Women's Liberation Radio News

Vaishnavi Sundar is an independent filmmaker, feminist, writer, and women's rights activist from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Vaishnavi is known for her work in the field of cinema and activism involving an interplay of feminism and filmmaking. She has written, directed, and produced all her films under her own production company, Lime Soda Films. She is also the founder of Women Making Films, a community known for its effort to break the glass ceiling within the fraternity of domestic and world cinema. To watch her latest film, follow this link: gum.co/bwwsw and read the blog about how your support will help. https://medium.com/@vaishax/heres-how-you-can-watch-but-what-was-she-wearing-9d8a562bfad4 Thistle caught up with Ms. Sundar via skype on March 11th to talk with her about her recent de-platforming by trans activists crying "transphobia." Ms. Sundar worked for three years to produce a film unrelated to transgenderism only to have her debut screening in New York City canceled, not due to the virus outbr

From Thistle: After nearly two years, I ventured back into WORT studios in Madison to record a music show with my friend, Lucy Kilpatrick. From beginning to end, this musical hour features my musical voice and stories of bicycle adventuring. My music is available for purchase here: www.thistlepettersen.com. It was tough getting approval from the station to allow my music to air due to trans activists complaining that I am "transphobic" and "hateful and bigoted." Because of these accusations, WORT leadership would not allow me to do the program live from the studio for fear that I may say something "hateful" or "discriminatory towards marginalized groups." Knowing I was perfectly capable of not "spewing hate" as I am accused of, I agreed to this restriction and recorded my show in the studio on December 28th, 2019 with no incident. Even though the news director told me immediately that I had passed the test and had uttered no wrongspeak during the recording, she also said that the entire board of directo

In this month's edition, we focus on the #SayHerName movement and the legacy of state violence against black women. We begin as always with our world news segment written and read by Dana, followed by Nina Simone's Mississippi Goddamn. Next is an interview segment with award-winning poet Dominique Christina, wherein she talks to Thistle about her experience and perspective as a black woman in America, the intention of #SayHerName, and why the movement exists. Check out the full interview on our soundcloud or wordpress sites. From there Thistle announces this summer's upcoming Dragyn Ride from Hart to Wayland, MI, at the end of July. Listen for information on how to join up! And finally, Sekhmet SheOwl's commentary talks about the unique oppression black women and girls face at the hands of white male authority, and where white women fall short in helping black women achieve equality. As always, thank you for staying tuned to WLRN! https://aapf.org/shn-campaign http://www.dominiquechristina.com/

WLRN's Thistle Pettersen was able to capture an interview with award winning poet and writer, Dominique Christina, to ask her for her take on the feminist movement and #SayHerName. Dominique Christina has performed and conducted workshops for hundreds of colleges/universities, schools, community art spaces, nonprofit organizations, and conferences across the country. She has opened for Cornel West, appeared in Season 3 of Verses and Flow on TV One, performed for the Trayvon Martin and Emmett Till families at the Shiloh Baptist Church, and was a keynote speaker at the Emerging Women Conference, TedxMSU Denver, the LOHAS Conference, and was invited to China to perform her poetry in Chengdu. Dominique’s fourth manuscript “Anarcha Speaks” won the National Poetry Series 2017 Competition and was published Fall 2018 by Beacon Press. Learn more at http://www.dominiquechristina.com/ CORRECTION: WLRN apologizes to Kara Dansky and WoLF for misquoting her saying "WoLF is trying to recruit black women" when what Ms.

This is a short interview Thistle did with a woman attending a feminist breakfast gathering the day of the Fighting the New Misogyny talk that she was also attending at the Seattle Public Library later on, only three blocks away from the location of the breakfast. About 15 women gathered for the event, some from outside of the region and others from the Pacific Northwest and Seattle. What is noteworthy about this woman's testimony is how she does not identify as "conservative" or "right wing" but that because she has an analysis of gender identity that is not in alignment with trans ideology, she was labeled a "TERF" and subsequently "conservative" and "right wing." It is important for major media to hear the voices of the women attending the Seattle Public Library event, and not just continue to point at WoLF's bipartisan attempts to get radical feminist views into the mainstream via associations with conservatives and conservative groups. Please listen to this interview and realize that there are hundre

Thanks to our listener sponsors, WLRN was able to send Thistle Pettersen to Seattle the weekend of February 1st to attend the talk "Fighting the New Misogyny" featuring Lierre Keith, Meghan Murphy, Saba Malik and Kara Dansky at the Seattle Public Library. In this edition, you will hear exclusive coverage of events surrounding the main event that drew 350 people to the library to hear women speak about the harms of gender identity legislation and culture. There were supporters and protesters alike captured by the many media activists present though the absence of major media was glaring. First up, you'll hear the world news as written and delivered by WLRN's Dana Vitalosova right before hearing the Cranberries' song "Zombie" which is amazingly perfect for this month's topic. After the Cranberries song, WLRN's April Neault introduces the Seattle sound collage Thistle and Jenna co-created of the many voices of women attending the talk, offering their insights and statements about why they were there woven

Here is the extended interview Elizabeth McKeown did with Kathleen Richardson about the child sex dolls on the market. How are pedophilia, pornography, and prostitution linked? Will using an object stop men from using women and children as objects, or reaffirm their outlook that women and children are things? Dr. Kathleen Richardson is a robotics ethicist with a background in anthropology who works closely with human connection and relation, particularly as it pertains to autism.

In this extended WLRN interview, Thistle Pettersen talks with Dawn Smith, organizer with the Michigan Framily Reunion, about this women-only cultural event that remembers and honors the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival that took place near Hart, Michigan for 40 years with the last MichFest happening in August of 2015.

One of WLRN's earliest interviews; In it, then-WLRN member Elizabeth talks with Ms. Hungerford about the Purvi Patel abortion/miscarriage case, among other cases, and their implications for women's reproductive freedoms.

Welcome back, sisters, to the first hour of Women's Liberation Music in 2020. It's been eight months since my last music show when I featured the writings of Andrea Dworkin. I can honestly say that the two deaths of well-known writers who have affected me the most have been Andrea Dworkin (who died April 5, 2005) and Mary Oliver who died a year ago today, January 17, 2019. So it seems appropriate that I return with another edition of my music show with a tribute to Mary Oliver. This month's varied music of international under-represented female artists will accompany my reading of some of Mary's poems, all of which celebrate nature, my most beloved muse. I went to visit Mary's hometown for 40 years, P'town, last Fall for a week and walked the beaches and trails she walked and wrote prolifically about, like around Blackwater Pond and the Pinewoods. It was a significant and magical time there; I felt Mary Oliver close, chiding me, for example, to wake before dawn so as to catch the first glint of the day on

Last month, WLRN's Dani Whitaker spoke with Emily Kaht, an athlete and feminist who recently completed a marathon while carrying a flag that read, "Save Women's Sports. Woman = Adult Human Female." As Kaht discusses, this courageous act garnered both support and criticism during and after the event. Kaht is a twenty-nine-year-old woman with a bachelor's degree in biology. She has been involved in sports throughout her life with a current focus on long-distance running, and is committed to protecting the integrity of women's sports so that other women and girls can enjoy the same fulfillment and opportunities that sports have provided her. In this interview, Kaht shares the motivation behind her recent activism as well as the importance of acknowledging biological sex and preserving women's spaces.

In this interview, feminist author Lierre Keith gives us her take on the top stories and developments of 2019 as they impact girls and women and her analysis of the women's movement over the last decade and into the next. Keith gives listeners a fantastic overview of what's going on from her vantage point as an author and speaker with her finger on the pulse of what's changing, shaping up and shifting in the world. Stay tuned for Lierre as moderator of the Q & A after the talk titled "The New Misogyny: A Feminist Analysis of Gender Identity" featuring Meghan Murphy, Saba Malik and Kara Dansky as speakers at Seattle's Public Library, the central location on February 1st. There has been much hype and hoopla around this talk as transactivists gear up to confront the women attending with the aim to either shut it down or disrupt the event. Stay tuned for WLRN's on-the-ground coverage of the February 1st talk in Seattle. Follow our FB page for updates. For more information about the event, click on this link: h

We made it to 2020 without blowing up! Unreal, right sisters? Grab your hats and put on your space suits for a fabulous journey into WLRN's first podcast of the new year and the new decade. First up, be greeted by WLRN's newest member, Dana Vitalosova from Slovakia who also delivers WLRN's January 2nd world news segment before passing off the baton to Thistle who interviews Elizabeth, a radfem from the Midwest and admin for the popular group Radical Feminism Resources. Elizabeth gives Thistle the skinny on her take on the top stories and developments of 2019. Elizabeth and WLRN wanted to make sure all of our listeners have this link to FIST's feminist amendments to the Equality Act, a story to look for in 2020. https://feministstruggle.org/2019/10/19/feminists-in-struggle-fist-launches-campaign-for-feminist-amendments-to-the-equality-act/ After hearing from Elizabeth, enjoy Ani DiFranco's rockin' tune from new year's eve 2008 called Red Letter Year before transitioning to listening to Lierre Keith ring in t

In this 44th edition of WLRN's monthly podcast you will hear the world news written and delivered by WLRN's April Neault followed by the song "Libres" by Mora Navarro. Next up, Thistle speaks with Mexican feminist Laura Lecuona Gonzalez of the organization Mexican Feminists Against Surrogacy. Laura Lecuona studied Philosophy at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and her professional life has been devoted to the editing world. Currently, she is an independent editor and translator, having worked for some major publishing houses for more than twenty years. She is the author of "Las Mujeres son Seres Humanos" (Women are human beings), an introductory book on feminism for teenagers and young adults, and keeps writing and giving lectures and talks on feminism despite the backlash she is facing. Laura spoke with Thistle about her feminist work and her experiences with trans activists in Mexico who have targeted her for attack and about how she has responded to those attacks. Next, enjoy the song “Anti

Our edition 43 November 7th 2019 podcast features WLRN's world news delivered by Sekhmet SheOwl followed by the song "Gold Dust Woman" by Fleetwood Mac. Next, you'll hear an interview Thistle did with New Zealand feminist activist and writer, Renee Gerlich, before hearing the song "Wise Up" by Aimee Mann. Here is a list of books Renee refers to in her interview: Harriet Lerner - The Dance of Anger Gabor Mate - When the Body Says No Charlotte Kasl - Women, Sex and Addiction Andrea Dworkin - Our Blood Here is the video she recommends at the end of the interview. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C7XAdVxdf8&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR31ywiW3vWyFr5Zkue3zyPrzs6is8L3BD8fuShXQkjJIwczGmL5LGZJsss Next, tune in for an interview Sekhmet did with Jen, a young New York City dyke who is in recovery from alcohol addiction. Finally, WLRN's April Neault closes out the program with her stellar commentary on addiction and substance use both from a personal perspective and from the perspective of her work at a local women'

Ann Menasche has devoted most of her life to working for economic and social justice, civil rights, environmental sanity, and peace. Ann spoke with WLRN via skype about the recent launch of Feminists in Struggle (FIST)'s campaign to amend the US Federal Equality Act. In the interview you will hear Ann talk about the difference between sex and gender and how the concept of "gender identity" effectively erases girls' and women's sex-based rights and protections. Ms. Menasche has 40 years of litigation experience in civil rights and public interest law, having worked since 2002 in the field of disability rights. She is a long-time activist in the peace, disability rights, and gay rights movements. Ann came of age during the social movements of the 1960's and 70's. She attended Vassar College in New York and became a leader in the growing anti-Vietnam war, student, and feminist movements. More information about FIST's campaign is here: https://feministstruggle.org/2019/10/19/feminists-in-struggle-fist-launche

Cindy Sheehan is an American anti-war activist, whose son, U.S. Army Specialist Casey Sheehan, was killed by enemy action during the Iraq War in 2004. Since then, she has traveled in the USA and abroad to speak out against US led wars and war time economics that fuel endless wars. In October 2019 Ms. Sheehan was dis-invited from speaking at an anti-war event in Carbondale Illinois due to trans activist pressure on the organizers of the event. This interview focuses on the story of her de-platforming at that event and also her thoughts and analysis of what trans activism is and the role it is playing in leftist movements.

Happy Halloween to all of our WLRN listeners! This podcast is full of witch magic as the team at WLRN explores the witches of old and new. Hear world news as written and delivered by April Neault after a haunting greeting by WLRN's resident female separatist, Sekhmet SheOwl. Following the world news, hear an interview Sekhmet did with Max Dashu, founder of Suppressed Histories Archives. Dashu speaks about the witches of old and puts into context the current state of witch resistance and culture today. Then stay tuned for Thistle's interview with Ruth Barrett at the Mycelium Mysteries Women's Retreat in Almond WI this past month. Ruth talks about who the witches are and what their practice is in today's world. To finish off October's podcast, hear Thistle deliver her commentary about her life as a witch both as a child and adult. The music in the background swirls with Thistle's voice singing a Sonia Johnson chant at the end. You won't want to miss this special commentary for the Season. We hope you enjo

WLRN's Danielle Whitaker recently spoke with Donna Freitas, author of the newly released novel, Consent: A Memoir of Unwanted Attention, which tells the story of a young woman who was stalked in an unconventional way by her mentor. Freitas is a writer and scholar who has conducted extensive research on students, consent, and sex on college campuses. She has spoken at nearly 200 colleges and universities about her research and has been published in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Boston Globe, and The Washington Post. Her latest book offers a unique perspective on the nature of stalking and the type of "unwanted attention" that can often be difficult to recognize or define. This interview explores the narrative of Consent, its background, and what inspired Freitas to come forward and share her traumatic story after all these years.

Issy Dickinson is a Lesbian-Feminist Activist and one of the Organisers of the Lesbian Strength March and Rally that took place in her hometown of Leeds in the UK on September 7th, 2019. Ms. Dickinson is studying for a Masters Degree at the University of Leeds and spoke with Thistle via skype on September 18th about the lead-up to the March and what the March was like on-the-ground the day it happened. This interview if full of useful information and lively discussion for any budding feminist activists out there who wish to learn how to organize uplifting and positive demonstrations on the streets. The Lesbian Strength March was born out of months of weekly meetings and planning sessions a handful of creative and dedicated women attended to make sure the marchers and speakers would be safe and have an enjoyable time. The two main organizations putting the March on were ReSisters and Get the L Out UK. Both had members who had attended Pride events in Lancaster and in Leeds prior to creating their own marc