Do you feel embarrassed if you have to poo in public? You're not alone. Whether it's poo, farts, discharge or sweat — women are constantly self-conscious about our odour because it's considered 'unladylike' to smell. But if everyone on the planet needs to poo to survive, why do we have such poo shame? And if poo is on top of the list of things we feel awkward talking about, how do we know when something's going wrong with our bowels? So, Ladies, let's talk about poo.
Aug 12, 2019•30 min
How do you tell a mate your friendship isn't working? Or a partner you can't stand the way they kiss? Hard conversations are tough to have but sometimes necessary. Psychotherapist Esther Perel is the world's best known couples counsellor and she gives Yumi a lesson on how to navigate difficult conversations.
Jul 29, 2019•33 min
We're totally spoilt for choice when it comes to birth control. There are 12 different types of contraception to choose from and about 30 different brands of the pill. Having all these options is awesome, but how do you know you've chosen the right one for you?
Jul 15, 2019•32 min
In season one, we looked at why so many Australian women drink at risky levels. Yumi Stynes revealed her battle with drinking and quit alcohol. We also met Jo, who drank at really risky levels. This episode, we check back in, to see how they're going, plus show you how to cut down your drinking if you'd like to sub the wine for kombucha.
Jul 01, 2019•36 min
Grow up, find a partner, have kids — we’ve been doing it for thousands of years. But more and more women are choosing to ignore that path. And the latest research says they’re actually happier for it. So why do we judge women without kids?
Jun 18, 2019•29 min
Have you ever felt like a massive failure when you've looked in the mirror or felt depressed about the size of your thighs? You're not alone — research says almost 80 per cent of Australian women are unhappy with their weight. And nearly one million Australians have an eating disorder, most of them, women. What can we do to feel better about our bodies?
Jun 03, 2019•33 min
Lots of women are really self-conscious about the way their vaginas smell. We quickly hide our undies the second we take them off and up to a third of us wear a panty liner every day. But how much do you actually know about discharge? What should it smell like? What should it look like? And should we just stop dissing our discharge?
May 20, 2019•23 min
If you’re in your 30s and have had an abortion or are going to, you’re not going through it alone. It’s a myth that only the young and reckless have abortions. The stats show that older women, and those who already have kids, are having more abortions in Australia than teenagers. So if they’re the facts, why is abortion shrouded in shame, judgement and silence for older women?
May 06, 2019•33 min
We’ve all got a bad sex story. The partner who’s selfish in the sack. The horribly uninspiring one-night stand. The lover with 'performance anxiety'. Most of us have been there. There’s this idea though that we grow out of it — that we all get better at 'doing it' as we get older. But what if that doesn’t happen? What if bad sex is your life?
Apr 22, 2019•34 min
We're back! Join Yumi Stynes as she once again tears open the sealed section on life to talk all about your forbidden lady business. This is the podcast where we can confess all our secret ladies' stuff and learn something along the way. So, whether it's your discharge, what you use for birth control, or how you can make a new friend ... we're here for you! Ring us on 1300 641 222 or email ladies@abc.net.au. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.
Apr 08, 2019•3 min
You trusted us with some of your deepest, darkest and most intimate secrets and you let us share them with the podcast universe. For our final episode of 2018, we check in with the women we’ve met and hear from YOU about what you’ve learnt.
Nov 05, 2018•31 min
Everyone gets a little bit anxious at times, but is what you’re feeling normal? Anxiety is the most common mental health issue in Australia. Up to one in three women will experience anxiety, for men it’s one in five. So why are women going through this? And if you are, what can you do about it? Crisis linesLifeline on 13 11 14Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36Headspace on 1800 650 890QLife on 1800 1...
Oct 22, 2018•29 min
Sore boobs, loss of libido, hot flushes, irregular periods. Sound familiar? While you may think you’ll only experience these symptoms when you’re of a 'certain age' and hitting menopause, it turns out, they can creep in way earlier. Welcome to perimenopause! And if you think that’s years down the track, think again.
Oct 08, 2018•31 min
How often have you casually heard the terms "bitch" or "mean girl" being used to describe another woman? And, be honest, how often have you used them? In a world where we’re sold the idea that women constantly compete, compare and undermine each other, what are the invisible forces that shape the way we treat each other? And how can we stop, and strengthen the sisterhood instead?
Sep 24, 2018•29 min
Every month you go on a hormonal rollercoaster but most of us ride it blindfolded. Reproductive hormones control ovulation but they can also affect how you think. Oestrogen can make you feel fantastic, while progesterone can make you feel crappy. And for women who are hormonally sensitive, this rollercoaster can feel like a freefall.
Sep 10, 2018•31 min
Sex that feels like your vagina is about to tear open isn’t exactly dinner party conversation, but it’s common. One in five women experience painful sex, according to a study by the University of NSW.
Aug 27, 2018•31 min
If we are intelligent, ambitious and capable women, why are we still judged by the way we look? The Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery estimates that Australians spend around $1 billion a year on cosmetic procedures. Most of that is spent on botox and fillers. So if we’re spending so much money on looking young, are we complicit in society’s obsession with youth?
Aug 13, 2018•31 min
A healthy relationship is meant to feel like a warm hug from your mum after about a year, according to psychologists. But if your partner doesn’t feel like your perfect soul mate all the time, you might feel like you settled for something you didn’t sign up to. So does 'settling' exist or is it just a reality of long-term monogamy?
Jul 30, 2018•27 min
Women don’t orgasm as often as men during sex. A US study of 50,000 people found 95% of men orgasm during sex, but only 65 per cent of straight women do.
Jul 16, 2018•32 min
Do you wee when you sneeze? Or avoid star jumps at the gym? One in four of us experience pelvic floor problems which can lead to incontinence, or even prolapse.
Jul 03, 2018•28 min
When was the last time you talked about foreplay? Women tend to need more foreplay than men — so if your partner’s just a bit crap at foreplay — get them to listen to this. We talk to psychotherapist Esther Perel and a bunch of brilliant female experts about their best foreplay tips.
Jun 18, 2018•27 min
We’ve been inundated with single ladies flying the solo flag with pride. We asked you; what do you love about your single life? What have you been able to achieve because you’re single? What would you happily never hear again from your coupled-up mates? Here are your stories.
Jun 15, 2018•5 min
More people are living the single life than ever before. But what if you don’t need a partner to feel whole? In a world that wants you to couple up, is being single the new happily ever after?
Jun 04, 2018•27 min
It’s free, it’s prolific, it’s easy to find and more of us than ever are watching it but is mainstream porn contributing to the exploitation of women? Is it normalising bedroom practices that are problematic? Or is it just good, dirty fun? Warning: contains explicit material.
May 21, 2018•28 min
The response to our last episode was extraordinary. We asked you; what do you wish people knew about pregnancy loss? What’s the best thing to say? How can we better support family or friends who are dealing with it? Here are your stories.
May 18, 2018•3 min
The first trimester of a pregnancy can often be the hardest, so why do so many women feel the need to stay quiet? And what if the answer — miscarriage — is the reason we should be talking about pregnancy earlier?
May 07, 2018•25 min
The statistics say the number of women who are unfaithful is massively on the rise. So why? What’s driving those who seek a covert thrill outside their relationship? And does society still judge women who stray more harshly than men? Warning: this podcast contains strong language and adult themes.
Apr 24, 2018•27 min
We’re back! Season two is coming and this time, we’re calling on you - our sisters out there. What's in your treasure chest of taboos you feel like you can't tell anyone, but seriously need to get off your chest?We’re here to talk about it. Ring us on 1300 641 222 or email ladies@abc.net.au.
Apr 10, 2018•3 min
When was the last time you sat down with your girlfriends and had a conversation about menstrual products? No need to. We did it for you.
Nov 23, 2017•8 min
Imagine knowing so much about vaginas that you’ve been given an Order of Australia medal. Dr Elizabeth Farrell received the award for her incredible work in women’s health. Warning: This episode contains the odd swear word, frank disclosure and graphic description.
Nov 09, 2017•6 min
