Vagina Monologues 2017

Heather Ross, Laura, Erin, Ramona, and Brenda joined me to perform and promote the 2017 production of the Vagina Monologues in Austin benefiting SafePlace. Heather is directing this year! The annual production of the Vagina Monologues is part of the VDay & 1 Billion Rising event celebration that goes on through much of February.

State of Texas Can't Explain Lack of Dignity for Women

Tonight Nancy Cardenas Pena Associate Director at the National Latina Institutes of Reproductive Health, Jan Soifer Travis County District Court Judge-Elect and Attorney at O'Connell Soifer LLP, the local law firm working with Center for Reproductive Rights on the current lawsuit against the State of Texas' fetal funeral regulation joined me and co-host Sonia Van Meter, political operative at Stanford Caskey, to talk about today's hearing to block the enforcement of fetal funeral regulations until a full hearing can be held, intersectionality, fetal funeral provisions, and reproductive justice. 

O'Connell Soifer also served as local counsel for Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt. Jan recently served as Travis County Democratic Party Chair.

Freedom for Placentas for Women, if they Want

This summer State Rep. Ana Hernandez (D-143) one of the sponsors of 2015 HB 1670 regarding placentas, Kit Garcia Herbalist, Chemist and Acupuncturist at Dragonfly Wellness, and Sarah Fusco mother who was denied access to her placenta after delivering her second child in Austin in 2009 joined me to talk about the improved access to placentas after delivery since the passage of 2015's HB 1670.

Abbott & Texas HHSC Push Fetal Funeral Provision on Women

Mary Tuma of the Austin Chronicle and Alexa Garcia-Ditta of NARAL Pro-Choice Texas joined me to talk about the recently approved fetal funeral regulation put in place by Texas Health and Human Services Commission and Greg Abbott, sore loser of Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, Abbott is looking to waste millions more in taxpayer dollars to defend a provision which is a wholly unconstitutional undue burden that does nothing to improve the health or well-being of one person.

Vaginismus and the Makers of Tightly Would

Last month Shelby Hadden writer and producer of Tightly Wound, her physical therapist Christina M Mcgee DPT of Sullivan Physical Therapy, and Sebastian Bisbal co-producer and animator of the film Tightly Wound joined me to talk about film-making and vaginismus. Shelby has lived with vaginismus for over 10 years.

Ohio Legislature Has No Heart, Passes Heartbeat Ban Bill

This week Nicole Knight of Rewire News, Julia D'Agostino of Women Have Options Ohio, and Sonia Van Meter of Stanford Caskey joined me to talk about the unconstitutional heartbeat ban bill passed through the Ohio legislature Tuesday.

We went over our time slot by about 10 minutes. There is no archive of that portion of the show for me to share. You can hear future episodes in their entirety by listening live at koop.org.

Lizz Winstead & Lady Parts Justice Bring Us the Golden Probes

Lizz Winstead of Daily Show, Lady Parts Justice, Air America, and Lizz Free or Die fame joined me to talk about the 2016 Golden Probes Awards held October 9 in NYC. You can watch the whole awards show on the site. It was so good.

"The 1st Annual Golden Probe Awards, a satirical and oh so glamorous awards show “honoring” outstanding achievement in sexism and anti-choice extremism streamed live from (le) Poisson Rouge in New York City on Sunday, October 2, 2016. Putting the LPJ spin on all of our favorite awards season tropes, the Golden Probes featured musical performances, dance numbers, outfit changes, and so many of our favorite comedians and pro-choice heroes putting the BIGGEST SEXIST ASSHOLES on blast! Check out all of the nominees and winners from 2016 here."

Swept Out from Under the Rug the Show and the Backlog

I got the chance to interview Nicole Stewart and Anton Schlesinger, co-producers of Out from Under the Rug:  True Life Tales of Abortion. This production debuted in Dallas and played there and in Austin. Each performance featured locals who had experienced abortion.

Scott Ross, one of the Austin contributors, joined us and shared some of his story.

"“Out From Under The Rug”: True Life Tales of Abortion is a live storytelling show produced by Oral Fixation (An Obsession with True Life Tales) to be held in two Texas cities this fall preceding the national elections. Each city will feature its own cast and will be performed in stunning, large state-of-the-art theatres. Think of a spotlight, a music stand and one person reading aloud their true, personal experiences with abortion. The speakers will include abortion providers, men whose loved ones have had an abortion, and women who have had and have not had abortions for many reasons. This emotionally charged evening will enlighten the audience as to varied experiences with abortion and will leave the viewer with a deeper understanding of real experiences and a more open mind and heart."

LGBT Equality, Stonewall, Pride, & Non-Discrimination FTW

Last week Anna Nguyen of Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT) and Priscilla Hale of Allgo Queer People of Color joined me to talk about Stonewall, Pride, and the continued efforts to achieve LGBT equality.

HB2 and SCOTUS: The Reckoning

Sylvia Holmes Associate Director of Student Legal Services at the University of Texas at Austin and Genevieve Cato Development Director at NARAL Pro-Choice Texas joined me to talk about the SCOTUS decision of Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, a victory for women's health.

The Hunting Ground Gets Screened in Austin

Courtney Santana Founder and Executive Director of Survive 2 Thrive Foundation and Amy Ziering Producer of the documentary film The Hunting Ground joined me to talk about sexual assault, rape, domestic violence, survivors, campus sexual assault, and the Austin screening of The Hunting Ground featuring a panel discussion with Amy, Courtney, Alexis Jones of I Am That Girl and Protect Her, Dominique Vining Director of Community Health and Public Health Initiatives at Huston-Tillotson University, Noel Busch-Armendariz, PhD, LMSW, MPA, Professor and Associate Dean for Research at the University of Texas School of Social Work and Rick Gipprich Director of Regional Support for the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA).

COHI Screens The Suffering Grasses

Anna Franceschi Deputy Director of Circle of Health International (COHI) joined me to talk about their screening of the 2012 Iara Lee documentary, The Suffering Grasses. COHI has sent numerous delegations of volunteers to support the Syrian diaspora since the conflict started over 5 years ago.

Dawn Porter Presents TRAPPED

Dawn Porter, director of the documentary TRAPPED joined me to talk about the film, her experience making it, and the transparency with which conservative legislators use the law to the detriment of women's health while claiming it's for women's health.

HB2 SCOTUS Possible Outcomes

Genevieve Scott, Staff Attorney at the Center for Reproductive Rights, and Alexa Garcia-Ditta, Health Reporter at the Texas Observer, join me to talk about possible outcomes to Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, the HB2 case awaiting SCOTUS decision.

Inaugural Hour Long IFYT w/NARAL Pro-Choice Texas and Lilith Fund Executive Directors!

Heather Busby Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Texas and Amanda Williams Executive Director of the Lilith Fund for Reproductive Equity joined me to introduce new listeners to the reproductive justice issues affecting Texas currently and how this situation has been multiple legislative sessions in the making. 

Rock and Wrap It Up Seeks Equity & Dignity for Women

Syd Mandelbaum founder of Rock And Wrap It Up, an anti-poverty, pro-prosperity think tank joined me to talk about their efforts to collect and distribute feminine hygiene products for teens and women. Only a few states have exempted feminine hygiene products from sales tax. It's pretty insulting especially given that medical devices and drugs are not taxed. SO Viagra, not taxed; pads, taxed. Doesn't make sense.

Stood Up By National Center for Public Policy Research

Had planned to ask some pointed questions, which I shared with NCPPR, and then they didn't answer the phone when I called for the interview. After multiple calls and a voicemail, I gave up on the conversation. The result is this disillusioned, disappointed monologue before you.

Equality Texas Promotes Freedom and Safety in Opposition to States' Efforts to Discriminate

Daniel Williams of Equality Texas joined me to talk about the unenforceable NC transphobic bathroom law, HB2, and Greg Abbott and Ken Paxton's efforts to bring state sponsored discrimination to students and schools in Texas.

Violence On Trial: Christian Fundamentalist Terrorism Given a Pass

Jessica Mason Pieklo Legal Analyst at Rewire joined me to talk about recent hearings involving domestic terrorist Robert Means who killed 3 in Colorado last fall at a Planned Parenthood. He was found not competent to stand trial. We also talked about the death threats on Wichita provider, Dr. Means, that were found to not be death threats. When Christians are the terrorists, media and juries give them a pass. This sets unfortunate precedent in our courts for terroristic acts to come.

Minority Cancer Awareness Continues

Commander James LaVelle Dickens serves in the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services Regional Office, Office of the Secretary, Region VI Dallas, and joined me to talk about Minority Cancer Awareness Week which was observed in April. We don't have to stop being aware just because it's May. Let's prevent what we can and diagnose and treat the rest.

Talking #SurvivorPrivilege with Wagatwe

Wagatwe Wanjuki joined me to talk about Tufts University perpetuating and protecting rape culture, surviving each day, the need for activism, and the importance of addressing rape publicly. #SAAM

Come As You Are

Southwest Sexual Health Alliance founders Dylan Davies and Heather McPherson, MA, LPC, LMFT joined me to talk about the May Sexceptional Lecture featuring Emily Nagoski, PhD.

Nicole Jardim Wants to #FixYourPeriod

Nicole Jardim joined me to talk about common period complaints and some tools to potentially improve your period experience. 

Love Shouldn't Hurt: Start Sexual Assault Awareness Month with Survival

Suzanne Suchan joined me to talk about her story. She spent more than 20 years in an abusive relationship and survived to found Love Shouldn't Hurt, an organization to empower and help survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.

EXIT for Sexual Assault Awareness

Heather Ross co-author of Exit joined me to talk about the play and the importance of discussions not unlike ours. Exit premieres at the Vortex Theater this Thursday, tomorrow!

Reproductive Freedom Festival

Cindy Cooper, playwright, author, and producer joined me to talk about the Reproductive Freedom Festival held last Sunday. It was the first of its kind and you should check out her work.

Whole Woman's Health, Little Sisters of the Poor, Abortion & Contraception

Conservatives are coming for all of your reproductive healthcare, ladies. Jessica Mason Pieklo of Rewire [RHRealityCheck] shares more legal analysis with me. Read more of her analysis on this.

Whole Woman's Health v Hellerstedt Oral Arguments on the Docket

Mary Tuma, health reporter form the Austin Chronicle joined me to talk about the HB2 case's oral arguments before SCOTUS.

It's also the second week of the KOOP Spring Membership Drive, so you'll hear a lot of activity in, on, and from our community radio station.

Election Day with Joe!

It's another #ElectionDay Issues for Your Tissues with W. Joe Deshotel, Communications Director for the Travis County Democratic Party.

It's also the first show of the KOOP Spring Membership Drive, so you'll hear us talk about all kinds of civic duty and community support.

John Oliver Earns His Keep

Editorial on TRAP law effects and the situation Texas women are in after multiple legislative sessions of conservative chicanery. While I play a whole John Oliver video in this episode, I cannot include its content in here. You can watch it here.

Sans Scalia, SCOTUS more sensitive to women overnight

Jessica Mason Pieklo of RHRealityCheck joins me to talk about a Scalia-less SCOTUS and potential nominees only days after the Justice's timely passing. This greatly impacts HB2 case and others on the docket affecting women's health.

On Tinder? Check Out Healthvana

If you're using Tinder to hook up, or even just meet people and really watch Netflix, check out the Healthvana app in the Safety part of the menu. It can help you find an STI clinic nearby and get yourself tested. Knowing your status is the #1 way to protect your reproductive health. Many STIs are asymptomatic in women. This makes it especially important to do your own testing.

Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, MPH joined me to talk about the Helathvana app. He is a public health superstar. I suggest you listen to him.

VDAY 2016

Laramie Gorbett of TAASA and 1 Billion Rising joined me to talk about VDAY celebrations in Austin, TX. Starting with VDAY at City Hall Sunday, February 14, VDAY goes through the month of February.

VDAY in Austin!

Join me and this week's guest, Laramie Gorbett, as we celebrate VDAY at Austin City Hall from 2-4pm today.

Join us today!

Sex Ed Is Reproductive Justice

This week Alda Santana sexual health educator and coordinator of the City's peer sexual health educators program joined me to talk about sex education as a necessary component of reproductive justice. neither can exist without the other.

Happy 43rd Birthday, Roe v. Wade!

This week Amanda Williams of the Lilith Fund for Reproductive Equity and Genevieve Cato of NARAL Pro-Choice Texas joined me this week to talk about the first 43 years of Roe v. Wade, SCOTUS, HB2, and the future of bodily autonomy for women in the U.S.

Texas Striving for Highest Teen Birth Rate in the Nation

Tina Hester, Executive Director of Jane's Due Process joined me to talk about the implementation of HB 3994 which further restricts judicial bypass access for teens seeking abortion. Now their request can be put off for 5 days at which point it is essentially denied. Time is of the essence for teens who statistically get their pregnancies diagnosed later and have even fewer resources to meet the 20 week ban and get to one of the remaining clinics in the state.