The Story Exchange

The year was 1994. "Friends" had just premiered, Bill Clinton was president, and online dating – if it happened at all – was a sketchy proposition. A startup called Match.com was trying to persuade the romantically inclined that the World Wide Web (as it was then known) was a hot spot to meet potential mates. Fran Maier, who had a background in marketing, joined Match.com to bring a woman's perspective to the burgeoning field. Her first decision? Nix the question about body weight. Listen to our conversation, where she talks about the highs and lows of building Internet companies over the past three decades -- and the big mistake she made with Match.com, that she'd like other women entrepreneurs to learn from. She's currently the CEO of BabyQuip.com, a baby gear rental platform.

In 2003, a deadly heat wave hit Paris, causing the death of over 15,000 people. It was one of the first weather events where scientists could use data to show climate change was to blame. Since that time, we've seen an increasing number of deadly natural disasters, from Hurricane Katrina to Hurricane Harvey, to the 2018 California wildfires, all irrefutably linked to climate change. In this episode, we talk to the activists who say not enough is being done by politicians and big corporations to slow down the warming. We follow Marlena Fontes of Climate Families NYC to this year's "Summer of Heat" protests, where she is arrested. She was galvanized into action five years ago, by a heat wave that hit New York City right as her son was born. "It was definitely part of my postpartum experience, looking at my baby and then thinking about what was happening in the world," she says. And we hear from protestors including legendary actress Jane Fonda, who wants justice. "We have to fight," Fonda says. "If enough of us fight, we're going to win."Lastly, we look at the upcoming U.S. presidential election and how the candidates plan to address (or not address) climate change.

On Aug. 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina tore into the Gulf Coast with gusting winds of 175 miles per hour – and a storm surge of 26 feet. Lisa Dyson, who had spent her childhood summers near New Orleans, had just earned her PhD from MIT when the news broke. After witnessing the devastation, she was motivated to dedicate her scientific career to working on solutions to the climate crisis. Dyson is now the founder of Air Protein, a startup (with $100 million in backing) that makes nutrient-dense food in a lab setting. She takes us on a tour of her Oakland, California, facility. We also speak with meteorologist Bernadette Woods Placky of Climate Central, who tells us why, exactly, extreme weather is happening more. "We have to speed up the solutions and slow down the warming," she says. "Our future really isn't determined yet."

Menopause is having a moment on social media -- and it's about damn time. We talk to the hugely popular Dr. Mary Claire Haver, a board-certified OB-GYN and nutritionist, about the lack of adequate care and attention for older women's health needs. And we ask Haver, founder of the Galveston Diet and ThePauseLife.com, about her surprising rise to TikTok fame.

It's been two years since the Taliban took back control of Afghanistan. We talk to women -- some who fled, some who stayed back -- about what life is like now. Many of the women expressed frustration that the media often portrays them as victims when they see themselves as fighters. While the Taliban seeks to erase them from public life, we want to give them a platform to speak their minds. These women want you to know: There is still hope in all the fear, and glimmers of defiance in the midst of brutal oppression. These are stories of Afghan women like you haven't heard before.

It's been two years since the Taliban took back control of Afghanistan. We talk to women -- some who fled, some who stayed back -- about what life is like now. Many of the women expressed frustration that the media often portrays them as victims when they see themselves as fighters. While the Taliban seeks to erase them from public life, we want to give them a platform to speak their minds. These women want you to know: There is still hope in all the fear, and glimmers of defiance in the midst of brutal oppression. These are stories of Afghan women like you haven't heard before.

Did you know that crickets are considered a "perfect" protein -- and that eating insects could help save the planet? We talk to Claire Simons of 3 Cricketeers, a Minneapolis cricket farm that supplies edible insects to restaurants, food companies and consumers. While there is still an "ick factor," Claire says more people are interested in trying crickets, which can be raised far more sustainably than other sources of protein, particularly beef. Not only do cricket farms require a fraction of the land, feed and water, but the insects themselves emit virtually no greenhouse gas, a big contributor to climate change. In this episode, hosts Colleen DeBaise and Sue Williams sample chocolate-covered crickets and interview Claire about her inspiring statup story.

Crack open a can with us and listen while we share the story of Jacquie Berglund, who sarted Finnegans back in 2000 as the first beer company in the world – that we know about – to donate 100 percent of its profits to charity. We love women entrepreneurs who give back, and she is a great example of how one person can make an incredible difference in this world. Proceeds from Finnegans go to the Food Group and fight hunger and food insecurity.

The little girl who grew up in the public housing projects of New York City becomes an urban farmer, helping establish community gardens around the city and founding Rise & Root farm for the BIPOC community in Hudson Valley. Listen to the remarkable tale of Karen Washington, who fans and food activists now refer to as "Mama K." We share the poignant moments of her long and illustrious career.

Come with us to Winslow Farm in Massachusetts, where owner Debra White runs a tranquil animal sanctuary that also happens to double as a place of healing for people, too. Hear Debra's inspiring story, starting from when her father was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease when she was a young child and she needed to be his hands and voice. Today, visitors come to Winslow Farm to spend time with the horses, llamas and even an African tortoise named George.

We feature the story of BioNTech's Kati Kariko, who may just win the Nobel Prize for her heroic effects despite years of setbacks. The podcast includes the song "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," written by Eddie Schwartz, published by Round Hill Music and performed by Pat Benatar.

We sit down with three female founders who are running AI startups -- and they tell us exactly what it's like to be a woman in artificial intelligence. "Nobody took us seriously, not a single person," says Davar Ardalan, founder of IVOW, who has been rejected by investors 350 times. "It's incredibly demeaning."  At a time when billions of dollars are going into AI startups, and the pandemic has caused a digital transformation in nearly every industry, it could not be more important to get women and people of color involved in AI so their perspectives can inform technology. But bias and sexism and racism in the AI field persist.  We share these women's stories in an effort to raise awareness of the obstacles faced by women in AI. But at the same time, we also want to encourage women and girls to chase their startup dreams, especially in such a game-changing industry. Guests include Ardalan; Sheffie Robinson, of Shamrock Education; and Carolyn Rodz, of Hello Alice. The episode features music created by women in AI, including Taryn Southern and Holly Herndon. 

Horse lover Lynn Hummer was horrified to learn that that thousands of unwanted horses, including healthy trail horses and former racehorses, are sent each year to auction houses, where “kill buyers” purchase them. In 2005, she went online to buy a pregnant pony -- saving the animal from the slaughter house -- and experienced firsthand the magic of its foal being born. After that, Lynn created Pregnant Mare Rescue to save as many horses and their babies as she could. Come with us on a virtual journey to Lynn's ranchette in Central California to learn more about her inspiring work. If you love horses, this is a podcast for you. Read more of Lynn's story here: https://thestoryexchange.org/baby-horses-pregnant-mare-rescue-lynn-hummer/ 

Named "Best Audio Feature" by the Newswomen's Club of New York! Listen to the 30-second trailer for 100 Years of Power, then check out Episodes 1, 2 and 3. From the judges: "This incredibly well-produced series shed new light on the history of the suffrage movement while tying it powerfully to the present day and how far we still have to go. The hosts were a delight to listen to and did a fantastic job interviewing guests to tease out the best details. The final product was jam-packed with voices and historic audio clips that kept the stories moving. Very well done!" We're proud to share the story of the strong women who fought, and the strong women who are still fighting. Give it a listen.  

In the conclusion to our 3-part series, we question: Is the future really female? As we head into a fierce presidential election, in a nation roiled by a pandemic and protests over police brutality, we look at the role women are playing as candidates and voters. Our guests include Kelly Dittmar of the Center for American Women and Politics; Joanna Weiss of Women for American Values and Ethics; author Molly Ball of the new "Pelosi" biography; Ronnee Schreiber of San Diego State University; and Glynda Carr of Higher Heights.

We spend this episode looking at what happened after women got the vote. If you missed Part 1, check it out -- we looked at the long years leading up to 1920. But in Part 2, we take you on a journey through history, from the Roaring Twenties through the Great Depression, through the Civil Rights Era, to Women's Lib in the '60s and '70s, all the way up to the early 2000s. Suffrage didn't change everything overnight...it was more like a slow burn. Our guests include Susan Ware, a historian focused on feminism; Gina Luria Walker, professor of Women's Studies at the New School in New York, and Nell Merlino, creator of Take Your Daughters to Work Day with Gloria Steinem at the Ms. Foundation.

72 years. That's how long it took for women to win the right to vote, after suffragists first rallied at the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention. The battle was long, heart-felt, and sometimes bitter -- with a surprising split over race issues after the Civil War ended. The 19th Amendment was finally ratified on August 18, 1920, in the wake of the Spanish Flu Pandemic. 100 years later, the war for equality is still being fought -- making the history explored in this podcast more important than ever. Ellen DuBois, author of Suffrage: Women's Long Battle for the Vote, joins reporter Victoria Flexner to answer this question: How did getting the vote in 1920 change women's ability to wield power in America?

100 years ago this August, women finally won the right to vote . Coming soon, The Story Exchange will explore the bruising battle for suffrage, the women who took up the fight, the women who are still fighting. These are the stories that history often forgets. We haven't. In the 3-part-series "100 Years of Power," we'll take a how the 19th Amendment challenged basically every aspect of existence as people knew it -- and started a fire that is still burning. Music credit: Madame Gandhi, The Future Is Female.

Here's one good use for plastic: Medical devices. At UMass-Lowell, plastics engineer Erin Keaney decided to re-imagine the artificial limb after learning that much of the world's amputees couldn't afford high-cost prosthetics. In this inspiring podcast, listen to how 29-year-old Keaney has developed a patented prosthetic that is changing amputees' lives in India, Rwanda and the Philippines. She and classmate Jonathan de Alderete have raised $1 million for Nonspec.

"In every kitchen in the country," says Paty Funegra, "you are going to find Latinos." But too few programs help newly arrived immigrants learn food or language skills. Listen to how Paty, who was born in Lima, Peru, came to the United States and decided to start a program, La Cocina VA, to help her fellow immigrants land jobs in the restaurant industry. We spoke with Paty not long after the El Paso shootings targeted Hispanics. This inspiring podcast story works like a salve against the disheartening crush of stories about immigrants, and showcases their resilience and entrepreneurial spirit.

One night, Dr. Laura Stachel was doing a Ceasarean section when she felt a searing pain go down her back. Diagnosed with degenerating discs, Stachel was forced to give up her work as an OB-GYN and decided instead to study public health. On a research trip to Nigeria, she witnessed shocking conditions at a maternity ward, largely because of the lack of reliable electricity. In response, she invented a "solar suitcase" which has lit millions of births all over the world. Listen to her inspiring story.

Dianne Berkun Menaker was once a music teacher at a prestigious school in Brooklyn when she noticed something: children's choruses were almost entirely white. That didn't sit right with her. She set about creating a chorus that better represented the community -- and in the process, created a Grammy-winning choir that sings alongside musical greats like David Byrne and Barbra Streisand while also helping kids voice the issues that matter to them most. Listen to how Brooklyn Youth Chorus got its start.

If you are worried about toxic chemicals in food, then this is the podcast for you. We head to Davis, California, to speak with Pam Marrone, the founder of natural pest control company Marrone Bio Innovations. She helps farmers use alternatives to harsh chemicals -- it's a rapidly growing sector called "biologicals." Pam is an entomologist by training and her early love for all things nature started in her mom's Connecticut garden. Now she runs a publicly traded company that makes millions of dollars -- and is helping farmers raise crops in an organic, sustainable way.

Our thanks to the Newswomen's Club of New York for honoring us with a Front Page award for this podcast on Norine Hill of Mother Nation. Native women face disproportionately high rates of sexual violence, domestic abuse — even murder. The Justice Department estimates that 1 in 3 Native women will be raped. Part of the problem is that tribes are restricted in their ability to prosecute, so abusers and predators are attracted to these unprotected women. In Seattle, Norine Hill, who is a member of the Oneida Nation of the Thames, has founded Mother Nation to help women out of abusive situations and bring them culturally appropriate services so they can rediscover their strength. In this incredibly powerful podcast, we explore some of the historical injustices inflicted on Native Americans, while also sharing Hill's dramatic personal tale that led her to found Mother Nation.

Once upon a time, Sherri Franklin was a successful (but uninspired) hairstylist in San Francisco To find purpose in life, she began volunteering at the SPCA...and an old dog named Heidi captured her heart. Today, Franklin runs Muttville, a $4 million social enterprise that specializes in rescuing senior dogs. Research shows that old dogs over 7 are often considered “unadoptable” and put down even if they are in good health with friendly personalities. Franklin is committed to changing that statistic. In this inspiring podcast, learn how she basically changed everything in her life to make an impact in this world,

There is so much trauma in the world today, and children in particular are grappling with stress and anxiety produced by everything from school shootings and natural disasters, to domestic violence and terrorist attacks. Steffanie Lorig came up with a suprisingly simple way to help kids cope: An activity book created by artists that's filled with coloring books, games, jokes and puzzles. For over two decades, her organization Art With Heart has used activity books and art workshops to help kids heal, including children impacted by 9/11 and the Sandy Hook school shooting. In this podcast, Steffanie talks about how she founded Art With Heart and how she passed the torch to a new successor, Heidi Durham.

We hear plenty of talk about "build the wall." We hear much less about why caravans of migrants are leaving Central America to come to the United States. In this podcast, we talk to Kate Curran of School the World, a Boston-based social entrepreneur who is going to the heart of the crisis and trying to make life better for families in Guatemala and Honduras. Her organization builds schoolhouses in Central American villages where illiteracy rates are high and poverty is rampant. If you want to be inspired about how one person can make a difference, give this podcast a listen.

We talk to Kristy Allen, a beekeeper who turned her love and concern for honeybees into the thriving Minneapolis business The Beez Kneez. She maintains hives, sells honey, and teaches intensive beekeeping classes to the tune of $200,000 a year, all while maintaining environmentally sustainable practices. Allen is an advocate for honeybees, whose numbers have dwindled in recent years due to mites, pesticides and the overuse of monoculture farming. Learn more in this buzzy podcast.

After a stint in the U.S., molecular biologist Rana Dajani returned to Jordan and noticed children didn't read for pleasure. "It's not a habit," she says. The literacy rate is high -- everybody knows how to read and write -- but nobody was opening a book for the simple joy of it. And that's problem, says Dajani, who studied the science behind it and found a surprising connection between reading and happiness. When a parent or a caregiver reads aloud to a child, the neurons in the brain start figuring out “hey this reading stuff is very soothing.” As a result, people read books when they are happy or sad or stressed because it floods them with good feelings. Her social enterprise, We Love Reading, teaches volunteers to read aloud to children, encouraging the habit at a young age. Reading is also associated with better vocabulary and empathy, which decreases violent behavior.

Celeste Mergens was shocked when she learned that girls at a Kenya orphanage were forced to stay in their rooms and sit on cardboard when they had their periods. So she created Days for Girls, a nonprofit that provides reusable sanitary products and health education to girls and women worldwide. Mergens' organization has gotten a recent boost from Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, who has led her own campaign to destigmatize menstruation. For Mergens, the work has special significance. She herself comes from difficult circumstances, and was raped at age 7. In Africa, she was horrified to learn that girls at the orphanage were sometimes sexually abused in exchange for disposable pads. Through Days for Girls, she wants to change "the price they were paying for our silence around menstruation."

Native women face disproportionately high rates of sexual violence, domestic abuse -- even murder. The Justice Department estimates that 1 in 3 Native women will be raped. Part of the problem is that tribes are restricted in their ability to prosecute, so abusers and predators are attracted to these unprotected women. In Seattle, Norine Hill, who is a member of the Oneida Nation of the Thames, has founded Mother Nation to help women out of abusive situations and bring them culturally appropriate services so they can rediscover their strength. In this incredibly powerful podcast, we explore some of the historical injustices inflicted on Native Americans, while also sharing Hill's dramatic personal tale that led her to found Mother Nation.

The average student graduates with $37,000 in debt. Kelly Peeler of NextGenVest has developed a text-based platform to educate Generation Z on the perils of student loans, before they become saddled by a crushing amount of debt.

Jennifer Bolstad is trying to prevent Rockaway Beach in Queens, N.Y., from sinking into the Atlantic Ocean. She's a landscape architect whose firm, Local Office Landscape and Urban Design, helps coastal communities cope with rising sea levels.

Most abortion care in the U.S. is provided by independently owned clinics, not big health centers like Planned Parenthood. Amy Hagstrom Miller of Whole Woman's Health is on a mission to make abortions safe and stigma-free. The journey has taken her to the Supreme Court.

A girl's self-confidence peaks when she's 9 years old. Ret. Lieutenant Colonal Dianna Flett is using her military training to run leadership workshops, dubbed Girl Smarts, for girls in 4th and 5th grades.

The women behind U Konserve and My Sister's Closet are doing their part to minimize waste and protect the environment.

Angie Lozano started Angie's House to give people in need a place to lay their head at night — and reminded us all that just one person can make a real difference.

Chelsea Harden's horses create magical spaces where kids with special needs can connect and learn. Hear how she manages the unusual business assets at the core of The H.E.A.R.T. Center.

Tatiana Garcia Granados started The Common Market to bring farm food to her Philadelphia neighborhood. Now she's taking on the nation's broken food distribution system.