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 and armchair detectives who inspired one of her main characters and how her relationship with true crime has evolved over the years. We also hear about her 2018 memoir, Jog On, which focuses on running and mental health and she reflects on how that ..read more

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 of the early noughties fashion scene. In this wide-ranging conversation, Crilly talks about her Irish roots, the influence of her safety-conscious father and what prompted her to enter her name into a national model search while studying law at Birm ..read more

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 this debut novel and would they recommend it to others?  Our next book club pick is Intermezzo by Sally Rooney and we’ll be discussing it in October. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information ..read more

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 story. In this conversation with Róisín Ingle, Kennedy discusses the labels she has worn throughout her life - both by choice and otherwise. Reflecting on her upbringing in Limerick, her mental health struggles, and her career as a beauty editor ..read more

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 returning to work, the first steps to getting back out there and why it’s crucial to see women in leadership roles, so that change can begin from the top. We also hear from two WorkEqual alumni, Emma and Eileen, who talk about overcoming imposter ..read more

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 is one of the ambassadors for this year’s campaign and in today’s episode she talks to Róisín Ingle about why she got involved, her tips for finding the best gems in charity stores and how her own style has evolved through the years. She also speaks ..read more

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 attend, and some of her political and personal regrets. In this conversation, Robinson explains why she was initially hesitant to make the film, what she hopes people can take from it and how she went from a shy child growing up in Ballina to walking ..read more

There are Rivers in the Sky is the brand new novel from Turkish-British author Elif Shafak. The book is a “love letter to water”, but also a reflection on the climate crisis and the increasing issues with fresh water supply around the world. In this conversation with Róisín Ingle, Shafak explains how she uses storytelling to address global issues and why her writing will always remain political. She also speaks about her nomadic upbringing, being raised by two strong women and her surprising love of melodic death metal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information ..read more

Earlier this year, influencer Hannah Neeleman made headlines after taking part in a beauty pageant just 12 days after giving birth to her eighth child. Last month the Sunday Times profiled the 34 year-old dubbing her the 'queen of tradwives.' The interview is still provoking commentary. Journalist Megan Agnew wrote about Neeleman's former career as a ballerina, truncated so she could leave New York City for Utah to spend the next 13 years having babies. Neeleman runs a farm with her husband, living a traditional Mormon lifestyle with no birth control, no elective abortions, no pain relief duri ..read more

This episode was originally published in August 2023. Rosemary Murphy, a dynamic 40-year-old woman from Dolphin’s Barn in Dublin, had two major goals from childhood. The first was to have a large family. The second was to study medicine and become a doctor. As a mother of 12 children, ranging from 20 to 19 months, the first goal has been well and truly achieved. This September, she will start the journey to achieving her second, when she begins a six year medical degree at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). In this conversation with Róisín Ingle, Murphy speaks about the joy of b ..read more