The Wild, Untold Story of How They Made Abortion Political: Witches, Healers & Liars  | Amanda with Jessica Valenti

The Wild, Untold Story of How They Made Abortion Political: Witches, Healers & Liars | Amanda with Jessica Valenti

Author: Treat Media and Glennon Doyle July 21, 2026 Duration: 1:31:56
Abortion isn't just about abortion—it’s about everything.  It's about who gets to decide the course of a woman's life. It's about healthcare, democracy, power, freedom, and the stories we've been taught to believe. In this can’t-miss conversation, Amanda traces the shocking history of abortion in America—from witch hunts to medical monopolies to the political strategy that transformed abortion into a partisan weapon. Then journalist and activist Jessica Valenti joins to expose what extremists are doing now, why these attacks were never really about abortion, and why she refuses to believe they're winning. If you've ever felt overwhelmed, confused, or hopeless about this moment, this episode will give you something even more powerful than outrage: clarity. - How abortion became a political weapon—and what it's really about. - Why abortion bans haven't reduced abortions. - How attacks on abortion threaten all reproductive healthcare. - The hidden strategies extremists are using now—and how to recognize them. - How the vast majority of Americans are on the same side—and why hope is a strategy. - Practical ways to take action, support local abortion funds, and protect your community. For more with Jessica Valenti, please listen to:  353. How We’ll Save Abortion: A Must-Listen with Jessica Valenti  About Jessica:  Jessica Valenti is a writer, activist, and one of the country’s most influential voices on gender and politics. The award-winning author of eight books—including the New York Times bestseller Abortion—she  has shaped the national conversation on feminism for over two decades. Jessica’s groundbreaking anthology Yes Means Yes: Visions of Female Sexual Power and a World Without Rape set what’s now considered the gold standard for sexual consent and paved the way for legislation of the same name. She is also widely credited with sparking feminism’s online wave as the founder of the trailblazing blog Feministing. A former columnist for The Guardian and The Nation, Jessica’s sharp, uncompromising analysis has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and on media outlets from CNN to The Daily Show. She speaks at colleges and organizations nationwide about feminism, abortion, and sexual violence. After the fall of Roe, Jessica founded Abortion, Every Day, an urgent synthesis of anything and everything happening with abortion rights in the United States. Follow We Can Do Hard Things on:  Instagram — ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wecandohardthings⁠

Life is rarely simple, and the conversations on We Can Do Hard Things reflect that beautiful, messy reality. Hosted by Glennon Doyle, her wife Abby Wambach, and her sister Amanda Doyle, this podcast creates a space where the difficult, tender, and triumphant parts of being human are examined without flinching. The dynamic between the three hosts-their laughter, debates, and shared vulnerability-turns each episode into a genuine conversation you’re invited to overhear. They tackle topics spanning relationships, societal expectations, personal growth, and the quiet struggles often faced alone, all with a blend of raw honesty and unexpected humor. This isn’t about abstract advice; it’s about real people navigating real life, which is why the community around this podcast, known as the Pod Squad, has become such a powerful force for connection and tangible change. The title is a mantra put into practice, a reminder that strength isn’t about avoiding hardship but about moving through it together. Tuning in feels like joining a candid kitchen-table talk where pretense is left at the door. You’ll find a unique mix of comfort and challenge in every episode, a combination that has resonated deeply, leading to an incredible collective impact far beyond the audio itself. For anyone looking for a thoughtful, unvarnished, and compassionate take on modern life, this podcast offers a refreshing perspective.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

We Can Do Hard Things
Podcast Episodes
The Cost of Truth Telling (And Why We Paid It) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:16
We woke up to a Webby — and instead of just celebrating, we started asking: What does it mean to actually use your voice right now? Today, we’re talking about what building Treat Media has really meant — why we chose to…
(BEST OF) Jane Fonda: How to Not Lose Yourself Right Now [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:07
Today we’re sharing our electric conversation with Jane Fonda. This one feels especially right for this moment—because so many of us are asking the same questions Jane has been answering with her life: How do we keep agi…
Our Oscars Stories & How to Stay Steady with Life Changes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:15
The world is on fire—but we still have each other. This week, Glennon, Abby, and Amanda step away from the overwhelm to talk about what actually holds us: love, family, friendship, and truth. From their Oscars experience…
Special Birthday Drop in Honor of G’s 50th!!! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:24
It's birthday month for Glennon and Amanda, and if you’ve ever had a birthday that made you want to crawl into bed and also throw a parade and also cry in the shower and also text every person you’ve ever loved like: ARE…
(BEST OF) Tracee Ellis Ross: Holding On to Joy In Hard Times [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:35
In this deeply moving — and one of our all-time favorite — conversations, we take a beautiful, funny, honest dive inside the “wonderful, dangerous” mind of Tracee Ellis Ross. As the world asks us to stay engaged without…
What to Do With Rage: Meggan Watterson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:13
Meggan Watterson joins Glennon and Abby for an urgent, unfiltered conversation about how to stay human in infuriating times. They discuss sacred rage as a form of love, why trusting our inner knowing matters more than ev…
(BEST OF) The Andrea Gibson Talk that Sparked Our Oscar-Nominated Film [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:38
This is one of the bravest, most life-changing conversations we’ve ever had on this podcast. In this unforgettable episode, beloved poet and activist Andrea Gibson joins us to share news they had just received: that thei…