I make media that challenges patriarchy, empowers women, and expands feminist power. I’ve also had multiple iconic haircuts.
WRITER
I cut my teeth in the old-world feminist blogosphere as a founding SPARK Movement activist, a contributor at Everyday Feminism and a writer for Mic — and went on to steer and create content as Autostraddle’s Feminism Editor and Community Director, the Managing Digital Editor of Ms. magazine, and co-founder and Managing Editor of the Webby-nominated platform Argot magazine.
My writing and reporting on queerness, gender, race and class has been published in print and online by outlets including BuzzFeed, Bitch, Bust, CityLab, DAME, ElixHER, Feministing, Feminist Formations, GirlBoss, GrokNation, MEL, Mic, the National Women’s History Museum, SIGNS and the Women’s Media Center. My confessional essays also appear in the WE SPOKE anthology by Meital Yaniv and multiple Autostraddle and Argot print projects.
MEDIA PERSONALITY
I’ve produced and hosted several popular and acclaimed feminist podcasts and video series.
I’m the supervising producer and host of Looking Back, Moving Forward, a five-part audio series for Ms. magazine about the intertwined history of the magazine and the feminist movement, and formerly hosted the Ms. Live Q&A, a social media series of live-streamed conversations with changemakers and feminist thinkers.
I was also the host and producer of Bitch Media’s Popaganda podcast, which tackled social issues through pop culture analysis; and the co-host and co-producer of THE BOSSY SHOW, a political talk show for young women, and TRIGGER HAPPY, a weekly news desk video series for Binge Networks.
My work has been described as “beautiful,” “moving,” “wondrous,” “powerful,” “impactful,” and “really good stuff.”
I have additionally been hailed as “petulant and idiotic,” “intimidating to some,” “vapid and uninteresting” and “brazenly misandrist.”
Public Speaker
I’ve led workshops, participated in and moderated panel discussions, and delivered keynote talks at events and institutions across the country about women’s activism, feminist media and the feminist movement.
I’ve taken the stage at the National Sexual Assault Conference, the National Young Feminist Leadership Conference, the Momentum Conference, the National Women’s Studies Association Conference and Autostraddle’s A-Camp; and I’ve delivered guest lectures or joined symposiums at the Skirball Cultural Center, the Hammer Museum, Smith College, Little Red School House, Northeastern University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Merrimack College.
Commentator
I’ve been overheard on NPR and local radio stations and forced to wear make-up on CNN, Good Morning America and the CBS Early Show to talk about the issues facing women and the feminist movement. I’ve also been profiled by the New York Times, HerCampus, Honeybee, and Hannah Hightman’s Hype Zine project.
My work has been covered by the Washington Post, Diva magazine, Jezebel, TIME, Nylon and the Guardian; praised by Longreads, Mashable, BuzzFeed, Curve, Logo and The Rumpus; and cited or quoted by NBC, Daily Dot, Bustle, Romper, and Vox.
I’m a Women’s Media Center SheSource expert and an alumna of their Progressive Women’s Voices media training.
Strategist
Alongside my creative work, I’ve worked for over 15 years as an editorial and communications strategist, content creator, event producer, and community-builder in queer and feminist spaces — designing and executing successful editorial, social media, press relations, and digital organizing strategies; producing digital and live events and experiences; and launching viral campaigns and petitions.
Now, I upend kyriarchy through an independent practice with a range of mission-driven clients, including non-profit organizations, media platforms, and feminist artists.
carmen rios 