In this episode, Serena and Carmen discuss what it means to treat yourself in today's consumer culture and what "sparks joy" in their lives.

Serena and Carmen go back in time to discover the origins of the invention of the vibrator and find out some interesting things. They extend this conversation into their real life and touch on their own experiences.

Sources:

The History of Hysteria https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/history-quackery/history-hysteria

The Strange (But True) History of Hysteria https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JefYnYIXY_8

https://journalofpositivesexuality.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Failure-of-Academic-Quality-Control-Technology-of-Orgasm-Lieberman-Schatzberg.pdf

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/23/opinion/vibrator-invention-myth.html

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20181107-the-history-of-the-vibrator

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/enterprise-and-society/article/selling-sex-toys-marketing-and-the-meaning-of-vibrators-in-early-twentiethcentury-america/22E463A1B220B723BEFE776F605DB64B/core-reader

After spending some time processing and learning, Serena and Carmen talk about the black lives matter movement and their own privilege. They have learned a lot over the past weeks, and are continuing to educate themselves on how to become a better ally. They discuss the importance of long-term change and impact, versus performative allyship. This is definitely a complex and intersectional issue, more episodes to come.

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For too long, they have felt ashamed and uncomfortable to share their experiences with mental health. In this episode, Serena and Carmen learn to unapologetically speak about their own personal battles with mental health and experience with therapy. They also delve into the complexities of utilizing labels and the surrounding stigma of mental illness. "Shame derives its power from being unspeakable... it keeps us from asking for help" - Brene Brown. TW: suicide & depression. 

In this episode, Serena & Carmen continue their conversation about loneliness and their personal experiences with it, whether it be in the context of friendships or romantic relationships. They also delve into the complexities boundaries and deal breakers. 

Canadian Mental Health Week is from May 4-11 and 2020’s theme is social connection. CMHA has also launched the #GetReal campaign. “Every time we just go through the motions, we miss out on the chance to connect for real.  In times of crisis like this , we need each other more than ever.”  Serena and Carmen take this opportunity to talk about loneliness and social connection in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and what it means to get real with others and ourselves.

The power of vulnerability - Brené Brown https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCvmsMzlF7o

How to practice emotional first aid - Guy Winch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2hc2FLOdhI

https://cmha.ca/mental-health-meter

http://ontario.cmha.ca/documents/mental-health-for-life/

https://bouncebackontario.ca/

https://mentalhealthweek.ca/

Serena and Carmen go back in time to explore the beginnings of their friendship. They play a game of “we’re not really strangers”, and somehow still learn something new about each other after 8 years of friendship.

https://www.werenotreallystrangers.com/

http://36questionsinlove.com/

Today Serena & Carmen talk about the name of the podcast and how that came about, and one of the reasons why they decided to start a podcast - to stop being complacent.

The man who rigged America’s election maps - Vox https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpamjJtXqFI

Violence against women: it's a men's issue - Jackson Katz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTvSfeCRxe8