The Conversation

Doreen Lawrence and Patrisse Khan-Cullors: Fighting for racial justice

19 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

At the 2018 Women of the World Festival in London, Kim Chakanetsa brings together two extraordinary women who have been instrumental in the fight agai...

Women Reclaiming Their Streets

12 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Marching with fellow women for a cause - Krupa Padhy meets two women who have tackled violence against women head-on, by organising eye-catching and s...

Matchmakers

05 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Is there a secret formula for finding love and marriage? Two modern-day matchmakers working within the Jewish community and the Hindu community share ...

Creating movie worlds

26 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Two women who shape the look of a film, from sets to props to locations - and have huge influence on our screens. But despite their success, this is s...

Swimmers

19 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Two swimming stars look back on their extraordinary careers and talk frankly about sexism in the sport, how they overcame major challenges to keep com...

Fighting revenge porn

12 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Can women stop their intimate photos being published online without their consent? Kim Chakanetsa brings together two women fighting back against so-c...

Women in Carnivals

05 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Cutting off men's ties, throwing sequined stilettos and storming City Hall - carnival may at first appear to be a frivolous occasion, but Joanna Impey...

Caught in a digital storm

29 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Are women treated unfairly on social media, and is the situation worse for women of colour? Krupa Padhy meets two social activists who unexpectedly fo...

Storm Chasers

22 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Two women who are spellbound by the power of storms talk to Kim Chakanetsa about why they are drawn to danger, what it feels like to be trapped inside...

Women on the Board

15 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Do women wield any real power in the boardroom? Kim Chakanetsa gets together top female executives from India and Ireland to discuss. Named one of Ind...

Women Behind the Lens

08 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Two award-winning photographers on the importance of having women behind the lens. They tell Kim Chakanetsa what drives them, the challenges they fac...

Fisherwomen

01 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Braving rough seas to make a living - it's not easy being a fisherwoman, but for our two guests it's about much more than the catch. They talk to Kim ...

Surrogacy

25 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

A surrogate mother and a mother who used a surrogate - Kim Chakanetsa explores the ethics and emotions of carrying a child for someone else, with two ...

My Dad Was a Serial Killer

18 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Finding out your father is a serial killer, and living with the consequences. Kim Chakanetsa brings together two women from the US and Australia who s...

Women Inspiring a Love of Books

04 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Two librarians running vastly different libraries in South Africa and the United States share their passion for books and their secrets for inspiring ...

First ladies

27 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

What exactly is the role of the first lady? It's an unofficial position, that comes with enormous expectations, and some obvious pitfalls. Kim Chakane...

Negotiating peace

20 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when women try to hammer out a peace deal? How does it differ from the way men do it? According to the United Nations, fewer than 3% of s...

Being Blind

13 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Opening a bank account and praying in peace - just two things blind women cannot take for granted in Ethiopia and India. Kim Chakanetsa has a revealin...

Architects

06 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

A Syrian architect who watched her city destroyed around her talks to an Irish architect who helped create community spaces in a migrant camp. They em...

Choirs

30 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The joy of coming together through song - Kim Chakanetsa talks to two women who have created choirs that go beyond simply making music. Mika Danny sta...

Life in Extreme Conditions

23 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Pushing the limits in the name of science: Two women who have lived and worked in some of the most extreme conditions on earth talk to Kim Chakanetsa ...

Casting Directors

16 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Top female casting directors in the UK and India chat to Kim Chakanetsa about fighting for the actors they want in a film, their proudest casting mome...

Tattoo Artists

09 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Women who ink and get inked talk to Faranak Amidi about why they were drawn to the world of tattooing, how they developed their signature styles, and ...

Turning Waste into Treasure

02 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Leftover food, animal dung and an invasive water weed - Faranak Amidi talks to two female entrepreneurs in Nigeria and the US who have found profitabl...

My time in public office

25 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Two former politicians reveal the realities of life in public office. They talk to Kim Chakanetsa about why they went into politics, what impact they ...

Falconers

18 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The ancient art of falconry holds a magical appeal for our guests this week. They talk to Kim Chakanetsa about why they were drawn to this ancient tra...

Gymnasts: Simone Biles and Nadia Comaneci

11 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Legendary gymnasts Simone Biles and Nadia Comaneci get together with Kim Chakanetsa for a frank discussion of the highs and lows of their sport. At th...

The Changing Role of Charity

04 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Running an international charity in today's changing world is the task taken on by our two guests, who talk to Kim Chakanetsa about how their organisa...

Editors in Chief

28 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Being in charge of Huffpost and The Guardian - Kim Chakanetsa brings together two women who are re-shaping their international news publications.Lydia...

Running a Museum

21 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Two women who run museums that document the lives and legacies of iconic figures of twentieth century history: Anne Frank and Nelson Mandela.Garance R...

Volcanologists

14 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Spectacular volcanic eruptions on earth and in space - Kim Chakanetsa unites two women who share a deep love of volcanoes. Janine Krippner is from New...

HIV-AIDS Doctors

07 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Two doctors at the epicentre of the AIDS crisis - Glenda Gray and Wafaa El-Sadr - have worked tirelessly to care for those affected by the virus, to c...

Cities After Dark

31 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Cities that come alive at night, with two women who know where to go and what to do. Kim Chakanetsa speaks to a DJ from Lebanon and a singer-songwrit...

Diving into the Past

24 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Two archaeologists take us on an underwater adventure to uncover secrets about our past. Between them they've explored wooden vessels dating back hund...

Musicians

17 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Anoushka Shankar on sitar and Kasiva Mutua on drums...two celebrated female musicians talk to Kim Chakanetsa about their paths to mastering instrument...

Women in Animation

10 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Forget the wicked witch or the pretty princess - a new generation of women in animation are doing away with cartoon cliches. Kim Chakanetsa talks to t...

Maths is Fun

03 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Calculator tricks and baking cakes - how two female mathematicians help people have fun with maths. Eugenia Cheng's aim is to rid the world of 'mat...

Daughters of Political Icons

26 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Growing up with a name that has resonance around the world - and a father with a towering reputation. That's been the experience of Samia Nkrumah and ...

Bikers

19 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

What draws women to motorbikes, whether it's weaving them through traffic or seeing the world from one? Kim Chakanetsa asks two women from Poland and ...

Finding my Voice Through Art

12 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The power of art to change lives. Two women talk to Kim Chakanetsa about how they use art to enable refugees, asylum seekers and young women to find ...

Women in Cults

05 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Prayers and preparation for the apocalypse - two women share with Kim Chakanetsa their experiences of life in strict religious communities they would ...

Where Women Rule

29 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

What's life like when women are in charge? Kim Chakanetsa talks to two women who've formed close ties with matriarchal communities in China and India,...

Being Open About Breast Cancer

22 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

'I will ride cancer; cancer will not ride me'. An Indian dancer and a Jamaican athlete who were diagnosed with breast cancer at the peak of their phys...

Interpreters

15 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Female interpreters discuss being voices for vulnerable people. Kim Chakanetsa brings together two women, one who interprets for medical patients, and...

Perfume Makers

08 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

How do you capture and bottle a scent? Two perfume makers from France and Malaysia talk to Kim Chakanetsa about how they've trained their noses to sme...

Zookeepers

01 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

What's it like to work closely with animals? Two women in charge of the day-to-day care of penguins and primates reveal the true nature of the job. Th...

Women in the Courtroom

24 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Two women lawyers in Alabama who are making history in the courtroom in their own ways. Kim Chakanetsa meets them inside the famous federal courthous...

Asian American Authors

17 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Two women who emigrated to the US from Asia and both became writers talk to guest presenter Lauren Schiller in San Francisco about their 'messy' relat...

Sexuality And The City

10 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

LGBT women from different generations in San Francisco talk to guest presenter Lauren Schiller about their sexuality, the city and the changes they've...

My Son Was Shot

03 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Two mothers who lost their sons to gun violence meet up with Kim Chakanetsa in New York. This is the first of a month-long series of Conversations wit...

Crime Writers

27 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Two women trying to get into the mind of the serial killer talk to Kim Chakanetsa about the craft of crime fiction. We hear what they're most afraid o...

Models Breaking Boundaries

20 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Models challenging perceptions of female beauty talk to Kim Chakanetsa about how the industry is becoming more diverse, why they decided to take up mo...

Strong Women

13 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Two of the strongest women in the world join Kim Chakanetsa to explain what it's like to be able to out-lift most men.Kristin Rhodes has muscled her w...

Make-up Artists

06 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Two leading female make-up artists speak to Kim Chakanetsa on the power of powder to create looks, moods and characters.Alex Box is a British internat...

Cricketers

27 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Talented women cricketers from the West Indies and New Zealand chat to Kim Chakanetsa about how they've gone from playing cricket with the boys as kid...

Winemakers

20 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Women who make wine in Argentina and Italy talk to Kim Chakanetsa about the labour and love that goes into a great glass of wine.Susana Balbo has been...

Vloggers

13 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Female stars of YouTube in India and the US swap tips for success with Kim Chakanetsa.Shruti Arjun Anand was a 'computer geek' who developed a passion...

Glossy Magazines

06 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

What does it take to run a glossy magazine? Two editors speak to Kim Chakanetsa about celebrities, gossip and the power of true life stories.Betty Ira...

Forced Marriage

30 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Two women who've escaped forced marriage and now fight for the rights of other victims talk to Maryam Maruf about how they've coped after being ostrac...

Tour Guides

23 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Women who have opened up new horizons for tourists, in the sunny western cape of South Africa and the high mountain trails of Nepal. Laura Ndukwana ru...

Schools for Girls

16 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Two women fighting to educate girls in Afghanistan and Kenya talk to Emily Webb about the ingenious ideas they've come up with to deal with opposition...

Pianists

09 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Two world-renowned pianists from Venezuela and Georgia talk to Kim Chakanetsa about their personal and musical journeys.Gabriela Montero grew up in Ve...

Alone at Sea

02 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Steering a small boat across oceans by yourself - why do it? Kim Chakanetsa meets two women who have been alone at sea for months - and they chat abou...

Musical Theatre

26 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Treading the boards with two musical theatre directors from Nigeria and Pakistan. Kim Chakanetsa discusses the hunt for local talent, the emotional j...

Divorce Lawyers

19 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Sorting out the messy business of divorce, in France and India.Veronique Chauveau is a divorce lawyer based in Paris, where she's been practising for ...

Space Scientists

12 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Space Scientists from the UAE and the UK discuss the missions they're involved in and what they mean to them.Sarah Amiri is the lead scientist for the...

Finding the funny in feminism

05 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Feminism is not known for being funny but we're hoping to change that on The Conversation this week as two feminist stand up comedians go head to head...

Speech Writer to the President

28 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Two women who get inside Presidents' heads, tell Kim Chakanetsa how they turn their bosses' thoughts and ideas into powerful oratory.Sarada Peri is Sp...

An Extraordinary Meeting Between Two Former Hostages

21 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In 2002, the French Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt became perhaps one of the best-known hostages in the world when she was kidnapped and held ...

Investigative Reporters: Khadija Ismayilova and Sacha Pfeiffer

14 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Azeri journalist Khadija Ismayilova became the subject of an international release campaign last year when she was arrested and detained by her govern...

Ballroom Dancers: Oti Mabuse and Alex Hixson

07 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Get your dancing shoes on because this week Kim Chakanetsa brings together two supremely talented ballroom dancers who between them have a pile of tro...

Child Stars: Mandisa Nakana Taylor and Mara Wilson

31 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Can you beat the so-called 'curse' of the child performer? Maryam Maruf brings together two women who grew up on camera - the American star of the fil...

Graffiti Artists: Lady Pink and Olga Alexopoulou

24 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

How do you feel about graffiti and street art? Is it a democratic form of creative expression, or an eyesore, a public nuisance, that gets your blood ...

The Scientists at The Crick

17 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

When you are involved in the race to shed light on some of our biggest scientific questions, does your gender matter? Kim Chakanetsa brings together t...

Nuns: Mother Hildegarde and Sister Tracy Kemme

10 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Kim Chakanetsa is in candid and intimate conversation with two women who have made the life altering decision to enter a religious order. Mother Hilde...

Domestic Workers: Marissa Begonia and Siphokazi Mdlankomo

03 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Siphokazi Mdlankomo comes from South Africa and Marissa Begonia from the Philippines but they have plenty in common. They have both dedicated a great ...

Jazz Musicians: Melissa Aldana and Nomfundo Xaluva

26 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Growing up in Santiago Melissa Aldana learnt to play the tenor saxophone or 'horn' at her father's knee, though he took some convincing that she would...

Standing up to Bullying: Zainab Chughtai and Lauren Paul

19 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Kim Chakanetsa meets two women who are taking on the challenge of combating bullying in Pakistan and the US. Zainab Chughtai says the bullying she end...

Hair Stylists: Sapna Bhavnani and Charlotte Mensah

12 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Sapna Bhavnani is one of India's most celebrated hair stylists and is known for her own cropped hair and tattoos. Her Mumbai based salon, Mad-O-Wat, ...

Making Sex Work Safer: Daisy Nakato and Catherine Healy

05 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Two women whose aim is to make sex work safer in Uganda and New Zealand join Kim Chakanetsa to exchange experiences.Daisy Nakato is the founder of WON...

Truckers: Elin Engstrom and Heather Jones

29 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Kim Chakanetsa gets into the driving seat with two female truckers from Sweden and Australia.Elin Engstrom test drives heavy haulage trucks for Swedis...

Women at Sea: Zimasa Mabela and Jasmin Labarda

22 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Kim Chakanetsa finds out what it's like to run a ship in South Africa and the Philippines. Zimasa Mabela is the first African woman to command a navy...

Adoption: Judith Fleming and Amy Seek

15 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Kim Chakanetsa brings together two women from the US and UK, who have been at either end of the adoption process, to reflect on their choices.Judith F...

Olympians: Dame Kelly Holmes and Aya Medany

08 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Kim Chakanetsa brings together two athletes from the UK and Egypt who know what it's like to stand on the start line and have the whole world watching...

The Magicians: Ekaterina Dobrokhotova and Adeline Ng

01 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Ekaterina Dobrokhotova was born in Moscow, and moved to Quebec when she was eight. She learnt magic as a teenager via the internet, practised every da...

The DJs - Tatiana Alvarez and Lea Barrett

25 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Presenter Gemma Cairney gets behind the decks with two female DJs who get dance floors pumping in America and South Africa. DJ Lady Lea got hooked on ...

Nannies: Tatiane Dias de Oliveira and Philippa Christian

18 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

A celebrity nanny from Australia and a Brazilian nanny who works in the US tell Kim Chakanetsa what it's like to look after other people's kids 24/7.A...

Fashion Designers: Anya Ayoung Chee and Christina Economou

11 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Clothes designers from Trinidad and Greece get together with Kim Chakanetsa, to talk about the killer combination of creativity and business sense you...

Football Referees: Melissa Borjas Pastrana and Sandra Serafini

04 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Kim Chakanetsa brings together top female football referees to discuss their passion for the game, the demands of rigorous fitness training and how th...

City Traders: Louise Dispo and Lucy Shitova

27 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Women make better city traders than men according to research, but most trading floors are dominated by men. Kim Chakanetsa explores why this might be...

Vets: Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka and Dr Nalinika Obeyesekere

20 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Kim Chakanetsa brings together leading women vets from Uganda and Sri Lanka to talk about their careers and their trickiest challenges.As a new vet gr...

Mechanics: Patrice Banks and Sandra Aguebor

13 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Patrice Banks says she was an 'auto airhead' before she fell in love with fixing vehicles. She was an engineer for a big chemicals company, but despit...

Philanthropists: Amy Rao and Tsitsi Masiyiwa

04 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Kim Chakanetsa travels to the Global Philanthropy Forum conference in California to speak to two philanthropists and finds out why they give so much m...

Heavy Metal: Doris Yeh and Sasha Zagorc

30 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Kim Chakanetsa quizzes two heavy metal bass guitarists about their roles in their bands, how they learnt to head-bang, and juggling the music with the...

Engineers: Marita Cheng and Nisrine Chartouny

23 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

When Australian mechanical engineer Marita Cheng got to university, she was shocked to discover that only five out of 50 students on her course were f...

Professional gamblers: Cat Hulbert and Celina Lin

16 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Cat Hulbert started gambling for a living 40 years ago. A blackjack player in her 20s, she became so skilled at winning money from casinos, she was so...

Endurance Sports: Megan Harrington-Johnson and Manu Vilaseca

09 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Megan Harrington-Johnson doesn't let worry and doubt stop her when she wants to complete a 13km open-water swim. The South African endurance swimmer h...

Women's Fiction: Cathy Bramley and Cheryl Ntumy

02 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Cathy Bramley is the UK author of best-selling romantic comedies such as Appleby Farm and The Plumberry School Of Comfort Food. Cathy has spent most o...

Bodyguards: Jacquie Davis and Denida Zinxhiria

25 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Jacquie Davis began her career with the British police, but soon moved into security and close protection. This was in the 1970's when Jacquie says it...

Squash Stars: Maria Toorpakai and Nicol David

18 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Maria Toorpakai grew up in the traditional tribal region of Waziristan, and from an early age decided she would rather play with the boys than stay in...