Dora Maria Tellez has spent a lifetime as an activist and advocate in Nicaragua, fighting for what she believes in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An upsettingly recent study found levels of arsenic and lead in the tampons surveyed. We look into what this means.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you're lost in the darkness, look to the light. In the kick-off entry of our very special mini-series, we react to and discuss the first episode of The Last of Us series. Anney is so excited she almost floats away like a balloon in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Luisa Capetillo was an early Puerto Rican feminist, works rights activist, author, leader, and pants wearer. Yves joins us to share Luisa's story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anney opens up about some recent feelings of jealousy, and reveals she is in search of a fandom therapist.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a town secret comes to light, friendships are tested and dark truths are faced in the 2019 horror coming-of-age graphic novel The Low, Low woods written by Carmen Maria Machado with art by DaNi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A master thief with a good heart, Carmen Sandiego made a huge impact on kids - and continues to do so. From her start as an antagonist in educational games and shows, to a recent reboot, she has evolved and grown a fanbase. We unearth clues around her origins and discuss why we still want to know where in the world is Carmen Sandiego.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If birthdays are supposed to be a cause for celebration, why do so many of us dread them? Turns out a lot of reasons.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you know if you want children? Why are more and more women delaying pregnancy in the US? As the birthrate drops to a record low in America, Anney and Samantha discuss being childless by choice in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2002 film Real Women Have Curves touched on so much - family, romance, body image, immigration and coming of age. It was hugely impactful, and remains important today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Samantha recounts her recent experiences getting an IUD and a mammogram, and we chat about the things so many of us are told to just deal with it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Though women have been present in sports since the beginning, numerous obstacles have often stood in the way of them becoming coaches and referees. We examine the playbook to look at the history of why this is and the ways people are trying to change it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A member of the Refugee Paralympic Team, Zakia Khudadadi competed and medaled at the Summer Paralympics in 2024. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the 2024 Summer Paralympics come to an end, we do a quick overview around how they fare when it comes to gender equity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our classic wrap-up look at women cult leaders, we examine even more examples of women founding, leading and maintaining cults.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since pretty much ever, we've had the trope of the mean girl. You know her - she's rich, popular, has a group supporting her, and is the foil for the heroine. We trace the history, evolution and changing meaning of the Mean Girl.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anney has returned from DragonCon and highlights her favorite cosplays, the wins of Disco Luke and shares some parting thoughts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anti-aging. Anti-wrinkles. Aging in women has long been demonized. Anney and Samantha brush up on the history of our preoccupation with youth in women and the lengths we have gone to stay forever young in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic, we're taking it down nostalgia lane with the Super Nintendo hero Terra Branford from Final Fantasy 3/6, depending on your version. Part human, part ethereal creature, all pixelated glory, Terra's journey of self-discovery is one that still resonates.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As AI and technology continues to accelerate, women and girls are often subject to the dark side of it and so far, our laws are far behind in protecting them. We discuss recent examples and proposals to combat the damages.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While probably not what you think of when conjuring up an image of a cult leader, women have been and are cult leaders and instrumental to propping up and running these organizations. Anney and Samantha discuss the definition of cult, what makes a cult leader, who they target for members and historical women cult leaders in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yves shares the story of Jarena Lee, the first authorized woman preacher of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now that we're back from speaking at the Podcast Movement conference in DC, we do a check-in on how we feel, and how it went.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Summer 2024 Olympics have come to a close. We take a look back over some of the controversies and the triumphs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a traumatic incident led to imprisonment, Teodora del Carmen Vasquez became an advocate for reproductive rights in El Salvador, and around the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recent media has once again kickstarted a conversation around the responsibility of depicting domestic violence. We talk about some examples, and why its important that we talk about it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's not that there are no women coaching female basketball (consider the legendary Pat Summit and others), but Title IX has more male coaches. Join Caroline and Cristen as they explore homophobia, sexism and the glass wall that coaches often run into in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tilda and Madison finally discuss the traumatic events that led them to hide and recover.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As her birthday approaches, Anney looks back at birthdays past and shares her gratitude for the people in her life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Haenyeo, or sea women, from Jeju Island in South Korea are a community of respected older women who free dive for sea creatures for food. We dive into their long history, traditions, examples, dangers, culture and future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Final Fantasy's Yuna was a fan favorite character who confronted her beliefs and broke a cycle of destruction of violence. We talk about her journey and why it resonated with so many.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now that the 2024 Summer Olympics are over, there is a lot to discuss. Before we get to our wrap-up episode, here are some highlights.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deeply personal and emotional, forgiveness is also deeply difficult, fraught, and when it comes it to women, sometimes weaponized. In this classic episode, Anney and Samantha debunk some forgiveness myths, discuss how-tos, and dig into the potential health benefits of letting go.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2000 coming-of-age rom-com Bring It On delivered memorable cheerleading routines, songs that can't be forgotten and iconic lines. SMNTY breaks out our spirit fingers and chats about cheerleading, athleticism, high school, and some problematic messaging.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With age comes growing pains, especially as women. We talk about the difficult balancing act of feminists beliefs, beauty and aging standards, personal desires and confidence.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2022 graphic novel Cult Girls written by Natalie Grand and illustrated by Cassandra Bolan tackled the author's experience with a patriarchal, suppressive religion and breaking free from it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we are delving into the world of scientist, geneticist and professor Dr. Marlena Fejzo and her work around pregnancy sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Blaming women for a whole host of things isn't anything new. A recent headline out of South Korea reinforces that point. We unpack the truth of the situation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Buckle in for a wild ride as we trek off the beaten path and into the desert with the recent horror comedy film Scream Therapy. We break down topics like friendship, incel cults, demons and of course, Nicolas Cage.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to fighting wildfires, women have historically faced a lot of obstacles. We uncover the often overlooked history of women doing this difficult work, the progress that's been made, and the work that still needs to be done.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Life changes in the lives of those close to us can make us question our own choices. We reflect on changes, choices and stability.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After the 2020 election, we had a follow-up conversation with Bridget Todd about how misinformation and disinformation played out before and after the election, what we should look out for in the future, how to provide people 'off-ramps', why it's a gender justice issue and why it all matters in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we're shining a light on the works of young climate activist Xiye Bastida.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2024 US presidential election cycle has been chaotic, and we have all been bombarded with misinformation and disinformation, most recently around Vice President, and presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee, Kamala Harris. We break down some of the primary tactics being used.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the historic nomination of the first Black woman to the US Supreme Court, Ketanji Brown Jackson, we're already seeing a flood of sexist and racist disinformation and misinformation. Bridget Todd stops by with a primer on SCOTUS and what to look out for in this nomination process in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now that the 2024 Olympics in Paris are underway, we dig into some highs and lows, controversies and triumphs, and discuss what is to come.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shakeups and breakups! Go big or go home? We continue our ongoing watch series of Sex and the City with a big episode full of exes, new love and breakups.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world of private investigators has long been obscured - and male dominated. Private investigators and hosts of the podcast Private Eyes shed some light on the realities of the job and how the industry is changing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.