The Bitter Southerner’s All Women Radio Hour

Presented by WABE’s City Lights

In this special, WABE and The Bitter Southerner partnered to create an arts and culture magazine adaptation of The Bitter Southerner’s latest release, the All Women Issue. The All Women Issue features more than 90 women sharing stories and was created entirely by women: writers, photographers, artists, musicians, comics, chefs, and editors.

WABE’s Lois Reitzes (of City Lights with Lois Reitzes) and Bitter Southerner Cofounder Kyle Tibbs Jones open the program with a conversation on the origin story and process of the All Women Issue, recalling Kacey Musgraves’ cover story in which she reflects on the strength of softness, vulnerability, and femininity.

Over the course of The Bitter Southerner’s All Women Radio Hour, Joan Baez performs a poem from When You See My Mother, Ask Her To Dance and calls for younger generations to “see where your heart leads you, into something you can be involved in, to make a difference for the betterment of humankind.”

Roxane Gay recounts her TikTok history as a lens to interpret society. Holly Haworth confronts the senses by questioning the safety of women. Sabrina Orah Mark narrates the confounding experience of working to narrate a story that has followed her for decades. A list of editors describe 2024 through imagined book titles.

Comics Dulcé Sloan and Lace Larrabee share their truth through moments of levity. Toni Tipton-Martin instructs on how to make a perfect summer cocktail. Madi Diaz, She Returns from War, SistaStrings, and others lend their music and storytelling to the hour.

Jones opens the magazine by saying, “Yes, we always publish a diverse chorus of voices, but for this very special edition, we’ve invited the women to sing.” In a critical year and moment, this special amplifies and celebrates those making their mark on culture and history.