S4: Ep 10 - Kia Guarino, Executive Director of Pro- Choice WA on the Covid pivot of Roe V Wade overturning

Hello and welcome to Right in Front of My Face, the podcast talking about big things right in front of us.  It’s been a haul, but here we are at the final episode of season 4 and in a lot of ways it felt like I’d never get here - but I did it.  I am so proud of this, the last and final Covid pivot conversation.  

I think part of the reason I struggled with getting this particular episode scheduled is because I knew I wanted to tackle the overturning of Roe V Wade as a the biggest Covid pivot in our nation, but I wasn’t sure what angle to approach it from.  Because my first angle is pure, unadulterated rage.  I’m just absolutely furious at what’s happening to reproductive rights and while I was spoiled in my adolescence knowing that my right to an abortion was very real, the world my daughter now inhabits doesn’t afford her that luxury.  Should she move to a non-sanctuary state and have a miscarriage, what could possibly happen to her?  So I’ve been stuck wallowing in what-ifs and processing my own feelings trying to figure out how to talk about this subject.

The other thing I had to get over was my own fear of talking about abortion honestly.  So many times, I’ve padded my own feelings about political and personal topics on the show, but I simply can’t on this one.  The decision to open up about being pro-choice, or rather pro-reproductive rights-  we’ll talk about this language distinction on the show, wasn’t one I take lightly.  I am still concerned what people think about me - I don’t want to offend anyone, but staying neutral on this issue simply isn’t an option.  So I’m out and I’m proud – I believe in my core as a Catholic woman that every person should have access to safe abortion.  I believe it’s a human right and I believe without it, people all over the world will continue to be oppressed.  So there you have it. 

So who to bring on to talk about this with me?  I considered lawyers, OB/Gyns, but ultimately I wanted to find someone to speak to exactly what we can do, give us tangible tools  to become a part of a movement.  I decided action was maybe a place we could use some education on so I started researching policy advocates in Washington State which landed me on Pro-Choice Washington’s website.  This is the only agency in the I am so proud of this, the last and final Covid pivot conversation.  

I think part of the reason I struggled with getting this particular episode scheduled is because I knew I wanted to tackle the overturning of Roe V Wade as a the biggest Covid pivot in our nation, but I wasn’t sure what angle to approach it from.  Because my first angle is pure, unadulterated rage.  I’m just absolutely furious at what’s happening to reproductive rights and while I was spoiled in my adolescence knowing that my right to an abortion was very real, the world my daughter now inhabits doesn’t afford her tstate, whose “sole focus is and I quote from their website:  “on political and legislative advocacy for reproductive freedom in Washington state. We believe every person deserves equitable access to affordable, unbiased, quality abortion and reproductive healthcare within their community.”  

This decision to overturn Roe V Wade is done.  We can’t go back.  And there is currently a federal abortion ban on the table, so policy is one of the only tools we have.  But I don’t think very many of us know what that means or how to apply ourselves to policy change.

So those of you that know me will understand my next move - I picked up the phone to leave a voicemail pitch for the Executive Director, of Pro-Choice Washington, Kia Guarino.  I remain one of the few humans who uses the phone app to talk - in this case it worked because Ms. Guarino, much to my surprise, picked up her phone on the first ring.  Once I got over my shock at hearing a voice at the end of my cold call, Kia and I had an open conversation about what I was feeling and hearing, and hung up knowing this was the person who could shed some light on how to move forward.  Even 44 episodes in, I’m still humbled that individuals like Kia who have dedicated their lives to their work, agree to come on and share their expertise with all of us.

My hope for this episode is that you leave with a sense of what the truth is and some tools to normalize the word abortion and the conversation that surrounds it.  Reading the materials from Pro-Choice Washingtons website honestly opened my eyes to the fact that we’ve all spent decades not realizing we were buying in to anti-abortion rhetoric and have let it cloud our vision.  I learned so much from Kia and I hope you do too.  We need to stay vigilant and really understand what’s happening.  Here’s a start.    Check out the How to Talk About Abortion Guide here.

Kia, your hopeful arc gave me some hope that I really need to cling onto.  Thank you so much for your time and for your work.  Links to all will be on my blog and in my show notes so please use your dollars and donate. Join Pro-Choice Washington Here.

I want to pause now in complete gratitude for the experience of this show.  Thank you to the 11 individuals that gave their time to talk about their Covid pivots and for inspiring me in my daily life.  Kristi Lord, Lindsay Droz, Nathalia Gorosh, Emily Cherkin, Dr. Lelach Rave, Erin Skipley, Dr. Ashwin Rao, Erin Quick, Zach Brittle and Cassie Walker-Johnson - gratitude isn’t enough.  Your honesty, guidance, and inspiration will stay with me forever and it’s touched so many in this audience.  To my sponsors Jeremy and Cassie Walker-Johnson - there’s no way to quantify a friendship.  Your support of this passion project and of me means more to me than you’ll ever realize.  Those texts of encouragement and support have kept me moving forward.  Truly.  I am so appreciative.  

Jason Best from Three Levers edits my podcast and has gracefully handled my schedule and has never let me down.  I appreciate your talent and you are the reason this show sounds so very professional.  Thank you.  

And most of all - to you listeners.  Thank you for sticking by a sometimes unpredictable release schedule to listen to these stories.  Thank you for your engagement on social media, for the emails and for the support of the people on this podcast.  There have been so many times I’ve questioned why I’m doing this - it’s a time-consuming hobby.  But then I’ll see someone out and about who says that an episode hit their heart and it makes it all worth it.  That’s the point, isn’t it?  To become a community?  To feel less alone?  To see the good, speak the truth and keep learning from each other’s experience?  I have gotten REAL existential these last few weeks and the only thing we have is each other.  That’s the point of this world on fire.  WE are the point.  We are the only ones who can pull each other through this fire and this is my commitment - to continue shining a light on the good and the helpful things I see.  

I want to share a conversation I had with my cousin.  She’s also trying to build a business while being a full-time mother, wife and friend.  I was sharing that I felt really frustrated about this podcast - I’m so proud of the work I’m doing, but wasn’t sure what to do next because as an ambitious person, I want to always be bigger and better.  She looked and me and said, “why can’t this just be enough?  The stories are great, so many people have learned, why does it always have to be more for us?”  and that realigned my thinking so much.  As I move forward, I’m trying to just let the effort and result be enough without ruining it with my ambition.  So that’s my challenge for you during this space where I’m figuring out season 5 - can we all try to just let what is be enough?  I’m going to do my best and I challenge you to as well.  

I’m committed to asking questions about things I don’t know from people I trust that can give me the answer whether I like it or not.  So please stick with me.  There will be a season 5.  Believe me, I have no shortage of big things happening right in front of my face.