The Conversation BBC World Service

Ella Al-Shamahi speaks to two of the first generation of women to ever fly F16s, Manja Blok for the Netherlands Air Force and Heather Penney for the US Air Force.
Manja Blok was the first female operational F-16 fighter pilot in the world. After taking the aviation exam at 19, Manja was told she was unfit to become a pilot and pursued a career as a beautician instead. She tried again at 22 and in 1991, made her F-16 debut in a career that lasted a decade and paved the way for women behind her.
Heather Penney joined the US Air Force in the late nineties, after Congress lifted the combat exclusion for women in aviation in 1993. Six months after becoming qualified for combat, Heather was assigned a mission on September 11th 2001 during the attacks in New York and Washington D.C, to intercept hijacked Flight 93.
Produced by Elena Angelides
(Image: (L) Manja Blok, courtesy of Joni Isreali. (R ) Heather Penney, courtesy of Tim Engle)

Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to two female neurosurgeons to hear about the pressures and rewards that come from working in their intense and male-dominated medical field.
Dr. Lola Chambless is an American neurosurgeon based in Nashville. She is passionate about medical education and serves as the Residency Program Director in Neurological Surgery.
Dr. Giselle Coelho is an award-winning paediatric neurosurgeon from Brazil who has a PhD from Harvard. She is currently the Scientific Director of the EDUCSIM Institute and works at Sabará Hospital.
Produced by Emily Naylor
(Image: (L) Dr. Lola Chambless, credit Vanderbilt University Medical Center. (R) Dr. Giselle Coelho, credit Trianon Clinic.)

A British explorer who transformed travel and travel writing and a Nigerian novelist and travel blogger talk to Ella Al-Shamahi about their adventures around the world.
Hilary Bradt co-founded the world's largest independently owned guidebook publisher fifty years ago. She’s been inspiring travellers to go off the beaten track ever since, publishing guides to destinations where no guidebook previously existed, like Uganda, Yugoslavia, North Korea, Eritrea and Madagascar.
Lola Akinmade Åkerström is a Nigerian travel storyteller, photographer, speaker and an international author whose books are published in 18 languages. She lives in Sweden, teaches travel writing and is the current editor-in-chief for Slow Travel Stockholm.
Produced by Jane Thurlow
(Image: (L) Lola Akinmade Åkerström, credit Jessica Wikström. (R) Hilary Bradt, credit Alex Graeme.)

Ella Al-Shamahi talks to two women from Wales and Goa rescuing people in trouble on the coast.

Vivienne Grey was one of the first women to become a crewmember at Little and Broad Haven RNLI in Wales when she started as a volunteer in 1990. She's been involved in more than 120 ‘shouts’ on the lifeboat and is credited directly for saving the lives of eight people. She’s now training coordinator at the lifeboat station and works part-time as a teacher. Vivienne also volunteers with the local Coastguard Rescue Team.

Ananyaa Bath is a lifeguard and lifeguard trainer in India. She works for Drishti Marine, a safety and life-saving service, which has 400 life-savers patrolling Goa's 103km coastline.
Produced by Jane Thurlow
(Image: (L) Vivienne Grey, credit RNLI. (R) Ananyaa Bath, credit Drishti Marine.)

Ella Al-Shamahi meets two women tackling negative or ageist attitudes towards older people around the world.

Alana Officer is leading the World Health Organization Decade of Ageing Well. With a background in podiatric medicine, exercise and public health she's worked on health, disability, rehabilitation and development in West and Central Africa, Europe, South Asia, the Middle East and the Western Pacific.

Lina Walker is Senior Vice President of Global Thought Leadership for AARP. (AARP was formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons.) Her aim is to improve opportunities for increased longevity with healthier, financially resilient, and connected lives. An economist, Dr Walker also co-leads AARP’s health care strategy on advocacy, policy, education, and outreach.
Produced by Jane Thurlow
(Image: (L) Lina Walker, credit AARP. (R) Alana Officer, courtesy Alana Officer.)

What's it like to compete for life-changing amounts of money on national television while cut off from the outside world? Ella Al-Shamahi meets two women who’ve taken part in TV show competitions to find out what happens on and off the camera.
Alex Duggan was the winner of the first season on The Traitors Australia - a show all about lying and deception. She ended up in one of the most dramatic finals ever seen on the show. After winning Alex experienced trolling on social media due to her sexuality and betrayal of her fellow castmates during the competition.
Lída Puldová from the Czech Republic signed up for the TV show Survivor assuming it would be a chance for her to explore her adventurous side. She was the oldest contestant on the series. The reality of the show starkly contrasted with Lída's expectations, leading her to regret her decision to participate.
Produced by Emily Naylor
(Image: (L) Lída Puldová, TV Nova. (R) Alex Duggan, credit Channel Ten.)