Ladies, We Need To Talk

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.

Trying to find a life partner on a dating app who's not a gun toting, fish wielding weirdo can be like trying to find a needle in the haystack. But according to Professor Jennie Young, there's a much more empowering way of sorting through all that hay. She's come up with a technique to hack the apps called 'The Burnt Haystack Method' to help women wade through the online swamp.Jennie never thought she would use her academic background to become a dating influencer. She was 50 when she first started online dating and was struck by the onslaught of stilted, mundane, and rude conversations. She kept getting the same advice — make yourself as appealing as possible and give men the benefit of the doubt. But Jennie, along with her army of followers, is turning that advice on its head. She's giving women permission to be as judgemental as possible and be totally yourself along the way.Jennie chats with Yumi Stynes about how to hack the apps and win at dating. Think of this episode as a tool in your arsenal if you're dating, or a trusty guide if you're close to someone who is.What to listen to next:Ditching dating appsPaying for sex at 70How to have better sex, with Emily NagoskiRosie Waterland and Jamila Rizvi's broken brainsYou 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:The women staying single by choice in a world of relentless dating pressureSugar babies give rich, older men the 'full girlfriend experience' at a priceThis episode will address questions like, why are conversations so weird on dating apps? How can I have a better time on dating apps? Who should I avoid on the dating apps?This episode contains references to burned haystack dating method, BHDM, B2B, block to burn, block2burn, Jennie Young, dating apps, couples, partner, love, relationships, dating events, Match Group, Hinge, Tinder, Bumble, OkCupid, divorce.

Dating apps are a drag. And women are ditching them in droves. Beyond the swiping, more of us are daring to date in real life. Yumi Stynes chats to women moving away from the apps and towards in-person singles events.From post-divorce blind dates to queer speed dating, dinners with strangers and exercise classes, all in the name of finding love. Or at least a little lust.Plus, friend of the pod and Lifestyle Editor at Guardian Australia, Alyx Gorman helps us understand why more women are dating IRL.What to listen to next: Loneliness — you're not alone Relationship resuscitation — coming back from the brink 'All Women Want' — how to have great sex, with Alyx GormanDigital dating despairWhat to read next:The women staying single by choice in a world of relentless dating pressureSugar babies give rich, older men the 'full girlfriend experience' at a priceGlobal study shows online dating does not always lead to happy relationshipsThis episode will address questions like, why are people logging off the dating apps? Where did dating apps go wrong? Why are single in-person events on the rise?You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.This episode contains references to dating apps, single events, couples, partner, love, relationships, dating events, in-person, running clubs, pickle ball, paddle, boxing, Match Group, Hinge, Tinder, Bumble, OkCupid, divorce.

As part of Women's Health Week we're bringing back our episode on Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and the difficulty of getting a diagnosis. Weight gain, bristly hairs, no period. Welcome to Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome.  PCOS is one of the leading causes of infertility worldwide and it can cause debilitating physical and psychological symptoms. 1 in 8 women have PCOS, so that’s at least a couple of friends in your group chat. So why do we still know so little about it?  Yumi Stynes catches up with ladies who’ve been battling PCOS for years and finds out how they get on top of it. Featured in this episode: Professor Helena Teede, female endocrine specialist from Monash UniversityThis episode will answer questions such as: What is PCOS? Why does PCOS cause weight pain?What is the link between PCOS and infertility? How is PCOS diagnosed?  What to listen to next: Has Ozempic killed body positivity? Calling out wellness bullsh*t with Dr Jen GunterPerimenopause: but aren't I too young? You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode contains references to PCOS, weight gain, excess hair, medical misogyny and infertility. 

Stand-up star Sashi Perera called off her wedding at the last minute. There were tears and tantrums but that wasn't the final time the lawyer-turned-comedian blew up her life.Moving to a country in the middle of civil unrest? Tick. Dating a series of duds? Tick. Quitting a well-paid job for stand-up comedy? Tick.Sashi's redefined what success means to her through career changes, relationship breakdowns and IVF struggles. Yumi Stynes sits down with Sashi to find out how she's learned to run her own race.What to listen to next:How to give zero f*cks with Gina Chick, Jessie Tu and Anna Broinowski Jessie Tu, on miscarriage and doing motherhood her way Emotional labour with Rose Hackman The price of perfectionism What to read next: The price of perfectionism for womenHow Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhoodSandy seemingly has a perfect marriage, but she’d never been lonelierYou can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode contains references to marriage, wedding, runaway bride, comedy, stand-up, dating, Tinder, online dating, shame, depression, mental health, immigrant, immigration, family, IVF, pregnancy, miscarriage, relationships.