A lot of us carry a bathroom story like a secret scar. We decided to tell ours out loud. We open with clear, useful GI truths, then tumble headlong into the messy middle where science meets life: nurses dodging diarrhea, a patient seemingly “birthing” something awful, and an outrageous septic tank failure that no one was prepared for. It’s raw, ridiculous, and surprisingly reassuring.

We step back in time to toilet history and the pungent realities of pre-plumbing cities, where waste fell from windows and tapestries hid more than art. That context reframes modern embarrassment and reminds us how far we’ve come. Along the way we decode poop & pee color changes, and share the practical tricks you’ll be glad to know before your next meal or medicine. Travel adds stakes: food poisoning at 35,000 feet, flight attendants quietly setting aside a lavatory, and the small mercies that make survival possible.

Threaded through is a creative arc: years ago Jane & Heidi wrote Shiterature, a humor collection of true bodily malfunctions, but the market wasn’t ready. Now it is. They're dusting it off, aiming for print, and opening the doors to your stories so it reflects more than their own. If you’ve ever laughed until you peed, sprinted for a bathroom, or survived a plumbing apocalypse, you’re among friends here. Hit play for equal parts anatomy, history, catastrophe, and catharsis—and if it makes you feel less alone, that’s the win. Subscribe, share with the brave souls in your group chat, and email us your story at info@thewomenareplotting.com. We can’t wait to read it!

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Email us at info@thewomenareplotting.com, and find us on all the socials. Be safe and be excellent to each other.

What if the person you love most thrives on making you small? We go straight into the lived realities of narcissistic parents, partners, and friends—how they isolate, control, and turn you into “supply”—and what it takes to break free. We start with the facts, including DSM-5 prevalence estimates and why real-world numbers may be higher, then move into raw personal stories: body shaming in public, relentless phone calls, stalking, and that gnawing guilt that lingers long after you set a boundary.

Therapy becomes a lifeline. You’ll hear how a simple notebook exercise—documenting every small kindness—rewired a brain trained to remember only pain. We talk about gray rock in clear, practical terms: when it helps, why it can trigger blowback, and how to pair it with safety planning. We also unpack covert versus overt narcissism. Not every narcissist is loud; some hide behind fragility, passive-aggressive compliments, and constant blame-shifting. The result is the same: you become smaller, more apologetic, and less yourself.

We challenge the “family first” script and offer a different compass: peace over performative loyalty. When someone targets your kids or uses religion, illness, or guilt as a leash, it’s time to set limits. Expect escalation; prepare with allies, documentation, and if needed, legal options. Along the way we name the tactics—gaslighting, projection, supply—so you can spot them early. We also explore where hope might come from, from CBT to new modalities, without pretending there’s a cure for NPD today.

If you’re navigating narcissistic dynamics, you’re not alone. Press play for language, tools, and courage to protect your mind, rebuild your worth, and choose a life that feels safe and wide open again. If this conversation resonated, subscribe, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help others find the show.

Malignant Self-Love: Narcissism Revisited -- the book referenced by Etty in this episode.

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Email us at info@thewomenareplotting.com, and find us on all the socials. Be safe and be excellent to each other.

The bravest thing about midlife isn’t the leap. It’s admitting the life you’ve outgrown—and choosing the one that actually fits. We dig into the surge in “gray divorce,” the myths around the midlife crisis, and why so many of us are trading the familiar grind for a more honest path. The stories are personal: leaving long marriages with care, discovering the power of therapy, and finding new careers that honor the work we’ve done and the art we still want to make.

We go there on menopause—hot flashes, brain fog, and the mental haze that can make everything feel harder—and how hormone replacement therapy, used thoughtfully with a clinician, can turn the lights back on. That clarity changes relationships: boundaries sharpen, equality becomes nonnegotiable, and the mental load gets named. We talk about great sex decades in, dating with self-respect, and the joy of partnerships that celebrate growth rather than fear it. Reinvention doesn’t just happen at home; it shows up in community. From Meetup to TikTok, we share practical ways to build a tribe in a new city, repair old ties, and cultivate friendships that hold through grief and change.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it's too late to start over, publish your first novel, move states, or simply ask for better—this conversation is proof that the clock isn’t your enemy. Fear is. And everything you ever wanted might be on the other side of it. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs courage today, and leave a review to help more people find the show. Then tell us: what new beginning are you ready to claim?

Send us a text

Email us at info@thewomenareplotting.com, and find us on all the socials. Be safe and be excellent to each other.