Extraordinary: The Fight for Reproductive Justice

Reproductive rights and abortion access have been under attack, but there's hope if you know where to look ... starting with the past. Get a sneak peek of the stories we'll tell on this new narrative show hosted by writer and activist Carolyn Silveira.

You might have heard of Griswold v Connecticut, a major Supreme Court case from the 1950s … but do you know who “Griswold” was? We’d like you to meet Estelle—Estelle Griswold, and learn about her adventurous life as a singer, Parisian expat, WWII humanitarian, and mid-life medical student. All these experiences would prepare her for the work that made her legacy with Planned Parenthood and the Supreme Court. We explore the legacy of Griswold’s legal battle for contraception access and its far-reaching impacts on privacy, women's rights, and prosperity—even today. 00:00 The Overturning of Roe v. Wade01:19 The Inspiration Behind the Podcast03:06 Estelle's Early Life04:39 Estelle's Journey to Planned Parenthood09:06 The Legal Battle Begins18:25 Griswold v. Connecticut: The Supreme Court Case22:16 The Legacy of Griswold v. Connecticut25:29 The Lasting Impact of Contraceptive Access27:26 Next Episode PreviewGuestProfessor Martha J. Bailey provides context on the historical and material effects of reproductive justice, underscoring the importance of continued activism in light of recent court decisions.Estelle Griswold’s voice comes to us thanks to the Schlesinger Library at the Harvard Radcliffe Institute. ResourcesRead Hope in the Dark*Learn about the idea of Reproductive Justice: https://www.sistersong.net/about-x2Donate to abortion funds: https://abortionfunds.org/General resources about abortion: https://www.ineedana.com/  Find Us Online- Website: https://shows.acast.com/extraordinary-the-fight-for-reproductive-justice- Substack: https://theextraordinarypodcast.substack.com/- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_extraordinary_podcast - Merch: https://theextraordinarypodcast.substack.com/Credits- Host & Producer: Carolyn Silveira. Website: www.carolynsilveira.com, https://rhymeschemes.substack.com - Producer: Jennifer Bassett, Big Din Productions Website: www.bigdinproductions.com - Editor: Carolyn Silveira & Jennifer Bassett - Mixing: Max Liebman - Theme music: Katrina Zemrak- Cover art: Mauricio Diaz*affiliate link

“Pregnant? Don’t want to be? Call Jane…” In Chicago in the 1960s, abortion was illegal and the Chicago mob was the only option. Until an underground collective, known as Jane, decided to step in. Filmmakers Emma Pildes and Tia Lesson discuss their HBO documentary, 'The Janes,' sharing insights into the bravery and activism of these ordinary people who helped thousands of women.  02:02 Filmmakers Emma Pildes and Tia Lessen02:21 The Origins of The Janes02:59 The Context of the 1960s05:23 Heather Booth: The Organizer07:18 The Risks and Challenges Faced by The Janes10:13 The Impact and Legacy of The Janes20:44 The Current State of Reproductive Rights23:34 Call to Action: Be the ChangeGuestsEmma PildesTia LessenResourcesWatch The Janes on Max or with you library card at Kanopy Donate to abortion funds: https://abortionfunds.org/General resources about abortion: https://www.ineedana.com/  Other films & dramas about the Janes: https://www.kanopy.com/en/product/jane-abortion-service Book: The Story of Jane by former member Laura Kaplan*  Find Us Online- Website: https://shows.acast.com/extraordinary-the-fight-for-reproductive-justice- Substack: https://theextraordinarypodcast.substack.com/- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_extraordinary_podcast - Merch: https://theextraordinarypodcast.substack.com/Credits- Host & Producer: Carolyn Silveira. Website: www.carolynsilveira.com, Instagram: @cmoneycmonster Substack: https://rhymeschemes.substack.com - Producer: Jennifer Bassett, Big Din Productions Website: www.bigdinproductions.com - Editor: Carolyn Silveira & Jennifer Bassett - Mixing: Max Liebman - Theme music: Katrina Zemrak- Cover art: Mauricio Diaz*(affiliate link)

Dr. Willie Parker considers being a traveling abortion provider in the Deep South his life’s work and true calling. But as an OBGYN raised in a Black, Protestant community in Alabama, Dr. Willie Parker spent years dodging the issue of abortion entirely. It wasn’t hard to do. That is, until his hospital eliminated abortion care entirely, forcing him to choose between his dream job and his conscience.  Note: This episode includes some content inappropriate for children and potentially upsetting for some listeners. See links, resources, and bonus content for this episode at: https://theextraordinarypodcast.substack.com/GuestDr. Willie J. Parker is an OB/GYN specializing in abortions and a reproductive justice advocate and is the former Medical Director of Planned Parenthood Metropolitan Washington, DC.His book, Life’s Work: A Moral Argument for Choice, was published in 2017.Find Us Online- Website: https://shows.acast.com/extraordinary-the-fight-for-reproductive-justice- Substack: https://theextraordinarypodcast.substack.com/- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_extraordinary_podcast - Merch: https://theextraordinarypodcast.substack.com/Credits- Host & Producer: Carolyn Silveira. Website: www.carolynsilveira.com, Instagram: @cmoneycmonster Substack: https://rhymeschemes.substack.com - Producer: Jennifer Bassett, Big Din Productions Website: www.bigdinproductions.com - Editor: Carolyn Silveira & Jennifer Bassett - Mixing: Max Liebman - Theme music: Katrina Zemrak- Cover art: Mauricio DiazAbout UsExtra+Ordinary is a despair-free podcast about abortion & reproductive justice that looks to the past – to fuel our fight for the future. Join host Carolyn Silveira, a writer and social justice advocate, for inspiring stories of the people and moments that changed history, giving women (and all people) more control over our bodies and lives. From an evangelical doctor who became an abortion provider to “nice housewives” who risked jail time to help other women, we’ll learn how ordinary people can do extraordinary things. 

Plan B, also known as “the Morning-After Pill” isn't too different from The Pill itself … but it was decades before women could get it. We explore the roller coaster history of bringing emergency contraception to our pharmacy shelves with policy analyst Kirsten Moore, who was riding that roller coaster too. Loop the loop with us through literal truckloads of paperwork, meetings on Washington DC park benches, lawsuits, betrayals, corporate buyouts, leaked FDA documents, public resignations, and McDonald’s-level ad campaigns. 01:21 What Emergency Contraception is and isn’t02:03 A speed-history from hormones to contraceptives03:57 Kirsten's path to a career in Reproductive Health11:22 The birth of Plan B15:02 Behind the counter, or over it?  17:24 Political intrigues by president24:01 The “Wahoo!” moment28:37 Reflections on bureaucratic warfareGuestOur guest, policy analyst Kirsten Moore, is Director of the EMAA Project (Expanding Medication Abortion Access).  Find Us Online- Website: https://shows.acast.com/extraordinary-the-fight-for-reproductive-justice- Substack: https://theextraordinarypodcast.substack.com/- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_extraordinary_podcast Credits- Host & Producer: Carolyn Silveira. Website: www.carolynsilveira.com, Instagram: @cmoneycmonster Substack: https://rhymeschemes.substack.com - Producer: Jennifer Bassett, Big Din Productions Website: www.bigdinproductions.com - Editor: Carolyn Silveira & Jennifer Bassett - Mixing: Max Liebman - Theme music: Katrina Zemrak- Cover art: Mauricio DiazAbout UsExtra+Ordinary is a despair-free podcast about abortion & reproductive justice that looks to the past – to fuel our fight for the future.  Join host Carolyn Silveira, a writer and social justice advocate, for inspiring stories of the people and moments that changed history, giving women (and all people) more control over our bodies and lives. From an evangelical doctor who became an abortion provider to “nice housewives” who risked jail time to help other women, we’ll learn how ordinary people can do extraordinary things. See bonus content at: https://theextraordinarypodcast.substack.com/Additional music in this episode: rams horn2 .wav by mutatorscotch -- https://freesound.org/s/400806/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 3.0String quartet in Paris street.m4a by lmartins -- https://freesound.org/s/544004/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

In our last episode, we learned how hard it was to get the FDA to approve Plan B for over-the-counter sales. Now we’ll meet four women who have made sure it is both affordable and accessible in their community. Andrea DeMaria is a public health researcher at Purdue University who leads study-abroad programs in Italy that focus on women’s reproductive health. She and her students wanted to replicate the pharmacy vending machines they observed in Florence on Purdue’s campus. The university's administration was supportive and 2 machines began offering condoms, Covid tests, ibuprofen, and, most importantly (because it works better the sooner it's taken), Plan B. Two vending machines quickly became eight! How does this fly in a conservative state like Indiana, and will other universities follow their lead? 00:00 Introduction to Extraordinary Podcast00:53 From Plan B’s past … to Plan B today02:39 Meet Dr. Andrea DeMaria03:41 Pharmacy Vending Machines in Italy06:13 Bringing the Idea to Purdue08:29 Student Involvement and Impact11:38 Excitement About the Machines14:32 Use and Impact of the Vending Machines22:46 Future Goals and Broader ImpactGuestOur guest Dr. Andrea DeMaria is a professor in the Department of Public Health and Senior Director, Applied Research & Evaluation at March of Dimes. We spoke to students Sophia Patel, Haley Sidorowicz, and Zoe Baker.Find Us Online- Substack: https://theextraordinarypodcast.substack.com/- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_extraordinary_podcast Credits- Host & Producer: Carolyn Silveira. Website: www.carolynsilveira.com, Instagram: @cmoneycmonster Substack: https://rhymeschemes.substack.com - Producer: Jennifer Bassett, Big Din Productions Website: www.bigdinproductions.com - Editor: Carolyn Silveira & Jennifer Bassett - Mixing: Max Liebman - Theme music: Katrina Zemrak- Cover art: Mauricio DiazAbout UsExtra+Ordinary is a despair-free podcast about abortion & reproductive justice that looks to the past – to fuel our fight for the future. Join host Carolyn Silveira, a writer and social justice advocate, for inspiring stories of the people and moments that changed history, giving women (and all people) more control over our bodies and lives. From an evangelical doctor who became an abortion provider to “nice housewives” who risked jail time to help other women, we’ll learn how ordinary people can do extraordinary things. See bonus content at: https://theextraordinarypodcast.substack.com/

We're back from our summer vacation! In this episode, we discuss recent news, including Kamala Harris's debate and the story of Amber Nicole Thurman, before meeting Emma Donnelly, a college student who took on the state of Maine. Where the Purdue students in our last episode had smooth sailing with the winds of administrative support at their backs, Emma found her campaign for campus vending machines dead on arrival thanks to a century-old law that forbade selling potions at carnivals. Note: Not appropriate for young listeners. Find Us Online- Substack: https://theextraordinarypodcast.substack.com/- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_extraordinary_podcast Credits- Host & Producer: Carolyn Silveira. Website: www.carolynsilveira.com, Instagram: @cmoneycmonster Substack: https://rhymeschemes.substack.com - Producer: Jennifer Bassett, Big Din Productions Website: www.bigdinproductions.com - Editor: Carolyn Silveira - Theme music: Katrina Zemrak- Cover art: Mauricio DiazAbout UsExtra+Ordinary is a despair-free podcast about abortion & reproductive justice that looks to the past – to fuel our fight for the future. Join host Carolyn Silveira, a writer and social justice advocate, for inspiring stories of the people and moments that changed history, giving women (and all people) more control over our bodies and lives. From an evangelical doctor who became an abortion provider to “nice housewives” who risked jail time to help other women, we’ll learn how ordinary people can do extraordinary things. See bonus content at: https://theextraordinarypodcast.substack.com/

In this episode of Extra+Ordinary: The Fight for Reproductive Justice, host Carolyn Silveira interviews Mary Ziegler, a legal historian and expert on the American abortion debate. They explore the legal history of abortion from the 1800s to the present, and how it evolved along with changes in medical science, politics, and the Supreme Court.00:00 Introduction to Extra+Ordinary Episode 700:52 Zooming Out: The Legal Perspective on Reproductive Justice03:07 Historical Context: Abortion Laws in the 19th Century06:43 The Evolution of Abortion Laws and Movements13:51 The Impact of Roe v. Wade and Subsequent Legal Battles23:43 The Role of the AMA and Medical Community28:51 Current and Future Legal LandscapeGuestOur guest, Professor Mary Ziegler, is one of the world's leading authorities on the legal history of the American abortion debate.Today, she works as a Guggenheim Fellow and Martin Luther King Professor of Law at the University of California, Davis.Find Us Online- Website: https://shows.acast.com/extraordinary-the-fight-for-reproductive-justice- Substack: https://theextraordinarypodcast.substack.com/- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_extraordinary_podcast - Merch: https://theextraordinarypodcast.substack.com/Credits- Host & Producer: Carolyn Silveira. Website: www.carolynsilveira.com, Instagram: @cmoneycmonster Substack: https://rhymeschemes.substack.com - Editor: Carolyn Silveira & Jennifer Bassett - Theme music: Katrina Zemrak- Cover art: Mauricio DiazAbout UsExtra+Ordinary is a despair-free podcast about abortion & reproductive justice that looks to the past – to fuel our fight for the future.  Join host Carolyn Silveira, a writer and social justice advocate, for inspiring stories of the people and moments that changed history, giving women (and all people) more control over our bodies and lives. From an evangelical doctor who became an abortion provider to “nice housewives” who risked jail time to help other women, we’ll learn how ordinary people can do extraordinary things. See bonus content at: https://theextraordinarypodcast.substack.com/

In our first episode following the 2024 election, we reflect on what happened by turning again to this podcast's patron saint, Rebecca's Solnit. Carolyn shares Solnit’s message after the election, how it compares with her 2004 election analysis, and we get specific about the real wins abortion & reproductive rights made. We ground ourselves in the long timeline of history and emphasize that whatever part you choose to play in what's to come, you are needed. Highlights:00:48 Rebecca Solnit's Election-Night Message of Hope04:11 The Spiral of Progress and Personal Reflections05:17 Organizing and Activism in the Trump Era06:48 The Birth of the Podcast08:58 From Past to Present14:51 My Reactions & Reasons for Hope18:14 The Comstock Act and Legislative EffortsFor links to this episode's sources and further reading, please visit https://theextraordinarypodcast.substack.com/.Find Us Online- Website: https://shows.acast.com/extraordinary-the-fight-for-reproductive-justice- Substack: https://theextraordinarypodcast.substack.com/- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_extraordinary_podcast - Merch: https://theextraordinarypodcast.substack.com/Credits- Host & Producer: Carolyn Silveira. Website: www.carolynsilveira.com Instagram: @cmoneycmonster Substack: https://rhymeschemes.substack.com - Editor: Carolyn Silveira- Theme music: Katrina Zemrak- Cover art: Mauricio DiazAdditional music in this episode: Future Ambient (loop ver.3) by AudioCoffee -- https://freesound.org/s/762747/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0Kinesis Stellae - Lead by Vrymaa -- https://freesound.org/s/767437/ -- License: Creative Commons 0About UsExtra+Ordinary is a despair-free podcast about abortion & reproductive justice that looks to the past – to fuel our fight for the future.  Join host Carolyn Silveira, a writer and social justice advocate, for inspiring stories of the people and moments that changed history, giving women (and all people) more control over our bodies and lives. From an evangelical doctor who became an abortion provider to “nice housewives” who risked jail time to help other women, we’ll learn how ordinary people can do extraordinary things. See bonus content at: The Extra+Ordinary Podcast