Heartland Woman

Having a place to call home is one of the fundamentals of our well-being that is easy to take for granted. Easy until an illness, job loss or divorce threatens the security of home.  Beth Fetzer-Rice, Executive Director of the Homeless Families Foundation explains how the problems for homeless women with children are particularly urgent and severe. Beth discusses the difficulties of parenting without a home and argues that homeless mothers exhibit remarkable resilience in trying to provide security for their kids.

Women's bodies and reproduction are one of the most contested political battlegrounds.  Iris E. Harvey, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Greater Ohio is on the front line of that fight. She discusses how the work of Planned Parenthood cuts across the generations of her own family and fuels her commitment to reproductive health and freedom.

You've already heard Gretchen Pleuss's extraordinary voice and songwriting gifts in our theme song. We have a riveting conversation with Gretchen about music, love, sex and creativity.

Statehouse security guards repeatedly stopped and searched her while she was on her way to work, significantly more than her white male colleagues. When she was finally told her that she "didn't look like a legislator," Representative Emilia Sykes, Minority Whip for the Ohio House of Representatives, decided to fight back, launching the "We Belong Here" campaign. Rep. Sykes talks with us about race, gender and political legitimacy, as well as her legislative agenda to stop violence against women.

The U.S. is facing a housing crisis that is profound in its causes and implications.  Samantha Shuler, CEO of the Community Housing Network explains the complexities of housing policies and practices and why affordable housing is becoming increasingly scarce.

Lyzette is a married, 37-year-old mother of three. She was also one of 114 workers detained in an ICE raid at her workplace in June, 2018. Lyzette spent one month in an out-of-state detention center and served as a translator for the other women detainees. Her 11-year-old daughter Maggie tells us what her life was like the day Mom didn’t come home from work.

Melody Stewart, candidate for Ohio Supreme Court, argues that a balance of perspectives needs to be restored to the state’s highest judicial body.  She discusses how her mother shaped her self-discipline and work ethic, instilling values that would serve her well as an appellate court judge.  Melody tells us about her judicial philosophy, her toughest case, her musical passion and what it means to potentially be the first Black woman elected to the state’s Supreme Court.