The Conversation

Ella Al-Shamahi speaks to two of the first generation of women to ever fly F16s, Manja Blok for the Netherlands Air Force and Heather Penney for the US Air Force. Manja Blok was the first female operational F-16 fighter pilot in the world. After taking the aviation exam at 19, Manja was told she was unfit to become a pilot and pursued a career as a beautician instead. She tried again at 22 and in 1991, made her F-16 debut in a career that lasted a decade and paved the way for women behind her. Heather Penney joined the US Air Force in the late nineties, after Congress lifted the combat exclusion for women in aviation in 1993. Six months after becoming qualified for combat, Heather was assigned a mission on September 11th 2001 during the attacks in New York and Washington D.C, to intercept hijacked Flight 93.Produced by Elena Angelides (Image: (L) Manja Blok, courtesy of Joni Isreali. (R ) Heather Penney, courtesy of Tim Engle)

Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to two female neurosurgeons to hear about the pressures and rewards that come from working in their intense and male-dominated medical field. Dr. Lola Chambless is an American neurosurgeon based in Nashville. She is passionate about medical education and serves as the Residency Program Director in Neurological Surgery. Dr. Giselle Coelho is an award-winning paediatric neurosurgeon from Brazil who has a PhD from Harvard. She is currently the Scientific Director of the EDUCSIM Institute and works at Sabará Hospital.Produced by Emily Naylor(Image: (L) Dr. Lola Chambless, credit Vanderbilt University Medical Center. (R) Dr. Giselle Coelho, credit Trianon Clinic.)

A British explorer who transformed travel and travel writing and a Nigerian novelist and travel blogger talk to Ella Al-Shamahi about their adventures around the world.Hilary Bradt co-founded the world's largest independently owned guidebook publisher fifty years ago. She’s been inspiring travellers to go off the beaten track ever since, publishing guides to destinations where no guidebook previously existed, like Uganda, Yugoslavia, North Korea, Eritrea and Madagascar.Lola Akinmade Åkerström is a Nigerian travel storyteller, photographer, speaker and an international author whose books are published in 18 languages. She lives in Sweden, teaches travel writing and is the current editor-in-chief for Slow Travel Stockholm.Produced by Jane Thurlow(Image: (L) Lola Akinmade Åkerström, credit Jessica Wikström. (R) Hilary Bradt, credit Alex Graeme.)

Ella Al-Shamahi talks to two women from Wales and Goa rescuing people in trouble on the coast. Vivienne Grey was one of the first women to become a crewmember at Little and Broad Haven RNLI in Wales when she started as a volunteer in 1990. She's been 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(Image: (L) Vivienne Grey, credit RNLI. (R) Ananyaa Bath, credit Drishti Marine.)

Ella Al-Shamahi meets two women tackling negative or ageist attitudes towards older people around the world. 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 Senior Vice President of Global Thought Leadership for AARP. (AARP was formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons.) Her aim is to improve opportunities for increased longevity with healthier, financially resilient, and connected lives. An economist, Dr Walker also co-leads AARP’s health care strategy on advocacy, policy, education, and outreach. Produced by Jane Thurlow(Image: (L) Lina Walker, credit AARP. (R) Alana Officer, courtesy Alana Officer.)

What's it like to compete for life-changing amounts of money on national television while cut off from the outside world? Ella Al-Shamahi meets two women who’ve taken part in TV show competitions to find out what happens on and off the camera.Alex Duggan was the winner of the first season on The Traitors Australia - a show all about lying and deception. She ended up in one of the most dramatic finals ever seen on the show. After winning Alex experienced trolling on social media due to her sexuality and betrayal of her fellow castmates during the competition.Lída 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. She was the oldest contestant on the series. The reality of the show starkly contrasted with Lída's expectations, leading her to regret her decision to participate.Produced by Emily Naylor(Image: (L) Lída Puldová, TV Nova. (R) Alex Duggan, credit Channel Ten.)

What’s women’s experience of homelessness across Europe? In Finland it's on the decrease, but in Portugal it's rising. Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to two women who are fighting to eradicate homelessness.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.)

The infamous Dakar race (formerly known as Paris-Dakar) is a gruelling off-road endurance rally. Since its inception in 1978, there has only been one overall female winner. Ella Al-Shamahi meets two women who took part in this year’s event.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.)

Beatriz de La Pava Hucke talks to two women committed to reducing the stigma and harm caused by drug addiction and tackling the damage done by the illegal drug trade in Europe and the United States.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.)

Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to two women about the magic of storytelling through puppetry. 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.)

Datshiane Navanayagam meets two engineers who want more women to become inventors. 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.

Datshiane Navanayagam meets two women who use what they learnt from their own divorce to help others heal. 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.)

Datshiane Navanayagam meets two Oscars nominated directors who put women at the centre of their movies.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 Tricia Yourkevich/BBC)

Beatriz De La Pava Hucke talks to two women telling the stories of communities threatened by the environmental impact of rising seas, flood damage and increasing temperatures. They're using photography, poetry and literature to express the realities of climate change in communities around the world.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.)

When Angela Cacace moved into her new house, she decided to teach herself how to renovate it. Angela is now running her own company, A.Marie Design Build, and has launched Move Over Bob, an online resource for women in the skilled trades. 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)

Beatriz De La Pava Hucke meets two writers and chefs who explore their culture, history and identity through food. 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, Alice Gioia and Jane Thurlow.(Image: (L) Keshia Sakarah, courtesy of Keshia Sakarah. (R) Dina Macki, courtesy of Dina Macki.)

Datshiane Navanayagam meets two award-winning nature documentary makers. 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.)

Ella Al-Shamahi meets two women on the frontline in the fight against malaria. 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, Emily Naylor and Jane Thurlow.(Image: (L) Dr Mehreen Datoo, courtesy of Dr Mehreen Datoo. (R) Dr Ify Aniebo, courtesy Dr Ify Aniebo.)

This programme contains discussion of suicide and suicide attempts. If you feel affected by this topic, you could speak to a health professional or an organisation that offers support. Details of help available in many countries can be found at: www.befrienders.org 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.)

Sana Safi meets two parenting experts who help women navigate their relationship with their teenage sons. 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.)

Nelufar Hedayat meets two criminal defence lawyers who fight for people's lives on death row. 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.)

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

Kim Chakanetsa meets two cybersecurity experts who help women stay safe online. 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 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.)

Kim Chakanetsa speaks to two women from Kenya and India who have established their own schools about the life-changing impact an education can have for their communities. 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.)

Kim Chakanetsa speaks to two paramedics from Norway and Australia to learn about the demands and rewards of working as part of the emergency response. 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.

Kim Chakanetsa meets two climate change pioneers who are are on this year's BBC 100 Women list.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

Kim Chakanetsa speaks to two world-renowned drummers to find out what it takes to play professionally in the music industry.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.)

Kim Chakanetsa speaks to two professional e-sport gamers who earn their living playing online.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.)

Can a humble bicycle become a tool to empower women worldwide? Kim Chakanetsa meets two cyclists who want more women to get on their bikes.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.)

Kim Chakanetsa meets two women who are breathing new life into the ancient practice of taxidermy, the process of preserving animal skin with fur and feather. 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)

Kim Chakanetsa speaks to a psychologist and a doll maker to discuss the impact of playing with toys on the brain. 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.)

Kim Chakanetsa speaks to two freedivers from Italy and Poland about what it takes to compete and set world-records in the extreme sport.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.)

The cedar tree is Lebanon’s national symbol: it can be seen everywhere, on flags, banknotes and souvenirs. But this majestic tree is under threat as a result of climate change and has come to symbolise the greater environmental crisis facing Lebanon: heatwaves, wildfires and an energy crisis that is pushing up already high levels of pollution. Kim Chakanetsa meets two women who work with local communities to bring about change.Dr Najat Aoun Saliba is a prominent Lebanese scientist who has made significant contributions to the understanding of air pollution and its impact on people’s health. She’s one of the eight women elected to parliament in 2022, where she’s trying to promote the use of clean energy sources. Najat has also been actively involved in promoting science education and women's participation in STEM fields. Nouhad Awwad is the founder of the Lebanese national chapter of the Arab Youth Climate Change and a campaigner at Greenpeace MENA. From beach clean-ups to planting trees, Nouhad has been engaging youth in environmental issues since the age of 15. She is currently leading the implementation of the Ummah For Earth project, an initiative working to empower Muslim communities on climate action.Produced by Alice Gioia. Sound recording by Antonio Nakhoul.Image: (L) Nouhad Awwad (R) Dr Najat Aoun Saliba. Credit: Alice Gioia/BBC.)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) research and diagnosis has historically been male-centric, often overlooking or misdiagnosing women and girls. This gender bias has led to a lack of understanding and support for women with ADHD, perpetuating misconceptions and underrepresentation. Kim Chakanetsa speaks to two women who have the condition to debunk some of the stereotypes associated with ADHD.Dr Kai Syng Tan is an award-winning artist and academic from Singapore who uses creativity to promote conversations for positive change around neurodiversity. They are currently Associate Professor in Arts and Cultural Leadership University of Southampton.Dr Jane Sedgwick is a senior lecturer and researcher in adult ADHD and an advanced mental health nurse practitioner. As well as being an ADHD therapist/coach she is an executive board member of the UK Adult ADHD Network. She is originally from Zimbabwe.Produced by Emily Naylor(Image: (L) Kai Syng Tan (R) Jane Sedgwick.)

Inheriting a family business can be a tall order. All the more so when it's a coffee business, where men have traditionally dominated the sector in many countries that produce one of the world's most popular beverages. While women have a crucial role to play in an industry that supports 25 million rural households across the globe, they're often under-represented at the highest level.Kim Chakanetsa hears from two women who've broken the mould. Heleanna Georgalis is the president of Moplaco Trading in Ethiopia, a company she took on when her father died in 2008. When she arrived, the system of trading coffee in the country was turned on its head, and she was forced to make changes to secure the future of the company.Ana María Donneys from Colombia inherited a coffee producing company from her grandfather when she was only in her mid-twenties. As the first woman to lead the company, and the first to export their specialty coffee, she's overcome numerous challenges to succeed in a highly volatile market.Both women discuss the future of coffee in the context of climate change, and how women can play a role.Produced by Fiona Clampin(Image: (L) Ana María Donneys, courtesy of Laura Victoria Usma Salazar. (R) Heleanna Georgalis, courtesy of Imran Mazar.)

Kim Chakanetsa talks to two female music managers who have made a significant impact in an often male-dominated field. Kei Henderson was the personal manager of rapper 21 Savage for several years. She is the CEO and founder of Third and Hayden, a management company that supports musical ad executive talent. She’s currently managing Rico Nasty and emerging talents such as Annahstasia, Ben Reilly, Jordan Hawkins and Kenneth Whalum.Amy Morgan worked across the whole spectrum of the music industry. She started out at Island Records, then moved to the independent label Beggars Music Group, where she became the creative director. Amy has managed the British indie rock band Glass Animals, whose recent hit Heat Waves led them to become the first British band to have a number one in the Global Spotify charts.Produced by Beatriz De La Pava.(Image: (L) Kei Henderson. (R) Amy Morgan.)

Kim Chakanetsa talks to two entrepreneurs who teach women to be money-savvy. Arese Ugwu is a Nigerian author whose work is centred around personal finance. She wrote two best-selling books, The smart money tribe and The smart money woman. The latter has recently been turned into a Netflix show. Shikha Mittal is a personal finance educator from India. In 2010 she started Be.artsy, a social enterprise empowering people through courses and awareness campaigns. The two big causes she cares about are fighting sexual harassment in the workplace and making people – and women in particular – financially literate.Produced by Alice Gioia(Image: (L) Shikha Mittal, credit Be.artsy. (R) Arese Ugwu, credit Ryan OniFOTO Studios.)

Kim Chakanetsa meets two trailblazing athletes who help promote women’s participation in sports.Ray Bassil is the first Arab woman to compete in three Olympic games and win three consecutive World Cup medals in trap shooting. Ray has become a prominent figure in Lebanese sports, breaking barriers as a female athlete in this a male-dominated field. She has also worked with UNDP as youth and gender Goodwill Ambassador.Sarah El Jizi is a basketball player who leads a series of sports programs for Right To Play, an NGO promoting skills development and social cohesion among youth in refugee camps. Sarah works with local female coaches to teach kids life skills like inter-faith dialogue, effective communication, respect and team-work through sport.Produced by Alice Gioia. Sound recording by Antonio Nakhoul.(Image: (L) Sarah El Jizi. (R) Ray Bassil.)

A report published by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency in 2023 found that less than a quarter of the nuclear workforce are women. And when it comes to scientific, engineering and leadership roles in the industry, that figure is even smaller. Those who support nuclear as part of the energy mix to combat climate change say addressing this gender imbalance is essential, if the industry is to remain competitive and innovative.Beatriz de la Pava is joined by two women working to increase female representation at all levels in nuclear power generation. Lisa McBride is Canada’s country leader for small modular reactors with GE Hitachi's Nuclear Products Division. She began her career with Ontario Power Generation, where she spent 18 years in a range of leadership roles including nuclear security.Raquel Heredia from Mexico is the Training Manager for the World Nuclear University, an organisation which works towards improving education and skills in the nuclear industry. She’s also worked as a data analyst, consultant and engineer in the field of sustainable development.Produced by Fiona Clampin.(Image: (L) Raquel Heredia. (R) Lisa McBride, credit: Elle Marie Photography.)

It's been said that the Covid-19 lockdown had a devastating impact on children's speech development. But it also affected the support that older patients can get for their speech and swallowing problems. Beatriz de la Pava talks to speech therapists from Greece and South Africa about the work they do.Emilia Michou is a speech and language therapist from Greece. She’s a clinical academic, spending half of her time with patients and half teaching at Patras University. Emilia was inspired to train as a SLT because of the struggles she and her brother had communicating when they were children. She specialises in supporting people with degenerative conditions or after suffering from a stroke.Dr Sadna Balton heads up the speech and audiology department at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Johannesburg, the largest hospital in Africa and third largest in the world. She’s a paediatric therapist working with babies to teenagers helping children with autism, down’s syndrome as well as with cleft palettes. Sadna also trains care-givers and parents in how to communicate with their child.Produced by Jane Thurlow and Emily Naylor(Image: (L) Sadna Balton. (R) Emilia Michou.)

Kim Chakanetsa meets two women looking after remarkable historical objects and artworks. Kristiane Strætkvern is a Norwegian conservator with the National Museum of Denmark. She’s specialised in the preservation of waterlogged archaeological wooden objects and has worked on one of the world's largest Viking shipwrecks. Susana Fajardo from Venezuela is a Senior Textile conservator at the V&A Museum in London. She originally trained in tapestry weaving and has worked across many forms of textiles, including theatre costumes, marionettes, carpets and leather armour.Produced by Flora McWilliam and Alice Gioia(Image: (L) Susana Fajardo, credit Alice Gioia. (R) Kristiane Strætkvern.)

Kim Chakanetsa talks to two Beirut-based creatives who made it their mission to tell women’s stories. Joana Hadjithomas is a Lebanese artist and director. Her work has been exposed at the Victoria and Albert museum in London and at the Guggenheim in New York. Her latest movie, Memory Box, inspired by her own experience of being a teenager in Lebanon during the civil war, was the country’s entry to the 2023 Oscars. Madonna Adib is a Syrian writer and director whose work revolves around LGBTQ+ rights, identity and migration. Her latest documentary, Let My Body Speak, explores the experiences her body stores: her childhood in Damascus, witnessing the Syrian revolution, and falling in love with a woman. Produced by Alice Gioia. Sound recording by Antonio Nakhoul.(Image: (L) Madonna Adib, credit Elsy Hajjar. (R) Joana Hadjithomas.)

In August 2020, a devastating explosion destroyed the port of Beirut. More than 200 people lost their lives and thousands of small and medium women-owned businesses were destroyed. Kim Chakanetsa meets two entrepreneurs who are now working to rebuild their city and keep the economy going. In 2018, Joelle Azar quit her job in banking and, with the help of her three sisters, opened Le Panier du Coin, a food store in the centre of Beirut, where they sell produce made by local female farmers and artisans. On the day of the explosion, she was on her way to work when a balcony fell on her car. It took months for Joelle to get back on her feet, and even though her sisters have now left the country, she is determined to stay, keep the shop open and help her community heal. Nour Tannir is a 28-year-old architect and entrepreneur. In 2019, Nour joined her sister-in-law, jewellery designer Yasmine Dabbous, at EspaceFann, a social enterprise offering women affordable workshops and professional courses in textile, design and traditional crafts. Their workshops were seriously damaged by the blast, but Nour thinks that all the adversities they faced made them stronger. Nour also owns her own brand of contemporary designs for religious rituals, 786 Faithful Solutions.In the aftermath of the explosion Joelle and Nour were helped by local NGOs, including Stand For Women. Produced by Alice Gioia. Sound recording by Antonio Nakhoul.(Image: (L) Nour Tannir. (R) Joelle Azar.)

The sleep economy is booming – from hi-tech sleep trackers to apps and cooling mattresses – and its worth is estimated at hundreds of billions of US dollars every year. So why do some of us still have trouble dropping off? Part of the explanation may lie in our sex, as some studies suggest that women are 40 per cent more likely to experience sleep disruption than men. And throughout a woman’s life, puberty, pregnancy, menopause and caring responsibilities may all have an effect on the amount of good quality sleep available to women. Kim Chakanetsa is joined by psychologist Dr Christine Blume from the Centre for Chronobiology at the University of Basel in Switzerland. Since April 2022 she has been involved in a four-year project to study the effects of natural daylight and exercise on our circadian rhythms. Dr Anita Shelgikar is clinical professor of neurology and programme director for the Sleep Medicine Fellowship at the University of Michigan in the United States. She researches a condition called obstructive sleep apnea, where a person's airway narrows during sleep and can cause them to wake repeatedly. This can affect pregnant women in particular. Produced by Fiona Clampin(Image: (L) Dr Christine Blume, courtesy of Michael Brauer. (R) Dr Anita Shelgikar, courtesy of University of Michigan Health.)

Beatriz de la Pava talks to two women on the frontline of disaster preparation about how communities can become more resilient to natural hazards, respond quickly to them, and recover afterwards.Mami Mizutori is the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, and head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. Before that she served for twenty-seven years in the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Homolata Borah has worked towards reducing disaster risk for some of the most vulnerable communities living in the world’s largest inhabited river island of Majuli in the state of Assam in India.Produced by Jane Thurlow

Artists from Ukraine and the UK tell Kim Chakanetsa about how they capture someone’s personality on canvas.Laura Quinn Harris is a UK artist specialising in oil portraits of people and animals. Her work has been displayed in exhibitions including the prestigious BP Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery in London, and the Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition. Her sitters have included the actor Sir Ian McKellen, film producer Armando Iannucci and soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. Laura first gained a degree in Mathematics before studying Scientific & Natural History Illustration and produces highly detailed portraits which can take up to several months to complete.Ukrainian artist Tania Rivilis moved to Germany from Moscow in 2012 in her twenties and started painting after her husband gave her oil paints and brushes as a gift to help cope with the upheaval. In 2022 Tania received the William Lock Prize at the Royal Portrait Society for the most timeless portrait, her works have been displayed on billboards in Times Square in New York and she’s exhibited her works at Christie´s in London.Produced by Jane Thurlow(Image: (L) Tanya Rivilis, courtesy of Tanya Rivilis. (R) Laura Quinn Harris , courtesy of Laura Quinn Harris.)

Kim Chakanetsa talks to two women about the joys and challenges of parenting a disabled child.Gopika Kapoor is a writer, neurodiversity consultant and parent advocate. Her son Vir was diagnosed with autism at 3 years old. Gopika told her story in a book: Beyond the Blue: Love, Life and Autism. She lives and works in Mumbai.Julie Jones is an accessible and inclusive travel writing specialist from Sydney in Australia. She’s a mum of two and she cares for her disabled adult son, Braeden, who lives with cerebral palsy. She writes a blog, Have Wheelchair Will Travel, and co-founded a magazine called Travel Without Limits.Produced by Hetal Bapodra and Alice Gioia(Image: (L) Julie Jones and her son Braeden, credit courtesy of Julie Jones. (R) Gopika Kapoor, credit courtesy of Gopika Kapoor.)

Kim Chakanetsa meets two writers who, in their work, explore the themes of love, identity, belonging and inter-generational trauma. Min Jin Lee is a South Korean American author who wrote two novels, Free food for Millionaires and Pachinko, a multi-generational saga following the story of a Korean family in Japan. Pachinko was a New York Times bestseller and was nominated for the National Book Award for Fiction, and it’s recently been turned into a TV series. Min is currently working on her third novel, American Hagwon. Elif Shafak is a Turkish British writer. She has written 19 books, most of them novels, which have been translated into 55 languages. She is a Booker prize finalist, and her most recent novel - The Island of Missing Trees - tells the forbidden love story between a Greek Cypriot man and a Turkish Cypriot woman.Produced by Alice Gioia(Image: (L) Elif Shafak, credit BBC. (R) Min Jin Lee, credit Getty Images)

Tennis has a level of equality that women in other many other sports must envy, with equal prize money and media coverage at many top tournaments. Much of this is down to the work of the Women's Tennis Association, founded in 1973 by Billie Jean King and other players to unite all of women's professional tennis in one tour. To mark the 50th anniversary, Kim Chakanetsa talks to WTA president, Micky Lawler and top player, Johanna Konta about how the game is changing on the court and off it: the great steps made towards equality, and the challenges and the progress still to be made.Former British No1 Johanna Konta won three WTA Tour titles. She also played for Great Britain in the Davis Cup and Olympics and was semi-finalist at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and Roland Garros. Born in Australia she moved to train in Spain at 14 and her parents settled in the UK. She’s one of only five British women to gain a world top-ten ranking in the open era – reaching No 4 in the world in June 2017. She retired from professional tennis in December 2021, before getting married and starting a family.Micky Lawler was born in Holland, and while her father’s job took the family to live in Argentina, Bolivia and Kenya sport played an important part of her life growing up. A multi-linguist, she was teaching English and planning to be an interpreter when she got her first job in tennis. A highly successful sports agent before moving to the WTA, she’s helped build tournaments in countries around the world as a way of increasing opportunities for players.Produced by Jane Thurlow(Image: (L) Johanna Konta, credit Made Nagi/EPA. (R) Micky Lawler, credit Radka Leitmeritz.)

Kim Chakanetsa talks to two women who’ve chosen a life not on the ocean wave, but under it. Chief Petty Officer Sara Ryman is currently serving on board a submarine in the Swedish Navy as a sonar officer. She operates the kind of equipment that’s essential to a submarine’s ability to track other vessels underwater, while remaining undetected.Lieutenant Commander Rochelle Egan leads a team of engineers and technicians who maintain the Royal Canadian Navy’s Atlantic submarine fleet in tip top condition. She joined the submarine service in 2015, where she became the first female Combat Systems Engineering Officer to serve on Canada’s Victoria Class submarines.Produced by Fiona Clampin. (Image: (L) Lieutenant Commander Rochelle Egan, credit Sailor First Class Bryan Underwood/Royal Canadian Navy (R) Chief Petty Officer Sara Ryman, credit Försvarsmakten/Swedish Armed Forces.)