Women Are Mad

Marianne Power breaks and mends our hearts in equally beautiful measure. She's vulnerable, she's generous, she's deeply thoughtful. Here, Marianne explains how her terror of being a bad person translated into physical illness, and how she's trying her hardest (with the help of Gabor Mate) to shake off those shackles. Her new book, Love Me, absolutely captures everything WE love about Marianne. It'...

Your fave agony pals are back. And today, they're scaling the rigging and frantically bailing. Coz this ship is going down! Or is it? Today, we look into the causes of anxiety, and try to see it a little differently. We also set YOU, dear listener, a September challenge... patreon.com/WomenAreMad Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura Smyth is scaling the heights. Whether you've seen her on Jonathan Ross or Baby Reindeer, you'll definitely have seen her. And you'll definitely be seeing much more of her. Of that, we have no doubt. Today, Laura talks us through her thoughts on virtue signalling, class complexity and nerves manifesting as rage. Laura pushes the envelope and we can't wait to see where it takes her next. patre...

We've had so many requests to carry on the agony aunt specials post-summer, that we're going to! This one is about friendship. And more specifically, the end of a friendship. If you've ever felt the anguished heartbreak of the end of a close platonic relationship, this one's for you... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anna Motz is the internationally-acclaimed therapist they make movies about. For thirty years, she's treated violent women in prisons from London to New York, bringing us her wisdom through her clear-sighted and compassionate writing. Anna's high profile case studies include Baby P, Victoria Climbie and Gypsy-Rose Blanchard, and remind us of the truth behind the headlines. Anna's warmth and humani...

The winter gets a bad rap. But here at WAM, we know what's what. We know the cruel kick the summer can deliver. It's long, it's lonely, it's emotionally fraught. While we're all allegedly having such a damn good time. Today, we extend a helping hand 'cross the wildfires of the season, and bring you another special ep to ease the load. WAM hunkers down beside you, offers you some raspberry ripple,...

Laura Dockrill could just be our favourite human ever. Her humanity, intelligence and wisdom shine through in her children's books, but we also love what happens when Laura offers this up to adults. From her performance poetry, to What Have I Done? (which explores Laura's own experience of postpartum psychosis) to her latest book I Love You I Love You I Love You. Where Laura's whip-smart writing c...

Hop aboard for another WAM Agony Aunt Special! Trigger warning : FEELINGS will be discussed... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Footballers Wives to Walford, Laila Rouass is a stalwart of British screens. We ask how she navigates emotion behind the tabloids flashbulb, and get the lowdown on steering a family through the minefield of celebrity. Rouass is warm and witty and beautiful on the inside. As well as on the outside. Which, never fear, we do interrogate! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio...

As promised, we've finally got the WAM Agony Aunt service off the ground. Kicking off with a listener's dilemma: namely, constantly comparing herself to others. Tune in if this feels familiar. Or even if it doesn't. Maybe you'll just feel smug and very evolved. Either way, it's win-win! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We were so excited to talk to Viv Groskop. To chat with Viv is to speak to an oracle of wit and wisdom. From her writing to her stand up; to her own podcasting prowess, this is the woman whose six books have taught us everything from sitting happily in high status to coming of age in the former USSR. This conversation absolutely delivers on everything you expect from the Queen of Communication. We...

Nell Hudson: actor, writer, jazz singer, feminist. You've loved watching her in Outlander, Victoria and Texas Chainsaw Massacre. You've loved listening to her at Ronnie Scott's and on tour with Jools Holland. You've adored her writing in Just For Today. Now you can enjoy her mini seminar on what makes her furious. Nell is truly the voice of her generation, on everything from the pleasure gap to se...

Jameela Jamil is goddess category, and laughs at us for saying so. This denial of her charm is precisely what we mean. Her refusal to be perfect, and fearlessness about owning that, is what we love her for the most. From her star turns in The Good Place to She-Hulk, to her feminist activism and powerful work with I Weigh , we applaud her. She's somehow a sort of divine hybrid of Taylor Swift, Glor...

DJ Paulette is a legend of the UK's dance music scene. She's one of the nation's first black female DJs, revered for her unmatched charisma behind the decks. Her memoir, Welcome To The Club, launched earlier this year, and lifts the lid on the misogyny and racism of the music industry, whilst honouring the frequently unseen women ensuring the turntable stays spinning. In this episode, Paulette dis...

Does any of the following ring true: You could have been PM, if you didn't have to sort out so many nits and asthmas inhalers. You need your female friends possibly more than you need your own lungs. Guilt is much more available to you than anger. Without your sense of humour, you'd be dead. If so, listen up! PS If naked men suddenly walking into your conversation scare you, this is a trigger warn...

Kathy Lette IS a superpower. Not only has she penned 20 novels, she's got thee honorary doctorates and has a cocktail named after her. In this episode, she stuns us with her brilliance, wit, expansive mind and love of other women. She talks being mansplained, condescended to, and bucking expectations. Kathy's latest novel, The Revenge Club, is described by comedian Jo Brand as 'Fast moving and fro...

Do you adore RHONY? And do you adore Carole Radziwill? Then you'd better get yourselves here. It's such a thrill to have Carole with us, and she doesn't disappoint. She talks being part of an aristocratic dynasty, how she navigated the greatest tragedy of her life, and the tear-down of women by the patriarchy. This ep of WAM lifts the lid on life behind the scenes of the huge reality TV show, incl...

We are like two kids in a sweet shop today. Nina Stibbe has been our long-time girl crush, and this is our TayTay moment. Nina's new book, Went To London, Took The Dog: The Diary of a 60-Year-Old Runaway is out in paperback this week, and we urge you all to get ye to a copy ASAP. Nina brings her special blend of wit and warmth to this convo, which roams across such diverse topics as having a menta...

Today, we talk to the powerhouse that is Jennifer Esposito. Actor, writer, producer and director of the summer's most-talked about cinematic debut Fresh Kills, Esposito is an unstoppable force. And we want more more more. In this episode, we talk women's compulsive need to apologise, and what that does to us and our self-worth. Esposito discusses what she's done to break that cycle, and to help ot...

Poorna Bell is a gladiator. In her real life, and also in the way she courageously handles her most painful and confronting emotions. In this conversation, we explore Poorna's experience of her own rage, from the smallest transgressions related to parking spaces and the crush to exit planes, to the heartbreaking anguish of losing her partner to addiction. Poorna shares how her relationship with ex...

What makes psychotherapist and writer Philippa Perry really mad? Online admin, self-service check outs and you'd better not call her 'feisty'.  With a unique blend of acerbic wit and radical empathy, Philippa brings fascinating insight to the many different ways the patriarchy messes with our sanity. From men telling us we're not feeling what we're feeling to being judged for the way we dress (ask...

Emma Gannon is a prodigy. From her Sunday Times bestselling non-fiction titles The Success Myth and Multi-Hyphen Method to her award-winning podcast CtrlAltDelete , she easily secured her Forbes' 30 under 30 ranking. Emma's new book 'A Year of Nothing' gives a moving account of why she had no choice but to switch off, go underground, and find joy and wisdom in mundane pleasures. Described as the '...

It was while working for Comedy Central that Cally Beaton had a chance conversation with the late, great Joan Rivers, then 81. Rivers inspired her to ditch the high-powered job as a TV exec and follow her dream. So it was that as a 45 year old single parent, Cally first took to the stage, quickly cementing her position as one of the most exciting and original new stand-ups in the UK. In this conve...

Clover Stroud is all about big landscapes and big feelings. Through her writing, she consistently and poignantly captures the smallness and largeness of life - from The Wild Other to this year's The Giant On The Skyline. In this episode of the podcast, we discuss everything from pulling dirty clothes from under beds to how we live alongside tragedy. Clover's new book is out now! The Giant on the S...

Stacey Heale knows emotion. She has an exquisite gift for pinning down that visceral, liminal experience which exists between the physical and the psychological. Her book 'Now is Not The Time For Flowers' hauntingly documents the death of her musician husband Greg Gilbert so powerfully that it will alter how you look at life. Our conversation with Stacey was freeform. It took the turns it needed t...