Four years ago the writer and broadcaster Naga Munchetty spoke out on air about her own awful experience of getting a coil fitted, and received a huge response from listeners. It led to her talking about her debilitating periods and an eventual diagnosis with adenomyosis aged 47. She’s written about this and included the experiences of other women. Naga speaks to Anita Rani to discuss her book ‘It’s probably nothing’: Critical conversations on the women’s health crisis.

Robert Francis Prevost has been chosen as the new Pope and will be known as Leo XIV. He is the first American to fill the role of pope, although he is considered as much a cardinal from Latin America because of the many years he spent as a missionary in Peru. Anita is joined by Kate McElwee, the executive director of the Women’s Ordination Conference, that calls for women's ordination and gender equity in the Roman Catholic Church and Ruth Gledhill Assistant Editor at The Tablet to discuss where he stands in the context women and the church.

Planning a wedding can be stressful, but what if you begin to question your relationship as the big day approaches? How do you know if it’s just nerves? And what if you realise that you’re not happy, that your engagement needs to end, and that you have to cancel your wedding? Anita talks to beauty and lifestyle creator Katie Snooks who cancelled her wedding in 2017 and to couples therapist Joanna Harrison about managing the emotional and practical fall-out of cancelling your wedding.

Laura Aikman discusses her role in new drama Suspect, which tells the story of Jean Charles de Menezes, who was shot by police at Stockwell tube station in 2005. He was mistaken for a terror suspect in the aftermath of London’s 7/7 bombings. Laura plays Lana Vandenberghe in the Disney+ drama, a Canadian secretary at the Independent Police Complaints Commission who became a whistleblower, leaking documents to a TV news producer which showed a discrepancy between what the police knew and what was being reported at the time. Laura also recently starred in BBC crime drama This City is Ours and surprised Gavin and Stacey fans by returning as Smithy’s fiancé for the recent Christmas finale, watched by more than 19 million people.

Presented by Anita Rani

As WeightWatchers has filed for bankruptcy in the US, we ask what this means for the company and for the diet industry. Kylie Pentelow is joined by Daniel Woolfson, senior business reporter at the Telegraph.

Health experts are calling for more UK clinical trials to focus on finding new treatments for women, as “concerning” data reveals they are severely under-represented, with 67% more male-only studies than female-only. Professor Anna David, the director of the EGA Institute for Women’s Health at UCL, said the findings helped explained why some women “are not getting the care they need”. She joins Kylie to discuss her concerns.

Commemorations have been taking place all week to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day. For members of the armed forces, the importance of mail during the war was said to be second only to food. Now a new play brings to life the compelling correspondence between a young war-time couple. Dear Loll, A Wartime Marriage in Letters is the work of Guardian journalist and author Rosanna Greenstreet and her husband Matthew Fay. It tells the story of Matthew’s grandparents, journalist Gerard ‘Ger’ Fay and his wife Alice, or ‘Loll’. Writing virtually every day, their correspondence over four years gives a fascinating insight into how one couple survived, and offers a deeply personal and refreshingly honest window into marriage, motherhood, separation, and survival. Rosanna joins Kylie in the studio.

Saba Sams’ debut novel Gunk is about Jules who works in a nightclub alongside her ex. Jules befriends a co-worker who becomes pregnant and has the baby. Then, for one reason or another, Jules is left to care for that baby. Saba – winner of the BBC National Short Story Award in 2022 -  joins Kylie to talk about breaking the rules around love, age-gap relationships and building alternative families, all themes of Gunk.

A new report by HSBC looks at the obstacles and opportunities facing midlife women entrepreneurs. With more midlife women starting businesses than any other demographic, what is it like to be a female founder at 50+? Author of the report, Eleanor Mills, tells Kylie about the findings and how she set up her own company, Noon, at 50. Plus, Helen Lord, co-founder of Rehome, a UK-based business specialising in the resale of used and ex-display kitchens, adds her experience of midlife entrepreneurship.

Presenter: Kylie Pentelow

A BBC News documentary The Sex Detectives: Keeping Kids Safe follows a groundbreaking project in Bristol which engages the help of street sex workers to protect children and young people at risk of sexual exploitation. Avon & Somerset Police have teamed up with children’s charity Barnardo’s and partnered with Bristol’s street sex workers to gather intelligence about dangerous offenders and paedophiles. Nuala is joined by social worker Jo Ritchie, who is employed by Barnardo’s, and sex work liaison officer Rose Brown.

Model Leomie Anderson was just 14 when she was scouted, and has since gone on to work with fashion houses like Burberry, Giorgio Armani and Vivienne Westwood. She became the first Victoria Secret Angel from a Black British background. She's also the presenter of the BBC series Glow Up, the search for Britain's next top make up artist, which is back for it's 7th series. Leomie joins Nuala in the studio.

More women than ever are deciding to not wait for friends, or family, to go on an adventure. The hashtag #Solotravel has over 5 million posts across TikTok and Instagram and in a recent Press Association interview Hostelworld's CEO, Gary Morrison, said that a surge in solo travellers - especially young female backpackers - is reshaping the travel industry. So, is 2025 the year of the solo female traveller? Journalist Chanté Joseph and Solo in Style creator, Deborah Ives, tell Nuala why women are deciding to go on holiday alone.

Women in the North of England can expect to live fewer years in good health, are more likely to be unable to work due to long-term sickness and disability and are losing out in terms of wages, compared to other areas of England, according to new analysis. Health Equity North academics studied the latest available data to see whether there have been improvements in the inequalities faced by northern women since the publication of last year’s damning Woman of the North report. Nuala discusses the findings with Professor Clare Bambra of Newcastle University and co-director of Health Equity North.

We have an update from Tilly Cripwell about her campaign to protect the Molly Malone statue in Dublin.

Presenter: Nuala McGovern

A wave of female designers have been appointed to some of the leading high street brands - most recently Jacqui Markham at Whistles, Maddy Evans at M&S earlier this year, and Clare Waight Keller, the former Givenchy designer who joined Uniqlo last year. So how much of a difference does it make for consumers that women are at the helm? Nuala McGovern speaks to Jacqui Markham, who has only just become the creative director at Whistles and Catherine Shuttleworth, retail commentator, CEO and founder of Savvy Marketing.

Imagine a medical facility where almost exclusively female patients are kept in a drug-induced slumber for months at a time, woken only to be fed and bathed and given electro-convulsive therapy to erase their memories- sometimes even their identities- all without their consent.  It sounds like the stuff of dystopian sci-fi, but in fact it was a real psychiatric ward in a 1960s NHS hospital, as uncovered in a new book, The Sleep Room: A Very British Medical Scandal. Nuala speaks to the author, Jon Stock, about his investigation and hears from a former patient, Mary Thornton, about her experiences and a consultant psychiatrist, Professor Linda Gask from Manchester University.

Daisy Crawford says she was left feeling embarrassed and tearful by the treatment of Easyjet staff who threatened to charge her for an extra bag when she tried to board a flight with a bag containing her breast milk, a breast pump and cool packs as well as her hand luggage. Daisy joins Nuala to explain why she thinks her treatment was discriminatory against breastfeeding mums. 

Have you ever written or received any love letters? A new performance film, The Extraordinary Miss Flower, was inspired by just that – in fact a suitcase full of them - sent to just one woman. Icelandic-Italian singer/songwriter Emilíana Torrini felt so inspired by the letters that were sent to Miss Geraldine Flower, her friend Zoe’s mum, that it led her to get back into the studio to create her first solo record in 10 years as well as an accompanying film. She joins Nuala live in in the studio to talk about both – and to perform live.

Presenter: Nuala McGovern

In a special programme exploring 'mistakes' and our relationship with the word Nuala McGovern speaks to clinical psychologist and best-selling author of Open When, Dr Julie Smith, and hears why we dislike making mistakes in our personal and professional lives.

Journalist Nicole Mowbray tells Nuala how she felt when her mistake at The Observer caused an 'international incident'.

Are women judged more harshly for the mistakes they make in the workplace? Sarah Ellis, co-founder of Amazing If and the co-host of the Squiggly Careers podcast, and marketing specialist and co-host of the Working On It podcast, Lauren Spearman, discuss how to deal with errors that occur at work.

What impact does it have on you growing up if you were told you were conceived by ‘mistake’? Nuala speaks to journalist Sophie Heawood, who says she got pregnant by ‘mistake’ and journalist Bethan Ryder who was the baby of a ‘mistake’, they discuss what the word means to them.

And maths teacher, Gloria Dalafu tells Nuala how her love of mistakes inspires her pupils to make their own mishaps.

Presenter: Nuala McGovern

The negative effects that smartphones and social media access can have on students has become a national conversation in recent months, with differing views on who should take the lead in protecting children. Anita Rani was joined by secondary head teacher Emma Mills, whose school in Warrington has banned smartphones. Birchwood High attracted national attention two years ago when teenage student Brianna Ghey was murdered.

Paula Radcliffe held the marathon world record for more than 16 years. The four time British Olympian secured the Six Star Medal last week, and has now run all six original marathons: Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City. Recently she's had her resilience tested in a whole new way - supporting her teenage daughter Isla through a rare and aggressive form of ovarian cancer. Now in recovery, Isla ran the London marathon last Sunday and Paula joined Nuala McGovern to discuss the experience.

With the Met Gala fast approaching, we take a closer look at the business behind the red carpet with International Style Correspondent for the New York Times, Elizabeth Paton, and Fashion Editor for Glamour Magazine, Rosie Lai.

For the last decade, Frances Ryan has been a columnist and reporter at The Guardian. She joined Nuala McGovern to discuss her new book - Who Wants Normal? The Disabled Girls’ Guide to Life. Part memoir, part manifesto, it explores six facets of life: education, careers, body image, health, relationships and representation, as well as how to survive life's bumps in the road.

And London Grammar frontwoman Hannah Reid joined Nuala to discuss more than a decade at the helm of the band, their fourth album The Greatest Love, and what it’s been like navigating the music industry as a new parent.

Presenter: Anita Rani

Headteachers are gathering today in Harrogate for the annual conference of the National Association of Head Teachers. The negative effects on their students of smartphones and social media access has become a national conversation in recent months, with differing views on who should take the lead in protecting children; the Government, schools, parents, or tech companies. Anita Rani talks to secondary head Emma Mills. Her school, Birchwood High in Warrington, attracted national attention two years ago when teenager Brianna Ghey was murdered. Emma joins Anita to explain why she implemented the ban and what the effects have been so far.

Barrister and campaigner Charlotte Proudman first came to prominence ten years ago when she called out a lawyer on LinkedIn who praised her profile picture. Never afraid to speak her mind, she talks to Anita about her new book ‘He said, She Said: Truth, Trauma and the Struggle for Justice in Family Court’.

Writer George Eliot is brought to life in a new stage setting, accompanied by contemporary music by British female singer songwriters and using mainly her own words to tell her story. Author of seven novels, a poet and translator, George Eliot - real name Mary Ann Evans - was ahead of her time, befriended pioneering feminists and at one point became the second richest woman in England after Queen Victoria. Performers SuRie and Hermione Norris join Anita to discuss their celebration of her extraordinary and ground breaking life.

Presenter: Anita Rani

A recent investigation has unearthed previously unknown information about the death of a female Ukrainian journalist who had been looking in to war crimes in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Viktoriia Roshchyna, herself Ukrainian, was captured in 2023 whilst reporting from the occupied territories. She died in 2024 after a year in detention, where she was held without charge and without legal assistance. Editor on the Investigations team at The Guardian, Juliette Garside, joins Anita Rani to discuss the report.

Have you ever wondered how much impact the name you were given has had on your life? Florence Knapp’s debut novel The Names begins with a dilemma; Cora is about to register the birth of her baby son, but should she call him Bear, the name chosen by her nine-year-old daughter Maia, Julian, which is her choice, or Gordon, the name she is expected to give him and also the name of her abusive husband and his father before him? Florence joins Anita to discuss her new book and the fateful decisions we make every day.

It’s been a big week for Chelsea who last night won the Women's Super League title for the sixth year in a row, beating Manchester United 1-0 after a goal from Lucy Bronze. The victory marks the first Women's Super League title for Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor, who took over from Emma Hayes last summer. It also follows a defeat against Barcelona in the Champions League over the weekend. BBC Sport’s Emma Sanders joins Anita to discuss Chelsea’s season.

With the Met Gala fast approaching, we take a closer look at the business behind the red carpet with International Style Correspondent for the New York Times, Elizabeth Paton, and Fashion Editor for Glamour Magazine, Rosie Lai.

A new play, Conversations After Sex, tells the story of one thirty-something woman’s life through vignettes following sporadic sexual encounters with a revolving cast of men. Anita explores the theme of intimate conversations with strangers, with the play’s main protagonist and producer Olivia Lindsay and psychotherapist Charlotte Jefferson.

Presenter: Anita Rani

For the last decade, Frances Ryan has been a columnist and reporter at the Guardian. She joins Nuala McGovern to discuss her new book - Who Wants Normal? The Disabled Girls’ Guide to Life. Part memoir, part manifesto, it explores six facets of life: education, careers, body image, health, relationships and representation, as well as how to survive life's bumps in the road.

Groomed: A National Scandal is a new Channel 4 documentary from award-winning filmmaker Anna Hall, looking at the issue of gang grooming. It puts the experiences of five women who have survived unimaginable abuse at the heart of a story that spans more than 20 years. Nuala speaks to Anna and Chantelle, one of the survivors featured in the film.

How much does what you wear to work matter? In today's I newspaper, the journalist and columnist Anniki Sommerville says she loves dressing up for work but her Gen Z colleagues laugh at her blazer. She joins Nuala along with Carolyn Mair, Fashion Business Consultant and author of The Psychology of Fashion.

Pioneering Maori scholar, Mākereti Papakura is to receive a posthumous degree more than 100 years after she began her studies at Oxford University. Born in New Zealand, Makereti is believed to be the first indigenous woman to enrol. Professor Clare Harris, Head of the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography tells Nuala about her life and work.

London Grammar frontwoman Hannah Reid joins Nuala McGovern to discuss more than a decade at the helm of the band, their fourth album The Greatest Love, and what it’s been like navigating the music industry as a new parent.

With US President Donald Trump reaching the 100 day mark of his presidency, who are some of the women in his cabinet? And what impact have those first 100 days had on women's lives in the US? Nuala speaks to Republican Sarah Elliott and Democrat Kristin Kaplan Wolfe to get their thoughts.

April, a new film set in the Eastern European country of Georgia, tells the story of Nina, an obstetrician who faces an investigation, after she was unable to save a baby during labour. But the investigation brings scrutiny Nina doesn’t want, as she’s concerned it will shine a light on her secret job – providing unofficial, illegal abortions and reproductive care to women in poorer villages, in their homes. Writer and director Dea Kulumbegashvili joins Nuala to discuss her story and what it was like to film.

Over a quarter of domestic abuse services in England and Wales are having to turn children away from vital support amid severe funding shortages, according to a new report by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner. Children were recognised as victims of domestic abuse in their own right for the first time by 2021’s Domestic Abuse Act. Nuala is joined by Nicole Jacobs, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, to hear more about her report and what she wants to see happen next.

Presenter: Nuala McGovern