The Conversation

Basima Abdulrahman is the founder and CEO of KESK, the first company in Iraq that offers green services and products.

Jennifer Uchendu is the founder of SustyVibes, a youth-led sustainability organisation, and The Eco Anxiety Project, an initiative promoting awareness and research into climate change and its impact on young Africans' mental health.

Produced by Alice Gioia

Basima Abdulrahman and Jennifer Uchendu are on this year's BBC 100 Women list

Kim Chakanetsa meets Iraqi engineer Basima Abdulrahman and Nigerian environmentalist Jennifer Uchendu, two changemakers who are are on this year's BBC 100 Women list.

Dr Lisa Dinella is an expert on how toys influence the child's brain, their sense of self and even the opportunities they have in later life. She is a professor of psychology in America's Monmouth University and has given an address in the White House on gender disparities in children's media and toys.

Sunaina Somu Divakar is the founder of a doll company that aims to challenge stereotypes and bring more representation to the Indian toy market. In 2020, influenced by the Black Lives Matter movement and becoming a mother, Sunaina founded Wild Little Society, a company that sells dolls with a range of different brown skin tones and outfits.

Produced by Sarah Kendal.

(Image: (L) Dr Lisa Dinella, credit Andrew Beldowicz. (R) Sunaina Somu Divakar, credit Balamurali Gurusamy.)

A psychologist and a doll maker discuss the impact of playing with toys on the brain.

Kim Chakanetsa speaks to psychologist Dr Lisa Dinella and to doll maker Sunaina Somu Divakar.

Lizzie Deignan is a world champion track and road racing cyclist. She got into cycling by chance, when the British Cycling Apprentice programme visited her school in Yorkshire. Throughout her career she has broken down barriers for women in the sport.

Keen cyclist Alisha Myers is the Global Director of Strategic Information and Innovation at World Bicycle Relief, an organisation providing bicycles and supportive programming to women in rural areas across Africa. She believes that cycling can help women access education and better job opportunities.

Produced by Alice Gioia.

(Image: (L) Lizzie Deignan, courtesy of Lizzie Deignan. (R) Alisha Myers, credit Leah Missbach Day.)

Champion Lizzie Deignan and World Bicycle Relief's Alisha Myers on the power of cycling

When Angela Cacace moved into her new house, she decided to teach herself how to renovate it. Fast forward 14 years, Angela is now running her own design and carpentry company and has launched Move Over Bob, an organisation supporting women in the trade skills.

Clémentine Mollier is a French marine carpenter who specialises in restoring and building classic wooden boats.

Produced by Alice Gioia

Carpenters Angela Cacace and Clementine Mollier thrive in a male dominated industry

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Beatriz De La Pava Hucke meets two skilled carpenters who built their own career in a male dominated industry.

Dina Macki is a recipe developer and writer who basis her work around Omani cuisine. She works with international brands, restaurants and hotels in the UK and in the Gulf region. She's just published her debut cookbook, Bahari: Recipes from an Omani Kitchen and Beyond.

Keshia Sakarah is a chef and owner of Caribe' - Caribbean Eating and the Baruru Supper-club. She travelled across the Caribbean Islands to discover and collect traditional recipes. Her first book, Caribe': A Cookbook with History, will come out in 2025.

Produced by Sarah Kendal and Alice Gioia.

(Image: (L) Keshia Sakarah, courtesy of Keshia Sakarah. (R) Dina Macki, courtesy of Dina Macki.)

Chefs Dina Macki and Keshia Sakarah explore culture and identity through food

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Sarah Belal is a barrister and the founder of Justice Project Pakistan. She represents the most vulnerable people on death row in Pakistan and abroad.

Andrea Lyon is a lawyer, author, speaker, professor and former law school dean. She was the first woman to serve as lead attorney in a death penalty case, and she holds 19 wins in 19 capital cases.

Nelufar Hedayat meets two women representing people on death row.

Athlete Alessia Zecchini set world and Italian records in freediving. She has recently featured on the Netflix documentary The Deepest Breath.

Julia Kozerska from Poland has broken multiple world records and specialises in dynamic no fins diving. Alongside training and competing, Julia also works as a lifeguard and physiotherapist.

Producer: Emily Naylor

(Image: Alessia Zecchini (L), Julia Kozerska (R) . Background: Alessia Zecchini diving, Credit Laura Babahekian.)

Alessia Zecchini and Julia Kozerska speak about the wonder and perils of freediving

Canadian Sarah Thawer started playing drums and singing at the age of two and her first stage performance was at five. Known professionally as Sarah Drums, Sarah is known for her versatility, playing a wide range of genres from jazz and fusion to funk, R&B, and hip-hop. Sarah has performed on shows such as Late Night With Seth Meyers and The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.

Anika Nilles is a German drummer, composer, solo musician, and musical educator. She launched her career on YouTube during the early 2010s and has released two full-length albums to date, both with backing band Nevell: Pikalar in 2017 and For a Colorful Soul in 2020.

Produced by Emily Naylor.

(Image: (L) Sarah Drums, credit Eduardo Orelha. (R) Anika Nilles, credit Marius Mischke.)

Drummers Sarah Thawer and Anika Nilles open up about their careers in the music industry

Drummers Sarah Thawer (known professionally as Sarah Drums) and Anika Nilles open up about their careers in the music industry.

Sara Davison, also known as The Divorce Coach, is the best-selling author of The Split: From breakup to break-through, and Uncoupling: How to survive and thrive after breakup and divorce. Sara also hosts her own podcast, Heartbreak To Happiness.

Chautè Thompson is a mental health counsellor, a family mediator and the founder of Brand New Me, a consulting practice helping women restart their lives after divorce. She has published two books, Brand New Me: The Pursuit of Wholeness and Brand New Me: Complemented, Completed and Whole.

Produced by Alice Gioia

(Image: (L) Chautè Thompson, courtesy of Chautè Thompson. (R) Sara Davison, courtesy of Sara Davison.)

How do you get over a divorce and find love again?

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Datshiane Navanayagam meets two women who help others restart their own life after divorce.

Dina Macki is a recipe developer and writer who basis her work around Omani cuisine. She works with international brands, restaurants and hotels in the UK and in the Gulf region. She's just published her debut cookbook, Bahari: Recipes from an Omani Kitchen and Beyond.

Keshia Sakarah is a chef and owner of Caribe' - Caribbean Eating and Baruru Supper-club. She's also about to publish her first book: 'Caribe': A Cookbook with History' – which will come out Spring 2025.

Kim Chakanetsa presents a conversation between two women from different cultures about their paths to success.

For Dr Kakenya Ntaiya, the dream of an education turned into a lifelong mission to empower girls in rural Kenya. She founded the Kakenya Center for Excellence, a primary boarding school for girls in southwest Kenya. The school has grown into a successful nonprofit organization called Kakenya's Dream with a focus on education, health and leadership. You can find out more by searching @KakenyasDream on major social media platforms.

After spending decades at the top of the corporate ladder, Shukla Bose decided to shift direction, fuelled by a desire to alleviate social injustice. She founded Parikrma Humanity Foundation, a nonprofit organization that runs English-medium schools for under-privileged children in Bangalore. For more information, please search @parikrma_foundation on Instagram.

Produced by Emily Naylor

(Image: (L) Kakenya Ntaiya, credit Lee-Ann Olwage. (R) Shukla Bose, courtesy of Shukla Bose.)

Kakenya Ntaiya and Shukla Bose empower marginalised children through education

Rosalind Wiseman is the best-selling author of 9 books, including Queen Bees & Wannabes, which became the inspiration for the movie Mean Girls, and Masterminds & Wingmen, in which she discusses the joys and challenges of raising young men. Rosalind also co-founded Cultures of Dignity, an organisation that partners with communities to bring social and emotional learning to all.

Phinnah Chichi Ikeji is a British-Nigerian family coach. She's the founder of Parenting Teens Solutions and Empowering the next generation, two organisations helping parents and teachers understand today's teenagers. Her book is called The Parenting Teens Navigation System.

Produced by Alice Gioia

(Image: (L) Rosalind Wiseman (R) Phinnah Chichi Ikeji.)

Rosalind Wiseman and Phinnah Chichi Ikeji help women understand their teenage sons better

Best-selling author Rosalind Wiseman talks to family coach Phinnah Chichi Ikeji about the challenges of raising young men.

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Datshiane Navanayagam meets two women who use their own personal experience of love and loss to help others heal.

Raashi Thakran is a mental health advocate from India. After losing her 18-year-old brother Raghav to suicide, Raashi campaigned to create the country's first 24/7 helpline, which launched in September 2020.

Charlotte Maya is a lawyer and writer form the US. Charlotte was 39 when her husband Sam took his own life. Her memoir, Sushi Tuesdays, is a frank and ultimately hopeful account of how she tried to make sense of this loss for herself as well as for her two young children.

Produced by Alice Gioia

(Image: (L) Raashi Thakran, courtesy of Raashi Thakran. (R) Charlotte Maya, credit Karen Ray Photography.)

Why Charlotte Maya and Raashi Thakran want people to talk about suicide loss

Kim Chakanetsa presents a conversation between two women from different cultures about their paths to success.

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Randi Simensen was awarded Ambulance Worker of the Year in 2023 and has 20 years' experience working as a paramedic at Oslo University Hospital, Norway. She was the first Norwegian woman ever to operate a single paramedic unit in 2009. Randi also works as a PhD candidate affiliated with Innlandet Hospital Trust and the Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation.

Michelle Murphy from Australia has 27 years' experience as an Intensive Care Paramedic across Metropolitan and Rural Regions in front line and senior management roles. She created the Council of Ambulance Authorities Women in Leadership group and has been honoured with an Australian Meritorious Service Award.

Randi Simensen was awarded Ambulance Worker of the Year in 2023 and has 20 years' experience working as a paramedic at Oslo University Hospital, Norway. She was the first Norwegian woman ever to operate a single paramedic unit in 2009. Randi also works as a PhD candidate affiliated with Innlandet Hospital Trust and the Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation.

Michelle Murphy from Australia has 27 years' experience as an Intensive Care Paramedic across Metropolitan and Rural Regions in front line and senior management roles. She created the Council of Ambulance Authorities Women in Leadership group and has been honoured with an Australian Meritorious Service Award.

From the moment she played the part of a clock in a school play, Heather Lai from Hong Kong knew she wanted to go to drama school. It was there she fell in love with puppetry. After completing her training at The Curious School of Puppetry, she's performed on both the stage and in the television studio. Heather's currently starring in the award-winning My Neighbor Totoro at the Barbican Theatre.

Ana Crăciun-Lambru is an award-winning theatre director and puppeteer from Romania. Her one-woman show 'Dust' uses puppetry to tell the stories of the Romanian women who emigrated to the US. Ana has performed worldwide and has also featured on Romania's Got Talent with her puppet troupe.

(Image: (L) Ana Crăciun-Lambru, credit Cristian Vasile (R) Heather Lai, credit Ori Jones.)

Ana Cr\u0103ciun-Lambru and Heather Lai discuss the magic of puppetry

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Two women from Hong Kong and Romania share the magic of storytelling through puppetry.

Clémentine Mollier is a French marine carpenter who specialises in restoring and building classic wooden boats. She has just joined the restoration team working on the HMS Victory, the oldest commissioned warship in the world.

Beatriz De La Pava Hucke meets both women who have carved their own career in a male dominated industry.

Produced by Alice Gioia

(Image: (L) Clémentine Mollier, courtesy of Clémentine Mollier. (R) Angela Cacace. Credit Vincent Cacace)

Carpenters Angela Cacace and Clementine Mollier have thrived in a male dominated industry

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Carpenters Angela Cacace and Clémentine Mollier thrive in a male dominated industry

Julia 'Bish' Robson is a prominent gamer and Twitch streamer who tailors her content for a South African audience. She also hosts LAN events - days of gaming in large conference centers - where people often sleep under the desks in order to play as much as possible. She has to contend with regular load-shedding (full on electricity outages) which impacts her ability to make a living as a full-time gamer.

Eefje Depoortere from Belgium is an award-winning television presenter, reporter, and e-sports player who is best known for hosting the League of Legends European Championship. She is known professionally as Sjokz.

Produced by Emily Naylor

(Image: (L) Eefje Depoortere, credit Colin Young-Wolff. (R) Julia Robson, courtesy of Julia Robson.)

Eefje Depoortere and Julia Robson are two professional e-sport gamers

Aliyyah Koloc is the youngest driver to take part in the race. She's a 19-year-old professional race driver born in Dubai, raised by a Czech father and a mother from the Seychelles. She grew up with motorsports as her father, Martin Koloc, was a well-known racing driver in the 90s and two-times European Truck Racing Champion. After a first successful career in tennis, Aliyyah switched to motorsports only four years ago.

Motocyclist and rally driver Annie Seel from Sweden is a legend in the motorsports world. She's been the female Dakar champion for both the motorbike and car categories, and this year was her 11th time taking part. She was also the first woman to set a record climbing Mount Everest on a motorbike and is an advocate for women in motorsports.

Produced by Emily Naylor

(Image: (L) Aliyyah Koloc, credit Buggyra ZM Racing. (R) Annie Seel, credit MCH Photography/X-raid.)

Ella Al-Shamahi meets two women who race in one of the toughest off-road rallies

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Ella Al-Shamahi meets two women who took part in one of the most difficult off-road rallies in the world.

Alex Duggan was the winner of the first season on The Traitors Australia - a show all about lying and deception. During the programme and afterwards she experienced trolling because of her sexuality and her betrayal of her fellow castmates.

Ludmila Puldová from the Czech Republic signed up for the tv show Survivor assuming it would be a chance for her to explore her adventurous side and have some fun. She was the oldest contestant on the series. Instead she spent 26 days in the wilderness having the worst time of her life, surrounded by castmates who wanted nothing to do with her and only saw her flaws.

Ella Al-Shamahi meets women who've taken part in TV competitions

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Always struggling to choose between science and art, Brazilian Angela Prochilo found her way into nature documentary making after completing a zoology degree at university. Her recent nature film projects have been dedicated to showcasing the endeavours of women in wildlife conservation and research.

Andrea Florence is an Emmy-award winning nature documentary maker from England. Inspired from meeting David Attenborough after completing natural sciences at University Andrea purseued wildlife film-making. She lived for three years in the Amazon rainforest on a boat working on a documentary, was a producer on a pioneering series about animals in the womb.

Kim Chakanetsa presents a conversation between two women from different cultures about their paths to success.

Emma Young a.k.a. The Cheese Explorer is a specialist and consultant, and the author of The Cheese Wheel. She has worked in the Cheese industry since 2009 in retail, wholesale, cheesemaking, judging and now as a teacher and consultant to the cheese industry. She is also an International cheese judge and a teacher for the Academy of Cheese and the Guild of Fine Food.

Kim Chakanetsa meets two women who are revolutionising the dairy industry.

Saija Turunen is the head of research at Y‐Foundation, the largest nationwide non-profit landlord in Finland. The organisation promotes social justice by providing affordable rental housing - they currently own over 19000 homes in nearly 60 locations.

Luísa Gomes moved to Portugal as a child from East Timor and was homeless for 15 years. She is the co-founder of SOMOS, an association created by and for women who have experienced or are currently facing homelessness.

Produced by Emily Naylor

(Image: (L) Luísa Gomes, courtesy of Luísa Gomes. (R) Saija Turunen, courtesy of Saija Turunen.)

Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to two women working to eradicate homelessness

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to two women from East Timor and Finland who are working to eradicate homelessness.

Nazrin Choudhury is a British filmmaker of Bangladeshi descent. Her directorial debut, Red, White and Blue, follows the story of an American single mother, living paycheck to paycheck, who crosses state lines to try and get an abortion.

Nisha Pahuja is an Indian-Canadian filmmaker. Her movie, To Kill A Tiger, is a poignant documentary about an Indian family seeking justice for their daughter, who was gang raped at 13.

Produced by Jane Thurlow and Alice Gioia

(Image: (L) Nazrin Choudhury. (R) Nisha Pahuja. Credit Jane Thurlow/BBC)

A day in the life of Oscar nominated directors Nisha Pahuja and Nazrin Choudhury

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Oscar nominated directors Nisha Pahuja and Nazrin Choudhury tell Datshiane Navanayagam about the women at the centre of their movies.

Polly Morgan is an award-winning British sculptor who uses taxidermy to make works of art. Her work has been sold to art collectors worldwide and to celebrities like Cate Blanchette and Harry Styles.

Divya Anantharaman is an award-winning taxidermist and educator based in NY city. She is the founder of Gotham Taxidermy and her clients range from museums, designers, gallerists, and collectors. She's the co-author of Stuffed Animals: A Guide to Modern Taxidermy.

Produced by Alice Gioia.

(Image: (L) Polly Morgan, credit Mat Collishaw. (R) Divya Anantharaman, courtesy of Divya Anantharaman)

Artists Polly Morgan and Divya Anantharaman on why they love taxidermy

Kim Chakanetsa meets Polly Morgan and Divya Anantharaman, two women who are reviving the ancient practice of taxidermy

For Dr Kakenya Ntaiya, the dream of an education turned into a lifelong mission to empower girls in rural Kenya. She founded the Kakenya Center for Excellence, a primary boarding school for girls in southwest Kenya. The school has grown into a successful nonprofit organization called Kakenya's Dream with a focus on education, health and leadership.

After spending decades at the top of the corporate ladder, Shukla Bose decided to shift direction – fuelled by a desire to alleviate social injustice she founded Parikrma Humanity Foundation, a nonprofit organization that runs English-medium schools for under-privileged children in Bangalore.

Kim Chakanetsa presents a conversation between two women from different cultures about their paths to success.

Arati Kumar-Rao is a National Geographic Explorer, environmental photographer, writer and artist. She chronicles the changes in landscape caused by climate change, and she's currently reporting on human migration in India. Her book is called Marginlands.

Professor Christina Gerhardt founded the Environmental Humanities Institute at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. She's written a book called Sea Change: An Atlas of Islands in a Rising Ocean. It covers 49 islands, islets and atolls, from the Artic to the Antarctic, that are most threatened by rising sea levels. It looks at their history and culture with testimony, poetry and literature from the islanders themselves showing a defiant sense of hope, often against all odds.

Produced by Jane Thurlow

(Image: (L) Christina Gerhardt, courtesy of Christina Gerhardt. (R) Arati Kumar-Rao, courtesy of Arati Kumar-Rao.)

Stories of rising seas, floods and forced migration through photographs, maps and poetry

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

A photographer in India and professor in Hawai'i talk to Beatriz de la Pava Hucke about telling stories of communities devastated by rising seas, floods and higher temperatures.

Alana Officer is leading the World Health Organization Decade of Ageing Well. With a background in podiatric medicine, exercise and public health she's worked on health, disability, rehabilitation and development in West and Central Africa, Europe, South Asia, the Middle East and the Western Pacific.

Lina Walker is vice president of health security in AARP's Public Policy Institute. (AARP was formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons.) She has spent nearly 20 years conducting research and publishing on health care and retirement issues.

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Sarah Belal is a barrister and the founder of Justice Project Pakistan. She represents the most vulnerable people on death row in Pakistan and abroad.

Andrea Lyon is a lawyer, professor and former law school dean. She was the first woman to serve as lead attorney in a death penalty case, and she holds 19 wins in 19 capital cases. Her book is called Angel of Death Row.

Produced by Alice Gioia.

(Image: (L) Andrea Lyon. (R) Sarah Belal, credit Getty Images.)

Nelufar Hedayat meets criminal defence lawyers Sarah Belal and Andrea Lyon

Nelufar Hedayat meets two women from the US and Pakistan representing people on death row.

Andrea Lyon is a lawyer, author, speaker, professor and former law school dean. She was the first woman to serve as lead attorney in a death penalty case, and she holds 19 wins in 19 capital cases.

Nelufar Hedayat meets two women representing people on death row.

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Vandana Verma Sehgal is a Security Solutions leader at Snyk and the Chair of the Board of Directors for OWASP, the Open Web Application Security Project Foundation. She is also the founder of InfosecKids and InfosecGirls.

Sophina Kio-Lawson is an information security engineer from Nigeria and the co-founder for SheSecures, an initiative that promotes cyber literacy, inspires and empowers young African women in information and cybersecurity.

Kim Chakanetsa presents a conversation between two women from different cultures about their paths to success.

Sophina Kio-Lawson is an information security engineer from Nigeria and the co-founder for SheSecures, an initiative that promotes cyber literacy and inspires and empowers young African women who aspire to work in the tech industry.

Produced by Alice Gioia.

(Image: (L) Sophina Kio-Lawson. (R) Vandana Verma Sehgal.)

How Vandana Verma Sehgal and Sophina Kio-Lawson help women stay safe online.

Kim Chakanetsa meets Vandana Verma Sehgal and Sophina Kio-Lawson, two experts who help women stay safe online.

Mausam Narang is the founder and Head Cheesemaker at Eleftheria cheese. She has made history by becoming the first Indian person to win big at the World Cheese Awards in 2021. Before working in the dairy industry, Mausam studied language in Germany and worked in the corporate world for 8 years. It's during her travels in Europe that Mausam caught the cheese-making bug, and in 2014 she decided to start her own artisan cheese company.

Emma Young a.k.a. The Cheese Explorer is a specialist and consultant and the author of The Cheese Wheel. She has worked in the Cheese industry since 2009 in retail, wholesale, cheesemaking, judging and now as a teacher and consultant to the cheese industry. She is also an International cheese judge and a teacher for the Academy of Cheese and the Guild of Fine Food.

Produced by Alice Gioia

(Image: (L) Mausam Narang. (R) Emma Young, credit Richard Heald Photography.)

Cheese specialists Mausam Narang and Emma Young are revolutionising the dairy industry.

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Kim Chakanetsa meets two women who are revolutionising the dairy industry: Mausam Narang from India and Emma Young from the UK

Always struggling to choose between science and art, Brazilian Angela Prochilo found her way into nature documentary making after completing a zoology degree at university. Her most recent projects showcase the endeavours of women in wildlife conservation and research.

Andrea Florence is an Emmy-award winning nature documentary maker from England. She studied natural sciences and lived for three years on a boat in the Amazon rainforest. She also produced the pioneering series Animals in the womb.

Produced by Emily Naylor and Alice Gioia

(Image: (L) Andrea Florence, credit Dave Dickie. (R) Angela Prochilo, courtesy of Angela Prochilo.)

What's it like to work on some of the most remote places on our planet?

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Datshiane Navanayagam meets award-winning nature documentary makers Andrea Florence and Angela Prochilo.

Always struggling to choose between science and art, Brazilian Angela Prochilo found her way into nature documentary making after completing a zoology degree at university. Her most recent projects showcase the endeavours of women in wildlife conservation and research.

Andrea Florence is an Emmy-award winning nature documentary maker from England. She studied natural sciences and lived for three years on a boat in the Amazon rainforest. She also produced the pioneering series Animals in the womb.

Produced by Emily Naylor and Alice Gioia

(Image: (L) Andrea Florence, credit Dave Dickie . (R) Angela Prochilo, courtesy of Angela Prochilo.)

What's it like to work on some of the most remote places on our planet?

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Datshiane Navanayagam meets award-winning nature documentary makers Andrea Florence and Angela Prochilo.

Kim Chakanetsa presents a conversation between two women from different cultures about their paths to success.

Roma Agrawal is best known for her work on The Shard, the UK's tallest building. She's also the author of Nuts & Bolts, a book which explores the history of seven tiny but fundamental inventions that changed the world, and the role that women play in scientific innovation.

Nzambi Matee is a Kenyan inventor who produces sustainable low-cost construction materials made of recycled plastic. Her company is called Gjenge Makers.

Produced by Alice Gioia and Emily Naylor for the BBC World Service.

Kenyan inventor Nzambi Matee and structural engineer Roma Agrawal discuss innovation.

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Kenyan inventor Nzambi Matee and structural engineer Roma Agrawal talk to Datshiane Navanayagam about the process and value of innovation.

Dr Ify Aniebo is from Nigeria, the country worst hit by malaria. She is an Associate professor with the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, where she works to improve the country's response to drug resistance and malarial transmission.

Dr Mehreen Datoo is a clinical lecturer in Infectious Diseases at the University of Oxford and she's on the team that developed the R21/Matrix-M, the WHO approved vaccine that will be rolled out across Africa in 2024.

Produced by Alice Gioia and Emily Naylor

(Image: (L) Dr Mehreen Datoo, courtesy of Dr Mehreen Datoo. (R) Dr Ify Aniebo, courtesy Dr Ify Aniebo.)

Malaria is one of the world's deadliest diseases. Why can't we get rid of it?

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Ella Al-Shamahi meets Ify Aniebo and Mehreen Datoo, two women looking for solutions to eradicate malaria.

Vivienne Grey was one of the first women to join the RNLI when she started as a volunteer in 1990. While a crewmember at Little and Broad Haven RNLI in Wales she was involved in more than 120 ‘shouts' on the lifeboat and is credited directly for saving the lives of eight people. She's now training coordinator at the lifeboat station and works part-time as a teacher. Vivienne also volunteers with the local Coastguard Rescue Team.

Ananyaa Bath is a lifeguard and lifeguard trainer in India. She works for Drishti Marine, a safety and life-saving service, which has 400 life-savers patrolling Goa's 103km coastline.

Produced by Jane Thurlow

Ella Al-Shamahi with two women from Wales and Goa rescuing people in trouble on the coast

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Ella Al-Shamahi talks to an RNLI volunteer from Wales and lifeguard in Goa who are dedicated to rescuing people who get into difficulty at sea.

Angela Kennecke is a journalist in the United States who lost her 21 year old daughter to fentanyl poisoning. Emily was three days away from being checked into a treatment centre and died after taking what she thought was heroin. Angela has since founded Emily's Hope – a non-profit organisation to raise awareness in the opioid crisis and end the stigma of addiction.

Laura D'Arrigo works in Paris as diplomatic advisor at the Interministerial Mission on combating drugs and addictive behaviours. She helps coordinate prevention, care and law enforcement. For six years she's chaired the Management Board of the European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug addiction which enhances international cooperation on tackling drug problems, including technical assistance to places most affected by the illicit transit of drugs and countering illegal trafficking in synthetic opioids.

Kim Chakanetsa presents a conversation between two women from different cultures about their paths to success.

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Angela Kennecke is a journalist in the United States who lost her 21 year old daughter to fentanyl poisoning. Emily was three days away from being checked into a treatment centre and died after taking what she thought was heroin. Angela has since founded Emily's Hope – a non-profit organisation to raise awareness in the opioid crisis and end the stigma of addiction.

Laura d'Arrigo works in Paris as diplomatic advisor at the French Interministerial Mission on combating drugs and addictive behaviours. For six years (2016-2021) she chaired the management board of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction which is the leading authority on illicit drugs in the European Union. The agency provides independent scientific evidence and analysis on all aspects of this constantly changing threat to individual lives and wider society. She spoke to us in a personal capacity.

Produced by Jane Thurlow

(Image: (L) Angela Kennecke, credit Chris Reistroffer. (R) Laura d'Arrigo, credit Nuno Saraiva.)

A US campaigner and a diplomatic advisor in France discuss illicit drugs and addiction

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

A campaigner from the US, whose daughter died from an overdose, and a diplomatic advisor at the French Interministerial Mission on drugs discuss reducing stigma around addiction.