The Women's Podcast

With a career spanning theatre, film and television, Irish actor Fiona Shaw has been a household name in Ireland for decades. The Cork native is known for her award-winning stage work, as well as her iconic roles in the Harry Potter films, Killing Eve, and Bad Sisters.Shaw’s latest project, Park Avenue, opened in Irish cinemas this week. Earlier this year, while in Dublin for the International Film Festival, she joined Kathy Sheridan in studio to talk about the film, in which she plays the glamorous and wealthy widow Kit.In this wide-ranging conversation, Shaw reflects on her early career and explains what led her to setting up a women’s group while working with the Royal Shakespeare Company in London. She also tells Sheridan about her friendship with Phoebe Waller-Bridge, why she turned down a move to Hollywood in the 1990s, and how she met her Sri Lankan wife, Sonali Deraniyagala. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the 24th October 1975, 90% of the women in Iceland went on strike. For the entire day, women refused to participate in waged work, domestic labour or childcare. Instead they took to the streets to protest, demanding fair employment, equal wages and the recognition of work done inside the home. To reflect on the impact of that historic day, the 50 years of progress since and the work still left to do, Róisín Ingle is joined by Hrafnhildur Gunnarsdóttir, producer of the documentary film, The Day Iceland Stood Still. Later on, anti-domestic violence campaigner Patricia McLean joins Ingle to talk about her organisation Finding Our Voices, which is hosting a series of online talks with Irish authors about their books involving domestic abuse. It’s free and open to all, starting with Irish author Roddy Doyle on November 18th 2025. You can find more information on the talks here: https://findingourvoices.net/book-clubBut first, Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O’Connell is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week including the record number of women giving birth past the age of 45 and the dismal reviews coming in for Kim Kardashian’s new legal drama ‘Alls Fair’. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since opening in 2024, Jane’s Place has become a sanctuary for some of Ireland’s most vulnerable women. The drop-in centre, located in the heart of Dublin city, is a space where those in need can access mental health support, addiction recovery services, and counselling, and even take part in yoga, art therapy, and mindfulness sessions.In today’s episode, co-ordinator of Jane’s Place, Susan Diffney, tells Róisín Ingle why a service like this was so badly needed and what invisible barriers women often face when trying to access help. We also hear from Christine, who is in recovery from addiction and visits Jane’s Place regularly. She explains how this female-focused support has been instrumental in her path to sobriety.But first, Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O’Connell joins us to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week, including the release of Lily Allen’s tell-all album Westend Girl, and the death of Mary “May” McGee, who changed the course of Irish social history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, Irish author Naoise Dolan and psychiatrist Dr Veronica O’Keane arrived home to Ireland after spending five days in an Israeli prison. The pair were among more than one hundred activists including five other Irish citizens detained by Israeli forces earlier this month, as they made their way to Gaza as part of the Thousand Madleens flotilla. In today’s episode, Dolan and O’Keane tell Róisín Ingle about the gruesome conditions they were kept in, the violence and heavy-handedness used by members of the IDF and the relief they felt upon release. But first Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O’Connell is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week including the government’s plans for a new domestic violence register and the posthumous publication of Virginia Giuffre’s tell-all memoir. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This Saturday the 18th October is World Menopause Day and to mark the occasion we are joined by journalist, broadcaster and menopause advocate Mariella Frostrup and by Belles Berry, chef and daughter of well-known cookery writer Mary Berry. Together they have written Menolicious, a new cookbook packed full of healthy recipes designed to help balance hormones, boost energy levels and improve weight management through perimenopause, menopause and beyond. In this episode, they tell Róisín Ingle how they first met at a protest for HRT, why they feel a cookbook like this could help women at all stages in life and what some of their favourite recipes from the book are - including Irish-inspired porridge bread and kale and tahini pancakes. But first, Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O’Connell is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week, including new findings around the benefits of taking HRT and the results from the latest presidential opinion poll. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, five Irish citizens including author Naoise Dolan were detained by Israel when their flotilla of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip was intercepted. In today’s episode, Dolan’s mother Miriam McNally speaks to Róisín Ingle about the latest updates on her daughter’s detention and when she might be released. Also in this episode, we hear from filmmaker and visual artist Myrid Carten, who discusses her new documentary film, A Want In Her. It’s a raw and honest portrait of her mother Nuala’s lifelong battle with addiction. And finally, ahead of the third episode of The Walsh Sisters airing this weekend on RTE 1, we’re joined by friend of the podcast Marian Keyes and actor and writer Stefanie Preissner. The pair talk about creating and casting the show, dealing with bad reviews and how they first initially bonded over their shared hatred of ‘the grand stretch’. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In July 2019, Bláthnaid Raleigh’s life changed forever when she was raped at a house party by a man named Jonathan Moran, whom she was familiar with from her hometown of Mullingar. It was a vicious and violent attack, which resulted in a headline sentence of nine years for Moran, although he is likely to serve just six.In her new memoir Aftermath, Raleigh describes how her life was effectively put on hold for five years while she awaited the trial. During which time, Moran continued his working life, socialised with friends, and played rugby with the local club in Mullingar.In today’s episode, Raleigh tells Róisin Ingle about the long-lasting emotional and physical impacts of the attack, the trauma of the subsequent legal process and why she waived her anonymity to name her rapist. She also talks about the healing process and how she hopes her story will help others. But first, Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O’Connell joins us to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week, including the women standing up to racism in their local communities and a new report highlighting research gaps in the understanding of women's health conditions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve got a jam packed episode for you this week, kicking off with a fascinating interview with Indian theatre artist, Mallika Taneja, who is bringing her show ‘Be Careful’ to the Dublin Theatre Festival next month. Running from the 7th to the 10th October, the show is a satirical piece that challenges our notion of safety in public spaces and addresses attitudes towards women and girls in India and elsewhere. See DublinTheatreFestival.ie for tickets. Later on, Róisín Ingle is joined by Laura Dowling, aka The Fabulous Pharmacist to discuss her new book Love Your Vulva. It’s an open and empowering guide to women’s intimate health, which covers everything from vaginal dryness to grooming your bush. Dowling explains the inspiration behind the book and why we should all be getting to know our vulvas better. But first, Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O'Connell is here to discuss the biggest news stories of the week including Trump’s controversial advice to pregnant women, why everyone's talking about Maria’s Steen’s Hermés handbag and Tuesday’s nail-biting finale of Traitors on RTE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

According to academic Dr Marie Keenan restorative justice is “a way of giving justice to victims that centres the victim of crime in the process, as distinct from the criminal justice system, which centres the perpetrator”. Keenan joined two women Janet O’Brien who’s son was killed in a one punch attack and Sophia Murphy who was sexually abused by her father to discuss the power of restorative justice. The women explore how coming face to face with perpetrators in a safe, controlled manner can be transformative for victims of crime.  In this powerful and insightful conversation, the women also speak about  the difficulty as victims of navigating the criminal justice system. But first, Irish Times Opinion Editor Jennifer O’Connell is here to chat about Holly Cairn’s difficult first day back after maternity leave, the benefits of moderate drinking and The Walsh Sisters, the highly anticipated TV adaptation of Marian Keyes’ beloved novels. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1980s Dublin wasn’t all emigration and recession. There was great music, mad nights out and a capital city bursting with homegrown talent. Irish rock icons Leslie Dowdall of In Tua Nua and Flo McSweeney of Toy With Rhythm and Moving Hearts were at the epicentre of it and now they have teamed up to present Natural Women, a collaboration which will see them covering songs by 1970s songwriting legends Carole King and Linda Ronstadt in Vicar Street. They came in to talk to host Roisin Ingle about their 1980s heyday, the scene in the Pink Elephant nightclub and why they wanted to make music together after all these years. They even give us a bit of a song. But first, Irish Times Opinion Editor Jennifer O’Connell is here to talk about some of the biggest stories of the week including the at home cervical screening that has arrived in the UK and the presidential chances of conservative Catholic Maria Steen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve a special live episode of the podcast for you today, a wide-ranging chat with actor, writer, presenter and mother of five Rosie O’Donnell at The Electric Picnic. We teamed up with Jan Brierton’s Wild Words at the festival where O’Donnell talked to Róisín Ingle and a packed Manifesto tent about everything from her feud with Donald Trump, moving to Ireland, weight loss drugs, the price of fame and that time she turned down a night out with Prince. Star of The Flintstones, Sleepless in Seattle and A League of Their Own, the former talk show queen also talks about how she has lost some Jewish friends by speaking out about the genocide in Gaza and why she’s so happy to have made Ireland her home. But first, Irish Times Opinion Editor Jennifer O’Connell is here to talk about the biggest stories of the week for women, including the devastating earthquake in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This weekend the Women’s Podcast is joining the line up of Jan Brierton’s Wild Words at Electric Picnic. For the event, Róisín Ingle will be hosting a special live recording of the podcast with American comedian, actor and new Irish resident Rosie O’Donnell. Brierton joins the podcast today to look ahead to the weekend’s festivities and to explain what festival goers can expect from the rest of the Wild Words lineup. She also talks to Ingle about her exciting year ahead, which includes another appearance at Dublin’s Olympia theatre and a two day celebration in December to mark her 50th birthday. But first, Irish Times Journalist Niamh Browne is here to talk about the biggest stories of the week, including Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s big announcement, the discussion around Serena Williams' latest endorsement and all the latest on the CAO offers which came out this week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the early 20th century, in a remote village in Hungary, a group of women, driven to despair by their violent, abusive husbands, decided to take matters into their own hands. Their solution to their difficult life circumstances was arsenic, a deadly poison easily extracted from fly paper or arsenic-rich “flystones". The women began slipping this deadly substance into their husband’s porridge, stews and drinks and according to some estimates, up to 300 people in the Nagyrév region were murdered in the space of two decades. In this episode, Hope Reese, author of The Women Are Not Fine, joins Róisín Ingle to explain why this deadly sisterhood of women were driven to kill, how the murders spiralled out of control and how they were eventually caught and punished for their crimes.But first podcast producer Aideen Finnegan is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week including the crowning of the 2025 Rose of Tralee, Sally Rooney’s support for Palestine Action and why Rhashidat Adeleke is out of this year's World Athletics Championships. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In recent years, more and more women have been speaking openly about their decision to not have children. There are numerous books on the subject, dedicated social media spaces for childfree women and an ever increasing media interest in sharing the stories of those who refuse to go down this well-trodden path. However, some of the lesser told childfree stories are those of older women, who went against the grain at a time when motherhood was not only expected of women, but regarded as central to their lives. In this episode, Róisín Ingle is joined by one such woman, 77 year-old writer and academic Helen Taylor, who from a very young age decided not to have children. In her new book Childless by Choice: The Meaning and Legacy of a Child-free Life, Helen shares her reasons for choosing to remain childfree and she unpacks the complex feelings that have accompanied her choice. In this wide-ranging conversation, she tells Róisín Ingle where she draws meaning in life, how she dealt with moments of regret and what she wants women to know about the later stages of a child-free life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following the breakdown of her long-term relationship in 2021, Orla Donoghue became a single parent to her then one-year-old son, Rory. The transition, however, was far from easy. As a new mother, she grappled with feelings of isolation, shame and uncertainty and despite the fact that one in five households in Ireland are single parent families, she also found the experience deeply isolating. However, it was this difficult experience that ultimately led her to set up Solas Coaching, a support space dedicated to helping other single parents. In today’s episode, Donoghue talks to Róisín Ingle about finding her footing as a solo parent, the importance of asking for help and why she's passionate about supporting others in difficult times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month on The Women’s Podcast Book Club, Bernice Harrison, Niamh Towey, Róisín Ingle, and Ann Ingle are discussing The Marriage Vendetta by debut author Caroline Madden. The book tells the story of Eliza Sheridan, who seeks the help of a marriage therapist to mend her relationship with her unloving and unsupportive husband Richard. As their sessions unfold, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary counselling service. Week after week, Eliza is encouraged by her therapist to commit a series of vengeful acts against her oblivious husband, with each task more bizarre than the last. We’d love to hear your thoughts on the book. Why not send us a voice note on Instagram @ITWomensPodcast or email us TheWomensPodcast@Irishtimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Would you sleep in a different room to your partner? Or do you think couples should share a bed together? That's what we’re asking on today’s episode of The Women’s Podcast. While many people enjoy sharing a bed with their other half, there are many others who prefer to go solo when it comes to sleep. This could be for reasons including loud snoring, a partner tossing and turning in the night or even a disagreement over what temperature the room should be. While there’s still a stigma attached to going your separate ways at bedtime, Australian writer Jennifer Adams argues there shouldn’t be.Happily married and sleeping apart from her husband for more than two decades, Adams has literally written the book on separate sleeping and in today’s episode she tells Róisín Ingle why it’s not only possible but easily attainable, to have both a great night’s sleep and a great relationship. She also shares some tips from her book ‘Sleep Divorce: How to sleep apart, not fall apart, which will help you to broach the subject with your partner or figure out how to make it work with limited space. But first, Irish Times journalist Niamh Browne is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week including yesterday’s shooting in Fermanagh, the average cost of IVF for Irish couples and why Irish radio should be playing more female artists. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode, Róisín Ingle is joined by women’s health and fitness coach Elaine Gillespie, to talk about the transformative power of lifting weights and strength training. From navigating fitness during perimenopause to returning to exercise postpartum, Gillespie explains why lifting weights isn’t just for bodybuilders - it’s essential for women’s health, energy, and confidence at every stage of life. The pair discuss gym intimidation, how to get started if you’re a total beginner, and how to tell the difference between your dumbbell and your barbell. Gillespie also shares her own personal fitness journey following the birth of her two children and why she left her career as an estate agent to set up the Kildare based fitness group, Sound Mamas. But first, Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O’Connell is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week including a quick de-brief on the two women hoping to become the next Irish president and why the lyrics of CMAT’s latest song are resonating with so many. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anne Marie Allen was just 15 years old when she first entered the world of Opus Dei. It was the late 1970s and the young woman from Cork had enrolled in a cookery course run by the religious order. The program promised culinary qualifications and a pathway to a professional career, but it didn’t take long for her dreams to shatter. As Allen spent most of her days cooking, cleaning and doing laundry for the members of Opus Dei, it soon became clear that she was not there to learn, but to serve. In today’s episode, Allen talks to Kathy Sheridan about her time working as an unpaid ‘assistant numerary’, the lasting emotional impact of her years within the order and why she's sharing her story in her new memoir Serve. But first Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O’Connell is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week including the completion of five external reviews into maternity care at Portiuncula University Hospital, what we can learn from Rachel Reeve’s tears in Westminster and why the happiness levels of women often dip in midlife. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month, actor and mother and baby home survivor Noelle Brown and singer Camille O’Sullivan will take to the stage together for a new theatre performance called In Plain Sight. The project, written by Brown, focuses on Ireland’s history of mother and baby homes, paying particular attention to the large stately buildings dotted around the country that incarcerated young pregnant women. In today’s episode, the pair join Róisín Ingle to discuss the show and how it explores the design and history of three homes that are still standing, Sean Ross Abbey, Castlepollard and Bessborough Mother and Baby Home (where Brown was born). But first, Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O’Connell is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week including the arrest of former swimming coach George Gibney. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.