The Conversation

Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to two academics dedicated to uncovering the vital role of women in shaping philosophical thought, both past and present.

Dr Giulia Cavaliere is an Italian bioethicist and feminist philosopher who lectures at University College London. Her research focuses on infertility, assisted reproductive technologies and the influence of social norms. Giulia is also an associate editor of the philosophical journal Res Publica.

Dr Sabrina Ebbersmeyer is a German philosopher who made history as the first woman to be appointed as a professor of Philosophy at the University of Copenhagen. She specialises in uncovering the historical contributions of female intellectuals to the discipline during the Renaissance, Early Modern period and Nordic Enlightenment.

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Two female philosophers explore philosophy's enduring relevance.

Show more "

[LISTEN NOW]

Basima Abdulrahman is the founder and CEO of KESK, the first company in Iraq that offers green services and products.

Jennifer Uchendu is the founder of SustyVibes, a youth-led sustainability organisation, and The Eco Anxiety Project, an initiative promoting awareness and research into climate change and its impact on young Africans' mental health.

Produced by Alice Gioia

Basima Abdulrahman and Jennifer Uchendu are on this year's BBC 100 Women list

Kim Chakanetsa meets Iraqi engineer Basima Abdulrahman and Nigerian environmentalist Jennifer Uchendu, two changemakers who are are on this year's BBC 100 Women list.

Dr Lisa Dinella is an expert on how toys influence the child's brain, their sense of self and even the opportunities they have in later life. She is a professor of psychology in America's Monmouth University and has given an address in the White House on gender disparities in children's media and toys.

Sunaina Somu Divakar is the founder of a doll company that aims to challenge stereotypes and bring more representation to the Indian toy market. In 2020, influenced by the Black Lives Matter movement and becoming a mother, Sunaina founded Wild Little Society, a company that sells dolls with a range of different brown skin tones and outfits.

Produced by Sarah Kendal.

(Image: (L) Dr Lisa Dinella, credit Andrew Beldowicz. (R) Sunaina Somu Divakar, credit Balamurali Gurusamy.)

A psychologist and a doll maker discuss the impact of playing with toys on the brain.

Kim Chakanetsa speaks to psychologist Dr Lisa Dinella and to doll maker Sunaina Somu Divakar.

Traditionally women often take on much of the responsibility for practical and emotional support for a family as well as passing on family knowledge and traditions. But is the role still relevant? Datshiane Navanayagam talks to women from Canada and the UK about being a modern matriarch.

All her life, Helen Knott has looked to the strong women in her indigenous community for guidance, absorbed their stories and admired their independence. When her mother and grandmother died she tried to step into the roles they'd held in community. Her book Becoming a Matriarch is a love letter to the eldest daughters of families who often carry invisible responsibilities.

Tanika Gupta is an award-winning playwright British playwright whose work celebrates her Bengali culture and often challenges gender and race stereotypes. She has worked across theatre, television, radio and film. Her latest play A Tupperware Of Ashes is about a restaurateur with dementia and the impact on her three children of looking after her. Tanika wrote the play after her own mother died from cancer. It will be screened internationally by the National Theatre later this year.

Produced by Jane Thurlow

(Image: (L) Tanika Gupta credit Oscar May. (R) Helen Knott courtesy Duckworth Books.)

Women from Canada and the UK on the changing role of the matriarch in their cultures

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Poet Helen Knott from Canada and playwright Tanika Gupta from the UK on matriarchs in their culture, strong women in their families and the impact of their mothers' deaths.

Lizzie Deignan is a world champion track and road racing cyclist. She got into cycling by chance, when the British Cycling Apprentice programme visited her school in Yorkshire. Throughout her career she has broken down barriers for women in the sport.

Keen cyclist Alisha Myers is the Global Director of Strategic Information and Innovation at World Bicycle Relief, an organisation providing bicycles and supportive programming to women in rural areas across Africa. She believes that cycling can help women access education and better job opportunities.

Produced by Alice Gioia.

(Image: (L) Lizzie Deignan, courtesy of Lizzie Deignan. (R) Alisha Myers, credit Leah Missbach Day.)

Champion Lizzie Deignan and World Bicycle Relief's Alisha Myers on the power of cycling

When Angela Cacace moved into her new house, she decided to teach herself how to renovate it. Fast forward 14 years, Angela is now running her own design and carpentry company and has launched Move Over Bob, an organisation supporting women in the trade skills.

Clémentine Mollier is a French marine carpenter who specialises in restoring and building classic wooden boats.

Produced by Alice Gioia

Carpenters Angela Cacace and Clementine Mollier thrive in a male dominated industry

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Beatriz De La Pava Hucke meets two skilled carpenters who built their own career in a male dominated industry.

Telephone helplines support millions of children every year with issues ranging from serious abuse to children who just want someone to chat to on the way home from school. Ella Al-Shamahi talks to two women from South Africa and Greece about supporting children through round-the-clock helplines, counselling and outreach.

Dumisile Cele, a trained social worker, is the Chief Executive Officer of Childline South Africa. Their 24-hour helpline is contacted around 300,000 times each year. Dumisile says the mental health challenges in children are especially driven by violent crimes, abuse and trauma perpetuated against them.

Stavroula Spyropoulou is a psychologist working at Smile of the Child in Greece. The organisation operates across the country and has over 400 staff and 6000 active volunteers. They give families immediate support in times of crisis, run children's homes and outreach sessions in schools. Stavroula is the coordinator of their Center for Child Abuse and Exploitation.

There is a global network of child helplines in 132 countries and it's hoped that by 2030 every country in the world will have a helpline. There's a list of them all, and their contact phone numbers on the website of Child Helpline International.

Produced by Jane Thurlow

(Image: (L) Dumisile Cele courtesy Child Helpline South Africa. (R) Stavroula Spyropoulou courtesy Smile of the Child.)

Two women from South Africa and Greece on running round-the-clock support for children

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Show more "

[LISTEN NOW]

Niamh Ní Chróinín from Ireland is a children's TV presenter for Cúla4, an Irish-language channel that broadcasts exclusively in Gaelic. She is keen to foster a love for Irish culture and language among children.

Shudufhadzo Mathagwa is a South African children's TV presenter, model and actor who is passionate about youth empowerment. She currently presents on Play Room, the 24-hour children's television channel that combines education and entertainment with both a local and international focus.

Produced by Emily Naylor for the BBC World Service.

(Image: (L) Niamh Ní Chróinín courtesy of Niamh Ní Chróinín. (R) Shudufhadzo Mathagwa courtesy of Shudufhadzo Mathagwa.)

Irish and South African presenters discuss their love for inspiring young minds

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Dina Macki is a recipe developer and writer who basis her work around Omani cuisine. She works with international brands, restaurants and hotels in the UK and in the Gulf region. She's just published her debut cookbook, Bahari: Recipes from an Omani Kitchen and Beyond.

Keshia Sakarah is a chef and owner of Caribe' - Caribbean Eating and the Baruru Supper-club. She travelled across the Caribbean Islands to discover and collect traditional recipes. Her first book, Caribe': A Cookbook with History, will come out in 2025.

Produced by Sarah Kendal and Alice Gioia.

(Image: (L) Keshia Sakarah, courtesy of Keshia Sakarah. (R) Dina Macki, courtesy of Dina Macki.)

Chefs Dina Macki and Keshia Sakarah explore culture and identity through food

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Sarah Belal is a barrister and the founder of Justice Project Pakistan. She represents the most vulnerable people on death row in Pakistan and abroad.

Andrea Lyon is a lawyer, author, speaker, professor and former law school dean. She was the first woman to serve as lead attorney in a death penalty case, and she holds 19 wins in 19 capital cases.

Nelufar Hedayat meets two women representing people on death row.

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Less than 0.001% of the deep ocean has been explored. Ella Al-Shamahi speaks to two women from South Africa and the US who have dedicated their careers to finding out more about our planet's most uncharted depths.

Dr Katy Croff Bell is an American ocean explorer and deep-sea technologist. She has over 15 years of experience leading ground-breaking oceanographic and archaeological projects. Katy is the founder of the Ocean Discovery League, an organisation dedicated to expanding global access to deep-sea exploration by developing affordable, durable technology for scientists and researchers.

Dr Zoleka Filander is an award-winning South African marine biologist with South Africa's Department of Fisheries, Forestry, and Environment. She leads pioneering expeditions into uncharted marine territories, gathering crucial data to inform conservation strategies. Zoleka is passionate about sharing the deep ocean's wonders to inspire public respect and a sense of urgency for its preservation.

Produced by Emily Naylor

(Image: (L) Katy Croff Bell courtesy of Katy Croff Bell. (R) Zoleka Filander credit Logan Lambert.)

Women from the US and South Africa on discovering the wonders of the oceans

Ella Al-Shamahi talks to two women from the US and South Africa about discovering the wonders of the ocean and the challenges they face in exploring its most remote depths.

[LISTEN NOW]

Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to Angie Chioko and Nika Kokareva about clearing landmines and unexploded ordnance, in order to return safe land to their communities. At the end of 2024, The Landmine Monitor Report revealed that children suffer disproportionately from landmines across the world. The remnants of war remain in the ground for decades, claiming civilian lives, long after the fighting had ended.

Angie Chioko is a Supervisor at the Mazowe Camp in Zimbabwe, working for The Halo Trust. Zimbabwe is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. The minefields were laid in the 1970s during a civil war by the country's ruling army. In Zimbabwe today, the landmines cut off access to water supplies, pasture land, and cause children to take longer routes to school.

Nika Kokareva is a Team Leader in the Mykolaiv region of Ukraine, working for Mines Advisory Group. The country has seen a rise in landmines and unexploded ordnance since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. The United Nations Development Programme has said Ukraine is now the most mined country in the world, with potentially 23 percent of its land at risk of contamination with landmines and unexploded ordnance.

Produced by Elena Angelides

Two women from Zimbabwe and Ukraine on clearing landmines and unexploded ordnance.

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

[LISTEN NOW]

Athlete Alessia Zecchini set world and Italian records in freediving. She has recently featured on the Netflix documentary The Deepest Breath.

Julia Kozerska from Poland has broken multiple world records and specialises in dynamic no fins diving. Alongside training and competing, Julia also works as a lifeguard and physiotherapist.

Producer: Emily Naylor

(Image: Alessia Zecchini (L), Julia Kozerska (R) . Background: Alessia Zecchini diving, Credit Laura Babahekian.)

Alessia Zecchini and Julia Kozerska speak about the wonder and perils of freediving

Lilian Olivia Orero is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, award-winning writer and champion of women's digital rights. She is the founder of the community-based organisation SafeOnlineWomen-Kenya. Lilian Olivia recently served as the youngest person on a UN led programme aimed at ending violence against women and girls.

Nighat Dad is a Pakistani lawyer and founder of Digital Rights Foundation, a charity organisation focused on cyber harassment, data protection and free speech online in Pakistan and South Asia. As a feminist and pioneer for women's rights activism in Pakistan, Nighat has raised awareness of Pakistani patriarchy.

Produced by Emily Naylor

(Image: (L) Lilian Olivia Orero, credit Daniel Samwel. (R) Nighat Dad, courtesy of Nighat Dad.)

Lilian Olivia Orero and Nighat Dad expose the severity of online abuse against women

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Datshiane Navanayagam hears from two women from Kenya and Pakistan about the threats women face online.

Manja Blok was the first female operational F-16 fighter pilot in the world. After taking the aviation exam at 19, Manja was told she was unfit to become a pilot and pursued a career as a beautician instead. She tried again at 22 and in 1991, made her F-16 debut in a career that lasted a decade and paved the way for women behind her.

Heather Penney joined the US Air Force in the late nineties, after Congress lifted the combat exclusion for women in aviation in 1993. Six months after becoming qualified for combat, Heather was assigned a mission on September 11th 2001 during the attacks in New York and Washington D.C, to intercept hijacked Flight 93.

Produced by Elena Angelides

(Image: (L) Manja Blok, courtesy of Joni Isreali. (R ) Heather Penney, courtesy of Tim Engle)

Ella Al-Shamahi meets two of the first women to ever fly F-16 fighter jets

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

According to the UN, the fashion industry is responsible for 8-10% of global emissions. That's more than aviation and shipping combined. We talk to two women making climate-friendly clothes and developing innovative textiles in a bid to reduce the waste produced by fast fashion.

Regina Polanco is the founder and CEO of Pyratex, a textile company making fabrics from seaweed, banana and orange peel for some of the biggest brands in fashion. Born in Vienna, she has also lived in Morocco, Mauritania and Switzerland but she returned to Spain, the country where she grew up, to found her company in 2014.

Sasha McKinlay grew up in Singapore and moved to the United States to study architecture. Now a design researcher at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, she's developing so-called 'active' textiles. They're essentially textiles with embedded functionality without the need for electronic inputs. These include materials that can be either warm or cool depending on the weather, and garments that can be made in a single size and robotically tailored to fit the wearer or to be customised into new styles.

Produced by Jane Thurlow

(Image: (L) Sasha McKinlay credit Katie Koskey. (R) Regina Polanco credit Pyratex.)

Two women from Singapore and Spain aiming to make fashion more climate-friendly

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Two women from Singapore and Spain discuss making textiles from seaweed and banana waste as well as robotically tailored clothes and garments that adapt to changing temperatures.

[LISTEN NOW]

What happens when women bring traditional folklore into the horror genre and subvert it? You get award-winning feature length films, Iranian vampires and Mayan werewolves to name a few examples. Ella Al-Shamahi is joined by Iranian-American filmmaker Ana Lily Amirpour and Mexican filmmaker Gigi Saul Guerrero to discuss how to create horror on screen.

Ana Lily Amirpour's award-winning debut feature film, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, is a Persian-language Western-horror. It follows a skateboarding vampire who wears a chador and haunts the fictional Iranian ghost-town of Bad City. Feminist readings have interpreted the vampire as a vigilante who preys on men that disrespect women. Ana's later films have included big stars such as Kate Hudson, Suki Waterhouse, Jason Momoa and Keanu Reeves.

Gigi Saul Guerrero is known by fans as La Muñeca Del Terror, which means The Horror Babe. She gained recognition for La Quinceañera, a horror series based on the Mexican traditional celebration of a girl's fifteenth birthday. Her film Culture Shock follows a Mexican woman who crosses the border into the US in hope of finding the American dream. What she finds instead is an American nightmare. Gigi's work often draws from Mesoamerican folklore and Mexican tradition.

Producer: Elena Angelides

(Image: Gigi Saul Guerrero. Credit: Luchagore Productions. And Ana Lily Amirpour. Credit: Gilbert Flores/Variety/Getty Images)

Iranian and Mexican women on their passion for making horror movies

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Ella Al-Shamahi is joined by an Iranian-American filmmaker and a Mexican filmmaker to talk about their passion for making horror on screen.

Produced by Elena Angelides

Iranian and Mexican women on their passion for making horror movies.

[LISTEN NOW]

Canadian Sarah Thawer started playing drums and singing at the age of two and her first stage performance was at five. Known professionally as Sarah Drums, Sarah is known for her versatility, playing a wide range of genres from jazz and fusion to funk, R&B, and hip-hop. Sarah has performed on shows such as Late Night With Seth Meyers and The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.

Anika Nilles is a German drummer, composer, solo musician, and musical educator. She launched her career on YouTube during the early 2010s and has released two full-length albums to date, both with backing band Nevell: Pikalar in 2017 and For a Colorful Soul in 2020.

Produced by Emily Naylor.

(Image: (L) Sarah Drums, credit Eduardo Orelha. (R) Anika Nilles, credit Marius Mischke.)

Drummers Sarah Thawer and Anika Nilles open up about their careers in the music industry

Drummers Sarah Thawer (known professionally as Sarah Drums) and Anika Nilles open up about their careers in the music industry.

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Women in 'agri-tech'. With a new wave of entrepreneurial farmers growing crops indoors, stacked vertically, on rooftops, and even underground, Ella Al-Shamahi speaks to two farming entrepreneurs producing soil and pesticide-free food - farming that's indoors, local, and which aims to be sustainable too.

Grace Lim runs GroGrace - an indoor vertical farm housed in an old warehouse in urban Singapore, using soil-free dry hydroponics. Her approach is good for cities short on space and is encouraged by Singapore's 30 by 30 food security goal - to increase locally grown food production to 30 per cent of its needs by the year 2030.

Rebecca Nelson has been a champion of aquaponic farming for nearly 40 years – using fish in tanks in place of soil. Farming both fish and a wide variety of crops - from lettuce to bananas, in Wisconsin USA - she says it's healthy, high yield, and very educational. She shares her expertise with people all around the world - including schools and foodbanks.

Presenter: Ella Al-Shamahi

Producer: Emma Wallace

(Image: (L) Rebecca Nelson courtesy Rebecca Nelson. (R) Grace Lim credit Grace Lim.)

Women fusing tech and agriculture to produce food indoors - that's local and soil free.

Ella Al-Shamahi talks to two women from the US and Singapore fusing tech and agriculture to produce food in innovative ways – that's indoors, local, and pesticide and soil free.

[LISTEN NOW]

Femicide is defined as the intentional killing of women and girls because of their gender. More than half of these murders are carried out in the home. According to UN figures 89,000 women and girls lost their life to femicide in 2022 alone. Datshiane Navanayagam talks to two women in Puerto Rico and Kenya about their efforts to reduce the number of deaths.

Judy Gitau is a Kenyan lawyer whose work involves gaining access to justice for victims of sexual and gender based violence. She works for Equality Now, a campaigning organisation using the power of the law to protect and promote the human rights of women and girls.

Debora Upegui-Hernandez is a Colombian analyst working for The Gender Equity Observatory in Puerto Rico. The Observatory was founded by a coalition of feminist and human rights organisations in Puerto Rico following increases in gender violence after hurricanes Irma and María in 2017.

Produced by Jane Thurlow

(Image: (L) Judy Gitau credit Equality Now. (R) Debora Upegui-Hernandez credit Prisma Fotografia.)

Women in Puerto Rico and Kenya on the huge numbers of women killed in gender violence

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Datshiane Navanayagam talks to women in Puerto Rico and Kenya about their efforts to stop women and girls being killed in acts of violence because of their gender.

[LISTEN NOW]

Sara Davison, also known as The Divorce Coach, is the best-selling author of The Split: From breakup to break-through, and Uncoupling: How to survive and thrive after breakup and divorce. Sara also hosts her own podcast, Heartbreak To Happiness.

Chautè Thompson is a mental health counsellor, a family mediator and the founder of Brand New Me, a consulting practice helping women restart their lives after divorce. She has published two books, Brand New Me: The Pursuit of Wholeness and Brand New Me: Complemented, Completed and Whole.

Produced by Alice Gioia

(Image: (L) Chautè Thompson, courtesy of Chautè Thompson. (R) Sara Davison, courtesy of Sara Davison.)

How do you get over a divorce and find love again?

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Datshiane Navanayagam meets two women who help others restart their own life after divorce.

Dina Macki is a recipe developer and writer who basis her work around Omani cuisine. She works with international brands, restaurants and hotels in the UK and in the Gulf region. She's just published her debut cookbook, Bahari: Recipes from an Omani Kitchen and Beyond.

Keshia Sakarah is a chef and owner of Caribe' - Caribbean Eating and Baruru Supper-club. She's also about to publish her first book: 'Caribe': A Cookbook with History' – which will come out Spring 2025.

Kim Chakanetsa presents a conversation between two women from different cultures about their paths to success.

Glaciers have shaped the world's landscapes and continue to affect earth's climate just as human caused climate change impacts them. Datshiane Navanayagam talks to two women dedicating their lives to the study of these giant ice structures.

Jemma Wadham is a glacier biogeochemist and writer whose research has taken her to glaciers in Greenland, Antarctica, Svalbard, Chilean Patagonia, the Peruvian Andes and the Himalaya. She's particularly interested in glacier-hosted life and the impacts of glaciers on the global carbon cycle. She's won several awards for her academic work. Her book Ice Rivers is for a wider audience. She works at the University of Bristol and the Arctic University of Norway.

Heidi Sevestre is a French scientist who's studied glaciers around the world, from the French Alps to Greenland, from the Arctic to Antarctica. She's part of the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme and also works on a project looking at the last glaciers of Africa, found in the Rwenzori Mountains National Park, in Uganda. She is passionate about communicating the wonders of the cryosphere and the threats targeting it.

Producer: Jane Thurlow

(Image: Heidi Sevestre (L) , Credit Mael Sevestre. (R) Jemma Wadham. Credit T Bruckner)

Biogeochemist Jemma Wadham and scientist Heidi Sevestre on the importance of glaciers

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Datshiane Navanayagam talks to glacier biogeochemist Jemma Wadham and scientist Heidi Sevestre about the impact of glaciers on the global carbon cycle and climate change.

Jemma Wadham is a glacier biogeoechemist and writer whose research has taken her to glaciers in Greenland, Antarctica, Svalbard, Chilean Patagonia, the Peruvian Andes and the Himalaya. She's particularly interested in glacier-hosted life and the impacts of glaciers on the global carbon cycle. She's won several awards for her academic work. Her book Ice Rivers is for a wider audience. She works at the University of Bristol and the Arctic University of Norway.

Heidi Sevestre is a French scientist who's studied glaciers around the world, from the French Alps to Greenland, from the Arctic to Antarctica. She's part of the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme and also works on a project looking at the last glaciers of Africa, found in the Rwenzori Mountains National Park, in Uganda. She's passionate about communicating the wonders of the cryosphere and the threats targeting it.

Scientists from France and the UK on the wonder and importance of glaciers

Datshiane Navanayagam talks to scientists from France and the UK about glacier-hosted life, the impacts of glaciers on the global carbon cycle and the threats of climate warming.

[LISTEN NOW]

For Dr Kakenya Ntaiya, the dream of an education turned into a lifelong mission to empower girls in rural Kenya. She founded the Kakenya Center for Excellence, a primary boarding school for girls in southwest Kenya. The school has grown into a successful nonprofit organization called Kakenya's Dream with a focus on education, health and leadership. You can find out more by searching @KakenyasDream on major social media platforms.

After spending decades at the top of the corporate ladder, Shukla Bose decided to shift direction, fuelled by a desire to alleviate social injustice. She founded Parikrma Humanity Foundation, a nonprofit organization that runs English-medium schools for under-privileged children in Bangalore. For more information, please search @parikrma_foundation on Instagram.

Produced by Emily Naylor

(Image: (L) Kakenya Ntaiya, credit Lee-Ann Olwage. (R) Shukla Bose, courtesy of Shukla Bose.)

Kakenya Ntaiya and Shukla Bose empower marginalised children through education

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

[LISTEN NOW]

Everyone wants to feel confident in the workplace. But knowing what to do to perform at your best isn't always easy. Datshiane Navanayagam is joined by two entrepreneurs and career coaches to explore strategies to help women thrive in their jobs.

Jo Wimble Groves is an award-winning British entrepreneur, writer and motivational speaker specializing in women in the workplace. She has a blog tacking work-life balance and resilience called Guilty Mother which has a global following of 55,000 readers. Jo's expertise in leadership and productivity has earned her multiple Women in Business awards.

Alexandra Roxana Popa from Romania built her successful business career with the guidance of inquisitive mentors who helped her grow by asking the right questions. After training at CTI Coaching school in London she became a career coach and focusses on empowering women in their professional journeys.

Produced by Emily Naylor

(Image: (L) Jo Wimble Groves credit Leana Catherine Photography. (R) Alexandra Popa credit Ioana Dodan.)

Datshiane Navanayagam gets top tips from career mentors about how to succeed at work

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to two career mentors from the UK and Romania to explore top tips on succeeding at work.

[LISTEN NOW]

Rosalind Wiseman is the best-selling author of 9 books, including Queen Bees & Wannabes, which became the inspiration for the movie Mean Girls, and Masterminds & Wingmen, in which she discusses the joys and challenges of raising young men. Rosalind also co-founded Cultures of Dignity, an organisation that partners with communities to bring social and emotional learning to all.

Phinnah Chichi Ikeji is a British-Nigerian family coach. She's the founder of Parenting Teens Solutions and Empowering the next generation, two organisations helping parents and teachers understand today's teenagers. Her book is called The Parenting Teens Navigation System.

Produced by Alice Gioia

(Image: (L) Rosalind Wiseman (R) Phinnah Chichi Ikeji.)

Rosalind Wiseman and Phinnah Chichi Ikeji help women understand their teenage sons better

Best-selling author Rosalind Wiseman talks to family coach Phinnah Chichi Ikeji about the challenges of raising young men.

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Datshiane Navanayagam hears from two women in Nigeria and Denmark to discuss how they teach consent as part of sex education.

Mette Øyås Madsen is an award-winning Danish sexual health educator and author. She has incorporated sexual education into the Danish folk high school system for the past ten years. Mette is passionate about promoting topics such as consent, sexuality and gender identity in both educational and workplace settings. She's written a book called Seksuel Dannelse (sexual education).

Oladele Ogunmayi from Nigeria is an advocate for youth empowerment, gender equality, and violence prevention. She has worked with organisations such as the Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative and the Women At Risk International Foundation, where she trained youths and women on critical issues including consent, HIV/AIDS prevention and gender-based violence. Oladele is now a Lead Trainer at No Means No Worldwide, a global rape prevention organisation whose mission is to end sexual violence against women and children.

Produced by Emily Naylor

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Show more "

[LISTEN NOW]

[LISTEN NOW]

[LISTEN NOW]

Hind al-Eryani is a freelance journalist and human rights advocate from Yemen. She publishes a blog and features in international media like The Washington Post and France's TV5. She has covered the war in her country, written about women's rights and led a campaign against the use of Gat, a mild narcotic leaf common in Yemen. After facing threats to her life she now lives in Sweden with her daughter.

Journalist Nazeeha Saeed, was arrested and detained by Bahraini authorities while covering protests in the country for France 24 TV and Radio Monte Carlo. Nazeeha says she was subjected to torture and abuse, but remained in Bahrain for five years trying to continue her journalism despite attempts to restrict and silence her. She eventually left and now lives in Germany.

Producer: Jane Thurlow

(Image: (L) Nazeeha Saeed, credit Hamza Qabbani. (R) Hind Al Eryani, credit Jesper Anhede.)

Ella Al-Shamahi talks to journalists from Bahrain and Yemen who fled their home countries

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

How do you report on what is going on in your country when it is no longer safe for you to be there? Ella Al-Shamahi talks to women journalists from Bahrain and Yemen.

Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to two academics dedicated to uncovering the vital role of women in shaping philosophical thought, both past and present.

Dr Giulia Cavaliere is an Italian philosopher who lectures at University College London. Her research focuses on infertility, assisted reproductive technologies and the desire to have genetically related children.

Dr Sabrina Ebbersmeyer is a German philosopher who made history as the first woman to be appointed as a professor of Philosophy at the University of Copenhagen. She specialises in uncovering the historical contributions of female intellectuals to the discipline during the Renaissance, Early Modern period and Nordic Enlightenment.

Produced by Emily Naylor

(Image: (L) Giulia Cavaliere courtesy of Giulia Cavaliere. (R) Sabrina Ebbersmeyer credit Lene Håhr Jensen.)

Two female philosophers explore philosophy's enduring relevance

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Datshiane Navanayagam speaks with two philosophers from Italy and Germany who challenge the discipline's male-dominated history and explore philosophy's enduring relevance.

[LISTEN NOW]

Professor Sophie Scott is a British cognitive neuroscientist whose research has helped millions of people better understand and appreciate the use of laughter in social interactions. She is the director of the Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience where she also runs a lab.

Dr Disa Sauter is a social psychologist at the University of Amsterdam who leads the Positive Emotions Project (PEP). This initiative seeks to explore the unique benefits of various positive emotions. A key focus of her work is investigating how laughing can strengthen social bonds and enhance overall well-being.

Produced by Emily Naylor

(Image: (L) Disa Sauter courtesy of Disa Sauter. (R) Sophie Scott, credit Small Wardour Studios.)

Professor Sophie Scott and Dr Disa Sauter on how having a laugh makes you feel better

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Ekin Oklap is Turkish and grew up in Italy. She's the English language translator for Nobel prize-winning Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk and was shortlisted for the 2016 International Booker Prize. She also translates books from Italian to English for novelist Francesca Manfredi and crime writer Ilaria Tuti.

Erika Cosenza is an Argentinian translator, interpreter, editor and proofreader. She translates English, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese. She now lives in Spain and helped set up a gender, diversity and inclusion network for the International Association of Professional Translators and Interpreters.

Produced by Jane Thurlow

Two women from Turkey and Argentina discuss giving novels a new life in another language

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Datshiane Navanayagam talks to translators from Turkey and Argentina about giving a writer's work a new life in another language and the impact of digital translation.

[LISTEN NOW]

Datshiane Navanayagam meets two women who use their own personal experience of love and loss to help others heal.

Raashi Thakran is a mental health advocate from India. After losing her 18-year-old brother Raghav to suicide, Raashi campaigned to create the country's first 24/7 helpline, which launched in September 2020.

Charlotte Maya is a lawyer and writer form the US. Charlotte was 39 when her husband Sam took his own life. Her memoir, Sushi Tuesdays, is a frank and ultimately hopeful account of how she tried to make sense of this loss for herself as well as for her two young children.

Produced by Alice Gioia

(Image: (L) Raashi Thakran, courtesy of Raashi Thakran. (R) Charlotte Maya, credit Karen Ray Photography.)

Why Charlotte Maya and Raashi Thakran want people to talk about suicide loss

Kim Chakanetsa presents a conversation between two women from different cultures about their paths to success.

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

According to the UN, the fashion industry is responsible for 8-10% of global emissions. That's more than aviation and shipping combined. We talk to two women making climate-friendly clothes and developing innovative textiles in a bid to reduce the waste produced by fast fashion.

Regina Polanco is the founder and CEO of Pyratex, a textile company making fabrics from seaweed, nettles and orange peel for some of the biggest brands in fashion. Born in Vienna, she has also lived in Morocco, Mauritania and Switzerland but she returned to Spain, the country where she grew up, to found her company in 2014.

Sasha McKinlay grew up in Singapore and moved to the United States to study architecture. Now a design researcher at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, she's developing so-called 'active' textiles. They're essentially textiles with embedded functionality without the need for electronic inputs. These include materials that can be either warm or cool depending on the temperature, and garments that can be made in a single size and react to heat to fit the wearer or to be customised into new styles.

Produced by Jane Thurlow

Two women from Singapore and Austria aiming to make fashion more climate-friendly

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Two women from Singapore and Austria discuss making fabric from seaweed and nettles as well as clothes that shrink to fit or adapt to changing temperatures.

[LISTEN NOW]

All her life, Helen Knott has looked to the strong women in her indigenous community for guidance, absorbed their stories and admired their independence. When her mother and grandmother died she tried to step into the roles they'd held in community. Her book Becoming a Matriarch is a love letter to the eldest daughters of families who often carry invisible responsibilities.

Tanika Gupta is an award-winning playwright British playwright whose work celebrates her Bengali culture and often challenges gender and race stereotypes. She has worked across theatre, television, radio and film. Her latest play A Tupperware Of Ashes is about a restaurateur with dementia and the impact on her three children of looking after her. Tanika wrote the play after her own mother died from cancer. It will be screened internationally by the National Theatre later this year.

Produced by Jane Thurlow

(Image: (L) Tanika Gupta credit Oscar May. (R) Helen Knott courtesy Duckworth Books.)

Women from Canada and the UK on the changing role of the matriarch in their cultures

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Poet Helen Knott from Canada and playwright Tanika Gupta from the UK on matriarchs in their culture, strong women in their families and the impact of their mothers' deaths.

Alex Duggan was the winner of the first season on The Traitors Australia - a show all about lying and deception. She ended up in one of the most dramatic finals ever seen on the show. After winning Alex experienced trolling on social media due to her sexuality and betrayal of her fellow castmates during the competition.

Lída Puldová from the Czech Republic signed up for the TV show Survivor assuming it would be a chance for her to explore her adventurous side. She was the oldest contestant on the series. The reality of the show starkly contrasted with Lída's expectations, leading her to regret her decision to participate.

Produced by Emily Naylor

(Image: (L) Lída Puldová, TV Nova. (R) Alex Duggan, credit Channel Ten.)

Ella Al-Shamahi meets women who've taken part in TV competitions

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Ella Al-Shamahi meets two women who've taken part in TV show competitions in the Czech Republic and Australia to find out what it's like both on and off the camera.

Randi Simensen was awarded Ambulance Worker of the Year in 2023 and has 20 years' experience working as a paramedic at Oslo University Hospital, Norway. She was the first Norwegian woman ever to operate a single paramedic unit in 2009. Randi also works as a PhD candidate affiliated with Innlandet Hospital Trust and the Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation.

Michelle Murphy from Australia has 27 years' experience as an Intensive Care Paramedic across Metropolitan and Rural Regions in front line and senior management roles. She created the Council of Ambulance Authorities Women in Leadership group and has been honoured with an Australian Meritorious Service Award.

Randi Simensen was awarded Ambulance Worker of the Year in 2023 and has 20 years' experience working as a paramedic at Oslo University Hospital, Norway. She was the first Norwegian woman ever to operate a single paramedic unit in 2009. Randi also works as a PhD candidate affiliated with Innlandet Hospital Trust and the Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation.

Michelle Murphy from Australia has 27 years' experience as an Intensive Care Paramedic across Metropolitan and Rural Regions in front line and senior management roles. She created the Council of Ambulance Authorities Women in Leadership group and has been honoured with an Australian Meritorious Service Award.

Dr. Lola Chambless is an American neurosurgeon based in Nashville. She is passionate about medical education and serves as the Residency Program Director in Neurological Surgery.

Dr. Giselle Coelho is an award-winning paediatric neurosurgeon from Brazil who has a PhD from Harvard. She is currently the Scientific Director of the EDUCSIM Institute and works at Sabará Hospital.

Produced by Emily Naylor

(Image: (L) Dr. Lola Chambless, credit Vanderbilt University Medical Center. (R) Dr. Giselle Coelho, credit Trianon Clinic.)

Datshiane Navanayagam meets two neurosurgeons operating in a male-dominated field

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Datshiane Navanayagam meets neurosurgeons from the US and Brazil operating in a male-dominated medical field.

From the moment she played the part of a clock in a school play, Heather Lai from Hong Kong knew she wanted to go to drama school. It was there she fell in love with puppetry. After completing her training at The Curious School of Puppetry, she's performed on both the stage and in the television studio. Heather's currently starring in the award-winning My Neighbor Totoro at the Barbican Theatre.

Ana Crăciun-Lambru is an award-winning theatre director and puppeteer from Romania. Her one-woman show 'Dust' uses puppetry to tell the stories of the Romanian women who emigrated to the US. Ana has performed worldwide and has also featured on Romania's Got Talent with her puppet troupe.

(Image: (L) Ana Crăciun-Lambru, credit Cristian Vasile (R) Heather Lai, credit Ori Jones.)

Ana Cr\u0103ciun-Lambru and Heather Lai discuss the magic of puppetry

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Two women from Hong Kong and Romania share the magic of storytelling through puppetry.

If you're planning a big celebration, the idea of having someone else handle all the cooking might feel like a dream...but for some it's a worthwhile indulgence. Hiring a private chef means enjoying delicious, personalised food with minimal effort in the comfort of your own home. Ella Al-Shamahi speaks to two private chefs from India and Zimbabwe who create unforgettable culinary experiences.

Indian award-winning chef and cookbook author Abhilasha Chandak decided to become a private chef three years ago after moving to London. She gained fame in 2016 by competing in the Indian version of Masterchef and getting to the final. Abhilasha has cooked for a whole range of clients, including Bollywood celebrities.

Nicola Kavhu, known as Chef Cola, is a Zimbabwean private chef and founder of ‘African Vegan on a Budget' - a platform dedicated to making plant-based African cuisine affordable and accessible. She was the lead cook with the Akashinga rangers, an all-female antipoaching group in Zimbabwe. Nicola hosts budget-friendly vegan dinners to highlight its longstanding and often misunderstood history in Africa.

Ella Al-Shamahi speaks to two private chefs who create intimate dining experiences.

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

[LISTEN NOW]

If you're planning a big celebration, the idea of having someone else handle all the cooking might feel like a dream...but for some it's a worthwhile indulgence. Hiring a private chef means enjoying delicious, personalised food with minimal effort in the comfort of your own home. Ella Al-Shamahi speaks to two private chefs from India and France who create unforgettable culinary experiences.

Indian award-winning chef Abhilasha Chandak decided to become a private chef after moving to London three years ago. She gained fame in 2016 by competing in the Indian version of Masterchef and getting to the final. Abhilasha has cooked for a whole range of clients, including Bollywood celebrities.

Ella Aflalo is a French private chef and cookbook author based in Paris with experience in Michelin-starred kitchens. She now curates bespoke culinary experiences inspired by her travels, art and fashion. Previously, Ella founded the restaurant Yima, the name a blend of the Hebrew and Arabic word for ‘mum'. It won the Michelin Bib Gourmand, a reward given to restaurants serving high-quality food at affordable prices.

Produced by Emily Naylor

Ella Al-Shamahi speaks to two private chefs who create intimate dining experiences

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Ella Al-Shamahi speaks to two private chefs from France and India about creating intimate culinary experiences for clients.

[LISTEN NOW]

Clémentine Mollier is a French marine carpenter who specialises in restoring and building classic wooden boats. She has just joined the restoration team working on the HMS Victory, the oldest commissioned warship in the world.

Beatriz De La Pava Hucke meets both women who have carved their own career in a male dominated industry.

Produced by Alice Gioia

(Image: (L) Clémentine Mollier, courtesy of Clémentine Mollier. (R) Angela Cacace. Credit Vincent Cacace)

Carpenters Angela Cacace and Clementine Mollier have thrived in a male dominated industry

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Carpenters Angela Cacace and Clémentine Mollier thrive in a male dominated industry

Dr Koketjo Tsebe has worked with various national sporting codes in South Africa. She was a team psychologist for Banyana Banyana and supported the team during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023. She is also a team psychologist for the national softball team and is part of the South Africa Olympic team heading to Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games.

Dr Kensa Gunter works with athletes in the US to help strengthen the mental aspects of performance. She's involved with teams and individuals at high school and college as well Olympic hopefuls and elite athletes in tennis, the NFL and both the men's and women's NBA. Working in Atlanta she also advises coaches, athletic trainers, governing bodies and sports nutritionists.

Produced by Jane Thurlow

(Image: (L) Kensa Gunta credit Katlyne Hill. (R) Koketjo Tsebe courtesy Koketjo Tsebe.)

Psychologists in the US and South Africa on supporting sports stars with mental health

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Sports psychologists supporting Olympians, basketball and NFL players talk to Ella Al-Shamahi about helping elite athletes maintain peak performance mentally and physically.

Leslee Udwin is a Bafta winning film-maker turned activist. She is the founder of Think Equal, a global education initiative that integrates social and emotional learning into early childhood education to promote empathy and equality. Her work has received international recognition, including endorsements from global leaders and the United Nations.

Iben Sandahl is a psychotherapist and author specializing in Danish parenting principles. She developed a methodology for teaching empathy in classrooms as part of an Erasmus+ project and has created a toolkit used by hundreds of teachers in four countries over three years.

Producer: Emily Naylor

(Image: (L) Leslee Udwin. Credit: Claus Boesen. (R) Iben Sandahl. Credit: Signe Bay)

Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to two women who see empathy as a crucial life skill

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to two women from Denmark and Israel who see empathy as a crucial skill for life that is best taught early.

Grace O'Neill began her career at ELLE Australia as an intern and is now the Editor of the magazine. Her work has been featured in publications such as The Guardian, The New York Times' T Magazine and British Vogue.

Iveta Dzērve is the Editor-in-Chief at SANTA, Latvia's leading lifestyle magazine. She has two decades of experience in medical, healthcare and lifestyle journalism.

Produced by Emily Naylor and Elena Angelides for the BBC World Service.

(Image: (L) Iveta Dzērve, credit Karlina Vitolina. (R) Grace O'Neill, credit Gabby Laurent.)

Australian and Latvian magazine editors discuss their strategies for staying relevant

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Australian and Latvian magazine editors discuss their strategies for staying relevant in an ever-evolving media landscape.

[LISTEN NOW]

For decades, the world of driving instructors was largely male dominated. Up until recently not every woman even had the right to drive - that only changed in 2018 when Saudi Arabia lifted their ban on female drivers. Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to two instructors to find out what it takes to teach this skill.

Aman Sanghera, a London-based driving instructor, turned to social media during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep teaching and share practical driving tips on her YouTube channel, Clearview Driving. Her videos quickly went viral, amassing nearly a billion views.

Haru Hasegawa was a secondary school teacher in the Philippines but, since moving to Japan, now helps foreigners navigate the challenges of learning to drive in Tokyo at EDS Driving School. She made the career switch after her own Japanese driving instructor suggested it as a perfect fit.

Produced by Emily Naylor

(Image: (L) Aman Sanghera courtesy of Aman Sanghera. (R) Haru Hasegawa courtesy of Haru Hasegawa.)

Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to two women who teach people how to drive

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to two women based in Japan and the UK who teach people how to drive.

[LISTEN NOW]

Professor Melissa Mercadal-Brotons teaches music therapy at Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya. She was president of the World Federation of Music Therapy and her clinical and research work focuses on the impact of music on people with dementia.

Amina Hussain is Manchester Camerata's principal flute and resident music therapist. She runs sessions with groups of people with dementia that revolve around improvisation where everyone has an instrument that's easy to play. She says the alleviation of symptoms like anxiety, isolation and confidence are wonderful to see.

Produced by Jane Thurlow

(Image: (L) Amina Hussain. Credit: Amina Hussain. (R) Melissa Mercadal-Brotons. Credit: Melissa Mercadal-Brotons.)

Music therapists in the UK and Spain discuss how music can ease the symptoms of dementia

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Julia 'Bish' Robson is a prominent gamer and Twitch streamer who tailors her content for a South African audience. She also hosts LAN events - days of gaming in large conference centers - where people often sleep under the desks in order to play as much as possible. She has to contend with regular load-shedding (full on electricity outages) which impacts her ability to make a living as a full-time gamer.

Eefje Depoortere from Belgium is an award-winning television presenter, reporter, and e-sports player who is best known for hosting the League of Legends European Championship. She is known professionally as Sjokz.

Produced by Emily Naylor

(Image: (L) Eefje Depoortere, credit Colin Young-Wolff. (R) Julia Robson, courtesy of Julia Robson.)

Eefje Depoortere and Julia Robson are two professional e-sport gamers

Aliyyah Koloc is the youngest driver to take part in the race. She's a 19-year-old professional race driver born in Dubai, raised by a Czech father and a mother from the Seychelles. She grew up with motorsports as her father, Martin Koloc, was a well-known racing driver in the 90s and two-times European Truck Racing Champion. After a first successful career in tennis, Aliyyah switched to motorsports only four years ago.

Motocyclist and rally driver Annie Seel from Sweden is a legend in the motorsports world. She's been the female Dakar champion for both the motorbike and car categories, and this year was her 11th time taking part. She was also the first woman to set a record climbing Mount Everest on a motorbike and is an advocate for women in motorsports.

Produced by Emily Naylor

(Image: (L) Aliyyah Koloc, credit Buggyra ZM Racing. (R) Annie Seel, credit MCH Photography/X-raid.)

Ella Al-Shamahi meets two women who race in one of the toughest off-road rallies

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Ella Al-Shamahi meets two women who took part in one of the most difficult off-road rallies in the world.

Alex Duggan was the winner of the first season on The Traitors Australia - a show all about lying and deception. During the programme and afterwards she experienced trolling because of her sexuality and her betrayal of her fellow castmates.

Ludmila Puldová from the Czech Republic signed up for the tv show Survivor assuming it would be a chance for her to explore her adventurous side and have some fun. She was the oldest contestant on the series. Instead she spent 26 days in the wilderness having the worst time of her life, surrounded by castmates who wanted nothing to do with her and only saw her flaws.

Ella Al-Shamahi meets women who've taken part in TV competitions

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Sarah Anvari from Canada is a Dive Supervisor and Welder-Diver at Subsea Global Solutions in Vancouver. She specializes in ship husbandry commercial diving, providing services for commercial shipping, cruise lines, offshore projects, and marine construction.

Tiff Allen from Australia is a highly skilled saturation diver. She has extensive experience in deep-sea commercial diving, performing complex underwater tasks and ensuring safety on offshore projects.

Produced by Emily Naylor for the BBC World Service.

(Image: (L) Tiff Allen courtesy of Tiff Allen. (R) Sarah Anvari courtesy of Sarah Anvari.)

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

If you're planning a big celebration, the idea of having someone else handle all the cooking might feel like a dream...but for some it's a worthwhile indulgence. Hiring a private chef means enjoying delicious, personalised food with minimal effort in the comfort of your own home. Ella Al-Shamahi speaks to two private chefs from India and France who create unforgettable culinary experiences.

Indian award-winning chef Abhilasha Chandak decided to become a private chef after moving to London three years ago. She gained fame in 2016 by competing in the Indian version of Masterchef and getting to the final. Abhilasha has cooked for a whole range of clients, including Bollywood celebrities.

Ella Aflalo is a French private chef and cookbook author based in Paris with experience in Michelin-starred kitchens. She now curates bespoke culinary experiences inspired by her travels, art and fashion. Previously, Ella founded the restaurant Yima, the name a blend of the Hebrew and Arabic word for ‘mum'. It won the Michelin Bib Gourmand, a reward given to restaurants serving high-quality food at affordable prices.

Produced by Emily Naylor

Ella Al-Shamahi speaks to two private chefs who create intimate dining experiences

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Ella Al-Shamahi speaks to two private chefs from France and India about creating intimate culinary experiences for clients.

[LISTEN NOW]

What do Audre Lorde, Pamela Anderson and Florence Nightingale all have in common? They all began writing diaries as young girls and remained seasoned diarists later in life. But what purpose does keeping a diary as a teenager serve? And what can reflecting on the intimate accounts our younger selves wrote, tell us about who we are today and the changing world around us?

Ifedayo Agoro is a Nigerian entrepreneur who began writing a diary at the age of eleven. The habit began after she got into trouble at school, and wrote her mother a letter to explain what had happened. As punishment, her mother asked Ifedayo to pen a letter every week in a diary, and Ifedayo documented life as a young girl in the Shogunle neighbourhood of Lagos. This punishment soon became a joy and in 2015 Ifedayo wrote an anonymous online diary called Diary Of A Naija Girl. Five years later, she put her name to the diary and it now has 740,000 followers on Instagram.

Sophie Duker is a British comedian and writer. She is currently touring Europe with her stand-up show, But Daddy I Love Her, inspired by the concept of delusion. Sophie began writing an online diary at the age of 14, capturing matters of emotional significance such as her parent's divorce, her father moving from the UK and her first encounter with grief. These profound milestones are interwoven with the everyday highs and lows of being a British teenager: crushes on the Harry Potter cast and encounters with school bullies.

Produced by Elena Angelides and Jane Thurlow

Two women from Nigeria and the UK talk about keeping a diary and what it's taught them

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to Nigerian entrepreneur Ifedayo Agoro and British comedian Sophie Duker about why they keep a diary.

[LISTEN NOW]

Professor Sophie Scott is a British cognitive neuroscientist whose research has helped millions of people better understand and appreciate the use of laughter in social interactions. She is the director of the Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience where she also runs a lab.

Dr Disa Sauter is a social psychologist at the University of Amsterdam who leads the Positive Emotions Project (PEP). This initiative seeks to explore the unique benefits of various positive emotions. A key focus of her work is investigating how laughing can strengthen social bonds and enhance overall well-being

Professor Sophie Scott and Dr Disa Sauter on how having a laugh makes you feel better

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Always struggling to choose between science and art, Brazilian Angela Prochilo found her way into nature documentary making after completing a zoology degree at university. Her recent nature film projects have been dedicated to showcasing the endeavours of women in wildlife conservation and research.

Andrea Florence is an Emmy-award winning nature documentary maker from England. Inspired from meeting David Attenborough after completing natural sciences at University Andrea purseued wildlife film-making. She lived for three years in the Amazon rainforest on a boat working on a documentary, was a producer on a pioneering series about animals in the womb.

Kim Chakanetsa presents a conversation between two women from different cultures about their paths to success.

Emma Young a.k.a. The Cheese Explorer is a specialist and consultant, and the author of The Cheese Wheel. She has worked in the Cheese industry since 2009 in retail, wholesale, cheesemaking, judging and now as a teacher and consultant to the cheese industry. She is also an International cheese judge and a teacher for the Academy of Cheese and the Guild of Fine Food.

Kim Chakanetsa meets two women who are revolutionising the dairy industry.

Saija Turunen is the head of research at Y ?Foundation, the largest nationwide non-profit landlord in Finland. The organisation promotes social justice by providing affordable rental housing - they currently own over 19000 homes in nearly 60 locations.

Luísa Gomes moved to Portugal as a child from East Timor and was homeless for 15 years. She is the co-founder of SOMOS, an association created by and for women who have experienced or are currently facing homelessness.

Produced by Emily Naylor

(Image: (L) Luísa Gomes, courtesy of Luísa Gomes. (R) Saija Turunen, courtesy of Saija Turunen.)

Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to two women working to eradicate homelessness

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to two women from East Timor and Finland who are working to eradicate homelessness.

Nazrin Choudhury is a British filmmaker of Bangladeshi descent. Her directorial debut, Red, White and Blue, follows the story of an American single mother, living paycheck to paycheck, who crosses state lines to try and get an abortion.

Nisha Pahuja is an Indian-Canadian filmmaker. Her movie, To Kill A Tiger, is a poignant documentary about an Indian family seeking justice for their daughter, who was gang raped at 13.

Produced by Jane Thurlow and Alice Gioia

(Image: (L) Nazrin Choudhury. (R) Nisha Pahuja. Credit Jane Thurlow/BBC)

A day in the life of Oscar nominated directors Nisha Pahuja and Nazrin Choudhury

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Oscar nominated directors Nisha Pahuja and Nazrin Choudhury tell Datshiane Navanayagam about the women at the centre of their movies.

Polly Morgan is an award-winning British sculptor who uses taxidermy to make works of art. Her work has been sold to art collectors worldwide and to celebrities like Cate Blanchette and Harry Styles.

Divya Anantharaman is an award-winning taxidermist and educator based in NY city. She is the founder of Gotham Taxidermy and her clients range from museums, designers, gallerists, and collectors. She's the co-author of Stuffed Animals: A Guide to Modern Taxidermy.

Produced by Alice Gioia.

(Image: (L) Polly Morgan, credit Mat Collishaw. (R) Divya Anantharaman, courtesy of Divya Anantharaman)

Artists Polly Morgan and Divya Anantharaman on why they love taxidermy

Kim Chakanetsa meets Polly Morgan and Divya Anantharaman, two women who are reviving the ancient practice of taxidermy

For Dr Kakenya Ntaiya, the dream of an education turned into a lifelong mission to empower girls in rural Kenya. She founded the Kakenya Center for Excellence, a primary boarding school for girls in southwest Kenya. The school has grown into a successful nonprofit organization called Kakenya's Dream with a focus on education, health and leadership.

After spending decades at the top of the corporate ladder, Shukla Bose decided to shift direction – fuelled by a desire to alleviate social injustice she founded Parikrma Humanity Foundation, a nonprofit organization that runs English-medium schools for under-privileged children in Bangalore.

Kim Chakanetsa presents a conversation between two women from different cultures about their paths to success.

Women make up a large proportion of the workforce in the global tea industry. But despite their crucial role, women in the tea sector often face lower wages and limited access to leadership positions. Datshiane Navanayagam speaks with two tea entrepreneurs to learn more about running tea businesses.

Susie Walker-Munro from the UK runs Kinnettles Tea Garden in Angus, Scotland, where she grows cold-tolerant tea plants. She began experimenting with tea cuttings on her farm in 2007 and has since collaborated with other women to create an all-female tea garden collective.

Tea has always been central to Esha Chhabra's life, from her upbringing in India to her family's move to the US, where the tradition of making loose leaf tea was preserved. She co-founded Alaya Tea in 2019, a brand focused on sustainable farming and ethical sourcing from small farmers.

Produced by Emily Naylor

(Image: (L) Susie Walker-Munro credit Ashley Coombes. (R) Esha Chhabra credit Alaya Tea.)

Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to two women who have founded tea companies

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to a British and an Indian-American woman about the tea companies they have founded.

[LISTEN NOW]

After a diagnosis of breast cancer in her late 20's, Dana Donofree took her own experience of struggling to find a bra that was comfortable and pretty to found her own company, AnaOno. With a background in fashion design and talking to many women in the breast cancer community she's (re)designing intimates for those that have undergone surgery.

Mari Thomas-Welland used to work as a sports bra performance tester, testing the performance of sports bras for some of the biggest brands under laboratory conditions. After realising that, despite her job, she still couldn't find her perfect sports bra she decided to design her own and founded her company, Maaree. They're now the official bra supplier to the Welsh rugby team.

Produced by Jane Thurlow

(Image: (L) Dana Donofree credit AnaOno LCC. (R) Mari Thomas-Welland credit Mari Thomas-Welland.)

Bra designers from Wales and the US on filling a need for bras that work for all women

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Datshiane Navanayagam talks to a sports bra designer from Wales and a breast cancer survivor in the US about filling a need for comfortable, pretty bras that work for all women.

Judy Gitau is a Kenyan lawyer whose work involves gaining access to justice for victims of sexual and gender based violence. She works for Equality Now, a campaigning organisation using the power of the law to protect and promote the human rights of women and girls.

Debora Upegui-Hernandez is a Colombian analyst working for The Gender Equity Observatory in Puerto Rico. The Observatory was founded by a coalition of feminist and human rights organisations in Puerto Rico following increases in gender violence after hurricanes Irma and María in 2017.

Produced by Jane Thurlow

(Image: (L) Judy Gitau credit Equality Now. (R) Debora Upegui-Hernandez credit Prisma Fotografia.)

Women in Puerto Rico and Kenya on the huge numbers of women killed in gender violence

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Datshiane Navanayagam talks to women in Puerto Rico and Kenya about their efforts to stop women and girls being killed in acts of violence because of their gender.

Femicide is defined as the intentional killing of women and girls because of their gender. More than half of these murders are carried out in the home. According to UN figures 89,000 women and girls lost their life to femicide in 2022 alone. Datshiane Navanayagam talks to two women from Puerto Rico and Kenya about their efforts to reduce the number of deaths.

Datshiane Navanayagam talks to two women from Puerto Rico and Kenya about their efforts to stop women and girls being killed in acts of violence because of their gender.

[LISTEN NOW]

Alana Officer is leading the World Health Organization Decade of Ageing Well. With a background in podiatric medicine, exercise and public health she's worked on health, disability, rehabilitation and development in West and Central Africa, Europe, South Asia, the Middle East and the Western Pacific.

Lina Walker is vice president of health security in AARP's Public Policy Institute. (AARP was formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons.) She has spent nearly 20 years conducting research and publishing on health care and retirement issues.

Produced by Jane Thurlow

(Image: (L) Lina Walker, credit AARP. (R) Alana Officer, courtesy Alana Officer.)

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Ella Al-Shamahi meets Lina Walker from the AARP and Alana Officer from the WHO who are both tackling negative or ageist attitudes towards older people.

Barbara Imhof from Austria is a renowned space architect and co-founder of LIQUIFER Systems Group, specializing in designing sustainable habitats for space exploration. She collaborates with NASA and ESA on projects like the Mars Analog Habitat and inflatable lunar habitats. Barbara's work integrates architecture, technology, and human factors to advance space exploration and inspire sustainable design on Earth.

Melodie Yashar is an Amercian architect and technologist focused on advancing human space exploration through innovative architecture and construction technologies. She has worked on projects such as Mars Dune Alpha and the Mars Ice House, emphasizing sustainable habitats for space environments. Melodie co-founded SEArch+ (Space Exploration Architecture) and collaborates with NASA on extraterrestrial construction initiatives.

Produced by Emily Naylor

(Image: (L) Melodie Yashar credit Regan Morton. (R) Barbara Imhof credit Bruno Stubenrauch.)

Ella Al-Shamahi talks to two architects who design extraterrestrial living spaces

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Ella Al-Shamahi talks to space architects from Austria and the US to find out how extraterrestrial living spaces are being designed.

Barbara Imhof from Austria is a renowned space architect and co-founder of LIQUIFER Systems Group, specializing in designing sustainable habitats for space exploration. She collaborates with NASA and ESA on projects like the Mars Analog Habitat and inflatable lunar habitats. Imhof's [would we usually use a surname rather than first name or ‘her'] work integrates architecture, technology, and human factors to advance space exploration and inspire sustainable design on Earth.

The music industry is notoriously competitive, making it difficult for artists to break through. Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to two music scouts to find out what they look for when signing musicians to their labels and how to succeed in the business.

Jane Abernethy is Managing Director at Omnian Music Group, a Brooklyn-based label group comprised of Captured Tracks, Sinderlyn and 2MR. Originally from Scotland she began her career music scouting in the UK before becoming the Director of A&R at the US label 4AD, where she signed groundbreaking artists like Grimes and contributed to the discovery of Bon Iver.

Argentinian-born Laura Tesoriero has spent the last two decades working in music distribution for Latin American artists. She is the Senior Vice President for The Orchard, a music and entertainment company specialising in media distribution. Laura was the first female chair of the Latin GRAMMY board and is a Wonder Women of Latin 2020 honouree.

Produced by Emily Naylor and Elena Angelides

(Image: (L) Jane Abernethy credit Dan Bessini. (R) Laura Tesoriero credit Catalina Bartolome.)

Datshiane Navanayagam talks to two music scouts about the art of discovering new artists

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to two women in the music industry who have been instrumental in discovering and nurturing new talent.

[LISTEN NOW]

Arati Kumar-Rao is a National Geographic Explorer, environmental photographer, writer and artist. She chronicles the changes in landscape caused by climate change, and she's currently reporting on human migration in India. Her book is called Marginlands.

Professor Christina Gerhardt founded the Environmental Humanities Institute at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. She's written a book called Sea Change: An Atlas of Islands in a Rising Ocean. It covers 49 islands, islets and atolls, from the Artic to the Antarctic, that are most threatened by rising sea levels. It looks at their history and culture with testimony, poetry and literature from the islanders themselves showing a defiant sense of hope, often against all odds.

Produced by Jane Thurlow

(Image: (L) Christina Gerhardt, courtesy of Christina Gerhardt. (R) Arati Kumar-Rao, courtesy of Arati Kumar-Rao.)

Stories of rising seas, floods and forced migration through photographs, maps and poetry

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

A photographer in India and professor in Hawai'i talk to Beatriz de la Pava Hucke about telling stories of communities devastated by rising seas, floods and higher temperatures.

Tina Trstenjak is a recently retired Slovenian judoka and Olympic gold medallist in the women's 63 kg category at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. She has also secured multiple World and European Championship titles, solidifying her status as one of the top competitors in her weight class. recently retired, she works for the International Judo Federation as an expert and referee observer.

Sandrine Billiet is from Belgium and has also competed for Cape Verde internationally including at the 2019 World Judo Championships and the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. She says judo sustained her through her teenage years and the long illness of her mother. She works for the World Olympians Association.

Produced by Jane Thurlow

(Image: (L) Sandrine Billiet courtesy International Judo Federation. (R) Tina Trstenjak credit Gabriela Murgeanu-Sabau.)

Judokas from Slovenia and Belgium discuss the skill, discipline and focus of judo

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Ella Al-Shamahi talks to judokas Tina Trstenjak from Slovenia and Sandrine Billiet from Belgium about the skill, discipline and focus needed to excel at judo.

Alana Officer is leading the World Health Organization Decade of Ageing Well. With a background in podiatric medicine, exercise and public health she's worked on health, disability, rehabilitation and development in West and Central Africa, Europe, South Asia, the Middle East and the Western Pacific.

Lina Walker is vice president of health security in AARP's Public Policy Institute. (AARP was formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons.) She has spent nearly 20 years conducting research and publishing on health care and retirement issues.

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Sarah Belal is a barrister and the founder of Justice Project Pakistan. She represents the most vulnerable people on death row in Pakistan and abroad.

Andrea Lyon is a lawyer, professor and former law school dean. She was the first woman to serve as lead attorney in a death penalty case, and she holds 19 wins in 19 capital cases. Her book is called Angel of Death Row.

Produced by Alice Gioia.

(Image: (L) Andrea Lyon. (R) Sarah Belal, credit Getty Images.)

Nelufar Hedayat meets criminal defence lawyers Sarah Belal and Andrea Lyon

Nelufar Hedayat meets two women from the US and Pakistan representing people on death row.

Andrea Lyon is a lawyer, author, speaker, professor and former law school dean. She was the first woman to serve as lead attorney in a death penalty case, and she holds 19 wins in 19 capital cases.

Nelufar Hedayat meets two women representing people on death row.

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Wu Man is one of the world's foremost players of the pipa: a four-stringed Chinese lute which dates back 2000 years. She's also a composer and passionate advocate for Chinese traditional music.

Maya Youssef from Syria is hailed as ‘queen of the qanun,' the 78-stringed Middle Eastern plucked zither. Her award-winning intense and thoughtful music performances are rooted in the Arabic classical tradition but forge pathways into jazz, Western classical and Latin styles.

Produced by Jane Thurlow

(Image: (L) Maya Youssef credit Igor Studio. (R) Wu Man credit Call the Shots Photography.)

Musicians from China and Syria on keeping ancient tradition alive through music

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Wu Man from China and Maya Youssef from Syria tell Datshiane Navanayagam about their passion for keeping ancient tradition alive through music.

Vandana Verma Sehgal is a Security Solutions leader at Snyk and the Chair of the Board of Directors for OWASP, the Open Web Application Security Project Foundation. She is also the founder of InfosecKids and InfosecGirls.

Sophina Kio-Lawson is an information security engineer from Nigeria and the co-founder for SheSecures, an initiative that promotes cyber literacy, inspires and empowers young African women in information and cybersecurity.

Kim Chakanetsa presents a conversation between two women from different cultures about their paths to success.

Sophina Kio-Lawson is an information security engineer from Nigeria and the co-founder for SheSecures, an initiative that promotes cyber literacy and inspires and empowers young African women who aspire to work in the tech industry.

Produced by Alice Gioia.

(Image: (L) Sophina Kio-Lawson. (R) Vandana Verma Sehgal.)

How Vandana Verma Sehgal and Sophina Kio-Lawson help women stay safe online.

Kim Chakanetsa meets Vandana Verma Sehgal and Sophina Kio-Lawson, two experts who help women stay safe online.

Mausam Narang is the founder and Head Cheesemaker at Eleftheria cheese. She has made history by becoming the first Indian person to win big at the World Cheese Awards in 2021. Before working in the dairy industry, Mausam studied language in Germany and worked in the corporate world for 8 years. It's during her travels in Europe that Mausam caught the cheese-making bug, and in 2014 she decided to start her own artisan cheese company.

Emma Young a.k.a. The Cheese Explorer is a specialist and consultant and the author of The Cheese Wheel. She has worked in the Cheese industry since 2009 in retail, wholesale, cheesemaking, judging and now as a teacher and consultant to the cheese industry. She is also an International cheese judge and a teacher for the Academy of Cheese and the Guild of Fine Food.

Produced by Alice Gioia

(Image: (L) Mausam Narang. (R) Emma Young, credit Richard Heald Photography.)

Cheese specialists Mausam Narang and Emma Young are revolutionising the dairy industry.

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Kim Chakanetsa meets two women who are revolutionising the dairy industry: Mausam Narang from India and Emma Young from the UK

Datshiane Navanayagam talks to two writers of romantic fiction about their passion for creating stories that end happily ever after.

Kiru Taye wanted to read stories about Africans falling in love. When she couldn't find those books, she decided to write the stories herself. The books in her Essien series about millionaire banker brothers are international bestsellers, she also writes about crime gangs and tribal rivalry. Kiru founded the publishing firm Love Africa Press and is a co-founder of Romance Writers of Wonderful Africa, a support organisation for African romance writers.

US writer Nisha Sharma's books have been included in 'best-of' lists by The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Cosmopolitan, The Washington Post, Time Magazine and more. Growing up in a South Asian home she enjoyed the romantic storylines of Bollywood movies and traditional folktales like the epic Rama and Sita. Nisha joined the corporate world but quickly turned to writing Romantic Fiction and Young Adult novels too. Her books feature business mergers and re-imagine Shakespearean comedy with a South Asian twist.

Romantic fiction authors from Nigeria and US discuss creating love stories for everyone

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Datshiane Navanayagam talks to Nisha Sharma from the US and Kiru Taye from Nigeria about writing romantic fiction centred around South Asian and African characters.

[LISTEN NOW]

Always struggling to choose between science and art, Brazilian Angela Prochilo found her way into nature documentary making after completing a zoology degree at university. Her most recent projects showcase the endeavours of women in wildlife conservation and research.

Andrea Florence is an Emmy-award winning nature documentary maker from England. She studied natural sciences and lived for three years on a boat in the Amazon rainforest. She also produced the pioneering series Animals in the womb.

Produced by Emily Naylor and Alice Gioia

(Image: (L) Andrea Florence, credit Dave Dickie. (R) Angela Prochilo, courtesy of Angela Prochilo.)

What's it like to work on some of the most remote places on our planet?

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Datshiane Navanayagam meets award-winning nature documentary makers Andrea Florence and Angela Prochilo.

Always struggling to choose between science and art, Brazilian Angela Prochilo found her way into nature documentary making after completing a zoology degree at university. Her most recent projects showcase the endeavours of women in wildlife conservation and research.

Andrea Florence is an Emmy-award winning nature documentary maker from England. She studied natural sciences and lived for three years on a boat in the Amazon rainforest. She also produced the pioneering series Animals in the womb.

Produced by Emily Naylor and Alice Gioia

(Image: (L) Andrea Florence, credit Dave Dickie . (R) Angela Prochilo, courtesy of Angela Prochilo.)

What's it like to work on some of the most remote places on our planet?

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Datshiane Navanayagam meets award-winning nature documentary makers Andrea Florence and Angela Prochilo.

Kim Chakanetsa presents a conversation between two women from different cultures about their paths to success.

Roma Agrawal is best known for her work on The Shard, the UK's tallest building. She's also the author of Nuts & Bolts, a book which explores the history of seven tiny but fundamental inventions that changed the world, and the role that women play in scientific innovation.

Nzambi Matee is a Kenyan inventor who produces sustainable low-cost construction materials made of recycled plastic. Her company is called Gjenge Makers.

Produced by Alice Gioia and Emily Naylor for the BBC World Service.

Kenyan inventor Nzambi Matee and structural engineer Roma Agrawal discuss innovation.

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Kenyan inventor Nzambi Matee and structural engineer Roma Agrawal talk to Datshiane Navanayagam about the process and value of innovation.

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

[LISTEN NOW]

JC Niala is a writer, academic and creative from Kenya who has written about the history of allotments. Alongside Greenpeace, she has co-created ‘The Waiting List', an allotment-sized artwork highlighting the significant demand and lengthy waiting lists for allotments.

Olia Hercules is a Ukrainian cook and author of the award-winning Mamushka cook book. Raised in rural Ukraine she later moved to London where she missed the fresh tastes of homegrown food. This led her to start the lengthy process of securing an allotment, which she says helps make a place feel like ‘home', particularly during times of war and displacement.

They've written essays for a book celebrating allotment life called This Allotment: Stories of Growing, Eating and Nurturing.

Produced by Jane Thurlow

(Image: (L) JC Niala, courtesy of JC Niala. (R) Olia Hercules, credit Joe Woodhouse.)

Ukrainian cook Olia Hercules and Kenyan creative JC Niala on growing food on allotments

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Datshiane Navanayagam talks to Ukrainian cook Olia Hercules and Kenyan creative JC Niala about allotments, why they love to grow food and the camaraderie among gardeners.

Dr Ify Aniebo is from Nigeria, the country worst hit by malaria. She is an Associate professor with the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, where she works to improve the country's response to drug resistance and malarial transmission.

Dr Mehreen Datoo is a clinical lecturer in Infectious Diseases at the University of Oxford and she's on the team that developed the R21/Matrix-M, the WHO approved vaccine that will be rolled out across Africa in 2024.

Produced by Alice Gioia and Emily Naylor

(Image: (L) Dr Mehreen Datoo, courtesy of Dr Mehreen Datoo. (R) Dr Ify Aniebo, courtesy Dr Ify Aniebo.)

Malaria is one of the world's deadliest diseases. Why can't we get rid of it?

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Ella Al-Shamahi meets Ify Aniebo and Mehreen Datoo, two women looking for solutions to eradicate malaria.

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

[LISTEN NOW]

‘Tine Zekis has dedicated her career to helping women of colour succeed in the workplace. In 2022, she founded an organisation which provides women with key insights on salary negotiation, career moves and imposter syndrome called Getting Black Women Paid. ‘Tine is the author of Overcoming Imposter Syndrome at Work: The Black Woman's Guide to Conquer Perfectionism, Stop Overthinking & Thrive in Your Career.

Hira Ali had been feeling symptoms of imposter syndrome long before discovering the term existed. It wasn't until her article for The Huffington Post about the topic went viral that she realised just how pervasive the experience is, and began mentoring and coaching others. She is the author of two books: Her Way To The Top: A Guide to Smashing the Glass Ceiling and Her Allies: A Practical Toolkit to Help Men Lead Through Advocacy.

Produced by Elena Angelides

(Image: (L) 'Tine Zekis credit Noor Naseer. (R) Hira Ali credit Sabiha Hudda-Khaku.)

What is imposter syndrome? And why are women seemingly more affected by it than men?

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

[LISTEN NOW]

Telephone helplines support millions of children every year with issues ranging from serious abuse to children who just want someone to chat to on the way home from school. Ella Al-Shamahi talks to two women from South Africa and Greece about supporting children through round-the-clock helplines, counselling and outreach.

Dumisile Nala, a trained social worker, is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Childline South Africa. Their 24-hour helpline is contacted around 300,000 times each year. Dumisile says the mental health challenges in children are especially driven by violent crimes, abuse and trauma perpetuated against them.

Stavroula Spyropoulou is a psychologist working at Smile of the Child in Greece. The organisation operates across the country and has over 400 staff and 6000 active volunteers. They give families immediate support in times of crisis, run children's homes and outreach sessions in schools. Stavroula is the coordinator of their Center for Child Abuse and Exploitation.

Produced by Jane Thurlow

Two women from South Africa and Greece on running round-the-clock support for children

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

[LISTEN NOW]

Vivienne Grey was one of the first women to join the RNLI when she started as a volunteer in 1990. While a crewmember at Little and Broad Haven RNLI in Wales she was involved in more than 120 ‘shouts' on the lifeboat and is credited directly for saving the lives of eight people. She's now training coordinator at the lifeboat station and works part-time as a teacher. Vivienne also volunteers with the local Coastguard Rescue Team.

Ananyaa Bath is a lifeguard and lifeguard trainer in India. She works for Drishti Marine, a safety and life-saving service, which has 400 life-savers patrolling Goa's 103km coastline.

Produced by Jane Thurlow

Ella Al-Shamahi with two women from Wales and Goa rescuing people in trouble on the coast

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Ella Al-Shamahi talks to an RNLI volunteer from Wales and lifeguard in Goa who are dedicated to rescuing people who get into difficulty at sea.

Angela Kennecke is a journalist in the United States who lost her 21 year old daughter to fentanyl poisoning. Emily was three days away from being checked into a treatment centre and died after taking what she thought was heroin. Angela has since founded Emily's Hope – a non-profit organisation to raise awareness in the opioid crisis and end the stigma of addiction.

Laura D'Arrigo works in Paris as diplomatic advisor at the Interministerial Mission on combating drugs and addictive behaviours. She helps coordinate prevention, care and law enforcement. For six years she's chaired the Management Board of the European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug addiction which enhances international cooperation on tackling drug problems, including technical assistance to places most affected by the illicit transit of drugs and countering illegal trafficking in synthetic opioids.

Kim Chakanetsa presents a conversation between two women from different cultures about their paths to success.

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Angela Kennecke is a journalist in the United States who lost her 21 year old daughter to fentanyl poisoning. Emily was three days away from being checked into a treatment centre and died after taking what she thought was heroin. Angela has since founded Emily's Hope – a non-profit organisation to raise awareness in the opioid crisis and end the stigma of addiction.

Laura d'Arrigo works in Paris as diplomatic advisor at the French Interministerial Mission on combating drugs and addictive behaviours. For six years (2016-2021) she chaired the management board of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction which is the leading authority on illicit drugs in the European Union. The agency provides independent scientific evidence and analysis on all aspects of this constantly changing threat to individual lives and wider society. She spoke to us in a personal capacity.

Produced by Jane Thurlow

(Image: (L) Angela Kennecke, credit Chris Reistroffer. (R) Laura d'Arrigo, credit Nuno Saraiva.)

A US campaigner and a diplomatic advisor in France discuss illicit drugs and addiction

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

A campaigner from the US, whose daughter died from an overdose, and a diplomatic advisor at the French Interministerial Mission on drugs discuss reducing stigma around addiction.

Chronic illness - and the pain it often brings - affects millions globally. But while women are more likely to experience chronic pain, they're less likely to receive adequate treatment. Ella Al-Shamahi speaks to two women who have transformed their experiences with pain and chronic illness into powerful creative expression.

Polly Crosby is a British author living with cystic fibrosis. Feeling invisible in the stories she grew up reading, she was inspired to write The Vulpine, a young adult novel deeply rooted in her personal experiences: the protagonist's condition closely reflects Polly's own. Polly is dedicated to portraying characters with disabilities and chronic conditions authentically, without invoking pity or hero-worship.

Lavi Picu is a Romanian-Canadian interdisciplinary artist and Lyme disease advocate. She uses painting, drawing, and poetry as therapeutic tools to manage her condition while raising awareness for chronic illness. Lavi's art acts as a visual aid to, in her words, 'make the invisible visible'.

Produced by Emily Naylor

Women from the UK and Romania creatively inspired by their chronic conditions

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Ella Al-Shamahi talks to two women from Romania and the UK about how they use the pain from their chronic conditions as fuel for powerful creative expression.

[LISTEN NOW]

Rising sea levels and increasingly powerful storms are threatening coastlines, low-lying island states and coastal cities around the world. Ella Al-Shamahi talks to two women from Sri Lanka and France about how they're using satellites to track coastal erosion and develop strategies to reduce its impact on populations.

Sarah Dole is a Sri Lankan physicist and entrepreneur leading a satellite image analysis project in the Maldives, the world's lowest lying country, looking at the rate at which beaches erode. She co-founded Invena – a company carrying out research and helping develop technology that aims to preserve low-lying nations.

Anne-Laure Beck is a French geomatic and remote-sensing engineer. She's the EU lead on coastal erosion for the environmental consultancy Argans. They use satellite-based earth observation and geographical information systems to map and monitor environments in order to track coastal erosion and accretion to inform coastal management and protection plans.

Women from Sri Lanka and France using images taken from space to counter coastal erosion.

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

[LISTEN NOW]

Datshiane Navanayagam talks to translators from Turkey and Argentina about giving a writer's work a new life in another language, and whether the age of digital translation is putting the craft in jeopardy.

Ekin Oklap is Turkish and grew up in Italy. She's the English language translator for Nobel prize-winning Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk and was shortlisted for the 2016 International Booker Prize. She also translates books from Italian to English for novelist Francesca Manfredi and crime writer Ilaria Tuti.

Erika Cosenza is an Argentinian translator, interpreter, editor and proof-reader. She translates English, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese. She now lives in Spain and helped set up a gender, diversity and inclusion network for the International Association of Professional Translators and Interpreters.

Produced by Jane Thurlow

This episode was edited on 6 November 2024

(Image: (L) Erika Cosenza credit Gisela Caffarena. (R) Ekin Oklap credit Alev Arasli Oklap.)

Literary translators from Turkey and Argentina giving novels new life in another language

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Datshiane Navanayagam talks to literary translators from Turkey and Argentina about giving a writer's work a new life in another language and the impact of digital translation.

(Image: (L) Erika Consenza credit Gisela Caffarena. (R) Ekin Oklap credit Alev Arasli Oklap.)

[LISTEN NOW]

Hilary Bradt co-founded the world's largest independently owned guidebook publisher fifty years ago. She's been inspiring travellers to go off the beaten track ever since, publishing guides to destinations where no guidebook previously existed, like Uganda, Yugoslavia, North Korea, Eritrea and Madagascar.

Lola Akinmade À...kerström is a Nigerian travel storyteller, photographer, speaker and an international author whose books are published in 18 languages. She lives in Sweden, teaches travel writing and is the current editor-in-chief for Slow Travel Stockholm.

Produced by Jane Thurlow

(Image: (L) Lola Akinmade À...kerström, credit Jessica Wikström. (R) Hilary Bradt, credit Alex Graeme.)

Travel writers from the UK and Nigeria talk about exploring new places

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Ella Al-Shamahi talks to travel writers Hilary Bradt and Lola Akinmade À...kerström a to discover more about their adventures in far-flung places.

Marta Manser from Switzerland is a Professor of Animal Behaviour at the University of Zurich. She is the project director of the Kalahari Meerkat Project and has studied the species for nearly thirty years. Marta's work has significantly improved our understanding of meerkat social structures, vocal communication, and group coordination.

Dr Gloriana Chaverri is an Associate Professor at the University of Costa Rica and a Research Associate at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. She began her work with bats by investigating their mating systems and social organization. Recently she has been focusing on bat vocal communication.

Produced by Emily Naylor

(Image: (L) Marta Manser courtesy of Marta Manser. (R) Gloriana Chaverri courtesy of Gloriana Chaverri.)

Costa Rican and Swiss biologists discuss what animal behaviour reveals about life

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Professor Melissa Mercadal-Brotons teaches music therapy at Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya. She was president of the World Federation of Music Therapy and her clinical and research work focuses on the impact of music on people with dementia.

Amina Hussain is Manchester Camerata's principal flute and resident music therapist. She runs sessions with groups of people with dementia that revolve around improvisation where everyone has an instrument that's easy to play. She says the alleviation of symptoms like anxiety, isolation and confidence are wonderful to see.

Music therapists in the UK and Spain discuss how music can ease the symptoms of dementia

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Despite their pivotal roles in advancing healthcare, women's contributions to medicine have often been overshadowed or erased by male-dominated narratives. Datshiane Navanayagam speaks with two women dedicated to reclaiming this lost history and highlighting the vital work that women have done in the field of medicine.

Yunxin Li is a Chinese academic who specializes in the gendered foundations of ancient Chinese medicine. Her research uncovers the often-overlooked contributions of female healers in premodern China. By focusing on the intersection of gender and healthcare in ancient Chinese history, Yunxin offers a fresh perspective on traditional medical systems and the influential roles women played within them.

Kandace Chimbiri, a British author born to Barbadian parents, is committed to highlighting the overlooked contributions of Black women in medicine, particularly in the UK's healthcare system. In her children's book The Story of Britain's Black Nurses, she uncovers the largely untold story of Black women's vital role in shaping the NHS. Through her work, Kandace aims to inspire young readers and honour the legacy of Black women in healthcare.

Produced by Emily Naylor

(Image: (L) Kandace Chimbiri credit Warren Linton Photography. (R) Yunxin Li courtesy of Yunxin Li.)

An author and a historian discuss the historical contributions of women in medicine

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

A British author and a Chinese historian discuss the overlooked contributions of women in medicine, from Black nurses in the British Empire to female healers in Ancient China.

[LISTEN NOW]