Join Linda in a discussion with Joy Tendai Kangere about loving being a Black person, about having to neutralise microaggressions every day with her children and about her organisation, Rooted in Africa Ireland. Also we find out how tiny the world really is.

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Join Linda as she speaks to Anne Marie Quilligan, about working as a carer, the shocking statistics about how Travellers are affected by homelessness, lack of services and how the government and State have a long history of oppressing her community.

I'm very grateful for Anne Marie for sharing these experiences and it is clear that we all need to do more to become Mincéir allies.

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In case you were unaware, there is legislation currently being rushed through the Dáil that could result in the sealing of the archive from the Commission of Investigation into the Mother and Baby homes. To look at this Linda is joined by Maree Ryan-O'Brien, founder of Aitheantas (adopteerights.ie), which is an organisation focused on the rights of Adoptees, or lack of them here. Maree speaks of her frustration at the lack of consultation there has been with Adoptees and Survivors from the Mother and Baby homes and what alternatives there are to sealing these files. This is such an important issue. Please reach out to your local TD and ask them to call for this to be stopped.

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Taking a departure from the norm, Linda got the opportunity to go to the Natural History Museum in Dublin, to check out the renovations and talk about all things dead animals with Zoology Curator, Paolo Viscardi.

The Museum, also known as the Dead Zoo, forms a very important part of conservation efforts today as well as being culturally and historically important. Informative and exciting, have a listen to how they are working so hard to keep things updated without losing the Victorian charm.

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This week Linda is joined by author of Grief Demystified and soon to be Doctor, Caroline Lloyd, aka The Grief Geek.

Join them as they discuss why we have such an aversion to talking about death, the ways in how we react to news of a terminal illness can impact the ill person and how cultural differences in attitudes to death affect grief.

Informative and definitely not as morbid as you would think, this episode really shines a light on Irish attitudes to grief and mourning.

It is such a great conversation.

Artwork by @Ciaraioch

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Following on from the podcast on why women are leaving comedy in Ireland, Linda is joined by Comedian, Ruth Hunter, to talk about the codes of conduct that are being drawn up for comedy clubs, and the training that is being provided to go with them.

A must listen for anybody interested in ensuring they are supporting safe venues.

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Joining Linda this week are Linda Meehan Ashton and Teresa Coyne, two brilliantly funny women who left the comedy scene in Ireland due to misogyny, safety issues and sexual assault.

The three talk about the highs and lows of being comedians and the scene that did not protect them or their counterparts. This is a raw but necessary listen.

The Rape Crisis Centre National Helpline is: 1800 77 8888

Follow us on twitter @pacwomanpod

Support this podcast at: patreon.com/tortoiseshack

Artwork by @Ciaraioch

In this episode Linda is joined by Jen Dalton, who runs Child Protection Solutions, an organisation that provides consent, relationship and sex education workshops for young people. The pair discuss the importance of body autonomy to protect children from predators, consent, contraception and the fact that better education on consent and respect in relationships, mean less of a need for sexual violence advocacy. Don't miss it, there's so much important information in it!

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Join Linda and the Eternal Hun and Tortoise Shack royalty, Alannah Murray, to talk sex and body positivity, dating during a pandemic, fashion, accessibilty and perspectives of disabled people in film. Alannah is funny, informative and a joy to chat to, so make sure you tune in.

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Joining Linda this week is Mick Finnegan, a child sex abuse survivor who tells us what happened to him, the systems that failed him, his lack of justice, the lasting effects of trauma and surviving and thriving afterwards. We also talk about how hard it is to date when you are easily googleable and life in general. It is a hard listen, but a story that you have to hear. Join us.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this podcast the 24 hour rape crisis hotline is 1800 778888, or one in four deal directly with survivors of child sex abuse www.oneinfour.ie. I believe you and it was not your fault. You can talk directly to Linda on twitter @lindaokaythen or on [email protected]

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