Nimco Ali OBE on breaking taboos, women's bodies and the power of good chat

Summary What if the most radical question you can ask is simply: why? In this episode of How You Find Your Voice, Jessie Huth speaks to feminist campaigner, author and global women's rights activist Nimco Ali OBE. After experiencing female genital mutilation (FGM) as a child, Nimco went on to become one of the world's leading campaigners to end the practice. But this conversation isn't only about activism. It's about curiosity, courage and the question that shaped her life: Why? Why would you do that? Why did this happen? Why is this accepted? Nimco reflects on growing up as a refugee in the UK, the silence she encountered after FGM, and how the lack of answers ultimately led her to find her feminist voice. She explains why she refuses to be defined as a victim, how humour has become one of her most powerful campaigning tools, and why breaking taboos is essential if we want to create meaningful change. Together, Nimco and Jessie explore shame, speaking openly about women's bodies, cultural relativism, public backlash and the emotional cost of standing up for what you believe. They also discuss the women who shaped Nimco's life, the institutions that failed her, and why asking difficult questions remains one of the most radical things we can do. This is a conversation about feminism, justice and activism, but also about finding the courage to keep speaking when the cost feels high; refusing to carry shame that never belonged to you in the first place. Topics covered Growing up after experiencing female genital mutilation (FGM) The question that shaped Nimco's life: Why? Finding your feminist voice through curiosity Breaking silence and challenging taboo Shame, women's bodies and who shame really belongs to Why humour can be a powerful tool for activism Speaking openly about sex, periods and women's health Campaigning to end FGM and violence against women and girls Cultural relativism and protecting children Public backlash, trolling and death threats Courage, resilience and speaking when it's difficult The women who shaped Nimco's feminism Why asking difficult questions can change the world About Nimco Ali Nimco Ali OBE is a feminist campaigner, author and one of the world's leading activists working to end female genital mutilation. Born in Somaliland and raised in the UK after arriving as a refugee, she co-founded the Five Foundation, the global partnership to end FGM, and has spent nearly two decades campaigning for the rights of women and girls. In 2019 she was awarded an OBE for services to tackling violence against women and girls. Her book, What We're Told Not to Talk About (But We're Going to Anyway), explores the conversations women have behind closed doors—about bodies, sex, periods, menopause, motherhood and shame—and argues that speaking openly about our lives is a powerful act of liberation. You can find out more about Nimco here and her work through The Five Foundation You can follow her on instagram here. About the podcast How You Find Your Voice is the podcast that asks brilliant guests, mostly women, how they found or reclaimed their voices, on and off the page. Through conversations with writers, artists, thinkers and campaigners, we explore the work they have made, the lives they have lived and the inner transformations that made it possible. We talk about turning points and resistance, silence and expression, creativity and courage, and the often messy journey of becoming.   Listen and Follow If you enjoyed this conversation, please follow the podcast and leave a review. It really helps more people discover the show and supports independent podcasts like this one. 👉 Click here to follow the podcast on your favourite app If you'd like to stay connected to these conversations and hear about upcoming podcasts, live salons and literary events, you can join the How You Find Your Voice mailing list. You can also find us on Substack for essays, behind-the-scenes reflections and further explorations of voice, identity and transformation.