Call Your Girlfriend

Hey girl, we're furious and saddened about, well, a lot actually. First, that former New York AG and public feminist (TM) Eric Schneiderman has abused multiple women. Meanwhile in Iowa, that "fetal heartbeat" bill is really an abortion ban, intended to challenge Roe v. Wade. In Ireland, voters could repeal a constitutional ban on abortion, May 25. New research on the stress and financial strain of anti-abortion laws. And a palate cleanser: we love the web series Bad Ally, Naomi Alderman's book, The Power, and the nation of Australia.

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With so much attention on Iran this week, we look at daily life for women. Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad joins us to discuss her campaign against compulsory hijab. Plus, how Western feminists and politicians can be better allies to women in Iran. Masih's soon-to-be-released memoir is The Wind in My Hair.

Reading List:

The Wind in My Hair: My Fight for Freedom in Modern Iran by Masih Alinejad

My Stealthy Freedom campaign

White Wednesdays

Girls of Revolution Street

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Wedding season is in full swing. Michelle Markowitz and Caroline Moss join us to discuss their book Hey Ladies, which chronicles the (fictional) emails among 8 BFFs in amid bachelorette party planning and wedding madness. We share our loves and gripes about weddings, group travel planning, and how to communicate better across budgets and desires.

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We discuss the fears black customers face in stores and coffee shops (white people stop calling the cops!) Thank you to everyone who's been #bleedin4Amina, no thank you forever to human housecat Jonathan Chait's opinions about female politicians, and we are devastated about Shania Twain's support for Trump/inability to apologize like a proper Canadian.

Reading List:

Fear of A Black Patron

Alex Nieto

EYEROLL @ Jon Chait

Nooooo, SHANIA

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We're taking 420 off to get stoned, but fear not, some of our favorite men are here to answer questions from listeners and some of ours, including: Why aren't men funny? Why are men so emotional all the goddamn time? And, can men have it all?

The Men:

Cord Jefferson

Thomas Page McBee

Chris Roan (aka Mr. Of a Kind)

Ezra Klein

Bobby Finger

Jason Parham

Spencer Ackerman

Emmanuel Hapsis

Jorge Rivas

The Resources:

Chris's skin care picks, Ezra's book list and more at callyourgirlfriend.com

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A deep dive into some of the new books we're most excited about, with a focus on nonfiction: Brotopia by Emily Chang, Just the Funny Parts by Nell Scovell and Your Art Will Save Your Life by Beth Pickens.

Reading List:

Brotopia: Breaking Up the Boys Club of Silicon Valley by Emily Chang

Just the Funny Parts: And a Few Hard Truths About Sneaking Into the Hollywood Boys’ Club by Nell Scovell

Your Art Will Save Your Life by Beth Pickens

Emergency Contact by Mary HK Choi

The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer

Back Talk by Danielle Lazarin

The Book of Joan by Lidia Yuknavitch

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We're together in NYC with the iconic Cecile Richards. Cecile is the president of Planned Parenthood, and announced earlier this year that she's stepping down. She tells us why she's leaving, how she felt after testifying before Congress for nearly five hours, and what's next. (A political career perhaps?) Her new book is Make Trouble with the #goals subtitle Standing Up, Speaking Out, and Finding the Courage to Lead--My Life Story. Come for the juicy behind-the-scenes memoir about the fight for repro rights and her front-row seat to her mom (and former Texas governor) Ann Richards' life and career. Stay for practical and inspiring ways to lead and make social change.

Reading List:

Make Trouble: Standing Up, Speaking Out, and Finding the Courage to Lead--My Life Story

Cecile's 2015 testimony at Congress's sham anti-choice hearings

Color of Change

SisterSong

Texas Freedom Network

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Stormy Daniels: politician, credible source, savvy scammer. Wild Wild Country is our new cult obsession. (Doesn't Amina have the makings of a good cult leader?) Learning new languages as an adult and we're still Bleedin' 4 Amina and discovering an international buffet of blood donation snacks along the way. A SESTA update. Plus, Aly Raisman is calling out concern-troll critics who re-victimize her fellow Olympic gymnasts.

Reading list:

Stormy Daniels is a boss

SESTA update: It passed

Wild Wild Country

Aly Raisman + leotard ban

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Amina talks race, friendship and competition with U.S. bobsledders Aja Evans, Elana Meyers-Taylor & Kehri Jones in a bonus episode brought to you by P&G's My Black is is Beautiful.

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Good and bad looks from RBG and Ivanka, respectively. The New York Times and National Geographic are reckoning with their legacies of racism and sexism in very different ways. A digression into Game of Thrones, Age of Adaline and the very dimply Michiel Huisman. An update from Patti Masciesz aka @artpatti on how CYG listeners have been billing the patriarchy! We love Drag Race! But have to drag some of RuPaul's outdated views on trans folk.

Reading List

Remember to sign up for the blood drive!

Scrunchies never went away

Ivanka is dressed up like a scientist

NYT “Overlooked” obituary project

National Geographic’s racial reckoning / John Edwin Mason / Doreen St. Felix

You, too, can Bill the Patriarchy

RuPaul's disappointing views on trans people doing drag

Ellen meets Asia Kate Dillon

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