The Women's Podcast

In her new book of essays, The Most Normal Woman, writer Roisin Kiberd examines society’s obsession with beauty and the lengths people go to to keep up appearances. Kiberd argues that many of the things we do in pursuit of beauty are not really about attractiveness at all - they're about our desire to be accepted, understood and recognised. In today’s episode, the writer joins Róisín Ingle to share her thoughts on constantly changing beauty standards and our never ending quest to improve ourselves. But first, Irish Times podcast producer Suzanne Brennan is here to discuss some of the stories of the week, including the return of Lena Dunham’s hit TV show Girls and why best-selling author Sally Rooney’s books will no longer be distributed in the UK.Our next book club book is Stations by Louise Kennedy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author Louise O’Neill was 37-years old, when her five-year relationship came to an end in January 2023. Suddenly, the future she had imagined for herself with marriage, children and a home by the sea in Wicklow, completely disappeared. Feeling heartbroken and lost, O’Neill went on a mission to heal herself and regain some of her shattered confidence. She took almost a year off work and threw herself into an array of workshops, retreats and unconventional activities. Eventually O’Neill was ready to date again and so began a year-long experiment, which took her on more than 100 dates, with men across Dublin, London, Paris and New York. She documents this exciting and at times hilarious experience in her new memoir, A Bigger Life. In today’s episode, O’Neill joins Róisín Ingle to talk about her recovery from heartbreak and how dating helped her discover more about herself and what really makes her happy. In this wide-ranging conversation the pair also discuss the best way to approach dating apps, the pressure of the biological clock and what it really takes to make a bigger life.But first Irish Times features writer Nadine O’Regan is here to discuss some of the cultural stories that caught her eye this week, including new music from Bono’s daughter Jordan Joy and the reaction to Sharon Horgan’s new series Youth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In December 2024, MMA fighter and businessman Conor McGregor was found liable by a civil High Court jury for sexually assaulting Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel in December 2018. In the years since, Hand has lived through events that changed her life forever. She has endured public scrutiny, courtrooms, headlines and toxic commentary, alongside an outpouring of solidarity and support. Now, with her new memoir, Not the Perfect Victim, the mother of two is reclaiming ownership of her story.In today’s episode, Hand joins Róisín Ingle to talk about survival, motherhood, trauma and resilience, and what it means to finally tell her story in her own words.But first Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O'Connell is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week including the proposed abolition of the mandatory three day wait for abortions in Ireland and the reaction to Oprah Winfrey's first ever live appearance in Dublin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on The Women’s Podcast, Róisín Ingle meets award-winning rapper, singer, poet and spoken-word artist Denise Chaila. After a meteoric rise that saw her win the Choice Music Prize and become one of the most celebrated voices in Irish music, Denise stepped away from the spotlight for a few years. In this honest and at times profound conversation the singer explains why.  The conversation covers a lot of ground. The singer talks about the pressures of success, people-pleasing, racism, faith, illness and friendship. She reflects on the years she spent reading, writing, travelling and rediscovering herself.With her first headline Irish tour beginning later this month, The An Seo Tour, Denise also discusses the new music she's been creating and what audiences can expect from a live show that brings together all the influences that have shaped her life and work. Also on the podcast, Róisín explains the background to her new three-part podcast series Drummer Seeks Musicians: The Making of U2 which delves into the Dublin origin story of one of the world’s biggest bands. The first episode lands on Monday 21st of September and is available on irishtimes.com or wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, psychologist & bestselling author Katriona O’Sullivan joins Kathy Sheridan to discuss her new memoir Hungry: A Biography of My Body. The book follows on from her award-winning debut Poor, this time focusing on her complex and fraught relationship with body image, food and self-worth. In this wide-ranging conversation, O’Sullivan speaks about the societal pressures facing women, her lifelong search for self-acceptance and the importance of therapy in healing. She also talks about her upcoming children's book, "Katie's Light," and a self-help book titled How to Like Yourself, coming in 2028. But first, Róisín Ingle is joined by Molly Logan and Rachel Gaughan, two women involved in the Bord Gais Energy Theatre production of Oklahoma! The musical is showing now until Sunday July 5th. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode, best-selling author Maggie O’Farrell joins Róisín Ingle to discuss her new book Land. Set in the 1800s - in the aftermath of the Irish famine - the novel tells the story of a father and his reluctant son, who are tasked with mapping out the island of Ireland for the great Ordnance Survey project. It’s a deeply affecting story about family bonds, set against a backdrop of poverty, inequality and life under British rule. In this conversation, O’Farrell tells Ingle about her great-great grandfather who inspired the novel and the work that went into uncovering his story. She also reflects on the global success of Hamnet and the joy of attending this year’s Oscars and Golden Globes. But first, Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O’Connell is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week including the backlash over Gwyneth Paltrow's Israeli real-estate ad and the Government’s plan to abolish the mandatory three day wait for abortion services in Ireland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Summer is finally upon us and that means festival season is officially here. In today’s episode, we meet a pair of women behind two of Ireland’s most exciting festivals, Beyond the Pale and Kaleidoscope. Jenny Jennings and Fiona McGinn join Roisin Ingle to discuss the challenges facing the festival industry, what it takes to create such large-scale events and which acts are not to be missed in the line up. Later on Ingle is joined by Irish Times journalist and author Sally Hayden, who has just released her new book ‘This is also a Love Story’. The book is a reflection on how love can endure even in the most difficult of times and contains love stories from people Hayden has met while reporting in war zones and places ravaged by conflict and inequality. But first, Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O’Connell is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week including a row over private care at the Rotunda hospital in Dublin and what can be learned from the recent controversy surrounding Belle Burden’s memoir, Strangers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Almost three years on from their final Aisling book, writers and besties Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen are back with a brand new novel, Our Deadly Summer. It’s a heartfelt and hilarious tale about friendship, young women and bad men. In today’s episode, the pair tell Róisín Ingle about the J1 spent in Long Island which inspired the story and why despite pursuing solo projects after the Aisling series, they ultimately found themselves working together again. In this wide-ranging discussion, they also give their take on enduring female friendships, Botox, and the precarity of renting in Dublin. But first, Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O’Connell is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week, including the surge in women seeking help for cocaine addiction and why Meghan Markle wants you to buy a $64 candle to celebrate her wedding anniversary. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.