Best Reproductive Left Podcasts (2025)

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Endometriosis: an interview with Nurse Practitioner MaryAlice 42:42

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13d ago42:42

42:42

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 hope of relief for those with endometriosis? What's …

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Epstein — A Marriage of Capitalist Corruption and Misogyny 33:21

1h ago33:21

33:21

Jeffrey Epstein, who was arrested and charged with sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors in New York in 2019, was also accused of sexually assaulting underage girls for nearly two decades. Because he died in jail while awaiting trial, we may never know the extent of his sex trafficking ring or exactly who else…

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Life is a School and We Don’t Always Get A’s with Deborah Santana and Keisha Cook 1:10:23

4d ago1:10:23

1:10:23

In their Season Two debut episode, hosts Kelli King-Jackson and Kendra Ross are back together again for an with Kendra's cousin Keisha Cook and Kelli's aunt Deborah Santana. In this episode, they explore the nuanced journeys of spiritual deconstruction, the richness and challenges of the Black church, and the importance of grounding in one's faith …

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ACFM Trip 53: Growth 1:22:18

4d ago1:22:18

1:22:18

Keir Starmer claims that growth is the only cure for a country in decline. But why is it the central obsession of modern capitalist economies? And can we think our way out of it before our planet runs out of resources? Nadia, Keir and Jem offer their weird-left take on growth, degrowth, radical abundance, ecomodernism and personal productivity, wit…

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Social Reproduction Theory Illuminates the Issues of Our Time 21:02

12d ago21:02

21:02

There has been an extensive study of workers and the commodities they produce. When it comes to who produces those workers, or who produces people, gives birth to them, raises them, and socializes them, there is a lot less material that examines that type of work. Social Reproduction Theory examines the aspects of capitalism and bridges the gap bet…

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Planet Patriarchy 25:18

15d ago25:18

25:18

Patriarchy refuses to die. In every country of the world, women are oppressed by male violence, patriarchal religions, and ideas of the family. But women are resisting, as Rahila Gupta explains, in a fascinating analysis that takes us from Riyadh and Russia, to Rojava. Buy Planet Patriarchy: Global Tales of Feminism and Oppression: https://uk.books…

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Season Two Trailer- Welcome back to the group chat! 1:55

17d ago1:55

1:55

In this season two trailer of the This Womanist Work podcast, hosts Kendra Ross and Kelly King-Jackson invite listeners to join a journey that intertwines spirituality with politics and pop culture. The season focuses on the role of Black women in theology, exploring their historical contributions and contemporary influence. Throughout the season y…

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The tech start-up targeting sexual assault survivors 34:58

23d ago34:58

34:58

Content warning: This episode discusses sexual assault, rape and trauma. When our investigative reporter Sian Norris heard worrying claims about a Silicon Valley-style start-up targeting rape survivors at universities in Bristol, she knew she needed to uncover what exactly was going on. Over the next six months, Sian interviewed more than a dozen p…

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ACFM Microdose: Social Reproduction 1:08:16

25d ago1:08:16

1:08:16

Following their Trip episode about Cleaning, the ACFM crew take a closer look at the hidden labour that keeps the economy running. Would public canteens solve 80% of our problems? Find the books and music mentioned in the show: https://novara.media/acfm Sign up to the ACFM newsletter: https://novaramedia.com/newsletters Help us build people-powered…

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Out With The Old, In With The New: Mamdani’s Win is for All 18:25

29d ago18:25

18:25

Zohran Mamdani’s recent victory in the Democratic primary for New York City’s mayor has shaken up the old establishment and is becoming a symbol of progress and real, meaningful change for younger generations, and everyone else, whether or not they like it. With over 40k volunteers and a meter $1.7 million raised, Mamdani’s margin of victory agains…

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Who is funding Nigel Farage’s Reform party - and why? 28:05

1M ago28:05

28:05

This is the first episode of our new mini-series exploring the financial interests of political parties in England and Wales. Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has banked almost £5m from wealthy donors since 2023, including those with links to fossil fuels, the financial services industry and tax havens. It has also received significant financial investment…

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ACFM Trip 52: Cleaning 1:59:34

1M ago1:59:34

1:59:34

In the socialist utopia of our dreams, who exactly is doing the cleaning? Nadia, Jem and Keir confront a tricky topic in this ACFM Trip. With music from X-Ray Spex, The B-52s and more, they offer their weird-left perspective on everything from dirty dishes and bodily secretions to circumcision, pollution and the caste system. Find the books and mus…

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Social Reproduction Theory: A Tool for Changing U.S. Society 19:35

1M ago19:35

19:35

It examines the types of labor that shape human beings outside of waged work, both before and after they enter the waged workforce. Social Reproduction Theory complements Marxist theories of labor at the workplace by introducing the labor that shapes human beings outside of waged work. Learn more about CHH: We make it a point to provide the show fr…

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Diet Culture 19:32

1M ago19:32

19:32

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 month's episode of Reproductive Left!Introductory res…

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A momentous day for reproductive rights 21:09

2M ago21:09

21:09

On 17 June 2025 UK Parliament voted to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales, reversing a Victorian-era law. The amendment will prevent women from being prosecuted for ending a pregnancy after 24 weeks or without approval from two doctors. We spoke to our senior investigative reporter Sian Norris, author of Bodies Under Siege: How the Far-Rig…

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How Economic Transformations Impact America's Mental Health 34:32

2M ago34:32

34:32

In this episode of Capitalism Hits Home, Dr. Fraad examines the impact of recent global economic losses on the personal lives of Americans, from marriage and family to mental health. Learn more about CHH: We make it a point to provide the show free of ads. Your contributions help keep this content free and accessible to all. If you would like to si…

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Locked up: protesters in prison 29:57

2M ago29:57

29:57

Earlier this year, openDemocracy explored how successive governments had cracked down on protest rights. Now, with Just Stop Oil activists facing lengthy sentences for "conspiring" to commit protest offences, the impact of these laws is being felt more than ever. We sat down with human rights lawyer Katy Watts to discuss the sentencing, and how she…

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Generation Crisis: Why generational labels miss the mark 26:35

2M ago26:35

26:35

Boomers ruined everything, Millennials are work-shy and Gen Z can’t comprehend anything that isn’t a TikTok dance. Generational language defines the way we think about broad cohorts of society, but is this way of viewing the world dividing us further at a time when solidarity has never been more important? Tom Nicholas, a writer, filmmaker and YouT…

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ACFM Microdose: Superheroes 2:01:01

2M ago2:01:01

2:01:01

Following the recent Trip episode on Heroes, Keir and Jem return with a Microdose focusing on the masked, the winged and the mutated. Why are superheroes such a cultural mainstay? What psychological and political desires do they fulfil? Are they inherently reactionary? From Superman to Batman, Wonder Woman to 2000AD, it’s a weird left reading of su…

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Pelvic Floor Health: an interview with Dr. Meaghan 28:09

2M ago28:09

28:09

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 Reproductive Left!Learn more about Dr. Meaghan and h…

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21. Alicia Utecht 1:06:51

3M ago1:06:51

1:06:51

Alicia Utecht, PhD candidate in the SIU School of Communication Studies, joins Mario to talk about her fate to attend SIU going back to her time in undergrad, academic service, disability studies, fandoms, and family communication.

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How Protest Became a Crime in the UK: "We’re All Arrestables Now" 35:09

3M ago35:09

35:09

This week on In Solidarity, we're in discussion with openDemocracy's senior investigative reporter and feminist activist, Sian Norris. Sian joins us on the podcast to reveal how recent laws are quietly dismantling the right to protest in the UK. Drawing on six months of in-depth reporting, Sian breaks down the true impact of the Public Order Act 20…

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ACFM Trip 51: Heroes 1:49:39

3M ago1:49:39

1:49:39

The ACFM crew offer a weird-left perspective on the role of the hero (and heroine) in politics and culture. Nadia, Jem and Keir assess theories of Great Men, the myth of the hero’s journey and the lure of the anti-hero with ideas from Weber and Hegel and music from Tina Turner and Sonic Youth. Find the books and music mentioned in the show: https:/…

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Can The Left Deal With America's Mental Health Crisis? 28:31

3M ago28:31

28:31

In this episode of Capitalism Hits Home, Dr. Fraad examines loneliness as a major driver of America’s mental health crisis. We explore how socialist and leftist organizing in the past has tackled this issue—and how present-day "12-Step" programs might offer the Left new strategies for reaching and mobilizing Americans. Learn more about CHH: We make…

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Women, life, freedom: resistance and protest in Iran 30:28

3M ago30:28

30:28

As a young woman in 1980s Iran, Nasrin Parvaz was arrested, imprisoned and tortured by the Iranian regime. In this moving interview, she shares her experience of torture and incarceration, reflects on the successive women's revolutions in Iran, questions the West's ideas of regime change, and offers a powerful call for global sisterhood. http://www…

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A Seat at the Table: A Mother's Day Table Talk 1:06:46

3M ago1:06:46

1:06:46

Recorded live over a beautiful, catered dinner at the Pittsburgh Public Theater, your hosts Kelli King-Jackson and Kendra Ross gathered with special guests to honor the sacred work of mothering. With laughter, a few tears, and lots of love, we kicked off Season Two exploring the beauty and complexity of motherhood and daughterhood. This conversatio…

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Companies are making billions from anti-immigration fears 31:55

3M ago31:55

31:55

For many years, politicians have sold the public a simple story: The answer to undocumented immigration is a strong, fortified border. This story has a seductive, common-sense reasoning — but it is also wrong. Decades of research has shown that people determined to move, find a way to move. And when States respond with border controls, people turn …

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20. "Cult Piece" Postmortem 1:00:57

3M ago1:00:57

1:00:57

T Brown, SIU Communication Studies PhD candidate and director of the Kleinau Theater show Cult Piece, joins Mario to reflect of the production and the process of its creation. Cult Piece is an experimental artistic performance that represents Brown's experience living through and surviving a cult organization.…

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Why Some Americans Still Support Trump 27:25

3M ago27:25

27:25

In this episode of Capitalism Hits Home, Dr. Fraad explores how the Frankfurt School of Marxian Theory and the Marxist Philosopher Louis Althusser can help us understand Americans’ adherence to Trump even after the chaos and cuts of Trump's first 100 days in office. Learn more about CHH: We make it a point to provide the show free of ads. Your cont…

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Why organising locally matters 40:29

3M ago40:29

40:29

Community organisers around the world have long argued that to change a country, canvas a community. But is that really true? In this episode, we catch up with someone who literally wrote the book on the subject. Our guest George Goehl started organising in a soup kitchen in Southern Indiana 30 years ago in the Clinton era and continues to do so in…

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ACFM Microdose: Make Way For Winged Eros! 1:42:51

4M ago1:42:51

1:42:51

The ACFM gang gather for a springtime reading of a prototype acid-communist text by Russian revolutionary Alexandra Kollontai. Download the text and follow along as Nadia, Keir and Jem get their teeth into Make Way for Winged Eros! A Letter to Working Youth, published in 1923.Check out the AK-47 podcast mentioned in this show: https://kristenghodse…

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Palestine, Musk and BRICS: the issues dividing US and South Africa 41:36

4M ago41:36

41:36

The already fraught relationship between the United States and South Africa has been put under even more strain with Donald Trump's decision to cut foreign aid, not to mention South Africa's case against Israel at the ICJ. Menzi Ndhlovu, a political economist and risk analyst at Signal Risk a risk analysis consultancy focused on Africa, joins us to…

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19. Dr. Caleb McKinley-Portee 1:12:51

4M ago1:12:51

1:12:51

Dr. Caleb McKinley-Portee, assistant lecturer in the College of Liberal Arts at Southern Illinois University, joins Mario to discuss Black performance aesthetics, Afrofuturism, Sankofa, the blending of personal and academic interests, and his love of Octavia Butler.

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The Love Lost by the Left 16:45

4M ago16:45

16:45

In this week's episode of Capitalism Hits Home, Dr. Harriet Fraad points out how the Left has turned away from the love of community that helped fuel the movements behind leaders like MLK and Che and explains why this has turned out to be a huge mistake. She then explains the importance of love of community, connection, and justice in building a un…

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Populism's Silver Lining 29:14

4M ago29:14

29:14

Danny Sriskandarajah is the author of Power to the People: Use your voice, change the world Sriskandarajah discusses the shift from a positive phase of civic engagement to a reversal over the past decade, emphasising the importance of community networks beyond state and market fixations. He highlights the role of civil society in nurturing democrac…

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18. "'Til Death Do Us Part" Postmortem 57:38

4M ago57:38

57:38

Sean Maulding, SIU Communication Studies PhD student and director of the Kleinau Theater show 'Til Death Do Us Part, joins Mario to discuss his recent performance and the core concepts that shape it. As a demonstration of drama therapy, 'Til Death Do Us Part is Maulding's exploration with coming to terms with topics like grief and death through per…

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How Capitalism Breeds Sociopathic Mental Illness 4:50

4M ago4:50

4:50

This week on Capitalism Hits Home, Dr. Fraad discusses how the profit motive that defines capitalism is that no one hires you unless they make more money from your work than they pay you. That is simply considered good business, and Dr. Fraad explains how compassion and empathy remain variables that are absent from "good business." Learn more about…

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ACFM Trip 50: Fifty Shades of Acid 1:37:46

4M ago1:37:46

1:37:46

The gang present a milestone 50th Trip all about acid: a drug, a genre, a political concept, a mental tool and a thought corrosive. Looking back on six years of the podcast, Nadia, Keir and Jem decide if ‘acid’ is still a useful way of thinking about left-wing politics. Find the books and music mentioned in the show: https://novara.media/acfm Sign …

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Menopause: an interview with Dr. Nicole 24:05

5M ago24:05

24:05

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 May to kick off our Summer 2025 season.Image: Ricardo…

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17. Justin Young 1:10:48

5M ago1:10:48

1:10:48

Welcome back to the Communication Studies podcast! SIU School of Communication Studies assistant lecturer Justin Young joins new host Mario Sanders to talk about his winding path to academia, his love of media and its ability to connect us with others, the death of the monoculture, video game compilations, nostalgia, and animal friends.…

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Escaping The Alt-Right Pipeline 33:31

5M ago33:31

33:31

Jimmy The Giant is a popular YouTuber who did what many would consider to be beyond the pale - he changed his mind about politics. Jimmy went from heading down the right wing pipeline of self improvement gurus to U-turning and becoming, dare we say, ‘woke’. In today’s episode Aman Sethi talks to Jimmy about how and why he changed his mind about the…