Radicals & Revolutionaries Lab

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This week’s revolutionary is Vanessa Cuccia, creator of Chakrubs—the original crystal sex toy company—and author of Crystal Healing & Sacred Pleasure: Awaken Your Sensual Energy Using Crystals and Healing Rituals. Vanessa is currently following her lifelong passion for music and working on an album.In our discussion we cover everything from paranormal experiences and quasi-cults to how reconnecting with the body helps to heal from trauma and how spiritualists were confused about why someone would make a sex toy out of crystals.Some Questions I Ask:Can you tell me about your upcoming album? (1:10)Your mother had a paranormal experience. What was that like? (5:49)Tell me about your family? (11:11)What drew you to creating Chakrubs? (14:27)What advice do you have for people who, like you, want to bring an idea to life? (20:47)Did creating Chakrubs lead directly to writing your book, Crystal Healing & Sacred Pleasure? (26:44)What are the next steps for you moving forward? (32:58)In This Episode, You Will

This week’s radical is Dr. Cynthia Enloe, an internationally renowned academic and thought leader on feminism, particularly in the context of militarism. She has taught generations of young minds around the globe, and is a prolific author of books including The Curious Feminist, Seriously! Investigating Crashes and Crises as if Women Mattered, and The Big Push: Exposing and Challenging Persistent Patriarchy, among many others.Join us as we discuss everything from the gendering of labor in academic spaces, the challenges of teaching internationally, the importance of feminist curiosity, and why the literary canon in academia is fundamentally flawed.Some Questions I Ask:What are you working on in the moment? (0:47)Did your parents instill these feminist values in you? (9:47)Where did you go to university? (19:46)When were the seeds of your feminist awakening planted? (23:43)What prompted you to write The Curious Feminist? (36:16)How did you find yourself investigating masculinity? (42:25In This Episode, You Wil

This week's revolutionary is Liz Kleinrock, an anti-bias and anti-racist (ABAR) educator. By day she's an elementary school teacher; outside of school hours she holds workshops for adults, is a TED speaker, and founded Teach and Transform.We discuss the challenges of unlearning racism, growing up isolated in your own community, and why teaching empathy should start young.Some Questions I Ask:What does being a teacher mean for you? (0:41)What are some obstacles to teaching ABAR to adults? (4:21)What can you tell us about being a trans-racial adoptee? (10:57)Did you feel equipped, as a child, to handle the conversations around racism that were thrust upon you? (15:07)How do you feel about the way the term “intersectional” is used today? (22:05)What is Teach and Transform? (29:24)What are some challenges around teaching consent? (35:01)In This Episode, You Will Learn:Why children are easier to teach than adults (3:03)How fear of failure perpetuates racism and white supremacy (6:15)About Liz’s experience growing

This week's radical is Jaclyn Friedman, a feminist activist and writer, whose mantra of "yes means yes" has set the standard for how campuses handle sexual assault. She's written and contributed to a number of books, including Unscrewed, Yes Means Yes, What You Really Really Want, and Believe Me. She also hosts the acclaimed sex podcast Unscrewed.We dive into Jaclyn's path from attending temple under the first woman rabbi through to discovering a passion for feminism and justice, her time with IMPACT, how she kept busy during election season, and so much more.Some Questions I Ask:Tell us about your latest projects? (1:15)Where did your journey to feminism begin? (14:11)Did you grow up in a progressive household? (18:17)How did you become involved with IMPACT? (22:01)What did teaching self-defence to gang-affected youth entail? (26:11)Which came first: Unscrewed the book, or Unscrewed the podcast? (38:37)What defines the era of fauxpowerment? (41:52)In This Episode, You Will Learn:Why women being treated as le

This week's revolutionary is Amelia Hruby, author of the recent book Fifty Feminist Mantras and host of the travelling podcast Fifty Feminist States. Hruby is an academic, feminist, and advocate for body positivity and against fatphobia.In our conversation, we cover how Hruby found the inspiration to create her mantras, feminist power anthems, the struggles of academia, why the DIY approach is rooted in a strong sense of community, and how taking selfies can teach people to love themselves.Some Questions I Ask:Can you tell us about your book, Fifty Feminist Mantras? (0:48)How do you come up with your mantras? (3:11)How do you keep a positive attitude in the face of challenges? (11:45)What helped you get through the experience of your PhD program? (22:57)Tell us more about the selfie prompts and groups (34:40)How can people join these groups? (38:39)In This Episode, You Will Learn:Why feminism has to be an action, and not just an idea, and has to serve a greater community (5:50)Why a DIY approach is not the sa

This week's radical is Jade Beall, a Tuscon-based portrait photographer whose photos challenge notions of what a woman's body should or shouldn't be. Her projects center mothers, breast-feeding, and the beauty of aging in ways that defy the male gaze and strive for truthful portrayals over conforming to oppressive standards.Our conversation traces Jade's journey from growing up in Mexico, her beginnings in photography, the projects that changed the course of her career forever, and the controversy around portraying natural bodies.Some Questions I Ask:What can you tell us about your project Wise Bodies, Beautiful Elders? (0:49)Where did it all begin for you? (3:31)How did you happen upon photography? (6:59)How did you move from photographing yourself breastfeeding, to photographing others? (13:01)Do the men in your photographs also struggle with being bare? (24:23)What photographs or subjects were the more meaningful to you? (27:30)Some Questions I Ask:Why Jade sees being bare as the truest expression of self

This week's revolutionary is Jane Willenbring, geologist and cast member of the documentary Picture a Scientist. Her career has spanned from the South Pole to the North Pole, and she has risen to prominence for taking a stand against abuses of power in academia.In our discussion we cover her beginnings in North Dakota, her first Antarctic expedition, how she continued to carve a path in academia after experiencing sexual harassment in the field, and why she finally came forward when she did. A significant portion of our conversation deals with abuse and sexual harassment, so please listen with care.Some Questions I Ask:What has transpired since the release of Picture a Scientist? (1:31)Did your parents push you towards the hard sciences? (9:00)Were your curiosity and your passion for science nurtured at North Dakota State University? (12:07)What was the path that led you to Antarctica? (18:11)What went down in Antarctica? (22:49)What happened in the aftermath of the Antarctic expedition? (33:10)Do you have ad

This week's radical is Juhu Thukral, a lawyer, human rights activist, and serial social justice organizer. She is a founding member of the New York Anti-Trafficking Network and an advocate for the legal rights of sex workers.In our conversation we dive into the complex nuances surrounding sex work and human trafficking, the coercive nature of labor, and what it takes to see the mission towards protecting human rights through.Some Questions I Ask:What are you working on during the pandemic? (0:54)How did you start the New York Anti-Trafficking Network, and what is the intersection between sex work and human trafficking? (6:53)When did you come to the US, and where in the US did you grow up? (17:43)What did you study at Rice University? (21:02)How did the NYC Women’s Salons start? (30:40)How is advocacy is rooted in bravery? (38:55)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About creating the world’s first legal project around the human rights of sex workers (2:09)Why coercion in labor is bigger than sex work, and exists

This week's revolutionary is Therese Shechter, a Brooklyn-based filmmaker, founder of Trixie Films, and occasional graphic designer. She describes her mission as challenging what society holds most sacred about womanhood, and her current film project, My So-Called Selfish Life, documents the experience of women liker herself who choose not to become mothers.Our discussion moves from exploring the impact of feminist values in youth and leaving Canada for a career in newspaper, to discovering a passion for filmmaking and rediscovering feminist roots.Some Questions I Ask:What stage are you at with your current documentary, My So-Called Selfish Life? (1:00)How did you come up with the idea for this film? (1:43)Where did you grow up? (8:35)How did you end up in the United States? (16:31)How did you make the transition from working in print media to filmmaking? (21:44)How did you move on from making one film to where you are now? (35:25)In This Episode, You Will Learn:How Therese grew up knowing she didn’t want kid

This week's radical is Asha Dahya, founder of GirlTalkHQ.com and author of Today's Wonder Women: Everyday Superheroes Who Are Changing the World. She's also a TedX speaker and fierce advocate for reproductive rights, gender equality, and the representation of women in media.Our conversation will take us from her beginnings on Australian TV, coming to America, and joining a fundamentalist church, to breaking free from societal expectations and discovering her own path, her own beliefs, and most importantly, her own voice.Some Questions I Ask:Can you tell us about your new book, Today’s Wonder Women? (1:11)How did you find the women featured in your book? (3:03)How being a mother made Asha a better leader, and why corporations should tap into this (13:42)Where did you grow up? (17:04)Tell me about your experience with the church? (29:35)What can you tell me about your upcoming documentary project? (41:06)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About the challenges of interviewing women around the world (5:12)About crea

This week's revolutionary is Babita Patel, a humanitarian photographer who wears many hats. Her book Breaking Out in Prison came out earlier this year, showcasing the lives of men who changed their lives by pursuing higher education while incarcerated. She's also the founder of KIOO Project, a nonprofit that teaches kids about photography and gender equality in countries around the globe.During our discussion we cover changing minds and hearts about incarceration, how to change the way that boys are raised to view girls, life-changing vacations, career changes, and more.Some Questions I Ask:What are you currently working on? (1:08)How did the book Breaking Out in Prison come about? (2:09)Where did you grow up? (5:55)How did you evolve into who you are today? (9:26)Did you know you wanted to switch careers from being an art director before you did it? (14:21)How did KIOO Project begin? (16:05)How has KIOO Project grown? (25:14)How can people support KIOO Project? (28:11)What do you work on when not working on

This week's radical is Dr. Raychelle Burks, an analytical chemist and self-proclaimed supervillain. She's also a science writer and educator, with articles appearing in ChemistryWorld and appearances on the Smithsonian Channel's The Curious Life and Death of... series.We discuss everything from Hercule Poirot's sleuthing skills (and the shocking murder rates of small-town fictional England) to how scientific research is skewed by sexist and racist biases, and how understanding these biases makes you a better scientist.Some Questions I Ask:What is analytical chemistry? (1:37)How did you find your way to forensic work? (7:26)Where do you draw the line between sticking it out in a toxic work environment vs. leaving for something better? (15:58)Where did your journey begin? (25:39)What are the main obstacles to people acknowledging systemic bias and oppression in science? (44:20)In This Episode, You Will Learn:How a love of detective shows led to a career in science (7:53)Why "going with your gut" is a bad idea i

This week's Revolutionary is Dr. Carmen Rojas, President and CEO of the Marguerite Casey Foundation. She's also the Co-Founder and former CEO of The Workers Lab, where she dedicated herself to improving the living conditions of low-wage workers. Her mission to level the playing field and create opportunities for those who wouldn't otherwise have them is informed by decades of lived experience as a first-generation Latina American witnessing how opportunities for impoverished people and people of color have changed over the years.Our discussion covers a wide array of topics, including her plans for the future of Marguerite Casey, how the philanthropy industry has begun to imitate the private sector, where myths around homelessness originate, and why creating enduring social change is a long-term investment without a set dollar amount return.Some Questions I Ask:How are you reimagining philanthropy? (1:14)Where does your passion for change come from? (9:08)What is the connection between workers' rights, buildin

This week's Radical is Kiley May, a writer, filmmaker, actor, and space-carver for queer and indigenous representation in Canada. She's appeared in It Chapter Two (2019) as well as a recurring role on the CBC series Coroner (2019-), and is currently working on a book (tentatively titled How to Love a Trans Girl) and a short film trilogy that she will write and direct.In this episode we cover the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality that inform Kiley's work and outlook, her journey from journalism school to the screen, growing up in the Hotinonhshón:ni Mohawk culture on Six Nations, how she came up with her own take on the Bechdel Test, why some people think being Two-Spirit is a Toronto thing, and more.Some Questions I Ask:How does screenwriting work? (2:46)What does having a "kaleidoscope identity" mean for you? (16:38)What is Two-Spirit? (27:03)What is the May Test? (35:17)What can you tell me about How to Love a Trans Girl? (43:42)In This Episode, You Will Learn:How Kiley made the transition from j

This week's revolutionary is Charlie Grosso, a Chinese-American photographer and the creator of Hello Future, an educational non-profit that promotes digital literacy for refugees.Our conversation goes from the roots of Hello Future and how a Chinese woman ended up with an Italian male name, to the beginnings of her photography career, what a theatre degree really is, and why the notion of a "digitally native" generation is a myth.Some Questions I Ask:Where did your path begin? (4:02)Do you think you've grown into a new person by becoming Charlie Grosso? (8:34)How and When did the Wok the Dog photo series begin? (14:02)How did you hone your photography? (18:36)Where do you find resistance in your work? (21:43)How did Hello Future begin? (27:55)How can people support Hello Future? (45:42)In This Episode, You Will Learn:How Charlie came to America (5:15)Where the name Charlie Grosso came to be (7:07)How a theatre degree is actually a degree in making something out of nothing, and how this relates to starting a

This week's radical is Blair Imani, historian, author, educator, activist, podcaster, social media influencer... seriously, there's not much she can't do. Her new podcast with Kate Robards, America Did What?!, tackles difficult subjects in American history through a lens of feminism and anti-racism, blending biting commentary with slapstick comedy.In our discussion, we cover the challenges of podcasting, growing up in deeply religious households, challenging authority, exploring new religions, and the connections between Star Trek analysis and religious interpretation.Some Questions I Ask:What gave you the push to start a new podcast? (3:16)How did you become a historian? (19:14)How did a Spanish immersion program in Chile factor into your college experience? (27:55)Do people ignore injustice to avoid reckoning with their own complicity? (34:32)What was it like to convert to Islam? (43:02)How do you feel about activism and feminism as a Muslim woman? (49:34)In This Episode You Will Learn:About Blair's new pod

This week we're revisiting our Feminism in the Age of COVID-19 online event series that took place this past June and July. On June 12th we were joined by journalist and author Fariba Nawa and by En(Gender)ed Collective founder Teri Yuan.Together we discussed accountability for violence against women in different contexts and how this work has shifted during COVID-19. This conversation touches on how the issues surrounding domestic violence differ in the United States versus Turkey and the Middle East, and how to foster greater accountability moving forward.Some Questions I Ask:How do different cultures handle the issue of sexual and gender-based violence? (10:15)How do faith leaders factor in the fight against domestic violence? (14:08)How does the concept of accountability shift in different settings? (27:33)Audience Questions:Why is it important to approach this issue through a feminist lens? (40:06)How does the fact that for many women, the home is not a safe place, affect this discussion? (46:21)What is

This week's revolutionary is Loretta Ross, co-founder of the Reproductive Justice movement. She teaches "White Supremacy in the Age of Trump" at Smith College and is the author of a number of works, including Radical Reproductive Justice: Foundation, Theory, Practice, Critique (2017) and Undivided Rights: Women of Color Organizing for Reproductive Justice (2004).Our conversation covers decades of life experiences that led Loretta into social justice work, from growing up across the United States to "accidentally" becoming an activist; from deprogramming ex-Klansmen to becoming a college professor. And of course, we discuss the current state of activism work: why it's better to call in than call out, when to burn bridges, and how movements change and new generations create new rules.Some Questions I Ask:What is Reproductive Justice? (4:45)How did the experience of being a young parent shape you? (17:07)Where did you study? (20:13)How does your history inform your new work? (30:54)What's the difference between

This week’s radical is Kate Manne, a Sage School of Philosophy professor and author of two books, Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny (2018) and Entitled: How Male Privilege Hurts Women (2020). She also coined the term "himpathy."In our conversation, we discuss Kate's newest book, how the Kavanaugh hearings and "incel" culture inspired her, the ways in which sexism and misogyny differ as tools of patriarchy, and the imbalance of gendered expectations around emotional labor. We also dive into her upbringing in Australia, the challenges of attending an all-boys school as a girl, and the commodification of women as sexual currency.Some Questions I Ask: How did you choose the chapter titles in Entitled? (1:20)Where did you go to school? (13:10)Is there value in avoiding dating and relationships? (21:25)Is complicity a factor in himpathy? (40:52)In This Episode, You Will Learn: How misogyny works like a shock collar. (6:30)What it was like for Kate to be one of only three girls in her high school. (13:56)Wh