Best Katie Breen Podcasts (2024)

1
Katie's Reaction to the Overturning of Roe 39:58

2y ago39:58

39:58

A raw, unedited, unproduced reaction episode to the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022. Includes advice for how you can support abortion access and fight back, in both the short and the long term. The episode ends with a moment for reflection, featuring a song called "Animal" by Jean Rohe. In Jean's words, "'Animal' is a so…

1
The Loophole That Lets Abusers Keep Their Guns 38:57

2y ago38:57

38:57

It’s no secret that our country’s gun laws are riddled with loopholes, but one is killing women specifically. Since the beginning of the pandemic, murders linked to domestic violence have risen dramatically, up 58% in the last decade. Guns are the most common weapon abusers use to kill their partners, and victims are usually women. And many of thes…

1
How Does Being Denied an Abortion Affect Someone's Life? 40:20

2y ago40:20

40:20

Recently, Politico published a leaked draft Supreme Court opinion in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case on the future of Roe v. Wade. Unsurprisingly for many in the reproductive rights community, Alito calls for the overturning of Roe. We know that overturning Roe will mean that millions of people of reproductive age will be with…

1
Part 2: How Crisis Pregnancy Centers Use Clients' Private Data Against Them 52:17

2y ago52:17

52:17

In Part 2 of our 2-part series on the misleading practices of Crisis Pregnancy Centers, we delve into another misleading, yet surprisingly underreported, aspect of Crisis Pregnancy Centers (aka CPCs aka "fake clinics). As we covered in Part 1, CPCs masquerade as if they are real health clinics - but because they are not, they're not subject to priv…

1
Part 1: Crisis Pregnancy Centers 101 - How Your Tax Dollars Fund Fake Women's Health Centers 51:13

2y ago51:13

51:13

Crisis pregnancy centers, or “CPCs,” are anti-abortion organizations that target pregnant people with predatory, deceptive marketing. They hide in plain sight by operating under the guise of offering comprehensive reproductive healthcare. Instead, they are religiously-affiliated, anti-abortion, and often unlicensed “medical” centers that, as stated…

1
What Do the FDA's Updates Mean for Access to Medication Abortion? 27:39

2y ago27:39

27:39

Back in early December 2021, you may have heard some rumblings celebrating that the FDA had changed some of its draconian and scientifically unsupported regulations around medication abortion. Medication abortion, a safe and legal method of first-trimester abortion, accounted for 54% of US abortions in 2020 but has been subject to decades of politi…

1
A Glimpse Into a Post-Roe Future: Funding Abortion in a State That's a "Destination" for Them 40:38

2y ago40:38

40:38

Today on the podcast is the Baltimore Abortion Fund (BAF), a grassroots nonprofit that provides financial support for people traveling to and living in Maryland who need abortion care, and as the Supreme Court decides in June on a case that threatens legal abortion like never before, they’re working to remove the financial barriers for those seekin…

1
Using Information to Overcome the Gender Pay Gap 32:39

2y ago32:39

32:39

You've probably heard of the gender pay gap - the fact that, according to the most recent Census Bureau data from 2018, women of all races earned, on average, just 82 cents for every $1 earned by men of all races. Last week, Equal Pay Day was recognized on March 7 - this is the number of days into 2022 women would need to work to earn the equivalen…

1
The Meaning of a 6-Week Ban on Abortion 44:14

2y ago44:14

44:14

You may have heard that Texas enacted a six-week ban on abortion in 2021, and that other states have begun attempting to pass copycat laws. You also may have heard many people remarking that 6 weeks is "before many people even know they are pregnant." But do you know why that is? Dr. Lauren Ralph, Associate Professor in the Advancing New Standards …

1
Reproductive Justice 101 with SisterSong 48:06

2y ago48:06

48:06

It's Black History Month, and we're also in what may quite possibly the last few months of Roe v. Wade's existence as we know it. So it seems an important time to talk about what exactly Reproductive Justice means, the history of this Black women-led movement, and why it's so very important. Joining the podcast is Monica Simpson, Executive Director…

1
The Very Recent, Racist History of the Anti-Abortion Movement 59:08

2y ago59:08

59:08

We know today that the religious right condemns abortion. But did you know just how recently they developed that opinion, and why? Today on the podcast is Reverend Serene Jones, a pro-choice reverend, religious scholar, and the former chair of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Yale University. She is a leader on progressive religious issues, …

1
How to Raise the Next Generation of Feminists 54:34

2y ago54:34

54:34

If you have young people in your life, you may have asked yourself: how do I teach them to be feminists? How do I explain what feminism is and what it has to do with their lives? For young girls of color, how do I help them navigate the dual forces of racism and sexism? Fortunately, there is a new book that can help. Brittney Cooper, Susana M. Morr…

1
Seeking Abortion in Texas Today 43:38

2+ y ago43:38

43:38

We've heard a lot about the hypothetical harm of Texas' incredibly restrictive abortion bill, SB8, and how it is a glimpse into a post-Roe future. But we wanted to talk to someone on the ground in Texas who is seeing firsthand the impact this bill is having on Texans seeking abortions. We're joined on the podcast today by Zaena Zamora, Executive Di…

1
How the Pandemic Drove Women Out of the Workforce 42:21

2+ y ago42:21

42:21

The COVID-19 pandemic has driven up unemployment among women, and the situation is even worse for women of color. Between a lack of affordable childcare, women's caregiving roles in the home, and the fact that women disproportionately work in sectors negatively impacted by the pandemic, the short-term and long-term implications of the pandemic's ef…

1
When choosing abortion is impossible: People who consider but don’t obtain an abortion 49:25

2+ y ago49:25

49:25

As the topic of abortion rights is in the courts and in the press lately, one thing that we often miss is the question of what it actually means to have the choice of whether to obtain an abortion. Aside from whether abortion is actually legal where you live, what other barriers may exist that may prevent someone from being able to choose abortion …

1
A clinic making mail-order abortion a reality 32:29

2+ y ago32:29

32:29

In the midst of nationwide abortion restrictions, one topic receiving a lot of attention is the idea of “mail-order” or telemedicine abortion. Previous Femtastic episodes have covered what medication abortion is and how you can access it in all 50 states through various channels. Today, we are talking to Hey Jane, one company providing telemedicine…

1
Why the Gender Gap in Medical Research Hurts Us All 45:25

2+ y ago45:25

45:25

medical research gap: a disparity that exists because the vast majority of biological literature is based on single sex studies of males of European ancestry. Did you know that it wasn't until 1993 that it was required for women to be included in clinical trials? Or that as of 2018, 78% of people included in key genomic research were of European an…

1
Discovering Your Grandma Spied on Nazis 49:21

2+ y ago49:21

49:21

Enid Zentellis thought she knew everything about her Holocaust-surviving, Olympic swimming-qualifying, nudist Hungarian grandmother. But when she discovered that she might have also been a spy for the Allies, it not only caused her to reconsider WWII history, it helped lift her out of her personal grief and helped to understand the power of individ…

1
Why Representation in the Arts (including Podcasts) Matters 59:06

2+ y ago59:06

59:06

Today on the podcast is Kacie Willis, creator of the podcast “You Heard Me Write," a Spotify Studios production. Kacie is an arts advocate who brings together Atlanta-based creatives from different disciplines and backgrounds through art. The series has amassed wide popularity, recently trending on Spotify because of its wildly creative, immersive …

1
Battling for Reproductive Rights: The Last 100 Years and Today 56:01

2+ y ago56:01

56:01

This year marks the 100 year anniversary of the founding of the American Birth Control League, and while we've come a long way since then, fierce battles for reproductive rights are still being waged today. Today’s interview is with Planned Parenthood's North Central States CEO Sarah Stoesz, a fierce advocate of over 20 years who has been fighting …

1
The Largest Contraceptive Access Program in the Country 1:10:48

2+ y ago1:10:48

1:10:48

After decades of pursuing public health policies to reduce unintended pregnancies in South Carolina, New Morning President & CEO Bonnie Kapp had a bold idea. What if we made birth control available at little to no cost in every community, in every county, for every person with a uterus in South Carolina, regardless of health insurance coverage? Wha…

1
Are You Prepared for the Cost of Parenthood? 1:12:15

2+ y ago1:12:15

1:12:15

Did you know that childcare is now more expensive than college in 33 states? While parenthood is beautiful, there's no need to go into it blind. If you're planning to start a family, now is the time to start planning for the financial costs of child-rearing, both from the perspective of short-term, monthly cash-flow and the long-term implications t…

1
What's Up with the TX Abortion Ban and How Can People All Over the US Access Abortion Pills Online 1:12:04

2+ y ago1:12:04

1:12:04

On September 1, Texas enacted S.B. 8, an outrageous abortion ban that not only amounts to an effective total ban on abortions, but creates a bizarre bounty hunter situation where anyone can sue another person for assisting someone who has an abortion after six weeks of pregnancy - and be rewarded with $10,000 plus attorney fees if they succeed. In …

1
Can We Stop Treating Women’s Health like a Niche Category? 1:09:13

2+ y ago1:09:13

1:09:13

While women make up half the population, you may have noticed that women's health is treated like a niche category. Today on the podcast to talk about innovation (or the historical lackthereof) in women's health is Amanda French, co-founder and CEO of Emme, a healthcare technology company that wants to bring birth control out of the 1950s. Emme rec…

1
The Inclusion Rider: An Update 56:21

2+ y ago56:21

56:21

While accepting her Academy Award for Best Actress in 2018, Frances McDormand shouted out a word that set the internet aflutter: Inclusion Rider. In a 2019 Femtastic Oscars Edition podcast, Katie interviewed one of the co-authors of the inclusion rider, law partner in civil rights and employment, Kalpana Kotagal, to introduce us to the concept. An …

1
Women of Color in Cannabis 50:02

2+ y ago50:02

50:02

As the cannabis industry is booming and on the precipice of federal legalization, it must figure out how it will traverse and address racial and gender equity in its workforce. While folks who have been incarcerated for non-violent cannabis offenses are overwhelmingly people of color, those getting funding and attention in the legalized cannabis in…

1
Lifting Restrictions on Medication Abortion 56:08

3y ago56:08

56:08

Medication abortion, or "the abortion pill," is an incredibly safe method of abortion that can be used up to about the first 11 weeks of pregnancy. Many people prefer this method to an in-clinic abortion due to the lower cost and the ability to manage the pregnancy termination to a large extent at home, on their own terms - but there's plenty of st…

1
What Happened When Texas Banned Abortion During COVID-19 1:00:49

3y ago1:00:49

1:00:49

On March 22, 2020, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed an executive order following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic that prohibited procedures that were not "medically necessary," claiming that this would preserve personal protective equipment and reduce demands on hospital-based care. Despite the fact that abortion rarely occurs in hospitals, Att…

1
Disability as Diversity 57:10

3y ago57:10

57:10

Today on the podcast is Jo Tolley, an advocate for disability, equity, and diversity. As someone who uses a wheelchair due to cerebral palsy, Jo spent most of her life running from the label of “disabled.” In the past few years, she has decided to embrace her disability to become an advocate to change our perceptions around disability from being a …

1
SCOTUS Could Overturn Roe v. Wade Next Year 50:28

3y ago50:28

50:28

On May 17, 2021, the Supreme Court announced that it will hear Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a case out of Mississippi that would that ban abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Depending on how the court rules on this case (and given the conservative make-up, it's not looking good), Roe v. Wade could either be entirely overturned or…

1
What Does Work-Life-Relationship Balance Look Like in 2021? 51:11

3y ago51:11

51:11

We all know the term "work-life balance," but where do relationships and intimacy fit in? And what about during a global pandemic when stress - especially for working parents - is at an all-time high? Today on the podcast is Naketa Ren Thigpen, psychotherapist, founder of ThigPro Balance and Relationship Management Institute, and fabulous host of t…

1
Healing and Accountability: A Story of Interpersonal and Institutional Trauma 1:53:25

3y ago1:53:25

1:53:25

CONTENT WARNING: Sexual assault, suicide, suicidal ideation, depression, institutional silencing What happens when the trauma of sexual assault extends beyond the event itself? What happens when an academic institution that is meant to protect its students ends up perpetuating further harm? On today’s episode, Katie interviews an anonymous guest wh…

1
On-Screen Portrayals of Abortion and Why They Matter 33:12

3y ago33:12

33:12

What we see in movies and TV impacts our cultural understanding and normalization of topics - and abortion is no different. That's why every year a team of researchers at UCSF's Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH) analyzes and reports on film and TV portrayals of abortion. Today on the podcast is Steph Herold, a researcher with …

1
Global Vaccine Equity and Why You Should Care About It 38:58

3y ago38:58

38:58

You may have heard that poorer countries across the globe are not going to have access to the COVID-19 vaccine for a loooong time. If you live in a rich country, why should that matter to you? The short answer: because the pandemic can't truly end in one place if it doesn't end in all places. Oh, and also because it's the right thing to do. Today o…

1
Spotlight on Intimate Partner Violence, Part 2: Demystifying Emotional Abuse 1:15:24

3y ago1:15:24

1:15:24

In Femtastic's first-ever Spotlight Series, we focus this and the previous episode on bringing awareness to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) or Domestic Violence (DV). The months of COVID-associated isolation, fear, and economic anxiety have exacerbated IPV. In today's episode, we focus on emotional abuse, an equally (and as our guest argues, more) …

1
Spotlight on Intimate Partner Violence, Part 1: IPV and How COVID is Exacerbating It 1:18:51

3y ago1:18:51

1:18:51

[TW: domestic violence, sexual assault, physical violence, emotional abuse] A sad but true fact: more than 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men in the US will experience intimate partner violence (IPV). Half of all female homicides are from a current or past male intimate partner. And these are just the estimates we have among cisgender people and those who…

1
Maternal Mortality, Racism, and the Importance of Postpartum Care 49:39

3y ago49:39

49:39

Although the country has justifiably turned its attention to the COVID-19 crisis, maternal mortality remains a public health crisis.The maternal mortality rate in the United States is higher than any other high-income nation. Approximately 60% of maternal deaths are preventable. Inexcusably, women of color are disproportionately impacted by this cr…

1
Your Legal Rights During COVID-19 1:07:24

3y ago1:07:24

1:07:24

Have you wondered what sorts of legal protections you have in the face of life's new COVID complexities? COVID-19 has impacted all facets of life where some legal know-how would be useful: in housing and leasing, student loans, travel and weddings, workplace accommodations, and more. Renowned celebrity attorney, comedian, host of the podcast "Girl …

1
Your COVID-19 Vaccine Questions Answered 1:20:54

3+ y ago1:20:54

1:20:54

Lord knows people have LOTS of questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. So it's time to get them answered! On the podcast today is Stanford MD/PhD candidate Maria Filsinger Interrante, an expert in vaccine research and development! Femtastic host Katie Breen (who herself has a Master of Public Health from Harvard) asks Maria all of the most frequently…

1
What You Need to Know About China Today 1:49:16

3+ y ago1:49:16

1:49:16

Ever feel like you have no idea what to make of the media's coverage of China? How do we separate truth from xenophobia? What does it mean to be "tough on China?" And how do we look beyond news reports and politics to see the nuance inherent in a nation of 1.4 billion? This episode of Femtastic features Dori Jones Yang, an expert who has spent her …

1
A Black Mother's Answers to White Women's Questions 1:07:14

3+ y ago1:07:14

1:07:14

After the execution of George Floyd earlier this year, Black entrepreneur, mother, and activist Lydia Elle found herself answering lots of questions from the white women in her social circles. They wanted to know how to teach their kids about racism, how to understand the world of parenting through the eyes of a Black mother, how to raise anti-raci…

1
Getting "The Pill" Over-the-Counter 1:00:04

3+ y ago1:00:04

1:00:04

Imagine if you could easily get your birth control over-the-counter, just as you do with other safe, effective medicines like Tylenol and cough drops. Today's guest is Aisha Chaudhri, a reproductive justice advocate and leader of the Contraceptive Justice Project at EverThrive Illinois, who is working to increase access to comprehensive contracepti…

1
What's Ahead for LGBTQ+ Rights 1:32:49

3+ y ago1:32:49

1:32:49

Robyn Gigl is a transgender attorney and activist focused on protecting and expanding the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. In this interview with Katie Breen, Robyn describes the impact the Trump administration and recent Supreme Court rulings had on LGBTQ+ rights and discrimination protections, and what she sees as the legal (and political) challen…

1
What Would Amy Coney Barrett's SCOTUS Appointment Mean for Reproductive Rights? 1:18:11

3+ y ago1:18:11

1:18:11

In the wake of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death and Trump's nomination of judge Amy Coney Barrett to fill the resulting vacancy...we have a lot to discuss. Lawyer Kimya Forouzan revisits Femtastic to talk to host Katie Breen about the significance of Amy Coney Barrett's nomination. What are her potential paths to appointment? Is th…

1
The (Dope) Scientists Nextdoor 46:57

3+ y ago46:57

46:57

How do we change not only the stereotypes of who is a scientist, but the systems themselves that have created and perpetuated these stereotypes? Katie discusses with the hosts of the Webby-nominated Dope Labs podcast, Drs. Titi Shodiya and Zakiya Whatley. Dope Labs isn't your typical science podcast because Titi and Zakiya are not your "typical" sc…

1
What the Latest SCOTUS Decisions Mean for Reproductive Rights 1:22:14

4y ago1:22:14

1:22:14

The Supreme Court of the United States just released long-awaited decisions on two highly consequential reproductive rights cases. In June Medical Services v. Russo, the court weighed in on whether states can enact a specific type of sham law to limit access to abortion care (TLDR; they said not *that* type of law but others might be cool). In Litt…

1
Using COVID-19 to Further Restrict Abortion Access 1:14:05

4y ago1:14:05

1:14:05

Amidst all of the COVID-19 news, one thing you may have missed: anti-choice lawmakers have been seizing upon the opportunity to use coronavirus as an excuse to enact abortion restrictions. Femtastic host Katie Breen speaks with Ravina Daphtary of abortion rights organization All* Above All about the methods lawmakers have been using to use COVID-19…

1
What To Do if You're Being Sexually Harassed at Work 1:01:19

4y ago1:01:19

1:01:19

In the wake of #MeToo and several high-profile sexual harassment cases in the news, many of us are left wondering...what can we do if we think we're the victim of sexual harassment or gender discrimination at work? What options do we have? How do we protect ourselves AND our careers? Attorney Vince White joins Femtastic Podcast to help guide us thr…

1
How Mindfulness Makes Better Parents 35:15

4y ago35:15

35:15

Sometimes, your kids get on your nerves. But how parents respond in those situations is incredibly important to their children's development and their own mental health as parents. Hunter Clarke-Fields is a mindfulness mentor, host of the Mindful Mama podcast, and author of the new book "Raising Good Humans." In an interview with Femtastic host Kat…

1
Art as Activism with @LiberalJane 40:09

4y ago40:09

40:09

Caitlin Blunnie started publishing her art as @liberaljane on Instagram in 2016. She has since gained a huge following by creating art that serves as (literally) colorful social commentary on issues of bodily autonomy such as abortion rights, queer liberation, and justice for survivors of sexual trauma. Katie Breen interviews Caitlin on Femtastic t…

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