Women's Liberation Radio News

Today's edition starts off with a greeting from Thistle, our resident singer/songwriter and founder of WLRN before diving into our world news segment with Cat Bradfield. After the news, hear Ani DiFranco's song, Atom, in its entirety to get an idea of the enormity of the problem and its root in male dominion and madness. Next, stay tuned for an interview Thistle did with Professor Cynthia Enloe of Clark University about the global nature of the nuclear problem and the different responses, actions and solutions of governments and peace activists. Cynthia emphasizes the work of ICAN, the International Campaign to End Nuclear Weapons https://www.icanw.org/and the book Banning the Bomb, Smashing the Patriarchy by Ray Acheson. Then, hear riveting commentary delivered by aurora linnea in which she discusses the phallic nature of the Bomb and the absurdity that all of human history, culture and life could end in a moment of males punching in codes to blast off large penis-shaped bombs. Aurora explores the anit-nuclear movement led by feminists in the 1980s to show how women organized in the past and could do it again. She highlights the work of Dr. Helen Caldicott, among other inspirational anti-nukes feminists. Finally, dive into the song Jezebel that Thistle wrote and recorded over 20 years ago about women's simultaneous bondage and resistance to the patriarchal nuclear age. The cover art this month was created by Margaret who brings us this artist's statement: "To create the image for Edition 113, The Nuclear Threat, I used a photo of the ‘Fat Man’, the 21 kiloton implosion-type plutonium bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki, along with an image of a woman with atomic bomb injuries, an image of Nagasaki after the explosion, and an atomic bomb plume. I added red colors to the Nagasaki image, and magenta to the bomb plume. We see the woman from the back - over laid with blues and purples - and with the ruins of Nagasaki bleeding through her body. She is facing the destruction, the effects, but we can’t see her expression. The Fat Man bomb sits nestled next to the woman, taking up space, like the space that the nuclear war threat occupies in our society and our sensibilities." Thanks for staying tuned to feminist-powered community radio, WLRN.

Welcome to the 112th edition of WLRN's monthly handcrafted and collectively created podcast! This month features four Dianic Priestesses who speak with Thistle about the Red Tent they set up at National Women's Music Festival (NWMF) in Madison, WI every year. Harvest Brown is an ordained Dianic Priestess of the Red Tent. She and her Red Tent clan have set up and worked within the Red Tent space at NWMF for ten years. Holin Blackmoon is a Dianic High Priestess and Land Witch. She has been reading the cards for over 50 years. She is happiest among plants and animals, especially her beloved hens. Rain Foster is an ordained priestess, practicing in the Dianic tradition for 24 years. She is a member of the Red Tent clan in Madison, WI, offering sacred, women born women-only spaces. FireHawk is an ordained priestess of transformation and transition in the Dianic tradition. She has been a practitioner of wicca for over 30 years and a steward of mother earth and her creatures great and small since she was a small child. To learn more about the National Women's Music Festival, visit this link: https://nwmf.info/ The World News segment is brought to you by Cat Bradfield and our show is produced with tender love and care by Ann Castile. WLRN commentary this month is by Freda Bear. Thanks for tuning in to WLRN!

July 3rd, 2025 MADISON -- First up, be greeted by WLRN's founder, Thistle Pettersen before she hands the baton to WLRN's newest member, Ms. Cat Bradfield, who delivers the world news segment. After enjoying Tracy Chapman's song "The Promise", hear Arianne of LGB Alliance USA speak with Thistle about Pride 2025 just before Arianne hopped into the woods for a RadFem summer camp in the Pacific Northwest this June and July. Then, hear a rendition of aurora linnea's first piece she turned in to WLRN in 2021 that April Neault loved so much, she made into this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiJGYYpXhWo After the reading of aurora's essay entitled "Pride: Corporate Patriarchy's Celebration in the Streets", we end our show by thanking our guest, Arianne of LGB Alliance USA, and signing off. This month's artwork is by WLRN's graphic designer and artist, Margaret Moss. Edition 111 Artist's Statement : "I started the featured image with an oil sketch Berthe Morisot created in 1885. The drawing/painting she made is a self-portrait that includes a portrait of her daughter. All loosely rendered. I kept the background of Berthe Morisot’s oil sketch, and I digitally sketched an image of our guest Arianne of LGB Alliance USA, and Tracy Chapman, whose song, ‘The Promise’ is included in this month’s podcast. I included purple and green because I especially like those colors - and I appreciate that they have a connection to (British) suffragists. I enjoyed interacting with Berthe Morisot’s artwork. Even though she created her painting in 1885, it has a modern feel. I expect that Morisot had a greater influence on Modern Art than she is given credit for. I appreciate women such as Berthe Morisot, all the suffragists, Arianne, and Tracy Chapman for their contributions to our culture. And I appreciate WLRN for lifting up women so their voices can be heard more widely."

First up, hear Thistle greet the listener with an appeal for support to get the team at WLRN over to England this Fall for the FiLia conference. Learn more here: https://wlrnmedia.com/2025/03/28/filia/. Next, stay tuned for WLRN's world news segment written and delivered by aurora linnea in which she features stories from the UK, France, Mexico and the USA. The world news is followed by the song "Goodbye Mississippi" by Jess Hawk Oakenstar, a song suggested by our guest this month, Dianne Post. It's a beautiful and sad song with heart-felt lyrics about a mother and daughter trying to escape male violence. Following the song, hear the interview Thistle did with Ms. Dianne Post about the male bias present in the law in the United States and what feminist women need to do to combat it. Finally, stay tuned for the replaying of Sekhmet's brilliant commentary about female sexuality in the face of the commercial sex industry that seeks to exploit it for male gain. Thanks for tuning in to feminist community powered radio, WLRN! #prostitution #DiannePost #WLRN

This podcast features Andrea Heinz, a former brothel worker turned activist, and Sybil Jo, who exited the sex trade after over 15 years. They delve into the harsh truths of prostitution and pornography, exploring the emotional toll and societal pressures faced by women in the sex industry. The discussion highlights the intersection of feminism and economic vulnerability, advocating for a cultural shift towards understanding women's rights. Sekhmet SheOwl emphasizes that the root issue is male dominance, urging a redefinition of female sexuality away from male objectification.

Join Lierre Keith, a radical feminist author and activist, as she discusses the impending re-release of Andrea Dworkin's influential work, 'Right Wing Women.' She highlights its crucial relevance in understanding contemporary political dynamics and women’s roles in the right-wing movements. The conversation dives deep into the complexities of female identity amidst patriarchal structures. Also explored are pressing global issues facing women, from reproductive rights in Louisiana to educational access in Afghanistan, emphasizing the need for solidarity against oppression.

In this engaging conversation, Ava Park, founder of the Museum of Woman, shares her community's harrowing experiences with the LA fires, stressing the emotional toll on individuals, including a displacement crisis. Actor and comedian Goldie Hoffman talks about the fire's impact on her neighborhood, shedding light on the resilience and activism of the community. The discussion emphasizes ecofeminism's role in disaster response and calls for renewed leadership, particularly advocating for the reinstatement of Fire Chief Kristin Crowley.

Dive into the compelling intersection of ecofeminism and women's rights. Discover the alarming rise in violence against women and its connections to global conflicts. Explore transformative literature that challenges patriarchal dominance and empowers female voices. Reflect on unique childhood influences that shaped a powerful worldview, and consider the importance of community engagement in feminism. Lastly, learn about the intriguing parallels between primate social structures and human societal issues, emphasizing the need for compassionate leadership.

In this enlightening discussion, a young UN Women organizer shares insights on being a feminist from the Global South. She emphasizes the importance of unity in the fight against male dominance and societal injustices while navigating the complexities of global feminist movements. The podcast also features critical updates on women's rights issues in Afghanistan, Iran, and Sudan, alongside a reflection on the pressing intersection of feminism with broader global challenges like hunger and water scarcity.

Katherine Acosta, a feminist sociologist and writer, brings her insights on the recent U.S. Presidential Elections and their implications for women. She critiques the limitations of the electoral system and discusses the pervasive misogyny in politics. Acosta emphasizes the need for collective feminist activism beyond traditional voting. The conversation touches on systemic challenges faced by women, such as political repression and the illusion of choice in electoral politics. Listeners are encouraged to explore alternatives to foster real change.