In this powerful episode, we dive headfirst into one of the most urgent and polarizing topics of our time: abortion and reproductive rights. With the political and cultural climate in constant flux, we're joined by Gina Martinez, Executive Director of the Colorado Doula Project, one of only two abortion funds in the state. Gina breaks down what abortion access really looks like right now - in Colorado and across the country - and how laws like Texas’s SB.8 and the overturning of Roe v. Wade have deeply affected the landscape.

We explore how abortion bans impact everyone, not just pregnant people; why this issue is so intertwined with race, class, trans rights, and broader systemic control; and how deeply ingrained ideas of motherhood and sacrifice are weaponized in American culture. Gina shares heartbreaking stories, practical truths, and offers insight into how we can all support this movement.

It’s real. It’s raw. It’s a must-listen.

All ratings and reviews this month help support the Colorado Doula Project - every listen makes a difference.

Learn more about the podcast, and the hosts Jane + Hannah:

⁠⁠⁠arewehappyyetpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠alchemytherapyandwellness.com⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠grittherapy.com⁠

During the month of April 2025, we are supporting ⁠Colorado Doula Project⁠. Please subscribe to Are We Happy Yet? as this helps us reach more listeners and help provide financial support for important causes. For each rating and review we receive in April 2025, we will donate $5 to ⁠Colorado Doula Project.

Dr. Josh Waddell invited Hannah + Jane on his amazing podcast, Mental Maps to talk all things related to mental health in the mountain communities, psychedelic therapy, and all things healing from a holistic perspective.

Check out the Mental Maps podcast here!

In this insightful conversation, the hosts sit down with Michael Henry to discuss the transformative role of creative writing in mental health and community building. Michael, a passionate advocate for the arts, shares the origins and mission of Lighthouse Writers Workshop, a space where writers can explore vulnerability and self-expression. Through their conversation, they delve into how writing and storytelling can foster connection, healing, and personal growth, especially in communities facing mental health challenges.

The discussion highlights the importance of authenticity in writing, emphasizing how vulnerability can create deeper connections with audiences. Michael also explores the significant impact of community outreach programs at Lighthouse and their role in addressing mental health issues through creative means. From destigmatizing homelessness through storytelling to offering support for artists, this episode demonstrates how creative expression is more than just a craft—it’s a tool for societal change and personal healing. Tune in for insights on the power of self-acceptance, the creative process, and how art can be a catalyst for wellness in both individuals and communities.
Michael J. Henry, MFA currently serves as Executive Director of Lighthouse, where he also teaches poetry and memoir and essay workshops. A former recipient of a Colorado Council on the Arts Fellowship and a PlatteForum Fellowship, his work has appeared in such places as Copper Nickel, Threepenny Review, 5280 Magazine, Ekphrasis, Hippocampus, Many Mountains Moving, Pleiades, Red Rock Review, Rio Grande Review, GeorgetownReview, and Bloomsbury Review. He's collaborated with Garrett Ammon of Wonderbound to create three narrative poetry performances, When the Power Goes Out, Intersection, and Gone West.

Michael grew up in Buffalo, New York, received a BA in English from University of Rochester and an MFA in creative writing from Emerson College. In 1997, he co-founded Lighthouse with Andrea Dupree, who serves as program director.

He's published two full-length collections of poetry, No Stranger Than My Own and Active Gods (Conundrum/Bower House), and a book of nonfiction, Mountain Biking the Colorado Trail(Bower House). In 2017, he was awarded a Livingston Fellowship from the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation.

Links:

Connect w/ Michael + Lighthouse Writers Workshop

Colorado Resiliency Arts Lab

Learn more about the podcast, and the hosts Jane + Hannah:

⁠⁠arewehappyyetpodcast.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠alchemytherapyandwellness.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠grittherapy.com

During the month of April 2025, we are supporting Colorado Doula Project. Please subscribe to Are We Happy Yet? as this helps us reach more listeners and help provide financial support for important causes. For each rating and review we receive in April 2025, we will donate $5 to Colorado Doula Project.