The Women's Podcast

Set in the seaside town of Tramore, Co Waterford, The Amusements by Aingeala Flannery follows the lives of the Grant and Swaine families and their neighbours, over three decades. The story is woven together by this diverse cast of characters who capture the joy, frustration and limitations of small town life. In this episode, the author speaks to Róisín Ingle about her own childhood summers spent...

Following on from the landmark decision by the US Supreme Court last week to overturn Roe v Wade, abortion is now restricted in at least seven states, with trigger bans set to take effect in several more. In today’s episode, Róisín Ingle is joined by women’s rights advocate Dr Erica Goldblatt Hyatt and American journalist, poet and essayist Katha Pollitt to discuss this “assault on human rights” a...

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more 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 planni...

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.  Hoste...

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, sparke...

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 a...

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 sin...

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 o...

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 H...

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 inst...

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 th...

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 g...

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 wi...

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 barr...

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 bran...

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...

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 weeken...

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.c...

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 Kerwic...

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 ha...

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 r...

In the Summer of 1976, two young Irish women, Elizabeth Plunkett and Mary Duffy were abducted and murdered by Ireland’s first serial killers Geoffrey Evans and John Shaw. Having met in a UK prison a few years beforehand, the two men travelled to Ireland with a plan to rape and murder as many women as possible. In today’s episode, Irish Times Senior Features Writer Rosita Boland tells the story of...

We Heart Worry is a brilliant podcast from Irish actors and writers Phillipa Dunne and Yasmine Akram. From worrying about the hidden meaning of a dream about Jared Leto, to fretting about accidentally putting your child’s birth cert in the clothes bank, Phillipa and Yasmine run the gamut of all our worries, niche to normal, in their podcast. They talk to Róisín about the show and the many worries...

In a recent article in The Irish Times, Sacha Dekker described an incident during which she was mocked by strangers in a restaurant who found her disability funny. Sacha tells Róisín why, even though she is a warrior who has overcome enormous obstacles in her life, she was hurt by this experience and how writing about it helped her get past it. Róisín also talks to cosmetics guru, TV presenter and...