Feminism NOW

Introducing Feminism NOW

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 16:30:00 -0400

Join NOW President Christian F. Nunes in a new podcast dedicated to intersectional feminist discussions in American society as she interviews leaders in entertainment, sports, politics, and science. From conversations on constitutional equality, to economic justice, to reproductive rights, listeners will find new ways to learn, engage, get empowered, and have a little fun along the way.

“Our Work is Never Over” : Activism with Alyssa Milano

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 11:00:00 -0400

Feeling overwhelmed about the never-ending work of activism in our world? You’re not alone. On this episode of Feminism NOW, host Christian F. Nunes talks with Alyssa Milano about using her platform as a celebrity to affect positive change and amplify important issues, the illusion of work-life balance, staying present in the moment as a practice in mindfulness, celebrating small wins, and the importance of intersectional practices in working towards true equality.

With grace and humor, Christian and Alyssa tackle big themes in activism—from showing up with integrity and authenticity to acknowledging your limitations and learning to make an impact without being attached to the outcome.

Alyssa Milano is an actor, an activist, an author, a feminist, and a UNICEF ambassador.

She is the host of the podcast “Sorry Not Sorry.” You can find her on Instagram @Milano_Alyssa @sorrynotsorrypod and on X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok @Alyssa_Milano.

To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Violence Against Black Women : A Conversation With Dr. Brittany Lewis

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 11:00:00 -0400

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and host Christian F. Nunes talks with Dr. Brittany Lewis about some disturbing statistics: there are 60,000 missing Black women and girls in this country, and Black women are more than twice as likely as their peers to be victims of homicide.

The Founder and CEO of Research in Action, Dr. Lewis is a leader in developing effective, community-based strategies to push for social and policy change. Nunes and Lewis discuss the systemic racism behind the disproportionate rates of violence Black women and girls face in the US.

For Domestic Violence Awareness Month, NOW calls upon our communities and law enforcement to believe survivors when they bravely step forward to report. Too often, Black women are not believed. And if they do report, it is not investigated. Survivors must be believed and what they share must be taken as authentic and truthful. It is always better to save a life rather than overlook it and lose one.

NOW's Take Action Checklist

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Get Out The Vote! With LaTosha Brown, Founder of Black Voters Matter

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 11:00:00 -0400

It’s November, and that means it’s time to get out the vote. Christian F. Nunes talks with the award-winning organizer, political strategist, and Black Renaissance woman LaTosha Brown about her work organizing and empowering Black and marginalized voters across the U.S. Black Voters Matter Fund played a crucial role in increasing voter turnout in the 2020 US Senate election in Georgia to turn the state Blue. Nunes and Brown discuss effective organizing strategies, how to boost political resilience and agency, and why positive change is still happening at a grassroots level, even if it doesn’t always feel like it.

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Building Coalitions for Social Change

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 11:00:00 -0500

What does it take to drive social change and shift paradigms towards equality? Today on Feminism NOW, Christian F. Nunes talks with two changemakers working to build inclusive coalitions and advance justice for marginalized groups. Zakiya Thomas, President and CEO of the Equal Rights Amendment Coalition, discusses the importance of the ERA for securing rights for all people regardless of sex. Next, Christian chats with Dr. Leslie Hinkson, Chief Officer of Racial Justice and Equity for the League of Conservation Voters about her work to promote intersectionality, racial justice, and equity within the climate justice movement.

Zakiya Thomas is President and CEO of the Fund for Women’s Equality and the ERA Coalition, which represents 80 million people across 280 diverse organizations all united under the goal of advancing sex equality. As a political strategist, Zakiya works to shift how people communicate their issues in order to foster greater collaboration and connection within coalitions.

Dr. Leslie R. Hinkson is the Chief Officer of Racial Justice and Equity for the League of Conservation Voters, where she is responsible for helping create and implement an overarching vision for racial justice and equity at LCV – both at the programmatic and operational levels – that works to ensure the organization honors its commitments to be a diverse, antiracist, equitable, and inclusive organization.

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Celebrating Everyday Feminists

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 11:00:00 -0500

What does it really mean to be a "feminist"? Christian F. Nunes dives into this question with Latanya Mapp Frett, the President and CEO of Global Fund for Women and author of “The Everyday Feminist: The Key to Sustainable Social Impact-Driving Movements We Need Now More than Ever.” Latanya tells listeners it is the everyday feminists, the women making change in their communities across the globe, who are the key to transformative social change and the ones we need to support and stand in solidarity with. Christian and Latanya discuss intersectional and intergenerational feminism, taking back the word feminist, stepping into their power, and celebrating the women in their lives.

Ms. Latanya Mapp Frett has worked in over 15 countries with non-profit organizations, United Nations agencies, governments, and foundations to advance gender justice and social equality. Previously, she was the Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Global and quadrupled the size of the program in four years to become one of the most innovative and sustainable global health organizations in the field.

She also worked for eight years as a human rights officer for the United Nations Children & Fund (UNICEF).

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Real Solutions to the Childcare Crisis

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 11:00:00 -0500

It is no surprise that we have a childcare crisis in this country. The U.S. is one of only six countries that doesn’t provide paid family leave and is the only World Health Organization country with maternal deaths rising, rather than falling. The good news? A brighter future for families is possible! In this episode, Christian F. Nunes speaks with Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director, CEO, and Co-Founder of MomsRising, a grassroots organization of more than a million people working to achieve economic security for families, moms, and women in the U.S. Kristin shares how changes in policy can transform the state of childcare so everyone can be supported in their decision to raise children, and how investing in families means investing in our national economy.

Whether you have a mom, know a mom, employ a mom, or are a mom, this issue impacts everyone. Tune in to this impassioned discussion for advice about how to get involved and to learn more about the inspiring changes advancing care, health, and equity for us all.

Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner is author of the book “Keep Marching: How Every Woman Can Take Action and Change Our World,” and host of the radio program “Breaking Through (Powered by MomsRising).” You can find out more by visiting her website.

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

The Fight for Reproductive Freedom

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 11:00:00 -0500

As 2023 comes to a close, we are reflecting on how far we’ve come in the fight for reproductive justice, and how far we still have to go to achieve a freer future in which every person has access to the health care they need. This week on Feminism NOW, Christian F. Nunes speaks with two fierce advocates in the ongoing movement for reproductive rights.

Nancy Davis is an activist and leader whose personal experience being denied an abortion in Louisiana inspired her to create the Nancy Davis Foundation to support individuals who face barriers to accessing the reproductive healthcare and resources they deserve. Nancy talks about the power of personal stories in transforming policy and shares what reproductive freedom looks like to her.

Alexis McGill Johnson is president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Action Fund and Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Alexis discusses how Planned Parenthood is working to “build Roe back better” and to create lasting infrastructure to support reproductive health care across the nation, especially in states where abortion access is restricted or banned.

In an empowering conversation, Nancy and Alexis remind listeners how important it is to keep reproductive rights forefront in conversations about justice and equity as we move into a new year.

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Building Better in Media and Entertainment

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 11:00:00 -0500

Beyoncé to Oprah. These talented, hard-working women may make the content, but do they own it? Christian F. Nunes speaks with Nicci Gilbert Daniels, the CEO of WIRF Media and founder of the From The Bottom Up Foundation. Nicci discusses the barriers that women face in media and entertainment, even after the SAG-AFTRA strike, and she shares the secret to breaking down those barriers—women-led ownership.

Grammy-nominated Nicci Gilbert-Daniels has been a leader in the entertainment industry for over 20 years, and received the 2018 “Woman Of Impact” award from BET. She is the CEO of WIRF Media (Women in Reality Film), a media company which works to change toxic film narratives about minority women. She’s also the founder of the non-profit From The Bottom Up Foundation, which works to reduce inequalities and raise awareness of issues facing women and girls of color.

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Reproductive Rights at Stake

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0400

2024 is an election year, and democracy itself seems like it’s on the ballot. That’s why for our second season we’ve selected a theme: Women Leading Democracy. Throughout this season, we’ll hear from women and feminist allies about how and why women can and should lead in our country.

There is no better way to start than with women’s reproductive rights, which have taken significant hits at the national level since the Dobbs Supreme Court decision. So NOW National President Christian F. Nunes is pleased to speak with Heather Booth, the legendary civil rights and womens’ rights activist who founded The Jane Collective, helping women to receive healthcare, counseling, and abortions before Roe v. Wade made abortions nationally legal. Christian will also speak with Dr. Sophia Yen, whose company, Pandia Health, provides mail-order birth control across the nation.

Christian, Heather, and Sophia will talk about women’s reproductive health in a post-Roe world, and the action that we all can take to make sure everyone has control over their bodies.

NOW's Take Action Checklist - https://now.org/take-action-checklist/

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 11:00:00 -0400

Our theme this season is “Women Leading Democracy.” And yet, lately, it feels as though our democracy itself has become fragile. Frail. This episode, we are shoring up our strength.

NOW National President Christian F. Nunes is thrilled to speak with Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi. She was the 52nd Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the first woman ever elected to the office, and the representative of the 11th district of California. She’s one of the chief architects of the Affordable Care Act and has been a strong advocate for the rights of women throughout her career.

Christian will speak with the Speaker Emerita about the fate of democracy, the power of the vote, and what makes the democratic process strong.

Take Action NOW: https://now.org/issues/constitutional-equality/

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Raising the Wage

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 11:00:00 -0400

How much do you tip? 15% and 20 if the service is good? 20% all the time? 10%? What if you knew that 70% of tipped workers were women, and they made as little as $2.13 per hour?

This week, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes speaks with Saru Jarayaman, the co-founder and president of One Fair Wage, about the fight for economic equality, why tipped workers in the United States are a legacy of slavery, and what we all can do to make sure everyone earns a living wage.

Take Action NOW: https://now.org/issues/economic-justice/

Register for the NOW National Meeting: https://now.org/2024nowconf/

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

LGBTQIA+ Rights are a Feminist Issue

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:00:00 -0400

Conservative politicians are eager to introduce bills to “protect women and girls in sports” or stop kids from being exposed to “pornographic” content. But don’t be fooled. These bills don’t protect kids, they target and harm LGBTQIA+ youth.

This week, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes speaks with Charlotte Clymer, a writer, communications consultant, trans activist, and military veteran, about why the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights is a feminist issue, why people are trying to target LGBTQIA+ people with so much hate, and actions people can take to help.

Take Action NOW: https://now.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/

Register for the NOW National Meeting: https://now.org/2024nowconf/

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Confronting America’s Gun Crisis

National Organization for Women — Wed, 08 May 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Why are parents afraid to drop kids off at school? Go to the grocery store? A concert? A church? Gun violence.

And that’s only what makes the news — not the 81 percent of murders involving a gun, and the overall violence that falls heaviest on Black and Brown women.

What do we do? Demand Action.

NOW National President Christian F. Nunes sits down this week with Angela Ferrell-Zabala, the executive director of Moms Demand Action. Together, they talk over guns as a partisan issue, the commonsense policies that could save lives, and how everyone can work to reduce gun violence.

*Producer Note: Please note that this episode contains references to gun violence that some may find disturbing.

Take Action NOW: https://now.org/blog/the-gun-epidemic-what-we-need-to-halt-gun-violence/

Register for the NOW Racial Justice Convening: https://now.org/events/

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Children Can’t Vote, but Caregivers Can

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 22 May 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Why is it so hard to find a safe place for your kid while you work? When you do find that place, why does it cost 2/3rds of your paycheck?

Childcare is expensive, but it is necessary for parents to participate fully in our democracy.

This week, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes is having a chat with Anne Hedgepeth, Chief of Policy and Advocacy at Child Care Aware® of America. They will talk about why affordable childcare is so tough to find for so many, how childcare is a feminist issue, and what policymakers and citizens alike can do about it.

Take Action NOW:

https://now.org/action-alert-urge-members-of-congress-to-fund-wic-snap-childcare-and-rental-assistance/

Register for the NOW Racial Justice Convening: https://now.org/rjc2024/

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

The Gen Z Fight for Democracy

National Organization for Women — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Have you seen that one TikTok of college students protesting on campus? Have you heard the kids have canceled Starbucks? And do you know what’s wrong with ordering from Pizza Hut these days?

In 2024, if there’s one thing older generations have learned, it's that despite wanting to connect with younger generations, they don’t completely understand each other.

Luckily, V. Spehar, host of Under The Desk News and American Fever Dream, does understand them. Their daily dispatches from under their desk have gained them millions of followers on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. NOW National President Christian F. Nunes is sitting down this week to talk about Gen Z, how they might be different from previous generations, and how in some ways, what’s old is new again.

Take Action NOW: https://now.org/nyf/

Register for the NOW Racial Justice Summit: https://now.org/rjs2024/

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Let Black Women Lead

National Organization for Women — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Did you know that less than 10 percent of the U.S. Congress are women of color? There are only 30 Black women in Congress. Black women have the stereotype of being “strong”, but remain critically underrepresented in leadership. How do we all work to make this right?

For our last episode of season 2, producer Jeanette Harris Courts will sit down with NOW’s National President Christian F. Nunes. Christian reflects on her experiences as a Black woman in leadership, how the Equal Rights Amendment is particularly critical for women of color, and why feminism requires a commitment to social justice.

Take Action NOW: https://now.org/issues/promoting-diversity-ending-racism/

Register for the NOW Racial Justice Summit: https://now.org/rjs2024/

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Feminism NOW at the DNC

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 11:00:00 -0400

Feminism NOW is getting ready to launch our third season. Our theme is “Women Uplifting Women,” and what better way to start than with a visit to the DNC, where Kamala Harris was nominated to run for President. NOW’s National President Christian F. Nunes was on the ground at the DNC, getting the thoughts and impressions of attendees.

Featuring the voices of (in order of appearance):

Donna Miller, Cook County Board Commissioner, 6th District, Chicago, Ill.

Anjali Mehrotra, NOW Board of Directors and founder of Equality, Period. NJ.

Abby Dobson, Artist-in-Residence, African American Policy Forum, NOW NYC affiliate and member of the NOW PAC.

Frank J. Aguilar, Cook County Commissioner, 16th District, Chicago, Ill.

Jane George, Congressional Candidate, 2nd District of Tennessee.

Susie Shannon, Los Angeles City Health Commissioner, 14th District, Chair of the DNC Poverty Council.

Helene Rearden-Bond, O.B.E., Deputy Chief of Staff, U.K. Labour Party.

Zakiya Thomas, President and CEO of the ERA Coalition.

Maya, Chicago Resident.

Bear Atwood, Vice President of the National Organization for Women.

Take Action NOW: https://www.nowpac.org/

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Uplifting Women in STEM

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 11:00:00 -0400

Welcome to season 3 of Feminism NOW! This season, our theme is “Women Uplifting Women,” and we are thrilled to open with a field where women need a lot of uplift: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. NOW National President Christian F. Nunes speaks with Dr. Jamika Burge, Co-Founder and Board President of blackcomputeHER.org, INC, Head of Enterprise Design Research at Capital One, and a contributor to the 2022 National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine Consensus study report, “Transforming Trajectories for Women of Color in Tech.”

Guest: Jamika D. Burge, PhD, is Co-Founder and Board President of blackcomputeHER.org, INC. Dr. Burge is an authority in research and programming that investigates the intersectionality of Black women and girls in computing, and she is also a tech founder (and principal) of Design & Technology Concepts, LLC. Jamika is also Head of Enterprise Design Research at Capital One. She is also the Founder of Capital One’s Intersectional Symposium. Jamika was a contributor to the 2022 National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine Consensus study report, “Transforming Trajectories for Women of Color in Tech,” and the host of its podcast, Transforming Tech: Advancing Innovation through Inclusion.

Take Action NOW: Get out the vote, speak with your friends and loved ones, and join the NOW PAC https://www.nowpac.org/

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Listen to Dr. Burge speak about innovation and inclusion in tech on Transforming Tech: Advancing Innovation through Inclusion.

Sisterhood: The power of Sorority

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 11:00:00 -0400

this is in the world of sororities, particularly members of the Divine Nine. For those on the outside, sororities might look like opportunities to party. They are far, far more than that. NOW National President and honorary member of Sigma Gamma Rho, Christian F. Nunes, sits down with International Grand Basileus of Sigma Gamma Rho, Marica T. Harris to talk about the important role sororities play in uplifting women and their communities.

Guest: Mrs. Marica T. Harris is the 26th International Grand Basileus of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Previously, Mrs. Harris has led as an Assistant Director and Regional Director in the Northeastern Region. Most recently, she served as the International Vice-president from 2020 to 2024, where she played a crucial role in advancing the sorority’s R3 initiatives—Recruitment, Retention, and Reclamation membership initiatives. Mrs. Harris has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a Master of Arts in counseling, and a Master’s in Social Work from prestigious institutions. In addition to her educational experience, Mrs. Harris brings over 25 years of professional expertise working in the non-profit sector as a senior administrator; leading teams, program operations, talent acquisition, and fiscal oversight.

Take Action NOW: Get out the vote, speak with your friends and loved ones, and join the NOW PAC https://www.nowpac.org/

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Voting it Forward

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0400

The theme of this season is “women uplifting women.” And one of the ways that women have power to uplift others is through the power of the vote. But many people don’t use that power. Why don’t people vote, and what can we do about it? NOW National President Christian F. Nunes sits down this week with Emily Wasserman, the senior director of Voter Contact at Vote Forward, to talk about what the research says about getting out the vote.

Links:

NOW and Vote Forward

Why people don’t vote

Knight Foundation study on non-voters

Guest: Emily Wasserman is the Senior Director of Voter Contact at Vote Forward. She leads Vote Forward's data and research team, and is responsible for designing, executing, and assessing the organization's grassroots voter contact programs. She’s worked in educational technology at the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative, and in social psychology and neuroscience at Boston College. She graduated from Pomona College with a B.A. in Cognitive Science and is based in San Luis Obispo, California.

Take Action NOW: Get out the vote with NOW and Vote Forward! https://votefwd.org/now

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

We are not defeated

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 12:12:04 -0500

The 2024 Presidential election was historic in so many ways. Instead of electing the first woman, and woman of color, to the highest office in the land, voters again elected Donald Trump. For those who are invested in the rights of women, it’s a hard time. This week, we sit down with NOW National President Christian F. Nunes to reflect–and to learn where we go from here.

Links:

https://now.org/media-center/press-release/racism-sexism-misogyny-and-hate-won-this-election-but-we-wont-let-our-democracy-be-destroyed/.

Guest: Christian F. Nunes, MBA, MS, LCSW, became NOW president in August 2020. She was previously appointed Vice President by the board in May 2019. As the second African American president in the organization’s history, the youngest person of color, and the youngest president in more than 40 years, Nunes is leading the organization through an intersectional lens, bringing a diverse coalition of grassroots activists to work against structural sexism and racism.

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Socials:

Christian F. Nunes

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christian_prez4now/
Twitter: https://x.com/chrisfnunes
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NationalNOW/

The Feminist Body

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0500

The theme of this season is “Women uplifting women." And women come in all shapes and sizes. This episode, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes sits down to speak with Tigress Osborn, the Executive Director of the National Association for the Advancement of Fat Acceptance, about bodies, fat liberation, and why uplifting women shouldn’t require a pants size.

Links:

NOW Love Your Body campaign

Fearing the Black Body by Dr. Sabrina Strings

Saartjie Baartman

NIDDK Overweight and Obesity Statistics

Guest: Tigress Osborn (she/her) is a fat rights advocate and the Executive Director of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA). Tigress is a co-founder of and spokesperson for the Campaign for Size Freedom, which supports legal protections against height and weight discrimination. A two-time women’s college grad, she is an intersectional feminist teacher and writer whose fat liberation work has been featured on CNN, BBC, ABC News, and Free Speech TV. In 2024, Tigress was named to the Time100 Health list of most influential global health leaders in recognition of her work to fight size discrimination.

Take Action NOW: Learn more about Native American Heritage Month here, and the challenges that Native American women in particular face in this country.

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Socials:

Tigress Osborn/NAAFA:

Tigress Osborn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iofthetigress
NAAFA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naafaofficial
NAAFA Twitter: https://x.com/NAAFAofficial
NAAFA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EqualityAtEverySize/

Investing in Women

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 08:00:00 -0500

Episode Description: The theme of this season is “women uplifting women.” One issue that women often face is poverty. This episode, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes speaks with Leslie K. Gill, the President and CEO of Rung for Women, about why investing in women doesn’t just uplift those women, but their communities too.

Links:

Economic Justice | National Organization for Women

Guest: Leslie K. Gill is President of Rung for Women, a nonprofit organization in St. Louis that helps women climb the economic opportunity ladder so they can live equitable and abundant lives.

Recognized for her leadership and work empowering women, Leslie was awarded the Titan 100 Award recognizing top CEOs and executives in 2024, listed in St. Louis Magazine’s 50+ People Working Toward Solutions in St. Louis (2023), and named St. Louis Business Journal’s Most Influential Businesswomen (2022). In 2024, she gave the Commencement Address at Maryville University.

Take Action NOW: Learn more about Native American Heritage Month here, and the challenges that Native American women in particular face in this country.

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Socials:

Rung for Women:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rungforwomen/
Twitter: https://x.com/rungforwomen
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RungforWomen/

Finding Missing Women

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 08:00:00 -0500

The theme of this season is “Women uplifting women.” Indigenous women in North America experience some of the highest rates of violence in this nation. This week, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes sits down with Kansas State House Representative Christina Haswood, who is also a member of the Navajo Nation, to talk about how to support those searching for Murdered and Missing Indigenous persons.

Links:

Rep. Christina Haswood

HB 2008 | Bills and Resolutions | Kansas State Legislature

National Caucus of Native American State Legislators (NCNASL)

NOW on Native American and the Violence Against Women Act

Guest: Christina Haswood, a proud Dine’ (Navajo) from Lawrence, Kansas, embarked on her academic journey at Haskell Indian Nations University, earning an A.S. in Community Health. Transitioning to Arizona State University, she secured a B.S. in Public Health, followed by a Masters in Public Health from the University of Kansas Medical Center in 2020. Committed to elevating Native American representation, Christina, a Kansas State House Representative, is actively engaged in government and politics. Recognized for her advocacy, she serves on key committees, leads as the House Democrats' Policy Chair, and champions equity policies. A multi-award recipient, she continues to inspire through leadership and community service.

Take Action NOW: Make an end-of-year contribution to NOW’s 2024 campaign to empower feminists to support and enshrine reproductive rights in the United States.

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Socials:

Representative Christina Haswood:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/haswoodforks
Twitter: http://twitter.com/haswoodforks
Facebook: http://facebook.com/haswoodforks
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@haswoodforks

The Abuse to Prison Pipeline

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 08:00:00 -0500

The theme of this season is “women uplifting women.” Domestic violence is an issue that affects many women in this country, but the ongoing criminalization of survivors is often overlooked in our conversations about ending gender-based violence. For our last episode of the season, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes sits down with Becki T. Kondkar, Director of the Tulane Law School Domestic Violence Clinic and Founding Director of the Tulane Law School Women’s Prison Project to discuss how some women end up unjustly incarcerated, and what other women can do about it.

Links:

https://law.tulane.edu/clinics/womens-prison-project

https://www.sentencingproject.org/app/uploads/2022/08/In-the-Extreme-Women-Serving-Life-without-Parole-and-Death-Sentences-in-the-United-States.pdf

Guest: Becki Kondkar is Director of the Tulane Law School Domestic Violence Clinic and founding Director of the Law School’s Women’s Prison Project (WPP). Kondkar has represented hundreds of survivors of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, stalking, trafficking, and child sex abuse in civil and criminal courts, has trained generations of law students through Tulane’s clinical programs, and has educated attorneys, judges, mental health professionals, and advocates nationwide on legal system responses to gender-based violence. Since its founding in 2019, the WPP has been recognized for its groundbreaking work by the Conference on Crimes Against Women, the American College of Trial Lawyers, the Louisiana Association of Defense Lawyers, and the American Association of Law Schools. The program's mission is to end the criminalization of survival for women who experience gender-based violence and to free those unjustly incarcerated for killing an abusive partner or for participation in crimes under duress or coercion. Working alongside the law students they train, the WPP team has won freedom for 15 women who had served a combined total of 279 years in Louisiana's prisons.

Take Action NOW: This is our final episode of season 3, which means it’s time to plan for season 4 of Feminism NOW! Reach out to us at feminismnow@now.org to let us know what issues you’d like to hear covered on the show.

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Social Media Handles:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tulanelawschool/

Twitter: https://x.com/TulaneLaw

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TulaneLawSchool

Protecting Women in a Hostile World

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Feminism NOW is back for season 4! A lot has happened in the few weeks since our last episode. Women’s rights are actively being stripped away as the second Trump administration has quickly taken action to dismantle decades of feminist progress.

Feminism NOW is here to help you navigate these unprecedented times. Our theme for season 4 is “Protecting women in a hostile world.” In our premiere episode of the season, NOW’s National President Christian F. Nunes is joined by V (formerly Eve Ensler), author of The Vagina Monologues and founder of V-Day and One Billion Rising, to discuss how we can all build effective social movements that ensure not just our safety, but our collective liberation.

Guest: V (formerly Eve Ensler) is the Tony award-winning playwright, author, and activist. Her play The Vagina Monologues is an Obie award-winning, Olivier-nominated theatrical phenomenon that has been translated into 48 languages and performed in 140 countries. She is the author of numerous books and the founder of V-Day, the 27-year-old global activist movement that has raised over 120 million dollars to end violence against women, gender-expansive people, girls, and the planet—and founder of One Billion Rising, the largest global mass action to end gender-based violence in over 200 countries, as well as a co-founder of the City of Joy.

Take Action NOW: Read NOW’s statement on Black History Month here, and be sure to visit the Association for the Study of African American Life and History to learn more about this year’s Black History Month theme, African Americans and Labor.

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Socials:

V’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eveensler/

V-Day’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vdayorg/

V-Day’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vday/

V-Day’s Twitter/X: https://x.com/vday/

Women's Safety in Higher Education

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 08:00:00 -0400

Note: This episode was recorded in early February 2025. As of March 11, 2025, Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order in the coming days that will aim to dismantle the Department of Education, which is responsible for upholding civil rights and ensuring equal educational opportunities.

Women now make up more than 56% of college students in the United States. That must mean we’ve got equal opportunity to all the benefits education offers us, right? Right?

Recent attacks on Title IX and diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education threaten to roll back decades of feminist progress—all under the pretext of protecting women and girls. This season’s theme is “Protecting women in a hostile world,” and education needs protection more than ever. In this episode, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes sits down with Gloria L. Blackwell, CEO of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), to discuss the impacts of these attacks and the ways everyday feminists can get involved in protecting women’s access to higher education.

Links:

Education rules from 2020 are returning to ‘protect women.’ Are vulnerable students at risk?

U.S. women are outpacing men in college completion, including in every major racial and ethnic group

AAUW Voter Issue Guides

Become a Two-Minute Activist with AAUW

Guest: Gloria L. Blackwell is CEO of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and a prominent thought leader on issues ranging from equity for women in higher education and STEM to economic empowerment and the gender pay gap. With a strong international background, she also leads AAUW’s global and UN engagement and is featured in prominent media outlets, panels and symposia. Blackwell holds a master’s degree in education and human development from The George Washington University, and a bachelor’s degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University.

Take Action NOW: In celebration of Women’s History Month, read more about the National Organization for Women and the Equal Rights Amendment here.

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

AAUW Socials:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aauwnational/

Facebook: facebook.com/AAUW.National

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aauw/

AI and Women’s Digital Safety

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 08:00:00 -0400

AI seems to be everywhere these days, and it’s often marketed to us as a way to boost our efficiency. But feminists have long known that technological advancements can also create new avenues for the exploitation of women, and AI is no exception.

Our theme this season is “Protecting women in a hostile world.” In this episode, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes is joined by Andrea Powell, co-founding director of Alecto AI, a survivor-founded tech company that combats online image abuse, to discuss deepfakes, image-based sexual abuse, and how the law and technology itself can help keep women safe.

Links:

AlectoAI

Andrea Powell’s book, Believe Me: The True Story of How a Trafficked Teen and Her Advocate Changed the Justice System and Found True Freedom

Andrea Powell’s Congressional testimony - “Take It Down: Ending Big Tech’s Complicity In Revenge Porn”

Demand for deepfake pornography is exploding. We aren’t ready for this assault on consent.

Guest: Andrea Powell is a twenty year expert in global policy and direct services for survivors of sexual exploitation, human trafficking, sexual assault and image-based sexual violence. She has published in the New York Times, Washington Post, NBC, PBS, Ms. Magazine and more. Andrea’s social justice memoir, Believe Me, can be found online and throughout indie bookstores and has been awarded the New York Book Award of 2024.

Take Action NOW: In celebration of Women’s History Month, read more about the National Organization for Women and the Equal Rights Amendment here.

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Socials:

Alecto AI:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alectoai

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alectoai/

Andrea Powell:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ankachristine

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-powell-bb53255/

Helping Mothers Give Birth in Community

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 08:00:00 -0400

Childbirth. It can be a spiritual, life-altering experience. But giving birth—particularly for those with marginalized identities—is also dangerous, especially as attacks on our reproductive rights continue. Women die in childbirth every year, and the United States has the worst maternal mortality outcomes of any developed country.

This week, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes sits down with Latham Thomas, founder of Mama Glow, to discuss maternal health in the United States. From legislation to community engagement, Christian and Latham discuss the wide range of approaches it will take to improve maternal health outcomes—and how everyday feminists, parent or not, can show up for their loved ones preparing to give birth.

Links:

How bad is maternal mortality in the U.S.? A new study says it's been overestimated | NPR

Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2022 | CDC

The Momnibus Act | Black Maternal Health Caucus

NOW Is Proud to Support the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act

Guest: Latham Thomas is the founder of Mama Glow, a global maternal health and education platform serving birthing people along the childbearing continuum and home to 3,000 doulas. Mama Glow supports families during the fertility period, pregnancy, birth and postpartum offering hand-holding through their bespoke doula services and work with insurance companies and hospital systems to improve the experience of maternity care. Named one of Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul 100, Latham has served as a doula for clients including: Alicia Keys, Anne Hathaway, Ashley Graham, DJ Khaled, Rebecca Minkoff, Tamera Mowry, and more. She is a graduate of Columbia University and author of two best-selling books; Own Your Glow: A Soulful Guide to Luminous Living And Crowning The Queen Within and Mama Glow: A Hip Guide to Your Fabulous Abundant Pregnancy.

Take Action NOW: Learn more and get involved in Disrupt NOW, the National Organization for Women’s campaign to combat extreme misogynist propaganda, increase feminist education, and advocate for women’s equality and safety.

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Socials:

Latham Thomas:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glowmaven/

Mama Glow:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamaglow/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MamaGlow/

The Promise and Peril of the Legal System

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 08:00:00 -0400

For many people, the court of last resort for their rights is, well, the courts. The legal system. But witnessing the highest courts in the nation strip away our rights begs the question: was this system really set up to protect women?

In this episode, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes is joined by Azaleea Carlea, Legal Director of Legal Momentum, to discuss the U.S. legal system’s potential to protect women, but also its limitations—particularly for marginalized communities.

This is only the beginning! We’ll be back in two weeks with a second episode discussing specific court cases impacting women’s rights in the United States today. In the meantime, be sure to check out our episode, “The Abuse to Prison Pipeline,” featuring Becki Kondkar, founding director of Tulane Law School’s Women’s Prison Project, to hear more about how gender bias shows up in our legal system.

Links:

https://www.legalmomentum.org/

https://www.legalmomentum.org/get-help-form

https://oig.hhs.gov/reports/featured/emtala/

Court cases mentioned in this episode:

Sessions v. Morales-Santana (2017): https://www.oyez.org/cases/2016/15-1191

Brenda Evers Andrew v. Tamika White, Warden (2025): https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/us-supreme-court/23-6573.html

United States v. Rahimi (2024): https://www.oyez.org/cases/2023/22-915

Guest: Azaleea Carlea has dedicated her career to advancing social justice for underserved communities, with a particular focus on supporting survivors of gender-based violence. She has extensive litigation experience in the NYS Family, Integrated Domestic Violence and Supreme Courts and has supported policy efforts aimed at improving systemic responses to intimate partner violence. Currently the Legal Director at Legal Momentum, the Women’s Legal Defense and Education Fund, Azaleea oversees the organization’s initiatives on gender-based violence, reproductive rights, and workplace and educational equality.

Take Action NOW: Join NOW this July for our National Conference in Las Vegas! Click here to learn more and register. We can’t wait to see you there!

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Legal Momentum Socials:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LegalMomentum

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legalmomentum/

Twitter/X: https://x.com/LegalMomentum

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/legal-momentum

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@legalmomentum

Protecting Women, One Case at a Time

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 07 May 2025 08:00:00 -0400

It’s 2025 and there are ongoing cases in the courts that could affect women’s rights–from the ability to obtain medication abortion to protection from our former abusers. But these cases often don’t make headlines until the decisions are made.

Our last episode, featuring Azaleea Carlea, Legal Director of Legal Momentum, addressed the powers and limitations of the legal system when it comes to protecting women’s rights. In this episode, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes sits down with Lynn Hecht Schafran, Senior Vice President of Legal Momentum, to discuss some of the court cases Legal Momentum is involved in—ones with major implications for our rights—to keep everyday feminists up-to-date about where our rights stand in the court of law.

Want to hear more on how gender bias bubbles up in our legal system? Be sure to check out our episode, “The Abuse to Prison Pipeline,” featuring Becki Kondkar, founding director of Tulane Law School’s Women’s Prison Project.

Links:

https://www.legalmomentum.org/

https://www.legalmomentum.org/get-help-form

Court cases mentioned in this episode:

Brenda Evers Andrew v. Tamika White, Warden (2025): https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/us-supreme-court/23-6573.html

United States v. Rahimi (2024): https://www.oyez.org/cases/2023/22-915
FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine (2024): https://www.oyez.org/cases/2023/23-235

Guest: Lynn Hecht Schafran, Esq. is Senior Vice President at Legal Momentum and has been Director of Legal Momentum's National Judicial Education Program to Promote Equality for Women and Men in the Courts (NJEP) since 1981. Lynn also serves as Senior Vice President and a Senior Staff Attorney, litigating and writing in the areas of rape, domestic violence, the intersection of domestic violence and sexual assault, neuroscience and its implications for the courts, and all aspects of gender bias in the courts.

Take Action NOW: Join NOW this July for our National Conference in Las Vegas! Click here to learn more and register. We can’t wait to see you there!

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Legal Momentum Socials:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LegalMomentum

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legalmomentum/

Twitter/X: https://x.com/LegalMomentum
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/legal-momentum

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@legalmomentum

Gun Violence is a Feminist Issue

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 21 May 2025 08:00:00 -0400

In 2025, there are more guns in the United States than people. Last June, the Surgeon General declared gun violence a public health crisis. But even though women often feel the effects–especially through domestic violence–gun violence is rarely treated as a feminist issue.

But tackling gun violence is feminist. Today, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes sits down with Mikki Kendall, author of Hood Feminism, to discuss America’s gun crisis, what it has to do with attacks on women’s rights, and how we can create a future that prioritizes protecting women.

Links:

https://mikkikendall.com/

https://www.thetrace.org/2023/03/guns-america-data-atf-total/

https://publichealth.jhu.edu/center-for-gun-violence-solutions/annual-gun-violence-data

https://depauliaonline.com/59001/focus/gun-violence-the-unheard-feminist-issue/

https://us.pagefreezer.com/en-US/wa/browse/0a7f82bb-be6e-448a-ae11-373d22c37842?find-by-timestamp=2025-01-02T05:49:59Z&url=https:%2F%2Fwww.hhs.gov%2Fabout%2Fnews%2F2024%2F06%2F25%2Fus-surgeon-general-issues-advisory-public-health-crisis-firearm-violence-united-states.html×tamp=2025-01-02T07:03:02Z

Guest: Mikki Kendall is a writer, diversity consultant, and occasional feminist. She is the author of the New York Times-bestselling HOOD FEMINISM and of AMAZONS, ABOLITIONISTS, AND ACTIVISTS, a graphic novel illustrated by A. D’Amico. She has appeared on the BBC, NPR, The Daily Show, PBS, Good Morning America, MSNBC, Al Jazeera, WBEZ, and Showtime; her essays can be found at TIME, the New York Times, The Guardian, the Washington Post, Essence, Vogue, The Boston Globe, and NBC.

Take Action NOW: Join NOW this July for our National Conference in Las Vegas! Click here to learn more and register. We can’t wait to see you there!

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Socials:

Instagram: instagram.com/karnythia/

Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/karnythia.bsky.social

Healthcare Equity Makes Everyone Healthier

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 08:00:00 -0400

In 2025, Black women in the U.S. still can’t get the quality healthcare their white peers often receive. The history of bias in this country continues to play out through social determinants of health, from poverty to whether or not people have access to clean water. Despite the many questions that remain around women’s health, the Trump administration has also recently reduced funding for women’s health research.

Across the country, Black women are leading the charge to make change. Today, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes sits down with Dr. Sharon Thompson, Medical Director and Board Vice Chair of the Black Women’s Health Imperative, to discuss why Black women are disproportionately impacted by inequities in the healthcare system—and how combatting these disparities benefits everyone.

Links:

https://bwhi.org/

https://bwhi.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/CWC_Report_Full_report_lowres.pdf

https://www.nrdc.org/stories/flint-water-crisis-everything-you-need-know

https://kinema.com/films/me-period-tut9gq

https://www.npr.org/2025/04/23/nx-s1-5372892/womens-health-initiative-research-funding-gets-cut

Guest: Dr. Sharon R. Thompson is a powerhouse in women’s health—an OB/GYN, health tech innovator, professor, and national speaker with deep roots in public health and education. Known for her dynamic blend of clinical care, policy insight, and media presence, Dr. Thompson leads conversations that center dignity, data, and cultural competence in healthcare. She is the founder of Central Phoenix OB/GYN and a regular medical contributor on Good Morning Arizona.

Take Action NOW: Join NOW this July for our National Conference in Las Vegas! Click here to learn more and register. We can’t wait to see you there!

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Socials:

Dr. Sharon Thompson:

Instagram: instagram.com/drsharonthompson/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sharonthompsonmdmph/

Black Women’s Health Imperative:

Instagram: instagram.com/blkwomenshealth/

Twitter/X: x.com/blkwomenshealth

Facebook: facebook.com/BlackWomensHealthImperative/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/black-women's-health-imperative/

YouTube: youtube.com/c/BlackWomensHealthImperative

That’s a Wrap

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 08:00:00 -0400

This season, we’ve featured some of the many incredible women doing the work of protecting women in a hostile world. For our final episode of the season, we’re spotlighting one of our own: our fearless host and leader, Christian F. Nunes. Though her tenure as NOW National President is drawing to a close, her advocacy is far from over.

In this episode, Christian and senior producer Bethany Brookshire sit down together to reflect on four seasons of this podcast, its many insightful guests, and what the future of feminist solidarity really looks like in the face of mounting anti-feminist backlash.

We’re all in need of a little extra feminist inspiration right now, so why not check out some of our past episodes? We’ve linked the ones mentioned in today’s episode below, but be sure to check out all four seasons of Feminism NOW and get inspired by the incredible voices we’ve featured.

Links:

https://www.christianfnunes.com/

Links to previous episodes:

Violence Against Black Women (with Dr. Brittany Lewis): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/violence-against-black-women-a-conversation-with/id1709383622?i=1000631747963

Finding Missing Women (with Rep. Christina Haswood): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-missing-women/id1709383622?i=1000680823146

The Abuse to Prison Pipeline (with Becki Kondkar): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-abuse-to-prison-pipeline/id1709383622?i=1000683171644

The Promise and Peril of the Legal System (with Azaleea Carlea): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-promise-and-peril-of-the-legal-system/id1709383622?i=1000704592843

Raising the Wage (with Saru Jarayaman): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/raising-the-wage/id1709383622?i=1000652035836

Gun Violence is a Feminist Issue (with Mikki Kendall): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gun-violence-is-a-feminist-issue/id1709383622?i=1000709262228

Our Work is Never Over (with Alyssa Milano): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/our-work-is-never-over-activism-with-alyssa-milano/id1709383622?i=1000630191563

Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speaker-emerita-nancy-pelosi/id1709383622?i=1000650627806

The Gen Z Fight for Democracy (with V. Spehar): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-gen-z-fight-for-democracy/id1709383622?i=1000657917419

Building Better Media and Entertainment (with Nicci Gilbert): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/building-better-in-media-and-entertainment/id1709383622?i=1000641192487

Celebrating Everyday Feminists (with Latanya Mapp Frett): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/celebrating-everyday-feminists/id1709383622?i=1000636941613

Take Action NOW: Join NOW this July for our National Conference in Las Vegas! Click here to learn more and register. We can’t wait to see you there!

To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Socials:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christian_prez4now/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Prez4NOW

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@christian_prez4now

Meet Feminism NOW’s New Hosts!

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0500

We’re thrilled to be back for season 5 with new hosts, NOW National President Kim Villanueva and NOW National Vice President Rose Brunache.

In this kick-off episode, NOW’s Policy Director Shelby von Hofe sits down to interview Kim and Rose, so you can get to know the new hosts of the show. They discuss why the label of “feminist” seems to be so controversial these days, and what you can expect from this season of Feminism NOW.

Whether you’re a lifelong feminist or newly feminism-curious, join us this season as Kim and Rose speak with the movers and shakers defining the feminist movement in 2026. New episodes of Feminism NOW release every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Leave us a voicemail for us to include in a future episode! Call 202-628-8669 or email us a voice memo at feminismnow@now.org.

Meet Feminism NOW’s new hosts!

Kim Villanueva was elected NOW National President in July 2025 and has been an active NOW member since 1987. Outside of NOW, Kim has nearly 40 years of experience in legislative advocacy, member relations, fund development, and board governance.

Rose Brunache was elected NOW National Vice President in July 2025 and is an inclusive, millennial woman of color who brings a committed grassroots focus to her activism. Rose moved to the Washington, DC area after graduating from Temple University and has worked for various federal government agencies.

Guest Host: Shelby von Hofe is the Policy and Advocacy Director at NOW National. Shelby's work and volunteering has focused on voting rights and women's rights, in addition to completing a fellowship with the Pro-Bono Resource Center of Maryland.

NOW News: It’s NOW’s 60th birthday! NOW’s next 60 years depend on your voice, your creativity, and your conviction. Join us as we harness the power of new platforms, new ideas, and new generations to continue the fight for gender equality, social justice, and true democracy.

Join the NOW book club!

Follow us on social media:

Kim on Instagram @KimVillanueva_NOW, and Rose on X @BrunacheRose.

Today’s guest host, Shelby von Hofe @shelbyelysia on Instagram, and the NOW Young Feminists @now_yf on Instagram.
Find the West Kentucky NOW Chapter here, or on Facebook and Instagram @WestKYNOW

Find NOW here:

Instagram: @nationalnow

TikTok: @national_now

BlueSky: @nationalnow.bsky.social

Facebook: NationalNOW

X: @nationalnow

Feminism, Then and NOW

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0500

What can feminist history teach us in 2026? This week, Kim and Rose sit down with Dr. Katherine Turk, historian and author of The Women of NOW, to find out. They discuss the promise and the challenges the founders of NOW faced as feminists in mid-20th century America, and what they can teach us about building effective feminist coalitions today.

Whether you’re a lifelong feminist or newly feminism-curious, join us this season as Kim and Rose speak with the movers and shakers defining the feminist movement. Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Leave us a voicemail for us to include in a future episode! Call 202-628-8669 or send a voice memo to feminismnow@now.org.

Guest:

Katherine Turk is Professor of History and Adjunct Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her books include Equality on Trial: Gender and Rights in the Modern American Workplace, which won the 2017 Mary Nickliss Prize, and The Women of NOW: How Feminists Built an Organization that Transformed America, named a New Yorker Best Book of 2023.

Find the LaSalle County NOW Chapter @LaSalleCountyNOW on Facebook and TikTok.

Follow us on social media:

Find Kim on Instagram @KimVillanueva_NOW, and find Rose on X @BrunacheRose.

Find today’s guest, Katherine Turk, on Bluesky @katherineturk.bsky.social.

Find NOW here:

Instagram: @nationalnow

TikTok: @national_now

BlueSky: @nationalnow.bsky.social

Facebook: NationalNOW

Twitter: @nationalnow

The Sanewashing of the Natalist Movement

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0500

Natalism is having a moment, and so is the far right. This week’s guest, journalist and author Seyward Darby, says that’s no coincidence. In this episode, Kim and Rose sit down with Seyward to unpack what natalism is, its dark ties to eugenics, and why so many, from Silicon Valley tech bros to Timothy Chalamet, seem to have bought into it.

Leave us a voicemail for us to include in a future episode! Call 202-628-8669 or send a voice memo to feminismnow@now.org.

Guest:

Seyward Darby is the editor in chief of The Atavist Magazine, an award-winning publication that specializes in longform narrative journalism. She is the author of Sisters in Hate: American Women on the Front Lines of White Nationalism (2020), which was a finalist for the J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Harper's, The Guardian, and other publications. She lives in Oakland, California with her husband, who is also a writer, and their dog, cat, and infant son, who are not (yet).

Follow us on social media:

Find Kim on Instagram @KimVillanueva_NOW, and find Rose on X @BrunacheRose.

Find today’s guest, Seyward Darby on Instagram @seywarddarby and Bluesky @seywarddarby.bsky.social

Today’s featured chapter is Riverside County NOW: https://riversidecountynow.com/ on Instagram @riversidecountynow

Find NOW here:

Instagram: @nationalnow

TikTok: @national_now

BlueSky: @nationalnow.bsky.social

Facebook: NationalNOW

Minnesota Nice vs ICE

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0500

As ICE has carried out mass arrests and deportations in Minnesota, the people have not been sitting by. They have been following cars, blowing whistles, protesting, and buying groceries to feed their neighbors. In this episode, Kim and Rose talk with the Chapter President of Minnesota NOW about why ICE went to the state, what they hoped to accomplish–and what they got instead.

Whether you’re a lifelong feminist or newly feminism-curious, join us this season as Kim and Rose speak about important issues with leaders working for justice. Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Leave us a voicemail for us to include in a future episode! Call 202-628-8669 or send a voice memo to feminismnow@now.org.

Guest:

Renee Cardarelle is the Chapter President of Minnesota NOW. She has 20-plus years of experience in working on community building and social justice. She is a non-profit leader, a community building facilitator, a racial justice practitioner, an educator, and a lifelong learner. Besides her practical, lived education, Renee has a PhD in Public Service and Management from Hamline University, where she explores civic engagement and local government, and a Master’s degree in Social Responsibility from St. Cloud State University. She focuses on creating a world that is healthy, thriving, and healing. Renee was born, raised, and lives in the wonderful world of rural Minnesota.

Follow us on social media:

Find Kim on Instagram @KimVillanueva_NOW, and find Rose on X @BrunacheRose.

Today’s featured chapter is Minnesota NOW, https://www.facebook.com/minnesotanow/

A Note from Renee: Minnesota Immigrant Families need your help!

As the ICE/immigration crisis continues, families are losing their jobs, unable to go to work, and unable to leave their homes. New Hope for Immigrants has been helping new American families for over 10 years. They provide mutual aid support, guidance on finding work, and more.

Here is just one story: Hassan has been pursuing his citizenship but is still in TPS status and fears he will be detained. This has made it difficult for him to get to work and his family is struggling to make ends meet. Now they cannot afford to pay their rent. (Names have been changed).

We are looking for 100 people to donate $100 to reach a goal of $10,000 to help families with this need! Can you donate? Any amount is welcome!

You can donate at: DONATIONS | Newhopeforimmigrants

All donations are tax deductible.

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The Men are Not All Right

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Extremist, violent actions and ideologies are front and center in the news. But this week’s guest, Cynthia Miller-Idriss, noticed that no one ever seems to mention how most of those extremist and violent actions are done by men. In this episode, Kim and Rose sit down with Miller-Idriss to talk about the connections between men, patriarchy, and ideological extremism, how patriarchy harms men, and what all of us can do about it.

Leave us a voicemail for us to include in a future episode! Call 202-628-8669 or send a voice memo to feminismnow@now.org.

Guest:

Cynthia Miller-Idriss is a Professor in the School of Public Affairs and in the School of Education at the American University in Washington, DC, where she is the founding director and chief vision officer of the pioneering Polarization and Extremism Research & Innovation Lab (PERIL). She is a columnist for MS NOW with recent bylines in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Foreign Affairs, Politico, and more. Her most recent books include Man Up (Princeton University Press, 2025) and Hate in the Homeland (Princeton University Press, 2022).

Follow us on social media:

Find Kim on Instagram @KimVillanueva_NOW, and find Rose on X @BrunacheRose.

Find today’s guest, Cynthia Miller-Idriss, on Bluesky @milleridriss.bksy.social.

Today’s featured chapter is Central Phoenix Inez Casiano NOW, https://centralphoenixnow.org/, on Instagram @cpicnow, and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CPICNOW/

Find NOW here:

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BlueSky: @nationalnow.bsky.social

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Feminism for the Algorithm

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0400

People often worry about the harms of social media. But social media also has so much promise for the feminist movement. Today, Kim and Rose sit down with Blair Imani, creator of the viral web series Smarter in Seconds, to talk about feminism in the age of social media.

Leave us a voicemail for us to include in a future episode! Call 202-628-8669 or send a voice memo to feminismnow@now.org.

Guest: Blair Imani is the creator of the viral web series, Smarter In Seconds, LA Times bestselling author of Read This to Get Smarter, and co-host of the podcast Thoughts About Feelings. The New York Times praises Blair Imani’s unique ability to create “progressive lessons with vibrant visuals and a perky, quirky delivery.” Her scholarship spans intersectionality, gender studies, race and racism, sociology, and United States history. She is also a historian, having written Making Our Way Home (2020) and Modern HERstory (2018).

Follow us on social media:

Find Kim on Instagram @KimVillanueva_NOW, and find Rose on X @BrunacheRose.

Find today’s guest, Blair Imani, on Instagram and TikTok @blairimani

Today’s featured chapter is Appleton Area NOW, https://www.appletonareanow.org/ and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/appletonareanow/

Learn more about our special feature, the 2026 Driving the Vote for Equality national tour to raise awareness about the Equal Rights Amendment, at https://era-now.org and https://drivingthevote.org

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The Myth of Meritocracy

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0400

We often hear that workplaces are meritocratic. But if that was true, would white women and people of color still be earning so much less than men? Would those board rooms be quite so male?

In this episode, Kim and Rose sit down with Sarah Kaplan, Founding Director of the Institute for Gender and the Economy at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management to discuss the costs of being a woman and how we can move beyond individual solutions toward systemic change.

Leave us a voicemail for us to include in a future episode! Call 202-628-8669 or send a voice memo to feminismnow@now.org.

Guest: Sarah Kaplan is Professor Emerita and Founding Director of the Institute for Gender and the Economy at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. She is author of several books including the forthcoming Products for the People (published by W.W. Norton). She regularly advises corporations, governments and agencies on board diversity, board governance, the care economy, employment, pay equity, and inclusive innovation. In recognition of her contributions, she was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women.

Follow us on social media:

Find Kim on Instagram @KimVillanueva_NOW, and find Rose on X @BrunacheRose.

Today’s featured chapter is MassNOW, massnow.org and on Instagram and TikTok @MassNOW.

Learn more about NOW’s Book Club, Feminist Public Square: https://now.org/national-organization-for-women-book-club/

Find NOW here:

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What We Get Wrong About Violence Against Women

National Organization for Women (NOW) — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0400

“Why didn’t she just leave?” Despite decades of progress toward gender equality, domestic violence–and the judgement of women in violent situations–remains pervasive. In this episode, Kim and Rose sit down with journalist and author Rachel Louise Snyder to discuss the systemic failures that allow intimate partner violence to persist and what real solutions could look like.

Leave us a voicemail for us to include in a future episode! Call 202-628-8669 or send a voice memo to feminismnow@now.org.

Guest: Rachel Louise Snyder is a professor of literature and journalism at American University, and a New York Times contributing opinion writer. She is the author of numerous books including “Women We Buried, Women We Burned: A Memoir” and “No Visible Bruises: What We Don’t Know About Domestic Violence Can Kill Us.”

Follow us on social media:

Find Kim on Instagram @KimVillanueva_NOW, and find Rose on X @BrunacheRose.

Find today’s guest, Rachel Louise Snyder on Instagram @rlswrites.

Today’s featured chapter is Central NY NOW, https://cny-now.com/ and on Instagram @cnynow and Bluesky @cnynow and on Facebook @CentralNYNOW

Find NOW here:

Instagram: @nationalnow

TikTok: @national_now

BlueSky: @nationalnow.bsky.social

Facebook: NationalNOW