PODCAST · society
Reproductive Left
by Reproductive Left
Reproductive Left is a podcast by Mabel Wadsworth Center, a feminist, nonprofit, sexual and reproductive healthcare provider in Bangor, ME. After a three year hiatus, we are back with a new host: Aspen Ruhlin (they, them). Join us as we explore topics that impact our sexual and reproductive health and lives. New episodes the last Friday of the month!
Episodes
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Supporting Abortion Seekers: an interview with Becca Rea-Tucker (aka The Sweet Feminist)
Hello, and welcome back to Reproductive Left as we kick off our Fall 2026 season! Join our host Aspen (they/them) as they are joined by the ever fabulous and always sweet Becca Rea-Tucker, aka The Sweet Feminist. The two dive into Becca's powerful and essential book "The Abortion Companion: an...
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Trans Advocacy: an interview with Kris of MaineTransNet
Welcome back for our final episode of the Summer 2026 season of Reproductive Left! Join our host Aspen for a conversation with Kris of MaineTransNet (MTN) to talk about trans advocacy. What is the current state of trans rights and protections in Maine? What about federally? In the face of attacks...
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Feminist Advocacy: an interview with Destie Hohman Sprague of Maine Women's Lobby
Welcome back for our second episode of the Summer 2026 season of Reproductive Left! Join our host Aspen for a conversation with Destie Hohman Sprague of Maine Women's Lobby to talk about feminist advocacy and fighting for gender justice. As mentioned in the caption of our last episode and in this...
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LGBTQ+ Advocacy: an interview with Gia Drew of EqualityMaine
Join us as we kick off our 2026 Summer Season with an interview with Gia Drew (she/her) of EqualityMaine! In this episode, we chat LGBTQ+ advocacy in Maine, finding joy in movement work, and fighting against attacks on the trans community. Speaking of attacks on the trans community--as of the...
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The Complicated History of Birth Control Pills
Join our host Aspen for the final episode of our Winter 2026 season! This month, we're diving into the history of the hormonal birth control pill and how it was created. Big heads up for medical racism, medical sexism, and eugenics. How was the first birth control pill created? What does...
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LARCs (Long-acting reversible contraception)
We're back for our second episode of the Winter 2026 season, and we're diving into long-acting reversible contraceptives (aka LARCs)! How do LARCs work? How many kinds are there? What kind of pain management is available? Speaking of pain management, what is the deal with pain and IUD insertions?...
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Condoms
Join us as we kick off our Winter 2026 season with an episode about condoms! How long have they been around? How useful are they? How many kinds are there? How will our host sneak in a pasta analogy? Answer these questions as we dive into the world of condoms! Image: Deon Black via Unsplash
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Aspen's Hot Takes: Body Hair
Join us for our last episode of the Fall 2025 Season! Our host Aspen is back with more hot takes--this time, focusing on body hair and its removal, particularly through a gendered lens. When did it become common for women in the US to remove their body hair, and why? Why do so many razor...
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Aspen's Hot Takes: Online Fetish Content
Join us for our Fall 2025 season kick-off as our host Aspen shares their hot takes on online fetish content. More specifically, they'll be diving into "trad wife" content as fetish content, along with talking about how some real "go-getter" misogynists trick other people online into fulfilling...
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Endometriosis: an interview with Nurse Practitioner MaryAlice
We're wrapping up our Summer 2025 season with an interview with our very own Nurse Practitioner MaryAlice to discuss endometriosis! Join our host Aspen as they ask MaryAlice all of the questions you didn't know you had about endometriosis. What is it? How is it diagnosed and treated? Is there any...
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Diet Culture
We're continuing our Summer 2025 season with a dive into Diet Culture! Join our host Aspen as they discuss the ways that diet culture harms us and how it intersects with a range of topics. Who is harmed by diet culture? What does racism have to do with it? Answer these questions and more in this...
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Pelvic Floor Health: an interview with Dr. Meaghan
We're kicking off our Summer 2025 season with an interview with Dr. Meaghan, local pelvic floor physical therapy extraordinaire! What even is the pelvic floor? Who has one? (Hint: everyone who has a pelvis) Can anything be done about pelvic pain? Answer these questions and more in this episode of...
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Menopause: an interview with Dr. Nicole
For our final Winter 2025 episode, our host Aspen is joined by Mabel's provider Dr. Nicole to discuss menopause and perimenopause! What are they? How common is menopause? What can people do to manage it? Answer these questions and more in this episode of Reproductive Left! We'll see you again in...
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Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
This episode continues our Winter 2025 season as our host Aspen explores PCOS! What is PCOS? Who's affected? Where do the ovarian cysts come in? Answer these questions and more in this episode of Reproductive Left! Image created via Canva
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Unpacking Sexual Phallacies
For our Winter season, we thought we'd focus on topics below the belt, and we're kicking things off by unpacking some common misconceptions around sex and genitalia! Join Aspen as they dive into the mysteries and misunderstandings of vulvas, penises, and more. Image: Taras Chernus via Unsplash
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Fall Into Responsibility: an interview with Jamie Beck of Dignity First
In this episode, we wrap up our Fall Into Responsibility season with an interview with Jamie Beck of Dignity First! For those unfamiliar, Dignity First is an organization based in Bangor with a mission to, "cultivate a permanent supportive village for unhoused people and intentional neighbors."...
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Fall Into Responsibility: an interview with Lisa Sockabasin of Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness
In this episode, we continue our Fall Into Responsibility season with an interview with Lisa Sockabasin of Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness! Fun fact--we can thank Lisa for our season theme and the importance of looking at responsibility as something rooted in care rather than shame. In this...
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Fall Into Responsibility: an interview with Amy Roeder of Together Place Peer Run Recovery Center
Join us for the first episode of our Fall Into Responsibility season! In this season, we'll be approaching the idea of responsibility not as something rooted in shame, but as something rooted in care. We're kicking off the season with an interview with Amy Roeder of the Together Place Peer Run...
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Abortion Advocacy
Thank you for joining us for the final episode of our "Hope is a Discipline" summer season! This month, we'll dig into one of our host Aspen's favorite topics--abortion advocacy. We know that anti-abortion sentiments certainly exist today, but have they always been around? How long have people…
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Intersections of Violence: an interview with Karen of MCEDV
For our second episode of our summer "Hope is a Discipline" season, our host Aspen interviews Karen of MCEDV, the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence! In this episode, we discuss how systems of violence are connected, including the connections of intimate partner violence and acts of mass...
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Pride Season Prep
We're kicking off our Summer "Hope is a Discipline" Season with some Pride Season Prep as we head into June! Anyone who has listened to our host Aspen before has probably heard them reference the quote "hope is a discipline" from prison abolitionist Mariame Kaba, which can be summarized as…
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Abortion Funds and Access: an interview with Abbie of SAFE Maine
Join Aspen for the final episode of the Winter Access series as they interview someone familiar--Abbie Strout-Bentes! Abbie is the Executive Director of SAFE Maine, a fierce feminist, and the original host of Reproductive Left. In this episode, the pair tackle the role of abortion funds, how they...
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Fake Clinics and Access: an interview with Elayne from GRR!
Join Aspen as they chat with fierce feminist friend Elayne Richard from GRR! In our second Winter Access series episode, we tackle the topic of anti abortion centers (also often called crisis pregnancy centers) and how they negatively impact access to not just abortion care, but all competent...
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Sterilization and Access
Reproductive Left is kicking off 2024 with our Winter Access season! We're starting out chatting about sterilization and access to this care, including a short interview at the end with the fabulous Dr. Rachel. She'll chat about her work providing vasectomies at Mabel Wadsworth Center, while…
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Doulas, Lactation, and Autonomy: an interview with Hannah Lord
For our final episode of the Fall Autonomy season, join Aspen as they interview Hannah Lord (doula, lactation specialist, and Mabel's volunteer extraordinaire). What role do doulas play in autonomy for pregnant people? What even is a doula? How does lactation and the ways we feed our babies play...
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Domestic Violence and Autonomy: an interview with Casey Faulkingham
For our second episode of our Fall Autonomy season, join Aspen as they interview Casey Faulkingham of Partners for Peace about the intersections of domestic violence and autonomy. How do these topics intersect? What is reproductive coercion? How can loved ones of those experiencing abuse help in…
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Autonomy and Abortion Funds: an interview with Julie and Christie of Abortion Freedom Fund
Kicking off our Fall Autonomy season we have an interview with Julie Jenkins and Christie Pitney of Abortion Freedom Fund. Join us as we discuss autonomy for pregnant people in the context of abortion funds, medication abortion, and accessing care in a post-Dobbs US. Abortion Freedom Fund focuses...
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Intersections of Transgender Health and Abortion
For our final episode of the Hot Mabel's Summer season, our host Aspen dives into the intersections of trans health and abortion. Even if you're already familiar with the fact that trans people also have abortions, there are other connections and commonalities you might not be as familiar with!...
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Pride Month and LGBTQ+ Education: an interview with Nancy Lewis
We're back with the second episode of Hot Mabel's Summer with a Pride Month interview with Professor Nancy Lewis! Why is teaching about LGBT Studies important? How has teaching this topic changed over the years? Just how much are queer people cut out of the education we receive? Listen to have...
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Legislative Marathon: Interview with Abbie
We're kicking off Hot Mabel's Summer with a dive into what we've been up to with the Maine legislature this session! Host Aspen interviews OG host Abbie to discuss the wide array of bill topics we've given testimony on, along with the marathon week of abortion-related bills we saw earlier this...
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Community Organizing: an interview with Representative Ambureen Rana
To wrap up our Winter Activism series (yes, we know we're ten days into Spring), we have an exciting interview on Community Organizing with activist and friend of the Center Representative Ambureen Rana. What is Community Organizing? How do you get involved in activism? How did Ambureen take the...
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Environmental Feminism: an interview with Dr. Jacquelyn Gill
In this month's episode, we're continuing our Winter Activism series with an interview with Dr. Jacquelyn Gill! Not only is she an Associate Professor of Climate Science and a paleoecologist, but she's someone cool enough to have her own Wikipedia page. What does the environment have to do with...
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Reflections from an Abortion Doula and Clinic Worker (Roe Anniversary)
Couldn't make it to our event honoring what should have been the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade on Sunday, January 22nd? Here it is recorded from you! We were joined by abortion doula, clinic worker, and author extraordinaire Hannah Matthews. Check out her bio below! Hannah Matthews is a writer,...
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Lube (Again!)
What better way to wrap up a season themed around pleasure than to revisit an important tool for pleasure--lube! This episode features sexual health rockstar, Nurse Practitioner, and former Mabel's staff member Lindsey Piper. Osmolality and pH and stigma, oh my! Join our host Aspen as they delve...
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Kink
Continuing our Fall theme of pleasure, Aspen is back this month to talk about kink! What is it? Why are people kinky? Is it all whips and chains? What's with all the hype about Fifty Shades of Gray? Join our host to learn all this and more! Image: Warm Orange via Unsplash
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Masturbation: Myths and Magic
We're back! For the Fall 2022 season of Reproductive Left, we thought there was nothing better to focus on than pleasure. In this episode, Aspen dives into masturbation to discuss the myths, magic, and benefits of this particular brand of self-love. Listen and learn what cereal, gender…
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Interview with Viva Ruiz of Thank God for Abortion part 2
Welcome back for part 2 of our interview with Viva Ruiz of Thank God for Abortion! Viva and Aspen continue to discuss the importance of abortion access, and how religion is not as cut-and-dry anti abortion as you may think. Thank God for Abortion can be found on Facebook, Instagram, or...
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Interview with Viva Ruiz of Thank God for Abortion part 1
This month's episode of Reproductive Left is part one of an exciting interview with Viva Ruiz of Thank God For abortion! Join Viva and Aspen as they discuss religion, abortion, and autonomy, and how religion absolutely can and should be abortion-positive. Thank God For Abortion can be found on...
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Trans Health and Abortion Access: an interview with Quinn Gormley
In this month's episode of Reproductive Left, our host Aspen interviews Quinn Gormley, the Executive Director of MaineTransNet. The two discuss trans health, abortion access, Reproductive Justice, and where the three intersect. MTN is a community based organization led by trans people for trans...
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Substance Use, Pregnancy, and Parenting: an interview with Cait Vaughan part 2
Join us where we left off in the previous episode with part 2 of the interview with Cait Vaughan! Aspen and Cait continue the conversation and discuss how other elements of oppression interact with our attitudes around substance use, pregnancy, and parenting. Resources: Repro Legal Defense Fund…
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Substance Use, Pregnancy, and Parenting: an interview with Cait Vaughan part 1
In this month's episode of Reproductive Left, join our host as they interview reproductive health advocacy powerhouse Cait Vaughan about substance use, pregnancy, and parenting. This topic has a lot of myths and misunderstandings, from the actual impact of substance use on pregnancy to what even...
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The PrEPisode
Join Aspen as they interview Mabel Wadsworth Center Nurse Practitioner Finn about PrEP, an important HIV prevention medication. What is PrEP, and who is it for? Why don't more people know about it? Aspen and Finn answer these questions and more in this month's PrEPisode! Image: Stillness InMotion...
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What's up with hymens?
To finish up 2021, Aspen is exploring the ins and outs of hymens! What really is the hymen, anyways? Does a hymen by any other name perpetuate the same patriarchal sexual values? Why is the image for this episode a crown? Join us to answer these questions and more! Image: Nathan Mcgregor (via...
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Fertility Care
In this episode of Reproductive Left, join Aspen as they chat with Sarah Haas (they/she), local queer sex educator, about fertility care. What are the barriers to accessing it? What's the bad fertility advice we're all tired of hearing? What are the different barriers faced by cisgender/straight...
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Witches and Midwives
Happy Spooky Season! For our October episode, join Aspen as they explore the history of witches, midwives, and where the two overlap. From the history of witch hunts that Hollywood never told you to the present realities of childbirth. Grab some candy corn, light some candles, and enjoy! Image:...
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Lube
Osmolality and pH and stigma, oh my! Join our host Aspen as they delve into the slippery world of sexual lubricant. What's the deal with osmolality? This isn't chemistry class, so why does pH matter? Who needs lube? We'll answer all of these questions and more in this episode of Reproductive…
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Herpes
Join our host Aspen as they discuss herpes and the stigma surrounding it. Why is such a common virus that usually has a minimal impact on people's lives seen as such a big deal? If someone has herpes, what do they do? What's the deal with cold sores? How many people have herpes? Explore all of...
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Interview with Samaa Abdurraqib
Join our host Aspen and special guest Samaa Abdurraqib as they discuss Samaa's poetry and how different elements of identity influence her work. Along with being a talented and published writer, Samaa is a dear friend, supporter, and board member of Mabel Wadsworth Center. Image: Nicolas Messifet...
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Feminist Poetry
Join our host Aspen as they discuss the topic of feminist poetry. What is feminist poetry, and who is a feminist poet? Enjoy some of their favorite feminist poets along with favorites from other members of the Mabel Wadsworth Center team as we explore poetry that touches on sexuality, identity…
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Interview with a Trans Educator Part 3
Join Cat and Aspen for the final installment of their three-part adventure in exploring gender.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Reproductive Left is a podcast by Mabel Wadsworth Center, a feminist, nonprofit, sexual and reproductive healthcare provider in Bangor, ME. After a three year hiatus, we are back with a new host: Aspen Ruhlin (they, them). Join us as we explore topics that impact our sexual and reproductive health and lives. New episodes the last Friday of the month!
HOSTED BY
Reproductive Left
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Reproductive Left have?
Reproductive Left currently has 93 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Reproductive Left about?
Reproductive Left is a podcast by Mabel Wadsworth Center, a feminist, nonprofit, sexual and reproductive healthcare provider in Bangor, ME. After a three year hiatus, we are back with a new host: Aspen Ruhlin (they, them). Join us as we explore topics that impact our sexual and reproductive health...
How often does Reproductive Left release new episodes?
Reproductive Left has 93 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
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You can listen to Reproductive Left on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Reproductive Left?
Reproductive Left is created and hosted by Reproductive Left.
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