Hearsay

National Women's Law Center

Welcome to Hearsay, where we talk about the pop culture moments your group chats have been going off about, and bring on the right experts to make sure you always have the best takes.

Each episode, join our hosts Hannah, Uma and Gaylynn as they discuss how gender, power, and the law impact pop culture.

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20 episodes
weekly
Avg 32 min
English

Episodes 20

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S3 · E2
Wednesday · 36 min
‘Ban Male Podcasts’ and the Invisible Labor Behind the Mic
Why does every man think he needs a podcast? This week on Hearsay, hosts Hannah, Gaylynn, and Uma dive into the culture surrounding male-dominated podcasts, how "harmless" comedy often masks deeper political values, and what happens when casual rhetoric shapes real-world views. Then, Hannah sits down with media producer and author Alex Sujong Laughlin (Defector Media, Normal Gossip, Try Hard) to discuss her upcoming book, The Talent Cult. Alex shares her take on the popular NWLC ‘Ban Male Podc
S3 · E1
October 21 · 30 min
Lindsay Clancy and the Postpartum Symptoms No One Warns You About
It’s been over a month since Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial ended and we still can’t stop thinking about it. The discourse about the case feels personal for many and has forced others to take a hard look at the ways our courts and healthcare systems treat mothers. Today on Hearsay, hosts Hannah, Gaylynn, and Uma break down the Lindsay Clancy case and the state of maternal mental health care with the help of Dr. Susan Hatters-Friedman. Dr. Friedman is a forensic and reproductive psychiatrist at
October 14 · 2 min
Hearsay is Back! Season 3 Coming Soon
We took a break. Pop culture and politics didn't. Hearsay returns for season 3 with Hannah Finnie, Gaylynn Burroughs, and Uma Mehta Iyer ready to break down what's trending and why it really matters, and experts helping them go deeper. Pop culture with a purpose, back and better than ever.
S2 · E8
Aug 28, 2024 · 40 min
Equal Pay in the WNBA ft. Aliyah Boston, Alysha Clark, and Terri Carmichael Jackson
As our country has collectively decided to rally around women athletes, the stark racist and sexist wage gaps of professional basketball players has taken center court. Black women have been the backbone of entire industries—including sports leagues—and it is essential that they be fairly compensated for their work, so why aren’t they? WNBA stars Alysha Clark and Aliyah Boston and Executive Director of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association Terri Carmichael Jackson join us to talk a
S2 · E7
Aug 21, 2024 · 38 min
Death to Girlboss: How Girlbossing Is Capitalism In Cursive Font. Ft. Lola Kolade
The rise and fall of the girlboss movement was swift—and thank goodness for that. From LinkedIn hustlers to overly positive Instagram posters and Trad wives, a movement that was supposed to empower the “sHero” and “goal digger” in all of us has become the butt of every joke on the internet but still has such a hold over our lives. We talked with Lola Kolade about how we can truly overcome the girlboss within all of us.
S2 · E6
Aug 14, 2024 · 36 min
Tax the Patriarchy With Abby Disney and Amy Matsui
Your favorite billionaire might pay less in taxes than you do. And that’s by design! The U.S. tax code has sexism and racism baked right into it. But if we taxed the patriarchy, we’d have enough money for the things that really matter—from child care and health care to education and housing. We talked to activist, philanthropist, and filmmaker Abby Disney and NWLC tax genius Amy Matsui about why it’s past time for Taylor, Jay-Z, Elon, and Jeff to pay their fair share.
S2 · E5
Aug 7, 2024 · 37 min
Union Girl Summer: Why Unions Are Good For Women and Everyone
With the SAG-AFTRA and Writers’ Guild of America strikes, 2023 was the year of the union. While the media buzzed about the solidarity and popularity of unions, we have known for a while that unions have always been beneficial for all workers, but especially women workers. What caused the resurgence in support for unions? How do unions play a major role in the fight for equal pay? Why should you seek unionized workplaces when job searching? We talked with Liz Schuler and Jesica Bush about the imp
S2 · E4
Jul 31, 2024 · 27 min
Oh, How I Love Being a Woman in Politics ft. Rep. Barbara Lee
Even as Black women reach the highest levels of our political system, they’re still faced with racist, sexist attacks we’d like to think are ancient history. Yet, we still depend on Black women to “save” us. No one knows the paradox of what it means to be a woman in politics better than Barbara Lee—who joins us for a special live episode as she reflects on her early days with Shirley Chisolm, her political career, and what the future holds.
S2 · E3
Jul 24, 2024 · 34 min
Drake, Kendrick, and Megan Thee Stallion: What Will It Take to Protect Black Women?
The experience of all sexual violence survivors is not created equal—why are Black women’s experiences not taken seriously? From #MuteRKelly to Tory Lanez, we’ve seen Black women used as scapegoats and blamed for the harm caused to them. We talk with Tarana Burke and Jamilah LeMieux about Drake vs. Kendrick, protecting Black women, and what it means to keep us safe.
S2 · E2
Jul 17, 2024 · 38 min
Freedom Doesn't Have to Be Scary: On Trans Joy and Living Fully
We think it’s obvious that trans women are women, but our Twitter mentions say otherwise. In an election year full of dog-whistling, we have grown disgusted by the dehumanization of trans people from all sides of the political spectrum. Trans people deserve to live their lives, play sports, and be themselves. On this episode, we talked with Anya Marino and Gillian Branstetter about why TERFs are not feminists, how transphobes have become emboldened to spread their hatred in our politics and scho
S2 · E1
Jul 10, 2024 · 38 min
Tennis Is Taking Over! From Battles of the Sexes to Challengers, Featuring Billie Jean King
On the season two premiere of Hearsay, we’re joined by two incredible advocates: Billie Jean King and Fatima Gross Graves. We discuss the groundbreaking Battle of the Sexes, equal pay, Title IX, and how tennis and women’s sports are at the center of how society views—and values—women athletes. And don’t worry, Lark, Hilary, and Jessica all saw Challengers to prepare for this episode.
S1 · E8
Apr 3, 2024 · 32 min
The Radical Power of the Happily Ever After: Why You Should Read Romance Novels
Romance as a genre has been historically dismissed as unserious, very likely because women make up its core audience. But it’s always been popular and lucrative. Romance has also been at the forefront of inclusive fiction and driving social change. With our guests, Tia Williams, an acclaimed author, and Kelsey Grimes, a reproductive rights lawyer at NWLC, we unpack the genre and how it’s inextricably linked to conversations about contraception, abortion, and freedom.
S1 · E7
Mar 27, 2024 · 42 min
Dads Are Just Babysitters: Debunking the Myths of Child Care
Why is child care so expensive and impossible to find? And why are child care providers paid so little? And how come when TV shows depict child care, if they do at all, it’s completely unrealistic—full of super nannies and hapless dads? Child care is the backbone of our entire country and is traditionally women’s work—which is why it’s frustrating, but maybe not surprising, that it’s so often invisible. In this episode, we talk to NWLC experts Jasmine Tucker and Julie Vogtman about who to blame
S1 · E6
Mar 20, 2024 · 32 min
Bottom of the Pyramid: The Misogyny Behind How Society Treats Cheerleaders
Cheerleaders are a big part of our culture, from halftime performances at school football games to the longevity of Bring It On. They’re incredible performers and such an integral part of the gameday experience, and yet society often treats them like mere objects. We’ve seen so much progress in the ways jobs traditionally held by women are respected, but why are we still discounting cheerleaders, even the ones who work in the NFL? We talk with Melanie, a former NFL cheerleader, and Lizzy, a sexu
S1 · E5
Mar 13, 2024 · 38 min
The One Where Friends Ripped Off Living Single: Co-opting Black Women's Work
Living Single, a sitcom featuring six Black roommates in New York was a hit when it debuted on Fox in 1993. But in 1994, NBC created an eerily similar show with a white cast called Friends. They aired in direct competition, and the rest is history. We explore Living Single’s legacy and the repercussions of co-opting and devaluing the work of Black women.
S1 · E4
Mar 6, 2024 · 35 min
Stronger Than Yesterday: #FreeBritney and the Broader Fight Against Conservatorships
#FreeBritney! Britney Spears has been a lightning rod since the moment she appeared on MTV. We discuss the ways in which she’s been a model of how it’s impossible to be a woman in the public eye, at every age, and how her conservatorship shed a light on the way the legal system can be weaponized, especially against people with disabilities. And then, NWLC lawyer and disability justice advocate Ma'ayan Anafi joins us to make the connection between Britney Spears and the larger fight against force
S1 · E3
Feb 28, 2024 · 33 min
Justice for Janet: Policing the Bodies of Black Women and Girls
Janet Jackson’s infamous Super Bowl halftime show wasn’t hers alone, but she sure took the blame. We rewrite history on what really happened with Janet and draw the connection to how Black women and girls’ bodies are still policed, especially through dress codes in school. And then, we talk with Dr. Monique Couvson, a scholar and expert on school pushout, about how Janet’s treatment mirrors what happens to Black girls in schools all across the country.
S1 · E2
Feb 21, 2024 · 40 min
Reality Check: Worker's Rights in the Genre You Love to Hate
What happens when reality TV gets too real? Jessica, Lark, and Hilary discuss two instances of how sexual harassment and assault were handled on reality TV, first on Survivor, then on Below Deck: Down Under. Then we talk to our guest Hannah Finnie, an expert on the intersection of employment law and reality TV, about why reality TV stars need workers’ rights too, especially in a genre of entertainment that’s too often discounted as “trash.”
S1 · E1
Feb 21, 2024 · 35 min
Abortion: We’re Talking About It. We Wish More TV and Movies Did Too
Unlike some movies and TV shows, we’re comfortable talking about abortion. Yes, we’re naming names. On this episode of Hearsay, we explore how abortion has been depicted over the decades in the media, from Maude to Jane the Virgin and (nearly) everything in between. And then Leila Abolfazli, a lawyer and abortion expert at NWLC, talks to us about why these depictions are so important, and the three movies that motivated her to join the fight for abortion access.
Feb 11, 2024 · 2 min
Introducing: Hearsay
Introducing Hearsay, the podcast that unpacks pop culture with a purpose. In each episode, our multigenerational hosts Jessica, Hilary, and Lark, invite you to join their candid conversations, backed by insights from experts who bridge the gap between their professional expertise and the cultural zeitgeist. Episode 1 premieres February 21st, 2024.

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