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Wempower is a London based media platform focused on stories of ordinary women that are inspiring, powerful, inclusive and positive. We want to rewrite the narrative, with stories that sounds and looks like yours. Stories of women that are fighting and working to build a new generation of empowered women. These stories are the testimony that the world is filled with ambitious and remarkable women, ready to lift each other up, willing to fight and speak up for the one that can’t.
Episodes

Monday Apr 07, 2025
Monday Apr 07, 2025
Trigger Warning: This podcast episode discusses sensitive topics, including sexual violence, FGM and abuse.
This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional.
In this deeply moving and impactful episode, we sit down with Adama Nyama Bah, the founder and director of the Women's Health Advocacy Network (WHAN). Adama, a survivor of sexual violence from Sierra Leone's Civil War and a victim of FGM, shares her extraordinary journey and her unwavering commitment to supporting women and girls who have endured unimaginable trauma.
Adama's story is one of resilience and determination. From her own experiences of navigating the devastating aftermath of violence to her tireless advocacy for marginalized women, she illuminates the urgent need for systemic change and trauma-informed care. We delve into the critical work of WHAN, exploring how the organization provides life-changing support, including emergency assistance, mental health services, and empowerment programs.
Adama passionately discusses the barriers faced by survivors, particularly those from migrant and marginalized communities, highlighting the lack of culturally sensitive services and the urgent need for training in maternal health. She also addresses the importance of engaging men and broader communities in the fight against gender-based violence.
This episode is a powerful call to action, shedding light on the urgent need for funding and support for WHAN's vital work. Adama's voice is a beacon of hope, inspiring survivors to break the silence and seek help and challenging us all to create a world where every woman's voice is heard and her needs are met.

Friday Mar 28, 2025
Friday Mar 28, 2025
Welcome to Fobbed Off & Female, Wempower’s special series on medical misogyny. In this episode, journalist Rebecca Crockett speaks with Simphiwe Sansani, medical educator, nurse consultant, and founder of Black Nurses and Midwives UK.
They discuss the pressing issue of health inequalities for Black women in the UK, the systemic barriers they face, and how we can work towards real health equity. From representation in the NHS to mentorship and career development, this conversation sheds light on the power of community and advocacy in healthcare.
🔗 Follow Wempower for more stories challenging gender bias in medicine https://wempower.co/

Friday Mar 14, 2025
Endometriosis Beyond the Binary
Friday Mar 14, 2025
Friday Mar 14, 2025
An interview with Lois Shearing, Senior Sex and Relationships Writer at Cosmopolitan UK
We’re diving into a vital and long-overdue conversation with Lois Shearing, Senior Sex and Relationships Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, to explore the realities of endometriosis beyond the binary.
For too long, endometriosis has been framed as a “women’s disease,” leaving many sufferers overlooked and underdiagnosed. In this episode, Lois unpacks the gendered biases in healthcare and the urgent need for more inclusive, affirming care for trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse people with endometriosis.
🔹 Why is endometriosis still so misunderstood and misdiagnosed?
🔹 How does gender bias shape who gets access to treatment?
🔹 What needs to change for a truly inclusive approach to reproductive health?
This is essential listening for healthcare professionals, advocates, and anyone pushing for a more inclusive medical system.
🎧 Tune in now & join the conversation!
Remember to like, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth explorations of the realities of healthcare and gender.

Friday Mar 07, 2025
Contraception, Menopause, and Everything In Between: What Do We Really Know?
Friday Mar 07, 2025
Friday Mar 07, 2025
Interview with Kate Muir, novelist and journalist
We’re kicking off our brand-new series, Fobbed Off and Female, with an unmissable conversation featuring Kate Muir—novelist, journalist, and fierce advocate for women's health.
Kate, author of Everything You Need to Know About The Menopause and The Pill, has been instrumental in breaking the silence around medical misogyny. In this episode, she shares eye-opening insights into the systemic biases in healthcare, from the hidden dangers of hormonal contraception to the neglect of menopause in medical research.
We also discuss her upcoming book, How to Have a Magnificent Midlife Crisis (out this summer!), which challenges outdated perceptions of aging and women’s health.
🔹 How much do we know about the pill’s impact on mental health?
🔹 Why is female contraception not held to the same safety standards as male contraception?
🔹 What’s the Pope Rule—and how has it shaped access to birth control?
This is essential listening for healthcare professionals, policymakers, and anyone ready to challenge the status quo.
🎧 Tune in now & join the conversation!
Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes on the realities of women's healthcare.
#MedicalMisogyny #KateMuir #Menopause #Contraception

Thursday Feb 06, 2025
When Water Comes at a Cost Cecilia Ayot’s Fight Against Sextortion in Kenya
Thursday Feb 06, 2025
Thursday Feb 06, 2025
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Kenya is facing a deepening water crisis, with 15 million people lacking access to safe water and 37 million without proper sanitation. As droughts intensify, water scarcity is disproportionately affecting women and girls, who are often forced into dangerous situations just to secure this basic necessity.
In this episode, we speak with Cecilia Achieng Ayot, a feminist activist and former member of the Nairobi County Assembly, who has dedicated her life to fighting against water cartels and the inhumane practice of sextortion—where women and girls are coerced into exchanging sex for water.
Having experienced this reality firsthand growing up in Kibera, Cecilia shares her powerful journey from survival to activism, her fight to criminalize sextortion, and the ongoing struggle for women’s dignity and economic empowerment in Kenya. Her story is a testament to resilience and the urgent need for systemic change in the face of gendered violence and climate injustice.

Saturday Jan 11, 2025
Liberia Uncovered: Bettie Mbayo on Media Independence and Women’s Voices
Saturday Jan 11, 2025
Saturday Jan 11, 2025
Meet Bettie K. Johnson Mbayo, a fearless investigative journalist fighting for truth in Liberia—a country grappling with corruption, gender inequality, and threats to press freedom.
Bettie’s incredible journey has taken her from founding her school’s press club to exposing systemic corruption and launching The Stage Media, a platform that champions transparency and amplifies survivors’ voices.
Discover the full story of her resilience, courage, and vision for a Liberia where journalists work free from harassment, and media independence thrives.

Monday Nov 25, 2024
Lyanne Nicholl: Empowering Women for Political Change
Monday Nov 25, 2024
Monday Nov 25, 2024
An interview with the CEO of 50:50 Parliament
We are thrilled to feature Lyanne Nicholl, CEO of 50:50 Parliament, a passionate advocate for gender equality in political representation. With over 17 years of experience in the charity sector, Lyanne shares her journey and the pivotal moments that led her to lead 50:50 Parliament, an organization working tirelessly to break down the barriers preventing women from entering political life.
In our conversation, Lyanne discusses the challenges women face when entering politics, the progress made in recent years, and the important campaigns 50:50 Parliament is spearheading to accelerate gender parity. A particular focus is on their Ask Her To Stand campaign, which encourages women from all backgrounds to step up and consider running for office. She also shares the organization's vision for a more inclusive political landscape and their ongoing efforts to push for systemic changes in Parliament to attract and retain top female talent.
Join us as we delve into the strategies, campaigns, and achievements driving the push for gender equality in politics, and hear Lyanne’s insights on the future of political representation in the UK and beyond.
Don’t miss this inspiring episode!

Monday Nov 11, 2024
Voices From The Frontline
Monday Nov 11, 2024
Monday Nov 11, 2024
Interview with Andrea Backhaus, conflict reporter
We welcome Andrea Backhaus, an independent journalist from Germany whose courageous reporting on wars and conflicts has taken her from the Arab Spring in Egypt to the frontlines of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Throughout our conversation, the word “anger” resonates—an anger towards the pervasive racism and sexism in mainstream media, and a profound drive to change the narrative surrounding war.
Andrea shares her journey into conflict reporting, emphasizing the need to amplify the voices of those affected by war, who are often reduced to mere statistics in the media.
During our inspiring discussion, Andrea offers practical advice for aspiring war reporters, touching on the importance of safety measures and mental health support, which remains a taboo topic in many newsrooms.
Please tune in to hear Andrea’s insights and reflections, and join us in advocating for a more inclusive and empathetic portrayal of conflict in the media.

Monday Oct 28, 2024
News Through a Gender Lens: The Persistent Perspective
Monday Oct 28, 2024
Monday Oct 28, 2024
Interview with Francesca Donner, Editor and Founder of The Persistent
In this episode, we explore "News Through a Gender Lens: The Persistent Perspective", delving into how Francesca is redefining journalism to prioritize equality and diverse representation. She shares her journey and insights on reshaping the media landscape, challenging long-standing biases, and amplifying underrepresented voices.

Monday Oct 14, 2024
Rethinking and Redefining Representation in the news
Monday Oct 14, 2024
Monday Oct 14, 2024
An Interview with Alia Chebbab and Leila Hawkins, founders of NADJA
NADJA is a digital news platform with a mission to redefine journalism by telling stories through the eyes of women. Alia and Leila are challenging mainstream narratives and giving a voice to the women shaping our world in ways that often go unseen.
Inspired by Andre Breton’s free-spirited character in Nadja, they’re disrupting stereotypes and offering new perspectives to create a more inclusive, diverse representation of women’s experiences in media.