The Women's Podcast

Kathy Sheridan is back in the driving seat and in this week's episode she talks to the Belfast-born award winning foreign correspondent and FGM activist, Maggie O'Kane. They talk about her time reporting on the Bosnian war in the 1990s, the "new fears" that led to her leaving the war zone behind and how she came to be involved in the fight against the barbaric practice of FGM. Plus: Róisín makes us all sick with jealousy talking about her recent trip to London for a public talk between Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and former first lady Michelle Obama. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Christine Comaford has lived many lives. She has been a serial entrepreneur, technology and CEO advisor, venture capitalist and was an engineer in the early days of Microsoft. Today she works with help companies as a business strategist and an executive coach. In this show she talks to Róisín about working at Microsoft in the 1980s at a time when it was thought that “chicks can’t code", about meeting Apple’s Steve Jobs after leaving Microsoft, running away “with comfort” to New York and how she was once a Buddhist Monk.Christine also talks about emotional resilience and her book, Power Your Tribe. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When Cork woman Samantha Barry took over at the helm of the US magazine Glamour this year, she became only its 8th editor since it was first printed in 1939. Anna Wintour, who brought her on board, has described her as "fearless", she counts Amal Clooney as one of her closest friends (since long before George was on the scene), and she has had a distinguished career in journalism at the BBC and CNN. But since her appointment as Glamour editor-in-chief, Samantha has shaken things up at the magazine, recently hitting the headlines for her decision to cease its monthly publication schedule and develop it as a digital product. Samantha was in Dublin to appear at An Post's annual Early Bird Breakfast event and she sat down with Róisín Ingle while she was here to talk about this and lots more. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

For over four years RTÉ Prime Time’s political correspondent Katie Hannon forensically pursued the story of Maurice McCabe, breaking a number of major stories that were instrumental in exposing how the garda whistleblower had been let down by the State. On today’s show, she speaks to Róisín Ingle about Maurice McCabe, about feeling 'the girlín' during her early days in and around Leinster House, her recent nomination for an Irish Red Cross Journalism Excellence prize, and lots more. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Anne Chambers's biography of Grace O'Malley, the 16th-century pirate queen, has never been out of print in the 40 years since it was first published, such is the fascination with her story. A special anniversary edition has just been printed and on today's show, Anne Chambers talks to Róisín about how discovering the truth behind the legend of Gráinne Mhaol changed her life.Plus: Jennifer speaks to journalist Lauren Bravo about her book, What Would The Spice Girls Do? A joyous and energetic celebration of girlhood, friendship and pop culture. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The morning after the September 11th attacks in New York, Kerry O’Brien quit her job as a senior vice president at one of the world’s largest public relations firms. Cut to 17 years later, she is the founder, designer, and CEO of Commando, a company that specialises in intimates and leggings. On today’s podcast Kerry talks to Róisín about the revolutionary seam free underwear - a favourite of celebrities and fashion designers - that launched her business. She also talks about leaving the city behind for life in rural Vermont, her Irish roots, and lots more. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jennifer Willis shot to fame as one of The Willis Clan when they appeared on America’s Got Talent and a subsequent reality TV show about the 12 siblings and their parents. While it may have looked like the perfect all-singing, all-dancing life, the world as Jennifer and her siblings knew it imploded with the arrest of their father Toby Willis on four counts of child rape. Jennifer was in Dublin for the Festival of Politics - which begins today, Thursday 15th November – and spoke to Róisín about surviving sexual abuse.Later, Aoife O’Toole, Jennifer O’Meara, and film director Mia Mallarkey, talk to Jennifer Ryan about the Dublin Feminist Film Festival, which begins next Tuesday, 20th November. https://www.dublinfeministfilmfestival.com/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ambitious women are scary, right? Female leaders must do everything they can to avoid being perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent. Comedian, blogger and vlogger Sarah Cooper's new book, How to be Successful without Hurting Men's Feelings, is a tongue-in-cheek guide for women to get ahead in the workplace. She talks to Róisín Ingle about the experiences that informed the book, people taking the title at face value and tips on how to make everyone know how hard you're working. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The “Out of Silence” report published by the National Women's Council this week documents for the very first time the specific mental health needs of women and girls in Ireland. It is based on interviews with 100 female patients at St Patrick’s University Hospital in Dublin and has made some stark findings, including that Ireland has the highest suicide rate for female children in the EU. Orla O'Connor of the NWCI and Louise O'Leary, advocacy manager at St Patrick’s Mental Health Services, speak to Jennifer Ryan about the report.Later, we bring you Róisín's interview with Marian Keyes at the Safe World Summit hosted by Safe Ireland recently, where they spoke about Marian's book This Charming Man and the issues around domestic violence that it confronts.Domestic Violence Helpline: 1800 341 900Dublin Rape Crisis Centre: 1800 778888 sexual violence See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On today's podcast we bring you a talk by Luke and Ryan Hart, who say people must be braver about confronting domestic abuse when they see it.The brothers, whose father murdered their mother and sister, were addressing the Safe World Summit organised by SafeIreland at Dublin’s Mansion House recently, an event that grapples with the realities of domestic and gender violence, its manifestations and society’s response.Also from that conference: Suzanne Connolly, who was sexually abused by her adoptive father John Rossi, speaks about how victims of sexual crimes are treated by the criminal justice system and society in general. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode we bring you a talk by Egyptian feminist activist Mona Eltahawy who spoke recently in Dublin at the International Safe World Summit on gender equality and gender based violence. New York-based Eltahawy is a Egyptian-American journalist and social commentator, writing about women's rights, Egypt and the Islamic world.Her permanent credo is 'Fuck The Patriarchy' and you’ll hear her speak powerfully about her activism and about standing up against sexism and discrimination. The author of Headscarves and Hymens, she revealed her next book will be called Make The Patriarchy Fear You. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Susan Wood is an American photographer most notable for her work on location of the 1969 film Easy Rider – starring Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper. In a career spanning more than 50 years, she has photographed John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Andy Warhol, John Wayne, Betty Friedan and hundreds more. Her latest book puts Ireland into focus, a country she has strong connections to (she married two Irish men… at different times). She was in Dublin to launch the book recently and spoke to our co-producer Jennifer Ryan about the photographs in the book, her love of Ireland and she also shared some stories from her incredible career. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In her latest book, Eve Was Shamed, British barrister Baroness Helena Kennedy QC forensically examines the pressing new evidence that women are still being discriminated against throughout the legal system. The law holds up a mirror to society and it is failing women, she says, and the #MeToo campaign has been in part a reaction to those failures. So what comes next? She talks to Róisín Ingle.Later: 'Deeds Not Words', is a conference at the National Museum in Dublin on Saturday November 3rd looking at a century of change since some Irish women got the vote in 1918. Irish Times journalist Bernice Harrison, is delivering a fascinating speech at it about the design of the first uniforms for women in the Irish Army. She joins Dr Tina Kinsella, who is chairing a panel on women’s bodies, to explain what it’s all about. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

From a very young age Rebecca Bourke knew that she wanted to be in the film industry in some capacity. Her dad convinced her to give college a go as a backup plan, but stints working in Windmill Lane Studios and on the Late Late Show as a runner only served to affirm what she already knew - she was in the right place. Fast forward to 2018 and she is the founder and executive producer at Assembly, a production company based in Dublin, which is a one-stop shop for directors, photographers, illustrators and composers. She talks to Róisín about her work, why she is passionate about projects that make a difference to the world, working with Conor McGregor, her Oscar winning childhood friend and collaborator Benjamin Cleary and their IFTA winning project Wave, which had its world premiere at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival in New York.Wave trailer: https://vimeo.com/214217381 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Róisín talks to Women's Aid director Margaret Martin about domestic violence sentencing and how it affects victims. The conversation comes in the wake of a case this week of a man who hit his wife twice across the head after dragging her upstairs and removing her jeans by force. The man, who pleaded guilty, walked free from court after being given a suspended sentence.Read the details here: https://goo.gl/TCQfoZ Later, Jennifer speaks to Jacqueline Mahon of the the UNFPA about The Power of Choice report on global fertility rates and reproductive freedom. It said that 11 per cent of women in Ireland were still facing an “unmet need” for contraception and that no country in the world can claim that all of its citizens enjoy reproductive rights at all times. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Self-taught makeup artist Violette talks to Róisín Ingle at the BT Style Summit about her career, which led her to become Global Beauty Director of Estée Lauder. Later in the show, Niamh Maher, presenter of the Girls With Goals podcast, talks to Jennifer Ryan about the Her.ie/Ella One survey of contraception and sex habits of Irish 18-24 years olds. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Feminists Don't Wear Pink (And Other Lies) is a collection of writing from extraordinary women - from Hollywood actresses, to teenage activists - each telling the story of their personal relationship with feminism. The collection is edited by journalist and activist Scarlett Curtis and features contributions from Irish actors Evanna Lynch and Saoirse Ronan. On today's show, Scarlett talks to Róisín Ingle about the book, about the controversial dismantling of a display promoting it in Topshop London and some of her favourite contributions - including one by Kiera Knightly describing childbirth in all its gorey details. She also talks about her superstar parents - Richard Curtis and Emma Freud - and her friendship with Saoirse Ronan.Also on the podcast, Evanna Lynch is on the line from Los Angeles to talk about her essay in Feminists Don't Wear Pink, before running out the door to rehearsals for Dancing With The Stars! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ailbhe Griffith was 21 years old when she was subjected to a violent sexual assault by a man on her way home from work in 2005. Her attacker was caught and sent to prison, but nine years later Ailbhe decided to meet the man who had left her seriously injured and psychologically scarred. That event is now the subject of a film in which Ailbhe plays herself. She talks to Róisín Ingle about The Meeting (directed by Alan Gilsenan), the sexual assault she was subjected to and why she felt coming face to face with her attacker was what she needed to help her to heal. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Feminism might not be something often associated with Maeve Binchy's writing, but looking back on her work now it's so obviously there. Ahead of the Echoes festival in her honour this weekend - in her hometown of Dalkey, Co Dublin - Róisín Ingle and Henrietta McKervey discuss the writer's 'quiet feminism'.Later, we bring you an interview Róisín did with the makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes at the Brown Thomas Style Summit last week. And if that sounds like your bag, stay tuned for details on how to be in with a chance of some tickets to upcoming events in the month-long series.Produced by Róisín Ingle and Jennifer Ryan See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Our Book Clubbers Irish Times journalists Bernice Harrison and Niamh Towey and septuagenarian book lover Ann Ingle discuss The Country Girls by Edna O’Brien. The book was published in 1960 and described as a “smear on Irish womanhood” because of the way it laid bare the lives of young women in 1950s Ireland. It was famously banned and burned by the parish priest in O’Brien’s home county of Clare. In this episode, hear what our Book Club thought about this iconic Irish novel.Produced by Róisín Ingle and Jennifer Ryan See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.