The Women's Podcast

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com...

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...

In today’s episode Róisín Ingle spoke to Jane Goodall, the woman who devoted her life to the study of chimpanzees. In this fascinating conversation, Jane describes how her African adventure started in 1957 when she travelled to Kenya by boat (it took over a month). With no formal training or scientific background, Jane became a chimp researcher under the supervision of archaeologist Louis Leakey....

It’s Women’s Christmas or as it’s known in Ireland Nollaig na mBan and it’s also the Feast of the Epiphany. To mark the occasion The Irish Times Women’s Podcast been collecting Epiphanies or as Oprah calls them “a-ha moments” from women. In this special episode women recount the lightbulb moments that influenced and in some cases transformed their lives. You’ll hear epiphanies from lots of inspiri...

2020 is finally here, but what has the year in store for women around the world? In today’s episode Kathy Sheridan is joined in studio by Syrian born journalist Razan Ibraheem, Irish Times social affairs correspondent Kitty Holland and Irish Examiner columnist Alison O’Connor. Together, they took a look at how women will be making waves around the world in the coming year; including which Irish fe...

2019: It was the year of fanny flutters, Brexit & Borris. The year that Finland elected the youngest ever female prime minister, America won The Women’s World Cup, a new royal baby was born, Wagatha Christie had everyone talking and the fight for women’s rights escalated across the world. To review the very best and worst bits of the last year with Kathy Sheridan are journalists Jennifer O’Connell...

Tererai Trent, an academic from Zimbabwe, was in Dublin recently for the Simmons Leadership Conference. As a young girl born into poverty, Tererai was not allowed to attend her local school. Despite this, she went on to obtain a degree in agricultural education, a Masters in public health and in 2009, she completed her PhD. Oprah Winfrey once described Tererai as her all time favourite guest and f...

In today’s episode, Psychotherapist and mindfulness teacher Padraig O’Morain is on hand to help bring a little calmness into our lives this festive season. With the constant rushing around, the frantic shopping and the pressure to achieve the "perfect" Christmas, it’s important to take some time to look after yourself too. He spoke to Róisín Ingle about preparing yourself for stressful family gath...

In today’s episode, Kathy Sheridan is joined in studio by award winning journalist Catherine Fegan, who has just released the book, ‘The Murder of Mr Moonlight’. It tells the story of DJ Bobby Ryan (Mr. Moonlight) who went missing in 2011 and the strange circumstances surrounding the discovery of his body 22 months later. In May 2019, after a fifteen week trial, Pat Quirke was found guilty of the...

In today’s episode, Róisín Ingle is joined in studio by beauty writer Laura Kennedy and fashion stylist Corina Gaffey to help you out with some brilliant last minute gift ideas. From photo jigsaws, subscription boxes, house plants, eco-friendly makeup and reusable tampon applicators, there’s something for everyone in this guide to last minute Christmas Shopping. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priv...

On today’s show, Róisín Ingle is joined by comedian and all-round legend Joanne McNally. In this hilarious conversation, Joanne speaks about living with four other single women, (one of whom is a sexual psychologist), why she mostly uses tinder for content ideas and how her favourite pastime of ‘drinking with the girls’ was the inspiration for her latest show, Prosecco Express. Also, Rosita Boland...

Ep 357 Book Club: The Dutch House / Irish Composer Emer KinsellaThe Book Club is back and this time Róisín Ingle, Bernice Harrison, Ann Ingle and Niamh Towey are chatting about The Dutch House by Ann Patchett. The book tells the story of two siblings, Danny and Maeve Conroy, and how their lives unfold over the course of five decades. Also Róisín Ingle chats with Irish violinist Emer Kinsella about...

In today’s episode we’re joined by the Pulitzer Prize winning novelist, Elizabeth Strout, who has just released her new book, ‘Olive Again’. It’s the much anticipated sequel to her best seller ‘Olive Kitteridge’ which was released in 2008. After eleven years, we’re thrown back into the chaos of Olive’s life as she adapts to changes within herself and the world around her. Elizabeth explains to Rói...

Megan Phelps Roper was born into the Westboro Baptist Church, a small Kansas based ministry which garnered world-wide condemnation for their anti-gay protests and pickets at 9/11 memorials and soldier’s funerals. Megan spoke to Róisín Ingle about her new memoir, Unfollow, which details her early life in the church, why her family celebrate tragedy and death and what inspired her to leave it all be...

As we wrap up Food Month here in The Irish Times, we’re joined in studio by award winning chefs Michel Roux Jr. and Margot Janse. The pair travelled to Dublin recently to judge the Euro-Toques Ireland Young Chef of the Year 2019 Competition, which was won by Gráinne Mullins, a head pastry chef at Galway restaurant Lignum. Margo has enjoyed a lengthy career in South Africa working as a head chef in...

In today’s episode, we examine what life is like for women living in the Gaza Strip, in southern Palestine. Róisín Ingle spoke to Mona Al Shawa and Hala Riziq, who travelled over to Dublin recently with Trócaire for some respite and to share their experiences with Irish people. Both have made it their life’s mission to defend women’s rights in a place where violent conflict and an oppressive patri...

In today’s episode, Tanya Sweeney tells Roisín Ingle why the opening of an Oliver Bonas store in Dublin is bad news for our wallets. (She spent too much on a neon rainbow lamp. What? It sparked joy!) They also discuss that car crash Prince Andrew interview and after encouraging us all to de-clutter our homes, ask why is Marie Kondo now selling her own home-ware range? Also on this episode, Roisín...

Last week The Women’s Podcast left behind the usual surrounds of the studio for a live recording in House on Leeson Street, with thanks to our sponsors Green & Black's. Marian Keyes was the special guest on the night and treated the live audience to an exclusive excerpt of her brand new book Grown Ups. Marian also spoke about her love of the dark winter nights, why she keeps turning down Dancing W...

In this episode, Róisin speaks to entrepreneur, author and ground breaking business leader, Margaret Heffernan. As the former CEO of five businesses, Margaret shares her incredible insight into the complexities of how an organisation works. Having spent a lot of her career focusing on the role of women in business and leadership roles, Margaret also speaks about how women can positively change the...

In this episode we are joined by former US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power. The Dublin born academic and author talked to Kathy Sheridan about how she became one of the most powerful women in American Foreign Affairs and discussed her acclaimed memoir The Education of An Idealist. Power also goes back to her difficult childhood in Dublin and the custody battle which led to her, aged 9, leaving...

Today we’ve dedicated the podcast to Gay Byrne - the legendary broadcaster who died on Monday 4th November - and specifically to his impact on women in Ireland. Most of the listeners to his radio show were women, he regularly made space for women on both radio and on The Late Late Show, allowing their voices to be amplified on topics such as divorce, sex, religion, contraception and feminism. He a...

Margaret Atwood is a literary legend and you can imagine how excited we were to have her on The Women’s Podcast for the third time. As author of The Handmaid’s Tale - and many other award winning novels - she brought us the world of Gilead and started a powerful global conversation about women which still resonates today at a time when Donald Trump is the leader of the free world and reproductive...

In what was a momentous week for Northern Ireland, The Women’s Podcast travelled to Belfast for our first podcast recording in that beautiful city. It was the week abortion was decriminalised in the North after a long grassroots struggle by feminist activists. So what happens next? Panellists including Alliance for Choice activist Danielle Roberts, performer Kellie Turtle and Alliance party Assemb...

In this episode, Kathy Sheridan talks to women and organisations who have benefited from the Mná na hÉireann Women of Ireland fund which was set up to increase the economic mobility of women across the country. We also mark the end of Breast Cancer Awareness Month by talking to one survivor of the illness who now volunteers educating women and girls in how to detect early signs of the illness. Ger...

Barefoot Pilgrimage is a new book by Andrea Corr, the musician, songwriter and actress who was the lead singer of pop group The Corrs with her three siblings Sharon, Caroline and Jim. The memoir is a love letter to her late parents Jean and Gerry and a meditation on life, grief and hope. Corr came in to The Women’s Podcast studio and talked to Roisin Ingle about the memoir, her career, religion, f...