The Power Of Stories Podcast

Susan Jeremy is a solo performer, stand-up, playwright  and public school teacher in New York City. As a performer, she keeps her audiences laughing with many characters, music, observations, and dry wit. She is the author of seven solo shows which she performs internationally. Susan’s works have been featured around the world at comedy festivals, including the  Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in...

Dr. Patty Johnson is a writer and psychologist who believes in healing through stories. She is currently working on a memoir and has 2 published books— Essays of Night and Daylight and Breathe & Release: A 12 Month Journal for Healing from Anxiety. In this episode, Dr. Johnson discusses what sparked her interest in becoming a psychologist… being guided by behavioral medicine, a model of integr...

After 10 years of searching for the right support to enable Jen to follow her dreams, Jen and Sue Blackwell (Daughter and Mum) co-created DanceSyndrome in 2009, where everyone matters and all are encouraged to lead happy, healthy and purposeful lives. DanceSyndrome is for people with and without Down’s syndrome and other learning disabilities, using inclusive dance as a vehicle in a unique, ground...

Christine is a passionate communications specialist and environmentalist. She is a lover of human rights and advocates for the rights of women and girls. Christine has been working in the NGO space for over fifteen years and has a dream to write and produce a TV show about non-profit organizations.   In this episode, Christine discusses why she began calling herself an environmentalist when workin...

Pooja Priyamvada is a higher education educator in various fields, including media, literature, mental health and theater. Pooja holds a background in media. She is an author, a translator and, more recently, an entrepreneur. Pooja likes to say that she is also a full-time parent.  In this episode, Pooja discusses her reasons to begin writing about mental health after experiencing postpartum depre...

Vivi Lin is a Taiwanese human rights activist who founded the global nonprofit organization With Red & Period Museum, fighting for period equity and menstrual justice, and ending period poverty and stigma. Vivi is a youth advisor for the Taiwanese government and is currently studying public policy in Oxford.  In this episode, Vivi discusses her inspiration to fight for menstrual justice and th...

Patience Nyange serves as the Spokesperson for the Office of the Executive Secretary at the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). With over 18 years of experience in media, communications, and advocacy, she is a seasoned professional specializing in broadcast journalism, international public relations, social media management, and mentorship for young journalists and PR practitioners....

Maricar Jagger was born in a small town on the island of Borneo in Indonesia. She has experienced life in different countries growing up, and studied in the United States.  Maricar wanted to be an artist but studied business in college and pursued a career in Marketing. She is a creative at heart, and she believes in the power of the arts to change lives. You can see Maricar’s beautiful, handmade...

Mushairat Mamun is a first-generation American Bangladeshi who was born and raised in Queens, New York. At 17, she moved to Bangladesh to pursue her undergraduate degree, focusing on Public Health and Philanthropy. Throughout her early medical career, Mushairat played a crucial role in addressing challenges in Maternal Health in Bangladesh. Currently, she is pursuing a Master of Science degree in...

Margaret Akullo is a Ugandan born British citizen, a Criminologist and a visionary with ethical leadership qualities. In her extensive career of three decades in international development she has led diverse teams delivering programmatic change and social impact in more than 20 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. In 2022, at the age of 55 and after more than three decades of work...

Yolandé Conradie describes herself as an ordinary woman who lives an ordinary life but has had extraordinary experiences. She is a psychosocial therapist by profession, but loves teaching and educating, and puts her skills to use as a life coach and a university educator.  In this first episode of Season 4, Yolandé discusses growing up in a cult where her parents were members, a cult in which ther...

Dr. Joannie Marlene Bewa, MD, PhD, is a physician, public health researcher, global advocate for girls & women's sexual and reproductive health, and the founder and CEO of DOTOH Health.   She has over fifteen years of combined experience in global health, health policy, digital health, clinical care, research, international development and non-profits management.  In this episode, Dr. Bew...

Dr. Suchi Gaur is the Founder of Mission Hummingbirds and is on a new journey to resource the work that women and young women are doing in their local communities.   In this episode, Suchi discusses the story of hummingbirds and how this powerful and tiny bird has inspired her personally, appearing in challenging times in her life and giving her hope… the loss of her mother two years ago after fig...

Akinyi Juma is the current Mrs. Universe Kenya 2024 and the founder of Rebirth of a Queen , a community-based organization with a mission to empower and include survivors of sexual & gender-based violence and human trafficking to become economically empowered.  In this episode, Akinyi discusses how her own experiences as a survivor of sexual violence and domestic violence motivated her to laun...

Elisa Gambino began her career as a producer in the CNN Rome bureau.  After 15 years of covering conflict and upheavals  for CNN, she together with her partner and husband founded their own production company, One Production Place Films , where they devote their time, energy and talents to sharing stories about how we live in community with each other.  One of Elisa’s recent projects was the catal...

River Savante is 16 years old and has already set a world record as the youngest American female to summit Imja Tse in the Nepal Everest region, which is 20,500 ft. River is training to be the youngest American female to summit Mount Everest, scheduled for next May/June 2025.  In this episode, River discusses going with her mother leading trips to Kathmandu after the 2015 earthquake in Nepal to he...

Sadia Jahan Rothi is an Environmental and Climate Activist. She is the Board Director of Eco-Network Global, which is a youth-led organization. She started climate and environmental activism with Eco-Network in 2018 when she first witnessed how climate change has been affecting the lives of coastal regions people of Bangladesh. She is also a climate researcher, working at BRAC University. In this...

Belinda Greb is an accomplished nature and wildlife photographer who has been influenced by her sense of belonging in, and connecting with, nature. In this episode, Belinda discusses growing up in a rural setting and finding solitude and peace in nature… her interest in photography and beginning her work as a professional photographer with landscape photography and transitioning to more of a focus...

Joan Kembabazi is a full time gender equality activist and she actively campaigns for an end to child marriage. Joan is also the founder of Gufasha Girls Foundation.   In this episode, Joan discusses the reasons she campaigns and advocates for girls’ education, for an end to child marriage, for every girl’s right to thrive and to dream… her grief in losing her best friend, Gufasha Moureen, to chil...

Nisha Benny-Varghese is a humanitarian, storyteller and describes herself as “an aspiring Good Human Being” who tries to make a difference and inspire others to do the same.  In this episode, Nisha discusses volunteering at Breath of Life, a children's home in East London, South Africa, that cares for abandoned and orphaned babies until they find a suitable home for them or until they are reu...

Tsehay Getu is a passionate chef who has a platform called Tsehay’s Kitchen where she shares her love for food and culture. In this episode, Tsehay discusses how, in her childhood, her parents stressed the importance of education for her and her brothers… moving from Ethiopia to Sweden at a young age… the challenges of going through a divorce, being a single mom, and moving to the U.S… feeling alo...

Dr. Oliver-Burgess is a senior humanitarian and development expert with experience working in complex emergencies and post-conflict contexts, including regions of Middle East, Central Asia, West and East Africa, Eastern Europe, and Central America. Angela is the Founder and President of the non-profit organization SMILE for Budgie , which she started in honor of her late husband, Paul “Budgie” Bur...

Maureen Twahirwa is a Rwandan citizen and a mother who is passionate about advocating for women, girls and young people.  She has worked in the private sector, as well as in national and international organizations to make that difference. In this episode, Maureen discusses her recent move from Rwanda to South Sudan, wanting to do more for communities while also pursuing career growth… working to...

Helen Tai has already held many roles in her life.  She has had successful careers as an entrepreneur and innovator in Corporate America and, at the same time, has been highly engaged in public service.  Helen has held local and State elected offices and continues to be committed to advocacy and addressing injustices in her community and beyond. In in this episode, Helen discusses childhood experi...

Franka Cadée, PhD is a midwife, an anthropologist, a mother, a gardener and avid rower. Franka’s passion in life has been sexual and reproductive justice and she is currently Director of Global Initiatives at Maternity Foundation in Copenhagen. In this episode, Franka discusses the origins of her passion for sexual and reproductive justice… the politics of aid… studying anthropology and, within th...