This episode of What IFF? We had a conversation with Dr. Naomi Simmons (she/her) and WGS major Mo Spragins (she/they) about the importance of third spaces and how they foster community on our campus and in the world we live in. We also discuss third spaces in relation to hustle culture, self and community care, and more.

Support the CofC Pride Center at https://give.cofc.edu/pride-center 

In this episode of What IFF?, we are exploring conversations about disability, accessibility, and accommodations in academic spaces with Bilal N. (he/him) and Dr. John Thomas III (he/him).

Bilal will provide a student point of view regarding hustle culture, campus neurodiversity, individualism, and the ableist standards that people are held to within institutions.

Dr. Thomas speaks about the importance of balance in a busy life, and ways that he implements accommodations in his classes as a professor. Additionally, he provides insight about his encounters with accessibility from other institutions and other life experiences.

*UDL: “Universal Design for Learning;” learn more here.

For campus resources, visit charleston.edu/accessibility. 

In this episode of WHAT IFF? we are joined by Kit Fischer, a dedicated advocate for transgender health, to shed light on the critical gaps in reproductive healthcare for trans individuals. Together, we delve into common misconceptions, such as the mistaken belief that trans men cannot get pregnant while on testosterone, and how these myths impact access to essential contraceptive care. 

Kit shares his personal experiences and expertise, offering valuable insights into navigating healthcare as a trans person, including how to advocate for yourself in medical settings. We discuss practical resources like inclusive healthcare resources, support networks, and educational tools for both patients and providers to bridge gaps in understanding and improve outcomes.

This episode also explores actionable strategies for healthcare providers to create affirming environments, from using inclusive language to recognizing the diverse needs of trans patients. With a focus on dismantling stigma and empowering individuals, we envision a future where reproductive healthcare is accessible, compassionate, and affirming for all.

Join us for an essential conversation that challenges misconceptions, amplifies trans voices, and offers a roadmap for building more inclusive systems of care.

Resources Mentioned in Episode

• “Standards of Care 8 | WPATH,” n.d. https://wpath.org/publications/soc8/.

In this episode of WHAT IFF? we discuss rurality and feminism with Dr. Cherisse Jones-Branch and guest host Aaliya Wiggs, a College of Charleston 1967 Scholar.  Dr. Jones-Branch is the Dean of the graduate school at Arkansas University, a College of Charleston alum, a professor of history, a scholar of rural, agricultural, African American, and women’s history– and she was born and raised here in Charleston. In our discussion, we talk about Dr. Jones-Branch’s experience growing up in Adams Run, SC, concern regarding urbanization, black feminist activism, and the importance of rural communities. We highlight intersections between classism, racism, and sexism as we discuss how rurality has been greatly overlooked for its community connection and cultural significance.

Check out Dr. Cherisse Jones-Branch’s book: Better Living By Their Own Bootstraps: Black Women’s Activism in Rural Arkansas

Thank you to Dr. Cherisse Jones-Branch and Aaliya Wiggs for making this episode possible!

We are kicking off this season of WHAT IFF? by sitting down with Dr. Sandra Slater, a professor at the College of Charleston who received her PhD in history at the University of Kentucky after receiving a graduate certificate in gender and women's history.  In our hilarious, vibrant, and eye-opening conversation with Dr. Slater, we learn about the history of marginalized bodies, medicalized racism, and the mosaic of chronic pain experiences through an intersectional lens. Dr. Slater illustrates how narratives of the "wandering womb" dominated medical discourse and uterine fascination held sway, and how these norms connect cis-womens bodies to the broader canvas of history. We highlight how pain has always been gendered by digging into the roots of the term hysteria. In present day clinical encounters, we discuss how gender expression impacts how patients are treated, sharing first hand accounts from ciswomen from the podcast, The Sick Gaze.

Further Resources
Two great books that explain some of these issues are:
- Unwell Women by Elinor Cleghorn
- Pain and Prejudice by Gabrielle Jackson

Films
- Aftershock - a film that demonstrates the dangers for black pregnant people in our medical birthing systems - https://www.aftershockdocumentary.com/
- The CDC Hear Her Campaign - https://www.cdc.gov/hearher/index.html

Thank you to Dr. Slater, Alyssa Nickles, Sarah Klotzbach, and Diane Carroll for making this episode possible!

Hosts: Emily Currey and Molly Dickerson
Production: Molly Dickerson

In this episode of What IFF? we record a panel titled Diaspora, Conflict Bodies, and The Power of Art as part of the Land, Body, History series that explores vectors of knowledge from global Black feminist perspectives. Featured are Dr. Régine Michelle Jean-Charles, Director of Africana Studies, Dean’s Professor of Culture and Social Justice, and Professor of Africana Studies and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies at Northeastern University, Dr. Kameelah Martin, Dean of the Graduate School and Professor of African American Studies and English at CofC, Dr. Robert Sapp,  Associate Professor of French Studies at CofC, and Cady Walker, CofC alumni of Psychology and Women's and Gender Studies.

Music by Crypt of Insomnia

Episode Resources:

• A Long Walk Home
• Tri-County S.P.E.A.K.S.
• When the Land Meets the Body

** To view all works cited, please visit the transcript page.

In this episode of What IFF?  we are joined by two trauma-informed experts to break down the misconceptions about sexual assault, trauma recovery, and patterns of serial perpetration. Katie Mai, LMSW, is a therapist with the Sexual Assault Services program at MUSC. Lyn Maples is an outreach coordinator and victim advocate with Tri-County S.P.E.A.K.S. Together, we analyze data on victimization to better understand what’s happening in our culture. Then, we use that knowledge to create supportive practices for survivor healing and improve educational tools to change social attitudes about gender-based violence.

To speak with a victim advocate, call the Tri-County S.P.E.A.K.S. 24-hour hotline at 843-745-0144 or the National Sexual Assault hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE.

Music by Clean Mind Sounds

Episode Resources:

• CofC Counseling Center
• CofC S.C.O.P.E.
• CofC Students 4 Support
• MUSC Sexual Assault Services
• Planned Parenthood Generation Action
• Tri-County S.P.E.A.K.S.
• The Trevor Project

** To view all works cited, please visit the transcript page.

In this episode of What IFF?  we are joined by the Women’s and Gender Studies program Community Leader-In-Residence, Tamika Gadsden. As a well-traveled activist and grassroots mayoral candidate, Mika calls attention to current issues impacting CofC students and the Lowcountry. Learn how to be more active in your democracy through the support of local organizations, historical archives, and community relationships as catalysts for change.

Music by Alex-Productions

Episode Resources:

• Charleston Area Justice Ministry
• Friends of Gadsden Creek
• Inaugural WGS Community Leader-In-Residence
• Mika Gadsden's Charleston Mayoral Campaign
• SC Schools Lose $534M to Corporate Tax Breaks

** To view all works cited, please visit the transcript page.

In this episode of What IFF?  we are joined by the director of the Women’s and Gender Studies program, Dr. Kris De Welde, and the original podcast host, Marissa Haynes. With both show creators on the mic, we gain helpful insights on how to deal with first-year student stressors. Marissa looks back at some of her fondest memories from her time in the WGS program, and Dr. De Welde shares her current research projects that are influencing the future of academics. Together we discuss intellectual and physical feminist self-defense and share our personal reflections on awakening to the power within.

Music by Alex-Productions

Episode Resources:

•  CofC Faculty's Research to Close Equity Gaps in Academic STEM
• CofC PEAC Women's Self-Defense Class
• CofC Faculty's Research to Close Equity Gaps in Academic STEM
• De Welde, K. “Minding and Mending the Gap Between Academic Kindness and Academic Justice.” Queer-Feminist Science & Technology Studies Forum, Vol. 7, pp. 54-65. (2022, December). 
• McCaughey, M. Real Knockouts:  The Physical Feminism of Women's Self-Defense. NYU Press.  (2019, July 2).
  ** To view all works cited, please visit the transcript page.

In this special episode of What IFF?  we are joined by historian and professor Dr. Cara Delay as she helps us reckon with and interpret the US Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade during the summer of 2022. Keeping intersectionality at the forefront of her approach, Dr. Delay explains how participating in a greater discussion on reproductive justice, as coined by historic black activists, can help us achieve the fight for bodily autonomy. This means having conversations about contraception, gynecological and obstetric care, childbirth, and abortion, as they are all important factors in the larger issues at hand.

Music by Ketsa