Women's Liberation Radio News

WLRN's edition 41 podcast celebrates women's cultural gatherings by highlighting the spirit of community and female empowerment generated at the Michigan Framily Reunion (MFR), a women-only festival that takes place every year in the pines of Michigan.  Jenna and Thistle set up a WLRN table in the marketplace at MFR this year and had a blast meeting and greeting with all of the amazing women who showed up. In this edition, hear the world news as written and delivered by WLRN's youngest member from India, Damayanti, before enjoying Alix Dobkin's classic song "If it Wasn't For the Women." Next, listen to an exclusive interview with Dawn Smith, founder and producer of the Michigan Framily Reunion as she reflects on the highlights of MFR 2019, the year of the Mother, and talks about plans for MFR 2020, the year of the Dragyn. After the interview, hear a sound collage of women gathered this year in the woods of Michigan chatting, attending workshops and singing. The sound collage is framed by Nedra Johnson's son

Thistle Pettersen caught up with Jen and Eli, two sisters who attended the 2019 New York City Dyke March. Featured in podcast Edition 40.

WLRN's 40th edition podcast takes a look at the current state of lesbians within what is now known as the LGBTQ+ movement, by exploring women's experiences at this year's Pride Parades and Dyke Marches. In this August 1st broadcast of our monthly news program, April Neault delivers the latest in women's news, followed by our featured song, "Whole Woman" by Ali Bee, written about a dyke march that was taken over by men. http://alibeemusic.com/ Next, you'll hear an interview with Eli and Jen, two lesbians who participated in this year's Dyke March in New York City who were barred from marching by trans activists who were Dyke March officials. Next up, Sofia Simonson of the Lancashire Resisters speaks with WLRN's Sekhmet SheOwl about the Resisters' demonstration this year at Lancaster Pride. They too encountered trans activists but had a "street plan" before they went and managed to maintain a lesbian feminist presence for quite some time before being taken over by the mobs. Finally, for our commentary this m

Katherine MacLean is a research scientist, teacher and meditator. In her academic research, she studied how psychedelics and mindfulness meditation can promote beneficial, long-lasting changes in personality, well-being and brain function. Following her sister's untimely death from cancer, she left academia and co-founded the Psychedelic Education & Continuing Care Program in New York (www.psychedelicprogam.com), which focuses on increasing awareness and reducing risks of psychedelic use. WLRN's Thistle Pettersen was able to connect with her by phone to capture this interview in February 2019. Hear Ms. MacLean talk about her experiences in the male-dominated medical establishment before she left it and how she discovered that this male domination carried over into her experiences in the "alternative" psychedelic community. Ms. MacLean will be giving one of the keynote addresses at the third annual Mycelium Mysteries Women's Retreat in Almond, WI taking place the weekend of September 27-29, 2019. Learn mo

In this July 4th, 2019 release of WLRN's monthly news program you will hear the world news as written and delivered by April Neult before hearing Thistle's song "We are More" about getting active in the face of the overwhelming problems of war and climate change. After the song, we present two interviews Thistle did with professors Joni Seager, author of The Women's Atlas and Earth Follies: Coming to Feminist Terms with the Global Environmental Crisis, and Leah Horowitz, professor of Human Ecology at the University of Wisconsin. Both professors confirm that climate change is disproportionately impacting women yet power over what to do about it remains primarily in the hands of men, who also are the primary drivers of the problem. After the interviews, you'll hear Sekhmet Sheowl's commentary that will encourage you to explore and reconnect with nature, away from cameras, phones and electronics, in order to be fully alive on planet earth in these times of massive change. Thanks for staying tuned to WLRN, o

This interview with Leah Horowitz took place on the University of Wisconsin Campus at Science Hall in professor Horowitz' office on June 24th, 2019. Thistle talks with Leah about her studies of the New Caledonian islands people and their resistance to nickel mining. Professor Horowitz' stories from that region illustrate a pattern occurring worldwide of environmental destruction disproportionately impacting women and women's work, yet decisions about this impact primarily remaining in the hands of men.

Going to a women's festival or event this summer 2019? Consider creating some rad media around it for posterity. Contribute to WLRN's upcoming podcast focused on what we all did this summer. Take a listen to this public service announcement calling for submissions and then contact us at wlrnewscontact@gmail.com if you'd like to contribute your media to the program! More info here: https://wlrnmedia.wordpress.com/2019/06/26/call-out-for-media-submissions/ Thanks for tuning in to WLRN, our feminist community radio station powered by sisters who care.

Sisters! Women's right to our reproductive freedom is under attack AGAIN because patriarchy seeks to control women and women's bodies regardless of the year we are living in. In this 38th edition of WLRN's monthly podcast, we explore the issue of abortion. First up, hear WLRN's world news segment as written by Damayanti and delivered by Jenna Di Quarto. Next, enjoy Fallopian Rhapsody by the 90's band Lunachicks before hearing an interview Thistle did with MaryLou Singleton, midwife and women's healthcare advocate based in New Mexico. Then stay tuned for excerpts of an interview Julia Beck did with Judith Arcana of the Jane Collective last Spring. Finally, hear Sekhmet SheOwl's powerful commentary on the radical feminist politics of abortion and where our feminist conversations on this topic fall short. Thanks for staying tuned to feminist volunteer-powered community radio. Please listen, like, comment and share widely to get this handcrafted goodness into the ears of women everywhere.

WLRN's Danielle Whitaker recently interviewed RAINBOW STAR (all caps — listen and learn why!), a feminist performer and songwriter from Kentucky. RAINBOW STAR's first album is available at rainbowstarmusic.com, and her new album, Music from the Rainbow Sparkle Palace: Volume II, is coming soon, with part of the proceeds benefiting a domestic violence shelter in Richmond, Kentucky. One of the album's tracks entitled "Patriarchy Song" was recently banned from Facebook due to lyrics that were considered "offensive." In this interview, RAINBOW talks about the impact of this ban, the challenges of living as a feminist in rural Kentucky, and her journey as a feminist musician.

Thistle was recently invited by a group of women interested in land-based women's community to Colorado for a retreat and brainstorm at an urban farm near Denver. She made that trip in May, 2019 and while there, was interviewed by one of the sisters at the gathering who does media work. The interview took place in the parking lot of Boulder's Community Radio Station, KGNU because there was no studio space available at the time. The woman who interviewed Thistle is a volunteer at the station. In this dynamic interview, you will learn more details about Thistle's story as a feminist media activist in Madison and how her community has treated her because of it.

It’s May 27 2019, so called Memorial Day under patriarchy. This is a day which, as a child I was taught, marked the beginning of summer and thus we ladies could finally wear white. Ugh. Also it’s a day that war heroes are celebrated. Interesting conjunction. Since now I wear white any damn time I want and know about patriarchy’s true war on women I thought it fitting to honor one of my favorite war heroes, radical feminist Andrea Dworkin. In the background to my reading of her 1978 essay which she wrote and published in Letters from the War Zone, you'll hear Kitka and their entire 1999 album called Nectar. Kitka is an American women’s vocal arts ensemble inspired by traditional songs and vocal techniques from Eastern Europe and Eurasia. Founded in 1979 as an offshoot of the Westwind International Folk Ensemble, Kitka began as a grassroots group of amateur singers from diverse ethnic and musical backgrounds who shared a passion for the stunning dissonances, asymmetric rhythms, intricate ornamentation, an

On March 19th, 2018, WLRN's Thistle Pettersen aired interviews with feminists Julie Bindel and Meghan Murphy via WORT 89.9 FM's airwaves. Two days later, a public discussion took place at the station at their board meeting that Thistle was not invited to nor was she aware that it was happening. This is a recording of that discussion. Several members of the Madison community, some local journalists and others paid staff at WORT, spoke disparagingly of Thistle's character, accusing her of being "less than honest" and pulling a "bait and switch" regarding her program. The truth is, Thistle met about a month before the program aired with Molly Stentz, WORT's news director, and outlined the content of the live interviews she was going to air. The news director did not object to Thistle's choice of guests and the program was aired. The only thing that changed about the program is that one of Thistle's guests, could not be on the air live, so Thistle recorded the interview ahead of time. You can listen to the

In this edition, hear WLRN world news as written and delivered by Jenna DiQuarto before enjoying the song "Ode to a Gym Teacher" by Meg Christian. After that, you'll hear the interview WLRN's Robin Long did with Coach Linda Blade, president of Athletics Alberta and Beth Stelzer of Save Women's Sports. This stellar interview is followed by Thistle's commentary on the beauty and sanctity of women bonding through competition and team sports. Women's sports have the potential to serve as an organizing tool for women's rights and protections like no other issue because EVERYONE can relate to the concept of fairness and integrity when it comes to being a "good sport" on the field and as a spectator. As mentioned in the interview, please consider contacting the International Olympics Committee to voice your opposition to including males as competitors in women's sports. WLRN found the following contact information for that organization. Thanks for tuning in to WLRN. Please like, listen and share widely as our podcas

It’s Earth Day 2019 and this month’s music hour will be given to songs about the Earth in her peril, her beauty and her resilience. I’ll be weaving in quotes by Rachael Carson whose consciousness changing book Silent Spring has affected a generation of environmental practices and attitudes. Song List: Cold Frost Morning Barbara Higbie The Whole World is Burning Jennifer Berezan Muddy Road Walela Battered Earth Sweet Honey in the Rock Beautiful Dawn The Wailin' Jennys Mississippi Song Rising Appalachia Cherokee River Walela Gula Gula Mari Boine Aye Kerunene Keruna Tuulet (The Winds) Tellu Tundra Flower Mari Boine Earth My Body Alice Di Micele, Elouise Burrell, Freyda Epstein, Tina Malia, Windsong In These Arms: A Song for All Beings Jennifer Berezan

We are celebrating 3 years of WLRN, Women's Liberation Radio News! In this 36th edition of our monthly podcast, the world news is written and delivered by our youngest member, Damayanti from India, and the commentary is by Sekhmet SheOwl, desert dweller and resident female separatist. In this anniversary edition you will hear a debate between WoLF (Women's Liberation Front) board member and lawyer Kara Dansky and FIST (Feminists in Struggle) lawyer and member, Ann Menasche, facilitated by WLRN member Danielle Whitaker. Cover art by Natasha Petrov. Music is by Band of Skulls with their song Honest, Tracy Chapman with her song Women's Work and Thistle Pettersen with her songs Real Voice and Michigan, aka Gender Hurts. Thanks for staying tuned to WLRN. Please like, share and comment widely as the only way we get our handcrafted programs out there is by relying on listeners like you to help us grow as a grassroots radical feminist media organization.

Join us for this program focused on two amazing women's gatherings in the woods of Wisconsin focused on herbs and mushrooms. We interview Linda Conroy, founder of Midwest Women's Herbal and organizer for both these gatherings in nature and in intentional community. You'll also enjoy the words of Barbara Bitondo, Linda's student and an urban herbalist. Dr. Cho speaks with WLRN's Robin Long about mushrooms and her work as a pediatrician. The final interview is with keynote speaker at Mycelium Mysteries Women's Retreat, Katherine MacLean and her work with pslicybim mushrooms, meditation and consciousness. The program is rounded off with Sekhmet SheOwl's commentary about the importance of women gathering in nature and to share plant wisdom together in community. For more information about the two women's gatherings featured in this radio show, go to www.midwestwomensherbal.com. Get your tickets for Mycelium Mysteries by April 1st and you are eligible for early bird pricing. Thanks for tuning in to WLRN. Musical

Opening background song Keep on Keeping On Jojo Call Back Signal Spirit Passages Song for the Unborn Mari Boine Syadotako Tatyana Lar Geese Nukariik Maybe Ulali Compulsive Rhythms poetry and drumming by women of CAPSA Tihou Beyatene Tartit Oshun's Orange Aco Takenaka Tuatha-na-Gig Global/Carolyn Hillyer/Nigel Shaw Uldda Nieida (Uldda Girl) Mari Boine Transformation Kitka Everything is Music Kris Delmhorst Tell Me My Sister Kim Trusty Here we are at the threshold holy day of the Equinox. We are either returning to Spring or Fall, depending on where we are on the planet. Either way, it is always an energetically magically rich time that can feel full of shift and promise. So, this month I hope to bring you music that will stir your wonder and curiosity at the crossroads. Most all the artists are under represented or non-represented female voices. They range internationally from a traditional Ukrainian Slavic song about the Rusulka (the restless spirits of women who

This program features our newest member, Danielle Whitaker from Atlanta who greets listeners before the world news written and delivered by Damayanti, WLRN's youngest member from India. Next you'll enjoy music by Gaelynn Lea and her song "Someday We'll Linger in the Sun" before Thistle's interview with our guest Ellana Crew, a blind lesbian from Baltimore. Then, enjoy Johnnie Mae Dunson's song "I'm a whole lotta woman" that leads into Robin Long's interview with Tara Ayers, a disability rights activist and long time producer of women's cultural events, theater and concerts. Finally, we are happy to feature another stellar commentary by our resident female-separatist, Sekhmet SheOwl. Please listen, like and share widely! We are a grassroots feminist community powered program that relies on our followers for ever wider audiences and distribution.

Song listing: Animal Dreams Sticky Red Egg Corpse Bike Lane Bella Ciao Jezebel Michigan Sister Voices This special edition of the WLRN Music Hour features our own Thistle Petterson. DJ Phoenixx's selection of songs from Thistle's discography gives you taste of the strong and sincere womon who started what is Women's Liberation Radio News. Listen as she introduces and connects with each song in her own words. The recent events of the past few years that have sought to erase Thistle's work, connection, reputation, and effectiveness as an activist have not stopped our fearless amazon. Thistle's music is heartfelt, and tells the truth - truth cannot and will not be stopped. Enjoy this hour of wimmin's music from WLRN's unstoppable leader. The featured picture is of Thistle playing in Madison with an old bass player friend in 2010.

In this interview, WLRN's Robin speaks with long-time member of the collective Vancouver Rape Relief and Women's Shelter, Lee Lakeman. Since 1973, VRR has been a safe haven for victims of rape and domestic violence, and women who have escaped the sex trade. Here, Ms. Lakeman speaks about her and the collective's herstory of feminist action, strides VRR has made, and how women can continue to work for women's liberation in today's political climate. WLRN thanks Lee for giving her time to speak with us, and all the members of Vancouver Rape Relief for their continued contribution and dedication to women.