Listen, Ladies

Luisa Kislinger is a former career diplomat of the Venezuelan Foreign Services, and the founder and director of the women's NGO "Mujeres en Linea." Luisa joins the podcast to discuss the current economic and political situation unfolding in Venezuela, and how the lives of everyday citizens are affected. Former UN Ambassador Samantha Power tweeted that the situation in Venezuela is "flying under the radar in the US." Tune in to understand why the international community should pay attention.

The New York Times' West Africa bureau chief joins the podcast for an insightful interview centered on her reporting in Nigeria. Dionne Searcey has spoken to numerous young women who managed to escape the horrors of Boko Haram, and are now working to overcome challenges and pursue their ambitions. Dionne's work gives voice to girls and women who have proven their heroism and deserve to be heard.

Happy 2018! NYU Scholar Jorge Mora joins Listen, Ladies to talk about his groundbreaking project to bring healthcare services and raise awareness about the importance of health literacy in his home country, Ecuador. His perspectives and experience are highly relevant in the broader conversation about global health and access to care across socio-economic backgrounds and the urban/rural divide.

Author Liza Jessie Petersen joins the podcast to discuss her experiences as a pre-GED teacher to young men embroiled in the criminal justice system. In her book, All Day: A Year of Love and Survival Teaching Incarcerated Kids at Rikers Island, Petersen shares insights on the daily lives of her students, her mission to instill them with information far beyond the pages of any textbook, and what she learned from leading a classroom full of teenagers.

A Listen, Ladies bonus episode! Listen, Ladies contributor and BuzzFeed producer Julia Moser joins the podcast for a feature interview with author and activist Jaclyn Friedman. Friedman is the author of the new book, Unscrewed, which explores sex, harassment, and the abuse of power.

Guest co-host Kelly Kern joins the podcast this week to help raise awareness of the ongoing and tragic humanitarian crisis unfolding in Myanmar, which has led to over 600,000 refugees flooding into Bangladesh in recent months. Our guest, international relations scholar research and policy professional, Mayesha Alam, shares her insights and knowledge on the historical context of the crisis, the international response, and what the future might entail.

Bloomberg Businessweek writer Claire Vernon Suddath joins the podcast to talk about her article, "My Big House: My family once enslaved people. What do I do about that?" Through a deep dive into her own family's connections to the Civil War era, Suddath raises important questions about how slavery and the entrenched racism of that period still affects people and policies in the present day.

Journalist and author Katherine Zoepf joins the podcast to discuss social change in Saudi Arabia, and the country's lifting of a ban that prevented women from getting behind the wheel. Zoepf has done in-depth reporting throughout the Middle East for the New Yorker and other publications, specifically focusing on the experiences of women.

We welcome Briana Mawby to Listen, Ladies. She is the 2017 Hillary Rodham Clinton Research Fellow at the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace, and Security. Briana's research focuses on Nepal in the aftermath of the 2015 earthquake, particularly the incredible contributions made by Nepali women as the country recovers, even while they face significant challenges. Plus, a callout for book club recommendations!

Hands Up Foundation Managing Director, Rose Lukas joins the podcast to talk about her organization's innovative approach to raising funds for victims of the crisis in Syria. Hint: you'll need a group of friends and some culinary inspiration! Plus, a call for ideas for another Listen, Ladies book club.

Mariam Jalabi is Director of the Syrian National Coalition's office at the United Nations. Jalabi joins the podcast to discuss the current landscape of the crisis in Syria, and the advocacy movement working to ensure that women play a crucial role in a peace process and transition. Prior to her role in civil society, Jalabi ran a fashion company with a mission to advance women's freedom of movement through clothing, particularly in the context of Middle Eastern culture. 

The new documentary, Served Like A Girl, is an eye-opening look at the incredible contributions and challenges experienced by female members of the military, including homelessness and inadequate family support services. Maryalice spoke with Major Jaspen Boothe who confronted these obstacles firsthand and took action to support others in her situation, and the film's director, Lysa Heslov. The documentary chronicles one component of Major Boothe's mission, the Ms Veteran America competition.

Maryalice and Julia spoke with Sarah Lane, a Principal Dancer with the American Ballet Theater, about her accomplishments as a dancer, her struggles with confidence and self-esteem, and her fondness for ice cream. And, instead of the usual chatter, the ladies sat down with Kaitlyn Tiffany, Culture Reporter at the The Verge for a summer pop culture roundup of everything you should be listening to and watching this summer by ladies.

Julia & Maryalice talk to a top notch science journalist about the real-life pioneer that was the inspiration for Jodie Foster's character in the 1997 film, Contact. Sarah Scoles' biography of Jill Tarter covers the challenges she faced as she broke new ground in her field, much of which is still relevant today. Plus, Sarah tells us what to expect as we get closer to the much-anticipated solar eclipse!

Exhale to Inhale