Women Transcend

The Guilt of Motherhood

Jan 8, 2018 • 37 min

In this honest discussion about societal expectations of mothers, and self-imposed expectations about what mothers would like to be for their children, we talk about how it is very difficult to live up to either of these expectations. As a result, a…

Should Girls Wake Up Pretty? Girls & Media Ideals

Dec 17, 2017 • 32 min

In this episode we have a critical and revealing discussion about media messaging to young girls, and how divergent the messaging to girls is both from reality and from what is healthy. We use the example of a magazine cover targeting young girls to…

Harassment and Women in Tech

Dec 11, 2017 • 31 min

At a time when we are becoming more acutely aware of the level of harassment endemic in American businesses, government, and the entertainment industry, we must pay particular attention to women working in technology fields. Some new research conducted by…

Bravely: Trafficking & Trauma Survivors

Dec 3, 2017 • 36 min

If you are interested in or concerned about human trafficking, this episode is a must listen. We are hearing more and more about human trafficking in the United States, including warning signs and who to contact if you suspect trafficking. What we do NOT…

Modern Trends in Childbirth

Nov 26, 2017 • 38 min

I have a fascinating conversation with Pat Keating, a registered nurse and childbirth educator, about the trends she has seen over the last 37 years around childbirth, breastfeeding, and preparing for a baby. We discuss how women and couples prepare for a…

Sexual Abuse and Insufficient Labels

Nov 19, 2017 • 38 min

Listen to our eye opening discussion on the rhetoric and language around women who have experienced sexual abuse. We specifically discuss the dichotomy of the labels “victim” versus “survivor” and how these terms are insufficient to describe the…

Fertility, Technology, & Acknowledging Grief Part 2

Nov 12, 2017 • 30 min

In the second part of this two part series, we continue our discussion with reproductive psychologist Dr. Julie Bindeman. We examine the issue of fertility and chasing parenthood. We review the current technology and options available to couples who…

Fertility, Technology, & Acknowledging Grief Part 1

Nov 5, 2017 • 43 min

In this important discussion with reproductive psychologist Dr. Julie Bindeman, we examine the issue of fertility and chasing parenthood. We review the current technology and options available to couples who desire to have a child, and very importantly,…

Women in Comics: Is Wonder Woman Wonderful?

Oct 29, 2017 • 36 min

In our discussion of women characters and the portrayal of women in graphic novels, we unpack the history of women in comics and early characters. We take a look at how the portrayal and story lines of women in comics have changed over time, and the…

Harassment and a Smile: Conversation with Actor Rebecca Blaine Carton

Oct 23, 2017 • 34 min

I have a discussion with the incredibly talented Rebecca Blaine Carton about her independent short on harassment and catcalling, Smile. We talk about how this is an almost universal experience for women and girls, and how it is very difficult to avoid. We…

Trusted Sources: Sexuality Education & Our Children

Oct 16, 2017 • 34 min

In this episode, we discuss sexuality and “the talk.” Parents need to be aware of all the sources that children are using to get their information about sexuality. We shouldn’t think our children find us to be the only source for information, because we…

Special Episode: Contraception, Rape & a Bad Week for Women

Oct 9, 2017 • 58 min

In this special episode, we focus on four important policy changes that were very quietly implemented by the Trump administration over the last week while media attention was diverted to by national tragedies. All of these policy changes are relevant and…

Foster Care: Invisible Children

Oct 1, 2017 • 49 min

I have a powerful and raw discussion with Rob Scheer from the non-profit Comfort Cases about the foster care system, and what he calls its invisible children. There are about 500,000 children in the foster care system at any given time in the United…

Online Harassment: When Women Aren’t Welcome

Sep 25, 2017 • 43 min

In my discussion with Justyn Hintze from the non-profit Women Who Tech, we unpack the various forms of cyber harassment and the various platforms in which women are most likely to become victims of cyber harassment. The anonymous nature of the cyber…

Parenting Girls in a Patriarchy

Sep 19, 2017 • 38 min

I have a fascinating discussion with psychologist Dr. Dahlia Topolowsky about how to raise a healthy girl in a patriarchy. We discuss the influences of gender norms, stereotypes, and how to be an active and present parent. Dr. Topolosky talks about nature…

Slacktivism: Are you really making a difference?

Sep 12, 2017 • 39 min

Discussion with Mark Story, communications strategist and committed advocate, about slacktivism and whether people are having the impact they think they are. Are the activities of “the Resistance” having the impact we would like?

RECUT: Reflections on Elections

Sep 5, 2017 • 41 min

I discuss the difficult reverberations resulting from the rise in toxic masculinity, and the impact it has had on women, policy and politics in the US with attorney and activist, Amy Vanderpool, also familiarly known by her Twitter handle…

Season 1 Recap - Season 2 Teasers!

Aug 31, 2017 • 24 min

We have a conversation about Season 1, our favorite episodes and guests, and our favorite moments from the 26 episodes of Season 1. We tease our upcoming Season 2 episodes, and some of the exciting topics we will be covering. Hope you stay tuned and…

RECUT: Living in Conflict Zones: Women, Children & Survival

Aug 27, 2017 • 32 min

Discussion with relief expert Annie Agle about the plight of women living in conflict zones, trying to hold families together and keep themselves and their families safe from perils such as systematic gender-based violence.

RECUT: Are Little Girls Getting Too Sexy?

Aug 20, 2017 • 32 min

We discuss the sexualization of young girls through fashion and beauty ideals perpetuated in various forms of media, and the dangerous trend of self-objectification that this can lead to.

Escalating Ideology of the Alt-Right

Aug 13, 2017 • 39 min

Fascinating interview with Dr. Paul Johnson from University of Pittsburgh about this rise of the Alt-Right, who they are, how they came to be, & what their shared ideology is.

RECUT: Patriarchy, Parenting, & Boys

Aug 7, 2017 • 43 min

We discuss the issue of raising boys to understand the systemic inequality in our society, and ways to talk it with boy children. Children inherently want things to be “fair,” and open discussion with children when you see things that might not be fair is…

RECUT: Body Image, Fat Shaming, & Loving Ourselves

Jul 31, 2017 • 43 min

This recut of one of our most populat episodes from Season 1 includes additional discussion about the issue of body image, fat shaming, and the double standard that women and men are held to with regard to appearance and weight. We also discuss how we can…

Reflections on Elections

Jul 23, 2017 • 41 min

I discuss the difficult reverberations resulting from the rise in toxic masculinity, and the impact it has had on women, policy and politics in the US with attorney and activist, Amy Vanderpool, also familiarly known by her Twitter handle…

Human Trafficking - Part 2

Jul 16, 2017 • 36 min

In this 2nd of my 2 part series on human trafficking, I recap part 1 with my guest co-host John Philbeck. I continue my interview with Dr. Karrin Anderson, trafficking expert and activist. We discuss how traffickers have become skilled at evading law…

Human Trafficking - Part 1

Jul 9, 2017 • 32 min

We discuss what human trafficking is, what it isn’t, and popular misconceptions about human trafficking. We also discuss how our thinking about human trafficking has changed over time, and how trafficking itself has changed to evade law enforcement…

REBROADCAST: Politics, Aggression, & Women’s Malaise

Jul 3, 2017 • 29 min

In this episode we discuss how many women have been triggered emotionally by the escalating rhetoric, sexism, and toxic masculinity largely resulting from the election of Trump. We discuss the importance of watching for signs of stress or anxiety in…

The Great Myth of UN and Family Planning

Jun 26, 2017 • 28 min

In this interview with Shannon Kowalski from the International Women’s Health Coalition, we discuss the misunderstanding about the work of the United Nationals Population Fund, or UNFPA. We discuss the far reaching impact of this important work, and the…

Post-Truth Era and Politics

Jun 19, 2017 • 25 min

Discussion with Prof. Gleb Tsipursky over the dynamics of post-truth politics, the evolution of post-truth, voter suppression, and how we can respond to our political leaders in this new era

Living in Conflict Zones: Women, Children & Survival

Jun 11, 2017 • 28 min

Fascinating discussion with Annie Agle about the plight of women and children living in conflict zones. We discuss the particular threats they face, including rape as a tactic of war, trafficking, and kidnapping of child soldiers. Despite this, women are…

Toxic Masculinity & Teen Girls: Slam Poetry Perspective

Jun 4, 2017 • 24 min

Must listen interview with teen slam poet, Danni Miller, on what it is like to be a maturing woman in a toxic patriarchy, and how political turbulence impacts our girls and young women. Danni shares some of her powerful poetry, and a sense of hope for…

Crisis Pregnancy Centers and Misinformation

May 29, 2017 • 27 min

Discussion about the Crisis Pregnancy Center movement and the deceptive practices that are sometimes used to engage women either through phone calls or appointments, and then sharing frightening and false medical information about the risks caused by…

Patriarchy, Elections, and a Continuing Struggle

May 21, 2017 • 33 min

In my powerful interview with Laurel Brett, we discuss the status of women, gender equality, and the continuing struggle against patriarchy in politics and in society.

Becoming a Lighthouse: Men & Domestic Violence Prevention

May 18, 2017 • 43 min

Interview with Kenton Bell, a researcher and activist who studies ways to engage men in addressing domestic violence. We discuss the importance of being a safe space for men to discuss relationship issues, and how parents can raise boys to become men who…

Not Just Baby Blues: Postpartum Depression

May 4, 2017 • 40 min

Interview with Dr. LaKesha Anderson, covering the serious and shockingly common risk of postpartum depression, and why don’t we hear about it?

March for Science, Truth, and the Tipping Point

May 1, 2017 • 17 min

The March for Science, held on April 22nd, is just one of many rallies, marches and protests that have sprouted from the tipping point of the election of Donald Trump. Listen to on the ground interviews.

Environment in the Crosshairs: Interview with Melanie Moore, Union of Concerned Scientists

Apr 23, 2017 • 45 min

In my interview with Melanie Moore of the Union of Concerned Scientists, we discuss the precarious state of the environment, and of policies to protect our environment, and what we can do to take action.

Body Image, Fat Shaming, & Loving Ourselves

Apr 16, 2017 • 38 min

In this powerful discussion we cover the toic of body image, fat shaming, and the culture of the impossibly thin woman as the ideal. We cover how this pervades women’s lives and how it is reinforced by society.

Women and the Alt-Right

Apr 9, 2017 • 39 min

We discuss the Alt-Right, how it started, what it is, and the basic shared ideology including the status of women.

Lead, Social Justice, & Environmental Racism

Apr 2, 2017 • 28 min

We discuss the role of social justice in environmental contamination, and in particular lead, and what you can do to protect yourself

Patriarchy, Parenting and Boys

Mar 19, 2017 • 26 min

We take a critical look at how our patriarchy affects women and girls, and how to raise boys to understand the role of male privilege.

Politics, Aggression, & Women’s Malaise

Mar 13, 2017 • 29 min

We discuss how negative discourse in our politics and society is impacting women in this country. Women who have suffered trauma in their lives previously can be triggered, or wounds reopened, by the misogynistic tone. I discuss with my guest, a clinical…

Are Little Girls Getting Too Sexy?

Mar 5, 2017 • 21 min

In my interview with Prof. Sarah Murnen, we discuss the trend for little girls to be sexualized. One way this happens is through wearing sexy clothing. We unpack the larger impact this might have on the girl child, girls in general, and society, and the…

Have We Solved Domestic Violence?

Mar 5, 2017 • 26 min

We take a deep dive into the issue of domestic violence, and discuss who is most at risk for violent relationships and the role of men and boys in preventing violence. The link between domestic violence and terrorism is highlighted.

What It’s Like to Be a Refugee

Feb 26, 2017 • 29 min

This episode discusses the current day status of refugees including who they are, where they are, and what happens to them. In the shadow of the refugee ban, we discuss our national roots as a refugee safe haven.

Demystifying Islam

Feb 17, 2017 • 28 min

This 2nd in a 2 part series on Islam tries to demystify the religion through honest discussions with Muslim women about their faith, their practice, and their feelings about being Muslim in the US

Demystifying the Hijab

Feb 8, 2017 • 29 min

This episode tries to demystify the hijab, discussing what it is, what it means to a Muslim woman, and some common misconceptions about Islam and about head covering

Depiction of Women on Reality TV

Jan 28, 2017 • 23 min

How are women depicted, who watches, and are we OK with that?

Women’s March on Washington

Jan 22, 2017 • 14 min

On the ground coverage of the Women’s March on Washington

Rhetoric of Women and Politics in the 2016 Election

Dec 29, 2016 • 25 min

This episode unpacks the sex and gender rhetoric that was apparent in the 2016 Presidential election