Writer's Voice with Francesca Rheannon

In this episode, we talk with journalist Amanda Becker about the impact of the Dobbs decision, the legal chaos that followed, and how the fight for abortion rights continues.

Becker shares insights from her book You Must Stand Up, detailing the rollback of reproductive rights, the history of anti-abortion legislation, and the movement’s ongoing efforts to restore access through ballot measures, legal strategies, and political action.

“Fetal personhood is the endgame of the anti-abortion movement. If a fetus has the same rights as you or I, the person carrying it will inevitably have fewer.” — Amanda Becker

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Key Words: abortion rights, reproductive rights, Dobbs Decision, Roe V. Wade, Amanda Becker, reproductive justice, fetal personhood, abortion access,

You Might Also Like: Alice Rothchild, Policing Women’s Bodies, A Woman’s Life Is A Human Life,

Key Points:

• The Chaos After Dobbs – How state laws clashed, causing confusion and immediate clinic closures.
• History of Anti-Abortion Legislation – The role of the Tea Party and targeted restrictions on abortion providers (TRAP laws).
• Democratic Inaction – How leaders, including President Obama, deprioritized abortion rights.
• Healthcare Crisis – The impact of bans on maternal and infant health, and the declining number of OB-GYNs in restrictive states.
• Threats to Medication Abortion – How legal battles over mifepristone and the Comstock Act could limit access nationwide.
• The Push for Fetal Personhood – What it means for reproductive rights beyond abortion.
• Strategies for the Future – The role of ballot initiatives, legal protections, and long-term advocacy.

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In this episode of Writer’s Voice, we talk with Aaron Robertson about his fascinating book, The Black Utopians: Searching for Paradise and the Promised Land in America. It’s about the hidden legacies of Black utopian experiments and what they teach us about the power of community today.

Then, we talk with best-selling novelist, journalist and activist Cory Doctorow about his new crime thriller, the latest installment in the Martin Hench series, Picks and Shovels. It tells the origin stories of forensic accountant Martin Hench and the most powerful tool for crime ever invented: the personal computer.

Black History Month on Writer’s Voice

Every week this month, we’ll be featuring books about key times in America’s Black History, a history that enriches and enlightens us all. We talk with:

• Aaron Robertson, BLACK UTOPIANS
• Aran Shetterly about MORNINGSIDE: The 1979 Greensboro Massacre
• Victoria Christopher Murray about her novel of the Harlem Renaissance, HARLEM RHAPSODY
• Bernadette Atuahene about her history of how racist policies undermine Black home ownership In America, PLUNDERED

Connect with WV:

Follow us on Bluesky @writersvoice.bsky.social and subscribe to our Substack. Or find us on Instagram @WritersVoicePodcast

You can support our show and the others you listen to by contributing through Lenny.fm. Your support helps us bring you more of the episodes, like this one, that you look forward to. Thanks for being a vital part of our community!

Key Words: Black utopian communities, Aaron Robertson, The Black Utopians, Promiseland Tennessee, Black Christian nationalism, Albert Cleage Jr., Black History Month, Cory Doctorow, Picks and Shovels book, enshittification, digital rights, big tech antitrust

Segment 1: Aaron Robertson

Aaron Robertson’s book The Black Utopians uncovers the rich yet often overlooked history of Black utopian communities in America—places born from struggle, but driven by hope, self-determination, and perserverance. From the historic town of Promiseland, Tennessee, to the radical vision of Black Christian nationalism in Detroit, Robertson takes us on a journey through forgotten movements that sought to build a better world right here in America.

“Moments of crisis are often when utopian experiments flourish. When existing systems fail, people turn to each other and create something new.“ — Aaron Robertson

Topics Covered

• The history and significance of Black utopian communities
• Promiseland, Tennessee: A historic all-Black town
• The role of Black Christian nationalism and its leader, Albert Cleage Jr.
• How Black utopian movements contrast with white countercultural movements of the 1960s
• Why mainstream narratives have overlooked Black utopian experiments
• Lessons from The Black Utopians for building resilient communities today

Read an Excerpt

Segment 2: Cory Doctorow

We welcome back Cory Doctorow—bestselling author, activist, and one of the most incisive voices on the intersection of technology, capitalism, and digital rights. His latest book, Picks and Shovels, is a gripping prequel to Red Team Blues and The Bezel, diving into the dawn of the personal computing era in 1986. Through the eyes of forensic accountant Martin Hench, Doctorow explores corporate fraud, the rise of monopolies, and what he famously calls the “enshittification” of technology.

We also discuss how modern fraud operates, the power of spreadsheets in financial crimes, Amazon’s monopoly over the audiobook industry, and why Doctorow is hopeful—not optimistic—about the future of digital rights and labor movements.

“We stopped enforcing antitrust laws, and we got monopolies. This shouldn’t surprise anyone.” — Cory Doctorow

Topics Covered

• Why Doctorow set his novel in 1986 and how it serves as a prequel to his previous books
• How the character Martin Hench uses forensic accounting to uncover fraud using spreadsheets, and why fraudsters often think they’re untouchable.
• How the early PC industry was a Wild West of innovation, scams, and untapped potential.
• The...

We talk with Abrahm Lustgarten about his book, On The Move: The Overheating Earth and the Uprooting of America. It’s about how climate chaos means a humanity on the move.

Then, we catch up with journalist and author Ross Barkan about his recent article in New York Magazine, “The Most Endangered Democrat in America: Jamaal Bowman might lose his job over Israel.”

Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004.

Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram @WritersVoicePodcast or find us on X/Twitter @WritersVoice.

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Key Words: climate migration, climate refugees, climate justice, Abrahm Lustgarten, On the Move book, Ross Barkan, Jamaal Bowman, George Latimer, Gaza ceasefire, New York primary

Climate Chaos Means Humanity on the Move

Guest: Abrahm Lustgarten, investigative reporter on climate change

Book:On the Move: The Overheating Earth and the Uprooting of America

Key Topics:

• Climate Migration: The massive displacement of populations due to climate change, both globally and within the United States.
• Human Habitability Niche: The ideal climate zone for human habitation is shifting, displacing billions.
• U.S. Impacts: Wildfires, floods, extreme heat, and droughts will reshape the country.
• Heat and Humidity: Rising temperatures and humidity levels will make parts of the U.S. uninhabitable.
• Sea Level Rise: Coastal communities are facing rapid land loss and increased flooding.
  Inequality: Climate change disproportionately affects poor communities and communities of color.
• Economic Impacts: Climate change will cause significant economic disruption, particularly in the southern U.S.
• Food Security: Agricultural yields are declining due to heat and water scarcity.
• Global Perspective: The impacts of climate migration will be far greater in the developing world.
• Loss and Damage: The U.S. and other wealthy nations have a responsibility to aid countries suffering from climate-related losses.
• Economic Opportunities: Addressing climate change can create economic benefits, but requires investment and policy changes.
• Solutions: Reducing emissions, investing in adaptation, and providing foreign aid are crucial steps.

Read an Excerpt from On The Move

Keywords: climate change, migration, displacement, heat, floods, drought, inequality, economics, food security, loss and damage, foreign aid, solutions

Additional Notes: Lustgarten’s book provides a detailed and personal look at the impacts of climate migration. The interview highlights the urgency of addressing climate change and the need for immediate action. The discussion emphasizes the interconnectedness of climate change, migration, and social justice issues.

The Most Endangered Democrat in America: Jamal Bowman’s Battle Against AIPAC

Congressmember Jamal Bowman of New York is facing a tough challenge in the upcoming June primary, with AIPAC backing his opponent George Latimer. Ross Barkan, author of a recent article in New York Magazine, joins us to discuss the stakes of this critical race.

Key Points

Bowman’s Stance on Israel:

• Bowman’s position on Israel leans left, advocating for a two-state solution and conditioning military aid to Israel.
• He’s drawn controversy by calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and criticizing Israeli government actions.

Latimer’s Position on Israel:

• Latimer aligns with AIPAC’s positions, opposing conditioning aid to Israel and supporting Netanyahu.
• He’s backed by significant funding from pro-Israel donors, including some with ties to Trumpist circles.

The Race Dynamics:

• Bowman’s vulnerabilities, including past controversies and a spending disadvantage, make the race tight.
• Latimer, a well-known local politician, presents a formidable challenge to the incumbent Bowman.

Implications of Bowman’s Defeat:

• Losing Bowman would be a setback for progressive forces, signaling AIPAC’s successful strategy in Democratic primaries.
...

Is identity politics keeping us divided? And how can activists build solidarity with others while fighting for their own rights? We talk with activist, educator and organizer Michael Zweig about his book, Class, Race and Gender: Challenging the Injuries and Divisions of Capitalism.

Then in honor of Spring, Host Francesca Rheannon reads her story, The Sheep’s Blessing. It’s about an encounter in the backcountry of Provence that illuminated the sacred bond between a flock of sheep, a dog and a shepherd.

Writer’s Voice — in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004. Rate us on your favorite podcast app! It really helps others find our show.

Like us on Facebook at Writers Voice Radio or find us on Threads and Instagram at writersvoicepodcast and at X/Twitter @WritersVoice.

Key words: Michael Zweig, class, race, gender, intersectionality, identity politics, podcast, author interview, politics

Read The Transcript

The Rise of Identity Politics

The movements to support identity rights were a key leap forward in the latter half of the twentieth century. The struggles to protect the rights of racial minorities, of women, of LGBTQ people addressed grievous social wrongs and won important victories. Victories that are being undermined today.

But those movements also took place at a time when the movement to support working class rights and unions was on the wane. One could argue that identity politics replaced class politics, especially in the Democratic Party, but also in the sphere of larger mass movements.

Challenging the Injuries and Divisions of Capitalism

In his book Class, Race and Gender: Challenging the Injuries and Divisions of Capitalism, Michael Zweig says the thread that weaves together class, race, and gender oppression is capitalism, a system that divides those it exploits in order to maintain its rule.

Zweig illuminates the fundamental mechanisms of capitalism, unveiling the root causes behind a myriad of pressing issues plaguing our world today, from income inequality to environmental degradation, from militarism to systemic racism and patriarchy. In Class, Race and Gender, Zweig dissects the interconnectedness of these phenomena, tracing their origins throughout US history.

Drawing from his own experience as an activist, educator, and organizer, Zweig offers not only a a deep understanding of structural inequities but also practical strategies for transformative action.

The Sheep’s Blessing by Francesca Rheannonn

Springlike weather over the last few days has put me in mind of another Spring I experienced over 20 years ago in the beautiful back country of Provence, in the foothills of the Alps.

I was living in the house of my friend Fabienne, who had gone off to Paris for several months during the winter. I wrote a story about an encounter with a shepherd I had on the first spring-like day at the end of January, 2002. The story, “The Sheep’s Blessing,” was published in 2003 in an anthology of writings about Provence, Travelers’ Tales Provence: True Stories.

The shepherd Hervé, who I met that day, became a good friend. He turned out to be a true philosopher of his profession, a kind of guru/revolutionary of the shepherd’s life. In the months that followed, I went on many walks with him and his trusty sheep dog, Tango. I share my first encounter with him in this episode of Writer’s Voice.

Transcript of Writer’s Voice Interview with Michael Zweig

Mike Zweig, welcome to Writers Voice.

Great to be with you.

This is a wonderful book, Class, Race, and Gender, Challenging the Injuries and Divisions of Capitalism. So right at the top there with your title, we have the notion of intersectionality. Intersectionality is something people have been talking about, but I’m not sure they’ve been practicing it as much as they should be. And you say that in order to really understand race and gender, we have to understand their connection to class. So explain that.

And I would also say in order to understand class, you have to understand its relationship to issues of race and gender because these things are mutually determined.

Race and class are different things, but they are not independent of one another.

And the same is true for race and gender, and gender and class.

These things have their independent existence or t...

In this episode of Writer’s Voice, we explore two fascinating books. Rowan Jacobsen takes us deep into the Amazon in Wild Chocolate, uncovering the origins of cacao and the ethical challenges of the chocolate industry.

Then, Karissa Chen discusses Homeseeking, her powerful novel tracing the Chinese diaspora through generations of displacement, love, and longing for home.

“We’ve been eating a shadow of what chocolate once was— and wild chocolate is bringing back its soul.”* — Rowan Jacobsen

Connect with WV:

Follow us on Bluesky @rheannonf.bsky.social and subscribe to our Substack. Or find us on Instagram @WritersVoicePodcast

Key Words: Rowan Jacobsen, Wild Chocolate book, wild cacao, ethical chocolate, cacao biodiversity, Big Chocolate, Karissa Chen, Homeseeking novel, Chinese diaspora.

You Might Also Like: Rowan Jacobsen, AMERICAN TERROIR, Tessa Hulls, FEEDING GHOSTS, Ava Chin, MOTT STREET

Summary

Rowan Jacobsen shares the hidden world of wild chocolate, from its Amazonian roots to its ethical and environmental implications. He contrasts mass-market chocolate with rare, wild cacao varieties and explores the industry’s dark side, from worker exploitation to Big Chocolate’s market manipulation.

Next, Karissa Chen discusses Homeseeking, a novel spanning decades of displacement, war, and migration, following two star-crossed lovers through the upheavals of modern Chinese history. Chen reflects on themes of identity, memory, and what it truly means to find home.

Key Topics

Segment 1: Rowan Jacobsen on *Wild Chocolate

• The Amazonian origins of cacao and its discovery in Mesoamerica
• How wild chocolate differs from industrial chocolate in taste and genetics
• The exploitation of cacao farmers and labor conditions in West Africa
• The rise of ethical chocolate and sustainable harvesting efforts
• The role of indigenous communities in preserving wild cacao biodiversity

Segment 2: Karissa Chen on *Homeseeking

• The inspiration behind the novel: a family history of displacement
• The impact of war and political upheaval on personal identity
• How the novel’s dual timelines reflect different perspectives on memory
• The evolving definition of “home” in the context of migration and diaspora
• The role of fate, fortune-telling, and personal agency in shaping the characters’ lives