Ladies, We Need To Talk

Standing by watching a loved one's addiction can be heartbreaking and confusing. One in ten Australian's struggle with a substance disorder and one in five experience gambling harm.For every person struggling with an addiction, there are people close to them. The wives, mothers, sisters and children watching their addictions play havoc with their lives.Yumi Stynes sits down with women who've been on the sidelines of someone else's addiction, and who've found a path through a challenging situation.In this episode you'll hear how to look after your own mental health as a carer and how to have those difficult conversations.Featured in this episode: Caroline Thain, Manager of Clinical Advice and Governance at Headspace Special thanks to Dr Steph Kershaw from the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use for her help with this episode. Helpful resources: National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline 1800 250 015  SHARC's Family Drug and Gambling Helpline 1300 660 068 Lifeline on 13 11 14 Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36 Headspace on 1800 650 890 Matilda Centre resources for mental health and substance useAl Anon Family Groups AustraliaWhat to listen to next: Mental health: Anxiety and how to beat itMental health: Overcoming depressionYou can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. What to read next: What loving someone with an addiction or dependence can look likeHow Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhoodThe dark side of being a perfectionistWhy genital herpes does not mean the end of your sex lifeWhat happens to your sex life during perimenopause?This episode will answer questions like: How can I look after myself if my loved one has an addiction? What does gambling harms and addiction look like? What is it like to live with someone with alcohol dependence? How can alcohol dependence affect families? What is the financial impact of a gambling addiction? How can I help someone addicted to poker machines? How can I help someone with an addiction? This episode contains references to mental health, gambling, poker machines, addiction, alcohol dependence, Al Anon, Alcoholics Anonymous, support group, psychologist, alcohol and other drugs, counselling, boundaries. 

In this engaging conversation, Professor Bronwyn Graham, a behavioural neuroscientist and clinical psychologist, explains the biology of anxiety and its various forms. Chef and author Julie Goodwin shares her journey through severe anxiety, revealing how perfectionism impacted her experiences on MasterChef. They discuss practical strategies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy and lifestyle changes, that can help manage anxiety. The importance of supportive relationships and the impact of hormones on mental health are also key talking points.

Hey ladies, we are working on an episode about women who’ve taken a break from their long-term relationship, to follow their own path for a little while.If you’ve hit pause on your relationship in the hopes of getting back together stronger than before, we want to hear from you (whether it worked out in the end or not!)If this is you, or a woman you know, drop us a line at ladies@abc.net.au

One in six women will get depression in their lifetime, compared with one in ten men. So, is it hormones or circumstances or a combination of both that's makes us more susceptible? And importantly, how can we confront the black dog if it's at our door?In part one of this three-part series, Yumi Stynes sits down with women who've been in the grips of depression to understand how they overcame it. She also lays out the essential ingredients for good mental health.Featured in this episode:Professor Bronwyn Graham, neuroscientist and clinical psychologistIf you need someone to talk to, call:Lifeline on 13 11 14 Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36 Headspace on 1800 650 890 QLife on 1800 184 527 What to listen to next:Loneliness — you're not aloneThe price of perfectionismHow to give zero f*cks Perimenopause: lifting the brain fogYou can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. What to read next: How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhoodThe dark side of being a perfectionistWhy genital herpes does not mean the end of your sex lifeWhat happens to your sex life during perimenopause?This mini-series will answer questions like: How do women experience mental health conditions differently to men? What does depression feel like? Is depression the same as feeling sad? What is the role of hormones in women’s depression? How does sleep impact depression? What can exercise and diet do for depression? What are effective treatments for depression? What is Electroconvulsive Therapy? This episode contains references to mental health, depression, melancholic depression, suicide, antidepressants, SSRIs, medication, hospital, parenting, motherhood, relationships, family, wellness, health, exercise, hormones, stress, sleep, CBT, psychiatric facility, electroconvulsive therapy, ECT. 

One in three women in Australia will be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder in their lifetime and one in six will experience depression. This Mental Health Month, it's time to find solutions.In this three-part series, Yumi Stynes chats to leading experts about hacking your brain, hormones, nutrition (and yes, mental load) to feel better.Yumi speaks to women with depression and anxiety about the treatments and lifestyle changes that have helped them feel better. We also look at how to look after your mental health when you love someone with an addiction.Featured in this series: neuroscientist and clinical psychologist Professor Bronwyn Graham, Headspace's Caroline Thain and beloved cook Julie Goodwin.What to listen to next:Loneliness — you're not aloneThe price of perfectionismHow to give zero f*cks Perimenopause: lifting the brain fogYou can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. What to read next:How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhoodThe dark side of being a perfectionistShame and disgust: Why we find this STI so hard to talk aboutWhat happens to your sex life during perimenopause?This mini-series will answer questions like: How do women experience mental health conditions differently to men? What is the role of hormones in women’s mental health? What is the role of exercise and diet in mental health? How do antidepressants work? What’s it like to stay in a psychiatric hospital? How do I feel better day to day? This episode contains references to mental health, anxiety, depression, addiction, SSRIs, medication, hospital, parenting, motherhood, relationships, family, wellness, health. 

Twins Clare and Jessie Stephens have been by each other's side for all of life's firsts. The first day of school, first job, first love, first pregnancy and birth plus that time Clare dyed her hair brown (spoiler alert: disaster).The sisters, both writers and podcasters, live in tandem. They're also competitive high achievers.So what's it like when your best friend is also your harshest critic, most fierce rival and biggest cheerleader? How do you figure out who you are when your identity and DNA are so closely linked with another? Yumi Stynes sits down with the twins for a raucous conversation about the love and war of sisterhood.Clare Stephens is the author of The Worst Thing I've Ever Done and host of The Pile On podcast. Jessie Stephens is the author of Something Bad Is Going to Happen and host of the Mamamia Out Loud podcast.What to listen to next:Sashi Perera on reinventionRosie Waterland and Jamila Rizvi's broken brainsJessie Tu, on miscarriage and doing motherhood her wayThe price of perfectionismYou can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. What to read next: How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhoodThe dark side of being a perfectionistShame and disgust: Why we find this STI so hard to talk aboutWhat happens to your sex life during perimenopause?This episode contains references to pregnancy, miscarriage, jealousy, envy, twin, sisterhood, family, depression, anxiety, relationships, Jessie Stephens pregnancy, identical twins. 

Married mum Deepa Paul didn’t have ‘sleeping with strangers’ on her bingo card. She grew up in the Catholic and conservative Philippines and married her college sweetheart. But underneath, Deepa yearned for more.   Deepa wanted to open up her marriage, but convincing her husband took time and tears. Eventually, they settled on boundaries and set up their dating profiles. Having sex with new people meant that Deepa could explore her desires without shame. It also sparked a renewal in her marriage.  In her book Ask me how it works: love in an open marriage Deepa answers the questions we all want to know about polyamory.  What to listen to next:The new way to dateHow to have better sex, with Emily NagoskiEsther Perel will change how you think about intimacyOh my kink! Pulling back the covers on BDSMYou can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. What to read next: How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhoodThe dark side of being a perfectionistShame and disgust: Why we find this STI so hard to talk aboutWhat happens to your sex life during perimenopause?This episode will answer questions like: How does polyamory work? Do people get jealous in open relationships? What is couples therapy like? How do you navigate the stigma of an open relationship? How do you talk to your partner about sex? How do you talk to your kids about your sex life? This episode contains references to polyamory, open marriage, wedding, sex, sexuality, marriage, parenting, children, kids, communication, couples therapy, couples counselling, infidelity, cheating, online dating. 

This is a guided meditation to help with chronic pain.  Endometriosis hurts. It can be a gnarling, twisting, stabbing, relentless source of pain. Finding a way through that pain can be overwhelming at times. Meditation can help.  Gynaecological surgeon and endometriosis specialist Dr Pav Nanayakkara guides you through a series of breathing exercises to shift your relationship with pain.  This isn’t a standard Ladies, We Need to Talk episode, it’s a tool for your mindfulness toolbox. One you can come back to any time you need.  These meditations aren't designed to replace medical pain relief or the advice of a good doctor, rather to compliment them.What to listen to next:Endometriosis: Pain, periods, medical gaslightingThe rage in my pelvisWhen sex hurtsPerimenopause: WTF is happening to our bodiesFree to bleed: escaping menstrual shameYou can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.What to read next:Shame and disgust: Why we find this STI so hard to talk aboutWhat happens to your sex life during perimenopause?How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhoodThis episode contains references to endometriosis, gynaecology, period pain, chronic pain, pain management, meditation, attention, acceptance, mindfulness, breathing, breath work. 

Around one million Australian women live with endometriosis. That's around one in seven, so chances are you know someone dealing with debilitating pain, medical misogyny and fertility issues because of the disease.Awareness about endometriosis has expanded in the last few years, but there's still a long way to go. Yumi Stynes meets women who've spent a lot of time and money seeking a diagnosis and fighting to be heard.She also sits down with Professor Caroline Ford from the Ainsworth Endometriosis Research Institute at UNSW who offers hope for a future with tailored treatments and less BS.Helpful links:Endometriosis Foundation  (these folks run support groups)National Endometriosis Clinical and Scientific trials registryEndometriosis AustraliaPelvic Pain foundationEndo ZoneWhat to listen to next:The rage in my pelvisWhen sex hurtsPerimenopause: WTF is happening to our bodiesFree to bleed: escaping menstrual shameShedding the shame of herpesThe new way to dateYou can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.What to read next:Shame and disgust: Why we find this STI so hard to talk aboutWhat happens to your sex life during perimenopause?How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhoodThis episode will answer questions like:What is endometriosis?How can you tell if you have endometriosis?Is it normal to have painful periods?What are the treatment options for endometriosis?Does endometriosis affect your fertility?Does endometriosis affect your sex life?This episode contains references to endometriosis, gynaecology, period pain, chronic pain, painful sex, medical, gaslighting, medical misogyny, cancer, fertility, infertility, IVF, uterus, lesions, laparoscopy, endo, endometrial tissue, chronic pelvic pain, adenomyosis, dysmenorrhea, chocolate cysts, blood, National Action Plan for Endometriosis.

Artificial Intelligence is supercharging a new era of misogyny. There are more weapons than ever for men to use against women to silence and shame us, chief among them deepfakes (AI generated images and videos). And tech companies and regulators are not doing enough to fight this abuse, which is affecting everyone from schoolgirls to prime ministers.After her book Men Who Hate Women dropped, academic Laura Bates was sent an AI-generated nightmare. It was her face, used in a sexually violent doctored image.Her new book, The New Age of Sexism: How the AI Revolution is Reinventing Misogyny dives into this wild collision of technology and hate, from deepfake pornography to cyber brothels, chatbots and robot girlfriends.Laura calls out a future where women are easy targets and the rules don't apply. The tech might be new, but the misogyny is old and crusty —and Laura says it's time to fight back and protect women now.Come to our next live show:How pop culture turned a generation of women against themselvesWhat to listen to next:Are our boys ok? Fighting online misogyny with Kate ScottFalling for a narcissistCalling out wellness bullsh*t with Dr Jen GunterSashi Perera on reinventionYou can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.What to read next:Shame and disgust: Why we find this STI so hard to talk aboutWhat happens to your sex life during perimenopause?How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhoodThe dark side of being a perfectionistThis episode will address questions like, what does AI mean for women and women's rights? How is technology being used in gender-based violence? What is a deepfake? What is the psychological impact of online abuse? What can I do if there's a deepfake using my image?This episode contains references to pornography, metaverse, online, deepfake, discrimination, inequality, harassment, reddit, social media, sexual assault, abuse, AI, Artificial Intelligence.