Explore every episode of the podcast Big Sexy Talk
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.01: (Joe Walsh) - Pride, Protest and Progress | 07 Jul 2026 | 00:29:21 | |
To mark 35 years since the first Pride parade in Belfast, this episode of Big Sexy Talk was recorded live following a special screening of the film Pride as part of Informing Choices NI's Open Conversations: Film, Rights & Cultural Change series. Host Ruairi Rowan is joined by Joe Walsh, former Heritage Project Officer with HERe NI, to reflect on the history of Pride in Northern Ireland, how LGBTQIA+ communities have changed over the past three decades, and why preserving LGBTQIA+ heritage matters. Together they explore Pride as both a celebration and a protest, the role of community and solidarity in advancing equality, the importance of sharing LGBTQIA+ stories, and the progress that has been made alongside the challenges that remain. Whether you're interested in Northern Ireland's social history, LGBTQIA+ rights, or the conversations that continue to shape our communities, this episode offers a thoughtful reflection on the past, present and future of Pride. Useful links BBC Sounds | |||
| 2.06 (Nick Mathison MLA) - Open conversations: taking the politics out of RSE | 15 Oct 2024 | 00:51:37 | |
This episode features an in-depth interview with Nick Mathison MLA. Nick is an Alliance Party MLA representing the Strangford constituency, and the Chair of the Education Committee in the Northern Ireland Assembly. Research | |||
| 1.03: (Dawn Purvis) - From the backstreets, to Great Victoria Street | 28 Feb 2023 | 01:02:00 | |
This episode contains an in-depth interview with Dawn Purvis. Dawn is a former MLA, representing the East Belfast constituency from 2007 to 2011. Following a period in politics she was appointed Programme Director for Marie Stopes International and led the first integrated sexual and reproductive health clinic offering early medical abortion care in Belfast. She now works in the social housing sector and is chair of Positive Life NI. | |||
| 1.02: (Audrey Simpson) - What about the women? | 21 Feb 2023 | 00:49:09 | |
This episode contains an in-depth interview with Audrey Simpson. Audrey joined the Family Planning Association (FPA) in Northern Ireland as their Director in 1988 and maintained this role until her retirement in 2015. She led the first ever legal challenge into the provision of abortion services in Northern Ireland and was awarded an OBE for promoting women’s healthcare. News article from 2010 regarding the all-island conference on Abortion and Clinical Care | |||
| 1.01: (Georgie McCormick) - Abortion in the Yellow Pages | 14 Feb 2023 | 00:45:40 | |
This episode contains an in-depth interview with Georgie McCormick. Georgie joined the Family Planning Association (FPA) in Northern Ireland in 1986 and is an experienced trainer and facilitator in all areas of sexuality. | |||
| Trailer | 02 Feb 2023 | 00:01:17 | |
Introducing Big Sexy Talk. | |||
| 2.05: (Joe Harris) - It's more than a condom demonstration | 26 Sep 2023 | 00:50:24 | |
This episode features an in-depth interview with Joe Harris. Joe has worked in the field of sexual health for almost 30 years, during which time he has been employed in both the community and statutory sectors. He worked for the Family Planning Association in Northern Ireland as a Project Officer before joining the Belfast Trust Sexual Health Training Team. Joe is the sexual health lead for the Health Improvement Team within the Belfast Trust, and organises the Annual Regional Sexual Health Conference in Northern Ireland. He is also a Trustee of Common Youth. | |||
| 2.04: (Yas Rodriguez) - A deafening roar of information | 19 Sep 2023 | 00:45:57 | |
This episode features an in-depth interview with Yas Rodriguez. Yas was born and raised in Cuba, before moving to Northern Ireland in her 20's, and has now lived in Belfast for the past 25 years. She is a parent, and a teacher, and is involved in several local community campaigns. | |||
| 2.03: (Ellen Taylor) - How do you get rid of a stigma? | 13 Jun 2023 | 00:50:59 | |
This episode contains an in-depth interview with Ellen Taylor. Ellen is the Vice President and Community Relations Officer of the Secondary Students’ Union of Northern Ireland and chair of the Newry, Mourne and Down Youth Council. She is starring in season 2 of the CBBC sci-fi adventure series Silverpoint, and is currently studying her A-Levels. | |||
| 2.02: (Professor Dirk Schubotz) - Conducting sexual health research with young people | 06 Jun 2023 | 00:46:41 | |
This episode contains an in-depth interview with Professor Dirk Schubotz. Dirk is a professor in the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work at Queen’s University Belfast and has conducted vast amounts of research in the areas of sexuality, sexual health, and gender. He is a member of ARK, Northern Ireland's Social Policy Hub, and has directed the annual Young Life and Times survey of 16-year-olds since 2003. He is also a Trustee of Common Youth. | |||
| 2.01: (Mary Crawford) - 'Mummy said here’s a letter for you' | 30 May 2023 | 01:08:23 | |
The opening episode of series two contains an in-depth interview with Mary Crawford. Mary was the CEO of the Brook Advisory Clinic in Northern Ireland for 25 years, and oversaw the organisations transition to Common Youth before retiring in 2018. She is a veteran pro-choice campaigner, and a Trustee of Informing Choices NI. | |||
| 1.06: (Dr Laura McLaughlin) - Providing safe and compassionate abortion care | 21 Mar 2023 | 01:01:01 | |
The final episode of the first series contains an in-depth interview with Dr Laura McLaughlin. Dr McLaughlin is co-chair of Doctors for Choice NI, and a member of the Northern Ireland Abortion and Contraception Taskgroup. Following the decriminalisation of abortion Dr McLaughlin worked alongside healthcare professionals and Informing Choices to establish local early medical abortion services, and currently provides abortion care in Northern Ireland. Dr McLaughlin reflects on her experiences of working in the health service in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Canada; how the previous abortion law in Northern Ireland impacted upon medical professionals and the care provided to women; the formation of Doctors for Choice NI; the impact of Covid-19 and the establishment of early medical abortion services in Northern Ireland; conversations with medical colleagues around the provision of abortion; how abortion is viewed by women and society in Northern Ireland; and her aspirations for sexual and reproductive health going forward. | |||
| 1.05: (Gráinne Teggart) - Achieving decriminalisation and law reform | 14 Mar 2023 | 01:07:00 | |
This episode contains an in-depth interview with Gráinne Teggart. Gráinne joined Amnesty International in 2009 and is the Deputy Director of the human rights organisation in Northern Ireland. She has lead Amnesty’s campaigning and strategic litigation on abortion law reform and worked on a multitude of issues including human trafficking and legacy issues relating to the conflict in Northern Ireland. Gráinne is a Trustee of the Integrated Education Fund as well as Informing Choices NI. Gráinne reflects on the Good Friday Agreement 25 years on; her time at school and views on integrated education; the positive and negative impact of social media; working alongside women who had been directly affected by Northern Ireland’s near total abortion ban; campaigning for abortion reform when she was pregnant; Repeal of the 8th amendment; the decriminalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland; and her aspirations for sexual and reproductive health going forward. | |||
| 1.04: (Clare Bailey) - Running the gauntlet | 07 Mar 2023 | 01:12:20 | |
This episode contains an in-depth interview with Clare Bailey. Clare is a former leader of the Green Party in Northern Ireland and represented the South Belfast constituency from 2016 to 2022. During her time in the Northern Ireland Assembly, she spearheaded legislation to introduce safe access zones outside abortion clinics, the first law of its kind in the UK and Ireland. Clare was a founding pupil at Lagan College, and is a Trustee of Informing Choices NI. Clare talks about her memories of attending Lagan College; her contrasting experiences of growing up in Belfast and the Netherlands; studying politics at Queen’s University and her decision to join the Green Party; volunteering as a clinic escort at the Marie Stopes clinic in Belfast; being elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2016; working alongside politicians with opposing views; passing legislation to introduce safe access zones outside abortion clinics; and her aspirations for sexual and reproductive health going forward.
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