Crossing the Line

Pills: The New Frontier for Anti-Abortion Attacks

pmc.uscontent@gmail.com (Population Media) — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 16:00:00 +0000

Many at the forefront of the abortion access movement(s) predicted the overturn of Roe v. Wade would be the tip of the iceberg on legislation curbing bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom -- and they were right. In March 2023, Texas U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk appeared sympathetic to arguments from the anti-abortion coalition the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine in a case that is attempting to overturn the FDA's approval of the abortion pill mifepristone - one of two pills used for a medical abortion, which accounts for over half of U.S. abortions. In this bonus episode, you'll hear from Plan C Pills co-founder Elisa Wells, Imani Wilson Shabazz, and Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, CEO of Power to Decide about how safe the abortion pills are and how to access abortion pills regardless of what happens with the current lawsuit. Finally, you'll go on a journey with a young woman in Alabama who receives her first abortion pill from Dr. Diane Horvath on her last trip to Alabama to perform abortions before the overturn of Roe v. Wade.

Special thanks to Dr. Diane Horvath from Partners in Abortion Care, Elisa Wells and Imani Wilson Shabazz from Plan C Pills, Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, CEO of Power to Decide, and all those who shared their stories with us. Go to plancpills.org to learn how to access abortion pills. If you live in a restrictive state, go to AidAccess.org. Need help funding your abortion? Check out the National Network of Abortion Funds and the Abortion Freedom Fund. Need advice or have questions about a miscarriage or abortion? Go to M+A Hotline. Have legal questions? Go Repro Legal Helpline. Access trusted abortion care information at AbortionFinder.org and reproductive health information at Bedsider.org.

This podcast is brought to you by Population Media Center. Executive Producers are Lisa Caruso and Alex Demyanenko, with Co-Producer Kathleen Bedoya and Associate Producer Dominica Ruelas. Charity Tooze produced this bonus episode. The script was written by Lynn Hughes and edited by Bruno Falcon, with production services provided by Pidge Productions. Charity Tooze leads impact strategy. Tatiana St. Phard reads the narration. The original music is composed by Valeri Ortiz.

The New Normal

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 17:17:26 +0000

Abortion care is a necessary healthcare service for women and all pregnant people at every stage of pregnancy, especially if complications such as fetal anomalies arise. But in the "new normal" post the overturn of Roe v. Wade, maternal mortality is reportedly on the rise, and services are being severely restricted in more than half of the U.S. The recent mid-terms showed overwhelming support from voters in several states for abortion protections, in both candidates elected and ballots passed.

When Erika Christensen and Garin Marschall discovered the baby they’d been hoping for would not survive outside the womb, they sought abortion care. Since New York did not permit abortion after 24 weeks, they were forced to travel to Colorado to receive the care they needed. The traumatic experience pushed them to found Patient Forward, a grassroots reproductive care advocacy organization. They connected with Dr. Diane Horvath, who, together with Certified Nurse Midwife Morgan Nuzzo, is opening an all-trimester clinic in Maryland. Morgan and Diane face many barriers to starting their clinic. From safety concerns to delayed inspections, yet persevere to become one of less than ten all-trimester clinics in the U.S. As we wrap up this season of "Crossing the Line," we will also look back to former interviewees in Shreveport, Dallas, Phoenix, and Michigan to see how they're faring in a post-Roe world.

Visit CTLpod.com to find out more about the podcast, resources for abortion care, and information on how you can take action.

Special thanks to Dr. Diane Horvath, Certified Nurse-Midwife Morgan Nuzzo, and the staff at Partners In Abortion Care; Dr. Colleen McNicholas and Planned Parenthood; Erika Christensen, Garin Marschall, and Patient Forward; Reverend Daniel Kanter and First Unitarian Church Of Dallas; Kathaleen Pittman and Hope Medical Group for Women; Dr. Gabrielle Goddrick and Camelback Family Planning Clinic; Lead Escort Marie and Northland Family Planning; the Dr. Reverend Cari Jackson and the Religious Coalition For Reproductive Choice; Dr. Reagan Mosley and Power to Decide.

Go to plancpills.org to learn how to access abortion pills. If you live in a restrictive state go to AidAccess.org. Need help funding your abortion? Check out the National Network of Abortion Funds and the Abortion Freedom Fund. Need advice or have questions about a miscarriage or abortion? Go to M+A Hotline. Have legal questions? Go Repro Legal Helpline. Destigmatize self-managed abortion by supporting Abortion on Our Own Terms. Advocate for youth access with URGE. Access trusted abortion care information at AbortionFinder.org and reproductive health information at Bedsider.org.

This podcast is brought to you by Population Media Center. Executive Producers are Lisa Caruso and Alex Demyanenko, with Co-Producer Kathleen Bedoya and Associate Producer Dominica Ruelas. This episode was field produced by Charity Tooze. Edited by Bruno Falcon with production services provided by Pidge Productions. Production coordination is by June Neely. Charity Tooze leads impact strategy. The narration is read by Tatiana St. Phard. Original music is composed by Valeri Ortiz.

A Matter of Life or Death

Wed, 2 Nov 2022 16:41:38 +0000

Abortion care is not just an essential part of reproductive healthcare but a necessary component of holistic healthcare decisions. When pregnant people are diagnosed with life-threatening conditions, when does their survival become the priority? With the recent overturn of Roe v Wade, these decisions are more complicated. Doctors in states with bans that only allow abortion in the case of "imminent danger" to the mother's life are unsure how to proceed. It's difficult for them to interpret the law and determine a treatment plan when they could face a felony charge for performing an abortion while their patient's life is on the line. An oncologist from the University of Wisconsin shares stories of cancer patients unable to receive treatment, and a Maryland woman who had a pregnancy onset stroke, shares how she took her survival into her own hands when she couldn't obtain the abortion she needed. As healthcare becomes politicized, who has a mother-to-be's best interests in mind when it's a matter of life or death?

Visit CTLpod.com to find out more about the podcast, resources for abortion care, and information on how you can take action.

Thank you to Dr. Lisa Barriolet, Dr. Noelle Loconte, Layla Houshmand, Nurse-Midwife Morgan Nuzzo from Partners in Abortion Care, Cinthya Maldonado, University Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, and everyone who shared their stories.

Go to plancpills.org to learn how to access abortion pills. If you live in a restrictive state go to AidAccess.org. Need help funding your abortion? Check out National Network of Abortion Funds and the Abortion Freedom Fund. Need advice or have questions about a miscarriage or abortion? Go to M+A Hotline. Have legal questions? Go Repro Legal Helpline. Destigmatize self-managed abortion by supporting Abortion on Our Own Terms. Advocate for youth access with URGE. Access trusted abortion care information at AbortionFinder.org and reproductive health information at Bedsider.org.

This podcast is brought to you by Population Media Center. Executive Producers are Lisa Caruso and Alex Demyanenko, with Co-Producer Kathleen Bedoya and Associate Producer Dominica Ruelas. This episode was field produced by Charity Tooze. Edited by Bruno Falcon with production services provided by Pidge Productions. Production coordination is by June Neely. Charity Tooze leads impact strategy. The narration is read by Tatiana St. Phard. Original music is composed by Valeri Ortiz.

Abortion 2.0

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 15:59:59 +0000

Movement leaders -- striving to ensure all people have access to abortion since the fall of Roe -- contend that the current and future success of abortion care is the abortion pill. Whether obtaining the pill at clinics, via telemedicine providers, or a self-managed abortion (SMA), access to abortion pills levels out the playing field for millions of people who otherwise might not have access, particularly youth, BIPOC, LGBTQI++, and under-resourced people. In this episode, leaders in the abortion pill space break down how to get them, use them, and why they're critical.

Visit CTLpod.com to find out more about the podcast, resources for abortion care, and information on how you can take action.

Thank you to Elisa Wells and Imani Wilson-Shabaz from Plan C Pills, Christie Pitney and Dr. Rebecca Gomperts from Aid Access, Kimberly Inez McGuire from Abortion on Our Own Terms and Executive Director of URGE, Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley CEO of Power to Decide and Rachel Fey Director of Public Policy. Special thanks to Jex Blackmore, *Diandra, and all the people who shared their stories. *Some names have been changed to protect identities.

This podcast is brought to you by Population Media Center. Executive Producers are Lisa Caruso and Alex Demyanenko, with Co-Producer Kathleen Bedoya and Associate Producer Dominica Ruelas. This episode was field produced by Charity Tooze. Edited by Bruno Falcon with production services provided by Pidge Productions. Production coordination is by June Neely. Charity Tooze leads impact strategy. The narration is read by Tatiana St. Phard. Original music is composed by Valeri Ortiz.

United For Choice

Wed, 5 Oct 2022 16:01:23 +0000

As states in the US move to restrict abortion following the overturn of Roe v Wade, pro-choice activists, are moving just as fast in designing creative ways to ensure abortion access for all. In the Rio Grande Valley, we follow local organizers as they package emergency contraception for residents and form new coalitions to guarantee access across a large state with few resources. In Arizona, we follow Natacha Chavez, who is working to codify abortion rights protections in her state. In Kansas, community leaders galvanize voters to oppose a ballot amendment that would ban abortion. Grassroots organizers across the country continue to mobilize by activating their communities in any way they can - pushing back against bans and innovating.

Visit CTLpod.com to find out more about the podcast, resources for abortion care, and information on how you can take action.

Special thanks to South Texans for Reproductive Justice; Frontera Fund, Rockie Gonzalez, and the R.E.D. Moon Project; Representative Sharice Davids, Kansans for Constitutional Freedom, Emily Wales and the team at Planned Parenthood Great Plains, Susan Martin and Adam Mclain, Natacha Chavez and Amelia; and Rachel Fey and the team at Power to Decide. Some names and voices were changed to protect identities. Special thanks to all those who have shared their stories with us.

Go to AbortionFinder.org to get up-to-date information on where to access an abortion. Go to Plan C Pills to learn how to access abortion pills. Explore National Abortion Funds to inquire about funding support and Planned Parenthood’s Ban Off our Bodies to get involved.

This podcast is brought to you by Population Media Center. Executive Producers are Lisa Caruso and Alex Demyanenko, with Co-Producer Kathleen Bedoya and Associate Producer Dominica Ruelas. This episode was field produced by Ron Fent, Joanna Friedman, and Eric Vasquez. Edited by Bruno Falcon with production services provided by Pidge Productions. Production coordination is by June Neely. Charity Tooze leads impact strategy. The narration is read by Tatiana St. Phard. Original music is composed by Valeri Ortiz.

Abortion Defenders

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 17:33:15 +0000

Following the fall of Roe v. Wade, Michigan women face an uncertain future due to a 1931 "zombie law " on the books that would criminalize abortion. Mobilizing into action are a pro-choice mother-daughter duo, Shelley and Hailey, and an army of volunteer escorts at Northland Family Planning who protect clinic patients from armed protesters or "Anti's." Due to Michigan being an open-carry state, the escorts wear bodycams to monitor the" Anti's" activity. Lead Escort Marie and other volunteers mobilize to get enough signatures for a ballot initiative to amend outdated laws -- and keep abortion legal in Michigan.

Featuring interviews with Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and Power to Decide CEO Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley.

Visit CTLpod.com to find out more about the podcast, resources for abortion care, and information on how you can take action.

Thank you to Shelley, Hailey, Marie and all the volunteer escorts at the Northland Family Clinic -- and all those who have shared their stories with us. Some names and voices were changed to protect identities.

Since parts of this episode was recorded, Roe v. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. Go to AbortionFinder.org to get up-to-date information on where to access an abortion. Go to Plan C Pills to learn how to access abortion pills. Explore National Abortion Funds to inquire about funding support and Planned Parenthood’s Ban Off our Bodies to get involved.

This podcast is brought to you by Population Media Center. Executive Producers are Lisa Caruso and Alex Demyanenko, with Co-Producer Kathleen Bedoya and Associate Producer Dominica Ruelas. This episode was field produced by Erin Essenmacher, edited by Lynn Hughes with production services provided by Pidge Productions. Production coordination is by June Neely. Charity Tooze leads impact strategy. The narration is read by Tatiana St. Phard. Original music is composed by Valeri Ortiz.

When Roe Fell

Wed, 7 Sep 2022 16:04:46 +0000

This special episode chronicles the weeks leading up to the fall of Roe v. Wade on June 24th, 2022. In Tulsa, a newly equipped clinic has a sudden, drastic decline in patients seeking abortion care as a total ban on abortion at conception takes effect in Oklahoma. Dr. Diane Horvath, a traveling abortion doctor, flies to Montgomery, AL, to perform her final abortion procedures before it is criminalized. In Texas, Drs. Curtis and Glenna Boyd, a dynamic husband-and-wife duo who have played a huge role in providing reproductive choice for decades, grapple with the possible closure of their Dallas clinic on the day Roe falls and how they will comfort their staff. We hear from clinic directors, nurses, and staff in TX, AZ, NM, AL, TN, and LA as they express their rage, disappointment, and heartbreak about Roe's reversal after nearly 50 years as a constitutional right, and what the future may hold for reproductive freedom in the U.S.

Visit CTLpod.com to find out more about the podcast, resources for abortion care, and information on how you can take action.

Thank you to the Co-Directors of the Southwestern Women's Surgery Center Dr. Curtis Boyd and Dr. Glenna Boyd, the Tulsa Women's Clinic Founder Dr. Alan Braid, Exec Director Andrea Gallegos, and nurse Tiffany Taylor, Dr. Diane Horvath, Nurse Brittany Johnson at Hope Medical in Shreveport, Patient Advocate Becky at the Knoxville Center for Reproductive Health, Dr. Goodrick, the entire staff at Camelback Family Planning and Lead Administrator Addie Martinez, and to Planned Parenthood. Special thanks to all those who have shared their stories with us. Some names and voices were changed to protect identities.

Since this episode was recorded, Roe v. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. Go to AbortionFinder.org to get up-to-date information on where to access an abortion. Go to Plan C Pills to learn how to access abortion pills. Explore National Abortion Funds to inquire about funding support and Planned Parenthood’s Ban Off our Bodies to get involved.

This podcast is brought to you by Population Media Center. Executive Producers are Lisa Caruso and Alex Demyanenko, with Co-Producer Kathleen Bedoya and Associate Producer Dominica Ruelas. This episode was field produced by Joanna Friedman and Charity Tooze, edited by Lynn Hughes with production services provided by Pidge Productions. Production coordination is by June Neely. Charity Tooze leads impact strategy. Narration is read by Tatiana St. Phard. Original music is composed by Valeri Ortiz.

Preview: When Roe Fell

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 18:37:15 +0000

Abortion providers have been anticipating the hammer to fall on Roe v. Wade for months. In some states, clinics have gotten a taste of a post-Roe world due to total bans -- like in Oklahoma. Elsewhere, clinic staff works tirelessly to provide as many abortions as possible before they are forced to shutter their doors. Join us next week for those stories from the frontlines of When Roe Fell. Visit CTLpod.com to find out more about the podcast, resources for abortion care, and information on how you can take action.

CROSSING THE LINE (CTL) is a verite’ style audio documentary series telling stories from the frontlines in the fight for reproductive freedom. The series follows individuals who must travel to seek abortion services and the heroes who help along the way, from doctors and doulas to escorts and activists – each immersive episode allows the listener to experience the numerous barriers faced by those attempting to access reproductive healthcare in the U.S. as the battle for Roe v. Wade rages. One journey at a time.

Visit CTLpod.com to find out more about the podcast, resources for abortion care, and information on how you can take action.

Abortion Desert Oasis

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 13:00:00 +0000

Camelback Family Planning Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona has been operating since 1999, but recently started to receive a surge of abortion-seeking patients due to increased restrictions on reproductive healthcare access in nearby states. The clinic doesn't take appointments - it's first-come, first-serve, with a daily line that extends around the modest brick and glass building. Many mornings, patients line up as early as 4 AM hoping to secure one of that day's walk-in appointments. Samira*, 39, is one of them. A mother of two, Samira left her children at home with her husband to travel on her own from Texas to Arizona to receive an abortion. Although her pregnancy is not viable due to a severe fetal anomaly, her doctor in Texas was not allowed to perform the procedure. Following her ultrasound, Camelback nurses, doctors, and staff take immediate action to get Samira the abortion care she needs.

Visit CTLpod.com to find out more about the podcast, resources for abortion care, and information on how you can take action.

Thank you to Camelback Family Planning Clinic's founder Dr. Gabrielle Goodrick and Dr. Sarah Valliere, Ashleigh Feiring, the clinic nurses, patient advocates, and other Camelback staff, as well as Executive Director of Pro-Choice Arizona, Eloisa Lopez, and Planned Parenthood. Special thanks to Samira*, her family, and all who shared their stories with us. Some names and voices were changed to protect identities.

Since this episode was recorded, Roe v. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. The changing legal landscape in Arizona means that some providers are changing or pausing their operations. Go to AbortionFinder.org to get up-to-date information on where to access an abortion. Go to Plan C Pills to learn how to access abortion pills. Explore National Abortion Funds to inquire about funding support and Planned Parenthood's Ban Off our Bodies to get involved.

This podcast is brought to you by Population Media Center. Executive Producers are Lisa Caruso and Alex Demyanenko, with Co-Producer Kathleen Bedoya and Associate Producer Dominica Ruelas. This episode was field produced by Joanna Friedman with production services provided by Pidge Productions. Production coordination is by June Neely, and Charity Tooze leads impact strategy. Narration is read by Tatiana St. Phard. Original music is composed by Valeri Ortiz.

*Indicates name change

Keeping Hope Alive

Wed, 3 Aug 2022 18:47:32 +0000

In Shreveport, Louisiana, Hope Medical Group for Women struggles to meet demands as a surge of patients traveling from surrounding states where abortion is banned overwhelms providers. Sabrina*, 38, is one of those patients. A mother of four, Sabrina balances her demanding job, childcare, her teen daughter’s serious heart condition, and financial burdens brought on by the pandemic. Seeking an abortion, she and her military veteran fiancé drive 200 miles to Hope Medical Group in Shreveport to access the healthcare she needs to keep her family afloat. Once there, they are confronted by anti-abortion protestors, a common occurrence that affects the clinic daily, as restrictive abortion bans are implemented in nearby states, and more patients must travel across state lines to seek reproductive healthcare in Louisiana.

Visit CTLpod.com to find out more about the podcast, resources for abortion care, and information on how you can take action.

Thank you to Hope Medical Group for Women Administrator Kathaleen Pittman, Assistant Administrator Staphanie Chaffee, the clinic counselors, patient advocates, nurses, and clinic staff, Dr. Bhavik Kumar, Dr. Colleen McNicholas, and Planned Parenthood. Special thanks to Sabrina*, her family, and all who shared their stories with us.

Some names have been changed to protect identities. Since this episode was recorded, Roe v. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. The changing legal landscape in Louisiana means that some groups in Louisiana are changing or pausing their operations. Go to AbortionFinder.org to get up-to-date information on where to access an abortion. Go to Plan C Pills to learn how to access abortion pills. Check out Planned Parenthood’s Ban Off our Bodies to get involved.

This podcast was brought to you by Population Media Center. Executive Producers are Lisa Caruso and Alex Demyanenko, with Co-Producer Kathleen Bedoya and Associate Producer Dominica Ruelas. This episode was field produced by Joanna Friedman with production services provided by Pidge Productions and story producing by Lynn Hughes and Bruno Falcon. Research assistance was provided by Sarah Field Bullion and production coordinating by June Neely. Impact strategy was led by Charity Tooze. Narration is read by Tatiana St. Phard. Music by Valeri Ortiz.

*Indicates name change

God Trusts Me

Wed, 20 Jul 2022 18:08:59 +0000

When a 27 year old single mother from Texas, Ahjonae, finds out she’s pregnant, she searches for abortion care providers across the U.S. to terminate her pregnancy. This is not an easy undertaking as Ahjonae works two full-time jobs, including a hotel graveyard shift, to keep up with the rent and bills. A practicing Christian, she gets the last spot at a Dallas-based travel program run by a local church. This program, organized and funded by a partnership between The First Unitarian Church of Dallas, the New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, and the Southwestern Women’s Surgery Center, shepherds people to New Mexico to receive abortion care. Despite her hesitancy to trust the volunteers, she takes a sick day from work, and her mother flies to Dallas to watch her three young children, so that Ahjonae can take the journey to Albuquerque.

Visit CTLpod.com to find out more about the podcast, resources for abortion care, and information on how you can take action.

Special thanks to the Southwestern Women’s Surgery Center in Dallas, TX, Southwestern Women’s Options in Albuquerque, NM; Dr. Curtis Boyd and Dr. Glenna Halvorson-Boyd; Reverend Daniel Kanter and The First Unitarian Church of Dallas, Rev Erin Walter, Rev Deneen Robinson, and all the incredible travel program volunteers. Also, thanks to Joan Lamunyon and the New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Dr. Colleen McNicholas, and Planned Parenthood; And to Ahjonae, her family, and all those who shared their stories with us.

Some names have been changed to protect identities. Since this episode was recorded, Roe v. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. The changing legal landscape in Texas means that some groups in Texas are changing or pausing their operations. Specifically, The Southwest Surgery center in Dallas has been forced to stop providing abortion services until further notice. The clinic will remain open to offer other reproductive healthcare. Also, note that the doctor in this episode uses the abortion pill brand name Mifeprex and later refers to it by the generic name Mifepristone. They are the same drug. If you have questions about abortion pills, go to Abortion Finder.

This podcast was brought to you by Population Media Center. Executive producers are Lisa Caruso and Alex Demyanenko, with co-producer Kathleen Bedoya and associate producer Dominica Ruelas. This episode was field produced by Joanna Friedman with production services provided by Red Cup Agency and story producing by Olivia Aylmer. Research assistance was provided by Sarah Field Bullion and production coordinating by June Neely. Impact strategy was led by Charity Tooze. Narration is read by Tatiana St. Phard. Music by Val Ortiz.

A Prayer for Choice

Wed, 6 Jul 2022 16:00:00 +0000

The travel program is a partnership of the First Unitarian Church of Dallas, Southwestern Women’s Surgery Center in Dallas, Southwestern Women’s Options in Albuquerque, and the New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. The travelers are flown to New Mexico where they are provided all transportation and meals. The physicians provide accurate and safe healthcare information and abortion pills or procedures to end their pregnancies. Individuals can exercise autonomy over their bodies and family planning through the dedicated support of those who run and volunteer for the travel program.

Visit CTLpod.com to find out more about the podcast, resources for abortion care, and information on how you can take action.

Special thanks to the Southwestern Women’s Surgery Center in Dallas, TX, Southwestern Women’s Options in Albuquerque, NM; Dr. Curtis Boyd and Dr. Glenna Halvorson-Boyd; Reverend Daniel Kanter and The First Unitarian Church of Dallas, and all the incredible travel program volunteers. Also, thanks to the New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Joan Lamunyon and Brittany Defeo; Dr. Bhavik Kumar, and Planned Parenthood; And to all those who shared their stories with us.

Thank you to our partners: Power to Decide, AbortionFinder.org, and Plan C Pills.

Since this episode was recorded, Roe v. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. The changing legal landscape in Texas means that some groups in Texas are changing or pausing their operations. Specifically, The Southwest Surgery center in Dallas has been forced to stop providing abortion services until further notice. The clinic will remain open to offer other reproductive healthcare. Also, note that the doctor in this episode uses the abortion pill brand name Mifeprex and later refers to it by the generic name Mifepristone. They are the same drug. If you have questions about abortion pills, go to Abortion Finder.

Introducing Crossing the Line

pmc.uscontent@gmail.com (Population Media) — Thu, 9 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Visit CTLpod.com to find out more about the podcast, resources for abortion care, and information on how you can take action.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts. CTL is produced by Population Media Center's US Content Division with Red Cup Agency.