The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women (HERO)

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Latest Episodes:

FP’s Newest Podcast, The Threshold Oct 23, 2025

Show notes

The Threshold is a new seven-part series from Foreign Policy about the fight to end infectious diseases around the world. In this episode, the team investigates what it will take to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic – including Lenacapavir, a new twice-yearly HIV prevention shot. Similar to HERO, The Threshold is made possible in part through funding from the Gates Foundation.
If you like this episode, follow The Threshold wherever you get your podcasts.

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The Path Forward for Family Planning Oct 16, 2025

Show notes

Let’s face it: It’s been a challenging year for family planning and reproductive rights more broadly. What can we do from here?

We were eager to catch up with family planning leaders at Foreign Policy’s Her Power Summit, which took place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. In a live panel discussion, host Reena Ninan spoke with Dr. Samukeliso Dube, Executive Director of FP2030 and a return guest to the show. Dr. Dube described their Made Possible by Family Planning campaign and how they have shifted their messaging since we last caught up with her in spring 2024. Dr. Dube was also joined by George Roberts, Bayer’s global lead of impact partnerships, as well as Dr. Siti Nadia Tarmizi, Director of Non-Communicable Diseases for the Indonesia Ministry of Health. They shared how the private and public sectors are approaching family planning at this time.

The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women is a production of Foreign Policy, with support for this episode from FP2030’s Made Possible by Family Planning campaign.

Guests and organizations:

Dr. Samukeliso Dube, Executive Director of FP203
George Roberts, Global Lead of Impact Partnerships, Bayer
Dr. Siti Nadia Tarmizi, Director of Non-Communicable Diseases, Indonesia Ministry of Health

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The Hidden Economics of Menopause Oct 09, 2025

Show notes

In this special bonus episode, we explore a topic the show hasn’t covered before: menopause. We delve into what would need to change with healthcare and the workforce to better support women through menopause, as well as the economic factors that could enable those policies.

Host Reena Ninan speaks with Dr. Jessica Shepherd, gynecologist and author of the new book Generation M, Dr. Claus Runge, Bayer’s chief health equity officer, and Kathryn Schubert, President and CEO of the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR). This live panel discussion was recorded at Foreign Policy’s Her Power Summit, which took place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women is a production of Foreign Policy, with support for this episode from Bayer. (Photo credit: Jonathan Heisler)

Guests and organizations:

Dr. Jessica Shepherd, Gynecologist and Author of Generation M
Dr. Claus Runge, Bayer Chief Health Equity Officer
Kathryn Schubert, President and CEO of the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR)

Suggested reading:

Foreign Policy Analytics’ Report: The Health and Economic Impacts of Menopause

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You Might Like: What Could Go Right? Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

This week, we’re bringing you an episode of What Could Go Right from our friends at The Progress Network.

Each Wednesday on What Could Go Right, hosts Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas converse with diverse experts to have sharp, honest conversations about what’s going on in the world, even during difficult times. In this episode, they dive into the global health crisis that doesn’t get nearly enough attention - tuberculosis (TB). Tuberculosis is one of the deadliest infectious diseases in the world, yet it has been largely ignored by wealthy nations and Big Pharma. One person who refuses to let that stand is #1 New York Times bestselling author, YouTuber, and activist John Green. His new book, Everything is Tuberculosis, explores the history, science, and injustices surrounding this disease.

Tune in to new episodes of What Could Go Right every Wednesday wherever you get your podcasts, and don’t miss the Friday episodes where Emma and Zachary highlight the latest progress from around the globe.

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You Might Like: Cramped Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

This week, we’re sharing another show you might like. Cramped is a podcast created and hosted by Kate Downey, “because having a microphone gets you more answers than having a uterus.”

In this episode, Kate talks to her mom about joining the Boston Women's Health Movement in the 1970s. Why was body literacy such a big part of feminism in the 70s, but when Kate became an active feminist in Boston in the 2000s, she didn't get information about body literacy? To learn more, Kate talks to Laura Prieto, program director of Our Bodies, Ourselves.

Listen to more episodes of Cramped here: https://www.katehelendowney.com/cramped

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You Might Like: The Most Important Question Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

While the show is on hiatus, we want to share a few podcasts on the HERO feed that we think you might like. We will release these episodes over the next month.

This first one is from a podcast called The Most Important Question from the Important, Not Important team. When HERO first launched, Important, Not Important featured one of our early episodes. It’s a good show, and we’ve been happy to remain in touch over the years.

This episode fits in well with our recent season. It’s an interview with Dr. Ticora V. Jones, who served as the chief scientist for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). She’s currently the chief science officer at the NRDC.

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Have feedback or questions about the episode? Tweet at the show, or send a message to questions@importantnotimportant.com.

Want more? Get started with fan favorite episodes at podcast.importantnotimportant.com.

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Series Reflections: Reporters’ Roundtable Apr 01, 2025

Show notes

First, we need to share some news. This may be our last episode.

We are so grateful to the funding we have received for this podcast over the past four years. But our largest grant is ending soon. So for now, we are saying goodbye. We truly hope to be back in your feed someday.

To commemorate HERO, we are doing one last “follow-up” episode. This was an idea from you, our listeners. You suggested talking to past interviewees and seeing what they are doing now.

For today’s show, we’re doing a “reporters’ roundtable” where we look back and look ahead at some of our most impactful stories of the past eight seasons. Host Reena Ninan talks to Kenya-based reporters Sharon Kiburi and Eunice Maina as well as South-Africa based journalist Elna Schutz.

If you are new to the show, you may want to go back and listen to the stories that Kiburi, Maina, and Schutz talk about on this episode:

What Works in Defeating Workplace Sexual Harassment (Sharon Kiburi)
How Men Are Trying to End Gender-Based Violence in South Africa (Elna Schutz)
The Hidden Economics of Female Genital Mutilation (Eunice Maina)
The Economics of Period Poverty (Elna Schutz)
Fighting for LGBTQ Rights in Kenya (Eunice Maina)
What the Debt Crisis in Kenya Reveals About International Lending (Sharon Kiburi)

In the meantime, please stay in touch. You can email us at podcasts@foreignpolicy.com or contact our senior producer Laura Rosbrow-Telem at laura.rosbrow-telem@foreignpolicy.com. We hope to be back soon.

The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women is a podcast from Foreign Policy, supported in part by the Gates Foundation and Northwestern University’s Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs.

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Sabrina Habib Reflects on Kidogo’s Growth Mar 25, 2025

Show notes

The idea for today’s show came from you: our listeners. Many of you wanted to hear follow-up stories. You suggested talking to past interviewees and seeing what they are doing now. In particular, you were curious if the gender equality issues they were advocating for had advanced or backslid since we first reported on them.

Today, we are coming back to Sabrina Habib, who was on our very first episode in 2021. Habib is the CEO and co-founder of Kidogo, a nonprofit focused on creating affordable high-quality daycare centers in Kenya. Since we last spoke with Habib, Kidogo has greatly expanded. Host Reena Ninan asks her what led to this growth and about her recent endeavors with Melinda French Gates.

The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women is a podcast from Foreign Policy, supported in part by the Gates Foundation and Northwestern University’s Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs.

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The Impact of USAID Cuts Mar 18, 2025

Show notes

Health and human services. Nutrition. Job programs. These are just a few of the sectors impacted by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) cuts in Nigeria—one of the top 10 recipients of U.S. foreign aid. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently announced the elimination of 83 percent of USAID programs.

On today’s episode, senior producer Laura Rosbrow-Telem talks to aid workers and direct recipients in Nigeria about the fallout of the cuts so far. After that, host Reena Ninan interviews two special guests about what can be done to address the funding gap. First, Ninan talks to Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins, president and CEO of Population Action International (PAI). Since it launched more than 60 years ago, PAI has advocated for sexual and reproductive health care in the United States and abroad. Then, Ninan speaks with Michael Jarvis, executive director of the Trust, Accountability, and Inclusion Collaborative (TAI). TAI is a network of funders focused on strategic and systemic ways to do philanthropy, including the MacArthur and Ford Foundations, among others. Jarvis reveals what he thinks funders can and can’t do at this moment.

Guests Interviewed:

Edward Clement, BMG Foundation
Yusufa Adamu / Aisha Madu, Fatima Orphanage
Sani Salihu Mohammed, Health and Social Awareness Foundation (HASAF)
Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins, president and CEO of PAI
Michael Jarvis, executive director of the Trust, Accountability, and Inclusion Collaborative

The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women is a podcast from Foreign Policy, supported in part by the Gates Foundation and Northwestern University’s Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs.

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Bonus: Advocacy Advice from Preethi Herman Feb 27, 2025

Show notes

As a special bonus, we're sharing an interview host Reena Ninan recorded with Preethi Herman about how to launch a digital campaign that actually changes policy.

Herman led the Change.org Foundation, supporting 100 million people in campaigns worldwide. Currently, Herman is the CEO and co-founder of the Nguvu Collective, a women-led organization that has impacted more than 200 million lives.

**Note: This interview took place before the U.S. foreign-aid freeze, which we will address more in coming episodes. Still, Herman’s advice about advocacy could not be more relevant.

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If you want to share how the disruption of aid is impacting your life, please be in touch. It can be anonymous, if you prefer. You can reach us at podcasts@foreignpolicy.com.

The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women is a podcast from Foreign Policy, supported in part by the Gates Foundation and Northwestern University’s Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs.

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