Making Contact "Making Contact" By National Radio Project

At the beginning of the pandemic, we reported on the extreme inequality of the vaccine rollout to low income countries. Their access was hindered because of a Western patent system which was imposed globally through the WTO. At the time, activists tried to pass the TRIPS (Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) Waiver, which would have suspended all patents related to COVID. This would have allowed countries all over the world to make vaccines, therapeutics and protective equipment during the pandemic crisis. 
The TRIPS Waiver failed to provide access to medicines, and poor countries never received the vaccines they were promised.
But, as the world moved on from COVID, so did the efforts for equity. The TRIPS waiver failed to provide access to medicines, and poor countries never received the vaccines they were promised. Despite this, the Global South continues to fight back. On today's show, we look back at the failures of the early pandemic and at new initiatives led by scientists and activists to circumvent patents and create broader access to medicines.
Learn more about the story and find the transcript on radioproject.org.
Making Contact is an award-winning, nationally syndicated radio show and podcast featuring narrative storytelling and thought-provoking interviews. We cover the most urgent issues of our time and the people on the ground building a more just world.
EPISODE FEATURES: Fatima Hassan, Human rights lawyer and founder of Health Justice Initiative; Piotr Kolczynski, EU Health Policy & Advocacy Advisor for The People's Vaccine Alliance; Achal Prabhala, Researcher and coordinator of the AccessIBSA project; Petro Terblanche, Managing Director of Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines 

MAKING CONTACT: This episode is hosted by Salima Hamirani. It is produced by Anita Johnson, Lucy Kang, Salima Hamirani, and Amy Gastelum. Our executive director is Jina Chung. 
MUSIC: This episode includes music from Blue Dot Sessions, “Sweetly;” Deef, “Nostalgia of an Ex Gangsta Rapper;” Doctor Turtle, “Leap Second;” frankum, “Reward MusicTrack - Ambiance guitar;” Monplaisir, “Juan Garcia Madero,” “Ridiculous,” and “Stay Quiet;” Robert John, “Slinky.” 
LEARN MORE:
Access IBSA The People's Vaccine Alliance Afrigen Biologics Vaccines – An Avacare IDC Health Company The Health Justice Initiative Pandemic Lessons Compendium Difference Between Biologics and Small Molecules

How does anyone make sense of abortion access these days? We sat down with All Options Pregnancy Resource Center in Bloomington, Indiana to talk about what’s changed since Indiana’s full abortion ban went into effect last August. Local abortion funds like All Options do a lot, but they can't talk to clients about self-managed abortion, even though the World Health Organization says it's safe and effective. 
We learn about the ways folks are getting access to abortion pills, what to expect from a self-managed abortion and about the case in the Supreme Court now - whether the pill Mifepristone will still be legal to use for abortions, even in states where abortion care is protected.
Learn more about the story and find the transcript on radioproject.org. 
Making Contact is an award-winning, nationally syndicated radio show and podcast featuring narrative storytelling and thought-provoking interviews. We cover the most urgent issues of our time and the people on the ground building a more just world.
EPISODE FEATURES: Dr. Melissa Madera, Founder of Abortion Diary Podcast, Choix Telehealth team member, Researcher on Project SANA team & Special Projects Consultant for Plan C Pills; Jessica Marchbank, State Programs Manager at All Options Pregnancy Resource Center in Bloomington, Indiana.
MAKING CONTACT: This episode is hosted by Amy Gastelum. It is produced by Anita Johnson, Lucy Kang, Salima Hamirani, and Amy Gastelum. Our executive director is Jina Chung. 
MUSIC: This episode includes music from "Cinematic Documentary" & "Inspiring Cinematic Ambient" by Lexin Music; and "Whatever" & "Something in the Air" by HoliznaCC0.
Learn More:
Plan C Pills All Options Pregnancy Resource Center Midwest Action Coalition Indiana Task FORCE Abortion Finder Abortion on Our Own Terms ReproLegalHelpline International Planned Parenthood Federation Medical Abortion Explainer

Dive into the history of Point Reyes National Seashore, one of the most iconic parks in northern California, with us. Known for rugged sweeping beaches and the famous tule elk, we'll recount the waves of colonization that violently upended the lives of the Coast Miwok peoples who lived there – and one Indigenous woman's struggle to preserve her family history. 
The story of Point Reyes is a story about how the forces of colonialism continue to shape the fate of public lands in the United States, and the campaigns waged to fight back and protect Indigenous land. 
Learn more about the story and find the transcript on radioproject.org.
Making Contact is an award-winning, nationally syndicated radio show and podcast featuring narrative storytelling and thought-provoking interviews. We cover the most urgent issues of our time and the people on the ground building a more just world.
 EPISODE FEATURES: Theresa Harlan (Kewa Pueblo/Jemez Pueblo), adopted daughter of Elizabeth Campigli Harlan (Coast Miwok), founder and executive director of The Alliance for Felix Cove.
MAKING CONTACT: This episode is hosted by Lucy Kang, reported and produced by Sam Anderson, and was first aired on KPFA. It is produced by Anita Johnson, Lucy Kang, Salima Hamirani, and Amy Gastelum. Our executive director is Jina Chung. 
MUSIC: This episode includes music from "Chill Ambient" by Yrii Semchyshyn (Coma-Media) and "Cinematic Documentary" by Aleksey Chistilin (Lexin_Music).
Learn More:
Whose Point Reyes on Apple Podcasts Alliance for Felix Cove Coast Miwok Tribal Council of Marin

America's Black Capital: How African Americans Remade Atlanta in the Shadow of the Confederacy” chronicles how a center of Black excellence emerged amid virulent expressions of white nationalism as African Americans pushed back against Confederate ideology to create an extraordinary locus of achievement.  
Alongside author Dr. Jeffrey O.G. Ogbar, in this episode we examine the methods in which Black Atlanteans pushed for social, economic, and political upliftment through the development of Black collegiate systems, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement.  
Learn more about the story and find the transcript on radioproject.org.
Making Contact is an award-winning, nationally syndicated radio show and podcast featuring narrative storytelling and thought-provoking interviews. We cover the most urgent issues of our time and the people on the ground building a more just world.
EPISODE FEATURES: Dr. Jeffrey O. G. Ogbar the author of America's Black Capital: How African Americans Remade Atlanta in the Shadow of the Confederacy.
MAKING CONTACT: This episode is hosted by Anita Johnson. It is produced by Anita Johnson, Lucy Kang, Salima Hamirani, and Amy Gastelum. Our executive director is Jina Chung. 
MUSIC: This episode includes music from Blue Dot Session, “Bedroll;” Audiobinger, “The Garden State;” and Quiet Orchestra, “My Friends.”
LEARN MORE: 
Dr. Jeffrey O.G. Ogbar Atlanta Race Massacre Atlanta Race Massacre Hoke Smith Clarke Howell Tom Watson America's Black Capital

For the last 6 months, the world has been witness to a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Outsized, and unprecedented attacks on the people of Gaza, and support from western countries for these Israeli attacks have led to a situation where Gaza is being referred to as the world’s largest open-air prison. 
In this episode with Gaza-based reporter Rami Almeghari, we talk to Rashid Khalidi about his book "The Hundred Years' War on Palestine" in order to learn more about the very early history of the zionist movement in Palestine and his argument that it was, from the start, a settler-colonial endeavor.
Learn more about the story and find the transcript on radioproject.org. 
Making Contact is an award-winning, nationally syndicated radio show and podcast featuring narrative storytelling and thought-provoking interviews. We cover the most urgent issues of our time and the people on the ground building a more just world.
EPISODE FEATURES: Rami Almeghari, a Palestinian reporter from Gaza, and Rashid Khalidi, an historian and Edward Said Professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University.
MAKING CONTACT: This episode is hosted by Salima Hamirani with reporting by Rami Almeghari. It is produced by Anita Johnson, Lucy Kang, Salima Hamirani, and Amy Gastelum. Our executive director is Jina Chung.
MUSIC: This episode includes music from Komiku, “Blue;” Doctor Turtle,  “Leap Second;” Chris Zabriskie, “Take Off and Shoot a Zero;” DAM, “Resale in Zenzana;”  رسالة من زنزانة - دام, “A Letter From a Prison Cell;” and Montplaisir, “Ridiculous.”
Learn More:
The Hundred Years' War on Palestine

March marks four years since the beginnings of the COVID-19 pandemic. Public health failures and government inaction have forced communities to take matters into their own hands. On today's show, we look at two groups steeped in the values of community care.
First, we'll hear about the Auntie Sewing Squad, which distributed over 350,000 hand-sewn masks to communities in 2020-2021. Then, we'll speak with organizers from Pandemic Solidarity for the Long Future, which is working today towards a safer future for everyone.
Learn more about the story and find the transcript on radioproject.org.
Making Contact is an award-winning, nationally syndicated radio show and podcast featuring narrative storytelling and thought-provoking interviews. We cover the most urgent issues of our time and the people on the ground building a more just world.
EPISODE FEATURES: Kristina Wong, founder of the Auntie Sewing Squad; J Mase III, organizer with Pandemic Solidarity for the Long Future; and Gata, organizer with Pandemic Solidarity for the Long Future.
MAKING CONTACT: This episode is hosted by Lucy Kang. It is produced by Anita Johnson, Lucy Kang, Salima Hamirani, and Amy Gastelum. Our executive director is Jina Chung. 
MUSIC: This episode includes "Background Documentary Piano" by SigmaMusicArt via Pixabay.
Learn More:
Kristina Wong "Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord" at ACT in San Francisco Pandemic Solidarity for the Long Future Home Test to Treat offers free tests and free treatment for COVID-19 and flu at home