The Women's Podcast

In this special bonus episode of the podcast, we’re bringing you some highlights from our live event last week at the Dublin Book Festival. In the first part of the evening, Róisín Ingle was joined on stage by three distinctive voices in Irish fiction, authors Jan Carson, Sue Rainsford and Sheila Armstrong. The panel discussed the inspiration behind their writing, why they’re drawn to experimental and “weird” fiction, how they overcome any self-doubt and the joy of book-related tattoos. Later on, author Louise Kennedy joined Ingle on stage to discuss her path to becoming a published author in her 50s. Kennedy, who released her debut novel Trespasses in 2022, spent 30 years working as a chef, before finding her voice as a writer. In this wide-ranging conversation, the author discusses how writing became a welcome distraction from a cancer diagnosis in 2019, why her family left Northern Ireland when she was a young girl and why she returned to the place she grew up in her storytelling. With live music on the night from Laura Elizabeth Hughes. Stations by Louise Kennedy is our next pick for The Women’s Podcast book club and that episode will be out later this month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

November is food month here at The Irish Times and to celebrate, we’re joined by TV chef and business woman Eva Pau on today’s episode. You may know Pau as the presenter of RTE’s Asian Kitchen, but she is also the managing director of Ireland’s largest Asian supermarket, which was founded by her parents on Dublin’s Drury street back in 1981.As a young girl, Pau spent her days playing hide-and-seek between the aisles of Asia Market and learning all about food from her Hong-Kong born mother. In all aspects of her career, Pau has made it her mission to take the mystery out of Asian cooking and to show just how accessible, delicious and fun it can be. In this conversation, the mother of two speaks to Róisín Ingle about growing up immersed in the family business, the food memories that have stayed with her and they discuss the history of the much-loved Irish Spice Bag.But first, Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O’Connell is here to discuss the biggest story of the week: the very blue result in the US midterms.Our next book club pick is Stations by Louise Kennedy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In just one decade, Ireland’s birth rate has fallen by 30%. It’s a statistic that is worrying economists and demographers, who warn it could threaten Ireland's future workforce and place financial strain on the state pension scheme. In her new documentary, Ireland’s Population Crash, RTE broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan explores why the country is having fewer babies. In today’s episode, the veteran presenter joins Róisín Ingle to discuss how the housing crisis, childcare costs and the rise of smartphones are among the reasons why more people are choosing not to become parents and what it could mean for the country’s future.But first Irish Times features writer Nadine O’Regan is here to discuss some cultural stories of the week, including the comments made by Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins about age-gap relationships and how Irish singer-songwriter Gemma Hayes became a victim of Ai fraud. The first episode of Ireland's Population Crash is available to watch on RTE1 on Wednesday November 4th at 9:35pm, with episode 2 out on November 11th. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode, Róisín Ingle is joined by clinical psychologist, parenting expert and bestselling author Dr Shefali to talk about raising children in the algorithm era. Dr Shefali’s work regularly appears on the New York Times best seller list and she is a regular on Oprah’s Super Soul Sundays. Her latest books, Raising Conscious Daughters and Raising Conscious Sons, tackle some of the biggest challenges facing families today. In this wide-ranging conversation, the pair discuss the pressures facing girls in a culture obsessed with appearance and perfection, the crisis of modern masculinity, and her warning that many boys are now being mentored by pornography and the manosphere rather than trusted adults. But first, Irish Times podcast producer Suzanne Brennan is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week, including the crisis in Ireland’s national care system which is putting extremely vulnerable girls at risk and the reaction to Joanne McNally’s American TV debut on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

In today’s episode, we’re bringing you highlights from a conversation with writer and poet Dearbhla Mescal that was recorded live at this year’s Electric Picnic. Mescal joined Róisin Ingle on stage at the Wild Words event to discuss her new book Finding Joy. The book is the result of years spent noticing and celebrating the small things in life and is an uplifting collection of thoughts, poems and recollections. The mother of three reflects on 33 years spent working with An Garda Síochana, her move into writing and the joy of watching her children flourish in their careers. She also speaks about living with cancer and how it's possible to experience darkness and light simultaneously.But first Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O’Connell is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week, including the arrival of a controversial health influencer to Ireland and the reopening of a criminal investigation into the ‘Cornell 7’ rape case. 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.

The new adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility opened in Irish cinemas last weekend. The period drama tells the story of two sisters - Elinor and Marianne Dashwood - as they navigate relationships, love and grief following the sudden death of their father. Irish actor Caitríona Balfe plays Mrs Dashwood, the matriarch of the family who must steer her daughters through this turbulent time. In today’s episode, Balfe talks to Róisín Ingle about her approach to the role and the joy of entering Austen’s world. She also reflects on ageing in the movie industry, her move into directing after years on Outlander and her relationship with her Irish identity. 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.

Today we're sharing the opening episode of a three-part series by Róisín Ingle that tells the untold origin story of U2. We hope you enjoy it. The full series can be found on irishtimes.com, or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for Drummer Seeks Musicians: The Making of U2.It is 50 years this month since 14-year-old drummer Larry Mullen stuck a note on a school noticeboard looking for fellow musicians to form a band. That note led to U2.In this three-part podcast series to mark the 50th anniversary, Róisín Ingle traces the formation of the band in a school on the northside of Dublin through interviews with their classmates, teachers, friends, family and band members.Why did U2 happen in Mount Temple? And how are Bono, Edge, Larry Mullen and Adam Clayton still friends and still making music together fifty years later? Drummer Seeks Musicians is a remarkable origin story, told by the people who were there from the very beginning. From Mount Temple Comprehensive to the world stage, this is the story of how U2 began.Episode one goes back to the radical experiment that was Mount Temple Comprehensive School on Dublin’s northside in 1976, where fifty years ago 14-year-old Larry Mullen pinned a note on the school bulletin board. That note brought together Larry, Adam Clayton, Dave ‘The Edge’ Evans and Paul ‘Bono’ Hewson of U2, four teenagers who were destined to become one of the world's biggest bands. Róisín talks to the people who were there - the ones who nearly made the band, the teachers who supported them and the classmates who watched it happen. We hear about the architect of a remarkable school and discover the back stories of Paul 'Bono' Hewson and Larry Mullen Jr. Drummer Seeks Musicians: The Making of U2 is presented, written, researched and produced by Róisín Ingle. Editing by Rob Sutton.Additional production by Suzanne Brennan. The podcast is dedicated to Donald Moxham.Thanks to the staff at Mount Temple, to U2 and to everyone who took part in the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.