In this final episode of the Kenya series, host Anna Stoecklein explores what it will take to not just end female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), but to shift the underlying social norms that drive it. The episode examines the complex journey toward cultural transformation, revealing how community dialogue, intergenerational conversations, and collective action are crucial for lasting change. Through powerful examples—from a young Maasai man who composes songs advocating against FGM/C to a f...
May 21, 2025•38 min
In the second episode of this three-part series on female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in Kenya, host Anna Stoecklein and Kenyan journalist Evelyn Wambui explore the complex reasons why this practice persists despite its known harmful effects. The episode delves into the cultural, religious, and social forces that perpetuate FGM/C and the challenges faced by those who choose to break away from tradition. From conversations with survivors, religious leaders, and a former cutter, this episod...
May 21, 2025•36 min
This special three-part series brings The Story of Woman podcast on location in Kenya to explore female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). Host Anna Stoecklein partners with Kenyan journalist Evelyn Wambui and international NGO Orchid Project, traveling to rural Maasai villages and urban Nairobi to delve into the hearts and minds of community leaders, activists, and survivors, bringing you the human stories behind the headlines and statistics. This powerful first episode explores how this mille...
May 21, 2025•31 min
This special three-part series brings The Story of Woman podcast on location in Kenya to explore the deeply rooted and urgent issue of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). Host Anna Stoecklein teams up with Kenyan journalist Evelyn Wambui and the international NGO Orchid Project, traveling to rural Maasai villages and urban Nairobi. Through powerful, on-the-ground interviews with survivors, activists, and community leaders, the series reveals the human stories behind the headlines and stat...
May 14, 2025•4 min
REPLAY OF SEASON TWO EPISODE ONE In the first episode of season two of the podcast, I speak with former US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Cherie Blair, CBE KC in their first-time ever, exclusive joint podcast interview! Hillary Clinton and Cherie Blair have pioneered positive change for women for decades. They have worked as lawyers, politicians, activists, and business leaders - and also both had husbands in charge of governments, the US and the UK respectively. In this episode, ...
Apr 29, 2024•55 min
This is an episode of The Great British Foreign Affairs Podcast, featuring host Anna Stoecklein as a guest host alongside Anna-Joy Rickard. Together they talk about feminist foreign policy with Kristina Lunz, the author of ‘The Future of Foreign Policy is Feminist’ and Co-founder and Director of the Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy in Berlin. The episode dives deep into feminist foreign policy, tracing its origins and exploring its profound implications for the world today and the future. The ...
Apr 22, 2024•30 min
Explore the root cause of societal issues and explore a movement beyond feminism in the Season 3 finale of "The Story of Woman." Join host Anna Stoecklein and Remi Olajoyegbe, co-founder of Medicine festival, in a profound discussion on inner healing for societal transformation. Dive into the importance of community, the longing for belonging, and the power of collective empowerment. From ancient indigenous practices to cutting-edge therapies, this episode unveils the transformative power of Med...
Mar 11, 2024•1 hr 11 min
Betty Friedan's "The Feminine Mystique," published in 1963, is often recognized as a catalyst for the second wave of feminism. How far have we come since then in terms of women's role in society, and specifically women's maternal and domestic role? In this episode of The Story of Woman, host Anna Stoecklein dives deep into a conversation with writer and scholar, Monica Cardenas, about the parallels between the issues faced by women in the 1960s and the challenges that persist in the present. Ref...
Mar 04, 2024•1 hr
The #MeToo movement empowered millions to speak out about sexual violence and changed the default response to women's accounts from universal doubt to selective belief. What changed? In this episode, guest host Sarey Ruden speaks with Leigh Gilmore to discuss her book, “The #MeToo Effect: What Happens When We Believe Women”. They delve into the transformative impact of the #MeToo movement, exploring the evolution of societal responses to women's accounts of sexual violence. A central theme revol...
Feb 26, 2024•1 hr 4 min
How does the rise of AI and surveillance intersect with motherhood? In this episode, Sophie Hamacher and Jessica Hankey, creators of the groundbreaking anthology, Supervision: On Motherhood and Surveillance, delve into the ways mothers' behaviors and bodies are observed, exposed, and policed in today's society. The conversation broadens to encompass the unique experiences of BIPOC mothers, who find themselves in a paradoxical state of both hyper-visibility and invisibility. Sophie and Jessica un...
Feb 19, 2024•53 min
In this episode, guest host Joanna Cummings takes the reins to interview Deborah Joseph, the UK Editor in Chief of Glamour Magazine. The discussion delves into the evolving landscape of women's magazines, feminism, and the transformative journey of Glamour from a beauty-focused brand to a platform advocating female empowerment. Deborah highlights the positive shift in the beauty industry away from the size zero aesthetic and discusses her personal approach, choosing authenticity over conforming ...
Feb 12, 2024•47 min
In what ways has breastfeeding been shaped by culture and history? Join us as we unravel the complex terrain in this episode featuring Joanna Wolfarth, author of Milk: An Intimate History of Breastfeeding. Joanna delves into the historical evolution of breastfeeding norms and practices, examining how societal changes impacted women's experiences. Through the lens of her own journey, Joanna also touches on the complexities of breastfeeding in public, the stigma associated with it, and the societa...
Feb 05, 2024•1 hr 1 min
You may have heard of the glass ceiling, but have you heard of the glass walls? In this episode, Amy Diehl and Leanne Dzubinski discuss the pervasive issue of gender bias in the workplace, highlighting the six walls that hinder women's progress. Based on their book, Glass Walls: Shattering the Six Gender Bias Barriers Still Holding Women Back at Work, Amy and Leanne delve into the nuances of each barrier, providing insights, real-life examples, and the impact of gender bias on women's profession...
Jan 29, 2024•59 min
Ever wondered if the so-called "maternal instinct" is a scientific reality or a societal construct? Join guest host Monica Cardenas as she delves into the fascinating world of neuroscience with Chelsea Conaboy, author of Mother Brain: How Neuroscience is Rewriting the Story of Parenthood. Together, they explore the intricate changes in parents' brains and debunking myths surrounding motherhood. Chelsea makes the argument for how understanding the science behind parental brain changes can relieve...
Jan 22, 2024•57 min
Ever wonder about the women who defied conventions by wearing the pants—quite literally? In this episode, comedy writer and actress Tracy Dawson highlight trailblazers throughout history who disguised themselves as men to gain access and opportunities denied them simply because they were women. The conversation delves into various stories from Tracy’s book, Let Me Be Frank: A Book About Women Who Dressed Like Men To Do Shit They Weren't Supposed To Do, highlighting women like Rena "Rusty" Kanoko...
Jan 15, 2024•58 min
Explore the transformative moments that have defined Zainab Salbi's journey from war-torn Iraq under Saddam Hussein's regime to becoming a global advocate for empowering women survivors. In this compelling episode, Zainab Salbi, a renowned humanitarian, author, and journalist recognized as one of the women changing the world by influential figures such as Oprah Winfrey and Bill Gates, shares her inspiring narrative. From her early life in Iraq under Saddam Hussein's regime to the founding of Wom...
Jan 08, 2024•1 hr 7 min
This is an episode of The Nurse Keith podcast, featuring host Anna Stoecklein’s interview. In it, Anna delves into the persistent inequities within our healthcare system, shedding light on the challenges faced by patients and nurses alike, and drawing from her personal experiences during her clinical nursing career. Anna also reflects on the profound lessons learned from the powerful women she's interviewed, shares how she selects topics for the podcast, and even envisions what she would do if s...
Nov 06, 2023•1 hr 9 min
What are the most pressing issues women and girls still face today? What progress has been made in recent years? How are gender equality champions driving change around the world? In this special episode, host Anna travels to Kigali, Rwanda for the Women Deliver 2023 Conference, the largest convening for gender equality in the world, to find out! Through conversations with conference organizers and participants, hear stories from gender equality trailblazers from around the world, be inspired to...
Sep 18, 2023•59 min
This is an episode of the Creativity Found podcast, featuring host Anna Stoecklein’s interview. In it, she discusses her journey from nurse to podcaster, how she came up with the idea and created The Story of Woman, and what’s next for the podcast! Creativity Found Original episode with transcript The Creative Brain is a catalyst for change. For many years Anna Stoecklein believed that creativity was limited to traditional forms of art, such as painting or drawing. However, after watching the Ne...
Jul 24, 2023•31 min
REPLAY OF SEASON TWO EPISODE ONE In the first episode of season two of the podcast, I speak with former US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Cherie Blair, CBE KC in their first-time ever, exclusive joint podcast interview! Hillary Clinton and Cherie Blair have pioneered positive change for women for decades. They have worked as lawyers, politicians, activists, and business leaders - and also both had husbands in charge of governments, the US and the UK respectively. In this episode, ...
Jun 27, 2023•56 min
Become a Patreon for access to bonus content and to support the podcast, or buy me a (metaphorical) coffee * 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 Ce...
Jun 05, 2023•54 min
Become a Patreon for access to bonus content and to support the podcast, or buy me a (metaphorical) coffee * 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. I...
May 29, 2023•1 hr 2 min
Become a Patreon for access to bonus content and to support the podcast, or buy me a (metaphorical) coffee * 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 peo...
May 22, 2023•1 hr 5 min
Become a Patreon for access to bonus content and to support the podcast, or buy me a (metaphorical) coffee * 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...
May 15, 2023•53 min
Become a Patreon for access to bonus content and to support the podcast, or buy me a (metaphorical) coffee * 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 ...
May 08, 2023•1 hr
Become a Patreon for access to bonus content and to support the podcast, or buy me a (metaphorical) coffee * 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, doubl...
May 01, 2023•47 min
Become a Patreon for access to bonus content and to support the podcast, or buy me a (metaphorical) coffee * 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 f...
Apr 24, 2023•55 min
Become a Patreon for access to bonus content and to support the podcast, or buy me a (metaphorical) coffee * 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 hav...
Apr 17, 2023•47 min
Become a Patreon for access to bonus content and to support the podcast, or buy me a (metaphorical) coffee * 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...
Apr 10, 2023•1 hr 9 min
Become a Patreon for access to bonus content and to support the podcast, or buy me a (metaphorical) coffee * 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 i...
Apr 03, 2023•52 min
