Critically Speaking

In this episode, Therese Markow and Irin Carmon discuss Irin’s new book, “Unbearable: Five Women and the Perils of Pregnancy in America.” 80% of maternal deaths in the United States are due to completely preventable reasons. She highlights the three pillars of reproductive justice: the right not to have a child, the right to have a child, and the right to parent in a safe community. She shares her personal experiences and those of five women to illustrate systemic inequalities in maternal care. Irin emphasizes the need for respectful, autonomous care and the impact of systemic racism and misogyny on maternal health outcomes.    Key Takeaways: Abortion care affects all levels of pregnancy care. In many states, such as Alabama, many former abortion clinics want to turn into birth centers, but are prevented by the government and state medical associations. 80% of maternal deaths in the United States are due to completely preventable reasons. In the US, we have a system where OBGYNs are classified as primary care providers and are the most common way people give birth, which is not right for everyone.  False binaries (C-Section vs vaginal birth, epidural or not, etc.) are a way to pit women against each other for their own biological story that is often outside of their control.    "There's something profoundly wrong with a system that doesn't recognize your full humanity at a point where you need it the most. Because these are life and death experiences, even in the best of circumstances and regardless of the course of your pregnancy and your choices around it, they concern our deepest held values and our ideas about our destiny." —  Irin Carmon   Episode References:  Pregnancy Justice: https://www.pregnancyjusticeus.org/    Connect with Irin Carmon: Professional Bio: https://www.irincarmon.com/about  Website: https://www.irincarmon.com/  Book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Unbearable/Irin-Carmon/9781668032602    Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. James Michael Thomas discuss Critical Race Theory (CRT). Dr. Thomas explains CRT as a framework for understanding persistent racism post-Civil Rights Era, emphasizing its structural presence in law, education, and urban planning. He highlights the misconceptions around CRT, noting it's often misrepresented in legislative efforts to ban it. Dr. Thomas also discusses systemic racism, implicit vs. explicit racism, and the concept of white privilege. He shares personal anecdotes and research on white Southerners' awareness of racial advantages, and critiques legislative attempts to control education and maintain inequality.    Key Takeaways: Critical Race Theory is a framework for understanding how racism persisted and continues to persist in the post-Civil Rights Era. We distinguish systemic racism from personal acts of prejudice, racist attitudes, or racist actions because those individual attitudes and actions do not have the same effect on the distribution of power, resources, and opportunity. Many who object to teaching American history, good and bad, often are in power and do not want to discuss the unequal arrangements that have resulted from the racism and inequality that have shaped this country and present-day conditions, nor do they want to have their source of power questioned. Race has no basis in biology; race is a social construction.   "When Critical Race theorists consider the idea of racial progress, what they're trying to do is make distinctions between changes in law and then how that law is enforced or not enforced, and if it is enforced, often unevenly and with very mixed results." —  Dr. James Michael Thomas   Episode References:  ‘It’s a complicated time to be a white Southerner’ - and their views on race reflect that: https://theconversation.com/its-a-complicated-time-to-be-a-white-southerner-and-their-views-on-race-reflect-that-261454    Connect with Dr. James Michael Thomas: Professional Bio: https://olemiss.edu/profiles/jmthoma4.php  Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00SJPHVD2/allbooks  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/james-thomas-63952728    Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Law Professor Anya Prince discuss the pros and cons of direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing. DTC testing, which began in the 1990s and grew significantly by the 2010s, allows individuals to purchase genetic tests without a doctor's prescription. By 2021, 100 million people globally used DTC testing. Companies like 23andMe and Ancestry offer ancestry, health, and wellness information. However, concerns include data privacy, potential genetic discrimination, and the accuracy of health results. Professor Prince breaks down the 2023 data breach at 23andMe, discusses what DTC companies do with customer data (including DNA samples), and what third parties may be interested in the data collected by these companies.     Key Takeaways: There are hundreds of DTC genetic testing companies out there with a variety of levels of security measures. Some are going to be more secure than others.  Depending on which DTC company you use, some will destroy your genetic sample, but others may keep it indefinitely, potentially for future research and use. The US doesn't have any general data privacy protections, nor any broad genetic privacy action or protection. However, many states are beginning to pass general data protection laws.  There is no right or wrong answer for participating in genetic testing. It is something each needs to weigh the pros and cons for themselves and understand what is important to them and the risks they are willing to take.    "For the most part, DTC companies can do a lot with your data, and the customer doesn't have too much control over it. The main protection is a company's privacy policy." —  Anya Prince   Connect with Anya Prince: Professional Bio: https://law.uiowa.edu/people/anya-prince  Publications: https://library.law.uiowa.edu/anya-er-prince    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anya-prince-3a06b171/    Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Dorothy Leidner discuss the growing trend of personal relationships with AI, including AI-generated therapists and romantic partners. Dr. Leidner  highlights the history of AI in therapy, noting the shift from rule-based systems in the 60s to generative models today. She emphasizes the potential dangers, such as AI encouraging harmful behaviors and replacing real human interaction. She also discusses the lack of regulation in the U.S. and the need for responsible AI development. The conversation underscores the importance of recognizing AI as a technology rather than a human counterpart to prevent unhealthy dependencies.    Key Takeaways: Most chatbots and AI are not trained for therapy or relationships, but many people are using them for that. There are specific programs that have been developed based on therapy and mental health knowledge.  Many people who are using generative AI and chatbots in a therapeutic way do not yet realize they need therapy, and the AI encourages the person to continue talking to the chatbot. People may forget that their AI boyfriend or girlfriend isn’t real. Generative AI has been trained on so many books and types of writing that it is good at predicting what should come next and coming up with language that is realistic. But it is important to remember that it is just a technology.    "One of the things that bothers me about AI is how it talks in the first person. And to me, it's deceitful, because it's not an I, it's an object. It is a piece of software running on a piece of hardware, and for it to refer to itself as ‘I’ then it's definitely humanizing it and technologies are being humanized enough already just by the language." —  Dr. Dorothy Leidner   Connect with Dr. Dorothy Leidner: Professional Bio: https://www.commerce.virginia.edu/faculty/cva8qh    Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net     Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and P.E. Moskowitz discuss P.E.’s new book, Breaking Awake, which explores their lifelong struggle with trauma and mental health. They recount their near-death experience in Charlottesville in 2017 and their subsequent journey of self-discovery. P.E. critiques the reliance on SSRIs and other medications for mental health, arguing these provide temporary relief but do not address the root causes of trauma. They emphasize the importance of community and collective grieving in addressing societal stressors. P.E. also highlights the societal pressures that drive individuals to substance abuse and the need for systemic changes to address mental health issues.    Key Takeaways: Many people’s struggles with trauma are deeply personal, shaped by near-death experiences, substance use, and the long process of healing through writing and therapy. Medications such as SSRIs and Adderall can help, but they often fail to address underlying trauma or the broader societal causes of distress. Economic instability, lack of community, and global crises all contribute significantly to widespread anxiety, depression, and substance use. A “quick fix” culture often prioritizes fast solutions over long-term care like therapy, community, and systemic change. Healing and resilience are most powerfully nurtured in supportive communities, where collective action and shared experiences provide hope.   "If you experience [community], it makes it easier to fight, because all of a sudden you have something to fight for, not just something to fight against." —  P.E. Moskowitz   Episode References:  Breaking Awake: A Reporter's Search for a New Life, and a New World, Through Drugs. https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Awake-Reporters-Search-Through-ebook/dp/B0DV6K8G2X?ref_=ast_author_dp  How to Kill a City: Gentrification, Inequality, and the Fight for the Neighborhood. https://www.amazon.com/How-Kill-City-Gentrification-Neighborhood-ebook/dp/B01MXXCDVV?ref_=ast_author_dp  The Case Against Free Speech: The First Amendment, Fascism, and the Future of Dissent. https://www.amazon.com/Case-Against-Free-Speech-Amendment-ebook/dp/B07L2TP6HV?ref_=ast_author_dp    Connect with P.E. Moskowitz:  Website: https://moskowitz.xyz/    Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Amaal Starling discuss the prevalence and impact of migraines, affecting approximately 1 billion people worldwide. Dr. Starling highlights the genetic and hormonal factors and discusses the different subtypes of migraines. They delve into the importance of talking to your doctor or seeing a headache specialist if you are experiencing headaches and migraines, as well as the economic burden of migraines in the US. Finally, they discuss exciting new treatment options, ones that have been developed over the last decade.    Key Takeaways: There is a lot of stigma around people with migraines. Women with migraines and pain conditions are disproportionately stigmatized.  1 in 5 women, 1 in 11 children, and 1 in 16 men are affected by migraines - an average of 1 in 7 worldwide.  Different people will experience migraines and migraine treatment differently. They all also have different triggers, though some are more common, such as red wine, nitrates, and caffeine. Many new migraine treatment options are not covered, either immediately or at all, by insurance providers. Colic in infants appears to be associated with increased risk of adult migraine.   "There is still a lot to learn about the genetics of migraines. Genetics is a strong factor in who is going to have migraines versus not, but there are also a lot of other external and internal factors." —  Dr. Amaal Starling   Episode References:  American Migraine Foundation: https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/    Connect with Dr. Amaal Starling: Professional Bio: https://www.mayo.edu/research/faculty/starling-amaal-j-m-d/bio-20147052  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amaal-starling-md-fahs-faan-085b58a3    Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Richard Kirk discuss the rise of inequality and homelessness, highlighting the lack of access to healthcare and resources for marginalized populations. They delve into the myth of trickle-down wealth and the downsides of gentrification. Richard also discusses the impact of large projects, such as stadiums, which increase property values and rents, exacerbating homelessness. He emphasizes the need for better regulations and policies to address these issues.     Key Takeaways: There is no adequate tracking of the fates of people displaced by gentrification, large-scale projects, and other circumstances.  Gentrification sometimes starts informally with young professionals, artists, or students moving into an affordable area with new businesses following. Other times, it is intentional with cities and developers targeting an area for development, but this is often done without protections for those original community members.  People in displaced communities often don’t have the knowledge and energy, due to the roadblocks placed by those in charge and the need to work, in order to fight back against the gentrification and aggressive acquisition of their property.  Since the 1970s, the government has stepped back from providing affordable housing and robust social safety nets, prioritizing private investment and large development projects.   "It's really, really hard to combat something that is a global phenomenon without major reforms at the federal level. But elections at every scale matter, and voting still matters." —  Richard Kirk   Episode References:  SAJE - https://www.saje.net/  Necropolitics by Achille Mbembe: https://muse.jhu.edu/article/39984/summary  Neoliberal necropolitics and the global competition for urban dominance by Richard Kirk - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016718524001684?via%3Dihub    Connect with Richard Kirk: Professional Bio: https://geog.ucla.edu/person/richard-kirk/  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/richard-kirk-49110024a    Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Molly Hales discuss the growing trend of young children using anti-aging skincare products, influenced by social media and influencers. Dr. Hales highlights the concerns about the rise in young patients with skin reactions to these products. These young users often apply multiple products with potentially irritating ingredients (and often multiple active ingredients or multiple products with the same active ingredient). Dr. Hales also emphasizes the need for basic skincare routines for young users, with a focus on sunscreen, and calls for better education and regulation to protect these children.     Key Takeaways: Girls as young as 9 are increasingly using antiaging creams geared to older women. These products contain ingredients and are designed for more mature skin rather than youthful skin.  Sunscreen is the number one recommended product for people of all ages (except babies under 6 months). This is also not the most commonly used product among social media influencers with their viral skincare routines.  There are three main risks associated with using improper skincare products, with the main risk being irritation (irritant contact dermatitis).  Brands get more attention and recognition by sending free products to influencers for videos, reaching a wider (and younger) audience than they might otherwise.  "It seems like, as more younger and younger people are putting more and more products on their skin, that there is more and more skin allergy that's happening and that's going to follow kids around for the rest of their lives." —  Dr. Molly Hales   Episode References:  Pediatric Skin Care Regimens on TikTok - Molly Hales, MD, PhD - https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article-abstract/156/1/e2024070309/202103/Pediatric-Skin-Care-Regimens-on-TikTok    Connect with Dr. Molly Hales: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-hales-987b6410/     Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Eve Espey discuss the impact of the US Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v Wade. Dr. Espey explains that 41 states have abortion bans, with 12 states imposing total bans and 28 states restricting based on gestational duration. She highlights the increased maternal mortality and health risks due to these restrictions. She also emphasizes the need for continued advocacy and training for medical professionals in reproductive health care.    Key Takeaways: The overturning of Roe v Wade reversed about 50 years of women’s reproductive rights. In many states, the Roe v Wade protections had been chipped away over the years, even before it was overturned.  Abortion bans are about more than abortion - they affect women’s health care in areas of family planning, cancer screenings, and basic preventative health care. Contraception and abortion are integral parts of comprehensive women's health care.   "We do have a very energized group of people around this issue and much more scholarship and advocacy than in days past. So I would say we need to keep up the fight, and we need to keep supporting our learners to really understand why this care is so important and how to provide it." —  Dr. Eve Espey   Episode References:  Aid Access: https://aidaccess.org/en/  Reproductive Justice: https://www.sistersong.net/reproductive-justice    Connect with Dr. Eve Espey: Professional Bio: https://hsc.unm.edu/directory/espey-eve.html    Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net      Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.    

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Emily Callaci discuss the Wages for Housework movement, highlighting the 1970s campaign demanding payment for unpaid labor in the home or “housework”. Dr. Callaci explains the movement's relevance today, noting that women's unpaid work has significant economic consequences. The conversation explores the historical context, the five key figures behind the movement, and the economic and cultural implications of unpaid housework. Callaci emphasizes the need for recognition of and payment for housework to address gender inequality and improve women's autonomy and economic well-being.    Key Takeaways: A recent statistic from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows women's unpaid work in the US has a value of about $3.6 trillion. The economy would grind to a halt without the housework that is, primarily, done by women: cooking, cleaning, laundry, child-rearing, etc.  The wages for housework movement are not gendered; they equally affect men and women who do housework.  Recognizing the work that people do, paid and unpaid, is the first step in really transforming the social consciousness.   "Wages for housework was not arguing that we should all become housewives and that should be our profession instead of the other things we might want to do. Rather, it was about recognizing the way that work is exploited. In our economic system, if you don't recognize it, if you don't see it and name it, then how can you overcome it?" —  Dr. Emily Callaci   Connect with Dr. Emily Callaci: Professional Bio: https://history.wisc.edu/people/callaci-emily/   Books: Street Archives and City Life: https://www.dukeupress.edu/street-archives-and-city-life  Wages for Housework: penguin.co.uk/books/442807/wages-for-housework-by-callaci-emily/9780241502907    Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net     Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.