Hi Besties!
I'll be back with another interview on Thursday, but this week I'm doing something a little different and sharing something very near and dear to my heart. (If you missed the last interview with Mike Castañeda, catch up here.)
Today is the 49th anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, which protects the right to choose abortion without excessive government restriction. Unfortunately, we've seen the rollback of those rights over the past several years, with this past year being particularly damaging. A report from the Center of Reproductive Rights recaps the state abortion laws passed in 2021, and it shows the largest wave of bans and restrictions since Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973. Yikes.
Given the current state of reproductive rights in the U.S., my Private Parts Unknown co-host (and IRL bestie!) Sofiya Alexandra and I have been very busy putting together a special episode in honor and defense of abortion access.
This episode was inspired by an amicus brief filed with the Supreme Court by We Testify & Advocates for Youth, which illustrates the myriad *totally legit* reasons people choose abortion. In "The Abortion Monologues," 26 actors, comedians, podcasters, and activists voice real-life abortion stories from the court filing. Podcasters who participated include Jamie Loftus, Megan Gailey, Allison Gill, Anna Hossnieh, Shereen Younes, and more.
It was a behemoth effort to put it all together, but Sof and I are really proud of this episode and hope it can help make an impact. Give it a listen, and if it resonates with you, please share it with one person who would be happy to know that this content is out in the world, and one person who might be challenged by it or have an opposing view.
Thanks so much! I love putting together this newsletter and the little community that's forming around it. I've found that podcasters are some of the coolest and most generous creators around. I appreciate your attention on this important issue.
xx
Courtney
Apply here for a chance to have your podcast sponsored by Racket - This cool monetization opportunity gives you the chance to make some Podca$h and be sponsored by the new social audio app Racket. Apply by March 4th!
How studying podcast date means powerful storytelling - Writer Caila Litman from Sounds Profitable mined twenty-five industry podcast studies from 2021, hunting for the hottest stats worth your attention. She reveals data on everything from which podcast genres are trending upward, stats on listener growth, and what they mean for the longterm success of the industry.
Producer, Into America (full-time) at MSNBC | New York, NY
Social Media Manager, On Air Fest (contract) at work x work | Brooklyn, NY
Producer, Object of Sound (contract) at work x work | Brooklyn, NY
Director of Podcasting (full-time) at Youth Radio Media | Remote
Junior Producer (full-time) at co:collective | Remote
Producer, Opinion Audio (contract) at New York Times | New York, NY
Podcast Producers, The Times (full-time) at LA Times | Remote + El Segundo, CA
LAST KNOWN POSITION - I first heard about this mystery thriller podcast via the tweet below, and it did not disappoint. With an all-star cast, top-tier production quality, and a story about a group of experts investigating a vanished jetliner over the Pacific Ocean, this is a don't miss for fiction pod lovers.
ACCORDING TO NEED - The homelessness crisis in California has reached epic proportions, and this series from 99% Invisible aims to answer the question, "What are we doing about all of it?" I also discovered this podcast on Twitter. The tweet below intrigued me, and it turned out to be an incredibly well-reported and produced investigation.
So I guess some podcast discovery does happen on Twitter after all! 🤷♀️
Maria Sharapova discusses why tennis is a mental game, what she's learned from her coaches over the years, how she would assume her winner's stance on the court, and how her tennis success has translated to business success.
That's it for this week. I'll have new Play It Forward recs for you in the next edition.
So… ROLL CALL! 🗣
What's a podcast episode that advocates for a cause near and dear to YOUR heart? It can be from your own show or someone else's. Please share below!
Follow me @courtneykocak on Twitter and Instagram. For more, check out my website courtneykocak.com.