Feed Drops Opens the Drawer of “The A Files”

04/03/25 • 4 min

2 Listeners

In this episode of Feed Drops, Brian reviews an eye-opening episode from 'The A Files: A Secret History of Abortion.' Hosted by Renee Bracy Sherman and Regina Mahone, this episode titled 'The Other A Word: Adoption' features sociologist Dr. Gretchen Sisson and delves into whether adoption is truly a solution to unwanted pregnancy. Brian breaks down the content across 10 review categories, giving it an overall rating of 9.0 out of 10. The discussion is compassionate, historically grounded, and deeply relevant, making it a must-listen for policymakers, social workers, parents, and anyone seeking a nuanced understanding of family and autonomy.
Episode Summary: The Other A Word: Adoption In this bold and compassionate episode, Renee and Regina dive deep into the complex intersection of adoption and abortion with special guest Dr. Gretchen Sisson. They explore how societal narratives around adoption often ignore the lived experiences of birth parents and children, and how those narratives have been weaponized in anti-abortion rhetoric.
Through a thoughtful discussion that includes cultural analysis, historical context, and research-based insights, the episode deconstructs why adoption is not a simple answer to reproductive injustice. The “There Are Other Books” segment adds literary depth with a conversation about Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, tying fiction and reality in a meaningful way.
00:00 Introduction and Upcoming Duo Episode
00:42 Today's Feature: The Other A Word
01:33 In-Depth Review: Audio Quality to Engagement
03:09 Overall Impressions and Recommendations
03:49 Closing Remarks and Call to Action
Find The A Files: A Secret History of Abortion on your favorite podcast player - https://pod.link/1725152802
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Previous Episode

A Deep Dive into "This is Gavin Newsom" Can Progressive Politics Build Again?

Brian Colburn reviews Governor Gavin Newsom's new podcast featuring New York Times columnist Ezra Klein in this episode. They discuss Klein's new book and how Democrats and progressives can think bigger about housing, climate infrastructure, and other key issues. The review highlights the show's standout elements, such as audio quality, content clarity, and the constructive tone of their conversation. With a mix of professional critique and ratings, the review underlines the insightful and respectful nature of the dialogue and encourages politically interested listeners to tune in.
00:00 Disclaimer and Introduction
00:43 Introducing Gavin Newsom's Podcast
01:10 Episode Breakdown: Key Topics
01:48 Reviewing the Podcast: Audio and Clarity
02:13 Content Quality and Pacing
02:37 Tone, Editing, and Sound Design
03:07 Engagement and Dynamics
03:34 Final Thoughts and Recommendations
04:27 Closing Remarks and Call to Action
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Growth Network Podcasts - https://www.growthnetworkpodcasts.com/
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Next Episode

Six Dallas Taylors Walk into a Podcast… and It’s Perfect

🎧 Podcast Review: "Being Dallas Taylor" – Twenty Thousand Hertz
Welcome to Feed Drops – where we dive deep into standout podcast episodes, break down what makes them special, and help you find your next favorite listen.
In this episode, we review Twenty Thousand Hertz’s heartfelt and surprisingly profound episode: “Being Dallas Taylor: Meeting My Name Twins.”
Host Dallas Taylor speaks with five other people who share his exact name and explores the deeper meaning of identity, ego, and what a name really represents. With expert insight from name specialist Laura Wattenberg, this episode turns a quirky premise into something deeply human, with impeccable sound design to match.
📌 Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro
00:20 – Episode overview
01:00 – Ratings breakdown
02:30 – Quote highlights
04:00 – Final verdict
04:30 – Call to action
📊 Feed Drops Rating: 9.68 / 10.0
🎙️ Highlights:

Flawless audio and sound design (10.0)
Emotionally resonant content
Creative, clever storytelling
Expert guest insight
Beautiful pacing and tone

🗣️ Quotes from the Episode:
First, I just wanna say that names are incredibly rich signals that whether we realize it or not, every time we hear someone's name, we are forming impressions about a likely age, gender, ethnicity, even. Socioeconomic status or geography, that's all part of the impression that comes with a name. So it's something that you carry around, like little social microclimate that shapes the way people respond to you.
We're only alive for so long. So my future really is, as cheesy as it may seem, is to, um, try to let people know, Hey, you're not alone.
💡 Why You Should Listen:
If you’ve ever Googled yourself, reflected on your identity, or simply love well-produced podcasts that make you feel something, this one’s for you. It's perfect for Radiolab, This American Life, Heavyweight fans, or anyone who geeks out over good audio.
✅ Listen to the full episode here:🎧 Link https://www.20k.org/episodes/beingdallastaylor
🔗 Read the full review: 📝 https://open.substack.com/pub/feeddrops/p/six-dallas-taylors-walk-into-a-podcast
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Growth Network Podcasts - https://www.growthnetworkpodcasts.com/
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