Judith Gough, the UK Ambassador to Sweden and former diplomat in Ukraine, shares insights about her role and her experiences in conflict zones. Drag queen Courtney Act, aka Shane Jenek, tackles toxic masculinity, exploring its societal implications and personal effects. The discussion also highlights the increasing trend of women participating in running for fitness, with inspiring stories of transformation and emotional expression. Additionally, the podcast touches on fertility struggles through personal narratives, adding depth to conversations around gender roles.
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Rachel Baker's Running Journey
Rachel Baker started running after realizing she could keep up with her son learning to ride a bike despite weighing 20 stone.
She initially struggled but persevered through emotional and physical challenges, losing nine stone over time.
insights INSIGHT
Issues with Toxic Masculinity Term
The term toxic masculinity is often shaming and othering, which can hinder constructive conversations about male behavior.
Men may receive negative messages that undermine their identity, complicating positive engagement with masculinity.
insights INSIGHT
Toxic Masculinity Not Gendered
Society's toxically masculine traits are not limited to men and can include women adapting masculine energy for advancement.
There is a need for balanced terms that fairly describe all genders without shaming.
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Married Love, published in 1918, was one of the first books to openly address birth control and sexual health in marriage. It emphasizes the importance of mutual understanding and sexual fulfillment in a monogamous relationship, advocating for women's control over their fertility to achieve happier marriages. The book was controversial yet highly influential, going through numerous editions and becoming a landmark in the history of sexual education.
Blood Song
Anthony Ryan
Giver of Stars
Jojo Moyes
Set in the 1930s during the Great Depression, 'The Giver of Stars' follows Alice Wright, an Englishwoman who marries an American and moves to Kentucky, only to find her new life stifling. She joins a group of women, including the outspoken Margery, to become part of Eleanor Roosevelt's mobile library program. These women, known as the Pack Horse Librarians, face numerous obstacles, including harsh terrain, social disapproval, and personal struggles, as they bring books and literacy to isolated communities. The novel explores themes of friendship, love, and the power of books in transforming lives[2][4][5].
Drag queen, Courtney Act - real name Shane Jenek, Jordan Stephens from the hip hop duo Rizzle Kicks, and the Chief Executive of the ‘Men and Boys Coalition’, Dan Bell discuss what the term Toxic Masculinity means to them and how it makes them feel.
Why are more women choosing running over other sports when it comes to staying fit? Dame Kelly Holmes talks about the influence of athletes like Dina Asher-Smith, Rachel Baker tells us how running helped her lose weight and Jens Jakob Andersen has researched data with the International Association of Athletics Federations.
The international bestselling novelist Johana Gustawsson’s latest book ‘Blood Song’ draws on her own experiences of IVF and her struggle to conceive. Johana and her husband Mattias tell us about finding out about his infertility and their need for a sperm donor.
Judith Gough the now UK Ambassador to Sweden tells us about her job and her four year position in the Ukraine.
Chrisann Jerrett and Dami Makinde discuss their charity We Belong. They set it up to help young people who came to the UK as children, start the process for legal status.
We hear about the impact of so called ‘Superfans’ on female music journalists. Wanna Thompson tells us how a tweet she sent about Nicki Minaj went viral and Hannah Ewens a journalist from Vice discusses what motivates ‘superfans’.
The author Jojo Moyes talks about new novel ‘The Giver of Stars’ based on the true story of the Horseback Librarians of Kentucky.
Presenter: Jane Garvey
Producer: Rabeka Nurmahomed
Editor: Lucinda Montefiore
Woman's Hour 
