Breaking Down Patriarchy

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 American Intellectual History Society, and she serves as the editor-in-chief of Global Black Thought, a journal of essays on Black ideas, theories, and intellectuals. Blain is the author of the books Set the World on Fire: Black Nationalist Women and the Global Struggle for Freedom, and Until I Am Free: Fannie Lou Hamer's Enduring Message to America. And her most recent book, which we’ll be discussing today, is titled Without Fear: Black Women and the Making of Human Rights and it was published just this September.

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. 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 sexuality, sexual biohacking, libido supplementation and sexual regenerative therapies that roll back the clock on aging. She is a sought-after speaker from the stage, has been on countless podcasts, radio shows, and television segments worldwide. Her weekly email newsletter has nearly a half a million readers. And she is beloved as the "trusted intimacy wellness expert to millions 💋." Susan believes that shame-free, frequent sexual pleasure is every man and woman’s birthright.

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 @momlife_comics. Mary Catherine's work focuses on the challenges of marriage, motherhood, double standards, and inequality in both the household and the workplace. She is passionate about speaking up for women and bringing awareness to the mental load and the invisible labor of motherhood. Her first book, a comic memoir entitled Mama Needs a Minute!, came out in March, 2025. Mary Catherine lives in Massachusetts with her husband, her children, and her son’s large collection of plastic dinosaurs. Learn more about Mary Catherine Starr at marycatherinestarr.com.

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. 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 organizations nationwide, all working together to end the subminimum wages in the United States and raise wages and working conditions in the service sector. Saru is also the author of the books One Fair Wage, Forked: A New Standard for American Dining, and Behind the Kitchen Door.

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 perspective.

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 former band, Nylon Pink, has toured in Australia and performed across Shanghai, Costa Rica, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, and beyond. Her debut memoir, Fetishized: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty, was released in August 2025.

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 Republic regime in September of 2022 following the brutal killing of an innocent Kurdish Iranian girl, Mahsa Jina Amini by government agents, the Iranian Women Institute for Life and Liberty (I-WILL) seeks to provide a platform to raise awareness about, and support, women who have been victims of gender apartheid and discrimination. Through advocacy, education, and community engagement, we aspire to foster a society where immigrant women are empowered to contribute fully, enriching the fabric of our global community with their strength and resilience. We're honored to be joined by I-WILL activists Saghi, Naseem, Reina, and Kelly.

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, Sunday curates bespoke cultural experiences that offer guests privileged access to Paris’s vibrant art scene and hidden creative treasures. Learn more at savoirtours.com.

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 advancing principles of freedom, justice, and equality. Along with their experience in program and organizational management, Erika brings two decades of heart work in community organizing and social action. Their law and policy experience has spanned the areas of gender and sexuality, voting rights and democracy, economic justice, criminal legal system reform, and the rights of people experiencing detention and incarceration. Erika completed their undergraduate studies in psychology and public policy at UCLA and the Luskin School of Public Affairs and received their J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. In addition to numerous public interest awards and legal fellowships, Erika has been honored as a Rising Star by the Brooklyn Law School Alumni Association, and was named one of the Best LGBTQ+ Lawyers Under 40 by the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association. Erika is a certified restorative justice practitioner, an adoring caretaker of plants and animals (and people!), and a fan of wandering and getting lost from time to time.

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. She holds an MA in English Literature from Fordham University and an MFA from Fairfield University, and is the Writer-in-Residence and Director of Writing Studies at Sacred Heart University. She is the author of Human/Animal and works as the Director of Writing Studies at Sacred Heart University.

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, education and advocacy. Amy has extensive experience working on local and national grassroots campaigns targeted at mobilizing voices and actions in Hispanic communities across the country. Community education and engagement have been central to Amy's work with a particular emphasis on youth.

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 player, Rensch won multiple national championships and still holds the record for the youngest chess master in the state of Arizona. As an adult, he has become the face of Chess.com and is the author of Dark Squares: How Chess Saved My Life.

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, where she is the adjunct professor of multidisciplinary studies on the Pittsburgh Endowment Chair in the humanities, and the director of the Women, Feminist and Queer Studies Program. Paulina's most recent book is She Wolves: The Untold History of Women on Wall Street, and it was named one of the 10 best nonfiction books of 2024 by the Kirkus Reviews.

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 the boards of philanthropic, human rights, and environmental organizations. Descended from the Celtic, Germanic, Nordic, and Indigenous peoples of Ancient Europe, she is a ninth-generation American settler. For most of her life these origins were obscured by whiteness. After learning more about her ancestors’ history, Hilary began emerging from a fog of amnesia, denial, and fragmentation. For the first time, she could see a painful reality: her family’s occupation of this land has harmed Indigenous and African peoples, cultures, lands, and lifeways. With this realization, her life changed. Divesting from settler colonialism and whiteness, she seeks to follow Indigenous and Black leadership in support of healing, mutual liberation, and equitable futures. She is the author of Becoming a Good Relative: Calling White Settlers toward Truth, Healing, and Repair (Green Writers Press, October 2024).

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 dissertation, she intends to explore the experiences of formerly incarcerated mothers who pursued higher education while incarcerated, and how this experience informs the ways that they navigate motherhood and education post-release. Emily currently works as a graduate research assistant with the research collaborative on higher education in prison. She's currently involved in developing a student center inside a women's designated prison that is led by currently incarcerated students through the Utah Prison Education Project. Drawing from feminist and intersectional frameworks, her work seeks to challenge dominant narratives about incarceration, motherhood, and educational justice.

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 national LGBTQ+ advocate. In addition to those roles, she is a mom of two adult children, consultant and podcaster. Marie Newman is known for building movements and solving the toughest problems. Her motto has always been, when you do not see the solution you desperately need, make it from scratch! She lives in Lagrange, Illinois with her husband and beagle, Iggy.

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 interdisciplinary work bridges sociology, psychology, and education to foster healthier relationships, emotional connection, and resilience in individuals, communities, and systems.

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 feel smashed by the patriarchy to create something beautiful from pain, and because when she went through the hell of church-sanctioned violence, she felt alone, but wasn't. There are thousands of others out there. Her memoir, A Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy came out in August, 2024.

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 written for many publications, including The London Review of Books, the Sunday Times, and Vogue. She is also a Professor of English and Creative Writing at Birkbeck, University of London. In 2017, she was elected president of the Royal Society of Literature, the first time the role has been held by a woman since the founding of the Royal Society of Literature in 1820. She is also a Distinguished Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford.