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About The Show
In America, women make up more than half the population. Worldwide, women are expected to outnumber men within the next fifty years – and every issue we face is one that affects us all. Whether it’s the environment, health, our children, politics or the arts, there’s a women’s perspective, and 51% is a show dedicated to that viewpoint. Host Jesse King talks to experts in their field for a wide-ranging, entertaining discussion of issues that not only fall into the traditional ‘women’s issues’ category, but topics that concern us all as human beings and citizens of the global community.

Meet The Host
Jesse King has been with WAMC since 2018, and currently produces its afternoon news programs. She also produces the WAMC podcast, A New York Minute in History. She grew up an avid writer and radio-nerd in upstate New York, and holds a B.A. in Music Industry and Mass Communications from SUNY Oneonta. You can find her reading, watching Marvel movies, and playing the fiddle in her free time.
More Episodes
#1779: Leslie Lehr on “A Boob’s Life” | 51%
On this week’s 51%, we recognize National Breastfeeding Month, and stop by a webinar discussing...
#1778: Ange Matthews on Happy Investing | 51%
On this week’s 51%, we speak with investment strategist and coach Ange Matthews, founder of the...
#1777: Artists and Activism | 51%
On this week’s 51%, we hear from actress Terrease Aiken about how Hollywood’s stalled SAG-AFTRA...
#1776: Divorce Attorney Renee Bauer on Keeping Love Alive | 51%
On this week’s 51%, we speak with attorney Renee Bauer about why she wants to change the...

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#1783: Woman vs. Wild | 51%
Sep 21, 2023 • 00:31:16
On this week’s 51%, we speak with science journalist and Brave the Wild River author Melissa Sevigny about the two women who risked their lives to botanize the Grand Canyon in the 1930s. Our associate producer, Jody Cowan, also reports back on an interesting art project showcased at the 2nd…
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#1782: Jane Spinak on "The End of Family Court" | 51%
Sep 14, 2023 • 00:30:30
On this week’s 51%, we bring you an interview with lawyer Jane Spinak on her book The End of Family Court. A professor emerita of Columbia Law School who most recently directed the Adolescent Representation Clinic, helping young adults aging out of foster care, Spinak makes the radical case that…
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#1781: The Road to Recovery | 51%
Sep 8, 2023 • 00:32:15
On this week’s 51%, we recognize International Overdose Awareness Day, and hear from women who have battled drug addiction and walked the complicated road to recovery. We also learn about some of the resources available to those suffering from substance abuse, and attend a support group session for formerly incarcerated…
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#1780: Dr. Gail Gazelle on How to Be a “Mindful MD” | 51%
Aug 31, 2023 • 00:31:13
On this week’s 51%, our Associate Producer, Jody Cowan, speaks with physician and author Dr. Gail Gazelle about how healthcare workers can use mindfulness to combat burnout – and steady their own life in the wake of a stressed healthcare system. Dr. Gazelle’s new book is Mindful MD: 6 Ways…
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#1779: Leslie Lehr on “A Boob’s Life” | 51%
Aug 24, 2023 • 00:29:16
On this week’s 51%, we recognize National Breastfeeding Month, and stop by a webinar discussing the different types of genetic testing used to evaluate breast cancer risk and treatment options. We also speak with Leslie Lehr, author of A Boob’s Life, about America’s obsession with breasts — and what that…
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#1778: Ange Matthews on Happy Investing | 51%
Aug 17, 2023 • 00:32:41
On this week’s 51%, we speak with investment strategist and coach Ange Matthews, founder of the crash-course “Happy Investor Method,” to learn how women can work toward financial independence while supporting the causes and companies they’re passionate about. A self-taught, first-generation investor who started when she was making just $40,000…
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#1777: Artists and Activism | 51%
Aug 10, 2023 • 00:42:59
On this week’s 51%, we hear from actress Terrease Aiken about how Hollywood’s stalled SAG-AFTRA strike is impacting journeyman actors, and we learn about a new independent short film starring ballerina Misty Copeland. We also speak with University at Albany professor Janell Hobson about her new “hip-hop syllabus” for Ms.…
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#1776: Divorce Attorney Renee Bauer on Keeping Love Alive | 51%
Aug 3, 2023 • 00:30:19
On this week’s 51%, we speak with attorney Renee Bauer about why she wants to change the narrative around rejection and divorce – and how preparing for the worst can actually contribute to a long-lasting marriage. We also hear from relationship expert Beth Darling about her guide to The Five…
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#1775: Dr. Rosanne Leipzig on "Honest Aging" | 51%
Jul 27, 2023 • 00:38:01
As the overall U.S. population increases in age, understanding aging is more important than ever. On this week’s 51%, we speak with Dr. Rosanne Leipzig, a distinguished geriatrics specialist and author of Honest Aging: An Insider’s Guide to the Second Half of Life. We also sit down with Dr. Emily…
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#1774: Dr. Heather Hirsch on How to “Unlock Your Menopause Type” | 51%
Jul 20, 2023 • 00:29:18
Millions of women around the world enter menopause each year – so why do we know so little about it? On this week’s 51%, we sit down with Dr. Heather Hirsch, founder of the Menopause and Midlife Clinic at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, to learn how we can meet menopause…