Life Beyond Abortion
Welcome to Life Beyond Abortion, the weekly podcast hosted by Melissa Ohden, abortion survivor, author, speaker, and founder of The Abortion Survivors Network.
Join Melissa as she shares her powerful journey of survival and healing and amplifies the voices of those impacted by abortion, including survivors and their families. Through candid conversations, stories of resilience, and a commitment to truth, this podcast creates a space for inspiration, understanding, and transformation.
Whether you're seeking encouragement, want to explore the realities of abortion's impact, or desire a deeper connection to the human stories that bring healing and hope, Life Beyond Abortion is for you.
Subscribe today and discover a life-affirming message that goes beyond survival to thriving. New episodes drop weekly on your favorite podcast platform.
Life Beyond Abortion
Born Alive: The Fight for Life After Abortion
Join Melissa Ohden, host of Life Beyond Abortion and founder of the Abortion Survivors Network, as she uncovers the powerful, untold stories of life beyond abortion. In this episode, Melissa welcomes Mary Szoch, Director of the Center for Human Dignity at the Family Research Council (@FRCdc on X), to explore the urgent fight for babies born alive after abortion attempts. Together, they tackle the legal gaps, personal stories, and cultural myths surrounding this hidden issue.
Mary, a lifelong pro-lifer shaped by her family’s activism and her sister’s life with a chromosomal abnormality, leads policy efforts at FRC. She reveals the stark reality: 12 states offer no legal protection for infants who survive abortions, and in states like Minnesota, safeguards have been repealed. With 277 reported cases from just 10 states, Mary explains why federal legislation like the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act is critical—yet still unmet. Her expertise shines as she dismantles the claim that “this doesn’t happen.”
From the haunting “DC Five” case—fully developed babies discarded without justice—to a mother at seven months pregnant who, with Mary’s support, stopped a late-term abortion to save her son, this episode exposes the abortion industry’s toll on women and the undeniable humanity of the unborn. Melissa and Mary ask: if a baby deserves care after surviving, what’s the difference moments before? These stories demand we rethink life beyond abortion.
Curious for more? Check FRC.org for pro-life maps and the “Born Alive” publication, and connect with Melissa at abortionsurvivors.org or @abortion_survivors_network on Instagram. Share this episode to amplify the truth and break the silence. Follow Mary Szoch's work via the Family Research Council at @FRCdc on X or visit FRC.org.
00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:53 Meet Mary Szoch
00:01:33 Mary’s Pro-Life Journey
00:04:23 Born Alive Protections Explained
00:08:12 The DC Five Case
00:11:11 Abortion Drugs and Aftermath
00:18:20 A Mother’s Fight to Save Her Baby
00:24:15 Call to Action
You can find out more about Melissa's story, and support her work at melissaohden.com. Follow Melissa Ohden on Instagram @melissaohden, and on X @melissaohden.
Follow The Abortion Survivors Network on Instagram @the_abortion_survivors_network, and on X @theASNofficial. You can learn more about The Abortion Survivors Network at abortionsurvivors.org.
To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.
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