Powering Up! is a cross-generational, cross-cultural conversation about female power. Hosted by Anne Doyle, Journalist and Author, Powering Up! How America’s Women Achievers Become Leaders.
Millennials have led the way on new thinking and open conversations about gender. Co-host Monica Doyle invited two transgender friends – Grace, a transgender woman, and August, a transgender man – to talk about their experiences. As a Baby Boomer committed to equal rights and dignity for all humans, Anne learned a lot.
Meritor senior executive Linda Taliaferro has climbed the corporate ladder in the very male world of global commercial vehicles. So she understands the gender landmines and obstacles ambitious women must navigate throughout their leadership journeys. From confronting sexual harassers to mastering workplace politics, Taliaferro has experienced it all. That's why she founded The TEE (The Extra Effort) organization to share what she has learned (often the hard way!) and mentor other women. The critical differentiator for women, she believes, is the ability to find the courage to step into and claim our individual and collective power. She's a global executive in a tough, male-dominated field; she's authentic and she's committed to helping other women power up!
Rabbi Tamara Kolton, author of the upcoming book, "Oranges for Eve: My Beautiful, Brava and Badass Journey to the Feminine Divine," is a truth teller, spiritual leader and powerful voice for women. As growing numbers of states in the USA pass extreme legislation aimed at overthrowing women's right to privacy over our bodies, Rabbi Kolton provides insightful context on her position, published in the Jewish News, that the national debate over abortion is not truly about caring for babies or pregnant women, it is one more powerful example of our patriarchal matrix that protects the status quo in which men hold predominant power and social privilege -- and why women and our allies should not be silent.
The world of comics has long been one more world ruled by white males -- both as characters and creators. But that is changing as young women who grew up reading comics featuring female superheroes (such as "shojo" Magna books created in Japan specifically for girls) are looking for adult content they can identify with. So, they're creating it themselves. We explored this growing, cultural phenomenon at Comique-Con -- a conference specifically for female and female-identifying illustrators, writers and creators in the comic world. A world that co-host Monica Doyle knows well.
We recorded this episode the day after two mass shootings killed at least 31 people and injured dozens of others in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio. Were the young, white males who perpetrated these hateful, horrible acts suffering from mental illness? Perhaps, but not necessarily. Robin Jones, Director of the Great Lakes ADA Center (Americans with Disabilities Act) talked with us about her work training, consulting and providing technical assistance to business, schools, employers , architects, families and individuals related to disabilities. Handicapped parking, wheelchair ramps and accessible bathrooms are just the beginning. "The reality," says Jones, "is that most disabilities are invisible to others, including learning disabilities and mental illness." And how about the growing number of so-called "emotional support" pets on airplanes? Robin has insight on that, too.
Robin's broad understanding of the many issues surrounding human ability made Monica and me realize that we all have abilities and disabilities! The challenge is to make sure we are providing the assistance and services people need to use all of their abilities and we do not stigmatize individuals for getting help.
Enlightened Sexism author and Communications Studies Professor Susan Douglas makes the case for "life span feminism," her upcoming new book -- In Our Prime: How Older Women are Re-Inventing the Road Ahead -- and why it's time to destroy the media myth that older and younger feminists can't get along.
USA Today Sports Columnist and TV Commentator Christine Brennan has covered every major sporting event imaginable for nearly four decades -- including 18 Olympics and all four World Cup championships of the U.S. Women's Soccer Team. Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan and their 2019 teammates have delivered revenue, viewing audiences, championships and the all-time best-selling soccer jersey in U.S. history. Now they are demanding equal pay. Brennan says, "Love 'em or hate 'em, they are strong, tough, have changed the conversation about women's sports and they're not going away!"
With over 1,000 women covering sports today, Brennan encourages girls and women to learn more about sports journalism careers through her website: ChristineBrennan.com.
General Linda Singh, the first African American and first woman to head up all military operations for an entire state, made national news earlier this year when her Maryland leadership team became the first all-female National Guard command staff in the United States. A leader who believes in the value of talking openly about difficult issues, Adjutant General Singh spoke candidly with me about racism, sexism and sexual harassment and assault, including her personal experiences.
Hall of Fame Women's College Basketball Coach Sue Kruszewski Hardy and Vice President of Marketing for the Detroit Tigers Ellen Hill Zeringue, one of the few executive women in major league sports, join Anne and Monica to talk about women's progress in the world of sports -- as athletes, coaches and executives. Their "In the Game" conversation was recorded in front of a live audience as part of the Second Annual Detroit Podcast Festival, hosted by Robin Kinnie, founder of Motor City Woman Studios.
Education is transformational with the power to break cycles of poverty, child marriage and violence. The “Girl Effect” is particularly powerful because it extends the benefits to families and communities more than when only boys are educated. Yet 130 million girls around the world are not in school because of poverty, custom or conflict. In places like Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria, girls schools are under attack. Anne talks with Totsie Memela of South Africa and Shamim Jawad of Afghanistan -- two leaders on the front lines of the fight to change ideas, cultures and policies about why educating girls lifts the entire human family.
