An independent investigation has found that there is systemic abuse in U.S. women's soccer. To discuss we feature Jessica Luther. Luther is an investigative journalist who has written extensively on the intersection of sports and gendered violence. She is the author of two books, Unsportsmanlike Conduct: College Football and the Politics of Rape (published by Akashic Books in September 2016) and Loving Sports When They Don’t Love You Back: Dilemmas of the Modern Sports Fan which she co-authored with Kavitha Davidson (published by University of Texas Press in September 2020). Her work has appeared in ESPN Magazine, New York Times Magazine, the Texas Observer, Austin Woman, and Bitch Magazine. She has published pieces at Sports Illustrated, BuzzFeed, Texas Monthly, and Vice Sports, among others. For the extent of Huffington Post‘s opinion vertical, she wrote a biweekly column on sports and culture. Extensive media experience.

The Brazilian presidential election is going to a run-off between President Jair Bolsonaro and Lula da Silva, Brazil's former president, and journalists who are covering the election truthfully and ethically are being attacked on- and off-line. WMC SheSource expert Kristina Wilfore is part of a team at George Washington University researching online violence directed at journalists and other experts in Brazil. Wilfore is a seasoned international development, elections and civic advocacy professional who has worked in over 25 countries for more inclusive and responsive democratic movements. She has been on the ground in hotspots such as Ukraine, Russia, Kenya, Turkey, Kosovo and Afghanistan. She has worked hand-in-hand with hundreds of women on their campaigns for higher office and to help break systemic barriers to political participation, designing large-scale election integrity, political party, civil society and counter disinformation programs across the globe. Kristina is Global Democracy Advisor at Reset.Tech, an initiative engaged in programmatic work on technology and democracy. She is co-founder of #ShePersisted, a cross-national initiative to tackle gendered disinformation and online attacks against women in politics.

To discuss the widespread impact of last week's Hurricane Ian on Florida's residents, we feature Melissa Ross. Ross is the Emmy award-winning host and producer of the statewide call-in program “The Florida Roundup,” heard on public radio stations across Florida. The show features newsmakers and journalists and focuses on issues of importance to listeners across the Sunshine State. In particular Melissa covers politics, the environment and climate change, and women's issues. Melissa has over 20 years of experience in television broadcasting, including stints as an anchor, reporter and host in Cincinnati, Chicago, Orlando and Jacksonville. During her years in broadcast television, she won four regional Emmys for news and feature reporting. She also leads women's empowerment events through the global leadership organization She Is Fierce! Inc.

Chinese billionaire, Richard Liu, has settled a U.S. rape allegation out of court in what is being cited as a win for the Chinese #MeToo movement. Liu Jingyao, a former University of Minnesota student, accused him of rape in 2018. To discuss we feature Afra Zhao Wang, a writer, researcher, podcaster, and historian who uses her skills in theoretical, historical, and cultural analysis and broad knowledge of the history of popular culture and social media to contribute to the podcast ‘Loud Murmurs,” which she co-founded in 2018. Afra’s byline has appeared in New York Times Chinese Website, Initium Media, and Iris Magazine, a leading online publication of Chinese film critics. As a writer, Afra covers a wide range of issues such as nationalism, gender, Chinese millennials, U.S. politics, and social changes in U.S. and China. In 2017, she was awarded “Editorial Excellence” from The Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA), the most prestigious journalism award in Asia.

Ukraine is taking back land that Russia has occupied. To discuss the impact the fighting has had on civilians in Ukraine, we feature Sarah (Holewinski) Yager, the Washington Director of Human Rights Watch, whose work particularly focuses on foreign affairs. Prior to joining Human Rights Watch, Yager was the first senior advisor on human rights in the Chairman’s Office at The Joint Staff of the U.S. Department of Defense and, prior to that, served as deputy chief of staff for policy at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations under Ambassador Samantha Power. For nearly a decade Sarah was executive director of Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC), leading efforts to advise warring parties on civilian protection and responsible use of force. In that role, she worked extensively with the U.S. military and its allies in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, CAR, Burma, and elsewhere. Extensive media experience.

Making Black America: Through the Grapevine, is a four-part series on PBS, premiering today. We feature Dr. Kimberly C. Ellis to discuss the series. Affectionately known as "Dr. Goddess," Kimberly C. Ellis, Ph.D. is a Storyteller, Branding/PR, Digital Strategist and Marketer, Scholar of American and Africana Studies, Political Analyst and Campaigner, a Public Historian and Influencer, Performing Artist, Activist and Entrepreneur who loves Technology and World Travel. A published author, speaker and producer, her work can be found in The Guardian, BBC, MSNBC.com, Al Jazeera America, The Pittsburgh City Paper, in Ebony Magazine, on Ebony.com, BlackEnterprise.com, NPR Radio, BBC_WHYS Radio, Voices of Russia Radio, MomsRising Radio, Sirius/XM Radio and more! Dr. Goddess has been awarded the YWCA's Racial Justice Award, the Thomas Merton Center's "New Person" Award and a Teaching Award from the University of Pittsburgh, Student Government Association. She is also the recipient of Playwriting Awards and grants from The Heinz Endowments, The Pittsburgh Foundation, the Women and Girls Foundation and the Camargo Foundation.

Monday, October 10 is Indigenous People's Day. To discuss we feature Dr. Adrienne Keene of the Cherokee Nation. Dr. Keene is an Assistant Professor of American and Native Studies at Brown University. A Native scholar, writer, and blogger, she is passionate about reframing how the world sees contemporary Native cultures. She is the creator and author of Native Appropriations, a blog discussing cultural appropriation and stereotypes of Native peoples in fashion, film, music, and other forms of pop culture. She is currently an Assistant Professor of American and Ethnic Studies at Brown University. Media includes: The New York Times, NPR, CNN, TIME, The Washington Post.

September 15 to October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month. We feature Elisa Tinsley, Senior Vice President at Emerging Markets Communications LLC, who is based in Moscow, Russia and Washington DC and has responsibility for overseeing the development of new strategic information and competitive intelligence products and services for EMCs clients working in emerging markets. Previously she was Deputy Vice President at the International Center for Journalists, and before that, World Editor at USA Today. For three years early in her career she was a reporter based in Moscow.