Breaking Down Patriarchy is a podcast for everyone! Learn about the creation of patriarchy and those who have challenged it as you listen to bookclub-style discussions of essential historical texts. Gain life-changing epiphanies and practical takeaways through these smart, relatable conversations.
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On the finale episode of the podcast Amy is joined by her daughters-Lindsay, Lucy, and Sophie-who help reflect on and celebrate the history of this project, some of the most valuable lessons learned along the way, and how the knowledge gathered through this work echoes both forward and backward across generations. Thank you for sharing this journey with us, listeners. Please join us on YouTube (@breakingdownpatrarchy) where Breaking Down Patriarchy is continuing to grow. Donate to Breaking Down ...
Amy is joined by Shirlee Draper of Cherish Families to hear her courageous account of leaving the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and a polygamous marriage, sharing personal stories, exploring the alarming similarities between the explicit patriarchy of the FLDS Church and the allegedly more egalitarian world beyond it, plus discussing the practical work we can all be doing to help while avoiding condescension. Donate to Breaking Down Patriarchy Shirlee Draper is a for...
Amy is joined by authors and educators Gloria and Bob Rees to discuss midrash --stories we write to interpret scripture and create meaning -- exploring the endless possibilities of imagination and the radical power that women hold to write our own midrash and change the spiritual landscape. Donate to Breaking Down Patriarchy Gloria Gardner Rees has taught English in the US, China, India, and Nepal. Her studies include nutrition, gerontology and adult development. Currently, she is involved in in...
Amy joins the renowned writer Carol Lynn Pearson in her home for an illuminating and tender conversation about the life and struggles of a major figure in LDS feminism, her insights into queer people in the Church, the lingering ghost of polygamy, and what it takes to be an independent thinker inside a patriarchal institution. Donate to Breaking Down Patriarchy Renowned Mormon feminist, Carol Lynn Pearson , is an American poet, author, screenwriter, and playwright. She frequently addresses the t...
Amy is joined by author Naima Brown to discuss her newest novel, Mother Tongue, exploring the consequences of change, finding our authentic selves, motherhood, right-wing radicalization, and the importance of fiction in our fight against patriarchy. Donate to Breaking Down Patriarchy Naima Brown holds degrees in Middle Eastern Studies, Anthropology and Religious Studies. Her essays have appeared in Vogue Australia , the Guardian Australia , and more. She wrote, along with Melissa Doyle, the non-...
Amy is joined by Dr. Keisha Blain to discuss her new book, Without Fear: Black Women and the Making of Human Rights, shining a light on unsung heroines of activism and the critical importance of preserving history in our precarious political landscape. Donate to Breaking Down Patriarchy Dr. Keisha Blain is an award-winning historian of the 20th century United States. She is a Professor of History and Africana Studies at Brown University, as well as one of the founding leaders of the African Amer...
Amy is joined by publisher and sex educator Susan Bratton for a tell-all discussion about sex under patriarchy, the power of pleasure, and practical steps towards liberation in the bedroom. Donate to Breaking Down Patriarchy Susan Bratton is co-founder and CEO of two companies serving the direct-to-consumer intimate wellness space. She is a manufacturer of supplements and a publisher of online courses focused on having a great relationship your whole life long. Her expertise is in ageless sexual...
Amy is joined by Mary Catherine Starr , author of Mama Needs a Minute! , to discuss how even with the best intentions parents can easily fall into patriarchal and unequal gender roles, how to take a closer look at our relationships and households, and how comics can help us cope with the overwhelm of motherhood. Donate to Breaking Down Patriarchy Mary Catherine Starr is a mother-of-two and a graphic designer, illustrator, yoga teacher, author, and the artist behind the viral Instagram account @m...
Amy is joined by attorney and activist Saru Jayaraman of One Fair Wage to learn the eye-opening history of tipping culture, how the restaurant service industry is one of our nation's biggest propagators of patriarchy, and why it's time for consumers to say enough is enough. Donate to Breaking Down Patriarchy Saru Jayaraman is co-founder and president of One Fair Wage, a national organization of nearly 300,000 restaurant and service workers, nearly 1000 restaurant owners, and dozens of organizati...
Amy is joined by Jenna Karvunidis , originator of the Gender Reveal Party, to discuss where this trend came from, why it reinforces patriarchal ideas, and how she came to adamantly oppose the celebrations she created. Donate to Breaking Down Patriarchy Jenna Karvunidis is a writer, artist, attorney, and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles. She is a critic of the gender reveal party and has been featured in Vogue, NPR, The Guardian, BBC, and beyond for her cultural commentary and evolving perspecti...
Amy is joined by author Kaila Yu to discuss her book Fetishized: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty , hearing Kaila's firsthand experiences while also learning about the colonialist origins of the fetishes harming Asian women and girls. Donate to Breaking Down Patriarchy Kaila Yu is an author and on-camera correspondent based in Los Angeles. She's written for the Los Angeles Times , the New York Times , Rolling Stone , Condé Nast Traveler , National Geographic , and more. Her fo...
Amy is joined by activists from I-WILL , a group dedicated to sharing the stories of Iranian women living under a patriarchal regime. These courageous women let us know how the situation in Iran has developed since the Women Life Freedom movement began, tell us about the incredible ways everyday women are resisting oppression, and let us know what listeners can do to help. Donate to Breaking Down Patriarchy Inspired by the “Woman Life Freedom” uprising which started in Iran against the Islamic R...
Amy is joined by art historian Sunday Rennie to discuss the overlooked history of female artists, why they're underrepresented in museums, and what has to change for women to be seen as more than a muse. Donate to Breaking Down Patriarchy Sunday Rennie is a third-generation artist and seasoned art advisor. She holds a Master’s degree in Art Curating and has spent years immersed in Europe’s most prestigious art circles. With an innate eye for beauty and a deep understanding of artistic heritage, ...
Amy is joined by Erika Lorshbough , Executive Director of InterACT, to learn what it means to be intersex, the major struggles facing the intersex community, and how intersex issues are also women's issues. Donate to Breaking Down Patriarchy Erika Lorshbough is an intersex advocate and activist for civil and human rights. Most recently, Erika served as deputy director for policy at the New York Civil Liberties Union and led the organization’s extremely successful statewide legislative program ad...
Amy is joined by Amie Souza Reilly , author of Human/Animal , for an eye-opening discussion about stalking and safety, about how patriarchy thrives on women's fears and about what we actually have to be afraid of. Donate to Breaking Down Patriarchy Amie Souza Reilly is a visual artist and multigenre writer from Connecticut. Her work has appeared in various journals, including Wigleaf, HAD, The Chestnut Review, The Atticus Review, Catapult, SmokeLong Quarterly, Barren, Pidgeonholes and elsewhere....
Amy is joined by President and CEO of MANA, Amy Hinojosa , for a phenomenal conversation about Latina Americans, immigration, abortion, advocacy, and the issues of humanity that unite us all. Donate to Breaking Down Patriarchy Amy Hinojosa is the president and CEO of MANA, a national Latina organization, the oldest and largest Latina membership organization in the United States, and its sister organization, MANA Action Fund. MANA focuses on strengthening Latina women and girls through mentoring,...
Amy is joined by Danny Rensch , author of Dark Squares: How Chess Saved My Life , for a courageous reckoning with his life lived under the oppressive patriarchy of a cult, plus learning forgiveness, his path to healing, and how chess helped him become the best version of himself. Donate to Breaking Down Patriarchy Danny Rensch is an American International Master, world-class commentator, tournament organizer, co-founder and Chief Chess Officer of Chess.com, and a chess celebrity. As a scholastic...
Amy is joined by author Paulina Bren to discuss her newest book, She-Wolves: The Untold History of Women on Wall St. , sharing stories of ambitious women breaking down barriers and making money in a world made by men for men, plus why we still need more women in finance today. Donate to Breaking Down Patriarchy Paulina Bren is a writer, historian, and professor. She's the author of the critically acclaimed bestseller The Barbizon: The Hotel That Set Women Free . Paulina teaches at Vassar College...
Amy is joined by author and organizer Hilary Giovale to discuss her book, Becoming A Good Relative, and have a transparent conversation about whiteness, white guilt, and finding the difference between appreciation and appropriation on our journeys toward healing and decolonization. Donate to Breaking Down Patriarchy Hilary Giovale is a mother, writer, and community organizer who holds a Master’s Degree in Good and Sustainable Communities. She has taught improvisational dance and has served on th...
Amy is joined by Emily Warneke of the Utah Prison Education Project to discuss how and why women end up behind bars, what life is like for incarcerated women, and what we can all be doing to help put an end to an exploitative and dehumanizing prison system. Donate to Breaking Down Patriarchy Emily Warneke is a third-year PhD student in Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of Utah, where her research centers on access and equity in post-secondary education in prison. For her disser...
Amy is joined by former congressperson Marie Newman who shares her advocacy against bullying, her first-hand account of the January 6th insurrection, and her insights into how we can save our nation's politics and find our path again. Donate to Breaking Down Patriarchy Marie Newman is a former congresswoman, nonprofit CEO, marketing executive, author of A Life Made from Scratch and When Your Child Is Being Bullied: Real Solutions, antibullying activist, former Moms Demand Action spokesperson and...
Amy is joined by men's educator Dr. Brendan Kwiatkowski-Hartman to discuss loneliness, bullying, and other challenges faced by boys and young men, as well as what is and isn't helpful about toxic masculinity, the man-o-sphere, red pills, plus imagining what positive masculinity might look like. Donate to Breaking Down Patriarchy Dr. Brendan K. Hartman specializes in the social-emotional development and wellbeing of boys and men—and how this connects to the wellbeing of all genders. His interdisc...
Amy is joined by author and anti-patriarchy activist Tia Levings to discuss her book A Well-Trained Wife , learning about life in a mega-church and how Christian fundamentalism is infiltrating our politics, plus unpacking the many complications that come from leaving a patriarchal community and faith. Donate to Breaking Down Patriarchy Tia Levings is a writer, creator, and content specialist. She shines light on the abuses of Christian fundamentalism to educate, validate, and empower those who f...
Amy is joined by an anonymous guest, a former U.S. Navy SEAL, to discuss his experiences joining, training, and deploying in a specialized military unit, all while exploring patriarchy in our armed forces and questioning the nature of violence. Donate to Breaking Down Patriarchy
Amy is joined by Dr. Marina Warner to revisit her book, Alone of All Her Sex, getting expert insight into the history of the Virgin Mary, her evolution and multitude of meanings, unrealistic religious standards, and what it takes for a woman to become a myth. Donate to Breaking Down Patriarchy Marina Warner is an English historian, mythographer, art critic, novelist and short story writer. She is best known for her many award-winning non-fiction books relating to feminism and myth. She has writt...
Amy is joined by author Meg Stone to discuss her book, The Cost of Fear, digging into the difference between safety through compliance and safety through resistance, plus practical self-defense suggestions and what we can do to stop gender-based violence. Donate to Breaking Down Patriarchy Meg Stone is the Executive Director of IMPACT Boston, an abuse prevention and empowerment self-defense organization. Her writing has been published in Huffington Post , Newsweek , Washington Post , Boston Glob...
Amy is joined by Dr. Jay Zigmont to discuss his book, The Childfree Guide to Life and Money, and better understand patriarchy's impact on our wallets, how parenthood shapes our finances, and the challenges and advantages of veering off the standard life script by choosing a child-free lifestyle. Donate to Breaking Down Patriarchy Jay Zigmont, PhD, MBA, CFP® is the Founder of Childfree Wealth, a life and financial planning firm dedicated to helping Childfree and Permanently Childless people. Chil...
Amy is joined by historian and author, Dr. Philippa Gregory , to discuss her newest book, Normal Women, exploring 900 years of women's stories including the origins of the gender wage gap, the history and normality of women loving women, where our abortion laws began, and much much more. Donate to Breaking Down Patriarchy Philippa Gregory is one of the world’s foremost historical novelists and non-fiction writers. She wrote her first ever novel, Wideacre , when she was completing her PhD in eigh...
This episode features artist Julia Alora sharing her essay, 'Six Unsexy Questions,' which defines asexuality and explores her personal journey, dating challenges, and the societal stigma asexuals face. The discussion delves into the hidden history of asexuality, its place within the LGBTQIA+ community, and how patriarchal norms contribute to misunderstanding and discrimination. Julia also highlights the joy of self-acceptance, the dynamics of mixed-orientation relationships, and offers actionable steps for allies to support the asexual community.
Amy is joined by advocate Allison Dayton , founder of Lift & Love , to discuss the god-sized holes left behind when LGBTQIA+ people are forced out of their faith traditions, plus how the LDS Church can be changed through love and role modelling to embrace its gay family. Donate to Breaking Down Patriarchy Allison Dayton started the Lift & Love Foundation to support LGBTQ individuals and their families in the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Allison lost her brother, who was g...
