The Women's Podcast

The Irish Times
The Irish Times
  • 4.7 (110)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

A female take on Ireland and the world. Hosted by Róisín Ingle, the show is packed full of feminism, humour, health, politics, sex, storytelling, relationships and more. The podcast is produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 6d ago

    Best of The Women's Podcast: Joanne McNally

    Joanne McNally on midlife, monogamy and making history at the 3Arena This episode was originally published in March 2026.  In today’s episode, Róisín Ingle is joined by the brilliant Joanne McNally. The comedian and podcaster dropped by the studio to talk about her newly announced date at Dublin’s 3Arena and how she’s made history as the first ever Irish comedian to headline two shows at the venue. In this hilarious and wide-ranging conversation, McNally also talks about living with fame, why she’s taken a sabbatical from dating and about her desire to become a mother.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  2. Jul 16

    Louise Brangan: Inside Ireland’s Magdalene Laundries

    Throughout the 20th century in Ireland, thousands of women and girls were sent to work in Magdalene Laundries all across the country. By 1951, for every 100,000 women in Ireland, 70 were locked away in a laundry, spending their days “scrubbing and praying in an attempt to salvage their souls”. In her new book, The Fallen, academic and writer Louise Brangan uses archive material and survivor testimonies to tell the story of six women who spent years toiling away unpaid in Magdalene laundries, all of whom were brought there under false pretences. In this episode, Brangan tells Róisín Ingle what day to day life was like for these women, why their history should never be forgotten and why the laundries are so often confused with Ireland’s mother and baby homes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  3. Jul 9

    Author Lily King on the unexpected success of ‘Heart the Lover’

    Back in March, The Women’s Podcast book club read Heart the Lover by American author Lily King. The story which tells of a complicated love triangle between college students Jordan, Yash and Sam, was adored by each of our bookclubbers - something regular listeners of the book club will know, doesn’t happen very often. So when we got the opportunity to have King on the podcast, we jumped at the chance. In today’s episode, the best-selling author joins Róisín Ingle to discuss the teenage relationship which inspired the story and her surprise at the book’s huge success. We also hear about King's chaotic family background growing up in Massachusetts, her formative college years and what it's like to live in Trump's America. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. Jul 2

    MEP Maria Walsh on becoming a single mother by choice

    Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh always wanted to become a mother and spent years hoping she’d meet the right person to start a family with. By 2024 however, Walsh was done waiting and she decided to embark upon solo parenthood, as a single, gay woman. In early 2025, she began her fertility journey and finally became pregnant through IVF earlier this year. Today, Walsh is 24 weeks pregnant and happier than ever, although admittedly a bit nervous and excited for what’s to come. In today’s episode, the expectant mother joins Róisín Ingle to talk about her decision to go it alone and the questions she had to ask herself along the way. Walsh discusses why she chose to keep the start of her journey private and the emotional challenges that came with that decision. She also explains how she plans to balance motherhood with her role as a member of the European Parliament and she reveals the gender of her baby, who is due this October. This podcast was updated on July 3rd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. Jun 25

    Katriona O'Sullivan / Oklahoma!

    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.

  6. Jun 21

    Bonus episode: Claire Keegan Q&A

    Earlier this month, author Claire Keegan joined The Women’s Podcast bookclub for a live event at Chapters Bookstore in Dublin to discuss her favourite summer reading recommendations. In today’s bonus episode, we’re bringing you the live Q&A from the event with Keegan, where she answers questions on her writing process, film adaptations and her book being featured on the Leaving Cert syllabus. You can find the full live show here: https://www.irishtimes.com/podcasts/the-womens-podcast/the-womens-podcast-book-club-summer-reading-recommendations-with-claire-keegan/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  7. Jun 18

    'Gwynocide' / Love in the age of AI / Maggie O'Farrell

    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.

  8. Jun 11

    The Book Club: Summer reading recommendations with Claire Keegan

    Last week the Women’s Podcast book club gathered for a live event in Chapters Bookstore in Dublin to discuss what books they’ll be packing with them on their summer holidays. Celebrated author Claire Keegan was the special guest who joined book clubbers Róisín Ingle, Bernice Harrison, Ann Ingle and Niamh Towey for the event, alongside an audience of podcast listeners. Keegan spoke about the novel and two short stories that she hopes listeners will enjoy and she treated the audience to a reading from The Great Gatsby. You can find the full list of recommendations here: https://www.irishtimes.com/podcasts/the-womens-podcast/the-womens-podcast-book-club-summer-reading-recommendations-with-claire-keegan/\ The Great Gatsby by F. Scott FitzgeraldGold Watch by John McGahernLast Day of Summer by Ian McEwan, a short story from his collection, First Love, Last Rites.Famesick by Lena DunhamFew and Far Between by Jan CarsonPortrait of a Lady by Henry JamesYesteryear by Caro Claire BurkeThe Keeper by Tana FrenchThe Spare Room by Helen GarnerExcellent Women by Barbara PymJohn of John by Douglas StuartThe Things We Never Say by Elizabeth StroutLand by Maggie O’FarrellThe Make Believe by Hannah MurrayTatty by Christine Dwyer  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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4.7
out of 5
110 Ratings

About

A female take on Ireland and the world. Hosted by Róisín Ingle, the show is packed full of feminism, humour, health, politics, sex, storytelling, relationships and more. The podcast is produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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