Episode 67: Stephanie Gorton Puts Authentic Interactions on the Page

This book chronicles the war against Black reproduction from slavery to the present day, exposing America’s systemic abuse of Black women’s bodies. It covers topics such as the economic stake in enslaved women’s fertility, government programs that coerced sterilization, and the criminalization of parenting by poor Black women. Roberts argues for a new standard of 'liberty' and 'equality' based on social and individual justice, emphasizing the need for government to foster these values.

In this memoir, Stephanie Foo recounts her life after being diagnosed with complex PTSD, a condition resulting from continuous trauma over years. Despite her professional success as a radio producer, Foo struggled with panic attacks and the lingering effects of physical and verbal abuse, as well as neglect by her parents. The book details her efforts to heal herself by interviewing scientists and psychologists, trying various therapies, and investigating the effects of immigrant trauma in her hometown of San Jose, California, and her birth country, Malaysia. Foo's narrative is both a personal account of trauma and a critical analysis of how societal structures compound individual suffering, offering hope and practical insights for those seeking to heal from similar experiences.