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Episode Summary

We speak with two remarkable writers about two fascinating stories—one rooted in personal history, the other in literary imagination—both shedding light on the fight for justice and self-determination.

First, Alice Rothchild tells us about Inspired and Outraged: The Making of a Feminist Physician. It’s a powerful memoir in free verse exploring her journey as a feminist, activist, and doctor.

“I had potholders on the stirrups, I had a mirror, I had a flashlight, and every woman was invited to take a look down there. It changes the power dynamic.” – Alice Rothchild

Then, we turn to historical fiction with Grace Tiffany, whose novel The Owl Was a Baker’s Daughter is a feminist re-imagining of the life of Shakespeare’s daughter during the tumultuous English Civil War.

“Women healers were often accused of witchcraft. If something went wrong, you became a target.” – Grace Tiffany

Connect with WV:

Follow us on Bluesky @writersvoice.bsky.social and subscribe to our Substack. Or find us on Instagram @WritersVoicePodcast 

You can support our show and the others you listen to by contributing through Lenny.fm. Your support helps us bring you more of the episodes, like this one, that you look forward to. Thanks for being a vital part of our community!

Key Words: Alice Rothchild Inspired and Outraged, Grace Tiffany The Owl Was a Baker’s Daughter, Feminism and women’s rights, Shakespeare’s daughter Judith, reproductive rights, women healers and witchcraft accusations, Historical fiction and feminist literature

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Episode Summary

This episode of Writer’s Voice features two urgent and thought-provoking conversations. First, we speak with Professor Bernadette Atuahene, author of Plundered: How Racist Policies Undermine Black Homeownership in America, about how predatory governance has systematically stripped Black homeowners of generational wealth—particularly in Detroit, where one in three homes has gone through property tax foreclosure since 2009. She explains how local governments exploit racist policies to raise revenue, creating an underreported crisis that has devastated Black communities nationwide.

Bernadette Atuahene: “Black and Hispanic homeowners pay higher property tax rates than white homeowners—$300 to $400 more per year. That’s predatory governance at work.”

Then, we bring back Andrew Boyd, activist and author of I Want a Better Catastrophe, to discuss his viral Substack post, We Shall Not Be Overwhelmed. In a time of political and social crisis, Boyd shares strategies for avoiding burnout, focusing activism, and fighting back against authoritarianism through selective denial and targeted resistance.

Andrew Boyd: “Selective denial, when paired with selective attention, is not about ignorance. It’s about protecting your mental health while focusing on a chosen issue that you can actually impact.”

Connect with WV:

Follow us on Bluesky @writersvoice.bsky.social and subscribe to our Substack. Or find us on Instagram @WritersVoicePodcast 

You can support our show and the others you listen to by contributing through Lenny.fm. Your support helps us bring you more of the episodes, like this one, that you look forward to. Thanks for being a vital part of our community!

Key Words: Bernadette Atuahene Plundered book, Black homeownership and systemic racism, property tax overassessment in Black communities, Andrew Boyd We Shall Not Be Overwhelmed, activism and mental health strategies, resisting Trump policies effectively

You Might Also Like: Andrew Boyd, I WANT A BETTER CATASTROPHE, Tamara Payne on Les Payne’s THE DEAD ARE ARISING