The Women's Agenda Podcast

Agenda Media
  • 4.0 (1)
  • NEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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. 21H AGO

    World's largest funder of human rights is willing to take on Trump

    Binaifer Nowrojee is the first female president of the Open Society Foundations, founded by George Soros, and the source of more than $24 billion in funding to human rights causes worldwide. A human rights lawyer by training, her early work documenting sexual violence in Rwanda helped secure the first ever convictions for rape as a weapon of war. Open Society is now itself a target of the Trump administration's attacks on US civil society. If those attacks become illegal restrictions on their rights, she says, they'll see the administration in court. Binaifer offers a strong and compelling take on the manosphere, the moment we're in globally, and the opportunity for Australia to play a leading role. She is fiercely determined, even while at the centre of an organisation under sustained attack. She speaks with Angela Priestley for this conversation, recorded live at Women Deliver in Melbourne in April 2026. You can check out more of our 'Backlash Conversations' in the Women's Agenda Podcast feed. Check out more from Open Society Foundations here. The Women's Agenda Podcast is produced by Agenda Media, also publisher of Women's Agenda. You can sign up for our free daily news update here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    14 min

  2. 1D AGO

    The pull of outragement: How Julie Inman Grant's office is taking on big tech

    She's here to hold the line on big tech power, and the world's first eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant is showing no signs of backing down. Julie Inman Grant features in our latest series of Backlash Conversations, recorded live at Women Deliver in Melbourne. She shares why she believes the social media ban in Australia is a long game, the success achieved and the work that's still to be done. And she outlines what she describes as "outrage", a vicious cycle of content online that sucks in people of all ages, but is especially problematic for young people. As for how the regulation is working to hold tech platforms to account, she says: "Some companies will come to the table, and some will see us in court." Women's Agenda is running Backlash Conversations all week, featuring short interviews recorded from our exhibition space at Women Deliver in Melbourne in April 2026. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    16 min

  3. 3D AGO

    The leader of world's largest reproductive health network knows about backlash

    Just six weeks ago, Maria Antonieta Alcalde stepped up to take on one of the toughest gigs globally: leading the International Planned Parenthood Federation at arguably one of its most challenging times in history. But with three decades of successfully fighting for women's rights across Latin America, she's got the experience and energy to take on the role, as funding cuts, the Trump administration, and a well-funded network globally are pushing to roll back hard-fought rights. Maria was recently in Melbourne for Women Deliver 2026, where she met with Women's Agenda's Angela Priestley to record this conversation live. This is the first of our Backlash Conversations, featuring some of the biggest global leaders fighting for women's rights. Maria shares what the world can learn from Latin America's grassroots playbook, why she rejects the term "backlash" to describe the global rollback of women's rights, and what Australia's $49 million in family-planning aid is actually achieving across the Pacific. Plus, the incredible gains she believes Australian women can help achieve for our sisters across the Pacific. The Backlash Conversations is a Women's Agenda Podcast series, recorded live at the Women Deliver conference in Melbourne. New episodes drop across the next week. The Women's Agenda Podcast is produced by Agenda Media, the publisher of Women's Agenda. Sign up to our lunchtime daily news update here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    14 min

  4. MAY 1

    Money, power and who is moving it

    This week at Women's Agenda, it's all about money, power, and who's moving it. We celebrate a major reform win for sexual assault survivors in, and FIFA's landmark decision to formally recognise the Afghan women's national football team in exile, marking a rebirth of hope after years in limbo. Plus, we examine what was said about the global pushback against women's rights at Women Deliver, including how Julie Gillard and Dr Maliha Khan responded to questions on how to respond. Also, we look at the $5.4 trillion intergenerational wealth transfer underway in Australia, and what it means when around 65% of it is heading to women. Finally, we close with friction-maxxing: the viral wellness trend telling everyone to make their lives harder, which… have a word with us about that one. This week's discussed stories include: 'Major win': Georgie Purcell, Brittany Higgins secure reform to reduce courtroom harm for survivorsAfghan women's team allowed to compete internationally after years in limboThe backlash against women is well funded. Why isn't the fightback?Giving to transform with women set to inherit trillions in next decadeSubscribe to our free daily newsletter, become a member, and get the full stories at womensagenda.com.au. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    21 min

  5. APR 17

    A turning point week for women: Orbán done, Army's first woman Chief, and Melania's Epstein moment

    We unpack a week of wins, warnings and what-the-actuals. The landmark pay rise putting more value on women (but still not enough). How Hungary issued a blow to the anti-feminist, pro-natalist regime of an autocrat, Victoria's first Minister for Men and Boys, and what it means. And an historic appointment: Lieutenant General Susan Coyle, the first woman to command the Australian Army in its 125-year history. But of course, the "DEI hire" talk begins. Plus, Melania Trump has issued a rare public denial of any friendship with Jeffrey Epstein: unprompted, unasked, and in a way that left everyone scratching their heads. This week's discussed stories include: NSW nurses secure landmark pay rise after years-long fight over "undervalued" workA strongman’s defeat sparks optimism for women’s rights globallyTrump ally Viktor Orbán defeated in Hungary as voters reject strongman politicsVictoria now has a Minister for Men and Boys. Now where's the Gender Equality Minister?'Deeply significant': Susan Coyle becomes first woman to command Australian armyMelania Trump denies ties to Jeffrey Epstein in rare public statementSubscribe wherever you get your podcasts and head to womensagenda.com.au for our latest news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    24 min

  6. APR 3

    Women's Heart Health! Historically overlooked, now in focus

    Cardiovascular disease kills around one in four Australian women, yet it’s still widely misunderstood as a “male” health issue. In this episode, Assistant Minister for Health Rebecca White joins Women’s Agenda’s Editor, Tarla Lambert-Patel, to unpack the federal government’s new Ministerial Expert Panel on Women’s Health, and why heart health is its first priority. They discuss what’s driving this shift, why women’s symptoms have been historically overlooked, and what it will take to close the gap in diagnosis, treatment and care.  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.

    15 min

  7. MAR 20

    The week women held the line

    This week, we take stock of a week that had plenty to celebrate, and of course to interrogate. The Matildas are in the Women's Asian Cup final on home soil, and Kyle Sandilands has been officially terminated by ARN after nearly three decades on Australian radio. Then the bigger stories: the Trump delegation's humiliating defeat at the UN's Commission on the Status of Women, the double threat of ageism and AI facing women over 50, and Louis Theroux's manosphere doco, including what it gets right, what it misses, and why the real story is about who is harvesting boys' attention, and why. Stories discussed this week include Matildas / Women's Asian Cup final Kyle Sandilands terminated CSW70 / Trump delegation Women over 50, ageism and AI Theroux / manosphere, "misses the story" The manosphere and boys in an attention economy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    28 min

  8. MAR 13

    More babies! (Australian ones). More jokes! (Australian ones)

    A new political leader wanting Australia to be great... just like the past. Only this time, a hyper Australia! Plus, progress on the lack of women in leadership globally is slow, who could possibly tell? Also some big wins for the week, including changes to superannuation that will get more money in women's pockets. And the Iranian football team, which showed the responsibility we have for those who silently speak truth to power.  Key stories discussed this week: ‘More Australian babies!’ New Nationals leader Matt Canavan has a vision for Australia to help us return to the past Globally, the rate of cabinet posts held by women has decreased as political leadership overwhemingly dominated by men Two more Iranian football squad members granted humanitarian visas, will stay in Australia 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.

    28 min
See All (252)

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
    252
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2019 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Women's Agenda Podcast

You Might Also Like