Showy Ovaries with Penny Ashton.

Penny Ashton
  • 5.0 (1)
  • HEALTH & FITNESS

Comedian Penny Ashton is on a voyage of discovery into the hormonal hocus pocus of menopause. So what better way to learn about her moisture moving from inside her body to perspiring out her face, than by talking to a series of wondrous women and owners of ovaries about their own lives and their menopause journeys. A series of frank and funny interviews all about what to expect, when expecting the change. Warning: salty language, and not just from the night sweats. Season Three and beyond is opening up wider to include women and trans individuals of all ages and bodily functionings. 

  1. Unapologetic Sonya Renee Taylor

    6D AGO

    Unapologetic Sonya Renee Taylor

    Send us a text Global juggernaut for body positivity, US Slam Poet champ poet and zen mistress repping for the Scorpio Dragons, Sonya Renee Taylor invited Penny into her West Auckland Air BnB to chat all thing Body. Friends for 20 years they initially reminisced about the UK Poetry tour that brought them together, complete with Penny's diary comments from 2006 on Sonya's "delight" at sharing a room with three poetesses and three wigs. From there, they dive into Sonya’s groundbreaking book and global movement The Body Is Not an Apology, her early struggles accepting baldness and Penny’s ongoing difficulty loving her own fleshy bone bag. Then also chatted about who and what Sonya got up to in college, about her 12 step journey, what it's like performing for Barack Obama at the Whitehouse and Penny’s firm disbelief in astrology — which, frankly, is exactly what you’d expect from an Aquarius.  Finally Sonya blew Penny's levels and ear drums away with a delightful hidden talent to rival Pavarotti.  CW: Drug addiction, sex addiction  Support the show

    1h 7m
  2. Felicitous Susannah Fullerton - For the Love of Jane Austen

    DEC 15

    Felicitous Susannah Fullerton - For the Love of Jane Austen

    Send us a text Hoorah! Showy Ovarians, grab your bonnets and pop the kettle on because today, December 16th 2025, we’re throwing a literary birthday bash! Jane Austen turns a whopping 250 and what better excuse for a Showy Bonnets Special?  And who better to to spill the tea on all things Austen than NZ's other Janeite of notoriety, the head of the Jane Austen Society of Australia for 30 years; Kiwi Susannah Fullerton.  Susannah is a global Jane Austen powerhouse. A writer, academic, tour guide, speaker and all round literary super fan from the moment she could pick up a book. She has led JASA to being the largest literary association in Australia and is also variously patron, founder and member of numerous other societies from Dickens to Georgette Heyer.  Penny beamed into her Paddington pad to chat about Susannah's body's favoured position, her skill at hitting a ball, the alarming notion of giving birth 18 times and Great Writers and the Cats Who Owned Them.   But mostly she and Penny both wax lyrical on the proto-feminist, supremely witty, joyous literary superstar that has changed both of their lives, our dear lady Jane Austen. If only Jane could see how her star shows no sign of dimming, even if her life was tragically cut short.  Apologies for some of the high feedback along this podcast.  CONTENT WARNING: A touch more swearing than in Pride and Prejudice....  ALSO sending love to Sydney and all it endured in its horrific attack at Bondi Beach only 2 days ago.  Support the show

    55 min
  3. Wokezilla

    NOV 5 · BONUS

    Wokezilla

    Send us a text Way back in March Penny performed this poem at WOMAD spurred on by some political b******t by a well known "church" attacking a local LGBT+ superstar who was simply performing their show about the WEATHER to kids. The NZ leading coalition's current curriculum nonsense has spurred her again to upload this, in case any Showy Ovarians were missing hearing her be funny whilst swearing and ranting a bit.  So yes trigger warning: funny sweary ranty lady ahead.  Also head to https://www.hotpink.co.nz/austen-found/ to book to see two happy funny ladies performing an improvised musical for Jane Austen's 250th Birthday. Starring Lori Dungey, Penny Ashton and Greg Ward on the keys. Toodles.  Support the show

    5 min
  4. Pink Science Rockstar Siouxie Wiles

    MAY 8

    Pink Science Rockstar Siouxie Wiles

    Send us a text 2021 New Zealander of the year, microbiologist and award winning science communicator, Siouxie Wiles cycled to Penny's west Auckland whare this week to chat about making the world a little pinker. They got the party started chatting about her lawsuit with her employer, the online abuse she suffered at the hands of internet AND parliamentary trolls during her promotion of the NZ Government's eradication response to COVID, and her ambitions to be Maverick in Top Gun.  From there she discussed her polycystic ovarian diagnosis, her inspirational science teacher and what her boobs have in common with The Queen. Also turning 50, making bacteria glow in the dark and being fueled by all consuming rage. Oh yes and fabulous pink hair. Obviously.   Penny also made a concerted effort to praise Siouxie's brain, even if she took some convincing.  People of New Plymouth, come and see Penny in The Tempestuous May 16-17.  https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2025/may/the-tempestuous  Support the show

    1 hr
  5. Superstar Morgana O'Reilly

    MAR 24

    Superstar Morgana O'Reilly

    Send us a text It's another Showy Ovaries Live and this time from New Plymouth's beautiful Pukekura Park for WOMAD Aotearoa. Penny was delighted to chat to one of New Zealand's most prolific and talented actresses Morgana O'Reilly, fresh from her stint as "health butler" and cellphone thief in the global smash hit, The White Lotus.  Penny and Morgana discussed life on set, taming imposter syndrome, agonising over which accent to use, attending the glitzy LA premiere and how to use a blender for comedic effects. They also touched on her painful diary entries as a teenager, not wanting to be seen in togs at school, how to reframe narratives around bodies for her childen and for ourselves, and just how does it feel to get your toes sucked for cash.  Morgana's IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2837410/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk Stories About My Body: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33088099/ Penny's Shows March 27 - 28 Q Theatre https://www.qtheatre.co.nz/shows/austen-found  April 4th Stratford https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/olive-copperbottom-a-dickensian-tale-of-love-gin-and-the-pox-tickets-1243841095199 May 16 - 18 https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2025/may/the-tempestuous Support the show

    55 min
  6. Award Winning Bronwyn Turei

    MAR 18

    Award Winning Bronwyn Turei

    Send us a text Wellington Theatre's 2024 Co-Actor of the year Bronwyn Turei (Ngāti Porou) drops into Penny's house to discuss all things fleshy. From being head girl at Gisborne Girls, to dealing with a lot of intense trauma as a teenager, to heading to London's Globe theatre to becoming a constantly jobbing professional actress, she and Penny covered how her body rode this rollercoaster. She talked of hitting the giddy heights of fame aged 24 when cast in the TV show Go Girls, of leaning into her "curvy" characters storylines despite how some of them felt, of how totally adorable her child is, (despite how traumatic her birth was) and how she once went on a blind date to Shanghai.  Penny also thanked her being being a superstar in Penny's directorial debut with Sense & Sensibility where she was part of a stellar cast, and they laughed about how Bronwyn's toddler wormed her way into Penny's cold dead non maternal heart.  CONTENT WARNING: Sexual assault, suicide ideation, Mental Illness.  Photo Credit: Roc Torio  Book for Give Way here: https://nz.patronbase.com/_Circa/Productions/2509/Performances Penny's Shows  Book for Austen Found here: https://www.qtheatre.co.nz/shows/austen-found  Book for The Tempestuous in New Plymouth here: https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2025/may/the-tempestuous Book for Stratford here: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/olive-copperbottom-a-dickensian-tale-of-love-gin-and-the-pox-tickets-1243841095199 Book for Tasmania here: https://events.humanitix.com/promise-and-promiscuity-a-new-musical-by-jane-austen-and-penny-ashton Book for Melbourne here: https://chapeloffchapel.com.au/show/promise-promiscuity/ Book for Newcastle here: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1342004 Book for Sydney here: https://events.humanitix.com/promise-and-promiscuity-a-new-musical-by-jane-austen-and-penny-ashton-qvacnk7s Book for Canberra here: https://www.thestreet.org.au/shows/promise-and-promiscuity Support the show

    1h 6m
  7. Jodie Rimmer is Back

    FEB 27

    Jodie Rimmer is Back

    Send us a text National Treasure Jodie Rimmer invited Penny to her whare to chat all things actorly. From her launching straight from school onto the screen via a saddle, to fun with Ryan Gosling, to chronic pain, HRT and mental health crises, they covered it all. Born in the same year she and Penny mused how long ago the millennium was, Jodie discussed her past as a cross country athlete in Florida, the wonders of Dr Theatre, how she could have been Rachel McKenna and how much she is loving playing the eponymous character in Nicola Cheeseman is Back, by Kathryn Burnett. Especially now she can remember her lines.  Grab your tickets here: https://www.qtheatre.co.nz/shows/plumb-theatre-presents-nicola-cheeseman-back-katebilling-encore-season  Reviews for the previous season: "Nicola Cheeseman is Back is a triumph of theatrical storytelling, delivering a heartfelt exploration of life's complexities through the lens of a remarkable character, played by a remarkable actress and served on a smorgasbord of laugh after laugh." Broadway World "The show has many important things to say about the way women are seen in society as they age, and there are many more things that could be said. By presenting these ideas through a warm, funny and straight-talking character, we are able to receive them clearly and entertainingly. This is a show that connects with its audience in the relatability of its situations and characters, and which has much to offer all ages and genders." Theatreview  "Nicola Cheeseman is Back is a f*****g funny and wondrously observant play about not letting age get you down. Jodie Rimmer is such a star who’s exquisite portrayal of this fiery, courageous women makes me regret she’s fictional coz I’d love to meet her in real life. But then again, when I think about her courage, her introspection, her wit, her creativity, and the type of woman she represents, I realise, I have already met her." Andrew Whiteside   Support the show

    1h 2m
  8. Tickled Pinky Agnew - The Queen of Downloads Returns

    11/27/2024

    Tickled Pinky Agnew - The Queen of Downloads Returns

    Send us a text The Inimitable Pinky Agnew has been top of the Showy Ovarian pods ever since it was recorded as the first ever episode back in 2021. Her charm, wit, warmth and sparkle have entertained over 700 of you, so whilst Penny was performing The Tempestuous in Wellington for a month (which runs til December 1st), she decided to drop into Pinky's newly downsized pad to catch up with our Queen of the Downloads. Pinky discussed the delights of embracing 70, celebrancy, loving her grey power, crazy running with grandchildren, her joy of joining of the empowering Toitū Te Tiriti Hikoi to parliament, and about the release of her new book: This is Farewell: Readings and Meditations on Death and Dying.  They also discussed some deeply challenging recent events involving assault, mental health and dementia, but despite these confronting times her absolute reveling in what it is to be human and joyous will always shine through.  CW: Sexual assault, depression, dementia, panic attacks, death, dying. BUT also joy, happiness, family, love, release and humanity. #queen Support the show

    1h 5m
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About

Comedian Penny Ashton is on a voyage of discovery into the hormonal hocus pocus of menopause. So what better way to learn about her moisture moving from inside her body to perspiring out her face, than by talking to a series of wondrous women and owners of ovaries about their own lives and their menopause journeys. A series of frank and funny interviews all about what to expect, when expecting the change. Warning: salty language, and not just from the night sweats. Season Three and beyond is opening up wider to include women and trans individuals of all ages and bodily functionings. 

Information

  • Creator
    Penny Ashton
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    80
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Showy Ovaries with Penny Ashton.
  • Show Website
    Showy Ovaries with Penny Ashton.

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