Reproductive Left is a podcast by Mabel Wadsworth Center, a feminist, nonprofit, sexual and reproductive healthcare provider in Bangor, ME. After a three year hiatus, we are back with a new host: Aspen Ruhlin (they, them). Join us as we explore topics that impact our sexual and reproductive health and lives. New episodes the last Friday of the month!
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Thank you for joining us for the final episode of our "Hope is a Discipline" summer season! This month, we'll dig into one of our host Aspen's favorite topics--abortion advocacy. We know that anti-abortion sentiments certainly exist today, but have they always been around? How long have people been having abortions anyway? Why are there so many abo…
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Intersections of Violence: an interview with Karen of MCEDV
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For our second episode of our summer "Hope is a Discipline" season, our host Aspen interviews Karen of MCEDV, the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence! In this episode, we discuss how systems of violence are connected, including the connections of intimate partner violence and acts of mass violence, with a focus on how we build a safer world.Co…
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We're kicking off our Summer "Hope is a Discipline" Season with some Pride Season Prep as we head into June! Anyone who has listened to our host Aspen before has probably heard them reference the quote "hope is a discipline" from prison abolitionist Mariame Kaba, which can be summarized as viewing hope not simply as an emotion, but as a deliberate …
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Abortion Funds and Access: an interview with Abbie of SAFE Maine
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Join Aspen for the final episode of the Winter Access series as they interview someone familiar--Abbie Strout-Bentes! Abbie is the Executive Director of SAFE Maine, a fierce feminist, and the original host of Reproductive Left. In this episode, the pair tackle the role of abortion funds, how they impact access to care, and how you can help.Learn mo…
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Fake Clinics and Access: an interview with Elayne from GRR!
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Join Aspen as they chat with fierce feminist friend Elayne Richard from GRR! In our second Winter Access series episode, we tackle the topic of anti abortion centers (also often called crisis pregnancy centers) and how they negatively impact access to not just abortion care, but all competent sexual and reproductive healthcare.You can learn more ab…
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Reproductive Left is kicking off 2024 with our Winter Access season! We're starting out chatting about sterilization and access to this care, including a short interview at the end with the fabulous Dr. Rachel. She'll chat about her work providing vasectomies at Mabel Wadsworth Center, while Aspen will set the groundwork for sterilization more gene…
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Doulas, Lactation, and Autonomy: an interview with Hannah Lord
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For our final episode of the Fall Autonomy season, join Aspen as they interview Hannah Lord (doula, lactation specialist, and Mabel's volunteer extraordinaire). What role do doulas play in autonomy for pregnant people? What even is a doula? How does lactation and the ways we feed our babies play into autonomy, especially for marginalized birthing p…
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Domestic Violence and Autonomy: an interview with Casey Faulkingham
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For our second episode of our Fall Autonomy season, join Aspen as they interview Casey Faulkingham of Partners for Peace about the intersections of domestic violence and autonomy. How do these topics intersect? What is reproductive coercion? How can loved ones of those experiencing abuse help in a meaningful way? Aspen and Casey address these quest…
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Autonomy and Abortion Funds: an interview with Julie and Christie of Abortion Freedom Fund
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Kicking off our Fall Autonomy season we have an interview with Julie Jenkins and Christie Pitney of Abortion Freedom Fund. Join us as we discuss autonomy for pregnant people in the context of abortion funds, medication abortion, and accessing care in a post-Dobbs US.Abortion Freedom Fund focuses on funding telehealth abortion care nationally, and y…
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Intersections of Transgender Health and Abortion
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For our final episode of the Hot Mabel's Summer season, our host Aspen dives into the intersections of trans health and abortion. Even if you're already familiar with the fact that trans people also have abortions, there are other connections and commonalities you might not be as familiar with! Listen along, and we'll see you again in September.Ima…
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Pride Month and LGBTQ+ Education: an interview with Nancy Lewis
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We're back with the second episode of Hot Mabel's Summer with a Pride Month interview with Professor Nancy Lewis! Why is teaching about LGBT Studies important? How has teaching this topic changed over the years? Just how much are queer people cut out of the education we receive? Listen to have these questions (and more) answered!Image credit: Delia…
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Legislative Marathon: Interview with Abbie
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We're kicking off Hot Mabel's Summer with a dive into what we've been up to with the Maine legislature this session! Host Aspen interviews OG host Abbie to discuss the wide array of bill topics we've given testimony on, along with the marathon week of abortion-related bills we saw earlier this month! Speaking of, now is a great time to call your le…
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Community Organizing: an interview with Representative Ambureen Rana
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To wrap up our Winter Activism series (yes, we know we're ten days into Spring), we have an exciting interview on Community Organizing with activist and friend of the Center Representative Ambureen Rana. What is Community Organizing? How do you get involved in activism? How did Ambureen take the leap into legislative work? Join us to answer these q…
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Environmental Feminism: an interview with Dr. Jacquelyn Gill
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In this month's episode, we're continuing our Winter Activism series with an interview with Dr. Jacquelyn Gill! Not only is she an Associate Professor of Climate Science and a paleoecologist, but she's someone cool enough to have her own Wikipedia page.What does the environment have to do with feminism? Is this the same as ecofeminism? Can we still…
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Reflections from an Abortion Doula and Clinic Worker (Roe Anniversary)
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Couldn't make it to our event honoring what should have been the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade on Sunday, January 22nd? Here it is recorded from you! We were joined by abortion doula, clinic worker, and author extraordinaire Hannah Matthews. Check out her bio below!Hannah Matthews is a writer, abortion funder and care worker, and doula based in P…
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What better way to wrap up a season themed around pleasure than to revisit an important tool for pleasure--lube! This episode features sexual health rockstar, Nurse Practitioner, and former Mabel's staff member Lindsey Piper.Osmolality and pH and stigma, oh my! Join our host Aspen as they delve into the slippery world of sexual lubricant. What's th…
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Continuing our Fall theme of pleasure, Aspen is back this month to talk about kink! What is it? Why are people kinky? Is it all whips and chains? What's with all the hype about Fifty Shades of Gray? Join our host to learn all this and more!Image: Warm Orange via UnsplashBy Reproductive Left
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We're back! For the Fall 2022 season of Reproductive Left, we thought there was nothing better to focus on than pleasure. In this episode, Aspen dives into masturbation to discuss the myths, magic, and benefits of this particular brand of self-love. Listen and learn what cereal, gender stereotypes, and Texas politicians have to do with this messy t…
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Interview with Viva Ruiz of Thank God for Abortion part 2
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Welcome back for part 2 of our interview with Viva Ruiz of Thank God for Abortion! Viva and Aspen continue to discuss the importance of abortion access, and how religion is not as cut-and-dry anti abortion as you may think.Thank God for Abortion can be found on Facebook, Instagram, or thankgodforabortion.comImage: Malvestida via Unsplash…
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Interview with Viva Ruiz of Thank God for Abortion part 1
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This month's episode of Reproductive Left is part one of an exciting interview with Viva Ruiz of Thank God For abortion! Join Viva and Aspen as they discuss religion, abortion, and autonomy, and how religion absolutely can and should be abortion-positive.Thank God For Abortion can be found on Facebook, Instagram, or thankgodforabortion.comImage: Ma…
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Trans Health and Abortion Access: an interview with Quinn Gormley
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In this month's episode of Reproductive Left, our host Aspen interviews Quinn Gormley, the Executive Director of MaineTransNet. The two discuss trans health, abortion access, Reproductive Justice, and where the three intersect.MTN is a community based organization led by trans people for trans people. They provide peer-to-peer support groups, socia…
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Substance Use, Pregnancy, and Parenting: an interview with Cait Vaughan part 2
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Join us where we left off in the previous episode with part 2 of the interview with Cait Vaughan! Aspen and Cait continue the conversation and discuss how other elements of oppression interact with our attitudes around substance use, pregnancy, and parenting.Resources:Repro Legal Defense Fund -> reprolegaldefensefund.org/National Advocates for Preg…
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Substance Use, Pregnancy, and Parenting: an interview with Cait Vaughan part 1
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In this month's episode of Reproductive Left, join our host as they interview reproductive health advocacy powerhouse Cait Vaughan about substance use, pregnancy, and parenting. This topic has a lot of myths and misunderstandings, from the actual impact of substance use on pregnancy to what even "counts" as a substance. Join us in March for part 2!…
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Join Aspen as they interview Mabel Wadsworth Center Nurse Practitioner Finn about PrEP, an important HIV prevention medication. What is PrEP, and who is it for? Why don't more people know about it? Aspen and Finn answer these questions and more in this month's PrEPisode!Image: Stillness InMotion (via Unsplash)…
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To finish up 2021, Aspen is exploring the ins and outs of hymens! What really is the hymen, anyways? Does a hymen by any other name perpetuate the same patriarchal sexual values? Why is the image for this episode a crown? Join us to answer these questions and more!Image: Nathan Mcgregor (via Unsplash)…
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In this episode of Reproductive Left, join Aspen as they chat with Sarah Haas (they/she), local queer sex educator, about fertility care. What are the barriers to accessing it? What's the bad fertility advice we're all tired of hearing? What are the different barriers faced by cisgender/straight people seeking fertility care and LGBTQ+ people? List…
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Happy Spooky Season! For our October episode, join Aspen as they explore the history of witches, midwives, and where the two overlap. From the history of witch hunts that Hollywood never told you to the present realities of childbirth. Grab some candy corn, light some candles, and enjoy!Image: Ksenia Yakovleva (via Unsplash)References:Witches, Midw…
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Osmolality and pH and stigma, oh my! Join our host Aspen as they delve into the slippery world of sexual lubricant. What's the deal with osmolality? This isn't chemistry class, so why does pH matter? Who needs lube? We'll answer all of these questions and more in this episode of Reproductive Left, featuring an interview with Nurse Practitioner Lind…
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Join our host Aspen as they discuss herpes and the stigma surrounding it. Why is such a common virus that usually has a minimal impact on people's lives seen as such a big deal? If someone has herpes, what do they do? What's the deal with cold sores? How many people have herpes? Explore all of these questions and more on this episode of Reproductiv…
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Join our host Aspen and special guest Samaa Abdurraqib as they discuss Samaa's poetry and how different elements of identity influence her work. Along with being a talented and published writer, Samaa is a dear friend, supporter, and board member of Mabel Wadsworth Center.Image: Nicolas Messifet (via Unsplash)…
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Join our host Aspen as they discuss the topic of feminist poetry. What is feminist poetry, and who is a feminist poet? Enjoy some of their favorite feminist poets along with favorites from other members of the Mabel Wadsworth Center team as we explore poetry that touches on sexuality, identity, and more!Image:Laura Chouette (via Unsplash)…
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Join Cat and Aspen for the final installment of their three-part adventure in exploring gender.By Reproductive Left
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Join Cat and Aspen for part two of a three-part adventure in exploring gender! In this episode, the pair focuses on gender roles in our culture. Our host Aspen could talk about gender all day, the final episode in the series will be released in May.By Reproductive Left
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Join Cat and Aspen for a three-part adventure in exploring gender! In this episode, the pair focuses on a few identity labels and language questions. Our host Aspen could talk about gender all day, and this conversation spread across three episodes is just the tip of the iceberg. Image: Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash…
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In this episode, Cat and Aspen talk about the successes and shortcomings of the body positivity movement, how the fat acceptance movement has always been led by Black women, and some of the historical influences on diet culture and fatphobia in our society today. Do you know what the eugenics movement and the BMI have in common? Join us to find out…
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On this episode, we make a big announcement regarding the future of Reproductive Left and air a mix-up of past interviews. This gives you a taste of what you can find in the Reproductive Left archives.By Reproductive Left
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Domestic Violence Prevention with Regina Rooney
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On this episode, we talk with Regina Rooney, the education and communication director at the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence. Regina discusses the role of the coalition in the state of Maine and describes the work of their membership organizations. We explore topics like domestic violence within LGBTQ communities, how partner abuse can loo…
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How to heal after sexual assault with Gail Foss, RN, LADC
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In this episode, we are discussing the #metoo movement from the perspective of healing. With us is Gail Foss, RN and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor, we talk about how she helps women and men heal after experiencing sexual violence. In the interview, Gail opens up about her own experience and tells us a little bit about what needs to be d…
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Providing Abortion Care with Dr. Jamila Perritt
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On January 18, 2018, we had the privilege of hosting Jamila Perritt MD MPH FACOG for our annual Roe v. Wade celebration. She spoke about her experience as an abortion provider, shared her story along with stories of the women she takes care of and highlighted why reproductive justice is what we all need to be working towards. Jamila Perritt MD MPH …
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Paid Leave and Childcare with Kathy Kilrain del Rio
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As we begin this new year, we thought it was important to host an episode that focuses on two topics that are central to women's equality and reproductive justice: paid leave and childcare. Joining us for this episode is Kathy Kilrain del Rio the director of program and development at the Maine Women's Lobby. We've changed things up in our "Ask Mab…
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Why the Courts Matter: an Update with Eliza Townsend
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Just over a year ago, we interviewed the executive director of the Maine Women's Lobby, Eliza Townsend, about why the federal courts matter and how they impact our daily lives. She highlighted the power a president holds in regards to their nominations and the impact of their appointments. A lot has changed since November 2016 and on this episode, …
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Women in Leadership with Councilor Sarah Nichols
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With Election Day just around the corner, on this episode, we are talking about women in leadership and the importance of voting. Here with me today is Bangor City Councilor Sarah Nichols. After successfully completing the Emerge Maine training program for Democratic women candidates, Sarah was elected for the first time to public office after winn…
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Women and the University of Maine with Sharon Barker
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Communities Need Clinics with Andrea Irwin
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The Landscape of Reproductive Health in Ghana with Victoria Yeboah
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LGBTQ Health Q & A with Lindsey Piper, WHNP
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Sexual Assault Prevention on Campus with Arianna Sessoms
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Who Are Independent Abortion Providers with Jennifer Thibodeau
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What is a Healthy Relationship with Alex Patel, LMFT
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