The Women's Podcast

In this episode, Róisín Ingle spoke to three women about how life has changed since the outbreak of the coronavirus. Irish Times journalist Jennifer O'Connell lives in Waterford and has all the latest statistics on Covid-19 in Ireland. She also shared some insights into the right and wrong way to do 'social distancing'. Meanwhile, MJ O'Brien is a 71 year old living in Dublin city centre, she spoke to Róisin about surviving these surreal times as an older woman on her own. Finally, Romana Testesecca from Watermelon Fitness spoke to Róisín about life under lockdown in Rome and how her daily online fitness classes are spreading joy to the wider community. We want to know what you’d like us to cover on the podcast so get in touch on twitter or facebook @itwomenspodcast or email us on thewomenspodcast@irishtimes.com We’re in this together. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the first of our episodes recorded remotely, Róisín Ingle catches up with her mother Ann, who is finding ways to keep herself busy during the coronavirus outbreak. “It’s all about trying to make life as normal as possible”. We’re also looking for your Pandemic Poems at this time to spread a bit of joy within the Women’s Podcast community. If you're feeling inspired, email us on thewomenspodcast@irishtimes.com even if it’s just to let us know how you are getting on. We'd love to hear from you. Last week before the social distancing measures came into force, Kathy Sheridan was joined in studio by best selling author Patricia Scanlan to talk about her brand new book, The Liberation of Brigid Dunne. They spoke about Patricia’s journey from librarian to author, the ten years she spent living undiagnosed with endometriosis and her most rewarding work to date; The Open Door Project. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the words of Irish Minister for Health Simon Harris, we are now "in the delay phase". Schools, colleges and other public facilities are set to close in Ireland this evening for at least two weeks, in response to the spread of coronavirus. In this episode, Kathy Sheridan was joined in studio by three newly elected TD's who gave their reaction to the measures being introduced today by the government; Sinn Féin’s Claire Kerrane, Fine Gael’s Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Holly Cairns from the Social Democrats. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Happy International Women’s Day. This episode was recorded live from The Convention Centre in Dublin, as part of Accenture’s International Women’s Day Celebrations. Kathy Sheridan hosted the ‘People Like Us’ panel which explored how speaking out and sharing challenging life experiences can have a positive impact on society. Joining Kathy on stage was Senator Lynn Ruane, Izzy Keane the Creator of Izzy’s Wheels, spoken word artist Sasha Terfous and CEO of IDA Ireland Martin Shanahan. Thanks to everyone who attended the event and to Accenture for inviting us back again. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode, our book clubbers got to grips with Motherwell: A Girlhood by Deborah Orr. It’s a fiery, honest memoir, which ultimately became the final piece of work from the late journalist and author. Irish Times journalists Niamh Towey and Bernice Harrison shared their views on the memoir alongside Róisín Ingle and her mother Ann. We had lots of differing opinions around the table, but one thing is for sure; this book is guaranteed to spark important conversations about motherhood, family and relationships. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The teenage years are a period of intense growth, both emotionally and physically. Add to that, the pressures of social media, school, relationships and sexuality and you’ve got a real parenting challenge on your hands. For this episode on raising teenagers, Róisín Ingle spoke to author and mum of seven Jen Hogan, Irish Times social affairs correspondent Kitty Holland and her seventeen year old daughter Rosie. They discussed some of the biggest challenges when it comes to parenting, the importance of open and honest communication and what life is like for a teen in 2020. They also shared their thoughts on the new parenting book 'Talk to Me' by Anita Conlon, which is full of advice on how to have those difficult conversations with teens. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

2020 is a leap year, meaning that we get an extra day, the 29th February. According to tradition, this is the day in which it’s “acceptable” for a woman to propose to a man. To celebrate this bonus day in the calendar, we invited comedian Erin McGathy and journalist Jenn Gannon to watch the movie ‘Leap Year’ starring Amy Adams and Mathew Goode. Also in this episode, Róisin Ingle spoke to Australian author Sam George Allen and Irish journalist Louise Bruton about the power and pleasure of working with other women. Sam recently released her new book Witches, which explores the different ways women collaborate together, while Louise is part of the newly established Rogue Collective, a new online publication which features an all female line up.Plus Irish Times journalist Jennifer O’Connell joined Róisin to speak about some of the biggest stories of the week including Harvey Weinstein’s guilty verdict and Duffy’s brave statement about her rape and subsequent exit from music. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and

This episode of The Women’s Podcast was recorded live at Liberty Hall Theatre in Dublin with the award winning author Anne Enright as our special guest on the night. Anne has just released her much anticipated seventh novel, ‘Actress’. The Book follows the life of stage and screen star Katherine O’Dell as told through the eyes of her daughter Norah. Anne spoke to Kathy Sheridan in front of a packed audience about life as a reluctant feminist, the writing process and why the theme of motherhood pops up in her books again and again. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Three years ago, Layla F. Saad began an Instagram challenge called #MeandWhiteSupremacy, which asked her followers to own up to their racist beliefs and behaviours, however big or small. Thousands of people took part in the challenge and discussed the ways in which their actions have damaged people of colour. This viral challenge became the inspiration behind Layla’s new book, Me and White Supremacy, which expands upon the subject using personal experiences, definitions and exercises for the reader. In this episode, Layla spoke to Kathy Sheridan about the book and the different aspects of white supremacy; including “white fragility”, “white silence” and the issue of cultural appropriation. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode, Róisín Ingle was joined by actress, activist and Cork woman Siobhan McSweeney. Best known for playing the legendary Sister Michael on Derry Girls, Siobhan spoke to Róisín about growing up in Cork, swapping science for acting & the upcoming third series (will it be the final series?). She also spoke candidly about the recent death of her father and the outpouring of love & support from the Derry Girls cast and crew. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this special Valentine's Day episode, we've got loads of lovely 'how I met my partner' stories from listeners and guests of The Women's Podcast. From workplace romances, to "swapping books and meaningful looks", sit back and enjoy listening to all the interesting and moving ways people have fallen in love. Also, Róisín Ingle spoke to Shiatsu practitioner and author Joanne Faulkner about her brand new cookbook Good Food: Better Sex. The book is filled to the brim with recipes that will maintain and improve your sexual health: Perfect for some culinary inspiration this Valentine's weekend. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode, Róisín Ingle was joined in studio by property manager and DIY Instagrammer Laura de Barra, who has just released her brand new book ‘Gaff Goddess’. The book is full of handy tips & tricks which will show you just how easy it is to remove mould growing in the bathroom or to fix that leaky tap. It will even show you how to hang that picture frame you swore you’d put up months ago. Laura spoke to Róisín about working in the male dominated London property market, the importance of ‘zoning’ your space & why She-I-Y is not just for girls. Plus Orlaith Condon from ‘My Pod on Paper’ was here to discuss all the latest from Love Island. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode, Bernice Harrison spoke to Irish author Marita Conlon McKenna about her new book, The Hungry Road. As with the author’s well known children’s book Under the Hawthorn Tree, this new novel is set in Ireland during the famine. Marita revealed the real life inspiration behind the characters and why she decided to revisit such a dark time in Irish History. Also, Róisín Ingle spoke to presenter Romana Testasecca about her new web series, ‘Anything you can do, I can do...almost’, which launched this month. In the series, Romana tries her hand at a wide range of activities hoping to inspire others to try something new. She spoke to Róisín about learning Brazilian funk, rock climbing and acrobatics. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode, Ciara Jordan and Áine Ryan joined Kathy Sheridan in studio to speak about their experience caring for parents with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Ciara’s mum Bernie was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s five years ago, while Áine’s father George developed Dementia around the same time. They spoke to Kathy about the early signs of the illness, what life is like for them now a few years down the line, and how best to support someone going through the same experience. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the run up to polling day on February 8th, we invited three inspiring women into The Women’s Podcast to examine the 2020 Irish General Election through a feminist lens. Which political parties and candidates supported Repeal, who is fighting for equal pay and how can we increase female representation and diversity in politics? In studio with Kathy Sheridan to discuss all of this was CEO of Women for Election, Ciarín De Buis, Independent Senator Lynn Ruane and Irish Times political journalist Jennifer Bray. Róisín Ingle was also here with some stories of the week, including the couple in Cork who are running against each other in the upcoming Irish election and a headline-grabbing convention in Florida called ‘Make Women Great Again’. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode Róisín Ingle was joined by former model, food blogger & influencer Roz Purcell, who has just released her third cookbook ‘No Fuss Vegan’. Roz spoke to Róisín about her early life growing up on a farm in Tipperary, learning to cook with her grandparents and the unlikely inspiration behind her latest book. They also took a look back at Roz’s journey into the modelling industry and the eating disorder that troubled her early twenties. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode, Kathy Sheridan is joined by Clodagh O’Hagan, who is now over twenty weeks pregnant with her first child. In late 2018, Clodagh made the decision to have a baby on her own using artificial insemination. Despite being given just a 2-5% chance of becoming pregnant, Clodagh defied the odds and is now looking forward to her new arrival this May. She spoke to Kathy about deciding to go it alone, choosing a donor (which she compares to online dating) and the medical process behind the successful pregnancy. We also hear from Irish Times Social Affairs Correspondent Kitty Holland who spoke to Róisín Ingle about her recent piece on the homeless crisis in Dublin. Kitty visited a free food stall in the city centre and spoke with lots of different people using the service, including a family with five children and an eighty year old woman. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Have you ever wondered why there’s always a long queue in the women’s toilets, while men just seem to waltz in and out? Why do some public toilets charge you for the pleasure of emptying your bladder? And what’s with the lack of decent public toilets in nearly every city around the world? These are the kind of questions that occupy the mind of Canadian journalist & author Lezlie Lowe. In her brand new book No Place To Go: How Public Toilets Fail Out Private Needs, Lezlie takes a look at the many ways that public bathrooms just don’t work. Lezlie spoke to Kathy Sheridan about becoming Canada’s ‘Toilet Lady’ and why the queue for the women’s bathroom is ultimately a feminist issue. Also joining the discussion is Fóra.ie journalist Zuzia Whelan, who has written about Ireland’s dreadful approach to women’s toilets for the Dublin Inquirer. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode, we’re exploring the complex world of female friendships: why do some friends come and go? How to go from acquaintance to best pal? And what are friendship apps like Bumble BFF really like? To discuss this and more, Róisín Ingle was joined by American comedian Erin McGathy, London based journalist Laura Kennedy and Irish Times columnist Hilary Fannin. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode, Róisín Ingle is joined by Dr. Niamh Shaw who’s on a mission to make it into outer space. As a young girl, Niamh dreamed of becoming an astronaut, but never thought of it as an achievable ambition. That all changed in her early forties when she finally decided to believe in herself and pursue her long held childhood dream. In her new book, Dream Big (out this March) Niamh documents her space journey so far, which includes taking a zero gravity flight, simulating a mission to Mars in the Utah desert and getting to watch a live rocket launch. She spoke to Róisín about her next ambitious plan and how we can encourage young women to choose careers in STEM. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.