More to Her Story: The Podcast

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

Today on the podcast, I'm joined by the incredible Bellamy Young. Many of you know her as the formidable Mellie Grant from the series Scandal, but beyond the screen, she's a passionate advocate for global humanitarian efforts. 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.

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

Prince Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein is a Jordanian former diplomat and the President and CEO of the International Peace Institute. He is the Perry World House Professor of the Practice of Law and Human Rights at the University of Pennsylvania and served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2014-2018. Zeid is a member of The Elders, an independent group of world leaders and human rights advocates brought together by Nelson Mandela in 2007. You can follow him on X @Raad_Zeid and you can follow the International Peace Institute @ipinst

Masuma Ahuja is a journalist who calls three countries home and reports on people, power, and politics worldwide. Her work focuses primarily on women's and girls' lives. She is currently the Head of Freeda UK; previously, she worked at CNN and the Washington Post. She also spent years freelancing, reporting on women's and girls' lives worldwide for places like the BBC, The Washington Post's The Lily, and Vice. Her debut book, Girlhood, published in 2021, depicts the everyday lives of girls around the world. You can follow Masuma on Instagram and X @masumaahuja

24-year-old Shereen Sabbah from Gaza shares audio diaries for More to Her Story.

Natashya Gutierrez is the President of Rappler, the Phillippine's leading digital news company. She is the former Editor-in-Chief of VICE Asia-Pacific. She has spent more than a decade leading newsrooms and covering women's rights, politics, and disinformation with a focus on Asia. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter @natashya_g

Jane Ferguson is an Irish-British journalist, special correspondent for PBS NewsHour, and contributor to The New Yorker. Jane has reported from warzones across the world, with a particular focus on the Middle East. She is a Visiting Lecturer at Princeton University and recently published author of the memoir No Ordinary Assignment. It was an honor to have Jane on the show. You can follow Jane on Instagram @janieferg and Twitter @JaneFerguson5

Shudufhadzo Musida is a South African model and activist who was crowned Miss South Africa 2020. She is a dedicated advocate and spokeswoman for mental health awareness and women's rights and was recently appointed a regional champion for the United Nations Sexual and Reproductive Health Agency. Follow Shudu on Instagram @ShudufhadzoMusida or Twitter @abigailmusida

Isobel Yeung is an Emmy-award-winning long-form documentary correspondent. She has covered a wide variety of stories concerning major global issues such as world conflicts, the criminal justice system, women's rights, mental health, and sexual consent. In this episode, we dive deep into life in and out of the field, the current state of women's rights in Afghanistan, and other things. I appreciated Isobel's openness and honesty about how challenging this job can be and the incredible rewards. You can follow Isobel on Instagram @IzYeung or Twitter @IsobelYeung.

Rothna Begum is the Senior Women's Rights Researcher at Human Rights Watch, focusing on discrimination and violence against women and girls in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. She has conducted research and advocacy on the abuse and exploitation of migrant domestic workers, domestic violence against women and girls, child marriage, sexual violence in conflict, discriminatory family laws, and male guardianship policies. Rothna previously worked for Amnesty International, where she researched a wide range of human rights violations in the Gulf states. You can follow Rothna on Twitter @Rothna_Begum

Chanel Contos has sparked an international movement that has led to mandating consent education in every school across Australia. The 24-year-old founded Teach Us Consent, a petition for consent to be included in Australian schools' sex education. Chanel is on the BBC's list of 100 influential and inspiring women of 2022, and her book on consent will be coming out later this year. I was honored to have her on the show this month.

Mary Robinson served as the first woman President of Ireland. She also served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Climate Change. She is a founding member and current Chair of The Elders, an independent group of global leaders formed by Nelson Mandela to tackle the world's most pressing problems. This International Women's Day, it was an honor to have Mary on the show.

In September 2022, a young woman named Mahsa Amini died in the custody of Iran's “morality” police. Her death sparked nationwide protests across Iran, what many have called a revolution — a revolution led by women demanding their basic rights. Today, I'm in conversation with two of those women. Mahsa, also known as @Moonitor, and Elnaz Sarbar Boczek, are two courageous Iranian women who have been using their platforms to speak about women's rights and human rights abuses in their country. Follow Mahsa and Elnaz on Twitter @Moonitor & @Elishkaa

Nicholas Kristof is one of the most well-known journalists and vital voices of our time. A winner of two Pulitzer Prizes, he wrote an op-ed column for The New York Times from 2001 to 2021 - and returned to the Times in August of 2022. According to The Washington Post, Nick "rewrote opinion journalism" with his emphasis on human rights abuses and social injustices globally. He's been called everything from the conscience of international journalism to the Indiana Jones of journalism. Nick is not only an incredible journalist and thought leader of our time, but he's also an advocate for the rights of women and girls worldwide. In 2009, he co-authored the No. 1 bestselling book Half the Sky with his wife, Sheryl, which digs deep into systemic gender inequity and has been hailed by many as a wake-up call to the realities and injustices women and girls face globally. I was so grateful for the opportunity to speak with Nick. In this conversation, we cover everything from today's polarized cultural climate to the fundamentals of storytelling to the most pressing issues facing women and girls today. You can follow Nick on Twitter and Instagram @NickKristof

Anna Fratsyvir was studying journalism at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv when her life - as millions of other Ukrainians' lives - changed overnight. Now, Anna uses her platform as a Young European Ambassador to educate others around the world on what is happening in her country. Today, we're in conversation about what life looks like seven months after Russia invaded Ukraine. You can follow Anna on Instagram: @annafratsyvir

Clarissa Ward is CNN's Chief International Correspondent. She has spent nearly two decades reporting from front lines around the world, from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Yemen to Ukraine. She is the author of 'On All Fronts: The Education of a Journalist' and hosts the podcast series from CNN, Tug of War. In this episode, we discuss what it means to be a human being before a journalist, the ongoing conflict in Syria, how Clarissa copes with the aftermath of her job, and more. Clarissa is an inspiration to millions of people around the globe, and I was honored to sit down with her for this episode. You can follow her on Twitter @ClarissaWard or Instagram @ClarissaWardCNN

Eliza Anyangwe is editor of CNN's As Equals, an award-winning series that aims to explore systemic gender inequality around the world. She has spent more than a decade in media, including at The Guardian and Bureau of Investigative Journalism. In 2016, Eliza founded The Nzinga Effect, a media project focused on telling the stories of African and Afro-descendant women. Eliza is a storyteller and advocate for women and girls worldwide; above all, she wants to change who tells which stories. You can follow Eliza on Twitter @ElizaTalks

Yalda Hakim is one of the most well-known faces in broadcast news today. As BBC World News' Chief International Correspondent, she anchors the flagship program 'Impact with Yalda Hakim' on BBC World News. She is an award-winning foreign correspondent and documentary filmmaker who was raised in Australia and has roots in Afghanistan. In 2018, Yalda launched the Yalda Hakim Foundation, which supports the professional advancement of Afghan students. She is an advocate for the rights of Afghan women and girls, and in this episode, shares her take on the current state of Afghanistan, building bridges in a divided world, and what it means to be a global leader and journalist today. You can follow Yalda @BBCYaldaHakim and support her foundation's work www.yaldahakimfoundation.org

Merissa Khurma is the program director of the Middle East Program at the Wilson Center. She was a non-resident fellow in the International Security Program at New America. Merissa served as director of the Office of Jordan's Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein and as press attaché and director of the Information Bureau at the Embassy of Jordan in Washington, D.C. Merissa has worked in a range of roles relating to foreign policy, international security and gender equality across the Middle East and North Africa. In today's conversation, we discuss some of the pressing challenges facing women and girls in the MENA region, among other things. You can follow Merissa on Twitter @MerissaKhurma or Instagram @Merissa_Khurma You can follow The Wilson Center at @TheWilsonCenter

Christy Anastas is a Palestinian-Christian born and raised against the backdrop of one of the world's most enduring conflicts. Despite the odds stacked against her, Christy has chosen to look beyond the "walls" of war to seek a better future. I was honored to speak with her on today's show.

Laurie Adams is the CEO of Women for Women International, a leading global organization dedicated to working with women survivors of war and conflict. With over 25 years of experience working in international development and human rights, Laurie is a global leader and gender rights advocate. In today's episode, we discuss Laurie's upbringing and role in the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, what it's like to lead a global human rights organization, and the current state of women's rights in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, among other things. You can follow Laurie on Twitter and Instagram @laurelannadams @womenforwomen

Linda Kay Klein is the founder and president of Break Free Together, a nonprofit storytelling organization dedicated to helping people - particularly young women - release shame from so-called "purity" culture. Her work was born out of 16 years of research for her award-winning book, Pure: Inside the Evangelical Movement that Shamed a Generation of Young Women and How I Broke Free. Linda has spoken around the world from the TEDx stage to The Apollo's Women of the World Festival. Her work has been featured by the New York Times, NPR, CBS, NBC, Elle Magazine, and 150 other outlets.  You can follow Linda on Twitter @LindaKayKlein and order her latest book at lindakayklein.com/pure

Afrah Nasser is a multi award-winning journalist and blogger from Yemen, currently living in forced exile in Sweden. In 2017, Afrah won the Committee to Protect Journalists' International Press Freedom Award. She has been named by BBC as one of the "100 Women Who Have Changed the World," and has been featured three times as one of the 100 Most Influential Arabs by Arabian Business Magazine. Afrah's blog, created during Yemen's 2011 Arab Spring uprising, has won her the recognition of CNN and Al-Monitor as one of the most influential blogs in the Middle East. 
Afrah is currently the primary researcher on Yemen at Human Rights Watch.

Tania Rashid is an award-winning correspondent and producer. She has freelanced for networks like Al Jazeera, CNN, PBS Newshour, NBC News, National Geographic, and VICE. Tania is passionate about exploring issues often overlooked by mainstream media, especially pertaining to women around the world. She is a fellow at The International Women's Media Foundation. In this episode, Tania shares practical advice for young, aspiring journalists on the process of pitching, writing, and producing a documentary, as well as what a post-pandemic world in broadcast journalism looks like. You can follow Tania on Instagram @taniarashid or Twitter @taniarashid9

Aija Mayrock is a bestselling poet, author, and More to Her Story ambassador. She has spoken to over four million people nationwide on bullying, mental health, and female empowerment. Aija was named a Today Show’s Hero of 2018. Her work has been published and featured on Good Morning America, The View, Forbes, Huffington Post, Variety, Teen Vogue, Buzzfeed, Refinery 29, People Magazine, and Seventeen Magazine, among others.   Aija's debut poetry book Dear Girl was released in September 2020. In honor of this International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, I’m in conversation with Aija about how to love and show up for yourself better. You can follow Aija on Instagram @aijamayrock

This Valentine's Day, I'm in conversation with Aria Mustary, the 21-year-old founder and President of Mai Soli Foundation, an organization that aims to break the cycle of child marriage in developing countries, especially Bangladesh. Aria's on a mission to end child marriage and see girls rise beyond the confines society has placed on them. You can follow Aria at @ariamustary & @maisolifoundation on Instagram

Kristina Lunz is the co-founder and co-Executive Director of The Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy, a research and advocacy organization encouraging a feminist approach to foreign policy. In 2019, Kristina was named a Forbes 30 Under 30 in Europe. She is also an Ashoka Fellow and a Gates Foundation SDG's Goalkeeper. She has been published on issues relating to feminist foreign policy, violent extremism and the inclusivity of the Colombian peace process for the United Nations Association of Germany. Kristina is a fearless leader in the movement for gender equality, and shares her journey of coming to be one. You can follow her work on IG @kristina_lunz @feministforeignpolicy

Mohsin Mohi Ud Din is an artist, activist, and the founder and CEO of #MeWe International, which works to enable vulnerable communities to reframe the stories they tell themselves about themselves. #MeWe integrates therapeutic frameworks to focus on self-awareness, trauma recovery, and restoration of control and agency in a context of perceived powerlessness. #MeWe's programs have supported more than 5,000 youth and caregivers across 15+ countries. In 2017, Mohsin was awarded 'Solver' at the United Nations for Solve MIT's innovation competition. And in 2018, Mohsin gave a TEDx talk on the process and importance of storytelling to promote agency in young people. In this episode, Mohsin talks candidly about his own journey of faith, fear, and what it takes to start your own venture as a young person. To keep up with #MeWe and their amazing work, follow them on IG: @meweinternational

Manar Amro is a former Youth Program Director in Zaatari Refugee Camp in Jordan and fierce gender equality advocate. Manar truly embodies power and strength, and she is one of the biggest reasons why I do what I do today. I hope you join us for this enlightening and personal conversation about navigating feminism, faith, and patriarchy.

Maeve Patterson currently serves as head of communications at the UN Refugee Agency in Brussels. Before working at UNHCR, Maeve served as the head of communications and media at Amnesty International Europe. She is a fierce advocate for refugees and someone who I personally look up to in many ways. Join us for this enlightening conversation about the importance of protecting the rights of refugees and girls around the world, as well as how to jumpstart your career in humanitarian aid and foreign policy.

Reem El-Attar is an artist and activist who uses her digital artwork to promote women's rights in the Middle East and worldwide. Reem is a contributor to Vice Arabia and uses her platform to empower women and girls to take control of their lives, despite where they come from or what they've been told. In this episode, on International Day of the Girl, Reem and I discuss the challenges girls face all over the world, and specifically in the Middle East. Reem wants her art to raise awareness and help amplify these stories and voices to a larger world.

Welcome to the More to Her Story Podcast! My name is Sarah and I'm so excited you're here. Every couple of weeks, prepare to hear from incredible thought leaders and trailblazers. From leaders at the UN to girls who are living in refugee camps in Kenya and Jordan, I will speak to those who are breaking glass ceilings and challenging the status quo. This episode will give you broader insight into why I've decided to start this podcast and the "more" to my story. Thanks so much for listening and see you inside.