Dear White Women
245 episodes - English - Latest episode: 21 days ago - ★★★★★ - 138 ratingsBiracial co-hosts Sara & Misasha - two wickedly smart, funny, compassionate best friends - have very mixed-race children between them, and are personally invested in helping to uproot systemic racism. Weekly episodes include interviews of people whose stories you might not often listen to; deep dives into history, psychology, and current events to explain why we are where we are as a country; and actions that you take right now to make change in your spheres. We're not perfect, but we're real. Join us on this journey.
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Episodes
44: Recorded Live: The 2020 Womxn’s March Denver
January 29, 2020 08:00 - 47 minutes - 65.1 MBWomen are often dismissed or silenced when coming forward in the public eye with their pain, particularly women of color. We’ve adopted this matriarchal mindset that women’s trauma, experiences, and emotions are invalid, but we need to come together as women to break that perception, now more than ever. Sara and Misasha dissect how the justice system has wrongfully unacknowledged women of color, along with special guest, domestic violence, sexual assault, and sexual abuse survivor, Mary R...
43: Let’s Talk About Rights
January 22, 2020 08:00 - 44 minutes - 41 MBThe progress of obtaining and maintaining women’s rights is not linear. Reproductive rights in the United States are focused on efforts to get and defend the legal right to abortion, and these efforts are led by predominantly white women. What little information is provided about women of color with regard to reproductive rights tends to center on the abuses they have suffered and represents only a partial history. Most of the reproductive health organizing done by women of color in the Un...
42: Presidential Powers and Women’s Rights
January 15, 2020 08:00 - 42 minutes - 39 MBParticularly relevant now that we’re in the 2020 election year is the subject of rights, namely reproductive ones and others that directly affect women. That’s what Sara and Misasha will be diving into on this episode, along with a brief coda to their recent 3-part series on the Criminal Justice System, and that is what the President has the power to change with regard to criminal justice versus what he or she needs Congress to help with. You’ll definitely want to listen in to this food-...
41: Ji Seon Song: Understanding and Navigating the Juvenile Legal System
January 08, 2020 08:00 - 45 minutes - 42.2 MBSara and Misasha’s guest today is Ji Seon Song, a former juvenile public defender. Join them in this fascinating - and often heartbreaking - journey inside the juvenile legal system. Ji Seon Song went to Columbia as an undergrad and also to Columbia Law School. Her scholarship currently focuses on criminal and juvenile justice. Ji Seon’s research explores the intersection of the criminal and juvenile justice systems and different institutions and areas of law. Her current project examin...
40: 2020 Vision: A Glimpse of Things to Come
January 01, 2020 08:00 - 17 minutes - 15.7 MBSara and Misasha take a break from the election issues to bring you a little 2020 vision to welcome in the new year and the new decade! Listen in as they chat about how they envision the coming year and decade will be! In appreciation for your support of the podcast, Sara and Misasha have a gift for you! It’s a Spotify Playlist, “DWW Podcast Best of 2019” Please enjoy it! Show Highlights: Sara and Misasha share their personal visions for the next decade. Misasha’s word for 2020 is...
39: Race & Politics: How to Talk with Your Family Over the Holidays
December 25, 2019 08:00 - 18 minutes - 17.4 MBSara and Misasha bring you a special holiday episode involving how to talk about race and politics over the holidays. When we gather as families, we tend to avoid spending our time talking about hot-button issues, especially around the holidays. Nobody wants a heated argument, but we may be missing out on opportunities to share opinions and get people talking about topics that are not ordinarily shared by those with the same viewpoints. Show Highlights: Addressing different beliefs be...
38: Special 3-Part Series: Criminal Justice: 15 Going on 28, Part 2
December 18, 2019 08:00 - 42 minutes - 39.2 MBSara and Misasha bring you the second part of their Criminal Justice series and another big issue affecting the 2020 Presidential election. This episode focuses on the juvenile. Pause for a moment and think about someone you know that’s a juvenile. Maybe you think of your kid, or maybe you think of yourself at 13. What were you like? Did you ever make any poor choices? Listen in for a shocking history lesson and find out how old laws are impacting our children in the court system even ...
37: Special 3-Part Series: Criminal Justice: Jaw-Dropping Stats You Should Know About Part 1
December 11, 2019 08:00 - 49 minutes - 45.6 MBWelcome to the first installment of a 3-part series where Sara and Misasha cover topics such as DWB, or driving while black, eye-popping traffic-stop statistics, and an overview of our criminal justice system. You’ll even get to hear Sara rap! Congratulations to Dear White Women Podcast, who was recently awarded “Best Episode” for the Inaugural Colorado Podcast Awards for the Crystal Echohawk episode! Show Highlights: Sara and Misasha discuss the anxiety of being pulled over while drivi...
36: The Enemy of My Enemy is My Friend
December 04, 2019 08:00 - 46 minutes - 16.1 MBYou may not be familiar with the subject of today’s show, but he is a senior advisor for policy for President Donald Trump. Sara and Misasha are going to be digging deep into Stephen Miller, who has facilitated and created a lot of the Trump administration policies, both domestic and foreign. They’re also going to be discussing his beliefs, which are largely rooted in racist and anti-immigrant ideology. Listen in to learn more about the people who are in power in our current government. ...
35: Election 101: Why Your Vote Does Matter
November 27, 2019 08:00 - 39 minutes - 14 MBIf you’ve slept a night or two since Civics class, be sure to listen in to this part of their Election Bootcamp series as Sara and Misasha bring us all up-to-date on the electoral vote, how the voting process works, and why your vote DOES matter. Show Highlights: The Presidential election is less than a year away, and the primaries begin early next year. An election for President of the United States happens every four years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Th...
34: Election Bootcamp Kickoff: How the F* Do I Make Sense of What’s Coming in 2020?
November 20, 2019 08:00 - 39 minutes - 13.9 MBJoin Sara and Misasha in the Election Bootcamp Kickoff! They’ve got questions, and they have some answers, and they’re not speaking as Democrats, Republicans, or unaffiliateds, they’re just focusing on the issues that this country is facing. Are you fired up yet? Listen in for some passionate, thought-provoking conversation! Show Highlights: Sara gets put in the hot seat with some election questions! Misasha points out that at the time this episode was recorded, there were a lot of ...
33: Special 3-Part Series: Domestic Terrorism: Then and Now Part 3
November 13, 2019 08:00 - 41 minutes - 14.5 MBOn today’s episode, Sara and Misasha close out their 3-part series on Birmingham, hate in this country, and why you need to vote in 2020. Warning: explicit content, not meant for younger ears. Show Highlights: Misasha provides a detailed look at an altercation after a minor accident between a white teacher and a black parent in a racially diverse school parking lot in the Upper Darby School District in Philadelphia. The teacher berates the parent and eventually lobs the n-word. Sara p...
32: Special 3-Part Series: Domestic Terrorism: Then and Now Part 2
November 06, 2019 08:00 - 33 minutes - 30.4 MBIn Part 2 of a special series on hate and violence in the United States, Sara and Misasha continue the dialogue with Charleston, and how we normalized hate in 2015 and going forward, as seen in Charlottesville, Pittsburgh, Poway, El Paso, and Gilroy. Join Sara and Misasha as they discuss Dylann Roof and the church massacre that set off this current resurgence of hate in a way that we haven’t seen in this country since the Birmingham bombings in 1963. Show Highlights: Roof was caught imm...
31: Special 3-Part Series: Domestic Terrorism: Then and Now Part 1
October 30, 2019 07:00 - 23 minutes - 21.6 MBJoin Sara and Misasha as they take a look back in time. This is the first part of a special three-part series, starting with the church bombings in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963. Just two months before President Kennedy’s assassination, the Birmingham church bombings occurred, and four young girls lost their lives. That long-ago act of terrorism has implications in what has gone on in more recent years. What do moments like this in history do to our psyche? Listen in to find out more. ...
30: Crystal Echohawk: Transforming Relationships with Native American Culture
October 23, 2019 07:00 - 48 minutes - 45.1 MBSara and Misasha are so excited to bring you a conversation with Crystal Echohawk on today’s podcast. Crystal is an advocate for Native American culture and respect and has a passion for building understanding and getting to know others. This episode is a perfect companion piece to Episode 29, Halloween and Cultural Appropriation, so if you missed that, please go check out the link provided. Crystal is a member of the Kitkehahki Band of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma, a mom, and Executive D...
29: Halloween and Cultural Appropriation
October 16, 2019 07:00 - 40 minutes - 37 MBOn today’s episode, Sara and Misasha hash out why a sexy Pocahontas is never a good idea for a Halloween costume. If you and/or your children are planning to participate in any school, work, or community events related to Halloween this year, you may want to take a moment and consider the concept of cultural appropriation while you’re picking out that costume. Listen in to hear their takeaway on this deeply delicate subject. Show Highlights: Sara and Misasha discuss the "I Am Not A Cos...
28: Shanicia Boswell: Black Moms Blog and Changing Perspectives
October 09, 2019 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.7 MBCreating a space within a space to positively replay black parenthood was the vision of today’s guest. Sara and Misasha get to chat with Shanicia Boswell about her unique perspectives as a black parent, and how there’s something for everyone on her popular blog. Shanicia Boswell is a self-described serial entrepreneur, best known for her Black Moms Blog, where she talks about parenting, culture, and lifestyle from a black mom’s point of view. She also has a company called the Self Care Ret...
27: Hispanic Heritage Month: Recognizing the Humanity in Everyone
October 02, 2019 07:00 - 31 minutes - 29 MBEvery year, between September 15 - October 15, Hispanic Heritage Month is observed and celebrated by millions of families. Sara and Misasha unpack the history behind it, and the reason it’s a painfully awkward event this year. They will also discuss ways that this month might promote some great, yet uncomfortable, conversations around recognizing the humanity in everyone. Show Highlights: Hispanic Heritage Month was created back in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week from legislation spons...
26: Summer Recap: Episode Updates, Time with the Kids, and Big Plans for Fall
September 25, 2019 07:00 - 46 minutes - 43 MBToday, we are celebrating our return from spending time with our children for the summer and so much has happened since we were last with you in real-time! So, in this show, we are going to recap some of our topics from our previous episodes, and also catch you up on our summers! We’re also going to be sharing some of the exciting things we have in store for you this fall. So, sit back, relax and join us for this conversation so we can catch up! Show Highlights: There are vast discr...
25: School Lunches: Why Kids Are Going Hungry
September 18, 2019 07:00 - 30 minutes - 28.4 MBJoin Sara and Misasha as they “dish” on school lunches: affordability, why kids are going hungry, and a public comment period that’s open until September 23rd, 2019. Federal assistance may potentially be cut for 500,000 kids, so what happens to lunch if that happens? Finally, you don’t want to miss Sara and Misasha sharing their favorite childhood school lunches, as well as what their kids eat! Show Highlights: There are high numbers of children who rely on breakfast and lunch at school b...
24: Kibi Anderson: The Significance of Hair
September 11, 2019 07:00 - 45 minutes - 42.1 MBSara and Misasha sit down with Kibi Anderson and explore the topic of HAIR! Growing up in a country like America, where a lot of standards of beauty are not centered around African culture and African qualities, has a profound influence in the black community. Join us as we examine and understand how significant hair is in our development. Kibi is a black woman, which is relevant to today’s conversation, a storyteller, and has worked in the media and entertainment space for the past 20 yea...
23: Hair & Identity: Don't Touch the Hair
September 04, 2019 07:00 - 22 minutes - 20.5 MBOur hair is undeniably connected to our identity, but what does it mean when random people feel compelled to touch the hair of another, without asking permission? Why do we perceive this as a threat? Why must we be made to feel “other” by someone’s words and actions? Today, we are going to be discussing hair and identity: black hair, its history in the United States, discrimination around black hair, and why you shouldn’t touch someone’s hair on the playground. Show Highlights: Misasha ...
22: Caster Semenya: When Protecting Women Hurts Women
August 28, 2019 07:00 - 21 minutes - 10.1 MBThroughout history, women have consistently faced more scrutiny in the public eye. While we’ve made tremendous progress, we’ve also made detrimentally large steps backward. Caster Semenya, an Olympic gold medalist, is one of the many women who can attest to the direct discrimination and violation females face in sports. As an athlete, Caster has experienced years of double-standards, invasive medical examinations, and unnecessary intervention throughout her career. Today, Sara and Misa...
21: The Alphabet Rockers: Making Music that Makes Change
August 21, 2019 07:00 - 50 minutes - 46.5 MBCreating an atmosphere that celebrates and encourages individuals no matter their race, gender, sexual orientation, or political views is the vision we are all collectively striving to achieve. The Alphabet Rockers have taken the initiative to expand that vision and bring social and racial awareness to classrooms. Today’s interview with band member, Kaitlin McGaw, unpacks the importance of implementing a diverse perspective at a young age and how to facilitate that as a parent and adminis...
20: Hate at School: How to Help Your Child Cope
August 14, 2019 07:00 - 47 minutes - 43.8 MBToday, we’re going to be sharing some reports with you, such as this one released just this year by the Southern Poverty Law Center, titled “Hate at School”. Teachers told SPLC in informal surveys that in many cases, Trump’s name was being invoked or his words parroted by children who were harassing others based on race, their ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. They noted a disturbing uptake in incidence involving swastikas, derogatory language, nazi salutes, and confederate flags...
19: Redlining: Institutionalizing Discriminatory Lending
August 07, 2019 07:00 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MBHave you heard of redlining? If so, do you know what it means today? And are you aware that the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), created by President Roosevelt in 1934, actually institutionalized the system of discriminatory lending in government-backed mortgages in America? Today, we're talking about redlining. In the 1930s, government surveyors, developed by the Homeowners Loan Coalition, graded neighborhoods in 239 American cities, using color-coded maps to indicate the level of ...
18: Factual Manipulation: Who Controls History?
July 31, 2019 07:00 - 26 minutes - 36.2 MBDid you take the information in your textbooks as the be-all and end-all of everything when you were in school? Have you ever really thought about that? Have you ever wondered who actually controls history, especially in our schools, and online? In past episodes of the podcast, we have often discussed the diversity of narratives in this country, and the importance of understanding the viewpoint of the minority. Today, we are asking a very interesting question. We would like to know what h...
17: Raising Black and Bi-Racial Children as a White Mom with Debbie Scheer
July 24, 2019 07:00 - 46 minutes - 42.8 MBRaising kids can be really hard at times. And as a white mom raising black kids, it's a uniquely challenging experience. Debbie Scheer is Sara and Misasha's guest on the show today. Debbie is a humorist, a speaker, an MC, and a woman-about-town in Denver. She has presence, intelligence, observational skills, and she's also a white mom raising two adopted boys, one black, and one bi-racial. The Dear White Women Podcast is not just about race, identity, and discussions around who we are,...
16: Concentration Camps: The Humanitarian Crisis at Our Border
July 17, 2019 07:00 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBAre you aware of the horrors that are going on in concentration camps at our borders? And did you know that although kids are dying there and families are being separated, our government is still pushing for this under the not-so-hidden agenda of white supremacy? Be prepared to open your hearts today, because it is possible to have an impact, and to bring about some change, just by having a conversation about it. And although today's topic is a heavy one, there are ways to get involved and a...
BONUS - Banning Discrimination Against Natural Hair
July 14, 2019 07:00 - 8 minutes - 8.04 MBWe have a special bonus episode today, about some big news coming from the state of California. We're talking about hair. In today's bonus episode, we will be discussing a ban on discrimination against natural hair that was recently passed in California. The act banning this discrimination was introduced by the Democratic senator, Holly Mitchell, and it is changing the course of history in America. Tune in now, to find out more. We also have an already-recorded episode coming up, where w...
15: SCOTUS 101 - 2 Issues That Could Limit Your Rights in 2020
July 10, 2019 07:00 - 39 minutes - 35.9 MBToday we bring you 2 hot issues coming out of the Supreme Court, as of the end of June: 1) the citizenship question on the 2020 census and 2) gerrymandering and how voting districts are going to be drawn in the future. The first timely topic is the inclusion of the citizenship question on the 2020 census and Supreme Court rule that the census will NOT be including that question, based on the grounds that the Administration had given a legitimate reason for the inclusion of that question. ...
14: When Does Character Matter? Case Studies of Tiger Woods and LeBron James
July 03, 2019 07:00 - 32 minutes - 44.4 MBHave you ever thought about why character matters? And have you ever wondered what it is that makes people influential and powerful? Today we're talking about Tiger Woods and LeBron James, two very influential people who have been in the news a lot, and they were recently named by Time Magazine as two of the 100 most influential people of the year. The bigger question to ask is really why everyone seems to be okay with Tiger Woods now that he's won the Master's again, even though he treat...
13: Black Maternal Healthcare: Racial Disparities in the US Healthcare System
June 26, 2019 07:00 - 35 minutes - 32.8 MBAre you aware of the racial disparity that exists in the US healthcare system? And did you know that some people are actually dying unnecessarily as a result? Today, Sara talks to Dr. Monique Rainford, an OB/GYN from Jamaica, who recently did a phenomenal TEDx talk, called America’s Maternal Nightmare, about black maternal health in America. In her talk, Dr. Rainford peeled back the layers and very clearly revealed the disparities that exist within the US healthcare system, particularly when...
12: Hate in America, Pt. 2: The Current Resurgence of Hate
June 19, 2019 07:00 - 32 minutes - 29.9 MBToday, we continue with our conversation about the Ku Klux Klan, the history of hate in America, and why we're seeing the current resurgence of hate groups. There is so much wrapped up in all of this, so it is really very important for us to understand why it happened, and also, what might be happening now. Fraternal organization structures, like the Freemasons, started becoming very popular in the late 1800s and the first part of the 1900s. In fact, they were so popular that it was sugges...
11: Hate in America, Part 1: The History of the Ku Klux Klan
June 12, 2019 07:00 - 23 minutes - 22 MBIt's interesting to know that in 2018, there was a 50% increase in the number of hate groups in America. Currently, the Southern Poverty Law Center is tracking more than 1000 hate groups, so hate is certainly not a thing of the past. In fact, it has actually increased in recent years. So, there is a lot to talk about when it comes to the history of hate in America and why we are seeing the current resurgence. Today, we're doing the first of two episodes on the topic. We will be taking a l...
10: Equal Pay Day: The Reality of Gender Parity
June 05, 2019 07:00 - 25 minutes - 23.3 MBAs women, it’s important for us to advocate for other women, but it’s difficult for us to do that if we’re unaware of other women’s experiences. According to statistics only 62% of Americans even believe that there is a pay gap between men and women, but data shows there is. When it comes to women’s equality there seems to be a lack of awareness all across the board. Today, Sara and Misasha discuss the current issues with equal pay, discrepancies women experience in the workplace, and the...
09: Understanding the Minority Experience from Those Who Live It
May 29, 2019 07:00 - 34 minutes - 31.9 MBWe all have our own preconceived notions - it’s part of being human, but how we choose to challenge and question those biases is what’s important. Today’s episode contains interviews with three individuals with unique narratives, who have experienced the backlash of others' misperceptions. Brittany, Brandon, and Golnaz all have distinct differences in their stories but also share an array of commonalities. To hear more about Brittany, Brandon, and Golnaz’s experiences as minorities join us f...
08: Micro-Aggression: What It Is and How We Can Combat Bias
May 22, 2019 07:00 - 20 minutes - 9.43 MBWe’ve seen a major shift to becoming more accepting as a society over the years, but implicit biases and micro-aggressions still occur more often than you’d think. Today, Misasha and Sara discuss what makes up a micro-aggression and how to identify words or actions that may be unintentionally offensive. It’s important that we all grow in our awareness and continue to reflect on our own views by acknowledging any potential biases we may have. This episode talks about the vitality of not in...
07: Unpacking the Psychology Behind Implicit Bias
May 15, 2019 07:00 - 22 minutes - 20.6 MBHave you ever had a thought that didn’t feel completely your own? Have you ever had to counter your initial reaction to a situation? It’s likely that those ideas were stimulated from your subconscious and they are trying to protect you. But from what? Today, Sara and Misasha discuss the psychology behind implicit bias and the impact of our unconscious thoughts. To hear more about the role bias plays in society and how to reprogram your own subconscious tune into this episode of Dear White...
06: Mental Health Month: History, Current Events and Marginalized Groups
May 08, 2019 07:00 - 29 minutes - 27.4 MBMental illness is a topic that society is becoming more comfortable talking about, but there is still a stigma that prevents many people from getting the help they need. Individuals who don’t struggle with generalized mental illnesses may have a more difficult time empathizing or grasping the idea of mental illness. Since May is Mental Health Month, Sara and Misasha are going to help shed some light on mental illness and how marginalized groups treated differently are more prone to experie...
05: The College Admission Scandal: White Privilege, Affirmative Action + How We Define Success with Adebisi Adebowale
May 01, 2019 07:00 - 27 minutes - 26.2 MBToday's episode includes special guest, coach and scholar, Adebisi Adebowale. Adebisi joins Sara and Misasha in a discussion regarding the college admissions scandals. They share their thoughts on what these transgressions mean in regards to white privilege, society’s definition of success, and how to approach large scale misconduct. To hear more thoughts about the impact of these scandals and how we can take affirmative action, tune into this episode of Dear White Women. Show Highlights:...
04: Intersectional Feminism: What It Is and Why It Matters
April 24, 2019 07:00 - 30 minutes - 14 MBPracticing feminism is something most women are proud to participate in, but white women, in particular, tend to be unaware of how exclusive feminism itself can truly be. Intersectional feminism is a term that isn’t widely used, but should be widely practiced. Today, Sara and Misasha discuss what it means to be an intersectional feminist and why practicing it is so important. To better understand the history and impact of intersectional feminism and how you can implement it into your own l...
03: Why White People Should Care: The Women's Movement and Societal Systems
April 17, 2019 08:21 - 25 minutes - 11.7 MBWhile women have come a long way in regards to rights and gaining positions of influence, the fight for women’s equality is still ongoing. Although, when it comes to feminism it’s easy to dismiss the fact that it’s not only a matter of sexism, but a matter of racism. Today Sara and Misasha discuss what it looks like to be completely bought into women’s rights, the influence women have in society, and how we can implement that into our own lives by empowering others. If you’re passionately...
02: Why White People Should Care: History, Science + Current Events
April 17, 2019 07:30 - 25 minutes - 12 MBThe issues with race, sexism, and overall inequality are still very prominent in our current political climate and society as a whole. While it may not be the most comfortable issue to address, Sara and Misasha discuss the importance of acknowledging and combating these injustices. They also discuss the necessity that white people should care about these issues by highlighting history, science, and current events. Tune into this episode of Dear White People to hear more about the structura...
01: Starting Challenging Conversations.......
April 17, 2019 07:00 - 9 minutes - 8.75 MBIt’s important to have conversations regarding race, gender, minorities, etc. Unless we as a society choose to acknowledge these uncomfortable but prominent issues, they will never just resolve on their own. It’s easy to blow these things off or to feel powerless, but at the core, all of these issues start with people deciding to make a difference. Today, Sara and Misasha introduce Dear White People by starting conversations that challenge our thoughts, brings purpose, and leaves you with...