The Women's Podcast

Harry Potter star Evanna Lynch was just 11 when her eating disorder began to manifest. She struggled for several years with anorexia, with spells in and out of hospital including a three month stay in a facility in England. In her memoir, The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting, she explores with breathtaking clarity, her path to recovery and her struggle to deal with the complexities and contradictions within herself. Now 30 and living in London, she talked to Roisin Ingle about navigating all of this while also coming to terms with the international fame which came when she won the part of Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter movie franchise. It's a story about the tragedy and glory of growing up, one Lynch hopes will help anyone touched by this devastating, often misunderstood illness. This episode was originally published in October 2021.  If you’re affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode, contact BodyWhys.ie or CAREDIreland@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this podcast recorded in September 2021, Róisín talks to the journalist, author and presenter of the brilliant How To Fail podcast Elizabeth Day. She has just published her latest novel, Magpie, a thrilling, stylish and psychologically astute story of jealousy, motherhood and power. In this funny, moving and revealing conversation, Day explains how some of the book’s themes relate to her own life, why it was important to her to write about mental illness with sensitivity and why she is a Derry girl at heart. She also tells Róisín about her lockdown wedding to husband Justin Basini, some of her favourite How To Fail guests and her friendship with Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aoife Farrelly was just six years-old, when her older brother Cian began sexually abusing her. The abuse lasted two years and stopped when she told her parents what was happening. Last month, he was jailed for three years after pleading guilty to rape and sexual assault. Now aged twenty-one, Aoife plans to rebuild her life, ‘heal her inner child’ and not let the abuse define her. In this episode, she speaks to Roisin Ingle about her decision to waive her anonymity, the road to recovery and her new life in Aberdeen, Scotland. If you’ve been affected by any of the issues raised in this podcast, you can call the national 24 hour rape crisis help line on 1800 778888 or www.drcc.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Launched in 2015, Love Island is one of the most successful reality dating shows on TV. Despite a number of controversies through the years, the show still attracts millions of viewers every night. So why is it so compelling to watch and what keeps us coming back for more? In this episode Róisín Ingle is joined by three avid Love Island viewers, writer and philosopher Laura Kennedy, baker Gerry Godley and his thirteen year-old daughter Amalia Godley. Together they discuss the highs and lows of the latest season, the islander lingo and which loved-up couple might triumph this year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The price of everything is on the rise. From petrol, groceries, energy and gas, every facet of our lives has been affected. So why is everything so expensive and how can we make our money stretch further? In this episode, Róisín Ingle speaks to two budgeting experts Caz Mooney and Kel Galavan, who both share their money and saving tips through their Instagram profiles @Irishbudegting and @MrssmartmoneyhqWe also hear from Irish Times political correspondent Jennifer Bray, who explains why inflation is soaring and how the government plans to tackle it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Set in the seaside town of Tramore, Co Waterford, The Amusements by Aingeala Flannery follows the lives of the Grant and Swaine families and their neighbours, over three decades. The story is woven together by this diverse cast of characters who capture the joy, frustration and limitations of small town life. In this episode, the author speaks to Róisín Ingle about her own childhood summers spent on the beach in Tramore, her decision to leave radio journalism to pursue writing full time and why loving what you do will always matter most.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following on from the landmark decision by the US Supreme Court last week to overturn Roe v Wade, abortion is now restricted in at least seven states, with trigger bans set to take effect in several more. In today’s episode, Róisín Ingle is joined by women’s rights advocate Dr Erica Goldblatt Hyatt and American journalist, poet and essayist Katha Pollitt to discuss this “assault on human rights” and the impact it will have on the millions of American women who now face restricted access to reproductive healthcare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this book club episode, Niamh Towey, Bernice Harrison, Róisín and Ann Ingle discuss Trespasses by Derry writer Louise Kennedy. Set in Belfast, during the Troubles, it explores the relationship between a young Catholic woman and a married Protestant barrister. The group also share their summer reading recommendations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cork writer Louise O’Neill’s latest book Idol delves into the heart and mind of a super influencer in the wellness world.In this episode she talks to Róisín Ingle about the book, her third novel for adults, and the thorny topics it throws up like consent, eating disorders, cancel culture and the authenticity of influencers. We also hear from Alice Kelly, a Leaving Cert student who is planning a pop-up bakery run out of a vintage pony box, in today’s episode. Alice has taken it upon herself to renovate the box, which she got as an 18th-birthday present from her family, and tells Róisín about her lifelong ambition to start her own bakery. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Naomi Long grew up in a staunchly unionist, east Belfast community. But as a centrist politician she has led the Alliance Party to become the third largest in Northern Ireland.  In this episode, she speaks to Kathy Sheridan about her matriarchal upbringing, her struggle with endometriosis, misogyny in politics, her faith and her primary school teacher’s appearance in Derry Girls.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.