Shows
The Beer Temple PodcastEp #365 The 2025 Year In Review Show featuring Kate Bernot, Johnathan Fritz, and Shana SolarteIt's a Beer Temple tradition! We discuss the beers of the year, stories of the year, and make some predictions about what's in store for 2026. Featuring Kate Bernot, Johnathan Fritz, and Shana Solarte.Email Eletters to: Insiders@craftbeertemple.comMailing address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!
2026-01-022h 03
Vicious Cycle114 - Fantastic Orgasms and Where to Find ThemWe're talking all things *climax* babyyyyyy! From biologically what's going on, to historical understandings of female genitalia, female pleasure erasure and the triumphant discovery of the clitoris... by men. Because, ya know, if you have a clitoris you prooooobably discovered it a long time ago. We also cover pleasure techiniques, play a lil game and get personal . Basically, this episode is here to help encourage more orgasms for all bleeders. Go on and get comfortable, keep your vibe nearby and hit play!
Books discussed in this episode:
She Comes First by Ian Kerner
Vagina Obscrua by Rachel E. Gross
Bonk...
2025-04-111h 44
Vicious Cycle113 - What's PappeningIn this month's episode, Kate prepped some incredible bleedsearch for us all about PAP SMEARS. If you've ever wondered what the hell your gyno is doing up there, why it's important, who developed this test, who was married to the doctor who developed this test and what else was going on in the world when they were first taking a lil scrapper to cervixes... well, this episode covers it all. And like you have to ask, but yes - there is absolutely a song in this episode. So pop some speculums into your ear holes and hit play. (Don't have...
2025-03-131h 04
Vicious Cycle112 - oh hihey, hello there, hi. We're so excited to be back and venting about the state of the world while also dealing with having a uterus! (...excited might be the wrong would, but we digress...) For our first episode of the season, we're doing a lot of catch-ups: we fill you in on the last 2.5 years of our lives, cover some newsy-doozies (lol there have been so many) and have a song or two for you to enjoy — because even though time has passed, we're still, deep down, some surprise-song-lovin blosts. Recommended activity for while you listen: find some fabric scraps, a...
2025-02-141h 17
Bookreporter Talks To"Bookaccino Live" Book Group: Ashley ElstonAshley Elston joins us for our first "Bookaccino Live" Book Group event of 2025 to discuss her debut novel for adults, FIRST LIE WINS. This #1 New York Times bestseller and Bookreporter Bets On selection is now available in paperback. Ashley talks about her writing process, which includes the brown butcher paper that lines her walls along with colored Post-it notes, and working with the software program Scrivener. Her past career as a wedding photographer enhanced her writing skills, and she explains how. She shares how the story's twists and turns came to her, as well as the reveals an...
2025-01-301h 00Bookreporter Talks To"Bookaccino Live" Book Group: Kate MortonKate Morton joined us for April's "Bookaccino Live" Book Group event to talk about her latest novel, HOMECOMING, a Bookreporter Bets On pick and one of Carol Fitzgerald's top three books of 2023. At the start of the pandemic, Kate was working on another book in London. When she and her family went to Australia for what was planned as a spring break trip, COVID restrictions led to their living on a small farm south of Melbourne. She set aside that book as she began to be inspired by her surroundings and thus conceived a new plot and story.
2024-04-261h 28
Pop Fiction WomenAshley Elston & 'First Lie Wins': Complicated Conversations SeriesOn today’s Complicated Conversation we welcome Ashley Elston to discuss First Lie Wins, her addictive, twisty, cat-and-mouse suspense novel with plenty of heart and plenty of fans – the novel is the January pick for Reese’s Book Club and an instant NYT bestseller!
We chat with Ashley about her complex protagonist Evie – a woman without a true identity who longs to be someone to somebody; the romantic tension in this otherwise thrilling suspense story; the significance of the title and the art of lying; the role of setting; the well-plotted narrative and how Ashley visually plots with precision; and how Ashl...
2024-01-2338 min
The Book CaseAshley Elston On How To Write A Whodunnit Heist NovelHappy New Year! The first episode of the year is a truly terrific mystery. Entertaining in the extreme, this is a whodunnit that breaks the mold. Ashley Elston, its author, has written plenty of quality YA titles, but First Lie Wins is her first adult mystery. In this game of cat and mouse, the reader is constantly asking which character is telling the truth….and we never figured it out. A great start to the new year, this book invites you to just relax and enjoy the ride. We sure did. We are taking next week off…but please come back...
2024-01-0424 min
Vicious Cycle106 - Standing Ovation for Tubal LigationIt seems like only yesterday we were joking on the podcast about tubal litigators (lol - sometimes our words not good!), and now here we are, devoting a whole episode to the various forms of sterilization a uterus-haver can consider! Kate brings us surprise bleedsearch and we are truly SURPRISED by what we learn in this episode. We talk procedures, bad doctors, outdated societal norms AND we've got a song! Grab your Fallopian tubes like little horse reigns and giddy-up to that play button! (I'm really stretching with these body metaphors, folks.)
2022-08-171h 17The Beer Temple PodcastEp# 255 - Insiders Roundtable with Kate Bernot and Pat "Santa" FaheyKate Bernot and Pat Fahey call in to discuss why you should only put so much faith in beer judges, as well as how getting your favorite brewery to ship you beer may have taken a big step backward. PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINKEmail Eletters to: Insiders@craftbeertemple.comMailing address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!
2022-08-021h 48Vicious Cycle50 - Everything is Fine (Re-release)Picture it: It was January 2020. The three co-blosts were holed up in a downtown San Francisco hotel room for a one-night retreat. We had wine, gummy bears and DayQuil (Kate had a cold), and we were recording our first Everything is Fine episode.
Fast forward to 2.5 years later: It's the year of our lord-who-is-a-man 2022 and those very same co-blosts are all on a brief summer break away from the pod. So in honor of that magical wintry night, we're re-releasing this episode, full of fun quizzes, songs and staged readings. So relax those Kegels and take a trip down memory...
2022-07-271h 39Vicious Cycle101 - Abortion: Back to the Future and Back AgainWe're coming at you with more bleedsearch! You got a taste of it last week with Meg Hayes' abortion history segment, and now here's the main course. Learn about when abortions first entered the annals of history, play games along with Meg T and Kate, and learn about another new patron saint of the podcast (we're collecting enough to start our own church)! Smash the play button while smashing the patriarchy, blisteners!
Links from Meg H's research:
https://daily.jstor.org/abortion-remedies-medieval-catholic-nun/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_abortion
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/the-complex-early-history-of-abortion-in-the-united-states
https://www.plannedparenthoodaction...
2022-07-061h 05Vicious Cycle100 - Everything is F*cked: Live from San FranciscoWe're 100 episodes old! We celebrated with a live show at PianoFight in San Francisco and we talk ABORTION(FYI - this was recorded on June 18, before Roe was officially overturned). MeyHay brings us a taste of her bleedsearch on the history of abortion, Kate plays a fun new game where we guess which state is truly the worst (there are so many!), and Meg T covers resources you can turn to if your access to abortion just disappeared. BUT WE ALSO LAUGH AND SING. We bring back some of our favorite games, bits and have two fresh parodies you're going...
2022-06-291h 18Vicious Cycle97 - Resident Gyno Dr. Kate Wrote a Book!We are once again blessed with the presence of Dr. Kate White, this time to ask her all about her first book, "Your Guide to Miscarriage & Pregnancy Loss." We talk about the impetus behind this book, who this book is for, and how cool it is that she is now a bonafide published author whose book is going to help a lot of people. We also take phone calls and discover a new segment we like to call "Fill Our Love Taint," which, of course, is where we discuss what's lifting us up these days. Throw on a heating pad...
2022-06-081h 20The Beer Temple PodcastEp# 235 A Beer That Changed My Life With Kate Brankin of PipeworksMike has Pipework's Kate Brankin (Katetronica 5000 to old BTIR heads) in to talk about beers that have shaped her career.We want to know your thoughts!!!!Email Eletters to: Insiders@craftbeertemple.comMailing address: The Beer Temple 3173 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618Intro/Outro Music: Gorilla Meat by Jogger UYD4L!
2022-02-141h 04
Books In the Middle PodcastThis is Our Story by Ashley Elston (Contemporary Fiction)Send us a textThis is Our Story by Ashely ElstonWhen she heard the news, it took her breath away. She was just getting to know Grant, and now, suddenly, he’s dead. Shot by one of his best friends on a hunting trip. But who did it and why? Kate, and everyone else, can’t wrap their heads around the fact that one of the most popular boys in their small community has died and no one is saying who pulled the trigger.Recommended for 8th grade and up. Support...
2021-09-1303 minVicious Cycle88 - Breaking Down Tampon Ads with Aviva SiegelWe enjoy nothing more than digging into retro period product ads and this time we do it with our friend and fellow podcast host Aviva Siegel! Aviva hosts the pod Ad Wizards (Kate was on her show a few weeks ago talking about compilation CD commercials - check it out wherever you get your podcasts!), so we wanted to bring her on to help break down some classic tampon ads. Oh, and Meg H introduces us to our new favorite character actress — we know you'll love her, too. Tease your hair and get ready to dance in some white shorts, it...
2021-08-041h 01Vicious Cycle87 - What Is (and What ISN'T) the Morning After Pill?We've got some good ol' fashioned bleedsearch for ya this week! Kate did a bit of a deep dive into emergency contraception (aka, the morning after pill, aka Plan B). She tells us how it works, the various brands out there (we see you Option 2), and adamantly reminds us IT IS NOT AN ABORTION PILL, MARJORIE. And then Kate destroyed us with a quiz that you are not ready for. Throw on an expired condom and learn with us!
Oh, and here is a resource on emergency contraception!
https://ec.princeton.edu/questions/dose.html#dose
2021-07-2854 min
The Nick Elston ShowThe Forge Ahead Show -2.0 - Episode 12 - Kate HolmesThe Forge Ahead Show is a Podcast & Video series created & hosted by Nick Elston (www.nickelston.com) - Inspirational Speaker, Transformational Speaking Coach, creator of unique Mental Health engagement strategies & an ‘in your corner’ Mentor. The Forge Ahead Show is published as a Video Series via YouTube - as well as a Podcast via Spotify, iTunes & the podcast platform of your choice - bringing you the storytellers, the influencers, the motivators - people that have gone from adversity to excitement - to forge something beautiful, something powerful, something better! This week, Nick speaks to Kate Holmes all the way from F...
2021-06-2134 minVicious Cycle81 - What Does Childbirth Feel Like and Why Is It Like Having To Poop?Kate had a baby! And we've got every detail about that experience right here in this episode. Kate leads us through what the day was like, what contractions actually feel like (including recording herself going through one!), the various bodily functions that let rip when you're in the throws of labor, and her c-section (aka, baby came out through the sun-roof). Also relive the day via our text messages to get a taste of what it is like being three best friends deeply engrossed in each other's bodies. Take a deep breath and PUSH... play.
2021-06-161h 07Vicious Cycle80 - Vaxxed, Not Waxxed and Tampaxxed: We're Back, Baby!This has been a LONG. TIME. COMING. After getting fully vaxxed, Kate and The Meg's got together in THE SAME ROOM to hold each other's damn hands and talk about their periods. We cover Kate becoming a mom (more on that in next week's episode), Meg T's cystecomy, and Meg H's beast of a new period. Also love, laughs new crazy period questions and our very own PATREON to ring in season five! So get together with your Pfizer Pfriends, hold hands and turn up this episode!
You can check out our Patreon at www.patreon.com/viciouscyclepodcast
2021-06-091h 03
Ad WizardsPure Moods / Living In The 90's & Other CD Compilation Ads With Kate ElstonIt's 4AM in 1998. You're in a sort of half-awake half-asleep state when Enigma's "Return To Innocence" starts playing from your TV. Why is this song playing? Why did you forget to turn off your TV? What "mood" does this CD represent exactly? We talk about this and other CD compilation commercials with the hilarious Kate Elston (Newsbroke, Vicious Cycle Podcast)!Links To Commercials:Pure Moods: https://youtu.be/AZJSjrox_2sLiving In The 90's: https://youtu.be/MAina4g3xkUThe Ultimate Love Songs Collection: https://youtu.be...
2021-05-0659 minVicious Cycle79 - Wrapping Up a Shitty Year with Francesca FiorentiniJoin us for our last episode of season four!
2020-12-0257 minVicious Cycle78 - Ask a Gyno: Dr. Kate is Back! Pt. IIIt's no surprise that we had LOTS to talk about with OBGYN Dr. Kate White, so here is part two of our interview. We bring back questions from previous episodes, like how worried should we be about exploding ovaries, and do we stop bleeding in swimming pools? But, Dr. Kate also shares her experience with pregnancy loss and what spurred her to start a miscarriage clinic for those suffering a loss. Live-laugh-love with us in this week's episode - and then go back to cursing your period...it knows what it did.
--> Here is the Glamour article where Dr...
2020-11-2559 minVicious Cycle77 - Ask a Gyno: Dr. Kate is Back! Pt. INext to the pod's impending baby, interviewing gyno extraordinaire Dr. Kate White was our light at the end of the 2020 hellscape-tunnel. (If you're new and wondering who Dr. Kate is, check out our Ask a Gyno episodes in season two!!!) We saved up our most weird and random questions and she delivered the goods. In part one of our chat, we cover topics ranging from cervixes to IUD's and we even get her take on male birth control! Ready to reaffirm your love for Dr. Kate? Throw on a reusable pad and hit play!
2020-11-181h 10Vicious Cycle76 - Why Isn't There Male Birth Control?With the VAST array of options for uterus-havers, some of us have wondered aloud and loudly "is male birth control ever going to be a thing?" This week, Kate did the bleedsearch to answer that question and many more! We review the history of BC, talk about options in the works for sperm-holders, found more reasons to adore Loretta Lynn, and wrap it all up with a song (of course we did). Come for our hot-take on the failings of cis straight dudes... stay for Kate's pronounciation of 'contraception' and 'ethicist.'
2020-11-111h 18Vicious Cycle74 - Fertility Sleuthing with Millie BrooksAs we've learned in past episodes, a lot of things have to go right to get pregnant, and getting help is so much more common than we think (that's why it's so important to talk about it!). We learned about Kate's fertility journey last week, and this week, we chat with actor and comedian Millie Brooks about her experience with IVF, her podcast (Me, Myself & Millie), and breaking down infertility stigmas. Learn about hormone suppositories with us and hit that play button!
2020-10-2855 minVicious Cycle73 - How Kate Got Knocked Up w/ Help From Dr. Danielle LaneWe've talked about parenthood on this podcast before (you know, with the menstrual cycle playing a pretty big role there and all), but this episode is VERY special because our very own blost Kate is PREGGO! She opens up about her fertility journey, we meet her fertility doctor, Danielle Lane, and talk about intrauterine insemination (IUI). Learn more about infertility, get some hot tips on making babies, and imagine what Kate's kid will think of this episode 15 years from now.
2020-10-211h 11Vicious CycleSurprise Spotting!: Ruth Bader Ginsburg and What Comes NextWith so much going on in the U.S. (and the world... and the super massive blackhole in the center of the universe, and and and...) we wanted to chime in on the passing of RBG and her potential (sigh, likely) replacement Amy Coney Barrett. Meg Hayes gives her Catholic hot take while Kate and Meg T try to kegel-clench this reality away. Tune in and clench with us!
2020-10-1736 minVicious Cycle68 - Do We or Don't We Sync Up?Blisteners! It's one of our most frequently asked Q's: do menstruators sync up? And in this week's episode, Kate dives into the science behind it and whether this myth deserves to be busted. And you know if Kate did the bleedsearch there is MOST DEFINITELY a song at the end! Pop on those headphones and roar at the moon with us!
2020-09-161h 12Vicious Cycle67 - Periods + Astrology with Psychic Jessica LanyadooIn this very special episode of Vicious Cycle, we chat with esteemed astrologer, psychic, published author and fellow podcaster Jessica Lanyadoo. We dive into what it feels like to be psychic, how deep astrology can go (like medical astrology) and she even does the pod the honor of reading Meg T's birth chart! Pop on a pad and look at the stars with us.
2020-09-091h 05Vicious CycleSurprise Spotting!: Bleeding at the PoolYou know when your period has been over for three days so you rock your fave pair of undies and then BOOM - rando mini-period? Yeah, this episode is kind of like that but also not at all. We had some extra goodness we couldn't squeeze into our first ep, and thought you might enjoy a blonus episode about periods at the pool on this warm, long weekend. Soak in the last socially distant days of summer while your tampon soaks up all that chlorine. Enjoy!
2020-09-0714 minVicious Cycle66 - “Offensive” Tampon Commercials, Our Baby-To-Be & Newsy DooziesThe blosts are back from meno-pause and while we were sheltering in place A LOT HAPPENED. We give period updates (or lack-there-of HI POD BABY), cover some news stories, and dive into the most recent reason why MeyHay experienced some rage-rage (spoiler: Ireland isn't super chill about tampons). Slip on your fave pair of period panties and press play.
-Here's that "offensive" Irish Tampax commercial: https://youtu.be/9X0LpyXMnjg
-And more info on the controversy: https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio-web/tampax-s-tv-ad-has-been-banned-get-a-grip-ireland-1.4317651
2020-09-021h 14
The Innovating Advice ShowManaging Anxiety, Mental Health and Wellbeing in Business and Life with Nick ElstonNick Elston is one of the highest profile and leading inspirational speakers on the lived experience of mental health. We're chatting about the masks we wear, whether we realize it or not, and how to evolve company culture around anxiety. Nick also shares how vulnerability, when practiced daily, is a super power and how vulnerable leadership and advisors should be with their employees and clients. Plus, he discusses emotional storytelling. Links, show notes and full transcript at https://innovatingadvice.com/post/episode59. Join the Global Community | Connect with Kate on LinkedIn ...
2020-09-0100 minVicious CycleVicious Cycle is Back September 2nd!Well, we had a...fine...?...menopause but we're ready to get back into our blisteners' ears, hearts and uteruses. Who knows, maybe we'll even start influencing each other’s cycles! (We FINALLY get into that topic this season.) Kate and The Megs bring you Season 4 of Vicious Cycle, filled with lots of songs, laughs and menstrual-themed research, plus interviews with VIBs (Very Important Bleeders). As always, call our hotline to ask a q, share a story or tell us Why You Cried This Week at 910-6-UTERUS. See you September 2nd! Don't be late!
2020-08-1801 min
Burn It All DownEp 160: AAPI History Month, Kate Elston Discusses Menstruation, and The Return to SportsOn this week's episode, Amira, Lindsay, Brenda, and Jessica honour Asian American Pacific Islander History Month by highlighting some AAPI athletes [6:04]. After that, Jessica sits down with Kate Elston to discuss her podcast Vicious Cycle and all things sports + menstruation [18:11]. Finally, they speak about all the attempts at returning to sports [35:35].
Of course, you’ll hear the Burn Pile [54:25], the Bad Ass Woman of the Week segment, starring Candice Lee [1:04:18], and what is good in our worlds [1:06:23].
For show notes, transcripts, and more info about BIAD, check our website: www.burnitalldownpod.com
To help support the Burn It All Down po...
2020-05-281h 14Vicious Cycle65 - Vagine Hygiene in QuarantineIt's our last episode of the season, and we want to send you off into these COVID-19 times with some pointers to keep your vagina healthy and happy. We cover some do's and don'ts, vaginal steaming (if Gwyneth does it, should you?), bidets and tabos! Never heard of a tabo? Well, you'll be singing about them by the end of this episode. May your periods be light and predictable until all this passes, bleeders. Love, your blosts
2020-04-291h 08
Adult ISHPeriod ISH (ft. Menstruation Myths & Nyge’s first MANstruation!?)In this episode of Adult ISH, Merk leads a discussion on menstruation myths and period stigma (ft. Vicious Cycle co-host and comedian Kate Elston). Then Nyge experiences what it’s like to have his first (sort of) period! Will he struggle with his cycle or be able to show Mother Nature that it's no big deal? Be sure to check out adultishpodcast.com and follow all our socials at @yrAdultISH.
2020-04-2343 minVicious Cycle40 - Witchcraft And Beyond: The Many Uses of Menstrual Blood (Re-Release)(Originally released July 2019) Your blosts did their research and found that there are multiple ways you can use your own menstrual blood, and they range from sciency, to witchy, to ... a little gross. Come for the pro-tips on how to utilize the flow you've been letting go – and stay for the surprise song. Pop in a cup and catch this episode!
2020-04-2254 minVicious Cycle64 - Social Distancing Slumber PartyQuizzes, Mad Libs, a boyband-themed trip down memory lane and so much more. We've got a third Everything Is Fine episode for ya, and it's inadvertently Slumber Party-themed! The hosts needed this and maybe you do, too. Tune the news out for an hour and tune into this delightful episode - and try not to laugh at the third installment of "Which Vicious Cycle Host Are You?"
Nsync Making The Tour:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crsfYDohMjA
Here's where you can catch some of the coming-together videos we talk about:
--Compilation of singing in Italy and Spain: https://www...
2020-04-151h 01Vicious Cycle63 - Pube Hair Don't CareThis week Kate brings us bleedsearch on pubic hair - or as other's like to refer to it, "crotch shrubbery" (seriously, come for the pubes, stay for the euphemisms). We talk pubes-of-yore, medical benefits of pubic hair, and how your blosts like to maintain their "foilage" (
2020-04-081h 07Vicious Cycle62 - The Top 15 Periods in TV and FilmWe decided to give ourselves a little treat this week and share our favorite periods on TV (and one movie) with each other and you! Take a break from the news and laugh with Amy Schumer, the cast of Blackish, Monica & Phoebe and so many more hilarious bleeders. Oh, and friend of the pod Lauren Bacall helps us with our countdown, so put on your red carpet best (after staining your carpet red) and tune in!
*Friends: https://youtu.be/C7ZMDO9wZTo
*Key and Peele: https://youtu.be/ihRHIGpyspA
*SNL: https://youtu.be/aBlR7qVQ0X8
*Community: https://youtu...
2020-04-011h 12Vicious Cycle61 - Are You There God? It's Vicious Cycle (with The Blume Saloon)That is right. The podcast about periods finally read the period book to end all period books: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. And we had the pleasure to discuss it with the preeminent experts in the field, Alison and Jody from The Blume Saloon podcast. We get into the brilliance of Judy Blume, which character each host identifies as, and we dive into a fave topic: masturbation. And that's just PART ONE! Catch part two over on The Blume Saloon feed!
2020-03-251h 09Vicious Cycle60 - Everything is ... Fine ... ?!? Coronavirus EditionWelp. We're in the midst of a global crisis, so we thought what the world needs now is love sweet love AND another episode of Everything is Fine. Because, like everything is NOT fine, but for the next hour it can be sort of ok. We've got more quizzes, songs, comforting poems, and even a little dance party for you to join in. We're sending you all love - especially to those of you on day two of your period.
2020-03-1858 minVicious Cycle59 - Kate Willett Has Diva Cup EnergyIn between sold out shows and TV appearances, Kate Willett sat down with the blosts to talk period jokes, period sex, period cliches, and ... just, like, periods. We also get into the differences between NY and SF, bad ex-boyfriends and how Medicare For All IS a feminist issue. Go steal a pad (because they should be free anyways) and settle in for a fun episode!
2020-03-1150 minVicious Cycle58 - Irene Tu Never Wanted Her PeriodThis week, the hosts sit down with stand up comedian Irene Tu, who has...mixed?... feelings about her period. We talk period products, hot and cold foods (we explain... kinda), and hear about her mom's sage advice. We also chat about comedy and how to tell the hosts apart - it does get tricky sometimes. Oh, and stick around for a special new segment at the end of this episode. Pop in a tamp', some buds and blisten up!
2020-03-0143 minVicious Cycle57 - Cravings: Why Do We Stuff Our Faces With Hot Cheetos?Y'all. We barely get through this episode, we laugh so much. Who knew digging into cravings was such a rich territory? We get into the science of cravings, what our blisteners snack on when they bleed, and play the game that's sweeping the nation: WHO'S EATING THIS TRASH. Oh, and we got a surprise song! Grab a bag of Whole Foods brand cheese puffs and chocolate because this bleedsearch will make you hungry.
2020-02-2659 minVicious Cycle56 - Bleeding Rainbow: Reading "CUNT" with Molly SanchezIf you're looking for a 90's era feminist take on owning your period, look no further than Cunt by Inga Muscio. We have the one-and-only Molly Sanchez back in the studio to help us breakdown this "declaration of independence." We cover menstruating with the moon, freebleeding, abortion, and Inga's distinct writing voice (which isn't for everyone) - oh, and we say "cunt" a lot. Fair warning. Pop in a sea sponge and press play!
2020-02-191h 08Vicious Cycle55 - My Favorite Menstrual MurderThis week, we’re dipping our toes in the true crime podcast game! Friend-of-the-pod Allison Page is back and giving us all the dirt on menstrual crimes. We dig into modern, sordid affairs, go back to the days of Lizzie Borden, and so much more. We also learn that courts will do ANYTHING to avoid talking about periods - GOOD TO KNOW. Save some menstrual blood for an alibi and tune in!
Here's a taste of Caso Cerrado: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YX487sN8A4k
2020-02-1255 minVicious Cycle54 - Thank You For Your CervixWe're well into season three and we STILL can't really tell you much about what our reproductive system looks like ... until now. Kate brings the bleedsearch for today's episode all about the cervix (truly an unsung hero). She tells us where and what it is, shows us what it LOOKS like, and puts up with The Meg's many metaphors for what the the cervix actually does. Tune in and meet the powerful little button that protects your uterus and all that it may hold.
https://www.beautifulcervix.com/
2020-02-0557 minVicious Cycle53 - IUDs: Easy as 123?A ton of blisteners have requested this topic, and we are finally diving in! Meg T brings some bleedsearch and personal anecdotes to cover the great, the less great, and the totally-not-great sides of IUD's. We also take some calls and read stories from listeners about their own IUD experiences. Have questions? We've probably got some answers... and even more questions! Relax your cervix and join us.
2020-01-291h 05Vicious Cycle52 - What About Bleeders With Disabilities? w/ Jane AdameThis week, we sit down with Jane Adame, Senior Brand Strategist at The FLEX company and designer of the Keela menstrual cup - designed specifically for bleeders with disabilities. We cover her menstrual journey, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, developing a menstrual cup with a non-bleeder, and what success really looks like. Oh, and we've got a new addition to our menstrual lingo that will give you some FEELINGS. Hit play!
//
Here's that change.org petition regarding TSA and period products: http://chng.it/c5mKHNhG24
//
Here's a link to the Uterati: www.facebook.com/groups/theuterati
//
And a link to FLEX Cup...
2020-01-2251 minVicious Cycle51 - Free Bleeding w/ JoAnn Schinderle - Live @ SF Sketchfest!Our first live episode! We had a blast talking with JoAnn Schinderle at PianoFight as a part of SF Sketchfest. We talked candidly (in front of A LOT of people) about having a designated period towel, bleeding in a bucket, and other aspects of her freebleeding journey (and we talked about her period comedy album Dark Jeans). Find a dark chair to bleed on and listen!
2020-01-151h 03Vicious Cycle50 - Everything is Fine: For When Everything Is Not FinePap smears. Dental cleanings. Any type of -oscopy. Bad days in general. Sometimes things suck ... a lot. When you're in one of those moments where everything is NOT fine, pop in your earbuds and check out this episode dedicated to helping you relax, laugh, and remember that everything will be fine again.
TIMECODES:
4:11 - Meg T sings a song on the ukulele
7:48 - Lizzo Quizzo
17:04 - Top 10 Times People Came Together for Music
34:58 - ASMR with menstrual products
44:19 - 30 Rock trivia
58:50 - Meg H reads excerpts from Chicken Soup For The Soul
1:18:02 - Seventeen Magazine Quiz
1:26:30 - Improv commercials
1:33:56...
2020-01-081h 39
Vicious Cycle10 - Tampons are Suuuper Problematic (Re-Release)We're still on vacation so here's part two of our tampon series. And, we DID record some new thoughts at the beginning and end, so give it a listen!
Do you know what’s in your tampon? Or how and why people get Toxic Shock? Have you been looking for reasons to quit tampons? LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THIS WEEK’S EPISODE. Meg H lays out all the problematic issues with our favorite cotton wads - but don’t worry, there’s plenty of singing to lighten the mood.
2020-01-0144 min
Vicious Cycle9 - All About Tampons (Re-Release)We're re-releasing one of our fave episodes from Season 1, but we hope you still listen because we recorded some new stuff at the top and at the end of the episode. Enjoy!
In Part 1 of our Tampon Series, the hosts of Vicious Cycle lay all their cards on the table and share their thoughts, experiences, and embarrassing truths about tampons. They also shed a little light on the history of tampons and the surprising ways they were marketed to women. Grab those strings and bear down, friends - it’s going to be a descriptive episode!
2019-12-2553 minVicious Cycle49 - Belts to Bloody Wings: We Talk PadsIn this week’s episode, Meg Hayes brings us some bleedsearch on the history of pads, some fine advertisements for sanitary napkins, and even a glimpse at mother/daughter relationships in the mid-centch. Come for the learning, stay for the song at the end - IT’S A BLOODY BANGER.
2019-12-1858 minVicious Cycle48 - Soccer Mom: USWNT's Amy RodriguezWelcome to the main event! After all our bleedsearch on athletes who bleed, we got to talk with one! Amy Rodriguez joined us on the pod to talk about her career as a professional soccer player and her experience having a child and then rejoining the US women's team and going on to win at the 2015 World Cup! We also try to get all the dirt on the players we know and love. Tune in for all the bloody details!
Links to bleedsearch:
https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/06/soccer-moms-womens-world-cup/396893/
https://www.fifa.com/womens-football/news/amy-rodriguez-talks-football-pregnancy-and-motherhood
https://www.nbcsports...
2019-12-1155 minVicious Cycle47 - When Elite Athletes Get Periods Pt. 2We're back with more bleedsearch and stories about athletes with periods! We dive deep into how hormones and pregnancy affects players bodies, cover bad ass bleeders in action (like freebleeding all over the London Marathon BOOM!), and get a pro-tip from a roller derby competitor that blows both Megs' minds. Tune in and join the Bleed Team!
2019-12-0448 minVicious Cycle46 - When Elite Athletes Get Periods Pt. 1In this episode, Kate brings a boat-load of research about athletes who bleed. (So much we had to break it up into multiple episodes.) We cover team sports, solo competitors, olympic performances, and the outrageous reasons why menstruators have been stopped from competing. Plus, we hear from sporty blisteners! Put on some white jersey shorts and free bleed on the field with us!
If you're blinterested in learning more about menstruation and athletics, here is where we got some of our bleedsearch:
https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/30908551
https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/08/17/how-periods-might-affect-womens-athletic-performance/
https://www.npr.org/templates/story...
2019-11-2749 minVicious Cycle45 - Bleeding While Mental With Amanda RosenbergIn this episode, we talk to Amanda about her new book, That's Mental (out now - go get it already), getting her period at an English boarding school and blaming PMS meltdowns on mental illness (we've all been there). We also learn that Meg T would do anything for approval in middle school (surprised?). Slap a pad in your swimming costume and hit that play button!
2019-11-2055 minVicious Cycle44 - Butt Stuff and a Love Spell: Our Meno-PAUSE StoriesA lot can happen in a few months, and your hosts can prove it. We share Where We Bled, exciting NEW ways to bleed, and we do a love spell... with menstrual blood. Hold onto your cups and spin them widdershins — season three is hitting the ground bloody!
2019-11-1350 minVicious CycleSeason 3 Comin' In Hot!Mark your cycle-tracking calendars: Vicious Cycle is back with season 3 on November 13th!
Are you following us on Instagram? You should be - we're full of surprises over there: @viciouscyclepodcast.
See you on 11/13!
Music: Beach Party by David Szetsay (c) copyright 2016. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. https://freemusicarchive.org/music/David_Szesztay
2019-10-3101 min
Vicious Cycle43 - Original Cast Recording of Vicious Cycle the MusicalIt's our last episode of season two, and we're sending you off into the menoPAUSE with song! We brought back the cast of Vicious Cycle the Musical to lay down some tracks, play some live performances, and share some never-before-heard B Sides. If you didn't get a chance to see the show in person, you can feel like you were there.
Timecodes for each song are below, so you can enjoy this pod like an album.
7:45 - Welcome to Menstruation
11:19 - Don't Tell No One You're Bleeding
15:33 - In Your Vagina
19:31 - Carmen Miranda
23:46 - Need A Can
29:06 - Thank...
2019-07-3157 minVicious Cycle42 - Luna Malbroux on PCOS, Period Sex and ComedyWe managed to sit down with Luna in between her trips around the country doing stand-up to talk about her menstrual journey - and what a journey it has been. She tells us about growing up in Louisiana (and the unusual myth about periods there), her experience with PCOS, and introduces us to the term "down to clown." Make sure to clench those kegels during this ep, you might lose your tampon from laughing...
2019-07-2459 minVicious Cycle41 - Sssh Periods: Talking With Tweens About BleedingThe hosts of "Sssh Periods" and grand prize winners of NPR's student podcast competition sat down (remotely) with your hosts to remind us what it was like to be in middle school. All the awkward memories flooded back in (like hiding your big ol' pad in your Lisa Frank trapper keeper on the way to the bathroom), but they also gave us a lot of hope. Go yell "period" from a rooftop and break down some taboos with us and these incredible bleeders.
2019-07-171h 04Vicious Cycle40 - Witchcraft And Beyond: The Many Uses of Menstrual BloodYour blosts did their research and found that there are multiple ways you can use your own menstrual blood, and they range from sciency, to witchy, to... a little gross. Come for the pro-tips on how to utilize the flow you've been letting go – and stay for the surprise song. Pop in a cup and catch this episode!
2019-07-1053 minVicious Cycle39 - Period Artists Talk About Stains, Blobs and an Angry UterusYou may have noticed our Instagram account is filled with sometimes beautiful, but more often than not hilarious, art inspired by periods (and if you don't follow us on IG, like, what are you waiting for?). Two of our favorite artists – Annie Wong and Crystal Ro – sat down with us to talk about their process, their periods, and we even get an exclusive excerpt from a teenage diary. Splash some menstrual blood on a canvas and listen in!
2019-07-0358 minVicious Cycle38 - Ask A Gyno Part 2We're back with Dr. Kate White, and we jump right in talking about menopause, how stress affects your period, strange things pulled out of vaginas, and what the deal is when your period comes out in one long sheet (yeah, that's a real thing and Dr. Kate even sent us a pic...). Most importantly, we discuss how to find the right gyno for you, and it's so simple and SO IMPORTANT. Burn all the speculums and press play!
2019-06-2651 minVicious Cycle37 - Ask A Gyno Part 1Two Megs. Two Kates. One pod. This week we bring you part one of our interview with the kind, patient, and wonderful Dr. Katharine White (Dr. Kate to us). And blisteners, you are going to learn so much and occasionally have your mind blown. In this episode, we cover early periods, unpleasant doctor visits, ecto-prego, and WHY IT'S BROWN. So throw your feet in some stirrups, scoot your butt down, and listen now.
2019-06-1954 minVicious Cycle36 - How Do Eating Disorders Affect Periods?Maybe you didn't know that eating disorders can affect menstruation... or maybe you know it all too well. This week, we learn about amenorrhea (the abnormal absence of a period) with health writer, podcaster, and bad ass human Michelle Konstantinovsky. She tells us about her experience with losing her period, disordered eating, and how to be an expert of your own damn body. Grab a snack (no judgment) and hit play.
2019-06-1257 minVicious Cycle35 - Getting Inspired with Nadya Okamoto + Your Phone Calls!World getting you down? Then this episode will pick you back up. We interview trailblazer Nadya Okamoto about her organization PERIOD and her recently published book Period Power - she's a leader in the menstrual movement and gave your hosts hope for the future. And we listen to blistener phone calls (one of which sparks a heated "would you rather" debate). Pop in some tamps and some buds and tune in!
2019-06-0558 min
Vicious Cycle34 - The Bloody Wonders of Motherhood Pt. 2We're wrapping up our hysterical interview with comedian Carla Lee in this week's episode, and we've got plenty of ground to cover. We talk about changing tampons while your children watch (and some interact!), we hear from more moms who called in, and we try to keep our sh*t together as Carla tells us her favorite lactation story. So, sidle up with a sippy cup and press play.
2019-05-2952 min
Vicious Cycle33 - The Bloody Wonders of Motherhood Pt. 1Blisteners! We had such a blast making this episode, we had to split it up (we blame all the laughter). In part one, we chat with Carla Lee: hilarious writer, actor and creator of Nice Tan comedy - oh, and mom to Julia. We ask Carla, and moms calling in, some questions about pregnancy, child birth, and periods all along the way. There's a first-period-post-pregnancy story that has got us SHOOK. Come bleed out with us!
2019-05-2252 min
Vicious Cycle32 - We Interviewed Our Moms! Pt. 2Dying to hear the thrilling conclusion to Kathleen's interview? Are you ready to meet Rita? It's all happening in this week's episode. We cover staining your shorts (and the beauty of fast-drying fabric), expelling giant clots in your 50's (we nearly fainted), and learn that no two people menopause the same way. Pop in those earbuds and ride out your hot flash with us!
2019-05-1555 min
Vicious Cycle31 - We Interviewed Our Moms! Pt. 1We are so honored to bring our moms (Deb, Kathleen and Rita) into your earholes. We asked about their first periods, menstruating in the 1960s... and menopause. Yeah, not only did we go there, they REALLY go there. In part one, you'll hear from Deb (Meg T's mom), and the first half of Kathleen's interview (Kate's mom). Grab your sanitary garter belt and your mom's hand and join us on this menstrual journey.
2019-05-0846 min
Vicious Cycle30 - We Wrote a Musical About Periods!Maybe you've already heard (because we've been shouting it from the rooftops), but we wrote a musical about menstruation! We sat down with our cast - Gabby Momah, Alissa Sanchez and our very own Meg Hayes - to talk about their menstrual journeys...which includes cadavers somehow? And, of course, we give you a taste of a few songs.
2019-05-0145 min
Vicious Cycle29 - "Period. End of Sentence." with Sophie AscheimDid ya hear a movie about periods WON AN OSCAR?! Yeah, we were pretty excited, too. So excited, we got Sophie Ascheim, a producer of the award winning film "Period. End of Sentence." to chat with us! We talked about making the film, as well as the Pad Project, bleeding at karate, and period lockers (aka, why Meg Hayes cried this week).
2019-04-2453 min
Vicious Cycle28 - My Ectopic PregnancyThis week Meg T opens up about her recent ectopic pregnancy. Spoiler alert: she wouldn't recommend one. She takes you on the entire journey - from finding out, to treatment, and the inevitable miscarriage. Is this episode a little sad? Yes it is. But are there also lots of laughs and an enormous amount of love sent directly into your ear holes? BIG TIME. Find an overnight pad to hug for support and play on.
2019-04-171h 13
Vicious Cycle27 - Do Animals Get Periods?Since we started this podcast, we've been gathering questions about animals and menses, like: do female dogs wear diapers because of menstruation?; are chicken eggs periods?; and what does a spiny mouse say when she's bleeding? Good news - we've got answers to these important questions... and a song, of course. Snuggle up with a furry friend and hit play!
2019-04-1048 min
Vicious Cycle26 - Francesca Fiorentini Swears By Menstrual CupsStandup comedian and journalist Francesca Fiorentini, from web series Newsbroke and podcast Bitchuation Room, joins your hosts in the studio (aka, Kate's living room) to cover all aspects of menstruation, including: DivaCups, periods in comedy, and the wonders of bloody pad art... which leads to your hosts showing off their own "masterpieces."
2019-04-031h 06
Vicious Cycle25 - We Tried Alternative Menstrual Products!Whether you care about the planet, what you put in your body, or you're sick of throwing money away on disposable menstrual products, this week's episode is for you. We tried period underwear, reusable pads, and organic tampons, and we even rated them (by a blood drop rating, naturally). Pop out those tampons and pop in your earbuds. It's time for Vicious Cycle.
2019-03-271h 01
Vicious Cycle24 - Liz Plank And Big Uterus EnergyWe had a Very Important Bleeder (VIB) in the studio with us! Liz Plank appears frequently on MSNBC, is Executive Producer and host of the Vox show Consider It, and created the Big Uterus Energy movement. We cover all things menstruation with Liz, like, for example, the unwritten law that if you are traveling, you WILL get your period. Oh, and stick around for a classic (read: V dumb) song at the end.
2019-03-2044 min
Vicious Cycle23 - Reading the Red Tent, aka Drunk Aunt-a-PaloozaVicious Cycle welcomes back Molly Sanchez - delightful and hilarious comedian and fellow podcast host. Molly’s back to kick off our book club, Bleeding Rainbow, and to dig into our first book: The Red Tent. There’s a lot to unpack - mainly, which mother from the book are you (Meg Hayes is SUCH a Zilpah). Pull up your pile of hay and free bleed with us!
Oh, and give our friends at FMKLit a listen, too. We give you a taste of their pod in this episode.
2019-03-1352 min
Vicious Cycle22 - Sore Boobs, Gyno Visits and Other Tales from the MenoPAUSEWe’re back, bleeders! And we’re jumping right into it with a menstrual cup disaster and a colposcopy! We also bring back the segment “Where Ya Bled” and FINALLY solve the mystery of Meg H’s “inverted pubic bone.” So grab some popcorn and your fave gyno and press play.
2019-03-061h 04
Vicious CycleSeason Two Sneak PeekWe're baaaaaaack! (almost back) We're so excited to announce that season two is dropping March 6th! And we wanted to give you a taste of the amazing bleeders we've been interviewing, including OUR MOMS. (scream emoji) Stock up on menstrual supplies because we're coming in hot!
Music: Night Surfing by David Szetsay (c) copyright 2016. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://freemusicarchive.org/music/David_Szesztay/20170730112627067/
2019-02-0403 min
Vicious Cycle21 - Hormones, PCOS and Booooks!In the last episode of season one, we have multiple guests in the studio! First up, we have a chat with Natalie Kringoudis, doctor of Chinese Medicine and fellow podcast host, about hormones, misconceptions, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. Then we have friend-of-the-pod Molly Sanchez with a little reading assignment to get us through the meno-PAUSE. Make sure to keep some tampons on ya, because WE'LL BE BACK.
2018-10-3156 min
The Bitchuation RoomMidterms, Media and Megyn Kelly's $60M orgasmMass shooters, bomb threats and the right's spin have got Francesca and frands wondering: who am truth? A powerhouse episode featuring Gasland director and former Bernie delegate Josh Fox, along with ASMR addict and Newsbroke producer Kate Elston. We talk media complicity, voter suppression, and Francesca's captivity to her Halloween costume nails. Go see Josh's show "The Truth Has Changed" and hear Kate on her period podcast The Vicious Cycle. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2018-10-301h 04
The Bitchuation RoomMidterms, Media and Megyn Kelly's $60M orgasmMass shooters, bomb threats and the right's spin have got Francesca and frands wondering: who am truth? A powerhouse episode featuring Gasland director and former Bernie delegate Josh Fox, along with ASMR addict and Newsbroke producer Kate Elston. We talk media complicity, voter suppression, and Francesca's captivity to her Halloween costume nails. Go see Josh's show "The Truth Has Changed" and hear Kate on her period podcast The Vicious Cycle. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
2018-10-301h 04
Vicious Cycle20 - What's Up with Menstrual Cups? Pt. 2Did you know that only 2-3% of US bleeders use reusable menstrual products? And that an average menstruator will dispose of 9,600 pads and tampons in their lifetime? Your hosts did all the research on menstrual cups, blisteners. You just pop in those earbuds, your preferred brand of cup, and press play.
2018-10-2449 min
Vicious Cycle19 - What's Up with Menstrual Cups? Pt. 1The blisteners have commanded it, and Vicious Cycle delivered. The next two episodes are dedicated to menstrual cups. This week, we have callers who swear by them (a few even said it “changed their life”), and callers who were humbled by them (two of your hosts, actually…). Whether you’ve been thinking about trying menstrual cups, or you've been using one for years, you’ll want to listen to these episodes. So bear down, don’t clench, and tune in. (And call our hotline: 910-6-UTERUS!)
2018-10-1749 min
Vicious Cycle18 - Let's Talk About (Period) Sex, Baby!You’ve all (probably) had it, but you (probably) haven’t talked about it. WHAT IS IT? Period Sex. And your hosts break it down for you. We’ve got phone calls, pro-tips, and even our very own personal stories all around getting freaky when you’re bleeding. We also feature a new, fun game to play when society is bringing you down, and a SURPRISE SONG. So, lay out an old towel and get down with us.
2018-10-1049 min
Vicious Cycle17 - PMS: Fact or FictionThough your hosts have explained many “foolish and ill considered actions” as PMS, they wanted to know what premenstrual syndrome really is, and whether or not it’s real. And they found that men have pleeeeenty to say on the matter. Put on some sweats, eat some chocolate, and blow up at someone for no reason - you know what to blame it on.
2018-10-0347 min
Vicious Cycle16 - On the Bleedia: TSA Can Suck ItIf you’ve ever had your period and had to catch a flight, you know it’s a very special kind of hell. Now, imagine you’re muslim, in an era of threatened travel bans and celebrated racism… and you’re on the rag. Zainab Merchant’s story will have you yelling WTF to the skies… and your local lawmakers. Tuck those tampons in your carry-on and buckle up - it’s going to be an infuriating flight.
2018-09-2634 minVicious Cycle15 - Taking Phone Calls From Our BlistenersThe period hotline has been ringing off the hook! This week, we listen to your messages, which touch on everything from weird boob pain to "period pants" to a very creative use of a sock. Plus, find out why your hosts have been non-stop sobbing all week. So, grab some tissues (or a maxi-pad because who ever has tissues?) and dab away your tears with us.
2018-09-1936 min
Vicious Cycle14 - Bleeding While Trans 2: Bonus UterusAnd now! The thrilling conclusion to last week’s interview with Nic Sommerfeld! It will shock. It will awe. It will make you say “whaaaaaaaaaaa?” Learn the term “uteri” along with your hosts and enjoy our newest segment: Throwback Why I Cried This Week. Slap on a liner and join us!
2018-09-1234 min
Vicious Cycle7 - Tracking Our Cycles So You Don't Have ToYour hosts have been tracking their periods to get a better understanding of their cycles - Kate and her period are BFFs, Meg H can’t stop talking about BM’s, and Meg T has more questions than ever. Also, Vicious Cycle asks the hard hitting questions, like: WHERE YA BLED? So, use that overnight pad as a neck pillow and tune in.
2018-07-2548 min
Vicious Cycle3 - What Happens to your Period on Birth Control?There are a million great reasons to take birth control, but this week, Kate tackles the topic of what happens to your period when you’re on the pill (and the like) - hold onto your pads, it’s a doozy.
2018-06-2729 minVicious Cycle1 - Let's Talk First Periods!For their very first episode, Meg H., Kate & Meg T. discuss their very first periods. They dive into advice they got from their moms, what the Bible says about menstruation, and discover a theme that NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT!
2018-06-1335 min