The Women's Podcast

Irish author Emilie Pine chats to Kathy about her collection of highly personal essays, Notes to Self, published by Tramp Press. The book deals with the taboo topics we're not supposed to talk about like alcoholism, infertility and rape. Emilie tells Kathy the background to some of the essays, what she has learned from writing them and why her mantra for 2019 is: being strategic, but also reflecting. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before we get back into the studio after our Christmas break, we're reposting this episode from earlier this year - Monday 28th May to be exact. Health Minister Simon Harris came into studio two days after the result of the referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment and was joined by Together for Yes co-founder Ailbhe Smyth, Róisín Ingle and on the line by Marian Keyes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2018 brought us the referendum to repeal the 8th amendment, it saw Vicky Phelan blow the CervicalCheck scandal wide open and the Irish Women’s Hockey Team had us all roaring at the telly as they played their hearts out against the Dutch in the World Cup Final in London. On New Year’s eve, Kathy is joined by journalists Alison O’Connor, Kitty Holland and Jennifer O’Connell to take a look back at the year that was. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Irish Times journalist Rosita Boland reads an article she wrote about Elizabeth O’Kelly, the little-known Irish philanthropist who, it was revealed last October, left €30 million to charity in her will. In the piece published in the Irish Times on Saturday 22 December, Rosita reports on Elizabeth O’Kelly’s past, revealing a life of privilege and tragedy, generosity and anonymity.You can read that article here: https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/elizabeth-o-kelly-the-irish-orphan-who-gave-away-30m-1.3734135 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's show, we bring you thoughts about Christmas from some of the women who have appeared on the podcast in the past. They include stories by the writer Ruth Fitzmaurice and Rose of Repeal Brianna Parkins, which you'll find in the Irish Times Christmas Eve Magazine and on irishtimes.comHappy Christmas y'all! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Róisín reconvened the Women’s Podcast Book Club recently to give Michelle Obama's memoir Becoming the once over. It's hardly a spoiler to say that Irish Times journalists Bernice Harrison and Niamh Towey, and Róisín's mother Ann Ingle all enjoyed the book. Find out why on today's show. Plus: Róisín and Kathy tackle the thorny issue of emotional labour at Christmas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The vast majority of Indian nurses working in Ireland come from one small part of southwestern India called Kerala. Why Ireland? And, what is it like to be separated from their families back home, some for years at a time? Irish Times journalist and author of New to the Parish, Sorcha Pollak, went to Kerala to find out and in today's podcast she tells Kathy what she learned from that trip. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Kathy speaks to Conor O’Clery, the former Irish Times foreign correspondent, and his wife, Zhanna, who met in Moscow in the heady days of glasnost and perestroika. Conor has written about his postings to Moscow and the U.S. in articles for this paper and in his books, but it is Zhanna who is the subject of his latest book, The Shoemaker and his Daughter. It is a memoir about Zhanna’s incredible family, set to the backdrop of 80 years of Russian history, from Stalin to Putin. She and Conor speak to Kathy about the book, about how they met and married, and the shock of moving from the USSR to the west when Conor was posted to Washington for the Irish Times. Conor also gives his take on the current situation in Russia and why he thinks we have a right to be nervous about it.Plus: Brexit - Róisín is feeling a bit sorry for Theresa May, but Kathy reckons the British PM's situation is all her own doing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Monday December 10th, The Irish Times marks 100 years since the 1918 election, with a magazine and unique commemorative poster featuring a specially commissioned poem by Eavan Boland, illustrated by artist Paula McGloin. Articles by Catriona Crowe, Ivana Bacik, Una Mullally and others will explore how the vote was won by the women of Ireland, and how they have fared in the century since. To mark this publication Róisín Ingle hosted a special Irish Times Women’s Podcast at The National Gallery in Dublin. It was a stimulating evening of conversation about Irish women and art. Joining the discussion was Leah Benson, archivist and curator of the [In]Visible: Irish Women Artists from the Archives exhibition which sheds light on the education, career and recognition of artists such as Mary Swanzy, Elizabeth Corbet Yeats and Evie Hone. Acclaimed performance artist Amanda Coogan talked about the inspiration behind her provocative new artwork Floats in the Aether which is currently running at the gallery in response to the newly opened Markievicz: Portraits and Propaganda exhibition. Visual artist Alice Maher discussed women’s representation in Irish art and her favourite portraits featuring women. There was also music from the National Gallery Choir and Kildare musician Megan O’Neill. This episode also includes a reading of Eavan Boland’s specially commissioned poem Our Future Will Become the Past of Other Women which can be found in our in-depth Vote 100 coverage in The Irish Times online with interactive features, video, audio and Boland’s poem in 8 languages at Irishtimes.com/Vote100 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kathy Sheridan is back in the driving seat and in this week's episode she talks to the Belfast-born award winning foreign correspondent and FGM activist, Maggie O'Kane. They talk about her time reporting on the Bosnian war in the 1990s, the "new fears" that led to her leaving the war zone behind and how she came to be involved in the fight against the barbaric practice of FGM. Plus: Róisín makes us all sick with jealousy talking about her recent trip to London for a public talk between Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and former first lady Michelle Obama. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.