As we close out an incredible first year of Changing Narratives, we're taking a moment to pause, reflect, and celebrate.

In this special year-end episode, host Patricia Mars is joined by her colleagues from The U.S. End FGM/C Network — Caitlin LeMay, Kaitlin Mitchell and Isatou Jeng — for an honest and inspiring conversation about the year that was.

Together, they look back at the stories that moved them, the progress made in advocacy and the lessons that will guide the work ahead. From building survivor-centered spaces to amplifying voices through storytelling, this episode captures both the challenges and the triumphs of a growing movement.

Thank you for joining us for Season 1 of Changing Narratives. The conversation continues in January 2026 — see you in Season 2.

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What does it mean to say that 1 girl dies every 12 minutes from female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C)? In this gripping episode of Changing Narratives, host Patricia Mars speaks with Professor Heather Flowe—one of the researchers behind a landmark study estimating that more than 44,000 girls and young women die each year from FGM/C. They unpack the methodological and ethical complexities of bringing hidden deaths into the light, the global implications of their findings and how data can be a powerful tool in both justice and denial.

We're also joined by Anush Aghabalyan, Head of Policy and Advocacy at Orchid Project, to explore how these findings are shaping advocacy, fueling momentum, and forcing governments to confront the scale of a crisis they've long ignored.

Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your preferred platform.

Support our work: To continue sharing these crucial stories and advocating for change, we need your help. Your donations allow us to expand our reach, conduct more interviews, and push for policy change. Please consider donating today to amplify these important conversations.

FGM/C is too often seen as only an African issue — but across Asia, millions of girls are at risk every year.

In this bold conversation, host Patricia Mars is joined by Ika Agustina from Kalyanamitra, a feminist organization based in Jakarta, Indonesia. Ika shares the powerful grassroots work happening to end FGM/C in Asia — from community-led change to groundbreaking research and fierce advocacy for national and international policy reform.

Together, they dive into what it really takes to confront FGM/C in a region where tradition, religion, and social pressures run deep — and why centering Asian voices is essential to ending this practice worldwide.

This episode challenges assumptions, spotlights incredible activism and reminds us that change is being led from every corner of the world.

Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your preferred platform.

Support our work: To continue sharing these crucial stories and advocating for change, we need your help. Your donations allow us to expand our reach, conduct more interviews, and push for policy change. Please consider donating today to amplify these important conversations.