The Women's Agenda Podcast

This week on Women's Agenda, the highs of the women's game and the very deep lows following the actions of men. Plus, all the language that skirts around the issues to protect reputations Still, there were the wins! Deborah Mailman becoming the first Aboriginal person inducted into the Logies Hall of Fame, and the AFLW roaring back with big double-header crowds (and six matches around men's grand final weekend). Then we unpack the Sydney Swans scandal, and the language that reflexively protects footballers. Jacqui Lambie leads the fight against the government's $5,000 cap on veterans' allied health -- and what it means for women veterans and the 2,500+ women in a military sexual-violence class action. And to cap it all off, the alarming new University of Melbourne research finds nearly one in three teen boys believe equality for women has "gone too far".This week's discussed stories include:Scots and Swans: The private school and the footy team with bigger responsibilities than reputation managementDeborah Mailman becomes first Aboriginal person inducted into Logies Hall of FameThe Sydney Swans scandal proves we still care more about footballers than the victimsOne in three teen boys believe giving women equal opportunities has gone too farSubscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and head to womensagenda.com.au for the full stories.

We talk through our biggest stories of the week! First up, two wins: three women-founded Australian companies nominated for the Prix Galien Awards (medicine's answer to the Nobel), and Tina Arena's grace-filled response to her ex-husband's rape conviction. Then the harder stories: AOC freezing her eggs and Karoline Leavitt stepping down, and how the "can women have it all" question just got supercharged again; why the Prime Minister needs to stop trying so hard to be one of the boys; and alarming new research showing smart glasses are being used to secretly film and harass women — plus DuckDuckGo's brilliant troll of Big Tech and such pervert glasses.

Special guest Amy Remeikis joins the podcast! The journalist and commentator has just published her new book Screw Nice, and she's here to share why continuing the expected pleasantries is not getting us anywhere.Amy also touches on the other book she published this year (yes, she's written two), Where It All Went Wrong: The Case Against John Howard. Screw Nice is a manifesto for anyone sick of the status quo. It's not a call to be mean or cruel, but rather to take the permission to quit being nice because it keeps other people comfortable and in power. Angela Priestley spoke to Amy in the lead-up to her appearance at the Byron Writers Festival, from August 14 to 16, 2026. Screw Nice is published by Hachette Australia and Where It All Went Wrong by Simon & Schuster. The Women's Agenda Podcast is produced by Agenda Media, publisher of Women's Agenda. Get all our latest stories here.

In this week's wrap chat: who gets protected, who gets replaced, and who gets to leave on their own terms.We share the big wins: a new Alzheimer's blood test that could transform early detection for the women most at risk, and ACTU powerhouses Sally McManus and Michele O'Neil stepping down after a decade of hard-won rights — together, and without clinging to power. Then Angela unpacks the convicted Melbourne rapist who still can't be named, thanks to a suppression order protecting him. We mark Jacinta Allan's departure as Victorian premier, and her message to young women in politics. And we dig into the rise of the AI "model" — and what it means when the beauty standard is no longer even human.This week's discussed stories include:New Alzheimer's blood test could transform care for hundreds of thousands of Australian women at riskThey've won rights and fought big power together. Now Sally McManus and Michelle O'Neil are both stepping downA 'high profile' man has been convicted of rape, but still can't be named'This gig has been tough': Jacinta Allan steps down as premier, urges women to keep at politicsAI beauty tools and models are here, giving women even more impossible standardsSubscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and head to womensagenda.com.au to subscribe to our daily news update.

What got us talking this week: Andrew Tate's arrest on new UK charges, and how he was undone in the court of public opinion by a purple blouse. Plus, we unpack Pauline Hanson's claim that women should just "don't put up with it" — as new Anglicare research shows the cost of leaving family violence has jumped 71% in a decade, to over $7,000.Then Dinushi Dias sits down with Simone Clarke, CEO of UN Women Australia, for an interview on how leaders sustain momentum and keep investing in their teams when budgets are tight, and everyone's being asked to do more with less.Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and head to womensagenda.com.au for the full stories.

Tarla and Angela cover a diverse range of stories this week! First, to the wins: including Sam Neill's masculinity and the New York initiative giving parents a night off.We share the reality of birth trauma in Australia and what more can be done to support women's health overall.Plus, we venture (again) into the women-and-AI discussion, following the Prime Minister's AI speech this week.In the second half of the pod, Women in Digital CEO Holly Hunt joins the podcast for a critical conversation on the women and AI, including concerns about women's jobs being at risk.You can learn more about Holly Hunt here.Plus check out our latest stories (and daily news coverage) on Women's Agenda, where you can also subscribe to our lunchtime daily news update.This week's discussed stories include:Zohran Mamdani's latest policy recognises what modern parents really needStrong and caring: In praise of Sam Neill's masculinityThere is no 'bouncing back' from childbirth trauma without knowledge and resourcesOnly one woman on Australia's highest-paid CEO list as top boss pockets $48 millionAI could fast unwind our women’s workforce participation rate. We need more than historical reassuranceAI could fast unwind our women's workforce participation rateFurther show notesBirth trauma. Check out the Australasian Birth Trauma Association for more information, plus PANDA's National Helpline (1300 726 306), and the National Continence Helpline (1800 33 00 66).Sam Neill. Died 13 July 2026 in Sydney, aged 78; survived by four children and eight grandchildren. Family noted the death was sudden and unexpected, following pneumonia after he'd recently been declared cancer-free.Anthony Albanese's AI speech. Delivered Wednesday 15 July in Sydney. Office of AI within PM&C; faster approvals; data centres to underwrite new energy generation; mandatory standards legislated by early 2027 via national cabinet; copyright pushback.The DEWR figures are all from AI and Employment in Australia, and covered in the story linked above.