Ep 40 “Power To, Not Power Over:” Gloria Feldt on Reclaiming Autonomy

What if the key to ending domestic violence isn't just funding more shelters, but fundamentally redefining power? In this episode of UPA, host Donna Bartos sits down with the legendary Gloria Feldt—former President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and current CEO of Take The Lead. With a career spanning from Head Start classrooms in West Texas to the national political stage, Gloria brings a lifetime of fierce advocacy to a candid discussion on the "Prevention Gap."We dive deep into the "Elephant in the Room:" why society finds it easier to fund crisis intervention for victims than to invest in preventing interpersonal and domestic violence at the root. Gloria challenges the 2025 McKinsey report’s findings on the "ambition gap," arguing that women don’t lack ambition—they lack the corporate and societal support systems that men take for granted.Through the lens of her books, No Excuses and Intentioning Gloria explains her transformative shift from "Power Over" (oppression) to "Power To" (creation and energy). We tackle the sexual double standards that shame women’s autonomy, the urgent need for male accountability in reproductive rights, and why we must stop normalizing the objectification of women. This isn't just a conversation about the steps backward in a post-Title IX world; it’s a masterclass in using controversy as an opportunity for radical societal change.