Feminism NOW
Feminism NOW is a podcast from the National Organization for Women that explores intersectional feminist issues in American society. It features conversations with leaders in entertainment, sports, politics, and science. Topics include constitutional equality, economic justice, and reproductive rights. New episodes are released every other Wednesday.
Episodes
Introducing Feminism NOW
Join NOW President Christian F. Nunes in a new podcast dedicated to intersectional feminist discussions in American society as she interviews leaders in entertainment, sports, politics, and science. From conversations on constitutional equality, to economic justice, to reproductive rights, listeners will find new ways to learn, engage, get empowered, and have a little fun along the way.
“Our Work is Never Over” : Activism with Alyssa Milano
Feeling overwhelmed about the never-ending work of activism in our world? You’re not alone. On this episode of Feminism NOW, host Christian F. Nunes talks with Alyssa Milano about using her platform as a celebrity to affect positive change and amplify important issues, the illusion of work-life balance, staying present in the moment as a practice in mindfulness, celebrating small wins, an
Violence Against Black Women : A Conversation With Dr. Brittany Lewis
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and host Christian F. Nunes talks with Dr. Brittany Lewis about some disturbing statistics: there are 60,000 missing Black women and girls in this country, and Black women are more than twice as likely as their peers to be victims of homicide. The Founder and CEO of Research in Action, Dr. Lewis is a leader in developing effective, community-
Get Out The Vote! With LaTosha Brown, Founder of Black Voters Matter
It’s November, and that means it’s time to get out the vote. Christian F. Nunes talks with the award-winning organizer, political strategist, and Black Renaissance woman LaTosha Brown about her work organizing and empowering Black and marginalized voters across the U.S. Black Voters Matter Fund played a crucial role in increasing voter turnout in the 2020 US Senate election in Georgia to
Building Coalitions for Social Change
What does it take to drive social change and shift paradigms towards equality? Today on Feminism NOW, Christian F. Nunes talks with two changemakers working to build inclusive coalitions and advance justice for marginalized groups. Zakiya Thomas, President and CEO of the Equal Rights Amendment Coalition, discusses the importance of the ERA for securing rights for all people regardless of
Celebrating Everyday Feminists
What does it really mean to be a "feminist"? Christian F. Nunes dives into this question with Latanya Mapp Frett, the President and CEO of Global Fund for Women and author of “The Everyday Feminist: The Key to Sustainable Social Impact-Driving Movements We Need Now More than Ever.” Latanya tells listeners it is the everyday feminists, the women making change in their communities across th
Real Solutions to the Childcare Crisis
It is no surprise that we have a childcare crisis in this country. The U.S. is one of only six countries that doesn’t provide paid family leave and is the only World Health Organization country with maternal deaths rising, rather than falling. The good news? A brighter future for families is possible! In this episode, Christian F. Nunes speaks with Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Direc
The Fight for Reproductive Freedom
As 2023 comes to a close, we are reflecting on how far we’ve come in the fight for reproductive justice, and how far we still have to go to achieve a freer future in which every person has access to the health care they need. This week on Feminism NOW, Christian F. Nunes speaks with two fierce advocates in the ongoing movement for reproductive rights. Nancy Davis is an activist and leade
Building Better in Media and Entertainment
Beyoncé to Oprah. These talented, hard-working women may make the content, but do they own it? Christian F. Nunes speaks with Nicci Gilbert Daniels, the CEO of WIRF Media and founder of the From The Bottom Up Foundation. Nicci discusses the barriers that women face in media and entertainment, even after the SAG-AFTRA strike, and she shares the secret to breaking down those barriers—women-
Reproductive Rights at Stake
2024 is an election year, and democracy itself seems like it’s on the ballot. That’s why for our second season we’ve selected a theme: Women Leading Democracy. Throughout this season, we’ll hear from women and feminist allies about how and why women can and should lead in our country. There is no better way to start than with women’s reproductive rights, which have taken significant hits
Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi
Our theme this season is “Women Leading Democracy.” And yet, lately, it feels as though our democracy itself has become fragile. Frail. This episode, we are shoring up our strength. NOW National President Christian F. Nunes is thrilled to speak with Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi. She was the 52nd Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the first woman ever elected to the off
Raising the Wage
How much do you tip? 15% and 20 if the service is good? 20% all the time? 10%? What if you knew that 70% of tipped workers were women, and they made as little as $2.13 per hour? This week, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes speaks with Saru Jarayaman, the co-founder and president of One Fair Wage, about the fight for economic equality, why tipped workers in the United States are a
LGBTQIA+ Rights are a Feminist Issue
Conservative politicians are eager to introduce bills to “protect women and girls in sports” or stop kids from being exposed to “pornographic” content. But don’t be fooled. These bills don’t protect kids, they target and harm LGBTQIA+ youth. This week, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes speaks with Charlotte Clymer, a writer, communications consultant, trans activist, and military
Confronting America’s Gun Crisis
Why are parents afraid to drop kids off at school? Go to the grocery store? A concert? A church? Gun violence.And that’s only what makes the news — not the 81 percent of murders involving a gun, and the overall violence that falls heaviest on Black and Brown women. What do we do? Demand Action. NOW National President Christian F. Nunes sits down this week with Angela Ferrell-Zabala, the
Children Can’t Vote, but Caregivers Can
Why is it so hard to find a safe place for your kid while you work? When you do find that place, why does it cost 2/3rds of your paycheck? Childcare is expensive, but it is necessary for parents to participate fully in our democracy. This week, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes is having a chat with Anne Hedgepeth, Chief of Policy and Advocacy at Child Care Aware® of America. They
The Gen Z Fight for Democracy
Have you seen that one TikTok of college students protesting on campus? Have you heard the kids have canceled Starbucks? And do you know what’s wrong with ordering from Pizza Hut these days? In 2024, if there’s one thing older generations have learned, it's that despite wanting to connect with younger generations, they don’t completely understand each other.Luckily, V. Spehar, host of Und
Let Black Women Lead
Did you know that less than 10 percent of the U.S. Congress are women of color? There are only 30 Black women in Congress. Black women have the stereotype of being “strong”, but remain critically underrepresented in leadership. How do we all work to make this right? For our last episode of season 2, producer Jeanette Harris Courts will sit down with NOW’s National President Christian F. N
Feminism NOW at the DNC
Feminism NOW is getting ready to launch our third season. Our theme is “Women Uplifting Women,” and what better way to start than with a visit to the DNC, where Kamala Harris was nominated to run for President. NOW’s National President Christian F. Nunes was on the ground at the DNC, getting the thoughts and impressions of attendees. Featuring the voices of (in order of appearance):Donna
Uplifting Women in STEM
Welcome to season 3 of Feminism NOW! This season, our theme is “Women Uplifting Women,” and we are thrilled to open with a field where women need a lot of uplift: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. NOW National President Christian F. Nunes speaks with Dr. Jamika Burge, Co-Founder and Board President of blackcomputeHER.org, INC, Head of Enterprise Design Research at Capital One, a
Sisterhood: The power of Sorority
this is in the world of sororities, particularly members of the Divine Nine. For those on the outside, sororities might look like opportunities to party. They are far, far more than that. NOW National President and honorary member of Sigma Gamma Rho, Christian F. Nunes, sits down with International Grand Basileus of Sigma Gamma Rho, Marica T. Harris to talk about the important role sorori
Voting it Forward
The theme of this season is “women uplifting women.” And one of the ways that women have power to uplift others is through the power of the vote. But many people don’t use that power. Why don’t people vote, and what can we do about it? NOW National President Christian F. Nunes sits down this week with Emily Wasserman, the senior director of Voter Contact at Vote Forward, to talk about wha
We are not defeated
The 2024 Presidential election was historic in so many ways. Instead of electing the first woman, and woman of color, to the highest office in the land, voters again elected Donald Trump. For those who are invested in the rights of women, it’s a hard time. This week, we sit down with NOW National President Christian F. Nunes to reflect–and to learn where we go from here. Links: https://no
The Feminist Body
The theme of this season is “Women uplifting women." And women come in all shapes and sizes. This episode, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes sits down to speak with Tigress Osborn, the Executive Director of the National Association for the Advancement of Fat Acceptance, about bodies, fat liberation, and why uplifting women shouldn’t require a pants size. Links: NOW Love Your Body
Investing in Women
Episode Description: The theme of this season is “women uplifting women.” One issue that women often face is poverty. This episode, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes speaks with Leslie K. Gill, the President and CEO of Rung for Women, about why investing in women doesn’t just uplift those women, but their communities too.Links: Economic Justice | National Organization for Women Gu
Finding Missing Women
The theme of this season is “Women uplifting women.” Indigenous women in North America experience some of the highest rates of violence in this nation. This week, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes sits down with Kansas State House Representative Christina Haswood, who is also a member of the Navajo Nation, to talk about how to support those searching for Murdered and Missing Indig
The Abuse to Prison Pipeline
The theme of this season is “women uplifting women.” Domestic violence is an issue that affects many women in this country, but the ongoing criminalization of survivors is often overlooked in our conversations about ending gender-based violence. For our last episode of the season, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes sits down with Becki T. Kondkar, Director of the Tulane Law School
Protecting Women in a Hostile World
Feminism NOW is back for season 4! A lot has happened in the few weeks since our last episode. Women’s rights are actively being stripped away as the second Trump administration has quickly taken action to dismantle decades of feminist progress. Feminism NOW is here to help you navigate these unprecedented times. Our theme for season 4 is “Protecting women in a hostile world.” In our prem
Women's Safety in Higher Education
Note: This episode was recorded in early February 2025. As of March 11, 2025, Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order in the coming days that will aim to dismantle the Department of Education, which is responsible for upholding civil rights and ensuring equal educational opportunities.Women now make up more than 56% of college students in the United States. That must mean we’v
AI and Women’s Digital Safety
AI seems to be everywhere these days, and it’s often marketed to us as a way to boost our efficiency. But feminists have long known that technological advancements can also create new avenues for the exploitation of women, and AI is no exception. Our theme this season is “Protecting women in a hostile world.” In this episode, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes is joined by Andrea P
Helping Mothers Give Birth in Community
Childbirth. It can be a spiritual, life-altering experience. But giving birth—particularly for those with marginalized identities—is also dangerous, especially as attacks on our reproductive rights continue. Women die in childbirth every year, and the United States has the worst maternal mortality outcomes of any developed country. This week, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes sits
The Promise and Peril of the Legal System
For many people, the court of last resort for their rights is, well, the courts. The legal system. But witnessing the highest courts in the nation strip away our rights begs the question: was this system really set up to protect women? In this episode, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes is joined by Azaleea Carlea, Legal Director of Legal Momentum, to discuss the U.S. legal system’
Protecting Women, One Case at a Time
It’s 2025 and there are ongoing cases in the courts that could affect women’s rights–from the ability to obtain medication abortion to protection from our former abusers. But these cases often don’t make headlines until the decisions are made. Our last episode, featuring Azaleea Carlea, Legal Director of Legal Momentum, addressed the powers and limitations of the legal system when it come
Gun Violence is a Feminist Issue
In 2025, there are more guns in the United States than people. Last June, the Surgeon General declared gun violence a public health crisis. But even though women often feel the effects–especially through domestic violence–gun violence is rarely treated as a feminist issue.But tackling gun violence is feminist. Today, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes sits down with Mikki Kendall,
Healthcare Equity Makes Everyone Healthier
In 2025, Black women in the U.S. still can’t get the quality healthcare their white peers often receive. The history of bias in this country continues to play out through social determinants of health, from poverty to whether or not people have access to clean water. Despite the many questions that remain around women’s health, the Trump administration has also recently reduced funding fo
That’s a Wrap
This season, we’ve featured some of the many incredible women doing the work of protecting women in a hostile world. For our final episode of the season, we’re spotlighting one of our own: our fearless host and leader, Christian F. Nunes. Though her tenure as NOW National President is drawing to a close, her advocacy is far from over. In this episode, Christian and senior producer Bethany
Meet Feminism NOW’s New Hosts!
We’re thrilled to be back for season 5 with new hosts, NOW National President Kim Villanueva and NOW National Vice President Rose Brunache. In this kick-off episode, NOW’s Policy Director Shelby von Hofe sits down to interview Kim and Rose, so you can get to know the new hosts of the show. They discuss why the label of “feminist” seems to be so controversial these days, and what you can e
Feminism, Then and NOW
What can feminist history teach us in 2026? This week, Kim and Rose sit down with Dr. Katherine Turk, historian and author of The Women of NOW, to find out. They discuss the promise and the challenges the founders of NOW faced as feminists in mid-20th century America, and what they can teach us about building effective feminist coalitions today. Whether you’re a lifelong feminist or newly
The Sanewashing of the Natalist Movement
Natalism is having a moment, and so is the far right. This week’s guest, journalist and author Seyward Darby, says that’s no coincidence. In this episode, Kim and Rose sit down with Seyward to unpack what natalism is, its dark ties to eugenics, and why so many, from Silicon Valley tech bros to Timothy Chalamet, seem to have bought into it. Whether you’re a lifelong feminist or newly femin
Minnesota Nice vs ICE
As ICE has carried out mass arrests and deportations in Minnesota, the people have not been sitting by. They have been following cars, blowing whistles, protesting, and buying groceries to feed their neighbors. In this episode, Kim and Rose talk with the Chapter President of Minnesota NOW about why ICE went to the state, what they hoped to accomplish–and what they got instead. Whether you
The Men are Not All Right
Extremist, violent actions and ideologies are front and center in the news. But this week’s guest, Cynthia Miller-Idriss, noticed that no one ever seems to mention how most of those extremist and violent actions are done by men. In this episode, Kim and Rose sit down with Miller-Idriss to talk about the connections between men, patriarchy, and ideological extremism, how patriarchy harms m
Feminism for the Algorithm
People often worry about the harms of social media. But social media also has so much promise for the feminist movement. Today, Kim and Rose sit down with Blair Imani, creator of the viral web series Smarter in Seconds, to talk about feminism in the age of social media. Whether you’re a lifelong feminist or newly feminism-curious, join us this season as Kim and Rose speak with the movers
The Myth of Meritocracy
We often hear that workplaces are meritocratic. But if that was true, would white women and people of color still be earning so much less than men? Would those board rooms be quite so male?In this episode, Kim and Rose sit down with Sarah Kaplan, Founding Director of the Institute for Gender and the Economy at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management to discuss the costs of
What We Get Wrong About Violence Against Women
“Why didn’t she just leave?” Despite decades of progress toward gender equality, domestic violence–and the judgement of women in violent situations–remains pervasive. In this episode, Kim and Rose sit down with journalist and author Rachel Louise Snyder to discuss the systemic failures that allow intimate partner violence to persist and what real solutions could look like. Whether you’re
Who Killed Roe?
Roe v. Wade is dead, but who was the murderer? In this episode, Kim and Rose sit down with journalist Amy Littlefield, author of the new book Killers of Roe: My Investigation into the Mysterious Death of Abortion Rights to trace the decades-long effort to dismantle federal abortion protections—and what that history means for the future of reproductive rights in the United States. This is
Deconstructing the Trad Wife Myth
Fighting Christian nationalism with facts alone doesn't work. This week, Kim and Rose kick off season six with Monte Mader, progressive political and cultural commentator, writer, public speaker, and vocalist, to talk about why stories, not statistics, are what actually help women question and leave high-control belief systems.Raised on a rural Wyoming cattle ranch as a "biblical wife," M
Past time for a Reckoning
Holding powerful men accountable used to mean going through the courts. Now, it means winning the fight for public opinion online, too. This week, Kim and Rose sit down with Cheyenne Hunt, lawyer, organizer, and founder and executive director of Reckoning Action, to talk about exposing abuse by powerful men, supporting survivors, and the narrative battles now playing out in real time on s
Get in Losers, We’re Going to the Polls
If the Trump Administration pushes through the SAVE Act, millions of eligible Americans could be turned away at the polls, not because of fraud, but because of paperwork. This week, Kim and Rose sit down with Lauren Kunis, CEO and executive director of VoteRiders, to talk about voter ID laws, proof-of-citizenship bills, and the confusion that keeps people home.Lauren explains why roughly
