The Women's Agenda Podcast

Agenda Media
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We chat through the key stories shaping Women's Agenda. From the leaders doing the right (and wrong things), to the policymakers shaping the future for women, and the breakthrough moments making a difference and more. This is business, leadership, politics, health and climate from a woman's perspective. The Women's Agenda Podcast is produced by Agenda Media, publisher of Women's Agenda. You can check out our other podcasts The Leadership Lessons, The Moments That Make Us and The Women's Health Project and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 4d ago

    Cruelty and courage in a week

    We unpack the week that was, inspired by the grace and dignity of Dr Helen Haines, her husband Phil Haines and Governor-General Sam Mostyn. Plus, our conversation with Dr Kayla Steele, a Clinical Psychologist for UNSW at the Black Dog Institute, and why "overwhelm" describes much of the mood of women in Australia. Kayla discusses the value of movement, connection, and friendship on mental health, and also why the Black Dog Institute and UNSW are studying the impact of IVF on mental health. If you are currently having IVF, have had IVF or are supporting someone through their fertility treatment and you'd like to share your experience, check out more on eligibility for the study here. The survey closes on the 29th November 2026. Stories discussed this week include: As Helen Haines fights for her life, the warnings women in politics have been making become painfully clearJacqui Lambie's vaginal prolapse isn't the joke. Pauline Hanson's internalised misogyny definitely isWomen are advised by AI to prioritise flexibility, while men are pushed towards higher salaries If today raised anything for you, support is available: 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, Lifeline on 13 11 14. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and head to womensagenda.com.au for the full stories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  2. Oct 16

    On laughs and talking about menopause

    This weekend marks World Menopause Day! We speak with Mary Caustas to learn more about her own peri and menopause experience, and why she founded UnPause to help women feel more informed and supported through this stage of life.​ Mary is a comedian, actress and founder. She came to television fame in the 1980s for her portrayal of the iconic Greek-Australian character Effie Stephanidis in the comedy series Acropolis Now, winning a Logie Award for Best Comedy Performer. The Women's Agenda Podcast is produced by Agenda Media, publisher of Women's Agenda. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  3. Oct 14

    Our interview with Nobel laureate Justice Navi Pillay

    Justice Navi Pillay was awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for her efforts to promote peace and international law. We're re-releasing this phone interview we recorded with Justice Pillay in November 2025, just as she was about to be awarded the Sydney Peace Prize. Justice Pillay is a trailblazer for human rights and women in law, and has delivered historic judgements on sexual violence and genocide. She is the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and was recently Chair of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Justice Pillay shares so much in this interview, including how she cultivated a career in South Africa's apartheid, her relentless pursuit of justice, and some really important lessons on hope. The Nobel Committee called Justice Pillay one of the great defenders of international legal principles in our time, and said it wanted to remind the world that peace requires justice. The Women's Agenda Podcast is published by the 100% women-owned and run Agenda Media. Check out more on the stories discussed today at Women's Agenda, where you can also sign up for our free daily newsletter. Keen to support our work? Become a Women's Agenda Member. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Our interview with Nobel laureate Justice Navi Pillay

  4. Oct 5

    AI's gendered harms and case for a feminist AI future

    Dr Elise Stephenson joins Women's Agenda to unpack the gendered risks of AI, and why they're so urgent right now. Speaking with Angela Priestley, the conversation moves from how AI reinforces existing inequality (rather than inventing brand-new problems) to the most immediate real-world risks for women and gender-diverse people in workplaces today. Elise also outlines how AI could reshape relationships, abuse, and gender norms over time, including the role of LLMs and AI companions in subtly entrenching unhealthy dynamics. Then, we move on to the risks to democracy, including those playing out right now, especially impacting women's participation: the harassment, disinformation, and AI-generated abuse pushing women out of public life and politics, and the question of who is funding and coordinating those attacks. Finally, hope! Elise outlines what a feminist approach to AI actually looks like in practice, and closes with a clear call to action on Australia's guardrails and why it matters who is in the room when AI decisions get made. This conversation comes as Elise has also just published Space XX: Gender, Power and the New Space Race. See our published extract on how women astronauts were once seen as a liability, but research suggests they could actually have an edge. The Women's Agenda Podcast is produced by Agenda Media, publisher of Women's Agenda. Subscribe to our lunchtime daily news update here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. Sep 18

    Milestones, Silence isn't 'neutral', and HYROX horror

    Our wrap of the biggest stories this week! As always, the wins: Hélène Huby raising a record $450 million for her European space company, the biggest round ever for an EU firm led by a female founder, and Australia cracking the top ten on the World Economic Forum's global gender equality rankings for the first time. Then, we dig into Ed Sheeran's claim of "neutrality" after Macklemore was dropped from his tour, then onto the HYROX incident and our obsession with pushing through and much more. This week's discussed stories include: Australia's record 8th place on gender equality is still no time for complacencyEd Sheeran claimed neutrality, then made the most political call of his careerThe HYROX poo incident exposes our obsession with pushing throughThe Sweeney ad isn't about sport, it's about who gets to profit from women's bodies Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and head to womensagenda.com.au for the full stories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  6. Sep 11

    Paid for a 'mum's perspective'? Yes! | Also Raygun, and unpaid P&C women's work

    This week at Women's Agenda: the women quietly holding the system together, and the men billing it. We start with two wins: the boys' school principal with a strong message on violence against women, and the federal government finally taking aim at social media algorithms — a decent step forward, if not yet done and dusted. Then we unpack ICAC evidence that a consultant was paid $10,000 a month for a "mum's perspective" and the twenty-something men with big dreams of transforming the right of the Liberal Party. We look at the invisible, unpaid — and overwhelmingly female — workforce propping up Australia's underfunded public schools through P&Cs. And, on a lighter note, our take on the Raygun documentary, This week's discussed stories include: Sydney mothers raise $3.5m to fund Australia's first neonatal MRI machineAustralia is taking aim at social media algorithms. Could it help protect women and girls?A consultant paid $10k a month for a 'mum's perspective', and '20-something guys dreaming big': ICAC delivers againThe invisible workforce propping up Australia's public schools through P&CsSubscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and head to womensagenda.com.au for the full stories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  7. Sep 4

    Professional women now outnumber blue-collar men. What does that mean for Australia?

    Women's Agenda speaks with George Megalogenis about his new book Three Shocks: Who We Are Becoming in the 21st Century. The book traces how politics has failed to keep up with a changing Australia, including via one key shock -- that professional women are now the largest segment of the workforce, replacing blue-collar men. The three shocks have redefined politics in Australia and will continue to do so. Women's Agenda will be back with the usual Weekly Wrap next week! The Women's Agenda Podcast is produced by Agenda Media, publisher of Women's Agenda. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  8. Aug 28

    Disrupting women's spaces, girls with "gin under their coats"

    All the wins and the biggest conversations from the week that was. A record crowd at the SCG, a celebration of Dolly Parton who was so much more than the hits she created -- and she created a lot of brilliant hits. Then into a discussion on our three biggest stories: why are people throwing sex toys onto WNBA courts for a second season? Plus the comments blaming girls for "gin under their coats" when it comes to bad cultures at schools. And we look into the 400 jobs that have just been lost at KPMG's Australian office, where workers are paying the price for alleged misconduct at the top. This week's discussed stories include: Dolly Parton wrote the working woman's anthem. We'll always love herSex toys thrown again: the epidemic of attacks on women's sport seen in the WNBAAngus Taylor's wife Louise Clegg blames drunk teens and cavalier parents. The culture of Scots? Not so much.Almost 400 jobs go. The cost of KPMG's alleged misconduct and a culture that failed Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and head to womensagenda.com.au for the full stories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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About

We chat through the key stories shaping Women's Agenda. From the leaders doing the right (and wrong things), to the policymakers shaping the future for women, and the breakthrough moments making a difference and more. This is business, leadership, politics, health and climate from a woman's perspective. The Women's Agenda Podcast is produced by Agenda Media, publisher of Women's Agenda. You can check out our other podcasts The Leadership Lessons, The Moments That Make Us and The Women's Health Project and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Agenda Media
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    276
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2019 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Women's Agenda Podcast

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