In the season 2 premiere of Changing Narratives, host Patricia Mars sits down with Dr. Crista Johnson-Agbakwu and Olivia Harris from the Hope MA Project (Holistic Organized Partnerships to End FGM/C in MA), a statewide initiative strengthening prevention, care and coordinated action around female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in Massachusetts.

Together, they discuss how the momentum from the 2020 legislation is being used to build a more robust and survivor-centered system of support across the state. Olivia and Crista share why bringing survivors, service providers and researchers together is essentail, what gaps still exist in care and how their team is working to close them.

This conversation explores what prevention looks like in practice — not just in policy — and how culturally grounded, community-led approaches shape long-term change. We also talk about how listeners can support the work of this project, especially ahead of International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM on February 6th.

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As we close out an incredible first year of Changing Narratives, we're taking a moment to pause, reflect, and celebrate.

In this special year-end episode, host Patricia Mars is joined by her colleagues from The U.S. End FGM/C Network — Caitlin LeMay, Kaitlin Mitchell and Isatou Jeng — for an honest and inspiring conversation about the year that was.

Together, they look back at the stories that moved them, the progress made in advocacy and the lessons that will guide the work ahead. From building survivor-centered spaces to amplifying voices through storytelling, this episode captures both the challenges and the triumphs of a growing movement.

Thank you for joining us for Season 1 of Changing Narratives. The conversation continues in January 2026 — see you in Season 2.

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What does it mean to say that 1 girl dies every 12 minutes from female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C)? In this gripping episode of Changing Narratives, host Patricia Mars speaks with Professor Heather Flowe—one of the researchers behind a landmark study estimating that more than 44,000 girls and young women die each year from FGM/C. They unpack the methodological and ethical complexities of bringing hidden deaths into the light, the global implications of their findings and how data can be a powerful tool in both justice and denial.

We're also joined by Anush Aghabalyan, Head of Policy and Advocacy at Orchid Project, to explore how these findings are shaping advocacy, fueling momentum, and forcing governments to confront the scale of a crisis they've long ignored.

Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your preferred platform.

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