We talk about the short-sightedness of the term imposter syndrome, the differences between how both us prepare and gather information for new episodes (research vs. anecdotes), and whether we feel there is a shift taking place which is slowly moving us away from the entrenched patriarchy of societal structures.  We close the episode talking about how to pre-order our book (dropping October '22!) and exciting new things on the horizon in the Dear Patriarchy world. We hope you've enjoyed the journey of season 3 as much as we have & we look forward to bringing a new series of thought-provoking and conversation-starting topics to you very soon.

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author!
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here

Welcome to episode 19(ish) of series 3 where Lisa does a mini-breakdown on eugenics and how it relates to reproductive healthcare, specifically forced sterilization. She starts by explaining what eugenics, and scientific racism, is at a high level, touching briefly on Margaret Sanger & Planned Parenthood as well as the inherent ableism of eugenics. She goes on to talk about how, in the wake of SCOTUS overturning Roe vs. Wade, many people are suggesting that boys & men (presumably cis-het) should be given vasectomies until they are “fit” to be a father and how this idea is on the slippery slope to eugenicist beliefs. She runs through the recent history of forced sterilization in the USA & Puerto Rico (including that it is still legal to forcibly sterilize disabled people in 34 states) and how allowing systemically racist, ableist government systems to determine who is “fit” to be a parent is taking a massive step backward. She closes with a reminder that being branded with the title of “wokeness” should not deter us from actively working to be on the right side of history. We need to continue to educate ourselves, try to always use inclusive language (because words & language matter), and put in the work every day to protect the civil rights of all those around us, not just the people who look like or identify the same way as we do. We hope you’ll continue on in this fight.

These articles were used to inform this discussion:
- Eugenics & Scientific Racism
- Margaret Sanger's Connection to Eugenics
- America's "Forgotten" History of Forced Sterilization 

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from a Feminist author.

- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here.

Welcome to series 3, episode 18 where we talking about the overturning of Roe vs. Wade by the US Supreme Court. We talk about how we got here, starting with the election of Donald Trump who was voted in overwhelmingly by White women. While the Democratic Party needs to clean their house, White women (us included) need to look at and accept the responsibility we carry because we have historically chosen not to have uncomfortable conversations with each other. We talk about the insidious stigma surrounding abortion and how there does not need to be sexual violence preceding an abortion in order to make it acceptable. We discuss the statistics behind who get abortions and how the intersection of heteropatriarchy, systemic racism and ableism meet and impact different groups of people who have marginalised within our social construct. We  must all change our mindset and our language when it comes to abortion to make sure we are viewing it as inclusively and intersectionally as possible. That means including trans men and non binary people into the definition of who needs access to abortion, that means appreciating that those at the intersection of heteropatriarchy, systemic racism and ableism are the voices that need to be loudest in this fight. This is not just a White woman’s fight and we need to start addressing it as such. We end by sharing abortion resources and funds to donate to and use.

We used the following sources to inform this conversation:
- The Paradox of Disability in Abortion Debates
- Access, Autonomy & Dignity
- Who is Most Affected by US Abortion Changes
- Meta Pixel Tracking Tool Links to Anti-Abortion Clinics

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from a Feminist author.

- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here.

Welcome to episode 17 of series 3 where we’re talking about how to raise good kids, which involves educating them (and yourself) about diversity, inclusion and consent. Jenni shares an experience she had with her daughter and Lisa talks about raising White boys, who need a lot of education to ensure they are informed enough to reject the White supremacist, heteropatriarchal and ableist messaging they receive from our social construct. We share books and other great resources for parents and caregivers that can support this educational journey. The importance of raising kind, inclusive children who expect to see and exist within diverse communities can’t be overstated. The bottom line is that if you don’t educate your kids on diversity, inclusion and consent, someone else will undoubtedly show them something different and it will make your job of forming their path to being a good human much harder.

Here are some of the educational resource that we use:
- 'Let's Talk About Race' by Julius Lester
- 'Anti-Racist Baby' by Ibram X. Kendi
- 'All Are Welcome' by Alexandra Penfold
- 'I am Enough' by Grace Byers
- 'The Pronouns Book' by Chris Ayala-Kronos
- 'Inclusive Ninja' by Mary Nhin
- 'Roxy the Racoon' by Alice Reeves
- ‘Raising Anti-Racist Children’ by Britt Hawthorne
- The Black Curriculum is an excellent resource for people based in the UK - check out their Instagram account @theblackcurriculum as well as at The Black Curriculum
- Upgrade Accessibility is a disability rights and justice platform which regularly hosts workshops and events based on disability awareness, as well as on the intersection of LGBTQ+ and disability rights - check out their Instagram account @upgradeaccessibility as well as at Upgrade Accessibility
- Stonewall is a UK-based LGBTQ+ charity who provide excellent resources for educating and providing support to children, young adults and parents/caregivers  and can be found at Stonewall
- The Trevor Project is based in America but is the world's largest crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ young people under the age of 25 and provides education and support to children, young adults and parents/caregivers. It can be found at The Trevor Project | For Young LGBTQ Lives

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from a Feminist author.

- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here.

Welcome to episode 16(ish) of series 3 where Jenni does a mini-breakdown on social media allyship. She starts by running through how important an inclusive mindset is to have and how “un-learning” is the place we all need to start from and continue with as we amplify and share the work of other educators and activists. Jenni goes on to discuss how the systemic foundations of discrimination built around us work to keep us separated and that the right-wing denigration of “PC” and “wokeness” should not deter us from actively working to be on the right side of history. We need to learn more, speak up, and put in the work every day to protect the civil rights of all those around us, not just the people who look like or identify the same way as we do. We hope you’ll join the fight.

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from a Feminist author.

- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here.

Welcome to episode 15(ish) of series 3 where Lisa does a mini-breakdown on the connection between mass shootings and the Patriarchy. There is a clear link between toxic masculinity, misogyny and violence and this mini-sode focused on connecting the dots between them all. Instead of offering thoughts and prayers, we want you to come away from this episode with daily actions that can be applied to yourself, your children (if you have them), and your wider community.  If we want to stem the tide of systemic discrimination and the violence that results from it, we need to make it part of our every day lives. We hope you’ll join us.

- Research sources backing the connection between domestic violence, misogyny and mass shootings can be found here, here, and here. There is much more out there, please take the time to look into this further.

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from a Feminist author.

- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here.

Welcome to series 3, episode 14, where we’re talking about all things reproductive and social justice. We start by discussing the potential impact if Roe vs. Wade is overturned, particularly the impact on Black women and women of Color, which leads nicely into breaking down what reproductive justice is, where the term originated (Sister Song) and how we can work for it collectively. We talk about the weight and expectation of activism and how doing the work can sometimes feel like an un-winnable war. We close by exploring how education is the best foundation for activism and that we need to remember we are part of a greater community that is working to uphold and expand the freedoms of ourselves and those around us. Every little bit of work we do helps to unravel the inequity around us. Just keep pulling the thread.

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from a Feminist author.

Welcome to series 3, episode 13 where we’re discussing the toxicity of the girlboss mentality and how it sets out to use feminism as a cloak for capitalism. We talk about how prominent “girlboss” companies and figureheads successfully weaponised guilt and shame to force women deeper into hustle culture and dispensed advice from a place of privilege that is inaccessible to most women. Jenni dives into her experience of how the impact of the pandemic has pushed women and carers even further away from regularly accessing the resources and support needed to achieve “girlboss goals”. We explore the meaning behind the phrase “Gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss” and how it’s an intentional label intended to be un-intimidating and to uphold the corporate tradition of systemic racism and misogyny.

- We used information taken from Alex Abad-Santos' June 2021 article for Vox entitled "The Death of the Girlboss" in our discussion.

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from a Feminist author.

Welcome to episode 12 of series 3, where we’re discussing what success and achievement look like, particularly for people who identify as women. We break down what society says women need to have to "have it all" and discuss our experience of what having it all does to you on an individual basis. We talk about how the disproportionate care and domestic workload that women are expected to shoulder creates an environment that is incompatible for women to achieve substantive career goals and why continuing to hold us to this "traditional" standard is so damaging. Bodily and individual autonomy are at the core of this discussion and breaking free of historical expectations of what women are supposed to be is the only way to secure this for the girls and women who come after us.

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from a Feminist author.

- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here.

Welcome to episode 11 of series 3, where we’re breaking down internalized misogyny, often misnomered as “toxic femininity.” Before we started our main conversation, we discussed Debanhi Escobar and the global problem of femicide as well as the growing disappearance of girls and women not just in Mexico/Latin America but around the world as well. We then moved on to the hostility women and girls can often exhibit towards other women and girls and the patriarchal reasons behind it. We break down why toxic femininity is not a real thing as it is the internalising of systemic discrimination. We go on to share our personal experiences with internalised misogyny, how we have dealt with it in the past and how we attempt to deal with it now. It’s important to remember that the patriarchy wants you to view other women as competition, not as sisters, so choosing to love those who identify as women (and girls) is a revolutionary act.

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from a Feminist author.

- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here.

Welcome to episode 10(ish) of series 3 where Lisa does a mini-breakdown of Imposter Syndrome and why its use as a catch-all term is  problematic. Lisa discusses a tweet posted by @theconsciouslee from Juana Hollingsworth (@jewelsfromjuana) about how Dr. Amanda Tachine (@atachine) explained that the original concept of Imposter Syndrome was theorised in 1978 by two White women (psychologists Pauline Rose Clance & Suzanne Imes) to describe how a large majority of women, disproportionately Black women and women of Colour, are marginalised within the corporate environment. While the tenets of Imposter Syndrome may ring true for many women, for Black women and women of Colour, this term erases or, at the very least, minimises the impact of systemic racism and the many obstacles it presents them with in the workplace. It makes systemic issues the fault of each individual woman, forcing her to endure and try to resolve them each and every day that she shows up to work. The hope is that the information discussed today will help to inform how we look at the experiences of Black women and women of Colour in the corporate world and how the White-centric focus of academia, which influences the terminology we use in the workplace and wider world, can further marginalise those who exist outside of that focus.

- The February 2021 Harvard Business Review article entitled "Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome" by Ruchika Tulshyan and Jodi-Ann Burey informed this episode - please read it! 

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from a Feminist author.

- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here.

Welcome to episode 9 of series 3, where we’re closing out our "Get a Job Your Way" series. We open the discussion by breaking down the perception that setting out your requirements and coming from an empowered place where you know what you deserve, and won’t accept less, can be perceived as privilege. We move into the final stages of hiring, closing out negotiations, running through work contracts and how to spot (and respond to) red flags. We hope this series has given you the tools you need to get the job you want, for the pay you deserve. If you take one thing away from this series, let it be this: You're worthy of great things, never let the corporate world tell you otherwise.

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from a Feminist author.

- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here.

Welcome to episode 8(ish) of series 3 where Lisa does a mini-breakdown of White Feminism and why it’s so problematic. All the information used to inform this conversation is from @everydayracism_ on Instagram and we urge you to follow this account so you can learn from Naomi & Natalie as we have and jump on the pre-order for their upcoming book, The Mixed Race Experience. Check out our social media to find the original source material - we hope this mini-breakdown gives you extra perspective on why intersectional feminism is the ONLY way forward. Tune in to next week’s full episode - part 3 of The Reckoning: Get a Job Your Way.

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from a Feminist author.

- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here.

Welcome to episode 7 of series 3 where we’re (still) talking about applying for jobs. We start by discussing how to follow up after an interview and a few ways to stand out from the crowd. We share personal stories about how we’ve navigated the hiring process and obstacles to success in the working environment. We discuss the mental pitfalls women can face when negotiating  their salaries and how to get your head right when it comes to asking for what you deserve as well as where to look to fact-check your salary range. Tune in to next week’s episode for part 3 - there’s so much more to say!

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from a Feminist author.

- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here.

Welcome to episode 6 of series 3 where we’re talking about applying for jobs. We start by discussing how to lose the mindset that companies are owed our labour and be aware of the obstacles that exist for those who identify as women and disproportionately impact on Black women and women of Colour. We discuss the tools and processes we use when we job search and how to spot red flags during the interview process. We discuss pay inequity, negotiation mindsets and how to protect yourself from potential future exploitation. Tune in to next week’s episode for part 2!

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from a Feminist author.

- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here.

Welcome to episode 5 of series 3 where we're discussing the current attack on LGBTQIA+ children and adults by conservative lawmakers in the United States and how that manifests in the workplace. We say gay, you should too.

- We discussed statistics and research from McKinsey on how the corporate environment treats those form the LGBTQIA+ community, find it here.

- We recommend that if you live in the US, you check out the Human Rights Commission's State Scorecards Index and see how the LGBTQIA+ community are being treated, find it here.

- Find out more about the Marsha P. Johnson Institute here.

- Find out more about the Trevor Project here.

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from a Feminist author.

- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here.

Welcome to episode 4 of series 3 - we kick off with discussing how women get penalized for their own sexuality because, within a patriarchal construct, they’re not “allowed” to be in control of their bodies and own their own sexual power. We talk about the shame and responsibility that is placed on women’s bodies from a very young age in order to control the emotions and sexual urges of boys and men, instead of putting that responsibility where it belongs (on boys and men). We then move on to the restrictions of the gender binary: How it defines what it is to be a man OR a woman (nothing in between) and how patriarchal systems of control encourage girls and women to view each other as competition, not allies, under the false guise of there being a limited amount of seats at the table for women. We share personal anecdotes about how mothers who also choose to work outside the home are held back within the corporate world because they “chose” to take time off for a family, aka the motherhood penalty. We close the episode with a deep dive on the male gaze and its influence on women’s mindsets and how they view themselves and the wider world.

- The article we reference recording the Wodaabe men and their dance. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-39070587.amp

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from a Feminist author.

- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here

Welcome to episode 3 of series 3 where we’re discussing the policing of women’s bodies, in particular the bodies of Black women and women of Colour.

We start by discussing the treatment of Mary J. Blige in the aftermath of the Super Bowl half time show and define some important terms that relate to the hyper-sexualised scrutiny that disproportionately impacts Black women/girls and women/girls of Colour. These are the Politics of Respectability (first defined by professor and author Evelyn Higginbotham), Adultification Bias and Misogynoir, the intersection of misogyny and racism.

We go on to talk about how, in the workplace (and the wider world), your worth is tied to attractiveness and how women can effectively do everything right and still have a target on their back. We share some personal anecdotes and end by tying up why making the corporate world more accessible for bodies deemed to exist outside the narrow confines of what’s “normal” is so important.

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from a Feminist author.

- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here

Welcome to our second episode of series 3 where we chat about it all: Childcare deserts, the patriarchal systems in place that negatively impact and marginalize anyone who isn’t a White man, the lack of matriarchal lineage and equal representation  of women in history and so much more. We hope you enjoy listening to the mishmash as much as we enjoyed talking through it.

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from a Feminist author.

- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here

 Welcome to our first episode of series 3 where we discuss the return to work. We run through the new statistics coming through on the mass exodus of women from the workplace and the lack of infrastructure which is, particularly in the United States, one of the key reasons behind the loss of women from the work environment. Jenni dives into the closure of care settings, particularly nurseries and schools, which lead to women leaving (or being forced out of) the workforce as a result of the emergence of COVID-19 in 2020 and having yet to return. We discuss how differently the media covered the “Shecession” (women leaving the workforce) and the Great Migration (women and men leaving the workforce) before detailing our struggle in breaking the cycle of patriarchal conditioning in the home. Lisa talks about how her new work environment has been impacted not only by COVID-19, but the revelations that have come about since her sabbatical.

- We used the statistics on women leaving employment in the United States set out in the November 5th 2021 Guardian article entitled "‘I don’t have a choice’: childcare cost preventing US women from returning to work"

- We used the statistics on the rise in childcare costs within the United States as set out in the June 5th 2020 Guardian article entitled "The pandemic exposes US childcare for what it is: ‘a crisis within a crisis’"

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from a Feminist author.

- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here

Welcome to our Holiday Burn Out episode (version 2.0): We’ve re-purposed episode 10 because the issues we’re discussing are just as relevant today as they were a year ago. COVID-related stresses and strains, the emotional and mental load heaped onto those who disproportionately take on domestic tasks & unpaid care work (typically women & mothers) during the holiday season and the inevitable body image issues so many of us battle. We hope our suggestions for bringing balance back to the forefront help you focus on what’s important and leave the superficial things that drain and derail you behind. Good luck and we look forward to bringing you series 3 (have you subscribed yet?)…

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from a Feminist author.

- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use (though not on this episode) here

Welcome to Episode 20, the finale of series 2! This is our series recap where we discuss which episodes were the most important to us and how we feel the series progressed. We discuss the beauty of saying "no" to what no longer serves you or makes you happy, how soul-crushing jobs can sometimes feel like the easiest road to travel, and why you deserve more.  We hope you've enjoyed the journey of season 2 as much as we have & we look forward to bringing a new series of thought-provoking and conversation-starting topics to you very soon.

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author!
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here

Welcome to our penultimate episode of Series 2,  Episode 19, where we dive into the subject of asking for a raise. This is a topic which is emotionally loaded for many people, particularly women, who tend to be raised to not ask for more and/or be happy with what they've been given. Asking for a raise can bring up oppressive conditioning, imposter syndrome and feelings of being "less than" when it should be an encouraged part of a working environment. We talk through how to ask for what you need, red flags and common gaslighting tactics to look out for as well as our personal experiences with pay and performances reviews. We hope this conversation helps give you a clear headspace about how to go about getting what you deserve in the corporate environment.

- The June 2018 Harvard Business Review article entitled "Research: Women Ask for Raises as Often as Men, but Are Less Likely to Get Them" provided the discussed statistics on the success rate of  women vs. men asking for raises.
- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an Feminist author.
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use (though not on this episode) here

Welcome to Episode 18 of Series 2, where we finish our dive into toxic masculinity on a high by having our very first interview with the awesome Alex Shafiro. We talk about his experiences in the corporate world, specifically how his work as a designer in the construction industry has put him in front of very toxic behaviours. We asked how he makes space for women in his workplace, what he feels like toxic male behaviour in the workplace looks like and how he it makes him feel when he runs up against it. Alex gives us his views on, and understanding of, toxic masculinity and we were so grateful to him for his candor, his sense of humor and his patience. We hope you love listening to this conversation as much as we loved having it.

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an Feminist author.
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use (though not on this episode) here

Welcome to Episode 17 of Series 2 where we dive into toxic masculinity: What does it mean? What are its ties with toxic femininity and is that even a thing? The short answer is no, it's not, it's a "men's rights" dog whistle but we digress. We talk about how kind, caring, nurturing little boys grow into unemotional but overly aggressive men and what the signs/markers are for toxic masculinity. We dive into how toxic masculinity affects the corporate workplace and who stands to benefit from this seriously detrimental mindset. This is a deep and nuanced subject so a single episode isn't sufficient to cover it - we'll drop Part 2 next week and we hope it helps you further explore this complicated conversation.

- April 2019 Atlantic interview entitled " Raising Boys With a Broader Definition of Masculinity" with psychologist Michael Reichert about how boys are bombarded by societal expectations.
- Top 10 Toxic Masculinity Behaviors shared on a July 2019 article on Aurora as discussed
- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an Feminist author.
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use (though not on this episode) here

Welcome to Episode 16 of Series 2 where we're discussing the reasons behind why huge numbers of people are choosing to leave the workforce. We discuss our personal experience of stepping away from unhealthy work environments and feeling set free because we recognise that we want, and deserve, better for ourselves and our families. We dive into the prevalent issue of people not being paid a living wage, much less a thriving wage, and how that and the impact of COVID-19 on an already faulty infrastructure supporting working parents has resulted in reduced childcare places and higher costs of living all around. We dive into how coming from an empowered place of "I don’t need this job to make my life work" sets you up for a workplace that enhances and supports your work-life balance because you've been made the priority. Don't let the fear of not being enough set you up to fail in the corporate world - you deserve better!

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an Feminist author.
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use (though not on this episode) here

Welcome to Episode 15 of Series 2 where we dive into what it means to be a woman. We talk about why the patriarchal ideas of femininity are both inaccurate and exclusionary, how gender non-conformity is both normal and ancient across global communities and discuss the fundamental misogyny of Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminism/Feminists (TERFs). We break down the danger posed to the transgender community by "biology" based anti-trans rhetoric and speak about why thinking of gender on scales instead of a spectrum is more accurate for some. We close out the episode with our core principles: If you identify as a woman, you are one; we will endeavour in every way to create as inclusive a space as possible; we will get things wrong sometimes and though you don't owe us an education, we hugely appreciate when you share your lived experience with us so we can learn from you.

- Find PBS' map of Gender Diverse Cultures here.
- Suzannah Weiss' February 2018 article for Teen Vogue entitled "9 Things People Get Wrong About Being Non-Binary" has been a valuable educational resource for us, we hope you'll read and share it.
- Sam Killerman's piece entitled "Why Think of Gender on Scales Instead of a Spectrum?" has helped us conceptualise gender differently and, we hope, more accurately.
- We used Katelyn Burn's September 2019 article for Vox entitled "TERFs: The Rise of Anti-Trans “Radical” Feminists, Explained" during our discussion about Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminists/Feminism, the story of Aimee Stephens' and Ann Hopkins' ground-breaking Supreme Court cases.
- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an Feminist author.
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use (though not on this episode) here

Welcome to Episode 14 of Series 2 where we're discussing how to leave a toxic culture or environment. Jenni discusses a recent trip back to where she and Lisa grew up and how, for some people, going back to where you came from can be really difficult. We talk about  "tortilla gate" and other racist incidents connected to our hometown and how dangerous and insidious intolerance is in a closed environment. We discuss how educational travel has been for us and how looping ourselves in to anti-racism and anti-bias culture changers has helped us fundamentally evolve. We go into the difficulty of separating yourself from biased environments, whether they pertain to family, friends or work, and how an overnight change isn't always possible. We close out with a discussion about listening to and nourishing the little voice that leads you and how building a loving, tolerant community can sometimes mean a lack of "hometown" support.

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an Feminist author.
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use (though not on this episode) here

Welcome to Episode 13 of Series 2 where we're discussing fatphobia in the workplace. We talk about the lack of government protection against weight-based discrimination, dive into statistics of how people with larger bodies are viewed and treated in the corporate world and how sexism and racism intersect with this. We discuss the taking back of the word "fat" as a neutral descriptive term and how weight-based discrimination often slips under the radar in a patriarchal society where women are pressured to be as skinny as possible. We close out the episode discussing the impact fatphobia has on people's experiences with the medical community and share the words of Naomi Wolf who says that neither capitalism nor the patriarchy benefit from women who reject the impossible beauty standards of today’s society. We hope you're one of those women.

- Janice Gassam Asare's January 2019 article for Forbes entitled "The Discrimination No One Talks About: Weight Discrimination" for base survey information and legal protections for weight-based discrimination in the workplace
- November 2020 article for Nylon entitled "How Fatphobia Has Cemented Itself in the American Workplace" for base research and statistical information on weight-based discrimination in the workplace
- Angelina R. Sutin, Yannick Stephan and Antonio Terracciano November 2015 report entitled "Weight Discrimination and Risk of Mortality" for the statistics and medical impact of weight-based discrimination
-  Rebecca Puhl and Kelly D. Brownell's study entitled "Bias, Discrimination, and Obesity" for further research into weight-based discrimination
- Margaret T. Hicken, Hedwig Lee, and Anna K. Hing's March 2017 study entitled "The weight of racism: Vigilance and racial inequalities in weight-related measures" for research and statistics on the intersection of racism and weight-based discrimination
- Check out @fatfabfeminist on Instagram
- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an Feminist author.
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use (though not on this episode) here

Welcome to Episode 12 of Series 2 where we're discussing what working women and working mothers need from their partners in order to survive & succeed. We work through 8 key points, starting with acknowledging that all mothers work (whether or not they get paid for it..!) and finishing with the need to show up every day for that partnership. We talk about how hard it is, particularly for women, to ask for what they need in a relationship with society's  heteropatriarchal expectations resting heavily on them and making them question if they're being selfish. We close the episode discussing how we are currently working to bring equality into our partnerships so that our mental load as working mothers is diminished. We hope it helps you too.

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an Feminist author.
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use (though not on this episode) here

Welcome to Episode 11 of Series 2, we start with a brief discussion of important statistics for Black women, women of Colour and women from LGBTQIA+ communities. Due to a technical error, they were not included in last week’s episode, Shecession. Next, we define what gender contamination is, what it means as a marketing term and how it draws from a hetero-patriarchal socio-political system. We dive into specific brand examples of gender contamination (prepare to be angered!) and why its deep foundation in the patriarchy makes it such a powerful tool.

We talk about how this results in the harsh treatment of teenage girls vs. teenage boys and how we as a society view women’s “things” in general. We discuss how this phenomenon translates to the workplace and how many women who do manage to succeed in the corporate environment have had to take on “male” performance characteristics. We close out the episode discussing how gender contamination harms men as well as women and lay out some integral touchpoints for being an ally/accomplice/advocate in the wider world as well as the workplace and how to maximize that advocacy in your professional leadership.

- Jill Avery's November 2012 report for the International Journal of Marketing entitled "Defending the Markers of Masculinity: Consumer Resistance to Brand Gender-Bending" is pivotal to the discussion of gender contamination and provided the foundational information for this episode
- Carmen Nobel's November 2013 article for Forbes entitled "Gender Contamination: Why Men Prefer Products Untouched By Women" provided specific brand information on the subject of gender contamination
- Libby Copeland's August 2013 for Slate entitled "Is Diet Soda Girly?" provided specific brand information on the subject of gender contamination
- Dorothy Neufeld's March 2020 article entitled "Female Breadwinners Have Doubled, But Barriers Remain" was used for the statistics on women holding the title of breadwinner in the U.S. pre-pandemic
- Becky O'Connor's March 2020 article for Royal London entitled "Rise of the female breadwinner: Woman earns the most in one-in-four households" was used for the statistics on women holding the titled of breadwinner in the UK pre-pandemic
- Emily Contois' November 2020 article on Nursing Clio entitled "Diners, Dudes and Diets" is a fascinating breakdown of the role of masculinity in both the brands we buy but the food we eat and is an incredible take on gender contamination
- Emily Moss' September 2019 blog for Community Business entitled "Masculinity in the Workplace" breaks down how toxic masculinity and the workplace intersect as well as key points for being an advocate/ally in the workplace, no matter your level of leadership
- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an Feminist author.
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use (thou

Welcome to Episode 10 of Series 2 where we're focusing on the so-called "Shecession", which is the massive loss of women from the workforce post-pandemic. American media are doubling-down on the story that people in America don't want to go back to their low paying jobs  after having it “so good” on unemployment when really, the missing infrastructure of childcare and other much needed supports for working women is a huge reason behind people, disproportionately women, having to leave the workforce and not return. We discuss the cycle of debt and poverty and how having "rainy day savings” is a privilege for many. We go through important statistics from the recent Deloitte "Women @ Work" report which detail women carrying the bulk of household tasks while still working, how many are losing faith in their career prospects and explore some of the reasons why more than half of the women polled are looking to leave their jobs in the next 2 years. We explore the pervasiveness of harassment, microaggressions and non-inclusive behaviour and how many examples of these behaviours are so innocuous, most women won't report them for fear of sounding melodramatic or experiencing career penalties. We question if what we’re seeing is a rise of the patriarchy and we close out the episode talking over why the idea that women and men were nearly equal before the pandemic is a lie.

- Deloitte Global "Women @ Work" Report, READ IT!
- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an Feminist author.
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use (though not on this episode) here.

Welcome to Episode 9 of Series 2 where we're diving into our own personal experiences working in an abusive/toxic environment. Lisa discusses how her own poor boundary setting lead to an exploitation of that weakness which, over time, negatively impacted her mental health to the point of constantly feeling trapped, crying at inopportune moments (like Zoom calls!) and leading her to complete lose her sense of joy. We highlight two important choices working women/mothers have to make: Choosing not to die on the altar of unending work (i.e. the 24 hour/7 day work week) and choosing to recognise your own merit so that you’re never begging someone else to see it as well. Jenni speaks about what it looks like to watch someone struggle through this from the outside and how when you’re in the thick of a toxic situation, you can’t see the wood for the trees. We close with a discussion on  how the antiquated idea of 9-5 working alienates women with unpaid care responsibilities from the workforce and how partnerships where both people are choosing (or stuck in) unsustainable working patterns can really suffer.

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an Feminist author.
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use (though not on this episode) here.

Welcome to Episode 8 of Series 2, the subject of which we think will resonate with many of you: Having a Hard Time. We start off by discussing the impending  lunar eclipse (Super Blood Flower Moon) and how it can represent and/or bring about closure and evolution. We discuss abusive work relationships and how hard it can be to drop what doesn't serve you as well as divest yourself of the old trope that "this is just the way things are". Lisa goes on a bit of a dark one from the 6 minute mark and questions what the point is of even trying to make it work as a woman in a male dominated industry. Jenni then discusses how her recent abdominal surgery brought to light how little care and attention women receive post-childbirth and how the promises of the diet industry do a number on recovering moms. All in all, this episode is about finding ways to get through the maelstrom and firmly close that door behind you in order to welcome in the new. It's scary but we think it's worth it - we hope you do too.

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an Feminist author.
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use (though not on this episode) here.

Welcome to Episode 7 of Series 2 where we're discussing how to take back your power. While this is not an issue solely limited to women, the constant struggle to earn, hold and maintain our own power is unique to women both in the workplace and the wider world. We discuss how childhood trauma and ancestral/generational trauma combine with toxic stress to render many women more susceptible to feeling incapable of wielding their own power or speaking out in defence of it. We discuss our personal experiences of attempting to hold onto or maintain our own power in male-dominated environments and what things (and people) you should avoid in order to preserve your energy. We hope this episode helps those who are feeling forgotten, disrespected or trivialised within their workplace - you deserve better!

- Signe Dean's April 2018 article for Science Alert entitled "Scientists Have Observed Epigenetic Memories Being Passed Down For 14 Generations" was used while discussing ancestral trauma.
- December 2020 California Surgeon General's report entitled " Roadmap for Resilience" was used while discussing the effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACE's) and toxic stress.
- Alexandra Harra's December 2017 article for Huffpost entitled "Women Only: 7 Steps to Reclaim Your Power" was used while discussing ways to reclaim your power.
- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an Feminist author.
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use (though not on this episode) here.

Welcome to Episode 6 of Series 2, we're sharing our recent guest spot on the "Things That Keep Us Up At Night" podcast with Abby DesJardien. We spoke about a variety of topics ranging from why we do what we do, the Patriarchy and activism, the weight of expectation on working mothers (because all mothers work, right?), how we take care of ourselves and how little sleep Jenni is actually getting. We hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it.

- Find Abby's excellent podcast, which is devoted to empowering women through better sleep, here.
- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible Feminist author.
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use (though not on this episode) here.

Welcome to Episode 5 of Series 2 where we are talking about when to call it. We start by breaking down what a toxic workplace is and what some major red flags are that you're working in one before diving into reasons why some women may feel that they need to quit a job they still really love. We discuss a few of our own experiences when we had to call time on an abusive relationship with a workplace before closing out the episode by examining a few key signs that it's time to leave your job. While quitting your job in an unstable job market may not seem like the safest choice to make, the most important thing we need you to remember is that you deserve the best. If your worth is not being recognised at your workplace, it might be time to call it!

- Brigid Schulte's April 2018 article for Slate entitled " The Way We Work Is Killing Us" details the initial statistic quoted regarding 120,000 deaths annually in the U.S. due to workplace stress
- April 2021 article for Appreciation at Work entitled "Toxic Workplaces Can Kill You (Really)" was used for its breakdown of the major signs of a toxic workplace
- Liz Elting's August 2019 articled for Forbes entitled " Why Women Quit" provided the key statistics on working mother's financial and unpaid care burdens
- Amanda Riojas' 2021 article for Fairy God Boss entitled "5 Reasons For Leaving a Job: Why Women Quit Even When They Like Their Work" was used in the discussion about why women may need to quit a job they love
- Kathy Caprino's February 2017 article for Forbes entitled "5 Undeniable Signs It's Time To Leave Your Job" which provided a list of key experiences that mean you might need to quit
- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author!
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here.

Welcome to Episode 4 of Series 2 where we start by talking about global racial injustice, specifically what’s happening in the U.S.A. & the U.K. We talk about the unending police shootings in North America, the Sewell Report in the UK, racist Dr. Seuss books and how disappointing it is to see so many social media accounts ignore the inhumanity of what is taking place prolifically around the world. We discuss why no one doing anti-racist work should expect a pat on the back for it and then break down a list of common phrases used in the office (and the wider world) that are racist. We also talk about the healing power of being uncomfortable, apologising and learning to do better.

- Marguerite Ward & Rachel Premack's March 2021 article for Business Insider entitled "What is a microaggression? 14 things people think are fine to say at work — but are actually racist, sexist, or offensive" which was the basis for our discussion about racist, offensive phrases not to use in the office.
- We love the June 2020 Huffpost article by Kelsey Borreson entitled "6 Things White People Say That Highlight Their Privilege" as it quotes Myisha Hill (who we love along with her wonderful work on Check Your Privilege) and breaks down a lot of pervasive tropes about racism commonly used by White people.
- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author!
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here.

Welcome to Episode 3 of Series 2, where we explore joy. We examine some of the reasons why women struggle to retain and engender joy in their lives and discuss how we personally feel joy is lost during the day as a working woman. We talk about the ways in which people and pressures can strip joy from daily life and what can be done to lighten your load and help to make space for the pursuit of joy as an integral and vital part of your personal journey.

- The May 2009 paper "The Paradox of Declining Female Happiness" by Betsey Stevenson & Justin Wolfers.
- Anne Petherick's May 2016 article for The Guardian entitled "Gains in women’s rights haven't made women happier. Why is that?" which breaks down some of the reasons why women have struggled with happiness over the last four decades.
- Dr.Erin Leyba's April 2017 article for Working Mother entitled "10 Quick Joy Fixes for Weary Working Moms" whose contents and suggestions we discuss in the episode.
- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author!
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here.

Welcome to Episode 2 of Series 2 where we dive into a topic we're deeply passionate about: Gaslighting. We discuss how we've encountered this in a multitude of ways in both our personal and professional lives as well as how women with prior experiences of sexual or physical violence may be more susceptible to gaslighting. We touch on the many ways women might experience gaslighting in the corporate environment, how our experience with it spurred us into writing our book and starting this podcast (!) and how to deal with gaslighting when it happens. We know this is something many women encounter all too often so we hope you'll finish this episode feeling supported and ready to challenge gaslighting when it next rears it ugly head.

- World Health Organisation report released March 2021 entitled "Devastatingly pervasive: 1 in 3 women globally experience violence" confirming that 1 in 3 women globally experience sexual or physical violence in their lifetime
- Suzannah Weiss' August 2018 article for Bustle entitled "7 Subtle Ways Women Experience Gaslighting On A Daily Basis" which breaks down gaslighting most women encounter on a daily basis
- Psychology Today July 2020 article entitled "7 Signs of Gaslighting at the Workplace" which breaks down the gaslighting that many people experience in the workplace
- Dr. Stephanie Sarkis' April 2020 article for Mind Body Green entitled "How To Know If You're Dealing With Gaslighting At Work" which further breaks down gaslighting in the workplace as well as strategies for dealing with it
- U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforces federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee
- UK Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) which provides free, impartial advice on workplace rights, rules and best practice
- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author!
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here

Welcome to Series 2 of the podcast! We jump right into the deep end with our discussion about how current events (femicide, mass shootings) are all directly tied to anger, specifically male anger. We dive into how toxic masculinity and White privilege feeds our global problem with male anger before applying it directly to a corporate setting where the protective stereotype of the "hard to work with, but good at his job" businessman is rarely, if ever, allowed to apply to women. We touch on our personal experiences with this and how past experiences of physical and/or sexual violence can make male aggression in the workplace very triggering.

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author!
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here

Welcome to Episode 20, the finale of series 1! This is our series recap of all the discussions we had along with some background behind each conversation and further fleshing out of some of our previous discussions. We hope you've enjoyed the journey so far as much as we have, we look forward to our next round of difficult, thought-provoking conversations with you starting very soon.

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author!
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here

Welcome to Episode 19, one for the working mamas out there! We recorded this episode on the 21st of February, the anniversary of Malcolm X's assassination and John Lewis' birthday, so we start the conversation talking about their impact, as well as Gloria Richardson's, on our lives. We move on to our central discussion of how mothers, whether or not they are engaging in paid work as well as looking after their children, are being chastised for their coping strategies and organisational skills as they struggle to keep themselves and their families afloat. We discuss what we feel are the structural inequalities that leave mothers in this position even after all of the advancements that women have worked so hard to achieve over the past decades/centuries. We dive into the societal gender bias around nurturing roles, the importance of understanding and giving space to "matrescence",  and how the pressure on mothers  is only becoming more intense.
 
 - Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author
- Find out more about the amazing designers, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here

                                        *** TW: Sexual Assault/Sexual Abuse ***
Welcome to Episode 18: It's Britney, bitch! Or rather, it's the truth about what happens to many (if not all) young girls on their journey to womanhood. We dive into some triggering topics in this week's episode, including society's sexualisation of young girls, sexual abuse and assault and the insidious impact of rape culture. We talk about how the fetishisation of young girl's bodies translates into the way in which women are policed within the corporate world, including the brutalising impact of respectability politics. We discuss how "dressing for the job you want" was never really meant for women and how the expectations placed on girls and women in the world as well as the workplace are not only conflicting but deeply damaging. It may not be an easy listen but we think you'll agree that it's a necessary conversation to have.

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author
- Find out more about the amazing designers, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here

Welcome to Episode 17 which is a purely anecdotal session, no research or statistics on this one, just an intimate discussion about mental health, religion and the ways in which self doubt insidiously finds its way through any amount of armour. Jenni & Lisa discuss how a recent interaction in the process of submitting their book proposal brought out deep-seated insecurities, anxieties and doubt about their own abilities. They discuss how they've overcome those feelings and also discuss how the changes that COVID-19 has wrought on the corporate environment has done nothing to uproot and eliminate the existing systemic inequalities which are deeply entrenched in the workplace.

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author
- Find out more about the amazing designers, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here

Welcome to Episode 16 where we briefly touch on trolling & cancel culture before jumping into our main subject of why being a "good girl" gets you nowhere. Jenni shares a recent experience where she was forced to evaluate how the rules she was taught as a girl were  vastly different to what boys are taught (she also explains what a "risk bucket" is). We discuss what would happen if women stopped adhering to the social rules of being beautiful, smiling, quiet, perfect women who dumb themselves down and give their power to men. We also discuss how the oppressive culture that has evolved within Conservative White Christianity continues to have a negative impact on the enfranchisement of women. Ultimately, the conversation is about whether women should be playing by the rules and being the "good girl" society expects us to be, if the rules are only in place to keep us subjugated.

- Suzannah Weiss' August 2016 article for Bustle entitled "Women's Value Doesn't Just Lie In Pleasing Others" for the foundation on how society deems women a "good girl" or not.
- Hattie Gladwell's May 2019 article for Metro entitled "Someone Found a ’30 Ways To Keep Your Husband’ Rule Book and Women are Shocked" for the Conservative Christian marriage advice.
- Amy Morin's February 2018 article for INC. entitled "A 40-Year-Study Found That Kids Who Do This Are More Likely to Earn the Most Money When They Grow Up" for information about how children that don't follow the rules turn out as adults.
- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author
- Find out more about the amazing designers, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here

Welcome to Episode 15 where we discuss a tweet that was sent to us detailing how women represented the total US job losses in December 2020. The article and statistics behind this tweet as well as the global statistics we found outlining that women are (once again) the biggest losers in the job market due to fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, among other factors, shook us to the core. We discuss what it means to be a woman in a workforce that tends to view your employment as a luxury and why women are overwhelmingly the last to be hired and first to be fired. We definitely don't have any answers for a problem of this magnitude but we know that starting this conversation is the most important thing that we can do. We hope you agree.

- Annalyn Kutz's January 2021 article for CNN Business entitled "The US Economy Lost 140,000 Jobs in December. All of Them Were Held by Women" was the foundation piece for our conversation
- Catalyst's December 2020 research piece entitled "The Detrimental Impact of Covid-19 on Gender and Racial Equality: Quick Take" provided multiple statistical resources for the US, UK and European job markets & economies
- International Labour Organization's December 2020 press release entitled "81 Million Jobs Lost as COVID-19 Creates Turmoil in Asia-Pacific Labour Markets" provided statistics for the Asia-Pacific job markets & economies
- BBC Business December 2020 article entitled "Unemployment rate: How many people are out of work?" provided statistics for the UK job market & economy
- Reuters April 2020 article entitled "Africa could lose 20 million jobs due to pandemic: AU study" provided statistical information on the job markets & economies of the African continent
- Anadalou Agency's October 2020 article entitled "COVID-19: Some 4.5M African jobs to be Lost in 2020" for further information on the job markets & economies of the African continent
- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author
- Find out more about the amazing designers, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here

Welcome to Episode 14 where we discuss the burnout of nearly a year living in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic combined with the political and social upheaval that is taking place around the world. We begin with a conversation about the trope of the angry feminist and how it has personally affected us before moving on to a conversation about the multiple levels of stress and pressure weighing down on us all at the moment, including how it affects our physical and mental health. While we don't have a single "silver bullet" cure, we talk about some of the methods we use to address and reduce our stress levels while still remaining as present as possible. We have provided 3 separate sources for mental health support (UK specific, US specific and a globally minded support page with links) and we send you love & light.

- Jennifer Senior's August 2020 article for the New York Times entitled "We’ve Hit a Pandemic Wall" for US-specific coronavirus statistics & Daphne de Marneffe quote
- US-specific coronavirus mental health statistics for 2020 released by the CDC
- The American Psychological Association's October 2020 "Stress in America" study
- ABC News January 2021 article entitled "The Mental Toll of the Capitol Siege on the American Psyche"
- UK specific mental health support page
- US specific mental health support page
- Global mental health support page
- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author
- Find out more about the amazing designers, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here

Welcome to Episode 13 where we go off on the popular hashtag #notallmen and what it actually means when it's said in relation to the sharing of women's lived experiences. We talk about how using this phrase centres men in women's issues (a common tactic of the Patriarchy) and discuss where the phrase is believed to have originated and when it came into popular use. We take a couple detours on this episode, starting our conversation with the Capitol Hill riot and going "off piste" in our main discussion, touching on incels, violence against women and how the accessibility of pornography and rampant objectification of women in today's society.

- Background information on the use of #notallmen
- Clementine Ford's May 2018 article for Literary Hub entitled "How Many Ways Can Men Say 'Not All Men'?" which was used in the discussion of how the different ways #notallmen is used in conversation about women's issues
- Jess Zimmerman's April 2014 article for Time entitled "Not All Men: A Brief History of Every Dude's Favorite Argument" which was used in the discussion of what the use of #notallmen does to a conversation about women's issues
- Vaishnavi Mohan's May 2020 article for Breakthrough entitled "6 Reasons Why #NOTALLMEN Disrupts the Conversation on Gender Equality" which was used in the discussion about how using #notallmen has a negative impact on gender equality
- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here

Welcome to Episode 12, our first discussion on systemic racism and how it impacts the working women, specifically those from BIPOC/BAMER communities. We discuss the US & UK statistics on the endemic racial inequity within the corporate world and read several narratives highlighting the experiences of BIPOC/BAMER employees within a racist workplace. This episode is the introduction to what will be a series of conversations about systemic racism in the corporate world, some of which will involve special guest speakers to add personal narrative to our statistical and research-lead discussion. We hope you'll join us on what we feel is our most important journey.

- Personal narratives taken from Karen Yuan's June 2020 article in Fortune entitled "Working While Black: Stories from Black Corporate America"
- August 2020 article for The New Republic entitled "Corporate America’s Hollow Denunciations of Systemic Racism" for the discussion of what systemic racism is
- Society for Human Resource Management 2020 report for statistics on Black workers seeing racial discrimination far more than their White colleagues
- 2020 study entitled "The Natural Hair Bias in Job Recruitment" for statistic on natural hairstyles being viewed as less professional than straightened hairstyles
- Ruqaiijah Yearby's article for the ABA entitled "The Impact of Structural Racism in Employment and Wages on Minority Women’s Health" for the US poverty rate statistics
- 2015 McGregor-Smith review on behalf of the UK government entitled "Race in the Workplace" for statistical information relating to racial inequity in the UK
- University of Manchester 2019 study commissioned by the TUC entitled "Racism at Work"  for UK statistics on racial harassment and inequity within the workplace
- Adwoa Bagalini's July 2020 article for the World Economic Forum entitled "5 Ways Racism is Bad for Business - and What We Can Do About it" for how racism impacts the workplace
- June 2020 Edelman report entitled "A Universal Demand for Change" for statistics on consumers boycotting brands as a result of their political stance
- McKinsey 2020 report entitled "Diversity Wins" from which the profitability statistic was taken
- GlassDoor 2019 Diversity & Inclusion Study that advised on millennial employees experiencing/witnessing racism 3.5x more than 55+ year old employees
- September 2020 article for Fortune entitled "Change the world—For Whom? Why Addressing Raci

Welcome to Episode 11 where we end 2020 by burning down the house on women taking up space. We dive into how the historical pressure on women to shrink, expand and, ultimately, shrink again has a direct correlation to our socio-political enfranchisement. We discuss why women apologise far more then men and what we can do to stop it. We debate how women can authentically take up space, get angry about NASA's treatment of its female astronauts and ultimately agree that, like most things we discuss on the show, a culture shift needs to take place in order to truly support women on their career path.

- Historical "evolution" of women's bodies taken from Danielle Friedman's October 2019 article for Forge entitled "What Happens When Women Start Taking Up Space?"
- Amy Morin's March 2019 article for INC. entitled "Women Really Do Apologize More Than Men. Here's Why (and It Has Nothing to Do With Men Refusing to Admit Wrongdoing)" which explores the differences between how men & women apologise
- 2010 study published in Psychological Science entitled "Why Women Apologize More Than Men: Gender Differences in Thresholds for Perceiving Offensive Behavior" from which statistics were taken on the different ways in which men & women apologise
- Kristin Wong's April 2019 article for the New York Times article entitled "No, You Don’t Have to Stop Apologizing" from which information for how to re-frame apologies
- Priya Fielding-Singh's, Devon Magliozzi's and Swethaa Ballakrishnen's August 2018 article for the Harvard Business Review entitled "Why Women Stay Out of the Spotlight at Work" which was drawn from during the discussion about "intentional invisibility" and authenticity in the workplace
- NASA cancelling the all-female space walk because the right size suits weren't available taken from Jacey Fortin's & Karen Zraick's March 2019 article for the New York Times entitled "First All-Female Spacewalk Canceled Because NASA Doesn’t Have Two Suits That Fit"
- Sara Coughlin's July 2017 article for Refinery 29 entitled "How 7 Women Take Up Space In Their Everyday Lives" for personal experiences from women about how they choose to take up space
- Caroline Castrillon's July 2019 slightly confusing article for Forbes entitled "How Women Can Stop Apologizing And Take Their Power Back" whose suggested actions for women we didn't agree with
- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here

Welcome to Episode 10 where we discuss the burn out many women feel around the festive season, especially with the added stressor of navigating the holidays during a global pandemic. We talk about emotional labour/labor, mental load and how our culture of “more is better” is grinding us all down. We delve into the stress and pressure women feel to make things “magical” while grieving our loss of “normality” due to COVID-19 and how it can trigger unhealthy coping strategies. We wrap up with 5 ways (Lisa’s fave) to deal with what the holidays bring up for you and how to bring what really matters back into focus.

- Christobel Hastings' December 2019 article for Stylist entitled "Christmas Burnout: Here’s How to Tackle Festive Anxiety if You’re Feeling Overwhelmed" for holiday burnout statistics and how to deal with it
- Lynn Varacalli Cavanaugh's December 2018 article for Progressive Women's Network entitled "Feel the Burnout? Your Team May Need a (Holiday) Break" for statistics on women leaders experiencing burnout at higher rates than men
- November 2016 report by the Office for National Statistics entitled "Women shoulder the responsibility of 'unpaid work'" for the statistics on unpaid care work & house work in the UK
- Sophie Wilkinson's December 2018 article for BBC3 entitled "Why Was Everyone Talking About Emotional Labour in 2018?" for a brief on emotional labour/labor and Arlie Hochschild's 1983 book, The Managed Heart
- Further information on how alcohol's interaction with oestrogen/estrogen can impact your body in Very Well Mind's November 2020 article entitled "How Alcohol Can Impair the Body's Hormone System" and specifically relating to women's reactions to excessive alcohol consumption in Ria Health's August 2019 article entitled "How Alcohol Affects Women’s Hormones, Before and After Menopause"
- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author!

Welcome to Episode 9 where we do a deep dive into 3 key terms we discussed in Part 1 of the Boardroom: Mansplaining, Hepeating and Imposter Syndrome. We talk about where these terms originated and their background, how they present in the Boardroom and our personal experience with each of them. We finish up with 4 ways you can turn the tide within your own company and help nurture a safe environment for working women to thrive in.

- Rebecca Solnit's 2008 essay on TomDispatch entitled "Men Explain Things to Me: Facts Didn't Get in Their Way" which lead to the birth of the term "Mansplaining"
- Kim Goodwin's July 2018 essay on BBC Workplace entitled "Mansplaining, Explained in One Simple Chart" which includes Goodwin's excellent "Mansplaining" chart
- Olivia Petter's November 2017 article in The Independent entitled "What Is Hepeating?" which describes the origin and background of the term "Hepeating"
- Zameena Mejia's October 2017 article on CNBC entitled "How to Combat ‘Hepeating’ at Work, According to a Harvard Professor" which includes Iris Bohnet's description of, and suggestions for combatting, "Hepeating"
- Juliet Eilperin's September 2016 article in the Washington Post entitled "White House Women Want to Be in the Room Where it Happens" which describes the use of "Amplification" by female White House staff
- Abigail Adams' June 2018 article for Time entitled "Yes, Impostor Syndrome Is Real. Here's How to Deal With It" describing the origins of "Imposter Syndrome" and who experiences it
- Danielle Page's October 2017 article for NBC entitled "How Impostor Syndrome Is Holding You Back at Work" where "Imposter Syndrome" is further explained
- Information on gendered brain differences which influence "Imposter Syndrome" taken from the January 2012 study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information entitled "Sex Differences in Anterior Cingulate Cortex Activation During Impulse Inhibition and Behavioral Correlates"
- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author!
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here

Welcome to Episode 8 where we dive into the Boardroom and how it's keeping anyone who isn't a White man at arm's length. We go over the current statistics for diverse representation in the boardroom (spoiler alert: they're abysmal), how White women have historically been used as the "next best thing" to a White man, and how you have to change the corporate culture in order to create a truly diverse environment. We also discuss the "glass cliff" phenomenon, imposter syndrome and how to lean into what you need to succeed in the Boardroom.

- Deloitte 2018 Global Report statistics of women CEOs, CFOs and on boards
- UK specific statistics relating to diversity on boards and in directorships taken from Barclay Simpson 2017 report
- 2012 study by Yale psychologist Victoria Brescoll entitled "Who Takes the Floor and Why: Gender, Power, and Volubility in Organizations" detailing how men and women executives were perceived differently
- April 2020 report in the New York Times entitled "It’s Not Just You: In Online Meetings, Many Women Can’t Get a Word In" for how men and women are perceived differently in meetings
- Jan/Feb 2011 Harvard Business Review article entitled "How Women End Up on the 'Glass Cliff'" detailing what the "glass cliff" is
- October 2019 article in The Washington Post entitled "These CEOs Broke the Rules at a Secretive Summit to Expose a Billionaire’s Crude Sexual Comments"
- October 2015 article in Fast Company entitled "Three Strategies For Introverts To Speak Up In Meetings" detailing how best for women to express themselves in meetings
- June 2014 Harvard Business Review article entitled "Women, Find Your Voice" detailing how working women can assist themselves in being heard in the boardroom
- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author!
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here

Welcome to Episode 7 where we're taking a moment to feed back on some of the interactions we've had around our Boys Club episode, and other past episodes as well, as well as "clear the air" about what the Dear Patriarchy podcast is and what we're trying to accomplish. We hope you enjoy this more informal episode before we swing back into our research-based, story-telling pieces moving forward.

- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author!
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here

Welcome to Episode 6 where we dive into Boys Club: What it is and the ways in which women and other groups that have been marginalised within our patriarchal social construct may experience it in the workplace. We talk about how to recognise if your own organisation has a Boys Club culture and share our personal experiences with it in the corporate world. We discuss strategies to fight against Boys Club but also why we should ALL fight against it from a financial and future-proofing perspective, if the gender equality argument doesn't quite sway you..!

- Boys Club statistics taken from the InHerSight June 2019 report entitled "The Boys’ Club Culture Is More Common Than You May Think" AND the InHerSight June 2019 article "6 Uncommon Signs Your Job May Have a Boys' Club"
- Further information taken from the Women's Agenda November 2019 article entitled "I’m a Female Leader Working in a Boys Club. This is What it’s Like."
- Strategies to fight Boys Club taken from the Harvard Business Review November 2011 article entitled "Co-Opt the Old Boys’ Club: Make It Work for Women" AND Forbes July 2019 article entitled "How To Navigate A Boys' Club Culture"
- Statistics detailing women academics doing more administrative work than their male counterparts taken from the Physics World May 2017 article entitled "Female Academics Do More Admin Than Their Male Colleagues"
- Statistics in support of removing Boys Club taken from the MSCI May 2018 article entitled "Women on boards: One piece of a bigger puzzle" AND the McKinsey January 2018 study entitled "Delivering Through Diversity" AND the MIT October 2014 article entitled "Study: Workplace diversity can help the bottom line"
- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author!
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here

Welcome to Episode 5 where we finish what we started in our last episode by unpacking how the Patriarchy affects women's views on, and relationships with, other women. We delve into why record numbers of White women in America voted for Donald Trump and how the behaviours & beliefs that lead so many women to abandon their gender (among other things) in favour of their race translates into the corporate environment. We discuss the Sisterhood and how to start the process of fixing women's fractured relationships with each other.

- Base information taken from The Guardian's November 2018 article "Half of White Women Continue to Vote Republican. What's Wrong with Them?" AND The Nation's February 2018 article "The Reasons Why White Women Vote Republican—and What to Do About It"
- Phyllis Schafly background taken from the Chicago Sun-Times May 2020 article "Why did 53% of White Women Vote for Trump? The Story of Phyllis Schlafly Tells Why" AND the New York Times' September 2016 obituary "Phyllis Schlafly, ‘First Lady’ of a Political March to the Right, Dies at 92"
- Information supporting women not supporting other women in the workplace is taken from the Forbes January 2020 article "Why Women Don't Always Support Other Women"
- Different types of female misogynists taken from the Psychology Today August 2019 article "12 Ways to Spot a Female Misogynist"
- Background information on Feminism and its divisiveness taken from the Forbes March 2017 article "What Is Feminism, And Why Do So Many Women And Men Hate It?"
- Information on how to be a better ally in the workplace: Harvard Business Review July 2020 article "How to Be a Better Ally to Your Black Colleagues"
- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author!
-Artwork by the amazing Rei Bioco whose incredible work you can find here & here

TW: Contains discussions of miscarriage, stillbirth, foetal/fetal demise and abortion from 40:00 - 43:30
Welcome to Episode 4 where we open up the densely packed topic of what the Patriarchy is and how it impacts us all on a daily basis. We discuss how it is believed the Patriarchy came into being, how it now translates into the world around you and who it impacts (spoiler alert: everyone). We unpack toxic masculinity as a symptom of the Patriarchy and how it influences society's perception of gender as well as discussing how the Patriarchy's modus operandi of "command and control" has a deeply deleterious impact on women's autonomy, specifically reproductive rights.

- Historical information on the Patriarchy taken from "The Creation of the Patriarchy" by Dr. Gerda Lerner
- Data on patriarchal design in society & representational gender differences taken from Invisible Women by Caroline Criado-Perez (as usual)
- Limitations on women's employment globally taken from the World Economic Forum's May 2018 article "Why Gender Equality Starts With a Change in the Law"
- Information on Toxic Masculinity taken from the Psychology Today August 2017 article "Why Patriarchy is Not About Men"
- Information on the Patriarchy's impact in the workplace and on relationships taken from the Everyday Feminism article "Patriarchy and How it Shows Up for Everyone"
- Further information on the Patriarchy's impact on the workplace from a global perspective taken from the Telegraph India October 2018 article "Patriarchy in the Workplace"
- Additional statistics and information taken from the Harvard Business Review June 2018 article "What Most People Get Wrong About Men and Women"
- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author!
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here

Welcome to Episode 3 where we dive into the burn out we're all experiencing at work and home, which is being dramatically escalated by the global pandemic and political upheaval taking place in many countries around the world. We discuss the impact gender and race has on individual burn out levels, what self-care really looks like and how companies can support their employees by addressing specific causes of burn out.

- Official WHO information on burn out
- Pre-COVID burn out statistics from July 2018 Gallup survey/report on Burn Out entitled "Employee Burnout, Part 1: The 5 Main Causes"
- 2018 article in the National Library of Medicine on burn out gender pathways entitled "Gendered Pathways to Burnout: Results from the SALVEO Study
- Pre-COVID statistics on womxn's burn out levels from October 2019 article in PR Newswire entitled "American Women Confronting Burnout At Epidemic Levels, According To New Harris Poll Commissioned By Meredith Corporation"
- Pre-COVID statistics on household chore split from July 2019 article in the Independent entitled "Women Still Do Majority of Household Chores, Study Finds"
- Post-COVID statistics on employee burn out from September 2020 article by Eagle Hill Consultancy entitled "Employee Burnout from COVID-19 on the Rise, With 58% of U.S. Workers Reporting Burnout"
- Post- COVID statistics on stress levels from September 2020 article in the Harvard Business Review entitled "Preventing Burnout Is About Empathetic Leadership"
- Post-COVID article on workplace burn out from the University of California entitled "Job burnout is a billion-dollar problem. Can we fix it, despite COVID-19?"
- Post-COVID UK statistics & strategies taken from Robert Walters report entitled "Burning the Candle"
- Post-COVID statistics on BIPOC/BAMER burn out & cultural taxation from June 2020 article in Fortune entitled "Beware of Burning Out Your Black Employees" AND
20 July article from Black on White TV entitled "People of Colour Face Burn Out As Companies Ask Them To Work For Free to Combat Racism"
- Check out Project Implicit to understand your own implicit biases and help you start the journey of "un-learning"
- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author!
- Find out more about the

Welcome to Episode 2 where we do a deep-dive into sexual harassment in the workplace. We discuss our own experiences with workplace harassment (sexual and otherwise), how it has affected us and explore the current statistics for sexual harassment across  different groups, including BIPOC / BAMER, LGBTQ+ and disabled women. We also give suggestions for reporting harassment and how companies can safeguard their employees.

- Base sexual harassment statistics taken from Trade Union Congress' 2016 report "Still Just A Bit of Banter" AND the Equality and Human Rights Commission 2018 report  "Sexual Harassment and Harassment at Work"
- LGBTQ+ sexual harassment statistics taken from Trade Union Congress' 2019 report "Sexual Harassment of LGBT People in the Workplace"
- Statistics relating to sexual harassment increasing when the unemployment rate goes up AND Black womxn in the US reporting sexual harassment 4 times more in 2016 than in 1996 taken from The Independent's article "Black Women More Likely to Experience Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, Study Finds" from 09 July 2019
- Statistics relating to men's perception of, and reaction to, sexual harassment are taken from the October 2013 article entitled  "Perceptions and Attitudes to Sexual Harassment: An Examination of Sex Differences and the Sex Composition of the Harasser–Target Dyad" published in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology by Mally Shecory Bitton and Danit Ben Shaul
- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author!
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here

Welcome to our inaugural episode where we discuss the impact that COVID-19 is having on the lives of working women and what that means in a global and corporate sense. We touch upon 5 key ways in which governments and individual companies can overcome what is a potentially disastrous loss of women from the corporate space.

- Base article material taken from the Wall Street Journal's September 2020 article entitled "Sheryl Sandberg: Companies and Women are at a Crossroads"
- McKinsey Statistics taken from their July 2020 article entitled "Covid-19 and Gender Equality: Countering the Regressive Effects"
- Shoosmiths statistics taken from their 2020 article entitled "Covid-19 and its Impact on Women at Work"
- Harvard Business Review's article entitled "Why Women Don't Apply for Jobs Unless They're 100% Qualified" includes the statistic from a report by HP about men typically applying for jobs when they're only 60% qualified
- Caroline Criado-Perez: Invisible Women (READ IT!!)
- David Sedaris: Holidays on Ice (Also a must read though we cannot confirm if either sugar cookies or the word 'zeitgeist' still piss him off)
- Please check out our "Feminism 101" suggested reading list here if you're at a loose end for a great read from an incredible female author!
- Find out more about the amazing artists, Nubefy, behind the graphics we use here