What does it mean to say that 1 girl dies every 12 minutes from female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C)? In this gripping episode of Changing Narratives, host Patricia Mars speaks with Professor Heather Flowe—one of the researchers behind a landmark study estimating that more than 44,000 girls and young women die each year from FGM/C. They unpack the methodological and ethical complexities of bringing hidden deaths into the light, the global implications of their findings and how data can be a powerful tool in both justice and denial.

We're also joined by Anush Aghabalyan, Head of Policy and Advocacy at Orchid Project, to explore how these findings are shaping advocacy, fueling momentum, and forcing governments to confront the scale of a crisis they've long ignored.

Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your preferred platform.

Support our work: To continue sharing these crucial stories and advocating for change, we need your help. Your donations allow us to expand our reach, conduct more interviews, and push for policy change. Please consider donating today to amplify these important conversations.

FGM/C is too often seen as only an African issue — but across Asia, millions of girls are at risk every year.

In this bold conversation, host Patricia Mars is joined by Ika Agustina from Kalyanamitra, a feminist organization based in Jakarta, Indonesia. Ika shares the powerful grassroots work happening to end FGM/C in Asia — from community-led change to groundbreaking research and fierce advocacy for national and international policy reform.

Together, they dive into what it really takes to confront FGM/C in a region where tradition, religion, and social pressures run deep — and why centering Asian voices is essential to ending this practice worldwide.

This episode challenges assumptions, spotlights incredible activism and reminds us that change is being led from every corner of the world.

Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your preferred platform.

Support our work: To continue sharing these crucial stories and advocating for change, we need your help. Your donations allow us to expand our reach, conduct more interviews, and push for policy change. Please consider donating today to amplify these important conversations.

"Change doesn't happen to communities—it happens with them."

In this inspiring episode of Changing Narratives, host Patricia Mars is joined by Hibo Jama and Barwaqo Aden of Nisaa African Family Services, a grassroots powerhouse supporting African refugee and immigrant communities in Iowa. With deep ties to the communities they serve, Hibo and Barwaqo open up about the emotional and cultural challenges of addressing FGM/C—and the victories they've witnessed along the way.

They unpack how attitudes around FGM/C are shifting, why engaging men and boys is essential and what policy changes could meaningfully support survivors. Most importantly, they share how Nisaa's work proves that culturally-grounded care isn't just effective—it's necessary.

Whether you're a survivor, advocate, ally or policymaker, this conversation will deepen your understanding and reinvigorate your commitment to ending gender-based violence

Tune in and join us in championing community-led solutions and amplifying survivor voices.

Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your preferred platform.

Support our work: To continue sharing these crucial stories and advocating for change, we need your help. Your donations allow us to expand our reach, conduct more interviews, and push for policy change. Please consider donating today to amplify these important conversations.

In this special episode of Changing Narratives, we revisit the energy, urgency and solidarity at the Annual Walk to End FGM, hosted by the Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation in Washington, D.C.

Led by founder and activist Angela Peabody, the walk brings together survivors, advocates and allies to raise awareness, honor resilience and call for the elimination of FGM/C.

You'll hear from changemakers who were part of the event, including:

• Angela Peabody, Founder and President of Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation

• Isatou Jeng, our TTA Coordinator, who received the 2024 Survivor Activist Award and delivered a powerful speech

• Karen McDonnell, Ph.D., Associate Professor at GW Milken Institute School of Public Health

• Severina Lema, Sinnah Bangoura, and Julian & Arnold DeShield, who brought their powerful voices and perspectives to the movement

From personal reflections to collective momentum, this episode captures the spirit of the walk and the powerful message: we're not walking alone—we're walking for change.

To learn more about Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation, visit their website here.

Donate today to keep the movement strong and help us continue to share stories of resilience, innovation, and progress in the fight to end FGM/C.

What does it look like when a survivor leads a global youth movement to end female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C)?

In this bold and moving episode of Changing Narratives, we sit down with Dr. Costly Abosede Aderibigbe—medical doctor, FGM/C survivor and Executive Secretary of the Global Youth Consortium Against FGM. Costly's work spans over 50 countries, uniting young people to demand a future free from FGM/C—with the power of lived experience, medical expertise and radical hope.

We explore her journey from survival to global leadership, what it takes to dismantle harmful practices in the face of rising anti-rights agendas and how the next generation is rewriting the rules of resistance.

This is more than an interview—it's a testament to the unstoppable force of youth and the power of purpose.

Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your preferred platform.

Support our work: To continue sharing these crucial stories and advocating for change, we need your help. Your donations allow us to expand our reach, conduct more interviews, and push for policy change. Please consider donating today to amplify these important conversations.

In this episode of Changing Narratives, host Patricia Mars is joined by Mahnaz M. Harrison, founder of LastMile4D, to discuss the groundbreaking work being done to end FGM/C in Kenya. Mahnaz shares her journey into women's health and rights, the unique challenges of working in remote communities, and how LastMile4D is using innovative technology and local partnerships to drive meaningful change. Tune in to hear about the delicate balance between respecting traditions and pushing for progress, and the inspiring stories of resilience and transformation that fuel this vital work.

As you listen to these incredible insights, we invite you to support Changing Narratives and help amplify these conversations. Your donation ensures we can continue bringing important stories like Mahnaz's to the forefront, creating lasting change and empowering communities worldwide.

Donate today to keep the movement strong and help us continue to share stories of resilience, innovation, and progress in the fight to end FGM/C.

Learn more about LastMile4D by visiting their website. Have questions or want to connect with Mahnaz directly? You can email her at [email protected].

Please share this episode with your network—help us spread the word, raise awareness, and inspire others to take action against FGM/C!

In this episode of Changing Narratives, host Patricia Mars sits down with Athia Carrim, a leader in interfaith dialogue and a key figure in The FGM Taskforce of Greater Los Angeles Area. Together, they explore the intersection of faith, advocacy, and community-driven efforts in the movement to end FGM/C. Athia shares her journey of balancing cultural respect with advocacy, discusses how transformative shifts in religious communities are happening, and highlights the power of collaboration through the FGM Taskforce. With growing momentum in California toward building a state coalition, discover how these efforts are setting the stage for nationwide change.

As we continue amplifying these critical conversations, your support makes all the difference. Please consider donating to ensure we can keep bringing stories like Athia's to the forefront and help fuel the movement to end FGM/C.

Listen to the episode now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Share this episode with your network—help us raise awareness and inspire others to get involved.

Contact Athia Carrim directly at [email protected] to learn more about the work of The FGM Taskforce of Greater Los Angeles Area and how you can be part of the solution.

In this episode of Changing Narratives, we explore the unsettling yet vital issue of the "Husband Stitch"—a practice often dismissed as a myth but deeply harmful and invasive. Join Hunter Kessous, Medical Student at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and Dr. Raveen Syan, Urologist who specializes in pelvic floor disorders at the Desai Sethi Urology Institute, as they unpack this painful procedure, its connection to FGM/C, and its profound implications on women's health and informed consent.

Hunter dives into the powerful stories of women who've endured the "Husband Stitch" and how their experiences are shaping public awareness and medical education. Dr. Syan explains the ethical challenges this practice presents and the lack of research that's left many affected women without adequate care or treatment options. Together, they examine how healthcare providers can rebuild trust and advocate for better postnatal care.

The "Husband Stitch" is not just a medical issue—it's a human rights issue. Tune in to hear how this research is challenging societal and medical norms, pushing for change in policy, and empowering women to reclaim their voices.

Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your preferred platform.

Support our work: To continue sharing these crucial stories and advocating for change, we need your help. Your donations allow us to expand our reach, conduct more interviews, and push for policy change. Please consider donating today to amplify these important conversations.

Share this episode with your network to raise awareness about the "Husband Stitch" and its connection to FGM/C. The more people who hear these stories, the closer we get to a world where these practices are eradicated.

Contact Hunter: If you'd like to learn more about their research or explore ways to get involved, feel free to reach out to Hunter at [email protected]. Hunter has also written a compelling blog post on this topic titled "The Husband Stitch as anUnderrecognized Form of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting". We encourage you to read it.

Dr. Syan also mentioned a great resource for pelvic health information and support—Apta Pelvic Health. We encourage you to explore their website for more on improving women's pelvic health and well-being.

Join us in changing the narrative and pushing for a world where women's voices and rights are always respected.

In this episode of Changing Narratives, we explore how Washington State is addressing FGM/C head-on, turning local advocacy into meaningful policy change. Join Absa Samba, a leader behind the passing of Washington's anti-FGM/C law, and Carolyn House-Higgins, the Gender-Based Violence Prevention Program Manager at the Department of Health, as they discuss the intersection of policy, community action, and survivor support.

Absa reflects on the years of grassroots advocacy and political strategy that were necessary to pass this law, while Carolyn offers a unique perspective on how state agencies are working to turn legislation into real support for survivors. Together, they highlight why FGM/C is not just a "foreign" issue, but a real and urgent problem here in the U.S.

Throughout this episode, you'll hear about the powerful partnerships between community leaders and state agencies, and the lessons that can guide other states seeking to make similar changes. Absa and Carolyn also provide a roadmap for the future of FGM/C prevention and survivor support, and offer tangible ways for listeners to get involved and keep the momentum going.

This conversation is more than just an exploration of a law—it's a call to action. FGM/C is a human rights issue that affects women everywhere, and it's time to recognize its presence in our own communities.

Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your preferred platform.

Support our work: These conversations are crucial to raising awareness and pushing for meaningful change. To continue sharing these powerful stories, we need your support. Your donations help us expand our reach, conduct more interviews, and advocate for stronger policies. Please consider donating today to help us amplify these voices and keep the momentum moving forward.

Share this episode with your network to raise awareness about the importance of state-level advocacy, community-driven efforts, and how each of us can contribute to eradicating FGM/C in the U.S.

Contact Absa and Carolyn: To learn more about the work of The Washington State Coalition to End FGM/C, click here. You can email Carolyn directly at [email protected].

Episode 1: Welcome to "Changing Narratives"

In this debut episode of Changing Narratives, host Patricia Mars sits down with the Director of The U.S. End FGM/C Network, Caitlin LeMay, to share the inspiration behind the podcast, what listeners can expect from this transformative series and the goals driving this project. Together, they discuss the importance of amplifying survivor voices, fostering collaboration and taking collective action to end FGM/C.

This episode sets the tone for the series, offering a glimpse into the thought and heart behind Changing Narratives. Whether you're new to this issue or already an advocate, this introduction will leave you inspired to join the movement.

🎙️ Tune in now and be part of the change. 👉 Support our work: Your donation helps amplify these critical conversations and drive action to end FGM/C. Visit this link to contribute today.