Where To Be A Woman

BBC
  • 4.7 (23)
  • HEALTH & FITNESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Where To Be A Woman

Where can women live their best lives? Scaachi Koul and Sophia Smith Galer are pushing past the latest wellness fads to search the globe for the best wellbeing ideas. Each episode hears from two countries about something they are doing well and Scaachi and Sophia choose what they like for their imaginary fantasy land - because we can’t build what we can’t imagine. Topics up for discussion include where women are most likely to have the best body image, do the most equal share of the housework, get the best maternity leave or even where they’re most likely to be celebrated by having a statue made of them. Let us know what you think - send us a Whatsapp voice note on +44330 123 9459. You can read our full the privacy notice here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2pj25vkld7tZ2Lq2d0Z3YjT/where-to-be-a-woman-privacy-notice

  1. JUN 24

    Season finale

    Find out what has made it into our female fantasy land. Scaachi and Sophia have crossed the globe to ask the question, “Where can women live their best lives?” Over an amazing 15 episodes, they’ve listened to experts and advocates give examples of where women thrive when it comes to subjects ranging from body image to the gender pay gap, period equity, women's safety and living sustainably. In this season finale, Scaachi and Sophia look back on some of the most memorable findings and hear what listeners think. Share your thoughts on this episode and suggest ideas for a new one by sending us a voice note on WhatsApp: +44330 123 9459

    24 min

  2. JUN 17

    Political participation

    In an historic year for elections around the world, we hear from New Zealand and Mexico about women and politics. According to the United Nations, gender equality in the highest positions of power will not be reached for another 130 years. Sophia Smith Galer and Scaachi Koul discuss the recent Mexican elections and the process that led to its first female President-elect, Claudia Sheinbaum. They also talk about Jacinda Ardern in New Zealand. They are told about mentoring, training and quotas. Guests: Mónica Tapia, political scientist from Mexico and founder of women's leadership incubator Aúna, and emeritus Professor Barbara Brookes, a women’s and medical historian from the University of Otago in New Zealand. For more information: UN Women’s report on Women’s leadership and political participation: https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/leadership-and-political-participation/facts-and-figures

    21 min

  3. JUN 10

    Making music

    Does samba lift your mood? How about karaoke or playing a guitar? Does music feed your soul? Scaachi and Sophia hear how music can make you feel alive and affect sleep quality, mental alertness, and memory. They find out about free lessons in Finland and the power of music in Brazil. It’s time to start singing, play an instrument or sit back and listen and pretend you are in a music video – that’s what Sophia likes doing on a train. Guests: Doctor of education Liisa-Maria Lilja-Viherlampi and Brazilian Voices founder Loren Oliveira. Let us know what you think. Share your thoughts on this episode and suggest ideas for a new one by sending us a voice note on WhatsApp: +44330 123 9459 For more information: The Powerful Impact Of Music- Neuroscience of music ( Stanford): https://ojs.stanford.edu/ojs/index.php/intersect/article/view/2873 World Happiness Report: https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2024/happiness-of-the-younger-the-older-and-those-in-between/#ranking-of-happiness-2021-2023 Vocal Music Listening Enhances Poststroke Language Network Reorganization: https://www.eneuro.org/content/8/4/ENEURO.0158-21.2021#ref-80 Scoping review of how music affects physicality: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8455907/

    22 min

  4. JUN 3

    Feeling safe

    From commuting to going out in the evening, Scaachi and Sophia explore safety. We hear about “gender sensitive” city planning, street lightening, public transport and schemes to help keep people safe in the evenings, including night walks. They both like the idea of the right to party! Guests: Austrian architect and lecturer Sabina Riss talks about Vienna, and researcher Tonja Jerele from the University of Ljubljana discusses Slovenia. Let us know what you think. Share your thoughts on this episode and suggest ideas for a new one by sending us a voice note on WhatsApp: +44330 123 9459

    23 min

  5. MAY 27

    Dear Daughter: A guest episode

    New mum Janine Harouni is anxious and lonely, so why do the other mums online look so happy? This is a guest episode from Dear Daughter. Namulanta is building a “handbook to life”, sharing your parenting advice, personal stories, with letters to your daughters. If you are a mum or mom, dad or papa, grandparent, uncle, aunt, daughter, son, what would you write? This episode includes discussion about difficult parts of pregnancy and also miscarriage. For more episodes from Namulanta Kombo’s Dear Daughter podcast, go to www.bbcworldservice.com/deardaughter or search for “Dear Daughter”. Janine Harouni was performing stand-up comedy while 40 weeks pregnant, but now there's a whole other set of challenges. On social media, she sees pictures of pregnant models who don’t appear to gain weight. Nobody seems to talk about the gross parts or the difficult parts. She’s exhausted and full of worry. Then a surprise family DNA test changes her perspective on motherhood.

    28 min

  6. MAY 21

    Period equity

    We discuss the menstrual cycle - turning period poverty to period dignity. From free and locally produced sanitary products to the No Pad Tax campaigns. Sophia Smith Galer and Scaachi Koul explore menstruation education, legislation and cultural change, as they meet two people from different countries to explore how period equity can be achieved for everyone. And is education on reproductive health up to scratch? Guests: Ailsa Colquhoun from Hey Girls in Scotland, and menstrual hygiene advocate, Lilipearl Baaba Otoo, in Ghana. What’s it like for you once a month where you are? Let us know. Share your thoughts on this episode and suggest ideas for a new one by sending us a voice note on WhatsApp: +44330 123 9459

    24 min

  7. MAY 13

    Writing: Journals, books and academics

    Keeping a journal? Writing books or an academic paper? Maybe it’s good for you. Scaachi Koul and Sophia Smith Galer both write and feel it contributes to their wellbeing and is therapeutic. They hear from the United States and Serbia about getting published and women in STEM. So what are you waiting for? Pick up a pen or start tapping away on a keyboard and then let us know about it! Guests: Chris Olsen, founder of Publish Her, and Nataša Simić, from the University of Belgrade’s Institute of Psychology. Tell us know what you think. Share your thoughts on this episode and suggest ideas for a new one by sending us a voice note on WhatsApp: +44330 123 9459 You can read the full privacy notice here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2pj25vkld7tZ2Lq2d0Z3YjT/where-to-be-a-woman-privacy-notice

    25 min

  8. MAY 6

    Work-life balance

    Would a four-day week and no texts from your boss after work improve your wellbeing? We hear about quiet quitting and digital nomads too. Should this episode be called 'life-work balance', with life coming first? Sophia Smith Galer and Scaachi Koul find out what can be learnt from Gen Z, and talk to two women from Portugal and Singapore about what works in the world of work. Guests: Economist and entrepreneur Mafalda Rebordão from Portugal and HRM Asia journalist Champa Ha from Singapore. Let us know what you think. Share your thoughts on this episode and suggest ideas for a new one by sending us a voice note on WhatsApp: +44330 123 9459 You can read the full privacy notice here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2pj25vkld7tZ2Lq2d0Z3YjT/where-to-be-a-woman-privacy-notice

    23 min
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About

Where can women live their best lives? Scaachi Koul and Sophia Smith Galer are pushing past the latest wellness fads to search the globe for the best wellbeing ideas. Each episode hears from two countries about something they are doing well and Scaachi and Sophia choose what they like for their imaginary fantasy land - because we can’t build what we can’t imagine. Topics up for discussion include where women are most likely to have the best body image, do the most equal share of the housework, get the best maternity leave or even where they’re most likely to be celebrated by having a statue made of them. Let us know what you think - send us a Whatsapp voice note on +44330 123 9459. You can read our full the privacy notice here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2pj25vkld7tZ2Lq2d0Z3YjT/where-to-be-a-woman-privacy-notice

Information

  • Channel
    BBC
  • Creator
    BBC World Service
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2024
  • Show Website
    Where To Be A Woman
  • Provider
    BBC Studios Distribution Limited

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