#102: Forensics and Abortion (w/ Secular Pro-Life's Monica Snyder)
Release Date: 12/04/2025
Equipped for Life Podcast
Josh Brahm and Monica Snyder wrap up their series of recent discussions by addressing denial-of-care stories. In this episode, Monica and Josh define what a denial-of-care story is, explain why abortion bans are often blamed for causing pregnancy-related deaths, identify the actual problems behind the most sensationalized stories, empathize with tragic outcomes and legitimate pro-choice concerns, and propose courses of action that pro-life people can take to help prevent similar tragic stories from happening in the future. Related Links: Secular Pro-Life’s entire blog category of debunking...
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Josh Brahm and Monica Snyder return to discuss the question: “Do You Need Religion to be Pro-Life?” The conversation touches on practical and philosophical points, including discussion about objective and subjective morality and its relationship with deism, as well as Monica’s experiences responding to both pro-life and pro-choice people who raise a scrutinizing eyebrow when they realize that they are talking with a pro-life atheist. Links: Secular Pro-Life: Secular Pro-Life: A couple of examples of pro-choice religious-ish-ness: Human Life...
info_outlineEquipped for Life Podcast
After much anticipation, Josh Brahm FINALLY gets to interview Monica Snyder from Secular Pro-Life about her background and expertise in Forensics. Monica explains how her work in forensics and DNA analysis affects her view on the abortion issue, particularly when it comes to questions about the justice system and why we shouldn’t prosecute women who have had abortions. Content warning: Includes discussion of forensic rape kits as well as methods of testing whether a baby was aborted instead of miscarried. Links: National Right to Life: ERI Statement: Chapters: 00:00:00...
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Content warning: This whole episode is about sex. It’s probably not the episode to listen to around your kids. Secular Pro-Life’s Monica Snyder returns to the Equipped for Life Podcast for another series of episodes, beginning with the topic, “It’s About Babies, Not Your Sex Life.” Stemming from real-life conversations, Monica and Josh identify many of the various factors that contribute to pro-choice perceptions or labeling of pro-life people as being “anti-sex” and then respond accordingly to each factor. The Dynamic Duo also provides some fun commentary...
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We brought the entire staff on for our 100th episode! The team planned the outline without Josh, and the result was a fun, retrospective celebration of the podcast. Related Links: Ellen's first blog post: Ellen's most recent blog post: Joshua's episode on the podcast: Rebecca’s talking head video: Our first podcast with Rebecca co-hosting: Josh’s article the atheist responded to: Ellen’s favorite episode: Rebecca’s favorite episode: Joshua’s favorite episode : Emily's favorite episodes: Josh's favorite episodes: Tim Hull's favorite episode: ...
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LIGHTNING!!! (in slow motion). In this podcast, Josh Brahm and Monica Snyder from Secular Pro-Life sort through listener mail from SPL’s mailbag and give quick responses to several questions and requests. Part 2 of 2 addresses eight main topics, to include the biological case for the unborn, how to combat viral misinformation, the concept of abortion as healthcare, why women advocate for abortion, the medical necessity of third trimester abortions, what to do if the pro-choice person jumps topics, if brain activity should define personhood, and counseling resources for nonreligious,...
info_outlineEquipped for Life Podcast
LIGHTNING!!! (in slow motion). In this podcast, Josh Brahm and Monica Snyder from sort through listener mail from SPL’s mailbag and give quick responses to several questions and requests. Part 1 of 2 (this episode) covers seven main topics, namely, whether the “pro-life movement” should actually be called the “anti-abortion movement”, the availability of abortion pills, discrimination against children with disabilities, how to welcome secular members into a pro-life space, if we should boycott pro-choice media, trying to understand how a pro-choice person thinks, and whether...
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We recorded another episode with Secular Pro-Life’s Monica Snyder, our favorite practically co-host, to discuss Secular Pro-Life’s recent survey on the differences between how both sides of the issue define abortion. A critical part of clear communication is making sure you and your dialogue partner are using the key words in the same way. Pro-life and pro-choice people often mean VERY different things when they use the word "abortion," but they don't know that, and miscommunication ensues. This episode will help you avoid that miscommunication. The ERI team offers several practical...
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Yes, abortion pills are harmful to women and unborn children. We're pro-life. But when you take an honest look at the evidence, there is no evidence that abortion pills are poisoning our wastewater. This episode includes a visual slideshow, and can be viewed at our YouTube channel here: Content warning: If you have experienced pregnancy loss, this may not be the episode for you. There’s an inherent graphic nature to the kinds of claims we’re offering factual and philosophical arguments against. While we kept the conversation as tame as possible, we know this is a...
info_outlineAfter much anticipation, Josh Brahm FINALLY gets to interview Monica Snyder from Secular Pro-Life about her background and expertise in Forensics. Monica explains how her work in forensics and DNA analysis affects her view on the abortion issue, particularly when it comes to questions about the justice system and why we shouldn’t prosecute women who have had abortions.
Content warning: Includes discussion of forensic rape kits as well as methods of testing whether a baby was aborted instead of miscarried.
Links:
Testing biological tissue for abortion drugs
National Right to Life: Joint Open Letter: Criminalizing Women Who Have Abortions is Not Pro-Life
ERI Statement: Should Women Be Prosecuted for Illegal Abortions?
Sidewalk Counseling Masterclass
Chapters:
00:00:00 Introducing Monica’s forensics credentials and background
00:03:25 Describing the Innocence Project
00:06:25 Monica describes her forensics work
00:09:30 Real forensics vs. TV forensics
00:15:50 Why rape cases are difficult to prosecute
00:21:40 Where forensics touches the abortion debate in a post-Dobbs world
00:24:45 Distinguishing abortion pills and miscarriage?
00:34:16 Concerns with attaching criminal penalties to women who have had abortions
00:41:55 What rights do convicted people have?
00:48:35 What would a dystopian prosecution of all women who had abortions look like?
00:49:50 What is a more realistic interpretation of pro-lifers who want to attach criminal penalties to abortion look like?
00:51:10 Plea deals and public defenders
00:54:40 ‘Steel-manning’ the pro-lifers who want to attach criminal penalties to abortion
00:58:10 Trauma associated with miscarriage
00:59:45 Relevant questions from real cases
01:02:20 WARNING: Morbid description
01:03:45 Conclusions from Monica
01:06:30 Josh’s eyewitness testimony story
01:11:16 Monica’s eyewitness testimony story
01:13:55 Applying this to a recent case
01:17:25 Wrapping up
Host: Josh Brahm
Guest: Monica Snyder
Audio/Video Editors: Joshua Head, Josh Brahm
Publisher: Ellen Campbell