About

Stand-up comedian Gina Brillon and journalist Kimberly Brooks host The State of: Women (TSOW), a weekly podcast series that explores how SOME of the 50 states champion women’s rights while others DON’T. The series includes lively and solution-oriented conversation as the hosts share personal stories and examine the differences in gender equity state-by-state, illuminating inequalities in policy and practice and how to take action to drive change.

Topics range from women in power to trans rights, workplace sexual harassment, reproductive freedom, and more. Kimberly and Gina break down which states meet women’s needs the most, where the fight for equality is failing, and what needs to be done to achieve lasting gender equity.

“The State of: Women” is produced by Population Media Center (PMC), Clamor, and Reasonable Volume.

Our Hosts

Kimberly Brooks

As a career journalist, speaker, and mental wellness advocate, Kimberly’s voice of compassion and disarming personality has often allowed people to open up a bit farther, dig a bit deeper, or laugh a little louder. This has led to scores of moving interviews with people around the world — including a sit-down with her first television boss, Oprah Winfrey, in their documentary “O Girls” [fusion.tv].

After beginning her television journey at Harpo Productions , Kimberly produced at NBC, anchored at Fusion TV, and most recently was an anchor and correspondent for programs across ABC News including “ABC News Live” and “Nightline Weekend”. Kimberly is a graduate of both Northwestern University and Columbia University in New York City where she received her Masters in Journalism.

Gina Brillon

Gina Brillon was born and raised in the Bronx, New York. The Puerto Rican actress, comedian, writer and mom has been a standup comic since she was 17 years old. Her sophomore 1-hour special Gina Brillon: The Floor is Lava (Amazon Prime Video) won a 2021 Gracie Award and was nominated for an Imagen Award. Her 1/2 hour special Easily Offended was one of the top shows from the Entre Nos franchise on HBO Latino, and streams on all HBO Digital Platforms. She’s made appearances on The View, Late Night with Seth Meyers and Jimmy Kimmel Live. You have seen her on Kevin Can Wait on CBS and The Conners on ABC. In 2012, she became the first (and only) Latina winner of NBC’s Stand up for Diversity Showcase. The following year, she was a “New Face” at the Montreal Just For Laughs Festival.

Gina is a singer, published writer, and poet. Her pieces have appeared in the New York Post and Daily News, among others. Gina and co-host Katherine G. Mendoza also dole out advice on their podcast Mess In Progress: The Homegirls Guide to Self-Help. Most recently, Gina was the first Latina comedian to be a Finalist in season 16 of America’s Got Talent.

Our Team

“The State of: Women” is produced by Population Media Center (PMC), Clamor, and Reasonable Volume.

Lisa Caruso

Series Creator | Executive Producer, PMC

Alex Demyanenko

Series Creator | Executive Producer, PMC

Elise Hu

Executive Producer | Reasonable Volume

Rachel Swaby

Executive Producer | Reasonable Volume

Charity Tooze

Impact and Partnerships Strategist | PMC

Dominica Ruelas

Manager, Creative Development | PMC

June Neely

Administrative Coordinator | PMC

Bethy Squires

Research

Carmel Dagan

Fact-Checker

Jazmine Johnson & Match Zimmerman

Brand Concept

New Media Campaigns

Website Design & Logo

Silver Linings Group

Social Media Strategy

Who We Are

About Population Media Center US Content Division

The State of: Women is created, produced, and distributed by Population Media Center (PMC), a global non-profit impact content producer. We develop and produce original entertainment content for social and environmental good. Our content includes Crossing the Line, a podcast that tells stories from the frontline in the fight for reproductive freedom. PMC is most well-known in the U.S. for creating Hulu’s hit TV series East Los High, which aired for five seasons.

About Reasonable Volume

Reasonable Volume is an LA-based, bespoke audio production house specializing in podcasts and narrative audio. Its production partners and clients include Crooked Media, Clamor, UTA, Critical Frequency, Godfrey Dadich Partners, and LAist Studios. The team also produces flagship podcasts for Microsoft, WeTransfer, and Github, among others. The company is founded by two women with deep experience in narrative journalism—NPR veteran Elise Hu and WIRED Magazine alum Rachel Swaby. Its mission is to amplify marginalized voices and produce talent in the audio space.