Episode #88 - april 2026

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Conversations about women’s health are often avoided in polite company — but ignoring challenges does not make them disappear. Period poverty is a global issue affecting communities everywhere, creating serious consequences not only for women and girls, but for society as a whole.

In this month's episode, we speak with the Fihri Foundation and its founder, Ceylon Rowe, to explore this important yet often overlooked topic. Together, we unpack the data, share personal stories, and examine practical solutions to a challenge impacting more than 500 million people worldwide who lack reliable access to period products.

This conversation offers meaningful insight into how individuals and communities can make a difference — whether through donations, organizing or joining a Period-Palooza, or simply helping raise awareness by sharing the discussion. Small actions can help empower women and ensure no one feels isolated by an issue that affects so many.

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Ceylan Rowe is the Founder and CEO of the Fihri Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing period poverty by providing sustainable menstrual products to women and girls in underserved communities around the world. Under her leadership, the foundation has reached communities in over 16 countries, supporting those affected by natural disasters, displacement, and lack of access to essential resources.

Ceylan’s passion for equity and humanitarian work stems from her personal experiences as a child of Turkish immigrants and from witnessing the impact of the 1999 earthquake in Turkey. She has served as a Commissioner for the MetroWest Commission on the Status of Women, advocated for menstrual equity legislation in Massachusetts, and even ran for Massachusetts State Representative in 2020. She has also been a featured speaker at the Massachusetts Conference for Women, the MetroWest Conference for Women, and the Vital Voices Global Festival, among others.

In recognition of her impact, Ceylan was nominated as a 2025 Northeastern University Women Who Empower Innovator Fellow. She holds a BA in Political Science and International Affairs from Northeastern University and an MBA from Babson College. A dedicated mother of two, she continues to inspire through her commitment to ensuring that no one is held back by their period.

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