Ladies, We Need To Talk
ABC Radio
Want to know how to close the orgasm gap? Riding your hormonal rollercoaster blindfolded? Can’t find contraception that works for you? You’re not the only one. Ladies, We Need To Talk is a show for women, by women, and dives head first into the tricky and taboo topics we often avoid talking about. Join host Yumi Stynes as she tears open the sealed section on life. Or contact us at [email protected]
- 25 minutes‘I’m leaving you,’ Belle’s husband became a stranger overnight
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 sabbaticals
How swapping a husband for a wife made this economist better off
You 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 went
Building a village means showing up even when it feels hard, says Esther Perel
Why Kate chose to 'stay flat' after breast cancer surgery
Why genital herpes does not mean the end of your sex life
This episode contains references to divorce, separation, affair, cheating, heartbreak, money, settlement, parenting, re-invention, self-discovery, gender, mothering, independent, finance.
16 February 2026, 3:00 pm - 21 minutesParenting blind, with Nas Campanella
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 sabbaticals
Life without boobs: Meet the women staying flat after breast cancer
Body image and babies with Turia Pitt and Sophie Walker
Where's my village? Esther Perel on how to build community
You 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 went
Building a village means showing up even when it feels hard, says Esther Perel
Why Kate chose to 'stay flat' after breast cancer surgery
Why genital herpes does not mean the end of your sex life
This episode contains references to disability, vision impaired, blind, mother, parent, National Disability Affairs reporter, ABC, work-life-balance, working mum, child, baby, parenting, teaching, attachment.
9 February 2026, 3:00 pm - 27 minutesI love you but go away: Women taking marriage sabbaticals
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:
Is everyone having better sex than me?
How pop culture f*cked us up, with Sophie Gilbert
You 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:
How pop culture messed us up, with Sophie Gilbert
How swapping a husband for a wife made this economist better off
Life without boobs: Meet the women staying flat after breast cancer
This episode contains references to sex, marriage, family, parenting, mental load, emotional labour, domestic labour, inequality, chores, perimenopause, break-ups, relationship, love, psychology, attachment.
2 February 2026, 3:00 pm - 24 minutesWho the f*ck is Madeline? Getting cheated on
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:
Is everyone having better sex than me?
How pop culture f*cked us up, with Sophie Gilbert
You 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 surgery
How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood
What loving someone with an addiction or dependence can look like
The dark side of being a perfectionist
This episode contains references to sex, marriage, cheating, West End Girl, Lily Allen, Madeline, Beyonce, David Beckham, Victoria Beckham, Becky with the good hair, Shakira, Lemonade, infidelity, women, family, emotional cheating.
26 January 2026, 3:00 pm - 31 minutesHow pop culture messed us up, with Sophie Gilbert
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 Hackman
Clare and Jessie Stephens on twinning, pregnancy and envy
Has Ozempic killed body inclusivity?
Are our boys ok? Fighting online misogyny with Kate Scott
You 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 surgery
How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood
What loving someone with an addiction or dependence can look like
The dark side of being a perfectionist
This episode will answer questions like:
- What were the messages being sent about womanhood in the 1990s and 2000s?
- How did the Spice Girls rise to popularity?
- What did the term ‘girl power’ mean?
- How did pop culture impact body image and fashion?
- What did pop culture teach us about women’s sexuality?
- What is pop culture today teaching us about womanhood?
This episode contains references to sexuality, pop culture, music, performance, girl, woman, gender, gender roles, Britney Spears, Kate Moss, Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, the Spice Girls, Pamela Anderson, body image, thinness, beauty, capitalism, entertainment industry.
19 January 2026, 3:00 pm - 29 minutesGoing gay in middle age
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 off
Where's my village? Esther Perel on how to build community
Will we ever have a cure for endometriosis?
Hacking online dating with Prof. Jennie Young
You 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 surgery
How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood
What loving someone with an addiction or dependence can look like
The dark side of being a perfectionist
This episode will answer questions like:
- What’s it like to fall in love with a woman in middle age?
- Are some women straight and then turn gay?
- How common is bisexuality?
- How fluid is sexuality?
- What does it feel like to have sex with a woman for the first time?
This episode contains references to sexuality, family, mother, parenting relationships, lesbian, gay, straight, sex, orgasm, religion.
12 January 2026, 3:00 pm - 24 minutesJulie Goodwin finally has the recipe for happiness
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 depression
Love ya guts! What to eat to feel your best
Body image and babies with Turia Pitt and Sophie Walker
You 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 surgery
How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood
What loving someone with an addiction or dependence can look like
The dark side of being a perfectionist
This episode will answer questions like:
- What does anxiety feel like?
- What does depression feel like?
- How can childhood experiences impact mental health?
- How did Julie Goodwin recover from a mental breakdown?
- What can I do to improve my mental health?
- What is it like to stay in a psychiatric hospital?
- How can I cultivate joy?
- How can mental health impact relationships?
This episode contains references to anxiety, depression, alcohol, addiction, exercise, health, mental health, psychology, MasterChef Australia.
5 January 2026, 3:00 pm - 28 minutesGreat sex: What we wish men knew
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?
Will we ever have a cure for endometriosis?
You 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 surgery
How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood
What loving someone with an addiction or dependence can look like
The dark side of being a perfectionist
This episode contains references to sex, gender, men, women, clitoris, mental load, marriage, sex life, therapy, masturbation.
29 December 2025, 3:00 pm - 26 minutesHow swapping a husband for a wife made this economist better off
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 Hackman
Mental health: Anxiety and how to beat it
Has Ozempic killed body inclusivity?
You 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 surgery
How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood
What loving someone with an addiction or dependence can look like
The dark side of being a perfectionist
This episode contains references to gender roles, family, relationship, men, mental load, domestic labour, utility, having it all, children, parenting, child care, work life balance, mental health.
22 December 2025, 3:00 pm - 25 minutesWhere's my village? Esther Perel on how to build community
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 marriage
Emotional labour with Rose Hackman
Relationship resuscitation — coming back from the brink
You 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:
Building a village means showing up even when it feels hard, says Esther Perel
Why Kate chose to 'stay flat' after breast cancer surgery
How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood
What loving someone with an addiction or dependence can look like
The dark side of being a perfectionist
This episode contains references to Esther Perel, village, community, friends, romantic relationship, marriage, resentment, therapy, couples therapy, Mating in Captivity, Where Should We Begin, personality styles, extroversion, introversion, love language.
15 December 2025, 3:00 pm - 27 minutesLife without boobs: Meet the women staying flat after breast cancer
We’re told boobs are sexy! Bouncy! Nutritious food banks even! But what happens when they betray you?
Every year in Australia, around 20,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. Forty per cent of those will need a mastectomy, surgery to have the breast tissue removed. Some of those women will choose not reconstruct, to stay "flat."
Yumi Stynes speaks to "flatties" about their relationship with their new bodies. You'll hear from women who've had one or both breasts removed about how their decision has reshaped their sex lives and body image and how they've found hope in new forms.
If you've got boobs, or know someone who does, this episode will make you question how you think about them.
Featured in this episode:
- Dr Charlotte Tottman, psycho-oncologist
Useful links:
Upfront About Breast Cancer – What You Don't Know Until You Do, with Dr Charlotte Tottman
Breast Cancer Network Australia
So Brave Breast Cancer Charity
Mastectomy: Breast Surgery and Recovery
What to listen to next:
Will we ever have a cure for endometriosis?
Embracing imperfection was the key to Astrid’s success
You 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:
How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood
What loving someone with an addiction or dependence can look like
The dark side of being a perfectionist
Why genital herpes does not mean the end of your sex life
This episode contains references to breast cancer, going flat, staying flat, flatties, reconstruction, surgery, chemotherapy, body image, femininity, boobs, psychology, mental health, gender.
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