Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Ladies, We Need To Talk

Celebrities and everyday women are shrinking before our eyes. So how do we have conversations about our bodies when they're the source of renewed scrutiny?

Yumi Stynes sits down with Olympic gold medallist Libby Trickett, journalist Demi Lynch and psychologist Janet Lowndes to discuss why thinness is becoming the cultural norm again and how we can push back against this narrative.

They unpack the rise of GLP-1 weight loss drugs, the impact of social media and how to talk to your kids about body image when their role models keep getting thinner.

This episode will answer questions like:

• Should we talk about people's bodies?
• How can we talk about bodies without critiquing them?
• What is diet culture?
• How can I avoid looking at ultra-thin bodies?
• Are GLP-1 affecting diet culture?
• Is anti-fatness on the rise?
• What is FATernise?
• Why are celebrities getting thinner? 

What to listen to next:

What to read next:

This episode contains references to thinness, weight, diet culture, GLP-1, eating disorders, social media and fatness.

Getting an ADHD diagnosis while going through perimenopause helped explain the quiet bubbling rage and feelings of inadequacy that Myf Warhust had been dealing with her whole life.

Discovering she had ADHD mid-life has been life changing for Myf but like so many women, she questions why it took so long to be diagnosed in the first place.

She's channelled those feelings into her new book, Middle Rage where she explores the bullsh*t women have been experiencing for a millennia.

Yumi Stynes sits down with the Spicks and Specks team captain for a candid conversation about this new era of her life, one that's free of dating apps, managers and men who send her dick pics.

More information:

Middle Rage is published by Hachette Australia.

This episode will answer questions like:

• How does menopause affect women?
• Can menopause affect ADHD?
• Why didn’t people talk about menopause?
• Why are women getting diagnosed with ADHD later in life?
• Why did Myf Warhurst write Middle Rage?
• Is Myf Warhust still on Spicks and Specks?
• What is Myf Warhurst doing now?
• Is Myf Warhurst a feminist? 

What to listen to next:

What to read next:

This episode contains references to Myf Warhurst, rage, misogyny, menopause, perimenopause, ADHD and Eurovision.

What's the key to a long-lasting, happy relationship?

Grand gestures and date nights might cause a momentary flare, but successful couples know there's more to it than that.

How do they fight, divide the load, and keep their intimacy hot when life gets busy and deeply unsexy?

Yumi Stynes speaks to women about how they found love that's stable, healthy and fun. And clinical psychologist Ms Gemma Cribb talks through the foundations that all happy couples build their relationships on. You'll be surprised!

This episode will answer questions like:

• Can you be happy in a long-term relationship?
• What makes a relationship last?
• How can you support your partner?
• How do I know if my partner's happy?

What to listen to next:

What to read next:

This episode contains references to relationships, partners, marriage, intimacy, children and mental load.

What does free speech mean if women can't afford to defend it? And what happens when the law meant to protect reputations is used to silence women speaking out about alleged sexual violence?

Jennifer Robinson is one of the world's most recognisable human rights lawyers. She's represented actress Amber Heard, whose trial became the stuff of fierce public debate and trial by media.

Now Jennifer's fighting to change that, by challenging a legal system that can be weaponised to silence survivors of gendered violence.

More information:

How many more women? Is published by Allen and Unwin

This episode will answer questions like:

• Who is Jennifer Robinson?
• Why did Amber Heard testify in the UK defamation trial?
• What are the allegations against Johnny Depp?
• What happened to Brittany Higgins?
• What is the Stop the SLAPP Alliance?

What to listen to next:

What to read next:

This episode contains references to defamation, Brittany Higgins, Lisa Wilkinson, Amber Heard and Johnny Depp.

Sex parties without creepy dudes? Forget keys in a bowl and seedy nightclubs: women are flipping the stereotype and creating sexy playgrounds on their own terms.

Fifteen years into her marriage, Fliss, a Sydney mum of two, stepped into the sex party scene, and now she hosts her own women-focused events with vetting calls and references.

Therapist and volunteer 'consent angel' Lotus who monitors partygoers safety explains what's changed in recent years, and PhD researcher Amelia looks at what play means at queer sex parties.

On Ladies We Need to Talk, Yumi Stynes steps inside the scene, where consent is non-negotiable, to find out why more women feel safe exploring desire, body image and juggling it all with kids.

This episode will answer questions like:

• What is a sex party?
• Who goes to sex parties?
• What is a consent angel?
• Who runs sex parties?
• What do people do at sex parties?
• How do you keep sex parties safe?
• Is it cheating to attend a sex party?

What to listen to next:

What to read next:

This episode contains references to sex, relationships, intimacy, sex parties and consent.

From making bubble gum by hand to tranquil depictions of motherhood, why is the tradwife fantasy so appealing and why can't we look away?

During the pandemic, tradwives like Nara Smith and Hannah Neeleman from Ballerina Farm dominated our algorithms. They baked perfectly scored sourdough loaves in spotless kitchens and made cereal for their toddlers from scratch.

These women depict an enviable, calm lifestyle that very few women can attain.

While some influencers reject the label of tradwife, their content taps into a powerful fantasy that has drawn millions of women to watch, even if we have no plans or desire to ever live that way.

Yumi Stynes is joined by Professor Heejung Chung to unpack the tradwife phenomenon and the real-world impacts that come with the promotion of "traditional" gendered ideals.

This episode will answer questions like:

• What is a tradwife?
• Where did the tradwife movement come from?
• How do tradwives afford the lifestyle?
• Do tradwives have their own money?
• Are men looking for a tradwife?
• Do tradwives have to be submissive?
• Is Nara Smith a tradwife?

What to listen to next:

What to read next:

This episode contains references to tradwives, traditional lifestyles, Ballerina Farm, Nara Smith, Yesteryear and Hannah Neeleman.

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?

More information:

Women Partners | Free Counselling & Support for Women in NSW is a NSW based service but offers free resources nationwide

What to listen to next:

What to read next:

This episode contains references to divorce, coming out, sexuality, gender identity, same-sex attraction and homosexuality.

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:

What to read next:

This episode contains references to healthcare, abortion, reproductive rights, surgical abortion, medical abortion and termination.

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:

What to read next:

This episode contains references to separation, quiet quitting, divorce, burnt out pursuer and mental load.

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

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 load

What to listen to next:

What to read next:

This episode contains references to the mental load, housework, invisible labour, emotional labour, parenting, emotional responsibility.

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:

This episode contains references to motherhood, parenting, mothering, regret, anxiety, depression, suffering, family, mental load, support, relationships, romance.

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.  

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:

What to read next:

Empty-nesters on how they 'fill the void' left by children

This 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.

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:

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. 

At some point in life, we all lose someone we love. But losing a baby is an unimaginable heartbreak. Our children are not meant to die before us.

In the wake of that loss, families are left reeling. Navigating shock, confusion, and overwhelming grief as they face a future without a much-loved child.

Yumi Stynes meets two women who have experienced infant loss. They share how they moved through their grief, how they celebrate their babies, and how people in their life stepped up- or stepped away.

And registered psychologist, Rachel Ficinus explains how grief can be ongoing and the strategies to help you and your loved ones navigate a life-changing loss.

If you need help:

• Red Nose Australia offers counselling and support for anyone affected by the loss of a pregnancy, stillbirth, death of a baby or child. Their phone number is 1300 308 307
• Lifeline on 131 114
• Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 

This episode will answer questions like:

• How do I deal with grief when a loved one dies?
• Who can I talk to when my child dies?
• What should I say to someone who's child has died?
• How can I help someone who's grieving?
• Where can I find support after I lose my child?
• Does grief have an end point?

What to listen to next:

What to read next:

This episode contains references to grief, child loss, infant death, bereavement and Red Nose Australia, organ donation, DonateLife.

One in three Australian women describe their births as traumatic.

Long labours, health scares, emergency interventions, feeling ignored, and lasting physical and psychological injuries can turn what's meant to be one of life's biggest moments into something deeply distressing.

Yumi Stynes hears from women still coming to terms with their birth experiences, sometimes years later, and finds out what can be done to prevent traumatic births. (R).

Featured in this episode:

• Dr Jessica Caudwell-Hall, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Nepean Hospital.
• Sophie Carroll, Pelvic Health Physiotherapist, Enlighten Health Collective.
• With special thanks to Amy Dawes at Birth Trauma Australia.

If you need help:

• Perinatal Wellbeing Centre: (02) 6288 1936
• PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia): 1300 187 263
• Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
• Lifeline: 13 11 14
• Birth Trauma Australia organisation 

For most mums, the day their kids leave feels like a victory.

You might even be planning what you'll do with all that free time. No more mountains of laundry, arguments over dinner or acting as a free taxi service.

But for many women, an empty nest isn't just freedom, it's loss. When motherhood has shaped so much of your daily life and identity, the silence can be unsettling as you move around a house that was once loud, busy and joyful.

Yumi Stynes chats with women who have navigated the grief of their changing relationships with their kids, finding a deeper connection with themselves, and a renewed sense of self.

Plus clinical psychologist Dr Victoria Miller unpacks why the empty nest can feel so lonely, and the steps you can take to fill the child free void.  

This episode will answer questions like:

• How long does empty nest grief last?
• Is empty nest syndrome real?
• What happens to a marriage after the kids move out?
• How often should I contact my adult child?
• Why am I sad my kids moved out?

What to listen to next:

What to read next:

This episode contains references to grief, loneliness, purpose, empty nesting, leaving home, children, marriage, retirement

Jessica Mauboy was just 16 when she burst onto our screens, barefoot in the red dirt of Alice Springs, belting out Whitney Houston at her Australian Idol audition.

She may have finished runner-up, but it launched one of Australia's most enduring music careers including starring in The Sapphires and representing Australia at Eurovision in 2018.  

Despite two decades in the spotlight, fame hasn't changed Jess, and she's never lost touch with her connection to Darwin, returning between tours to reconnect with her family and culture.

Yumi Stynes sits down with Jess to talk about her Indigenous roots, the strong women who shaped her and how their influence is guiding her as she raises her daughter, Mia and steps confidently into her boss lady era.

This episode will answer questions like:

• What year was Jessica Mauboy in Australian Idol?
• Where did Jessica Mauboy grow up?
• Who does Jessica Mauboy play in The Sapphires?
• How old is Jessica Mauboy's daughter?
• What is the name of Jessica Mauboy's record label?

What to listen to next:

What to read next:

This episode contains references to NAIDOC, Australian Idol, Jessica Mauboy, Jamally records, Bran nue dae, The Sapphires, Darwin

When we're dating someone new, the rush is electric. The pull towards sex can feel immediate, an almost magnetic urge to rip each other's clothes off.

But as the years stretch on and the demands of life ramp up, sex becomes just one more activity on a chaotic checklist; competing with the demands of chores, kids and sleep.

And when the urge does strike, it's intimacy vs. doom scrolling in bed, and somehow, the phone wins every time.

Yumi Stynes meets women who are trying to wriggle free from a sex rut and carve out time for more and better sex. Plus, sex therapist Georgia Grace shares advice on how to bring sexual intimacy back into the bedroom.

This episode will answer questions like:

• Why do people have less sex in a long-term relationship?
• Why is my partner distant?
• Can romantic relationships survive without sex?
• How can I reignite my sex life?
• Should I see a sex therapist?
• What is phubbing?

What to listen to next:

What to read next:

This episode contains references to sex, relationships, intimacy, pleasure, technoference, avoidance

Botox, vampire facials, bone smashing and now cadaver fat fillers: the beauty industry is expert in selling extreme (and painful) treatments in our endless pursuit of perfection and eternal youth.

For years, Jess DeFino worked at the heart of this machine as an assistant editor for the Kardashian family. She saw firsthand how the goalposts of beauty are constantly shifting, making it out of reach, no matter how much time, money and energy we pour in.

Now Jess is calling bullsh*t on the beauty industrial complex and the ever more bonkers methods being employed.

This episode will answer questions like:  

• What is looksmaxxing?
• How do beauty standards change over time?
• Do children need skincare?
• Is the beauty industry growing?
• What’s it like to work with the Kardashian-Jenner’s
• Why is skin care so expensive?
• Is the beauty industry designed to make you buy more?
• Can you trust skincare reviews?
• Is the beauty industry built on insecurity? 

What to listen to next:

Is your attachment style messing with your love life?

What to read next:   

Why these women have never had a partner 

The joys of having babies in your 40s

This episode contains references to beauty, looksmaxxing, beauty industry, Kardashian, Jenner, Clavicular.  

We live in a sexed-up world. From chiselled fictional teenagers in steamy high school dramas to Sabrina Carpenter’s innuendos, it feels like everyone’s doing it. But what happens when adulthood arrives and you're still a virgin? 

Plenty of women haven’t had sex. Some are waiting for the right person, some are waiting for marriage, and some haven't had the opportunity.  

Virginity has gone from being something women were expected to protect to something they feel they have to explain. So how do we ditch everyone else's expectations and figure out what we actually want? Yumi Stynes speaks with women navigating adulthood without sex. 

Featured in this episode: 

• Amanda McCracken, writer on love and limerence 

This episode will answer questions like: 

• How does it feel to be an adult virgin? 
• What’s dating like as a virgin? 
• Why do some people wait to have sex? 

What to listen to next:

Building a village means showing up even when it feels hard, says Esther Perel

How swapping a husband for a wife made this economist better off

The power of one: the single ladies owning it 

Why are we exercising less than men?

What to read next:

Why these women took marriage sabbaticals — and how it went

Building a village means showing up even when it feels hard, says Esther Perel

This episode contains references to sex, sexuality, dating, relationships, virgins, religion, shame, psychology. 

This episode was originally broadcast in April 2024. (R).

Love bombing. Gaslighting. Coercive control. Narcissists can crash into your life on the charm offensive. They begin with intense affection, compliments and grand gestures. But behind that charm can be manipulation and intense criticism. In the worst cases, they control every aspect of their partner's life. 

It’s disorienting to be with a narcissist, and often people with narcissistic traits have very little insight into their behaviour. Yumi Stynes chats to women who’ve been in love with narcissists to understand what got them under their spell and why they're so difficult to leave. Plus, clinical Tamara Cavenett explores what you can do to protect your emotional state within a narcissistic relationship, and how to get out safely. 

If you need help:

1800 Respect national helpline1800 737 732

Women's Crisis Line1800 811 811

Lifeline131 114

Relationships Australia1300 364 277

This episode will answer questions like:  

• Am I in a relationship with a narcissist? 
• How do narcissists behave in romantic relationships? 
• How can you find out if your partner is a narcissist? 
• What is Narcissistic Personality Disorder? 
• How can you prepare to leave a coercive relationship? 

What to listen to next: 

Are you mum or grandma? Having a baby at 47

I love you but I hate your politics

Is your attachment style messing with your love life?

One true love or many: Monogamy vs. open relationships 

What to read next:

Why these women have never had a partner 

The joys of having babies in your 40s

Why these women took marriage sabbaticals — and how it went

This episode contains references to dating, marriage, sex, narcissist, control, coercive relationships, empathy, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, mental illness.

This episode was originally broadcast in October, 2023. (R).

For all her life, Chloe Hayden, star of Heartbreak High, has struggled to get doctors to take her health complaints seriously. And she’s not alone.  

Autistic women have poorer physical and mental health than neurotypical people. From shorter life expectancy to higher rates of suicide, anxiety, eating disorders, and substance abuse. In this episode Grace speaks to autistic women about being misunderstood and misdiagnosed and the toll this has taken on her health. She also investigates the root causes behind these co-occurring conditions and how medical and social systems can better support autistic women and girls to be healthier and live their best lives.  

Listen to more from the Autistic AF with Grace Tame series:

Watch the first episode on ABC Australia YouTube.

"It can be difficult…when your approach to socialising and relationships doesn't look like what other people might expect."

There's a long-held stereotype that autistic people are not empathetic and aren't interested in relationships. The reality is that, like everyone, autistic women and girls want connection, they may just come to it in different ways. In this episode, Grace looks at how autism and relationships intersect, from friendships and partnerships to parenthood. She also explores what autistic women bring to relationships and what becomes possible when they stop pretending to be "normal"?

Listen to more from the Autistic AF with Grace Tame series:

Watch the first episode on ABC Australia YouTube.

For decades autism was thought of as a "boy thing" and girls were overlooked by science. According to research, three boys are diagnosed with autism for every girl. While experts point to genetic differences, there are other reasons why girls often go undiagnosed, including their ability to mask their autistic traits, leading to what's referred to as the "female autism invisibility cloak". In this episode, Grace meets women and gender diverse people who have been diagnosed with autism later in life or are still waiting. She also speaks to neuroscientist Dr Gina Rippon about what the latest research has to say.

Featuring The Assembly's Bethany Woodman.

Listen to more from the Autistic AF with Grace Tame series:

Watch the first episode on ABC Australia YouTube.

"It's only been in recent years that I've had a public platform and people have asked me specifically about being autistic."

In the first episode of this special four-part series, Grace Tame speaks candidly with Yumi Stynes about her experiences as an autistic woman, from feeling on the outer and being labelled "weird" to experiencing the world in "high definition".

In this exclusive interview, Grace opens up about the ways that she fought her own brain, using alcohol and masking to try and fit in. She also reveals how exploring relationships with women has been a "profound shift".

After sharing her own story, Grace takes over hosting duties for the rest of the series, speaking with experts and other autistic women to find out why so many women are misunderstood and diagnosed late.

"I was bullied for being quirky… I would have these very intense special interests."

Join Australian of the Year Grace Tame for a special four-part take over of Ladies, We Need to Talk as she meets leading experts in autism research and connects with other neurodivergent women to get a better understanding of what life is like as an autistic person, beyond the stereotypes.

Autism comes wrapped in a lot of stigma and misunderstandings. Grace knows this firsthand. She struggled socially as a kid before finally getting a diagnosis in her late teens. Grace's experience isn't unique, with girls far more likely to get a late diagnosis than boys. So, what's going on? Why did science leave girls behind for so long, and at what cost?

The female orgasm deserves better PR. Straight women are climaxing way less than the men they are banging (by about 35%). We know this but what can we do about it?

Medical research has focused on male bodies and male pleasure for too long and it's time we got a smart woman on the case. Enter renowned professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dr Lori Brotto, who is changing the game for women's sexual health. Dr Lori shares her deep understanding of female anatomy and psychology and cutting-edge research on how to climax.

This episode will answer questions like:

• Can women climax during penetrative sex? 
• How do women orgasm? 
• What happens physiologically during women’s orgasm? 
• Why can’t I orgasm? 
• Can women have a premature orgasm? 
• Should sex be painful? 
• Does menopause affect sex? 
• Should I get a vibrator? 
• How can I improve sexual pleasure? 

What to listen to next:  Great sex: What we wish men knew

What to read next:   

Why these women have never had a partner 

The joys of having babies in your 40s

Why these women took marriage sabbaticals — and how it went

This episode contains references to orgasms, sex, partners, relationships, dating, open relationships, menopause, sexual dysfunction, pornography, mindfulness, anorgasmia, vaginismus. 

You've found your person, but you can't stand their politics. Awks! It's a phenomenon that's been on the rise in the last 30 years. Around the world, women are increasingly leaning left and men right. In 2022, 50% of Australians voted for a different political party than their partner. 

Having different preferences to your partner is a given. But political views can get under our skin in ways that can threaten the entire relationship. So how do you manage, say, if you’re a greenie and your husband is a raging capitalist? What if you’re a carnivore and she’s a vegan? And can you have a fulfilling relationship when you’re misaligned at the ballot box? 

Some couples sweep their disagreements under the rug, some couples erupt in heated arguments at dinner parties, while others are pushed to breaking point. Yumi Stynes meets the women who’ve fallen in love across the political divide and how they’ve navigated the highs and lows. 

This episode features:  

• Associate Professor Cynthia Peacock from the University of Alabama 

This episode will answer questions like:  

• How much does politics matter in relationships? 
• Can you have a great relationship and disagree on politics? 
• What makes someone more likely to be in a politically dissimilar relationship? 
• How does politics impact relationships? 
• Are younger people more likely to be in politically different relationships? 
• Are people happier if they share the same political views as their partners? 

What to listen to next: 

Antoinette Lattouf opens up on fight with the ABC

Is your attachment style messing with your love life?

Are men stealing our exercise time?

Family Feuds: Is estrangement the new normal?

What to read next:

Why these women have never had a partner - ABC News

Two mums on having babies in their 40s

This episode contains references to relationships, dating, politics, division, left wing, right wing, partners, looksmaxing, progressive, conservative, Gaza, Israel, conflict, war, news, Voice to Parliament, Ben Shapiro, Jordan Peterson.

In December 2023, Antoinette Lattouf was asked to leave ABC Sydney. Since that day, her life has never been the same.

A seasoned broadcaster, she was part way through a week-long stint hosting local radio. Behind the scenes however, a coordinated lobbying effort was underway to have Antoinette taken off air.

The flashpoint was a Human Rights Watch post she shared on her personal socials. Soon after, she was told to collect her bags and leave.

But Antoinette refused to accept the decision, taking the ABC to Federal Court for unlawful termination. Inside the court room, her life was pulled apart in forensic detail. Outside it, the press scrutinised every move and outfit.

In her first interview back in the building, Antoinette sits down with Yumi Stynes to unpack the legal fight, who gets to speak and who gets silenced, and her next chapter, starting an independent Australian media company with journalist Jan Fran.

Antoinette Lattouf's book Women Who Win is published by Penguin Books Australia.

Content Warning: this episode contains discussion of suicidal ideation.

This episode will answer questions like:

• What happened to Antoinette Lattouf?
• Why did Antoinette Lattouf leave the ABC?
• Did Antoinette Lattouf win her court case?
• What is Ette Media?
• What is Antoinette Lattouf doing now?
• What did Antoinette Lattouf post?

What to listen to next:

What to read next: 

This episode contains references to: ABC, media, legacy media, independent media, Australian legal system, Antoinette Lattouf, Jan Fran, Ette media, Women who win, Gaza, middle-east conflict, Israel, Lebanon.

Mid-life is hard enough, but what happens when you add a baby to the mix?

The average maternal age has been creeping up over the past twenty years, with more women than ever becoming first time mums in their 40s, delaying motherhood to build careers, travel, find the right partner, secure housing, or navigate infertility.

Having a baby later in life can be exhausting. Sleep is elusive, many women are edging perimenopause and the risks to both mother and baby can increase. Then there's the judgement — the sideways looks, the inevitable question: are you the mum or the grandma?

Yumi Stynes meets two first time mums who fell pregnant in their mid-40s to talk about the challenges and the joys of being an older mum.

Plus women's health expert Dr Karin Hammarberg weighs in on the risks- and rewards- of waiting.

This episode will answer questions like:

• Can I get pregnant after 40?
• Can you get pregnant when you're 45?
• Why do women delay getting pregnant?
• Should I wait to get pregnant?
• What are the chances of getting pregnant over 40?
• What is a geriatric pregnancy
• Is it harder to get pregnant after 40?

What to listen to next:

What to read next: 

 This episode contains references to pregnancy, dating, marriage, babies, toddlers, children, conception, TTC, sex, IVF, in vitro fertilisation, motherhood, donor eggs, maternity, parenthood, cancer, geriatric pregnancy, Advanced maternal age, pregnancy after 40, fertility after 40, Hilary Swank, Gisele Bundchen

Is monogamy a tired social contract — or a deeply meaningful way to build a life with someone you love? Is opening up your relationship an act of honesty and freedom, or just another complicated commitment in an already overbooked life?

Roll up, Ladies, as monogamy and Ethical non-monogamy go head-to-head. Arguing in favour of fidelity is comedian and Deadloch actor, Nikki Britton. Meanwhile, sex therapist, Aleks Trkulja goes in to bat for ENM.

Will one relationship style prevail?

This episode will answer questions like:

• What is Ethical non-monogamy?
• Should I open my relationship?
• Was Lindy West in an open marriage?
• Are there rules in an Non-Monogamous relationship?
• How can I date more than one person?
• Is monogamy the same as marriage?
• Is ENM the same as Polyamory?

What to listen to next: 

What to read next: 

This episode contains references to dating, monogamy, non-monogamy, heterosexuality, ethical non-monogamy, ENM, polyamory, sex, relationships, orgasms, partnerships, tinder, bumble, Hinge, dating apps, ghosting,

The uterus is central to womanhood: it's the baby house, and allows for menstruation. So, what's it like to have it removed?

Each year around 30,000 Australian women have a hysterectomy — to relieve pain, to treat cancer, or as part of gender affirming care.

The path to surgery isn't always straightforward or quick. It can involve years of heartache, confusion and BS from specialists. But for most women, a hysterectomy is a game changer, bringing lasting relief and restoring quality of life.

Yumi Stynes speaks to women who've a had hysterectomy and finds out what led to their decision and what life is like on the other side.

Plus, gynaecologist and endometriosis specialist Dr Pav Nanayakkara explains the reasons we might need to get a hysterectomy, how to navigate the side effects of having your reproductive organs removed and whether we can still achieve the big O post-surgery.

Helpful resources:

• Ausralian Endometrosis Foundation
• Jean Hailes Foundation

 This episode will answer questions like:

• What is a hysterectomy?
• Why do people get a hysterectomy?
• What are the different types of hysterectomy?
• What happens after a hysterectomy?
• Do I need my uterus?
• Will a hysterectomy cure my adenomyosis pain?
• Will a hysterectomy cure my endometriosis?
• Did Lena Dunham get a hysterectomy?

What to listen to next:

You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.

What to read next:

This episode contains references to hysterectomies, hysterectomy, uterus, medical misogyny, surgery, ovaries, gender affirming care, relationships, orgasms.

Ever been called too clingy? Or felt overwhelmed by your partner's needs? Blame your attachment style!

Attachment theory is a cornerstone of modern psychology; chances are you've read about it in Attached or spent hours spiralling on TikTok as you tried to identify your attachment style and what it means for your relationship.

The theory breaks our attachment styles into three main categories: anxious, avoidant and secure and suggests that the way we're raised shapes how we show up in relationships.

We might hold on too tight, we might shut down and reject our partners, or if we're lucky, we might embrace open honest communication and feel secure.

Yumi Stynes is joined by Clinical Neuropsychologist Dr Hannah Korrel to unpack your questions on love, relationships and conflict.

Further information:

Dr Hannah Korrel is a Neuropsychologist who runs the Sydney Neuropsych clinic.

Her book How to break up with friends is publish by Impact Press.

This episode will answer questions like:

• What is attachment theory?
• What are the different attachment styles?
• How do attachment styles affect relationships?
• What is my attachment style?
• Can attachment styles change over time?

What to listen to next:

You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.

What to read next:

This episode contains references to attachment, attachment theory, attachment styles, family, relationships, arguments, conflict, avoidance, anxiety, security, attached, dating, parenting, love

The Beckhams know about it. Hilary Duff's been through it. Harry and Meghan could write a handbook. Family estrangement is brutal, but when there's a rift, can it be repaired?

Beyond the celebrity headlines, the "no contact" movement has been gaining traction online as children cut themselves off from their parents, parents find themselves out in the cold and rigid boundaries strain what's left of family bonds.

In this episode, Yumi Stynes talks to women who've been through the pain of family estrangement. She finds out what led to the rift and how letting go can be a form of healing.

You'll also hear from clinical psychologist Dr Kayla Steele with tips on navigating family break ups – from learning how to move on or figuring out how to mend a broken relationship.

This episode will answer questions like:

• Why does estrangement happen?
• What should I do if I've been cut off?
• Is it ok to go "no contact" with a family member?
• How can I talk to a family member who's estranged?
• How can I move forward?

What to listen to next:

You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.

What to read next:

This episode contains references to estrangement, grief, dishonesty, loss, illness, family, depression, anxiety, relationships, arguments, confrontation, isolation, alienation

Comedian Felicity Ward started having the best sex of her life after the worst time in her life.

After years of fertility struggles, Felicity finally fell pregnant at 38. But being a mum to a newborn wasn't the Instagram highlight reel she'd imagined. Felicity wrestled with perinatal depression, zero sleep and a loss of identity…and then she became a single mum.

At 40, Felicity was dating again but her expectations were low. She reluctantly joined the apps and started swiping…and what was on the other side amazed her. Felicity found a babysitter for her toddler and sexual liberation for herself.

Yumi Stynes sits down with the professional funny woman, dancing with the stars contestant and star of The Office for a deeply personal chat about starting over, rediscovering confidence and how the best sex of your life may yet be ahead of you.

The Sydney Comedy Festival runs from Monday April 13 — Sunday May 17 where Felicity Ward is performing I wish I could come out of my shell on April 25

If you need help:

Lifeline Australia 13 11 14

PANDA National Helpline 1300 726 306

Gidget Foundation 1300 851 758

This episode will answer questions like:

• What does it feel like to have perinatal depression and anxiety?
• Is it ok to be tired after having a baby?
• Can I ask for help after having a baby?
• How to have good sex in your 40s
• What should I ask new mums?
• What are the treatments for perinatal depression?

What to listen to next:

You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.

What to read next:

This episode contains references to perinatal depression, divorce, pregnancy, child birth, sex, dating apps, newborns, motherhood, comedy, comedians

Life as a perennially single woman can be lonely. Coupled-up friends often too busy to catch up, family constantly asking "So, have you met anyone yet?" What's a gal to do?

The truth is, we live in a world that celebrates coupledom. And while there are women who love the single life, for others being called to the front to catch the bouquet at every friend's wedding is painful.

Yumi Stynes meets three women who have never been in a serious relationship. They've tried it all, psychic readings, blind dates, even auditioning for MAFs, but their true love has never materialised.

In this episode, you'll hear from women who keep their relationship hopes alive but prioritise their peace, ditching the dating apps for a life of independent travel and a table with a view and no one to steal your fries.

This episode will answer questions like:

• Do I need a partner?
• Should I travel alone?
• Do I need a partner to freeze my eggs?
• Is therapy helpful?

What to listen to next:

What to read next:

This episode contains references to sex, dating, relationships, egg freezing, Married at First Sight, reality TV

Narelda Jacobs and Karina Natt announced their pregnancy online. Then came the trolls.

The pair were over the moon about starting their rainbow family but were pulled back down to earth by the haters who said that they had "no right" to have children as a gay couple.

Their response was to write and release a satirical book for adults called 'If Queers weren't meant to have kids.' The book is a celebration of the queer community and raising a child with your chosen family. 

The couple sat down with Yumi Stynes for a joyful conversation about the mechanics of conceiving using the turkey baster method and raising a child with three loving parents. 

Narelda Jacobs is a Whadjuk Noongar journalist and presenter on Network 10 and Karina Natt is a former lawyer and journalist who works in media and communications.  

This episode will answer questions like:

• Who are Narelda Jacobs and Karina Natt?
•  How do you ask someone to have a baby with you?
•  How do you get pregnant in a same sex relationship?
•  What is the turkey baster method?
• Can you choose your family?

What to listen to next:

What to read next:

This episode contains references to sex, conception, pregnancy, trolling, online bullying, homophobia, chosen family, village

We all want to sex to be hot, intimate and above all else, enjoyable. But sometimes when we're getting it on, things can go south and disaster ensues.

These naked encounters are excruciating in the moment but hilarious when shared with friends.

Comedian Lizzy Hoo and Yumi Stynes join forces to walk through the sexual hall of shame and come out the other side laughing.

Expect rogue fluids, a limp erotic massage, and one unfortunate hospital visit.

This episode will answer questions like:

• Do I need to see a doctor if I have a sex injury?
• Why is sex awkward?
• Should I try different lubes?
• Should I try new things with my partner?
• What are common turn offs in sex?
• Can I get pregnant when I use protection?

What to listen to next:

You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.

What to read next: 

This episode contains references to sex, safe sex, sexual positions, torn vulvas, male escorts, orgasm, pregnancy, contraception, dating

In the exercise race, women are falling behind. Two out of five women aren’t moving enough and it’s bad for our health. 

Between being time squeezed, feeling crappy about our bodies and guilt about taking a break from caring duties, women have less room for exercise than blokes. But ladies, it’s time to put on our sports bras and get sweaty! 

In this episode, you’ll hear how to get your fitness mojo back and prioritise your wellness. You’ll meet exercise-hater-turned-evangelical-runner, Amanda Hooten. Plus, clinical psychologist Professor Lyndall Strazdins from the ANU shares tips on how to get physical. 

This episode will answer questions like: 

• Why do women exercise less than men? 
• What is the gender exercise gap? 
• How are women and men’s relationship with exercise different? 
• What can women do to exercise more? 
• Why do we need to exercise more? 
• How can I start exercising if I have a bad relationship with it? 

What to listen to next:

Love ya guts! What to eat to feel your best

How swapping a husband for a wife made this economist better off

Mental health: Anxiety and how to beat it

Paying for sex at 70

You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.  

What to read next:

Why these women took marriage sabbaticals — and how it went

Building a village means showing up even when it feels hard, says Esther Perel

Why Kate chose to 'stay flat' after breast cancer surgery

Why genital herpes does not mean the end of your sex life

This episode contains references to exercise, weight, eating disorders, body image, sport, running, pilates, mental load, gender, parenting, adolescence, women’s safety. 

What if, instead of being the best time of your life, new motherhood was miserable? Perinatal depression and anxiety affects one in five women in Australia. But the shame of it is carried in silence.

Yumi Stynes speaks to women about their darkest days as new mums; sleep deprived, fearful and feeling alone. She hears how these women came through their suffering and got the help they needed.

Featured in this episode:  

• Dr Erin Seeto, Clinical Psychologist and Director of Clinical Services at the Gidget Foundation 

If you need help:

• Lifeline Australia 13 11 14
• PANDA National Helpline 1300 726 306
• Gidget Foundation 1300 851 758

This episode will answer questions like: 

• What does it feel like to have perinatal depression and anxiety? 
• What is perinatal depression and anxiety? 
• What are the risk factors of perinatal depression and anxiety? 
• How is perinatal depression and anxiety treated? 
• How do you recover from perinatal depression and anxiety? 
• Can your relationship impact perinatal depression and anxiety?

What to listen to next: 

I love you but go away: Women taking marriage sabbaticals

How swapping a husband for a wife made this economist better off

Turia Pitt is a selfish woman

Paying for sex at 70

You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.  

What to read next:  

Why these women took marriage sabbaticals — and how it went

Building a village means showing up even when it feels hard, says Esther Perel

Why Kate chose to 'stay flat' after breast cancer surgery

Why genital herpes does not mean the end of your sex life

This episode contains references to suicide, suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety, birth, birth trauma, mothering, parenting, mental health care plan, psychology, hospital, family, breastfeeding, colic, crying, sleeplessness, sleep deprivation. 

What happens when your husband suddenly becomes someone you don’t recognise? One cold day in 2020, Belle Burden’s partner of 20 years told her he was leaving her. There were was no warning, no chance to talk. 

Before her relationship collapsed, Belle’s life looked enviable. Heiress to a wealthy New York family empire, she had the kids, the job, the holiday house and a committed marriage. But overnight, everything Belle thought she knew about her husband changed, and he became a stranger to her. Despite the pain of separation, Belle came to know herself again and rebuilt her life stronger than before. 

This episode will answer questions like: 

• What does it feel like to be cheated on? 
• Can you tell if your husband is having an affair? 
• Do people suddenly fall out of love? 
• Who is Belle Burden? 
• Is Gwneth Paltrow Playing Belle Burden in the movie adaptation for Netflix? 
• How can women protect themselves financially in a marriage? 
• What lessons are there to be learnt after going through divorce? 

What to listen to next:

I love you but go away: Women taking marriage sabbaticals

How swapping a husband for a wife made this economist better off

Turia Pitt is a selfish woman

Paying for sex at 70

You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.  

What to read next:

Why these women took marriage sabbaticals — and how it went

Building a village means showing up even when it feels hard, says Esther Perel

Why Kate chose to 'stay flat' after breast cancer surgery

Why genital herpes does not mean the end of your sex life

This episode contains references to divorce, separation, affair, cheating, heartbreak, money, settlement, parenting, re-invention, self-discovery, gender, mothering, independent, finance. 

What’s it like to parent when you can’t see your kid? Nas Campanella, the ABC’s National Disability Affairs reporter, knows there’s many ways to be a great mum. As a blind woman, she’s navigated internalised ableism, and copped BS from strangers. Through it all, she’s given the middle finger to expectations and come out the other side stronger.

She talks to Yumi Stynes about the quiet strength that comes from trusting her own instincts and the deep bond she’s formed with her son.  

This episode will answer questions like: 

• What’s it like to be a mother while vision impaired? 
• How do blind parents use sound, touch and voice to care for their babies?
• What are the biggest challenges of parenting with a disability? 
• How do you keep children safe without relying on sight? 
• How do people use sound, touch and instinct to read their baby’s needs? 
• What public scrutiny do disabled parents receive? 
• How do you raise an empathetic child? 

What to listen to next: 

I love you but go away: Women taking marriage sabbaticals

Life without boobs: Meet the women staying flat after breast cancer

Body image and babies with Turia Pitt and Sophie Walker

Where's my village? Esther Perel on how to build community

You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.  

What to read next:  

This episode contains references to disability, vision impaired, blind, mother, parent, National Disability Affairs reporter, ABC, work-life-balance, working mum, child, baby, parenting, teaching, attachment. 

Marriage sabbaticals aren't a divorce, or an excuse for guilt-free frotting but a chance to reset priorities. But do they work?

It can be hard to figure out how to fix a relationship in need of repair when you're in the grind of the day-to-day. Living separately for a while or even taking a solo holiday can be a chance for a jump-start, but it comes with risks.

Yumi Stynes meets women who've hit pause on their partnerships in the hopes of coming back together stronger than before.

This episode will answer questions like: 

• What is a marriage sabbatical? 
• Why do women feel like they need a break from their marriage? 
• Why do some women feel like they care for their husbands like children? 
• How can you ask for a break from your relationship? 
• How do you know you’re happy in a relationship? 
• What does an equal partnership look like? 
• How do relationship preferences change over time? 
• Can having a break save your marriage? 

What to listen to next: 

Women who cheat

Is everyone having better sex than me?

The new way to date

How pop culture f*cked us up, with Sophie Gilbert

You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.  

What to read next:  

How pop culture messed us up, with Sophie Gilbert

How swapping a husband for a wife made this economist better off

Paying for sex at 70

Life without boobs: Meet the women staying flat after breast cancer

This episode contains references to sex, marriage, family, parenting, mental load, emotional labour, domestic labour, inequality, chores, perimenopause, break-ups, relationship, love, psychology, attachment. 

How does it feel to be betrayed by the person you love most? Women open up to Yumi Stynes about being cheated on and picking up the pieces of their shattered hearts.

There's the fishy feeling you try to shake off, finding texts, unearthing emails, wondering if you're paranoid. And then, the moment of truth and painful aftermath. From Beyonce to Lily Allen, queens everywhere have wondered, "How did I get caught up in your double life??"

For some women, infidelity destroys the foundation of trust forever. For others it leads to bloodletting and rebuilding the relationship.

Featured in this episode:  

• Christina Spaccavento, sex and relationships counsellor 

This episode will answer questions like: 

• What does it feel like to be cheated on? 
• How do some women find out their partner has been cheating on them? 
• Why do people cheat? 
• Can you stay in a relationship after infidelity?  
• How do you rebuild trust after cheating? 

What to listen to next:

Women who cheat

Is everyone having better sex than me?

The new way to date

How pop culture f*cked us up, with Sophie Gilbert

You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.  

What to read next:

Why Kate chose to 'stay flat' after breast cancer surgery

How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood

What loving someone with an addiction or dependence can look like

The dark side of being a perfectionist

This episode contains references to sex, marriage, cheating, West End Girl, Lily Allen, Madeline, Beyonce, David Beckham, Victoria Beckham, Becky with the good hair, Shakira, Lemonade, infidelity, women, family, emotional cheating.

Millennial pop culture has a lot to answer for. From Britney Spears' sexy schoolgirl outfit to an underage Kate Moss on the cover of Vogue and Paris Hilton in pube-skimming velvet tracksuits, the message was clear — being hot, sexy and desirable meant #girlpower.

So how did we all buy into the lie that self-objectification is empowerment?

Pulitzer Prize–nominated journalist Sophie Gilbert says the Spice Girls, Demi Moore, Britney Spears and the Kardashians all had a role to play in how we feel about ourselves as women.

Sophie chats to Yumi Stynes about how pop culture turned a generation of women against themselves and what we can do about it.

What to listen to next:

Emotional labour with Rose Hackman

Clare and Jessie Stephens on twinning, pregnancy and envy

Has Ozempic killed body inclusivity?

Are our boys ok? Fighting online misogyny with Kate Scott

You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.  

What to read next:  

Why Kate chose to 'stay flat' after breast cancer surgery

How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood

What loving someone with an addiction or dependence can look like

The dark side of being a perfectionist

This episode will answer questions like: 

• What were the messages being sent about womanhood in the 1990s and 2000s? 
• How did the Spice Girls rise to popularity? 
• What did the term ‘girl power’ mean? 
• How did pop culture impact body image and fashion? 
• What did pop culture teach us about women’s sexuality? 
• What is pop culture today teaching us about womanhood? 

This episode contains references to sexuality, pop culture, music, performance, girl, woman, gender, gender roles, Britney Spears, Kate Moss, Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, the Spice Girls, Pamela Anderson, body image, thinness, beauty, capitalism, entertainment industry. 

What’s it like to switch teams mid-season? Nicola was married to a man for 25 years before she fell in love with a woman. Jennifer and Marija were in their 40s when everything they knew about their sexuality changed.  

Yumi Stynes chats to later-in-life lesbians to hear what they’ve learned from swapping sides. She also gets the low-down on sexuality research across the life span, and why so many women are coming out in their second act. 

What to listen to next:

How swapping a husband for a wife made this economist better off

Where's my village? Esther Perel on how to build community

Will we ever have a cure for endometriosis?

Hacking online dating with Prof. Jennie Young

You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.  

What to read next:  

Why Kate chose to 'stay flat' after breast cancer surgery

How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood

What loving someone with an addiction or dependence can look like

The dark side of being a perfectionist

This episode will answer questions like: 

• What’s it like to fall in love with a woman in middle age? 
• Are some women straight and then turn gay? 
• How common is bisexuality? 
• How fluid is sexuality? 
• What does it feel like to have sex with a woman for the first time? 

This episode contains references to sexuality, family, mother, parenting relationships, lesbian, gay, straight, sex, orgasm, religion. 

MasterChef’s Julie Goodwin has a bubbly exterior but underneath are demons she’s fought for decades.  

The celebrity cook opens up to Yumi Stynes about the anxiety and depression she’s kept hidden for so long, and how it almost undid her. 

Julie’s path to recovery wasn’t straight, but she learnt how to manage what she calls the ‘monster under the bed’ and change her life for the better.  

If you need someone to talk to, call:

Lifeline on 13 11 14  

Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467  

Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36  

Headspace on 1800 650 890  

What to listen to next:

Mental health: Overcoming depression

Love ya guts! What to eat to feel your best

Body image and babies with Turia Pitt and Sophie Walker

You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.  

What to read next:  

Why Kate chose to 'stay flat' after breast cancer surgery

How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood

What loving someone with an addiction or dependence can look like

The dark side of being a perfectionist

This episode will answer questions like: 

• What does anxiety feel like? 
• What does depression feel like? 
• How can childhood experiences impact mental health? 
• How did Julie Goodwin recover from a mental breakdown? 
• What can I do to improve my mental health? 
• What is it like to stay in a psychiatric hospital? 
• How can I cultivate joy? 
• How can mental health impact relationships? 

This episode contains references to anxiety, depression, alcohol, addiction, exercise, health, mental health, psychology, MasterChef Australia. 

If you've ever been with a guy who thinks jackhammering is a virtue or who can't tell your clitoris from your clavicle, this episode is for you! (Pssst share it with a bloke you know).

Yumi Stynes chats to comedian and expert dater Nikki Britton about what makes for good sex.

Plus, sex therapist Aleks Trkulja, from The Pleasure Centre, gives tips on how to take on feedback in the bedroom.

This episode will answer questions like: 

• What do women want in sex? 
• How are women and men’s sexual desires different? 
• What can I do to increase arousal? 
• What are common turn offs? 
• What are the fundamental elements of good sex? 

What to listen to next:

Is everyone having better sex than me?

The new way to date

Will we ever have a cure for endometriosis?

Shedding the shame of herpes

You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.  

What to read next:

Why Kate chose to 'stay flat' after breast cancer surgery

How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood

What loving someone with an addiction or dependence can look like

The dark side of being a perfectionist

This episode contains references to sex, gender, men, women, clitoris, mental load, marriage, sex life, therapy, masturbation.

Dr Corrine Low says heterosexual relationships are costing women financially. And she’s got the life experience and the data to back it up.  

When Corrine was married to a man and a new mum, she was the main breadwinner, shouldering the domestic load...and she was FED UP.  

Corrine’s research has found that even though we’re doing more paid work than ever, women still do most of the unpaid labour at home and it’s hurting our back pocket (and our feelings).  

Dr Low talks to Yumi Stynes about practical ways for women to have more equal relationships, share the mental load and connect our romantic and financial decisions. 

This episode will answer questions like: 

• What is domestic labour? 
• Do women do more work at home than men? 
• How can we create more equal families? 
• How does work gender inequality impact relationships? 
• What is mum burn out? 
• What can you do to distribute the mental load fairly? 

What to listen to next: 

Emotional labour with Rose Hackman

Turia Pitt is a selfish woman

Mental health: Anxiety and how to beat it

Has Ozempic killed body inclusivity?

You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.  

What to read next:  

Why Kate chose to 'stay flat' after breast cancer surgery

How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood

What loving someone with an addiction or dependence can look like

The dark side of being a perfectionist

This episode contains references to gender roles, family, relationship, men, mental load, domestic labour, utility, having it all, children, parenting, child care, work life balance, mental health.