Tick, tock, tick, tock... can you hear that? It’s your biological clock and it’s about to blow! 

For some, deciding whether to have a baby isn’t just about fertility, it’s also about weighing up whether becoming a parent is the path best taken.  Never fear, Yumi Stynes has perched herself behind the mic to hold your hand and navigate this tricky time-bomb. 

At 31, Jamila Rizvi’s life changed forever. The discovery of a rare brain tumour knocked the ass-kicking, over-achieving media advisor and young mum sideways.  

Jamila had two rounds of brain surgery, followed by radiation, and now lives with chronic health conditions. She’s had to re-map what life looks like and let go of the idea that she can control what lies ahead. 

Despite the challenges, Jamila’s found strength in herself and by leaning on those closest to her. In this episode, Jamila and Yumi dig into the wisdom that comes from being dealt one of life’s curve balls.   

When you’re stuck in the daily grind of working-mum life, sometimes it can be hard not to feel like a shitty mum.  

School lunches, getting them dressed (FFS), raising good humans, endless meetings – it's exhausting and soul-destroying. 

Yumi has some advice to ease the mum-guilt, when your heart is being yanked in opposite directions and backing away from work isn’t an option.  

If you’ve got a problem that not even your girl gang can help you solve, let us take on the burden! Send an audio note to ladies@abc.net.au 

Have you ever felt like a massive failure when you've looked in the mirror or felt depressed about the size of your thighs? You're not alone — research says almost 80 per cent of Australian women are unhappy with their weight. And nearly one million Australians have an eating disorder, most of them, women. What can we do to feel better about our bodies?

Lots of women are really self-conscious about the way their vaginas smell. We quickly hide our undies the second we take them off and up to a third of us wear a panty liner every day. But how much do you actually know about discharge? What should it smell like? What should it look like? And should we just stop dissing our discharge?

If you’re in your 30s and have had an abortion or are going to, you’re not going through it alone. It’s a myth that only the young and reckless have abortions. The stats show that older women, and those who already have kids, are having more abortions in Australia than teenagers. So if they’re the facts, why is abortion shrouded in shame, judgement and silence for older women?

We’ve all got a bad sex story. The partner who’s selfish in the sack. The horribly uninspiring one-night stand. The lover with 'performance anxiety'. Most of us have been there. There’s this idea though that we grow out of it — that we all get better at 'doing it' as we get older. But what if that doesn’t happen? What if bad sex is your life?

We're back! Join Yumi Stynes as she once again tears open the sealed section on life to talk all about your forbidden lady business. This is the podcast where we can confess all our secret ladies' stuff and learn something along the way. So, whether it's your discharge, what you use for birth control, or how you can make a new friend ... we're here for you! Ring us on 1300 641 222 or email ladies@abc.net.au. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

You trusted us with some of your deepest, darkest and most intimate secrets and you let us share them with the podcast universe.

For our final episode of 2018, we check in with the women we’ve met and hear from YOU about what you’ve learnt.    

Everyone gets a little bit anxious at times, but is what you’re feeling normal? Anxiety is the most common mental health issue in Australia. Up to one in three women will experience anxiety, for men it’s one in five.

So why are women going through this? And if you are, what can you do about it?

Crisis linesLifeline on 13 11 14Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36Headspace on 1800 650 890QLife on 1800 184 527Chat servicesElefriends SaneeHeadspace  Beyondblue

Sore boobs, loss of libido, hot flushes, irregular periods. Sound familiar? While you may think you’ll only experience these symptoms when you’re of a 'certain age' and hitting menopause, it turns out, they can creep in way earlier.

Welcome to perimenopause!  And if you think that’s years down the track, think again.

How often have you casually heard the terms "bitch" or "mean girl" being used to describe another woman? And, be honest, how often have you used them? In a world where we’re sold the idea that women constantly compete, compare and undermine each other, what are the invisible forces that shape the way we treat each other? And how can we stop, and strengthen the sisterhood instead?

Every month you go on a hormonal rollercoaster but most of us ride it blindfolded. Reproductive hormones control ovulation but they can also affect how you think. Oestrogen can make you feel fantastic, while progesterone can make you feel crappy. And for women who are hormonally sensitive, this rollercoaster can feel like a freefall.

Yumi has been cheeky and stolen the keys to the ABC archive to bring out one of our favourite episodes. Life is tiring. The cozzi livs, the constant merry-go-round of caring and work and chronic stress can be overwhelming. For some, this relentless pace can lead to burnout.

Sex that feels like your vagina is about to tear open isn’t exactly dinner party conversation, but it’s common. One in five women experience painful sex, according to a study by the University of NSW.

If we are intelligent, ambitious and capable women, why are we still judged by the way we look?

The Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery estimates that Australians spend around $1 billion a year on cosmetic procedures. Most of that is spent on botox and fillers.

So if we’re spending so much money on looking young, are we complicit in society’s obsession with youth?

A healthy relationship is meant to feel like a warm hug from your mum after about a year, according to psychologists. But if your partner doesn’t feel like your perfect soul mate all the time, you might feel like you settled for something you didn’t sign up to. So does 'settling' exist or is it just a reality of long-term monogamy?

Women don’t orgasm as often as men during sex. A US study of 50,000 people found 95% of men orgasm during sex, but only 65 per cent of straight women do.

Do you wee when you sneeze? Or avoid star jumps at the gym? One in four of us experience pelvic floor problems which can lead to incontinence, or even prolapse.

When was the last time you talked about foreplay? Women tend to need more foreplay than men — so if your partner’s just a bit crap at foreplay — get them to listen to this. We talk to psychotherapist Esther Perel and a bunch of brilliant female experts about their best foreplay tips.

We’ve been inundated with single ladies flying the solo flag with pride. We asked you; what do you love about your single life? What have you been able to achieve because you’re single? What would you happily never hear again from your coupled-up mates? Here are your stories.

More people are living the single life than ever before. But what if you don’t need a partner to feel whole? In a world that wants you to couple up, is being single the new happily ever after?

It’s free, it’s prolific, it’s easy to find and more of us than ever are watching it but is mainstream porn contributing to the exploitation of women? Is it normalising bedroom practices that are problematic? Or is it just good, dirty fun? Warning: contains explicit material.

The response to our last episode was extraordinary. We asked you; what do you wish people knew about pregnancy loss? What’s the best thing to say? How can we better support family or friends who are dealing with it? Here are your stories.

The first trimester of a pregnancy can often be the hardest, so why do so many women feel the need to stay quiet? And what if the answer — miscarriage — is the reason we should be talking about pregnancy earlier?

The statistics say the number of women who are unfaithful is massively on the rise. So why? What’s driving those who seek a covert thrill outside their relationship? And does society still judge women who stray more harshly than men?

Warning: this podcast contains strong language and adult themes.

We’re back! Season two is coming and this time, we’re calling on you - our sisters out there. What's in your treasure chest of taboos you feel like you can't tell anyone, but seriously need to get off your chest?We’re here to talk about it. Ring us on 1300 641 222 or email ladies@abc.net.au.

When was the last time you sat down with your girlfriends and had a conversation about menstrual products? No need to. We did it for you.

Imagine knowing so much about vaginas that you’ve been given an Order of Australia medal. Dr Elizabeth Farrell received the award for her incredible work in women’s health. Warning: This episode contains the odd swear word, frank disclosure and graphic description.

Masturbation is still a conversation stopper for many women. There are some really good reasons, though, why we need to move on from our embarrassment and start talking about women's pleasure.

You're a woman who makes a point of not hurting other women's feelings. But have you ever considered that the way you talk about your own body could be making other women feel like crap?

Your day is finally over, the kids are in bed, and you get a moment's peace. But then, your partner gives you the nudge and you're ready for sex! Right? Nope. Low sex drive is pretty common for women, but why is that? And how can that be fixed?

At some point, most mums ask 'is this really what I want?'. Sure motherhood means cuddles, love and macaroni necklaces. It also means sleepless nights, tantrums and vomiting bugs. But what happens when you genuinely regret motherhood? Or find yourself choosing not to raise your children?

In many ways we're OK with periods, but we've still got a way to go. Because it's one thing to ask for a tampon, it's a whole other story when you leak onto your clothes. So how do we finally slay menstrual taboos?

If you’ve carried a baby, you may have had to deal with the fall out (literally) of pelvic prolapse. But having your organs pop out of your vagina isn’t limited to mammas, getting older is also a big factor. 

Many of us like a glass of wine to help put a line under our day, and research tells us more Australian women are drinking than ever before. So why do we like to drink? And would you know if your drinking was heading down a hazardous path?

You’re cooking dinner, answering work emails, calling the tradie, and getting the kids bathed. All at the same time. It’s no wonder you feel like you're an octopus, juggling tasks. All of this work you do is invisible, ongoing, exhausting and, mostly, unrewarding. Want to know what it's called? And better still, how to banish it?

What’s the difference between your vulva and vagina? Do you know what your cervix feels like? Can you lose something inside your vagina? Ladies, it’s time for the sex ed lesson we missed out on as teens. Warning: This episode contains the odd swear word, frank disclosure and graphic description.

Brace yourself. Leave your judgement at the door. And embrace a head first dive into those tricky topics that we’re all thinking about, but don’t feel comfortable talking about out loud.

Rosie Waterland’s mum was, to put it mildly, chaos personified. Charming and caring one minute, abusive and cruel the next.  

This year, she died. A moment Rosie was strangely prepared for. But her mum’s death left her to contend with the conflicting emotions of grief and relief. 

Yumi Stynes sat down with Rosie for a heart to heart about growing up with an abusive parent, grieving and coming out of the other side of childhood trauma.  

Featured in this episode:  

Rosie Waterland, author and podcaster 

Lifeline: 13 11 14  

1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 

Would you like to flip the script and peg your partner? 

Yumi spreads the word on pegging your boo, how to introduce anal play into your sex life and the ins and outs of doing it (or not) so everyone feels good.  

If you’ve got a problem that’s doing your head in, never fear because your hottest, coolest agony aunt is primed and ready to help you out! Send us an audio note to ladies@abc.net.au

Weight gain, bristly hairs, no period. Welcome to  Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome.  

PCOS is one of the leading causes of infertility worldwide and it can cause debilitating physical and psychological symptoms. 

1 in 8 women have PCOS, so that’s at least a couple of friends in your group chat. So why do we still know so little about it?  

Yumi Stynes catches up with ladies who’ve been battling PCOS for years and finds out how they get on top of it. 

Featured in this episode: 

• Professor Helena Teede, female endocrine specialist from Monash University 

Do you have to pry your partner off the couch with a fork-lift? Are they living in skanky trackies 24/7? 

Yumi spills the tea on what to do if your other half has gone full slob. 

Got a life problem you just can’t solve? Help is at hand! We’re handing the mic over to you, our lush listeners and taking the burden of problem solving off your shoulders... because Ladies, We Need To Talk... Back! 

Send us your questions as a voice note to ladies@abc.net.au - we can’t wait to hear from you!

We live in a sex obsessed world, where hook-up culture is king and getting laid out like a spatchcocked chicken is a status symbol. 

But what if you’re a fully-fledged adult, paying your own bills and you’re still a “virgin”? 

Some women might hold off having sex for the first time because they want to meet the “right” person, others because they haven’t had the opportunity or are waiting until marriage. Whatever the reason, it can feel lonely and isolating when there so much noise around sex.  

Yumi Stynes talks to women who haven’t yet had sex, either by choice or circumstance and to another who waited to have sex for over 40 years, until she met her perfect person. 

We love hearing from you! Send us an email or a voice note to ladies@abc.net.au

Featured in this episode:

• Amanda McCracken, writer on love and limerence

We all have days when we look in the mirror and think “who is that hideous moll staring back at me??” But what if those days are constant and you feel like a loser in the attractiveness lottery?  

Let’s face it, being hot is a social currency and the pressure to look a certain way as a woman is constant. So how can we let go of the ideal beauty standard (whatever that is on a given day) and learn to love the image looking back at us?  

Yumi Stynes is here with her gal pals Myf Warhurst and Zan Rowe to cut through the bull crap and help you embody your smoking self.  

Uh oh, what’s that you smell... a funky odour down below? The thought of having a stinky crotch is nightmare fuel for some women, but do we even need to worry about our musky bouquet?  

The delicate aroma of our lady-garden can be affected by things like our menstrual cycle and our lifestyle but how do we tell when the stank goes from normal to full on malodorous pudenda territory and what can be done about it?  

It’s time to take off those undies and confront the smelly minge in the room with your bestie Yumi by your side for support.  

Featured in this episode:  

• Deborah Bateson, Professor of Practice and an expert in sexual health at the University of Sydney 
• Sarah O'Neill, comedian  

What happens when you want a divorce but the cost of leaving your marriage would cripple you financially?  

Would you ever stay in an unhappy marriage for the security money offers?  

It’s no secret, life is bloody expensive right now. From soaring rents to the cost of a bunch of broccoli, times are tough! So, sticking it out in a relationship you’re no longer happy in can seem appealing.  

Yumi Stynes talks to women who’ve had to make that extremely difficult choice.  

Featured in this episode:  

Victoria Devine, host of She’s on the Money 

Emily Maguire, CEO of Respect Victoria 

Rachel Voysey, Founding Director of the Relationship Room 

Some names have been changed to protect identities 

Life Line: 13 11 14

1800 Respect: 1800 737 732

What if we put a stop to marriage...for good? Like, just stop with flouncy white dresses, walking down the aisle and having a dude give us away.  

In her new book, I Don’t, Clementine Ford is calling for just that. She reckons that a ring on a finger is a bridal march to losing your identity. 

From the moment we come screaming into the world, we’re pushed the line that to find “the one” to get married and settle down is the be all and end all. You might discover a cure for cancer, scale Mt Everest and be a total baddie but if you’re unwed you haven't quite made it in the eyes of society. 

Clem Ford talks to Yumi Stynes about her call to arms for us to ditch the bouquets and our man's dirty laundry for a life on our own terms. 

Featured in this episode: 

• Clementine Ford, author and feminist   

Do you wizz when you sneeze? Or avoid star jumps at the gym? One in four of us (!) have pelvic floor problems which can lead to incontinence and prolapse (eek). 

But don’t stress! Yumi Stynes has kegel’d her way back to the Ladies archives and dug up some reassurance that you can definitely turn things around. Just be prepared to clench. 

You think you’ve met “the one” and they seem totally perfect for you, but is it all too good to be true? Could you be dating a narcissist?  

What starts out as a dreamy relationship filled with fancy presents and compliments galore, suddenly turns sour and you’re left wondering if you’re slowly losing your mind.  

Narcissists make up only 1% of the population but the impact they have on the women who date them can be truly devastating.  

Yumi Stynes meets women who have fallen in love with a narcissist and uncovers the psychology behind their charm.  

Featured in this episode:  

• Tamara Cavenett, clinical psychologist  

Some names have been changed to protect identities 

Life Line: 13 11 14

1800 Respect: 1800 737 732