Women’s Issues

May 31: The Dark Queens with Shelley Puhak

May 31, 2023

Incredible True Story of Two Powerful Women & their Bloody Rivalry that Forged the Medieval World

The Dark Queens with author Shelley Puhak

Shelley Puhak joins us with a remarkable true tale that few people know of. It’s about two trailblazing Queens from the Early Middle Ages who wielded enough power to shape early Europe, only to be vilified for daring to rule.

We discuss how they formed coalitions, and broke them. Mothered children and lost them. Fought a decades-long civil war—against each other. And we look at why, after the queens’ deaths—one gentle, the other horrific—they were written out of history, their names consigned to slander and legend.

About Shelley Puhak

Shelley Puhak is a critically acclaimed poet and writer whose work has appeared in The Atlantic, Teen Vogue, and elsewhere. Her essays have been included in Best American Travel Writing and selected as Notables in four consecutive editions of Best American Essays. She is the author of two books of poetry, a winner of the Anthony Hecht Prize. Dark Queens: The Bloody Rivalry That Forged the Medieval World is Shelley Puhak’s debut nonfiction book.

Memoir, Non Fiction, Women's Issues

May 03: The Fruit You’ll Never See – A Memoir of Overcoming Shame

May 3, 2023

Born into Addiction & Sex Trafficking, Gail Brenner Nastasia Has Learned to Embrace Her History

The Fruit You’ll Never See with author Gail Brenner Nastasia

Growing up the daughter of a of a heroin addict is one thing. Gail Brenner Nastasia was also the niece of a woman who brokered deals for men who liked sex with young girls – including the author as a young child.

We discuss the search for Gail’s identity and sense of belonging, as a child and adult, and what kept her going. How she pushed through law school and went on to become a successful criminal defense attorney. And talking of that, why a defense attorney and not a prosecutor, considering all she’d endured as a child? The answer might surprise you.

About Gail Brenner Nastasia

Gail Brenner Nastasia received her MFA from Emerson college and is currently working on her second book, while continuing to practice law.

Fiction, Women's Issues, Writers on Writing

Jan 25: Wendy Willis Baldwin with Debut Novel The Sisters We Were

January 25, 2023

What brings two estranged sisters back together? How does their healing begin? What sets them free?

Inspired by the real-life experiences of author Wendy Willis Baldwin and her sister Tiffany, The Sisters We Were explores themes from sisterhood, to obesity, sexual abuse, buried rage, and how we cope differently with adversity. Most of all, the story is about how truth will set you free.

Wendy shares the journey of writing her debut novel, as well as the healing journey she shared with Tiffany.

About Wendy Willis Baldwin

Wendy Willis Baldwin is a freelance writer and author. She spent most of her professional life in the communications’ field. She currently cohosts The Life After Fat Pants podcast with sister, Tiffany.

Health & Wellness, Self-help, Women's Issues

Jan 04: Dr. Nita’s Crash Course for Women: Better Sex, Better Health, Better You

January 4, 2023

What Women (& Men) Need to Know About Enjoying Better Sex, Health, & Life

Starting the year as we mean to go on, Dr. Nita Landry shares tips from her manifesto for women on good health, great sex, and living with vibrancy!

Dr. Nita answers questions about female sexuality, including orgasms, what the orgasm gap means, and why we should focus less on orgasms and more on just having fun. She also shares what we need to know about STDs. And the latest medical guidance on health screenings for cancer of the breast and cervix.

About Dr. Nita Landry

Nita Landry is an MD, OB-GYN. In addition to cohosting The Doctors, she served as a medical expert on other TV programs including Good Morning America, Today, Dr. Phil, CBS national news, and Black Entertainment Television. She served as an ambassador for National Women’s Health Week from 2018 through 2021. Dr. Nita Landry’s new book is Crash Course for Women: Better Sex, Better Health, Better you.

History, Non Fiction, Social Issues, Women's Issues

APR 14: The Agitators with NYT Bestselling Author Dorothy Wickenden

April 14, 2021

Three Friends Who Fought for Abolition and Women’s Rights

The Agitators tells fascinating stories surrounding America’s abolition, the Underground Railroad, and early women’s rights movements from the intimate perspective of three friends—Martha Coffin Wright, Frances A. Seward, and Harriet Tubman.

It took Dorothy Wickenden seven years to research and write The Agitators. Today she shares some of the challenges in the lives of these “agitators”, and how they were united in spirit, despite having very different backgrounds. We also discuss how Quakers led the first large movement to abolish slavery. Some of the research that surprised and delighted the author. And what she would ask these women, if she could.

About Dorothy Wickenden

Dorothy Wickenden is the author of Nothing Daunted and The Agitators, and has been the executive editor of The New Yorker since 1996. She also writes for the magazine and is the moderator of its weekly podcast Politics & More. A former Nieman Fellow at Harvard, Wickenden was national affairs editor at Newsweek from 1993-1995.

Non Fiction, Social Issues, Women's Issues

AUG 26: Julie Suk with We The Women & Why the Equal Rights Amendment Matters

August 26, 2020

Julie Suk joins us to discuss stories from her new book WE THE WOMEN: The Unstoppable Mothers of the Equal Rights Amendment.

We explore why the ERA still hasn’t made it into the U.S. Constitution — and who’s blocking it. What that means to women today, and what to do about it. Julie also highlights some of the brilliant women suffragists who’ve kept pushing the ERA forward despite fierce opposition and subterfuge.

Julie C. Suk is a frequent media commentator on legal issues affecting women. She’s a professor of Sociology, Political Science, and Liberal Studies at the the Graduate Center of the City University of New York where she serves as Dean for Master’s Programs.

History, Non Fiction, Women's Issues

AUG 19: Olive the Lionheart with Brad Ricca

August 19, 2020

It’s 1910 when 30-year-old redhead and Scottish socialite Olive MacLeod defies all wisdom, packs her bags, and travels to Africa to find her missing fiance. Author Brad Ricca tells the true story of Olive the Lionheart based on her own journals and photographs, the lost journals of her fiance — naturalist Boyd Alexander — and the many letters that crossed continents between them.

Olive’s adventure of the heart sweeps her across deserts, cities, swamps, and jungles. We discuss what was at the heart of the journey, and what drove her. Because while some define her as a hero, Olive realizes in Africa that her journey’s not just about finding her fiance. It’s also about facing her demons and finding herself.

Brad Ricca is an award-winning writer and the Edgar-nominated author of the bestselling Mrs. Sherlock Holmes. He has appeared in documentaries on the History Channel and AMC. And has been a guest on shows such as Criminal, All Things Considered, and BBC Radio. More about Brad Ricca’s work and Olive the Lionheart: Lost Love, Imperial Spies, and Woman’s Journey into the Heart of Africa.

Arts, History, Non Fiction, Women's Issues

JAN 29: Women in Film – Hollywood, Her Story

January 29, 2020

When the 2020 Academy Award nominations were announced, many said women in film are finally breaking through. Today’s guests say “No, they’re making a comeback!”

Co-authors Barbara Bridges and Jill S. Tietjen discuss how women helped found the movie industry – a time when they ran silent movie studios and held positions of power. When a female director, and an actress, were paid more than any man in the business.

We explore when and why that changed. Why it’s important we have more female representation in the industry. How they collaborated during the writing process. And snippets from their beautiful book Hollywood, Her Story: An Illustrated History of Women and the Movies.

Jill S. Tietjen is an author, speaker, and electrical engineer. One of the top historians on women in the U.S., Jill is inducted into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame and her work has won many awards. Entrepreneur Barbara Bridges cofounded Women+Film to bring audiences together with films by, and about, women. The Denver Post named her as one of Colorado’s Top Thinkers in Arts and Culture.

Business, Career, Non Fiction, Social Issues, Women's Issues

NOV 27: Andrea Kramer’s It’s Not You, It’s the Workplace

November 27, 2019

Women have made great strides in establishing themselves in the workforce, so why do most workplaces remain male dominated environments? Andrea Kramer joins us today to discuss ways we can close that gap, from avoiding applying double standards to female colleagues to the consequences resulting from men bragging and self-promoting while women downplay their achievements. You’ll also find out that millenials might not be quite as different as you thought, and why perfectionsim is overrated. Andrea’s new book, co-authored with her husband, Alton Harris, is It’s Not You, It’s the Workplace: Women’s Conflict at Work and the Bias that Built It.

For decades, attorneys Andrea and Alton have confronted gender bias in the workplace through speaking, workshops, articles, blog posts, podcasts, one-on-one counselling, and engagements with national and international business and professional organizations. They have appeared in The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and many other publications.

Health & Wellness, Inspirational, Personal Development, Self-help, Women's Issues

NOV 13: Cheryl Hale’s Girl Be Brave

November 13, 2019

While dealing with her mother’s breast cancer, Cheryl Hale discovered a letter from her grandmother to her mother, ending with three simple but powerful words. Girl Be Brave: 100 Days to Chart Your Course was inspired by that letter, and today we discuss how being an entrepreneur helped Cheryl develop the resilience and ability to cope when life throws you a gut punch; the pitfalls of overplanning. And how to make choices your future self will thank you for. We’ll hear how Cheryl pushed through her fears and negative selftalk to walk more in love, empathy, and compassion.

Cheryl Hale is a writer, blogger, and business owner who founded the Girl Be Brave online community, website GirlBeBrave.com, and corresponding product line in 2016.

May 31: The Dark Queens with Shelley Puhak

Incredible True Story of Two Powerful Women & their Bloody Rivalry that Forged the Medieval World

About Shelley Puhak

May 03: The Fruit You’ll Never See – A Memoir of Overcoming Shame

Born into Addiction & Sex Trafficking, Gail Brenner Nastasia Has Learned to Embrace Her History

About Gail Brenner Nastasia

Jan 25: Wendy Willis Baldwin with Debut Novel The Sisters We Were

What brings two estranged sisters back together? How does their healing begin? What sets them free?

About Wendy Willis Baldwin

Jan 04: Dr. Nita’s Crash Course for Women: Better Sex, Better Health, Better You

What Women (& Men) Need to Know About Enjoying Better Sex, Health, & Life

About Dr. Nita Landry

AUG 19: Olive the Lionheart with Brad Ricca

JAN 29: Women in Film – Hollywood, Her Story

NOV 13: Cheryl Hale’s Girl Be Brave

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