This episode was meant to be about boundaries, but was much more about vaginas.

Jen and Sara did, valiantly, try to cycle back to boundaries a couple of times, but ended up right back on vaginas again; how to take care of them, the importance of regular cervical screenings, the way the word ‘vagina’ is misused as a descriptor.

So keen for women to go for their smear tests that Sara volunteered to do them. (Fair Warning: that offer had more to do with her being a randy, single gay woman than being a qualified gynaecologist.)

Aside from all the foofoo chat, they did manage to squeeze in a few other topics of convo: self care, car accidents, commutes, oh and Jen's husband phoned her mid-pod and she answered the call because she likes to keep things real (and wildly unprofessional).

Until next week.

Some swears. Of course.

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Episode Twenty: Sober Weddings, Baths, Bells & Whistles

In this episode Jen and Sara answer a great email from a lovely listener about sober weddings. They discuss how to remain happily sober in overwhelming, booze-centric situations. How to handle those pesky drink-pushers. And the importance of accommodating teetotal guests.

And then things take a bit of a turn; with no conversational framework in place they drift into chitchatting about some very dubious topics indeed. Jen wants a good visual on Sara in the bath. Sara ponders the perils of internet dating and the banality of small talk. And, of course, no podcast is complete without touching on the subject of bestiality.

The trajectory in this one is inexplicable, but it is funny and that’s the main thing, apparently.

Some swears.

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In this episode Jen chats to Ruby Warrington. Ruby is a lifestyle writer and former features editor of Sunday Times Style. She is the creator of The Numinous; an outrageously popular online magazine. CoFounder of CLUB SÖDA NYC; a sober curious events club. And author of two books: ‘Material Girl, Mystical World’ and ‘Sober Curious’. 

It's Ruby's new book, Sober Curious, that Jen asks her all about in this podcast.

The sober curious movement has gained massive momentum over the last few years making it easier for people to go sober for whatever reason. Being mostly teetotal and taking frequent booze breaks has become normal, and fashionable, for many people.

Sobriety is no longer regarded as an unfortunate consequence, necessitating lifelong attendance at AA meetings. It’s now widely regarded as a fundamental facet of any happy, healthy lifestyle. By comparison, revolving a life around alcohol consumption seems archaic and unsophisticated.

Taking a long hard look at the way we see, and the way we use, alcohol is a necessary part of modern life. The wider the conversation, the more inclusive the perspectives and the more resources, the better.

Enjoy!

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In this week's podcast Jen chats to Sara about therapists; the good, the bad and the ones who sit on chairs in overly flamboyant ways.

When it comes to therapy and finding a good therapist there are lots of different modalities, lots of preferences, lots of personal likes and dislikes.

For instance, Jen prefers her therapists to have a comfy chair, but she'll settle for a fold-up camp bed.

Sara prefers not to be geography-shamed or called a dyke. (Fussy.)

Seriously though, Sara is currently training to be a therapist and so she knows what she's talking about (for once), so listen and learn! (Or listen and immediately disregard, whatever.)

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Episode Seventeen: Sex Lines, Stalkers & The Pattinson Effect

This week Jen and Sara thought they'd 'just start talking' and see where the conversation went. Obviously, it went directly to: "Have you ever called a sex line?"

And from there it went to Sara's experiences as a Cam Girl, Jen's experiences with psycho stalkers, how condescending cats can be, the magnificence of Robert Pattinson (specifically in vampire mode) and how to write a book.

This is not your average podcast; these two women are smart, funny, rude and lewd and no topic is too taboo. Get involved and get in touch: [email protected]

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In this episode Jen and Sara answer an email from a listener who's feeling unsupported since she stopped drinking. Both Jen and Sara they said they couldn't relate to that problem at all, and then proceeded to rattle off several personal anecdotes to the contrary.

After a busy few days at work, Sara struggled to string sentences together during this podcast, which probably wasn't helped by her cat pratting about with a bell in the background. Jen, meanwhile, was outed for being somewhat neglectful and forgetful as a wife.

We're all just trying to do our best, aren't we? I think we can all agree on that.

Until next Thursday!

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In this week’s podcast Jen and Sara chat about anxiety. How common it is, what it means to them, how they experience it and what they do to cope with it. Sara takes daily meds for hers, (as lots of people do) Jen doesn’t.

They explore how anxiety manifests itself in different ways at different times for different people. They ponder how some people derive comfort from spiritual aids such as crystals, tarot cards and clairvoyants and other people dismiss them. And how that’s all fine and dandy and you do you, boo, different strokes for different folks, whatever gets you through the night, live and let live, etc etc.

All that plus the usual laughs and shenanigans.

Thanks for listening. If you have any questions or suggestions ping an email to: [email protected]

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In this episode Jen and Sara talk about the phenomenon of Dry January and sober stints in general. Jen recalls that time she did a year sober only to pick up exactly where she’d left off, because she did no underlying work during that time. And how different things were when she took a break for 3+ years but did ALL THE WORK. (Turns out, you actually have to change things if you want things to change. Weird.)

Sara explains, from a therapist’s point of view, how we’re all responsible for ourselves. That we mustn’t assume responsibility for anyone else’s decisions. That we’re all accountable for our own actions; no exceptions. She is so wise. But then she started talking about dog penis, which, to be honest, brought the tone down a bit.

This is a good one. I mean they all are, let’s be fair, but this one is particularly just above average.

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In this episode Jen and Sara answered an email (although Jen kept referring to it as a letter because she’s old skool and surprisingly out of touch, tech-wise, for a media grad). To protect the sender’s anonymity they gave her another name; a name that doesn’t even exist apparently, though it sounds like it should. For an episode that covers such heavy-hitting topics as: the ‘alcoholic’ label, neuroplasticity experiments and how to deal with non-supportive people, there are a lot of laughs. If you have a question you’d like Jen and Sara to take a look at, please email: [email protected] (Although, Jen would prefer a letter or a fax, obviously.)

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In this episode of the Off The Rocks Podcast Jen and Sara chat about habits; making them, maintaining them, breaking them and ultimately replacing them with better ones. They chat about whether they think addiction is inherent or whether it’s learnt behaviour. How fiendishly hard they found it to stop smoking.

How their relationship with alcohol has radically changed over the years. And how romantic relationships can suffer when addictive tendencies are left unaddressed.

They end the episode musing that sometimes just having a little faith is all you need to get started; faith that change is possible – that you can get a grip on bad habits. In the immortal words of George Micheal: you gotta have faith-a-faith-a-faith-a! Until next Thursday, you stay classy.

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