“Hello, this is Jane.” Judith Arcana shares her experiences as a Jane in The Abortion Counseling Service of the Chicago Women’s Liberation Union (usually known as JANE*), the underground abortion service in Chicago.  From 1968-1973, JANE provided over 11,000 people safe and affordable abortions, and abortion counseling. In August 2014, I posted the recording of my first interview with Judith.  In this second interview, she talks about who performed abortions for Jane, how she learned to...

“Stigma silences people and it shuts them up.”  Elizabeth shares the abortion experiences she's had at different times in her life. (Published on January 17, 2017| Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: San Francisco, CA) Are you a fan of the podcast? Help us continue to break the silence by donating now: bit.ly/2iiqvzp

“I see it as one little aspect of a life full of events.” Katharina shares her experience of having an abortion in Jordan with the help of Women on Web (https://www.womenonweb.org/), and talks about her activist work with Ciocia Basia (http://bit.ly/2jo1rqc), a Berlin based group that helps Polish women access abortion in Germany.  (Published on January 10, 2017 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Berlin, Germany) The Abortion Diary is free, but it takes money to keep it that way. Help The...

“I want to be okay with it for myself.”  Anonymous shares her story of seeking an abortion as a high school senior in the New York City.  (Published on January 3, 2017 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: New York, NY) The Abortion Diary is free, but it takes money to keep it that way. Help The Abortion Diary continue its work and share our stories by donating now: theabortiondiarypodcast.com/donate-abor…ies/donors/

There isn't a new abortion diary entry this week. I’ll be posting a new story on Tuesday, January 3rd, and return to our weekly schedule. Until then listen to over 140 stories that have already been posted on The Abortion Diary, and listen to the new audio mosaic (#142) of some Abortion Diary story-sharers talking about why they want to share their stories. Thank you for listening, and have a safe and happy New Years. ~ Melissa Help us continue to break the silence in 2017 by donating to The...

There isn't a new episode this week. I’ll be posting a new story on Tuesday, January 3rd, and return to our weekly schedule. Until then listen to over 140 stories that have already been posted on The Abortion Diary, and listen to this new audio mosaic of some Abortion Diary story-sharers talking about why they want to share their stories. Thank you for listening, and have a safe and happy New Years.  ~ Melissa Help us continue to break the silence in 2017 by donating to The Abortion Diary today.

"I didn't think I was ever going to be in this situation." Kate, a minister, shares her story of seeking an abortion in rural Indiana. (Published on December 14, 2016 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Rural Indiana) Have you been listening to this podcast? Help us continue to break the silence by donating now. 

"How can I ask women to share their own stories if I don't share my own?" Amy shares her stories of seeking abortions at two very different times in her life, and why she founded the New Orleans Abortion Fund, Louisiana's abortion fund, in 2012.  She also shares her experience of being a surviver of sexual assault.  (Published on November 23, 2016 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: New Orleans, LA) Are you a fan of the podcast? Help us continue our work and share our stories by donating...

"It was such a defining moment in my life." Anonymous shares her abortion experience as a high school student in Boston, Massachusetts. (Published on October 19, 2016 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Granville, OH) Are you a fan of the podcast? Help us continue our work and share our stories by donating now: http://theabortiondiary.com/donate-abortion-stories/donors/

"I was lucky that I had the resources and the support to do it."  Judy shares her story of traveling from Pennsylvania to New York for an abortion in the early 1970s. (Published on August 27, 2016 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Venice, FL)

V. shares her experiences of obtaining two abortions while enlisted in the military. (Published on August 15, 2016 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Georgia) Melissa is in Amsterdam, The Netherlands until August 17th, and in Berlin. Germany from August 17th until August 24. If you would like to share your story, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.theabortiondiary.com and fill out our contact form. Are you a fan of the podcast? Help us continue our work and share our stories...

"I really wanted people to know what I was going through." - Bess Bess shares her experiences seeking abortions at two very different times in her life, and talks about seeking a judicial bypass in order to access an abortion as a teenager. She also shares her experiences with miscarriage and birth. (Published on July 24, 2016 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: New Orleans, LA) Melissa is in Paris, France until July 30th. If you would like to share your story, e-mail...

"I was one of those people." Anonymous shares her story of seeking an abortion as a college student in North Carolina. (Published on June 29, 2016 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Pennsylvania) Melissa is currently in Galway, Ireland.  If you would like to share your story, e-mail [email protected] or fill out our contact form: http://bit.ly/27QPvC6

"I never ever regretted it."  S.M. discusses becoming a young mother while in college, and shares her experiences with miscarriage and seeking an abortion in Northern Ireland, where abortion is illegal, after a diagnosis of Spina Bifida. (Published on June 14, 2016 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland) For more information about the abortion rights campaign in Northern Ireland, visit http://www.alliance4choice.com. Melissa will be in Dublin, Ireland from June 11th...

"I felt like a criminal." Rosa shares her story of needing to travel to England from Northern Ireland for an abortion.  Abortion is illegal in Northern Ireland.  For more information about the abortion rights campaign in Northern Ireland, visit http://www.alliance4choice.com.  (Published on June 7, 2016 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Lisburn, Northern Ireland) Melissa will be in Belfast, Northern Ireland until June 11th, and Dublin, Ireland from June 12th until June 19th.  If you...

"It's vital that our stories are told." Katie shares her abortion experiences in Florida and North Carolina, and how creative writing helped her process those experiences.   (Published on June 2, 2016 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Tampa, FL)

"I don't feel like putting myself through a system that's going to demean me every step of the way." - Luz Luz shares her stories of abortion and miscarriage in Arizona, her difficulty obtaining abortion care, and how she took control of her body and her experiences.    (Published on April 21, 2016 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: New Orleans, LA)

"There's no camaraderie."  Lila shares her story of seeking an abortion as a teenager in Atlanta, GA. (Published on March 25, 2016 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Atlanta, GA) Thanks for listening.  Help us continue to share our stories by donating now: http://theabortiondiarypodcast.com/donate-abortion-stories/donors/

"I had a very supportive family." Emily shares her story of traveling from Columbus, OH to San Juan, Puerto Rico for an abortion in 1964, and why she founded Women Have Options (WHO/O), Ohio's statewide abortion fund, decades later. (Published on March 16, 2016 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Granville, OH)    

"They don't know what people's real experiences are." Michelle shares her story of seeking an abortion in Louisiana, and how Hurricane Katrina directly impacted her pregnancy and abortion experiences. (Published on March 9, 2016 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: New Orleans, LA)

"All kinds of people get an abortion."  Melissa shares her abortion experiences in Kansas City, MO and Columbus, OH. (Published on March 4, 2016 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Columbus, OH)

"Abortion is part of life." Jai shares her abortion experiences in Cleveland, OH. (Published on February 24, 2016 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Cleveland, OH)

"I always knew it was the right thing to do." Teal shares her story of seeking an abortion while she was a law student in California. To learn more about Speak Your Story visit www.speakyourstory.org.  (Published on February 18, 2016 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Indianapolis, IN)  

"It's comforting to hear other people's stories." Denise shares her story of seeking an abortion in California, and the post abortion ritual she created afterward. To learn more about Spirit Babies visit http://www.spiritbabies.org. (Published on February 3, 2016 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Alameda, CA)  

"There was no other option." Kelly shares her story of seeking a clandestine abortion in Cancun, Mexico.* (Published on January 12, 2016 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Venice, FL) *In Mexico, abortion is legal in Mexico City (Federal District), Mexico within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and misoprostol is available over the counter throughout the country.  For more information about accessing abortion in Mexico City and/or the use of misoprostol visit Fondo Maria's website...