The Women's Podcast

In this book club episode, Niamh Towey, Bernice Harrison, Róisín and Ann Ingle discuss Trespasses by Derry writer Louise Kennedy. Set in Belfast, during the Troubles, it explores the relationship between a young Catholic woman and a married Protestant barrister. The group also share their summer reading recommendations. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Cork writer Louise O’Neill’s latest book Idol delves into the heart and mind of a super influencer in the wellness world.In this episode she talks to Róisín Ingle about the book, her third novel for adults, and the thorny topics it throws up like consent, eating disorders, cancel culture and the authenticity of influencers. We also hear from Alice Kelly, a Leaving Cert student who is planning a pop-up bakery run out of a vintage pony box, in today’s episode. Alice has taken it upon herself to renovate the box, which she got as an 18th-birthday present from her family, and tells Róisín about her lifelong ambition to start her own bakery. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Naomi Long grew up in a staunchly unionist, east Belfast community. But as a centrist politician she has led the Alliance Party to become the third largest in Northern Ireland.  In this episode, she speaks to Kathy Sheridan about her matriarchal upbringing, her struggle with endometriosis, misogyny in politics, her faith and her primary school teacher’s appearance in Derry Girls.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The writer Katherine May believes we should all embrace our personal winters.She isn’t talking about the coldest season of the year though. For her, wintering is "a fallow period in life when you're cut off from the world, feeling rejected, sidelined, blocked from progress, or cast into the role of an outsider."In her book, Wintering, May recounts her own year-long journey through winter, sparked by a sudden illness in her family that plunged her into a time of uncertainty and seclusion. When life felt at its most frozen, she managed to find strength and inspiration from the incredible wintering experiences of others as well as from the remarkable transformations that nature makes to survive the cold.In the latest episode of The Women’s Podcast, May talks to Róisín Ingle about why wintering is so important, the events around her 40th birthday which led to her wintering with her husband and son, and her diagnosis of autism as an adult. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Yeah, But Where Are You Really From? is the new memoir from Irish-Zambian writer Marguerite Penrose. It’s a perfectly apt title for a book that explores the author’s experience of life, which began in St Patrick’s Mother and Baby Home in Dublin in 1974. In the book, Marguerite writes about coming to terms with the circumstances of her early childhood, about navigating the world with a disability and what it means to be both Black and Irish. In today’s episode of The Women’s Podcast, she tells Roisin Ingle about the search for her biological family, about the Instagram post which inspired the book and how she’s embracing life with openness and positivity. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In today’s episode of the Women’s Podcast we are talking about abortion, exactly four years on from the referendum to repeal the Eighth. The anniversary falls at a time when abortion access is being restricted in many parts of the world and with the news that the US Supreme Court is planning to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling.In Northern Ireland, access to abortion has been available since April 2020 after new laws came into force. However the UK Government was forced to intervene recently to ensure those services are fully delivered, following Stormont’s “failure” to do so.In the Republic, activists like Ailbhe Smyth are calling for a full decriminalisation of abortion, in advance of a review of Ireland’s legislation on abortion. Smyth talks to Róisín Ingle about the “unfinished business” of the repeal movement and her worries about the global impact of the overturning of Roe v. Wade in the US.They’re joined by feminist activist, Green Party Northern Ireland member and PhD researcher, Kellie Turtle.

In 2007, aged just 17, Amy Dunne was forced to go to the High Court to fight for her right to travel for an abortion, after a scan revealed that the baby she was carrying had a lethal abnormality and would not survive. From then on Amy became known as ‘Miss D’ and found herself at the centre of Ireland’s bitter abortion debate. Now in her 30s, Amy has written a memoir I Am Amy Dunne, reflecting on the culture of shame that she and many other Irish women have lived through. She talks to Róisín about the trauma she endured as ‘Miss D’, what she has learned from it and why no-one should ever have to experience what she went through. I AM (MISS D) AMY DUNNE, written by Amy Dunne, with Orla O’Donnell, is on sale now See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Following the Taliban takeover in August 2021, life for women and girls in Afghanistan has never been the same. Under their rule, access to education is limited, women are forced to cover their faces in public and there is a ban on nearly all paid employment. In this episode, Kathy Sheridan is joined by a woman who has sat opposite the Taliban in negotiations, former Minister for Women’s Affairs Hasina Safi. She tells Kathy about her evacuation from the country last year and her previous experience dealing with the group. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Lessons in Chemistry by American author Bonnie Garmus was our latest pick for the podcast book club. In a rare turn of events, our book clubbers found themselves in agreement, collectively singing the praises of this debut novel. That’s why we’re delighted to be joined by the author today, as she tells Róisín Ingle about her long road to writing success, the excitement of her book becoming an instant bestseller and how her main character Elizabeth Zott came to her one evening after a bad day at the office. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In 2018, while at home in her London apartment, journalist Sally Hayden received a Facebook message from a young African refugee, pleading for her help. He was one of thousands of migrants who had tried to reach Europe, only to end up trapped in a Libyan detention camp, with no way out. In her new book, My Fourth Time, We Drowned, Hayden pieces together the stories of these refugees and details the harsh conditions they are forced to live through. In today’s episode, she speaks to Kathy Sheridan about her four year investigation into this human rights disaster and explains why it’s a result of European policy. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In her brilliant debut novel, None of This is Serious, Catherine Prasifka writes about life in the era of social media. She talks to Róisín about the consequences of living online and in the real world. They also discuss her love of fantasy writing, the inevitable comparisons to her sister in-law Sally Rooney and her plans for her next book.Plus: Richie Sadlier on his book, Let's Talk, a modern guide to sex, porn, relationships, consent and intimacy, written especially for boys in secondary school. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Set in the early 1960’s, Lessons in Chemistry follows the life of Elizabeth Zott, a scientist whose career takes a detour when she becomes the unlikely star of a TV cooking show. In this episode, our book clubbers Bernice Harrison, Niamh Towey, Róisín and Ann Ingle share their thoughts on this vibrant and original story from debut author Bonnie Garmus.Keep an ear out for our upcoming interview with the author, which will be out in a couple of weeks. If you’d like to share your thoughts on the book, email us on itwomenspodcast@irishtimes.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic condition which affects millions of people around the world. It is often associated with hyperactive or disruptive children and as a result ADHD in women often goes undiagnosed. In today’s episode, Róisín Ingle speaks to two women who received a diagnosis of ADHD in their late twenties, broadcaster and journalist Brianna Parkins and barrister and coach Mairéad Deevy. Both were repeatedly misdiagnosed as they searched for answers to their symptoms. Here, they share their personal experiences of living with ADHD and the ways they’ve learned to manage it. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In today’s episode, we’re delighted to reveal that Women’s Aid has been chosen as Twitter’s main charity partner for 2022. To speak about the initiative and how it will help women across the country, Róisín Ingle is joined by Managing Director of Twitter Ireland Sinead McSweeney and CEO of Women’s Aid, Sarah Benson join Róisín Ingle.Also, Eloise Head, aka Fitwaffle speaks to Róisín about her brand new book Baking It Easy. Filled with simple and delicious bakes, the book has already become a Sunday Times Bestseller. The influencer and baker speaks about her move from fitness into food, her love of all things sweet and what’s next for the Fitwaffle empire. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What does it mean to be female? Mother, carer, the weaker sex? Think again.Lucy Cooke says a revolution has been brewing in zoology and evolutionary biology in the past few decades, demonstrating how the female of the species has been marginalised and misunderstood by the scientific patriarchy. In this episode, the zoologist and broadcaster joins Róisín and biologist, environmental consultant and broadcaster, Éanna Ní Lamhna, to discuss her brilliant new book BITCH: A Revolutionary Guide to Sex, Evolution & the Female Animal.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this week's episode, we're talking about matrescence. That's the word used to describe the physical, emotional, hormonal and social transition to becoming a mother. Everyone understands that adolescence is an awkward phase, but during matrescence mothers are expected to be deliriously happy, while simultaneously losing control over the way they look and feel. With Mother’s Day this weekend, we thought it would be the perfect time to find out more about this transformative time in many women’s lives. Layla O’Mara, a post partum doula, acupuncturist and mum of three, and Caroline Foran, the author of 3 bestselling books on the topics of anxiety, confidence and vulnerability, talk to Róisín about what the matrescence is and why it deserves more attention.Produced by Jennifer Ryan and Suzanne Brennanwww.irishtimes.com/podcasts See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Marian Keyes talks to Róisín about her latest ‘selling-like-hotcakes’ book, ‘Again, Rachel’, the sequel to her much-loved novel 'Rachel’s Holiday', which was published 25 years ago.For the day that’s in it, they also talk about what it means to be an Irish woman in 2022 and Marian tells us why she’s inspired by younger Irish women and their determination not to take any bulls**t.www.irishtimes.com/podcasts See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On Tuesday evening, The Women’s Podcast gathered together a group of women to take part in 'The Change', a special storytelling evening to mark International Women’s Day 2022. Hosted on Zoom by Róisín Ingle and Kathy Sheridan, our guests told their personal tales of transformation. The panel included Irish Times contributor and author Hilary Fannin, Miss Ireland Pamela Uba, activist Lavinia Kerwick, actor Philippa Dunne, journalist Brianna Parkins, recently arrived Ukrainian political researcher Angelika Sharygina and transition year students Meabh Jevens and Anita Sibi. In this episode you’ll hear a selection of those stories, but you can watch the entire event back on https://www.facebook.com/ITWomensPodcast But first, Róisín is joined again by activist and human rights worker Nadia Dobrianska, who has crossed the border into Poland and will be travelling on to Ireland later this week. She tells Róisín Ingle about a very rough few days and her decision to flee the Ukrainian countryside. See acast.com/p

Kyiv native Nadia Dobrianska fled her hometown early last Thursday morning, as Russia launched their first attacks on Ukraine. The human rights worker and lawyer is now in hiding with her family in the Ukrainian countryside, a few hours outside of the city. In this episode, Dobrianska describes life in a time of war. She tells Róisín Ingle why she decided to evacuate immediately, how the family have prepared for the worst, and the outlook for the days ahead. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the first book club episode of 2022, Bernice Harrison, Niamh Towey, Róisín and Ann Ingle are discussing The Herd by Emily Edwards. The Herd tells the story of a parent grappling with the decision whether or not to vaccinate their child, but it’s also an exploration of the trials and tribulations of modern motherhood. So what did our book clubbers make of this very topical story and would they recommend the book? Our next pick is Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus and we'll be discussing it at the end of April. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.