Best Jenni Brennan Podcasts (2025)

1
The Macron 'wife shove' / Talking periods with Dr Hazel Wallace 1:00:15

22h ago1:00:15

1:00:15

What do you really know about the menstrual cycle? Can you tell your follicular from your luteal phase? Can masturbation ease period pains and why do so many women get the dreaded ‘period poo’? To answer all these questions and more we’re joined this week by Dr Hazel Wallace, medical doctor, nutritionist, and author of Not Just A Period, a groundbr…

1
Kit de Waal on identity and belonging / Starving children of Gaza 1:04:59

8d ago1:04:59

1:04:59

This week, we’re joined by the brilliant Kit de Waal novelist, memoirist, and fierce advocate for working-class voices in literature. In conversation with Roisin Ingle, de Waal discusses her powerful new novel The Best of Everything, set in 1970s and 1980s England, which follows the interwoven lives of a single mother, her son, and their neighbours…

1
Jacqueline Connolly: ‘I didn’t know what coercive control was until my family were killed’ 1:14:22

15d ago1:14:22

1:14:22

In 2016, Clodagh Hawe and her three sons, Liam (13), Niall (11) and Ryan (6) were murdered in their Co Cavan home, by their husband and father Alan Hawe, who took his own life shortly after. It was and still is Ireland’s largest murder-suicide and the brutal killings sent shockwaves throughout the country. In her book, Deadly Silence, Clodagh’s you…

1
Down with that ‘skort’ of thing / Celebrating Tina Turner 45:28

22d ago45:28

45:28

Two years ago this month, Tina Turner died at the age of 83 at her home in Switzerland. The global superstar and rock icon had a career spanning more than five decades. Although she retired from performing in her late 60s, one of her final projects was to collaborate on Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, which debuted in London’s West End in 2018. This…

1
Irish woman detained by US immigration / The Steminists 43:06

29d ago43:06

43:06

In March, a group of secondary school students from Co Offaly made history when they became the first ever all-female team to win the VEX IQ All-Ireland Robotics Competition. ‘The Steminists’ will now represent Ireland at the World Championships in Texas this month. The team consists of five students aged between 12 and 14 years old, from the Sacre…

1
Climate Changemakers: Three women on their fight against climate change 47:03

1M ago47:03

47:03

According to the latest European State of the Climate Report, 2024 was the hottest year on record for Europe and the fourth warmest year ever recorded in Ireland. As part of the global fight against climate change, Ireland has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030 — but are we really on track to meet that goal? In today’s ep…

1
Amanda Knox: My Search for Meaning 1:20:33

1M ago1:20:33

1:20:33

Seven years after Amanda Knox was definitively acquitted of the 2007 murder of Meredith Kercher, she flew to Italy to meet the man who had led the prosecution’s case against her, Giuliano Mignini. The now 37-year-old mother of two wanted to ask her former prosecutor why he had identified her as the chief suspect, pursued a murder conviction against…

1
Victim blaming on the rise / How to be a good grandmother 1:00:41

2M ago1:00:41

1:00:41

Bookshops and libraries are bursting with books on parenting and what to expect when you’re expecting, but there aren't nearly as many guidebooks out there on how to be a good grandparent. That’s why family psychologist Terri Apter has written her latest book all about the topic. Grandparenting: On Love and Relationships Across Generations offers r…

1
Wedding fatigue / What teens really think of Adolescence 1:06:02

2M ago1:06:02

1:06:02

When Adolescense arrived on Netflix last month, it was streamed nearly 25 million times in just four days and sparked a global conversation on the dark side of social media and the lives of teenage boys. But what is it really like to be a teenage boy in 2025? How much attention do they really pay to masculinity influencers? What kind of pressures d…

1
The Book Club: Confessions by Catherine Airey 32:36

2M ago32:36

32:36

This month on The Women’s Podcast Book Club, Bernice Harrison, Niamh Towey, Róisín Ingle, and Ann Ingle discuss Confessions, the debut novel from Catherine Airey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
Meghan & Gwyneth / The real cost of cancer 1:01:38

2M ago1:01:38

1:01:38

On Friday March 28th, the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) will celebrate Daffodil Day. It’s the charity’s biggest fundraising event and aims to raise millions of euros to support cancer patients and progress cancer research. In this episode, Kathy Sheridan is joined by Daffodil Day Ambassador Tara Doonan, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022 at …

1
Conor McGregor at the White House / Sarah Corbett Lynch 1:10:10

2M ago1:10:10

1:10:10

Sarah Corbett Lynch was just eight-years-old when her father Jason was killed at their home in North Carolina by her stepmother Molly Martens and her father Tom Martens in 2015. Over the next decade, the Martens, who claimed self defence, were put on trial for murder, had their convictions quashed and later took a plea bargain for voluntary manslau…

1
Rosie O’Donnell's move to Ireland / The importance of foster care 1:08:58

3M ago1:08:58

1:08:58

In Ireland, more than 5,500 children are currently in foster care. This could be because of illness in the child’s family, the death of a parent, neglect, abuse or violence in the home, or simply because the parent or family is not coping. Whatever the reason, foster carers are there to take care of children who cannot live with their own family, e…

1
The Book Club Live: Books by women that challenged & changed us 1:03:02

3M ago1:03:02

1:03:02

To celebrate International Women’s Day, the book club gathered with a handful of podcast listeners for a live event at Kildare Village on Saturday morning. Niamh Towey, Ann Ingle, Bernice Harrison, and Roisin Ingle, explored the books by women that have challenged and changed them and that they think every woman should read. Book Club Choices: Ann …

1
Thriving in male dominated industries / International Women’s Day event guide 59:48

3M ago59:48

59:48

International Women’s Day is on Saturday the 8th March and there are lots of events happening all around the country to celebrate the occasion. Irish Times features writer Ella Sloane joins Róisín Ingle on the podcast today to tell us about some of them, including a free guided tour exploring how women are represented in a selection of works at the…

1
Andrew Tate’s new-found freedom / Rosie Schaap’s love letter to Northern Ireland 1:01:55

3M ago1:01:55

1:01:55

Born and bred in New York, the last place that Rosie Schaap thought she’d end up, was living in a rural village in Northern Ireland, miles away from the bustling city she once called home. But that’s exactly where she’s found herself. Five years ago, the writer and journalist moved from NYC to the tiny town of Glenarm in Co Antrim, in search of a n…

1
What can be done about ‘sex for rent’ ads? / New women in the Dáil 1:07:56

3M ago1:07:56

1:07:56

After lengthy government formation talks and a chaotic first week in the Dáil, the new Government is finally settling into it's first few weeks of a new term. There’s a whole host of new faces in Leinster House, including 10 new women TDs. We wanted to hear what life is like for three of those women, so we’ve invited Labour’s Marie Sherlock, Fianna…

1
Working from home / Single on Valentine's Day 1:11:41

4M ago1:11:41

1:11:41

This Valentine’s Day, we’ve decided to shift the focus away from love and relationships and onto the joy and excitement of the single experience. If you’re single and sick of dating apps, Irish Times relationships columnist Roe McDermott is here with some new dating ideas, from singles running clubs to mindful dating events. Later on, Róisín Ingle …

1
The Grammys viral moment / Mamobo Ogoro on why diversity and inclusion matters 54:48

4M ago54:48

54:48

America might be rowing back on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, but one woman who is fighting to keep interculturalism at the forefront of people’s minds is Mamobo Ogoro, the CEO of Irish social enterprise GORM. Ogoro is a Nigerian-Irish Social Psychologist and multi-award-winning social entrepreneur, who is “on a personal missio…

1
Portiuncula Hospital review / The Edna O’Brien story 1:03:44

4M ago1:03:44

1:03:44

Blue Road: The Edna O’Brien story is the brand new documentary by Irish filmmaker Sinéad O’Shea. It’s a portrait of one of Ireland’s finest writers, featuring extracts from O’Briens journals, contributions from the likes of Gabriel Byrne and Anne Enright and a remarkable final interview with O'Brien shortly before her death aged 93 last year. In th…

1
Bishop Budde vs Trump / Becoming a mother at 49 59:37

4M ago59:37

59:37

Yoga teacher and wellness coach Kerry White was 48 years old when she finally decided to pursue her long-held dream to become a mother. As a single woman, who had just entered perimenopause, White used donor sperm and donor eggs to become pregnant. Then, in 2020, two months shy of her 50th birthday, her baby girl Freya was born. In this episode, Wh…

1
Meta’s new masculine energy / Understanding ultra-processed food 54:24

4M ago54:24

54:24

These days, we’re hearing a lot more about ultra processed foods and the dangers of over eating these highly industrialised food products. But what exactly are UPFs, how bad are they really and how can you spot them when out doing the grocery shop? In this episode, nutrition consultant Sophie Morris joins Róisín Ingle to answer all these questions …

1
What’s in and out for 2025 / Where’s our free HRT? 1:03:17

5M ago1:03:17

1:03:17

It’s a brand new year and to celebrate we’ve got a brand new segment to kick off the podcast each week. It’s our weekly news wrap covering the stories that affect women in Ireland and around the world. This week, Róisín Ingle is joined by Irish Times podcast producer Aideen Finnegan to talk about some of the stories that caught her eye this week an…

1
The Women’s Podcast 2024 review 58:46

5M ago58:46

58:46

2024 was the year Americans chose a convicted felon as their next president, Afghanistan banned women from speaking or singing in public, and the slaughter of innocent women and children continued in Gaza. In Ireland, a record number of female candidates stood in November’s general election, but only seven additional women were elected to the next …

1
Róisín Ingle: My breast cancer diagnosis 1:06:43

5M ago1:06:43

1:06:43

Each week on The Women’s Podcast, we hear from women from all walks of life who come on to talk about their lived experiences, their life stories, their passions and their challenges. This week, it’s the turn of podcast presenter Róisín Ingle, who in October 2023 received a life-changing breast cancer diagnosis. This is the first time she has spoke…

1
Sober at Christmas: How to enjoy being alcohol free 45:11

5M ago45:11

45:11

For many people, alcohol and the festive season go hand in hand. It’s the season of excess when normal rules around eating and drinking seem to go completely out the window and a mimosa for breakfast becomes perfectly normal. But now, more and more people are deciding to cut down on their alcohol consumption over Christmas or are opting to go compl…

1
Housewife of the Year winners: Ena Howell and Margaret Carmody 1:02:11

6M ago1:02:11

1:02:11

The Housewife of the Year competition ran for almost three decades, from 1969 to 1995. Thousands of women from all around Ireland entered, hoping to win a cash prize along with some home appliances, such as a luxury gas cooker. In later years, the competition was broadcast on RTÉ, featuring footage of contestants taking part in domestic duties at h…

1
The Book Club: Best reads of 2024 1:03:53

6M ago1:03:53

1:03:53

If you’re looking for a new book to curl up with over the festive period or to give as a Christmas gift, The Irish Times Women’s Podcast is here to help. We’ve gathered our book clubbers Niamh Towey, Bernice Harrison, Róisín and Ann Ingle in studio to share their favourite reads of 2024. Their recommendations include a comedy-crime novel, a “surpri…

1
Arezo Rahimi: Fighting for the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan 49:36

6M ago49:36

49:36

When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, following the withdrawal of US troops, the lives of women and girls across the country changed almost overnight. Under Taliban rule, women and girls are removed from almost every aspect of daily life, are denied access to education and even face restrictions going out alone, speaking or s…

1
Chris and Emily Hamade 46:37

6M ago46:37

46:37

A Testament to the Power of Faith and Perseverance in Life and Work – From a Painful Past to a Promising Present and Future

1
Election 2024: What are the parties promising women? 52:44

6M ago52:44

52:44

With the General Election campaign in full swing and just over a week to go until polling day, political parties are making all sorts of promises to garner votes and ensure they make it into the next Government. On the campaign trail, the focus has been put on housing, the cost of living crisis and immigration, but what promises have each party mad…

1
What teenage girls wish their mothers knew 1:03:28

7M ago1:03:28

1:03:28

In today’s episode, Chelsey Goodan aka the “teenage whisperer” joins Róisín Ingle to talk about her new book Underestimated: The Power and Wisdom of Teenage Girls. It’s an empowering guide to better understand our teen daughters, stemming from Goodan's 16 years spent mentoring young people from all different backgrounds. Goodan talks about the chal…

1
The Trump nightmare / Donna Ashworth’s soothing words 1:06:21

7M ago1:06:21

1:06:21

Yesterday, in what for many of us is an utterly depressing turn of events, the American people voted for Donald Trump to become the next President of the United States. It’s an historic development, as he becomes the first-ever convicted felon to be elected to office. He is also the first president-elect to have a civil conviction for sexual assaul…

1
US Election Gender Divide / What Jenny and Mairéad Know Now 1:18:25

7M ago1:18:25

1:18:25

With the US election just days away, Irish Times columnist and co-presenter of The Women’s Podcast Kathy Sheridan joins Róisín Ingle to talk about how the election has become a battle of the sexes, with Donald Trump pulling strong support from male voters and Kamala Harris enjoying a comparable edge with female voters. Later on, broadcasters and po…

1
Ken, Liam and Brennan McAllister 44:58

7M ago44:58

44:58

This month we hear from multi-generational leaders Ken McAllister and his sons, Liam and Brennan. Gain valuable insights on how to blend faith, family, and business.

1
Simone Gannon: Beauty through the ages 52:33

7M ago52:33

52:33

Simone Gannon is a content creator, digital marketing expert and the new beauty writer at the Irish Times. Since the beginning of the new year, she’s been entertaining us with her weekly beauty column, where she experiments with the latest trends, imparts her wisdom on all things skincare and makeup and shares her favourite beauty buys. In this epi…

1
The Book Club: Intermezzo by Sally Rooney 54:28

7M ago54:28

54:28

This month on The Women’s Podcast Book Club, Bernice Harrison, Niamh Towey, Róisín Ingle, and Ann Ingle discuss Sally Rooney's long-awaited fourth novel, Intermezzo. The novel centres on the lives of two brothers: Peter, a lawyer, and Ivan, a chess prodigy, as they come to terms with the recent death of their father and navigate the complex relatio…

1
Eavan Boland Library and Mary Lavin Place: the movement for more spaces named after women 34:57

8M ago34:57

34:57

Last week, Trinity College announced that the main library in its city centre campus has been renamed after Irish poet Eavan Boland. It will be the first building on Trinity's grounds to be named after a woman. This week, in more good news for Irish female writers, the Mary Lavin Place will also be publicly unveiled in Wilton Park, in Dublin’s sout…

1
Bella Mackie: Anxiety, acceptance and armchair detectives 56:39

8M ago56:39

56:39

Bella Mackie’s debut novel, How to Kill Your Family, sold over one million copies, and now she’s back with her second book, What a Way to Go. It’s a hilariously dark ‘whodunnit’ that centres on the death of an extremely rich yet extremely unpleasant man, Anthony Wistern. In this conversation with Róisín Ingle, Mackie talks about the online sleuths …

1
Ruth Crilly: How Not to be a Supermodel 1:07:23

8M ago1:07:23

1:07:23

Today, Róisín Ingle is joined by author, content creator and veteran fashion model Ruth Crilly. In her new memoir, How Not to be a Supermodel, Crilly lifts the lid on her days spent working as a model in one of the biggest talent agencies in the world. Told with Crilly’s undeniable wit, it’s a humorous and touching reflection on the highs and lows …

1
Book Club: The Amendments by Niamh Mulvey 25:05

8M ago25:05

25:05

After a short hiatus, the book club is back with Bernice Harrison, Niamh Towey, Róisín and Ann Ingle discussing The Amendments by Niamh Mulvey. The book explores the complexities of family dynamics, religious beliefs, women's rights, and Ireland's history, told through the experiences of three distinct women. So what did our book clubbers make of t…

1
BBB Relaunch with David Robertson & John Neate 43:01

8M ago43:01

43:01

Business by the Book is back! An incredible evening of networking, learning, and discovering how faith can inspire and transform our work and business lives. In this episode we're excited to interview David Robtertson & John Neate. David Robertson – Canadian chef with 20 years of experience, is known for his culinary expertise and passion for teach…

1
Laura Kennedy: Some of our Parts 1:11:55

8M ago1:11:55

1:11:55

Writer, philosopher, and friend of the show Laura Kennedy is here to discuss her first book, Some of Our Parts. It’s a memoir and a thought-provoking exploration of identity, told through the labels that shape our lives. Laura’s have included ‘feminist’ ‘Irish’ ‘neurodiverse’ and ‘poor’ - she argues that they only tell one part of a more nuanced st…

1
Sonya Lennon: Helping women back to work 42:55

9M ago42:55

42:55

WorkEqual is the brainchild of Sonya Lennon, stylist, designer and social entrepreneur. It’s a free service, which helps women find the confidence to enter or return to the workplace. Since 2011, it has helped more than 6,000 people move forward in their career journey. In this episode, Róisín Ingle talks to Lennon about the barriers facing women r…

1
Eleanor McEvoy: Thrifting, touring and healing from heartache 40:26

9M ago40:26

40:26

This September, Oxfam is encouraging people to take a stance against the impact of fast fashion and to shop second hand. With the textile sector contributing to 10% of global pollution, Oxfam’s Second Hand September is an initiative to prevent clothes ending up in landfill and to give garments a new lease of life. Singer and musician Eleanor McEvoy…

1
Bella DePaulo: The power, freedom and joy of single life 57:36

9M ago57:36

57:36

At seventy years old, psychologist and author Dr. Bella DePaulo has been happily single her entire life. Having never felt the need to couple up, DePaulo describes herself as "single at heart’" and says her solo status allows her to live her most "joyful, authentic, and meaningful" life. DePaulo has spent many years researching and writing about th…

1
Mrs Robinson: A portrait of Ireland's first female President 25:13

9M ago25:13

25:13

In this episode, Aideen Finnegan sits down with former president of Ireland Mary Robinson and film director Aoife Kelleher to talk about their brand new film, Mrs Robinson. Told in her own words, the documentary reflects on key moments in Robinson’s life and career including her move from law into politics, the wedding that her parents refused to a…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Jenni Brennan Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen