Woman's Hour

Maggie O’Farrell’s first picture book for children is the story of a brave little girl who is visited by her snow angel in her time of need. The idea for the book grew out of a story Maggie told her own sick child in the back of an ambulance. Why are reassuring tales so crucial for children and adults in difficult times? This US election has been described as one of the most divisive US presidential elections in decades, pitting incumbent Republican Donald Trump against his Democratic challenger Joe Biden. We reflect on the results with USA Today columnist and CNN political & legal pundit, Sophia Nelson and Bronwen Maddox, Director of Institute for Government, previously foreign and US editor for the Times. How did North American women vote this time and with more women than ever standing for election, who are the winners and losers?How do you build your confidence when you’re at rock bottom? Whether you’ve had an illness, your partner has left you or you’re returning to work after having a baby, your sense of identity can suffer. Chloe Tilley is joined by confidence coach Jo Emerson and Frances Monaghan of Wise Women to explain how you can overcome low self-esteem. Presenter Chloe Tilley Producer Beverley Purcell Photo Credit; Murdo MacLeod

America goes to the polls today. It's predicted the women's vote will be key, particularly the suburban woman who came out for Trump in 2016 but 4 years on has changed her mind. We review the polls ahead of what is expected to be the biggest turn out in years. Johnny Depp has lost his libel case against the Sun newspaper over an article that called him a "wife beater". We talk to a Women's Rights organisation and look at the career implications for the 57 year old film star and his 34 year old ex wife Amber Heard. One group of self employed people we’ve not heard much about during the pandemic is sex workers. The coronavirus has spelt economic disaster for an industry which requires social contact and many are turning to online platforms like OnlyFans which allows them to sell photos and videos with a monthly subscription. Jane will be talking to Laura Watson from the Collective of English Prostitutes and the feminist writer Julie Bindel.And in our new series on life and shoes, we speak to Carmen about her espadrilles her mother danced in decades ago and her own tango shoesPresenter: Jane Garvey Producer: Henrietta Harrison

We may not be doing much holiday cruising in the pandemic but Jane McDonald known as ‘Queen of Cruise’ has a new album out ‘Cruising with Jane McDonald Vol 2’ featuring many well-known songs, all performed on her popular TV series of the same name. It’s been more than 20 years since she found fame as the stand out character from the BBC’s docusoap The Cruise - she joins Jane to talk performing, cruising, holidays and life out of the water. A new study, led by the Universities of Nottingham and Oxford, provides a more detailed picture on which women are at increased risk of breast cancer when using different HRT treatments. Dr Yana Vinogradova from the University of Nottingham, a lead investigator on the study, joins Jane to discuss the results.Shortly before Josiah was due to take A levels, he suffered his first major depressive episode. At the time neither he or his family had a clue what was happening. Nonetheless he scraped through his exams and in the autumn went to university as planned. At university his mental health deteriorated further, to the point that he planned his own death. Josh and his mum Mandy join Jane to talk about their experiences – in Josh’s case, learning to live with depression, and in Mandy’s how best to support and help someone you love who suffers with depression.During lockdown people have rediscovered a love for DIY, but what happens to all the leftover paint that doesn’t make it on to the wall? Paint is a hazardous material and if not properly disposed of it can be really harmful to the environment. Cat Hyde is one of the founders of Seagulls, a project which takes leftover paint and repurposes it into new paint. They take volunteers such as Ash, a young woman who now works at their paint shop, who says that working at Seagulls was vital in her regaining her confidence. Presented by Jane Garvey Producer: Louise Corley Editor: Beverley Purcell.

Pottering can be described as keeping busy without a plan or purpose. We hear from a self-confessed potterer. She's life coach Sarah Longfield, and we also have Anna McGovern, who's written a book called Pottering: A Cure for Modern Life.Statistics pulled together by NHS digital tell us that more people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities are being admitted to hospital because of eating disorders. We hear from a parent whose daughter was recently diagnosed with an eating disorder and from Professor Sandeep Ranote who's a psychiatrist and expert on eating disorders. Concern over the state of our planet is at a record high but who holds the real power? We hear from Karen Shackleton the Founder of the Ilkley Clean River Campaign and Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of The Environment Agency.How do we ditch our shame? Comedian Grace Campbell has written a book called Amazing Disgrace. It's about growing up feeling shameful about sex. It's also about mental health and being jealous. She joins the psychotherapist Gabrielle Rifkind to discuss how we can get rid of our shame. We hear from Emma and Ashlee who left care just before they were 18 and how they adapted to adult life. Mark Riddell, the National Implementation Advisor for Care Leavers, discusses what initiatives are working. And after going viral in a YouTube video, singer Charlotte Awbery tells about her journey from waitressing to being a guest on The Ellen Show.Presenter: Jane Garvey Producer: Rabeka Nurmahomed Editor: Siobhann Tighe

The Vendee Globe solo round the world sailing race is considered to be one of the toughest sporting competitions: 24,000 miles as the crow flies, no help, no stops and no turning back. This year out of 33 entries, six women are aiming to be on the start line on 8th November. We hear from three British women who are taking part.How do we ditch our shame? Comedian Grace Campbell has written a book, 'Amazing Disgrace', about growing up feeling shameful about sex, rejection, mental health and jealous tendencies. Grace and psychotherapist Gabrielle Rifkind join Jane to discuss how we can negotiate with ourselves, and work on getting rid of our shame.The femme fatale, the crazy cat lady, the girl next door – writer and performer Anneka Harry has come up with 50 tired tropes for women in her book, 'Lady Sidekick'. She’ll discuss how women have been pigeonholed for years into a handful of tired and basic characters, and how it’s now time for a change.In peace processes between 1992 and 2018, women represented only 3% of mediators and 12% of negotiators despite UN research showing that when women meaningfully participate in peace talks the resulting agreement is less likely to fail. We speak to women peace negotiators about what the challenges and benefits of being female can bring to their work and what support is needed to enable more women to be involved in peace negotiations. Presenter: Jane Garvey Producer: Kirsty StarkeyInterviewed Guest: Pip Hare Interviewed Guest: Miranda Merron Interviewed Guest: Samantha Davies Interviewed Guest: Grace Campbell Interviewed Guest: Gabrielle Rifkind Interviewed Guest: Anneka Harry Interviewed Guest: Sara Cook Interviewed Guest: Quhramaana Kakar Photographer: Vincent Curutchet

Author Victoria Hislop discusses her new novel ‘One August Night’, the long-anticipated sequel to her award-winning work, ‘The Island’. Why has she waited so long to revisit the hugely popular Cretan world and characters she created?It's the Women's FA Cup this weekend between Everton and Manchester City. Everton's Captain Danielle Turner and Jude Morris-King , volunteer Treasurer at the Man City Women Official Supporters Club talk to Paulette about what's it been like for the game under lock down and about the possible long-term impact of Covid-19 on the women’s game.Plus a study at the University of Cambridge, as part of the CanTest collaborative, has revealed that a blood test already available to GPs in the UK is more predictive of ovarian cancer than previously thought. We hear from Cancer Research UK’s head of early diagnosis Dr Jodie Moffat and science teacher Fiona who was diagnosed three years ago. And singer Charlotte Awbery tells us about her journey from waitressing to being a guest on the Ellen Show, and now creating her own music after an impromptu appearance in a YouTube video went viraLPresenter Paulette Edwards Producer Beverley Purcell

According to NHS Digital more people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities are being admitted to hospital because of eating disorders. Experts say problems should have been picked up much earlier, rather than getting to the point of going to hospital. We speak to a mother whose daughter has just started treatment and Professor Sandeep Ranote, who's a psychiatrist and expert on eating disorders.Most young people leave home gradually over a number of years, but for teenagers who've grown up in care it can be very different. They've often started to live independently by the age of 18 or even before that, and they' are vulnerable to homelessness, unemployment, criminality, poor mental-health, and having children early on. We hear from Ashlee and Emma who've been in care and are now supported by the charity Break. We also hear from Mark Riddell MBE, who's National Implementation Advisor for Care Leavers. What do young care leavers need to help them move into adulthood and what things work for them? Stalking via the internet has escalated during lockdown. We hear from Katy Bourne, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Sussex, who's been a victim of stalking herself. She talks about what it's been like for her and how perpetrators have found new ways to get to their victims online. We also hear from Suky Bhaker who heads the Suzy Lamplugh Trust. The charity runs the National Stalking Helpline.Does making bread help you switch off, especially when life is hard? Pauline Beaumont thinks so. She's a passionate baker, as well as a mother of six and a counsellor. She joins us to describe the calmness that baking brings to her and what it can teach us when life goes wrong.

Pottering - what exactly is it? And why should you make time for it? To discuss this most British of pastimes, Jane is joined by self-confessed potterer – life coach Sarah Longfield and Anna McGovern, author of Pottering: A Cure for Modern Life, who defines pottering as keeping herself busy but without a plan or a purpose. Caitlin McNamara, a former Hay Festival curator, claims she was attacked in February of this year whilst working on the inaugural Middle East festival, by Sheikh Nahyan, the Minister of Tolerance in the United Arab Emirates cabinet and a member of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family. Now taking legal action in the UK, she joins Jane to explain why she has decided to make public the alleged assault. Baroness Helena Kennedy discusses the importance of this case.October is Black History Month. Reporter Olivia Cope spoke to two black female performance artists about their work and the influence this past year has had on their craft. Sophia Thakur has been holding free workshops over Zoom during lockdown, where hundreds of people from around the world have been in touch to work out how to express their feelings towards current events. Vilma Jackson's work explores the challenges she faces as a deaf, black woman in a hearing world. Ali Gordon is Vilma’s interpreter.Presenter: Jane Garvey Producer: Dianne McGregor

Poland's top court has ruled that abortions in cases of foetal abnormality are unconstitutional. Poland's abortion laws were already among the strictest in Europe but the Constitutional Tribunal's ruling will mean an almost total ban. Once the decision comes into effect, terminations will only be allowed in cases of rape or incest, or if the mother's health is at risk. We hear from Justyna Wydrzynska, who runs a group in Poland which gives information about abortion to women you want it.Public concern over the state of our planet is at a record high. But for all the targets and strikes and banning plastic straws, change still feels pretty slow. So what's the problem? Three women, who are suggestions for this year’s Woman’s Hour Power List, plus one of our judges, talks about the kind of power that brings about change, their own quests to make a difference, and how they keep going. We have Karen Shackleton, Sian Sutherland, Hil Berg and Emma Howard.

The Poor Clares of Arundel are a community of nuns. They've just released an album'Light for the World' described as 'traditional plainchant with added beats'. We hear from Sisters Leo & Sisters Aelread.What impact is Long Covid having on women’s lives, and where are we with treatment and support?How will the female vote impact the USA presidential elections? Melissa Milewski, a lecturer in American History at the University of Sussex and Dr Michell Chresfield Lecturer in United States History, at the University of Birmingham discuss. The number of women sleeping rough and living in temporary accommodation has risen. Katya Adler hears from Dame Louise Casey who, as “Homelesssness Tsar”, championed the “Everyone In” policy which got rough sleepers off the street and into temporary accommodation during the height of the pandemic and Petra Salva, the head of the Rough Sleepers Unit at the charity St. Mungos.Sister Bliss is a DJ, songwriter and electronic artist. She is perhaps best-known as a member of the British electronic band Faithless.Victoria Wood, the Lancashire born comedian, writer, actor, stand up and singer died in 2016 having never written her own story. With access to letters, and interviews with friends and family Jasper Rees has written ‘Let’s Do it’ – The Authorized Biography of Victoria Wood.Presenter: Jane Garvey Producer: Dianne McGregor