Welcome to Mad Tea, a podcast where madness is reclaimed as a cultural identity—bold, vibrant, and unapologetic. In this inaugural episode, Matt Bodett introduces the podcast’s purpose: to challenge dominant narratives, explore the histories and aesthetics of madness, and create space for mad voices.

From ancient myths to modern psychiatry, madness has been shaped by power—feared, institutionalized, and medicalized. But mad people have always resisted. This episode traces the historical struggle over the meaning of madness, from the prophetic madness of Cassandra to the rise of psychiatric survivor movements. It also introduces the Center for Mad Culture, a space dedicated to celebrating and preserving mad art, history, and activism.

Join us as we challenge the boundaries of "sanity", reclaim our narratives, and imagine a world where madness is seen not as a disorder, but as a vital force of culture and creativity.

Mad Tea is produced by PRESS HERE and is a project of the Center for Mad Culture. Learn more about them at madculture.org

Our music is produced and provided by Had Matter.