Abortion Diary Entry 169: Marva Sadler
The Abortion Diary
"We save lives."
info_outline
Abortion Diary Entry 168: Oriaku Njoku
The Abortion Diary
“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 the South. This episode was made in collaboration with the (ACN) and was recorded at...
info_outline
Abortion Diary Entry 167: Leah Coplon, MPH, RN
The Abortion Diary
"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 organization for independent abortion clinics. Independent clinics — like Maine Family...
info_outline
Abortion Diary Entry 166: Dr. Nikia Grayson
The Abortion Diary
“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 Nikia Grayson is a nurse-midwife, care for the majority of people seeking abortion in the...
info_outline
Abortion Diary Entry 165: C.G.C., 20 (Manchester, England 2012)
The Abortion Diary
“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 share stories. Help us continue to break the silence by...
info_outline
Abortion Diary Entry 164: Sue P., 72 (South Orange, NJ 1965 )
The Abortion Diary
“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 State in 1970. (Published on January 24, 2018 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Ithaca,...
info_outline
Abortion Diary Entry 163: Hunt, 33 (Bossier City, LA 2015)
The Abortion Diary
"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. (Published on November 17, 2017 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Lafayette, LA) The...
info_outline
Abortion Diary Entry 162: Christina F., 35 (Birmingham, AL 2013)
The Abortion Diary
"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 ().
info_outline
Abortion Diary Entry 161: Jael H. (Montreal, Québec, Canada, 2011)
The Abortion Diary
"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 ().
info_outline
Abortion Diary Entry 160: Lisa, 48 (Michigan, 1986)
The Abortion Diary
“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 our abortion stories by donating now (bit.ly/292LsxI) or become our patron on Patreon...
info_outline“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 my first interview with Judith. In this second interview, she talks about who performed abortions for Jane, how she learned to perform abortions, and how women were counseled by the service. She offers us a history lesson and her wisdom, both of which we must learn from in these uncertain times.
Judith Arcana is a writer – and a Jane, a member of the feminist underground service. She worked in the service for two years, and then taught classes on women’s health and sexuality for the Women’s Liberation School.
Judith writes books, poems, stories, and essays, and hosts Poetry and Everything on KBOO community radio in Oregon on the fourth Monday of every month at 10:00 pm. She published a fiction zine rooted in abortion service history, Keesha and Joanie and JANE. Visit Judith’s website: http://www.juditharcana.com/home/
(Published on January 24, 2017| Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Portland, OR)
*For more information about JANE read Judith’s books, poems, and essays, and Laura Kaplan’s book, The Story of Jane.