The Women's Podcast

This month on The Women’s Podcast Book Club, Bernice Harrison, Niamh Towey, Róisín Ingle, and Ann Ingle discuss Sally Rooney's long-awaited fourth novel, Intermezzo.The novel centres on the lives of two brothers: Peter, a lawyer, and Ivan, a chess prodigy, as they come to terms with the recent death of their father and navigate the complex relationships in their lives.Some of our book clubbers adored the book, devouring it in “just a couple of days,” while others found it to be a rather “unsatisfactory read.”

Last week, Trinity College announced that the main library in its city centre campus has been renamed after Irish poet Eavan Boland. It will be the first building on Trinity's grounds to be named after a woman. This week, in more good news for Irish female writers, the Mary Lavin Place will also be publicly unveiled in Wilton Park, in Dublin’s south side. It’s a public plaza to commemorate the famous writer who lived nearby on Lad Lane with her three daughters. In today’s episode, Róisín Ingle is joined by Lavin’s granddaughter Kathleen MacMahon to talk about the writer's extraordinary life and what this commemoration means to the family. We’re also joined by historian, lecturer, and Director of Gender Studies at UCD Mary McAuliffe who campaigned in 2013 for the Rosie Hackett bridge to be named after the Irish revolutionary activist. McAuliffe explains why so few Irish streets or spaces are named after women and what can be done to change this.

Bella Mackie’s debut novel, How to Kill Your Family, sold over one million copies, and now she’s back with her second book, What a Way to Go. It’s a hilariously dark ‘whodunnit’ that centres on the death of an extremely rich yet extremely unpleasant man, Anthony Wistern. In this conversation with Róisín Ingle, Mackie talks about the online sleuths and armchair detectives who inspired one of her main characters and how her relationship with true crime has evolved over the years.We also hear about her 2018 memoir, Jog On, which focuses on running and mental health and she reflects on how that book marked "the beginning of the rest of her life". Later on, Mackie also talks about her quick proposal to her “current husband”, BBC’s Greg James, about the upcoming Netflix adaptation of her first novel and about her experience of being stalked by a man she’d never met.

Today, Róisín Ingle is joined by author, content creator and veteran fashion model Ruth Crilly. In her new memoir, How Not to be a Supermodel, Crilly lifts the lid on her days spent working as a model in one of the biggest talent agencies in the world. Told with Crilly’s undeniable wit, it’s a humorous and touching reflection on the highs and lows of the early noughties fashion scene.In this wide-ranging conversation, Crilly talks about her Irish roots, the influence of her safety-conscious father and what prompted her to enter her name into a national model search while studying law at Birmingham University. She reflects on her days as a fledgling model, selling car insurance on the weekends to keep herself afloat and all the hilarious situations she found herself in along the way. With her life-long love of writing, Crilly explains how a move into blogging and content creation came as a natural progression, after an eventful twelve years mastering how not to be a supermodel.

After a short hiatus, the book club is back with Bernice Harrison, Niamh Towey, Róisín and Ann Ingle discussing The Amendments by Niamh Mulvey. The book explores the complexities of family dynamics, religious beliefs, women's rights, and Ireland's history, told through the experiences of three distinct women. So what did our book clubbers make of this debut novel and would they recommend it to others? Our next book club pick is Intermezzo by Sally Rooney and we’ll be discussing it in October.

Writer, philosopher, and friend of the show Laura Kennedy is here to discuss her first book, Some of Our Parts. It’s a memoir and a thought-provoking exploration of identity, told through the labels that shape our lives.  Laura’s have included ‘feminist’ ‘Irish’ ‘neurodiverse’ and ‘poor’ - she argues that they only tell one part of a more nuanced story. In this conversation with Róisín Ingle, Kennedy discusses the labels she has worn throughout her life - both by choice and otherwise. Reflecting on her upbringing in Limerick, her mental health struggles, and her career as a beauty editor and writer, she dissects the labels she has acquired, rejected, or lost along the way.

WorkEqual is the brainchild of Sonya Lennon, stylist, designer and social entrepreneur. It’s a free service, which helps women find the confidence to enter or return to the workplace. Since 2011, it has helped more than 6,000 people move forward in their career journey. In this episode, Róisín Ingle talks to Lennon about the barriers facing women returning to work, the first steps to getting back out there and why it’s crucial to see women in leadership roles, so that change can begin from the top. We also hear from two WorkEqual alumni, Emma and Eileen, who talk about overcoming imposter syndrome, carving out new careers and the joy of finding themselves and their confidence again. For more information see WorkEqual.ie

This September, Oxfam is encouraging people to take a stance against the impact of fast fashion and to shop second hand. With the textile sector contributing to 10% of global pollution, Oxfam’s Second Hand September is an initiative to prevent clothes ending up in landfill and to give garments a new lease of life. Singer and musician Eleanor McEvoy is one of the ambassadors for this year’s campaign and in today’s episode she talks to Róisín Ingle about why she got involved, her tips for finding the best gems in charity stores and how her own style has evolved through the years. She also speaks about her latest tour, her love of performing and the heartache which inspired her 2021 album, ‘Gimme Some Wine’.