This week, Vice President and Democratic Nominee for President, Kamala Harris, took a seat with an unexpected interviewer: Alex Cooper of “Call Her Daddy.”

In a candid discussion, the Vice President talked about women’s health and safety issues, a topic which is not usually given the time of day, especially not in a genuine, respectful manner on such a large platform. This conversation was timely as October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

“Call Her Daddy” is self-described as “The most listened to podcast by women,” and it’s got the numbers to back it up. It is consistently ranked among Spotify’s top podcasts, often competing with the “Joe Rogan Experience,” and Cooper has millions of followers across social media platforms. Cooper herself claims she has a “very mixed audience when it comes to politics,” indicating that Harris’ interview could potentially reach not only large numbers of young women but a wide range as well. 

While raw conversations are a part of Cooper’s brand, she is not often associated with serious, pressing topics, making the Vice President’s presence on the show a surprise. If anything, it can be seen as refreshing to witness a major politician engage in such a personable discussion. 

“What I’m hoping is that you’re able to listen to a conversation that isn’t too different than the ones that we’re having here every week,” Cooper explained before the episode. 

When asked why this form of interview was intriguing to her, Harris acknowledged the reach of the women-focused program, “I think you and your listeners have really got this thing right, which is [that] one of the best ways to communicate with people is to be real…and to talk about the things that people really care about.”

The importance of honest, relatable conversation is seen in the podcast’s avid following, and in the broader movement for vulnerability in social media, especially among Generation Z and Millennials. 

“Especially now, this is a moment in the country and in life where people really want to know they’re seen and heard and that they’re part of a community…” Harris noted. 

Harris and Cooper leaned into the need for real, human centered discussions, especially those surrounding women’s health. 

Cooper asked the Vice President about why she was so invested in prosecuting sexual assault cases. Harris opened up about how she and her mother supported her high school best friend Wanda who survived sexual assault and violence in her home. 

“I was raised with my mother saying since practically the day my sister was born…look out for your sister,” Harris said. “So maybe it started when I was two, but Wanda and her experience…made me realize how this can happen and what we need to do to stand against it.”

This topic resonates with women across the country, as statistics from the National Domestic Violence Hotline show that one in three women experience sexual assault and/or violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. 

 Cooper, a major influential figure among young women, shared that she has had female listeners confide in her, searching for support as survivors, “I have women write in being like, ‘I don’t know who to tell. I’m [direct messaging] you and I’m telling you because of the shame and the terror and the [thoughts of] where do I go from here?’” she recalled. “And most of the time it is the people that are closest to them that are doing this.” 

“This is happening, this is real. This is happening right now,” Cooper stated.

The relevance of this issue is evident in the Saint Anselm campus community. Nicole Kipphut, the Director of The Harbor, pointed out the necessity of talking about these topics, “Given that college students face the highest rates of intimate partner violence, it’s crucial to engage the community in efforts to combat domestic violence on campus.”

The Harbor, which is located in the lower level of the Jean Student Center, is “The college’s center for prevention, awareness, and resources related to relationship violence, sexual assault, and stalking,” according to Kipphut. The office also serves as a drop-in center for survivors who are looking for a confidential support system and access to resources on campus. 

 The Harbor has been supported by the Office on Violence Against Women Grant, and has been awarded another grant from the OVW that will cover the next 3 years, indicating the continued importance of such programs for young women.

To mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Harbor and the AVERT Committee (Assault Violence Education Resource Team) will be providing programming throughout October to promote education, empowerment, and prevention. Events include painting and distributing pumpkins with information about domestic violence resources on Oct. 10, ‘Purple Thursday’ on Oct. 17, and the ‘One Love’ women’s lacrosse game on Oct. 19.

Students seeking confidential support can visit The Harbor or contact Nicole directly at 603-641-7491.