Changing Narratives Podcast

What does it actually take to stop FGM before it happens?

In this episode of Changing Narratives, host Patricia Mars sits down with Domtila Chesang, grassroots advocate, co-founder of AWRA and founder of I_Rep Foundation, whose work is rooted in protecting girls at the very moment they are at risk.

From coordinating rescues in remote communities to challenging the systems that allow FGM/C and child marriage to persist, Domtila shares what this work looks like in real time — the urgency, the risks and the decisions that can change the course of a girl's life.

This conversation goes beyond awareness. It examines the tension between intervention and community trust, the structural realities that drive harmful practices, and the responsibility of global actors to support not override grassroots leadership.

We also explore her documentary Mtetezi, and how storytelling can bring us closer to the lived realities that reports alone cannot capture.

This is not a distant issue. It's happening and people like Domtila are on the frontlines, making impossible decisions every day.

Domtila's research: Exploring the persistence of FGM in West Pokot County, Kenya

In this episode of Changing Narratives, host Patricia Mars turns the spotlight on Canada — a country often missing from global discussions about female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C).

New research by Islamic Relief Canada reveals what many advocates have long known: FGM/C is happening there, both in private homes and through vacation cutting.

Joining Patricia is Warda Warsame, National Network Coordinator of the End FGM Canada Network, to unpack what these findings mean, why FGM/C remains so invisible in Canada and what it will take to move from awareness to community-led change.

Link to the new research is here.

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Storytelling shapes movements — but when stories involve trauma, harm, and lived experience, the way they are told can either advance justice or cause further harm.

In this episode of Changing Narratives, host Patricia Mars sits down with Mariya Taher and Amy Hill for a candid conversation on ethical storytelling within the movement to end FGM/C. Together, they unpack what it truly means to keep storytelling survivor-led, how power shows up in narrative spaces and why intention and boundaries matter just as much as visibility.

This episode explores what actually moves people from awareness to action, how storytelling can be meaningfully connected to policy and systems change and what practices help ensure that sharing stories remains healing rather than extractive. Mariya and Amy also reflect on how storytelling is evolving — especially as younger generations and digital platforms reshape how stories are told, shared and consumed.

This is a conversation about responsibility, care, and the future of narrative power in advocacy.

Link to learn more about Silence Speaks.

Link to learn more about Voices to END FGM/C

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Recorded live at Women Deliver 2026, this episode of Changing Narratives brings together reflections from advocates, organizers and movement leaders working across different regions and sectors. This episode explores the power of collective action, the importance of solidarity and what it means to strengthen alliances in a time of global disruption. From grassroots advocacy to global policy spaces, these voices offer insight into the challenges, opportunities and urgent priorities shaping the movement to end FGM/C. In this episode, you heard from Valerie Lolomari MBE, Mamasylla Barry, Isis Elgibali, Ann Njuguna, Nejma Sayed, Alisa Tukkimaki, Warrda Warsame, Jacqueline Samuels, Safiya Riyaz, Isatou Bittaye-Jobe, Bassmala Morkaz, Giselle Portenier and Dr. Babou. Thank you for your time, contributions and work to end FGM in the U.S. and around the world.

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How do we engage a generation that has grown up online in conversations about FGM/C?

In this special collaboration with the End FGM European Network, Patricia Mars is joined by Bassmala Morkaz to discuss The Purple Chair, a youth-led series created to break the silence around FGM and other issues affecting women and girls.

Together, they explore how digital media can help make difficult conversations more accessible, why youth voices matter in advocacy and what it takes to transform awareness into engagement.

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In this episode of Changing Narratives, host Patricia Mars is joined by Leandra Becerra, Legal Advisor and Advocacy Programmes for Latin America and the Caribbean with Equality Now, representing the Americas Alliance. Together, they explore how FGM/C is understood and addressed in Colombia and across the Americas and why these perspectives are critical to reshaping the global narrative.

This conversation examines what true community ownership looks like in legal and advocacy efforts and how Indigenous communities are leading change in ways that challenge dominant frameworks. Leandra also reflects on the importance of bringing global attention to FGM/C in the region without reinforcing harmful stereotypes or "othering" the very communities most affected.

Looking ahead, the episode explores the long-term vision of the Americas Alliance: what meaningful collaboration could look like and what success might mean in the years to come.

This is a conversation about expanding the lens, shifting power and rethinking what it means to end FGM/C globally.

In this episode of Changing Narratives, we shine a spotlight on the DMV Coalition and a historic milestone: the passage of Washington, D.C.'s law to end FGM/C a year ago.

Joining Patricia Mars are Angela Peabody, Founder and President of Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation, and Dr. Karen McDonnell, Associate Professor at GW Milken Institute School of Public Health. Together, they share how the DMV Coalition came together, what made this advocacy effort successful and why this moment matters for survivors, communities and the broader movement to end FGM/C.

From the Coalition's beginnings to the ripple effects across Maryland, Virginia, and beyond, this conversation highlights the power of collaboration and the importance of keeping momentum alive.

Linktree to the coalition is here.

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In this special episode of Changing Narratives, host Patricia Mars brings listeners inside the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), capturing reflections from advocates, leaders and participants on the ground.

Through a series of short conversations, this episode explores what's standing out, what challenges remain and what it will take to move from dialogue to action.

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In this episode of Changing Narratives, host Patricia Mars sits down with Sean Callaghan, a researcher whose work is shedding new light on female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in the United States.

Together, they unpack what the data tells us — and what it doesn't. From research challenges and systemic gaps to the balance between statistics and lived experiences, this conversation dives deep into why data is essential for effective advocacy, survivor-centered policies and change.

Link to Sean's latest report.

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In this episode of Changing Narratives, host Patricia Mars sits down with Naimah Hassan to unpack a new report produced through a collaboration between AWRA and Vavengers.

Naimah shares the inspiration behind the report, the process of collaboration and the stories and perspectives that stayed with her throughout the project. The conversation also digs into how the report contributes to global dialogues on rights, agency, and accountability, and why its findings matter for policymakers, funders, advocates and anyone working toward a coordinated response to FGM/C. The report can be found here.

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