The Women's Agenda Podcast

Grace Brown joins the podcast, marking the first episode of our new format: Women's Agenda Today! Grace just closed a $23 million raise for her humanoid robotics company Andromeda. Learn what she's looking to achieve with "Abi", to help address loneliness in aged care facilities. Also, we go over the latest headlines, including how the world got a new female head of state over the weekend -- one w...

The Albanese Government’s Cabinet is now 55% female, and gender balanced across the outer ministry .  So what kind of difference can this make to women in Australia, especially with advancements in AI and tech, threats to gender equality, as well as the continuing crisis of violence against women and children? Recently, Women's Agenda had the opportunity to catch up briefly with four of those...

Latest wrap of the week! We discuss the big conversation-starting stories, including how social connection is key to longevity and wellbeing (great for the world's authoritarian strongmen, who were overheard discussing organ transplants for longer living this week). Also, more people got up to run a marathon than attend the so-called "March for Australia" rally in Sydney. Plus some highlights on w...

What could we solve by intentionally investing in women? And why is the business case for such investments so strong, and yet still so overlooked? Also, what happens when you bring transparency into the equation and ask VCs to directly outline just how many women they're investing in? This is Part 5 of our limited series, What We Could Solve , investigating real solutions to closing the massive ge...

We wrap up the week! Including the highs and lows and the latest from emotional men in parliament (including Bob Katter's "punch men in the mouth" outburst), the findings of the Linda Reynolds V Brittany Higgins defamation battle, and positive moves for ending sexual assault on university campuses. Plus much more. Check out all the stories we discuss on our website. The Women's Agenda Podcast is p...

Women are not short of ideas, ambition and skills. So how can we leverage this fact to narrow the massive gap in VC funding, where just 2% of private investment went to all female founding teams in Australia in 2024? We're on a mission to share these solutions through our limited series, What We Could Solve. In Part 4, we're exploring the power of opportunities, including competitions, accelerator...

This week, Labor MP Rebecca White joins the podcast, fresh from being appointed Assistant Minister for Health & Aged Care and winning the Tasmanian seat of Lyons at the Federal election. She speaks with Tarla Lambert-Patel about the government’s $573 million funding boost for women’s health, including what the investment will mean on the ground. Rebecca also discusses her priorities in the por...

Bootstrapping your way to business success doesn't always get as much attention as a large capital raise. But it is an approach to building big businesses that many women are pursuing and generating significant wealth in the process. Entrepreneur Leela Cosgrove is rejecting the VC system altogether and thinks more women should do so, opting to build in more sustainable ways. Meanwhile, Renece Brew...

Jo Cooper never backs down. Her career to date and the epic court battle she won a few years back prove it. Now she's tackling bystander apathy and pushing for more serious action on ending domestic and family violence. She's been at the forefront of generating community support to introduce a domestic violence disclosure scheme in the state of NSW, and potentially to see it move across other stat...

Could working from home be enshrined as a legal right in Victoria? Premier Jacina Allan believes it can and should be. The premier joins the podcast for the first time to discuss the plan, unveiled just over the weekend. It's a bold and ambitious move, and one that could push a permanent shift in workplace culture across the country. Premier Allan particularly sees it as a win for women and anyone...

Just 15 per cent of private investment in Australia went to startup teams with at least one female founder in 2024. Through this limited Women's Agenda series, we're exploring solutions for actually closing this gap -- solutions that go beyond "fixing" women. In Part 1, we got to some of the issues facing female founders as well as founders from diverse backgrounds. Now in Part 2, we're getting st...

Just 2% of private investment went to all-female founding teams in 2024, and just 15% to teams with at least one female founder. So what can be done about it? This is episode one of a special 6-part series examining solutions for closing the massive gender gap in startup investment. Closing this gap is more important than ever, given the challenges we face in health, climate, housing, tech and els...

This is the weekly wrap! We discuss the women's records in the new parliament, the most moving speeches of the week, and why the woman who took down Peter Dutton at the election is one of the most remarkable people to have ever served as an MP. Plus, the tragic numbers and inaction in Gaza, including a moving call to action organised by a number of women-led NGOs in Canberra this week. And we touc...

We take on three stories that got us talking: why the birthrate is declining in metropolitan cities, the UK's brilliant idea to lower the voting age, and how everyone's talking about the Epstein Files. Everyone, except Trump. This is the weekly wrap, with Women's Agenda co founders Angela Priestley and Tarla Lambert-Patel. The Women's Agenda Podcast is produced by Agenda Media, publisher of Women'...

Journalist Cheng Lei joins the podcast to discuss her memoir based on her time in prison in China: Cheng Lei: A Memoir of Freedom.  Cheng Lei is a news anchor with Sky News, who previously worked in Singapore and China, including as the anchor of China’s government-run, English-language Global Business TV show.   She was arrested at her office in 2020 on claims she'd supplied state...

Confidentiality and NDAs are frequently used by employers to silence those who’ve been sexually harassed at work. But why should victim-survivors have to stay quiet? The Australian Human Rights Commission has called for changes to the Sex Discrimination Act to restrict the use of confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements in workplace harassment cases, among other recommendations. Sex Discr...

The stories that got people talking this week, including a new report claiming Australia (and the world) have improved on women's health and representation—giving us now only (only!) 123 years to wait for gender equality. Plus, Scott Morrison gets an honour. So, how about those not getting recognised? And the new report claiming a global trend towards new parents preferring baby girls over boys. T...

One in three men have admitted to using violence in intimate relationships, according to new research this week. Not allegedly. Not accused. But these men are self-reporting the fact that they have used such violence. Also this week, Jacinda Ardern delivered a fresh take on impostor syndrome, highlighting the good it can help a self-aware leader achieve. Plus what does it take to return a career f...

Human rights lawyer  Prabha Nandagopal  joins the podcast to discuss the latest news from the past week, including a scathing review into the toxic culture of one of Australia's best-known institutions, a Senator speaking out about sexism and what Australians can do to push parliamentarians to do more for those in Gaza. The Women's Agenda Podcast is produced by Agenda Media. You can catc...

Legendary Labor policymaker Jenny Macklin spent 11 years in Opposition before the six years she spent on the frontbench of the Rudd/Gillard Government. She knows that the long setup is well and truly worth it, as long as you're ready to make the most of your time in power, knowing it's fleeting. In Jenny's case, she was instrumental in delivering Australia first national paid parental leave scheme...

To mark National Family Violence Remembrance Day, we're sharing this powerful conversation with Farah Mak, actor, speaker, founder, mother and survivor. Farah shares how she cultivates self worth and resilience, especially supporting herself and kids during the years she spend in the court system. You might know Farah from her work on stage, in the media, or on screen in Neighbours, playing the ch...

Deputy Speaker Sharon Claydon joins us to discuss the realities of political life, what’s changed for women in Parliament, and what hasn’t. She shares her views on representation and the challenges of pushing for progress within a system built to resist it. Enjoy this frank conversation about the long game of change, right before the 2025 federal election! Thanks to Dinushi Dias for guest-hosting...

Ronni Kahn's energy and passion brings a much needed voice to one of the most significant issues Australia faces: food insecurity, including the mental and physical tolls such insecurity places on women. Through OzHarvest, Kahn's built a team of staff and volunteers who rescue food and repurpose it for those who need it most. But in 2025, during a cost-of-living crisis and housing crisis, OzHarves...

Olympian turned politician: Zali Steggall on holding power to account Independent MP Zali Steggall joins the podcast from the campaign trail as she fights to retain the seat of Warringah. Steggall discusses taking on a former prime minister when she first won the seat, as well as the work she has done since, including her involvement in the climate wars. Steggall also talks about he potential for...

What's missing from the election campaign? Lifesaving and opportunity-creating policies for women. We discuss the latest, as well as women's representation across the major parties. Elsewhere, Tarla and Angela discuss lessons from the week, including reality, politicians answering questions and the best new word for your vocab. The Women's Agenda Podcast is produced by Agenda Media, publisher of W...