The Story of Woman

In this episode, guest host Asha Dahya speaks with Cecilia Chung, a barrier-breaking advocate for transgender rights and people living with HIV. Cecilia shares her personal journey as a trans woman, from her upbringing in Hong Kong to her move to the United States in the 1980s. Highlighting the experiences and challenges faced by trans women, particularly trans women of color, Asha and Cecilia discuss the importance of individual stories in humanizing the trans community and the impact of trans visibility. Cecilia emphasizes the need to focus on quality of life and highlights the revolutionary act of loving and accepting oneself as a trans person. Asha and Cecilia also explore the intersectionality of feminism and the importance of inclusivity within the women's rights movement. Cecilia shares her journey as an architect of a groundbreaking transgender workforce development program in San Francisco and encourages other cities and lawmakers to replicate similar initiatives to combat anti-trans legislation. Some topics we cover include: Cecilia’s personal journey as a trans woman The role of media in amplifying the stories of the trans community Cecilia's decision to share her story as someone living with HIV The current surge in anti-trans rhetoric in America, and around the world Challenges faced by trans youth, especially AAPI trans youth The Transgender Law Center, where Cecilia served as the first deputy director, and their work supporting the trans community today Unapologetically living an authentic life - and the threat this poses to some individuals The significance of including trans women in the larger women's rights movement, and how this can be improved by the current movement And more! Transcription is available here Cecilia’s work: Website Transgender Law Center When We Rise - Cecilia’s life story inspired the character played by Ms. Ivory Aquino Guest host: Asha Dahya GirlTalkHQ Book: Today’s Wonder Women - US | UK Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice ReproFilm.org Changemakers: How women make change happen This is the first episode of the new Changemakers series which explores how women make change happen from those at the top helping to drive it. Each episode, we look at where we are on this long march to equality, what lies ahead, and how important you are in the fight. In this 14-episode series, we’ll hear from Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Tawakkol Karman, Girls Who Code founder Reshma Saujani, Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn, and Afghanistan's youngest ever female mayor Zarifa Ghafari, among others. Guest host Asha Dahya speaks with co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Movement Alicia Garza. — Become a Patron for access to bonus content and to support the podcast, or buy me a (metaphorical) coffee Follow us: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Tik Tok | Youtube | LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter for a weekly dose of all things WOMAN We need more women’s stories in the world! If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share, subscribe, rate and review on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts Explore The Story of Woman book recommendations in the US and the UK - purchases support the podcast AND local bookstores 🤩 www.thestoryofwomanpodcast.com

In this episode, guest host Asha Dahya speaks with Alicia Garza - author, political strategist, organizer, founder of Black Futures Lab, co-founder of Supermajority, and co-creator of #BlackLivesMatter and the Black Lives Matter Global Network… among other things! Alicia believes that Black communities deserve what all communities deserve - to be powerful in every aspect of their lives. In their conversation, Alicia and Asha explore systemic racism and the importance of building power within Black communities, the strength of women and how feminists (especially white ones) can expand their feminism to be more inclusive, the significance of intersectionality, and Alicia’s work creating a new political home for women, strengthening the ecosystem of Black organizing, and telling new stories that highlight Black potential. Some topics we cover include: Alicia's first experience with activism at the age of 12 Black power and its impact on realizing the true promise of our nation (and world) Systemic racism - what it is, historical examples, and how we address it The crucial role of intersectionality in creating a more inclusive world White feminism, and the importance of asking who is included in your feminism The work that's required behind hashtags (as Alicia has said, “Hashtags don't start movements, people do.”) Specific issues Alicia focuses on within her anti-racism work - police brutality, mass incarceration, health access, and gender justice Why joy and hope are essential to the work How you can get involved in shaping the future! And more! Transcription is available here Where to find Alicia’s work: Alicia’s website Black Futures Labholla@blackfutureslab.org Black Census Supermajority #BlackLivesMatter and the Black Lives Matter Global Network National Domestic Workers Alliance Book: The Purpose of Power: How We Come Together When We Fall Apart - UK | US Guest host: Asha Dahya GirlTalkHQ Book: Today’s Wonder Women - US | UK Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice ReproFilm.org Episode sponsor: Narratives of Purpose podcast Changemakers: How women make change happen This is the first episode of the new Changemakers series which explores how women make change happen from those at the top helping to drive it. Each episode, we look at where we are on this long march to equality, what lies ahead, and how important you are in the fight. In this 14-episode series, we’ll hear from Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Tawakkol Karman, Girls Who Code founder Reshma Saujani, Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn, and Afghanistan's youngest ever female mayor Zarifa Ghafari, among others. Guest host Asha Dahya speaks with co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Movement Alicia Garza. — Become a Patron for access to bonus content and to support the podcast, or buy me a (metaphorical) coffee Follow us: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Tik Tok | Youtube | LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter for a weekly dose of all things WOMAN We need more women’s stories in the world! If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share, subscribe, rate and review on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts Explore The Story of Woman book recommendations in the US and the UK - purchases support the podcast AND local bookstores 🤩 www.thestoryofwomanpodcast.com

In this episode, I speak with Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, an expert in the adaptation and mitigation of Indigenous peoples to climate change. A member of the Mbororo pastoralist people in Chad, Hindou is the Founder and President of the Association for Indigenous Women and Peoples of Chad (AFPAT), an organisation she started when she was nine years old. (No, that’s not a typo!) Indigenous people make up only 5% of the world’s population, yet they are protecting 80% of the remaining biodiversity. In our conversation today, Hindou makes the case for why Indigenous people should not only be included in the global climate movement, but why they should be leading the charge. Some topics we cover include: What life is like inside a nomadic community (that has been around for millennia!) The impacts of climate change Hindou has seen in her own lifetime How climate change is destroying homes and communities like hers around the world Indigenous knowledge and solutions that are essential for addressing the climate crisis The current status of global Indigenous rights, recognition, and inclusion Why women are best positioned to lead the efforts against climate change Hindou’s organisation - Association for Indigenous Women and Peoples of Chad (AFPAT) And more! Transcription is available here Association for Indigenous Women and Peoples of Chad (AFPAT) Changemakers: How women make change happen This is the first episode of the new Changemakers series which explores how women make change happen from those at the top helping to drive it. Each episode, we look at where we are on this long march to equality, what lies ahead, and how important you are in the fight. In this 14-episode series, we’ll hear from Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Tawakkol Karman, Girls Who Code founder Reshma Saujani, Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn, and Afghanistan's youngest ever female mayor Zarifa Ghafari, among others. Guest host Asha Dahya speaks with co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Movement Alicia Garza. — Become a Patron for access to bonus content and to support the podcast, or buy me a (metaphorical) coffee Follow us: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Tik Tok | Youtube | LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter for a weekly dose of all things WOMAN We need more women’s stories in the world! If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share, subscribe, rate and review on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts Explore The Story of Woman book recommendations in the US and the UK - purchases support the podcast AND local bookstores 🤩 www.thestoryofwomanpodcast.com

In this episode, I speak with Dr Katharine Wilkinson, a bestselling author, strategist, and teacher, working to heal the planet we call home. Time magazine featured her as one of 15 “women who will save the world.” Co-founder of the All We Can Save project, Dr Wilkinson’s work focuses on storytelling, education, community building, and nurturing the leaderful climate community we need for a life-giving future. In our conversation, we talk about how we arrived at this moment, what needs to happen to drive lasting change, and how you can be a climate leader no matter your background or profession. As Dr Wilkinson has said, "the only credential that is needed is to be alive on this planet in this moment.” Some topics we cover include: How “The Grandmother of Climate Science” was lost to history after her work was credited to a man The important intersection of feminism and climate leadership Why equity isn't just secondary to survival, but it is survival The current reality of global warming and climate change The solutions - technology, policies, storytelling, leadership equity Ways to ensure justice is embedded in the solutions How the All We Can Save project is helping to change the climate leadership landscape And more! Transcription is available here Book: All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis: UK | US All We Can Save project Marilyn Waite for sustainable banking and more Changemakers: How women make change happen This is the first episode of the new Changemakers series which explores how women make change happen from those at the top helping to drive it. Each episode, we look at where we are on this long march to equality, what lies ahead, and how important you are in the fight. In this 14-episode series, we’ll hear from Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Tawakkol Karman, Girls Who Code founder Reshma Saujani, Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn, and Afghanistan's youngest ever female mayor Zarifa Ghafari, among others. Guest host Asha Dahya speaks with co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Movement Alicia Garza. — Become a Patron for access to bonus content and to support the podcast, or buy me a (metaphorical) coffee Follow us: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Tik Tok | Youtube | LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter for a weekly dose of all things WOMAN We need more women’s stories in the world! If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share, subscribe, rate and review on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts Explore The Story of Woman book recommendations in the US and the UK - purchases support the podcast AND local bookstores 🤩 www.thestoryofwomanpodcast.com

In this episode, I speak with Xiye Bastida, a 21-year-old climate justice activist born in Mexico and was raised as part of the Otomi-Toltec Indigenous community. She is an organizer, author, speaker, and student who is driven to make the climate movement more inclusive and diverse. As an organizer with Fridays For Future and the co-founder of Re-Earth Initiative, Xiye is a global leader of the climate movement that focuses on highlighting the intersectionality of the climate crisis. In our conversation, Xiye shares her story of getting into climate activism, what makes the youth movement so powerful, and indigenous wisdom that she sees as most essential for addressing the crisis. Some topics we cover include: Xiye’s climate experience growing up in Mexico The current reality of the climate crisis, and how we got here What climate justice is, and what it looks like in practice Indigenous wisdom that’s essential for addressing the climate crisis How to change the cultural mindset regarding the climate crisis, and the role storytelling plays What it’s like to be a young person growing up in this world, and what they wish older generations knew What Xiye hopes will be most different in 10 years And more! Transcription is available here Book: All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis: UK | US Changemakers: How women make change happen This is the first episode of the new Changemakers series which explores how women make change happen from those at the top helping to drive it. Each episode, we look at where we are on this long march to equality, what lies ahead, and how important you are in the fight. In this 14-episode series, we’ll hear from Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Tawakkol Karman, Girls Who Code founder Reshma Saujani, Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn, and Afghanistan's youngest ever female mayor Zarifa Ghafari, among others. Guest host Asha Dahya speaks with co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Movement Alicia Garza. — Become a Patron for access to bonus content and to support the podcast, or buy me a (metaphorical) coffee Follow us: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Tik Tok | Youtube | LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter for a weekly dose of all things WOMAN We need more women’s stories in the world! If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share, subscribe, rate and review on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts Explore The Story of Woman book recommendations in the US and the UK - purchases support the podcast AND local bookstores 🤩 www.thestoryofwomanpodcast.com

In this episode, I speak with one of the top ski racers of all time, Lindsey Vonn. Olympic gold medalist with 82 World Cup championships, Lindsey has the third highest super ranking of all skiers, men or women. In our conversation, we talk about Lindsey’s journey going from a 9 year old dreaming of being an Olympian to the most decorated American skier of all time - her role models, double standards she faced, progress in the industry, and what it’s been like to be a fixture in the American sports landscape for almost twenty years. Some topics we cover include: What it’s like to fly down a mountain at 80mph Double standards female athletes face around confidence, competitiveness and aggression The importance of confidence outside of athletics Lindsey’s attempt to compete in men’s races, even getting tips from Billie Jean King The gendered imbalance in leadership and coaching positions in skiing, and all sports Progress that’s been made and Lindsey’s hope for the future How Lindsey has changed the game for women and skiing And more! Transcription is available here Lindsey’s book: Rise The Lindsey Vonn Foundation Après Productions This episode was sponsored by BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com/storyofwoman for 10% off your first month of online therapy. Changemakers: How women make change happen This is the first episode of the new Changemakers series which explores how women make change happen from those at the top helping to drive it. Each episode, we look at where we are on this long march to equality, what lies ahead, and how important you are in the fight. In this 14-episode series, we’ll hear from Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Tawakkol Karman, Girls Who Code founder Reshma Saujani, Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn, and Afghanistan's youngest ever female mayor Zarifa Ghafari, among others. Guest host Asha Dahya speaks with co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Movement Alicia Garza. — Become a Patron for access to bonus content and to support the podcast, or buy me a (metaphorical) coffee Follow us: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Tik Tok | Youtube | LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter for a weekly dose of all things WOMAN We need more women’s stories in the world! If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share, subscribe, rate and review on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts Explore The Story of Woman book recommendations in the US and the UK - purchases support the podcast AND local bookstores 🤩 www.thestoryofwomanpodcast.com

In this episode, I speak with one of the most decorated American distance runners of all time, Lauren Fleshman. Throughout her career, Lauren saw how the sports systems - originally designed by men, for men and boys - continued to fail young women and girls as much as empower them. Girls drop out of sports at alarming rates once they hit puberty, and female collegiate athletes routinely fall victim to injury, eating disorders or mental health struggles as they try to force their way past a natural dip in performance for women of their age. Lauren isn’t just changing the system by breaking records, but also by speaking out about the inequitable systems of competitive sport and the need to rebuild them with women at their center. Some topics we cover include: The benefits of sports for women and girls How the sports system was designed for male athletes – and spectators – and what that means for women The physical and psychological toll of unrealistic body standards placed on female athletes – and all women The continued sexualization of female athletes Lauren’s first-hand experience of these inequities, and how she is fighting back Lack of representation in leadership and coaching positions – what makes it hard to gain equality, and why it matters How athletes today – especially women of color – are speaking out and changing the norms And more! Transcription is available here Lauren’s book - Good For A Girl: US | UK Changemakers: How women make change happen This is the first episode of the new Changemakers series which explores how women make change happen from those at the top helping to drive it. Each episode, we look at where we are on this long march to equality, what lies ahead, and how important you are in the fight. In this 14-episode series, we’ll hear from Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Tawakkol Karman, Girls Who Code founder Reshma Saujani, Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn, and Afghanistan's youngest ever female mayor Zarifa Ghafari, among others. Guest host Asha Dahya speaks with co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Movement Alicia Garza. — Become a Patron for access to bonus content and to support the podcast, or buy me a (metaphorical) coffee Follow us: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Tik Tok | Youtube | LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter for a weekly dose of all things WOMAN We need more women’s stories in the world! If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share, subscribe, rate and review on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts Explore The Story of Woman book recommendations in the US and the UK - purchases support the podcast AND local bookstores 🤩 www.thestoryofwomanpodcast.com

In this episode, I speak with Carly Zakin and Danielle Weisberg, Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of theSkimm - a non-partisan digital media company dedicated to succinctly giving women the information they need to make confident decisions. Carly and Danielle disrupted the male-dominated media landscape and defined a new category altogether when they launched theSkimm. In the past decade, they have grown it from a daily newsletter, to an entire ecosystem of newsletters, podcasts, a mobile app and more. TheSkimm breaks down the news, trends, policies, and politics impacting women so that they can navigate their daily lives with confidence. In our conversation, Carly and Danielle talk about the problems they identified that drove them to start theSkimm, how it continues to address gaps in the male-dominated market, and advice they would give to aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders. Some topics we cover include: The gaps in the male-dominated media landscape that led Danielle and Carly to start theSkimm Challenges they faced as young, female entrepreneurs Their journey of building theSkimm from a single email newsletter to an entire ecosystem with more than 12 million skimmers The power millennial women have as a key voting block and financial decision-makers The current state of women in health, money, family, and politics - and how this challenging moment presents an opportunity for driving progress Danielle and Carly’s advice for aspiring entrepreneurs And more! Transcription is available here theSkimm’s State of Women report: https://www.theskimm.com/stateofwomen Changemakers: How women make change happen This is the first episode of the new Changemakers series which explores how women make change happen from those at the top helping to drive it. Each episode, we look at where we are on this long march to equality, what lies ahead, and how important you are in the fight. In this 14-episode series, we’ll hear from Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Tawakkol Karman, Girls Who Code founder Reshma Saujani, Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn, and Afghanistan's youngest ever female mayor Zarifa Ghafari, among others. Guest host Asha Dahya speaks with co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Movement Alicia Garza. — Become a Patron for access to bonus content and to support the podcast, or buy me a (metaphorical) coffee Follow us: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Tik Tok | Youtube | LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter for a weekly dose of all things WOMAN We need more women’s stories in the world! If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share, subscribe, rate and review on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts Explore The Story of Woman book recommendations in the US and the UK - purchases support the podcast AND local bookstores 🤩 www.thestoryofwomanpodcast.com

In this episode, I speak with Jacqueline Novogratz, Founder and CEO of Acumen, a global organization that invests in for-profit companies that are tackling poverty and building a world where everyone has the opportunity to live with dignity. For too long, businesses and corporations have put profits above everything else, to the detriment of people and the planet. Jacqueline Novogratz has pioneered an entirely new business model that uses traditional market-based approaches to invest in companies that are bringing affordable, life-changing products and services to the world’s poorest populations. In our conversation, Jacqueline speaks about what it takes to be a leader who creates meaningful and lasting social impact, who can withstand the inevitable challenges that get in the way, and who always strives to do what’s right, not what’s easy. Some topics we cover include: How Acumen is pioneering a new business approach that people people and planet above profits Stories of the entrepreneurs Acumen supports, and the lives of the people they impact The importance of building a world based on dignity How change happens – starting small with big dreams Jacqueline’s tips for being a socially responsible entrepreneur and investor Why women are integral to solving the problems of poverty Moral imagination, moral leadership, and the moral revolution And more! Jacqueline’s books: Manifesto for Moral Revolution: Practices to Build a Better World The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World Transcription is available here Changemakers: How women make change happen This is the first episode of the new Changemakers series which explores how women make change happen from those at the top helping to drive it. Each episode, we look at where we are on this long march to equality, what lies ahead, and how important you are in the fight. In this 14-episode series, we’ll hear from Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Tawakkol Karman, Girls Who Code founder Reshma Saujani, Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn, and Afghanistan's youngest ever female mayor Zarifa Ghafari, among others. Guest host Asha Dahya speaks with co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Movement Alicia Garza. — Become a Patron for access to bonus content and to support the podcast, or buy me a (metaphorical) coffee Follow us: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Tik Tok | Youtube | LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter for a weekly dose of all things WOMAN We need more women’s stories in the world! If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share, subscribe, rate and review on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts Explore The Story of Woman book recommendations in the US and the UK - purchases support the podcast AND local bookstores 🤩 www.thestoryofwomanpodcast.com

In this episode, I speak with Reshma Saujani – a leading activist, lawyer, politician, and the founder of Girls Who Code and Moms First (previously Marshall Plan for Moms). Reshma has spent more than a decade building movements to fight for women and girls’ economic empowerment, working to close the gender gap in the tech sector, and most recently advocating for policies to support moms impacted by the pandemic. In our conversation today we focus on her most recent work with Moms First, a national movement to center mothers in the economic recovery from the pandemic and value their labor. They advocate for public and private sector changes to expand choices for women and to remove barriers to equality. Some topics we cover include: What it takes to be an activist driving change, and Reshma’s own journey as a changemaker The current lack of infrastructure for women to both work and be mothers – from unaffordable childcare to non-existent maternity (and paternity) leave How this lack of infrastructure in a post-Roe America is forcing women into poverty The absurdity of new moms breastfeeding in closets at work How, since World War II, workplaces were never built with women in mind Why the key to the fight for gender equality is in the ways society does - or doesn’t - support its mothers All the ways moms have been gaslit into thinking these issues are personal for them to solve alone, and how the pandemic exposed this myth, shining a light on the broken system Why it’s time for moms to demand more from their governments and employers And more! Reshma’s books: Brave, Not Perfect Pay Up Transcription is available here This episode was sponsored by BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com/storyofwoman for 10% off your first month of online therapy. Changemakers: How women make change happen This is the first episode of the new Changemakers series which explores how women make change happen from those at the top helping to drive it. Each episode, we look at where we are on this long march to equality, what lies ahead, and how important you are in the fight. In this 14-episode series, we’ll hear from Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Tawakkol Karman, Girls Who Code founder Reshma Saujani, Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn, and Afghanistan's youngest ever female mayor Zarifa Ghafari, among others. Guest host Asha Dahya speaks with co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Movement Alicia Garza. — Become a Patron for access to bonus content and to support the podcast, or buy me a (metaphorical) coffee Follow us: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Tik Tok | Youtube | LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter for a weekly dose of all things WOMAN We need more women’s stories in the world! If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share, subscribe, rate and review on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts Explore The Story of Woman book recommendations in the US and the UK - purchases support the podcast AND local bookstores 🤩 www.thestoryofwomanpodcast.com