The Witch Podcast

Okay hi. It has been a while, but today is a full moon (and a lunar eclipse) so I have arisen to talk too much about too much again. It has also been some forced Covid downtime, three moves, and how-did-I-end-up-in-the-last-year-of-my-PhD?!Anyways, you're all awesome and we missed you and the world is deeply in need of you and femme liberation and new ways of relating. So we're back, and this week we are joined by the esteemed Reed Eckert to talk corporate [white] feminism, #girlbossing, "that girl", and the like. Join us once monthly moving forward for more idk rage and hope and self-discovery. Episode ResourcesLet 2020 Be The Year We Get Rid Of Girlboss Culture For Good - Vicky SprattThe Death of the Girlboss - Alex Abad-SantosGaslight, gatekeep: How “girlboss” went from aspirational to insulting - Abby SnyderThe Girlboss Has Left the Building - Amanda MullWHY “THAT GIRL” CULTURE IS PROBLEMATIC - Savannah HornerThe problem with TikTok's 'That Girl' Trend - Rosie DannMore The WitchInstagram - @thewitchpodcastFacebook - @thewitchpodAnd support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thewitchpodcastWe have prints at The Coven Sisters Shop on Etsy!

Full moon - new episode.

HAPPY (?) 2022. I've missed you all. I've missed these conversations. I've missed the invitation into sharing and vulnerability and conversation and rooting out harmful misogyny from my body and colonization from my brain. And there is so SO so ever so much more to talk about (what's new). This week we are joined again by the brilliant and eloquent Kirsten Dobler. Kirsten is a language revitalizationist, Kʷaʷk̓ʷala Lik̓ʷala Teacher, dear friend, and Indigenous scholar. As always, here are some show resources: All My Relations Podcast A Primer on Cultural Appropriate (w/ Kirsten)Part I (of 2) on Human Evolutionary Biology and Misogyny (w/Alena Ebeling-Schuld)The Why of The Witch Trials (and the birth of the nuclear family) (w/my cool brother Reed)More on Tachykinins: M. Zelikowsky, M. Hui, T. Karigo, A. Choe, B. Yang, M.R. Blanco, K. Beadle, V. Gradinaru, B.E. Deverman, D.J. AndersonThe Neuropeptide Tac2 Controls a Distributed Brain State Induced by Chronic Social Isolation Stresse19Cell, 173 (2018), pp. 1265-1279, 10.1016/j.cell.2018.03.037We are always open to your suggestions for topics, speakers, and the like. Hex on, friends.More The Witch:Instagram - @thewitchpodcastFacebook - @thewitchpodAnd support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thewitchpodcastWe have prints at The Coven Sisters Shop on Etsy!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US FOR A YEAR. I am so grateful for all of you, and hope this day finds you celebrating, reflecting, stoking figurative and literal fires. I am joined today by my incredible mom and super rad brother for an unhinged episode that is just good fun - we talk Sawhain, slut-shaming, favorite Halloweens past, and way more than we expected.Episode Resources:Halloween: America's No. 1 holiday for wasting money on garbage - Lindsay AbramsHalloween Unmasked: A Socialist Feminist History of Halloween - H. BradfordEmbracing Darkness: All Hallows Eve in Old Lancashire - Mary SharrattCeltic sacrifices confirmed at famed ancient site - Dan VerganoMore on Mary VoightWhat Is Samhain? What to Know About the Ancient Pagan Festival That Came Before Halloween - Cady LangInside the Irish ‘hell caves' where Halloween was born - Ronan O'ConnellHow purity culture and anti-Asian racism intersect in some white evangelical circles - Sarah Ngu More The Witch:Instagram - @thewitchpodcastFacebook - @thewitchpodAnd support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thewitchpodcastWe have prints at The Coven Sisters Shop on Etsy!

Hello witches and wonderful friends - this week Reed and I talk/rage for a really, really long time about Purity Culture. Turns out we still have a lot of unpacking to do...Episode Resources:O'Donnell, K. and Katie Cross (2020). Feminist Trauma Theologies: Body, Scripture and Church in Critical Perspective. SCM Press.Klement, K. R., & Sagarin, B. J. (2017). Nobody wants to date a whore: Rape-supportive messages in women-directed Christian dating books. Sexuality & Culture, 21(1), 205-223.Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good - adrienne maree brownCommunion: The Female Search for Love - bell hooksCoalition to Stop Violence Against Native WomenThe Flaw at the Center of Purity Culture - Angie HongOpinion: Purity Culture Disproportionately Impacts Women of Color - Logan AndersonHow purity culture and anti-Asian racism intersect in some white evangelical circles - Sarah Ngu More The Witch:Instagram - @thewitchpodcastFacebook - @thewitchpodAnd support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thewitchpodcastWe have prints at The Coven Sisters Shop on Etsy!

Hello witches and wise friends - I'm back this week with my stunning and adorable and brilliant Mom to further unpack cognitive labor / mental load.  We get into deconstructing "nagging", double standards, and the weight of it all. Join us!Episode Resources:The Mental Load: Managing a Burden You Can't Actually See - Crystal Rapole  Daminger A. The Cognitive Dimension of Household Labor. American Sociological Review. 2019;84(4):609-633. doi:10.1177/0003122419859007The hidden load: How 'thinking of everything' holds mums back - Melissa HogenboomMcDonnell C, Luke N, Short SE. Happy Moms, Happier Dads: Gendered Caregiving and Parents' Affect. Journal of Family Issues. 2019;40(17):2553-2581. doi:10.1177/0192513X19860179What Is The Mental Load? The Invisible Labor Falling On Women's Shoulders - Kelly GonsalvesHow Couples Share “Cognitive Labor” and Why it Matters - Allison DamingerThe gender wars of household chores: a feminist comic - EmmaWomen Aren't Nags—We're Just Fed Up - Gemma Hartley More The Witch:Instagram - @thewitchpodcastFacebook - @thewitchpodAnd support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thewitchpodcast We have prints at The Coven Sisters Shop on Etsy!

Hi you brilliant, beautiful beings - we are back this week for a celebration of awesome women and new adventures. Guest co-hosts and spotlighted badass women this week are Sivani Babu and Sabine Bergmann, the co-founders and co-CEO's behind Hidden Compass. Hidden Compass is a travel magazine that reimagines how we can tell our stories - about adventures, ourselves, and exploration - in a world greatly in need of nuance and new ethical approaches to travel, narrative, and the like.  Stay tuned to hear more about forthcoming adventures and SB^2's awesome work. Episode ResourcesFor more on Hidden CompassEroded Myths - Robert AnnisMore on Sabine and SivaniFollow Sabine and Sivani on Twitter or check out their personal websites here and hereFind Hidden Compass on YoutubeMore The Witch:Instagram - @thewitchpodcastFacebook - @thewitchpodAnd support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thewitchpodcast Note: I'm stoked to be formally working for Hidden Compass part-time! So stay tuned for more from these awesome women in the future. 

Hello, you freaking fantastic folx, welcome back to The Witch Podcast. I'm joined this week by some of the most important women in my life to talk about a thing that turns out to be really hard to succinctly talk about: cognitive labor (otherwise home management, other-otherwise mental load). This episode will be the first of several in a series meant to unpack just what cognitive labor is and how it disproportionately impacts women. Today we mostly share personal anecdotes but include two quick resources to lay some groundwork. Come, rage with us.Also - we barely scratch the surface. Our experiences are narrowly framed by our identities as white women in heterosexual relationships in North America. Tune in for Part II, where we get into the data and diversity of cognitive labor. Episode Resources:The Mental Load: Managing a Burden You Can't Actually See - Crystal Rapole  Daminger A. The Cognitive Dimension of Household Labor. American Sociological Review. 2019;84(4):609-633. doi:10.1177/0003122419859007  More The Witch:Instagram - @thewitchpodcastFacebook - @thewitchpodAnd support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thewitchpodcast 

Hi you brilliant, beautiful beings - I'm back, a little late, with more pirates. Guest co-host and ice-cream-maker-extraordinaire / history buff Mack Adamson joins to share insights, rage, and get nerdy about all piracy but especially rad femmes who history (almost) forgot. Episode ResourcesSchulte, Ryann. "But of Their Own Free-Will and Consent”: Anne Bonny, Mary Read, and the Women Pirates in the Early Modern Times." Armstrong Undergraduate Journal of History 6.1 (2016): 13-28.Kuenzli, Jasmina Sara (2019). The Pirate Queen. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /187595.How Irish Pirate Queen Grace O'Malley Defied Elizabeth I And Conquered A Man's World - Daniel RennieGerace O'Malley - Aidan LonerganGrace O'Malley: The Pirate Queen of Ireland - Royal Museums GreenwichGráinne Mhaol, pirate queen of Connacht: behind the legend - Theresa D. MurrayGrace O'Malley, The 16th Century Pirate Queen of Ireland - Joanna GillanMore The Witch:Instagram - @thewitchpodcastFacebook - @thewitchpodAnd support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thewitchpodcast 

This is heavy, heavy stuff. Start here with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Donate to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society: https://www.irsss.ca/ If you or someone you know is suffering, please contact the 24/7 emergency support line: 1-800-721-0066 Today is Canada Day. As I sit on the lands of the Tla'amin Nation and reflect on my massive privilege built on colonization, violence, and the literal graves of children, I'm empty of insight or words to speak to the scale of injustice. Today, I'm joined by Kirsten Dobler - a member of the Liǧʷiɫdaxʷ Nation, academic, badass educator, language revitalizationist, and all-around absolutely-awesome-resilient-human.A repeated disclaimer: we talk a lot about white privilege and fragility in this one. I want to be super clear that when I talk about white women messing up despite our best intentions, and how we need to move beyond intentions and recognize our negative impact, I am big-time including myself as one of those white women (Lord knows I have messed up, and gotten defensive, and made intention-excuses, and caused harm).   Episode Resources:48 books by Indigenous writers to read to understand residential schools - David A. RobertsonUnsettling the Settler Within - Paulette ReganThe Inconvenient Indian - Thomas KingCanada's Darkest Secret: Residential Schools - Behind the Bastards Postcast hosted by Robert EvansAll My Relations PodcastIndian Horse - Richard WagameseSurvivors not surprised by unmarked graves at former residential school in B.C. - Tavia Grant and Patrick WhiteMy Name Is Seepeetza - Shirley SterlingMe and White Supremacy - Layla F. SaadFollow Kirsten:Instagram - @kdoblerTwitter - @kgdobs

Hi my dearest witches, welcome to summer!Happiest Summer Solstice to all.  I hope the long days are full of hope and light and lots of good things. In this episode, cool little brother Reed and I join forces to explore the transformation of the word gossip from one of joy and emotion to a weapon. I get overly mad a few times (what's new) - but end on a note of transformation and reclamation (huzzah!). Episode resources/notes:Witches, Witch-hunting, and Women - Silvia Federici Federici, Silvia (2004). Caliban and the Witch: Women, the Body, and Primitive Accumulation. Brooklyn, NY: Autonomedia. ISBN 1-57027-059-7.How Patriarchy Redefined "Gossip" to be a Women's Thing - Winifred J. AkpobiGossip and Feminist Solidarity - e-flux conversationsGossip Girls: Emily Janakiram on Silvia FedericiFind my little bro on the interwebs:Instagram - @reed_eckertTikTok - @reedeckertMore The Witch:Instagram - @thewitchpodcastFacebook - @thewitchpodAnd support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thewitchpodcast 

Hi all you good people. This week, I come to you from a cavas wall tent in rural British Columbia. Has my audio quality suffered? Yes. Has my mental health improved drastically? Also yes. My superhero mom joins us again today to talk swashbuckling femmes that history and cultural narratives forgot. We traverse some serious moral grey area, entangle myth and fact, and muse about accepted gender roles and how they're manipulated by historical (and modern storytellers). This is just the tip of the iceberg. Resources for much more learning and diving in below: Episode ResourcesThe Swashbuckling History of Women PiratesAncient Piracy and Teuta: The Illyrian Pirate QueenFor more on the Bechdel TestBehind the Myth of the Breast-Baring Pirate9 Female Pirates You Should Know AboutWomen Were Pirates, Too - Erin Blakemore 

Hi again, you delightful humans and magical friends! We are trying something new this week: actually just having a little fun and time to chat with an awesome and inspiring woman.Rhiannon Kirton is a wildlife specialist, grad student, outdoor recreational enthusiast, co-founder of Black Mammologists week, and all-around badass. Join us as we talk life, conservation, equity,  career, grad school, and all-the-things. Resources discussed today: Kaleidoscope CanadaBlack Mammalogists WeekSupport the Black and Indigenous Scholars in Mammalogy Award!Go follow Rhiannon!On Twitter @rhiannon_kirtonOn Instagram @rhi_kirtonMore The Witch:Instagram - @thewitchpodcastFacebook - @thewitchpodAnd support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thewitchpodcast 

We are BACK (sort of) as I run around setting up wildlife cameras and getting excited about warm weather and new research. Thanks for your patience you wonderful magical beings - today, let's begin our multi-part conversation on powerful women in conservation. This episode is SO not all-inclusive but is a good place where we can all meet to discuss women and femmes and power and nature and relationships and conservation and the like. Episode Resources (and other reading!)Women are Rising in the conservation movement, but still face #MeToo challenges - Megan Jones and Jennifer SolomonWant to Save the Planet? Empower Women - Erin Myers MadeiraAmazon 'women warrior' show gender equality, forest conservation go hand in hand - Rosamaria Loures, Sarah SaxWhy Women Must Defy the Odds to Become Scientists - Angeli GabrielMeet the 'Brave Ones': The women saving Africa's wildlife - Rachel NuwerAwesome Scientists/Scholars to FollowDr. Andrea ReidRaven the Science MavenRhi KirtonCorina NewsomeDr. Jesse PoppDr. Kim TallBearEaryn McGeeDr. Losang RabgeySupport MMIWG InitiativesSupport Indigenous Forest GuardiansMore The Witch:Instagram - @thewitchpodcastFacebook - @thewitchpodAnd support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thewitchpodcast 

Hello, my whimsical witches and fierce friends - I'm navigating tech hiccups and a Ph.D. and missing you all. Listen in for a short update on why there isn't a new episode this week and what to be excited for in the near future. Also oh my gosh this is not an April Fool's joke and also April Fool's stresses me out so much. 

Welcome back, my fine witches and magical friends! Today my very hip little brother Reed and I get into some things near and dear to my heart - beer, brewing, fermented magic, and women. Spoiler: WE HAVE WOMEN TO THANK FOR BEER.  And hops. And obviously infinite other things. We dig into multicultural examples of brewing, goddesses, brewsters-as-witches, and speak to the largely unspoken contributions of women to beer, brewing, and fermenting more generally for the last 10,000 years. Episode ResourcesHow Women Brewsters Changed the World - Tara NurinThe Transformation of Brewing:  An Overview of Three Centuries of Science and Practice - Ray AndersonThe Goddess Guide: Exploring the Attributes and Correspondences of the Devine Feminine - Priestess Brandi Auset Women & alcohol in a highland Maya town: water of hope, water of sorrow - Christine Engla Eber  The Evolving Role of Women's Contributions to Brewing Beer - The Brews BrothersFemale Brewers Launch Black-Owned Brewery at Rocky Mount Mills - Julie BaggettWomen and Beer: A 4,500-Year History Is Coming Full Circle - Krystal BaugherAccording To History, We Can Thank Women For Beer - Courtney IsemanWomen used to dominate the beer industry – until the witch accusations started pouring in - Laken BrooksAn actually fantastic Wikipedia entry on Women in Brewing (thanks to all contributors!)Find my little bro on the interwebs:Instagram - @reed_eckertTikTok - @reedeckertMore The Witch:Instagram - @thewitchpodcastFacebook - @thewitchpodAnd support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thewitchpodcast 

Welcome back dear friends and fine femmes, to another episode of The Witch Podcast! Today, we are joined by the incredible Vanessa Vakharia (aka The Math Guru) to discuss sexism in math, debunk oollllld myths about women's and girl's place in the mathematics world and beyond, empower you to get right with math, scream about Britney Spears, purple-haired professionals, and generally have a fantastic time. More VanessaVanessa is a powerhouse and the founder of The Math Guru. Be sure to check out her podcast Math Therapy (HIGHLY recommend) and very very very insanely exciting forthcoming event (GET YOUR TICKETS BEFORE THEY SELL OUT): PI DAY BRUNCH  - an event for ANYONE who wants to learn fun facts about Pi from a certified drag queen (Kyne Santos) and Vanessa, on PI DAY (March 14, 2021 at 11:00am EST)! Bring your own pie, pizza counts:). All proceeds from the event go to Rainbox Railroad. You can also find Vanessa on Instagram!More Show ResourcesHownottotravellikeabasicbitch (Dr. Kiona)Britney Spears DocumentaryVanessa's Band (Goodnight, Sunrise) on SpotifyThe Beaches on SpotifyFennema, E. (1979). Women and girls in mathematics—Equity in mathematics education. Educational studies in mathematics, 10 (4), 389-401.More The WitchInstagram - @thewitchpodcastTwitter - @thewitchpodcastFacebook - @thewitchpodAnd support us on Patreon or via a one-time-only contribution via KofiAlso, we have a website!

Hello, my magical friends - welcome back to The Witch Podcast! This week, my effervescent Mom is back as we unpack the Myth of the Alpha Male. It is angry and fun and intense and silly all at once (per usual). Episode ResourcesThe Myth of the Alpha Male - Scott Barry KaufmanDo Alpha Males Even Exist? - Dean BurnettHawley, P. H., Little, T. D., & Card, N. A. (2008). The myth of the alpha male: A new look at dominance-related beliefs and behaviors among adolescent males and females. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 32(1), 76-88.Burger, J. M., & Cosby, M. (1999). Do women prefer dominant men? The case of the missing control condition. Journal of Research in Personality, 33(3), 358-368.Dr. Mech's WebsiteMore The Witch:Instagram - @thewitchpodcastTwitter - @thewitchpodcastFacebook - @thewitchpodAnd support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thewitchpodcast 

Hello, you magical beings - welcome back to The Witch Podcast!This week, Anne-Marie Pearce and I continue our conversations on aging in youth-obsessed western society. We navigate and critique age-panic and healthy-aging movements, consider opportunities towards transformation, aannnnd we get into happy stories - of communities of empowered aging and powerful women.  Also BONUS GUEST! My mom joins in the conversation to comment on her experiences aging and her thoughts on last week's episode. Show Resources:Ancient people buried older women with less treasure - David WexnerTwigg, J. (2004). The body, gender, and age: Feminist insights in social gerontology. Journal of aging studies, 18(1), 59-73.Bremmer,  J. 1987. "The Old  Women of Ancient Greece." In Blok and Mason: 191-215.  in  G.  Arrigoni,  ed.,  Le  donne  in Grecia.  Laterza,  Rome  and  Bari, 1985. 275-98.Pratt, L. (2000). The old women of ancient Greece and the Homeric Hymn to Demeter. Transactions of the American Philological Association (1974-), 130, 41-65.Bouson, J. B. (2016). Shame and the aging woman: Confronting and resisting ageism in contemporary women's writings. Springer.Why Are Old Women Often The Face Of Evil In Fairy Tales And Folklore - Elizabeth BlairWomen, it's time to age disgracefully - The Guardian We still aren't okay with women getting older. Here's why. - Shehzeen RehmanFind Anne-Marie on Instagram @annemarielovestheseaGet More The Witch:Instagram - @thewitchpodcastTwitter - @thewitchpodcastFacebook - @thewitchpodAnd support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thewitchpodcast 

Hey you magical beings - welcome back to The Witch Podcast. Next month, I turn 29 years old. I am healthy and grateful and um WHY AM I PARALYZED BY FEAR OF AGING?!?!?! Today, I'm joined by the brilliant Anne-Marie Pearce to tackle the history behind, drivers of, and lingering pain caused by ageism in Western society. We're mad (per usual) and starting early on the path towards aging disgracefully and letting go of empty, culturally-enforced aging stereotypes (which, no surprise, predominately impact women). Show Resources:Ancient people buried older women with less treasure - David WexnerTwigg, J. (2004). The body, gender, and age: Feminist insights in social gerontology. Journal of aging studies, 18(1), 59-73.Bremmer,  J. 1987. "The Old  Women of Ancient Greece." In Blok and Mason: 191-215.  in  G.  Arrigoni,  ed.,  Le  donne  in Grecia.  Laterza,  Rome  and  Bari, 1985. 275-98.Pratt, L. (2000). The old women of ancient Greece and the Homeric Hymn to Demeter. Transactions of the American Philological Association (1974-), 130, 41-65.Bouson, J. B. (2016). Shame and the aging woman: Confronting and resisting ageism in contemporary women's writings. Springer.Why Are Old Women Often The Face Of Evil In Fairy Tales And Folklore - Elizabeth BlairWomen, it's time to age disgracefully - The Guardian We still aren't okay with women getting older. Here's why. - Shehzeen RehmanFind Anne-Marie on Instagram @annemarielovestheseaGet More The Witch: Instagram - @thewitchpodcastTwitter - @thewitchpodcastFacebook - @thewitchpodAnd support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thewitchpodcast 

Hello fine friends, femmes, and powerful humans. Welcome back to The Witch Podcast. TW/CW: Sexual assault, sex and victim shaming,  eugenics/racism, abortion shamingFind Part 1 hereMy mom and I continue our bizarre journey into Dr. Hubbard's very racist, very sexist Sex Advice pamphlets for 1920s young adults (and girls, apparently) in New York City. I scream at least twice, very loudly. Hey, we love you all. We just show it in weird ways - like bringing you infuriating materials that make us realize how deeply entrenched the dehumanization of women, queer folx, and any people who aren't white is in our culture. Buckle up. Prepare to rage. Hex that sh*t.Show ResourcesThe white supremacist origins of modern marriage advice - Jane WardKevles, D. J. (1999). Eugenics and human rights. Bmj, 319 (7207), 435-438. https://dx-doi-org.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/10.1136%2Fbmj.319.7207.435Eugenics - History.com EditorsDr. Hubbard's Sex Facts for Men and Women (0/10 don't recommend)The Scandalous 1920s made America Hate Flappers - Erin Blakemore1920s Sex: Lust and Sexuality in the Roaring TwentiesThe 1920s: ‘Young women took the struggle for freedom into their personal lives' - Judith MackrellCenter for Disease Control STD/STI ResourcesBehind the Bastards Phrenology Part 1 and 2More The Witch:Instagram - @thewitchpodcastTwitter - @thewitchpodcastFacebook - @thewitchpodAnd support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thewitchpodcast 

Hello, you fierce femmes and fantastic folx.I write today's show notes while watching (predominately white) domestic terrorists stage a coup on the U.S. capital so they are... a bit of a mess, like everything else. Today, Nikita and I are back to continue the conversation and wade through the dark waters of body 'health' metrics, demystify the BMI, and promote collective liberation. We navigate the very personal and very complex and find a bit of time to revel in the magic of food and our bodies. This is for you. For holding space. For taking it up. For joy in food. Towards resolving. Towards love. Towards liberation.Resources for those struggling with eating disorders:Understanding and Finding Help for Eating Disorders - Canadian Mental Health AssociationEating Disorder HopeNational Eating Disorder Association HelplineShow Resources:Fat Is Not the Problem — Fat Stigma Is - Linda BaconFearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia - Sabrina StringsIs Beauty in the Eyes of the Colonizer - Leah DonnellaTo All the Friends I've Loved Before: A Requiem for the Un-Had Conversations - Nikita TanipartiFat liberation is not the same as body positivity - Beibhinn ThorschThe Black History of the Body Positive Movement - Briana DominiciWhat is Body Positivity? - Kendra CherryWhy The Body Mass Index (BMI) Is Bullshit - Bari LiebermanThinness and Fitness Are Not the Same Thing - Beth SkwareckiThe Body is Not An Apology - Sonya Renee TaylorThese Black Be Body Positive Leaders are Changing the Game - MD Spicer-Sitzes

Hi wonderful witches and fantastic friends - today's episode is heartfelt, heavy, and for everyone. *note - this episode is Part 1 of 2*TW/CW: discussion of eating disorders, fatphobia, racism, misogyny, you know the bad sh*tI spent over two years relentlessly and religiously starving myself, calorie-counting, and obsessively exercising until I was a waning shadow of myself - exhausted, cold, anxious, skeletal, and so utterly distant from all the people and things I loved. Today's episode is a requiem for all those moments and lives lost to the battle society pits us in against our unknowable, amazing bodies. In it, the incredible Nikita Taniparti and I discuss personal struggles, fatphobia, the zealotry of thinness, the historical emergence of the thin ideal, and ways out of the treacherous forests of body hate towards better things. Tune in next week for our dismantling of bullshit body metrics and a nod to the black femmes and other women of color who have led - and continue to lead - the fat liberation movement. Resources a plenty on their way, as I still have so much to learn. This is for you. For holding space. For taking it up. For joy in food. Towards resolving. Towards love. Towards liberation. Resources for those struggling with eating disorders:Understanding and Finding Help for Eating Disorders - Canadian Mental Health Association Eating Disorder HopeNational Eating Disorder Association HelplineShow Resources:Ologies Kalology (Beauty Culture) EpisodeSabrina Strings, PhDFearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia - Sabrina StringsIs Beauty in the Eyes of the Colonizer - Leah DonnellaAmerican women's obsession with being thin began with this ‘scientist' - Shoshi ParksWomen's idealised bodies have changed dramatically over time – but are standards becoming more unattainable? - Viren SwamiThe Real Skinny: Expert Traces America's Thin Obsession - Natalie WolchoverMakino, M., Tsuboi, K., & Dennerstein, L. (2004). Prevalence of eating disorders: a comparison of Western and non-Western countries. Medscape general medicine, 6 (3).Galmiche, M., Déchelotte, P., Lambert, G., & Tavolacci, M. P. (2019). Prevalence of eating disorders over the 2000–2018 period: a systematic literature review. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 109 (5), 1402-1413.More The Witch:Instagram - @thewitchpodcastFacebook - @thewitchpodAnd support us on Patreon or Ko-fi if you appreciate our work!

Wonderful witches and dearest friends - I'm sending all the warm wishes and happy thoughts your way this cold, dark, distant December. I'm sending those wishes in the shape of an audio recording with the absolutely awesome Kirsten Dobler. Today, this Christmas Eve, Aðfangadagskvöld, Libyan Independence Day, Nochebuena, Quviasukvik, or whatever you're celebrating, we are keeping things light (in every sense of the word). Kirsten and I discuss Winter Solstice, rest, ritual, and some femme-powered winter holiday fun facts. We also hate on capitalism. Duh. Usual reminder that I'm BIG not an expert on this - but include resources below if you want to learn more.  We hope this brings joy to your week, in this weird and immensely tough time, on this ever-spinning planet, in this ever-expanding universe. ☀️Episode Resources More on the Pueblo ZuniLik̓ʷala language resourcesDoe, a Deer, a Female Deer: The Spirit of Winter Solstice - Danielle Prohom OlsonK!MMORTALScience proves Santa's sleigh is pulled by a team of strong, powerful, underrated women - Cat ReynoldsAcknowledging the Winter Solstice is a Decolonial Act for Indigenous People - Sarah Sunshine ManningWhat Winter Solstice Rituals Tell Us about Indigenous People - Rosalyn R. LaPierMore on AmaterasuLiberating Sápmi: Indigenous Resistance in Europe's Far North - Gabriel KuhnMy Ancestors Are Reindeer Herders and I Am Melting In Extinction - Ron RiekkiThe Alaska Sami: A Reindeer StoryMore Sami Literature and a Brief HistorySaami-led Salmon Rewilding - Eilís Quinn, Eye on the Arctic The Sámi Arctic Strategy to shake up Arctic discourse - Alexandra MiddletonI Should Not Have to Feel Guilty About Getting a Degree - Martina FjällbergFollow Kirsten:Instagram - @kdoblerTwitter - @kgdobsMore The Witch:Instagram - @thewitchpodcastFacebook - @thewitchpodAnd support us on Patreon

Hello, you wildly wonderful witches, welcome to your weekly installment of The Witch Podcast. This one was supposed to be fun - but quickly devolves into a hot, angry mess. TW/CW: discussion of eugenics (racism/ableism), sexism (obviously), homophobia (thanks, the 1920s)My mom returns to The Witch Podcast as captive audience to my reading of excerpts from Dr. Hubbard's 1922 public health education pamphlets, "Sex Facts for Men and Women." I thought it would be a romp, but it turns out Dr. Hubbard was a big fan of eugenics (rampant in the U.S. at this time), so alongside being angry at his perpetual gendered-double standards, I literally scream into the mic several times when I realize what I am reading. So. Buckle up. Resources: Dr. Hubbard's Sex Facts for Men and Women (0/10 don't recommend)The Scandalous 1920s made America Hate Flappers - Erin Blakemore1920s Sex: Lust and Sexuality in the Roaring TwentiesThe 1920s: ‘Young women took the struggle for freedom into their personal lives' - Judith MackrellCenter for Disease Control STD/STI ResourcesHarry Styles is fire in VogueA highly recommended (and tragic) deep-dive into Eugenics in the U.S. from Sawbones (Dr. Sidney McElroy and Justin McElroy) available here. Radiolab also has a multi-part feature.Our episode next week may be a taaaad bit late (I'm currently "off the grid" as they say), but back to your well-researched content shortly.More The Witch:Instagram - @thewitchpodcastTwitter - @thewitchpodcastFacebook - @thewitchpodAnd support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thewitchpodcast 

Hi my dearest witches, welcome to December. As the darkest day of the year and Yule celebrations draw ever-closer, Reed and I aim to wrap-up our three-part series on the Witch Trials of the Early Modern Period in Europe with this episode.And I get a *little* unhinged about capitalism. In this episode, join us for scholarly interpretations of the 'why' of these horrific witch trials, and alongside our attempts at sense-making Reed and I get into the 'what now' and 'why it matters.' It is dark, and painful, and liberating as all get out. And holy hell do I love the word posit. Woof. Episode resources / notes: Witches, Witch-hunting, and Women - Silvia Federici Witchcraft, Gender, and Marxism on Philosophy TubeWhen I repeatedly refer to the Child Care Grant (cause academia) I obviously mean subsidy (more here)How Christianity Created Capitalism  - Michael Novak Miguel, Edward (2005). "Poverty and Witch Killing". Review of Economic Studies. 72 (4): 1153–1172. Briggs, Robin (1996). Witches and Neighbours: The Social and Cultural Context of European Witchcraft. London: Penguin. ISBN 978-0-14-014438-3.Germany was once the Witch-Burning Capital of the World. Here's why. - Gwynn GuilfordPeter T. Leeson, Jacob W. Russ, Witch Trials, The Economic Journal, Volume 128, Issue 613, 1 August 2018, Pages 2066–2105, https://doi.org/10.1111/ecoj.12498Ross, E. B. (1995). Syphilis, misogyny, and witchcraft in 16th-century Europe. Current Anthropology, 36(2), 333-337.Federici, Silvia (2004). Caliban and the Witch: Women, the Body, and Primitive Accumulation. Brooklyn, NY: Autonomedia. ISBN 1-57027-059-7.Fia Forsström Find my little bro on the interwebs:Instagram - @reed_eckertTikTok - @reedeckertMore The Witch:Instagram - @thewitchpodcastFacebook - @thewitchpodAnd support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thewitchpodcast 

Hello, you wonderful witches and lovely listeners. Let's start with a content warning right off the top with this one: in the latter half of this episode, we discuss horrific violence against innocent people in myriad forms. Because the Witch Hunts of the Early Modern Period in Europe culminated in just that - the unthinkable torture and death of innocent humans, mostly women, for merely existing. Reed is back to continue the saga of examination of all that led to and resulted from these 200 plus years of hysteria and misogyny in the form of witch-hunting and trials. We get into the Malleus Maleficarum ('The Hammer of the Witch') - a text that instructed the public and clergy on how to discover, torture, and destroy 'witches' - and consider what seeds of misogyny in the Bible may have sown these thoughts and words. I still cannot believe I didn't learn about any of this in school. Episode Resources: Chauhan, R. S. (2005). "... and he shall rule over thee" The malleus maleficarum and the politics of misogyny, medecine, and midwifery (1484-present): A feminist historical inquiry (Doctoral dissertation, School of Criminology-Simon Fraser University).Briggs, R. (1996). Witches & neighbours: the social and cultural context of European witchcraft . New York: Viking.Malleus Maleficarum - Heinrich KramerGuiley, R., & McLennan, D. (1999). The encyclopedia of witches and witchcraft. Facts on File.Horsley, R. J., & Horsley, R. A. (1986). On the Trail of the" Witches:" Wise Women, Midwives and the European Witch Hunts. Women in German Yearbook: Feminist Studies in German Literature & Culture, 3(1), 1-28.Kremmel, Laura R. The Witch's Ordeal: The Treatment of Accused Witches in England. 2003. Dissertation.DeConick, A. D. (2011). Holy misogyny: why the sex and gender conflicts in the early Church still matter. Bloomsbury Publishing USA.Horsley, R. J., & Horsley, R. A. (1986). On the Trail of the" Witches:" Wise Women, Midwives and the European Witch Hunts. Women in German Yearbook: Feminist Studies in German Literature & Culture, 3(1), 1-28.Ehrenreich, B., & English, D. (2010). Witches, midwives, & nurses: A history of women healers. The Feminist Press at CUNY"The Bible and Women? We Need to Talk" - Michal Beth DinklerFind my little bro on the interwebs:Instagram - @reed_eckertTikTok - @reedeckertMore The Witch:Instagram - @thewitchpodcastTwitter - @thewitchpodcastFacebook - @thewitchpodAnd support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thewitchpodcast 

Hellllo my dear witches. This week, Reed Eckert (my littlest brother and an all-around cool guy) and I dive in. When I first started reading about women's history, witchcraft, and modern witchy feminism, I was overwhelmed about how much historical education I was missing. I've been in some form of school for 23 YEARS (lol) and was relatively clueless about The Witch Trials of the Early Modern Period in Europe, which had and have profound consequences on our lives, societies, cultures, religions, and the list goes on.We have a lot of exciting episodes to come, highlighting/interviewing inspiring women, tackling fatphobia and ageism, considering the role of women in conservation, examining the intersections of racism and misogyny and colonization, considering connections between feminism, witchcraft, and nature, and so much more I'm excited about. But first, we take a deep dive into these societally-traumatizing 'witch hunts' and trials. Because those they burned were predominately women: societally-down trodden, outcast, or deviant women. And we must know their story to understand ours.Episode ResourcesPoem by Anna BijnsWitchcraft, Gender, and Marxism on Philosophy TubePerfetti, L. (2015). "Taking Women's Work Seriously: Medieval Humor and the Gendering of Labor."In 'Laughter, Humor, and the (Un)Making of Gender. DOI: 10.1057/9781137463654_4Redfern, Jenny R. (1955). "Chapter 5: The Treasure of the City of Ladies: A Medieval Rhetorical and Her Rhetoric". In Lunsford, Andrea A. Virtue Ethics for Women 1250-1500. University of Pittsburgh Press.  ISBN 9780822971658.Minkowski, W.L. (1992). "Women healers of the middle ages: selected aspects of their history. Am J. Public Health; 82(2): 288-295. doi: 10.2105/ajph.82.2.288Strocchia, S. T. (2014). "Women and healthcare in early modern Europe." Journal of Renaissance Studies. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/rest.12076Aspects of Early Modern Society - BritannicaWitches, Witch-hunting, and Women - Silvia Federici Germany was once the witch-burning capital of the world. - Gwynn Guilford in QuartzFind my little bro on the interwebs:Instagram - @reed_eckertTikTok - @reedeckertMore The Witch:Instagram - @thewitchpodcastTwitter - @thewitchpodcastFacebook - @thewitchpodAnd support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thewitchpodcast 

Hi, my brilliant witches - happy post-election week! This one is, um, a little unhinged. We continue the conversation regarding human evolutionary history with Alena, covering what our genitalia might clue us into re: sex, mate selection, and gender hierarchy. We also get to the crux of the thing - one hypothesis regarding where, when, and why patriarchy emerged. Note: lots of talks of sex (the act and the biological designation). You'll catch me struggling to communicate about biological sex *while* making very clear that sex and gender are not the same things. Let's be very clear: all genders are valid. Trans women are women. Trans men are men. ResourcesThe origins of sexism: How men came to rule 12,000 years ago - Anil Ananthaswamy and Kate DouglasPenis Size : An evolutionary perspective - Carol JahmeThe Misunderstood Penis - Jesse BeringStudies lend support to 'grandmother hypothesis', but there are limitsLiving Near Your Grandmother Has Evolutionary Benefits - Jonathon LambertBlell, M. (2017). Grandmother Hypothesis, Grandmother Effect, and Residence Patterns. The ‘Big O': How and why evolution brought us the female orgasm - Meredith KnightNew theory suggests female orgasms are an evolutionary leftover - Elizabeth PennisiWhy did the female orgasm evolve? Experiment supports theory - Emily ChungAlesina, A. Giuliano, P.  Nunn, N. (2011). On the Origins of Gender Roles: Women and the plough. NBER Working Paper. Haas, R. et al. (2020) Female hunters of the early Americas. Science Advances: EABD0310Follow Alena!Instagram - @owlandbearstudioEtsy -  Owl and Bear StudioTwitter - @AlenaESMore The Witch: Instagram - @thewitchpodcastTwitter - @thewitchpodcastFacebook - @thewitchpodDrop us a review on iTunesTHANK YOU ALL for the immense support.

Hey, so this week is rough. I was planning a special women-in-elections episode, but I don't think anyone needs more of that energy right now. Instead, I bring you what I hope is a romp of a distraction. Today we are joined by the radiant, incomparable Alena Ebeling-Schuld to discuss human evolution, and what rays of light it can shed on women in society, women in history, and the evolution of patriarchy (1 of 2). The origins of sexism: How men came to rule 12,000 years ago - Anil Ananthaswamy and Kate DouglasSix Million Years of Human Evolution - Smithsonian Museum of Natural History Equality and polyamory: why early humans weren't The Flintstones - Simon CoplandWhere Were All the Women in the Stone Age? - Darren CurnoeEarly Men and Women were Equal, says Scientist - Hannah DevlinEquality and Polyamory: Why early humans weren't The Flintstones - Simon CoplandPontzer, H. (2012) Overview of Hominin Evolution. Nature Education Knowledge 3(10):8Roebroeks and Villa (2011). On the earliest evidence for habitual use of fire in Europe. Wil Roebroeks, Paola Villa. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Mar 2011, 108 (13) 5209-5214Some resources on preventing gender-bias in kids On Ostrich Reproductive Strategies (they are *polygynists, even though it sounds like I say polygamist)Venus of Hohle FelsFollow Alena!Instagram - @owlandbearstudioEtsy -  Owl and Bear StudioTwitter - @AlenaESalso on Patreon More The Witch: Instagram - @thewitchpodcastTwitter - @thewitchpodcastFacebook - @thewitchpodand support us on Patreon!Drop us a review on iTunesReviews (especially on iTunes) are huugely important for baby podcasts in their first weeks of life. Please consider subscribing, rating, reviewing. THANK YOU ALL for the immense support. You're the b

Hey witches and bitches, so we're digging right into it with this (super long and very cathartic) episode. Also, the audio quality is still - meh - so thanks to all you awesome people for supporting us as we learn and grow...At this early stage - before we formally begin our empowering, witchy journey debunking dystopian patriarchy-built myths, we need to tackle a few tricky subjects: what is cultural appropriation, what is toxic white feminism, and how do we avoid (or callout) both on our path to make the world a more femme-safe, beautiful place? If only we could solve it in a pod episode....I'm joined by Kirsten Dobler - a member of the Liǧʷiɫdaxʷ Nation, academic, badass educator, language revitalizationist, and all-around absolutely-awesome-human. It's a ride. A disclaimer: we talk a lot about white privilege and fragility in this one. Not all of it is super comfortable. I want to be super clear that when I talk about white women messing up despite our best intentions, and how we need to move beyond intentions and recognize our negative impact, I am big-time including myself as one of those white women (Lord knows I mess up, and get defensive, and make intention-excuses, and mess up again).   Talking points: non-Indigenous witches don't be smudging, capitalism is dumb and bad (for legal reasons this is a joke), fixing the broken things, and what not to wear tonight on this fine, full moon Halloween Festivus. Episode Resources:Learn whose land you're living onLik̓ʷala language resources When Feminisim is White Supremacy in Heels - Rachel CargleFeminism 101: What is Cultural Appropriation? - Marie MalhamSephora's 'Starter Witch Kit' and Spiritual Theft - Dr. Adrienne KeeneDr. Adrienne Keene's BlogDecolonizing Witchcraft - Willow the Hedgewitch 13 Smoke-Free Ways to Cleanse - Willow the HedgewitchCultural Appropriation in Contemporary Neopaganism and WitchCraft - (an awesome Honors thesis) Kathryn GottliebMi'  kmaq Fishery Resources: here, here, and here to get started.Follow Kirsten: Instagram - @kdoblerTwitter - @kgdobs More The Witch: Instagram - @thewitchpodcastTwitter - @thewitchpodcastFacebook - @thewitchpodAnd support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thewitchpodcast 

Hi coven sisters, ghost, ghouls, and non-binary faeries, thanks for joining us for THE FIRST EPISODE of the Witch Podcast. Happy Halloween! A festive Samhain! I hope you have plans to do tonight's full moon justice. I am thrilled you're along for the ride. Today we discuss why I've chosen the term “The Witch” to encapsulate this audio journey debunking the patriarchy and uplifting badass women, and consider the modern witch and historical precedents of the term. I'm joined by my super-incredible-infectiously-optimistic mom for this first foray into the podcasting world. Our audio quality at these early stages is… variable (to put it nicely). If you like what you hear, and you'd like to support my provisioning of funds for high(er) quality audio equipment, please head over to our Patreon and consider becoming a supporting member!Talking points: a  really traumatizing book my mom once read me while I was captive in a car, the Yerba Mala collective, how to dismantle the patriarchy (maybe), how to hex a Supreme Court nominee (for legal purposes this is DEFINITELY a joke), and more.  Show resources: Women are invoking the witch to find their power in a patriarchal society - Sofia QuagliaAll the Witches They Could Not Burn - Jessie KindigIs It OK to Hex a Nazi? How Anti-Fascist Witches Are Mobilizing Under Trump - Callie BeusmanHow the Socialist Feminists of WITCH Use Magic to Fight Capitalism - Gabby BessInner Witch: A Modern Guide to the Ancient Craft - Gabriela HerstikIs Tumblr witchcraft feminism – or cultural appropriation? - Aysha KhanFor more on the Satanic Panic and Jordan Peterson, check out Robert Evans's Behind the Bastards Podcast  Witches, Witch-hunting, and Women - Silvia Federici Find us on:   Instagram - @thewitchpodcastTwitter - @thewitchpodcastFacebook - @thewitchpodAnd support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thewitchpodcast 

The Witch Podcast, hosted by Lauren Eckert and a plethora of powerful, funny, fantastic co-hosts premieres on October 31, 2020. And find us on : Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewitchpodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewitchpod/Twitter: https://twitter.com/thewitchpodcastPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/thewitchpodcastfor more.