Podcasts about Nuala

100m sprinter Bebe Jackson, 19, won a bronze medal on her debut at the IPC World Para Athletics Championships in Delhi, India, last week. Bebe was born with congenital talipes equinovarus, widely known as club foot, and when she's not competing for Britain, she works nights caring for children with complex disabilities. She tells Anita Rani how she does it.In Sally Wainwright's new BBC drama Riot Women, a group of women in mid-life escape the pressures of caring for parents and kids - and the menopause - by forming a rock band. Rosalie Craig stars as the incredible singer that brings them together. Anita Rani talks to Sally and actor Rosalie about the power of female friendship.Nuala McGovern talks to the French philosopher Manon Garcia. Manon watched the court proceedings of the Pelicot case in France, in which Dominique Pelicot and 46 other men were found guilty of the rape of Dominique's wife Gisèle. In her book Living with Men, she examines French and other societies in light of the case and questions what more needs to be done.When you think about music from 500 years ago, you might picture monks chanting, or the voices of choirboys, but what's been largely forgotten over the course of history is that some of the most striking music during this time was being written and sung by nuns, hidden away in convents across Europe. Nuala speaks to Laurie Stras, Director of Musica Secreta, an all-female renaissance ensemble.Elon Musk's Artificial Intelligence company xAI recently introduced two sexually explicit chatbots. He's a high-profile presence in a growing field where developers are banking on users interacting and forming intimate relationships with the AI chatbots. Nuala McGovern speaks to journalist Amelia Gentleman, who has just returned from an adult industry conference in Prague, where she saw a sharp rise in new websites offering an increasingly realistic selection of AI girlfriends, and Gina Neff, Professor of Responsible AI at the Queen Mary University of London, who tells us what this means for women.EastEnders actor Kellie Bright took part in a Woman's Hour special last year which asked whether the SEND system is working for children with special educational needs and disabilities. Tonight Kellie presents a special one-hour BBC Panorama. Drawing on her own experience as the mother of an autistic son, she investigates how parents navigate the complex system to secure the right help at school. Kellie joins Nuala McGovern to talk about what she found.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Simon Richardson

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.

As Kemi Badenoch prepares to address Conservative Party conference for the second time this week, Nuala McGovern reflects on her first year as leader of the party and Leader of the Opposition, with BBC political correspondent Georgia Roberts and Conservative peer Baroness Kate Fall.The People's Tribunal for Women in Afghanistan is convening in Madrid this week to investigate Taliban crimes against women. Since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, Afghan women and girls have endured a significant rollback of their fundamental human rights. What will this tribunal - which has no legal authority - achieve for them? We hear from Shaharzad Akbar, former head of Afghanistan's Independent Human Rights Commission, and Director of Rawadari, one of the organisations behind the Tribunal. Nuala talks to the French philosopher Manon Garcia.  Manon watched the court proceedings of the Pelicot case in France, in which Dominique Pelicot and 46 other men were found guilty of the rape of Dominique's wife Gisèle. In her book Living with Men, she examines French and other societies in light of the case and questions what more needs to be done.The visual artist Joy Gregory's retrospective exhibition Catching Flies with Honey opens at the Whitechapel Gallery today. As an artist Joy explores identity, history, race, gender and societal ideals of beauty all while pushing the possibilities of photography and other media. She discusses her life and work.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Donegal-born visual artist Myrid Carten has made her first feature-length film, ‘A Want In Her', chronicling her mother Nuala's mental illness and alcoholism journey. She offers a behind the scenes look at how her mother, who was once a social worker, then became a street drinker and how their mother-daughter relationship was affected.

This week I went to Belfast to chat to Myrid Carten, whose debut feature film has been called 'extraordinary', 'raw' and 'searing' by Variety. I saw the documentary some weeks ago and was really moved by it. It tells the story of Myrid's relationship with her mother Nuala, and the impact Nuala's alcoholism and ill mental health has on them. It's beautifully made, unlike any other documentary I've seen on a subject like this, which many of you know is close to my heart. My own biological mother was also an alcoholic who later in her life was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I wanted to learn more about the film, how she approached it, and the challenges of making a piece of work that is so close to you and your family. I hope you enjoy.A Want in Her is in cinemas next Friday, October 10th.To support the podcast and access bonus episodes, join the community on Patreon here.Come to the Catch Up Cabaret (ish) - get your tickets here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

World Cup winner and nominee for World Rugby Player of the Year, Meg Jones, joins Nuala McGovern. Following the Red Roses' win at the weekend, many have named Meg their player of the tournament. Meg reflects on the big win and how the death of both of her parents last year powered her on. A ‘carent 'is an adult child who is caring for one or both of their ageing parents, in-laws or elderly relatives. Many ‘carents' will be balancing work and family alongside. Dr Jackie Gray, a retired GP and founder of The Carents Room, joins Nuala to discuss, along with Kendra and Rachel who provide care for their parents. Award-winning actor Andrea Riseborough is one of five women portraying Mary Page Marlowe on stage at the Old Vic in London. The play is described as a “time-jumping mosaic” that spans 70 years in the life of an accountant and mother of two from Ohio. Andrea joins Nuala to discuss sharing the role with Susan Sarandon, and how this seemingly simple story of an ordinary woman invites audiences to reflect on our own lives. Author Bridget Collins discusses her latest novel, The Naked Light, a haunting gothic tale of ancient darkness, and a love that defies convention. It's set in England and focuses on three “surplus women” after the first world war.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Dianne McGregor

Nuala Moore is an Irish open water swimmer and adventurer who has pushed human limits in some of the most extreme conditions on earth. With two Guinness World Records and decades of experience in the ocean, she's learned what fear, discomfort, and resilience really mean. In this episode, Nuala shares: What happens in the exact moment you face fear, and how to know if it's protecting you or holding you back Why avoiding discomfort costs you more than facing it The lessons silence and solitude can teach when you're stripped of all distraction The difference between just enduring and being truly resilient What the ocean has shown her about real limits — and the ones we create ourselves A powerful conversation about resilience, choice, and the strength you only find at the edge. You can get Nuala's book Limitless at all great bookstores, and follow her on Instagram here: @numooreswim Click play and let's dive in.

The Rugby World Cup has been the culmination of a stellar summer of women's sport and a second huge win for an England women's side. And there's lots to celebrate for the other home nations too. The final broke records across the board - it was the most watched women's rugby match ever on UK television and had a record-breaking number of spectators in the stadium too. Nuala McGovern is joined by Maggie Alphonsi, who was part of the England squad that won the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup in France, Deborah Griffin, organiser of the first Women's Rugby World Cup back in 1991, now the first female President of the Rugby Football Union, and Sarah Massey, Managing Director of the tournament. Many of us will remember the multi-award winning Tracey Ullman from her TV shows A Kick up the Eighties, Three of a Kind, as well as The Tracey Ullman Show, which was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic. Tracey joins Nuala to discuss her latest role in the film Steve, in which she plays the deputy head in a last chance reform school for troubled teenage boys. Janet Skinner fell victim to the Post Office Horizon IT scandal, and was temporarily paralysed after the stress of her ordeal. She was wrongly convicted of false accounting in 2007 and sentenced to nine months in prison after the faulty software said £59,000 had gone missing from her branch account in Hull. Janet has now received an offer of full financial redress, which is 15% of her compensation claim. Janet shares her story and her reaction to that offer with Nuala. As people across the country celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen, a new retelling of her book Emma is currently on at the Rose Theatre in Kingston upon Thames. It swaps drawing room duets for dance floor fillers and this Emma Woodhouse is fresh from failing at Oxford University and back in her Essex hometown for the summer, along with her closest friend Harriet, a total dating disaster. It's been written by Ava Pickett who tells Nuala about her modern retake of this Austen classic.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Andrea Kidd

Nuala Ní Chonláin & Peadar Mac Donncha OPTs Chois Fharraige. Cuirfear tús le Féile Chois Fharraige tráthnóna inniu agus leanfaidh sé ar aghaidh go dtí Dé Domhnaigh.

There has been a renewed conversation regarding sex after childbirth following a recent episode of the CBeebies Parenting Helpline podcast which tackled the topic of libido in the time after having a baby. It can be a very confusing time when it comes to your relationship with your body, so how do you navigate those ‘blurred lines' between your roles as mother, partner, and sexual being. Nuala McGovern is joined by journalist and author Nell Frizzell, who's written about her own experiences, and consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr Karen Joash.Ruby Tui was the star of the last Women's Rugby World Cup, held in her native New Zealand in 2021. She's now regarded by many to be the star of the BBC's coverage of this year's World Cup, held in England. The tournament has broken records, from viewership to ticket sales and reflects the rapidly rising profile of the women's game. Ruby Tui reflects on the tournament and her own journey to the top of the sport.A form of family violence which receives minimal attention and is arguably the most hidden form of abuse within the home is known as CAPVA. This stands for child and adolescent to parent violence and abuse. Today the charity Action for Children has released a report with insights from their parenting support services, which suggests there has been a marked uptake in need for support on this issue. Nuala hears from Martha Hampson, Senior Policy Advisor on Early Help with Action for Children, and Dr Nikki Rutter, assistant professor in the department of sociology at Durham University and child parent violence researcher.Award-winning actor Juliet Stevenson takes the lead in a new play at the National Theatre, The Land of the Living. She plays Ruth, a UN relief worker in post-war Germany, trying to reunite children stolen by the Nazis from Eastern Europe, with their families. With one particular child it becomes a very personal mission. Juliet tells Nuala why she wanted to play this part.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

The multi award-winning singer songwriter Annie Lennox has been part of the musical landscape for almost 50 years, from her days in The Tourists, to the Eurythmics and then going solo. Now at the age of 70, Annie has brought out a book of photographs called Annie Lennox: Retrospective, and talks to Nuala McGovern about her life and career.President Trump has said that pregnant women should avoid paracetamol because of the risks of autism and that US doctors will soon be advised not to prescribe Tylenol, as paracetamol is known in the US, to pregnant women. However he didn't provide any scientific evidence for this. UK health officials have stressed that paracetamol remains the safest painkiller available to pregnant women, and Health Secretary Wes Streeting has told women to ignore Trump's comments. Nuala is joined by Dr Alex Tsompanidis, senior research associate at the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge University and the BBC's Health reporter, Jim Reed.It's a year since the death of Alice Webb, the first woman in the UK to die from complications after a liquid Brazilian butt lift, a non-surgical procedure injecting filler into the buttocks. You don't need to have any medical qualifications to carry out the procedure. We talk to Sasha Dean who had terrifying complications after a liquid BBL and to David Sines from the JCCP, which runs a voluntary regulator for practitioners.Are you guilty of ‘phubbing'? It's the process of snubbing the person you are with in person by looking at your phone. New research shows that these phone snubs can have a huge impact on relationships. Dr Claire Hart, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Southampton, tells us about her findings and Dr Kaitlyn Regehr, University College London and author of Smartphone Nation, discusses the impact parental phubbing can have on children.

Ryan invites Jess and Phil to analyze the depiction of mental health representation of the SCREAM franchise's heroines -- Sidney, Sam, and Tara -- and the differences between the approach of Wes Craven vs. Radio Silence. Then, Ryan chats with Nuala, a long-time Patreon who discuss the future of the lgeacy characters after Scream 7.  Breaking News! w/ Ryan and Ashley Phil's Speed Round Sidney's Mental Health Sam Carpenter's Mental Illness Accuracy? Tara Carpenter's Odd Choices in Scream VI "The Last Time" Nuala's Scream Story What's Next for the Legacy After Scream 7 Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and X at @ScreamwithRCS. Subscribe at Patreon.com/screamwithrcs

How well does the law serve women? That's a question Nuala puts to Brenda Marjorie Hale, The Rt. Hon. The Baroness Hale of Richmond, DBE a former judge who served as the first female President of the Supreme Court. She was the first woman and the youngest person to be appointed to the Law Commission, where she led the work on what became the 1989 Children Act. In 2019 she announced the Supreme Court's judgement that the prorogation of Parliament was ‘unlawful, void and of no effect'. She discusses her new book, With the Law on Our Side – How the law works for everyone and how we can make it work better.BBC Celebrity Race Across the World will soon be back on our screens as four celebs pair up with a friend or family member and travel from a starting point anywhere in the world to another BUT with no phones or flights allowed and only the cost of the flight as money for the entire trip. Woman's Hour had the privilege of revealing one of the pairings: none other than Woman's Hour presenter Anita Rani and her father Balvinder Singh Nazran.To so many women the symptoms of pregnancy are instant, intense and unmistakeable; however some make it the full nine months without having any idea they're even pregnant. This phenomenon is known as cryptic pregnancy, and the British Medical Journal suggests it's more common than triplets. Nuala was joined by two women who have experienced this first-hand, plus Professor of Midwifery, Helen Cheyne to discuss.Patricia Lockwood is a poet, memoirist and novelist whose work straddles the literary world and the wilds of the internet. Patricia first went viral with her traumatic poem Rape Joke, while her memoir Priestdaddy, about being the daughter of a Catholic priest, has been called a modern classic. She talked to Nuala McGovern about her new book, Will There Ever Be Another You, which explores the surreal disorientation of illness, memory and recovery in the wake of Covid.Sudanese women and girls are bearing the brunt of a civil war that is entering its third year. The relentless conflict has triggered the world's worst humanitarian crisis for 6 million displaced women and girls. Cases of conflict-related sexual violence remain hugely under-reported, but evidence points to its systematic use as a weapon of war. Yousra Elbagir, Sky News' Africa Correspondent talked to Anita about the impact on women and also the role women play in providing support to the displaced.Are you a fan of words, their meanings and origins? The lexicographer Susie Dent, best known as the queen of Dictionary Corner on C4's Countdown, has created a whole year's worth of words, most of which you most probably never knew existed, in a freshly published almanac. It is called Words for Life and each day you can read an entry, digest its meaning and maybe laugh at its sound. Susie gives Anita some examples and explains her interest in words.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Andrea Kidd

In our third visit to East Lothian, this episodes features an in-depth interview with Julie about the four sheep in her life, talking about what it takes to look after sheep in a companionship setup (rather than an exploitative one), as well as discussing some of the misconceptions and myths that surround these wonderful peaceful creatures.For the first two episodes in this series, head back to episodes 50 and 101.As ever, we love hearing your views on the topics under discussion (or anything else!) so do drop us your thoughts via enoughofthefalafel@gmail.com*************Enough of the Falafel is a community of people who love keeping on top of the latest news in the world of veganism & animal rights. With the Vegan Talk podcast, we aim to develop listeners' (& our own) thoughts around key issues affecting veganism & the animal rights movement; giving our opinions, whilst staying balanced; remaining true to our vegan ethics, whilst constantly seeking to grow & develop.Each week we home in on one topic in particular and pick it apart in more detail. If you have a suggestion for a future show, do get in touch via enoughofthefalafel@gmail.com.*******************Thanks everyone for listening; give us a rating and drop us a message to say "hi"; it'll make our day!Nuala, Iris, Kendric, Rona, Julie, Anthony & Mark

To so many women the symptoms of pregnancy are instant, intense and unmistakeable; however some make it the full nine months without having any idea they're even pregnant. This phenomenon is known as cryptic pregnancy, and the British Medical Journal suggests it's more common than triplets. Nuala McGovern is joined by two women who have experienced this first-hand, plus Professor of Midwifery, Helen Cheyne to discuss.Actor Karen Pittman earned an Emmy nomination for her performance as The Morning Show's hardworking producer Mia Jordan, alongside co-stars including Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston. As the newsroom drama returns to Apple TV+ for a fourth season, Karen joins Nuala to discuss the show's themes, from truth and deepfakes, to women in the workplace. Karen also featured in the Netflix adaptation of Judy Blume's teen romance Forever and is known to fans of Sex and the City spin off, And Just Like That, as Dr Nya Wallace.Poet Nikita Gill tells Nuala about her latest book Hekate the Witch. She is the Greek goddess of magics, the crossroads, keys and necromancy. Nikita retells Hekate's story, from being an orphaned child brought up in the Underworld to becoming a powerful goddess seeking revenge for her family.A Kenyan High Court has issued an arrest warrant for a British national, suspected of killing a 21-year-old Kenyan woman, Agnes Wanjiru, more than a decade ago. Agnes was found dead in 2012 in the grounds of a hotel near an army base, nearly three months after she had allegedly spent an evening socialising with British soldiers. Hannah Al-Othman, a journalist for the Guardian who originally broke the story at the Sunday Times, and the BBC's Akisa Wandera, senior East Africa journalist based in Nairobi speak to Nuala.

As Donald Trump arrives in the UK for his second state visit, we examine how women feel about the US President now and how the Epstein scandal might feature in discussions as Keir Starmer faces more pressure about how he handled Lord Mandelson's resignation. Nuala McGovern speaks to Katy Balls from The Times, women's campaigner Alix Valentine and Mischa Smith, the news and features editor for Marie Claire UK. How well does the law serve women? That's a question Nuala puts to Brenda Marjorie Hale, The Rt. Hon. The Baroness Hale of Richmond, DBE a former judge who served as the first female President of the Supreme Court. She was the first woman and the youngest person to be appointed to the Law Commission, where she led the work on what became the 1989 Children Act. In 2019 she announced the Supreme Court's judgement that the prorogation of Parliament was ‘unlawful, void and of no effect'. She discusses her new book, With the Law on Our Side – How the law works for everyone and how we can make it work better. Hairdresser Emiola Lanlehin is the co-founder of Crowned with Care which is an event providing free hairstyling and barbering services for looked after black and mixed heritage children and teenagers. Her mother nominated her in the volunteer category of the Make a Difference Award – saying it was ‘for her courage, faith, commitment and determination to find a way of serving an underserved community'. Many children in care, especially those with Afro-textured hair, struggle to access proper grooming and cultural hair care. Emiola explains how free hair care can help black and mixed heritage children feel valued and celebrated. What are the issues that shape the lives of teenagers today? What are their concerns, pressures and influences? For their ‘Teen25 Summit', BBC5 Live in collaboration with BBC Bitesize have conducted a survey of over 2,000 13–18-year-olds, and the data reveals some worrying statistics for the mental health of teenage girls today. Reporter Kristian Johnson talks us through the figures. And Professor Sonia Livingstone from the LSE analyses and gives advice to parents.

Patricia Lockwood is a poet, memoirist and novelist whose work straddles the literary world and the wilds of the internet. Patricia first went viral with her traumatic poem Rape Joke, while her memoir Priestdaddy, about being the daughter of a Catholic priest, has been called a modern classic. Patricia talks to Nuala McGovern about her new book, Will There Ever Be Another You, which explores the surreal disorientation of illness, memory and recovery in the wake of Covid. The list of hospital trusts that will be looked at as part of a rapid review of maternity care in England have just been announced. This is part of an independent, national, investigation into harm to hundreds of babies, that might have been prevented with better maternity care. However some of the families, whose cases will be part of it, have expressed concerns about its scope. Nuala is joined by BBC Social Affairs Correspondent Michael Buchanan to find out more about this review. Parents of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) are heading to Westminster today. They are taking part in what they are calling a ‘Day of Action,' organised by parent support groups, which includes a rally at Parliament Square, MP drop-ins and a Parliamentary debate on SEND children's rights. 18-year-old Katie Nellist, who has autism and struggled to attend school, will be giving a speech at the rally. Katie and her mother Ruth tell Nuala why they are taking part in this 'Day of Action'. The BBC Eye documentary and podcast called Death in Dubai has identified a former London bus driver running a sex ring exploiting young vulnerable Ugandan women. The programme has been told that hundreds of women are going to Dubai from Uganda, seeking their fortunes and ending up in sex work. Two of the women have died falling from tower blocks in Dubai. Nuala talks to the BBC Eye producer and reporter Runako Celina, who has spent two and a half years investigating this story. Kathrine Switzer was the first female to officially run the Boston marathon back in 1967, at that time considered a men's-only race. However a race official tried to stop her mid-event when they discovered she was a woman. She went on to complete the course and she's dedicated her life to enabling women to participate in the sport. Now in her late 70s, she's run 42 marathons and is the co-founder of 261 Fearless, that aims to empower women through running. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Andrea Kidd

'I've had colleagues receive many threats. People put on a brave face for the public, but in private it does take its toll' Alliance's Nuala McAllister spoke to Frank after it was revealed police issued nearly 6000 'threat to life' warnings in five years Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Davina McCall, one of TV's most popular presenters has a new book out, Birthing, co-written with the midwife, Marley Henry. Davina joined Anita Rani to talk about her stellar career so far, including hosting Big Brother for 10 years, campaigning for better menopause care and building a fitness empire. What makes her tick? And what drives her forward to clear hurdles such as an usual childhood, drug addiction and most recently, brain surgery for a benign tumour that she nicknamed Jeffrey?As the 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinea's independence from Australia approaches later this month, we hear why the country is currently one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a woman. Two-thirds of women in PNG have experienced some form of sexual violence in their lifetime, which is almost twice the global average. Nuala McGovern was joined by Tahina Booth, a former elite athlete and founder of Grass Skirt Project who is trying to break the cycle of gender-based violence through sport and Joku Hennah, a journalist and activist.Jung Chang's Wild Swans, the epic family memoir that followed the lives of Jung, her mother and grandmother through China's 20th century, was banned in mainland China, but was a smash hit worldwide upon publication in 1991. Now Jung's sequel, Fly, Wild Swans, brings her family's story up to date and she joined Nuala to talk about its themes. We've all heard of the fight or flight response in the face of danger, but there's also freeze, and then there's fawn, also known as people pleasing, or appeasing. Clinical psychologist Dr Ingrid Clayton has written about this in her new book, Fawning - Why the Need to Please Makes Us Lose Ourselves and How to Find our Way Back. Nuala spoke to Ingrid about her own experiences that made her want to help others overcome this form of trauma response and what fawning looks like in practice.In 2023 Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Murder on the Dancefloor went viral on TikTok after Emerald Fennell used it in a key scene in the film, Saltburn. That resurgence, along with her popular Kitchen Discos that got lots of us through the Covid lockdown set the scene for her new album, Perimenopop, which is released tomorrow, a celebration of womanhood in middle age. Sophie joined Anita in the Woman's Hour studio.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Rebecca Myatt

On 22 August, the High court rejected Noel Clarke's claim that accusations against him by more than 20 women were false and part of a conspiracy. The writer, actor and producer of the Kidulthood trilogy sued the Guardian News & Media over seven articles and a podcast published between April 2021 and March 2022 in which women accused him of sexual misconduct. He was seeking £70 million in damages. In a high court judgment with a 220-page document, Mrs Justice Steyn rejected Clarke's claims, and ruled the newspaper had succeeded in both its defences: of truth and public interest. Nuala McGovern is joined by Katharine Viner, editor-in-chief of The Guardian, along with Lucy Osborne and Sirin Kale, the investigative journalists who uncovered the story. Finding the perfect bra can be quite difficult at the best of times but what about after breast cancer? A study by Portsmouth Hospital and the university is looking at how to develop better bras to cope with changes after cancer surgery and radiotherapy. Associate Professor Edward St John is a breast surgeon at the hospital and an academic at the university. He joins Nuala along with Celeste Ingram, a patient taking part in the research. We've all heard of the fight or flight response in the face of danger, but there's also freeze, and then there's fawn, also known as people pleasing, or appeasing. Clinical psychologist Dr Ingrid Clayton has written about this in her new book, Fawning - Why the Need to Please Makes Us Lose Ourselves and How to Find our Way Back. Nuala spoke to Ingrid about her own teenage experiences that made her want to help others overcome this form of trauma response and what fawning looks like in practice.The Irish comedian Emma Doran is about to tour Ireland and the UK with a new stand up show, Emmaculate, and it's her third and biggest one yet, with new dates being added just this week. If you haven't caught Emma on stage you might know her from social media where her caustic takes on parenthood or schoolyard and workplace politics have hundreds of thousands of followers. She's a mother of three and she's also written a book called Mad Isn't it? which tells the story of how she got unexpectedly pregnant at 18, and after a decade of young parenthood eventually found her way into comedy. Emma joins Nuala in the Woman's Hour studio.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Andrea Kidd

Jung Chang's Wild Swans, the epic family memoir that followed the lives of Jung, her mother and grandmother through China's 20th century, was banned in mainland China, but was a smash hit worldwide upon publication in 1991. Now Jung's sequel, Fly, Wild Swans, brings her family's story up to date. She joins Nuala McGovern.The Labour deputy leadership race could be an all-woman affair, with all current declarations coming from female MPs. Nuala gets the lowdown from Kitty Donaldson, chief political commentator for The i Paper.The All Party Parliamentary Group report on PCOS - or polycystic ovary syndrome - has found that women face prolonged delays in diagnosis, fragmented care, and limited access to treatments. The condition is also expected to undergo a name change later this year to more accurately reflect what it is. Nuala hears from Chair of the APPG, Labour MP Michelle Welsh and Caroline Andrews from PCOS charity Verity.Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck took her own life in 2021, after filing a complaint against Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber. He had pinned her down and tried to kiss her at a work social event. An inquest into her death earlier this year determined the Army's handling of the complaint played "more than a minimal contributory part in her death". Webber has now pleaded guilty to sexual assault at a pre-trial hearing, and is awaiting sentencing. Jaysley's inquest in February this year heard that her line manager also harassed her, with the Army failing to take action. Jaysley's mother Leighann McCready and her solicitor Emma Norton, from the Centre for Military Justice, join Nuala.Janet Willoner, aka the Tree growing granny, has grown more than 4,000 trees in her garden. She forages for seeds, grows them, and they eventually grow in forests in her local area of North Yorkshire. She has been nominated in the BBC's Make a Difference Awards in the Green category. She speaks to Nuala.

The fallout from Angela Rayner's departure continues to dominate the headlines today as Labour's National Executive Committee is expected to meet to agree the timetable for the race to replace Rayner as the party's deputy leader. Since the reshuffle, women fill three of the four great offices of state for the first time, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Home Secretary, and the Foreign Secretary. To discuss the role of women in Labour's reshuffled cabinet and the party's future leadership - as well as Rayner's legacy - Nuala McGovern is joined by Lucy Dunn, political correspondent at The Spectator, and Rachel Cunliffe, Associate Political Editor at The New Statesman   As the 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinea's independence from Australia approaches later this month, we hear why the country is currently one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a woman. Two-thirds of women in PNG have experienced some form of sexual violence in their lifetime, which is almost twice the global average. Tahina Booth is a former elite athlete and founder of Grass Skirt Project who is trying to break the cycle of gender-based violence through sport. Tahina joins Nuala along with Joku Hennah, a journalist and activist who regularly speaks out about all forms of gender-based violence - including domestic and sexual violence, and killings related to sorcery accusations.   Playwright Danusia Iwaszko has spent 17 years running writing workshops in high-security prisons. Her new play Penned Up draws on that work, following a teacher who helps a group of men find their voices through theatre. Over the course of the 10-week programme we see the humanity in these inmates, as well as the cracks in our criminal justice system.   You may have seen articles and social media posts branding creatine supplements as the ‘secret weapon' for women, claiming they can ‘boost brainpower', and ‘level up' our lives, especially during the menopause or perimenopause. But what is creatine? Should we all be taking it - and what impact might it have? To find out more, Nuala is joined by GP Dr Fionnuala Barton and registered dietician Laura Clarke, who specialises in the menopause.   Presented by: Nuala McGovern Produced by: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Actor Robin Wright joined Nuala McGovern to discuss directing and starring in new series The Girlfriend, based on the book by Michelle Frances. Best known for her award-winning role in House of Cards and much-loved movies such as Forest Gump and The Princess Bride, Robin plays Laura in the psychological thriller, a protective mother who is deeply suspicious of her son's new girlfriend Cherry, played by Olivia Cooke.Woman's Hour spoke to women who have had the experience of someone close to them taking their own life. They spoke frankly and honestly to reporter Jo Morris about what happened, both immediately in the aftermath of a death by suicide but also reflect on the long-term impact. We hear from Eloise, who was just 14 when her dad Damian took his life two years ago.Who was Scotland's first, largely forgotten, female MP? The Duchess of Atholl had campaigned against votes for women but in 1923 she stood for election herself, and won. Her biographer Amy Gray joined Nuala to address the many contradictions of this pioneering politician. In her new book, Red Duchess: A Rebel in Westminster, Gray argues that Atholl hasn't received the credit she deserves for championing the welfare of women and children at home and abroad and for challenging the appeasement of Nazi Germany - a decision which ended her political career.This week sees many children heading back to school and settling into a new school year and they might be reuniting with old friends, or even introducing you to new ones. But what if you don't like your child's friends? Anita is joined by comedian Ria Lina and parenting coach Sue Atkins to discuss.New research from Oxford University has revealed that teenagers who suffer moderate or severe period pain, are more likely to experience chronic pain as adults. What is the link at play and how can we treat women who suffer from their teen years into adulthood? We hear about the findings from Katy Vincent, Professor of Gynaecological Pain and Consultant Gynaecologist and explains what this can teach us about mitigating pain in sufferers.There's a new woman deciding what's hot and what's not in the world of fashion. Chloe Malle has been appointed as the head of US Vogue - the biggest job in the industry - replacing the formidable Dame Anna Wintour. Nuala was joined by Financial Times fashion editor Elizabeth Paton to discuss.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne MacGregor Editor: Andrea Kidd

It has been four days since the huge 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck the mountainous eastern region of Afghanistan, near the city of Jalalabad. Over 1,400 people are reported to have been killed by the initial quake and its aftershocks, with over 3,000 injured. While already living their lives under the restrictions imposed by the Taliban, how are women and girls affected by this disaster? Nuala McGovern talks to Mahjooba Nowrouzi, senior journalist for the BBC's Afghan Service.After the fall of the Taliban in 2001, Afghan women judges set out to reform the country, tackling corruption and presiding over cases such as violence against women and children. When Western forces withdrew four years ago, these judges were targeted by the Taliban and many fled Afghanistan. In her new book, The Escape from Kabul, the journalist Karen Bartlett tells the story of some of those women and how international judges from around the world banded together to help them escape. Karen joins Nuala along with Fawzia Amini, one of Afghanistan's leading judges and women's rights campaigners, who came to Britain with her husband and four daughters after the Taliban returned. Is navigating friendships and the pressure not to be too demanding making women lonely? Journalist Chante Joseph talks to Nuala about how adopting the role of a “low maintenance friend,” once a source of pride, ultimately left her feeling isolated along with the journalist Claire Cohen. Two councils in South Yorkshire are introducing new policies to make night-time venues safer for women. In Sheffield, there will be a Women's Safety Charter, while in Rotherham, councillors are set to approve a new programme to tackle harassment and drink spiking. So how big a problem is the harassment and what is being done? Nuala is joined by Rob Reiss, a Sheffield city councillor and Kayleigh Waine project manager of Sheffield Safe Square and manager of Katie O'Brien's an Irish Bar in Sheffield City Centre.The play ‘Invasive Species' is about a young woman attempting, for the sake of ambition and survival, to force herself into various moulds that do not fit who she truly is. Nuala talks to Maia Novi who stars in the London transfer of her own semi-autobiographical dark comedy in which she plays herself, an ambitious Argentinean actor who will stop at nothing to achieve the American dream. She joins Nuala to talk about the themes of the play. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Rebecca Myatt

New figures from the latest Femicide Census out are out today. It records the killings of women. It shows that 122 women, that's more than 2 women a week, were killed by men and boys in 2022. Most women were killed by a current or former partner, but it also reveals that 10% were killed by their sons. To discuss the findings Nuala McGovern was joined by the co-founder of the Femicide Census, Dr Karen Ingala Smith.New research from Oxford University has revealed that teenagers who suffer moderate or severe period pain, are more likely to experience chronic pain as adults. What is the link at play and how can we treat women who suffer from their teen years in to adulthood? We hear about the findings from Katy Vincent, Professor of Gynaecological Pain and Consultant Gynaecologist and she explains what this can teach us about mitigating pain in sufferers.Eve Myles is a Welsh actress, whose television roles include Ceri Lewis in the BBC Wales drama series Belonging, Gwen Cooper in the BBC science-fiction series Torchwood and the formidable lawyer Faith Howells in the bilingually produced drama series Keeping Faith. Eve discusses her character Fran in The Guest - a new four-part, propulsive thriller on BBC One. It centres on the toxic and beguiling relationship between a successful business owner, Fran and her employee, Ria.Between 1949 and 1976, thousands of pregnant women and girls in the UK were sent away to "prison-like" homes run by the church and state and had their babies put up for adoption. This week sees ITV's Long Lost Family Special: The Mother and Baby Home Scandal - which follows three families as they search for their relative. One of those is Jean who was 16 when she was sent to a mother and baby home in 1956. After giving birth she unwillingly handed over her baby for adoption. Jean's eldest daughter, Cathy was found by the programme. We hear from Cathy and the programme's director Helen Nixon.Who was Scotland's first, largely forgotten, female MP? The Duchess of Atholl had campaigned against votes for women but in 1923 she stood for election herself, and won. Her biographer Amy Gray joins Nuala to address the many contradictions of this pioneering politician. In her new book, Red Duchess: A Rebel in Westminster, Gray argues that Atholl hasn't received the credit she deserves for championing the welfare of women and children at home and abroad and for challenging the appeasement of Nazi Germany - a decision which ended her political career.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

As of today, eligible working parents in England can access 30 funded hours of childcare – in term time only - for children aged nine months to four years. The government is doubling the amount of funded hours it offers, but there are concerns about availability and staffing. New research from Growth Spurt and Women in Data shows that more than half of parents can't access the funding without restrictions, paying fees or meeting extra conditions. Nuala McGovern talks to Early Years Minister Stephen Morgan about the scheme and the challenges the government faces over nursery childcare. We're also joined by Joeli Brearley, founder and director of Growth Spurt, to discuss their research, along with a mother who shares her own experience of navigating the system as she returns to work. Actor Robin Wright joins Nuala in the studio to discuss directing and starring in new series The Girlfriend, based on the book by Michelle Frances. Best known for her award-winning role in House of Cards and much-loved movies such as Forest Gump and The Princess Bride, Robin plays Laura in the psychological thriller, a protective mother who is deeply suspicious of her son's new girlfriend Cherry, played by Olivia Cooke. As part of a new Woman's Hour series this week about life after suicide, we'll hear from three women who've had the experience of someone close to them taking their own life. Sam Southern's husband Glenn took his life five years ago in 2020, leaving her with a blended family of six children, including two who were very young. She talks to reporter Jo Morris about the impact it had on her at the time and how she now runs a charity supporting other families impacted by suicide where she lives in Blackpool. For anyone affected by the issues in this series, there are links to information and support on the BBC Action Line website. Presented by: Nuala McGovern Produced by: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Ten child protection organisations have written an urgent letter to the home secretary expressing concern over the omission of child sexual abuse from the upcoming government strategy on violence against women and girls. A draft version of the strategy, due to be published in September, was leaked to Sky News's Mollie Malone, who first broke the story. She joins Nuala McGovern, along with Anna Edmundson from the NSPCC, one of the organisations that signed the letter.Miriam Robinson's debut novel And Notre Dame is Burning tells how Esther, a mother, tries to pick up the pieces of her life after a miscarriage - while her marriage falls apart. It is written in short bursts, in fragments of notes and letters. Miriam joins Nuala to talk about the female experience of losing a baby, betrayal, break-ups and moving on.It's a love story, Taylor just said yes! Pop superstar Taylor Swift is engaged to her American footballer boyfriend Travis Kelce. In photos, which have been liked more than 18 million times, the pair are surrounded by roses, delphiniums and hydrangeas. Taylor's love life has been the inspiration for a huge amount of her music, and the subject of tabloid speculation for years. What does this moment mean and how could it impact her music? Joining Nuala to discuss is freelance journalist and author Olivia Petter and Guardian Deputy Music Editor Laura Barton. With maternity services stretched across the UK, a new startup called Kove aims to address some of the problems in midwifery by providing a pay-as-you-go service at £180 per hour. But why are women opting for private care, and is it a good idea? Nuala talks to Kove co-founder Alakina Mann and NHS midwife and author Leah Hazard. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley

A new report, published yesterday, says Britain's gender pay gap has been understated for two decades, casting doubt on the accuracy of official figures. It's news that might have big implications for women in the workplace and policymakers, from the Bank of England to ministers, who rely on these figures to make big economic decisions. Alex Bryson is Professor of Quantitative Social Science at University College London and worked on this research and Amy Borrett is a data journalist at the Financial Times. They join Nuala McGovern to discuss.Have you heard of 'spicy' fiction? Now worth £53 million annually, it's a genre that's booming, with sales of romance fiction up 110% between 2023 and 2024 in the UK. And it's mainly women reading these erotic novels, giving them chilli ratings depending on the level of explicit content, and sharing their across Instagram and TikTok. So, what's driving this trend? Nuala is joined by author Emma Lucy, who writes spicy fiction, and Stylist journalist Shahed Ezaydi to find out more.If you've been watching any of the Women's Rugby World Cup you may have seen ‘high tech mouthguards being used. They will now flash red — signally potentially high impacts, requiring players to have a head injury assessment - a move aimed at improving player safety. So just how safe is it for women to play rugby? What are the risks of getting injured, and what is being done to mitigate those risks? We hear from Fi Tomas, women's sports reporter at the Telegraph, Dr Izzy Moore, reader in human movement and sports medicine at Cardiff Metropolitan University and Welsh Ruby Union injury surveillance project lead, and Dr Anna Stodter, senior lecturer in sport coaching at Leeds Beckett University, former Sottish International player, who also coaches the university team.With queues leading out of the shops and reports of thefts, we look at the lengths to which some women will go to get their hands on the latest style must-have, Labubu dolls.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Sister Bliss started out DJing on London's gay club scene, before co-founding Faithless in 1995 and became one of the few women of her generation to help shape UK dance culture. Faithless have sold more than 20 million albums and amassed close to a billion streams. 30 years on from the hit dance anthem Insomnia, she joins Nuala McGovern to discuss their latest album - Champion Sound.Too many recommendations, not enough implementation - these are the findings of the latest report into maternity services in England, from the Health Services Safety Investigations Body. It has pressed pause on its own investigation to make way for a new government rapid review to be led by Baroness Valerie Amos. So why are the findings of multiple reports and reviews not yet leading to change? Nuala finds out with BBC Social Affairs correspondent Michael Buchanan, and maternity campaigner Emily Barley, who lost her own daughter due to maternity failings in 2022.Winner of the Women's Prize for Playwriting 2022, Karis Kelly's play Consumed is described as a pitch-black and twisted comedy of dysfunctional family dynamics, generational trauma and national boundaries set in Northern Ireland. Currently well-received on stage at the Edinburgh Festival, Karis explains why she chose to focus her story on the lives of four generations of women from the same family.You might love your local river, but enough to marry it? One woman felt so strongly about protecting the River Avon in Bristol that she took part in a wedding to it...she is part of a group of women bathers and activists who want the watercourse to have the right to be free from pollution. Megan Trump, or Mrs Meg Avon as she is now known, and Charlotte Sawyer are in the Woman's Hour studio.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

If you knew the world was about to end, what would you do? That's the dilemma Karen Gillan's character faces in new film, The Life of Chuck, in which she stars opposite Chiwetel Ejiofor. Karen tells Nuala McGovern about her latest role, her evolving relationship with the Marvel films and her hope to return to directing.'This report must act as a line in the sand…it should be read as a snapshot of what rock bottom looks like.' That's the warning from the Children's Commissioner, two years on from her landmark report on the scale of children's exposure to pornography online. Research out today from the Commissioner's Office finds that more children are being exposed to pornography, with a growing number stumbling across it by accident, some younger than six. Much of the content children encounter is violent. The report also reveals troubling attitudes towards women and girls: nearly half of 16- to 21-year-olds agreed with the statement, 'Girls may say no at first but can be persuaded to have sex.' Joining Nuala in the studio is the Children's Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza.As excitement builds ahead of the Women's Rugby World Cup, we hear from endurance athlete Lexi Chambers. The five-time world record holder is in the middle of another epic challenge, wheeling 322 miles from Twickenham Stadium to Sunderland's Stadium of Light to deliver the official match whistle in time for Friday's opening game between England and the USA. Lexi, who lives with multiple chronic pain conditions, is aiming to complete 10 ultramarathons in 10 days using her every day, non-sport wheelchair. She takes a break to fill Nuala in on her progress and explain why she's taken on such a challenge.When Ukrainian President Zelensky went to the White House this week, he handed over a letter to President Trump. It was a message from his wife Olena Zelenska to Melania Trump, thanking the First Lady for the letter she had sent to Vladimir Putin highlighting the issue of the Ukrainian children removed by Russian forces. It's believed that at least 20,000 Ukrainian children have been taken to Russia or Russian-occupied territory without the consent of their parents since the full-scale invasion. Nuala is joined by Ukrainian filmmaker Shahida Tulaganova and BBC Ukraine journalist Irena Taranyuk to discuss.

Four years after Taliban fighters retook the capital Kabul on 15 August 2021, UN Women, the gender equality agency, is warning that the situation for women and girls in Afghanistan is increasingly untenable. They say without urgent action, this untenable reality will become normalised and women and girls will be fully excluded. To discuss further Anita Rani was joined by Fawzia Koofi, former deputy speaker of the Afghan Parliament & peace negotiator, and BBC senior Afghan reporter Mahjooba Nowrouzi, recently returned from Afghanistan.As rugby fans across the UK look forward to the Women's Rugby World Cup, Anita speaks with rugby trailblazer Deborah Griffin. An amateur player since university, Deborah co-organised the first ever Women's Rugby World Cup, held in Wales in 1991. Earlier this month, she became the first woman to take up the role of President of the Rugby Football Union.A woman in Wales who felt forced to terminate her pregnancy after being unable to access the anti-sickness medication she needed is calling for the drug to be made more widely available. Sarah Spooner was suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum which left her vomiting more than 20 times per day and unable to eat or drink. But she found it virtually impossible to access Xonvea, a medication which is recommended as a first-line treatment in England but not in Wales. Nuala McGovern hears Sarah's story, and speaks to Dr Caitlin Dean from Pregnancy Sickness Support about why there is a postcode lottery across the UK for women needing Xonvea.Emma Holten tells us we need a feminist revolution. The author has spent years investigating the true value of care - and how rethinking it could transform our societies. Her debut book, Deficit: How Feminist Economics Can Change Our World, examines how mainstream economics systematically undervalues care work and advocates for reshaping policy to reflect its true worth.England goalkeeper and Lionesses legend Hannah Hampton joins Nuala on Woman's Hour fresh from winning the UEFA European Women's Championship. Born with a serious eye condition, doctors told her she should never play football. She came into the recent Euros with questions over her ability to fill the gloves of recently retired Mary Earps. To add to that, she revealed her grandfather had died just days before the biggest tournament of her life began earlier this summer. Despite this, Hannah had an extraordinary tournament, particularly in those agonising penalty shootouts. She joined Nuala to chat all about it.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Emma Pearce

As a heatwave grips the UK, we ask whether soaring temperatures impact women differently to men and what should be done about it. Professor Mike Tipton, Professor of Human and Applied Physiology at the University of Portsmouth, joins Nuala McGovern to explain. The author Paula Sutton has written her second novel, The Body in the Kitchen Garden. The interiors stylist and TV and social media personality talks to Nuala about creating plots to challenge her fictional detective Daphne Brewster, and her real-life passion for cottagecore and swapping city living for a cosy rural lifestyle. Several newspapers this morning are talking about the decision by Surrey Police to send undercover female officers out jogging to catch catcallers. They went running during rush hour to expose the frequency that women are harassed while exercising in public. A 2021 survey by Runner's World revealed that 84% of women had been harassed while jogging. Inspector Jon Vale, Borough Commander of Reigate and Banstead and Surrey's violence against women and girls safer spaces lead, joins Nuala. A woman in Wales who felt forced to terminate her pregnancy after being unable to access the anti-sickness medication she needed is calling for the drug to be made more widely available. Sarah Spooner was suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum which left her vomiting more than 20 times per day and unable to eat or drink. But she found it virtually impossible to access Xonvea, a medication which is recommended as a first-line treatment in England but not in Wales. Nuala hears Sarah's story, and speaks to Dr Caitlin Dean from Pregnancy Sickness Support about why there is a postcode lottery across the UK for women needing Xonvea. Sydnie Christmas captivated television audiences when she won Britain's Got Talent in 2024, becoming the first female singer to win the contest. With a background in musical theatre, the singer and actress impressed the judges with her powerhouse vocals. Since her win, she has released a debut album, topping the iTunes charts in the UK and US, and now she's starring as villain, Cruella De Vil in 101 Dalmatians, the musical at Eventim Apollo, London. Presenter: Nuala Mcgovern Producer: Emma Pearce

England goalkeeper and Lionesses legend Hannah Hampton joins Nuala McGovern on Woman's Hour fresh from winning the UEFA European Women's Championship. Born with a serious eye condition, doctors told her she should never play football. She came into the recent Euros with questions over her ability to fill the gloves of recently retired Mary Earps. To add to that, she revealed her grandfather had died just days before the biggest tournament of her life began earlier this summer. Despite this, Hannah had an extraordinary tournament, particularly in those agonising penalty shootouts. She joins Nuala McGovern to chat all about it. In June this year in Pakistan, Bano Bibi, a mother of five, and Ehsanullah Samalani, a father of three, were accused of having an affair and were shot - on the orders of a tribal leader, according to police. The event caused outrage, not just because it was another so-called ‘honour killing', but because the authorities only took action after a video of the shootings went viral, more than six weeks later. Nuala is joined by Azadeh Moshiri, Pakistan Correspondent for BBC News, and Sheema Kermani, a woman's rights activist, dancer and theatre director who has been working with women in rural and marginalised communities for 50 years. Writer and director Celine Song's semi-autobiographical debut Past Lives earned her two Oscar nominations and a host of other accolades when it was released in 2023. She talks to Nuala about her second film, Materialists, a romantic dramedy starring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans, and how it was inspired by her own time working as a matchmaker for high-net-worth individuals in New York. Construction employs around 1.4 million people in Great Britain, according to the Office for National Statistics, but only around 15% of those people are women. And they don't always have a positive experience, with 30% having reported sexual assault at work and 64% saying men were paid more for the same role. So, as the industry faces a recruitment crisis, how could it evolve to become a safer and fairer place to work and encourage more women into construction? Nuala explores the problems and the opportunities with Faye Allen, author of Building Women, and Dr Carol Massay of Unity for Construction, who've both worked in the industry for more than 30 years. And we remember long-serving Blue Peter editor Biddy Baxter, renowned for turning the children's show into a television institution, who has died at the age of 92.Presented by: Nuala McGovern Produced by: Sarah Jane Griffiths

What happens when a woman earns more than her partner, or is the sole earner in a household? For some couples, it's a practical arrangement that works well. For others, it can bring unexpected tensions, challenging traditional ideas about gender, identity and power. Listener Karla emailed the programme to say that she wanted to talk about what it means to be a female breadwinner. She joined Anita Rani along with Melissa Hogenboom, author of the book Breadwinners.After 30 years of marriage, Margaret Murphy moved from the family home in Australia to the UK—alone. Fifteen years later, she and her husband are still married, despite living on opposite sides of the world. She talks to Nuala McGovern about how she believes her later-life choices reflect a freer, more modern way to look at traditional married life. Listener Brenda wrote in about her situation: “I would love to hear you talking about a mother's play-book or instruction manual for getting through cancer. I would love to know how others are doing it.” Ailsa McDonagh also got in touch after an on-air shout out. She has been living with cancer for almost 10 years and received her diagnosis when her children were aged one and three. Both Brenda and Ailsa joined Anita to discuss.Mary-Havana Little is a traditional fibrous plasterer. She got in touch for Listener Week to suggest we talk about traditional crafts. Mary is one of the few women in the plastering world, working to create ornate decorative mouldings using techniques from hundreds of years ago. She joined Anita to speak about working in this male-dominated craft, and why she wants to inspire more women and girls into the industry.Listener Sally Ruffles describes herself as a 68-year-old woman with one daughter and no grandchildren. She got in touch with Woman's Hour for Listener Week to say: "There's this common assumption that having grandchildren is always a wonderful thing. But nobody really stops to think that not having them might also be okay—or even a positive thing for some people." She joined Nuala with her daughter Hannah, who persuaded her mother to write to Woman's Hour, to discuss why it can be difficult to talk about not being a grandparent.To kick this week off, we heard from listener Melanie Williams. Melanie is forever having to adjust her seatbelt because of her bust size. She worries if she were to be in an accident she would end up choking or being strangled by her seatbelt rather than protected by it. Melanie joined Nuala, along with motoring journalist Maria McCarthy who has been looking into the issue.Jess wrote in to tell us about a poem she came across on social media about the post-partum period, calling it “absolutely beautiful”. She added: “There are hundreds of comments across Instagram and TikTok of mothers feeling exactly the same way. Please check it out, I would love to hear more from this poet.” We've tracked her down and her name is Amy Williams. She joined Nuala to perform the poem live in the studio.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Rebecca Myatt

Motor Neurone Disease is a condition that affects nerves found in the brain and spinal cord which tell our muscles what to do. The disease is life shortening and there is no cure. One listener, Diana Keys, was diagnosed in May 2023. She tells us about her experience and asks why does representation of MND in the media skew so heavily towards men? Diana is joined by Dame Pamela Shaw, an academic neurologist and world-leading researcher in MND.Listener Sally Ruffles describes herself as a 68 year old woman with one daughter and no grandchildren. She got in touch with Woman's Hour for Listener Week  to say: "There's this common assumption that having grandchildren is always a wonderful thing. But nobody really stops to think that not having them might also be okay—or even a positive thing for some people."  She joins Nuala with her daughter Hannah, who persuaded her mother to write to Woman's Hour, to discuss why it can be difficult to talk about not being a grandparent.  We talk to women living full time on the UK's waterways. Charlotte Ashman is an artist and print maker and Jo Bell is a writer and former UK Canal Laureate. They tell us about their lives, their work and the pros and cons of narrowboat living.Have you ever thought about going back to school? Recent graduates Sue Goldsmith & Rahat Ismail both returned to studying later in life. They join Nuala to discuss what took them back to education and the value of lifelong learning.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

Listener Week continues on Woman's Hour as we bring your stories, ideas and the issues you want to hear about to the air.Carola got in touch to ask if we could find out more about the benefits of testosterone for post-menopausal women. Dr Joyce Harper, Professor of Reproductive Science at the Institute for Women's Health at University College London, joins Nuala McGovern to discuss the evidence. When we think about children in situations of domestic abuse, it's often young children we think of - but what about adult children? We received a letter from a listener telling us about a dilemma she is facing. After previously being in an abusive relationship with the father of her four adult children, she's now considering whether to tell them that their parents' relationship was coercive. Gemma Sherrington, CEO of Refuge, and coercive control expert Dr Gemma Katz join us to discuss the issues around a parent deciding whether to be honest with their grown-up children or continue to protect them from their reality. Jess wrote in to tell us about a poem she came across on social media about the post-partum period, calling it “absolutely beautiful”. She added: “There are hundreds of comments across Instagram and TikTok of mothers feeling exactly the same way. Please check it out, I would love to hear more from this poet.” We've tracked her down and her name is Amy Williams. She joins us to perform the poem live in the studio. Listener Sarah Hutchinson wants to know more about dreams. Specifically, why she has been having more vivid, memorable dreams during the recent heatwaves, and whether women's experience of dreaming is linked to the menstrual cycle? Sarah joins Nuala along with Caroline Horton, Professor of Sleep and Cognition and director of the DrEAMSLab at Bishop Grosseteste University. And listener Heather tells us what it was like setting up one of the first dating agencies in the 1980s, aimed at helping people in rural communities find love. Presented by: Nuala McGovern Produced by: Sarah Jane Griffiths and Di McGregor

To kick this week off, we heard from listener Melanie Williams. Melanie is forever having to adjust her seatbelt because of her bust size. She worries if she were to be in an accident she would end up choking or being strangled by her seatbelt rather than protected by it. Melanie joins Nuala McGovern to discuss, along with motoring journalist Maria McCarthy who has been looking into the issue. How might the use of AI in recruitment be negatively impacting women's chances of finding work? Listener Valerie joins Nuala to talk about the challenges of being shortlisted for jobs. They are also joined by Judy Wajcman, Emeritus Professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science, she has written extensively on the relationship between gender, science and technology, and Lauren Spearman who is a careers content creator and brand consultant. After 30 years of marriage, Margaret Murphy moved from the family home in Australia to the UK—alone. Fifteen years later, she and her husband are still married, despite living on opposite sides of the world. She believes her later-life choices reflect a freer, more modern way to look at traditional married life—one that may appeal to listeners. Amy Ennion is a 32-year-old engineer from Surrey, who in her spare time, is an ultra-marathon swimmer. She has swum the English Channel, the length of Lake Windermere twice, she has swum Lac Leman in Geneva for 28 hours straight and just a few weeks ago she swam the length of Loch Ness! After her mother and partner wrote into Woman's Hour about her, Amy tells us what it's like to swim for such an extreme period of time. Have you ever wondered what it's like to stand in front of a room full of strangers and make them laugh? Listener Susan Warlock wanted to explore older women taking up stand-up comedy. At 66, she decided to try it herself – and after just one gig, she was completely hooked. She joins Nuala along with writer, performer & stand-up comedy teacher Rach Sambrooks. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Dianne McGregor

The Lionesses have made history by becoming the first England football squad to win a major trophy on foreign soil, they successfully defended their European title in Basel last night. The match went to extra time and penalties - Clare McDonnell gets reaction and reflection from guests including 5Live commentator Vicki Sparks, BBC Sport correspondent Katie Gornall, chief executive of the Women's Professional League Nikki Doucet and star player Lucy Bronze's mum Diane.Nicola Benedetti is a Grammy award winning violinist and ambassador for classical music. She is also director of the Edinburgh International Festival, which begins on Friday. In October she's due to embark on her first solo tour in more than ten years. She joins Clare to discuss the repertoire, and how she will combine solo performances with storytelling, and share a selection of shorter works.As part of our series taking a deep dive into the world of women and gaming, Nuala speaks to Cath Bowie, a 76-year-old grandmother from the north east of Scotland who spends her free time playing and streaming Fortnite.England's win over Spain to retain their Euros title has cemented Sarina Wiegman's status as one of the world's greatest football managers. This was her third successive European title, having also won it with her home nation, the Netherlands in 2017. What makes her such a successful manager? Clare speaks to Tom Garry, women's football writer for the Guardian.

Baroness Margaret Hodge joined Nuala McGovern to talk about why she thinks routine mammograms should be extended to women over 70. The former Labour MP was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 80. She requested a mammogram after realising she hadn't been invited to have one in nearly a decade. Routine screening is currently only available in the UK for women aged 50-70.Dame Imelda Staunton, of Vera Drake and Harry Potter fame, and her daughter Bessie Carter, of Bridgerton fame, are starring as mother and daughter in Mrs Warren's Profession by George Bernard Shaw, currently in the West End. The play explores the morals of earning money from prostitution. They joined Kylie Pentelow to talk about the relevance of the play today, and tell us what's it like acting on stage together for the first time in their careers. There are still more statues of men called John than of women in the UK. But this imbalance is being redressed, mainly thanks to local campaigns to memorialise more female figures. A new book, London's Statues of Women, documents all the current statues of, or to, women in the capital. Its author Juliet Rix joined Nuala along with Anya Pearson from Visible Women UK and Joy Battick who has been immortalised herself in bronze not once, but twice.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Corinna Jones

Charles Skaggs and DJ Nik discuss "The Ruler of Hell", the second episode of The Sandman Season 2, featuring Tom Sturridge as Dream/Morpheus, Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer Morningstar, Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Death, and introducing Ann Skelly as Nuala! Find us here:Facebook: Facebook.com/FandomZonePodcast Instagram: @FandomZonePodcast Bluesky: @CharlesSkaggs.bsky.social, @goldstandardoscars.bsky.social Email: FandomZoneCast@gmail.com  Listen and subscribe to us in Apple Podcasts and leave us a review!

Celebrating the incredible success of her song "Edge Of The World" w Meduza, Innellea, & Genesi, Nu-La joins us for the first time on America's Dance 30!  She shares how the song was born, how long ago they started working on it, and who the demo was originally for!!She also answers a question she has never been asked before, and we get to know Nu-La better w #FinkysFirsts!Find out about:if music was the first thing she wanted to get into growing upif 'Nu-La' was her first choice for an artist project name, and where the name came fromthe first thing she normally does when writing a songthe first EDM show she wentthe first place she would go if she could go anywhere to the edge of the worldFollow: @AmericasDance30 on all socials!Count down the biggest dance songs in the country every week with Brian Fink on America's Dance 30; listen on stations around the world!

Baroness Margaret Hodge tells Nuala McGovern why she thinks routine mammograms should be extended to women over 70. The former Labour MP was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 80. She requested a mammogram after realising she hadn't been invited to have one in nearly a decade. Routine screening is currently only available in the UK for women aged 50-70. As England's Lionesses prepare for their Euro 2025 semi-final with Italy tonight, their efforts have been overshadowed by the racial abuse suffered by defender Jess Carter. The team's decided not to take the knee against racism in tonight's game, with coach Sarina Wiegman saying her players feel the gesture isn't 'good enough.' Now the head of Sport England, Chris Boardman, has written to Ofcom to express "deep concern" over the abuse directed at England's women's football team on social media. He joins Nuala, along with former Lioness and now pundit Lianne Sanderson. Campaigners in Northern Ireland want the way Victim Personal Statements are dealt with in courts there to change. At the moment people do not have the automatic right to read their own statements as part of the judicial process. Nuala talks to Commissioner Designate for Victims of Crime Northern Ireland, Geraldine Hanna, and campaigner Julieanne Boyle, who didn't get the opportunity to address the court during her case and wants to see a change for other victims. Georgina Moore's second novel River of Stars is set in a floating community on the Thames. A romance and family saga spanning three generations of women, it was inspired by her own move from self-confessed ‘ageing party girl' to houseboat mum. Georgina joins Nuala in the Woman's Hour studio to talk about island life and writing on the water.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Sarah Jane Griffiths

The state of the UK's water sector is barely out of the headlines at the moment and today a major review into the water industry in England and Wales said the regulator Ofwat should be scrapped. Sir Jon Cunliffe, who led the review, also warned that household bills will rise by 30% over the next five years. Nuala McGovern is joined by Esme Stallard, the BBC's climate and science reporter, and by two women campaigning for clean water on a local and a national level - Jo Robb, member of the Henley Mermaids wild swimming group and District Councillor for the Green Party in South Oxfordshire, and Erica Popplewell, Head of Communities at River Action, a UK-wide environmental campaign group.Harriet Webb is best known for her roles in Channel 4's Bafta-winning series Big Boys, and Michaela Coel's I May Destroy You. She is back on our screens this week playing Kirsty in series two of the Bafta-winning Sky Original Mr Bigstuff, starring alongside Danny Dyer and the show's creator Ryan Sampson. She joins Nuala to discuss why comedy can be the best place to discuss difficult issues like grief, trauma and, even, erectile dysfunction.In a new report, the community interest company Five Times More illustrate how black women in the UK continue to face disproportionately high risks during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period. Despite a growing body of research and increasing policy attention, the gap in outcomes between black and white women shows little sign of closing. Tinuke, the co-founder of Five Times More, explains what changes they had found since their first report three years ago and what still needs to happen.Molly Jong-Fast is an author and special correspondent for Vanity Fair. She is also the only child of Erica Jong, author of the 1970s feminist autobiographical novel - Fear of Flying. A sensual exploration of female sexual desire, it catapulted Erica to international fame. Molly has written a memoir, How to Lose Your Mother, and she talks to Nuala about growing up in the spotlight, their intense mother-daughter relationship and her mother's heartbreaking descent into dementia.Economic abuse is at “national emergency” levels yet more than half of UK women don't know anything about it - with a third only knowing ‘a little' - this is according to a new report published today by the charity Surviving Economic Abuse. Sam Smethers, CEO of SEA, joins Nuala to explain the types of economic abuse they have uncovered, the implications of their findings and what they want the government to do.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

For over 40 years, Helena Bonham Carter has delighted us with roles including Lucy Honeychurch in Room with a View, Princess Margaret in The Crown and Harry Potter's much-loved villain, Bellatrix Lestrange. She joined Nuala McGovern to discuss her latest role in new film, Four Letters of Love, based on the bestselling book of the same name. Eight babies have been born in the UK using genetic material from three people to prevent devastating and often fatal conditions. The method, pioneered by UK scientists, combines the egg and sperm from a mum and dad with a second egg from a donor woman. The technique has been legal in the UK for a decade but this is the first proof it is leading to children born free of incurable mitochondrial disease, which is normally passed from mother to child. Anita Rani was joined by Kat Kitto who has two daughters, one of whom has mitochondrial disease, and Louise Hyslop, consultant embryologist at the Newcastle Fertility Centre to discuss.A new report by London's Victims' Commissioner, Claire Waxman, says that victims are being forced to quit the criminal justice system in huge numbers amid record court delays and traumatic process. She joined Nuala to explain why they are saying 'there is a near total failure in seeing offenders brought to justice', especially when it comes to female victims of violence. In the second part of our series about women and gaming, we find out more about the impact gaming can have on women's lives. Nuala heads to the Virgin Media Gamepad at the O2 to meet some of the women from the Black Girl Gamers community, who have over 10,000 members around the world. The bestselling author Louise Candlish joined Anita to talk about her latest novel - A Neighbour's Guide to Murder - which explores the practice of sex for rent and a trial by social media. The American jazz singer Samara Joy has five Grammy awards to her name and is quickly gaining superstar status in the jazz world. She is making her debut at the BBC Proms tonight, where she will be backed by the BBC Concert Orchestra, in a special tribute to the Great American Songbook. The Prom will be also be live on Radio 3, on BBC Four and iPlayer.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Deiniol Buxton

Last night England faced Wales in their final match of the group stage of the UEFA Women's Euro and England came out victorious - winning 6-1 and knocking Wales out of the tournament in the process. To discuss the result, Nuala McGovern is joined by England's top goal scorer and former Lioness Ellen White, and Laura McAllister, Vice-President of UEFA, who was previously the captain of Wales' women's team, gaining 24 caps for her country. For over 40 years, Helena Bonham Carter has delighted us with roles including Lucy Honeychurch in Room with a View, Princess Margaret in The Crown and Harry Potter's much-loved villain, Bellatrix Lestrange. She joins Nuala in the studio to discuss her latest role in new film, Four Letters of Love. Based on the bestselling book of the same name, she plays Margaret Gore, the wife of a poet living on a remote island in the West of Ireland in the 1970s. We bring you the latest on the excavation of a mass grave of babies and young children at Tuam in County Galway in Ireland, due to begin later today. The exhumations will be carried out at the site of an institution for unmarried mothers, which operated between 1925 and 1961. We speak to journalist Alison O'Reilly, one of the women who pushed to get this investigation underway. All this week we're taking a deep dive into the world of gaming. It's an industry worth £6bn - more than music, TV and film combined - so we'll be exploring what impact it has on our lives (whether we realise it or not) and where women come into it. First up, we're joined by video game reporter and eSports presenter Frankie Ward and Twitch streamer Alyce, also known online as Alyska Plays, to discuss. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Award-winning actor Fiona Shaw is best known for her roles in Killing Eve, Bad Sisters, Fleabag, True Detective: Night Country and even as Aunt Petunia in Harry Potter, among many other things. She's now starring in a new film adaptation of Deborah Levy's novel, Hot Milk, playing Rose, who goes to Almería in Spain with her daughter, Sofia, played by Emma Mackey, to try to find a cure for Rose's mysterious paralysis at an experimental clinic. Fiona joined Nuala McGovern to discuss it.Jenny Evans was a young actress riding high on the success of her first feature film when she was sexually assaulted by someone who was in the public eye. When she later found the courage to report this crime to the police, details of what she had experienced were printed in a tabloid newspaper. Jenny decided to retrain as a journalist to try and figure out how this could have happened. She went on to help expose the abuses of power in the press and police that have become known as the 'phone-hacking scandal'. Nuala spoke to Jenny about her memoir Don't Let it Break You, Honey.The film director Gurinder Chadha has released a trailer to celebrate this summer's cricket fixtures between England and India's women's teams. She joined Datshiane Navanayagam to discuss why she's chosen to put women's cricket under the spotlight and the legacy of her last hit film about women's sport, Bend It Like Beckham.Amy Powney is the fashion designer best known for being the Creative Director at Mother of Pearl for 10 years until she left to set up her own label, Akyn, earlier this year. Amy's mission to create a sustainable clothing line was explored in the documentary Fashion Reimagined which saw her trace clothes from field to runway and cemented her as an authority on this within the wider industry. Amy joined Kylie Pentelow in the Woman's Hour studio.The Women's Euros started this week, with teams from both England and Wales taking part. The Lionesses won the Euros in 2022 and much was made of the number of openly lesbian players both in the England squad and across the other teams. In a new graphic novel called Florrie a football love story, Anna Trench tells the story of the ground breaking women footballers from the end of the First World War and highlights the pioneering lesbians players of the past. Anna joins Nuala in discussion along with Rachael Bullingham, Senior Lecturer of Sport and Exercise at the University of Gloucestershire.Presenter: Datshiane Navanayagam Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Rebecca Myatt

Lots of boys have grown up wanting to be Superman but perhaps you grew up wanting to be award-winning journalist Lois Lane? Actor Rachel Brosnahan is known for her Emmy-winning portrayal of Midge Maisel in the TV series, The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel, her Emmy-nominated performance in House of Cards and her work on Broadway. Now she's playing Clark Kent's love interest, Lois Lane in the upcoming DC Universe film, Superman. She tells Nuala McGovern about the unusual circumstances in which she found out she had the role and the difficulties of working with CGI. A British teenager who is currently held in prison in Georgia says she was 'tortured' into smuggling drugs. Bella Culley who is 19 and from Teesside, has appeared at a Tbilisi court this week. She has pleaded not guilty to charges of possession and trafficking a large amount of illegal drugs. The BBC's Caucasus correspondent Rayhan Demytrie tells Nuala what's been happening. Jenny Evans was a young actress riding high on the success of her first feature film when she was sexually assaulted by someone who was in the public eye. When she later found the courage to report this crime to the police, details of what she had experienced were printed in a tabloid newspaper. Jenny decided to retrain as a journalist to try and figure out how this could have happened. She went on to help expose the abuses of power in the press and police that have become known as the 'phone-hacking scandal'. Nuala speaks to Jenny about her memoir Don't Let it Break You, Honey. To mark the start of the UEFA European Women's Championship Nuala speaks to BBC Sport's Correspondent Katie Gornall live from Switzerland. She's also joined by DJ, author and podcaster Annie Macmanus who was so inspired by the Lionesses Euro's win in 2022 that she decided to take the sport up herself, in her 40's. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Andrea Kidd

Award-winning actor Fiona Shaw has starred in Killing Eve, Bad Sisters, Fleabag, True Detective: Night Country, Echo Valley and even as Aunt Petunia in Harry Potter, among many other things. She's won and been nominated for several Laurence Olivier awards for her work on stage and she's even directed opera. Now starring in a new film adaptation of Deborah Levy's novel, Hot Milk, Fiona plays Rose, who goes to Almería, Spain with her daughter, Sofia, played by the brilliant Emma Mackey, to try to find a cure for Rose's mysterious paralysis at an experimental clinic. Fiona joins Nuala McGovern live in the studio to discuss it.The Scottish Parliament is looking for opinions on a proposed bill which would change the laws on prostitution in the country. It targets those who buy sexual services by creating a new criminal offence of paying for a sexual act. If passed, it would criminalise those buying sex, while decriminalising those selling it. The woman behind the bill, MSP Ash Regan, speaks to Woman's Hour about why she wants the change, and responds to criticisms that it could make sex work less safe. Today government ministers have launched a review of UK parental leave and pay to reset the system and speaking yesterday the Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said people were scared of having children because of the high costs and she wanted “more young people to have children, if they so choose”. But getting to become a parent can sometimes require ongoing fertility treatment meaning time away from work. And Fertility Matters at Work are calling for those undergoing this support to have the legal right to take time off for their appointments. They've published a report on it and the author Becky Kearns joins Nuala. She's the co-founder and CEO of Fertility Matters at Work. A new production of Eugene O'Neill's A Moon for the Misbegotten, starring Ruth Wilson, is on at the Almeida theatre in London. Nuala is joined by multi award-winning director Rebecca Frecknall to discuss the central character Josie, and why the father-daughter relationship at the heart of the play spoke to her. Women's cricket in England has been through trials and tribulations recently. The team lost 16-0 to Australia in the Women's Ashes at the start of this year, and were knocked out of the T20 World Cup at the end of last year. But in June, after the appointment of a new coach and captain, had a clean sweep in their T20 series against the West Indies. Now they're facing India in a series of T20 matches, and suffered a defeat in their first match. Player, commentator and podcast host Melissa Story shares her thoughts on the team's performance, as well as what's happening in women's cricket on a local level. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

Following the publication of Baroness Louise Casey's highly critical report into grooming gangs involved in the sexual exploitation of children, we look at one of her 12 recommendations in detail. The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, has committed to reviewing the criminal convictions of victims of child sexual exploitation, quashing the criminal records of victims who were “criminalised instead of protected”. Nuala McGovern speaks to Jade, who as a teenager was charged with a grooming offence and is trying to get that conviction overturned. Nuala also hears from Paula Harriott, the CEO of the charity Unlock. Students will spend an average of 25 years on their phones over their lifetime. The average person in school, college or university spends five hours and 30 minutes a day on their mobile, according to a new study by the app, Fluid Focus. Last year Ofcom found that across all adult age groups, women are spending more time online – that's on smartphones, tablets and computers – than men - clocking up an extra 33 minutes more each day. Nuala speaks to Sunday Times journalist Charlotte Ivers about her phone use. More than half of Heart Valve Disease (HVD) cases are women, yet less than half of heart valve surgeries and procedures are on women, according to new data from the charity Heart Valve Voice. Heart valve disease is when one or more of your heart valves do not work like they should. This can affect blood flow and put extra strain on the heart. How can women's symptoms be taken more seriously? Nuala is joined by cardiologist Dr Alison Duncan and HVD patient Jaqueline, who was initially misdiagnosed with anxiety.Three years on since the war with Russia began, more and more young women are choosing to leave the country to continue their lives in Europe, either studying or working. Young men have been banned from leaving Ukraine after they turn 18 since the war broke out and martial law was introduced, but young women are free to leave. Freelance journalist Gabriella Jozwiak has been in the city of Lviv talking to young women about their plans for the future, and joins Nuala. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

Natalie Fleet is the Labour MP for Bolsover whose path into politics has been far from typical. From a very young age, teachers told her she was destined for university – something almost unheard of in her Nottingham mining town. But her future took a different turn, when at fifteen, she became pregnant by an older man. At the time she had thought they were in a relationship - but as she grew older, Natalie says she realised she had been a victim of grooming and statutory rape. She's now speaking out to give a voice to those she feels have been made to feel they should be silent, and joins Anita Rani in the studio. Only 3.1% of PREP users in England are women. That's Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, a drug that reduces the risk of being infected with HIV. Many women don't know that PREP exists, or don't consider themselves at risk. Yet women accounted for 30% of new HIV diagnoses in England in 2023. This week, the Elton John AIDS Foundation has launched pilot programmes to increase women's access to PREP. Anita was joined by Dr Jenny Whetham, Consultant and Joint Clinical Lead, Sexual Health and HIV Medicine, Brighton and Anne Aslett, CEO of the Elton John AIDS Foundation to discuss.Trisha Goddard rose to fame as a TV journalist. She was the first black TV presenter in Australia and is best known in the UK for her eponymous TV show which aired on ITV and Channel 5 in the late 90s and 2000s, earning her a reputation as the British Oprah. She joined Anita to talk about her career, appearing on Celebrity Big Brother and why she chose recently to go public with her diagnosis for stage 4 metastatic breast cancer.BBC journalist Sanchia Berg and fertility lawyer Beverley Addison joined Nuala McGovern to discuss the recent cases of older couples becoming parents via surrogacy.Comedian, actor and writer Rosie Jones joined Nuala to discuss her first sitcom, Pushers, which she stars in and co-wrote. She plays Emily in the Channel 4 show, who has very little left to lose after having her disability benefits cut when she loses her job - she finds herself building an illegal drugs empire. Emily isn't your average street-dealer though - she's sharp, funny, highly educated and has cerebral palsy. What better disguise could there be for criminal activity than to be entirely written off by society?Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Rebecca Myatt