This is a podcast episode titled "Skin Writing" from "Is this the Norm?" featuring three hosts: Heather Barden, Lora, and Rebecca.

Rebecca discusses her personal experience with Dermagraphism, a rare skin disorder that causes raised welts (urticaria) to form on the skin in response to minor physical irritation like scratching, bumping, or pressure. The condition translates to "skin writing" because scratching creates welt patterns that match the shape of whatever touched the skin.

Works Cited

Nobles, Timothy, et al. “Dermatographism.” PubMed, StatPearls Publishing, 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK531496/.

Dermatographia (dermatographism): What it is, causes & treatment. Cleveland Clinic. (2025, December 11). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17793-dermatographism-dermatographia.

Simone Laube, MD, MRCP (2024, October 3). Dermographism Urticaria: Pathophysiology and Etiology. Mescape. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1050294-overview#a4

Mast Cells. Cleveland Clinic. (2024, May 16). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/mast-cells

Urticaria and Mastocytosis: As Common as we Think? actasdermo.org. V. Monsálvez. https://actasdermo.org/es-download-pdf-S1578219010706508

Join Lora, Rebecca, and Heather as they discuss the history of the marathon. From the origin of the race, to women's rights in the Boston Marathon and their own personal history with long distance running.

Join Lora, Rebecca, and Heather discussing the historical practice of Chinese foot binding (Lotus Feet). The practice of foot binding in China lasted approximately 1,000 years (950 AD - 1949). This binding of the feet (and breaking of the toes) was practiced to symbolize beauty, wealth, and status; necessary for securing good marriage prospects.

Join Rebecca, Heather, and Lora as they explore the mysterious North Sentinel Island in the Bay of Bengal, home to the Sentinelese people—one of the last uncontacted tribes on Earth.

For an estimated 60,000 years, this indigenous community has lived in complete isolation, fiercely protecting their island from outsiders. Discover why the Indian government has declared a 5-nautical-mile exclusion zone around the island, the rare (and often deadly) encounters with the outside world, and how the tribe miraculously survived the devastating 2004 tsunami.

From British kidnappings in the 1880s to a tragic missionary attempt in 2018, we examine the complex history of contact attempts and why leaving the Sentinelese alone isn't just respectful—it's essential for their survival. Plus, the hosts share their own travel adventures through Thailand and South America, complete with stories of helpful taxi drivers, chicken feet, and celebrating the 4th of July with British tourists.

Rebecca talks about the fascinating way regions across the world that speak English use different words for the same everyday items and foods depending on where they live. From soda versus pop versus coke to regional comfort‑food names like potato wedges versus Jo, Jo's, the show highlights how geography, culture, and history shape our vocabulary. Rebecca breaks down why these variations exist and what they reveal about local identity and language evolution, offering listeners a fun look at the quirks and diversity of English.

Join Lora, Rebecca, and Heather to discuss a comprehensive journey of history about birth control methods, spanning from ancient civilizations to modern times. Heather will discuss how the burden of contraception has historically fallen on women. How many methods were dangerous, or toxic or even deadly. And the religious and moral opposition to birth control throughout history and the connection between contraception access and women's liberation.

Resources: YouTube-A History of birth control by Lindsey Holiday; PBS: 6 weird facts about the history of birth control.