11 Things to Listen to, Read, & More for International Women's Day

In honor of International Women's Day and Women's History Month, CJ associates shared their recommendations for books, podcasts, organizations, and more that were created or run by women. Make note of this fantastic list of stuff (and people!) you'll want to listen to, read, follow, and donate to.

The Guilty Feminist with Deborah Francis-White

“The Guilty Feminist is a podcast I've listened to for years. The podcast explores feminism with a variety of different guests from all walks of life and discusses key feminist topics alongside guests’ hypocrisies and insecurities that essentially undermine these principles. What I love about it is that it makes you realize you don't have to be a perfect feminist to be a feminist. It has also opened my eyes and educated me on a realm of topics I have never thought about or explored.”

Untamed

“Untamed perfectly depicts what it is like to be a woman in our society today. Glennon Doyle shows how women can crumble under societal expectations and how liberating it is to listen to your own intuition and break the mold every woman is trying to fit. I highly recommend reading this to shake your perspective and build your life how you design it vs. how you feel it is supposed to be.”

Homesick for Another World

“Ottessa Moshfegh's writing is unlike anything else! Her stories layer bright optimism against dark characterization to create dizzying and twisted worlds. All of her books are amazing, but this short story collection is particularly thrilling because of how many uniquely warped perspectives she’s able to inhabit.”

The Daily Good Newsletter by The Good Trade

“The Good Trade is a woman-owned and created media brand for sustainable fashion and lifestyle content that curates a daily email newsletter of soothing playlists, sustainable recipes, inspiring articles, and more.”

- Sabine Jeudy, Talent Specialist, New York, NY

Aubrielle's Hope

“Aubrielle's Hope is a charity aimed at helping parents with the expenses associated with burial, cremation, and/or a funeral after the loss of a child. While the loss of a child undoubtedly affects both parents, women often suffer additional impact given their role in carrying the child. This charity is close to my heart as my sister lost her daughter (my niece, Emily) two weeks after giving birth to her. My sister helps run the charity and the rest of my family are actively involved in volunteer and fundraising events. We do whatever we can to give back to other families going through similar tragedies.”

- Stacey Georgoulis, Sr. Director, Client Solutions, New York, NY

Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey

“Dr. Jane Goodall has spent her life advocating for connecting with nature and breaking down the perceived barriers between humans and our closest living relatives, chimpanzees. She's a champion for sustainability and has redefined species conservation to include local and indigenous peoples, as well as sustainability and protecting the environment. Her positivity in the face of environmental crises is an absolute inspiration to me. Her dedication to teaching, learning, empathy, and action are awe-inspiring. Small changes can start with all of us. Thank you, Jane!”

- Marissa Moorehead, Director, Product Marketing & Content Strategy, Santa Barbara, CA

My Favorite Murder

“My Favorite Murder is a podcast that was initially started by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, who love to gab about their favorite serial killers and the idea that culture around true crime is weird, scary, and horrifying, but analyzing the victims' stories can be weirdly healing. They talk about a number of things before they get into a new story every week, from mental health issues to what they are binging that week. These badass women sometimes cover ‘I Survived’ stories which will leave you pumping your fist in the air!”

- Brandi Chilton, Content Marketing Strategist, Plano, Texas

@dr_cuterus

“Dr. Tanya is one of the few sex-positive, millennial gynecologists on Instagram. She’s an Oxford graduate and aims to bust common misconceptions around sexual and reproductive health, topics some of which are considered taboo in our society. She encourages free and open conversations and uses fun metaphors and gifs in her infographics. Her approach is unique and informative; I think everyone should follow her to educate and guide themselves to better sexual health.”

Lavender Menace: 1970s Trailblazing Feminists

“Lavender Menace is less of a recommendation and more of a homage to early feminism. The phrase was coined by the National Organization for Women leader, Betty Friedan, who used it at a NOW meeting in 1969, claiming that outspoken lesbians were a threat to the feminist movement and would inhibit advancements. Lavender Menace later became an official group in 1970 to advocate for lesbian rights within the feminist agenda. This resonates with me both as a woman and a member of the LGBTQ+ community because it serves as a crucial reminder that feminism is and must always be INTERSECTIONAL. Womanhood looks different for everyone, but all who identify as such are valid and deserve to be celebrated during International Women's Day and Women's History Month!”

- Shelby Petrie, Client Partnerships Manager, Westborough, MA

Ashley Eckstein

“Ashley Eckstein is an icon within geek spaces, but also for women. She brought life to one of the most standout Star Wars characters of all time, Ahsoka Tano, giving so many women and little girls a Jedi to aspire to be. Beyond the screen, she started Her Universe to give women far better fan fashion representation in a space that was so dominated by gender bias. The brand has grown into a staple within geek spaces, covering many fandoms and all genders. Perhaps more importantly, Ashley uses her platform to be an incredible mental health advocate, partnering with different organizations over the years to destigmatize mental health concerns.”

- Alex Quevedo, Director, Support Operations, Santa Barbara, CA

Junior League of Santa Barbara

“The Junior League of Santa Barbara, Inc. is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.

JLSB Focus Area - Improving the lives of at-risk young women by educating and empowering them to reach their full potential while working to prevent exploitation and injustice in our community. The Junior League of Santa Barbara (JLSB), in partnership with 4 Kids 2 Kids, Inc. announced the official opening of S.A.F.E. House Santa Barbara™ (Saving At-Risk Youth From Exploitation), the county’s first therapeutic rehabilitative shelter for children who are survivors of commercial sexual exploitation.”

- Ashley Hardy, Client Development Director, Ventura, CA