The Power Of Stories Podcast

Sonya Shikhman, LL.B., is the Founder of Shikhman Barristers, a Toronto criminal defence law firm. Recognized in Best Lawyers in Canada for Criminal Defence in both 2024 and 2025, she has spent more than two decades defending individuals facing serious criminal allegations. Known for her fearless advocacy, she believes the justice system only remains fair when it is challenged, tested, and held ac...

Jill Saberman is a California-based Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner. In her professional practices, Jill focuses on Obstetrics & Gynecology, prenatal care, fertility, contraception and menopause. She values helping women understand their bodies, their health, and themselves.  In this episode, Jill discusses her philosophy of care which includes these words, “I am forever grateful to be in a...

Hassanah Al-Saba is a commercial pilot from Jamaica who loves the beach and ice cream. She completed her training at the Aeronautical School of the West Indies and distinguishes herself as Jamaica’s first Muslim female pilot. She is now 25 years old.  In this episode, Hassanah discusses the importance of perseverance and commitment in paving her life’s path… her interest in becoming a pilot when s...

Sara Hirsh Bordo is an award-winning documentary filmmaker of women and girls’ stories. She is the Founder of a female empowerment production company called Women Rising® and a first-time author.  Sara’s book, Autoimmunity and the Good Girls, How Permission to Put Ourselves First Has the Power to Keep Us Well, is a personal transformation story that reminds women that their healing begins when the...

Jovia Kusiima is a project manager by profession, menstrual justice educator, social impact leader and entrepreneur. Jovia serves as Vice Chairperson of the European Union Delegation to Uganda Youth Sounding Board. She is very passionate about advancing the dignity and accessibility of menstrual justice.  In this episode, Jovia discusses aspects of menstrual justice, including freedom from shame a...

Yamina Bibi is an award-winning former Acting Deputy Headteacher and English Teacher from London.  She is currently Education Project Specialist at Chiltern Learning Trust and The Chartered College of Teaching, and a freelance consultant and coach. Alongside this work, Yamina is co-founder of South Asian Educators’ Network, a Diverse Educator Associate and a #WomenEd Network Leader. Yamina is the...

Erin Elise Eriksson is a globally minded leader, lifelong learner, and Chief Operating Officer of Hedgehog Dryer . She works at the intersection of business, philanthropy, and innovation while raising five young kids and navigating life across continents. A self-proclaimed recovering perfectionist and people pleaser, she brings honesty and humor to the messy reality of trying to do it all. Her sto...

Dr. Kesiwe Phuthi holds a doctorate of literature and philosophy and is Head Of School at Masiyephambili College. She is a seasoned teacher, lecturer, sociologist, health communicator, examiner, and school administrator with over 30 years of experience at various levels within the Education sector. Dr. Phuthi is a qualitative researcher at Doctorate level in Health Studies focusing on Public Healt...

Dr. Karleen Gribble is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Western Sydney University where her research focuses on breastfeeding and communications in women’s health. Karleen advocates for recognition of the importance of mothers to their infants and works to create environments that support breastfeeding and the mother-infant relationship, especially in circumstances of...

Jennifer Jones is an accomplished and award-winning dancer, actor, author, and cancer survivor.  At the age of 20, Jennifer overcame race barriers by making history as the first Black woman to join the Radio City Rockettes. In the years since, Jennifer has continued to trail-blaze  and is celebrated for her unwavering advocacy for equal rights in the arts and for women’s health. In this episode, J...

Stephanie Venn-Watson, DVM, MPH, is a serial entrepreneur of for-profit and not-for-profit companies. She is a veterinary epidemiologist and public health scientist with over forty patents and seventy peer-reviewed scientific publications. Stephanie is currently the Co-Founder, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Seraphina Therapeutics . Previously, she served as an epidemiologist tracking diseases for...

Dr. Ruchi Verma is a medical doctor and Public Health professional by training. We have been fortunate to know Ruchi for several years through the SayItForward.org platform, where she has shared insights about her story and her spiritual journey. In this episode, Ruchi discusses ways that her professional and personal experiences have affected her sense of self… the insights gained from dealing wi...

Kalkidan Mulugeta is an Ethiopian tech entrepreneur and co-founder of ClearSkies Technology , a company that works in information technology and telcom services in Ethiopia. She is always seeking that fresh insight that changes the way she sees the world. Kalkidan’s journey has taken her through Addis, Nairobi, Seattle, Philadelphia, Windhoek, and back again to Addis. And, each of these chapters h...

Jenny Caven grew up in Southern Africa where she saw the impact of inequality and oppression due to apartheid. Her sense of fairness and justice, along with a love of language, led her to study politics and journalism. As life brought other responsibilities  Jenny found success in the corporate world. However, it was not fulfilling her need for self-expression or to ‘give back’ and that’s why, lat...

Urmi Basu is a gender rights activist who has a degree in social work. In 2000, Urmi founded the organization, New Light , a registered charity started in Kolkata that looks after sex workers and their children. She has been working for women’s rights and the rights of marginalized people for 25 years. Urmi sees herself as a warrior for compassion, peace, and love. Urmi received the Nari Shakti Pu...

Patience Poni Ayikoru is a Ugandan activist, lawyer and Member at the Uganda Association of Women Lawyers. She is enthusiastic about women’s inclusion in governance and gender equality. Patience has a keen interest in Women’s Rights. She has been a champion in several leadership spaces and has attended several platforms for great leadership and debate. As an advocate for gender justice, Patience c...

Jennifer James is the founder of Social Good Moms , a news site about pressing global issues for women and girls. She has written over 70 articles for the Gates Foundation and has written for women's and girls' issues for ELLE and Cosmo South Africa, and Huffington Post's Impact. She has been named a Fast Company Most Generous Social Media Maven and a ONE.org social media game-chang...

Eimear Chaomhánach grew up in a beekeeping household in Dublin. As an undergraduate and postgraduate of Irish Folklore in University College Dublin, she spent many years researching the lore of bees and beekeeping in Irish and international folk traditions. This work is the culmination of academic and field research, alongside very personal experiences as a beekeeper's daughter, shadowing her...

In this 100th episode, cohosts Yodit Kifle Smith and Sharon Kathryn D’Agostino gratefully celebrate the inspiring women who have shared their stories in this podcast by women, about women, and for women. Yodit and Sharon take you behind the scenes as they discuss what they have learned about podcasting, what has surprised them along the way, and their deep appreciation for the stories of women eve...

Ilona Joy Saari, a former showroom model on Seventh Avenue in NYC, is a freelance writer who’s worked in many genres, from television/film to essayist to rock’n’roll press to political campaigns.  She was a NY Deputy Press Secretary for President Jimmy Carter, a press liaison for both Jimmy Carter's Democratic Presidential conventions and has written many speeches for celebrities stumping for...

Hira Mehta is a retired banker, author of six books, podcaster, voice actor, and filmmaker who focuses on bringing awareness to social causes. In 2024, she made a statement at the UN Convention, New York, on Aging Rights, speaking on behalf of Silver Innings , a non-governmental organization in Mumbai working toward creating an elder- and dementia-friendly world. At the convention, Hira spoke abou...

Yunah Bvumbwe is a blogger and a community activist for women's rights. She is also a volunteer for local organizations.  In this episode, Yunah discusses experiences and observations that motivated her to begin writing poems about girls' rights when she was 12 years old… realizing that she could be a voice for girls and women who did not feel that they could speak out… what motivates he...

Dr. Blessing Timidi Digha is a Black woman who identifies as a Feminist and who is also an Advocate, Storyteller and Community-Based Researcher who brings all of her intersections and ideologies to the work she does on Gender-Based Violence and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights. Blessing likes to kickstart uncomfortable conversations on issues that concern, affect, and impact girls and women....

Alison Arngrim is an American actress, author, philanthropist, and advocate for the protection of children from abuse, exploitation, and neglect. At five years old, Alison began her television career and is best known for her portrayal of Nellie Olsen on the NBC television series, "Little House on the Prairie."   In this episode, Alison discusses her experiences of being a child actor an...

Danielle Mullings is a dynamic young leader and technology enthusiast. She does a fun mix of tech, youth empowerment, and media, hosting a youth TV show, moderating global science events, and serving on Jamaica’s AI Task Force. Danielle is currently juggling these responsibilities while part-time pursuing her Masters of Science in Translational Health Sciences at Oxford University while also worki...