This episode features Christian author and advocate Bri Stensrud, who opens up about her work with Women of Welcome and the courage it takes to build bridges of understanding in a time of political and national division.

Mo Ogrodnik is an NYU Professor who served as the associate dean of the arts for NYU in Abu Dhabi. She is the author of GULF, a novel tracing the intertwined journeys of five women—from the Philippines, Ethiopia, and New York City—whose lives converge in the Arabian Gulf with both devastating and transformative consequences.

Yasmeen Hassan is a prominent Pakistani-American lawyer and women’s rights advocate who served as Global Executive Director of Equality Now.

Leyla Hussein is a Somali-British psychotherapist, activist, and survivor of female genital mutilation. She is the founder of The Dahlia Project, the UK’s first therapeutic support service dedicated to survivors of FGM. She’s also a dear friend, and I am grateful to have her as this month’s guest on the show.

As part of our In Focus series, we examine the impact of U.S. global aid cuts on women and girls around the world.

In our In Focus series, we investigate the use of mass sexual violence as a weapon of war in Sudan.

Executive Producer: Francesca Gilardi Quadrio Curzio

Sound Design: Andrija Klaric

Many of you know Bellamy Young as Mellie Grant from the series Scandal, but beyond the screen, she’s a passionate advocate for global humanitarian issues. As an ambassador for CARE, Bellamy has been deeply involved in advocating for women and girls worldwide, using her platform to amplify stories that often go unheard. Today, she joins More to Her Story: The Podcast.

Michelle Nunn leads more than 8,000 people working in 121 countries to save lives, defeat poverty, and achieve social justice. In her nine years as President and CEO of CARE, the organization has impacted more than 53 million people around the world. In this conversation, Michelle and I discuss some of the most pressing challenges facing women and girls today, and what CARE is doing to tackle gender-based violence in conflict and beyond.

Melissa Fleming is the Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications at the United Nations. Previously, she served as the Head of Communications and Chief Spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency. Melissa is the author of A Hope More Powerful than the Sea and host of the podcast Awake at Night. This month, we delve into what it takes to be the UN’s Chief Communicator at a time of rising global conflicts and backsliding women’s rights.

Mary Maker is a South Sudanese refugee and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Goodwill Ambassador. She is also an actress, a fashion lover, and a writer. After fleeing her war-torn country as a child, Mary found safety at the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, where she was able to attend school. Today, Mary is a champion for girls’ education as a vital tool for rebuilding lives and empowering a generation of girls who are too often denied access to the classroom. Mary is a friend and a powerful voice, and today, we dug a bit deeper into her story.

You can follow Mary on Instagram @marymaker_43

Yasmine Mohammed is a Canadian human rights activist and author of Egyptian and Palestinian descent. Yasmine escaped from a forced, abusive marriage to an Al-Qaeda operative and became an advocate for women's rights through her non-profit organization Free Hearts, Free Minds. She is the author of Unveiled: How Western Liberals Empower Radical Islam. In this episode, Yasmine shares her remarkable story and unique perspective with the world.

Trigger Warning: Mention of violence against women.