In a post-Roe America, the attacks on reproductive healthcare are becoming more insidious. Planned Parenthood CEO Alexis McGill Johnson reveals how a recent "big, beautiful" bill contains a provision designed to bankrupt providers — and why she sees this moment not as a defeat, but as a call to build an "infrastructure of hope."
In this powerful and essential episode of HIT Like a Girl, guest host Dana Trampas, MPH, sits down with Alexis McGill Johnson, the President and CEO of Planned Parenthood, recorded live at the Power of Women in Medicine Summit. Amidst what she calls a "betrayal of unimaginable cruelty," Alexis pulls back the curtain on the deliberate strategy of chaos aimed at destabilizing providers and patients. She explains why separating abortion from other healthcare is a dangerous mistake and makes a compelling case for why hope is not a feeling, but a form of active, defiant resistance.
Alexis McGill Johnson shares:
-
The "Big Betrayal" Bill: How a recently passed provision is a targeted, backdoor abortion ban designed to strip Medicaid funding from providers like Planned Parenthood, devastating low-income communities.
-
Chaos as a Strategy: Why the constant whiplash of policy and litigation is a deliberate tactic to confuse patients and overwhelm the healthcare system.
-
The Truth About Planned Parenthood: Beyond the headlines, she reveals why these health centers are often the first point of entry into the healthcare system for millions, providing everything from contraception to gender-affirming care with dignity.
-
Leading with Compassion in Crisis: How the courage of providers walking past protesters every day fuels her leadership — and why "hopelessness is a luxury" we can't afford.
-
A Generational Reckoning: Her frank assessment of how her generation (Gen X) "dropped the ball" and the critical role millennials and Gen Z must play in the long-game fight for codified rights.
-
A Call to Action: The one thing anyone can do right now to join the movement and help build a future where reproductive freedom is a reality for all.
This conversation is a masterclass in resilient leadership and a vital roadmap for anyone who believes in bodily autonomy. It’s a reminder that rights are never guaranteed — they are won and protected through relentless, compassionate action.
Listen now for an unflinching look at the current battle for reproductive justice and learn how to turn hope into a strategy.
00:00 | Introducing Alexis McGill Johnson: On the Frontlines of Reproductive Justice
00:44 | The "Backdoor Abortion Ban": Decoding the Policy Designed to Defund Care
05:10 | Planned Parenthood's True Role: More Than Abortion, It's a Lifeline
07:00 | Leading Through Whiplash: Why Compassion is a Strategic Asset
11:16 | A Generational Fight: From "Dropping the Ball" to Building the Future
12:52 | Lightning Round: Myths, Micro-Joys, and the Victory Playlist
15:21 | How to Build an Infrastructure of Hope: Your Call to Action
Stay Connected & Take Action:
👉🏾 Join the movement and get involved at IAmForPP.org
👉🏾 Follow Planned Parenthood on Instagram TikTok and
👉🏾 Follow Alexis McGill Johnson on Instagram
👉🏾 Connect with Guest Host, Dana Trampas on Instagram TikTok
🎧 This episode was recorded live at the Power of Women in Medicine Summit and brought to you by Chirpy Bird Health IT. Learn more about sponsorship opportunities.
Stay connected with HIT Like a Girl Pod: