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.

Paul O’Brien is the Executive Director at Amnesty International USA.  Over his career, he has done human rights research and advocacy in more than 50 countries, including most recently, Mexico, Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank.  He lived for 10 years in Africa, working for local and international organizations, and for 5 years in Afghanistan, where he served as an advisor to the President. Before Amnesty, Paul co-led Oxfam’s advocacy efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic and led Oxfam America’s advocacy with the US government. He is the author of Power Switch: How We Can Reverse Extreme Inequality.

This month, Paul and I are in conversation about the current state of human rights. Enjoy our conversation.

You can follow Paul on X @dpaulobrien

Leslie T. Chang has written about women in the developing world for two decades. Her reporting method is to immerse herself in the daily lives of ordinary women to find stories that are often unknown to the outside world.

Leslie lived in China for a decade as a correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, focusing on stories that explored how socioeconomic change was transforming institutions and individuals.

In 2011, Leslie moved to Cairo, Egypt, where she explored the lives of the country's working women. Her new book, Egyptian Made: Women, Work, and the Promise of Liberation, follows three women who work in Egypt’s garment industry. Alongside these stories, Leslie shares her own experiences living in the country for five years.

It was an honor to have Leslie on the podcast this month. You can buy her new book here: https://www.amazon.com/Egyptian-Made-Women-Promise-Liberation-ebook/dp/B0BL77GSW6