Everything you’ve been taught about abortion is wrong. And the real truth is fascinating, frustrating, and crucial to understand. In this series, Renee Bracey Sherman and Regina Mahone—reproductive justice experts and friends—unpack the hidden history of this very common practice, from ancient Greek methods to the anti-Black roots of abortion bans in the U.S. In each episode, some of the smartest people they know stop by to drop wisdom, and Renee and Regina start a book club for all of us. Enjoy, and remember: As Renee says, Everyone loves someone who’s had an abortion.
The first two episodes of The A Files premiere on January 17th.
For episode notes, transcripts, and further reading and resources, visit The A Files website.
Renee Bracey Sherman: If you want to talk about abortion, you have to wade through so much bullshit. Just massive piles of bullshit.
Regina Mahone: There's so much. It's court cases, state law, stigma, not to mention conservatives just basically making things up whenever they feel like it.
Renee Bracey Sherman: They're absolutely addicted to abortion splaining.
Regina Mahone: There are even some pro-choice politicians who are too scared to say the word abortion.
Renee Bracey Sherman: But we aren't. Abortion. Abortion.
Regina Mahone: Abortion. Abortion.
Renee Bracey Sherman: Abortion. Abortion.
Regina Mahone: Abortion. Abortion.
Renee Bracey Sherman: Hi, I'm Renee Bracey Sherman.
Regina Mahone: And I'm Regina Mahone. We're the host of The A Files, A Secret History of Abortion.
Renee Bracey Sherman: On The A Files, we'll be unpacking all of the layers about the abortion conversation that have been completely overlooked or erased, and there's a lot to unpack because abortions have been around for a really, really long time. Like Hippocrates documented abortion recipes way back in Ancient Greece. We're talking abortion wine, y'all.
Regina Mahone: A lot has happened between ancient times and now. Like the first time abortion was criminalized in the United States, thanks to the American Medical Association, or how the phrase pro-life got stolen by conservatives even though it was originally progressive.
Renee Bracey Sherman: We are going to go beyond the basics to talk about all of the sticky issues that you might not hear at a standard pro-choice rally, like anti-blackness, transphobia, disability justice, and adoption. We'll be joined by some amazing guests to help us out. The whole idea that it should be safe, legal, and rare suggests that there's something wrong with abortion.
Gretchen Sisson: If you go to an abortion clinic, you'll start getting ads on your phone for adoption agencies, for methadone clinics, for drug treatment facilities. They're really targeting pregnant people who are in really vulnerable places.
Rafa Kidvai: The state has everything it needs to surveil us, regular schmegular, right now. I don't think technology is really the issue. It's the desire to surveil.
Regina Mahone: Ready to get into it? Follow The A Files on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts and go to wearethemedia.com/theAFiles for more information.
Renee Bracey Sherman: And remember...
Speaker 3: Everyone loves someone who's had an abortion.
Speaker 4: Everyone loves someone who had an abortion.
Speaker 5: Everyone loves someone who had an abortion.
Speaker 6: Everyone loves someone who had an abortion.
Renee Bracey Sherman: The A Files is produced by LWC Studios for The Meteor.