The Woman Who...

It takes a special kind of person to be able to turn personal tragedy into purpose. But that's exactly what Kris Hallenga has done. In this episode, we explore how discovering she had incurable cancer at a young age, led Kris on a path to empowering others to check their chests and advocate for themselves in ways she was unable to.

We all deserve to switch on the TV and see someone who looks like us. In this episode, we tell the story of Shonda Rhimes, a woman determined to make TV shows that reflect the people watching them. Not only has Shonda worked tirelessly for representation, she conquered network television in unprecedented ways.

Underdog stories are nothing new. But watching those who have been underestimated, exceed all expectations never gets old. In this episode, we explore the story of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and her journey from a young, inexperienced sprinter to becoming one of the most decorated female athletes the world has ever seen. 

In what can often be a cold world, those who put themselves on the line to provide love and warmth to others are a real gift. In this episode, we share the story of actress and activist Jill Nalder. When the devastation of the AIDS epidemic in the 80s and 90s was unfolding around her, Jill found the compassion to care for her friends and even strangers when many others wouldn't.

Sometimes those who pave the way for others are not as well remembered as they should be, with many standing upon their shoulders without even realising it. In this episode, we explore the story of Una Marson, a woman who found herself achieving numerous 'firsts' in her career as a writer, broadcaster and activist.

When one door closes, another opens, often revealing even better opportunities than the first. In this episode we share the story of Isabella Springmuhl Tejada, who found her passion for fashion as a little girl, and went on to exceed the expectations of all those who doubted her.

When we disrupt nature, we disrupt balance, which can change ecosystems for years to come. Someone who knew just how delicate that balance could be, was Wangari Maathai. In this episode we hear about how an unassuming fig tree led to Wangari finding purpose, which would not only change her life, but the lives of many for years to come.

From Clarice Bean to Charlie and Lola. With every character and story Lauren Child has written, she has created worlds that celebrate the experiences of childhood. In this special episode of The Woman Who, Clara Amfo is joined in the studio by Lauren to talk about her approach to writing, where her inspiration comes from, and why art and stories are fundamental to who we are.

Even the most uncomfortable conversations need to be faced head on. In this episode we explore how an award winning journalist and author did just that. Reni Eddo-Lodge played an integral part in making Britain confront its issues around race. Observing racial dynamics from an early age, Reni bravely puts herself on the line as she continues to shine a light on the racism existing in Britain today.

The fashion industry is in need of a shake up, and only those who think outside the box will be able to lead it into a more sustainable future. In this episode we hear the story of Tolu Coker, one of the most exciting talents taking the industry by storm. As well as drawing influence from her roots, Tolu uses her work to tell the story of people, allowing their rich and layered lives to become the heartbeat of her creations.

From the age of 10 Sharmadean knew what she wanted to be when she grew up: a woman who was in charge of her own destiny. Fast forward 20 years and now as a seasoned businesswoman and founder of the wildly successful female networking platform, The Stack World, Sharmadean has not only found her calling, she's helping thousands of women to find theirs. In this episode we look at the rise of one of Britain's most inspirational black female entrepreneurs: from the runaway success of her WAH nail salons to the conception of beauty booking platform Beautystack, to the inexorable rise of The Stack World; Sharmadean is on a crusade to raise all women up to higher ground. 

At the turn of the century, whilst wealthy women were preoccupied with socially acceptable pursuits such as needlework and gossip, Irish journalist Lilian Bland was busy hunting, fishing, practising jujitsu…and building her own plane. In this episode we uncover how a postcard from her uncle inspired the unconventional and fearless Lilian to construct The Mayfly (as in it may fly) the first plane in the world to be built and flown by a woman.

From working class primary school teacher to international fashion icon, Westwood's rebellious style has made her a defining force of British style and culture for over 50 years. In this episode we'll discover how Westwood burst onto the scene with her shop SEX in late 70s and how her provocative designs helped to define the punk scene, eventually cementing her place as an architect of British cultural history.

Ellen Terry was the most celebrated actress of her age. Starting as a child actress in the late 1800s Ellen went on to steal the limelight in dozens of theatre productions in the UK and America. Terry was a leading lady for over 30 years but her private life was almost as colourful as her professional one. In this episode we explore the remarkable life of one of Britain's first celebrities - unlucky in love but adored by the masses. 

In 1960s London, the publishing industry was a closed shop until Margaret Busby came along and started making waves. In this episode we discover the remarkable story of Britain's first black female publisher who after meeting her business partner at a party, set up the A&B publishing house, and went on to launch the careers of dozens of writers, and over the next 40 years becoming one of the most influential publishers in the UK.

As one of the first female barristers in the 1920s, Helena Normanton blazed a trail through the courts. The first woman to lead a case at the high court, the first woman to obtain a divorce for her client, the first to prosecute a murder trial. And in this episode we discover how Helena's achievements improved the lives of generations of women despite a hostile press and suspicious male colleagues who threatened to scupper her meteoric rise.

Cookery and competition aren't easy skills to master but Ruth Hansom has perfected both in her brief but stellar cooking career. In this episode we'll be turning up the temperature as we explore the rise of one of Britain's youngest cooking prodigies: from cookery contests as a teenager to working at the Ritz, creating ‘makeaways' during the pandemic to running her own kitchen. And all of it before the age of 25.

Without Daphne Oram, most of the music we hear today would not exist. Through her ground breaking sound experiments working as a BBC Studio Engineer in the 1950s Daphne became the founding mother of electronic music. And in this episode we discover how a mystical experience set her on the path to musical greatness and how the establishment resisted her progress every step of the way...

Michaela Coel is a creative force to be reckoned with. Award winning screenwriter, actor, producer, singer, and with her genre shattering TV series ‘I May Destroy You' she is also a distinctive voice who has made audiences on both sides of the pond, sit up and take notice. In this episode we'll discover how a shy young girl from East London made history as the first black woman to win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series and who turned down a million dollar deal so she could keep creative control.

These days hundreds of fashion brands compete for our attention…and our business, but in the early 1900s there was one name in women's fashion that had truly global appeal. The label was Lucile, and the woman behind this burgeoning couture empire was Lucy Christiana.  In the first instalment of this series we discover how a penniless single mother rose to become the foremost fashion designer of her day, how she dreamed up the pre-cursor to the modern fashion show and how a fateful trip aboard The Titanic almost cut her career short.

Happy International Women's Day! I'm Zawe Ashton and to celebrate the achievements, influence, and all round awesomeness of womankind, Fenwick, the department store of distinction, is launching a brand new podcast series on the 24th of March.  Since 1882 Fenwick has proudly empowered generations of women through the circus of life.  And over this 10 part series I'll be taking a deep dive into the lives of some of Britain's most inspirational female trailblazers, uncovering the tales of the true pioneers of music, literature, the performing arts and fashion. These women have defied convention, broken boundaries and pushed the outer limits of what's possible.  They are the real influencers of their day and this series is called ‘The Woman Who…'