Feminism NOW

National Organization for Women (NOW)

Passionate about modern feminist issues? Want to learn more about how today's political, academic, and cultural leaders strive for a future of universal equality and justice?

Join NOW in a podcast dedicated to intersectional feminist discussions in American society with leaders in entertainment, sports, politics, and science. From conversations on constitutional equality, to economic justice and reproductive rights, listeners will find new ways to learn, engage, and get empowered.

Listen for new episodes released every other Wednesday.

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S6 · E2
Wednesday · 33 min
Past time for a Reckoning
Holding powerful men accountable used to mean going through the courts. Now, it means winning the fight for public opinion online, too. This week, Kim and Rose sit down with Cheyenne Hunt, lawyer, organizer, and founder and executive director of Reckoning Action, to talk about exposing abuse by powerful men, supporting survivors, and the narrative battles now playing out in real time on social media. Cheyenne walks through how she helped bring the Eric Swalwell story to light, why she pulled her support for Graham Platner once new reporting changed the picture, and why she calls misogyny a threat to democracy, not just a private harm. The conversation also covers Reckoning Action's survivor support work and its ongoing "Cover-Up Roundup" project tracking who's still avoiding scrutiny in the Epstein case. You can browse the DOJ's public Epstein Library yourself. Whether you're a lifelong feminist or newly feminism-curious, join us this season as Kim and Rose speak with the movers and shakers defining the feminist movement. Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website. Leave us a voicemail for us to include in a future episode! Call 202-628-8669 or send a voice memo to feminismnow@now.org. In this episode: How the Eric Swalwell story broke, 11 days after Cheyenne posted publicly and other survivors came forward Why survivors often stay silent even in the Me Too era Misogyny as a democratic threat, not just a workplace or private issue Why Cheyenne withdrew her support from Graham Platner after new allegations surfaced Reckoning Action's survivor support work: legal help, crisis communications, mental health resources, digital security The Epstein cover-up and the "Cover-Up Roundup" project A grassroots update from NOW organizers in East Texas Guest: Cheyenne Hunt is a lawyer, organizer, and the founder and executive director of Reckoning Action, an organization that supports survivors of abuse by powerful men through legal help, crisis communications, mental health resources, digital security, and creator amplification. She played a central role in bringing the Eric Swalwell story forward and now leads Reckoning Action's work on political accountability and the Epstein cover-up. Today’s featured chapter: Northeast Texas NOW, hosting the East Texas Women’s March and Expo, September 19, 2026. Follow us on social media: Find Kim on Instagram @KimVillanueva_NOW, and find Rose on X @BrunacheRose. Find NOW here: Instagram: @nationalnow TikTok: @national_now BlueSky: @nationalnow.bsky.social Facebook: NationalNOW Find Cheyenne Hunt and Reckoning Action: Reckoning Action: https://www.reckoningaction.org/ Instagram: @cheyenne.I.hunt Cheyenne’s website: https://www.cheyennespeaks.io/
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S6 · E1
September 9 · 34 min
Deconstructing the Trad Wife Myth
Fighting Christian nationalism with facts alone doesn't work. This week, Kim and Rose kick off season six with Monte Mader, progressive political and cultural commentator, writer, public speaker, and vocalist, to talk about why stories, not statistics, are what actually help women question and leave high-control belief systems. Raised on a rural Wyoming cattle ranch as a "biblical wife," Monte was taught to marry, submit, and build her life around men and children, until a family crisis made her question her ideology. She and the hosts dig into how trad wife content sells an illusion of safety while hiding the labor behind it, why complementarianism functions as the church's own "separate but equal" doctrine, and why fights over voting rights, Title IX, and trans athletes are really about controlling women. Plus: why Monte chose a one-on-one debate with Allie Beth Stuckey over the usual viral pile-on format, and what she tells anyone trying to reach a friend or family member pulled toward trad wife ideology or the manosphere. In this episode: Kim and Rose open season six, reflecting on the show's growth and recent award recognition Rose breaks down Texas GOP efforts to end no-fault divorce, and how fault-based divorce can trap abused women in harmful marriages Kim discusses postpartum depression as an underrecognized women's health issue, using Hayden Panettiere's recent death as an example of how women's suffering is often ignored Monte on growing up as a "biblical wife" and the moment her worldview broke open How trad wife content hides the labor and exhaustion behind the aesthetic Complementarianism as the church's "separate but equal" doctrine Why Christian nationalist arguments so often target women's voting rights, Title IX, and trans athletes Monte's advice: lead with questions and your own story, not arguments Whether you're a lifelong feminist or newly feminism-curious, join us this season as Kim and Rose speak with the movers and shakers defining the feminist movement. Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website. Leave us a voicemail for us to include in a future episode! Call 202-628-8669 or send a voice memo to feminismnow@now.org. Guest: Monte Mader is a progressive political and cultural commentator, writer, public speaker, and vocalist. She speaks from lived experience inside white Christian nationalism and now helps others recognize the signs, language, and power structures of these movements. Today’s featured chapter: Central New York NOW, hosting their fourth annual Reproductive Rights Film Fest, September 15-19, 2026. Follow us on social media: Find Kim on Instagram @KimVillanueva_NOW, and find Rose on X @BrunacheRose. Find NOW here: Instagram: @nationalnow TikTok: @national_now BlueSky: @nationalnow.bsky.social Facebook: NationalNOW X: @nationalnow
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S5 · E9
May 6 · 32 min
Who Killed Roe?
Roe v. Wade is dead, but who was the murderer? In this episode, Kim and Rose sit down with journalist Amy Littlefield, author of the new book Killers of Roe: My Investigation into the Mysterious Death of Abortion Rights to trace the decades-long effort to dismantle federal abortion protections—and what that history means for the future of reproductive rights in the United States. This is the last episode of season 5. We will be taking a short break and then Kim and Rose will be back, speaking with the movers and shakers defining the feminist movement. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website. Leave us a voicemail for us to include in a future episode! Call 202-628-8669 or send a voice memo to feminismnow@now.org. Guest: Amy Littlefield has reported on abortion rights for over a decade. She is the abortion access correspondent for The Nation. She has contributed to The New York Times Opinion and wrote the Times’ Sunday Review cover story “Where the Pro-Choice Movement Went Wrong.” She is a frequent commentator on abortion for TV and radio news outlets and podcasts, including MSNOW and Democracy Now!. Littlefield was a lead reporter and narrator on shows for Reveal, the national investigative journalism show. She lives in Boston with her family. Follow us on social media: Find Kim on Instagram @KimVillanueva_NOW, and find Rose on X @BrunacheRose. Find today’s guest, Amy Littlefield, on Instagram @littleamyfield on X @amylittlefield Find NOW here: Instagram: @nationalnow TikTok: @national_now BlueSky: @nationalnow.bsky.social Facebook: NationalNOW
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S5 · E8
April 22 · 36 min
What We Get Wrong About Violence Against Women
“Why didn’t she just leave?” Despite decades of progress toward gender equality, domestic violence–and the judgement of women in violent situations–remains pervasive. In this episode, Kim and Rose sit down with journalist and author Rachel Louise Snyder to discuss the systemic failures that allow intimate partner violence to persist and what real solutions could look like. Whether you’re a lifelong feminist or newly feminism-curious, join us this season as Kim and Rose speak with the movers and shakers defining the feminist movement. Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website. Leave us a voicemail for us to include in a future episode! Call 202-628-8669 or send a voice memo to feminismnow@now.org. Guest: Rachel Louise Snyder is a professor of literature and journalism at American University, and a New York Times contributing opinion writer. She is the author of numerous books including “Women We Buried, Women We Burned: A Memoir” and “No Visible Bruises: What We Don’t Know About Domestic Violence Can Kill Us.” Follow us on social media: Find Kim on Instagram @KimVillanueva_NOW, and find Rose on X @BrunacheRose. Find today’s guest, Rachel Louise Snyder on Instagram @rlswrites. Today’s featured chapter is Central NY NOW, https://cny-now.com/ and on Instagram @cnynow and Bluesky @cnynow and on Facebook @CentralNYNOW Find NOW here: Instagram: @nationalnow TikTok: @national_now BlueSky: @nationalnow.bsky.social Facebook: NationalNOW
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S5 · E7
April 8 · 34 min
The Myth of Meritocracy
We often hear that workplaces are meritocratic. But if that was true, would white women and people of color still be earning so much less than men? Would those board rooms be quite so male? In this episode, Kim and Rose sit down with Sarah Kaplan, Founding Director of the Institute for Gender and the Economy at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management to discuss the costs of being a woman and how we can move beyond individual solutions toward systemic change. Whether you’re a lifelong feminist or newly feminism-curious, join us this season as Kim and Rose speak with the movers and shakers defining the feminist movement. Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website. Leave us a voicemail for us to include in a future episode! Call 202-628-8669 or send a voice memo to feminismnow@now.org. Guest: Sarah Kaplan is Professor Emerita and Founding Director of the Institute for Gender and the Economy at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. She is author of several books including the forthcoming Products for the People (published by W.W. Norton). She regularly advises corporations, governments and agencies on board diversity, board governance, the care economy, employment, pay equity, and inclusive innovation. In recognition of her contributions, she was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women. Follow us on social media: Find Kim on Instagram @KimVillanueva_NOW, and find Rose on X @BrunacheRose. Today’s featured chapter is MassNOW, massnow.org and on Instagram and TikTok @MassNOW. Learn more about NOW’s Book Club, Feminist Public Square: https://now.org/national-organization-for-women-book-club/ Find NOW here: Instagram: @nationalnow TikTok: @national_now BlueSky: @nationalnow.bsky.social Facebook: NationalNOW
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S5 · E6
March 25 · 37 min
Feminism for the Algorithm
People often worry about the harms of social media. But social media also has so much promise for the feminist movement. Today, Kim and Rose sit down with Blair Imani, creator of the viral web series Smarter in Seconds, to talk about feminism in the age of social media. Whether you’re a lifelong feminist or newly feminism-curious, join us this season as Kim and Rose speak with the movers and shakers defining the feminist movement. Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website. Leave us a voicemail for us to include in a future episode! Call 202-628-8669 or send a voice memo to feminismnow@now.org. Guest: Blair Imani is the creator of the viral web series, Smarter In Seconds, LA Times bestselling author of Read This to Get Smarter, and co-host of the podcast Thoughts About Feelings. The New York Times praises Blair Imani’s unique ability to create “progressive lessons with vibrant visuals and a perky, quirky delivery.” Her scholarship spans intersectionality, gender studies, race and racism, sociology, and United States history. She is also a historian, having written Making Our Way Home (2020) and Modern HERstory (2018). Follow us on social media: Find Kim on Instagram @KimVillanueva_NOW, and find Rose on X @BrunacheRose. Find today’s guest, Blair Imani, on Instagram and TikTok @blairimani Today’s featured chapter is Appleton Area NOW, https://www.appletonareanow.org/ and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/appletonareanow/ Learn more about our special feature, the 2026 Driving the Vote for Equality national tour to raise awareness about the Equal Rights Amendment, at https://era-now.org and https://drivingthevote.org Find NOW here: Instagram: @nationalnow TikTok: @national_now BlueSky: @nationalnow.bsky.social Facebook: NationalNOW
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S5 · E5
March 11 · 37 min
The Men are Not All Right
Extremist, violent actions and ideologies are front and center in the news. But this week’s guest, Cynthia Miller-Idriss, noticed that no one ever seems to mention how most of those extremist and violent actions are done by men. In this episode, Kim and Rose sit down with Miller-Idriss to talk about the connections between men, patriarchy, and ideological extremism, how patriarchy harms men, and what all of us can do about it. Whether you’re a lifelong feminist or newly feminism-curious, join us this season as Kim and Rose speak with the movers and shakers defining the feminist movement. Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website. Leave us a voicemail for us to include in a future episode! Call 202-628-8669 or send a voice memo to feminismnow@now.org. Guest: Cynthia Miller-Idriss is a Professor in the School of Public Affairs and in the School of Education at the American University in Washington, DC, where she is the founding director and chief vision officer of the pioneering Polarization and Extremism Research & Innovation Lab (PERIL). She is a columnist for MS NOW with recent bylines in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Foreign Affairs, Politico, and more. Her most recent books include Man Up (Princeton University Press, 2025) and Hate in the Homeland (Princeton University Press, 2022). Follow us on social media: Find Kim on Instagram @KimVillanueva_NOW, and find Rose on X @BrunacheRose. Find today’s guest, Cynthia Miller-Idriss, on Bluesky @milleridriss.bksy.social. Today’s featured chapter is Central Phoenix Inez Casiano NOW, https://centralphoenixnow.org/, on Instagram @cpicnow, and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CPICNOW/ Find NOW here: Instagram: @nationalnow TikTok: @national_now BlueSky: @nationalnow.bsky.social Facebook: NationalNOW
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S5 · E4
February 25 · 31 min
Minnesota Nice vs ICE
As ICE has carried out mass arrests and deportations in Minnesota, the people have not been sitting by. They have been following cars, blowing whistles, protesting, and buying groceries to feed their neighbors. In this episode, Kim and Rose talk with the Chapter President of Minnesota NOW about why ICE went to the state, what they hoped to accomplish–and what they got instead. Whether you’re a lifelong feminist or newly feminism-curious, join us this season as Kim and Rose speak about important issues with leaders working for justice. Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website. Leave us a voicemail for us to include in a future episode! Call 202-628-8669 or send a voice memo to feminismnow@now.org. Guest: Renee Cardarelle is the Chapter President of Minnesota NOW. She has 20-plus years of experience in working on community building and social justice. She is a non-profit leader, a community building facilitator, a racial justice practitioner, an educator, and a lifelong learner. Besides her practical, lived education, Renee has a PhD in Public Service and Management from Hamline University, where she explores civic engagement and local government, and a Master’s degree in Social Responsibility from St. Cloud State University. She focuses on creating a world that is healthy, thriving, and healing. Renee was born, raised, and lives in the wonderful world of rural Minnesota. Follow us on social media: Find Kim on Instagram @KimVillanueva_NOW, and find Rose on X @BrunacheRose. Today’s featured chapter is Minnesota NOW, https://www.facebook.com/minnesotanow/ A Note from Renee: Minnesota Immigrant Families need your help! As the ICE/immigration crisis continues, families are losing their jobs, unable to go to work, and unable to leave their homes. New Hope for Immigrants has been helping new American families for over 10 years. They provide mutual aid support, guidance on finding work, and more. Here is just one story: Hassan has been pursuing his citizenship but is still in TPS status and fears he will be detained. This has made it difficult for him to get to work and his family is struggling to make ends meet. Now they cannot afford to pay their rent. (Names have been changed). We are looking for 100 people to donate $100 to reach a goal of $10,000 to help families with this need! Can you donate? Any amount is welcome! You can donate at: DONATIONS | Newhopeforimmigrants All donations are tax deductible. Find NOW here: Instagram: @nationalnow TikTok: @national_now BlueSky: @nationalnow.bsky.social Facebook: NationalNOW
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S5 · E3
February 11 · 30 min
The Sanewashing of the Natalist Movement
Natalism is having a moment, and so is the far right. This week’s guest, journalist and author Seyward Darby, says that’s no coincidence. In this episode, Kim and Rose sit down with Seyward to unpack what natalism is, its dark ties to eugenics, and why so many, from Silicon Valley tech bros to Timothy Chalamet, seem to have bought into it. Whether you’re a lifelong feminist or newly feminism-curious, join us this season as Kim and Rose speak with the movers and shakers defining the feminist movement. Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website. Leave us a voicemail for us to include in a future episode! Call 202-628-8669 or send a voice memo to feminismnow@now.org. Guest: Seyward Darby is the editor in chief of The Atavist Magazine, an award-winning publication that specializes in longform narrative journalism. She is the author of Sisters in Hate: American Women on the Front Lines of White Nationalism (2020), which was a finalist for the J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Harper's, The Guardian, and other publications. She lives in Oakland, California with her husband, who is also a writer, and their dog, cat, and infant son, who are not (yet). Follow us on social media: Find Kim on Instagram @KimVillanueva_NOW, and find Rose on X @BrunacheRose. Find today’s guest, Seyward Darby on Instagram @seywarddarby and Bluesky @seywarddarby.bsky.social Today’s featured chapter is Riverside County NOW: https://riversidecountynow.com/ on Instagram @riversidecountynow Find NOW here: Instagram: @nationalnow TikTok: @national_now BlueSky: @nationalnow.bsky.social Facebook: NationalNOW
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S5 · E2
January 28 · 34 min
Feminism, Then and NOW
What can feminist history teach us in 2026? This week, Kim and Rose sit down with Dr. Katherine Turk, historian and author of The Women of NOW, to find out. They discuss the promise and the challenges the founders of NOW faced as feminists in mid-20th century America, and what they can teach us about building effective feminist coalitions today. Whether you’re a lifelong feminist or newly feminism-curious, join us this season as Kim and Rose speak with the movers and shakers defining the feminist movement. Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website. Leave us a voicemail for us to include in a future episode! Call 202-628-8669 or send a voice memo to feminismnow@now.org. Guest: Katherine Turk is Professor of History and Adjunct Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her books include Equality on Trial: Gender and Rights in the Modern American Workplace, which won the 2017 Mary Nickliss Prize, and The Women of NOW: How Feminists Built an Organization that Transformed America, named a New Yorker Best Book of 2023. Find the LaSalle County NOW Chapter @LaSalleCountyNOW on Facebook and TikTok. Follow us on social media: Find Kim on Instagram @KimVillanueva_NOW, and find Rose on X @BrunacheRose. Find today’s guest, Katherine Turk, on Bluesky @katherineturk.bsky.social. Find NOW here: Instagram: @nationalnow TikTok: @national_now BlueSky: @nationalnow.bsky.social Facebook: NationalNOW Twitter: @nationalnow
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S5 · E1
January 14 · 23 min
Meet Feminism NOW’s New Hosts!
We’re thrilled to be back for season 5 with new hosts, NOW National President Kim Villanueva and NOW National Vice President Rose Brunache. In this kick-off episode, NOW’s Policy Director Shelby von Hofe sits down to interview Kim and Rose, so you can get to know the new hosts of the show. They discuss why the label of “feminist” seems to be so controversial these days, and what you can expect from this season of Feminism NOW. Whether you’re a lifelong feminist or newly feminism-curious, join us this season as Kim and Rose speak with the movers and shakers defining the feminist movement in 2026. New episodes of Feminism NOW release every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website. Leave us a voicemail for us to include in a future episode! Call 202-628-8669 or email us a voice memo at feminismnow@now.org. Meet Feminism NOW’s new hosts! Kim Villanueva was elected NOW National President in July 2025 and has been an active NOW member since 1987. Outside of NOW, Kim has nearly 40 years of experience in legislative advocacy, member relations, fund development, and board governance. Rose Brunache was elected NOW National Vice President in July 2025 and is an inclusive, millennial woman of color who brings a committed grassroots focus to her activism. Rose moved to the Washington, DC area after graduating from Temple University and has worked for various federal government agencies. Guest Host: Shelby von Hofe is the Policy and Advocacy Director at NOW National. Shelby's work and volunteering has focused on voting rights and women's rights, in addition to completing a fellowship with the Pro-Bono Resource Center of Maryland. NOW News: It’s NOW’s 60th birthday! NOW’s next 60 years depend on your voice, your creativity, and your conviction. Join us as we harness the power of new platforms, new ideas, and new generations to continue the fight for gender equality, social justice, and true democracy. Join the NOW book club! Follow us on social media: Kim on Instagram @KimVillanueva_NOW, and Rose on X @BrunacheRose. Today’s guest host, Shelby von Hofe @shelbyelysia on Instagram, and the NOW Young Feminists @now_yf on Instagram. Find the West Kentucky NOW Chapter here, or on Facebook and Instagram @WestKYNOW Find NOW here: Instagram: @nationalnow TikTok: @national_now BlueSky: @nationalnow.bsky.social Facebook: NationalNOW X: @nationalnow
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S4 · E9
Jun 18, 2025 · 31 min
That’s a Wrap
This season, we’ve featured some of the many incredible women doing the work of protecting women in a hostile world. For our final episode of the season, we’re spotlighting one of our own: our fearless host and leader, Christian F. Nunes. Though her tenure as NOW National President is drawing to a close, her advocacy is far from over. In this episode, Christian and senior producer Bethany Brookshire sit down together to reflect on four seasons of this podcast, its many insightful guests, and what the future of feminist solidarity really looks like in the face of mounting anti-feminist backlash. We’re all in need of a little extra feminist inspiration right now, so why not check out some of our past episodes? We’ve linked the ones mentioned in today’s episode below, but be sure to check out all four seasons of Feminism NOW and get inspired by the incredible voices we’ve featured. Links: https://www.christianfnunes.com/ Links to previous episodes: Violence Against Black Women (with Dr. Brittany Lewis): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/violence-against-black-women-a-conversation-with/id1709383622?i=1000631747963 Finding Missing Women (with Rep. Christina Haswood): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-missing-women/id1709383622?i=1000680823146 The Abuse to Prison Pipeline (with Becki Kondkar): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-abuse-to-prison-pipeline/id1709383622?i=1000683171644 The Promise and Peril of the Legal System (with Azaleea Carlea): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-promise-and-peril-of-the-legal-system/id1709383622?i=1000704592843 Raising the Wage (with Saru Jarayaman): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/raising-the-wage/id1709383622?i=1000652035836 Gun Violence is a Feminist Issue (with Mikki Kendall): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gun-violence-is-a-feminist-issue/id1709383622?i=1000709262228 Our Work is Never Over (with Alyssa Milano): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/our-work-is-never-over-activism-with-alyssa-milano/id1709383622?i=1000630191563 Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speaker-emerita-nancy-pelosi/id1709383622?i=1000650627806 The Gen Z Fight for Democracy (with V. Spehar): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-gen-z-fight-for-democracy/id1709383622?i=1000657917419 Building Better Media and Entertainment (with Nicci Gilbert): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/building-better-in-media-and-entertainment/id1709383622?i=1000641192487 Celebrating Everyday Feminists (with Latanya Mapp Frett): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/celebrating-everyday-feminists/id1709383622?i=1000636941613 Guest: Christian F. Nunes, MBA, MS, LCSW, became NOW president in August 2020. She was previously appointed Vice President by the board in May 2019. As the second African American president in the organization’s history, the youngest person of color, and the youngest president in more than 40 years, Nunes is leading the organization through an intersectional lens, bringing a diverse coalition of grassroots activists to work against structural sexism and racism. Take Action NOW: Join NOW this July for our National Conference in Las Vegas! Click here to learn more and register. We can’t wait to see you there! To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website. Socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christian_prez4now/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Prez4NOW Threads: https://www.threads.com/@christian_prez4now
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S4 · E8
Jun 4, 2025 · 31 min
Healthcare Equity Makes Everyone Healthier
In 2025, Black women in the U.S. still can’t get the quality healthcare their white peers often receive. The history of bias in this country continues to play out through social determinants of health, from poverty to whether or not people have access to clean water. Despite the many questions that remain around women’s health, the Trump administration has also recently reduced funding for women’s health research. Across the country, Black women are leading the charge to make change. Today, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes sits down with Dr. Sharon Thompson, Medical Director and Board Vice Chair of the Black Women’s Health Imperative, to discuss why Black women are disproportionately impacted by inequities in the healthcare system—and how combatting these disparities benefits everyone. Links: https://bwhi.org/ https://bwhi.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/CWC_Report_Full_report_lowres.pdf https://www.nrdc.org/stories/flint-water-crisis-everything-you-need-know https://kinema.com/films/me-period-tut9gq https://www.npr.org/2025/04/23/nx-s1-5372892/womens-health-initiative-research-funding-gets-cut Guest: Dr. Sharon R. Thompson is a powerhouse in women’s health—an OB/GYN, health tech innovator, professor, and national speaker with deep roots in public health and education. Known for her dynamic blend of clinical care, policy insight, and media presence, Dr. Thompson leads conversations that center dignity, data, and cultural competence in healthcare. She is the founder of Central Phoenix OB/GYN and a regular medical contributor on Good Morning Arizona. Take Action NOW: Join NOW this July for our National Conference in Las Vegas! Click here to learn more and register. We can’t wait to see you there! Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website. Socials: Dr. Sharon Thompson: Instagram: instagram.com/drsharonthompson/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sharonthompsonmdmph/ Black Women’s Health Imperative: Instagram: instagram.com/blkwomenshealth/ Twitter/X: x.com/blkwomenshealth Facebook: facebook.com/BlackWomensHealthImperative/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/black-women's-health-imperative/ YouTube: youtube.com/c/BlackWomensHealthImperative
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S4 · E7
May 21, 2025 · 33 min
Gun Violence is a Feminist Issue
In 2025, there are more guns in the United States than people. Last June, the Surgeon General declared gun violence a public health crisis. But even though women often feel the effects–especially through domestic violence–gun violence is rarely treated as a feminist issue. But tackling gun violence is feminist. Today, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes sits down with Mikki Kendall, author of Hood Feminism, to discuss America’s gun crisis, what it has to do with attacks on women’s rights, and how we can create a future that prioritizes protecting women. Links: https://mikkikendall.com/ https://www.thetrace.org/2023/03/guns-america-data-atf-total/ https://publichealth.jhu.edu/center-for-gun-violence-solutions/annual-gun-violence-data https://depauliaonline.com/59001/focus/gun-violence-the-unheard-feminist-issue/ https://us.pagefreezer.com/en-US/wa/browse/0a7f82bb-be6e-448a-ae11-373d22c37842?find-by-timestamp=2025-01-02T05:49:59Z&url=https:%2F%2Fwww.hhs.gov%2Fabout%2Fnews%2F2024%2F06%2F25%2Fus-surgeon-general-issues-advisory-public-health-crisis-firearm-violence-united-states.html&timestamp=2025-01-02T07:03:02Z Guest: Mikki Kendall is a writer, diversity consultant, and occasional feminist. She is the author of the New York Times-bestselling HOOD FEMINISM and of AMAZONS, ABOLITIONISTS, AND ACTIVISTS, a graphic novel illustrated by A. D’Amico. She has appeared on the BBC, NPR, The Daily Show, PBS, Good Morning America, MSNBC, Al Jazeera, WBEZ, and Showtime; her essays can be found at TIME, the New York Times, The Guardian, the Washington Post, Essence, Vogue, The Boston Globe, and NBC. Take Action NOW: Join NOW this July for our National Conference in Las Vegas! Click here to learn more and register. We can’t wait to see you there! Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website. Socials: Instagram: instagram.com/karnythia/ Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/karnythia.bsky.social
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S4 · E6
May 7, 2025 · 27 min
Protecting Women, One Case at a Time
It’s 2025 and there are ongoing cases in the courts that could affect women’s rights–from the ability to obtain medication abortion to protection from our former abusers. But these cases often don’t make headlines until the decisions are made. Our last episode, featuring Azaleea Carlea, Legal Director of Legal Momentum, addressed the powers and limitations of the legal system when it comes to protecting women’s rights. In this episode, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes sits down with Lynn Hecht Schafran, Senior Vice President of Legal Momentum, to discuss some of the court cases Legal Momentum is involved in—ones with major implications for our rights—to keep everyday feminists up-to-date about where our rights stand in the court of law. Want to hear more on how gender bias bubbles up in our legal system? Be sure to check out our episode, “The Abuse to Prison Pipeline,” featuring Becki Kondkar, founding director of Tulane Law School’s Women’s Prison Project. Links: https://www.legalmomentum.org/ https://www.legalmomentum.org/get-help-form Court cases mentioned in this episode: Brenda Evers Andrew v. Tamika White, Warden (2025): https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/us-supreme-court/23-6573.html United States v. Rahimi (2024): https://www.oyez.org/cases/2023/22-915 FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine (2024): https://www.oyez.org/cases/2023/23-235 Guest: Lynn Hecht Schafran, Esq. is Senior Vice President at Legal Momentum and has been Director of Legal Momentum's National Judicial Education Program to Promote Equality for Women and Men in the Courts (NJEP) since 1981. Lynn also serves as Senior Vice President and a Senior Staff Attorney, litigating and writing in the areas of rape, domestic violence, the intersection of domestic violence and sexual assault, neuroscience and its implications for the courts, and all aspects of gender bias in the courts. Take Action NOW: Join NOW this July for our National Conference in Las Vegas! Click here to learn more and register. We can’t wait to see you there! Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website. Legal Momentum Socials: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LegalMomentum Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legalmomentum/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/LegalMomentum LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/legal-momentum YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@legalmomentum
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S4 · E5
Apr 23, 2025 · 27 min
The Promise and Peril of the Legal System
For many people, the court of last resort for their rights is, well, the courts. The legal system. But witnessing the highest courts in the nation strip away our rights begs the question: was this system really set up to protect women? In this episode, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes is joined by Azaleea Carlea, Legal Director of Legal Momentum, to discuss the U.S. legal system’s potential to protect women, but also its limitations—particularly for marginalized communities. This is only the beginning! We’ll be back in two weeks with a second episode discussing specific court cases impacting women’s rights in the United States today. In the meantime, be sure to check out our episode, “The Abuse to Prison Pipeline,” featuring Becki Kondkar, founding director of Tulane Law School’s Women’s Prison Project, to hear more about how gender bias shows up in our legal system. Links: https://www.legalmomentum.org/ https://www.legalmomentum.org/get-help-form https://oig.hhs.gov/reports/featured/emtala/ Court cases mentioned in this episode: Sessions v. Morales-Santana (2017): https://www.oyez.org/cases/2016/15-1191 Brenda Evers Andrew v. Tamika White, Warden (2025): https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/us-supreme-court/23-6573.html United States v. Rahimi (2024): https://www.oyez.org/cases/2023/22-915 Guest: Azaleea Carlea has dedicated her career to advancing social justice for underserved communities, with a particular focus on supporting survivors of gender-based violence. She has extensive litigation experience in the NYS Family, Integrated Domestic Violence and Supreme Courts and has supported policy efforts aimed at improving systemic responses to intimate partner violence. Currently the Legal Director at Legal Momentum, the Women’s Legal Defense and Education Fund, Azaleea oversees the organization’s initiatives on gender-based violence, reproductive rights, and workplace and educational equality. Take Action NOW: Join NOW this July for our National Conference in Las Vegas! Click here to learn more and register. We can’t wait to see you there! Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website. Legal Momentum Socials: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LegalMomentum Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legalmomentum/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/LegalMomentum LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/legal-momentum YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@legalmomentum
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S4 · E4
Apr 9, 2025 · 30 min
Helping Mothers Give Birth in Community
Childbirth. It can be a spiritual, life-altering experience. But giving birth—particularly for those with marginalized identities—is also dangerous, especially as attacks on our reproductive rights continue. Women die in childbirth every year, and the United States has the worst maternal mortality outcomes of any developed country. This week, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes sits down with Latham Thomas, founder of Mama Glow, to discuss maternal health in the United States. From legislation to community engagement, Christian and Latham discuss the wide range of approaches it will take to improve maternal health outcomes—and how everyday feminists, parent or not, can show up for their loved ones preparing to give birth. Links: How bad is maternal mortality in the U.S.? A new study says it's been overestimated | NPR Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2022 | CDC The Momnibus Act | Black Maternal Health Caucus NOW Is Proud to Support the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act Guest: Latham Thomas is the founder of Mama Glow, a global maternal health and education platform serving birthing people along the childbearing continuum and home to 3,000 doulas. Mama Glow supports families during the fertility period, pregnancy, birth and postpartum offering hand-holding through their bespoke doula services and work with insurance companies and hospital systems to improve the experience of maternity care. Named one of Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul 100, Latham has served as a doula for clients including: Alicia Keys, Anne Hathaway, Ashley Graham, DJ Khaled, Rebecca Minkoff, Tamera Mowry, and more. She is a graduate of Columbia University and author of two best-selling books; Own Your Glow: A Soulful Guide to Luminous Living And Crowning The Queen Within and Mama Glow: A Hip Guide to Your Fabulous Abundant Pregnancy. Take Action NOW: Learn more and get involved in Disrupt NOW, the National Organization for Women’s campaign to combat extreme misogynist propaganda, increase feminist education, and advocate for women’s equality and safety. Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website. Socials: Latham Thomas: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glowmaven/ Mama Glow: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamaglow/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MamaGlow/
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S4 · E3
Mar 26, 2025 · 28 min
AI and Women’s Digital Safety
AI seems to be everywhere these days, and it’s often marketed to us as a way to boost our efficiency. But feminists have long known that technological advancements can also create new avenues for the exploitation of women, and AI is no exception. Our theme this season is “Protecting women in a hostile world.” In this episode, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes is joined by Andrea Powell, co-founding director of Alecto AI, a survivor-founded tech company that combats online image abuse, to discuss deepfakes, image-based sexual abuse, and how the law and technology itself can help keep women safe. Links: AlectoAI Andrea Powell’s book, Believe Me: The True Story of How a Trafficked Teen and Her Advocate Changed the Justice System and Found True Freedom Andrea Powell’s Congressional testimony - “Take It Down: Ending Big Tech’s Complicity In Revenge Porn” Demand for deepfake pornography is exploding. We aren’t ready for this assault on consent. Guest: Andrea Powell is a twenty year expert in global policy and direct services for survivors of sexual exploitation, human trafficking, sexual assault and image-based sexual violence. She has published in the New York Times, Washington Post, NBC, PBS, Ms. Magazine and more. Andrea’s social justice memoir, Believe Me, can be found online and throughout indie bookstores and has been awarded the New York Book Award of 2024. Take Action NOW: In celebration of Women’s History Month, read more about the National Organization for Women and the Equal Rights Amendment here. Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website. Socials: Alecto AI: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alectoai LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alectoai/ Andrea Powell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ankachristine LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-powell-bb53255/
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S4 · E2
Mar 12, 2025 · 27 min
Women's Safety in Higher Education
Note: This episode was recorded in early February 2025. As of March 11, 2025, Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order in the coming days that will aim to dismantle the Department of Education, which is responsible for upholding civil rights and ensuring equal educational opportunities. Women now make up more than 56% of college students in the United States. That must mean we’ve got equal opportunity to all the benefits education offers us, right? Right? Recent attacks on Title IX and diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education threaten to roll back decades of feminist progress—all under the pretext of protecting women and girls. This season’s theme is “Protecting women in a hostile world,” and education needs protection more than ever. In this episode, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes sits down with Gloria L. Blackwell, CEO of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), to discuss the impacts of these attacks and the ways everyday feminists can get involved in protecting women’s access to higher education. Links: Education rules from 2020 are returning to ‘protect women.’ Are vulnerable students at risk? U.S. women are outpacing men in college completion, including in every major racial and ethnic group AAUW Voter Issue Guides Become a Two-Minute Activist with AAUW Guest: Gloria L. Blackwell is CEO of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and a prominent thought leader on issues ranging from equity for women in higher education and STEM to economic empowerment and the gender pay gap. With a strong international background, she also leads AAUW’s global and UN engagement and is featured in prominent media outlets, panels and symposia. Blackwell holds a master’s degree in education and human development from The George Washington University, and a bachelor’s degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University. Take Action NOW: In celebration of Women’s History Month, read more about the National Organization for Women and the Equal Rights Amendment here. Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website. AAUW Socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aauwnational/ Facebook: facebook.com/AAUW.National LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aauw/
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S4 · E1
Feb 26, 2025 · 31 min
Protecting Women in a Hostile World
Feminism NOW is back for season 4! A lot has happened in the few weeks since our last episode. Women’s rights are actively being stripped away as the second Trump administration has quickly taken action to dismantle decades of feminist progress. Feminism NOW is here to help you navigate these unprecedented times. Our theme for season 4 is “Protecting women in a hostile world.” In our premiere episode of the season, NOW’s National President Christian F. Nunes is joined by V (formerly Eve Ensler), author of The Vagina Monologues and founder of V-Day and One Billion Rising, to discuss how we can all build effective social movements that ensure not just our safety, but our collective liberation. Guest: V (formerly Eve Ensler) is the Tony award-winning playwright, author, and activist. Her play The Vagina Monologues is an Obie award-winning, Olivier-nominated theatrical phenomenon that has been translated into 48 languages and performed in 140 countries. She is the author of numerous books and the founder of V-Day, the 27-year-old global activist movement that has raised over 120 million dollars to end violence against women, gender-expansive people, girls, and the planet—and founder of One Billion Rising, the largest global mass action to end gender-based violence in over 200 countries, as well as a co-founder of the City of Joy. Take Action NOW: Read NOW’s statement on Black History Month here, and be sure to visit the Association for the Study of African American Life and History to learn more about this year’s Black History Month theme, African Americans and Labor. Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website. Socials: V’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eveensler/ V-Day’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vdayorg/ V-Day’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vday/ V-Day’s Twitter/X: https://x.com/vday/
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