Whatsjust presents Critical Conversations

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In this episode, I’m joined by Lourdes A. Rivera, President of Pregnancy Justice and a leading voice in the fight to ensure that no one loses their rights because of pregnancy. Lourdes has spent over three decades advancing reproductive freedom, gender justice, and human rights through her work in law, philanthropy, and advocacy.
Together, we unpack what it means to live in a country where pregnancy itself can lead to punishment, and what that reveals about our broader criminal and political systems.
We dive into:
Why and how pregnancy is being criminalized across the U.S.
What it really means to be “pro-choice” in today’s legal and cultural landscape
The impact of criminalizing substance use during pregnancy
The realities of being pregnant behind bars
What we can all do to protect reproductive freedom and dignity
This conversation will challenge the way you think about rights, justice, and the politics of care, reminding you of what’s at stake when we criminalize bodies instead of supporting them.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Lourdes A. Rivera and Pregnancy Justice
02:54 Personal Journey into Reproductive Justice
04:13 Defining Fetal Personhood
07:01 The Conflict of Rights in Pregnancy
10:53 Debunking the Crack Baby Myth
14:35 Public Health vs. Criminalization
18:31 Pregnancy in Jails and Prisons
21:55 The Criminalization of Pregnancy Loss
23:05 The Broader Implications of Reproductive Rights
23:48 Reproductive Justice vs. Pro-Choice
26:31 Impact of Ideology on Healthcare Access
28:33 Consequences of Criminalization on Families
30:18 Social Determinants of Health and Reproductive Justice
31:43 Criminalization of Pregnancy and Healthcare Needs
36:12 Legal Consequences of Pregnancy Criminalization
38:49 Community Action and Advocacy for Change
42:58 Challenging Pro-Life Narratives
44:56 Prioritizing Care Over Criminalization
48:59 Lourdes Outro.mp3

Credits:
Created and hosted by Abbie Henson
Edited by Isabelle Kerby-Mcgowan
Website by Sarah Lords
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I would love to hear your feedback, takeaways, and questions. Please text at the link above or email whatsjustpod@gmail.com
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Visit our website at abigailrhenson.com/podcast
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In this episode, I’m joined by Alec Karakatsanis, a trailblazing civil rights lawyer, Founder and Executive Director of Civil Rights Corps, and author of Copaganda: How Police and the Media Manipulate Our News. Together, we pull back the curtain on how everyday headlines shape what we believe about crime, safety, and justice, and how those beliefs serve the powerful and not necessarily the public.
We dive into:
How to spot propaganda hiding in plain sight
Real, non-punitive approaches to addressing harm that actually work
The ways police practices distort crime data to fit certain narratives
Why mainstream media leans on fear to keep the criminal legal system intact
This conversation will change the way you read the news — and maybe even the way you see the world.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Copaganda and Its Impact

03:05 Defining Copaganda: Features and Implications

07:01 Challenging Perspectives on Propaganda

10:39 The Construction of Crime and Its Reporting

17:27 Understanding Harm: The Overlooked Crimes

22:17 Manufacturing Fear Through Media

28:22 The Punishment Bureaucracy: A Flawed Solution

35:02 Rethinking Safety and Community Solutions

40:10 Navigating Media Consumption Critically
Links:
What you need to start a court watch program
Democracy Now
Credits:
Created and hosted by Abbie Henson
Edited by Isabelle Kerby-Mcgowan
Website by Sarah Lords
Support Critical Conversations
I would love to hear your feedback, takeaways, comments, tips, and questions. Please feel free to text at the link above or email whatsjustpod@gmail.com. 
Follow Whatsjust on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn
Subscribe to the weekly newsletter to receive details on where and when the next live Critical Conversation will take place. 

And, as always, please review, subscribe, and share with everyone you know :)
Become a supporter of the show with a monthly subscription (amount of your choice) and get a shoutout in upcoming episodes!
Visit our website at https://www.abigailrhenson.com/podcast
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This episode features Dr. Jane Ward, professor and chair of Feminist Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and author of the recent book, The Tragedy of Heterosexuality. In this conversation, we explore the complexities of heterosexuality, its historical context, and the implications of gender dynamics in relationships. We discuss 
The evolution of marriage 
Exploring sexuality
The commodification of relationship advice
How to be a feminist
I would love to hear your feedback, take-aways, or comments. So pease feel free to text at the link above or email whatsjustpod@gmail.com And please follow Whatsjust on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn and subscribe to the weekly newsletter to get details on where and when the next live Critical Conversation is happening! 

And, as always, please review, subscribe, and share with everyone you know :)
Become a supporter of the show with a monthly subscription (amount of your choice) and get a shoutout in upcoming episodes!
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Critical Conversations
01:42 Understanding the Tragedy of Heterosexuality
06:06 Historical Context of Heterosexuality
10:00 Sexuality as a Choice
14:54 Queering Relationships and Gender Dynamics
19:53 The Misogyny Contradiction
21:50 The Heterosexual Repair Industry
26:41 Exploring Feminist Frameworks in Relationships
29:02 The Role of Men in Feminism
32:31 Navigating Sexuality and Gender Identity
36:40 The Importance of Values in Relationships
41:50 Feminism and the Dating Scene
46:36 Redefining Relationships Beyond Heteronormativity
51:51 Hope and Transformation in Heterosexual Relationships
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This episode features a live-recorded critical conversation between Abbie and Prentice Hemphill, a therapist, somatic educator, political organizer, founder of the Embodiment Institute, and writer of the recent book, What It Takes To Heal. In this conversation, we explore the intricate relationship between healing, justice, and the body, and discuss:
Conflict as a catalyst for growth
The fallacy of the mind-body split
Healing as relational rather than individual 
Visioning as a process to create our own paths and futures
The importance of surrender in healing
I would love to hear your feedback, take-aways, or comments. So pease feel free to text at the link above or email whatsjustpod@gmail.com And please follow Whatsjust on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn and subscribe to the weekly newsletter to get details on where and when the next live Critical Conversation is happening! 

And, as always, please review, subscribe, and share with everyone you know :)
Become a supporter of the show with a monthly subscription (amount of your choice) and get a shoutout in upcoming episodes!
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Healing and Justice
05:37 The Mind-Body Connection
12:49 Embodiment and Its Practices
19:39 Intergenerational Healing and Relationships
27:47 The Process of Healing
35:00 Visioning and Personal Agency
40:28 The Role of Conflict in Growth
42:17 Surrender and Vulnerability
44:24 Trust and Risk in Relationships
46:15 Presence and Parenting
48:15 Authenticity vs. Attunement
51:44 The Power of Ease and Intention
54:06 Visioning and Actionable Practices
56:31 Riding the Edge of Change
58:03 Outrage and Its Impact
01:00:09 Decisiveness and Self-Trust
01:01:36 Surrender and Liberation
01:03:18 Desiring vs. Longing
01:04:59 Somatics and Decarceration
01:07:41 Hope in Conflict Resolution
01:11:12 The Intersection of Vision and Soul
01:12:47 Stress, Resilience, and Community
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This episode is step ten in the 10-Step Toolkit to Having Critical Conversations featuring Steven Windisch, the Director of the Crime and Security Data Analytics Lab in the Terrorism Research Center at the University of Arkansas. Dr. Windisch's research breaks away from approaches limited to specific phases of the extremist’s life course, such as their period of incarceration. Instead, his research emphasizes the accumulation of risk factors (e.g., physical abuse) and life events (e.g., divorce) that occur during childhood, adolescence, or adulthood and how these experiences increase one’s susceptibility to accepting extremist beliefs. 
 In this episode, we:
discuss risk factors to lead to extremism
examine the role of compassion and exposure in creating change
the importance of support systems in drawing people out of extremism
tangible tools to aid and be open to change

If you have any questions or comments you would like addressed in the  Q&A with Dr. Windisch, please email whatsjustpod@gmail.com And please follow Whatsjust on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn and subscribe to the weekly newsletter to get details on where and when the Live Q&A is happening! 

And, as always, please review, subscribe, and share with everyone you know :)
Become a supporter of the show with a monthly subscription (amount of your choice) and get a shoutout in upcoming episodes!

Timestamps:

04:26 Defining Change in Extremist Beliefs
12:21 Risk Factors and Pathways to Extremism
19:59 The Role of Compassion and Empathy
26:01 Challenges in Addressing White Supremacy
33:30 Navigating the Stigma of White Supremacy Upon Deradicalization
35:13 The Power of Kindness in Initiating Change
36:53 Personal Experiences with Change
38:36 Parenthood and Identity Transformation
40:17 The Process of Change and Openness
42:43 Challenges in Critical Conversations
46:10 Finding Common Ground in Difficult Dialogues
50:38 Supporting Change and Overcoming Stigma
59:16 Three Captivating Things

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