In this episode, host Jordan Mattox speaks with Dr. Jennifer Holland, author of Tiny You: A Western History of the Anti-Abortion Movement, about how the politics of abortion took root and evolved in the American West. Holland traces the movement’s origins from 19th-century medical debates to the late 20th century’s culture wars, exploring the intersections of religion, gender, race, and regional identity. She discusses the unique dynamics among Catholics, evangelicals, and Latter-Day Saints, the rise of crisis pregnancy centers, and the influential role of figures like James Dobson and organizations such as Focus on the Family. The conversation also examines California’s complex role—as both a progressive symbol and a conservative incubator—and how Western ideas of individualism, faith, and family helped shape national abortion politics.
In this episode, we examine the contigencies of the formation of San Francisco.
In this episode, we talk about the forces driving toward the eventual conflict with Mexico.
In this episode, we prepare for the arrival permanent settlements in California by looking at the events leading up to the Portola Expedition.