The Power Of Stories Podcast

SayItForward.org
  • 5.0 (13)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

The Power of Stories is a new podcast BY women, ABOUT women, and FOR women. In this podcast, we are inviting courageous women from around the world to share the experiences that are shaping their path to empowerment. In each episode, you will hear stories that remind YOU that you are not alone…stories about resilience, overcoming fears, pursuing your dreams.. AND believing in yourself. This podcast is hosted by... Sharon Kathryn D’Agostino, a passionate advocate for the empowerment of women and girls everywhere, and founder of the storytelling platform, SayItForward.org and.... Yodit Kifle Smith, a creative dedicated to making sure the voices and stories of women are heard. We are grateful to Lisa DiGiovine, Editor/Co-Producer of The Power of Stories Podcast for agreeing to share her advice and expertise. Lisa is an Emmy nominated non-fiction producer, writer and director. Her many credits include writing and producing for CNN, E!, Dr. Phil, Discovery, The Outdoor Channel, Lifetime and NBC. And many thanks to Cali Wang for composing the Intro / Outro Music for this podcast. Listeners can connect with us at SayItForward.org and on our social media pages:Instagram and Twitter: @SayItForwardNow Facebook: facebook.com/sayitforwardnow

  1. 1D AGO

    Erin Elise Eriksson, Norway and USA

    Erin Elise Eriksson is a globally minded leader, lifelong learner, and Chief Operating Officer of Hedgehog Dryer. She works at the intersection of business, philanthropy, and innovation while raising five young kids and navigating life across continents. A self-proclaimed recovering perfectionist and people pleaser, she brings honesty and humor to the messy reality of trying to do it all. Her story is about leadership, resilience, and redefining what balance and impact look like for modern women. In this episode, Erin discusses the background and launch of a family business, Hedgehog Dryer with her husband, Bjørn Holte… the product line, a series of award-winning, high-power dryers that dry boots, shoes, gloves, outdoor gear, and sports gear…. the company’s launch in Scandinavia and expansion into the U.S., Canada, and Europe… the people on their team… as a mom of five children, balancing personal and professional responsibilities and priorities… saying “no” to perfectionism… her evolving definition of balance in different stages of life… the importance of alone time and of listening to your intuition… how having a friend as an accountability partner has helped her honor her boundaries… the responsibility leaders have to be aware of existing power structures and privileges, and to ensure that people have the space to voice their opinions… and that, “There are extraordinary women and girls out there, and the support that we can give one another is invaluable. We are not alone, even though sometimes we feel like life is overwhelming, but the support that we can give each other as friends, as acquaintances in the community, as mentors, as colleagues, is all really, really important and can help people not feel so alone.”

    18 min

  2. MAR 19

    Dr. Kesiwe Phuthi, DLitt et Phil - Zimbabwe

    Dr. Kesiwe Phuthi holds a doctorate of literature and philosophy and is Head Of School at Masiyephambili College. She is a seasoned teacher, lecturer, sociologist, health communicator, examiner, and school administrator with over 30 years of experience at various levels within the Education sector. Dr. Phuthi is a qualitative researcher at Doctorate level in Health Studies focusing on Public Health, in particular HIV and AIDS, and related Social and Behavioural Sciences. She is passionate about the African Girl Child, gender and development. And she has traveled across the globe, both professionally and personally. In this episode, Dr. Phuthi discusses her own experiences as a girl living with her grandparents in a remote rural area of Zimbabwe while her mother worked in town as a house maid… having to leave the rural school to join her mother but being unable to enroll in school there… having a job cleaning and washing for a nurse… at 15, deciding to look for a school to attend and finding one where the headmaster chose to place her in an advanced class… attending secondary school and then a teacher's college… going to teach in a rural area and discovering that “there were thousands and thousands of girls who are exactly in my own position” because they did not have the opportunity to attend school... advancing to learn at the University of Zimbabwe… pursuing advanced degrees at the University of South Africa where she obtained her Masters and Doctorate and was a part-time lecturer at Solusi University and the National University of Science and Technology for 2 years respectively. She held different national professional position in curriculum development and National Chief Examiner for several years. She acted Deputy Head for a couple years at Masiyephambili College. She is now Head of that School.  Dr. Phuti also discusses  her adaptability… the importance of education and financial independence for women and girls, and her commitment to advancing their rights… owning and running a farm… praise for her liberal husband, a university professor… and her closing words of encouragement—“Let's be open-minded. The world is full of possibilities. Opportunities are there for us girls. Let's grab them.”

    19 min

  3. MAR 5

    Dr. Karleen Gribble, BRurSc, PhD - Australia

    Dr. Karleen Gribble is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Western Sydney University where her research focuses on breastfeeding and communications in women’s health. Karleen advocates for recognition of the importance of mothers to their infants and works to create environments that support breastfeeding and the mother-infant relationship, especially in circumstances of adversity. She is a mother to three adult children via birth and adoption and lives in the bush in regional New South Wales Australia. In this episode, Karleen discusses how, as a PhD student, the birth of her first child led her to switch her field of academic study from plant physiology to research focused on breastfeeding… some of the universal challenges new mothers face… the importance of providing environments that enable mothers to provide the best possible care for their babies… attachment theory… the mother-baby dyad…  ways through which the relationship between the mother and child deepens and develops, establishing a foundation for the child’s development and for future relationships… a secure attachment versus a disorganized attachment… being a breastfeeding counsellor… the universality of a new mother’s concerns for her baby… the importance of breastfeeding and of creating environments that support mothers and babies… cultural norms and factors across countries that determine whether and for how long women breastfeed… encouraging women to be proud of being women and of what we can do… and the invitation to read and share her publications and to follow her on Twitter/X @DrKarleenG

    21 min

  4. FEB 19

    Jennifer Jones, USA

    Jennifer Jones is an accomplished and award-winning dancer, actor, author, and cancer survivor.  At the age of 20, Jennifer overcame race barriers by making history as the first Black woman to join the Radio City Rockettes. In the years since, Jennifer has continued to trail-blaze  and is celebrated for her unwavering advocacy for equal rights in the arts and for women’s health. In this episode, Jennifer discusses a brief background of the Rockettes, the precision dance company founded a century ago in the United States, when Black performers were not permitted to dance on stage with white performers… her courageous decision, in 1987, to audition for the Rockettes and becoming the first Black woman to be selected to join this prestigious group of dancers… the importance of listening to our intuition and pursuing our dreams… her experiences with both acceptance and discrimination…being diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer and given an estimated five years to live, and then successfully battling the disease…her advice to women to find medical practitioners who will listen to them and answer their questions.. the importance of voicing our thoughts and feelings and the reminder that the more we do it, the easier it becomes… and, her closing message in this episode, “We all have a special gift to give to the world, our own special footprint, our own legacy to leave… Each challenge is an opportunity for growth. It's a learning experience, allowing us to shine our own light on this world. Support one another, love one another, and shine on.”

    23 min

  5. FEB 6

    Stephanie Venn-Watson, DVM, MPH - USA

    Stephanie Venn-Watson, DVM, MPH, is a serial entrepreneur of for-profit and not-for-profit companies. She is a veterinary epidemiologist and public health scientist with over forty patents and seventy peer-reviewed scientific publications. Stephanie is currently the Co-Founder, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Seraphina Therapeutics. Previously, she served as an epidemiologist tracking diseases for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization. She is a recipient of the 2025 CNBC Changemaker Award. In this episode, Stephanie discusses her work at CDC and WHO, setting up infectious disease surveillance systems... being recruited by the U.S. Navy to help understand and improve the health and wellness of the Navy dolphins, a population that was already living significantly longer than dolphins in the wild… her research, funded by the Office of Naval Research, studying why some dolphins age more healthfully than others… researching which molecules predicted the healthiest aging dolphins and then, the groundbreaking discovery of foundational nutrient, C15:0… publishing research results that have been revalidated by independent teams throughout the world... working to identify the best ways to incorporate C15:0 in our daily diets… exploring the parallels between the ways aging affects dolphins and the ways aging affects humans... how, as an undergrad, her plan to go to medical school was affected when by two events: reading The Coming Plaque and meeting a veterinary epidemiologist… observing how dolphins demonstrate the power of community… the opportunities that missteps can create… her book, The Longevity Nutrient: The Unexpected Fat That Holds the Key to Healthy Aging… the importance of following your moral compass… and, in her words, “When you find your purpose, or probably more likely, when your purpose finds you, grab the reins and hold tight and enjoy the ride.”

    23 min

  6. JAN 22

    Dr. Ruchi Verma, India

    Dr. Ruchi Verma is a medical doctor and Public Health professional by training. We have been fortunate to know Ruchi for several years through the SayItForward.org platform, where she has shared insights about her story and her spiritual journey. In this episode, Ruchi discusses ways that her professional and personal experiences have affected her sense of self… the insights gained from dealing with people and the recognition that nothing is in our control… learning how to let go, how to surrender… the importance of being in the present moment… how the identity is formed and morphed over years… the experience of going through a marriage and divorce, and how it gave her a strong sense of individual autonomy which is so important for women in today’s world… the importance of understanding who we are, what we want from our lives and boldly go on living it… enabling ourselves for new connections and exposures in our life… re-examining love and relationships… and the importance of providing a safe space for women and girls without judging them, while encouraging them to explore their life.

    16 min

  7. JAN 8

    Kalkidan Mulugeta, Ethiopia

    Kalkidan Mulugeta is an Ethiopian tech entrepreneur and co-founder of ClearSkies Technology, a company that works in information technology and telcom services in Ethiopia. She is always seeking that fresh insight that changes the way she sees the world. Kalkidan’s journey has taken her through Addis, Nairobi, Seattle, Philadelphia, Windhoek, and back again to Addis. And, each of these chapters has enriched her story and shaped the thoughtful, vibrant woman she is today. In this episode, Kalkidan discusses her studies in public health and, while working on her Master’s degree, becoming interested in the field of health technology… after graduation, having an internship at the Sub-Saharan Africa Chamber of Commerce, an organization working in Trade between Sub-Saharan Africa and the U.S.… while at the Chamber, applying for, and winning, a grant to build a mobile app to track the statistics of road traffic accidents in Namibia, where she also nurtured her adventurous side and hiked the dunes of Sossusvlei… imposter syndrome… in analyzing the data of road traffic accidents, building a collaboration between public health and the private sector… recognizing the importance of understanding mobile technology… building her business and career in mobile technology… how being prepared for meetings and events builds self-confidence… the power of female friendship… the reminder that we write the rules of our life… the importance of taking time to know ourselves… and her love of storytelling and of listening to other people’s stories.

    16 min

  8. 12/04/2025

    Jenny Caven, United Kingdom

    Jenny Caven grew up in Southern Africa where she saw the impact of inequality and oppression due to apartheid. Her sense of fairness and justice, along with a love of language, led her to study politics and journalism. As life brought other responsibilities  Jenny found success in the corporate world. However, it was not fulfilling her need for self-expression or to ‘give back’ and that’s why, later in life, she chose to dedicate more time to writing and to working with Footage Foundation, a global feminist organization that uses advocacy and intervention to support women, and other marginalized groups worldwide.  In this episode, Jenny discusses life events in the past five years that caused her to reexamine her priorities, leave a successful corporate career, and pursue a new path in which she could have a greater impact on making a difference… becoming a member of the Footage team in 2022, supporting their work... how her extensive travels and her studies at university broadened her world-view and her recognition of the ways we connect with people whose languages and experiences are different from our own… working for an environmental journal and meeting her husband… her decision to pursue communications and corporate communications rather than traditional journalism… her childhood experiences in a family that moved thirteen times in thirteen years, and how this gave her “a good resilience to change”… the importance of being enabled and allowed to dream of what you want to achieve… not being limited by what others tell you you should be… and when we are in a difficult place, the possibility of imagining something better.

    14 min
See All (113)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

The Power of Stories is a new podcast BY women, ABOUT women, and FOR women. In this podcast, we are inviting courageous women from around the world to share the experiences that are shaping their path to empowerment. In each episode, you will hear stories that remind YOU that you are not alone…stories about resilience, overcoming fears, pursuing your dreams.. AND believing in yourself. This podcast is hosted by... Sharon Kathryn D’Agostino, a passionate advocate for the empowerment of women and girls everywhere, and founder of the storytelling platform, SayItForward.org and.... Yodit Kifle Smith, a creative dedicated to making sure the voices and stories of women are heard. We are grateful to Lisa DiGiovine, Editor/Co-Producer of The Power of Stories Podcast for agreeing to share her advice and expertise. Lisa is an Emmy nominated non-fiction producer, writer and director. Her many credits include writing and producing for CNN, E!, Dr. Phil, Discovery, The Outdoor Channel, Lifetime and NBC. And many thanks to Cali Wang for composing the Intro / Outro Music for this podcast. Listeners can connect with us at SayItForward.org and on our social media pages:Instagram and Twitter: @SayItForwardNow Facebook: facebook.com/sayitforwardnow

Information

  • Creator
    SayItForward.org
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    113
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Power Of Stories Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Power Of Stories Podcast