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Why do Americans routinely circumcise their babies? Jess and Marcos explore this common, but perhaps not deeply thought about, procedure. 

 Jess and Marcos try to get to the root of why so many women have a broken relationship with food. They discuss  our cultural perception of thinness, why we are so obsessed with weight and how dysfunctional eating habits seem to be a normalized part of being a woman   They also talk about how fat people can be anorexic too. e-mail us with questions, comments or just to say hi at modifiedpod@gmail.com

Jess and Marcos cover the corsets of yore and the shapewear of today. They ask if untamed female bodies make the world uneasy and discuss whether such a thing as objective beauty exists. Go forth with your disobedient bodies! e-mail us @modifiedpod@gmail.com

Jess and Marcos cover liposuction-the procedure, the risks and the stats. Then they delve into gastric bypass and gastric sleeve surgery and discuss whether these two bariatric procedures are really about health or are they still just about attaining that cultural ideal of slimness. e-mail us at modifiedpod@gmail.com

Jess and Marcos continue their exploration of weight loss by discussing our culture's relationship to fitness. Find your pelvis (we know you got one) and get ready to hear about reducing salons, Jazzercise, Richard Simmons, Oh My! Also, did our grandparents "work out"? e-mail us @modifiedpod@gmail.com

Jess and Marcos delve into the history of dieting in the US and cover the fad diets of each decade. They explore what being fat meant in the 19th C and discuss weight stigma of the modern day. 

Here's another bonus episode where Jess and Marcos offer their uninformed opinions on other people's problems. Sit tight! Our episode on fad diets is coming soon. 

In this first part of the the multi-episode discussion on the theme of weight loss, Jess, Marcos, Kenzie and Hannah discuss why so many women have issues when it comes to eating and weight. 

Jess and Marcos read advice columns and provide their armchair advice on this bonus episode. Stay tuned for our next full episode which will be on weight loss. 

Jess interviews her friend Lauren on her recent breast implant procedure. Lauren shares why she wanted to get this procedure done and touches upon the prep, costs and recovery. 

Marcos did his homework this time and tells us about the various butt augmentation procedures that are out there. Jess tells of the dangers of butt injections and discusses whether the rise in the trendiness of the booty is just one more example of white people appropriating black culture. Hannah answers the question of why we find butts attractive and declares that Lizzo is literally saving lives. And Kenzie is along for the ride. 

Jess, Marcos and Hannah continue their exploration into breast modification.  Jess tells us about the history of breast augmentation. Hannah tells us about breast reductions. And Marcos tells us nothing because he didn't do his homework. Bad Marcos. Bad. Sources:Breasts  by Florence Williams The podcast  Swindled , episode 22 "The Implants"https://www.massdevice.com/pip-breast-implant-scandal-story-triggered-change/https://allthatsinteresting.com/weird-history-of-breast-implantshttps://www.webmd.com/beauty/features/how-will-breast-implants-change-your-life#2

Here's a little snack until we post our fully researched episode on breast augmentation/reduction. Jess and Marcos banter about breasts and their friend Aimee drops-in for a surprise interview on her struggle with large breasts and her desire to get them reduced. Tune in next week for a deeper dive into breast modification. 

They say that loose lips sink ships. Jess and Marcos let loose on this Sunday edition that is loosely edited, loosely researched and loosely cohesive. Loosen up those expectations and sit back and enjoy. 

Omg shoes! Marcos delves into the history of men and heels. Jess then takes it with the history of women and Heels. Kenzie tells of places abroad where many companies still require women to wear heels as part of their work dress code.  And to top it off, Hannah informs us about all of the health risks associated with wearing heels. Wow. Wow. Wow. So much to learn about shoes. 

Jess, Hannah, Marcos and Kenzie (surprise! She's back!)  explore the practice of Chinese footbinding. They delve into its origins, evolution and ultimate demise and along the way discuss what it meant about being female in Imperial China. Hannah declares that women rule and Marcos feels attacked at every turn,  

Jess and Hannah interview their friend Kenzie about her complicated relationship with her own body hair as well as her experience as someone who dates both men and women. Kenzie gives her perspectives on the differences in expectations between genders when it comes to things like grooming and appearance and gives us insight into what it was like growing up as a hairy female. 

Jess and Hannah interview Jess's mom about her decision to stop dyeing her hair amidst the salon closings during COVID. She, like many women, had been dying her hair for quite some time. She discusses her internal and external experiences that went along with making this big decision/change. 

Jess, Hannah and Marcos explore the global practice of makeup application, starting with the ancient civilizations all the way through modern day.  They reflect on why women wear makeup and discuss whether makeup presents a grooming double standard for women. Cover art by Eric Mott and music by Vryce, instagram @vryce 

In this first interview interlude, Jess and Hannah interview Hallie on getting her eyebrows micro-bladed.