If you've ever been with a guy who thinks jackhammering is a virtue or who can't tell your clitoris from your clavicle, this episode is for you! (Pssst share it with a bloke you know). Yumi Stynes chats to comedian and expert dater Nikki Britton about what makes for good sex. Plus, sex therapist Aleks Trkulja, from The Pleasure Centre, gives tips on how to take on feedback in the bedroom. This episode will answer questions like:  What do women want in sex?  How are women and men’s sexual desires different?  What can I do to increase arousal?  What are common turn offs?  What are the fundamental elements of good sex?  What to listen to next: Is everyone having better sex than me?  The new way to date  Will we ever have a cure for endometriosis?  Shedding the shame of herpes  You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.   What to read next: Why Kate chose to 'stay flat' after breast cancer surgery  How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood   What loving someone with an addiction or dependence can look like  The dark side of being a perfectionist   This episode contains references to sex, gender, men, women, clitoris, mental load, marriage, sex life, therapy, masturbation.

Dr Corrine Low says heterosexual relationships are costing women financially. And she’s got the life experience and the data to back it up.   When Corrine was married to a man and a new mum, she was the main breadwinner, shouldering the domestic load...and she was FED UP.   Corrine’s research has found that even though we’re doing more paid work than ever, women still do most of the unpaid labour at home and it’s hurting our back pocket (and our feelings).   Dr Low talks to Yumi Stynes about practical ways for women to have more equal relationships, share the mental load and connect our romantic and financial decisions.  This episode will answer questions like:  What is domestic labour?  Do women do more work at home than men?  How can we create more equal families?  How does work gender inequality impact relationships?  What is mum burn out?  What can you do to distribute the mental load fairly?  What to listen to next:   Emotional labour with Rose Hackman  Turia Pitt is a selfish woman  Mental health: Anxiety and how to beat it  Has Ozempic killed body inclusivity?  You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.   What to read next:    Why Kate chose to 'stay flat' after breast cancer surgery  How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood   What loving someone with an addiction or dependence can look like  The dark side of being a perfectionist   This episode contains references to gender roles, family, relationship, men, mental load, domestic labour, utility, having it all, children, parenting, child care, work life balance, mental health. 

Esther Perel is on a mission to make us feel less alone. The world renowned psychotherapist says we've lost touch with the village but she's here to help us reconnect.  Esther chats to Yumi Stynes about how to foster a community and stop putting pressure on romantic partners to fulfil our needs. She shares her own story of seeing her parents build a village as refugees, and how she learnt to lean on her chosen people when her family needed it most.      If you’re feeling isolated or just want to bolster your community, this episode offers practical way to find and maintain your village.    This episode will answer questions like:  What is a village? How can I build a village? How does having a strong community impact romantic relationships? How did Esther Perel build a strong community? What's at stake when we don't have a village? How can we all combat loneliness? How do we ask for help? What to listen to next:   Deepa Paul on opening her marriage   Emotional labour with Rose Hackman  Relationship resuscitation — coming back from the brink  You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.   What to read next:    Building a village means showing up even when it feels hard, says Esther Perel Why Kate chose to 'stay flat' after breast cancer surgery  How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood   What loving someone with an addiction or dependence can look like  The dark side of being a perfectionist   This episode contains references to Esther Perel, village, community, friends, romantic relationship, marriage, resentment, therapy, couples therapy, Mating in Captivity, Where Should We Begin, personality styles, extroversion, introversion, love language.

We’re told boobs are sexy! Bouncy! Nutritious food banks even! But what happens when they betray you?  Every year in Australia, around 20,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. Forty per cent of those will need a mastectomy, surgery to have the breast tissue removed. Some of those women will choose not reconstruct, to stay "flat." Yumi Stynes speaks to "flatties" about their relationship with their new bodies. You'll hear from women who've had one or both breasts removed about how their decision has reshaped their sex lives and body image and how they've found hope in new forms. If you've got boobs, or know someone who does, this episode will make you question how you think about them.  Featured in this episode:  Dr Charlotte Tottman, psycho-oncologist   Useful links:  Upfront About Breast Cancer – What You Don't Know Until You Do, with Dr Charlotte Tottman  Breast Cancer Network Australia  So Brave Breast Cancer Charity  Mastectomy: Breast Surgery and Recovery    What to listen to next:   Will we ever have a cure for endometriosis?  Embracing imperfection was the key to Astrid’s success  Getting to the bottom of IBS  You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.     What to read next:    How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood   What loving someone with an addiction or dependence can look like  The dark side of being a perfectionist   Why genital herpes does not mean the end of your sex life  This episode contains references to breast cancer, going flat, staying flat, flatties, reconstruction, surgery, chemotherapy, body image, femininity, boobs, psychology, mental health, gender. 

When she was 16, Pub Choir's Astrid Jorgensen wanted to be a nun. So how did she end up in pubs, night after night, teaching people to sing? For years, Astrid felt like she didn't belong to the world of music. But she found her way in, on her terms. Astrid was never going to be an elite Opera singer, but in rediscovering the joy of singing for the sake of it, she invited the world to sing along too. Astrid has fused her unique talents together to create Pub Choir — the largest choir in the world. She teaches everyday punters to sing a three-part harmony, where the audience becomes the performers. Yumi Stynes sits down with Astrid for a candid conversation about the messiness of life, how she found her voice and began singing to her own tune. What to listen to next:   Turia Pitt is a selfish woman  Mental health: Anxiety and how to beat it  Will we ever have a cure for endometriosis?  You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.   What to read next: How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood   What loving someone with an addiction or dependence can look like  The dark side of being a perfectionist   Why genital herpes does not mean the end of your sex life  This episode contains references to Pub Choir, Bulimia, Backstreet Boys, Cher, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Africa, Cranberries, Zombie, Dolores O’Riordan, Toto, Average at Best, music teacher, spiritual quest, religion, abusive teacher, music, audiation, sensory, senses, conducting, choir, crowd, stage.

Up to one in five people have irritable bowel syndrome and women are three times as likely to be affected. From bloating, cramping, constipation and diarrhea, the symptoms can be debilitating, let alone make it hard to do up a pair of jeans!  Even though IBS is so common, there’s no cure. But there’s increasing research about the best ways to manage symptoms - from the low FOMAP diet to managing anxiety to live a better and less gassy life.   Featured in this episode:  Associate Professor Jess Biesiekierski from the University of Melbourne  Dr Naomi Koh Belic, self-described ‘hot girl with IBS’  What to listen to next:   Calling out wellness bullsh*t with Dr Jen Gunter  Sandwich generation — the women looking after everyone  Mental health: Overcoming depression  Mental health: Anxiety and how to beat it  You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.   What to read next:    How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood   What loving someone with an addiction or dependence can look like  The dark side of being a perfectionist   Why genital herpes does not mean the end of your sex life   This episode will answer questions like:  What is IBS?  What does IBS feel like?  How do you know you have IBS?  How can you manage IBS?  Can you cure IBS?  How is the mind and gut connected?  What does stress have to do with IBS?  This episode contains references to IBS, irritable bowl syndrome, HotGirlsHaveIBS , leaky gut, pain, gut pain, faecal transplants, anxiety, mental health, therapy, microbiome, FODMAP, diet, mind gut connection.

With "wellness" advice from influencers flooding our feeds, it's hard to sort fact from absolute nonsense and know what to eat to feel good. Enter Laureate Professor in nutrition and dietetics, Clare Collins. Yumi sits down with Clare to get the low down on the good stuff we should be eating on and the nasty stuff we should avoid. How much protein is enough? Is fibre a big deal? Are probiotics bulls*#t? This episode will help you turn down the noise on nonsense diet trends and listen to what your guts are telling you. What to listen to next:   Calling out wellness bullsh*t with Dr Jen Gunter  Stepmums: Why do they get such a hard time? Endometriosis: Pain, periods, medical gaslighting Clare and Jessie Stephens on twinning, pregnancy and envy You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.   What to read next:    How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood   What loving someone with an addiction or dependence can look like  The dark side of being a perfectionist   Why genital herpes does not mean the end of your sex life   This episode will answer questions like:   What is your gut?  How does your gut affect your mood?  Is your gut connected to your mental health?  What is your microbiome?   How do you keep your microbiome healthy?  How much fibre do women need?  How much protein do women need?  What are emulsifiers?   What foods are bad for the gut?  How does the mind-gut connection work?  What is the connection between the gut and dementia?  What is the Mediterranean diet?  What is the MIND diet?  This episode contains references to microbiome, diet, diet culture, emulsifiers, fibre, protein, women's health, influencers, menopause, depression, anxiety, bacteria, Mediterranean diet, vegetables, processed food, FODMAP.

Turia Pitt was doing it all — working, mothering, wifeing — and she was exhausted. Being everything to everyone came at a huge cost to her mental health — she was close to burnout, and so she decided to flip the script on being a 'good woman'. Over a decade after sustaining life threatening burns to most of her body in a grassfire, Turia's become a famous author, speaker and athlete. She also had two kids. When Turia's family moved away from their support network for her husband's career, Turia took on a lot and did it with a smile on her face. But inside, she was suffocating. Turia realised that being selfless wasn't getting her where she wanted in life, so it was time to be selfish! She sits down with Yumi Stynes in a refreshingly honest conversation about mum-guilt, saying no, vices, disability and leaving the husbands at home to go hiking with your besties. Turia Pitt is the author of Selfish: How to unlearn the rules that are breaking you. What to listen to next:   Body image and babies with Turia Pitt and Sophie Walker  Sandwich generation — the women looking after everyone  Mental health: Overcoming depression  Mental health: Anxiety and how to beat it  You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.   What to read next:    How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood   What loving someone with an addiction or dependence can look like  The dark side of being a perfectionist   Why genital herpes does not mean the end of your sex life   This episode will answer questions like:   Why do I feel so tired as a working mum?  What does burnout feel like?  What can I do to feel more present with my kids?  How can you tell if you’re leaning on alcohol too much?  How do get mental health support?  What does it feel like to move away from family and friends with young kids?  How can I put myself first as a working mum?  How do I start saying no?  This episode contains references to motherhood, mental load, depression, burnout, stress, disability, running, hiking, exercise, marriage, family, gender roles, parenting, boundaries, people pleasing, alcohol, mental health care plan, trauma, ironman.

She's one of the great cultural villains; the evil stepmother. Stepmums are up against it. Besides fighting bad press generated by endless pop-culture references, they're chucked in the deep end of parenting without a life boat. Yumi Stynes meets stepmothers who've experienced the joy of loving their partner's child as well as the difficulty of slotting into a 'mum' role when the kids already have one. Plus, researcher Dr Bailey Oliver Blackburn explains the challenges of stepmothering, from responsibility without authority to constant comparison and feeling excluded. This episode is a celebration of the unique role that stepmums play and offers some tools to navigate a complex family dynamic. What to listen to next:  Toxic mums Breaking the motherhood contract Mental health: Overcoming depression  Mental health: Anxiety and how to beat it Mental health: Loving someone with an addiction You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.  What to read next:   How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood  The dark side of being a perfectionist  Why genital herpes does not mean the end of your sex life  What happens to your sex life during perimenopause?  This mini-series will answer questions like:  What is it like to be a stepmother?  How do you blend families?  How many families are blended in Australia?  How should you approach parenting as a step mother?  What is 'nacho parenting'? What are the benefits to being a stepmother? This episode contains references to stepmothers, stepmom, stepmum, wicked stepmother, stepfamily, family, parenting, blended families, anxiety, stress, pregnancy, Cinderella, Parent Trap, Rapunzel.

Standing by watching a loved one's addiction can be heartbreaking and confusing. One in ten Australian's struggle with a substance disorder and one in five experience gambling harm. For every person struggling with an addiction, there are people close to them. The wives, mothers, sisters and children watching their addictions play havoc with their lives. Yumi Stynes sits down with women who've been on the sidelines of someone else's addiction, and who've found a path through a challenging situation. In this episode you'll hear how to look after your own mental health as a carer and how to have those difficult conversations. Featured in this episode:  Caroline Thain, Manager of Clinical Advice and Governance at Headspace  Special thanks to Dr Steph Kershaw from the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use for her help with this episode.  Helpful resources:  National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline 1800 250 015   SHARC's Family Drug and Gambling Helpline 1300 660 068  Lifeline on 13 11 14  Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36  Headspace on 1800 650 890  Matilda Centre resources for mental health and substance use What to listen to next:  Mental health: Anxiety and how to beat it  Mental health: Overcoming depression  You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.  What to read next:   How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood  The dark side of being a perfectionist  Why genital herpes does not mean the end of your sex life  What happens to your sex life during perimenopause?  This episode will answer questions like:  How can I look after myself if my loved one has an addiction?  What does gambling harms and addiction look like?  What is it like to live with someone with alcohol dependence?  How can alcohol dependence affect families?  What is the financial impact of a gambling addiction?  How can I help someone addicted to poker machines?  How can I help someone with an addiction?  This episode contains references to mental health, gambling, poker machines, addiction, alcohol dependence, Al Anon, Alcoholics Anonymous, support group, psychologist, alcohol and other drugs, counselling, boundaries. 

Anxiety is the most common mental health condition facing women. One in three will be diagnosed in her lifetime. From overwhelming worry to spiralling thoughts, panic attacks to avoidance, anxiety can have a huge impact. But the good news is that we know how to treat it. In part two of this three-part mental health series, Yumi Stynes chats to Julie Goodwin, of MasterChef fame, to understand how she got on top of her crippling anxiety. She also sits down with neuroscientist and clinical psychologist Professor Bronwyn Graham to talk anxiety-busting strategies. The episode explores how hormones, sleep, lifestyle, and medication can impact anxiety and help you emerge stronger than ever. Featured in this episode: Professor Bronwyn Graham, neuroscientist and clinical psychologist Julie Goodwin, cook and author If you need someone to talk to, call:  Lifeline on 13 11 14  Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467  Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36  Headspace on 1800 650 890  QLife on 1800 184 527  What to listen to next:  Mental health: Overcoming depression  The price of perfectionism  How to give zero f*cks    Perimenopause: lifting the brain fog  You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.  What to read next:   How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood  The dark side of being a perfectionist  Why genital herpes does not mean the end of your sex life  What happens to your sex life during perimenopause?  This mini-series will answer questions like:  How do women experience anxiety differently to men?  What does anxiety feel like?  What are the physical manifestations of anxiety?  What is the role of hormones in women’s anxiety?  How does sleep impact anxiety?  What can exercise and diet do for anxiety?  What are effective treatments for anxiety?  This episode contains references to mental health, anxiety, panic disorder, panic attacks, generalised anxiety disorder, GAD, OCD, perfectionism, psychiatric facility, medication, suicide, family, parenting, work-life balance. 

One in six women will get depression in their lifetime, compared with one in ten men. So, is it hormones or circumstances or a combination of both that's makes us more susceptible? And importantly, how can we confront the black dog if it's at our door? In part one of this three-part series, Yumi Stynes sits down with women who've been in the grips of depression to understand how they overcame it. She also lays out the essential ingredients for good mental health. Featured in this episode: Professor Bronwyn Graham, neuroscientist and clinical psychologist If you need someone to talk to, call:  Lifeline on 13 11 14  Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800  Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467  Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36  Headspace on 1800 650 890  QLife on 1800 184 527  Come and see a live recording of the podcast in Sydney on October 16. Yumi’s in conversation with Sophie Gilbert, author of Girl on Girl: How pop culture turned a generation of women against themselves. Tickets here!   What to listen to next:  Loneliness — you're not alone  The price of perfectionism  How to give zero f*cks    Perimenopause: lifting the brain fog  You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.  What to read next:   How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood  The dark side of being a perfectionist  Why genital herpes does not mean the end of your sex life What happens to your sex life during perimenopause?  This mini-series will answer questions like:  How do women experience mental health conditions differently to men?  What does depression feel like?  Is depression the same as feeling sad?  What is the role of hormones in women’s depression?  How does sleep impact depression?  What can exercise and diet do for depression?  What are effective treatments for depression?  What is Electroconvulsive Therapy?  This episode contains references to mental health, depression, melancholic depression, suicide, antidepressants, SSRIs, medication, hospital, parenting, motherhood, relationships, family, wellness, health, exercise, hormones, stress, sleep, CBT, psychiatric facility, electroconvulsive therapy, ECT. 

One in three women in Australia will be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder in their lifetime and one in six will experience depression. This Mental Health Month, it's time to find solutions. In this three-part series, Yumi Stynes chats to leading experts about hacking your brain, hormones, nutrition (and yes, mental load) to feel better. Yumi speaks to women with depression and anxiety about the treatments and lifestyle changes that have helped them feel better. We also look at how to look after your mental health when you love someone with an addiction. Featured in this series: neuroscientist and clinical psychologist Professor Bronwyn Graham, Headspace's Caroline Thain and beloved cook Julie Goodwin. What to listen to next:  Loneliness — you're not alone  The price of perfectionism  How to give zero f*cks    Perimenopause: lifting the brain fog  You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.  What to read next: How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood  The dark side of being a perfectionist  Shame and disgust: Why we find this STI so hard to talk about  What happens to your sex life during perimenopause?  This mini-series will answer questions like:  How do women experience mental health conditions differently to men?  What is the role of hormones in women’s mental health?  What is the role of exercise and diet in mental health?  How do antidepressants work?  What’s it like to stay in a psychiatric hospital?  How do I feel better day to day?  This episode contains references to mental health, anxiety, depression, addiction, SSRIs, medication, hospital, parenting, motherhood, relationships, family, wellness, health. 

Twins Clare and Jessie Stephens have been by each other's side for all of life's firsts. The first day of school, first job, first love, first pregnancy and birth plus that time Clare dyed her hair brown (spoiler alert: disaster). The sisters, both writers and podcasters, live in tandem. They're also competitive high achievers. So what's it like when your best friend is also your harshest critic, most fierce rival and biggest cheerleader? How do you figure out who you are when your identity and DNA are so closely linked with another? Yumi Stynes sits down with the twins for a raucous conversation about the love and war of sisterhood. Clare Stephens is the author of The Worst Thing I've Ever Done and host of The Pile On podcast. Jessie Stephens is the author of Something Bad Is Going to Happen and host of the Mamamia Out Loud podcast. What to listen to next:  Sashi Perera on reinvention  Rosie Waterland and Jamila Rizvi's broken brains  Jessie Tu, on miscarriage and doing motherhood her way  The price of perfectionism  You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.  What to read next:   How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood  The dark side of being a perfectionist  Shame and disgust: Why we find this STI so hard to talk about  What happens to your sex life during perimenopause?  This episode contains references to pregnancy, miscarriage, jealousy, envy, twin, sisterhood, family, depression, anxiety, relationships, Jessie Stephens pregnancy, identical twins. 

Married mum Deepa Paul didn’t have ‘sleeping with strangers’ on her bingo card. She grew up in the Catholic and conservative Philippines and married her college sweetheart. But underneath, Deepa yearned for more.    Deepa wanted to open up her marriage, but convincing her husband took time and tears. Eventually, they settled on boundaries and set up their dating profiles.  Having sex with new people meant that Deepa could explore her desires without shame. It also sparked a renewal in her marriage.   In her book Ask me how it works: love in an open marriage Deepa answers the questions we all want to know about polyamory.   What to listen to next:  The new way to date  How to have better sex, with Emily Nagoski  Esther Perel will change how you think about intimacy  Oh my kink! Pulling back the covers on BDSM  You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.  What to read next:   How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood  The dark side of being a perfectionist  Shame and disgust: Why we find this STI so hard to talk about  What happens to your sex life during perimenopause?  This episode will answer questions like:  How does polyamory work?  Do people get jealous in open relationships?  What is couples therapy like?  How do you navigate the stigma of an open relationship?  How do you talk to your partner about sex?  How do you talk to your kids about your sex life?  This episode contains references to polyamory, open marriage, wedding, sex, sexuality, marriage, parenting, children, kids, communication, couples therapy, couples counselling, infidelity, cheating, online dating. 

This is a guided meditation to help with chronic pain.   Endometriosis hurts. It can be a gnarling, twisting, stabbing, relentless source of pain. Finding a way through that pain can be overwhelming at times. Meditation can help.   Gynaecological surgeon and endometriosis specialist Dr Pav Nanayakkara guides you through a series of breathing exercises to shift your relationship with pain.   This isn’t a standard Ladies, We Need to Talk episode, it’s a tool for your mindfulness toolbox. One you can come back to any time you need.   These meditations aren't designed to replace medical pain relief or the advice of a good doctor, rather to compliment them. What to listen to next:  Endometriosis: Pain, periods, medical gaslighting The rage in my pelvis When sex hurts Perimenopause: WTF is happening to our bodies Free to bleed: escaping menstrual shame You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. What to read next: Shame and disgust: Why we find this STI so hard to talk about What happens to your sex life during perimenopause? How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood This episode contains references to endometriosis, gynaecology, period pain, chronic pain, pain management, meditation, attention, acceptance, mindfulness, breathing, breath work. 

Around one million Australian women live with endometriosis. That's around one in seven, so chances are you know someone dealing with debilitating pain, medical misogyny and fertility issues because of the disease. Awareness about endometriosis has expanded in the last few years, but there's still a long way to go. Yumi Stynes meets women who've spent a lot of time and money seeking a diagnosis and fighting to be heard. She also sits down with Professor Caroline Ford from the Ainsworth Endometriosis Research Institute at UNSW who offers hope for a future with tailored treatments and less BS. Helpful links: Endometriosis Foundation  (these folks run support groups) National Endometriosis Clinical and Scientific trials registry Endometriosis Australia Pelvic Pain foundation Endo Zone What to listen to next: The rage in my pelvis When sex hurts Perimenopause: WTF is happening to our bodies Free to bleed: escaping menstrual shame Shedding the shame of herpes The new way to date You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. What to read next: Shame and disgust: Why we find this STI so hard to talk about What happens to your sex life during perimenopause? How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood This episode will answer questions like: What is endometriosis? How can you tell if you have endometriosis? Is it normal to have painful periods? What are the treatment options for endometriosis? Does endometriosis affect your fertility? Does endometriosis affect your sex life? This episode contains references to endometriosis, gynaecology, period pain, chronic pain, painful sex, medical, gaslighting, medical misogyny, cancer, fertility, infertility, IVF, uterus, lesions, laparoscopy, endo, endometrial tissue, chronic pelvic pain, adenomyosis, dysmenorrhea, chocolate cysts, blood, National Action Plan for Endometriosis.

Artificial Intelligence is supercharging a new era of misogyny. There are more weapons than ever for men to use against women to silence and shame us, chief among them deepfakes (AI generated images and videos). And tech companies and regulators are not doing enough to fight this abuse, which is affecting everyone from schoolgirls to prime ministers. After her book Men Who Hate Women dropped, academic Laura Bates was sent an AI-generated nightmare. It was her face, used in a sexually violent doctored image. Her new book, The New Age of Sexism: How the AI Revolution is Reinventing Misogyny dives into this wild collision of technology and hate, from deepfake pornography to cyber brothels, chatbots and robot girlfriends. Laura calls out a future where women are easy targets and the rules don't apply. The tech might be new, but the misogyny is old and crusty —and Laura says it's time to fight back and protect women now. Come to our next live show: How pop culture turned a generation of women against themselves What to listen to next: Are our boys ok? Fighting online misogyny with Kate Scott Falling for a narcissist Calling out wellness bullsh*t with Dr Jen Gunter Sashi Perera on reinvention You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. What to read next: Shame and disgust: Why we find this STI so hard to talk about What happens to your sex life during perimenopause? How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood The dark side of being a perfectionist This episode will address questions like, what does AI mean for women and women's rights? How is technology being used in gender-based violence? What is a deepfake? What is the psychological impact of online abuse? What can I do if there's a deepfake using my image? This episode contains references to pornography, metaverse, online, deepfake, discrimination, inequality, harassment, reddit, social media, sexual assault, abuse, AI, Artificial Intelligence.

Trying to find a life partner on a dating app who's not a gun toting, fish wielding weirdo can be like trying to find a needle in the haystack. But according to Professor Jennie Young, there's a much more empowering way of sorting through all that hay. She's come up with a technique to hack the apps called 'The Burnt Haystack Method' to help women wade through the online swamp. Jennie never thought she would use her academic background to become a dating influencer. She was 50 when she first started online dating and was struck by the onslaught of stilted, mundane, and rude conversations. She kept getting the same advice — make yourself as appealing as possible and give men the benefit of the doubt. But Jennie, along with her army of followers, is turning that advice on its head. She's giving women permission to be as judgemental as possible and be totally yourself along the way. Jennie chats with Yumi Stynes about how to hack the apps and win at dating. Think of this episode as a tool in your arsenal if you're dating, or a trusty guide if you're close to someone who is. What to listen to next: Ditching dating apps Paying for sex at 70 How to have better sex, with Emily Nagoski Rosie Waterland and Jamila Rizvi's broken brains You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. What to read next: The women staying single by choice in a world of relentless dating pressure Sugar babies give rich, older men the 'full girlfriend experience' at a price This episode will address questions like, why are conversations so weird on dating apps? How can I have a better time on dating apps? Who should I avoid on the dating apps? This episode contains references to burned haystack dating method, BHDM, B2B, block to burn, block2burn, Jennie Young, dating apps, couples, partner, love, relationships, dating events, Match Group, Hinge, Tinder, Bumble, OkCupid, divorce.

Dating apps are a drag. And women are ditching them in droves. Beyond the swiping, more of us are daring to date in real life. Yumi Stynes chats to women moving away from the apps and towards in-person singles events. From post-divorce blind dates to queer speed dating, dinners with strangers and exercise classes, all in the name of finding love. Or at least a little lust. Plus, friend of the pod and Lifestyle Editor at Guardian Australia, Alyx Gorman helps us understand why more women are dating IRL. What to listen to next:   Loneliness — you're not alone  Relationship resuscitation — coming back from the brink  'All Women Want' — how to have great sex, with Alyx Gorman  Digital dating despair  What to read next:  The women staying single by choice in a world of relentless dating pressure  Sugar babies give rich, older men the 'full girlfriend experience' at a price  Global study shows online dating does not always lead to happy relationships  This episode will address questions like, why are people logging off the dating apps? Where did dating apps go wrong? Why are single in-person events on the rise? You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode contains references to dating apps, single events, couples, partner, love, relationships, dating events, in-person, running clubs, pickle ball, paddle, boxing, Match Group, Hinge, Tinder, Bumble, OkCupid, divorce.