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Bread + Roses is a podcast where we explore different areas of work and how they affect health. We find work and workers fascinating and want to demystify 'work' and build connections between different types of workers because we are all dealing with a lot of the same issues and can unite in our fight for fair wages, healthy working lives, and happy home lives. The term “Bread and Roses” is a union slogan used during the 1912 textile strike by Helen Todd who said they were striking for their bread, but they wanted roses too, meaning they were fighting for a living wage and dignified working conditions which allowed them to live good lives in and outsides of their work. Want to contribute to the 'So, what do you do?' segment? Record an audio file answering the following questions and send it to [email protected]. 1. What is your first name and where are you from? 2. So what do you do? 3. How much do you make? 4. Walk us through your day from start to finish. 5. How can 'we' make your job easier? 6. What is something that makes you proud about your work? 7. In terms of your health and happiness, what is the worse part of your work?

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Check latest episodes from Bread + Roses podcast

Fall Work: From the Classroom to the Fields

2026/09/16

We talk about all things fall from Teachers to Pesticides. As we head back into the classrooms and prepare for the fall harvest, we thought we'd find out more about the work of teaching our young people and the impact of pesticide use on workers. We also hear from a teacher in Cicero, IL about her day to day.

The Golden Age? Working with and as older folks

2026/08/07

This episode of Bread + Roses is about something we all have in common, getting older. We first talk about caring for our aging population and then we talk about the differences in occupational health outcomes for workers that are aging. Lastly, we interview a person working in as a home health aid in New York City.

Truckin! Worker health from transit workers to women

2026/05/22

This episode of Bread + Roses is about two things many of us have in common, taking the bus and being a woman at work. We first talk about bus drivers at the CTA and what their work is like and how it impacts health. Then we talk about the differences in occupational health outcomes for women and what drives some of the disparities. Lastly, we interview a woman and a Physician Assistant out in these Chicago streets working.

We want our Bread AND Roses- What do we owe workers?

2026/04/08

This episode of Bread + Roses is about the Roses in Bread + Roses. We first talk about where the title of our podcast and the term Bread and Roses comes from and what we owe to workers. Then we talk about the tragic increases in suicide rates within construction workers in the US. Lastly, we hear from a person working in retail talk about their work and what they need to stay healthy and happy. If you or anyone you know is struggling with mental health or suicide, please reach out to us and we'll try to get you some help ([email protected]). Or you can access resources here: Dial 988 to connect to a crisis line (https://988lifeline.org/) or find walk-in centers in your area by searching out Living Rooms, Community Triage Centers, and Welcoming Centers. If you are in the Chicago area here are some options: Thresholds (https://www.thresholds.org/programs-services/crisis-response/the-living-room), Southside Community Triage Center (https://www.hrdi.org/ctc.html), and Northside Welcoming Center (https://www.lssi.org/services/mental-health-and-addiction-services/mental-health-services/welcoming-center/).

Fighting Fires and PPE - How we are protecting and not protecting workers

2025/12/02

This episode of Bread + Roses is about our reliance on methods and structures that fail to protect workers in this changing environment. We first talk about what Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and how it often falls short in protecting health and then we discuss the Wildland Firefighting industry and how it has changed overtime as fires become more common, bigger, and more toxic. Lastly, we interview an actual wildland firefighter about their day to day. And if you'd like to prepare your house for fires so these men and women can stay safe and keep us safe, here's some resources. https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/wildfire/preparing-homes-for-wildfire https://wfca.com/wildfire-articles/firewise-defensible-space/

The Changing Workplaces from Hollywood to Appalachia

2025/09/30

This episode of Bread + Roses is about the changing workplaces. We talk about what AI and streaming means to the occupational health of actors and writers and then we discuss the resurgence of Black Lung. Lastly, we interview an actor about their day to day.

Chemicals and ICE - Unwelcomed exposures to the workplace

2025/08/11

This episode of Bread + Roses is about the recent Trump Administration ICE raids on workplaces and chemical exposures. We talk about the ICE raids have impacted the most vulnerable workers and how chemicals are regulated (or not) in the workplace. Lastly, we interview a security guard from the Chicago suburbs to learn more about their day to day.

Unstable and Unsustainable- What temp agencies and violence mean to worker health.

2025/07/23

This episode of Bread + Roses is about Temporary Workers and Violence in the workplace. We talk about how the use of third party staffing agencies leaves workers in limbo and discuss the worker populations most impacted by violence. Lastly, we interview a worker from a meat processing plant and learn more about their day to day.

Slash & Burn - What heat and defunding means to worker health

2025/05/15

This episode of Bread + Roses is about Heat Stress and the recent cuts to the National Institutes of Occupational Safety and Health. We talk about what heat in different workplaces and how that is changing due to climate change and then we discuss how the defunding of NIOSH will play out for worker health. Lastly, we interview a chef from Texas about his work in the kitchen and beyond.

The Whole Worker - How mental health & immigration impact worker health

2025/05/14

This episode of Bread + Roses is about Mental Health and Immigration. We talk about what mental health means in the work place and then we discuss how immigration policy is impacting workers. Lastly, we interview a someone who is advocating for both immigrants and mental health in a Chicago non-profit.

What's the End Game? - The New Administration's Support (Or Lack of) for Workers

2025/04/06

And we're back! This episode of Bread + Roses welcomes a new host Ramon to join up with Julia in a new season. This episode is a discussion about how the Trump administration has and will potentially impact workers and worker health. We talk DOGE, Project 2025, unions, and the administration's picks to lead the DOL. Don't worry, we leave you a little bit of hope as we highlight worker rights advocate, Luke Ching @lukechinghk and interview an Epidemiologist working for the state government.

All Of Us Are Affected (COVID - 19 Edition)

2020/04/05

This episode of Bread + Roses is devoted to the Coronavirus. We are joined by Lorraine Conroy, the Director of the Center for Healthy Work and professor and co-director of the Occupational Safety Program at UIC to discuss how COVID-19 has impacted workers in low-wages and precarious employment. Plus Margaret shares her expertise on respirators and gives recommendations about the current shortage in the medical field. We are joined by three workers this episode named Ben, Tryn, and Jessica because so many of us are affected. These are workers from across the nation working in various fields that have been impacted by the pandemic. They talk to us about their jobs in general and about how the virus has impacted their work, health, and happiness.

Easter Potlucks And Algorithms- Working At Amazon

2019/10/12

This episode of Bread + Roses is devoted to Amazon! We are joined by Roberto Clack, the Associate Director of Warehouse Workers for Justice from Chicago, Illinois in our 'Ground up from the Round Up' segment to discuss the history of Amazon, the health and safety issues faced by warehouse workers, and how people are coming together and doing their best to change the system. We have two workers named Tim and Lupita from Amazon warehouses, join in our 'So, what do you do?' segment to talk about their experiences at Amazon. And as always we end with our 'IH Hot Take' this time from Tom Vroman, CIH of the Ecology Environment from Seattle, Washington, who summarizes the current health and safety issues facing warehouse and fulfillment center workers.

Seven Generations Later

2019/09/04

This episode of Bread + Roses is devoted to Immigration! We are joined by Natalia Cornelio, the Director of Legal Affairs for Harris Country Commissioner Rodney Ellis from Houston, Texas in our 'Ground up from the Round Up' segment to discuss the history of immigrant work in the US, the health and safety issues faced by immigrant workers, and how people are coming together and doing their best to change the system. We have a Day Labor organizer named Armando from the The Latino Union of Chicago, join in our 'So, what do you do?' segment to talk about the corner community. And as always we end with our 'IH Hot Take' this time from Emily Ahonen of the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health in Indianapolis, who summarizes the current health and safety issues facing immigrant workers. Look for more of her work at the Oxford Research Encyclopedias of Global Public Health. **There was an error when describing the fatality rates. The fatality rates for immigrants is 20% higher and 40% higher for Hispanic and Latino workers.

Trust Shaking A Farmer's Hand

2019/08/03

This episode of Bread + Roses is devoted to Farming! We are joined by Jose Oliva from the Food Chain Workers Alliance in our 'Ground up from the Round Up' segment to discuss where our food comes from, the work that is involved, and most importantly, what is the state of the health and safety of food chain workers and their communities. We have two farmers, Matt and Joe, from the Midwest and the South join in our 'So, what do you do?' segment to talk about their work in farming. And as always we end with our 'IH Hot Take' this time from Josie Rudolphi of the University of Illinois who summarizes the current health and safety issues facing today's farmers.

Podcast reviews

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5 out of 5

7 reviews

★★★★★

Bj all around 2019/05/24

Coal.

Great info on the impact of the mining and community impact. Leaves a lot of thought provoking questions. Would love a follow up on who is consuming...

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