Medusa’s Mic

Body hair, men's preferences and healthy love

Is it okay for men to have preferences about our bodies?
Why do we leap to defend a man's "preference" about what our bodies should look like? If you want to build a long-term, healthy, intimate relationship, shouldn't he accept you as you are?
In this episode we ask:
- Are they really "preferences" or "expectations" and why do we think we have to meet them?
- If we adjust our goals, looks and hair (down there!) because he "prefers it" does that create a healthy love dynamic?
- Are we losing ourselves because we want to be loved, rather than expecting to be loved as we choose to be?
- If someone expects you to change how you are - is that healthy love or something else?
- Have unrealistic portrayals of women on social media and in *orn created bizarre ideas for men about what women should look like?
Projecting our expectations onto someone else doesn't help us create solid, loving or grounded connections. Instead, it creates relationships that are shallow, and unlikely to be sustainable or fulfilling in the long-term.
What kind of relationship do you desire?
Medusa's Mic is produced by author and advocate for healthy love, Lucretia Ackfield.
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Subscribe to the Medusa's Mic Newsletter on Linkedin for interview highlights.
Subscribe to Lucretia's Letters on Substack for more insights about women, love and power.

Unhealthy families: Should you stay or should you go?

You can love your family, but it might be unhealthy to stay closely connected to them. Estrangement is also far more common than you think. 
This episode explores the following topics:
- Believing you have to forgive your family, no matter what, can be harmful and not serve your best interests
- Leaving an unhealthy family can be difficult because society says you should stay and work it out because "it's family"
- Choosing estrangement is a huge decision and often an act of pure survival. When this happens, society should look more closely at the family and ask, "What would drive someone to take such radical action?"
The conversation includes tips on:
- Healthy boundaries
- Why "good girls" get stuck in unhealthy families
- Being realistic about someone's capacity or willingness to change
- How to find your peace
Medusa's Mic is produced by author and advocate for healthy love, Lucretia Ackfield.
Follow on Instagram and Facebook.
Watch on YouTube.
Subscribe to the Medusa's Mic Newsletter on Linkedin for interview highlights.
Subscribe to Lucretia's Letters on Substack for more insights about women, love and power.

What does healthy love mean to you?

We have so many conversations about sex, dating, relationship styles, but we rarely talk about love in any detail. What is it? How do we define it?
We have been taught and internalised unhealthy love stories through our families, religions, culture, film, social media and celebrities. This is not leading us to the beautiful love relationships we all deserve and desire.
We need to start the journey to understand what healthy love is.
We need to unravel the unhealthy stories we have been told.
If we do this work, we will create better communities and a better planet because when you love yourself in healthy ways, you love others in healthier ways too.
Today's episode includes some simple exercises to help you understand what healthy love means to you. Are you ready to begin this journey?
Medusa's Mic is produced by author and advocate for healthy love, Lucretia Ackfield.
Follow on Instagram and Facebook.
Watch on YouTube.
Subscribe to the Medusa's Mic Newsletter on Linkedin for interview highlights.
Subscribe to Lucretia's Letters on Substack for more insights about women, love and power.

5 ways we are taught to excuse abuse (and how to kick the habit!)

Some of us are conditioned from a young age to excuse, overlook and bypass abuse - but we're not even aware that we are doing it.
This episode covers five ways we are taught to excuse abuse and how you can kick the habit. It explores how societal, religious and cultural norms, films, media, social media and families shape our ideas about relationships and love, and may normalise unhealthy and destructive behaviours.
Medusa's Mic is produced by author and advocate for healthy love, Lucretia Ackfield.
Follow on Instagram and Facebook.
Watch on YouTube.
Subscribe to the Medusa's Mic Newsletter on Linkedin for interview highlights.
Subscribe to Lucretia's Letters on Substack for more insights about women, love and power.

"But I love him." Words we say in unhealthy relationships.

If you've ever said, "But I love him" to excuse disrespect or worse, this episode of Medusa's Mic may provide some insights about how you reached that point.
Toxic rom-com storylines, destructive celebrity role models, outdated societal norms and dysfunctional family patterns can shape our ideas about love and our thinking about what relationships should look like. Unhealthy love behaviours become normalised and unconsciously mold our expectations.  
This doesn't help us achieve the beautiful love relationships we all deserve and desire.
We are conditioned to view his behaviours through our lens of love (how we feel). But if we want healthy love connections, we need to stop saying, "But I love him" and instead ask, "Is he showing love towards me?"
Medusa's Mic is produced by author and advocate for healthy love, Lucretia Ackfield.
Follow on Instagram and Facebook.
Subscribe to the Medusa's Mic Newsletter on Linkedin for interview highlights.
Subscribe to Lucretia's Letters on Substack for more insights about women, love and power.
 

12 | 12 Ways to Stop Sexual Violence

Five guests, 11 episodes and a world of knowledge. Over the past two months we have heard from experts in sexual and domestic violence prevention and response, and victim-survivors. We also explored the impacts of unconscious bias throughout the Depp vs Heard trial, and learned more about our host Lucretia Ackfield and her goals for this podcast.
Episode 12 marks the season one finale of Medusa’s Mic. The aim of this podcast is to empower people with the tools and information they need to be a part of the solution in putting a stop to domestic and sexual violence in our communities. Over this past season, each guest has provided knowledge that is both practical and insightful in the fight against these issues. Join Lucretia as she summarises each episode and shares the tips and advice she has learned along the way from her guests.
Would you like to become a patron and support this podcast? Visit Patreon to find out how. I would love your support!
Medusa's Mic is produced by the Stop Sexual Violence Collaboration.
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Subscribe to the Medusa's Mic Newsletter on LinkedIn for interview highlights.
Podcast music by: Dima Tyshko, Spring Stroll, Tune Tank.
 
 

11 | Taking action at a grassroots level

In this week’s episode, host and founder Lucretia Ackfield reflects on the conversations and situations that motivated her to create the Medusa’s Mic podcast. Like many of us, Lucretia was fed up with the high levels of sexual violence in our communities. This frustration inspired her to take action at a grassroots level by seeking to change the attitudes and behaviours that enable and perpetuate sexual violence. Lucretia is a feminist and passionate advocate for women and encourages them to feel empowered to take back their voices and create positive change. The goal of Medusa’s Mic is to provide valuable tools and information to people affected by domestic, sexual and family violence across the globe.
Would you like to become a patron and support this podcast? Visit Patreon to find out how. I would love your support!
Medusa's Mic is produced by the Stop Sexual Violence Collaboration.
Follow on Facebook and Instagram.
Subscribe to the Medusa's Mic Newsletter on LinkedIn for interview highlights.
Podcast music by: Dima Tyshko, Spring Stroll, Tune Tank.
 

10 | ”It takes a village to protect an abuser”

"It takes a village to protect an abuser." - Sharna Bremner, Founder of End Rape on Campus Australia, in The Reckoning by Jess Hill.
 
Join Lucretia, founder of the Stop Sexual Violence Collaboration and host of the Medusa’s Mic podcast, as she reflects on the troubling societal issues brought to light during the recent Depp v Heard case in the United States.
Lucretia dives beneath the surface to discuss the unconscious biases within our society and how misogyny is being perpetuated by the masses when it comes to domestic and sexual violence. These biases and the patriarchal framework in our society fails to hold men as a gender accountable for their actions towards women, children and other men. Lucretia encourages us to self-reflect and sit with the uncomfortable realisation that until we acknowledge our bypassing of these issues, society cannot move forward towards equality.
Would you like to become a patron and support this podcast? Visit Patreon to find out how. I would love your support!
Medusa's Mic is produced by the Stop Sexual Violence Collaboration.
Follow on Facebook and Instagram.
Subscribe to the Medusa's Mic Newsletter on LinkedIn for interview highlights.
Podcast music by: Dima Tyshko, Spring Stroll, Tune Tank.

9 | Using a victim-focused approach in the workplace

[2/2] In part two of Lucretia's conversation with Morgana Prior, she explains why it is important for corporations to establish policies which specify how to respond to victims of domestic violence. Morgana also discusses how businesses can support employees experiencing family and sexual violence and facilitate their safe return to the workplace.
Drawing on her real-life experience of working in Papua New Guinea, she provides examples of how support and counselling for victims can help them achieve their full professional potential and improve their quality of life. These policies show what real integration of business and community looks like and illustrate how corporate compassion and action can deliver positive outcomes for victim-survivors.
Connect with Morgana on Linked In.
Would you like to become a patron and support this podcast? Visit Patreon to find out how. I would love your support!Medusa's Mic is produced by the Stop Sexual Violence Collaboration.
Follow on Facebook and Instagram.
Subscribe to the Medusa's Mic Newsletter on LinkedIn for interview highlights.
Podcast music by: Dima Tyshko, Spring Stroll, Tune Tank.

8 | Tackling DV at a Corporate Level in Papua New Guinea

[1/2] Join Lucretia as she chats to Morgana Prior, a senior leader in Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) largest superannuation company, Nambawan Super. Morgana shares the unique and tailored approach her organisation and the PNG corporate sector use to respond to domestic and sexual violence.
She discusses the challenges of the cross-cultural environment, the impacts of local traditions and the potential for positive change. This episode provides an in-depth exploration into how corporations can take an active, sector-wide approach to support employees experiencing domestic and sexual violence.
Connect with Morgana on Linked In.
Would you like to become a patron and support this podcast? Visit Patreon to find out how. I would love your support!Medusa's Mic is produced by the Stop Sexual Violence Collaboration.
Follow on Facebook and Instagram.
Subscribe to the Medusa's Mic Newsletter on LinkedIn for interview highlights.
Podcast music by: Dima Tyshko, Spring Stroll, Tune Tank.