Women protesting in Iran, Drugs and teens, Subpar relationships, Midwives and burnout

Jan 14, 2026

Guest

Dame Professor Carol Black

Guest

Azadeh Zabeti

Guest

Lyse Doucet

In a compelling discussion, Lyse Doucet, BBC's Chief International Correspondent, and Azadeh Zabeti, a human rights lawyer, delve into the ongoing protests in Iran, highlighting the courage of women risking their lives for change. They reveal chilling stories, including the tragic death of a student protester. Meanwhile, Dame Professor Carol Black addresses alarming trends in teen drug treatment, underscoring systemic failures in care provision. The conversation also touches on the pressures millennials face in relationships, exploring why some settle for less.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Women Leading Iran's Uprising

Women have been at the forefront of Iran's nationwide protests, using visible acts of defiance and risking severe reprisals.
The crackdown and internet blackout aim to silence them, but images and reports still emerge showing sustained female participation.

INSIGHT

Broad Charges Fuel Rapid Executions

The Iranian judiciary is using broad charges like "waging war against God" to rapidly sentence protesters, including young people, to death.
These swift death sentences appear intended to terrorize and deter the protest movement.

ADVICE

Pressure Without Military Intervention

International measures can support protesters without military intervention by targeting Iran's Revolutionary Guard and diplomats.
Governments should consider sanctions, expulsions, and diplomatic pressure rather than foreign boots on the ground.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Reports say that the number of people killed in Iran after 18 days of protests is over 2000. We hear about the women on death row who are facing execution as there are fears of quick reprisals from the regime. Women are taking extraordinary risks to take part in protests as is demonstrated by the death of the fashion student Rubina Aminian, who was shot in the head during the protests, after taking to the streets to demand change and more freedoms. BBC Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet and human rights lawyer Azadeh Zabeti discuss with Nuala McGovern.

A BBC investigation has found that more than half of the 16,000 children in drug treatment between 2024 to 2025 were 15 or younger. The BBC has found disparities in community care, gaps in strategy and a lack of state funded residential facilities for teenagers. Experts and grieving families say many are not receiving the help they need. Kate Roux, whose son Ben died in a homeless shelter at 16, and Dame Professor Carol Black, the government’s independent drugs adviser, discuss the systemic issues preventing children from getting the help they need and what is being done to create parity of care.

What happens if the person you’re in a relationship with doesn’t quite meet all the qualities you look for in a long-term partner? Do you stay anyway? Journalist Eve Simmons has recently written about this in her new book, ‘What She Did Next’, which looks at why millennial women might settle for what she calls ‘subpar’ relationships. Nuala is also joined by psychotherapist and broadcaster Lucy Beresford who believes it may not just be women settling for less.

After reading the coroner’s report on the tragic deaths of Jennifer Cahill and her daughter Agnes Lily in June 2024, midwife and author, Leah Hazard decided to investigate how long midwives across the country were expected to work at any one time. The many responses she received led her to set up a petition which has now garnered more than 19,000 signatures. She tells Nuala why she is asking for stricter legal protections on midwives’ working hours, and midwife Abigail Latif describes the pressures she feels under to work long hours.

Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Melanie Abbott