The Conversation

Nov 17 2024 503 ep. 27 mins 11.5k

The Conversation Podcast artwork

Two women from different parts of the world, united by a common passion, experience or expertise, share the stories of their lives.

Society & Culture

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Fabrics for the future

Nov 17 2024 26 mins

According to the UN, the fashion industry is responsible for 8-10% of global emissions. That's more than aviation and shipping combined. We talk to two women making climate-friendly clothes and developing innovative textiles in a bid to reduce the waste produced by fast fashion.Regina Polanco is the founder and CEO of Pyratex, a textile company making fabrics from seaweed, banana a

How to get ahead in the workplace

Nov 10 2024 26 mins

Everyone wants to feel confident in the workplace. But knowing what to do to perform at your best isn’t always easy. Datshiane Navanayagam is joined by two entrepreneurs and career coaches to explore strategies to help women thrive in their jobs. Jo Wimble Groves is an award-winning British entrepreneur, writer and motivational speaker specializing in women in the workplace. She

Women with a love of language

Nov 06 2024 26 mins

Datshiane Navanayagam talks to translators from Turkey and Argentina about giving a writer's work a new life in another language, and whether the age of digital translation is putting the craft in jeopardy.Ekin Oklap is Turkish and grew up in Italy. She's the English language translator for Nobel prize-winning Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk and was shortlisted for the 2016 Internationa

Femicide: 'The shadow pandemic'

Oct 27 2024 26 mins

Femicide is defined as the intentional killing of women and girls because of their gender. More than half of these murders are carried out in the home. According to UN figures 89,000 women and girls lost their life to femicide in 2022 alone. Datshiane Navanayagam talks to two women in Puerto Rico and Kenya about their efforts to reduce the number of deaths.Judy Gitau is a Kenyan la

Feel the fear: Women directing horror movies

Oct 20 2024 26 mins

What happens when women bring traditional folklore into the horror genre and subvert it? You get award-winning feature length films, Iranian vampires and Mayan werewolves to name a few examples. Ella Al-Shamahi is joined by Iranian-American filmmaker Ana Lily Amirpour and Mexican filmmaker Gigi Saul Guerrero to discuss how to create horror on screen.Ana Lily Amirpour’s award-winn

Women causing a stir in the tea business

Oct 13 2024 26 mins

Women make up a large proportion of the workforce in the global tea industry. But despite their crucial role, women in the tea sector often face lower wages and limited access to leadership positions. Datshiane Navanayagam speaks with two tea entrepreneurs to learn more about running tea businesses.Susie Walker-Munro from the UK runs Kinnettles Tea Garden in Angus, Scotland, where

Women's hidden role in the history of healing

Oct 06 2024 26 mins

Despite their pivotal roles in advancing healthcare, women’s contributions to medicine have often been overshadowed or erased by male-dominated narratives. Datshiane Navanayagam speaks with two women dedicated to reclaiming this lost history and highlighting the vital work that women have done in the field of medicine.Yunxin Li is a Chinese academic who specializes in the gendere

The life of a female driving instructor

Sep 29 2024 26 mins

For decades, the world of driving instructors was largely male dominated. Up until recently not every woman even had the right to drive - that only changed in 2018 when Saudi Arabia lifted their ban on female drivers. Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to two instructors to find out what it takes to teach this skill. Aman Sanghera, a London-based driving instructor, turned to social medi

Glaciologists: Women on rivers of moving ice

Sep 22 2024 26 mins

Glaciers have shaped the world's landscapes and continue to affect earth's climate just as human caused climate change impacts them. Datshiane Navanayagam talks to two women dedicating their lives to the study of these giant ice structures. Jemma Wadham is a glacier biogeochemist and writer whose research has taken her to glaciers in Greenland, Antarctica, Svalbard, Chilean Patagon

The changing world of women's magazines

Sep 15 2024 26 mins

Women’s magazines collectively reach millions of readers each month. Beyond their influence in fashion, these publications are pivotal in addressing critical women's issues and advocating for empowerment. Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to two magazine editors to explore their approaches to staying relevant in an ever-evolving media landscape.Grace O'Neill began her career at ELLE A