Stark Conversations Heather Stark

In today's episode, I am talking to Alani Bankhead. Alani knows something about feminism because she has spent the last 20 years as a woman in a predominantly male profession, hunting spies, terrorists, and child sex traffickers. She was even assigned to be the senior bodyguard to a top Pentagon official. She understands how to level the inequity of the job force and how to use her femininity as her superpower.



Alani is a public speaker and life coach who helps people overcome imposter syndrome, something many women struggle with and empowers her clients to live their best lives. Friends, Alani is one of humanity's biggest cheerleaders. It was an absolute joy speaking with her!

Today, I am talking to the former Chair of New Zealand's Labour Women's Caucus, Sarah Pallett. Sarah reached out to me after she read an article I published in the HuffPost. When she introduced herself, I almost fell out of my chair.

I had read about Sarah, I knew her name, and I knew she served under New Zealand's former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. This was one hell of a feminist, and she was writing to me! How could I not ask her to be on the podcast?

This powerhouse of a woman and politician knows her stuff. She is one massive dose of joy and wisdom. Together, we talk about some common sense feminism. Specifically we discuss:


The intersectionality of feminism with housing and global warming
Women's health and abortion
The gender pay gap
Respect and representation 

Sarah made me laugh and think deeply at the same. This is the mark of a wise leader and teacher. This convo will stay in my heart for a long time!

Energetic Indie Rock by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/rock-background-music/

Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Creative Commons CC BY 3.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Today, I am talking to the former Chair of New Zealand's Labour Women's Caucus, Sarah Pallett. Sarah reached out to me after she read an article I published in the HuffPost. When she introduced herself, I almost fell out of my chair.

I had read about Sarah, I knew her name, and I knew she served under New Zealand's former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. This was one hell of a feminist, and she was writing to me! How could I not ask her to be on the podcast?

This powerhouse of a woman and politician knows her stuff. She is one massive dose of joy and wisdom. Together, we talk about some common sense feminism. Specifically we discuss:


The intersectionality of feminism with housing and global warming
Women's health and abortion
The gender pay gap
Respect and representation 

Sarah made me laugh and think deeply at the same. This is the mark of a wise leader and teacher. This convo will stay in my heart for a long time!

In this episode, I am talking to Samantha Martin, founder of the Femmish organization. Samanatha uses research to bring awareness around femme phobia- the systematic devaluing of femininity that people engage in when they police feminine qualities in others. This is an excellent conversation about how the world looks down on most things feminine and refuses to allow people assigned male at birth to embrace anything feminine but yet expects women to embrace femininity only to use it as a launching point of degradation.

We discuss:

The Femish Organization

The double standard of femininity vs. masculinity

Trusting other people's experiences

The devaluing of feminine professions

Toys from the Pink aisle

The value of research

Energetic Indie Rock by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/rock-background-music/

Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Creative Commons CC BY 3.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Yes, October and Spooks have passed, but this conversation was too good to not visit again!

Oh Friends,

 This episode is a good one. It conjures up women dancing around bonfires, chanting, mixing positions, invoking curses and being gagged, bound, and hung. 



The Salem Witch Trials.



 I wanted to include this topic on Stark Conversations because this is the apex of women being accused of nothing more than being women. 



Because there was no chanting, no curses cast, no brooms ridden. Instead, what we find are just people. Every day community members using their voices when wronged, dressing for themselves instead of society, breaking stereotypes, and challenging religious oppression. All topics that feminism embodies. All topics women are judged for in 2023.



The lessons we glean from the trials still resonate today. What are we actually doing when we judge others? Deem them as “weak souls,” decide they need Christianity and force testimony and religious doctrine on them? What damage are we inflicting when we make graceless assumptions instead of loving inquiries?



Although the Salem Witch Trials happened over 400 years ago, it feels as though humanity has only taken 10 steps forward. We are still judging women, dictating what they should and should not wear, demanding they yield to their husbands, telling them they are the “lesser” and “weaker” partner, and still telling them they are too much, too loud, and overreacting. 



Listen to my conversation with the energetic Dr. Wendy Lucas, Salem Witch Trial Extraordinaire, as she talks with me about this time in history. She answers all my questions and then some. We laugh in utter disbelief and empathize with those who were gaslit into believing they could be the devilish witch their neighbors accuse them of being. But most of all, we discuss the wisdom we can take from this confusing and painful time and use it to give humanity advocacy, equity, and healing.



Specifically, Dr. Lucas explains:

 What circumstances led to accusations of witchcraft. 

Why women were viewed as a necessary evil.

If the afflicted girls were really having convulsions.

The reasons why people, specifically women, were accused of witchcraft.

Why gender roles and societal expectations are so crucial to Puritans.

Moral Stewardship and how quickly it can get out of hand.

The idea of a feminine soul

How the trials ended.

What amends were made to the accused?

What lessons can we learn from this time in history?



Friends, I promise this is a good one. As always, if you enjoy it, please leave a review! 

Energetic Indie Rock by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/rock-background-music/

Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Creative Commons CC BY 3.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Trigger warning: Sexual and gender based violence

Today, I am discussing a recent paper published by Dr. Treena Orchard that explores the subjectivity of safety on one college campus. According to Dr. Orchard's research: 20 to 43% of women and 3 to 29% of men attending American universities have been sexually victimized. In some Canadian provinces, as many as 63% of female students have experienced sexual harassment.

Our conversation centers on:


How to listen with a feminist ear
The subjectivity of safety
How safety is set up for the privilege
How this study is a reflection of how our society views and handles the ideas of safety
How blurring the lines of acceptable behavior leads to violence
Why do we need to listen to women when they raise concerns over catcalling and being followed by men
What Generation Z is doing to create a safer future for themselves
Energetic Indie Rock by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/rock-background-music/ Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/