This week we're watching Fathers for Justice blueprint and Oscar-nabbing weepathon, Kramer vs. Kramer. But how up to date will Jen and Hannah find the sexual politics? What will they make of Dustin Hoffman's method acting? And how much will Hannah want to give Meryl Streep a hug? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ultra-runner and delightful human Sabrina Verjee loves a crazy adventure. She held the overall record for the 325-mile circuit of the Wainwrights between June 2021 and May 2022, and also held the female record for the Pennine Way between September 2020 to August 2021. On December 21, she’s about to take on a new challenge, running the 100-mile trail of Lakes, Meres and Waters in honour of legendary fell-runner Joss Naylor. Jen caught up with her to talk about loving a challenge, how much sleep i...
New BBC audio drama Purple Heart Warriors is about some of the Second World War's least talked about soldiers, the Japanese Americans of the 442nd. We all know Hannah is fascinated by war stories, but not everyone is, so she's asking director Jessica Dromgoole about how you make a story like this accessible to everyone, and what it tells us about war, loyalty, immigration and much more. * Purple Heart Warriors starts on the BBC World Service on December 11 and the whole series will be available ...
When we talk about the politics of motherhood, it's often around isolated topics, such as the cost of childcare. But, in her new book Mother State: A Political History of Motherhood, academic and writer Helen Charman argues that this isn’t enough to understand the inherently political act of mothering. Jen chats to Helen about bodily autonomy, the paradoxes around our understanding of motherhood, why we should all be interested in mothering, and why Margaret Thatcher wouldn’t have much liked Jen...
What's going on in South Korea? Does anyone know? And, potentially related, has seen Liz Truss, recently? Hitler? Over here, the Government is finally shaking up the laws around stalking, which is a definite step in the right direction. In Sexism of the Week, our duo of "women of a certain age" have some thoughts on the allegations surrounding Masterchef presenter, Gregg Wallace. And finally, in Jenny off the Blocks, there’s Welsh joy and Suffolk sadness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ...
It's well loved, it's influential, it's got Carrie Fisher in it. Got to be rated, right? Well, what about that thesis about male-female friendships? Is Mickey invested in the relationship? Does Jen think it's relatable? Why doesn't Hannah hate this? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It’s a staggering six years since we first had Hannah George and Taylor Glenn, the women behind the Drunk Women Solving Crime podcast, on Standard Issue. Since then, many drinks have been drunk and many crimes have been solved*, and now their award-winning podcast is about to get even bigger. From January, there’ll be two episodes of Drunk Women Solving Crime a week, available wherever you get your podcasts. Mick chats to Taylor and Hannah about crime, drinking, and US presidents. *no crimes hav...
Back in May, Laura Williamson took over the reins as international editor-in-chief at pioneering sports media platform, The Athletic. Jen caught up with her to talk about being the only woman in the room, how things have changed for women in sports media, her ambitions for women in the profession, and supporting rubbish football teams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As a petition threatens the nascent Starmer Government (it totally doesn't), Jen takes a look at the plan to "Get Britain Working". Hannah's talking about the aftermath of the Conor McGregor rape trial in Ireland. If you thought that leaving Earth was a way to avoid sexism, we've some bad news for you, but there's good news in the form of some Rosa grants for women and girls' groups. And in Jenny Off The Blocks, we're talking cricket, tennis and some confusion over where East London is. Hannah's...
Groundbreaking visuals, brilliant storytelling and a ragtag bunch of characters that celebrate difference and being your true self: is there a bigger must-see movie for young and old alike than this musical fantasy classic? Has time been kind to it? Will the flying monkeys still lead to soiled underwear? Mick, Hannah and Jen have answers. And also questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Our resident music guru Liz Buckley is back – and she’s brought some pop legends with her. Since their genesis on Popstars: The Rivals in 2002, Cheryl, Nadine Coyle, the late Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh have become proper chart botherers, world record setters and terrible ghosthunters. Liz is IN. Can she convince Mickey to get onboard the Girls Aloud tour bus, or is it a (sexy) no, no, no from Noonan? Liz talks about The Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal, which you’ll find...
Anyone could write a book for kids, right? Well, that does seem to be the prevailing view, so Hannah's been on the Zoom with Emma Reeves, writer and Chair of The Writers Guild of Great Britain, to find out why and how she writes for children, and why it's nowhere near as easy as everyone thinks. * Emma's new play for kids, The Glass Slippers, is at The Lighthuse in Poole from December 7 until Christmas Eve. Find our more here: https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/the-glass-slippers/ Learn mor...
New BBC sitcom Only Child is about a man realising his dad isn't coping on his own, but at the same time, doesn't really want to be helped. Highly relatable content, right? Hannah chats to one of its stars, Greg McHugh, about that whole "circle of life" thing that comes with ageing parents, and working with one of his comedy idols, Gregor Fisher. They're also talking about Fresh Meat, Marvellous and Gary: Tank Commander. Because of course they are. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho...
Are monkeys about to rise up and rule over us? Hannah hopes so, but probably not. Which is a shame, because humans are doing an appalling job of it. This week we're talking about Marine Le Pen vs Paris prosecutors, Rachel Reeves vs Farmers and the Onion vs Infowars. And in Sexism of The Week, Mickey's asking what's gone wrong with Ask For Angela. You can hear Hannah's interview with Elizabeth Williamson about Sandy Hook and Alex Jones on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6e684K7XvKM...
A stellar line-up of top women has drawn Jen to pick late-80s weepy Steel Magnolias. But will this film know what to do with its cast, or indeed know anything at all about women and their friendships? And is anyone prettier than Grandpappy’s duck on a Tuesday? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What Nick Miller doesn’t know about football ain’t worth knowing. INTERNATIONAL MAN, football writer, author and – full disclosure – one of Mick’s all-time favourite humans, chats about his new book, Who Owns Football?, why the answer to that question increasingly matters to all of us, what Jilly Cooper's got right about the beautiful game, and how the women’s game is nailing it in all sorts of ways. Who Owns Football? The Changing Face of Club Ownership is published by Bloomsbury and out now. L...
The Dad Shift hit the headlines recently after a brilliant stunt, in which the campaign group attached dolls to statues of famous men across London. Why? To draw attention to the issue of men’s statutory paternity leave entitlement in the UK, which – spoiler alert! – is not good. In fact, it’s the worst in Europe, something the campaign group hopes to change. Jen caught up with Alex Lloyd-Hunter, one of the group’s founders, to talk about why the system as it stands is hurting everyone, percepti...
A feel-good romantic comedy that doesn’t make women feel like shit? Say whaaaaaat? Yosra’s picked Raine Allen Miller’s playful feature directorial debut following a day (mostly) in the life of two twenty-somethings both reeling from bad break-ups and forging a connection. Is it the mind-changing rom-com Hannah’s been waiting for? Has it got Mick pining for Peckham? And is it possible for anyone to convincingly sing along with Terence Trent D’arby? Find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visi...
It’s a mixed bag of news this week, as Mick and Jen take in: the results of the largest ever survey of rape and sexual assault survivors; the resignation of Justin Welby as Archbishop of Canterbury following the Church of England’s cover up of child abuse; Iraq slashing the age of consent to nine years old, and Yale’s new college course of Queen Bey. And in Jenny Off the Blocks, there’s good news, bad news, same-as-it-ever-was news, and big MOTD news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit mega...
What is the message of Fight Club? Is all of it in Mickey's head? Might it be accidentally feminist? The answers to these unlikely questions (and many more) lie within... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In new BBC drama series The Listeners*, a woman starts hearing a noise that seemingly no-one else can hear. Which was catnip to Hannah, who got on Zoom with its director, Janicza Bravo, and star, Rebecca Hall, to find out more. * The Listeners starts on BBC1 on November 19 and is also available to watch on the iPlayer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Women’s ice hockey is on the rise in the UK, and new team on the (ice) block, the Haringey Greyhounds are already intent on promotion at the end of the season. Jen caught up with assistant captain Yami Manchanda to talk about the UK’s ice hockey scene, access to the sport, and the joy of just giving something a go. The Haringey Greyhounds are next in action at Alexandra Palace on November 25. Tickets available here or on the door (subject to availability). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...
Rivals! Rivals! Rivals! Mickey's certainly excited about the small screen adaptation of Jilly Cooper's novel, but will Hannah and Jen agree? Find out in this month's Outside The Box, when we're also talking about Mr Loverman, Alma's Not Normal, Showtrial, Territory and Sweetpea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Donald Trump becomes the first convicted felon to win the Presidential race and will reenter the White House – again. URGH. Not least for women. Hannah and Mick’s yearned for monkey overlords remain frustratingly absent, but at least Gary Barlow’s massive son and the backpack-wearing rats are here. And there’s some extra light relief courtesy of Sarah Millican for our £5+ patrons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
One of the “cool” movies of the 1990s, Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece* is a carnival of violence and humour set to a banging soundtrack. It made stars of Samuel L Jackson and Uma Thurman, revitalised the careers of John Travolta and Bruce Willis, and basically gave Tarantino a blank cheque going forward. But did it tickle the pickle of Mick, Hannah and Jen? Or is it all Dick Dale and no trousers? *Discuss. That’s why we’re here, right? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi...
Writer and theatre-maker Rae Mainwaring was in her early 20s when she was diagnosed with Mutiple Sclerosis – MS as it's commonly known. All she knew of the autoimmune condition at the time was that every single representation she’d seen of it on TV was one of abject misery, which, ultimately, was not her experience of MS. Some years later, she wrote about her experiences in Bright Places, her Peggy Ramsay award-winning play and a deeply personal and authentic exploration of the condition. Jen ca...
There used to be a time when it was said you were better to seek medical treatment from your wife or your mother than from a doctor, because at least your wife or mother wouldn't kill you. And then it all changed. Hannah chats to Professor Karen Bloom Gevirtz about her book, The Apothecary's Wife: The Hidden History of Medicine and How It Became a Commodity, to find out more. The Apothecary's Wife: The Hidden History of Medicine and How It Became a Commodity is out to buy on November 7, 2024 Lea...
Big news in the world of "how can that STILL be going on?" as both the Tory leadership election and the US Election enter their final days. Who will lose? Maybe all of us. Meanwhile, bus fares are going up and so is minimum wage but won't these just cancel each other out? In Sexism of the Week, we continue to let the side down by not having enough babies. And speaking of the next generation, in that she's young enough to be your daughter, Jen's got words for a basketball legend in Jenny Off The ...
Wondering what medieval women did for us anyway? Or how we even know what they did, given back then only the monks could write? Then get yourself to the British Library's new exhibition, Medieval Women: In Their Own Words. Jen caught up with the exhibition’s curator Ellie Jackson to find out how much we have in common with our medieval ancestors, and why they remain relevant to our lives today. Medieval Women: In Their Own Words is showing at the British Library until March 2, 2025. Learn more a...
Literary critic and feminist historian Joanna Scutts’s latest book, Firebrands, showcases 25 pioneering women writers you should have heard of – but probably haven’t. Why? Well, in this episode, Joanna’s chatting to our Mick about the whys, the whos, the what’s changed, what’s not changed and the trouble that kicks off when women start having ideas. Firebrands: 25 Pioneering Women to Ignite Your Reading Life is published by Duckworth and out now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone...
