Bread + Roses

This episode of Bread + Roses is about two things many of us have in common, taking the bus and being a woman at work. We first talk about bus drivers at the CTA and what their work is like and how it impacts health. Then we talk about the differences in occupational health outcomes for women and what drives some of the disparities. Lastly, we interview a woman and a Physician Assistant out in the...

This episode of Bread + Roses is about the Roses in Bread + Roses. We first talk about where the title of our podcast and the term Bread and Roses comes from and what we owe to workers. Then we talk about the tragic increases in suicide rates within construction workers in the US. Lastly, we hear from a person working in retail talk about their work and what they need to stay healthy and happy. If...

This episode of Bread + Roses is about our reliance on methods and structures that fail to protect workers in this changing environment. We first talk about what Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and how it often falls short in protecting health and then we discuss the Wildland Firefighting industry and how it has changed overtime as fires become more common, bigger, and more toxic. Lastly, we i...

This episode of Bread + Roses is about the changing workplaces. We talk about what AI and streaming means to the occupational health of actors and writers and then we discuss the resurgence of Black Lung. Lastly, we interview an actor about their day to day.

This episode of Bread + Roses is about the recent Trump Administration ICE raids on workplaces and chemical exposures. We talk about the ICE raids have impacted the most vulnerable workers and how chemicals are regulated (or not) in the workplace. Lastly, we interview a security guard from the Chicago suburbs to learn more about their day to day.

This episode of Bread + Roses is about Temporary Workers and Violence in the workplace. We talk about how the use of third party staffing agencies leaves workers in limbo and discuss the worker populations most impacted by violence. Lastly, we interview a worker from a meat processing plant and learn more about their day to day.

This episode of Bread + Roses is about Heat Stress and the recent cuts to the National Institutes of Occupational Safety and Health. We talk about what heat in different workplaces and how that is changing due to climate change and then we discuss how the defunding of NIOSH will play out for worker health. Lastly, we interview a chef from Texas about his work in the kitchen and beyond.

This episode of Bread + Roses is about Mental Health and Immigration. We talk about what mental health means in the work place and then we discuss how immigration policy is impacting workers. Lastly, we interview a someone who is advocating for both immigrants and mental health in a Chicago non-profit.

And we're back! This episode of Bread + Roses welcomes a new host Ramon to join up with Julia in a new season. This episode is a discussion about how the Trump administration has and will potentially impact workers and worker health. We talk DOGE, Project 2025, unions, and the administration's picks to lead the DOL. Don't worry, we leave you a little bit of hope as we highlight worker rights advoc...

This episode of Bread + Roses is devoted to the Coronavirus. We are joined by Lorraine Conroy, the Director of the Center for Healthy Work and professor and co-director of the Occupational Safety Program at UIC to discuss how COVID-19 has impacted workers in low-wages and precarious employment. Plus Margaret shares her expertise on respirators and gives recommendations about the current shortage i...

This episode of Bread + Roses is devoted to Amazon! We are joined by Roberto Clack, the Associate Director of Warehouse Workers for Justice from Chicago, Illinois in our 'Ground up from the Round Up' segment to discuss the history of Amazon, the health and safety issues faced by warehouse workers, and how people are coming together and doing their best to change the system. We have two workers nam...

This episode of Bread + Roses is devoted to Immigration! We are joined by Natalia Cornelio, the Director of Legal Affairs for Harris Country Commissioner Rodney Ellis from Houston, Texas in our 'Ground up from the Round Up' segment to discuss the history of immigrant work in the US, the health and safety issues faced by immigrant workers, and how people are coming together and doing their best to...

This episode of Bread + Roses is devoted to Farming! We are joined by Jose Oliva from the Food Chain Workers Alliance in our 'Ground up from the Round Up' segment to discuss where our food comes from, the work that is involved, and most importantly, what is the state of the health and safety of food chain workers and their communities. We have two farmers, Matt and Joe, from the Midwest and the So...

This episode of Bread + Roses is devoted to Coal! We are joined by Dr. Kirsten Almberg from the University of Illinois at Chicago in our 'Ground up from the Round Up' segment to discuss the ins and outs of coal, how we use it, where we mine it, and most importantly, what is the state of the health and safety of coal miners and their communities. Our friend Steve Smyth, the District President of th...

This episode of Bread + Roses is devoted to Wages! We are joined by Jorge Mujica from Arise Chicago in our 'Ground up from the Round Up' segment to discuss the ins and outs of minimum wage, should we raise it, what are some of the loopholes, and most importantly, what does a worker's wage mean to their health and safety. We talk to a bartender from Detroit in our 'So, what do you do?' segment and...