What Do You Mean By That?

Latest Episodes:

98: Inauguration 2021 Jan 20, 2021

Show notes

We finally made it to the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. This day is about a break with Trumpism, a break from the direction that our country has steadily been heading for the past nearly five years, and the fact that the majority (it's a small one, but still a majority) of our country rejected that ideal in November.

What this day is NOT though, is the end of Trumpism. It is not the end of hard work. We have seen violence that we could never imagine in the halls of our nation's Capitol building, and a staggering display of White power and White privilege that wasn't shocking or surprising, but disgusting and a reminder that this is, no matter how we twist things around, who we are.

This is who we are, for the fact that Misasha's sons will still be called the N-word for simply being Black, for the fact that we still have no justice for George Floyd or Breonna Taylor and that what happened to Jacob Blake was not justice. For the fact that Tamir Rice was killed at 12 for carrying a cap gun and that in early January a whole White mob brought zip ties and guns and 2500 rounds of ammo (and that's just one guy) into the Capitol building and actually beat a police officer with the American flag and THEY WALKED OUT OF THERE. This is who we are, in whispered conversations, in slanderous campaigns, in voter suppression, in dirty looks and false facts based on systemic racism that we choose to look away from because we think white supremacy helps us. It doesn't. It hurts us all.

So on this historic day, we want you to take it in. Breathe it in. But then - don't look away. Don't think that you wrote some voter postcards and you're good until 2024. Because today is not the end of the past four years. Today is the beginning of the next four years. And we think it'll be an uphill battle - and we need you with us. Let's go to work.

Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at hello@dearwhitewomen.com

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97: What You Need to Know About Conspiracy Theories with Professor Karen Douglas Jan 13, 2021

Show notes

In case you didn't see the news, our US Capitol was overrun by a mob of insurgents at the beginning of 2021, largely spurred on by a conspiracy theory led by the American president that the 2020 US Election was rigged.

We figured now was a good time to talk about conspiracy theories - with an expert. Today, we bring you an enlightening conversation with Professor Karen Douglas, a social psychologist specializing in the study of conspiracy theories.

Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at hello@dearwhitewomen.com

What to listen for:

What are conspiracy theories? How are they different from critical thinking?
Who are the people who are most vulnerable to believing conspiracy theories - and do they even know that they're being influenced?
What's the danger in conspiracy theories?
How do we check ourselves and others to make sure we don't spread misinformation?

About Professor Douglas:

Karen Douglas is a Professor of Social Psychology at the University of Kent, United Kingdom. She studies the antecedents and consequences of belief in conspiracy theories. She serves on the Executive Committee of the European Association of Social Psychology and is a fellow of the Association for Psychological Science.

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96: What Side of History Will You Be On? Jan 06, 2021

Show notes

We're finally done with 2020… but if 2020 taught us anything, it's that this period of time we are living through will be examined in the history books. Our grandkids will be asking us what life was like during the global pandemic, how strict our lockdowns were, and what we did to stand up against the racial and social injustices that were made so painfully clear during 2020.

So, as you're thinking about New Year's resolutions, which, if you're anything like us, may include more workout time, less drinking, and more green juices, we've got the most important question for you: What side of history do you want to be able to say you were on this year?

We are devoting our first theme of the New Year to answering this question, focusing on why (and how) people should care about others. In doing our research around this topic - and talking to some amazingly smart thought leaders in the process - we've come up with some central themes that resonated with us.

Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at hello@dearwhitewomen.com

What to listen for:

Anger - how white anger is viewed differently than anger expressed by people of color, and where white anger can be expressed without repercussion (hint: it's pretty much everywhere)
The power of White women and some reasons why concepts that many believe should be central to all women are not supported by a large portion of this voting bloc
Conspiracy theories - what makes people vulnerable to them, and what to do about them
Empathy - how and why White liberals sought legal equality in the Civil Rights Era without believing Black people to be their equals, and what true empathy might look like

PLUS, support us through Patreon! Learn about our virtual community – and you're welcome to join.

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95: BYE, 2020! Dec 30, 2020

Show notes

We've been waiting to record this episode . . . basically the whole year, or at least since early March. It's our annual wrap-up episode, except that just like everything else in 2020, it's not like how it was last year. Let's let this year go in style - prepare to reflect, laugh, and cheer the New Year along with us.

Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at hello@dearwhitewomen.com

What to listen for:

Some highlights of our year (which included you as listeners!) and why we aren't picking a word of the year for 2021 (learned THAT lesson, thankyouverymuch).
Podcast plans for 2021, including our book, new episodes, and more.
Misasha trying not to laugh so hard she cries while Sara plays select quotes from the 2019 wrap-up episode that we did.
One lesson that we each learned from 2020, and will carry with us into 2021.

Links:

Word of the Year (WaPo)

PLUS, support us through Patreon! Learn about our virtual community – and you're welcome to join.

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94: How to Talk With Your Family Over the Holidays Dec 23, 2020

Show notes

We recently read a great piece on Medium called "Finally an Answer to Why So Many People Voted For Trump" -- which is a question we've been asking ourselves, too.

The author notes: "Trump is definitely not virtuous - but he doesn't pretend to be. He never claims to be morally superior to other people; he's shameless in all of his flaws, and it gives comfort to people in a world that's constantly telling them they're not good enough." That stands in contrast to the anti-Trumpers who say you're either with us or against us - that if you aren't with us, you must be racist or homophobic or bigoted or sexist.

Basically, each side is driving the other side crazy. What we need to do instead is TO LISTEN.

With that in mind, we bring you a repeat of last year's episode on having these sorts of confrontational, difficult conversations with your family - only this time, it's not an option. We've seen the pain, the horror, the murder, the mistreatment of so many people during 2020, and now we have to speak up. And before then, we must listen to the human beings we sit across from - whether it's over a real table or through a virtual screen.

Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at hello@dearwhitewomen.com

What to listen for:

Addressing different beliefs begins with us talking to our families, educating them, and showing them kindness and compassion in the process.
How having uncomfortable conversations with respect can lead to better communication and understanding.
Starting conversations regarding these hard issues can seem daunting but gives us the opportunity for a host of other meaningful interactions about prejudices and inequality.
How do we even get these conversations started? We provide a question that helps to address the "white elephant" in the room.

PLUS, support us through Patreon! Learn about our virtual community – and you're welcome to join.

Like what you hear? Don't miss another episode and subscribe!

Catch up on more commentary between episodes by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter – and even more opinions and resources if you join our email list.

93: Humanity in Words, with jessica Care moore Dec 16, 2020

Show notes

There are people among us who elevate art to something beyond imitating life - to something that makes us think deeply, find the beauty in those moments both trivial and profound, and challenge the meaning in things that seem obvious.

Enter our guest today. We speak with internationally renowned poet and inspirational human being jessica Care moore about her latest collection, We Want Our Bodies Back, which is dedicated to Black Lives Matter activist Sandra Bland, who died in jail under suspicious circumstances following a pretextual traffic stop in 2015.

Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at hello@dearwhitewomen.com

What to listen for?

The poet's live reading of "I Can't Breathe."
Her inspiration for the poems from this anthology, but also why she writes about specific topics and the intersection between those topics and her lived experiences.
Why she's a womanist, and the ways in which she was raised to be a strong Black woman that reflect on how she's raising her son today.
How she manages to find inspiration AND take care of herself in 2020.

About the author:

JESSICA CARE MOORE is the founder and CEO of Moore Black Press, executive producer of Black WOMEN Rock!, and founder of the literacy-driven, Jess Care Moore Foundation. An internationally renowned poet, playwright, performance artist, and producer, she is the 2019 and 2017 Knight Arts Award Winner, 2016 Kresge Arts Fellow, NAACP Great Expectations Awardee, and an Alain Locke Award recipient from the Detroit Institute of Arts. Moore is the author of The Words Don't Fit in My Mouth, The Alphabet Verses the Ghetto, Sunlight Through Bullet Holes, and the critically acclaimed Techno Choreopoem, Salt City. Her work has been published in numerous literary collections and she has performed on stages all over the world, including, The Apollo Theater, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the London Institute for Contemporary Arts. Jessica lives and writes in an historic Detroit neighborhood with her son King Thomas. https://jessicacaremoore.com/

PLUS, support us through Patreon! Learn about our virtual community – and you're welcome to join.

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92: Real Talk About Abortions with Dr. Jenn Dec 09, 2020

Show notes

We spoke with lawyer Melissa Torres-Montoya of If/When/How last week about the legal landscape for women's reproductive rights with the appointment of Justice Barrett to the supreme court, the continued assault on Roe v. Wade, and all the other circumstances that add up to shape a woman's ability to have a child (affordable healthcare, housing, and more).

But those are big issues that sometimes are passed off or pushed aside as issues that don't affect us. That's not true. To make sure that we continue to recognize that reproductive rights are an issue that affects every single person in our country (you're here because of reproduction, and you'll likely have choices in your life to make about reproduction, or your children, or someone you know will) we bring you back the conversation with abortion provider Dr. Jenn, who puts real stories of real people into context.

Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at hello@dearwhitewomen.com

What to listen for:

Who performs abortions in the U.S. (hint: it's only a small portion of OBGYNs, and although more are trained, admin or policy issues may prohibit them from doing so)
How Dr. Jenn went from anti-choice to an abortion provider
When the vast majority of abortions happen (hint: it's not late-term), and how doctors feel as they're performing them
Real stories of women who have been through abortions, and who they are (80% of women who have abortions are mothers already, racial disparity plays a huge issue)
How harmful legislation doesn't actually stop abortions from happening

About Dr. Jenn: Dr. Jenn Conti is an internationally recognized health expert, medical journalist, and Ob/Gyn physician. She received her M.D. from the University of California San Francisco, completed residency at Kaiser Permanente Oakland, and a fellowship in Family Planning at Stanford University. She also holds Master's degrees in both Journalism from the Columbia Journalism School and Epidemiology & Clinical Research from Stanford University.

She is the Co-Author of The Vagina Book: An Owner's Manual for Taking Care of Your Down There, and Co-Host of The V Word Podcast, which was featured on the iTunes New & Noteworthy podcasts list. She serves as a Medical Advisor for Modern Fertility.

Identifiers: proud wife, mother, and Latina. She/Her.

PLUS, support us through Patreon! Learn about our virtual community – and you're welcome to join.

Like what you hear? Don't miss another episode and subscribe!

Catch up on more commentary between episodes by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter – and even more opinions and resources if you join our email list.

91: The Abortion Landscape, and a New Lawyer's Network with Melissa Torres-Montoya Dec 02, 2020

Show notes

Abortion.

Whether you're pro-choice or anti-choice, you're likely to have some emotions jolt through you when you hear the word. However, with the appointment of conservative Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court and Roe v Wade related decisions on the docket, we want to make sure we all know about the abortion and reproductive rights landscape, which is way broader when you consider what it takes to bring a child into the world - affordable housing, healthcare, and living wages - along with a new program for any lawyers out there who want to get involved.

Promise, it'll be relevant if you know any women at all.

Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at hello@dearwhitewomen.com

What to listen for:

How we are past fighting Roe v Wade and need to look at mobilization strategies for state-led protections
The importance of considering reproductive justice as a whole - including affordable housing, healthcare access, and the need for living wages - when considering something as specific as abortion
How lawyers, as well as non-lawyers, can join the fight to protect accessibility to reproductive justice
The need for all genders to have more open conversations about our sexuality, sex, and reproduction.

About If/When/How:

If/When/How is a national network of law students and legal professionals working together for reproductive justice.

We transform the law and policy landscape through advocacy, support, and organizing so all people have the power to determine if, when, and how to define, create, and sustain families with dignity and to actualize sexual and reproductive wellbeing on their own terms. We invite you to join our nationwide network of lawyers, law students, legal professionals, and movement organizers who are working to make reproductive freedom a reality for all.

About Melissa

Melissa Torres-Montoya, J.D., M.P.H. is the Lawyer Engagement Manager at If/When/How. Melissa is a reproductive justice and sexual health advocate who has worked at nonprofit organizations shaping policies at every level of government. She has dedicated her professional career to addressing the lack of affordable quality healthcare in the United States and advancing sexual and reproductive autonomy.

Ms. Torres-Montoya earned a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, and received a Masters in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University. Melissa spent the year following her graduate education as an If/When/How public policy and legal fellow at the National Women's Health Network. She also attended the University of California, Davis where she earned her A.B. in History and Political Science. Melissa is admitted to practice law in the state of Maryland.

PLUS, support us through Patreon! Learn about our virtual community – and you're welcome to join.

Like what you hear? Don't miss another episode and subscribe!

Catch up on more commentary between episodes by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter – and even more opinions and resources if you join our email list.

90: Remembering Toni Morrison Nov 25, 2020

Show notes

When's the last time you had a Toni Morrison book read to you? Like, by Margaret Atwood, Tayari Jones (An American Marriage), Brit Bennett (The Vanishing Half), and more?

We are beyond thrilled to highlight a fantastic event put on by Literacy Partners - a Thanksgiving weekend reading of Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon, which is just as relevant now as it was back in 1977.

Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at hello@dearwhitewomen.com

How do you log in?

Visit ticketing page: https://litpartners2020.org/toni-morrison/
Click GET TICKETS NOW
Pop-Up page Click Link: PROMO CODE (Upper Left/ Light blue)
Enter Code DWW2020 and the price should zero-out.
Page down to: Suggested Donation Options: $5.00 or $20.00 w/ book bundle or $0.00

What to listen for:

Why Literacy Partners chose Song of Solomon as the book to read
How the authors reacted when they were asked to take the time to read a chapter aloud
Who they hope to reach, and what they hope to see come out of this project

About Literacy Partners:

Literacy Partners strengthens families through a two-generation approach to education. With our free classes, community workshops, and educational media, low-income and immigrant parents and caregivers develop literacy and language skills they need to succeed in today's world. Our research-based programs incorporate child development and parenting support to help parents and caregivers boost children's early reading, social-emotional growth, and school readiness. Designed to arm every parent and caregiver with the necessary tools they need to create success for themselves and a better future for the children in their care, Literacy Partners' programs break the cycle of poverty, improve job prospects, and close the achievement gap for children before they even begin school.

About our interviewees:

Jordan Pavlin is Senior Vice President and Editorial Director at Knopf. Authors with whom she is currently working include Susan Minot, Dinaw Mengestu, Ethan Hawke, Karen Russell, Maggie Shipstead, Ayana Mathis, Julie Orringer, Nathan Englander, Yaa Gyasi, Tommy Orange, Megha Majumdar, Amity Gaige, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Kazuo Ishiguro.

Allison Sciplin, Director of Special Events and Annual Giving. From an early age, Allison has possessed a great love for reading and books. She often travels to small towns and scours used bookstores, looking for unique and little-known books by African American authors. It is a fitting pastime for Allison, who still owns her first picture book, by Langston Hughes. Allison grew up immersed in a world of the arts and books in her home state of Ohio. A former educator and dancer with an MFA in theater, she transitioned into fundraising after a first career in arts programming. Prior to Literacy Partners, she worked for the Primary Care Development Corporation and Bank Street College of Education. Through her work at Literacy Partners, Allison says, she hopes others will fall in love with reading and books, just as she did.

PLUS, support us through Patreon! Learn about our virtual community – and you're welcome to join.

Like what you hear? Don't miss another episode and subscribe!

Catch up on more commentary between episodes by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter – and even more opinions and resources if you join our email list.

89: Police in the Emergency Room - The Less Discussed Angle of #defundthepolice Nov 18, 2020

Show notes

Here's something we've never thought about before, because we've taken privacy law HIPAA at face value. What happens with my private medical information if I'm in an emergency room of the hospital, and there is a police presence in that same emergency room?

And importantly, how is this situation even worse for people who aren't as rich or White as some of us listening to this podcast?

Today we're excited to have Ji Seon Song return to the podcast to talk about her new research (and soon to be published note in the Harvard Law Review!) regarding the problematic role and presence of police in emergency rooms, and what medical providers - and laypeople - may want to consider about how patients' information is handled in that setting.

Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at hello@dearwhitewomen.com

What to listen for:

The gutting, real-life experience of a teen who was shot in the head which got Ji Seon Song interested in this topic.
How police interact with medical providers - and patients - in the emergency room, often on their own authority.
How ERs are used differently in different communities, and which citizens are most at risk of violations.
Why patient privacy in the emergency room is an issue that should concern all of us.

About Ji Seon Song:

Ji Seon Song's scholarship focuses on criminal law, criminal procedure, and juvenile law. Her current project examines policing in hospitals. She teaches Federal Litigation in a Global Context and Legal Research and Writing.

Ji Seon has been active in local, regional, and national juvenile justice reform. As the current president of the Pacific Juvenile Defender Center, she leads policy, litigation, training, and community outreach efforts focused on improving the juvenile justice system in California. Before joining Stanford, Ji Seon was a public defender in California where she represented youth and adults in delinquency and criminal proceedings. During her time at the public defender's office, she expanded the officer's capacity for its holistic representation of clients and spearheaded a county-level multi-stakeholder initiative to improve conditions of confinement and reentry for youth. Previously, Ji Seon worked as a senior policy advocate at the National Juvenile Defender Center and as an E. Barrett Prettyman Fellow at Georgetown University Law Center's Juvenile Justice Clinic. Ji Seon clerked for the Hon. Deborah A. Batts of the Southern District of New York.

Ji Seon received her JD from Columbia Law School and an LLM from Georgetown University Law Center. Ji Seon holds a BA in East Asian Language and Cultures with a Minor in Music from Columbia College, Columbia University. Ji Seon was a founding member of the Asian American Criminal Trial Lawyers Association and the Bay Area Public Defenders for Racial Justice.

PLUS, support us through Patreon! Learn about our virtual community – and you're welcome to join.

Like what you hear? Don't miss another episode and subscribe!

Catch up on more commentary between episodes by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter – and even more opinions and resources if you join our email list.

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