The Women's Agenda Podcast

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.

We talk all things women's longevity with Dr Ginni Mansberg! A no-BS conversation on the things women need to know, and those that we don't.Dr Mansberg is a GP of more than 30 years who has built a reputation as one of the most trusted, plain-speaking voices in Australian women's health. She specialises in menopause, midlife health and disease prevention, and was voted Australia's most trusted healthcare professional in 2022. She's been a resident GP on Channel 7's Sunrise and The Morning Show, the host of Embarrassing Bodies Down Under and SBS's Medicine or Myth, and co-host of the podcast Unleashed.Dr Mansberg is also the bestselling author of six books, including The M Word. Her latest, The Women's Longevity Handbook, cuts through the biohacking hype to ask a more useful question for women: not how to live forever, but how to add life to the years we've got.The Women's Agenda Podcast is produced by the 100% female-owned and run Agenda Media. Check out our website and subscribe to our lunchtime daily news update.

We talk through the biggest stories of the week! The wins -- we explore the historic $1m gift for miscarriage support, the six-month paid parental leave milestone (and the case for not going back!) And on discussions -- we look at how Meta keeps deleting Australian LGBTQ+ accounts, "AI-first" layoffs hit women's jobs first, and the grey-market peptides putting women at greater risk. This week's stories include: Historic $1 million gift to turbocharge Pink Elephants' miscarriage supportAustralia just hit the six-month paid parental leave milestone. We're not going backWhen 'simply being seen becomes political': Meta's crackdown on Australian LGBTQ+ accountsThe hidden risks of grey-market peptides – why women face greater dangerThe Women's Agenda Podcast is produced by Agenda Media, publisher of Women's Agenda. Learn more here.

This week, who gets excused and who gets judged!We look at the wins: A doctor turned patient, and a founder's AI women's health platform raises $4 million, and a World Cup that's been a genuine, underdog-loving joy. Then, we unpack Karl Stefanovic's platforming of the far-right extremist Tommy Robinson on his podcast and the fallout that ensued. Plus, we look at the French TV host who called footballer Jérémy Doku's plan to attend his baby's birth "disgusting", and why, from Virat Kohli to Cricket Australia's own paternity policy, we should be well past this. And we dig into the "brilliant leader" notion, following yet more investigations and headlines surrounding one of Australia's best-known founders. This week's discussed stories include:Doctor-turned-founder behind Ovum raises $4 million to scale AI women's health platformKarl Stefanovic's attention-grabbing antics hit new heights with far right extremist interviewTV host apologises after calling footballer Jérémy Doku's plan to attend baby's birth 'disgusting'Australian Federal Police human exploitation taskforce investigating Richard WhiteSubscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and head to womensagenda.com.au for the full stories.

Top stories from the week! Pauline Hanson is abolishing things, everywhere, wants monoculturalism, claims the gender pay gap is a myth etc. Plus, how 12 hours risked reproductive rights in Australia.River Ahmad becomes the first Afghan woman to summit Mount Everest, and how Cape Verde's goalkeeper Vozinha out-classed a US$60 million masculinity spectacle.Have you heard of career minimalism? We unpack the latest workplace trend and why it's fine, for some people.This week's discussed stories include:River Ahmad, the first Afghan woman to climb Everest, dedicates historic achievement to women and girlsA goalkeeper wept, a fighter sledged Michelle Obama. Only one of these men showed strengthBasically, Pauline Hanson wants to abolish a bunch of thingsAn alarming 12 hours of efforts to restrict reproductive health in AustraliaJane Fonda, Julia Roberts take on Trump at free speech concert in NYCSubscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and head to womensagenda.com.au for the full stories.

This week, two genuine wins and a look at who we blame when the going gets tough.A blood-stained front page across three South African newspapers turned period poverty into front-page news — and went global. Brittany Higgins was named Executive Director of Vida Fund, stepping into a leadership role as the organisation gears up for 2028. We unpack "masculinism" — the force Helen Lewis says is uniting the right against women — and ask whether Australia is catching the same trend. Tarla takes on one comedian's irresponsible anti-immigration rant. This week's discussed stories include:Blood-stained front page sparks global conversation about period povertyBrittany Higgins appointed Executive Director of Vida Fund as organisation ramps up gender equity campaign'Masculinism' unites the right in the US against women. Is Australia experiencing the same trend?Dave Hughes loves a rant. This anti-immigration one is his worst yet.I spent 20 years as a political staffer. Here's why toxic workplace culture is so hard to fixSubscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and head to womensagenda.com.au for the full stories.