The Story Exchange

In the conclusion to our 3-part series, we question: Is the future really female? As we head into a fierce presidential election, in a nation roiled by a pandemic and protests over police brutality, we look at the role women are playing as candidates and voters. Our guests include Kelly Dittmar of the Center for American Women and Politics; Joanna Weiss of Women for American Values and Ethics; author Molly Ball of the new "Pelosi" biography; Ronnee Schreiber of San Diego State University; and Glynda Carr of Higher Heights.

Here's one good use for plastic: Medical devices. At UMass-Lowell, plastics engineer Erin Keaney decided to re-imagine the artificial limb after learning that much of the world’s amputees couldn’t afford high-cost prosthetics. In this inspiring podcast, listen to how 29-year-old Keaney has developed a patented prosthetic that is changing amputees' lives in India, Rwanda and the Philippines. She and classmate Jonathan de Alderete have raised $1 million for Nonspec.

It's been two years since the Taliban took back control of Afghanistan. We talk to women -- some who fled, some who stayed back -- about what life is like now. Many of the women expressed frustration that the media often portrays them as victims when they see themselves as fighters. While the Taliban seeks to erase them from public life, we want to give them a platform to speak their minds. These women want you to know: There is still hope in all the fear, and glimmers of defiance in the midst of brutal oppression. These are stories of Afghan women like you haven't heard before.

We sit down with three female founders who are running AI startups -- and they tell us exactly what it's like to be a woman in artificial intelligence. "Nobody took us seriously, not a single person," says Davar Ardalan, founder of IVOW, who has been rejected by investors 350 times. "It's incredibly demeaning." At a time when billions of dollars are going into AI startups, and the pandemic has caused a digital transformation in nearly every industry, it could not be more important to get women and people of color involved in AI so their perspectives can inform technology. But bias and sexism and racism in the AI field persist.

We share these women's stories in an effort to raise awareness of the obstacles faced by women in AI. But at the same time, we also want to encourage women and girls to chase their startup dreams, especially in such a game-changing industry. Guests include Ardalan; Sheffie Robinson, of Shamrock Education; and Carolyn Rodz, of Hello Alice.

The episode features music created by women in AI, including Taryn Southern and Holly Herndon.

The women behind U Konserve and My Sister's Closet are doing their part to minimize waste and protect the environment.