When Feminists Rule the World

Host Martha Chaves says “Wow!” frequently in episode five. That's her reaction to the stirring answers from Manal Shqair and Ilaf Nasreldin when they are asked to imagine what a feminist utopian world would look like. Manal is a Palestinian whose utopia is liberation from Israeli occupation. Ilaf is Sudanese and her utopia is freedom from the strict restraints on women that begin at home. “I will go to work without bothering to wait at one of Israel's 593 military checkpoints and roadblocks, where I always wait sometimes for hours with Israeli soldiers staring at my body in a disturbing way and holding their guns with their fingers on them, ready to shoot me,” says Manal. “For starters I will feel safe,” says Ilaf. She imagines waking up and deciding what to wear, where to go and what to do without fearing reprisals or harassment because she is a woman. Freedom of movement and dress are things that Martha takes for granted in a “privileged” life in Toronto, Canada. Her feminist utopia includes women having autonomy over their own bodies and a world where “we won't have to fight so much to be recognized as human beings.” If there's a common thread in the idea of a feminist utopia, perhaps it is dignity – something, as Ilaf says, that everyone deserves.

Solidarity and sisterhood shimmer through episode four as Amy Lira and Nicole Musimbi talk about the “feminist superpowers” they learned in the 2021 Sister-to-Sister Mentorship program. The program, hosted by the Nobel Women's Initiative and the Coady International Institute, welcomed 15 exceptional young feminist activists and leaders from 12 countries for nine weeks of online interactive mentorship and networking. The new relationships make them feel valued and loved. Meeting other women doing the same work and overcoming similar challenges infuses them with hope and courage. “I have my sister in Congo,” says Amy. “ I have my sister in Egypt. I know that they are with me now and I am not alone.” They returned to their work with bolstered confidence, Amy to helping survivors of sexual and domestic violence in Mexico and Nicole to peacebuilding in the Democratic Republic of Congo. “We're unstoppable now,” says Nicole.

Ounaysa Abbas Arabi was among the women on the front lines of the 2019 revolution in Sudan. But the post-conflict promise of gender justice was merely a slogan used by men in power to attract international funds, she says. "They just want the money and they just put it into their pockets." No matter how difficult, Musu Kamara of Liberia urges other young women to "rise up in spite of the challenges, in spite of the abuses, the social sanctions, the harmful traditional gender norms." Both women counsel that change takes time. Witnessing, in your own life, the change that you are working for would be awesome, says Ounaysa, but it's okay if you won't. Martha found her guests so strong and determined that "I wouldn't like to be your enemy."

What would you do if a genie granted you absolute power? In episode two, host Martha Chaves poses that juicy question to her guests, activists Dildar Kaya in Iraq and Norwu Kolu in Liberia. Dildar works with ISIS survivors and Norwu in empowering women and girls. They examine the theme of feminism and power, identifying the qualities of good feminist leadership and workplace structure. Martha, herself a professional comic, describes the evolution in the comedy world away from misogynistic and other mean humour. She poses the ‘absolute power' question more than halfway through, promising massages and ice cream for all when she's in charge. Find out what Dildar and Norwu would do and enjoy answering the question yourself.

Are we experiencing the last gasp of the patriarchy? If so, what comes next? Host Martha Chaves sparks ideas from Fahima Hashim and Nancy Ingram about transforming hierarchal patriarchal power structures embedded in some of our lives since childhood. “My mother was the boss of me, my father was the boss of her, and society was the boss of him,” Martha confesses. Sound familiar? The guests are experienced, accomplished feminist activists brimming with ideas on what needs to be done. Fahima emphasizes collective structures and decisions by consensus. It's not really a question of hierarchical structure, Nancy counters. “It's how we relate to each other and what are the rules of engagement.” Listen and decide what you think.

Guest:Felogene Anumo Felogene is a passionate feminist activist with experience in advancing gender and economic justice through grassroots and online activism, research and capacity strengthening of young feminist led organising. Felogene is currently the Building Feminist Economies (BFE) Coordinator for the Association of Women’s Rights and Development (AWID). ----Follow us on social:Facebook: @FeministsRuleTheWorldTwitter & Instagram: @FemRuleWorldPodwww.feministsruletheworld.com

Guests: Ilwad ElmanIlwad runs the Elman Peace & Human Rights Centre’s programs in Mogadishu, Somalia. She co-founded the first rape crisis centre for survivors of sexual and gender based violence. She designs interventions aimed at security sector reform to create an inclusive space for women in peace building, and develops programs for the disarmament and rehabilitation of child soldiers.Deeyah KhanDeeyah is a two-time Emmy Award-winning documentary film director. She is the founder of Fuuse, a media and arts company that puts women, people from minorities, and third-culture kids at the heart of telling their own stories. Deeyah is considered one of Norway’s most successful filmmakers. She has made four acclaimed documentaries to date.----Follow us on social:Facebook: @FeministsRuleTheWorldTwitter & Instagram: @FemRuleWorldPodwww.feministsruletheworld.com

Guests:Christine Ahn Christine is the Founder and Executive Director of Women Cross DMZ, a global movement of women mobilizing to end the Korean War, reunite families, and ensure women’s leadership in peace building. In 2015, she led 30 international women peacemakers across the De-Militarized Zone (DMZ) from North Korea to South Korea. In March 2019, Women Cross DMZ launched a global campaign, Korea Peace Now! Women Mobilizing to End the War.Sanam Naraghi-Anderlini Sanam is a globally recognised advocate in the field of women, peace and security, with over two decades of experience as a peace strategist working on conflicts, crises and violent extremism with a mix of civil society, governments and the UN. Sanam is the founder and CEO of the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN).----Follow us on social:Facebook: @FeministsRuleTheWorldTwitter & Instagram: @FemRuleWorldPodwww.feministsruletheworld.com

Guests:Gioconda BelliGioconda is a Nicaraguan poet, writer and political activist. She's written four novels, six books of poetry, a memoir and a children's book, as well as essays and political commentary.Reem Abbas Reem is a freelance journalist with several years of experience in the field of communications and advocacy for Sudanese civil society groups and organizations. She is the winner of the 2011 Blogher award for her work on human rights and current affairs in Sudan. Reem also spent time working with Sudanese refugees in Egypt and published a profile on a young refugee musician in the book “Voices in Refuge”.----Follow us on social:Facebook: @FeministsRuleTheWorldTwitter & Instagram: @FemRuleWorldPodwww.feministsruletheworld.com

Guests:Wanda Muñoz Wanda is a long-time activist from Mexico working on humanitarian disarmament, improving the lives of people with disabilities and providing assistance to victims of war. Her current disarmament efforts focus on the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots. Liz O’Sullivan Liz is the Technology Director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (STOP). She’s also co-founder and vice president of commercial operations at an AI explainability and bias monitoring startup called Arthur AI. She has been featured in articles on ethical AI in the NY Times, The Intercept, and The Register.----Follow us on social:Facebook: @FeministsRuleTheWorldTwitter & Instagram: @FemRuleWorldPodwww.feministsruletheworld.com

Guest: Raquel Willis Raquel Willis is a Black transgender activist, award-winning writer, and media strategist. She is the Director of Communications for the Ms. Foundation. She is the former executive editor of Out magazine and a former national organizer for Transgender Law Center (TLC). ----Follow us on social:Facebook: @FeministsRuleTheWorldTwitter & Instagram: @FemRuleWorldPodwww.feministsruletheworld.com

There is only one surefire way to create lasting peace: include women in the process. This week host Martha Chaves is talking to British-Syrian humanitarian, doctor and founder of CanDo, Rola Hallam, and Yemeni journalist and executive director of Women4Yemen, Kawkab Althaibani, about fighting for peace and equality in conflict. You better believe that when feminists rule the world—there will be peace in the Middle East. When Feminists Rule Their World Release Schedule:November 20 – They Will Also Rule Their Bodies with Jaclyn Friedman (@jaclynf) and Oriana López UribeNovember 27 – There Will Be No Wall with Alice Driver (@alice__driver) and Neesa MadinaDecember 4 – Leaders Will Look Like Us with Pamela Palmater (@pam_palmater) and Shailja Patel (@shailjapatel)December 11 – They Will Also Save the Planet with Selma Vincent (@YRCLuxembourg) and Anjali Appadurai (@anjaliapp)December 18 – There Will Be Peace in the Middle East with Dr. Rola Hallam (@CanDoAction) and Kawkab Althaibani (@Kawkab)----Follow us on social:Facebook: @FeministsRuleTheWorldTwitter & Instagram: @FemRuleWorldPodwww.feministsruletheworld.com

The world is on fire. Who’s going to put it out? This week host Martha Chaves is talking to seventeen year-old climate striker and Youth for Climate Luxembourg organizer, Selma Vincent, alongside climate justice advocate, communicator and low-key pop icon, Anjali Appadurai, about the global youth climate movement. There is no climate justice without gender justice. When feminists rule the world – they will also save the planet.When Feminists Rule Their World Release Schedule:November 20 – They Will Also Rule Their Bodies with Jaclyn Friedman (@jaclynf) and Oriana López UribeNovember 27 – There Will Be No Wall with Alice Driver (@alice__driver) and Neesa MadinaDecember 4 – Leaders Will Look Like Us with Pamela Palmater (@pam_palmater) and Shailja Patel (@shailjapatel)December 11 – They Will Also Save the Planet with Selma Vincent (@YRCLuxembourg) and Anjali Appadurai (@anjaliapp)December 18 – There Will Be Peace in the Middle East with Dr. Rola Hallam (@CanDoAction) and Kawkab Althaibani (@Kawkab)----Follow us on social:Facebook: @FeministsRuleTheWorldTwitter & Instagram: @FemRuleWorldPodwww.feministsruletheworld.com

We’re tired of white male majorities. This week host Martha Chaves is getting real with poet, playwright and activist, Shailja Patel, and Mi'kmaq lawyer, professor, and activist, Pamela Palmater, about colonialism, violence, patriarchy, and how they all intersect. Representation matters, it’s time to decolonize power. Here’s how we do it. When feminists rule the world – leaders will look like all of us.  When Feminists Rule Their World Release Schedule:November 20 – They Will Also Rule Their Bodies with Jaclyn Friedman (@jaclynf) and Oriana López UribeNovember 27 – There Will Be No Wall with Alice Driver (@alice__driver) and Neesa MadinaDecember 4 – Leaders Will Look Like Us with Pamela Palmater (@pam_palmater) and Shailja Patel (@shailjapatel)December 11 – They Will Also Save the Planet with Selma Vincent (@YRCLuxembourg) and Anjali Appadurai (@anjaliapp)December 18 – There Will Be Peace in the Middle East with Dr. Rola Hallam (@CanDoAction) and Kawkab Althaibani (@Kawkab)----Follow us on social:Facebook: @FeministsRuleTheWorldTwitter & Instagram: @FemRuleWorldPodwww.feministsruletheworld.com

Migration is a human right. Clearly some people need a reminder. This week host Martha Chaves is talking to Honduran sociologist and feminist activist, Neesa Medina, and acclaimed American writer and journalist, Alice Driver, about the migration crisis at the US-Mexico border, and the root causes that force so many to leave their homes. When feminists rule the world — there will be no wall.When Feminists Rule Their World Release Schedule:November 20 – They Will Also Rule Their Bodies with Jaclyn Friedman (@jaclynf) and Oriana López UribeNovember 27 – There Will Be No Wall with Alice Driver (@alice__driver) and Neesa MadinaDecember 4 – Leaders Will Look Like Us with Pamela Palmater (@pam_palmater) and Shailja Patel (@shailjapatel)December 11 – They Will Also Save the Planet with Selma Vincent (@YRCLuxembourg) and Anjali Appadurai (@anjaliapp)December 18 – There Will Be Peace in the Middle East with Dr. Rola Hallam (@CanDoAction) and Kawkab Althaibani (@Kawkab)----Follow us on social:Facebook: @FeministsRuleTheWorldTwitter & Instagram: @FemRuleWorldPodwww.feministsruletheworld.com

Women’s bodies are not battlefields. This week host Martha Chaves is talking to Mexican feminist activist and executive director of Balance, Oriana López Uribe, and American writer, activist and host of the “Unscrewed” podcast, Jaclyn Friedman, about #MeToo, reproductive rights, and putting a middle finger up to patriarchy. When feminists rule the world – they will also rule their bodies.When Feminists Rule Their World Release Schedule:November 20 – They Will Also Rule Their Bodies with Jaclyn Friedman (@jaclynf) and Oriana López UribeNovember 27 – There Will Be No Wall with Alice Driver (@alice__driver) and Neesa MadinaDecember 4 – Leaders Will Look Like Us with Pamela Palmater (@pam_palmater) and Shailja Patel (@shailjapatel)December 11 – They Will Also Save the Planet with Selma Vincent (@YRCLuxembourg) and Anjali Appadurai (@anjaliapp)December 18 – There Will Be Peace in the Middle East with Dr. Rola Hallam (@CanDoAction) and Kawkab Althaibani (@Kawkab)----Follow us on social:Facebook: @FeministsRuleTheWorldTwitter & Instagram: @FemRuleWorldPodwww.feministsruletheworld.com

Subscribe to our podcast on social media to learn about new episode releases, guests, behind the scenes info, and more!When Feminists Rule Their World Release Schedule:November 20 – They Will Also Rule Their Bodies with Jaclyn Friedman (@jaclynf) and Oriana López UribeNovember 27 – There Will Be No Wall with Alice Driver (@alice__driver) and Neesa MadinaDecember 4 – Leaders Will Look Like Us with Pamela Palmater (@pam_palmater) and Shailja Patel (@shailjapatel)December 11 – They Will Also Save the Planet with Selma Vincent (@YRCLuxembourg) and Anjali Appadurai (@anjaliapp)December 18 – There Will Be Peace in the Middle East with Dr. Rola Hallam (@CanDoAction) and Kawkab Althaibani (@Kawkab)----Follow us on social:Facebook: @FeministsRuleTheWorldTwitter & Instagram: @FemRuleWorldPodwww.feministsruletheworld.com