On this episode, Nadine shares her abortion story:  the time she left her abusive boyfriend, moved to a new city, and found out she was pregnant.

If you want to read Nadine's story, here is the written version she published in 2021: https://medium.com/@nabedros/this-is-my-story-1d6ae6139d9f

Abortion Actually is a multinational collaboration working to demystify the abortion process by making and sharing images and audio of abortion as it is, actually.

We believe that the new frontier in abortion stigma is the abortion process itself. For many of us, the first time we learn what an Abortion Actually entails is when we are confronted with the decision of whether or not to end a pregnancy. Conversations around abortion rarely focus on the practical aspects of doing an abortion. 

We want to demystify the process, by bringing these stories to the forefront. Self-reported pain, pads, friends by the couch, blood, emotions (good and bad), comfort foods, hot water bottles and work the next day help us understand what an abortion is. We can normalize abortion by creating narratives that reflect the realities of doing abortion. 

We are looking for submissions of video and audio recordings of peoples abortions. If you're interested, please email us via AbortionActually.org 
You can also find us on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube @AbortionActually

Abortion Actually is a collaboration between Abortion Support South Africa, Women on Web, Shout Your Abortion and Abortion, with love and is funded by inroads.

After sending emails to each other for almost two years, Karen and I record our first IRL (online) conversation. On this episode, Karen talks about how she became an abortion activist and the work that she does to fight abortion stigma. Karen had two abortions as a teenager, and because of all the stigma she experienced and shame she felt she kept her abortions a secret for more than twenty years. Finally being able to tell her husband and children about her abortion ignited a commitment to fight for a world where nobody has to live in shame and secrecy because of their abortions.  In this episode she talks about all of this and so much more. 

Karen Thurston (she/her) lives on occupied Kumeyaay land (California, USA) and is an independent advocate dedicated to ending the stigma of abortions. She is the creator of the on-line stigma-fighting projects 2+ Abortions Worldwide and Love Abortion Providers. She also volunteers on the All-Options Talk Line and with OARS, the on-line abortion resources squad. Her advocacy to end stigma and increase access has included sharing her abortion story in many venues, testifying before federal and state lawmakers, clinic escorting at Feminist Women’s Health Center in Atlanta, and volunteering with the abortion fund Access Reproductive Care-Southeast. 

Links:

2+ Abortions Worldwide: https://www.2plusabortions.com/

Love Abortion Providers: https://www.loveabortionproviders.com/

Karen's story on the Abortion Diary: https://www.theabortiondiary.com/podcast/abortion-stories-i-hid-that-experience?rq=karen

All-Options Talkline: https://www.all-options.org/find-support/talkline/

After sending emails to each other for almost two years, Karen and I record our first IRL (online) conversation. On this episode, Karen talks about how she became an abortion activist and the work that she does to fight abortion stigma. Karen had two abortions as a teenager, and because of all the stigma she experienced and shame she felt she kept her abortions a secret for more than twenty years. Finally being able to tell her husband and children about her abortion ignited a commitment to fight for a world where nobody has to live in shame and secrecy because of their abortions.  In this episode she talks about all of this and so much more. 

Karen Thurston (she/her) lives on occupied Kumeyaay land (California, USA) and is an independent advocate dedicated to ending the stigma of abortions. She is the creator of the on-line stigma-fighting projects 2+ Abortions Worldwide and Love Abortion Providers. She also volunteers on the All-Options Talk Line and with OARS, the on-line abortion resources squad. Her advocacy to end stigma and increase access has included sharing her abortion story in many venues, testifying before federal and state lawmakers, clinic escorting at Feminist Women’s Health Center in Atlanta, and volunteering with the abortion fund Access Reproductive Care-Southeast. 

Links:

2+ Abortions Worldwide: https://www.2plusabortions.com/

Love Abortion Providers: https://www.loveabortionproviders.com/

Karen's story on the Abortion Diary: https://www.theabortiondiary.com/podcast/abortion-stories-i-hid-that-experience?rq=karen

All-Options Talkline: https://www.all-options.org/find-support/talkline/

This episode is part of the Abortion Love Letters Mini-Series. 

Abortion, with Love is a podcast dedicated to reclaiming the ways that we talk about abortion.
Website: www.abortionwithlove.com
Instagram: @abortionwithlove
Twitter: @abortionwithluv
Donate: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/abortionlove

Bringing Down The Flowers is a free monthly newsletter where Hannah Matthews shares writing, art, ideas, and media in support of everyone’s abortion experiences. Hannah’s writing has been featured in ELLE, Esquire, Teen Vogue, and other outlets, and her book about community abortion care and support work is forthcoming from Atria Books in 2023. You can subscribe to the newsletter at bringingdowntheflowers.substack.com

This episode is part of the Abortion Love Letters Mini-Series, releasing every Monday.
Content warning: mention of blood and medical trauma

Abortion, with Love is a podcast dedicated to reclaiming the ways that we talk about abortion.
Website: www.abortionwithlove.com
Instagram: @abortionwithlove
Twitter: @abortionwithluv
Donate: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/abortionlove

Bringing Down The Flowers is a free monthly newsletter where Hannah Matthews shares writing, art, ideas, and media in support of everyone’s abortion experiences. Hannah’s writing has been featured in ELLE, Esquire, Teen Vogue, and other outlets, and her book about community abortion care and support work is forthcoming from Atria Books in 2023. You can subscribe to the newsletter at bringingdowntheflowers.substack.com

This episode is part of the Abortion Love Letters Mini-Series, releasing every Monday.

Abortion, with Love is a podcast dedicated to reclaiming the ways that we talk about abortion.
Website: www.abortionwithlove.com
Instagram: @abortionwithlove
Twitter: @abortionwithluv
Donate: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/abortionlove

Bringing Down The Flowers is a free monthly newsletter where Hannah Matthews shares writing, art, ideas, and media in support of everyone’s abortion experiences. Hannah’s writing has been featured in ELLE, Esquire, Teen Vogue, and other outlets, and her book about community abortion care and support work is forthcoming from Atria Books in 2023. You can subscribe to the newsletter at bringingdowntheflowers.substack.com

This episode is part of the Abortion Love Letters Mini-Series, releasing every Monday.

Abortion, with Love is a podcast dedicated to reclaiming the ways that we talk about abortion.
Website: www.abortionwithlove.com
Instagram: @abortionwithlove
Twitter: @abortionwithluv
Donate: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/abortionlove

Bringing Down The Flowers is a free monthly newsletter where Hannah Matthews shares writing, art, ideas, and media in support of everyone’s abortion experiences. Hannah’s writing has been featured in ELLE, Esquire, Teen Vogue, and other outlets, and her book about community abortion care and support work is forthcoming from Atria Books in 2023. You can subscribe to the newsletter at bringingdowntheflowers.substack.com

This episode is part of the Abortion Love Letters Mini-Series, releasing every Monday.

Abortion, with Love is a podcast dedicated to reclaiming the ways that we talk about abortion.
Website: www.abortionwithlove.com
Instagram: @abortionwithlove
Twitter: @abortionwithluv
Donate: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/abortionlove

Bringing Down The Flowers is a free monthly newsletter where Hannah Matthews shares writing, art, ideas, and media in support of everyone’s abortion experiences. Hannah’s writing has been featured in ELLE, Esquire, Teen Vogue, and other outlets, and her book about community abortion care and support work is forthcoming from Atria Books in 2023. You can subscribe to the newsletter at bringingdowntheflowers.substack.com

This episode is part of the Abortion Love Letters Mini-Series, releasing every Monday.

Abortion, with Love is a podcast dedicated to reclaiming the ways that we talk about abortion.
Website: www.abortionwithlove.com
Instagram: @abortionwithlove
Twitter: @abortionwithluv
Donate: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/abortionlove

Bringing Down The Flowers is a free monthly newsletter where Hannah Matthews shares writing, art, ideas, and media in support of everyone’s abortion experiences. Hannah’s writing has been featured in ELLE, Esquire, Teen Vogue, and other outlets, and her book about community abortion care and support work is forthcoming from Atria Books in 2023. You can subscribe to the newsletter at bringingdowntheflowers.substack.com