The Women's Podcast

ตอน

• Ailbhe Smyth: Life lessons on turning 80 28.05.2026 1ชม. 17นาที

  Academic, activist and friend of the show Ailbhe Smyth is turning 80 this Friday 29th May. To mark the occasion and to celebrate all her achievements, we invited Smyth back on the Women’s Podcast to share her life lessons on reaching this momentous milestone. The almost octogenarian reflects on her early childhood growing up in south Dublin, her struggles with anorexia as a young woman and the life experiences that ultimately led her to become an activist. She talks about the stigma of getting divorced and being an unmarried mother in the 1970s and why she almost left Ireland in the 1980s. We also look back on her extensive work and commitment to the campaigns for marriage equality and repeal. In this wide-ranging discussion, Smyth shares her wisdom and advice on ageing, love, failure and self-acceptance.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Surge in women seeking help for cocaine addiction / Emer McLysaght & Sarah Breen 21.05.2026 1ชม. 12นาที

  Almost three years on from their final Aisling book, writers and besties Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen are back with a brand new novel, Our Deadly Summer. It’s a heartfelt and hilarious tale about friendship, young women and bad men. In today’s episode, the pair tell Róisín Ingle about the J1 spent in Long Island which inspired the story and why despite pursuing solo projects after the Aisling series, they ultimately found themselves working together again. In this wide-ranging discussion, they also give their take on enduring female friendships, Botox, and the precarity of renting in Dublin. But first, Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O’Connell is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week, including the surge in women seeking help for cocaine addiction and why Meghan Markle wants you to buy a $64 candle to celebrate her wedding anniversary. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Jan Carson on the Troubles, trauma and faith 14.05.2026 55นาที

  In today’s episode, Róisín Ingle is joined by award-winning Northern Irish writer Jan Carson, who has just released her ninth book, Few and Far Between. Set on a fictional archipelago in Lough Neagh, the novel blends history, realism and the surreal, drawing on themes of community, belonging and generational trauma. In this conversation, Carson explains how a historic plan to drain Lough Neagh and create a seventh county in the north, inspired the book. She also reflects on her childhood growing up in a Presbyterian fundamentalist family - where attending church six days a week was the norm - and what her faith means to her now. But first, freelance journalist Kate Lynch is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week, including the racial abuse experienced by newly chosen Dublin Rose, Saud Mooge, plus the rise in popularity of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and what the party’s policies mean for women. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• The decline in marriage rates, Met Gala moments, Jan Brierton 07.05.2026 1ชม.

  Fifty-year-old mother of two and stylist Jan Brierton became an accidental poet during the pandemic and has since become a regular on The Women’s Podcast. Her bestselling collections, What Day Is It? and Everybody is a Poem, struck a chord with readers, while a recent appearance on The Tommy Tiernan Show introduced her to an even wider audience.Fresh from a UK tour with Henry Normal, Brierton joined podcast host Róisín Ingle to talk about life on the road, caring for her father and the unexpected joy of intergenerational friendships. She is now bringing her trademark wit and warmth to stages across Belfast, Galway, Limerick, Cork and Dublin. More details are available on her Instagram page, @jbgoodtome.Also on this week’s episode, Jennifer O’Connell, Opinion Editor at The Irish Times, returned to discuss some of the stories of the week including the continuing decline in marriage rates in Ireland. New data from the Central Statistics Office shows that Catholic weddings have more than halved over the past decade, with overall marriage numbers also falling despite increases in civil and humanist ceremonies. Jennifer and Róisín explore what is driving the shift. They also discuss the latest chapter in the long-running legal dispute involving Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni and share their favourite looks from this year’s controversial, Bezos-sponsored Met Gala. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Free travel for domestic abuse victims / Women of Iran 30.04.2026 49นาที

  While the war in the Middle East dominates the daily headlines - from peace talks to the price of oil - far less attention is given to the lived experiences of ordinary Iranians. These are the people who are living among the conflict and under the rule of a heavy-handed Islamic regime. It is the less-heard voices and experiences that Iranian activists, Mahya Ostovar and Nasim Soleimanian want to amplify and as a result, they have set up the Iranian Democratic Diaspora Network in Ireland (IDDNI). In today’s episode, the pair join Róisín Ingle to discuss the goals of IDDNI, what they are hearing from friends and family in Iran and their hopes for a secular democracy and a peaceful future for their country. But first, freelance journalist Kate Lynch is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week, including the death of Holocaust survivor and psychologist Edith Eger at the age of 99, plus the new government initiative which will allow victims of domestic abuse to travel on public transport for free. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• The women of the 1926 census / Walking the Camino 23.04.2026 49นาที

  This May, 13 members of the Sea of Change choir will spend five days walking a Camino in Portugal. The choir, which is based in Dublin, is made up of cancer survivors and supporters. Formed in 2018, they have performed at venues across the country, at Electric Picnic, and have even featured on Britain’s Got Talent. Ahead of their departure early next month, two choir members, Terry Kinane and Miriam Payne, joined Róisín Ingle on the podcast to discuss their preparations for the 120km walk. Kinane, who will be leading the group of women on the walk, shares her Camino expertise, while Payne, who was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2016, explains what this achievement will mean to her.But first, freelance journalist Kate Lynch is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week, including the publication of the 1926 census, a new report detailing the barriers some women face in accessing free contraception, and why 91-year-old Leila Doolan walked from Shannon Airport to Leinster House this week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• The Book Club: A Beautiful Loan by Mary Costello 20.04.2026 34นาที

  This month the book club is reading A Beautiful Loan by Mary Costello, as chosen by bookclubber Niamh Towey. The novel follows Anna Hughes, who , from the vantage of middle age, examines her life and the choices she made along the way. It's a story about obsessive love, memory, and self-discovery. The next book club pick is London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe. The group will be discussing it in May. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Caroline Foran on anxiety, self-compassion and ASMR 16.04.2026 46นาที

  Bestselling author and podcaster Caroline Foran is back with her fourth book, Everything I Wish I’d Known about Anxiety. The book is for anyone struggling with anxiety who is unsure how or where to begin the healing process. Based on her own experience of overcoming debilitating anxiety, it blends storytelling with practical advice and offers a step-by-step roadmap to help quiet anxious thoughts and rediscover calm.In this episode, Foran tells Róisín Ingle about the micro-changes that make a big difference, how ASMR has helped soothe her nervous system, and why self-compassion is so important. She also talks about the meaning behind her many tattoos and how motherhood - and the challenges it has brought - has shaped her. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Women in space / Louise O’Neill on fame, fate and turning 40 09.04.2026 1ชม. 9นาที

  Author Louise O’Neill is back with her sixth novel, Whatever Happened to Madeline Stone? It’s a gripping page‑turner about the dark side of the entertainment industry, focusing on child star twins Madeline and Chelsea, who grow up in the spotlight under the tight grip of their controlling mother, Erin. In today’s episode, O’Neill joins Róisín Ingle to discuss toxic celebrity culture, the treatment of women in the media and how these themes inspired the story. She also speaks about her own experiences of fame, why she believes in fate, and how life has gotten even better since turning 40.But first, Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O’Connell joins us to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week, including the woman making history aboard the Artemis space mission and how an initiative in Northern Ireland is helping hairdressers spot signs of coercive control. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Martina and Ammi Burke arrest / Learning to drive later in life 02.04.2026 34นาที

  What is it like learning to drive in your 50s? In today’s episode, we hear from journalist June Shannon who passed her driving test at the age of 54. For years, Shannon avoided driving due to anxiety, having failed a driving test in her late 20s. Living in Dublin and close to public transport, also meant she didn’t need to use a car. However, a move to Limerick a few years ago - where a car became essential - pushed Shannon to get lessons and try again. This time, she learned on an automatic car, which made the experience a lot less stressful. In today’s episode, she tells Róisín Ingle why it’s never too late to learn and that if she can do it, “anyone can”. But first, Irish Times podcast producer Suzanne Brennan is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week including the arrest of Martina and Ammi Burke and the musical comeback we’ve all been waiting for: Celine Dion.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Northern Ireland’s alarming femicide rate / Exposing a global ‘rape academy’ 26.03.2026 54นาที

  In 2024, the mass‑rape trial of Dominique Pelicot - who was tried alongside 50 other French men - shocked the world. The father of three was found guilty of drugging and raping his wife, Gisèle, over a ten‑year period, and of inviting other men he met online to rape and abuse her as well. After a 16‑week trial, Pelicot was sentenced to 20 years in prison. It was a case so shocking that one would be forgiven for assuming this type of sexual abuse is rare. However, a new investigation by CNN journalists Saskya Vandoorne and Niamh Kennedy has found that Pelicot is not alone. The pair spent several months undercover, investigating an underground network of men who exchange information and advice on how to drug and rape their wives and partners and who then share the images and videos they create with one another. In today’s episode, Kennedy and Vandoorne join Róisín Ingle to discuss what they uncovered inside a secret Telegram group, how their investigation brought them to Poland, and what they heard from some of the women who have been victims of this type of crime.You can watch their investigation on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE_kzRs1wTEAnd you can read more here: https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2026/03/world/expose-rape-assault-online-vis-intl/index.htmlBut first, Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O’Connell is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week including the guilty verdict that came this week in the Natalie McNally murder trial and what can be done about Northern Ireland’s alarming femicide rate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Fact to fiction: Jen Bray and Tanya Sweeney on becoming novelists 19.03.2026 1ชม. 2นาที

  For journalists Tanya Sweeney and Jen Bray, 2026 has been a very exciting year so far. In January, Sweeney published her debut novel, Esther is Now Following You, while Bray published her debut crime thriller, The Lies Between Us in February. Since then it’s been a whirlwind of publicity for the pair, who are still working as busy journalists in two separate Irish newspapers..In today’s episode, the two ambitious women join Roisin Ingle to talk about their move from reporting on facts to writing fiction. They talk about the road to publication, what inspired their two very different stories and what they’ve learned about themselves along the way. We also hear about three of Bray's novels that never saw the light of day and how Sweeney found the time to write between multiple house moves and becoming a mother.But first podcast host Róisín Ingle brings us some stories of the week including Jessie Buckley's historic Oscar win and concerning news about the rise of "creepshots" being taken of women on nights out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Joanne McNally on midlife, monogamy and making history at the 3Arena 12.03.2026 1ชม. 24นาที

  In today’s episode, Róisín Ingle is joined by the brilliant Joanne McNally. The comedian and podcaster dropped by the studio to talk about her newly announced date at Dublin’s 3Arena and how she’s made history as the first ever Irish female comedian to headline two shows at the venue. In this hilarious and wide-ranging conversation, McNally also talks about living with fame, why she’s taken a sabbatical from dating and about her desire to become a mother. But first Irish Times opinion editor is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week including a shocking report about the state of Ireland’s only female prison, plus a powerful piece in the New York Times by Daryl Hannah.Tickets to Pinotphile at the 3Arena go on sale on Friday morning at 11am. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• The digital war on women (and how to fight back) 05.03.2026 1ชม. 7นาที

  This Sunday 8th March is International Women’s Day and to mark the occasion, The Women’s Podcast hosted a live podcast recording at Chapters Bookstore in Dublin this week. On the night, Róisín Ingle was joined by DCU Professor Debbie Ging, human rights lawyer Caoilfhionn Gallagher and 5th year student Orla Hanratty to discuss how bias against women and girls has been built into the technologies shaping our world and crucially, what can be done about it.From deepfakes and nudification tools to AI girlfriends, the panel identified all the ways in which misogyny has been baked into evolving technology. They explored the ways to tackle the issue, the progress being made and shared practical ways to build safer, fairer online platforms. Singer Róisín O also joined us on the night to perform her new single Magic. Written as a tribute to her mother Mary Black, it’s out this Friday 6th March. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• The Book Club: Heart the Lover by Lily King 01.03.2026 23นาที

  This month on The Women’s Podcast Book Club, Bernice Harrison, Niamh Towey, Róisín Ingle, and Ann Ingle are discussing Heart the Lover by American author Lily King. The story follows ‘Jordan’, a bright, ambitious college student who finds herself caught up in a complicated love triangle, with best friends and fellow students Sam and Yash. Decades later, Jordan is living the life she dreamed of, and the vulnerable days of her youth seem comfortably behind her. But when a surprise visit and unexpected news brings the past crashing into the present, Jordan returns to a world she left behind and is forced to confront the decisions and deceptions of her younger self.The next book club pick is A Beautiful Loan by Mary Costello.  The group will be discussing it in April. Lily King writing about the teenage love that "changed her life" in Vogue: https://www.vogue.com/article/lily-king-teenage-love-essay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Is Wuthering Heights any good? / The Irish Times Debate 26.02.2026 52นาที

  This week, the grand final of the Irish Times Debate will take place in Dublin, where teams will debate the motion: This house believes the United Nations has had its day. The debating competition was founded in 1960 and counts many distinguished alumni among the ranks of its participants and winners, including comedian Dara O’Briain and the late broadcaster Marian Finucane. In today’s episode, Róisín Ingle is joined by this year’s debate convenor and former winner Ciara McLoughlinn, plus Clíodhna McHugh, who won the individual speaker prize in 2024. Both work in the legal profession and say this debating experience was crucial in building their confidence and public speaking skills, before leaving university. But first Irish Times features writer Nadine O’Regan is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week including Katie Taylor’s retirement announcement, the latest in the disappearance of US pensioner Nancy Guthrie and the backlash that followed a proposal to reduce the number of special needs assistants (SNAs) in Irish schools. She also shares her thoughts on the new Wuthering Heights movie, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• U2’s new feminist EP / Inside America’s Next Top Model 19.02.2026 1ชม. 10นาที

  When America’s Next Top Model arrived on our screens in 2003, it was an instant hit with viewers around the world. The reality TV competition, hosted by supermodel Tyra Banks, saw young aspiring models compete for the chance to win a lucrative modelling contract. Although the show ended almost a decade ago, it’s back on our screens in Netflix’s new documentary series, Inside America’s Next Top Model.The three-part show revisits the modelling competitions' most shocking moments and includes interviews with former contestants and judges that paint a picture of a toxic and harmful filming environment. In today’s episode, Irish Times contributor Rachel O’Dwyer and model and actress Amber Jean Rowan join Róisín Ingle to share their thoughts on the show and how the young women who took part were treated. Rowan also discusses her experience on The Model Agent, an Irish reality show which she took part in at just 15 years old.  But first Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O’Connell is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week including the newly released EP by U2, the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and the ongoing search in Co Wicklow for missing Irish women JoJo Dullard and Deirdre Jacob. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• The Epstein files / Grieving an estranged parent 12.02.2026 47นาที

  In today’s episode, we’re covering a topic that isn’t often spoken about, but is estimated to affect around one in four families: family estrangement. It’s a subject that writer and Irish Times contributor Laura Kennedy wrote about recently in her Substack, detailing the complicated grief she experienced following the death of her father late last year - a man she hadn’t seen in over a decade. In today’s episode, Kennedy joins Róisín Ingle to reflect on the strange, unsettling reality of losing a parent whose death changes almost nothing in her daily life. You can find her piece on family estrangement on Substack here https://lkennedy.substack.com/But first, Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O’Connell is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week including France’s ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ moment and a revealing confession made by an Olympic athlete at the winter games this week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Is Lucy Letby innocent? / The challenges facing lone migrant parents 05.02.2026 1ชม. 15นาที

  Last month, Action Aid Ireland published a new report highlighting the challenges that lone migrant parents, mainly women, experience when they leave state accommodation. Many face discrimination, unaffordable rents and inadequate supports, leaving them effectively trapped between direct provision and homelessness. In today’s episode, Deborah Oniah and Owodunni Mustapha (Ola) - two Nigerian women who have made the move from direct provision into secure housing - share their experience of finding accommodation as single parents in the middle of a housing crisis. We also hear from Karol Balfe, CEO of ActionAid Ireland, who explains what recommendations have come from the report and why for lone migrant parents, the barriers to securing housing are often multiplied. But first, Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O’Connell is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week including the latest tranche of Epstein files released last Friday and a new Netflix documentary which questions the guilt of the UK’s “most prolific child killer” Lucy Letby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Motherhood over 40 / Who was Brigid? 29.01.2026 1ชม. 2นาที

  This Sunday 1st February is St Brigid’s Day and to celebrate the occasion we’re learning all about Brigid - the woman, the myth, the legend - from author and writer Kim Curran. Curran has just published her new book Brigid - a reimagining of Ireland’s most beloved saint - in which she details the life of Brigid, the miracles she made and the women she saved. It’s the story of a trailblazer who carved her own path, rebelled against the status quo and could never be caged by men, by gods, or even by history itself. So if you’ve ever wondered who the real Brigid was, what’s the story behind the cross and what inspired her to live as she did, then this is the episode for you. But first, Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O’Connell is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week, including the tragic death of a homeless woman in Dublin city centre this month and why more women in Ireland are having babies in their 40s. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.