In this powerful episode, I sit down with Alex Poppe, a business analyst turned actress, turned humanitarian aide volunteer, and now strategic communications advisor for USAID’s Democracy Delivers initiative. An award-winning author, she's written four powerful books, featuring fierce and funny women who overcome trauma and violence.

Alex’s diverse and eventful career has taken her to places like Northern Iraq, the West Bank, Turkey, and beyond. Driven by a passion for women’s issues, her experiences have inspired her to tell stories that shed light on the global struggles women face daily.

Episode Highlights:

• The Reality of War for Women: We talk about the harsh realities faced by women in war zones—from physical and verbal abuse to their lack of access to basic resources—and the injustices they suffer in addition to the brutalities of war itself.

• Empathy and Compassion in Adversity: We discuss the incredible capacity of people who have suffered the most to find joy, love, and resilience.

• Inspiration Behind the Stories: Alex’s discusses some of the real-life incidents and people that inspired her books.

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• Women’s Rights: We talk about women’s universal struggle for dignity and justice, regardless of race, color, sexual orientation, or nationality.

• Cultural Differences and Common Humanity: We share how understanding varying cultural values can connection and understanding — and how differing cultural views aren’t right or wrong, unless they harm, demean, or devalue lives.

• Reproductive Rights: The episode also covers the concerns about reproductive rights.

• Common Ground for Gender Protection Laws: We discuss the importance of fostering empathy when we can't agree on common values, so we can find common ground around discussing universal gender protection laws.

• Alex’s Writing Process: Alex talks about how her unique experiences as an actress and humanitarian aid have influenced her writing process.

• Why What Happens in One Part of the World Impacts Us All: We have a candid discussion about how the fate of women in one region affects the fate of women everywhere. We also explore how perpetuating injustice can create new generations of people seeking retribution, highlighting the interconnectedness of our global community.

Don’t miss this insightful episode of From Lemons to Limoncello. Join us as we explore the challenges, strength and resilience of women everywhere.

*Warning: This episode discusses violence against women. If this subject is triggering for you, please feel free to skip this episode and we'll see you next week.

More About Alex Poppe:

To learn more about Alex or her books, visit: https://alexpoppe.com/

To watch the interview with Fazila that Lisa Marie mentioned during the episode (Lisa Marie's "Food for Thought" series featuring immigrants and refugees), visit: https://www.lisamarieconnections.com/food-for-thought

More About Lisa Marie:

To learn more about Lisa Marie, send her a message, or subscribe for more content, visit her website at: www.lisamarieconnections.com.

Follow her on Instagram: @lisamarieconnections

AFTER THE EPISODE:

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