Breaking Glass

Michela Bedard is an outspoken feminist. She has to be. As the Executive Director of Period, she is heading up a youth-led movement to end period poverty around the world. Michela doesn't shy away from hard conversation and believes that there should be no shame or stigma around the topic of menstruation. We discuss how menstruation inequity is a foundational element of gender gaps across industries and why she believes it is critical to have menstruators at every table where decisions are being made if we are ever going to achieve gender equity.

Breaking Glass is a production of Evoke Media, a nonprofit organization that exists in order to elevate the people and stories working to make the world a more unified and equitable place. To join a global conversation about gender equality:

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From a very young age Neysara realized that the world had something wrong about her. Born to cis-gender parents in rural India, the only transgender individuals she saw were banished to the margins of society, often selling themselves as sex workers to survive. Neysara had different aspirations. She completed college and then pursued an incredibly risky transition to live openly as a woman. She shares her harrowing story running from relatives who threatened her life, hiding under a burka for years while transitioning, and ultimately rebuilding her identity as a woman, entrepreneur, and activist. Today, Neysara lives and works in Amsterdam and leads Transgender India to provide resources, safety, and community for transgender individuals across the country. 

Breaking Glass is a production of Evoke Media, a nonprofit organization that exists in order to elevate the people and stories working to make the world a more unified and equitable place. To join a global conversation about gender equality:

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Carly Burson and Priti Pugalia are business partners working to disrupt generational poverty for women around the world. Carly is based in Texas and is the Founder of ethical fashion brand LAUDE the Label. Priti is the founder of Craft Boat, a recycled paper and textile manufacturing studio in Jaipur, India, deeply committed to encouraging sustainable Indian craftsmanship. Together they are disrupting fashion industry norms by working with artisans to create meaningful living wages and break cycles of poverty. They join us to talk about the origins of their companies, the deeply personal nature of this work to their families, and the ripple effect that a living wage can have on a woman’s life.

Breaking Glass is a production of Evoke Media, a nonprofit organization that exists in order to elevate the people and stories working to make the world a more unified and equitable place. To join a global conversation about gender equality:

• Sign up for our Tits & Tats newsletter rounding up whit and resources on gender equity
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Julie Adams is a Sydney-based photographer widely known for her work in Vogue, Harper’s BAZAAR, Glamour, Marie Claire and others, what we’re talking about today is her personal project titled This Is Me. For this personal project, Julie has photographed hundreds of women, all of whom modeled for an unretouched photograph in their swimsuit and shared some of their own reflections about body image, mental and physical struggles, and why we are all beautiful in our uniqueness. Julie reflects on how what started as a body image project targeted at young women, quickly evolved into a more sophisticated reflection of womanhood that appealed across generations. 

Breaking Glass is a production of Evoke Media, a nonprofit organization that exists in order to elevate the people and stories working to make the world a more unified and equitable place. To join a global conversation about gender equality:

• Sign up for our Tits & Tats newsletter rounding up whit and resources on gender equity
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Meredith Fineman has never struggled to find the right words. The daughter of a journalist and granddaughter of English professors, she comes from a long lineage of wordsmiths. It comes as no surprise that Meredith has found her professional stride as a communication expert. Founder of FinePoint, a communications agency, and author of Brag Better, she has built her career teaching women and men the skill of shameless self-promotion. She shares with us how women at the top of their industries still struggle to promote themselves and how professional advancement hangs in the balance.

Breaking Glass is a production of Evoke Media, a nonprofit organization that exists in order to elevate the people and stories working to make the world a more unified and equitable place. To join a global conversation about gender equality:

• Sign up for our Tits & Tats newsletter rounding up whit and resources on gender equity
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Sarah Dubbeldam is no stranger to the superficial scrutiny of the media industry. A model for many years, the deterioration of Sarah's mental health drove her to defy the status quo and create more authentic content for women. Darling Magazine was launched as a source of relatable and accessible storytelling on the topics women care most about, and it quickly captured headlines when it became the first publication in the United States to commit to not retouching photography. Sarah dives into that decision, shares where they draw the line as artists and creative professionals, and reflects on her own desire to move the media industry toward inclusivity and female empowerment.

Breaking Glass is a production of Evoke Media, a nonprofit organization that exists in order to elevate the people and stories working to make the world a more unified and equitable place. To join a global conversation about gender equality:

• Sign up for our Tits & Tats newsletter rounding up whit and resources on gender equity
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Pat Mitchell has shattered nearly ever glass ceiling in the media industry. She was the first woman to lead PBS, CNN, and to produce the first national program hosted by a woman for women. She has won Emmy’s, Peabody’s, and been nominated for Academy Awards. But before any of this success, Pat was an unemployed single mother in New York City navigating the gender barriers that were all around her. She joins us to talk about the grit she had to claw her way into the industry, the gumption it took to walk away from stable positions to produce content that women were craving, and the sense of obligation she feels as a woman at the top to lift up other women beside her. Today Pat is singularly focused on using her influence to elevate more women's stories and to push the media industry toward greater gender equity.

Breaking Glass is a production of Evoke Media, a nonprofit organization that exists in order to elevate the people and stories working to make the world a more unified and equitable place. To join a global conversation about gender equality:

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Dr. Yuko Kawanishi is a sociologist based in Tokyo, who specializes in mental health, gender relations, and contemporary Japanese social issues. When in 2020, nearly 7,000 women took their own lives and the country experienced one of the highest suicide rates in the world, Dr. Kawanishi took interest. She joins us to reflect on the professional expectations, the stoic culture, and the social shame that created a perfect storm of pressure on women during the pandemic. Dr. Kawanishi breaks down the gender equity dynamics in Japan at large, and makes a compelling case for every woman to connect with the mental health services they need.

Breaking Glass is a production of Evoke Media, a nonprofit organization that exists in order to elevate the people and stories working to make the world a more unified and equitable place. To join a global conversation about gender equality:

• Sign up for our Tits & Tats newsletter rounding up whit and resources on gender equity
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Darcy Gaechter is the first woman to kayak the Amazon River from source to sea, a tumultuous journey that lasted nearly 5 months. She has been whitewater kayaking for twenty-one years and for the past fifteen years, she has been considered one of the most accomplished expedition kayakers in the world. Darcy may not have set out to be a feminist or role model, but after hearing that women couldn't accomplish the same feats as men in the world of extreme sports, shear stubbornness and perseverance led her to tackle the toughest rivers in the world and has earned her the respect and attention of partners, sponsors, and clients, alike. Leading by example, Darcy is having a tremendous impact on the gender dynamics within the whitewater kayaking industry and is shattering stereotypes of what girls can do as extreme outdoor athletes.

Breaking Glass is a production of Evoke Media, a nonprofit organization that exists in order to elevate the people and stories working to make the world a more unified and equitable place. To join a global conversation about gender equality:

• Sign up for our Tits & Tats newsletter rounding up whit and resources on gender equity
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This is the story of two women from different corners of the globe whose paths cross as champions of girls education in Kenya. Rebecca Crook is a former teacher from California. Debborah Odenyi grew up in rural Kenya, became a teacher, and is now an independent consultant to education organizations. They met in Nairobi where they are supporting education innovators and organizations to improve quality of-- and access to-- education for girls across the country. They join us to share their personal and professional experiences of the truly transformative impact on health, economics, and equity when more girls have access to empowering education.

Breaking Glass is a production of Evoke Media, a nonprofit organization that exists in order to elevate the people and stories working to make the world a more unified and equitable place. To join a global conversation about gender equality:

• Sign up for our Tits & Tats newsletter rounding up whit and resources on gender equity
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