Season 1 of the Minimise Podcast is available to listen to on our website. It’s another way of furthering the aim of facilitating better conversations about abortion, and (without wishing to sound up ourselves) we think it’s worth listening to. 

In episode 1, hosts Muireann and Ben interview one of our own members, Ciara, about how her thinking on abortion has changed over the years. Ciara was instinctively pro-life as a teenager but changed her mind and became pro-choice when she went to college. This episode discusses the things that persuaded her that the pro-choice position was the right one, before talking about why she changed her mind again and became pro-life. 

Episode 2 poses the question, why do different people think so differently about what is right and what is wrong? Muireann and Ben discuss Jonathan Haidt’s moral foundations theory and how to understand where others are coming from on the issue of abortion.

Episode 3 takes a different turn when Muireann and Ben interview Josh Brahm of the Equal Rights Institute. Josh discusses constructive dialogue within the pro-life movement and the differences and similarities between the pro-life movements in Ireland and the US. Josh also talks about the importance of effective pro-life activism, and about different ways of advocating for the pro-life position that increase the chances of having better conversations and of changing minds. 

What does a pro-life culture mean, exactly? What does it look like? And can we build one which doesn’t require women to taken on unchosen burdens? Is the pro-life movement being completely honest when we address this question? Listen to episode 4 for this and more.

What makes good pro-life art? Can a film that has nothing to do with abortion spread a pro-life message? And how do you talk to pro-choice friends about pro-life messages in films? In episode 5, Ben and Muireann chat to Rachel Sherlock about pro-life themes in art and film, and about balancing activism and good storytelling for storytelling’s sake. They also discuss works of art that have ‘pro-life themes’ even though they are made by pro-choice artists.

In episode 6, the season finale, Muireann and Ben take a look through our comments box and answer some of the questions we’ve been asked over the course of the series, responding to:

‘I wouldn’t have an abortion myself, but I support other people’s choice to have one’

Are pro-lifers hypocrites of they don’t want to punish abortion?

Should states be neutral on the issue of abortion?

Is consent to sex consent to pregnancy?

Where is the Minimise Project heading?

So go on – have a listen to the Minimise Podcast and tell us what you think!