Amelia Hruby is a feminist writer, podcaster and producer with a PhD in philosophy. She's the founder of Softer Sounds, a feminist podcast studio for entrepreneurs and creatives. And she’s the host of Off the Grid, a podcast about leaving social media without losing all your clients.

Amelia’s work and podcast has been a help and an inspiration for Julia, who made her own decision to leave social media earlier this year.

In this episode, Amelia Hruby shares her own story of wanting to drive change, challenging structures of power and why she took the decision to leave social media. Julia and Amelia discuss big tech, surveillance capitalism and how to navigate the digital world as a changemaker, who cares deeply about people and planet. They talk about shadowbans and persecution of human rights defenders, and how to organize off of social media.

Amelia leaves us with great advice and support and encourages us to make conscious decisions about how we use digital tools.

• Find Amelia Hruby's podcast, free toolkit and more resources at offthegrid.fun.

• Subscribe to her emails with support here: juliawiklander.com/notes
• Find Julia's free resources on strategic communications and storytelling here: juliawiklander.com/free

Francisca Sequeira is the the founder and president of SOMA (Sufers Proud of African Women), the first surf therapy organization in Africa dedicated exclusively to girls.

Francisca, from Portugal, embarked on a new journey in 2020 during the pandemic. She was experiencing anxiety and panic attacks after losing her job as a flight attendant, and discovered surf therapy—a combination of surfing, mental well-being, and empowerment.

What started as a solo trip of self-discovery turned into a larger movement to support women and girls in the islands of São Tomé and Principe.

SOMA's mission is to reduce the social exclusion of young women in Africa by strengthening their physical and mental well-being and promoting gender equity through surf therapy. The organization’s vision is to create the next generation of independent and self-sustainable women, surfing infinite waves of well-being, opportunities, and equity across Africa.

Over the past four years, SOMA has impacted more than 100 young women, empowering them through surf therapy, academic support, and psychosocial development. With models adaptable to local conditions, SOMA has been expanding into new communities, creating job opportunities and capacity building for local women.

In this episode, Francisca Sequeira shares her story and the remarkable work that SOMA does, grounded in the community it serves. Julia and Francisca talks about social entrepreneurship, creativity and hope - and about what SOMA means for the women, girls and families in São Tomé and Principe.

• www.somasurf.org
• @somasurf

• Subscribe to her emails with support here: juliawiklander.com/notes
• Find her free resources on strategic communications and storytelling here: juliawiklander.com/free

Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent OBE is the Chief Midwife of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM).

Jacqueline has a tremendous career in midwifery clinical practice and leadership. Prior to joining ICM, Jacqueline served as the first Chief Midwifery Officer for the NHS in England and was one of two National Maternity Safety Champions appointed by the Department for Health and Social Care. She was recognised as one of the Health Service Journal’s most influential people in health in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2024, she was also celebrated as one of the NHS’s 75 most significant nurses and midwives in 2023 and is included in the Nursing Times’ Leaders 2015 list for pioneering and inspirational professionals.

She is a registered nurse and midwife and holds honorary doctorates from Worcester and Winchester Universities in the UK and a visiting Professorship in Midwifery at Kings College London and London South Bank University. She chairs the maternity advisory group for the Health and Race Observatory in England, serves on the Women of the Year management committee, acts as Midwifery Ambassador for the ‘Saying Goodbye’ charity, and holds key roles as Patron for Baby Lifeline and the Caribbean & African Health Network UK.

In this episode, Jacqueline shares some incredible stories from her career in midwifery, including leading national midwifery initiatives during COVID. Julia and Jacqueline talk about the needs of midwives and the status of maternal health worldwide. They discuss inequality and inequity of care and outcomes for women and mothers between regions and within countries - and the need for data in combination with the stories of women’s lived realities. Jacqueline speaks about her work with ICM and the importance of midwifery leadership through the crises we are witnessing in the world today.

• International Confederation of Midwives

• Subscribe to her emails with support here: juliawiklander.com/notes
• Get the free Storytelling Guide here: juliawiklander.com/25