Harriet Minter Presents: Badass Women’s Hour

What makes a badass woman? Well, we've got two on the show today. Michelle Kennedy is the founder and CEO of the app Peanut, which provides community and support throughout all stages of motherhood. Recently, Michelle has taken on the mammoth task of changing the language we use to describe women and their bodies. It's time for words like "geriatric", "inhospitable" and "serial aborter" to go. 

Then Josie Lloyd joins to talk about her newest book The Cancer Ladies' Running Club, and how it's inspired by the real-life events of her own cancer diagnosis. Josie ran the Brighton 10k in the middle of an operation, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, all with a group of women who were in similar situations. 

Presenter: Harriet Minter - @HarrietMinter

Guests: Michelle Kennedy - @shellkennedylon and Josie Lloyd - @JosieLloydbooks

To have Harriet help with your listener dilemma, e-mail [email protected]

The Cancer Ladies' Running Club by Josie Lloyd

Peanut from Michelle Kennedy

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Sometimes it’s easy to forget that your parents are people too. This week Harriet is joined by author Elizabeth Miki Brina who’s new book Speak, Okinawa: A Memoir reflects on the relationship between children and parents.

Also in this episode, Harriet discusses the sit-in at the University of Warrick that’s challenging rape culture. And one listener feels like she’s been belittled by her boss, so is it time to go?

Presenter: Harriet Minter - @HarrietMinter

To have Harriet help with your listener dilemma, e-mail [email protected]

Speak, Okinawa: A Memoir by Elizabeth Miki Brina

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Are bras a thing of the past? We've all been spending a lot more time at home over lockdown, and for many of us, that means dressing down too. Does that mean it's finally time to ditch the bra and free the nip? Or is that only for a select few?

Then Harriet is joined by Tineka Smith and Alex Court to talk about life as a mixed-race couple. After Tineka was the victim of a racist attack, the two wrote their book Mixed Up: Confessions of an interracial couple. 

Finally, one listener moved back in with their parents over lockdown but is now missing their old life. Is it time to move out or stay and save?

Presenter: Harriet Minter - @HarrietMinter

Guest: Tineka Smith - @Tineka_S and Alex Court - @CourtA

To have Harriet help with your listener dilemma, e-mail [email protected]

Mixed Up: Confessions of an Interracial Couple, by Tineka Smith and Alex Court

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Do you feel strong? Journalist and author Poorna Bell talks to Harriet Minter about how she found both inner and outer strength when she took up powerlifting. Poorna’s new book “Stronger” looks at what society tells us about women’s strength and turns it on its head.

What about when you go and speak to your doctor? Do you feel strong then? A new study discovers that twenty percent of women who went to see their doctor about gynaecological issues, left feeling like their concerns had been treated as trivial. 

Plus Harriet shares some advice for a listener feeling anxious about being around crowds of people at her friend's wedding. 

Presenter: Harriet Minter - @HarrietMinter

Guest: Poorna Bell - @poornabell

To have Harriet help with your listener dilemma, e-mail [email protected]

Stronger, by Poorna Bell

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How do you come back from something as horrific as a verbal racist attack? Well for nature writer Anita Sethi the answer was clear, it was to walk 268 miles across the entire Pennine Way. Anita tells Harriet what she learnt about herself and the world along the way and the importance of having a good map.

Also, it’s been a tough year, so why are some of us feeling more anxious now that lockdown restrictions are lifting? And what steps can we take to manage those feelings? Then one listener has a question about money, and getting their pre-COVID salary back. 

Presenter: Harriet Minter - @HarrietMinter

Guest: Anita Sethi - @anitasethi

To have Harriet help with your listener dilemma, e-mail [email protected]

I Belong Here, by Anita Sethi

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We’re talking about bodies. Recently we’ve seen the first plus-size model on the cover of Playboy magazine, but we’ve also seen the death of beloved TV personality Nikki Grahame as a result of her battle with anorexia. Harriet is joined by Gemma Oaten, the actor and now manager of the charity SEED who’s own journey with anorexia started at an early age.

This week, a listener question that’s all about dating. As we emerge from lockdown just as single as when we went in, how do we get back on the scene, and is online dating the best way to go?

Presenter: Harriet Minter - @HarrietMinter

Guest: Gemma Oaten - @gemmaoaten

To have Harriet help with your listener dilemma, e-mail [email protected] 

Find support from SEED here

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Due to the passing of HRH Prince Phillip, Harriet reflects on the notion of grief with Cariad Lloyd.

Cariad is the creator and host of Griefcast, a podcast where she tries to break down our fear of talking about death, and even if we’re allowed to laugh about it. Cariad saw the interest in Greifcast rise and it has continued to do so since she had this chat with Harriet back in 2019. 

Also in this episode, how do we set those boundaries between work and home life? Especially when the line is so blurry right now. Then Harriet responds to a listener who got a new puppy at the start of lockdown, but fears that they might have made a mistake now that life is slowly getting back to normal.

Presenter: Harriet Minter - @HarrietMinter

Guest: Cariad Lloyd - @ladycariad

To have Harriet help with your listener dilemma, e-mail [email protected] 

Griefcast by Cariad Lloyd

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When is standing out a good thing? When is it a bad thing?

In this week's episode, this subtopic flows throughout Harriet's two interviews. Firstly, Harriet meets with Dr Wanda Wyporska to discuss the recently released report by the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities and she hears about the harm that this report might bring, Wanda's experience with intersectionality and why the BAME term leaves all minorities out as 'other'. 

Later, Harriet learns about the incredible life of international journalist, Hella Pick, whose career in political journalism began way back in the 1960s, meaning she knows what it means to stand out in a room. The pair discuss some of Hella's jaw-dropping stories, her experience as a refugee, and what it was to be a female in political journalism back in the 1960s. 

To have Harriet help with your listener dilemma, e-mail [email protected] 

Presenter: Harriet Minter - @HarrietMinter

Guest: Dr. Wanda Wyporska - @WandaWyporska and Hella Pick

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Invisible Walls, by Hella Pick

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When you say “20 years ago”, it sounds more like the 1980s than 2001, right? Well, things were very different then and this week Harriet dives into author Elisabeth Spencer’s experience of raising and supporting her trans daughter; the challenges, the emotions and the lessons, all of which are extended upon in her new book.  

Harriet also discusses how commonplace sexual harassment is in the school system, and tackles a listener question who is struggling to choose between leaving their secure but mundane job or spreading their wings to explore their passions. 

Presenter: Harriet Minter - @HarrietMinter

The Road To My Daughter, by Elisabeth Spencer

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When you think of a scientist, what do they look like? According to this week’s incredible guest, Prof. Sue Black OBE, it’s probably an old white man in a white coat isn’t it? Harriet is joined by Sue for a full-length chat about her tough start in life, the joy of getting older, and women in the tech space, from past, to present, to future. Also on this week’s episode, Harriet discusses the aftermath of the Sarah Everard protests and tackles a question from a listener whose in-laws might be moving in with them, and this listener really isn’t feeling it.

To have Harriet help with your listener dilemma, e-mail [email protected] 

Presenter: Harriet Minter - @HarrietMinter

Guest: Prof. Dame Sue Black - @Dr_Black

Check out Sue's Book Saving Bletchley Park

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Written in Bone - Hidden Stories In What We Leave Behind, by Prof. Dame Sue Black

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