Parental Alienation, Afghan Judges, Being Average, Women Vets, Lady Evelyn Cobbold

Parental Alienation is the unjustified rejection of a parent by a child, encouraged by the other parent. We hear from one woman who hasn't seen or spoken to her daughter in six years. Dr Amy Baker, Parental Alienation expert, and Louise Barretto, a divorce and family solicitor, join Emma to discuss the impact on children, and the belief that a child's voice should always be listened to in a court of law.

As the UK's evacuation mission draws to a close in Afghanistan, we look at the situation facing the country's female judges, described as being 'uniquely at risk'. We hear from a senior judge on the desperate situation she is in.

Is there more pressure on us these days to be extraordinary? Listener Sarah suggested we talk about being average- and why it should be celebrated. Author Eleanor Ross and faculty member and former Head of Content at The School of Life, Sarah Stein Lubrano join Emma to discuss.

Over 3 million households acquired a pet since the start of the pandemic, but vet practices are said to be overwhelmed. One listener got in touch to ask us to look at the challenges facing women vets.

Lady Evelyn Cobbold was a Scottish aristocrat who became the first recorded British woman to convert to Islam and undertake the hajj - the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. Listener Sadia was inspired by her story, and joins Emma to talk about why Lady Evelyn's 1933 pilgrimage is so meaningful to her today. We also hear from the University of Manchester's Professor Zahia Smail Salhi on how Lady Evelyn's story fits into the bigger picture.

Presented by Emma Barnett Produced by Frankie Tobi