From Italy to Indiana: Contraception at the push of a button

Extraordinary: The Fight for Reproductive Justice

In our last episode, we learned how hard it was to get the FDA to approve Plan B for over-the-counter sales. Now we’ll meet four women who have made sure it is both affordable and accessible in their community. Andrea DeMaria is a public health researcher at Purdue University who leads study-abroad programs in Italy that focus on women’s reproductive health. She and her students wanted to replicate the pharmacy vending machines they observed in Florence on Purdue’s campus. The university's administration was supportive and 2 machines began offering condoms, Covid tests, ibuprofen, and, most importantly (because it works better the sooner it's taken), Plan B. Two vending machines quickly became eight! How does this fly in a conservative state like Indiana, and will other universities follow their lead?

00:00 Introduction to Extraordinary Podcast

00:53 From Plan B’s past … to Plan B today

02:39 Meet Dr. Andrea DeMaria

03:41 Pharmacy Vending Machines in Italy

06:13 Bringing the Idea to Purdue

08:29 Student Involvement and Impact

11:38 Excitement About the Machines

14:32 Use and Impact of the Vending Machines

22:46 Future Goals and Broader Impact

Guest

Our guest Dr. Andrea DeMaria is a professor in the Department of Public Health and Senior Director, Applied Research & Evaluation at March of Dimes. We spoke to students Sophia Patel, Haley Sidorowicz, and Zoe Baker.

Find Us Online

- Substack: https://theextraordinarypodcast.substack.com/

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_extraordinary_podcast

Credits

- Host & Producer: Carolyn Silveira. Website: www.carolynsilveira.com, Instagram: @cmoneycmonster Substack: https://rhymeschemes.substack.com

- Producer: Jennifer Bassett, Big Din Productions Website: www.bigdinproductions.com

- Editor: Carolyn Silveira & Jennifer Bassett

- Mixing: Max Liebman

- Theme music: Katrina Zemrak

- Cover art: Mauricio Diaz

About Us

Extra+Ordinary is a despair-free podcast about abortion & reproductive justice that looks to the past – to fuel our fight for the future.

Join host Carolyn Silveira, a writer and social justice advocate, for inspiring stories of the people and moments that changed history, giving women (and all people) more control over our bodies and lives. From an evangelical doctor who became an abortion provider to “nice housewives” who risked jail time to help other women, we’ll learn how ordinary people can do extraordinary things.

See bonus content at: https://theextraordinarypodcast.substack.com/

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