In recent years, more and more women have been speaking openly about their decision to not have children. There are numerous books on the subject, dedicated social media spaces for childfree women and an ever increasing media interest in sharing the stories of those who refuse to go down this well-trodden path. However, some of the lesser told childfree stories are those of older women, who went against the grain at a time when motherhood was not only expected of women, but regarded as central to their lives. 

In this episode, Róisín Ingle is joined by one such woman, 77 year-old writer and academic Helen Taylor, who from a very young age decided not to have children. In her new book Childless by Choice: The Meaning and Legacy of a Child-free Life, Helen shares her reasons for choosing to remain childfree and she unpacks the complex feelings that have accompanied her choice. In this wide-ranging conversation, she tells Róisín Ingle where she draws meaning in life, how she dealt with moments of regret and what she wants women to know about the later stages of a child-free life.

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Following the breakdown of her long-term relationship in 2021, Orla Donoghue became a single parent to her then one-year-old son, Rory. The transition, however, was far from easy. As a new mother, she grappled with feelings of isolation, shame and uncertainty and despite the fact that one in five households in Ireland are single parent families, she also found the experience deeply isolating. However, it was this difficult experience that ultimately led her to set up Solas Coaching, a support space dedicated to helping other single parents. In today’s episode, Donoghue talks to Róisín Ingle about finding her footing as a solo parent, the importance of asking for help and why she's passionate about supporting others in difficult times.

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This month on The Women’s Podcast Book Club, Bernice Harrison, Niamh Towey, Róisín Ingle, and Ann Ingle are discussing The Marriage Vendetta by debut author Caroline Madden. 

The book tells the story of Eliza Sheridan, who seeks the help of a marriage therapist to mend her relationship with her unloving and unsupportive husband Richard. As their sessions unfold, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary counselling service. Week after week, Eliza is encouraged by her therapist to commit a series of vengeful acts against her oblivious husband, with each task more bizarre than the last. 

We’d love to hear your thoughts on the book. Why not send us a voice note on Instagram @ITWomensPodcast or email us [email protected]

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Would you sleep in a different room to your partner? Or do you think couples should share a bed together? That's what we’re asking on today’s episode of The Women’s Podcast. While many people enjoy sharing a bed with their other half, there are many others who prefer to go solo when it comes to sleep. This could be for reasons including loud snoring, a partner tossing and turning in the night or even a disagreement over what temperature the room should be. While there’s still a stigma attached to going your separate ways at bedtime, Australian writer Jennifer Adams argues there shouldn’t be.

Happily married and sleeping apart from her husband for more than two decades, Adams has literally written the book on separate sleeping and in today’s episode she tells Róisín Ingle why it’s not only possible but easily attainable, to have both a great night’s sleep and a great relationship. She also shares some tips from her book ‘Sleep Divorce: How to sleep apart, not fall apart, which will help you to broach the subject with your partner or figure out how to make it work with limited space. 

But first, Irish Times journalist Niamh Browne is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week including yesterday’s shooting in Fermanagh, the average cost of IVF for Irish couples and why Irish radio should be playing more female artists.

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In today’s episode, Róisín Ingle is joined by women’s health and fitness coach Elaine Gillespie, to talk about the transformative power of lifting weights and strength training. From navigating fitness during perimenopause to returning to exercise postpartum, Gillespie explains why lifting weights isn’t just for bodybuilders - it’s essential for women’s health, energy, and confidence at every stage of life. The pair discuss gym intimidation, how to get started if you’re a total beginner, and how to tell the difference between your dumbbell and your barbell. Gillespie also shares her own personal fitness journey following the birth of her two children and why she left her career as an estate agent to set up the Kildare based fitness group, Sound Mamas. 

But first, Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O’Connell is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week including a quick de-brief on the two women hoping to become the next Irish president and why the lyrics of CMAT’s latest song are resonating with so many.

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Anne Marie Allen was just 15 years old when she first entered the world of Opus Dei. It was the late 1970s and the young woman from Cork had enrolled in a cookery course run by the religious order. The program promised culinary qualifications and a pathway to a professional career, but it didn’t take long for her dreams to shatter. As Allen spent most of her days cooking, cleaning and doing laundry for the members of Opus Dei, it soon became clear that she was not there to learn, but to serve. In today’s episode, Allen talks to Kathy Sheridan about her time working as an unpaid ‘assistant numerary’, the lasting emotional impact of her years within the order and why she's sharing her story in her new memoir Serve. 

But first Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O’Connell is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week including the completion of five external reviews into maternity care at Portiuncula University Hospital, what we can learn from Rachel Reeve’s tears in Westminster and why the happiness levels of women often dip in midlife.

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This month, actor and mother and baby home survivor Noelle Brown and singer Camille O’Sullivan will take to the stage together for a new theatre performance called In Plain Sight. The project, written by Brown, focuses on Ireland’s history of mother and baby homes, paying particular attention to the large stately buildings dotted around the country that incarcerated young pregnant women. In today’s episode, the pair join Róisín Ingle to discuss the show and how it explores the design and history of three homes that are still standing, Sean Ross Abbey, Castlepollard and Bessborough Mother and Baby Home (where Brown was born).

But first, Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O’Connell is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week including the arrest of former swimming coach George Gibney.

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Concerns about the rise and rapid development of artificial intelligence often tend to focus on AI’s threat to jobs or its potential to influence politics and elections. But what about the very real threat that AI poses to women? In her new book, The New Age of Sexism, feminist writer Laura Bates explores how the ever-evolving world of technology has become a danger to women and how the expanding scope of what’s possible online is “reinventing misogyny.” In this episode, Bates talks to Róisín Ingle about the real harm caused by pornographic deepfakes, the alarming rise of AI girlfriends, and her eye-opening visit to a cyber brothel in Berlin.

But first Irish Times journalist Niamh Towey is here to talk about some of the biggest stories of the week including the new Women's Aid report showing the rise in domestic violence disclosures, the latest in the Annie McCarrick case and the furore over the Bezos wedding in Venice.

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Last weekend our Book Club gathered for a live show at Kildare Village to discuss the best reading recommendations for summer 2025. Róisín Ingle, Bernice Harrison and Ann Ingle were joined at the event by special guest bestselling author Marian Keyes and a room full of Women’s Podcast listeners. 

There were recommendations to suit every style and every mood, including a gripping crime thriller, a “life-changing” self help book and a couple of exciting fiction debuts. 

But before we bring you that recording, Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O’Connell is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week, including a crack down on boozy Leaving Cert holidays in Portugal. 

For the full list of summer reading recommendations, click here

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The tradition of women taking their husband’s surname stems from a time when marriage effectively erased a woman’s legal identity and she would become her husband’s property. While this is no longer the case and society has thankfully moved on, the practice of women changing their last name upon marriage still persists today. But why?

In a recent feature for The Irish Times, journalist Áine Kenny poses the question: “If changing one’s name isn’t a big deal and isn’t sexist, why don’t we see more men taking their wife’s surname?”

To explore this further, Kenny joins Róisín Ingle on the latest episode of the podcast, alongside parenting columnist Jen Hogan. Together, they discuss why they did and didn’t keep their own names after marriage. 

But first Ingle and Kathy Sheridan are in the studio together to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week including the long awaited excavation of the Tuam babies site, which is to begin on Monday.

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