Who gets to be a ballerina and why? Erika Lantz, host of The Turning: Room of Mirrors, details the rigid hierarchy, body standards and elite ballet culture fostered by George "Father of American Ballet" Balanchine. Then, dancer Alyah Baker finds how to express her whole self as a Black, queer ballet dancer.

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Can toxic relationships be a form of addiction? Codependency is complex, controversial and often ascribed to women. Writer Nina Renata Aron shares her own story of confronting codependency and helps Cristen unpack the culturally fraught relationship between codependency, women and feminism.

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Sure, breaking up is hard to do, but then what? Cristen offers some reassuring research and firsthand advice to three listeners on embracing singlehood, questioning relationships and marrying the rebound. Plus, a very happy ending from a newly divorced unlady.

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What happens when someone who built their career on being Indigenous turns out to be ... a white lady? Writer Michelle Cyca shares how she came face to face with Indigenous identity fraud, why academia and the arts have a 'Pretendian' problem and what these scams means for Indigenous rights and sovereignty.

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What do dogs tell us about gender, power and dominance? Listener Claire surprises Cristen with the toxic masculinity leashed to dog training, and pro dog trainer Jerri Scherff risks it all to smash the pawtriarchy. Plus, ladies who lapdog, pseudo alpha males and racialized canines.

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A 50-year age gap didn't stop Annie Korzen and Mackenzie Morrison from forging a best friendship, and Cristen is frankly jealous! She talks to the besties about how they met and fell in platonic love with one another. Then, psychologist, author and podcaster Dr. Andrea Bonior goes deeper on ageism in friendship, what gender has to do with it and tips for making intergerational friends.

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Kids are sexting, like it or not! Non-parent Cristen consults sex educator Dr. Catherine Dukes about when and how to have The Sext Talk with kids. Then, Cristen channels her inner Ms. Frizzle to help a listener who wants to get better sex education in her high school.

Recommended resources:

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Welcome to a new era of 'miracle' weight-loss drugs, starring Ozempic. In this Patreon bonus episode, Cristen gets to the bottom of the type 2 diabetes drug shortage, how it "works" for dropping lbs and whether it means thin is back in.

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What's a daughter to do when her estranged mom won't stop asking for money? Financial abuse expert Axton Betz-Hamilton untangles the possible financial enmeshment and enabling at play and how to set healthier boundaries. Then, Cristen advises an overwhelmed unlady on outsourcing her mental load.

For more resources: https://financialtherapyassociation.org/

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Can real feminists eat cheese? Vegan geographer Catherine Oliver maps out why most vegans are women and the masculinity of meat. Then, vegan beauty influencer Demi Colleen deconstructs white veganism and decolonizes plant-based diets.

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