In this special reflection episode, we step away from biographies and histories to explore madness itself—not as a diagnosis, but as a philosophy. What happens when madness is seen not as error, but as insight? Not as disorder, but as sacred rupture?Drawing on lived experience, poetic language, and philosophical frameworks, this episode invites listeners into a deeper meditation on perception, beauty, coherence, and the illusions we call normalcy. Along the way, we consider the limits of reason, the violence of performance, the possibilities of peer care, and why madness might be closer to the truth than we’re often allowed to believe.This episode is slower, more spacious. This episode is an offering for those who have stood at the edge and wondered what it means to keep going.
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48:55
Unica Zürn - Mad Saint
In this episode, we trace the haunting life and visionary work of Unica Zürn. She was a German/French surrealist, poet, and artist. Through drawings, anagram poetry, and hallucinatory writing, Zürn reimagined madness not as pathology, but as a form of expression. We explore her relationships, institutionalization, and artistic resistance, asking what it means to write from a dangerous place.
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23:40
Antonin Artaud - Mad Prophet
This episode traces the life of Antonin Artaud—a poet, actor, director, and relentless disruptor of theatrical and psychiatric order. From his early struggles with mental distress and dependency to his expulsion from the Surrealist movement, Artaud's life defied categorization. We follow his journey through experimental theater, his voyages to Ireland and Mexico, and the nine years he spent confined in asylums across France, subjected to electroshock and institutional control.Rather than romanticize his suffering, we examine the material realities of Artaud’s madness: the brutal conditions of psychiatric internment, the erasure of his agency, and the desperate struggle to preserve language in the face of silencing. We listen closely to the voice that emerged from this crucible.This is the story of a man who refused coherence, who demanded the impossible, and who insisted that art must be lived, not merely shown. This is Artaud, in all his contradiction and fire.
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34:25
Julia Macintosh Presentation
On April 24th, Julia Macintosh visited the Center for Mad Culture all the way from Edinburgh, Scotland. Julia presented some of her history and advocacy work with friends who came to hear her speak. This visit to the Center was accompanied by the wonderful news that Julia would be opening a Center for Mad Culture UK! Our collaborations will find further ways to create international opportunities for Mad Culture!
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49:46
Cam Collins Interview
In this episode, we sit down with artist Cam Collins, whose current exhibition at the Center for Mad Culture "Copper Odyssey 2: Museum of Miracles," explores the layered relationship between lived experiences and built worlds. Cam talks about their process and the role of printmaking and museums in their work. We get into the way of the Canvas, Redman, and Respecting the Craft.This conversation is about art, but also about the worlds we inhabit—and the ones we choose to make.Instagram: @collins_cameronBluesky: @copperodysseywebsite: camcollins.usGames: cam999.itch.ioStore: camcollins.bigcartel.comcamshop.us
For too long, mad voices have been silenced, dismissed, or medicalized—it's time to change that. Mad Tea explores the histories, stories, and creative expressions of madness, amplifying its insights, resilience, and brilliance. We challenge stereotypes and reframe madness as a way of understanding culture, art, and activism.
This podcast is an extension of The Center for Mad Culture, a space dedicated to mad voices. Subscribe, share, and join the conversation.
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