The Hamilton Spectator

7 podcasts take a fresh approach to #MeToo

- CARLY MALLENBAUM

It makes sense, given the kinship between semi-anonymous podcaster and unknown-listener, that personal stories would be shared on the medium. And since the Me Too hashtag launched a movement last year, they have.

Here’s a look at podcasts that have taken fresh angles on the sexual harassment discussion, with the help of intimate interviews.

Invisibili­a: Call out culture

What’s the price of belonging to a society that immediatel­y ostracizes whoever is labelled a perpetrato­r? Invisibili­a’s evocative new episode, out Friday, examines a complicate­d answer to that question, via the story of young woman who was once a feminist voice in the hardcore music scene.

This American Life: Five women

On this episode that aired in March, five women talk about their Me Too experience with the same man, and their experience­s leading up to that alleged event. The show includes a voice that isn’t typically heard in discussion­s on the topic: the accused man’s partner.

Hidden Brain: Why now?

On the February episode, Hidden Brain takes a look at why sexual harassment has come to the forefront of public debate at this moment in time. One reason examined by host Shankar Vedantam: because President Trump is in office. The show includes a twisted tale about the playwright Israel Horovitz who was allegedly abusive while also writing a show about rape.

Terrible, Thanks for Asking: Unbroken

The always-candid Terrible podcast features a scary firstperso­n story from Sarah Super, a rape survivor who went on to start a nonprofit for victims of sexual violence. In the episode, which aired in January 2017 and was rebroadcas­t in October, listeners learn about how to help someone who’s experience­d that kind of trauma. Bring tissues.

Today, Explained: Me too, Mr. Trump

Here’s something you may not have thought about: How a court case against Bill Clinton paved the way for women who are wronged by President Trump. Today, Explained gets into the legalities and details of sexual misconduct allegation­s against Trump.

Fresh Air: Steve Bannon sees Me Too as ’existentia­l threat’

In an interview from February, the writer of a book on Steve Bannon, Joshua Green, talks about how the former White House adviser sees Me Too as both an “antipatria­rchy movement” that will undo thousands of years of society, and as a precursor to mounting backlash against Trump.

Modern Love: My body doesn’t belong to you

Heather Burtman was reticent to share her story of harassment, because she knew others have had it worse. But she decided to write an essay about being catcalled. It was published in the Modern Love column in June and on the podcast in October.

Find podcasts on iTunes or through the Podcasts button on your iPhone.

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