Ladies, We Need To Talk

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  Getting to the bottom of IBS  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. 

When she was 16, Pub Choir's Astrid Jorgensen wanted to be a nun. So how did she end up in pubs, night after night, teaching people to sing? For years, Astrid felt like she didn't belong to the world of music. But she found her way in, on her terms. Astrid was never going to be an elite Opera singer, but in rediscovering the joy of singing for the sake of it, she invited the world to sing along too. Astrid has fused her unique talents together to create Pub Choir — the largest choir in the world. She teaches everyday punters to sing a three-part harmony, where the audience becomes the performers. Yumi Stynes sits down with Astrid for a candid conversation about the messiness of life, how she found her voice and began singing to her own tune. What to listen to next:   Turia Pitt is a selfish woman  Mental health: Anxiety and how to beat it  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: 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 Pub Choir, Bulimia, Backstreet Boys, Cher, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Africa, Cranberries, Zombie, Dolores O’Riordan, Toto, Average at Best, music teacher, spiritual quest, religion, abusive teacher, music, audiation, sensory, senses, conducting, choir, crowd, stage.

Up to one in five people have irritable bowel syndrome and women are three times as likely to be affected. From bloating, cramping, constipation and diarrhea, the symptoms can be debilitating, let alone make it hard to do up a pair of jeans!  Even though IBS is so common, there’s no cure. But there’s increasing research about the best ways to manage symptoms - from the low FODMAP diet to managing anxiety to live a better and less gassy life.   Featured in this episode:  Associate Professor Jess Biesiekierski from the University of Melbourne IBS participant study https://www.gutresearchstudy.com. What to listen to next:   Calling out wellness bullsh*t with Dr Jen Gunter  Sandwich generation — the women looking after everyone  Mental health: Overcoming depression  Mental health: Anxiety and how to beat it  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 will answer questions like:  What is IBS?  What does IBS feel like?  How do you know you have IBS?  How can you manage IBS?  Can you cure IBS?  How is the mind and gut connected?  What does stress have to do with IBS?  This episode contains references to IBS, irritable bowl syndrome, HotGirlsHaveIBS , leaky gut, pain, gut pain, faecal transplants, anxiety, mental health, therapy, microbiome, FODMAP, diet, mind gut connection.

With "wellness" advice from influencers flooding our feeds, it's hard to sort fact from absolute nonsense and know what to eat to feel good. Enter Laureate Professor in nutrition and dietetics, Clare Collins. Yumi sits down with Clare to get the low down on the good stuff we should be eating on and the nasty stuff we should avoid. How much protein is enough? Is fibre a big deal? Are probiotics bulls*#t? This episode will help you turn down the noise on nonsense diet trends and listen to what your guts are telling you. What to listen to next:   Calling out wellness bullsh*t with Dr Jen Gunter  Stepmums: Why do they get such a hard time? Endometriosis: Pain, periods, medical gaslighting Clare and Jessie Stephens on twinning, pregnancy and envy 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 will answer questions like:   What is your gut?  How does your gut affect your mood?  Is your gut connected to your mental health?  What is your microbiome?   How do you keep your microbiome healthy?  How much fibre do women need?  How much protein do women need?  What are emulsifiers?   What foods are bad for the gut?  How does the mind-gut connection work?  What is the connection between the gut and dementia?  What is the Mediterranean diet?  What is the MIND diet?  This episode contains references to microbiome, diet, diet culture, emulsifiers, fibre, protein, women's health, influencers, menopause, depression, anxiety, bacteria, Mediterranean diet, vegetables, processed food, FODMAP.

Ladies, we want to hear your sex disasters stories for an upcoming episode! Have you queefed at the worst possible moment? Maybe you screamed out your ex's name in the throes of passion? Reached for the toothpaste instead of the lube? If you've got an awkward, embarrassing or hilarious sexual encounter that didn't go to plan, now is the time to share it with the group chat (us!). Drop us a voice note or message at [email protected].