Ladies, We Need To Talk

Is monogamy a tired social contract — or a deeply meaningful way to build a life with someone you love? Is opening up your relationship an act of honesty and freedom, or just another complicated commitment in an already overbooked life?Roll up, Ladies, as monogamy and Ethical non-monogamy go head-to-head. Arguing in favour of fidelity is comedian and Deadloch actor, Nikki Britton. Meanwhile, sex therapist, Aleks Trkulja goes in to bat for ENM.Will one relationship style prevail?This episode will answer questions like:What is Ethical non-monogamy?Should I open my relationship?Was Lindy West in an open marriage?Are there rules in an Non-Monogamous relationship?How can I date more than one person?Is monogamy the same as marriage?Is ENM the same as Polyamory?What to listen to next: What we need men to know about sex — ABC listenIs your attachment style messing with your love life? — ABC listenIs everyone having better sex than me?The case against hookup sex with Hannah Ferguson — ABC listenWhat to read next: Why

The uterus is central to womanhood: it's the baby house, and allows for menstruation. So, what's it like to have it removed?Each year around 30,000 Australian women have a hysterectomy — to relieve pain, to treat cancer, or as part of gender affirming care.The path to surgery isn't always straightforward or quick. It can involve years of heartache, confusion and BS from specialists. But for most women, a hysterectomy is a game changer, bringing lasting relief and restoring quality of life.Yumi Stynes speaks to women who've a had hysterectomy and finds out what led to their decision and what life is like on the other side.Plus, gynaecologist and endometriosis specialist Dr Pav Nanayakkara explains the reasons we might need to get a hysterectomy, how to navigate the side effects of having your reproductive organs removed and whether we can still achieve the big O post-surgery.Helpful resources:Ausralian Endometrosis FoundationJean Hailes Foundation This episode will answer questions like:What is a hysterectomy?

Ever been called too clingy? Or felt overwhelmed by your partner's needs? Blame your attachment style!Attachment theory is a cornerstone of modern psychology; chances are you've read about it in Attached or spent hours spiralling on TikTok as you tried to identify your attachment style and what it means for your relationship.The theory breaks our attachment styles into three main categories: anxious, avoidant and secure and suggests that the way we're raised shapes how we show up in relationships.We might hold on too tight, we might shut down and reject our partners, or if we're lucky, we might embrace open honest communication and feel secure.Yumi Stynes is joined by Clinical Neuropsychologist Dr Hannah Korrel to unpack your questions on love, relationships and conflict.Further information:Dr Hannah Korrel is a Neuropsychologist who runs the Sydney Neuropsych clinic.Her book How to break up with friends is publish by Impact Press.This episode will answer questions like:What is attachment theory?What are the

The Beckhams know about it. Hilary Duff's been through it. Harry and Meghan could write a handbook. Family estrangement is brutal, but when there's a rift, can it be repaired?Beyond the celebrity headlines, the "no contact" movement has been gaining traction online as children cut themselves off from their parents, parents find themselves out in the cold and rigid boundaries strain what's left of family bonds.In this episode, Yumi Stynes talks to women who've been through the pain of family estrangement. She finds out what led to the rift and how letting go can be a form of healing.You'll also hear from clinical psychologist Dr Kayla Steele with tips on navigating family break ups – from learning how to move on or figuring out how to mend a broken relationship.This episode will answer questions like:Why does estrangement happen?What should I do if I've been cut off?Is it ok to go "no contact" with a family member?How can I talk to a family member who's estranged?How can I move forward?What to listen to next:W

Comedian Felicity Ward started having the best sex of her life after the worst time in her life.After years of fertility struggles, Felicity finally fell pregnant at 38. But being a mum to a newborn wasn't the Instagram highlight reel she'd imagined. Felicity wrestled with perinatal depression, zero sleep and a loss of identity…and then she became a single mum.At 40, Felicity was dating again but her expectations were low. She reluctantly joined the apps and started swiping…and what was on the other side amazed her. Felicity found a babysitter for her toddler and sexual liberation for herself.Yumi Stynes sits down with the professional funny woman, dancing with the stars contestant and star of The Office for a deeply personal chat about starting over, rediscovering confidence and how the best sex of your life may yet be ahead of you.The Sydney Comedy Festival runs from Monday April 13 — Sunday May 17 where Felicity Ward is performing I wish I could come out of my shell on April 25If you need help:Lifeline Aus

Life as a perennially single woman can be lonely. Coupled-up friends often too busy to catch up, family constantly asking "So, have you met anyone yet?" What's a gal to do?The truth is, we live in a world that celebrates coupledom. And while there are women who love the single life, for others being called to the front to catch the bouquet at every friend's wedding is painful.Yumi Stynes meets three women who have never been in a serious relationship. They've tried it all, psychic readings, blind dates, even auditioning for MAFs, but their true love has never materialised.In this episode, you'll hear from women who keep their relationship hopes alive but prioritise their peace, ditching the dating apps for a life of independent travel and a table with a view and no one to steal your fries.This episode will answer questions like:Do I need a partner?Should I travel alone?Do I need a partner to freeze my eggs?Is therapy helpful?What to listen to next:Building a village means showing up even when it feels hard, s

Narelda Jacobs and Karina Natt announced their pregnancy online. Then came the trolls.The pair were over the moon about starting their rainbow family but were pulled back down to earth by the haters who said that they had "no right" to have children as a gay couple.Their response was to write and release a satirical book for adults called 'If Queers weren't meant to have kids.' The book is a celebration of the queer community and raising a child with your chosen family. The couple sat down with Yumi Stynes for a joyful conversation about the mechanics of conceiving using the turkey baster method and raising a child with three loving parents. Narelda Jacobs is a Whadjuk Noongar journalist and presenter on Network 10 and Karina Natt is a former lawyer and journalist who works in media and communications.  This episode will answer questions like:Who are Narelda Jacobs and Karina Natt? How do you ask someone to have a baby with you? How do you get pregnant in a same sex relationship? What is the turkey baster met

We all want to sex to be hot, intimate and above all else, enjoyable. But sometimes when we're getting it on, things can go south and disaster ensues.These naked encounters are excruciating in the moment but hilarious when shared with friends.Comedian Lizzy Hoo and Yumi Stynes join forces to walk through the sexual hall of shame and come out the other side laughing.Expect rogue fluids, a limp erotic massage, and one unfortunate hospital visit.This episode will answer questions like:Do I need to see a doctor if I have a sex injury?Why is sex awkward?Should I try different lubes?Should I try new things with my partner?What are common turn offs in sex?Can I get pregnant when I use protection?What to listen to next:Women who cheatIs everyone having better sex than me?Paying for sex at 70You 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 these women took marriage sabbaticals — and how it wentWhy genital herpes does no

In the exercise race, women are falling behind. Two out of five women aren’t moving enough and it’s bad for our health. Between being time squeezed, feeling crappy about our bodies and guilt about taking a break from caring duties, women have less room for exercise than blokes. But ladies, it’s time to put on our sports bras and get sweaty! In this episode, you’ll hear how to get your fitness mojo back and prioritise your wellness. You’ll meet exercise-hater-turned-evangelical-runner, Amanda Hooten. Plus, clinical psychologist Professor Lyndall Strazdins from the ANU shares tips on how to get physical. This episode will answer questions like: Why do women exercise less than men? What is the gender exercise gap? How are women and men’s relationship with exercise different? What can women do to exercise more? Why do we need to exercise more? How can I start exercising if I have a bad relationship with it? What to listen to next:Love ya guts! What to eat to feel your bestHow swapping a husband for a wife made th

What if, instead of being the best time of your life, new motherhood was miserable? Perinatal depression and anxiety affects one in five women in Australia. But the shame of it is carried in silence.Yumi Stynes speaks to women about their darkest days as new mums; sleep deprived, fearful and feeling alone. She hears how these women came through their suffering and got the help they needed.Featured in this episode:  Dr Erin Seeto, Clinical Psychologist and Director of Clinical Services at the Gidget Foundation If you need help:Lifeline Australia 13 11 14PANDA National Helpline 1300 726 306Gidget Foundation 1300 851 758This episode will answer questions like: What does it feel like to have perinatal depression and anxiety? What is perinatal depression and anxiety? What are the risk factors of perinatal depression and anxiety? How is perinatal depression and anxiety treated? How do you recover from perinatal depression and anxiety? Can your relationship impact perinatal depression and anxiety?What to listen to n

What happens when your husband suddenly becomes someone you don’t recognise? One cold day in 2020, Belle Burden’s partner of 20 years told her he was leaving her. There were was no warning, no chance to talk. Before her relationship collapsed, Belle’s life looked enviable. Heiress to a wealthy New York family empire, she had the kids, the job, the holiday house and a committed marriage. But overnight, everything Belle thought she knew about her husband changed, and he became a stranger to her. Despite the pain of separation, Belle came to know herself again and rebuilt her life stronger than before. This episode will answer questions like: What does it feel like to be cheated on? Can you tell if your husband is having an affair? Do people suddenly fall out of love? Who is Belle Burden? How can women protect themselves financially in a marriage? What lessons are there to be learnt after going through divorce? What to listen to next:I love you but go away: Women taking marriage sabbaticalsHow swapping a husband

What’s it like to parent when you can’t see your kid? Nas Campanella, the ABC’s National Disability Affairs reporter, knows there’s many ways to be a great mum. As a blind woman, she’s navigated internalised ableism, and copped BS from strangers. Through it all, she’s given the middle finger to expectations and come out the other side stronger.She talks to Yumi Stynes about the quiet strength that comes from trusting her own instincts and the deep bond she’s formed with her son.  This episode will answer questions like: What’s it like to be a mother while vision impaired? How do blind parents use sound, touch and voice to care for their babies?What are the biggest challenges of parenting with a disability? How do you keep children safe without relying on sight? How do people use sound, touch and instinct to read their baby’s needs? What public scrutiny do disabled parents receive? How do you raise an empathetic child? What to listen to next: I love you but go away: Women taking marriage sabbaticalsLife withou

Marriage sabbaticals aren't a divorce, or an excuse for guilt-free frotting but a chance to reset priorities. But do they work?It can be hard to figure out how to fix a relationship in need of repair when you're in the grind of the day-to-day. Living separately for a while or even taking a solo holiday can be a chance for a jump-start, but it comes with risks.Yumi Stynes meets women who've hit pause on their partnerships in the hopes of coming back together stronger than before.This episode will answer questions like: What is a marriage sabbatical? Why do women feel like they need a break from their marriage? Why do some women feel like they care for their husbands like children? How can you ask for a break from your relationship? How do you know you’re happy in a relationship? What does an equal partnership look like? How do relationship preferences change over time? Can having a break save your marriage? What to listen to next: Women who cheatIs everyone having better sex than me?The new way to dateHow pop

How does it feel to be betrayed by the person you love most? Women open up to Yumi Stynes about being cheated on and picking up the pieces of their shattered hearts.There's the fishy feeling you try to shake off, finding texts, unearthing emails, wondering if you're paranoid. And then, the moment of truth and painful aftermath. From Beyonce to Lily Allen, queens everywhere have wondered, "How did I get caught up in your double life??"For some women, infidelity destroys the foundation of trust forever. For others it leads to bloodletting and rebuilding the relationship.Featured in this episode:  Christina Spaccavento, sex and relationships counsellor This episode will answer questions like: What does it feel like to be cheated on? How do some women find out their partner has been cheating on them? Why do people cheat? Can you stay in a relationship after infidelity?  How do you rebuild trust after cheating? What to listen to next:Women who cheatIs everyone having better sex than me?The new way to dateHow pop c

Millennial pop culture has a lot to answer for. From Britney Spears' sexy schoolgirl outfit to an underage Kate Moss on the cover of Vogue and Paris Hilton in pube-skimming velvet tracksuits, the message was clear — being hot, sexy and desirable meant #girlpower.So how did we all buy into the lie that self-objectification is empowerment?Pulitzer Prize–nominated journalist Sophie Gilbert says the Spice Girls, Demi Moore, Britney Spears and the Kardashians all had a role to play in how we feel about ourselves as women.Sophie chats to Yumi Stynes about how pop culture turned a generation of women against themselves and what we can do about it.What to listen to next:Emotional labour with Rose HackmanClare and Jessie Stephens on twinning, pregnancy and envyHas Ozempic killed body inclusivity?Are our boys ok? Fighting online misogyny with Kate ScottYou 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 'st

What’s it like to switch teams mid-season? Nicola was married to a man for 25 years before she fell in love with a woman. Jennifer and Marija were in their 40s when everything they knew about their sexuality changed.  Yumi Stynes chats to later-in-life lesbians to hear what they’ve learned from swapping sides. She also gets the low-down on sexuality research across the life span, and why so many women are coming out in their second act. What to listen to next:How swapping a husband for a wife made this economist better offWhere's my village? Esther Perel on how to build communityWill we ever have a cure for endometriosis?Hacking online dating with Prof. Jennie YoungYou 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 surgeryHow Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhoodWhat loving someone with an addiction or dependence can look likeThe dark side of being a perfec

MasterChef’s Julie Goodwin has a bubbly exterior but underneath are demons she’s fought for decades.  The celebrity cook opens up to Yumi Stynes about the anxiety and depression she’s kept hidden for so long, and how it almost undid her. Julie’s path to recovery wasn’t straight, but she learnt how to manage what she calls the ‘monster under the bed’ and change her life for the better.  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  What to listen to next:Mental health: Overcoming depressionLove ya guts! What to eat to feel your bestBody image and babies with Turia Pitt and Sophie WalkerYou 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 surgeryHow Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhoodWhat loving someone with an addiction or dependence can look like

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 dateWill we ever have a cure for endometriosis?Shedding the shame of herpesYou 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 surgeryHow Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhoodWhat

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 HackmanTuria Pitt is a selfish womanMental health: Anxiety and how to bea

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 marriageEmotional labour with Rose HackmanRelationship resuscitation — coming back