Harassment and Women in Tech

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 the non-profit organization Women Who Tech, revealed the full story of the level of harassment which is going on in tech industry. We need to encourage more women to enter technology fields, and play a part in the rapid growth and cutting edge developments. Women have something to add to this industry. But it is difficult for women to break into the field, and then to stay in the field because of an often hostile work environment as well as rather significant levels of sexual harassment. Because of the "brogrammer" atmosphere, women are being left out of this sector of the economy and limited in their potential for professional growth. Listen to our discussion with Justyn Hintze from Women Who Tech as we discussed their research on women in tech and the shocking level of harassment they face.

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

In this special episode, we discuss what was a bad week for the United States after facing several back-to-back tragedies including hurricanes and a mass shooting. 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 these tragedies. All of these policy changes are relevant and important to the health, safety, and rights of women, girls, and families. All of these policy changes will be damaging in some way, whether at a large or small scale, big or small dollar amount, to women and girls. The common thread of these policies seems to be that they take away agency of women - control of one's own body and the ability to make decisions that will impact you on a deeply and intimately personal level. Listen for my informative interview with Dr. Colleen Begley, an activist and OB/GYN, as we discuss and dispel mythology around contraception and what you should be doing right now to protect yourself from the potential impact of these policies.

Foster Care: Invisible Children

I have a powerful and raw discussion with Rob Scheer from the non-profit Comfort Cases about the foster care system. There are about 500,000 children in the foster care system at any given time in the United States. The average age of a child in the foster care system is nine years old. The majority of these children spend years in the system, not knowing from week to week, month to month, where they will end up. We discuss how the lack of stability and lack of support provided to these children gives them few options for their futures, and they move from the foster care system, to the criminal justice system in many cases.

For more information about the non-profit Comfort Cases visit: https://www.comfortcases.org/

Online Harassment: When Women Aren't Welcome

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 environment can contribute to a willingness to push boundaries of appropriate behavior, sometimes becoming abusive, hateful, or even dangerous. Justyn helps debunk some myths about cyber harassment, and what you can do if you are the recipient of harassing online messages. She also offers some tips on how to protect yourself from unwelcome and often abusive exchanges in the online environment.

Parenting Girls in a Patriarchy

In this episode, I have a fascinating discussion with psychologist Dr. Dahlia Topolosky 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 vs. nurture and what aspects of a healthy development parents can play a critical role in. Whether you have a daughter or a son, or no children at all, you will find this an enlightening listen.

Slacktivism: Are you really making a difference?

Welcome to Season 2!

In my discussion with Mark Story, an accomplished digital communications strategist, educator, and dedicated activist for cancer research, we talk about slacktivism. Lots of people are "woke" since the election of Donald Trump. But are the activities of "the Resistance" making an impact? Are the marches, rallies, phone calls, and petitions having the impact we think or hope they are? We tackle this timely and important topic in a frank discussion about today's most popular types of activism.

RECUT: Reflections on Elections

I discuss the tumultuous and difficult reverberations resulting from the rise in toxic masculinity, and the impact it has had on women, policy and politics with my guest, Amee Vanderpool. Amee is an attorney licensed in Washington, DC and Washington State, a writer, and the Director of the Inanna Project. She is also well known for her significant presence on Twitter as @girlsreallyrule. For more information on The Inanna Project, which advocates for equal protection under the law. Visit www.theinannaproject.org for more information or to find out how you can support their work. And listen to this episode as we discuss the full ramifications of the 2016 presidential election

Season 1 Recap - Season 2 Teasers!

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 subscribe if you haven't already!

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

Women and children living in conflict zones are among the most disenfranchised individuals in our world today. They subsist in the midst of violence, chaos, failed states, refugee camps, crumbling systems and destroyed infrastructure. Despite this, every day women try to hold their families together. Feed their children. Care for the young, the elderly, the sick. They give birth, and often they die during childbirth. And they are also victims.

Gender-based violence in conflict zones has become not just a reality, but a tactic of war. Women and children are the most frequent victims because of their status in society, and their gender. Wide scale and systematic rape has been deployed in many conflicts, and survivors are sometimes blamed.

In this episode I have a fascinating discussion with Annie Agle about women and children living in conflict zones, the difficulties they face, and the shocking ways they are victimized by perpetrators as well as their culture sometimes.

Escalating Ideology of the Alt-Right

Listen to my interview with Dr. Paul Johnson from University of Pittsburgh, an expert in studying right-wing extremism and the Alt-Right. This is a rebroadcast of an earlier episode, which is unfortunately extremely timely right now. Our discussion highlights some fascinating information about the start of the Alt-Right, what their shared ideology is, who supports it, and who has joined.

RECUT: Patriarchy, Parenting, & Boys

This recut of one of our most popular episodes from Season 1 includes additional discussion about the issue of raising boys in a patriarchy. We discuss ways to help boy children understand structural preferences for boys and men, versus girls and women. Children have a natural tendency to identify what they perceive is "fair" and what is "unfair," and how this could be used as a way to start a discussion about gender stereotypes and equality.

RECUT: Body Image, Fat Shaming, & Loving Ourselves

This recut of one of our most popular 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 protect our girl children from the beauty ideal message perpetuated in the media, and learn to love just who they are.

Reflections on Elections

I discuss the tumultuous and difficult reverberations resulting from the rise in toxic masculinity, and the impact it has had on women, policy and politics with my guest, Amee Vanderpool. Amee is an attorney licensed in Washington, DC and Washington State, a writer, and the Director of the Inanna Project. She is also well known for her significant presence on Twitter as @girlsreallyrule. For more information on The Inanna Project, which advocates for equal protection under the law. Visit www.theinannaproject.org for more information or to find out how you can support their work.

Human Trafficking - Part 2

In this second part of my two part series on human trafficking, I begin with a quick recap of part one through a discussion with my guest co-host, John Philbeck, about highlights from part one. I continue my discussion with Dr. Karrin Anderson, a Professor from Colorado State University and a researcher and activist in human trafficking. We discuss how trafficking perpetrators avoid detection by law enforcement and are able to evade getting caught. We also discuss the steps that activists and astute bystanders can take to get involved in watching for signs of human trafficking, as well as becoming an activist against this horrific crime.

 

Human Trafficking - Part 1

The International Labor Organization estimates that human trafficking is a $150 billion a year industry worldwide. According to the State Department, trafficking is the world’s fastest growing criminal enterprise. And it's an enterprise that is devious, and nimble, and well-funded, and really good at evading law enforcement and hiding in plain sight. It is also probably in your town, your city, maybe even your neighborhood.

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Karrin Anderson about her work and research in the area of human trafficking. We talk about how trafficking has changed, and how we as witnesses have changed our thinking and views of trafficking and of victims over the years. In the first episode of this 2 part series, we discuss what human trafficking is, what it isn't, and popular misconceptions about trafficking.

The Great Myth of UN and Family Planning

The goal statement of the UNFPA, or United Nations Population Fund, is: Delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.

Pretty lofty goals, but who could argue with that? Children who are born safe into families which welcome them. Every child has the ability to live up to their full potential.

And yet, there are plenty of people it seems who do not support this wholesome sounding, idealistic goal. To me it sounds akin to a meatloaf in every oven, a car in every driveway, and a safe pregnancy for every women. But that is not so.

Post-Truth Era and Politics

A writer for The Daily Telegraph summarized that post-truth politics are driven by fabricated rumors. Facts become a negative thing. Facts are too pessimistic or even get painted to be unpatriotic, especially when matched up with unrealistically ideal positive campaigns that promise the impossible. In post-truth politics, the improbable becomes irrelevant. Politics that appeal to emotions, and adhere to persuasive, market-tested talking points are more compelling than fact-based arguments or principles. When political figures are called out on falsehoods, alternative truths, or….lies, there can actually be a backlash effect whereby those supporting the political figure can push back against the elites with their fact-based logic, and dig in and become even more convinced of the alternative truth.

How did we get to this point? Major contributors include the 24 hour news cycle, infotainment, tabloidization of news, and social media and the internet. We are now able to establish our very own echo chambers where we only receive and share information with like-minded individuals. Information can enter the news stream through this echo chamber and truth becomes almost irrelevant as long as it supports your mutual viewpoint

Living in Conflict Zones: Women, Children & Survival

Women and children living in conflict zones are among the most disenfranchised individuals in our world today. They subsist in the midst of violence, chaos, failed states, refugee camps, crumbling systems and destroyed infrastructure. Despite this, every day women try to hold their families together. Feed their children. Care for the young, the elderly, the sick. They give birth, and often they die during childbirth. And they are also victims.

Gender-based violence in conflict zones has become not just a reality, but a tactic of war. Women and children are the most frequent victims because of their status in society, and their gender. Wide scale and systematic rape has been deployed in many conflicts, and survivors are sometimes blamed.

In this episode I have a fascinating discussion with Annie Agle about women and children living in conflict zones, the difficulties they face, and the shocking ways they are victimized by perpetrators as well as their culture sometimes.

Toxic Masculinity & Teen Girls: Slam Poetry Perspective

Lots of women have been hurting since the ugly discourse of the Trump campaign and eventual election, as well as the acceptance by many of the rise of toxic masculinity. We haven't spoken aloud about it very much, but women are feeling trauma. What we have neglected to notice perhaps in our own contemplation and grieving, is whether girls and young women are suffering.

My interview with a young slam poet sheds light on how adolescent women are feeling. As we discuss in this interview, they are not immune to the pain and misogynistic blowback that Donald Trump has set loose in our society. My guest, Dani Miller, a young slam poet, shares her thoughts on this issue, as well as some of her very powerful and moving poetry on our patriarchy. This one is not to be missed!

Crisis Pregnancy Centers and Misinformation

Crisis pregnancy centers, or CPCs, have been around for decades, but in the last decade or so they have become more strategic in their tactics. Many advertise that they provide services to pregnant women, but do not advertise what services they actually provide. They fervently oppose abortion, and tend to use deceitful tactics to engage women on the phone or through an appointment, sharing false medical information about the dangers of having an abortion, and the lack of effectiveness of birth control.

In a time when access to care, lack of health insurance, and the closing of family planning clinics is making for a perfect storm scenario putting up barriers to care for women seeking either contraception or help with a pregnancy, these CPCs are a public health risk for women.