The Women's Podcast

The disappearance of Sarah Everard in London and the subsequent discovery of a body in woodland by police searching for her, has got many of us talking about the everyday fear that women experience when it comes to being alone in public. Ms Everard, a 33-year-old marketing executive, went missing after leaving a friend’s house in Clapham, south London, at about 9pm on March 3rd. The Met Police announced on Wednesday that a diplomatic protection officer held in relation to her disappearance had been arrested on suspicion of murder. On today’s podcast, Róisín and Kathy discuss why, 40 years after the original Reclaim the Night marches, women are still scared and whether things would be different if men felt as frightened every time they went for a walk alone.Also in this episode, Kathy speaks to Aoife McLysaght, professor of genetics at TCD, Holly Cairns, Social Democrat TD for Cork South-West and Dr Gabrielle Colleran, vice president of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association, about this week’s grim anniversary marking one year since Ireland first entered a coronavirus-induced lockdown. We ask: would things have been any better if more women had been in charge?Plus: Patrick Freyne makes a guest appearance on the Women’s Podcast, reading his highly entertaining take on that Oprah interview with Meghan and Harry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last Thursday, the Irish Times Women’s Podcast hosted an evening of storytelling to mark International Women’s Day. Guests on the night were invited to share their stories of overcoming a challenge, in front of our virtual audience on Zoom and Facebook. In today’s episode, you’ll hear a selection of highlights from the event, including a brilliant story of using creativity to work around academic challenges from senator Lynn Ruane and a moving tale about reclaiming the joy of sea swimming from trans woman and activist Aoife Martin. Journalist Brianna Parkins spoke lovingly about her hard-working mum Lorraine and activist Ailbhe Smyth spoke about the severe depression and anorexia she endured as a young woman in the early 1970s. You can watch back the event in full on The Women’s Podcast Facebook page here: https://fb.watch/45I8OGwTe-/Later on, Irish soprano Celine Byrne joins Roisin Ingle to speak about her brand new live-stream concert La bohème, which is taking place on Saturday 13th of March live from the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. The opera singer speaks to Ingle about a tough year personally and professionally, her journey into music and the excitement of returning to the stage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

China is facing mounting global criticism over its treatment of the mostly Muslim Uighur population in the north-western region of Xinjiang. Rights groups say China has detained more than a million Uighurs over the past few years in what the state says are "re-education camps". However there is evidence that Uighurs in these camps are being used as forced labour, that families are being separated and that women are being subjected to human rights violations including rape, forced marriage, torture and forced sterilisation. Countries including the US, the Netherlands and Canada have accused China of genocide and crimes against humanity, while more than 50 Irish faith leaders have signed a statement condemning the persecution of the Uighurs and other Muslims in China. But activists say the international community must take action to end what they say is the biggest concentration camp system since World War II. In today’s podcast, Róisín talks to Yara Alagha, a parliamentary researcher in Seanad Éireann for the Civil Engagement Group, and to American Uighur and activist, Aydin Anwar, about the horrendous situation for Uighurs in the formerly independent Republic of East Turkistan and what the international community can do to help. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trish Kearney was one of the six Irish swimmers who charged former swim coach George Gibney with sexual abuse offences in 1992. Known in her younger days as Patricia McCahill, the Olympic hopeful was abused by Gibney from the age of thirteen. The abuse lasted over seven years. The case against Gibney was subsequently dropped following an appeal, but his crimes were later outed by journalist Johnny Watterson in a piece for the Sunday Tribune. Now nearly thirty years on, he remains a free man, who has never stood trial for his actions. In her memoir Above Water, Trish writes about the child she once was, growing up in a happy family who nurtured her talent and passion for swimming. She details the years of abuse suffered at the hands of her coach, a man trusted by her family and the wider community. In today’s episode, she speaks to Róisín Ingle about her stolen youth, coming to terms with the past and finding peace and happiness along the way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luvvie Ajayi Jones wants you to be a fear-fighting troublemaker. We're all afraid of something: of hearing the word 'no', of being different, of being 'too much', or not enough. In her new book, The Fear-Fighter Manual, the award-winning author, podcaster and TED talker, shows us how to embrace fear and get past it to live our best lives. In today's podcast Luvvie talks to Róisín about why we should all strive to be professional troublemakers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever wondered why you remember some things and not others? Or why, even though you might share an experience with someone, their memory of it differs to yours? Psychiatrist Veronica O'Keane has spent 38 years working in neuroscience and psychiatry with patients whose ability to make sense of the world is impaired. In her book, The Rag and Bone Shop: How We Make Memories and Memories Make Us, she draws on that experience to explain why the way we memorise some things and forget others, is driven by our emotions. On today's podcast Róisín speaks to professor O’Keane about how we make memories and how they shape what we know and how we feel. She also talks about the importance of collective memory of the past and why she believes the deletion of the audio recordings of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes is a devastating loss for that reason. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the last twelve months, almost half of young people between the ages of 18 and 24 have witnessed or experienced racism. This shocking statistic is part of new research by The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, who have recently launched their All Against Racism campaign. Featuring interviews with eleven people from different ethnic backgrounds, the campaign aims to explore racism in Ireland and challenge the individual and societal attitudes that allow it to continue. In today’s episode, Róisín Ingle is joined by Teresa Buczkowska and Raihana Zeroug who both feature in the awareness drive. Buczkowska, a Polish migrant woman living in Ireland since 2005, works as an integration officer in the Immigrant Council of Ireland. Zeroug is a young student of Politics and Sociology at UCD who has been involved with sport and racism initiatives through Sport Against Racism Ireland. Together they discuss the importance of listening to different perspectives and experiences, the need for diversity in leadership and the issues surrounding direct provision. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Ireland 40% of people don’t live in a couple. When you look at those in the 16-29 age bracket, that skyrockets to 71%. After almost a year of lockdowns, give or take the odd month when restrictions were relaxed, the rules introduced to fight the spread of coronavirus have meant that sex between single people, or established couples who don’t cohabit, has in effect been illegal, against regulations, or only allowed outdoors. So, is it possible to date in a pandemic? How difficult is it to live a life starved of physical affection? And, what will dating be like when all of this is over? In response to a listener email highlighting some of the issues around being a single person in the pandemic, we gathered a panel of women together on Valentine’s Day to discuss the realities of dating, or not, during lockdown. In today’s podcast Róisín talks to Irish Times advice columnist Roe McDermott, journalist, blogger and Irish Times contributor Filomena Kaguako and Emily Wicks, a beauty blogger and plus size model from Waterford who was on First Dates last year. 🚨Announcement 🚨- Season three of the Women’s Podcast 'Big Night In' kicks off at 7pm on Saturday March 6th. We’ve got Mary McAleese, Tolu Makay, Maeve Higgins, and more, lined up for an evening of conversation with Róisín Ingle. Tickets on sale, soon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nature writer and essayist Kerri ní Dochartaigh was born in Derry, Northern Ireland at the height of the Troubles. The daughter of a Catholic mother and Protestant father, her childhood was one of trauma and violence. Struggling to identify with either side, her family were forced out of two homes and were also victim to a frightening petrol bomb attack. In her first book, Thin Places, ní Dochartaigh lays bare the ways in which these events affected her life. Weaving between two contrasting genres, nature writing and memoir, the book is an emotional history of the Troubles and an exploration into the comforting and healing power of the natural world. In today’s episode, the writer speaks to Róisín Ingle about the meaning of Thin Places and the idea that certain locations can make us feel closer to the other world. They also discuss her experiences growing up in the North, some serendipitous moments along the way and the meandering search for a sense of belonging. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thousands of Poles have taken to the streets again in recent weeks, in protest against the introduction of new legislation effectively banning abortion. It follows last October’s constitutional court ruling that outlawed abortions in the case of foetal abnormalities. According to the ruling, which cannot be appealed, the only remaining circumstances for a Polish woman to end a pregnancy legally in her home country are in cases of rape, incest or health risk.On today's podcast Róisín speaks to three women about the situation in Poland: Julia Marciniak, Hospitality and Tourism coordinator for Unite the Union and Polish pro choice activist, Iwonna Kowalska, a Warsaw-based member of the Polish Grannies protest group, and Alibhe Smyth, a longtime LQBTQ+ and abortion rights campaigner here in Ireland.https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/europe-and-central-asia/poland/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.