Hearsay

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 about the intersectionality of it all and how we can really support Black women.ResourcesMore information on the WNBPAResources on the wage gapYou can follow Aliyah Boston hereYou can follow Alysha Clark here 

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.Read Lola’s substack The New New | Lola Kolade | SubstackFollow Lola’s tiktok lola | nyc writer (@lolaokola) | TikTok

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.Resources:Learn more about Abby’s latest movie, The American Dream and Other FairytalesTry out NWLC’s Tax the Patriarchy calculator, where you can tax the rich and decide how to invest that money to benefit our countryLearn more about the Patriotic MillionairesSee the Tax Justice Is Gender Justice series of reportsRead The Faulty Foundations of the Tax Code: Gender and Racial Bias in Our Tax Laws

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 importance of unions in creating workplaces that at minimum keep us safe and at maximum allow us to thrive.Resources:Info from the AFL-CIO on how to start a union: https://aflcio.org/formaunionNWLC Fact Sheet on Why Unions Are Good for Women: https://nwlc.org/resource/unions-are-good-for-women/

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.You can stream Shirley on NetflixBarbara Lee’s floor speech can be found hereYou can stream Mrs. America on Hulu

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.For more information and ways to support survivors, visit the metoo. Movement website Resources:You can stream Surviving R. Kelly on NetflixThe book Lark mentioned is Soulless: The Case Against R. KellyThe book Jessica mentioned is Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot by Mikki KendallHere is the metoo. Movement and Black Voters Matter Survivor Justice Voter GuideMore on Tarana BurkeMore on Jamilah LeMieux 

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 schools, and why it is more important than ever to protect trans adults and trans children.Resources:NWLC Blog - Once and For All: This Is Why We Support Trans Women and Girls in SportsRead about SCOTUS granting cert to one of the ACLU’s challenges against an anti-trans health care ban in Tennessee with arguments coming this fall. U.S. Supreme Court Will Hear Challenge from United States, Families, and Doctors Against Transgender Health Care Ban | American Civil Liberties Union (aclu.org)ACLU Protect Trans Care action Protect Trans Care Now | American Civil Liberties Union (aclu.org)

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.Learn more about the Women’s Sports Foundation: https://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/Learn more about Title IX: https://nwlc.org/issue/education-title-ix/

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.We’ve got romance recommendations for you!Tia’s rec: This Could Be Us by Kennedy RyanKelsey’s rec: Any book by Courtney MilanHilary’s rec: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne and for historical, A League of Extraordinary Women series by Evie DunmoreJessica’s rec: Act Your Age, Even Brown by Talia Hibbert

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 for our child care crisis, how to help child care workers and parents alike, and the child care myths that are hurting all of us, whether you have kids or not. We have so many resources for you! Julie’s Undervalued report:https://nwlc.org/resource/undervalued-a-brief-history-of-womens-care-work-and-child-care-policy-in-the-united-states/ Jasmine and Julie’s report on what happened to women after COVID-19:https://nwlc.org/resource/resilient-but-not-recovered-after-two-years-of-the-covid-19-crisis-women-are-still-struggling/Child care provider Merline A. Gallegos explains what would help her:https://nwlc.org/on-child-care-worker-appreciation-day-what-we-really-need-is-action/An interactive map that shows how each state would benefit if Congress stabilized the child care system with $16 billion:https://nwlc.org/resource/cc-map/ Data that shows child care workers are being left behind in terms of their pay: https://nwlc.org/press-release/nwlc-releases-data-revealing-child-care-workers-wage-growth-lags-behind-other-low-paid-occupations/

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 sexual harassment lawyer who helped take down Dan Snyder, the former owner of the Washington football team.For more information on the case involving the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund and Dan Snyder: https://nwlc.org/how-survivors-prevailed-against-dan-snyder-and-the-washington-commanders/ The Oversight Committee Report Melanie mentioned can be found here: https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/news/press-releases/oversight-committee-releases-final-report-on-investigation-into-the-nfl-s If you have experienced sex harassment or other sex discrimination at work, the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund may be able to help. For more information visit: https://nwlc.org/times-up-legal-defense-fund/legal-help-for-sex-discrimination-and-harassment/

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.Living Single vs. Friends: Erika Alexander Speaks Out: https://zora.medium.com/why-the-friends-vs-living-single-twitter-beef-really-matters-ce54d9559457Erika Alexander says the 'Living Single' and 'Friends' needs 'a larger conversation': https://www.today.com/popculture/tv/erika-alexander-says-living-single-friends-needs-larger-conversation-rcna83757

#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 forced sterilization and conservatorships. Ma’ayan’s report, Forced Sterilization of Disabled People in the United States can be found here: https://nwlc.org/resource/forced-sterilization-of-disabled-people-in-the-united-states/

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.Check out Grantmakers for Girls of Color here: https://g4gc.org/Learn more about Dr. Couvson and her work here: https://drmoniquecouvson.com/NWLC’s Dress Coded reports can be found here: https://nwlc.org/resource/dresscoded/

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.”If you have experienced sex harassment at work, at school, or when receiving health care, the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund may be able to help. For more information visit: https://nwlc.org/times-up-legal-defense-fund-/ .More information on Kellee Kim’s case and TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund’s involvement can be found here: https://nwlc.org/surviving-survivor-sexual-harassment-in-the-workplace-includes-reality-tv/

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.For more information on abortion in media:We Testify - Abortion Onscreen Awards Abortion Onscreen — WE TESTIFYANSIRH - Abortion on TV and Film Abortion on TV and Film | ANSIRHGlamour article about abortion representation in TV: Here's Why the Abortion Storylines on Jane the Virgin and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Matter | GlamourOur watchlist of TV episodes with abortion plots and subplots:Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: “When Will Josh and His Friend Leave Me Alone?” (Season 2, Episode 4)Euphoria: “And Salt the Earth Behind You” (Season 1, Episode 8)Jane the Virgin: “Chapter Forty-Six” (Season 3, Episode 2)Maude: “Maude’s Dilemma” (Season 1, Episodes 9/10)Scandal: “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” (Season 5, Episode 9) Sex and the City: Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda (Season 4, Episode 11)

 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.