Roots and Sparks

Corey Oser
  • 5.0 (3)
  • NON-PROFIT

Stories of hope and new directions. When today's challenges seem enormous, tune into Roots and Sparks to hear how courageous people from around the globe are tapping into their stories and passions to ignite change for a better world.

Episodes

  1. 08/05/2025

    Beauty of a Mango

    Chef, Storyteller, and supper club curator, Dhvani Doshi sees food as a “living archive” with “every shared meal as an invitation to remember, reconnect, and reimagine together.” Her pathway to professional kitchen spans countries, continents, and sectors, and the thread that weaves this journey is a commitment to overlooked voices and advocacy, with the “power of food to nourish connection, reclaim tradition, and foster care.” Dhvani’s story illuminates today’s revolution in food through flavor, presentation, and mentality. Follow Dhvani at https://www.instagram.com/tinygoesaroundtheworld/?hl=en.

    1 hr

  2. 01/19/2025

    Hope in Hard Places: Gender Equality, Digital Health, and Resilience

    Dr. Nojus Saad, physician, social entrepreneur, digital health advisor, and founder of Youth for Women Foundation, grew up in northern Iraq under the shadow of the 2003 U.S. invasion. At just 16, he founded an organization to drive gender equality and digital health inclusion, choosing activism and hope over despair. He talks about his journey into medicine, the power of digital technology, and how men can make a difference in the movement toward gender equality. His story is a testament to the power of resilience and determination toward dignity and human rights and the transformation of oppressive norms. Learn more about Dr. Nojus Saad and the Youth for Women Foundation: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nojus-saad/ and https://youthforwomen.org/.

    56 min

  3. 08/26/2024

    Young Africa Rising: A Workforce to Change the World

    What are some misperceptions about the youth population and unemployment in Africa? How about strategies to bridge the gap between the job market and the knowledge and skills of young people, especially in rural areas? How are the aspirations of young women shifting? Social entrepreneur, Pape Samb shares his journey from a 13-year-old founder in Senegal to a global leader in social innovation and youth employment with creative partnership solutions to open new opportunities for young people in Africa. Learn more about Pape Samb: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pape-samb-7b26277/ or to get involved with Creating Opportunities for Youth in Africa (COYA) contact Pape at pape@senegel.org.

    1h 7m

  4. 07/16/2024

    Beyond Survival: The Triumph of Bosnian Women After War

    What has changed in the lives of women in Bosnia and Herzegovina since the end of the Bosnian War nearly thirty years ago? How are young women and women in rural villages defining their role in civic life? What role must men play in changing gender norms? Seida Sarić, Director of Žene za Žene International, has accompanied thousands of women on the decades-long journey to recover from the devastating effects of war and chart a new course for their roles in the country. Learn more about Žene za Žene International: https://zenezazene.ba/

    1 hr

  5. 12/20/2023

    Power of Art in Turbulent Times

    Artist and filmmaker, Dr. Abel Tilahun, provokes important questions as he documents the uncertain and complex shifts that humanity experiences. He weaves connections from his native Ethiopia through history to outer space as a Guggenheim Fellow at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. He reminds us that when we produce the things that excite us and are not satisfied to be only consumers, we also have the power to shape what happens in the world around us.

    56 min

  6. 07/08/2023

    Sex Talk

    Human rights advocate and expert in sexuality education, Amé Atsu David, strives for all children to have information about sex so they can make informed choices. She believes that adults must break taboos around sex and truly listen to young people. In her work with grassroots organizations in West Africa with Global Fund for Children, and in her own community, she challenges adults to work on themselves first.   Learn more about Amé Atsu David at https://www.linkedin.com/in/am%C3%A9-atsu-david-634bb338/?originalSubdomain=lr

    48 min

  7. 06/11/2023

    Being a Man

    Dr. Rodrigo Barraza, anthropologist and Co-Director for the Americas at Global Fund for Children, facilitates brave learning spaces where men can explore what it means to be a man. Connecting with hundreds of men across diverse backgrounds, Rodrigo senses breakthroughs emerging, often led by young people, who are nurturing new concepts of masculinity with the power to foster gender norms rooted in care and connection. Learn more about Dr. Rodrigo Barraza at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodrigo-alonso-barraza-garc%C3%ADa-39662488/

    1h 18m

  8. 06/11/2023

    The New Story of Africa

    Frederic Adou, a young Ivorian, created Atikan, a social business to tell new stories about Africa. Fred knows that powerful stories shaped by Africans and not Westerners are needed to shift the continent from a "narrative of despair" to a "narrative of hope." Learn more about Frederic Adou at https://www.linkedin.com/in/frederic-adou-9338a9121/ and Atikan at https://www.linkedin.com/company/atikan/.

    45 min
  • 8 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Stories of hope and new directions. When today's challenges seem enormous, tune into Roots and Sparks to hear how courageous people from around the globe are tapping into their stories and passions to ignite change for a better world.

Information

  • Creator
    Corey Oser
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Roots and Sparks