What happens when silence is expected—and speaking up feels impossible? In this episode of She Chose to Rise, Mariatu sits down with Elita from Bangladesh to explore the quiet pressures that shape women's lives and the courage it takes to reclaim your voice. Through a deeply personal conversation, Elita reflects on breaking free from expectations, trusting her own truth, and discovering that even the smallest act of speaking can be the beginning of transformation.

War is often told through headlines and history books—but behind every conflict is a human story. In this episode of She Chose to Rise, Mariatu speaks with Olga from Ukraine about navigating fear, displacement, and uncertainty while holding onto hope and identity. Through an intimate conversation and reflections from her chapter in the anthology, Olga shares what resilience looks like when survival becomes a daily choice, reminding us that even in the darkest moments, choosing yourself is an act of quiet courage.

In the premiere episode of She Chose to Rise, host Mariatu shares the deeply personal story that inspired the podcast and the anthology of the same name. Reflecting on growing up in Sierra Leone, she explores the cost of silence, the courage it takes to speak the truth, and the quiet moment that changed the course of her life. This opening episode sets the stage for a global series of powerful conversations with women who chose to rise—even when silence felt safer.