R-Soul: Reclaiming the Soul of Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice

Faith Choice Ohio
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Religion & Spirituality
  • Updated Biweekly

From the Clergy Consultation Service on Abortion to the modern day struggle for intersectional reproductive freedom, religious voices have been at the forefront of fights that matter for generations. We’re here to amplify essential voices, tell stories that often go unheard, and lift up the holy and healing work of faithfully pro-choice activists like you.

  1. 6d ago

    Yours to Tell: PRIDE, Repro, and the Power of Storytelling

    For PRIDE Month, join Kelley Fox and Rev. Terry Williams for a discussion about LGBTQ+ liberation, reproductive freedom, and the power of personal storytelling! No matter who you are or what your life experiences have been — where, when, if, and how you share your story matters. Comparing the similar ways that personal stories about reproductive experiences and human sexuality are treated in society, Kelley and Rev. Terry offer important tips for stewarding your own story, selecting your audience with care, and standing in the power of your own decision making when it comes to sharing personal reflections and history. Join us for this PRIDE-inspired, intersectional trip through the journey of narrative storytelling and personal empowerment Links to discussed content:  Find us at PRIDE!: https://www.faithchoiceohio.org/events Dayton PRIDE: https://www.faithchoiceohio.org/events/dayton-pride-2026 Canal Winchester PRIDE at David’s UCC: https://www.faithchoiceohio.org/events/canal-winchester-pride-2026 Cincinnati PRIDE: https://www.faithchoiceohio.org/events/cincinnati-pride-2026 Akron PRIDE: https://www.faithchoiceohio.org/events/akron-pride-2026 Chrysalis by the Upper Room: https://www.upperroom.org/chrysalis "Spoon Theory," by Christine Miserandino: https://lymphoma-action.org.uk/sites/default/files/media/documents/2020-05/Spoon%20theory%20by%20Christine%20Miserandino.pdf  Abortion Care Package Program: https://www.faithchoiceohio.org/abortion-care-packages Music by Korbin Jones

    38 min

  2. May 21

    Neighbors Who Train Together: A Trip to Visit WV FREE

    Ohio and West Virginia share a lot more than a border — common economic systems, cultural bonds, and legislative environments hostile to reproductive rights make for strong relationships between reproductive freedom advocates across both states. Kelley Fox and Rev. Terry Williams take you inside a recent day-long training event where Faith Choice Ohio staff led our friends at WV FREE through multiple faith-in-action training sessions. Exploring the trainings we offered in this Ohio-West Virginia partnership event, Kelley and Rev. Terry talk through the important aspects of trainings on Values Clarification; Reproductive Justice 101; and All-Options Spiritual Caregiving that are foundational to our work. This episode also explores the amazing new Reproductive Freedom Resource Center headed up by WV FREE called The CICADA Center — you won’t want to miss this! Links to discussed content:  West Virginia FREE: wvfree.org CICADA Center: https://wvfree.org/cicada-center/ Purple Period Pantry: www.thewvwa-ef.org/purple-period-pantry CICADA Center Opens at St John’s: www.wvgazettemail.com/news/health/cicada-center-opens-at-st-johns-to-offer-reproductive-counseling-supplies/article_a0521e2a-a9a0-4318-9256-142ab7670955.html St. John’s Episcopal Church (Charleston, WV): www.stjohnswv.org/ Faith for Repro Training Center: www.faithchoiceohio.org/trainings Request a Speaker: www.faithchoiceohio.org/request-a-speaker Contact Us: www.faithchoiceohio.org/contact-us Music by Korbin Jones

    35 min

  3. May 7

    Mifepristone Again: Still Safe and Effective

    For the one millionth time (it feels like it!), nationwide access to Mifepristone is again under judicial threat. Join Kelley Fox and Rev. Terry Williams for an update about the latest rulings, as well as a discussion of the past, present, and possible futures of this safe & effective medication that helps make most abortions in the U.S. possible. Sometimes known by its older name of RU-486, mail-order Mifepristone has become the center of a strategy by anti-abortion zealots that aims to eliminate abortion access altogether. Kelley and Rev. Terry explain what a world of difference Mifepristone has made for abortion access and why the drug’s continued legal availability is a key part to creating safe futures for all people who choose abortion. Links to discussed content:  Louisiana's 5th Circuit Mifepristone Decision blocked by Supreme Court: https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pills-mifepristone-supreme-court-louisiana-0533e83d67148fdfec53b... Supreme Court Temporarily Restores Access to Abortion Pill by Mail: www.nytimes.com/2026/05/04/us/politics/supreme-court-abortion-pill.html What is Mifepristone?: www.heyjane.com/articles/what-is-mifepristone Self-Managed Abortion in Good Faith Training: www.faithchoiceohio.org/self-managed-abortion-in-good-faith-training Liver & Onions podcast episode: https://faithchoiceohio.podbean.com/e/liver-and-onions-and-abortions/ Repro Legal Helpline: https://reprolegalhelpline.org/ Repro Legal Defense Fund: https://reprolegaldefensefund.org/ Music by Korbin Jones

    35 min

  4. Apr 23

    150 and Counting: Celebrating 150 Episodes of R-Soul

    It’s been nearly six years of reproductive health, rights, and justice through a faith lens here at the R-Soul podcast by Faith Choice Ohio! Journey with Kelley Fox and Rev. Terry Williams through some of the best previous episodes of R-Soul, complete with commentary on history repeating itself, powerful predictions that came to pass, and reflections on our hopes for the next 150 episodes. Links to discussed content: (Episode 102) Deeply Rooted & Tightly Woven: Building Community with SACReD: https://faithchoiceohio.podbean.com/e/deeply-rooted-tightly-woven-building-community-with-sacred/ SACReD Gathering in 2027: www.sacreddignity.org/gathering/ (Episode 103) Rage Runs Out: Sustainably Organizing for Reproductive Freedom: https://faithchoiceohio.podbean.com/e/rage-runs-out-sustainably-organizing-for-reproductive-freedom/ (Episode 105) Healthy Shouldn’t Be Hard: How Health Equity Obstacles Are Failing Patients https://faithchoiceohio.podbean.com/e/healthy-shouldn-t-be-hard-how-health-equity-obstacles-are-fail... (Episode 120) Winter Won’t Last Forever: Strategies for Thriving in Seasons of Strife: https://faithchoiceohio.podbean.com/e/winter-won-t-last-forever-strategies-for-thriving-in-seasons-o... (Episode 125) Progress, Not Perfection: Remembering Pope Francis: https://faithchoiceohio.podbean.com/e/progress-not-perfection-remembering-pope-francis/ Catholics for Choice: www.catholicsforchoice.org/ (Episode 134) Running the Numbers: How Much Does an Abortion Really Cost?: https://faithchoiceohio.podbean.com/e/running-the-numbers-how-much-does-an-abortion-really-cost/ Abortion Estimator Tool: https://www.ineedana.com/estimate-abortion-costs (Episode 135) Resurrecting the Goddess: Liberating Christianity with the Divine Feminine (PART 1): faithchoiceohio.podbean.com/e/resurrecting-the-goddess-liberating-christianity-with-the-divi... (Episode 138) Preaching Personhood: The Politics of Ignoring People in the Present: https://faithchoiceohio.podbean.com/e/preaching-personhood-the-politics-of-ignoring-people-in-the-pr... (Episode 139) SNAP Shutdown: Why Food Security Is Reproductive Justice: https://faithchoiceohio.podbean.com/e/snap-shutdown-why-food-security-is-reproductive-justice/ (Episode 144) 2026 in The Cards: Spiritually Discerning the New Year with Tarot: https://faithchoiceohio.podbean.com/e/2026-in-the-cards-spiritually-discerning-the-new-year-with-tar... (Episode 146) Tears Are Welcome: The Power of Lament in Justice Work: https://faithchoiceohio.podbean.com/e/tears-are-welcome-the-power-of-lament-in-justice-work/ Guests since Episode 100 Kate, Faith Choice Ohio Dr. Jamie Marich, Author: "You Lied to Me About God" Jen Miller, League of Women Voters of Ohio Mia Lewis, Common Cause Ohio Nicole Morino, Catholics for Choice Constance Dunlap, Faith Choice Ohio Samantha, Faith Choice Ohio Charity Woods Barnes, Reproductive Justice Resilience Project Erin Duffy-Burke & Kathleen Joan, Co-creators of the Resurrecting the Goddess Summit Sister Shannon, Roman Catholic Social Media Educator Rev. Dr. Marian Stewart, Springfield Neighbors United Music by Korbin Jones

    38 min

  5. Apr 9

    My Body, No Choice: What Forced C-Sections Teach Us About Medical Freedom

    Who has the right to determine how a pregnancy should be delivered? Kelley Fox and Rev. Terry Williams tackle recent reporting that documents incidents in Florida where Black women have been forced into delivering their pregnancies via C-section against their will. Putting these latest examples of government overreach into historical & social context, Kelley and Rev. Terry cover the ethics of bodily autonomy, analogous medical freedom situations, and the role racism plays in the policies of force that disparately affect pregnant people in the United States. Links to discussed content: Court-ordered C-sections: www.propublica.org/article/florida-court-ordered-c-sections UltraViolet Petition Against Forced C-Sections:  https://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/no_forced_csections/ Killing the Black Body, by Dorothy Roberts: https://archive.org/details/killingblackbody00robe Department of Rehabilitation & Corrections Pregnancy Outcomes Bill: www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/hb542 Ohio Universal Pregnancy Registry Bill: www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/hb754 Local Ohio Media on Universal Pregnancy Registry Bill: Bill: www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2026/03/17/ohio-bill-would-require-fetal-birth-death-certificates/89183531007/ National Media on Ohio Universal Pregnancy Registry Bill: https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/listen-velshi-ohio-gop-bill-track-every-pregnancy/ 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/amendments/amendment-xiii Restorative & Transformative Justice Training:  https://www.faithchoiceohio.org/restorative-and-transformative-justice-training Music by Korbin Jones

    33 min

  6. Mar 26

    Practice Makes Progress: Finding Spiritual Practices That Work for You

    Kelley Fox and Rev. Terry Williams tackle the topic of evolving spirituality, exploring options for how you can both outgrow the religious practices of your childhood and simultaneously grow into a deeply meaningful spirituality that doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful. Through discussions of their own personal evolutions in spiritual practice, Kelley and Rev. Terry help listeners understand the compelling benefits of finding a spirituality that works for you, including the impact a healthy spiritual life can have on reproductive freedom advocacy and community building. Links to discussed content:  Saturn Return: What is it? https://www.chani.com/astro-education/saturn-return Resurrecting the Goddess Interview Pt. 1: https://faithchoiceohio.podbean.com/e/resurrecting-the-goddess-liberating-christianity-with-the-divine-feminine-part-1/ Pagan Sabbats: https://www.learnreligions.com/eight-pagan-sabbats-2562833 The Gospel According to Ricky Bobby: https://mbird.com/film/the-gospel-according-to-ricky-bobby/ The Unexpected Joy of Being Bad at Something: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/possibilitizing/202502/the-unexpected-joy-of-being-bad-at-something Spirituality & Spring Cleaning: Practices to Help You Find Focus: https://www.faithchoiceohio.org/blog/spirituality-and-spring-cleaning-practices-to-help-you-find-focus Music by Korbin Jones

    33 min

  7. Mar 12

    Love Your Neighbor: The Work of Springfield Neighbors United

    How does a community respond when rhetoric and politicized false narratives threaten to divide people from their neighbors? Rev. Dr. Marian Stewart from Springfield Neighbors United joins Faith Choice Ohio's Rev. Terry Williams for a conversation about resilience, compassion, and the evolving power found in actively loving your neighbors. Never shying away from the gritty, messy truth of the Springfield experience, Dr. Stewart gives a hopeful vision for what can happen in every community with a dedication to making neighbors feel supported, welcomed, and affirmed. Listen in to hear how the community of Springfield is living love-your-neighbor values to create the kind of safe, sustainable community we all can believe in. Links to discussed content: Get in touch with Springfield Neighbors United: springfieldneighborsunited@gmail.com Read Rev. Dr. Marian Stewart's bio: www.faithchoiceohio.org/staff-board Springfield Neighbors United: Stand With Us for Immigration Justice: www.faithchoiceohio.org/blog/springfield-neighbors-united-stand-with-us-for-immigration-justice The Haitians of Springfield Are Under Attack Yet Again: www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/02/haitian-immigrants-springfield-ohio-tps-temporary-protected-status-bomb-threats-lawsuit-trump-ice/ Haitian migrants join protected status pileup on SCOTUS shadow docket: www.courthousenews.com/haitian-migrants-join-protected-status-pileup-on-scotus-shadow-docket/ Music by Korbin Jones

    34 min

  8. Feb 27

    Tears Are Welcome: The Power of Lament in Justice Work

    The struggle for reproductive freedom is often full of sorrows, setbacks, and stumbling blocks. What is the role of lament – being open and honest about our sadness – in the work of seeking liberation and justice for all? Rev. Terry Williams is joined by our Executive Director Elaina Ramsey for an episode filled with hard questions & raw honesty about how doing work that can sometimes break your heart is made holier by honoring your own grief. Lifting up tenderness as a gift to be celebrated, Elaina and Terry explore what it means to deal with grief while striving to do the work of reproductive health, rights, and justice in sustainable ways. Find comfort in this episode that honors the power of “keeping it real” and that leans into our collective human vulnerability as people who grieve and mourn. Links to discussed content: The Jubilee Fund for Abortion Justice: www.faithchoiceohio.org/jubileefund Spiritual Care & All-Options Counseling: www.faithchoiceohio.org/counseling Episode 119: Hoping Dangerously (R-Soul Podcast): https://faithchoiceohio.podbean.com/e/hoping-dangerously-faith-choice-ohios-2025-state-of-the-union-reflection/ Springfield Neighbors United: www.faithchoiceohio.org/blog/springfield-neighbors-united-stand-with-us-for-immigration-justice Morro Rock: First Landing of Filipinos in the U.S.: https://filipinospotlights.com/filipino-landing-in-morro-bay-1587/ Music by Korbin Jones

    29 min
See All (100)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

From the Clergy Consultation Service on Abortion to the modern day struggle for intersectional reproductive freedom, religious voices have been at the forefront of fights that matter for generations. We’re here to amplify essential voices, tell stories that often go unheard, and lift up the holy and healing work of faithfully pro-choice activists like you.

Information