A Woman’s Place

If media has the power to shape our worldview, whose version are we getting? In Part 1 of this series, we explore how media, from films and podcasts to books and advertising, quietly shape our ideas about power, authority, and whose voices hold value. The reality? Men still dominate the narratives, both on-screen and behind the scenes, framing male perspectives as the default and setting the tone for what we see as credible, influential, and true. But that’s only one version of the world, not the full picture. This episode is a call to pause and question what you’re consuming. Get curious. Ask who’s creating what you watch, read, and listen to, and whose perspective might be missing. Because media doesn’t just reflect our world, it decides who gets to define it. Resources: Gender and media - GSDRC, Gender Bias in Advertising: Research, Trends and New Visual Language, Online images may be turning back the clock on gender bias, research finds - Haas News, USC Annenberg releases a new study exploring the gender and race/ethnicity of hosts and guests of popular podcasts, Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, Half the world, only a quarter of the news: Women appear or are heard in just 26 per cent of all broadcast, radio and print clips, Get the Facts About Women in the Arts | NMWA, Revolutionary Art: Gender and Racial Inequality in the Art World, The Surprising Source Of Gender Bias In Theater : NPR, Through Women's Eyes

Are you sure? What were you wearing? In the first of a two-part series, we sit down with Northwestern Pritzker School of Law professor and former prosecutor Deborah Tuerkheimer to discuss her book, Credible: Why We Doubt Accusers and Protect Abusers. We explore the "credibility discount" that grants abusers impunity and the cultural narratives that cause even well-intentioned people to doubt survivors. By examining the massive gap between the rarity of false reports and our collective skepticism, Tuerkheimer challenges us to break the legal and social patterns that preserve the status quo.   Resources: Credible – HarperCollins, Deborah Tuerkheimer, RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline

This episode explores how gender sits at the center of a cultural moment where identity, power, and politics are deeply intertwined. Why are traditional gender roles resurfacing? Why is there such intense backlash? And how did something so personal become such a powerful political tool? As conversations about gender grow louder, more polarized, and increasingly weaponized, we ask a deeper question: who wrote the rules and do they still serve us? From patriarchy and power structures to LGBTQ+ identity, reproductive rights, and resistance to social change, this episode unpacks the roles we’ve inherited and what happens when we begin to challenge and rewrite them. Resources: Autocracy and patriarchy are surging worldwide—but women are pushing back | Harvard Kennedy School, Gender Ideology, the Far Right, and LGBTQ Politics | PS: Political Science & Politics | Cambridge Core, America's 'Marriage Material' Shortage

In Part Two, Jeff Hartman, an 8-year military veteran and longtime high school teacher, shares his perspective on being a stay-at-home dad in the United States and navigating a traditionally female-dominated space. He reflects on the praise and criticism his family has faced, the expectations placed on mothers, and the realities of building community among stay-at-home moms. The conversation also explores the social isolation of full-time caregiving and the economic realities that are reshaping modern parenting roles.

We spend a lot of time talking about how the world works, or doesn’t work, for women. But none of us exist in isolation. In this two-part conversation, we turn our focus to men: what’s working, what isn’t, and how we can better support one another moving forward. For Part 2, we continue the conversation with Dr. Phil Wagner, Professor of Organizational Behavior at the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William & Mary. Along with being an award-winning educator, Dr. Phil brings a thoughtful perspective on men, masculinity, and the ways gender socialization shapes all of us. What makes his insights especially valuable is the empathy, optimism, and curiosity he brings to conversations about the future of gender relationships. In this second installment, we dive deeper into changing roles, cancel culture, the “four-legged stool” of traditional masculinity, fatherhood and caregiving, the impact of AI, and what healthier collaboration between men and women could look like. Resources: The Radical Candor book — Kim Scott's #1 bestseller that's reshaping modern management, State of American Men 2025 | Equimundo, Supercommunicators By Charles Duhigg: The Power of Connection

Quick—when you hear “eating disorder,” who do you picture? What kind of person? If you're like most people, you picture a young white woman. And yes, by some estimates, 85–90% of those with diagnosed eating disorders are women. Hmmm… any ideas why that is? Women’s sense of control and agency, for one. The socialized importance of appearance (thinness!) for women, for another. But there’s more. The triggers for eating disorders are often rooted in trauma. But clearly not everyone with trauma develops—or maintains—an eating disorder. And as our guest points out, what sustains and perpetuates an eating disorder is often very different from what started it. PLUS, there is an entire category of “disordered eating”—phenomenally common, yet not clinically diagnosed. Dr. Zoe Ross-Nash is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in eating disorders—and the perfect person to dig into this topic with us. Learn about the most current thinking on eating disorder causes and treatments, why it is a women’s issue—but not only a women’s issue—how GLP-1s fit into the picture, and more. Chances are high that either you or someone you know struggles with disordered eating. But have you talked about it? Probably not. Why the secrecy and stigma? Join us as we work to bring this common issue out of the shadows and into the light. Resources: Dr. Zoe Ross-Nash, 2026 Through Women's Eyes International Film Festival: Reel Equals, Discover 10+ Trusted Eating Disorder Resources for Recovery & Education

What does political leadership look like when women have a real seat at the table? In this episode, we explore why women’s representation in political leadership matters—right now. From the current state of women in office in the United States to how we compare with other countries around the world, this conversation looks at both the progress made and the gaps that remain. Resources: Facts and figures: Women’s leadership and political participation | UN Women – Headquarters, Women account for 28% of lawmakers in the 119th Congress – unchanged from the last Congress | Pew Research Center, #GetOutTheBias: Let’s push back against gender bias in elections, Women’s Power Index | Council on Foreign Relations, Center for American Women in Politics, Running Start, She Should Run

We talk a lot about how the world is working - or not working - for women. But we sure as hell don't live in a silo! This two-part conversation is all about men: what's working, what's not, and how we can work together better.  We are joined by Dr Phil Wagner, professor of Organizational Behavior at the Raymond A, Mason School of Business, William and Mary. In addition to being a dedicated and award-winning teacher, Dr Phil is an astute observer of men and how gender socialization affects us all. And, my favorite, he brings an empathetic, optimistic, and forward-looking lens to the future of gender relations. You won't want to miss this two-part conversation about changing roles, cancel culture, the four-legged stool of traditional masculinity, caring for children, AI, and so much more. Resources: State of American Men 2025 | Equimundo, The Radical Candor book — Kim Scott's #1 bestseller that's reshaping modern management, Supercommunicators By Charles Duhigg: The Power of Connection

Ask parents of young children how they manage childcare, and chances are you'll hear one word: juggle. In case you didn't know, America has no uniform system of childcare, or even a working patchwork of systems. Parents are on their own in an increasingly challenging environment. Private childcare is scarce and, when available, averages over $1000 per month, per child. Only 12% (!) of parents have access to any form of childcare benefit through an employer, yet studies show that employers who invest in childcare reap phenomenal rewards. Only about 8% of America's children live in extended families - a traditional source of childcare support - compared to about 38% globally. And wait, there's more: one in seven adults is also providing care for another adult! And the vast majority of this unpaid care work falls primarily to women. Let's take a closer look.   Resources: Adult caregiving often seen as very meaningful by those who do it, "Among teens who say it's best if one parent focuses on the family, most say it’s better if that parent is the mother", U.S. has world's highest rate of children living in single-parent households | Pew Research Center, Census Bureau Releases New Estimates on America’s Families and Living Arrangements, Childcare Benefits More Than Pay for Themselves, Getting a Job: Is There a Motherhood Penalty? | Gender Action Portal

“Act like a man.” “She talks like a girl.” What does that even mean? These “gender boxes” refer to the social constructs that define expectations for women and men. In general, men are expected to be tougher and more dominant, to suppress emotions—except for anger—and to eschew anything considered “feminine.” Women are expected to focus on their appearance, be more submissive, and prioritize social relationships and cohesion. These norms are passed down by family, reinforced by society, learned in schools and religious institutions, and reflected in the media. But wait—do these boxes REALLY reflect who we are? Or who we want to be? Or are they just stereotypes imposed on us? Scott and Ashley deconstruct these boxes—where they come from, why we hardly even see them anymore, and how they might just be pigeonholing us into shoeboxes that don’t quite fit. We ask: do these gender boxes really serve women OR men? Resources: Do Men Actually Like Women, or Just the Performance of Femininity?, Man in Make-Up Accuses Newsom of Not Being Manly, Man in Make-Up Accuses Newsom of Not Being Manly, The Gendered Brain/Gender and our Brains by Gina Rippon NEW 2025, Why do more men die of COVID? It's likely not what you think, We Don't Come Out of the Womb Either Feminine or Masculine

Let's turn some tables. Understanding child care today means understanding fathers - what role do they play in 2025? Are we seeing more full-time male caregivers? Why or why not? And what are the real human issues that come up when men step into a non-traditional role.   Resources: Stay-at-home dads are on the rise, but they're not necessarily doing it to look after their kids | Fortune, State of America's Fathers 2023 | Equimundo, Dads make up 18% of stay-at-home parents in the US | Pew Research Center, MenCare, Dads make up 18% of stay-at-home parents in the US | Pew Research Center  

The U.S. Department of Education has excluded nursing from its official definition of "professional degree" programs as part of student loan changes under a new bill. This reclassification, scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026, means graduate nursing students will have lower federal loan borrowing limits and could impact access to financial aid. Whoa, what? Advancing nursing degrees are not 'professional'? And, let's see if we get this right: this would make it harder - more expensive - to get an advanced nursing degree? Last we checked we already had a nursing shortage. Not to mention that the nursing workforce is aging and not being replaced by younger nurses, hence greater shortages. Oh, and did we mention the profession is almost 90% female? MaryAnn Vitiello, APRN, MSN, NP, nurse and nursing advocate, joins us today. You'll hear not only about the proposed bill, but also about who all these advanced practice nurses are (Nurse Anesthetists? Nurse Practitioners?,) how they came about, and what their growth has meant for health care in America. For anyone who might need health care - and isn't that everyone? - this is for you.   Resources: Full list of degrees not classed as ‘professional’ by Trump admin - Newsweek, Nursing Excluded as 'Professional' Degree By Department of Education | Nurse.Org

Gen Z - our youngest active generation, ages 13-28 - shows a gender divide unseen in any past generation. Polls and voting records in the US and around the globe reveal young men to be far more conservative than any other generation alive today, and young women to be more liberal. Six in ten Gen Z men say men are being asked to do too much to support equality and almost a third say that a man who stays home to care for his children is 'less of a man." Moreover, many Gen Z men place marriage and children high on their list of life priorities - higher than women of any political persuasion. And our media habits only amplify these divisions - men and women hew toward different podcasts, social media, and books. What's going on here? And how will we come together? Resources: Let's talk about the political power of Gen Z women | It's Been a Minute Poll: Gen Z's gender divide reaches beyond politics and into its views on marriage, children and success Gen Z men and women most divided on gender equality, global study shows | King's College London Are Young Men and Women Now Enemies? - YouTube Just the Facts, Ma'am: Single Women Home Buyers Since 1981 Women now outnumber men in the U.S. college-educated labor force How has marriage in the US changed over time? | USAFacts

If you are one of the 1.3 million active duty military personnel in the US or one of the over 750,000 National Guard and Reserves called into active duty and you are sexually assaulted - or worse - you fall under a military justice system, the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Your active commanding officers may well be determining your case. in 2024, there were 8195 reports of sexual assault in the miliary - affecting roughly equal numbers of men and women. In October 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth rolled back whistle-blower protections for assault charges in the military. Why are we stepping back from reforms of the last 25 years? Can US military culture be made safer for service men and women? Join Nancy Parrish, Founder and Director of Protect Our Defenders (PoD), a national organization dedicated to ending sexual assault in the military, for a timely discussion of the military and it's policies surrounding sexual assault. (PoD provides pro bono legal assistance to affected individuals as well as advocacy on policy changes). Resources:  Veterans See Costs and Risks in Hegseth’s Military Rewind to 1990 - The New York Times Protect Our Defenders Hegseth’s Rollback of Whistleblower Protections Is Reckless and Dangerous to Mission Readiness SAPR.mil Lawmakers press for continued funds, staff to combat military sexual assault

Menopause - a naturally occurring stage of life for all women - has been misunderstood, hushed up, and often poorly treated for generations. Yet in recent years, a sea change has taken place. Women know more, speak up more, and their doctors - often female - are able to respond with more options. Where are we today? Join us for a conversation with Dr Kelly-Ann Shedd-Hartman about this topic every woman should know more about. Resources: Hormone Replacement Therapy - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf Chin Hair, Laundry, Your Opinion: Women in Menopause Don’t Care How a women's pain is often ignored by health care The black box warning on menopause treatments could change. Here’s why.

Electricians, construction workers, plumbers, power plant technicians, heavy equipment operators: all these and more make up the 'skilled trades.' Such jobs typically offer some of the best pay for workers without a college degree. These skilled trades make up almost 30% of our economy - and have historically been all male. Today, women hold only 4% of these jobs. (Take that, Rosie the Riveter.) Why? Sue Hoffman is our guest to plumb (!) this topic. Sue has spent a lifetime working to expand workforces for women. She brings a wealth of experience, including as a consultant, the head of Women in Nontraditional Careers Initiative in Philadelphia, and as a tradeswoman herself. Listen in to learn about some of the biggest impediments to getting more women into more skilled trades. And, spoiler alert, it's not hiring discrimination. Resources: Equity Resource Center – Chicago Women in Trades Construction Careers - Build Your Future Career Cluster videos Intro to Apprenticeship Oregon Tradeswomen Earn Good Money Turner Named One of America’s Best Employers for Women by Forbes | Insights Quick Data on Women Working in Construction, 2015 to 2024 (Institute for Women's Policy Research, Aug 2025)

It can be hard to step back and 'see' our gendered world - all the different behaviors, work and family roles, clothes, speaking styles, body language, hair styles that to us mean 'male' or 'female.' This gendered world is all we've ever known, after all.  All those seemingly small gendered manifestations yield big consequences however: men are 4 times more likely to commit suicide, women accumulate about half as many assets over a lifetime, men experience more physical violence and a dearth of satisfying social relationships, women provide the vast bulk of unpaid care for children, other adults, and the home - the list could go on.  Yet these differences are not innate. They are not just a function of our hormones or our different reproductive functions. In fact, they reflect thousands of years of socializing norms and the creation of systems and institutions that govern our lives. We think it's time for a fresh look at how we got here - gendered world and all. Resources: A Gendered World makes a Gendered Brain | Gina Rippon | TEDxCardiff, Anglea Saini: The Patriarchs, How to talk to kids about gender equality and stereotypes | UN Women – Headquarters, National Women's History Museum, Invisible Women | Caroline Criado Perez, Gender stereotypes begin at age 10 | Hub, Gender and media - GSDRC, Geena Davis Institute, "Historical Perspectives on Violence Against Women" by Vivian C. Fox 

How do YOU view the government? Does it have a role in ensuring protections or enforcing rights? Does it handicap our lives with wasteful inefficiencies and rules? Does it help you - or do you think it only helps others? Whatever you think, you probably have good reasons for those beliefs. Which we get! In this episode, we peek into why and how we develop our attitudes about the government - and how listening to one another might just help us all thrive more.  Resources: A look at small businesses in the U.S. A Bipartisan Nation of Beneficiaries | Pew Research Center Invisible Women | Caroline Criado Perez

Out of 50 states in the US, women hold 13 governorships, 28% of Congress, and have never been elected President. The US is 53rd in the world in political gender parity. This is 2025, so really, why is this? And does it even matter - do we really need equal representation in elected offices? In this episode, we look at the social forces at work (who is a leader?) as well as some pragmatic impediments. And yes, it does matter. Bonus: we talk about our deep-seated expectations of who should be in charge. Resources: Women Support Harris, but the American Presidency Remains a Male Bastion | The Fuller Project The 119th Congress: Some history makers, but fewer women overall - The 19th Americans tend to elect the tallest person for president - here's how the 2020 candidates would fare | The Independent Pragmatic bias impedes women’s access to political leadership | PNAS

The League of Women Voters sounds like it comes from another era, like maybe that time of Victorian dresses festooned with "VOTES FOR WOMEN" sashes. Well, it sorta does. And yet it's still here today, more meaningful than ever. Today we talk with Terri Kondos, the Manatee County League Voter Services Chair. Terri spent 38 years with the Department of Defense in intelligence and national security, but her current beat is voter rights and information. So, did you know the League publishes voter services guides on national AND local issues? And that they are ALWAYS non-partisan, and never advocate for any candidate? They're here for all of us! After you listen to Terri, sign up for the August 26 Women's Equality Day event in Sarasota - free and open to all. Sign-up link below.   Resources: League of Women Voters League of Women Voters of Manatee County League of Women Voters of Sarasota County Gender Differences in Voter Turnout Sign up for August 26th - link!     Vote 411

Are people having the families they want? Why or why not? And are women really to blame for low fertility rates? A new report surveyed 14,000 people in 14 countries to really understand what is happening and why fertility rates are dropping all over. The findings may surprise some policy makers who are struggling to identify incentives for families, but really shouldn't surprise any of us. Spoiler: people want MORE children! Take a listen.  Resources: Not Just More Babies: These Republicans Want More Parents at Home UNFPA report links falling birth rates to cost of living, sexist norms, fear of the future Link report, videos from report Opinion | A Bold Idea to Raise the Birthrate: Make Parenting Less Torturous - The New York Times Americans' Preference for Larger Families Highest Since 1971 The Impossibly High Cost of Childcare – Women's eNews

As part of our continuing series on 'when life begins - the surprising history of conception' we talk with Professor Emeritus Elizabeth Spahn about the surprising history of legal views on conception -when life begins- and it's probably not what you think. There is so much political talk about women having babies these days - whether they have too many or not enough - that is seemed essential to see how our society came to it's current understandings about conception.   Resources: Elizabeth Spahn: law review article State Bans on Abortion Throughout Pregnancy | Guttmacher Institute

Medicaid, SNAP, and Medicare are some of our largest domestic benefits programs. Eligibility is not gender-specific. Yet someone they affect women differently. We don't know whether or not these programs will be changed in the final version of the Big Beautiful Bill, but we do know who uses them and why. Get your facts here.   Resources:  Women's Health Insurance Coverage | KFF Gender and Racial Justice in SNAP House Republicans’ Big, ‘Beautiful’ Bill Would Make Health Care More Expensive for Americans With Medicare and Other Insurance Where We Stand: Retirement Security – AAUW Allocating CBO’s Estimates of Federal Medicaid Spending Reductions and Enrollment Loss Across the States | KFF US women are paying billions more for healthcare than men every year Florida Closing the Benefit Gap to Advance Women’s Health Equity | Deloitte US SNAP Helps Millions of Low-Income Seniors | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities House Reconciliation Bill Proposes Deepest SNAP Cut in History, Would Take Food Assistance Away From Millions of Low-Income Families Current Numbers Medicaid | Florida Agency for Health Care Administration Parts of Medicare Distribution of Medicare Beneficiaries by Sex | KFF

As part of our continuing series on 'when life begins - the surprising history of conception' we talk with Professor Emeritus Elizabeth Spahn about the surprising history of the scientific understanding of conception - when life begins. And, spoiler alert, how we all get started is not what we were taught in high school biology class. There is so much political talk about women having babies these days - whether they have too many or not enough - that is seemed essential to see how our society came to the current understandings. Plus..... there's a nightclub involved.    Elizabeth Spahn: law review article State Bans on Abortion Throughout Pregnancy | Guttmacher Institute    

85% of all American women change their names at the time of marriage. If passed, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act could disenfranchise these women because their current legal name does not match the name on their birth certificate. How could this be? Why would we want to do this? Note: the SAVE act has passed the US house and is moving to the Senate, so keep your eye on this one.  Resources: A Tradition Going Strong: Brides Who Take Their Husbands’ Names - The New York Times 9 Things to Know About the Proposed SAVE Act Mrs Man: Why do women take their husbands' surnames? SAVE Act Explained: Americans will need these documents to vote — Or be turned away

"Have more babies!" is the Trump administration's current family initiative. Huh? If you’ve never heard of ‘pro-natalism,’ this is for you. Join us for a talk of fertility treatments, Elon Musk, car seats, Nobel Prize winner Claudia Goldin, childcare, why families do and do not want babies, and much more. This is one topic you’ll want to keep an eye on. Resources: 1. Reasons adults give for not having children, Need to boost population? Encourage dads to step up at home. — Harvard Gazette, Babies and the Macroeconomy | NBER, The Pro-Family Policy This Nation Actually Needs - The Atlantic, The Far Right’s Campaign to Explode the Population - POLITICO

Childcare meets economics. This episode dives into how access to affordable, high-quality childcare shapes families, communities, and the economy at large. Resources: Data Dashboard: An Overview of Child Care and Early Learning in the United States - Center for American Progress, Lakewood Ranch business leads way in new Florida support for employee childcare, Florida childcare tax credits help Sarasota businesses keep employees

We talk with Professor Law Emerita, Elizabeth Spahn, about the fascinating and surprising history of Christian views on the beginning of human life - and It's most certainly not what you think. We cover the start of life, from Aristotle to Dobbs in 37 easy-to-understand minutes - you'll never think about conception the same way again. Resources: Arrested at gunpoint, charged as a felon: a midwife’s lot in anti-abortion Texas | Arwa Mahdawi | The Guardian, The Week in Patriarchy | The Guardian, State Bans on Abortion Throughout Pregnancy | Guttmacher Institute, ES: law review article, Religious views on abortion more diverse than they may appear in U.S. political debate, Texas Senate Bill 2880

Without equal resources, is equality even possible? In this episode, we look at the gender gaps in both pay and accumulated wealth: what the gaps mean, why these gaps are still with us, and what we can do. Resources: Gender pay gap in U.S. has narrowed slightly over 2 decades, Reckoning With the Hidden Rules of Gender in the Tax Code: How Low Taxes on Corporations and the Wealthy Impact Women’s Economic Opportunity and Security - National Women's Law Center, Real and nominal value of the minimum wage U.S. 2024| Statista, Facts and figures: Economic empowerment | UN Women – Headquarters, The Enduring Grip of the Gender Pay Gap, The Gender Wage Gap Widened For the First Time in Two Decades, and Trump Responds by Rolling Back Protections that Help Workers Discover Discriminatory Pay | National Partnership for Women & Families, Women already earn less. Trump’s labor cuts could make the pay gap easier to hide., Magazine Home Page

Who does care work? Why? And why does it matter? Join us for a look at paid and unpaid care work - nursing home aides, day care, cleaning, and all that goes with it - and see why it's a serious women's issue. Resources: wordslut Untapped Protentional: Florida Report Through Women's Eyes Film Festival  

Why do we want diversity anyway? Is there a business case for it? And why are folks opposed to it? This is our second go-around with DEI and in this episode we look at more human factors. What could be more important?

DEI has been around for a long time, but it exploded in the national news over the past two weeks. The federal government’s order to end all DEI policies and programs has immediate consequences - and potentially a very long tale. We take a look at what the hell DEI really is, where it comes from, and what to make of this new direction.

The world is changing fast, but is it benefiting everyone? A Woman’s Place examines how policies, politics, and cultural shifts impact women. From wage gaps to remote work, reproductive rights to crypto, we break down today’s biggest stories affecting the 51%. In this episode, we introduce ourselves, discuss why gender equality still needs attention and explore what’s shaping the future. How do we push forward to benefit everyone?