In this special 20th episode of The Madeleine Eliza Show, I’m pulling back the curtain on my own creative journey — from the initial spark that inspired this podcast to the lessons I’ve learned about voice, vulnerability, and visionary leadership. This episode is a love letter to creativity: the wild, sacred impulse to make something from nothing… and the discipline it takes to show up, even when it’s messy. I reflect on my personal growth, the dance between art and business, and how women’s voices — especially in leadership — are a revolutionary force. Plus, I share how AI is amplifying my creative process (not replacing it), and why alignment is the theme guiding everything I do this year. Whether you're a creator, a leader, or a woman finding your voice — this one’s for you. ✨ In This Episode: Why I started this podcast & what it's become for me Rick Rubin, raw creativity & the tension between art and commerce Why discipline is the backbone of true creative freedom The power of women’s voices in business and culture How AI has changed my creative process Vulnerability vs. perfection: the magic of showing up raw Personal growth, creative courage & walking in alignment Resources & Links: Follow me on Instagram: @madeleine.eliza Interested in working together? Learn more at www.madeleineeliza.com And as always, if the episode resonates — rate, review, or send it to someone who needs it.

What happens when a woman expresses desire — not ironically, not sarcastically, but fully, freely, and unapologetically? In this episode, I unpack the backlash to Sabrina Carpenter’s latest album cover — where she sits confidently, hair being pulled, gaze steady — and why it struck such a nerve. This isn't about defending a pop star. It's about what this image reveals about our culture’s ongoing discomfort with female erotic power. We explore: Why so many women feel disconnected from their bodies — and how that disconnection keeps us disempowered The difference between erotic submission and subjugation, and why choosing to surrender can be an act of power How the male gaze has shaped our collective lens — and what happens when a woman plays with it, instead of performing for it Why the feminist response to images like this often hides a deeper truth: our own shame The ancient link between erotic power and spiritual vitality — and why reclaiming one means reclaiming both This conversation isn’t about provocation. It’s about wholeness — and asking why, even in 2025, female desire still feels dangerous. If this speaks to you, you might also enjoy my episodes on self-actualisation and soul-led leadership — or join me on Instagram @madeleine.eliza for upcoming workshops and classes on embodiment, feminine power, and sacred practice. And as always, if the episode resonates — rate, review, or send it to someone who needs it. References https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt2322441/

This episode unpacks the concept of living a soul-led life. We explore the ways in which many of us have put our minds in charge; the risks of this; and the tendency of the mind to cling to control and resist change. We look at the twinned concepts of discipline and devotion, and why even the most feminine-identified, cycle-synced, #softlife embodiment girlie still needs to practice the more “masculine” qualities of discipline. This whole episode is grounded in my studies in Tantra and Kundalini yoga - practices designed to direct the mind towards the infinite, and unite the self with the divine. We explore the concept of “pratyahar” or the science of dedicated devotion. Finally we turn to an experiential discussion of what it actually means to make your soul the CEO, when the language of the soul is descent. Choosing to listen to the whispers of your soul can be a destructive journey, as the old ill-fitting layers fall away. It can also cause very loud resistance to arise within the mind and the ego. Forewarned is forearmed and this whole episode works as a primer for those eager to step into a soul-led life! If this resonates, you might like to check out my season 1 podcast episode “Self Actualisation, Entrapment and Breaking Free” which explores similar themes from a mythological and storytelling perspective. And, keep an eye on my website www.madeleineeliza.com and Instagram @bhakti.lab for details of upcoming classes and workshops. If you enjoyed the show please don’t forget to rate, review, subscribe and/or share with a friend who might enjoy it!

The corporate world is very concerned with female empowerment. Rightly so: globally, women remain outnumbered by men at every level of leadership, with women holding just 29% of C-level positions globally. The conversation I believe we need to be having, revolves not around the idea of female empowerment, but around the very real fact of female power: and the critical role that sex and sexuality has to play in shaping gender relations - including power dynamics in the corporate workplace. But not in the sleazy way you might think. Let’s be real: sex is at the intersection of male / female relations. Sex is the biological point of difference between men and women. We are all here because of sex, and as adult humans we are all sexual beings. So why are we so coy about it!? One of the main reasons patriarchy exists is because, to quote UCL Professor Ruth Mace, “Reproduction is the currency of evolution”. The female capacity to create life - and therefore a woman’s sexuality, fertility and desire - represents a kind of wild power which men have sought to control, in order to control paternity and therefore legacy. Our sexuality has been the source of our oppression, and so we have learnt to view it as dangerous, and hide from it. But the actual truth is that our sexuality is the source of our power. This podcast episode is an invitation to radically reframe the way you relate to your own erotic power. We discuss the fabulously named Feminist Sex Wars of the 1980s, explore the concepts of feminine radiance and magnetism, and discuss the liberation that results when you quit trying to speak a masculine language of power at work, and fully embrace your feminine power instead. This has got nothing to do with how you relate to anyone else, and everything to do with how you relate yourself, your body, and your own life force energy. If you’d like to dive deeper, check out my free ebook Hollow to Whole which offers powerful tools for healing distorted feminine patterns. You can access all the details and get your download at www.madeleineeliza.com/whole If you enjoyed the show please don’t forget to rate, review, subscribe and/or share with a friend who might enjoy it! References Mace, R. 2022 “Analysis: How did the patriarchy start – and will evolution get rid of it?”, The Conversation, https://theconversation.com/how-did-the-patriarchy-start-and-will-evolution-get-rid-of-it-189648 McKinsey & Company 2024 “Women in the Workplace 2024: The 10th Anniversary Report”, https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/women-in-the-workplace Saini, A. 2023 “The Patriarchs: How Men Came to Rule”, Beacon Press

I am an executive-level female leader and I agree with Mark Zuckerberg’s comments on masculine energy in the workplace. In this episode, I explain why! A few weeks ago, Mark Zuckerberg went on Joe Rogan’s podcast and in the course of their *long* conversation, Zuckerberg made some comments about how workplaces have become “culturally neutered” and argued that we need more masculine energy and specifically more aggression in the workplace. Cue feminist outrage. The response to Zuckerberg’s comments was swift and brutal, ranging from earnest academic concern about the rise of toxic masculinity, to outright derision and contempt. I was left scratching my head and wondering if the (mostly female) journalists writing these scathing articles had actually bothered to listen to the whole conversation, or just taken soundbites out of context? In this episode, I explain the context behind Zuckerberg’s comments. The parts where he acknowledges the historical suppression of women, and argues for both masculine and feminine energies to be more honoured in the workplace. In fact, he’s talking about polarity, which is central to my leadership teachings. There is a spiky and somewhat confrontational aspect to this conversation, which is that if you as a woman are triggered by strident expressions of masculinity - if you are offended by traits such as competitiveness and wanting to win - then chances are, you are probably not fully embodied in your own feminine power. If you are fully empowered as a woman, then healthy, archetypal masculinity doesn’t feel threatening. We unpack why the outrage is unhelpful and reframe the rise of the “brosphere” from a perspective of curiosity. Asking, how did we arrive in this place where men like Donald Trump and Elon Musk are ruling our society? How can we better understand the appeal of these leaders particularly to men? How did we as feminists create the space for this current cultural moment? If you are a woman interested in leadership, I believe these are very empowering and impactful questions to be asking. If you’re interested in polarity teachings, I have recorded a number of other podcast episodes in Season 1 unpacking similar themes. You might also like to check out my free 3 part training series, the De-Armoured Leader which introduces 3 pillars of next-gen feminine leadership: Vulnerability, Polarity and Embodiment. It’s available at www.madeleineeliza.com/leader And, you can also find me on Instagram @bhakti.lab Thanks for listening and if this resonates, please remember to rate and review the show and share the episode with a friend who might enjoy it!

Blitzscaling is a term coined by Reid Hoffman, founder of LinkedIn, which can be defined as “prioritising speed over efficiency in the face of uncertainty”. I learned the true meaning of blitzscaling when I led Operations and later Product at TripADeal, an Australian online travel agency, during its period of exponential growth. We were crowned the fastest growing company in Australia 2 years running (AFR) as we scaled from $2m to $20m to $80m in revenue. In this episode we unpack the concept of blitzscaling and explore 10 key lessons from the TripADeal story: 1. Listen to the customer: they are your greatest source of wisdom 2. Suck it and see: be willing to experiment and fail forwards 3. Embrace risk: do the things everyone else is too scared to do 4. Everything is figure-outable: the mantra of every Ops leader! 5. Creativity and play: how to maintain buoyancy when stakes are high 6. The importance of self leadership and self regulation 7. The importance of radical trust in leadership teams 8. Embed psychological safety into the teams you lead 9. Recognise that if you’re on the vanguard, everyone is winging it 10. All it takes is everything I have integrated all of the lessons gained from this experience, plus everything I’ve done in the decade since, into my brand new incubator Bhakti Lab. If you’re a startup seeking a clear path through the jungle, a scale-up experiencing growing pains, or a leader wanting to step into the biggest, brightest version of yourself, I can help you. Check out all the details and book a free strategy call at https://www.madeleineeliza.com/bhakti-lab or you can also find me on Instagram @bhakti.lab Thanks for listening and if this resonates, please remember to rate and review the show and share the episode with a friend who might enjoy it!

Stress gets a really bad rap. But did you know it can actually be good for you? Something that high performers share - whether it’s in a successful entrepreneur, Olympic athlete or superstar musician - is a high tolerance for stress and discomfort. The good news is that this is a skill you can cultivate. Stress, fear and discomfort are inevitable when you are trying to do something bold and new. Today’s episode dives into the concept of stress capacity via a cinematic metaphor from Wicked and an invitation to reflect on the tools you may already have in your toolkit for managing stress. We discuss the importance of building a support network of friends and peers who are on a similar path to you, rather than relying on loved ones who perhaps have a different and more conservative relationship to risk. We explore the different states of the autonomic nervous system via Stephen Porges’ work on Polyvagal Theory: the ventral vagal state (regulation), the dorsal vagal state (aka hypoarousal or collapse / shutdown), and sympathetic arousal (aka hyperarousal or fight / flight). We also explore two blended states which are different combinations of those listed above: a) freeze, where we feel simultaneous stress activation and immobilisation, and b) most significantly for this episode, the state of play, where we learn to use stress activation to our advantage. Each time we practice operating in this state of play (which by the way can feel very uncomfortable), we stretch our capacity, and take a step closer to achieving our most audacious goals. If you’d like support in bringing YOUR most audacious goals to life - whether you’re a startup seeking clarity, a scaleup experiencing growing pains, or a leader wanting to step into your fullest capacity - I can help you! Bhakti Lab, my brand new incubator for soul-led entrepreneurs, is open for business. You can view more details or book a free 20-minute strategy call via my website www.madeleineeliza.com/bhakti-lab

What is Tantra? Is it all about sex? How does it relate to kundalini energy and the practice of kundalini yoga? And how is any of this relevant to entrepreneurship?! These are the questions we’ll be unpacking in this episode. Tantra is an ancient Eastern spiritual tradition which seeks to “weave together” the polarities of physical and spiritual, masculine and feminine, dark and light. Unlike some spiritual paths which preach asceticism, Tantra is a gritty, embodied practice that works to clear mind-body blocks and open up the self as a channel for the divine. While sacred sexuality teachings are only a small component of the classical Tantric texts, learning to harness your own sexual life force energy is fundamental to this path. This episode explores the history and key principles of Tantra, including the differences between white, red, pink and black Tantra; and explains why I focus on white (or right-hand) Tantra which is a path of devotion and deep inner work, as opposed to the red (or left-hand) path, popularised by Osho in the introduction of neo-Tantra to the West in the 1970s, which has a much more prominent focus on sexual practices. We also dive into the power of kundalini yoga as a daily movement, breath and meditation practice, which beautifully complements the white Tantric path and works to raise our consciousness to a state of communion with the divine. We spend some time unpacking the concept of the “soul bride” and its relevancy to masculine/feminine polarity teachings here. These tools are incredibly powerful for entrepreneurs, leaders, artists or anyone who wants to overcome their inner limitations, and reach their brightest, fullest expression. If you’re ready to step into the truth of your soulfire, this episode is for you! If you’d like to journey deeper, I now offer 1:1 sessions for soul-led entrepreneurs, harnessing my decade of experience working with founders and CEOs to help turn big bold visions into reality. I can help you to clarify your vision, build tactical pathways to delivery, and/or journey into the deep inner work required to unleash your full potential. You can learn more on my website madeleineeliza.com or find me on Instagram @madeleine.eliza If this resonates, please be sure to rate, review and share the episode. I really appreciate your support!

Season 2 is coming in hot with my analysis of the Trump election victory and what it means for feminists. Please note: I am not a pro-Trump advocate, and this is not political commentary. This is cultural commentary exploring the broader ongoing tensions beneath the “shock” election result. I’ve been speaking for some time about the failings of neoliberal woke feminism, in the way it demonises men and the masculine, and drives women to a state of unsustainable burnout in our quest to do it all. Trump is a lightning rod for this cultural moment. The election result, clapback of all clapbacks, has brought all these gender dynamics which were bubbling away under the surface up to the light of day to be reckoned with. This episode unpacks the ways in which woke feminism has contributed to the twin epidemics of female burnout and male depression; the appeal of Trump not just to “angry white men” but also to women and non-white voters; and our not-so-secret craving for alpha masculine strength and stability in this chaotic late-stage capitalist world. Ultimately, this is an invitation to explore new models of feminism: stepping off the self-righteous soapbox, honouring both men and women, and leading by listening rather than arrogantly assuming we know best. References Conroy, O. 2017 'Angry white men': the sociologist who studied Trump's base before Trump, The Guardian Australia, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/27/michael-kimmel-masculinity-far-right-angry-white-men Crabb, A. 2014 The Wife Drought, Ebury Australia Crowley, T. Nov 2024 The popular vote tells the story of Trump's victory, with inroads in most states and demographics, ABC https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-07/trump-victory-by-the-numbers/104573034 Kahloon, I. 2023 What’s the Matter with Men?, The New Yorker, https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/01/30/whats-the-matter-with-men Kimmel, M. 2013, Angry White Men, Nation Books Smerconish, M. Nov 2024 Why did young men shift to Trump? 'Aspirational masculinity', says Scott Galloway, CNN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjwYQ4kIgEw

Trigger warning: this episode discusses mental illness and suicidal ideation. If you need support and you’re in Australia, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you’re outside Australia please look up the relevant free-call health services in your country. There is also a minor language warning on this episode. Today’s conversation is deeply personal. I share my own journey with mental health and particularly my diagnosis with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder at age 12, which so dramatically shaped the course of my life and set me on the path of spiritual seeking. This is an on-ramp to discussing the limitations of our healthcare system and the biopsychosocial model of health. We also look at the nuances of victimhood mentality and the choices we can sometimes face: whether to identify as broken, weak and constricted - or whether to choose the path of power and personal responsibility. We explore the concept of yin and yang, and the ways in which the darkest aspects of the self are usually twinned with the brightest - you can’t remove one without the other. This is a clarion call for self-intimacy, self-acceptance, and for standing fully in your truth. We also look at the concept of post-traumatic growth and the upsides of experiencing adversity. If this episode resonates, please rate and review wherever you get your podcasts, and/or share with a friend who you think might enjoy it. Thank you for listening!

Matrescence is one of the greatest initiations we can go through as women, carrying us into a new relationship with our body, our power and our divinity. It’s also an invitation into deeper layers of self knowledge and growth. This episode unpacks the many gifts of parenthood, with learnings from different spiritual traditions, poetry and my own experiences as a mother. I share my birth story and discuss this pattern many of us share as women, where we bond through victimhood and downplaying various aspects of our lives, rather than standing tall and proud. I argue for a more nuanced and expansive conversation around birth and motherhood where we hold space for each other to share the full spectrum of our experiences from the dark and traumatic, to the sacred and ecstatic. We look at the impact of capitalism on motherhood and the ways in which most of the crises we are facing globally, are crises of leadership. Better parenting = better leaders… It really is the most important job. Many different traditions teach that babies and children, in their unmasked innocence, are naturally close to God / source. Becoming a parent is an opportunity to step into this liminal space of presence, awe and unconditional love, alongside our wee ones. Parenting is a huge physical and emotional stretch, constantly asking us to expand our capacity. We explore parenthood as a practice not unlike yoga, where we humbly face our own unhealed patterns, respond imperfectly to our children, fall off the path, and get back on again and again and again. Finally we discuss the grief of parenting through divorce, and some practices to help navigate this often painful journey. For more info please make sure you sign up to my newsletter at madeleineeliza.com where you’ll receive a free ebook and audio meditation. You can also keep in touch with me on Instagram @madeleine.eliza - and if you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to rate and review the show and share it with your friends. Thanks for listening! References Athan, A & Miller, L. 2013 Motherhood as Opportunity to Learn Spiritual Values: Experiences and Insights of New Mothers, Journal of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health 27(4), Summer 2013 https://apppahjournal.birthpsychology.com/wp-content/uploads/journal/published_paper/volume-27/issue-4/dt93wt9T.pdf CalmBirth Antenatal Classes https://calmbirth.com.au/ Gibran, K. 1923 The Prophet, Knopf https://poets.org/poem/children-1 May, I. 2008 Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, Vermilion Taylor, S. 2011 The Path of the Parent: How Children Can Enrich Your Spiritual Life, Natural Health Magazine, March 2011 Wordsworth, W. 1807 Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood, Poetry Foundation https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45536/ode-intimations-of-immortality-from-recollections-of-early-childhood

One of the unfortunate side effects of patriarchy is that many women have a wounded relationship with the masculine, and thus are unable to receive his gifts. And the gifts are profound. This episode is my love letter to the men of this world who are showing up, doing the work, and loving their women wide open. We start by unravelling the knots and exploring why reclaiming the feminine does not mean discarding the masculine; why patriarchy and masculinity are not the same thing; how patriarchy wounds men as well as women (though not to the same extent); and why we need to watch out for reductive, dualistic models of thinking. Feminist discourse tends to over-emphasise the distorted masculine and under-emphasise the distorted feminine. This is a companion episode to ‘The Hollow Queen: Victimhood & the Distorted Feminine’. We discuss how we can embrace the gifts of healthy masculine expression within ourselves, and also in relationship with the men in our lives. As women the most potent way we receive the gifts of the masculine is via sacred intimacy; when we are simultaneously pushed and held by our beloved, and allow ourselves to be cracked wide open and deeply known, and discover new capacities within ourselves along the way. My free training The De-Armoured Leader expands on the themes of polarity and vulnerability discussed in this episode, and includes an infosheet on healthy vs distorted versions of masculine and feminine energy - you can access it at madeleineeliza.com/leader Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed the episode please feel free to rate and review the show, and share it with a friend who might be interested in this topic. References Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2023 Estimating Homelessness: Census, https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/housing/estimating-homelessness-census/latest-release Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2020 Mental health of Australian males: depression, suicidality and loneliness, https://aifs.gov.au/tentomen/insights-report/mental-health-australian-males-depression-suicidality-and-loneliness Eisenstein, C. 2021 The True Story of the Sith, www.charleseisenstein.org Mental Health Foundation, Men and Women: Statistics, https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/statistics/men-women-statistics Saini, A. 2023 The Patriarchs: How Men Came to Rule, Fourth Estate

We hear an awful lot about toxic masculinity, and even more about reclaiming the feminine, and somewhere along the way we’ve got the wires twisted and come to understand that masculinity = bad and femininity = good. Of course, this is untrue. Today’s episode unpacks key traits of the distorted feminine, using the archetype of the Hollow Queen, who experiences an inner sense of emptiness and seeks to fill herself up using external sources. We layer this spiritual perspective with an understanding of the nervous system, polyvagal theory, the different states of hyperarousal and hypoarousal, the window of tolerance, and some common tools we use to artificially regulate ourselves. The feminist movement is often directed outwards, at external system changes required to empower women. I argue that in addition to looking outwards, it’s essential we turn our attention inwards to address all the factors severing us from our own personal power. To embrace personal mastery rather than hiding out in victimhood. Once we fully claim our own radiance and vitality we are sooo much better equipped to do the work out in the world that matters - because we’re no longer running on empty. We finish by exploring traits of the healthy divine feminine, who instead of constantly looking outwards, is able to fill herself up from the inside out. If you’d like to work deeper into this theme and start to unravel the blocks in your own brain-body system, you can download my free ebook, Hollow to Whole at www.madeleineeliza.com/whole As always if you enjoy the show please rate, review and share with friends. Thank you! References Kain, K & Terrell, S. 2018 Nurturing Resilience: Helping Clients Move Forward from Developmental Trauma-An Integrative Somatic Approach, North Atlantic Porges, S. 2011, The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-regulation, WW Norton & Co Siegel, D. 1999, The Developing Mind: How Relationships and the Brain Interact to Shape Who We Are, Guilford Publications

This episode speaks to the longing many women feel that life was supposed to be more beautiful than this. That perhaps this relationship or this job is not big enough for us, or not the right shape for us. We might yearn to express ourselves more fully, or to follow the whispered desires of our soul. In this episode, we use story and mythology to explore the ways in which women become entrapped in lives that don’t quite fit, the danger and soul loss that can ensue, and how we can reckon with our own inner darkness and longings in order to break free. Including my take on the Frozen franchise, which are the 2 highest grossing animated films of all time, and which are all about reclamation of the dark feminine in order to self-actualise! We discuss the tantric perspective of soul loss vs our modern understanding of trauma and dissociation. Self-actualisation is the pinnacle of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. He argued that only once our other more basic needs have been met, are we able to fulfil our potential and live our purpose. To step into our “dharma”, if you like. We explore this in some detail, and look at the traits of self-actualised people which includes having more peak experiences. We overlay this with a spiritual perspective, and the inner work of ‘wading through the muck’ which often has to be completed before we can step into bliss and transcendence. To go deeper into some of these themes you can grab my free 10-page ebook “From Hollow to Whole: Healing the Distorted Feminine” at madeleineeliza.com/whole References Doyle, G. 2020 “Untamed”, The Dial Press Friedan, B. 1963 “The Feminine Mystique”, W.W Norton Pinkola-Estes, C. 1992 “Women Who Run with the Wolves”, Ballantine Books Van Der Kolk, B. 2014 “The Body Keeps the Score”, Viking Press * In the time since recording this episode, Inside Out 2 has surpassed Frozen 2 as the highest grossing animated film of all time: https://screenrant.com/every-highest-grossing-animated-movie-how-long/

Manifestation is a buzzword right now. Today’s episode journeys from energy work, to quantum physics, to entrepreneurship, to Taoism, in order to unpack many overlapping perspectives on how we call forth that which we desire, out of the darkness and into the light. A key theme here is non-dualism and polarity, understanding that we need to cultivate two different skillsets in order to be master manifestors. We explore the soft / yin / feminine aspects of energy work (and learn why this approach is actually proved out by none other than Einstein himself!) alongside the grittier / yang / masculine aspect of taking the aligned action in the physical world. If you want to go deeper, polarity is one of the key themes of my free training The De-Armoured Leader which you can sign up for at madeleineeliza.com/leader As always if you enjoyed the show, don’t forget to rate and review and share with your friends to get the word out there.

Female desire has been shrouded in mystery and fear for many hundreds of years. This episode traces the ways in which patriarchy has suppressed the wild feminine, her uncontainable power, her darkness, and her hunger. We explore the role of epigenetics which has many “liberated” modern women still shackled by internalised shame and misogyny. Journeying through fictional depictions of female desire in the novels Jane Eyre and Lady Chatterley’s Lover, we land on second wave feminism and Betty Friedan’s seminal book The Feminine Mystique which voiced, for the first time, the desire women had not just for pleasure but also for power, agency, influence and self-actualisation beyond the role of wife and mother. Desire is part of a spectrum of feminine expression which includes darker emotions such as anger, which girls are typically socialised from a very young age not to express. We discuss darkness and destruction as inherent aspects of the feminine, stemming from the womb space, which demand to be reckoned with if we want to fully embody our power. Finally the conversation turns to sexual desire, the orgasm gap, female viagra, and why eliminating shame and claiming your right to pleasure are essential pillars of female empowerment. If you want to go deeper, my newsletter is the place where I share my deepest insights, longform writing and exclusive subscriber-only offers, you can sign up at www.madeleineeliza.com As always if you enjoyed the show, don’t forget to rate and review and share with your friends to get the word out there. References Chaplin, T & Aldao, A. 2013 Gender Differences in Emotion Expression in Children: A Meta-Analytic Review, Psychological Bulletin, 139(4), 735–765 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3597769/ Fortune Business Insights 2024 Female Sexual Dysfunction Treatment Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/female-sexual-dysfunction-treatment-market-100850 Frederick, D, St John, K, Garcia, J. & Lloyd, E. 2018 Differences in Orgasm Frequency Among Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Heterosexual Men and Women in a U.S. National Sample, Archives of Sexual Behaviour https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28213723/ International Society for Sexual Medicine 2021 How long does it take a woman to reach orgasm? https://www.issm.info/sexual-health-qa/how-long-does-it-take-a-woman-to-reach-orgasm Lowy, M. 2020 Ask the Doc: What’s a ‘normal’ length of time to last during sex?, HealthyMale.org.au https://healthymale.org.au/ask-the-doc/whats-a-normal-length-time-to-last-during-sex Mintz, L. 2023 The orgasm gap and why women climax less than men, The Conversation https://theconversation.com/the-orgasm-gap-and-why-women-climax-less-than-men-208614 Wetzel, G & Sanchez, D. 2022 Heterosexual Young Adults’ Experience With and Perceptions of the Orgasm Gap: A Mixed Methods Approach, Psychology of Women Quarterly Vol. 46 Iss. 2 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/03616843221076410?casa_token=EIMMOZmLRmwAAAAA%3AKmP6abzrDfsJRvoSO5LN9EOWUgnXBZGQepNAw9oFPzf-dZE-T-6g9HU1vScVwyNrNdGEuzaGslo&journalCode=pwqa

Sexual and gendered violence remains a huge issue here in Australia and around the world. In the past few weeks new research has been published into the trend of sexual strangulation or choking, which is practiced by over 50% of young Australians aged 18-35, mostly consensually. This episode delves into this research, the media response to it, and my hot take on the conversation we’re not having and need to be. The research conducted by The Conversation exposes trends where more men than women are doing the choking/strangulation, more women are receiving it, and more trans and gender diverse peoples are engaged on both sides. There are worrying discrepancies around consent, and most young people are discovering this trend via pornography. The response has been very concerned, focused on the dangers of this sexual practice (which are significant), the problems with the pornography industry, and the need for better consent education. I argue the missing piece of the puzzle when it comes to navigating desire and consent is that a vast majority of girls and women experience low self worth, which makes it extremely difficult to advocate for yourself in the moments where we most need to. If you want to go deeper, my newsletter is the place where I share my deepest insights, longform writing and exclusive subscriber-only offers, you can sign up at www.madeleineeliza.com As always if you enjoyed the show, don’t forget to rate and review and share with your friends to get the word out there. References Alexander, I., Fortenberry, J., Fu, T., Herbenick, D., Hou, J., Huibregtse, M., Kawata, K.,Klemsz, L., Rosenberg, M. 2024 Structural brain morphology in young adult women who have been choked/strangled during sex: A whole-brain surface morphometry study, Brain and Behaviour https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/brb3.3160 Australian Government 2022, New research shows prolific use of dating apps to facilitate sexual violence, Australian Institute of Criminology https://www.aic.gov.au/media-centre/news/new-research-shows-prolific-use-dating-apps-facilitate-sexual-violence Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety 2019, Young Australians confused about consent and control in the age of Tinder and Snapchat, ANROWS https://www.anrows.org.au/media-releases/young-australians-confused-about-consent-and-control-in-the-age-of-tinder-and-snapchat/#:~:text=The%20National%20Community%20Attitudes%20towards,raped%20had%20instead%20led%20the Coveney, S. 2022 The gender gap in mental health, News Medical Life Sciences https://www.news-medical.net/health/The-Gender-Gap-in-Mental-Health.aspx#:~:text=Adolescent%20girls%20have%20a%20substantially,risk%20behaviors%2C%20and%20commit%20suicide Dove, The 2017 Dove Global Girls Beauty and Confidence Report https://digitaluniversity.womendeliver.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Mod-1-2017-Dove-Global-Girls-Beauty-and-Confidence-Report.pdf Orenstein, P. 2024, The Troubling Trend in Teenage Sex, The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/12/opinion/choking-teen-sex-brain-damage.html Sharman, L., Fitzgerald, R. & Douglas, H. 2024: Prevalence of Sexual Strangulation/Choking Among Australian 18–35 Year-Olds, Archives of Sexual Behaviour, Springer Link https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-024-02937-y#auth-Robin-Fitzgerald-Aff2 Sharman, L., Fitzgerald, R. & Douglas, H. 2024: More than half of Australian young people are using strangulation during sex: new research, The Conversation https://theconversation.com/more-than-half-of-australian-young-people-are-using-strangulation-during-sex-new-research-231269

This episode cracks open the concept of feminine leadership, particularly from the perspective of the corporate woman who is constantly negotiating power, implicitly or explicitly, within workplaces and leadership teams that are often dominated by men. We explore the ways that women typically meet male power in the workplace, the limitations of ‘girlboss’ aka neoliberal feminism which essentially asks us to mimic men, and conversely the ‘soft femme’ movement which asks us to reclaim our femininity and step out of hustle culture entirely. I advocate for a different and more empowering model of feminine leadership, where we step into total unapologetic ownership of our female bodies and harmonise the feminine and masculine energies within the self. We also discuss traditionally ‘feminine’ leadership traits such as emotional intelligence, and the various advances in workplace equality which have empowered women in recent years. Western history and religion does not paint a very empowering picture for women. We look at the more freeing Tantric perspectives on female expression, and crack open the oracle archetype. You can access my free 3-part training ‘The De-Armoured Leader’ which explores these topics in more detail at madeleineeliza.com/leader And if you enjoyed the show, don’t forget to rate, review and share with your friends.

This is a juicy one, folks. Today’s conversation ranges from Heidegger to Brene Brown to BDSM, all in the space of 30 minutes. Our central theme is vulnerability and the power it affords us as artists, as leaders and as lovers. Great art helps us to reveal and connect to shared human truths. The philosopher Martin Heidegger beautifully articulated this with his work on the concept of ‘alethea’ or ‘unconcealedness’, which we explore in some detail here. In leadership, vulnerability is also highly relevant as a more traditionally ‘feminine’ skill. There is now extensive research proving the importance of emotional intelligence for leaders. We look at this plus the work of Brene Brown and Amy Edmondson in this episode. We also consider the role that vulnerability has to play in intimate relationships with other people - particularly the concept of feminine receptivity as a superpower that we can cultivate in our personal and professional lives. Vulnerability is one of the 3 pillars of de-armoured leadership, alongside polarity and embodiment. To go deeper in this work, you can sign up for a free 3-part training on this topic at madeleineeliza.com/leader And if you enjoyed the show, don’t forget to rate, review and share with your friends.

Hello and welcome to the show! Today’s topic is void leaping - the process of taking a leap of faith and stepping into the unknown, which can be empowering and terrifying in equal measure. We explore how this applies to entrepreneurship, and I spend some time introducing myself and my background and explaining why this theme is so close to my heart. We talk about a couple of mythological stories offering different perspectives on this theme, including Icarus (the well-known cautionary tale which I argue is far more relevant to the juvenile masculine than the mature feminine) and Cedna - a dark and powerful story of transformation. We also look at void leaping through a tantric lens. “Reclaiming the feminine” is a huge topic right now - let’s examine why cultivating a strong inner masculine is also crucial if you want to be able to hold yourself through the fear and uncertainty of stepping into the void. To journey more deeply with me, you can sign up for a free 3-part training The De-Armoured Leader at www.madeleineeliza.com/leader And if you enjoyed the show, don’t forget to rate and review and share with your friends - thank you so much for your support!