{"id":81534,"date":"2025-12-17T10:32:28","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T15:32:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/?p=81534"},"modified":"2025-12-17T10:32:31","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T15:32:31","slug":"11-staff-favorite-works-chronicling-the-highs-and-lows-of-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/11-staff-favorite-works-chronicling-the-highs-and-lows-of-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Staff-Favorite Works Chronicling the Highs and Lows of 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"\"
The return of President Donald Trump to the Oval Office informed several of The Story Exchange’s staff-favorite works. Read on to see which works we enjoyed – and valued – most. (Credit: Gage Skidmore, Flickr<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

How does one sum up a year like 2025?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps with words like “tumultuous,” and \u201coverwhelming,\u201d and \u2013 a go-to in my internal monologue \u2013 \u201cwhat the hell?\u201d Indeed, the past year has seen us collectively mired in a level of chaos that feels unprecedented, even in a modern era involving everything from the growing scourge of mass shootings<\/a>, to global pandemics<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout, The Story Exchange has kept eyes and ears on the ups and downs. We dove deep into matters like abortion and education access. We voiced our views of current events through op-eds. And, most importantly, we centered the work of women who show us better ways forward, better ways of being \u2013 as well as historic women who came before, paving pathways for us to continue journeying down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Join us in reflecting on 2025, and preparing for 2026, by considering their work this year and beyond, as told through our staff-favorite articles and podcasts.<\/p>\n\n\n

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1<\/div>\n \n

Clockwise, from top left: Edna Lewis, MFK Fisher, Cecilia Chiang, Elena Zalayeta, Lena Richard, and "Three Sisters" of Indigenous\u00a0cuisine. (Credits: Collage by Noel Flego. Images from Smithsonian Institution, Getty Images, Newcomb Institute at Tulane University, \u201cElena\u2019s Secrets of Mexican Cooking" and Chris Feser, Flickr.)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n

Seasoned: The Women Who Defined American Food<\/h2>\n

In this special 6-part podcast series, which coincides with the nation\u2019s 250th anniversary, we share the stories of women food pioneers like MFK Fisher, Cecilia Chiang and Lena Richard, and explore the complex question: What is American food?<\/span><\/p>\n

LISTEN HERE<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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2<\/div>\n \n

Staffers Candice Helfand Rogers and Victoria Flexner (pictured) visit The Ragery – and learn about rage. (Credit: Candice Helfand-Rogers)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n

What 2 Women Learned Breaking Stuff in a Rage Room, As a New Conflict Begins<\/h2>\n

Two staffers from The Story Exchange went to The Ragery before President Donald Trump bombed Iran. It made us think: Men approach destruction differently than us – and women should break much of what they built.<\/span><\/p>\n

READ IT HERE<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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3<\/div>\n \n

Pete Hegseth speaking with attendees at the 2022 Student Action Summit at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Florida. (Credit: Gage Skidmore, Flickr)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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Here\u2019s How Military Women Reacted to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth\u2019s Speech<\/h2>\n

Several decorated members of the U.S. military \u2014 who also happen to be women \u2014 said there is no “male” or “female” standard when it comes to serving their country. We rounded up their insights following inflammatory remarks by Hegseth.<\/span><\/p>\n

READ IT HERE<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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4<\/div>\n \n

Grace L. Williams, author of "Give Her Credit." (Credit: Dan D'Errico)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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Back When Women Couldn\u2019t Get Loans Without Male Co-Signers, This Bank Made History<\/h2>\n

Former Wall Street Journal staffer Grace L. Williams tells the story of the Denver women who launched the Women\u2019s Bank in 1978 \u2013 and changed the banking game forever.<\/span><\/p>\n

READ IT HERE<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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5<\/div>\n \n

Julie Burkhart is the founder of Wellspring Health Access and a longtime advocate for women's reproductive freedom. (Credit: Courtesy of Burkhart)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n

The State of Abortion, 3 Years Since Dobbs<\/h2>\n

When Roe fell, no one expected abortion rates to rise. Or pills to get easier to access. In this 30-minute podcast, we talk to women like provider <\/span>Julie Burkhart<\/span><\/a> about leading the resistance, what the future holds, and how to manage fear.<\/span><\/p>\n

LISTEN HERE<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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6<\/div>\n \n

The author Lucy Sherriff, wearing borrowed clothes from a friend. (Courtesy of Lucy Sheriff)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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On the Road Back to Los Angeles\u2026And Feeling Grateful<\/h2>\n

Our writer Lucy Sherriff, who lost her condo in the Palisades fires and left the city \u2013 while six months pregnant \u2013 shared her emotional journey toward recovery, both financially and emotionally. This was one installment of her series.<\/span><\/p>\n

READ IT HERE<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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7<\/div>\n \n

Women educators, administrators, startup founders and more are doing all the can to protect and uplift students amid the Trump administration's attempts to dismantle the Department of Education and revoke funding from public schools. (Credit: U.S. DOE, Flickr)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n

U.S. Education Is Under Attack, a New Battle in a Long War. But Women Are Resisting<\/h2>\n

The Trump administration was given clearance this summer to essentially dismantle the Department of Education. Since re-assuming the presidency, Trump had been on the offensive against them. Women educators, founders and more are fighting back.<\/span><\/p>\n

READ IT HERE<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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8<\/div>\n \n

Trump's Big, Beautiful Bill is a problem for America's women, especially. (Credit: Flickr)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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Trump\u2019s \u2018Big Beautiful Bill\u2019 Will Cause Big Health Woes. Women Are Here to Help<\/h2>\n

The passage of Trump\u2019s prized legislation heralded a host of healthcare issues for all \u2013 especially women \u2013 with the cutting of Medicaid and SNAP benefits, among other safety nets. Yet for every problem, there are women-run solutions.<\/span><\/p>\n

READ IT HERE<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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9<\/div>\n \n

Remembering the late, great and very prolific Connie Francis. (Credit: Wikimedia Commons)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n

On Connie Francis, Whose Powerful Voice Reached Far and Wide<\/h2>\n

Connie Francis was an internationally loved musician who made Billboard Hot 100 history. She was also a survivor, advocate and author. And, she touched generations of people \u2013 including Story Exchange writer Candice Helfand-Rogers.<\/span><\/p>\n

READ IT HERE<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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10<\/div>\n \n

Fine, call us women who push back \u201cpigs\u201d \u2013 we\u2019ll still continue to ask tough questions, and speak about what\u2019s right, this op-ed says. (Credit: PickPik)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n

These Little Piggies Won\u2019t Be Quiet, Mr. Trump<\/h2>\n

The president referred to a female reporter as swine for asking Epstein-related questions. But insults aren\u2019t stopping women from speaking up anymore, this op-ed asserts.<\/span><\/p>\n

READ IT HERE<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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11<\/div>\n \n

At one with goats. (Image: Original Goat Yoga)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n

Yes, We Need Goat Yoga Now More Than Ever<\/h2>\n

In 2016, Lainey Morse introduced goat yoga for stress relief as the world became increasingly divisive. Needless to say \u2026 not much has changed.<\/span><\/p>\n

READ IT HERE<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This year saw the return of the Trump administration, devastating wildfires, tough losses \u2013 and women working and fighting through. The Story Exchange covered it all, and then some.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":81535,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"autoblue_enabled":true,"autoblue_custom_message":"The return of President Donald Trump to the Oval Office informed several of The Story Exchange's staff-favorite works. 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