In this week’s episode of the Sex Matters podcast, Fiona and Maya are joined by Mara Yamauchi to discuss the latest developments in sport. Mara is a double Olympian, a member of the Sex Matters advisory group, a tireless campaigner – and a thorn in the side of Parkrun.

We covered criticisms of a newly published academic study that claims men who identify as women have no sporting advantage over women; how UK law protects women’s and girls’ sport (it’s not just section 195 of the Equality Act); the problems caused by gender ideology in competitive and recreational sport; and of course parkrun.

In this week’s episode of the Sex Matters podcast, Helen and Maya discuss the decision in the High Court to refuse Sex Matters permission for judicial review of the “trans inclusive” policy at the Hampstead Ponds.The ruling was made on procedural grounds, and didn’t even get to the point of considering whether that policy was lawful – a disappointing and frustrating outcome, but certainly not the end of the fight to protect single-sex spaces for both men and women, and to ensure that the Supreme Court judgment in the case of For Women Scotland translates to facts on the ground (and in the water).» Find out more at our website »

Fiona and Maya discuss the cases of Maria Kelly, Sandie Peggie, the Darlington nurses and Jennifer Melle. They talk about how regulators, trade unions and the government are all failing to follow the law, and what it will take to get the herd to change direction.

References:

Unison statement on Darlington nurses

Charity Commission response to open letter

Bethany Hutchison & Others v County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Fiona and Helen discuss two landmark cases heard this week by the US Supreme Court on the meaning of sex in law, and their implications for women’s sport and sex-based rights.

Fiona talks us through Sex Matters’ (and friends’) amicus briefs in support of sex-based state laws.

They also discuss the case of Miranda Newsom, who was banned by Southwark Council from its leisure centres for objecting to a man using a women’s changing room.

Sex Matters attended a rally in support of Miranda on Saturday 10th, where counter-protestors demonstrated in support of the council’s policy.

Maya and Fiona ask if this year will finally see organisations obey the Supreme Court judgment. Will the government accept the equality regulator’s guidance? And what about education, healthcare, data policy, safeguarding and women’s rights?They discuss how three big themes will shape our campaigning in 2026: making the Equality Act work, preventing harm in medicine and education, and fixing policies where sex matters.

(Our apologies for the background buzz from 9:38 to 20:26.)

Sandie Peggie, Maria Kelly and puberty blockers: Fiona, Maya and Helen discuss

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For the final episode in our podcast series, Fiona McAnena interviews Helen Joyce, director of advocacy at Sex Matters and author of Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality.

Helen and Fiona discuss the material reality of the two sexes and where the differences matter. From evolution and developmental trajectories to the societal and political fallout of pretending sex is irrelevant, Helen explains it all with the clarity, depth, and sharp insight we’ve come to respect.