It's been 30 years since Anita Hill testified at the Senate confirmation hearings for U.S. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas, paving the path for women to speak up against sexual harassment and gender-based violence for the following decades. But how much has changed since that iconic moment? Dr. Hill joins Jennifer on the show to discuss the culture of denial built into our institutions, from elementary schools to office buildings. She compares her experience testifying in 1991 to Dr. Chris...
Nov 25, 2021•45 min•Season 2Ep. 55
Kaiya McCullough was a former professional soccer player in the National Women's Soccer League, who recently came forward with allegations of abuse by her former coach on the Washington Spirit team. Since then, other players in the league have spoken up against abuse and sexual misconduct by their coach. Kaiya joins Jennifer on the show to discuss the imbalance of power when men coach women, how low pay in women's sports functions to keep players silent against injustice, and why Kaiya ultimatel...
Oct 28, 2021•39 min•Season 2Ep. 54
Megan Barry is the former mayor of Nashville and the first woman to be elected to that position. While she was in office, she lost her only son to a drug overdose. Less than a year later, she resigned as mayor over charges related to an extramarital affair with the lead of her security detail. Jennifer invites Megan on the show to discuss what it's like to have your worst day and your worst secret revealed in the same year. They discuss how shame only serves to hold you back from healing, and wh...
Oct 21, 2021•41 min•Season 2Ep. 53
Texas passed one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country, and Royce Brooks and Wendy Davis join Jennifer on the show to make sense of it all. Royce is the executive director of Annie's List, an organization that aims to elect progressive women to statewide office in Texas. Wendy was a former Texas state senator, most known for filibustering a previous restrictive abortion bill in 2013 for 11+ hours. Royce, Wendy, and Jennifer discuss how unpopular the Texas law is, why lawmakers see...
Oct 14, 2021•45 min•Season 2Ep. 52
Phoebe Robinson is an actor, comedian, producer, and New York Times best-selling author, best known as the co-creator and co-star of the HBO limited series "2 Dope Queens." Phoebe joins Jennifer on the show to discuss her newly released book, Please Don't Sit on My Bed in Your Outside Clothes , which includes essays about Phoebe's decision not to have kids, reflections on the racial justice protests of summer 2020, and what it's like to build your own production company and literary imprint. Hos...
Oct 07, 2021•42 min•Season 2Ep. 51
In partnership with The Texas Tribune Festival, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar joins "Just Something About Her" to discuss the current attack on people's rights in this country, and why Sen. Klobuchar thinks the solution is eliminating the Senate filibuster. They discuss the Texas abortion law that bans the procedure before most women know they're pregnant, why it's not just a Texas problem, and how Sen. Klobuchar predicted this attack on Roe v. Wade after a contentious back-and-forth with Just...
Sep 30, 2021•35 min•Season 2Ep. 50
In the 2010s, #girlbosses ruled the world. But in the past few years, we've seen many of them publicly disgraced, accused of enabling toxic workplaces, and/or pushed out of the companies they founded. Koa Beck & Leigh Stein have both written extensively on the #girlboss phenomenon and the forces that enable her. Koa is the author of the book "White Feminism: From the Suffragettes to Influencers and Who They Leave Behind," and Leigh has written a number of books, including a satirical novel a...
Sep 23, 2021•48 min•Season 1Ep. 49
The United States has officially ended its longest war, as Jennifer closes out our deep-dive into the war in Afghanistan during Part 2 of her conversation with Elise Jordan, which was originally recorded on August 24, 2021. (If you haven't listened to Part 1, we highly suggest you go back and listen to that first.) Elise worked for the National Security Council and the State Department under President George W. Bush. She lived in Afghanistan while working on an international development project ...
Sep 02, 2021•26 min•Season 1Ep. 48
In Part 1 of this conversation with Elise Jordan, we begin our deep-dive into the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Elise has worked for the National Security Council and the State Department under President George W. Bush, and she has lived in Afghanistan for a United States Agency for International Development project and as a journalist. Elise joins Jennifer on the show to share her desperate attempts to evacuate friends and former colleagues from Kabul, what she thinks the Biden administrati...
Aug 26, 2021•38 min•Season 1Ep. 47
Errin Haines is the editor-at-large of The 19th*, where she writes about the intersection of gender, race, and politics. Amidst the 101st anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, when white women won the right to vote, Errin joins Jennifer on the show to discuss Black women's continued fight for access to the ballot, what we learned about the politics of race and gender during the pandemic, and why newsrooms need to change their perception that women and people of color are special...
Aug 19, 2021•47 min•Season 1Ep. 46
The mythologies and stereotypes that prosecutors used to wrongfully convict Amanda Knox still linger in the zeitgeist. So much so, that her story has reportedly inspired a new movie, "Stillwater," starring Matt Damon, leading Amanda to question exactly what responsibility storytellers have when reinventing the traumas of real people. Amanda and Jennifer discuss Amanda's reaction to the film, what McCarthy and Damon might have learned if they asked her perspective, and how women have been sold as...
Aug 12, 2021•44 min•Season 1Ep. 45
Amanda Litman is the host of "Battleground," another podcast from The Recount, as well as the co-founder and co-executive director of Run For Something, an organization that helps recruit and support young diverse progressives to run for local and state offices. Amanda joins Jennifer on the show to talk about how young people are wildly under-represented in politics, despite their intimacy with some of the most American issues like childcare, home rental, and reproductive health; why there are n...
Aug 05, 2021•40 min•Season 1Ep. 44
Afton Vechery co-founded Modern Fertility so people with ovaries have information to be proactive about their reproductive health and futures. In starting her company, Afton realized just how under-researched women's health and reproductive systems have been throughout history. Afton joins Jennifer on the show to discuss how cultural stigmas, ancient legends, perpetuated stereotypes, and institutionalized bans have contributed to big gaps in data and information about women's health. She explain...
Jul 29, 2021•38 min•Season 1Ep. 43
Texas State Representatives Gina Hinojosa and Mary González are two of 50+ Democrats from the Texas House of Representatives who are seeking refuge in Washington DC to stop a restrictive voting bill introduced by Republicans. It is the second time they have denied Texas Republicans a quorum to vote on election bills they deem unfair and undemocratic. Jennifer joins Reps. Hinojosa and González at their hotel in DC to discuss how their caucus banded together to escape Texas with 24-hours' notice, ...
Jul 22, 2021•37 min•Season 1Ep. 42
Lizz Winstead is co-creator of The Daily Show and a fierce advocate for reproductive rights. She is the founder of an organization called Abortion Access Front, which uses humor to destigmatize abortion and provides support to clinics across the country. Jennifer invites Lizz on the show to discuss the state of reproductive rights, as the Supreme Court gets ready to consider a case that could challenge Roe v. Wade. Lizz shares the story of her abortion as a teenager; why she believes waiting per...
Jul 15, 2021•48 min•Season 1Ep. 41
Sandra Abrevaya is the co-founder of I AM ALS and a caregiver to her husband, Brian Wallach, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2017. Jennifer invites Sandra on the show to discuss her family's journey post-diagnosis, explaining the disease to her two daughters, launching their successful patient-led nonprofit organization, navigating the isolating effects of COVID, and maintaining hope through the discomfort and difficulties of caregiving. Sandra also explains why now is the time to join the fight a...
Jul 08, 2021•44 min•Season 1Ep. 40
Every morning on The Recount Daily Pod, host journalist Reena Ninan will break down the most important news of the day, both domestically and abroad. In 5 minutes or less, you’ll walk away feeling smarter and more in sync with the world. Then, tune in for an interview with journalists who are on the forefront of the stories that affect us all. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jul 06, 2021•2 min
Jade Bird is a writer, musician, and performer, who is preparing to release her second album at just 23 years old. She is one of the first artists to have gone on a mini-tour of the American South this spring, and the "Just Something About Her" team was able to get an exclusive backstage pass! Jennifer and Jade talk about what it's like to perform after more than a year in quarantine and how audiences are responding. Jade explains what led to her landing a record deal at age 18, her complicated ...
Jul 01, 2021•36 min•Season 1Ep. 39
This week, we're taking you back to our very first episode of "Just Something About Her" with guest Charlotte Clymer, a writer, veteran, and activist. In this episode, she shares her journey coming out as a trans woman and some of the confusion and dark periods that led her there, including her time in the military. She sheds light on some of the discrimination and misconceptions she's faced since coming out, like being asked to show her ID before entering the bathroom in a D.C. bar. But most im...
Jun 24, 2021•44 min•Season 1Ep. 39
Brooke Baldwin is an award-winning journalist who anchored the show "CNN Newsroom with Brooke Baldwin" for more than a decade. When she announced her departure from CNN in early 2021, Brooke said she was moving on in order to be the "bravest version" of herself. Jennifer invites Brooke on the show to discuss that bold decision, what led her there, and how she knew it was time to leave such a big opportunity behind. They discuss Brooke's evolution from a cub reporter to the bold, authentic anchor...
Jun 17, 2021•46 min•Season 1Ep. 38
Brandi Carlile is a six-time GRAMMY Award-winning singer, songwriter, performer, and producer, and her new memoir “Broken Horses” just debuted at #1 on the New York Times Best Sellers list. Jennifer – a huge Brandi Carlile and Americana music fan – invites the artist on the show to discuss Brandi's unique ability to stand up to male gatekeepers in the music industry, how she attributes a lot of that confidence to being queer, and why she's hopeful about the future of Americana music. Plus, Brand...
Jun 10, 2021•42 min•Season 1Ep. 37
Dame Karen Pierce is the first woman to become the British ambassador to the United States, after representing the UK for decades in diplomatic postings across the world. Jennifer invites Ambassador Pierce on the show to discuss the group of all women representing the UK in its top diplomatic posts, and what they are tasked with amidst so much disruption and change in the world. They discuss the "special relationship" between the UK and US, how the two countries can promote democracy while deali...
Jun 03, 2021•45 min•Season 1Ep. 36
Kate Stayman-London is a novelist, screenwriter, and political strategist whose national bestselling-book "One to Watch" is our pick for this summer's beach read. The book is about a stylish plus-size blogger who is chosen as the star on a "Bachelorette"-style reality TV show. Kate and Jennifer discuss the significance of writing a plus-size heroine in a media landscape that stigmatizes and erases fat women. Kate shares why she refuses to call reality TV her "guilty pleasure" and what her main c...
May 27, 2021•38 min•Season 1Ep. 35
Liz Phair is a rock star, feminist icon, and author, who describes her purpose in life as leaving behind the "imperfect evidence of a woman's life" through art. As Liz prepares to release her new album "Soberish" in the coming weeks, Jennifer invites her on the show to discuss how the landscape for women musicians has changed since Liz began her career in the '90s. Liz shares what it was like to tour with her young son, how she felt when she was pitted against other women in the industry, and ho...
May 20, 2021•49 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Julia Gillard was the first (and only) female Prime Minister of Australia when she served from 2010 – 2013. During her term, she received especially harsh and vulgar criticism from fellow politicians and constituents, culminating in one of the most memorable moments in Australia's Parliamentary history: what's come to be known as the "misogyny speech," where Julia claps back at a male politician of another party for his treatment of women. Nearly a decade later, Julia and Jennifer reflect on tha...
May 13, 2021•46 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Mika Brzezinski is the co-host of MSNBC's "Morning Joe," a best-selling author, and the founder of "Know Your Value," a movement in partnership with NBCUniversal to empower women to recognize their worth and get paid for it. Mika recently partnered with Forbes to create its first "50 over 50" list of women who have achieved success later in life. Jennifer invites Mika on the show to discuss how Mika "walks the walk" when it comes to supporting women (including Jennifer). They discuss common mist...
May 06, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Alexis McGill Johnson is the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. She's dedicated her life to championing reproductive freedom, equity in health care, and racial and social justice. She co-founded the Perception Institute, which uses mind science research about race, gender, and other identities to find ways to reduce bias and discrimination. Jennifer invites Alexis on the show to discuss reproductive rights: the recent spike in re...
Apr 29, 2021•43 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Paola Ramos is a host and correspondent for VICE and VICE News, who primarily covers issues affecting migrant and border communities. Before that, she worked on Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign as Deputy Director of Hispanic Media and served in the Obama administration. Paola joins Jennifer on the show to discuss her recent VICE report from a violent jungle region in South America that many migrants are forced to cross on their trek to the U.S., and she explains why women's stories specifically r...
Apr 22, 2021•44 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Muffet McGraw was the women's basketball head coach at Notre Dame for 33 seasons, winning two national championships and scoring her entry into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011. But her voice resonated outside the sports world during a 2019 Final Four press conference, where she spoke out about the lack of women in leadership positions in a 2-minute address that went viral. After the 2021 NCAA tournaments, Jennifer invited Coach McGraw on the show to discuss widespread criticism that ...
Apr 15, 2021•39 min•Season 1Ep. 29
Norma Kamali is a fashion designer, wellness expert, and author of her new book "I Am Invincible," which empowers women to embrace aging. At age 75, Norma's career has spanned five decades, during which she's become best known for the sleeping bag coat, the red swimsuit worn by Farrah Fawcett, and creating an athleisure line before athleisure was a thing. And she says her best years are still ahead. Jennifer invites Norma on the show to bond over their shared belief that turning 50 is the most l...
Apr 08, 2021•50 min•Season 1Ep. 28
