Ladies, We Need To Talk

ABC Australia
  • 4.8 (233)
  • Relationships
  • Updated Weekly

Ladies, We Need to Talk goes deep on the women's health and relationship issues that are setting your group chat on fire. Come hang with the fabulous Yumi Stynes as she takes a candid, non-judgemental and often hilarious look at the deeply personal stuff that's hard to bring up, even with your closest mates. You'll meet incredible experts to help you improve your wellness, manage the mental load; survive break-ups and prioritise your mental health. With sensitivity, personal stories from real women, and serious smarts, this show is for women who feel the squeeze between work, their private life, and their pelvic floor. Get in touch with episode ideas, feedback, or just say hi! Ladies@abc.net.au

  1. 4d ago

    "I'm actually gay": My husband's best kept secret

    An "I do" between husband and wife comes with many promises, not least of which is to be truthful.  So what do you do when your husband comes out as gay? For some women, it's a revelation that up-ends decades of marriage, family and identity. Can these relationships survive? And if they don't, how do you move beyond the hurt and build a new life? Yumi Stynes speaks to women who learned their husbands were gay after years of marriage and shared lives. This episode will answer questions like: How can I talk to my husband about his sexuality?How can I tell if my husband is gay?Can I ask my husband if he is gay?If my husband watches gay porn, is he gay?Where can I find support?What to listen to next: Quiet Quitting Marriage: Why Women Are Emotionally Checking Out — ABC listenWhat to read next: The women 'quietly quitting' their marriages — ABC NewsThis episode contains references to divorce, coming out, sexuality, gender identity, same-sex attraction and homosexuality.

    "I'm actually gay": My husband's best kept secret

  2. Sep 7

    Our bodies, our choice. But are abortion rights under threat?

    Abortion is legal across Australia, but safe, affordable access is still not guaranteed for everyone. While three quarters of Australians support abortion access, finding a GP who will help is a postcode lottery. And the fallout from the 2022 reversal of Roe v Wade is being felt in Australia, with US-inspired protests and political tactics entering the fray. Yumi sits down with GP Dr Keersten Fitzgerald to learn about the roadblocks to getting an abortion, and talks to historian Dr Prudence Flowers about the recent push to limit abortion in Australia. Other resources: If you're in Victoria, My options runs a free sexual and reproductive health service help line. In NSW, Search Plus is a new tool operated by Family planning to help with reproductive or sexual health services. Pink Elephant is a national service available on 1300 726 306 run by PANDA. This episode will answer questions like: When can I have an abortion in Australia?When can I have an abortion?What is a medical abortion?How do you get an abortion?Is abortion legal in Australia?Why do people get an abortion?What to listen to next: Quiet Quitting Marriage: Why Women Are Emotionally Checking Out — ABC listenWhat you don't know about the mental load with Leah Ruppanner — ABC listenWhat to read next: The women 'quietly quitting' their marriages — ABC NewsThis episode contains references to healthcare, abortion, reproductive rights, surgical abortion, medical abortion and termination.

    Our bodies, our choice. But are abortion rights under threat?

  3. Aug 31

    Quiet Quitting Marriage: Why Women Are Emotionally Checking Out

    Instead of dealing with the upheaval of divorce, some women are quietly quitting their role as wife. Physically, they're there, going through the motions, but emotionally they've checked out. There's no huge conflict, but there's also no urge to try to make things work. Yumi Stynes talks to women who have taken a step back from their marriages but aren't ready to officially split. They're staying for the sake of the kids, to save money or are biding their time, waiting for the right moment to leave. And clinical psychologist Dr Cassandra Shields unpacks the reasons some women quietly quit their marriages, and the toll it takes to live separately under the one roof. This episode will answer questions like: What does quiet quitting a relationship look like?Is quiet quitting a marriage like a divorce?Is my marriage headed for a divorce?If someone's quiet quitting, is the relationship over?What to listen to next: "Traded a husband for a bestie" Why these mums moved in togetherWhat to read next: Empty-nesters on how they 'fill the void' left by childrenThis episode contains references to separation, quiet quitting, divorce, burnt out pursuer and mental load.

    Quiet Quitting Marriage: Why Women Are Emotionally Checking Out

  4. Aug 24

    What you don't know about the mental load with Leah Ruppanner

    We've been talking about the mental load for decades, so why are so many women still carrying it? It's the unseen mental and emotional work we do to keep our lives running — the planning, problem-solving, and remembering that often goes unnoticed. The term isn't new, but our understanding of it is changing. Yumi is joined by sociologist Leah Ruppanner, who interviewed thousands of women as part of a research project to develop tools to help manage and lighten your mental load. As part of this research, Leah's developed a simple online quiz that breaks the mental load into eight categories, helping you see where your energy is going and how you might redistribute it. Further information Drained: Reduce Your Mental Load to Do Less and Be More is published by Penguin Random House Free Mental Load Assessment | Lighten Lab | Professor Leah Ruppanner)This episode will answer questions like: What is the mental load?How can I reduce the mental load?How does carrying the load impact women?How can I share the mental load?What are the eight categories of the mental loadWhat to listen to next: "Traded a husband for a bestie" Why these mums moved in togetherWorst ever dates, with Alita BrydonWhat to read next: Empty-nesters on how they 'fill the void' left by childrenWomen on being in a sexless marriage and tips for reconnectingThis episode contains references to the mental load, housework, invisible labour, emotional labour, parenting, emotional responsibility.

    What you don't know about the mental load with Leah Ruppanner

  5. Aug 17

    "I wish I'd never had them": the pain of regretting kids

    Having children is one of the most rewarding and meaningful things we can do. But what if you wish you'd never become a parent? For mothers especially, the taboo of admitting they regret their children can be incredibly lonely. Many carry their grief, loss of identity and exhaustion in silence. Yumi Stynes gets a rare window into the lives of people who love their children but admit that if they could go back in time, they'd make a different choice. Featured in this episode: Ella Reed, sociologist at Monash University researching maternal regret This episode will answer questions like:   What does it feel like to regret having kids?Why do some parents regret having children?Where do you get help if you’re struggling as a parent?How does regretting children impact a romantic relationship?Why is maternal regret so taboo? What to listen to next: "Traded a husband for a bestie" Why these mums moved in together Worst ever dates, with Alita Brydon The grief no parent expects What to read next: Empty-nesters on how they 'fill the void' left by childrenWomen on being in a sexless marriage and tips for reconnectingThese grieving mothers want you to say their babies' namesThis episode contains references to motherhood, parenting, mothering, regret, anxiety, depression, suffering, family, mental load, support, relationships, romance.

    "I wish I'd never had them": the pain of regretting kids

  6. Aug 10

    ‘I'm always going to be the mistress’: Dating a married man

    There’s a special kind of fury reserved for the 'other woman.' She’s often depicted as a home wrecker and immoral, but is she misunderstood? Unlucky to fall for someone who’s already taken?    Yumi Stynes speaks with women whose hearts belong to married men and discovers that beneath the stereotypes are complicated love stories built on hope and promises in the face of deception.     Psychologist Liz Neal also explains what forbidden love does to the brain and why it can be so enticing. (R).  This episode will answer questions like:  What’s it like to be the other woman?How do people hide affairs from their partners?Why do people have affairs?Where does the ‘seductive mistress’ trope come from? What to listen to next: "Traded a husband for a bestie" Why these mums moved in together Worst ever dates, with Alita Brydon The grief no parent expects What to read next: These grieving mothers want you to say their babies' names Empty-nesters on how they 'fill the void' left by children This episode contains references to cheating, infidelity, sex, relationships, marriage, women, the other woman.

    ‘I'm always going to be the mistress’: Dating a married man

  7. Aug 3

    "Traded a husband for a bestie." Why these mums moved in together

    Have you ever fantasised about raising kids with your bestie? Well, some women are doing it for real. And these mum communes or ‘mummunes’ don’t look like your average share house.   These women are sharing a roof, chores, bills and the mental load of raising their kids. For some, it’s the antidote to a nuclear family structure that left them drained and resentful. For others, it’s a handy, albeit overcrowded solution to the struggles of single motherhood.  Yumi Stynes speaks to women who are rewriting the rules of motherhood and finds out what there is to gain when you challenge the status quo.   This episode will answer questions like:  Can you raise children with your best friend?Should you raise children with a romantic partner?Why do women feel burnt out as wives and mothers?Has the nuclear family become outdated for women?Do you need men to raise kids?What are the challenges of raising kids with your best friend?How do communal living arrangements deal with money?How does dating work in a mummune?Why do women initiate household and child care more than men? What to listen to next: Are you mum or grandma? Having a baby at 47The women who've never had sexOne true love or many: Monogamy vs. open relationshipsWhat to read next: These grieving mothers want you to say their babies' namesEmpty-nesters on how they 'fill the void' left by children Why these women have never had a partnerThis episode contains references to child care, parenting, mothering, single mum, alternative family structures, romantic partner, heterosexuality, patriarchy, mommune, mummune, commune, shared living, alternative living, community, individualism, village.

    "Traded a husband for a bestie." Why these mums moved in together

  8. Jul 27

    Worst ever dates, with Alita Brydon

    It’s truth universally acknowledged that a single woman in the modern world has endured at least one truly disastrous date. It is, regrettably, a rite of passage.  Author Alita Bryson has been on hundreds of them! One guy asked her if it was okay to marry your cousin, another trolled people online for fun while yet another literally drove off mid-date.  While her dating life was catastrophic, Alita realised it made great fodder for entertainment and so she started the Instagram page Bad Dates of Melbourne, publishing anonymous submissions of terrible dates so that women could take comfort in each other’s suffering (and laugh at each other’s misfortune).   Alita has some sage advice for anyone out there brave enough to date.  Further information: How to date like a dangerous woman is published by HarperCollins.  This episode will answer questions like:  How can I meet someone new?Is it ok to ghost someone?Should I pay for dinner on a date?Can I leave a date if I don’t like the other person?How can I meet a potential date safely? What to listen to next: The new way to dateThe ugly side of the beauty industry with Jess DeFinoIs your attachment style messing with your love life?Jess Mauboy steps into her boss lady era  What to read next: Empty-nesters on how they 'fill the void' left by children Why these women have never had a partner These grieving mothers want you to say their babies' names This episode contains references to Bad Dates of Melbourne, dating, dating apps, Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, relationships, sex, orgies, orgasms and how to date like a dangerous woman.

    Worst ever dates, with Alita Brydon
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Hosts & Guests

4.8
out of 5
233 Ratings

About

Ladies, We Need to Talk goes deep on the women's health and relationship issues that are setting your group chat on fire. Come hang with the fabulous Yumi Stynes as she takes a candid, non-judgemental and often hilarious look at the deeply personal stuff that's hard to bring up, even with your closest mates. You'll meet incredible experts to help you improve your wellness, manage the mental load; survive break-ups and prioritise your mental health. With sensitivity, personal stories from real women, and serious smarts, this show is for women who feel the squeeze between work, their private life, and their pelvic floor. Get in touch with episode ideas, feedback, or just say hi! Ladies@abc.net.au

Information

  • Creator
    ABC Australia
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    297
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All right reserved.
  • Show Website
    Ladies, We Need To Talk

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