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The Femtastic Podcast

Katie Breen interviews feminist activists, researchers, and advocates working to make "women's issues"...well, non-issues. Femtastic explores issues of reproductive rights and health, progressive politics, gender equality, sexual violence, LGBTQ+ perspectives, racism, social justice, and more - examining topics through the lens of intersectional feminism and reproductive justice. We also laugh.
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The Femtastic Podcast
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Now displaying: Page 4
Jan 24, 2018

Katie interviews Rachel Ginocchio, an educator and activist aiming to change the age-old conversation around "where babies come from." Today, less than half of all U.S. families have a married mom and dad raising their genetically related children. Rachel founded an organization called Roads to Family in order to start more inclusive conversations about the many ways that children and families are made in the modern age - whether through divorce and remarriage, adoption, IVF, surrogacy, gay parents, foster care, single parents, transgender families, or some other arrangement.  Katie and Rachel discuss why it's time we update how we teach our kids about human reproduction, and how we can start doing so. 

Jan 6, 2018

Katie interviews Karla Gonzales Garcia, the Policy and Program Director of the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR). Karla describes the work of COLOR, the meaning of reproductive justice, and the public policy issues on COLOR's legislative agenda for 2018. She also explains the ways in which public policies that affect us all (such as paid family leave and affordable healthcare access) uniquely impact Latino and immigrant communities. Lastly, Katie and Karla offer a call to action for listeners to get involved in their state and local politics during this very important year in American politics.

 

Jan 4, 2018

Katie interviews Chiara Bercu, an expert in menstrual health who has worked on adolescent education programs in developing countries across the globe to help prepare students for puberty and menarche. Chiara describes the obstacles to and impact of menstrual hygiene on girls around the world, including the drastic effects that a lack of menstrual hygiene can have on girls' school performance, self confidence, and overall wellbeing. She discusses effective interventions for improving menstrual health and hygiene of girls in developing nations, as well as how taboos surrounding women's periods differ in various countries around the world. Lastly, Katie and Chiara discuss ways in which we can all combat stigma surrounding periods, regardless of where we live.

 

Dec 19, 2017

Katie interviews Rebecca Peterson, a childbirth mentor who helps parents prepare for labor through birth preparation classes and prenatal yoga. Rebecca explains what it means to mindfully prepare for childbirth, how parents can explore their unique desires for the birth of their babies, and why it is important for parents to be solution-focused rather outcome-focused when it comes to childbirth (spoiler alert: your "birth plan" might go awry - and that's okay). In the interview, Katie and Rebecca also discuss birth shaming and how language plays a role in how parents view childbirth. In particular, they discuss the stigma surrounding Cesareans and medical pain relief (like epidurals), and how we can reframe the conversation to combat these taboos and support mothers - no matter what their childbirth journey looks like.

Dec 5, 2017

In this episode, Katie interviews Leslie Foster, President and CEO of The Gathering PlaceDenver's only daytime drop-in center that serves women, children, and transgender individuals experiencing poverty and homelessness.

In the episode, Leslie and Katie discuss the distinct causes, challenges, and experiences of homelessness among women, mothers, and trans individuals. They also contrast these experiences with those faced by cisgender men experiencing homelessness. Leslie details the ways in which communities of women and trans individuals are underserved by traditional poverty and homelessness support organizations, and ways in which their struggles tend to remain “unseen” by the general population. Lastly, Leslie offers surprisingly simple steps we can take to combat issues of poverty and homelessness, and fight the stigma surrounding these issues, in our own communities. 

Nov 17, 2017

Katie interviews Morgan Hopkins, National Field Manager of All* Above All, a reproductive justice campaign dedicated to lifting bans that deny abortion coverage - so that every woman can get affordable, safe abortion care when she needs it, regardless of her income. Since the passage of the Hyde Amendment in 1976, Congress has withheld coverage for abortion services from women insured through Medicaid ​and other government insurance ​program​s. Currently, this impacts nearly 29 million women of reproductive age. 

Katie and Morgan discuss the history of the Hyde Amendment, how the Hyde Amendment hurts women, what reproductive justice is all about, and the simple steps you can take to help end Hyde.

Nov 15, 2017

Katie interviews Nilima Achwal, a leader in systemic thinking for social change. They discuss what the social enterprise sector is getting wrong, how social media and cultural phenomena like #MeToo play a role in changing the world, and how "systemic change" thinking can be applied to create large-scale, transformative social change. In the discussion, Nilima describes the cultural impetus behind her founding of Iesha Learning, the first comprehensive gender and sexuality education program in India. The program, which reached 15,000 classrooms across India, sought to address taboos surrounding gender, menstruation, and sex. Nilima explains the incredible impact of the program, and why the approach of Iesha Learning ultimately did not go far enough to create broad change in the context of gender in India. She provides recommendations for how cultural change initiatives should be undertaken, and some encouragement for those of us feeling weary about the state of our world today. 

Nov 2, 2017

Katie interviews Zoe Hamilton, a researcher and expert on India’s family planning policies, about the country’s complex relationship with female sterilization and reproductive justice. Zoe and co-director Anne Munger are working in Mumbai on a feature-length documentary called Sterilized, which examines the Indian government's use of sterilization as a means of family planning and population control. In the interview, Katie and Zoe discuss how India's controversial family planning policies affect the lives of women. They examine the political forces - in India and in our own countries - that lead women to have tenuous control over their bodies and choices. 

Sep 28, 2017

If you never imagined an interview about cancer could be funny, you haven't met Elissa Banker. Elissa is a 33-year-old breast cancer survivor and founder of Polite Tumor, an organization that supports young women by alleviating some of the financial impact of breast cancer. Katie and Elissa discuss what it's like to be diagnosed with breast cancer at 31, the unique considerations that women diagnosed under 40 face (such as how to deal with potential infertility), how treatment can impact your sex life and body image (spoiler alert: we're talking about bloat, boobs, and "dry vag," in Elissa's words), the financial impact of cancer, and how to support a loved one going through treatment.

Sep 21, 2017

Katie interviews Certified Birth Doula, China Tolliver, about Denver's Black Breastfeeding Week 2017. In a lively conversation covering everything from bleeding nipples to flower crowns (they are against both), Katie and China discuss the origins of the national Black Breastfeeding Week movement, why normalizing breastfeeding among communities of color is so critical, and the unique obstacles people of color face in seeking lactation support and resources. They also offer specific examples of how non-women of color or allies can support the black breastfeeding movement year-round. 

Aug 16, 2017

Katie interviews an anonymous reproductive healthcare worker and expert on the practice of home-based abortion in the US. They discuss what home-based abortion is, as well as the reasons people may choose to terminate pregnancies at home. They also discuss the complex and often severe legal challenges of the practice in the United States, and the safety of abortions in non-clinical settings worldwide.

Jun 14, 2017

In this episode, Katie interviews Chris Dalton Castillo, a career development coach for professional women. In the episode, they discuss ways that high-achieving women can combat burnout and love their jobs (hint: boundary-setting!!!), how women (AND men) can support other women at work, how we can raise the next generation of strong girls, and what leadership skills men can learn from women in the workplace. Because the world is waking up to the fact that the masculine style of leadership sho' ain't the end-all-be-all. 

May 7, 2017

In this episode, Katie interviews Tony Tarbox, a cannabis educator who works in Colorado's legal cannabis industry. 

Think cannabis is only good for getting high? Think again. You might be surprised to know that not all cannabis products get you high, and can in fact be extremely useful in treating both common and uncommon medical ailments and pain. Katie and Tony cover a ton of topics, including but not limited to:

* the difference between THC and CBD

* how CBD works to treat pain in the body

* the types of cannabis products that cause a psychoactive effect (read: get ya high) versus types that do not (and how to pick a product for your desired effect)

* the various mediums through which you can consume cannabis, like edibles, vaporizers, oils, and topical ointments (TL;DR: smoking is so high school)

* the complex legal environment surrounding the industry

* what to look/ask for when visiting a dispensary

* the racist history of the word "marijuana" 

* how cannabis can be used to treat anxiety or conditions that cause pain, nausea, or movement issues (like menstrual pain, endometriosis pain, joint pain, migraines, chemotherapy-induced nausea, epileptic seizures, or Parkinson's-induced muscle tremors). 

* AND MORE!

It might just be the most educational conversation about cannabis you've ever heard.

Apr 12, 2017

In this episode, Katie interviews Julia Carpenter, Washington Post writer/editor and creator of daily newsletter A Woman to Know. Every day, A Woman to Know tells its subscribers the story of an impactful woman from history that they've probably never heard of. Katie and Julia discuss why the newsletter was started, some of Julia's favorite unknown women history figures (you know Paul Revere but do you know Sybil Ludington, people?!), recommendations for fantastic books about women, why we've heard so few of women's stories in history class, and how we might change that in the future. 

Mar 17, 2017

In this episode, Katie had the privilege of interviewing Debbie Johnson and her daughter, Lauren Halloran. Debbie is a retired U.S. Army colonel who served as a nurse in the Gulf War, when Lauren was just a little girl. Lauren is a former Air Force lieutenant who served in Afghanistan. Both mother and daughter talk about the difficulties not only of deploying to a war zone, but of reintegrating into civilian life upon their return. They touch on the stigma surrounding mental illness in the military, the experience of being women in male-dominated environments (both the military and the Middle Eastern countries they deployed to), how little we talk about the struggle of coming home from war, and how sharing their experiences with one another brought them closer together and helped them both heal from the traumas of war. The beautiful, heartfelt, and often tearful interview, which lasted about 90 minutes, is a powerful testament to the bond between mothers and daughters, and to the healing power of sharing our stories, no matter how difficult. (Head to Femtasticpodcast.com to see photos of Lauren and Debbie overseas and at home. There's a super cute pic of Debbie's homecoming to her three kiddos that you're not gonna want to miss.)

Feb 23, 2017

In this episode, Katie interviews David Rheinstrom, host of the Wondery Network's podcast "Secrets, Crimes & Audiotape." SCA recently released an audio adaptation of Margaret Atwood's classic dystopian novel, The Handmaid's Tale. Written over 30 years ago, the story describes a United States that uses a fabricated act of Islamic terrorism to establish a Christian theocracy and strip women of their rights. Katie and David discuss the frightening parallels between events in the story and those in our current political climate, such as attacks on women's reproductive rights and the political co-opting of so-called "family values" and "religious freedoms" - particularly by those whose "values" include white, Christian heteronormativity, and who want to limit the "freedom" of our laws from religion. 

 

Jan 27, 2017

In this episode, Katie interviews Elona Landau, a sexuality educator who teaches parents how to talk to their children about sex. They explore why parents feel so uncomfortable talking to their kids about sex, what subjects are particularly terrifying for parents to broach, what kids stand to gain when they can have open discussions with parents about sex, and some resources for how to communicate the facts - while also communicating your values - when talking to your children about sex.

 
 

 

Jan 18, 2017

Katie interviews licensed acupuncturist and reiki master/teacher, Margarita Alcantara. They discuss how acupuncture and Reiki can be used not only as fantastic self-care practices, but also to treat and alleviate women's health issues - from infertility, ovarian cysts, and menstrual irregularity to insomnia, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and trauma-influenced conditions. They also discuss how it is now common for private insurance plans to cover acupuncture, and how to find a great acupuncturist or reiki practitioner in your area. 

 

Jan 6, 2017

In Episode 8, Katie interviews equality advocate Ash Beckham. Ash didn’t set out to become a viral sensation with her TEDx talk “Coming Out of Your Closet” or her Boulder Ignite speech, “I am SO GAY”. But her willingness to strike up brutally honest, totally hilarious conversations about tough topics inspired more than 8 million YouTube views and the most-watched Ignite Talk ever. In the oft-chuckle-inducing interview, Ash and Katie discuss their outlook on how the next four years may affect folks from marginalized communities, how millennials demand diversity from their workplaces, and how to be a better ally. 

Dec 7, 2016

Katie speaks to Annie Lascoe and Margo Lang, cofounders of Conscious Period, a social enterprise that produces organic tampons while providing free menstrual products to homeless women. In the episode, they discuss the chemicals and carcinogens in conventional tampons, the menstrual needs of women living in poverty and homelessness around the world, the tampon tax, and the challenges of building a women-minded startup based on a taboo topic - especially in the male-dominated world of venture capital. 

Oct 17, 2016

Katie interviews Alex Niemczewski, CEO and co-founder of BallotReady, a website that aims to help voters to vote informed on every candidate and every referendum, in every election.

In the episode, Alex and Katie discuss the importance of voting in down-ballot elections, the immense impact that local and state policies have on our lives, and how down-ballot races differ from national ones. Listen to the episode and then head to BallotReady to learn about the candidates and issues at stake on your ballot. And please, for the love of God, VOTE. 

Sep 13, 2016

Katie interviews April Greene, co-founder of the Georgia-based Magnolia Fund. This non-profit helps low-income women afford abortions, whether through monetary support like subsidized procedures, or practical support like transportation, lodging, or emotional comfort. They discuss the obstacles many women face to getting abortion care, the total sham of so-called "Crisis Pregnancy Centers," the anti-choice movement's use of Targeted Regulation of Abortion Provider (aka TRAP) laws to deter access to abortion, striving to be more intersectional feminists, and how the Hyde Amendment unfairly blocks low-income women and women of color from seeking reproductive freedom. 

Aug 26, 2016

If you thought Title IX was just about sports, get ready for an interesting discussion. In this episode, Katie interviews seasoned campus violence educator and advocate, Tara Misra. Katie and Tara discuss the prevalence of sexual assault and relationship violence on college campuses, how survivors of campus sexual assault and other gender-based violence can use Title IX to seek justice (even after leaving school), and how the conversation around campus sexual assault has changed over the years. They also discuss why a survivor may not go to the police following an assault, the impact that trauma can have on academic performance, and some advice on how to support a friend who has survived a traumatic incident.

 

Jul 27, 2016

Katie interviews sex educator Melanie Lucash - the sex ed teacher you wish you had. Melanie teaches modern sex education that is consent-based, trauma-informed, LGBTQ-inclusive, pleasure-positive, and completely shame-free. Katie and Melanie discuss the shortcomings of American sex ed, the importance of erasing shame from the sex ed classroom (and how she does it), the hilarity and importance of demystifying sex for young people (Can I masturbate too much? Is porn sex like real sex?), and why it is so crucial that educators come at sex education from an angle that is as inclusive and intersectional as possible - taking into account ALL life experiences, races, cultures, gender identities, sexual orientations, socioeconomic classes, and past traumas. 

Jul 13, 2016

Katie interviews Julia Burke, a public defender in Queens, New York. They discuss what the life of a public defender is like, how patterns of domestic violence play out in the criminal justice system, and why someone may plead guilty to a crime they didn't commit. They also touch on the unique challenges of marginalized communities in actually receiving justice within the criminal justice system.

 

 

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