Changing The Face Of Politics Podcast
The Changing the Face of Politics podcast series is an initiative by the National Democratic Institute, launched as part of NDI's commitment to a decade of action to accelerate the pace of change on women's political empowerment.
In candid conversations recorded from home, an intergenerational, multi-sectoral and multi-national array of established and emerging women activists and politicians from around the world will interview each other about their experiences of political leadership, and reflect on how the Changing the Face of Politics campaign can actively protect and promote women’s political empowerment globally.
Instead of a single host the series will be built on a “daisy chain” model, whereby each participant is first a guest, and then an interviewer.
Our hope is that this podcast presents inspirational examples to other women, particularly young women and marginalized women, of the possibilities of political leadership.
Watch NDI's media partner, Devex, discusses highlights from the episodes here
"The National Democratic Institute gratefully recognizes the generous contribution of Lynda Thomas for making the Changing the Face of Politics podcast series possible. The Institute also recognizes Devex as the Media Partner for the series."
Episodes Playlist
In this special edition episode for 2022's International Day of the Girl Child, you will hear Peace Ayo interview Julieta Martinez about her journey fighting for gender equality in Chile, while raising awareness of the intersection of climate justice as a part of this fight.;
In this special edition episode for 2022's International Day of the Girl Child, you will hear Julieta Martinez interview Peace Ayo about the importance of engaging young women and girls in politics while breaking through gender norms in Nigeria.;
In this final episode, Maria Ressa, Co-Founder and CEO of Rappler interviews Julia Gillard, Former Prime Minister of Australia and Chair of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College London, about her experience fighting gendered double standards in Australia and how she's been able to put her values into action within politics through her unrivaled optimism.;
In this episode, Yuliia Sachuk, Head of Fight for Right OPD and the Disability Research Center, interviews Fadzayi Mahere, National Spokesperson for the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance Zimbabwe, about the importance of civic engagement and her optimism for the future of women's rights in Zimbabwe.;
In this episode, Birgitta Ohlsson, Former Member of Parliament and Minister in Sweden and current Director for Political Parties at NDI, interviews Yuliia Sachuk, Head of Fight for Right OPD and the Disability Research Center, about her personal experience fighting for disability rights in Ukraine and how she continues to advocate for a better quality of life for the most marginalized populations of PWDs.;
In this episode, Nora Noralla, Egyptian LGBTQI+ activist, interviews Birgitta Ohlsson, Former Member of Parliament and Minister in Sweden and current Director for Political Parties at NDI, about her experience fighting for gender equality and LGBTQI+ rights in Sweden and what it takes to be a strong, resilient, and influential leader today.;
In this special Pride month episode, Governor Kate Brown, Governor of Oregon, interviews Nora Noralla, Egyptian LGBTQI+ activist, about her experience fighting for LGBTQI+ rights in Egypt and what it takes to lead an effective social justice movement.;
In this special Pride month episode, Philomena Wankenge, co-founder of Freedom Fighters DC, interviews Oregon Governor Kate Brown, about her experience as a feminist politician and what it takes to get more women, particularly LGBTQI women and women of color, into politics.;
In this episode Margaret Alva, former Indian politician interviews Philomena Wankenge, Co-Founder of Freedom Fighters DC, about her life as an activist and what it takes to make intersectional, progressive and feminist change within the racial justice movement today.;
In this episode Wanjira Mathai, Vice President and Regional Director for Africa at the World Resources Institute interviews Margaret Alva, former Indian governor, minister, and parliamentarian about her life and continued legacy within politics and what it means to fight for women's rights today.;
In this episode, Dima Moussa, member of the Syrian political opposition, interviews Wanjira Mathai, Vice President and Regional Director for Africa at the World Resources Institute about her environmental activism and views on women’s leadership in climate action.;
In this episode, Djamila Ribeiro, Brazilian feminist philosopher and journalist, interviews Dima Moussa, member of the Syrian political opposition, former Vice President of the Syrian National Coalition and a Founding Member of the Syrian Women's Political Movement, about her experience as a Syrian politician and Syria's feminist movement.;
In this episode, Christiana Figueres, Former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Co-Founder of Global Optimism, interviews Djamila Ribeiro, Brazilian black feminist philosopher and journalist, about her work to advance the rights of Black women in Brazil;
In this special episode to celebrate International Women's Day, Julia Gillard, former prime minister of Australia, interviews Madeleine K. Albright, former US Secretary of State and Chairman of NDI's Board about Secretary Albright’s decades long experience as a leading woman in politics and diplomacy.;
In the 10th episode of the series, Ambassador Roya Rahmani, Afghan Ambassador to the US, interviews Christiana Figueres, Former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Co-Founder of Global Optimism about her experience working to combat climate change at the international level;
In this episode, Vera Jourová, the Vice President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency, interviews Ambassador Roya Rahmani, Afghan Ambassador to the United States, about the successes and challenges of women’s leadership in politics, peace, and security;
In the eighth episode of the series, Fauziya Abdi Ali, President and Founder of Women in International Security in the Horn of Africa, interviews Vera Jourová, the Vice President of the European Union for Values and Transparency, about the successes and challenges for women’s political participation in Europe.;
In this episode, Ambassador Bi-Khim Hsiao, Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office, speaks with Fauziya Abdi Ali, President and Founder of Women in International Security in the Horn of Africa, in an interview about advancing women’s leadership in peace and security in Kenya, Africa, and around the world
In this episode of the Changing the Face of Politics podcast series, Seyi Akiwowo, Founder and Executive Director of Glitch and former London borough councillor, interviews Ambassador Bi-Khim Hsiao, Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office, about gender equality and democracy in Taiwan, and the importance of representation.
In the fifth episode, Mimoza Kusari-Lila, Member of the Kosovo Parliament, interviews Seyi Akiwowo, Founder and Executive Director of Glitch and former London borough councillor about her career in local politics, her work to combat online abuse against women, and her commitment to self care.
In the fourth episode of the Changing the Face of Politics podcast series, Nighat Dad, Executive Director of the Digital Rights Foundation in Pakistan, interviews Mimoza Kusari-Lila, Member of Kosovo Parliament and former Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, about her journey to political leadership and the obstacles she faced and overcame along the way.
In the third episode of the Changing the Face of Politics podcast series, Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, speaks with Nighat Dad, Executive Director of the Digital Rights Foundation in Pakistan, about the opportunities and barriers of the digital space for politically-active women, and her experience as an activist fighting for women’s rights in Pakistan.
In this second episode of Changing the Face of Politics, Vanessa Nakate, Ugandan climate activist and founder of the Rise Up Climate Movement, interviews former President of Chile and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, about her experience of political leadership and the imperative of women’s participation in democracy.
Welcome to the first episode of the National Democratic Institute's Changing the Face of Politics podcast series. In this episode, Birgitta Ohlsson, former Swedish Minister of Parliament and Minister for European Affairs, interviews Vanessa Nakate, Ugandan climate activist and founder of the Rise Up Climate Movement, about her experience as a young activist fighting against climate change in Africa and around the world.