A Woman’s Place

Women aren't ruining everything...they're redefining what's possible. So why does that make some people so nervous? In this episode, we're digging into one of the biggest social shifts of the last 50 years, from women marrying later and building independent lives to changing family dynamics, careers, and relationships. Along the way, we examine the data behind these changes, exploring the remarkab...

More than 90% of women were married by age 30 in 1970. Many couldn't get a credit card, open a bank account, or access birth control without a man's permission. That's not ancient history. That's within a lifetime. In this episode, we take a hard look at how women's lives have changed over the past half-century. In just a few decades, women went from being financially dependent on men and largely...

In Part Two of our Gender and Media series, we explore how gender representation in media shapes the way we see ourselves and others. Why are women still only a third of podcasters? And what does that say about the stories we hear, the experts we trust, and the roles we expect people to play? From cartoons and commercials to reality TV and news programming, media influences our beliefs, expectatio...

In part two, we continue the conversation with legal scholar and author Deborah Tuerkheimer, exploring the complex legal and cultural realities surrounding sexual assault and why the burden so often falls on victims instead of perpetrators. From the enduring myth of the “monster abuser” to the legal system’s built-in skepticism toward survivors, this conversation examines how cultural narratives s...

In this episode of A Woman’s Place, we sit down with Anne LeBaron, CEO of Take Stock in Children of Manatee County, to explore how mentorship, education, and opportunity can transform the lives of young women and underserved students. Anne shares the powerful mission behind the organization’s work to break the cycle of poverty through scholarships, mentorship, and long-term student support. Togeth...

If media has the power to shape our worldview, whose version are we getting? In Part 1 of this series, we explore how media, from films and podcasts to books and advertising, quietly shape our ideas about power, authority, and whose voices hold value. The reality? Men still dominate the narratives, both on-screen and behind the scenes, framing male perspectives as the default and setting the tone...

Are you sure? What were you wearing? In the first of a two-part series, we sit down with Northwestern Pritzker School of Law professor and former prosecutor Deborah Tuerkheimer to discuss her book, Credible: Why We Doubt Accusers and Protect Abusers. We explore the "credibility discount" that grants abusers impunity and the cultural narratives that cause even well-intentioned people to doubt survi...

This episode explores how gender sits at the center of a cultural moment where identity, power, and politics are deeply intertwined. Why are traditional gender roles resurfacing? Why is there such intense backlash? And how did something so personal become such a powerful political tool? As conversations about gender grow louder, more polarized, and increasingly weaponized, we ask a deeper question...

In Part Two, Jeff Hartman, an 8-year military veteran and longtime high school teacher, shares his perspective on being a stay-at-home dad in the United States and navigating a traditionally female-dominated space. He reflects on the praise and criticism his family has faced, the expectations placed on mothers, and the realities of building community among stay-at-home moms. The conversation also...

We spend a lot of time talking about how the world works, or doesn’t work, for women. But none of us exist in isolation. In this two-part conversation, we turn our focus to men: what’s working, what isn’t, and how we can better support one another moving forward. For Part 2, we continue the conversation with Dr. Phil Wagner, Professor of Organizational Behavior at the Raymond A. Mason School of Bu...

Quick—when you hear “eating disorder,” who do you picture? What kind of person? If you're like most people, you picture a young white woman. And yes, by some estimates, 85–90% of those with diagnosed eating disorders are women. Hmmm… any ideas why that is? Women’s sense of control and agency, for one. The socialized importance of appearance (thinness!) for women, for another. But there’s more. The...

What does political leadership look like when women have a real seat at the table? In this episode, we explore why women’s representation in political leadership matters—right now. From the current state of women in office in the United States to how we compare with other countries around the world, this conversation looks at both the progress made and the gaps that remain. Resources: Facts and fi...

We talk a lot about how the world is working - or not working - for women. But we sure as hell don't live in a silo! This two-part conversation is all about men: what's working, what's not, and how we can work together better.  We are joined by Dr Phil Wagner, professor of Organizational Behavior at the Raymond A, Mason School of Business, William and Mary. In addition to being a dedicated and awa...

Ask parents of young children how they manage childcare, and chances are you'll hear one word: juggle. In case you didn't know, America has no uniform system of childcare, or even a working patchwork of systems. Parents are on their own in an increasingly challenging environment. Private childcare is scarce and, when available, averages over $1000 per month, per child. Only 12% (!) of parents have...

“Act like a man.” “She talks like a girl.” What does that even mean? These “gender boxes” refer to the social constructs that define expectations for women and men. In general, men are expected to be tougher and more dominant, to suppress emotions—except for anger—and to eschew anything considered “feminine.” Women are expected to focus on their appearance, be more submissive, and prioritize socia...

Let's turn some tables. Understanding child care today means understanding fathers - what role do they play in 2025? Are we seeing more full-time male caregivers? Why or why not? And what are the real human issues that come up when men step into a non-traditional role.   Resources: Stay-at-home dads are on the rise, but they're not necessarily doing it to look after their kids | Fortune , State of...

The U.S. Department of Education has excluded nursing from its official definition of "professional degree" programs as part of student loan changes under a new bill. This reclassification, scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026, means graduate nursing students will have lower federal loan borrowing limits and could impact access to financial aid. Whoa, what? Advancing nursing degrees are not 'p...

Gen Z - our youngest active generation, ages 13-28 - shows a gender divide unseen in any past generation. Polls and voting records in the US and around the globe reveal young men to be far more conservative than any other generation alive today, and young women to be more liberal. Six in ten Gen Z men say men are being asked to do too much to support equality and almost a third say that a man who...

If you are one of the 1.3 million active duty military personnel in the US or one of the over 750,000 National Guard and Reserves called into active duty and you are sexually assaulted - or worse - you fall under a military justice system, the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Your active commanding officers may well be determining your case. in 2024, there were 8195 reports of sexual assau...

Menopause - a naturally occurring stage of life for all women - has been misunderstood, hushed up, and often poorly treated for generations. Yet in recent years, a sea change has taken place. Women know more, speak up more, and their doctors - often female - are able to respond with more options. Where are we today? Join us for a conversation with Dr Kelly-Ann Shedd-Hartman about this topic every...

Electricians, construction workers, plumbers, power plant technicians, heavy equipment operators: all these and more make up the 'skilled trades.' Such jobs typically offer some of the best pay for workers without a college degree. These skilled trades make up almost 30% of our economy - and have historically been all male. Today, women hold only 4% of these jobs. (Take that, Rosie the Riveter.) W...

It can be hard to step back and 'see' our gendered world - all the different behaviors, work and family roles, clothes, speaking styles, body language, hair styles that to us mean 'male' or 'female.' This gendered world is all we've ever known, after all.  All those seemingly small gendered manifestations yield big consequences however: men are 4 times more likely to commit suicide, women accumula...

How do YOU view the government? Does it have a role in ensuring protections or enforcing rights? Does it handicap our lives with wasteful inefficiencies and rules? Does it help you - or do you think it only helps others? Whatever you think, you probably have good reasons for those beliefs. Which we get! In this episode, we peek into why and how we develop our attitudes about the government - and h...

Out of 50 states in the US, women hold 13 governorships, 28% of Congress, and have never been elected President. The US is 53rd in the world in political gender parity. This is 2025, so really, why is this? And does it even matter - do we really need equal representation in elected offices? In this episode, we look at the social forces at work (who is a leader?) as well as some pragmatic impedimen...

The League of Women Voters sounds like it comes from another era, like maybe that time of Victorian dresses festooned with "VOTES FOR WOMEN" sashes. Well, it sorta does. And yet it's still here today, more meaningful than ever. Today we talk with Terri Kondos, the Manatee County League Voter Services Chair. Terri spent 38 years with the Department of Defense in intelligence and national security,...