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For many girls across the world, education isn't a guarantee. In fact, even before the pandemic, more than 98 million adolescent girls around the globe werent in school for reasons like fear of danger on the commute, inability to afford education, stigma around menstruation, or cultural beliefs that sequester women to the home. Today, millions more are currently out of school as a result of COVID-19 and are at risk of never returning at all. But each of these girls, no matter her circumstance, deserves the opportunity that education provides.

That's why as we get ready to mark the International Day of the Girl on October 11, we're excited to share a conversation between two champions for girls education globally: Malala Yousafzai and Michelle Obama. Malala has inspired girls around the world with her courage and her fearless pursuit of education, even in the face of violence. When the Taliban tried to silence her, she didnt give up and whats more, she created Malala Fund to help other girls access the kind of education she got.

Like Malala, former First Lady Michelle Obama is also an advocate for girls' education. During her time in the White House, Obama started the Let Girls Learn initiative to empower girls through education. On the Day of the Girl in 2018, she launched the next phase of this work with the Girls Opportunity Alliance a program of the Obama Foundation that supports adolescent girls around the world and the grassroots leaders and organizations that work to empower them.

Joining the indomitable pair is Priya Mondol, a 17-year-old student in Kolkata, India, for whom their work is personal. Priya faced obstacles to getting an education, but with the help of Her Future Coalition, an organization supported by the Girls Opportunity Alliance, she's able to keep learning during this challenging time. She joined Mrs. Obama and Malala to discuss the importance of developing resilience and to share insights about girls education and empowerment in advance of the Day of the Girl. Check it out below:

Priya: As we get ready to celebrate the International Day of the Girl, Im so excited to discuss an issue that we all care about deeply: girls education around the world. Where does your passion for empowering girls through education come from, and why is this such an important issue across the globe?

Malala: I am passionate about girls education because I personally know what it is like to be denied the right to go to schooland I know that education is every girls best hope for the future. Ive traveled around the world and met girls in refugee camps, in cities and in rural areas. Everywhere I go, I talk to incredible, resilient girls who are determined to fight for their education and pursue their dreams. They understand the power of education to transform their lives, their families, their communities and their countries.

Mrs. Obama: I'm here doing this work because I want every girl to have the same opportunities that I did growing up. So much of my life has been determined by my ability to get an education its hard to overstate that. And my first meeting with Malala really inspired me to put all the resources I could toward making sure girls all over the world can get the education they deserve. Because the truth is, there are young women like both of you in every corner of the globe, girls who are eager to learn and absolutely determined to get an education worthy of their promise. And when girls get the opportunities they deserve, we all benefit. Poverty goes down, economies grow, and babies are born healthier. The world, by all accounts, gets better. And now, with the pandemic still raging on, we need to do everything we can to ensure that girls are not left behind, no matter what school might look like in this moment or in the future.

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Michelle Obama and Malala Yousafzai In Conversation For International Day of the Girl - Teen Vogue

Earlier this week, we witnessed the first presidential debate between President Trump and former vice president Joe Biden, which sent one very clear and obvious message: we really need to vote. It's a message that has reverberated through TV commercials, social media posts, newspapers, magazines, and, thanks to organizations like When We All Vote, clothing and accessories. With a little over a month left until the elections, When We All Vote is ramping up its efforts to secure more young voters by dropping its second and final merch collection.

Following the first best-selling collection, which sold out in its first week, the When We All Vote team recruited a new batch of diverse designers that represent Black, Asian-American, Persian, Indian and woman-owned businesses. Designers include Melody Ehsani, Supervsn, The Hundreds, Stella & Haas, Levis, Girlfriend Collective, Shiffon, General Admission, and Wild One, which is When We All Vote's first-ever merch for pets. Bright Black and Franca NYC were featured in the first merch collection but will return for the second drop in limited quantities, as each brands' products sold out within hours of the first drop.

When We All Vote Sweatpant

Limited Edition: 3" Gold HOOPS

Please Vote Crew Sock

$14.00

"Its critical that we continue to engage voters in creative ways to encourage them to get registered and vote early. In our mission to change the culture around voting, this project helps inspire new conversations around voting and making your voice heard, especially among young people. My hope is that people are inspired and motivated to vote this yearand that the Vote 4EVER Merch line can help everyone feel connected to something bigger than themselves," Michelle Obama said in a statement.

The second Vote 4Ever merch collection is available now on vote4evermerch.com. Select items will be available on revolve.com.

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Michelle Obama's When We All Vote Organization Drops Its Second and Final Voter Merch Collection - ELLE.com

Former President Barack Obama is urging people to cast their ballots early, warning that the Trump administration is "working to keep people from voting" in a new ad for for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. The video was released ahead of Tuesday'spresidential debatebetween Biden and President Trump.

In the clip shared by "The Shade Room," a popular Black celebrity news social media account and website, Mr. Obama asked people to vote early. He accused Mr. Trump without naming him his administration, and others of trying to suppress the vote, but particularly for people of color.

"Right now, from the White House on down, folks are working to keep people from voting, especially communities of color," he said.

Mr. Obama said that "our democracy itself" is at stake in the 2020 election.

Kamala Harris, Biden's running mate, was also featured in a new campaign ad with a similar message. She told voters to cast their votes early whether in person or voting by mail. Her video was released on The Young, Black and Fabulous, another Black celebrity news site.

The ads come a day after the U.K.'s Channel 4 reported that 3.5 million Black Americans throughout 16 key battleground states were profiled and categorized as a "deterrence," meaning voters the Trump campaign wants to stay home in 2016.

For the last several months, Mr. Trump has repeatedly criticized mail-in voting insisting it leads to voter fraud without offering any evidence and despite requesting a mail-in ballothimself. He ramped up his attacks during the coronavirus pandemic, as more people are expected to vote by mail to avoid possible exposure at the polls. Mr. Trump has also targeted ballot drop boxes, suggesting the ballots could be tampered with once voters deposit them.

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Obama accuses Trump administration of working to keep "communities of color" from voting - CBS News

Former President Obama knocked the Trump administration in a video released by The Shade Room this week, accusing the White House of working to keep people from voting, particularly those of color.

Obama made the comments in a short advertisement urging people to vote early in the election that was released by the Shade Room, a Black-owned media company with a large social media following that covers celebrity and entertainment news.

Obama started off the video by addressing the roommates, the media companys nickname for its readers, saying: As you know the election is coming up and Ive got just one word for you: vote. Actually Ive got two: vote early.

Right now, from the White House on down, folks are working to keep people from voting, especially communities of color. Thats because theres a lot at stake in this election. Not just our pandemic response or racial justice, but our democracy itself, he said.

So, its more important than ever to make your voice heard. We cant leave anything to chance, he continued, before going on to urge viewers to visit a website that allows them to check their voter registration status and look up nearby voting locations.

The video marks Obamas latest show of support for Democratic presidential nominee Joe BidenJoe BidenFive takeaways from Trump-Biden debate clash The Memo: Debate or debacle? Democrats rip Trump for not condemning white supremacists, Proud Boys at debate MOREs campaign in recent months and comes hours before his former vice president is set to face off in his first presidential debate against President TrumpDonald John TrumpFive takeaways from Trump-Biden debate clash The Memo: Debate or debacle? Democrats rip Trump for not condemning white supremacists, Proud Boys at debate MORE later on Tuesday.

In a Twitter video urging supporters to register to vote in the November race on National Voter Registration Day last week, Obama emphasized the stakes of the coming of election, saying: Whats at stake in this election is much bigger than Joe or the man hes running to replace.

Whats at stake is whether or not our democracy endures, he continued in the clip, which doesnt mention Trump by name. And the folks in power are hoping that you will stay home. Theyre hoping you get cynical.

Theyre trying to convince you that your vote doesnt matter. Its how they win. Dont let them, he added.

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Obama steps into The Shade Room to urge 'roommates' to vote, says White House 'working to keep people from voting' | TheHill - The Hill

Spotify made major headlines last year when it announced an exclusive podcast deal with the Obamas production studio Higher Ground. Today, the company made a perplexing about-face. The company says itll be releasing the first season of The Michelle Obama Podcast on a number of other podcast listening platforms starting tomorrow, September 30th two weeks after the shows season 1 finale.

The company hasnt detailed which platforms will have the show, but its in conversations with several, including Stitcher, Google, Apple, and iHeart. A Spotify spokesperson says future seasons, if the shows renewed, will debut exclusively on Spotify, but didnt say whether the show will be windowed or fully exclusive to the service.

Obamas show expansion could help Spotify find a larger audience while also driving listeners back to the platform. It has tested this strategy with other shows, including Dope Labs, Son of Hitman, and InCharge with DVF, although its unclear whether those shows are gaining listeners on Spotify. (Ads within some of these previously exclusive shows promote Spotify, even on other platforms.) Its also unclear if the Higher Ground deal always accounted for a wider release a Spotify spokesperson wouldnt comment.

This news amounts to a 180-degree flip in stance for the audio company. Although its piloted the strategy with other shows, the Obamas are some of the biggest stars and likely the biggest investments that Spotify has decided to make available outside its platform. The companys garnered attention around its podcast ambitions because of its flashy acquisitions and big-name exclusive show launches, like one with Kim Kardashian West. In fact, Spotifys press release about the Higher Ground deal said the partnership would produce podcasts exclusive to the platform, so its odd to see Spotify make this first show widely available after all the exclusive hype.

At the same time, some exclusive hosts have spoken up about unfair deals in recent months. Joe Budden, one of the original exclusive Spotify hosts, denounced the platform last month, saying he planned to leave after his contract expired on September 23rd. An episode hasnt published on his feed since September 19th. The hosts of The Nod, originally a Gimlet Media show, also said in June they wanted to own their podcast because Spotify, which acquired Gimlet, now owns the shows IP.

It doesnt seem like the Obama shows wider release came out of similar issues with Spotify, but still, it feels like its coming out of left field.

Update 9/29, 5:41 PM ET: Updated to reflect that any future seasons of The Michelle Obama Podcast will debut exclusively on Spotify.

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Spotifys exclusive Michelle Obama podcast will be available on other platforms - The Verge