Matriarchs of Horror

Why do men rape women? It’s a question people have been asking for years and one that still doesn’t have an easy answer. In this episode, I’m digging into how we actually learn to recognize consent and how often that understanding is shaped by implication instead of clear communication. I start with a recent CNN article that exposed an online network of men sharing and encouraging content about drugging and assaulting their partners while they’re unconscious, and use it as a jumping-off point to look at how these ideas are circulating in plain sight. From there, I break down what the data really says about sexual assault, and why simply knowing what consent is doesn’t always mean people respect it. Later, I’m joined by Hailey Piper, author of A Game in Yellow, to talk about kink, communication, and what those dynamics can teach us about consent and intimacy.

For a long time, marriage felt like something to fear rather than to desire. And historically, that fear wasn’t unfounded. In the 19th century, marriage often meant losing your independence, your identity, and your ability to leave.In this episode, I unpack the history behind marriage in the Victorian era, coverture laws, and how it shaped the way I approached dating in my twenties. I also share how meeting my fiancé challenged everything I thought I knew about relationships and how I learned that love, when it’s built right, doesn’t confine you.

Hello, Matriarchs! In this episode, I’m unpacking the controversy surrounding Mia Ballard’s novel Shy Girl, from allegations of AI use to questions about editing and accountability. But instead of doing a typical takedown, I wanted to sit with the nuance. This situation isn’t just about Ballard or her book. It opens up bigger conversations about who gets to create, what ethical use of AI actually looks like, and how the publishing industry responds when something like this happens. So if you’ve been seeing this discourse online and don’t quite know what to make of it, this one’s for you.Whyn Lewis' porftfolio: http://www.whynlewis.com/whynlewis.com/Whyn_Lewis.html