Épisodes

  • Unyielding Grace: Shirine Jurdi and the Feminine Force for Justice

    Unyielding Grace: Shirine Jurdi and the Feminine Force for Justice
    Jul 30 2025
    🎧 Listen NowThis episode brings you a powerful and unflinching conversation with Shirine Jurdi, a global advocate for women, peace, and security from Lebanon. Prepare to challenge your perspectives as Shirine dismantles the narratives often imposed on women in conflict zones, offering a raw and honest look at the realities of war, justice, and the fight for a life of dignity, not just survival.🧵 Episode OverviewIn this essential episode of the Women as Agents of Change podcast, Liza Florida connects with Shirine Jurdi, President of the Lebanese section of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). Shirine shares how her childhood experiences during the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon shaped her lifelong mission for a just peace. She offers a critical analysis of how Lebanon's colonial and sectarian history has created systemic barriers to gender equality, challenging the external perception of Lebanon as a progressive nation for women.This conversation goes to the heart of what true solidarity means. Shirine powerfully rejects the label of "resilience," arguing it romanticizes suffering and absolves the world of its responsibility. Through personal stories, including a heartbreaking realization from her young nephew, she illustrates the deep psychological scars of perpetual conflict. This is not a story of victimhood; it is a demand to be seen as a leader, a call for the international community to stop, listen, and co-create solutions rooted in human rights and genuine care.🔑 Key Topics CoveredA Childhood Shaped by War: How surviving the 1982 Israeli invasion as a child ignited Shirine’s sense of purpose and advocacy.The Myth of Progressiveness: A critical look at the gap between the perception of Lebanese women's freedom and the lived reality of legal and political inequality.Legacy of Colonialism: How Lebanon’s confessional political system, a remnant of its colonial past, continues to marginalize women and prioritize sectarian loyalty over citizenship.Resisting "Resilience": Shirine’s powerful argument against the term "resilient," explaining why it is a harmful label that normalizes hardship and injustice.The Trauma of War on Children: A moving story about her nephew’s cynical view that "they don't care," revealing the profound psychological impact of conflict on the next generation.Women as Agents, Not Projects: A call to shift from tokenistic, donor-driven projects to centering women as knowledgeable leaders with causes, not cases.A Demand for True Solidarity: Why messages of support, ceasing arms shipments, and collective advocacy are critical lifelines for those living under bombardment.Adaptive, Localized Action: The importance of balancing global agendas with local needs and being flexible enough to pivot strategies when war breaks out, as seen with her work on small arms.🧠 Powerful Quotes from Shirine Jurdi"You do me harm when you call me resilient. It means that you agree to my hardship. I don't want to be resilient. I deserve to have a proper life.""We love life. We want to live in peace, but just peace, which is centered as a human rights approach away from fear.""Don't look at me as a victim. Look at me as a leader. Look at me as your sister.""With my privileges, I want to do an impact. It's not tokenism. It's... what you do in life that can make really an impact on your community.""We need to rehumanize our policies and to have also these children as centered, like their dignity."On her nephew's reaction to the war: "He said, 'No, because they don't care.' And I could never forget this. They don't care."💡 Innovative Projects & Global InitiativesWomen Peace Tables: A responsive project by WILPF Lebanon and Peace Women Across the Globe, shifted from a focus on small arms to creating safe spaces for displaced women to share their immediate needs for safety and dignity during the war.Young Women Plus Leadership Network: An inclusive network Shirine established for young Lebanese, Palestinian, and Syrian women and men to co-create agendas and build bridges between communities.Local Mediation Unit: An initiative to institutionalize a mediation unit within a local women's organization, demonstrating a model for linking international peace frameworks with grassroots needs.🤝 Connect with Shirine JurdiShirine Jurdi is a leading voice in the Women, Peace, and Security movement. To follow her work with WILPF Lebanon and support the call for a just peace, you can connect with her directly:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirine-jurdi-92439027/🤝 Connect with Me📷 Instagram: @lizaflorida and @eightbillionproject👤 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eightbillionpodcast/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liza-florida-07597119🌐 Website: https://lizaflorida.com/🙏 Special ThanksTo Shirine Jurdi for her courage, her clarity, and her powerful testimony. Thank you for sharing your truth and for your tireless work to build a more just ...
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    1 h et 1 min
  • The Heartbeat of Humanity: A Global Treaty for Mother Earth with Auntie Ivy Smith

    The Heartbeat of Humanity: A Global Treaty for Mother Earth with Auntie Ivy Smith
    Jul 10 2025
    🎧 Listen NowDive into a sacred conversation with Auntie Ivy Smith, a wisdom keeper and indigenous advocate from Aotearoa. This episode is a bridge between ancient truths and future possibilities—a global message of healing, responsibility, and profound change.🧵 Episode OverviewIn this deeply moving episode of the Women as Agents of Change podcast, Liza Florida sits down with her dear friend, Auntie Ivy Smith, a powerful voice for indigenous peoples worldwide. Auntie Ivy shares the sacred story behind her facial tattoo (tā moko), a global message for humanity. She recounts her decade-long, self-funded journey to over 30 countries to connect with frontline communities, find truth, and build alliances.This conversation goes beyond talk and into the heart of action. Auntie Ivy introduces her vision for a global treaty—one not owned by governments, but held in reverence for Mother Earth and stewarded by the next generation. She speaks on the power of ancestral technology, the urgent need for collective healing, and the critical solutions indigenous communities have always held. This is not just a podcast episode; it is a call to remember who we are, heal the past, and unite to protect our planet for a better tomorrow.🔑 Key Topics CoveredThe Sacred Story: Auntie Ivy explains the profound meaning of her facial tattoo—a message of responsibility, accountability, and the interconnectedness of all life.A Global Walk for Truth: Her experience traveling self-funded to over 30 countries to listen, learn, and build a network of over 200 frontline ambassadors for change.A Vision for a Global Treaty: The powerful concept of a treaty where ownership belongs to Mother Earth, designed to move beyond colonial frameworks and be led by the youth.The Old Ways are the New Way: Contrasting the destructive behaviors of greed and control with the true wealth of indigenous cultures: sharing, mutual care, and living in balance with nature.The Rise of Youth Leadership: Why the younger generation is crucial for the future and how we must support, guide, and protect them as they lead the charge.Ancestral Technology & Real Solutions: A call to invest in proven indigenous solutions for clean water, clean energy, and healing medicine, rather than wasting resources on less effective modern technologies.The Urgency of Healing: Why collective healing from past traumas is essential to move forward and how supporting indigenous healers is key to healing humanity.A Call to Action for Humanity: A direct appeal for allies, resources, and good-hearted investors to help record sacred wisdom, establish healing centers, and buy back land to implement lasting solutions.🧠 Powerful Quotes from Auntie Ivy Smith"This sacred story is a global message for humanity, and it comes with a responsibility, a dedication and accountability to how you conduct yourself.""We've always had the solutions. Our wealth is looking after each other, our wealth of sharing.""The ownership belongs to Mother Earth, this planet and everything that gives us life. We humanity... just need to educate and bring awareness.""If we don't heal the past, we are gonna continue to take this energy forward.""We are in 2025. We have the solutions and we want to share, train, upskill people that want to be a part of this movement. And we are ready now to start today, to save tomorrow.""Please come and sit with us so we can share our truth and wisdom, our knowledge."💡 Innovative Projects & Global InitiativesA Global Treaty for Mother Earth: A visionary framework for planetary stewardship that removes government and corporate ownership, placing reverence for the Earth at its center. The goal is to gather allies and hold a summit to formalize and launch this movement.Sacred Wisdom Film Archive: An urgent project to fund a film crew to travel to remote locations and record the knowledge of the last sacred wisdom holders before it is lost forever.Global Indigenous Healing Centers: A call to establish and support healing centers led by true indigenous healers to address trauma, addiction, and homelessness, and to train others in ancient healing practices.Ancestral Technology Fund: A plea for investment in implementing proven, ancient indigenous technologies for free energy, water purification, and sustainable agriculture to create fast, effective change.🤝 Connect with Auntie Ivy SmitInstagram: @auntyivy.eartEmail: info.aiaif@gmail.comAuntie Ivy is building a global movement and is calling in allies, investors, and good-hearted people. To learn more about the treaty, her projects, or how you can contribute, please reach out via the contact information in the episode's description box or connect with Liza Florida, who can facilitate an introduction.🤝 Connect with Me📷 Instagram: @lizaflorida and @eightbillionproject👤 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eightbillionpodcast/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liza-florida-07597119🌐 Website: https://...
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    56 min
  • Empowering Change: Palestinian Women, Resilience, and Global Solidarity with Randa Siniora

    Empowering Change: Palestinian Women, Resilience, and Global Solidarity with Randa Siniora
    Jun 25 2025
    🎧 Listen NowDive into a powerful conversation on human rights, resilience, and the fight for justice with Randa Siniora, a leading Palestinian feminist and human rights activist.🧵 Episode OverviewIn this compelling episode of the Women as Agents of Change podcast, Liza Florida sits down with the incredibly insightful Randa Siniora, a Human Rights Defender and General Director of the Women's Center for Legal Aid and Counseling in Palestine. Randa shares her deeply personal journey, shaped by a legacy of displacement and a lifelong defiance of patriarchal norms. She discusses the critical intersection of colonial occupation and patriarchal structures, specifically how they disproportionately impact Palestinian women.This isn’t just a conversation about activism; it's a testament to unwavering persistence, the vital importance of global solidarity, and the enduring power of hope in the face of overwhelming odds.🔑 Key Topics CoveredA Legacy of Displacement: Randa's personal story of her family fleeing West Jerusalem in 1948 and how this shaped her worldview and sense of belonging.Defying Patriarchy from Childhood: Her early experiences advocating for girls' equality within her extended family and challenging traditional gender roles, even as a young girl.The Single Mother's Journey: Randa's candid account of being a divorced single mother in a society that stigmatizes such women, and her insistence on independence and self-determination.The Intertwined Oppression: A deep dive into how colonial occupation and patriarchal structures reinforce each other, creating "multilayered oppression" for Palestinian women, including the impacts on family life, legal rights, and experiences of violence.Sexual Violence as a Tool of Suppression: Disturbing evidence and documentation of sexual abuse and threats against Palestinian women kidnapped or arrested by the Israeli military.Reclaiming Global Feminism: Randa's powerful call for the global feminist movement to shift focus from individualistic rights to dismantling systemic patriarchal and colonial structures, emphasizing the need for solidarity from the Global South.Hope in Action: How to maintain hope and action in the face of global injustice, emphasizing the power of the younger generation, social movements, and technological advocacy.Purpose-Driven Life: The importance of finding a "cause" in life, making every action meaningful, and giving dignity and respect to human rights.🧠 Powerful Quotes from Randa Siniora"We need to amplify the voices of Palestinian women because the situation we are living in is a genocidal crime... which should not be accepted by humanity.""We have to keep the energy and the passion and conviction that we can influence change.""Social justice is calling for women's rights. We are mostly affected by absence of equality and social justice.""Being abroad and having the opportunity to study abroad... made me understand the universality of human rights.""We have to work on dismantling these patriarchal structures, which are an obstacle to women enjoying their rights.""Colonial occupation and patriarchal structures reinforce each other in every aspect of Palestinian women's lives.""What we need to do is to reclaim our right to gender equality in the way we think is most relevant in our context.""The future is for social movements... they are more grassroots, they are more linked to the peoples on the ground."💡 Innovative Projects & Global InitiativesWomen's Center for Legal Aid and Counseling (WCLAC): Randa's leadership in advocating for Palestinian women's rights, balancing individual services with impactful advocacy at national and international levels.Evidence-Based Advocacy: WCLAC's crucial work in documenting and utilizing data from individual cases to expose how Israeli policies intertwine with patriarchal structures to create multi-layered oppression for women.Think Tank for Global Solidarity: The vision for developing a strategic think tank to consolidate efforts among women from the Global South and allies to challenge inequality and colonial structures.Digital Advocacy: Encouraging the younger generation to leverage technology and social media for powerful digital advocacy and to become influencers for social justice causes.🤝 Connect with Randa Siniora💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randa-siniora-39b70348/🌐 Women's Center for Legal Aid and Counseling: https://www.wclac.org/🤝 Connect with Me📷 Instagram: @lizaflorida and @eightbillionproject👤 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eightbillionpodcast/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liza-florida-07597119🌐 Website: https://lizaflorida.com/🙏 Special ThanksTo Randa Siniora for her courage, authenticity, and unwavering commitment to justice and dignity for Palestinian women and all people.To the International Peace Bureau for their partnership and support for this podcast series. You can learn more about their work at https://ipb.org/ ...
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    1 h et 13 min
  • Empowering Change: Trauma Healing and Resilience with Esset Samatova

    Empowering Change: Trauma Healing and Resilience with Esset Samatova
    Jun 18 2025

    🎧 Listen Now

    Explore the powerful intersection of trauma healing, human rights, and social change in this profound conversation with psychologist and poet Esset Samatova.

    🧵 Episode Overview

    In this episode of the Women as Agents of Change podcast, Liza Florida sits down with the insightful Esset Samatova—a Santo psychologist, human rights strategist, and poet. Esset shares her journey from a ninth-grade fascination with psychology to the front lines of activism, where she pioneers a unique approach integrating trauma healing into the core of social change. She discusses the critical need to address both individual and systemic trauma, the mentors who shaped her path, and her work with the UN Minority Fellowship.

    This isn’t just a conversation about activism. It’s about building resilient, whole, and effective movements from the inside out.

    🔑 Key Topics Covered

    • Healing as Revolution: Why healing is a foundational necessity for any social movement, not a luxury, and how mental health is crucial for sustainable activism.
    • A Journey to Activism: Esset’s personal story, from her early interest in psychology to her impactful work with human rights defenders.
    • Inspiration & Mentorship: The profound impact of female role models and mentors on Esset's personal and professional journey.
    • Human Rights & Well-being: A deep dive into the unique pressures activists face and the importance of tailored, trauma-informed support.
    • Creativity as a Tool for Resilience: How poetry and other creative outlets can be powerful tools for processing emotions and fostering strength.
    • The Transformational Game: An inside look at Esset’s innovative project designed to make challenging topics like burnout and trauma more engaging and empowering for activists.

    🧠 Powerful Quotes from Esset Samatova

    • "You cannot carry the weight of the world on your shoulders if no one is helping you hold it."
    • "Your wellbeing is a part of the movement, and if we want to build a better world, we need you not just surviving but whole."
    • "Poetry allows me to speak from a place that is raw, emotional, and true."
    • "Care for yourself the way you would care for someone you love. With gentleness, with consistency and belief."

    💡 Innovative Projects & Global Initiatives

    • Transformational Games: Development of interactive and empowering games that help activists address and navigate burnout and trauma in a constructive way.
    • UN Minority Fellowship: Involvement with the United Nations, highlighting the critical role of institutional support in advocating for human rights and the well-being of defenders, despite systemic limitations.
    • Psychology for Activists: Championing new psychological frameworks and mental health initiatives specifically designed for the needs of those engaged in social justice and human rights work.

    🤝 Connect with Esset Samatova

    📷 Instagram: @esset_pro and @isida_project
    💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esset-samatova-3935b21b9/

    🤝 Connect with Me

    📷 Instagram: @lizaflorida and @eightbillionproject
    👤 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eightbillionpodcast/
    💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liza-florida-07597119
    🌐 Website: https://lizaflorida.com/

    🙏 Special Thanks

    To Esset Samatova for her courageous and compassionate work in nurturing the mental and emotional health of activists.

    To the International Peace Bureau for their partnership and support for this podcast series. You can learn more about their work at https://ipb.org/ and see more on their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ipb1910/videos.

    To the human rights defenders everywhere who continue to fight for a more just world.

    To our listeners—may you find strength in vulnerability and remember that your well-being is essential to the change you wish to see.

    🔗 About the Series

    Women as Agents of Change is a special podcast series hosted by Liza Florida, presented in collaboration with the International Peace Bureau and Eight Billion Project. Each episode celebrates the wisdom, vision, and courage of women working to build a more peaceful and just world
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    45 min
  • From Fabric to Flags: Runa Ray’s Global Call for Peace, Sustainability & the Power of Women

    From Fabric to Flags: Runa Ray’s Global Call for Peace, Sustainability & the Power of Women
    Jun 3 2025
    🎧 Listen Now

    Explore the intersection of fashion, sustainability, activism, and spirituality in this inspiring conversation with visionary artist Runa Ray.

    🧵 Episode Overview

    In this extraordinary episode, Liza Florida sits down with internationally renowned fashion environmentalist Runa Ray to explore her journey from an imaginative introverted child in Bangalore to becoming a transformative voice in global environmental and peace activism. Runa shares how fashion can go far beyond aesthetics — becoming a catalyst for sustainability, women’s empowerment, ocean conservation, and nuclear disarmament.

    This isn’t just a story about textiles. It’s about curiosity, compassion, and creative courage reshaping our collective future.

    🔑 Key Topics Covered
    • The Seeds of Imagination:

      Runa’s early love of books, classic literature, and adventure stories — and how her introverted childhood shaped her creative path.
    • A Mother’s Influence:

      The pivotal role Runa’s mother played in encouraging her to pursue fashion instead of medicine — and how that decision led to awards, honors, and a scholarship to Paris.
    • Environmental Innovation through Fashion:

      How Runa’s research into seaweed-based dyeing techniques and her discovery of invasive algae led to groundbreaking biomaterials that conserve water and protect marine life.
    • Social Justice for Seaweed Divers:

      A sobering look into the lives of indigenous women divers in India, their fight against ocean privatization, and how Runa’s work sheds light on environmental and gender justice.
    • Textiles and Geopolitics:

      Runa explains how the garments we wear — and the water-intensive fashion industry — are deeply tied to global conflict over shared water resources, particularly in nuclear-armed nations.
    • The Global Peace Flag Project:

      A breathtaking initiative turning discarded cotton prototypes into canvases for peace commitments from around the world — exhibited at the United Nations, and soon the Vatican.
    • Threads of Peace at the White House:

      An invitation to engage Runa’s event that took place on May 24 in Washington, D.C., featuring fashion for peace, global speakers, and her activism in action.

    🧠 Powerful Quotes from Runa Ray

    “It always starts with curiosity and ends with compassion.”

    “Why do we need to kill people to find peace? That makes no sense.”

    “The very shirt you’re wearing could spark a war — if you understand how much water and shared resources are behind it.”

    “As women, our strength lies in weaving love and intention into everything we create.”

    🌎 Global Impact

    Peace Flag Exhibits:

    • United Nations (General Assembly – Fall 2025)
    • The Vatican (Tentative – July 2025, for the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday)
    • D.C. Ellipse Grounds – May 24, 2025

    Materials Innovation:

    • Seaweed and invasive algae turned into leather, paper, and biodegradable plastics

    • Solutions bridging Indigenous knowledge and environmental justice
    📍 Past Events🧵 Threads of Peace – May 24, 2025

    📍 The Ellipse, Washington D.C.

    ⏰ 1:00 PM

    🎤 Peace speakers, fashion show, and Runa’s activism in full display

    📍 Upcoming Event

    🕊️ Global Peace Flag Exhibition – Sept 2025

    📍 United Nations Visitors Center, NYC

    👣 Walk-in access to witness the flags and read real people’s commitments to peace

    🤝 Connect with Runa Ray

    🌐 Website: www.runaray.com

    📧 Email: contact@runaray.com

    📷 Instagram: @runarayofficial

    🙏 Special Thanks

    To Runa Ray for her unwavering heart and bold vision.

    To the global communities and women who continue to weave peace through art, voice, and creative resistance.

    To our listeners — may your curiosity lead to compassion, and your voice add to the chorus for global change.

    🔗 About the Series

    Women as Agents of Change is a special podcast series hosted by Liza Florida, presented in collaboration with the International Peace Bureau and 8 Billion Project. Each episode celebrates the wisdom, vision, and courage of women working to build a more peaceful and just world.
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    48 min
  • The Voices Of Our Waters: The Making Of Sama Dilaut Film with Christine Ramos and Rhadem Musawah

    The Voices Of Our Waters: The Making Of Sama Dilaut Film with Christine Ramos and Rhadem Musawah
    Nov 22 2023

    Join Director Christine Ramos and Executive Producer Rhadem Musawah for a special Thanksgiving episode of Eight Billion Podcast in "The Making of Sama Dilaut." Dive into the untold stories behind the documentary—from concept to filming in a conflict area. Hear our personal journeys, the challenges faced, and the collective effort that brought this film to life. This exclusive episode is a deep dive into the heart of the Sama Dilaut indigenous community in the Southern Island of the Philippines, offering insights not shared on our touring schedule. Don't miss this intimate chat as we express gratitude for the incredible journey of creating Sama Dilaut Film


    Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eightbillionproject
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    58 min
  • Imagination, Voice and Intuition with Bejamin Yeh

    Imagination, Voice and Intuition with Bejamin Yeh
    Jul 29 2023

    Delve into the remarkable life of Ben Yeh, a seasoned business and transformation coach whose journey is nothing short of awe-inspiring. With a wealth of experience as an investment officer, combined with his unwavering commitment to family life, Ben brings a unique perspective and profound depth of knowledge to his coaching role. Join us as we uncover the key milestones that shaped Ben's life, both professionally and personally, and explore the wisdom he imparts through his diverse life stages.
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    1 h et 9 min