Original Syndrome

Do you get unexplained cravings in the supermarket? Are women really more sensitive than men? How did 'snowflake' become a slur? We talk about these life-or-death issues and other stuff with psychologist and author, Julia Wild. Join us for this deep and funny episode with a super articulate guest. Topics include: sensitivity, gender, psychology, empathy

An amazing, young podcast producer, journalist and women’s rights activist in Mexico City dishes on the situation of women in her country. And female comedians are paving the way there for a life with less patriarchy! The amount of badassery and courage it takes to do this in a place where women are routinely murdered on the street is mind-boggling. Topics include: women in Mexico, standup comedy, feminism, social commentary

Growing up in the 1950s was tough for all women, especially when you were inquisitive and got kicked out of class for asking too many questions. Ruz Gulko tells us her hilarious and moving stories of childhood and of “accidentally” becoming a rabbi. She also explains how, in Judaism, women have always been the ones pushing destiny forward. Topics include: religion, feminism, gender equality

Performing can unlock all kinds of talents and set us free. We interview actress Samantha Rund on how she helps others find their voice through acting and speaking. As a real live standup comedian, actress and coach, she talks about her experiences on stage and off, and the journey to discover her own true voice. Topics include: performance, standup, race, gender equality

Janet and Adina riff on politics and listen to interviews with 3 women on Kamala Harris’ nomination for Vice President. FINALLY, it’s happening!!! The state of the union is no longer just male… Topics include: women, politics, gender equality

The unfiltered view from Canada. Two wise and worldly Canadian women tell us how incredibly f—-ed up we look from up there. What a contrast! Listen to us compare the status of women there and here and what our northern neighbors think about our self-destructing political landscape. Are you ready to emigrate? Topics include: gender equality, politics, culture, Canada  

Running for political office as a queer woman in a red state, and enjoying gifts of fresh elk meat. WHOA! We talk with the amazing Caitlin, who has pushed back on political and social norms with brilliance, joy and a touch of rage. Talk about badass…. Topics include: women in politics, gender equality, polarization

How equal is improv? Totally hip and super-funny Gen Z-er, Carly Lant, explains to us how comedy improv works, how she got into it and how her group, The Dead Parrots Society, deals with creating gender equality on stage and backstage. Topics include: improv comedy, gender equality

Adina and Janet peel away the delicious layers of Tim’s journey into female impersonator-land where for years he was Anita Goodman, “shapely blond” singer and standup comedian. A straight man and former drag queen tells some incredible stories about what it was like to be hit on by men and inhabit Seattle’s underground drag space. Take a dive with us into gender politics and psychology! Topics include: gender equality, drag, cross-dressing, performance art, comedy, coaching  

IQ through the roof and bursting with incredible experiences, Jess is a former standup comedian turned DEI expert speaker and trainer. She has the deepest understanding of gender power dynamics we’ve ever encountered. Join Adina and Janet as Jess explains her first experience as a kid doing standup at her father’s international bodybuilding event and it just goes from there… Topics include: diversity, inclusion, gender, comedy, intersectionality, and humor

Tibetan-American standup comedian Dewa Dorje is a totally unique and hilarious presence on the Seattle comedy scene. Her father was the first Tibetan nomad to publish a book of humorous writing. Dewa can talk politics one minute and tell you about her mother’s view of goat sex the next. In this episode, Dewa and Janet riff on humor across cultures, single motherhood and being a woman of color in this mixed up world. Topics include: standup comedy, humor across cultures, single motherhood

Leigh-Anne seems to have been born doing standup. As a baby-boomer, she tackles ageism with a ton of often-raunchy humor and knowledge. Drawing on her master’s degree in public health, she also helps us understand how humor and laughter is therapeutic and necessary for us as humans. Oh, and when she’s not collecting wiener dogs, Leigh-Anne runs a major annual comedy festival in Eugene, OR. Join Janet and Leigh-Anne as they dig into humor, neuroscience and what it means to be human. Topics include: ageism, humor as therapy, standup comedy

Natalie, former geologist, professional photographer and flight attendant allows us into her world as a transgender woman. She totally enchanted us with her stories about erections on airplanes, the meaning of mansplaining and finding her empathy. Topics include: transgender issues, male privilege, mansplaining, empathy