"We save lives." In this episode, Marva Sadler talks about her path to working in abortion care, what keeps her going to work every day, and reflects how her own abortion experience has shaped how she provides abortion care. Marva has worked with for 13 years and in abortion healthcare for over 16 years. She was born in Detroit, and, since the age of three, raised and educated in Waco, Texas. Marva’s passion for women's reproductive healthcare began on her first day of work in abortion care in 2...
Nov 08, 2021•29 min•Ep. 169
“My ancestors are always with me.” In this episode, Oriaku Njoku talks about her path to becoming a reproductive justice leader, abortion advocate, and abortion funder in the Southeast. She shares her experience of doing this work as a Black Queer Femme in the South, and the importance of doing the work of abortion funding in and for community. She also discusses why she always brings fun, love, and joy into the workplace every day, and what it means to create a cultural shift around abortion in...
Feb 22, 2021•21 min
"We care so much about our communities and the folks we serve." In this episode, Leah Coplon talks about her path to becoming an abortion care provider, how abortion fits into the full spectrum of sexual and reproductive health care, what it's really like in the clinic, and what it means to connect with other independent abortion care providers. This episode was made in collaboration with Abortion Care Network (ACN) and was recorded at their 2019 annual conference. ACN is a nonprofit membership ...
Aug 19, 2019•13 min
“I want to fill that gap in our community.” In this episode, Dr. Nikia Grayson talks about her path to becoming a nurse-midwife, commitment to full spectrum reproductive heath care, and the importance of working in and with her community in Memphis, TN. This episode was made in collaboration with the Abortion Care Network (ACN) and was recorded at their 2019 annual conference. ACN is a national association for independent community-based, abortion clinics. Independent clinics like CHOICES, where...
May 06, 2019•18 min
“We still have to go overseas to make sure we can get our bodies back.” C.G.C. shares her story of traveling from Galway, Ireland to Manchester, England for an abortion when she was 16 years old. . It is estimated that every day an average of 10 women travel from Ireland to Britain for an abortion. On May 25th, voters in Ireland will vote on repealing its constitutional ban on abortion (the Eighth Amendment). (Published on May 10, 2018 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Galway, Ireland) We s...
May 10, 2018•51 min
“I know I did the right thing.” Sue shares her story of seeking an illegal abortion in 1965, 8 years before that landmark Roe v. Wade ruling, which guarantees the right to safe and legal abortion in the United States. She also talks about her experiences in the Women’s Movement, founding a women’s theatre troupe (It’s All Right To Be Woman Theatre), and directing a documentary about , a progressive Republican NY Assemblywoman who wrote the legislation that decriminalized abortion in New York Sta...
Jan 25, 2018•42 min
"I don't really know how to deal with this. I don't think anyone really does because no one ever talks about it." Hunt shares her experience seeking an abortion in Louisiana. She talks about being lied to at a Crisis Pregnancy Center (CPC), driving several hours to one of the few remaining abortion clinics in Louisiana, and the lack of affordable medical care in her community. She also shares her experience talking to some of her friends and family about her decision to get an abortion. (Publish...
Nov 17, 2017•1 hr 7 min
"I wish mothers told daughters." Christina, a single mother, shares her story of seeking an abortion in Alabama. (Published on October 2, 2017 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Tuscaloosa, AL) The Abortion Diary is free, but it takes money to keep it that way. Help us continue our work and share our abortion stories by donating now () or become our patron on Patreon ().
Oct 02, 2017•49 min
"We can be amazing supports for one another." Jael shares her experience of seeking an abortion in Montreal. (Published on September 8, 2017 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Ottawa, Canada) Are you a fan of the podcast? Help us continue our work and share our abortion stories by donating now () or become our patron on Patreon ().
Sep 08, 2017•44 min
“Hopefully, sharing my story and letting my daughter hear me speak about it somehow, someway might help her make different decisions.” Lisa shares her story of seeking an abortion as a freshman in college and also talks about her birth experiences in her thirties. She also discusses her abortion experience with her daughter on the podcast. (Published on August 15, 2017 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Farmington Hills, MI) Are you a fan of the podcast? Help us continue our work and share o...
Aug 15, 2017•50 min
“It’s okay to have it be messy and still be messy in a way or still be processing.” Marisol shares her experience of having an abortion with the help of Women on Web () while she was working in Bangladesh. (Published on August 1, 2017 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: New York, NY) Thanks for listening. Help us continue our work and share our stories by donating now () or become our patron on Patreon ().
Aug 04, 2017•39 min
“I feel like it’s a scarlet A.” Jackie shares her story of traveling to Cincinnati, OH from Louisville, KY for an abortion, and talks about her experience working in public health in New Orleans, LA. (Published on June 8, 2017 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: New Orleans, LA) Thanks for listening. Help us continue our work and share our stories by donating now () or become our patron on Patreon ().
Jun 08, 2017•23 min
"There still was a reluctance to say it out loud." Alison shares her experiences of seeking abortions at different times in her life. She also talks about of being a surviver of sexual assault. (Published on May 16, 2017 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Granville, OH) Thanks for listening. Help us continue our work and share our stories by donating now () or become our patron on Patreon ().
May 16, 2017•38 min
"I really wish that I had met him." Kristen shares her story of seeking an abortion in Atlanta, Ga after a fetal anomaly diagnosis. (Published on May 9, 2017 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Atlanta, GA) Thanks for listening. Help us continue our work and share our stories by (http://bit.ly/292LsxI) or become our patron on Patreon ().
May 09, 2017•1 hr 12 min
"I have felt very, very alone." Anonymous shares her experience seeking an abortion in Alabama, and talks about the post-abortion rituals she created for herself afterward. (Published on April 20, 2017 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Tuscaloosa, AL) The Abortion Diary is free, but it takes money to keep it that way. Help The Abortion Diary continue its work and share our stories by donating now:
Apr 20, 2017•53 min
"People need to know that they're not alone." Adriana shares her experience of seeking an abortion in Montréal. (Published on April 11, 2017 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Montréal, Québec, Canada) The Abortion Diary is free, but it takes money to keep it that way. Help The Abortion Diary continue its work and share our stories by : bit.ly/2iiqvzp
Apr 11, 2017•53 min
"Women don't want to hide anymore." Anonymous shares her story of needing to travel to England from Northern Ireland for an abortion. Abortion is illegal in Northern Ireland. For more information about the abortion rights campaign in Northern Ireland, visit . (Published on March 30, 2017 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland) Are you a fan of the podcast? Help The Abortion Diary continue its work and share our stories by donating now:
Mar 30, 2017•43 min
"I didn't want to buy into the stigma." Anonymous shares her pre-Roe adoption and abortion experiences. She also shares her experience searching for and reuniting with her daughter. (Published on March 21, 2017 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Ithaca, NY) Are you a fan of the podcast? Help The Abortion Diary continue its work and share our stories by donating now:
Mar 21, 2017•37 min
"I thought that I was the only one." Cassandra shares her abortion experiences in Oklahoma. (Published on March 7, 2017 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Los Angeles, CA) Are you a fan of the podcast? Help The Abortion Diary continue its work and share our stories by donating now:
Mar 07, 2017•30 min
"It just wasn't a good time." Laura shares her experiences with abortion in the 1970s. (Published on February 28, 2017 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Venice, FL) The Abortion Diary is free, but it takes money to keep it that way. Help The Abortion Diary continue its work and share our stories by donating now:
Feb 28, 2017•31 min
"I wanted to be able to tell my own story." shares her abortion experience, and her journey of enlightenment after abortion, which she chronicles in her new book . (Published on February 21, 2017 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Boston, MA) The Abortion Diary is free, but it takes money to keep it that way. Help The Abortion Diary continue its work and share our stories by : http://theabortiondiarypodcast.com/donate-abortion-stories/donors/
Feb 21, 2017•1 hr 54 min
"It's really not straightforward." Ellie shares the story of her abortion experience in Brighton, England. (Published on February 14, 2017 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: London, England) Have you been listening to this podcast? Help us continue to break the silence by donating now: bit.ly/2iiqvzp
Feb 14, 2017•41 min
"It was a monumental, formative experience." Alex shares her story of seeking an abortion in New York City. (Published on February 7, 2017 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: New York, NY) The Abortion Diary is free, but it takes money to keep it that way. Help The us continue to break the silence and share our stories by donating now:
Feb 07, 2017•46 min
“I’m really glad I had that choice.” - Abby A. Abby shares her experiences seeking abortions in California at two very different times in her life. (Published on January 31, 2017 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Santa Monica, CA) The Abortion Diary is free, but it takes money to keep it that way. Help The us continue to break the silence and share our stories by donating now: bit.ly/2iiqvzp
Jan 31, 2017•36 min
“Hello, this is Jane.” Judith Arcana shares her experiences as a Jane in The Abortion Counseling Service of the Chicago Women’s Liberation Union (usually known as JANE*), the underground abortion service in Chicago. From 1968-1973, JANE provided over 11,000 people safe and affordable abortions, and abortion counseling. In August 2014, I posted the recording of . In this second interview, she talks about who performed abortions for Jane, how she learned to perform abortions, and how women were co...
Jan 24, 2017•24 min
“Stigma silences people and it shuts them up.” Elizabeth shares the abortion experiences she's had at different times in her life. (Published on January 17, 2017| Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: San Francisco, CA) Are you a fan of the podcast? Help us continue to break the silence by donating now: bit.ly/2iiqvzp
Jan 17, 2017•40 min
“I see it as one little aspect of a life full of events.” Katharina shares her experience of having an abortion in Jordan with the help of Women on Web (https://www.womenonweb.org/), and talks about her activist work with Ciocia Basia (), a Berlin based group that helps Polish women access abortion in Germany. (Published on January 10, 2017 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Berlin, Germany) The Abortion Diary is free, but it takes money to keep it that way. Help The Abortion Diary continue ...
Jan 10, 2017•49 min
“I want to be okay with it for myself.” Anonymous shares her story of seeking an abortion as a high school senior in the New York City. (Published on January 3, 2017 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: New York, NY) The Abortion Diary is free, but it takes money to keep it that way. Help The Abortion Diary continue its work and share our stories by :
Jan 03, 2017•49 min
There isn't a new abortion diary entry this week. I’ll be posting a new story on Tuesday, January 3rd, and return to our weekly schedule. Until then listen to over 140 stories that have already been posted on The Abortion Diary, and listen to the new audio mosaic (#142) of some Abortion Diary story-sharers talking about why they want to share their stories. Thank you for listening, and have a safe and happy New Years. ~ Melissa Help us continue to break the silence in 2017 by donating to The Abo...
Dec 29, 2016•3 min
There isn't a new episode this week. I’ll be posting a new story on Tuesday, January 3rd, and return to our weekly schedule. Until then listen to over 140 stories that have already been posted on The Abortion Diary, and listen to this new audio mosaic of some Abortion Diary story-sharers talking about why they want to share their stories. Thank you for listening, and have a safe and happy New Years. ~ Melissa Help us continue to break the silence in 2017 by to The Abortion Diary today.
Dec 29, 2016•13 min
