Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women

This week Rachel is joined by the author Ela Lee, whose debit novel 'Jaded', took the literary world by storm. Ela became a secret novelist during the pandemic, switching her job as a City lawyer to delve into her passion for writing. Together they discuss the difficult process that came with writing her second book, 'Minbak', an intergenerational story about a family of three Korean women facing ruin following the 2008 financial crisis, which was inspired by Ela's own childhood.

This week's Difficult Woman is Nimco Ali, co-founder and CEO of The Five Foundation, a global partnership working to end female genital mutilation. An FGM survivor herself, Nimco tells Rachel about her experience returning to the UK after she was cut in Djibouti at just six-years-old, where her teacher told her “this is what happens to girls like you”. Nimco was later inspired to speak out publicly against the procedure, after meeting a classroom full of girls in the UK who had undergone FGM.

In this episode of Difficult Women, Rachel sits down with the author Amanda Craig, known for her ‘state of the nation’ novels that explore British society through an often satirical lens. Ahead of the release of her new book ‘High and Low’ in May, they discuss what Amanda believes are the key ingredients for a novel. She also tells Rachel that people have forgotten books are supposed to be entertaining, and explains the inspiration behind the characters she creates. Amanda opens up about her diagnoses with both endometriosis and thyroid cancer, and explains how they opened her eyes to the hardships many in society face, after she was helped through her recovery by a range of people.

This week's difficult woman is Conservative MP for East Surrey, Claire Coutinho, who is Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, as well as Shadow Minister for Equalities. Claire tells Rachel about her plans to make the UK self-sufficient when it comes to energy. She also shares the emotional story of her son Rafael's birth, where complications left her in a coma fighting for her life.

This week Rachel is joined by the author and activist Tilly Rose, who spent 20 years in and out of hospital as a ‘medical mystery’. When Tilly was told by a doctor all she could be offered was 'comfort care' rather than a diagnosis, she decided to share her situation online. With the help of the internet, she finally received the treatment she needed. Tilly’s now documented her journey in the award-winning book ‘Be Patient’.

This week’s difficult woman is the chef Olia Hercules, who before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, was mainly known for celebrating Eastern European cuisine through her recipes. In 2022 she co-founded the #CookForUkraine initiative, and later released her family memoir ‘Strong Roots: A Ukrainian Family History Through War, Exile and Hope’. Olia joins Rachel on the week of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion, in a heavy and honest discussion about how the war has changed her life.

This week Rachel is joined by Baroness Kishwer Falkner, the recent chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission. During her time in the role, Baroness Falkner found herself at the centre of one of today’s most politically charged debates: the argument over sex and gender. In her first sit down audio interview since the end of her term, she tells Rachel about the hostility she faced both externally from activists as well as an internally, after bullying allegations were made by staff, all while dealing with her own personal battle with advanced ovarian cancer.

This week Rachel is joined by the writer and historian Rachel Cockerell, whose debut book ‘Melting Point: Family, Memory and the Search for a Promised Land’ tells the story of the long-forgotten Galveston Movement. Together they discuss how Rachel stumbled upon the significance of her great grandfather, David Jochelmann, in the movement, after she searched his name as part of her research for her family memoir. Rachel also explains why delusion is a key ingredient for anyone wanting to become a writer, and even teases what her next book will be about.

This week's difficult woman is the senior firefighter, psychologist and author, Dr Sabrina Cohen-Hatton. From joining the fire service at just 18 years old when nationally only one per cent of firefighters were women, to being part of the response team for the aftermath of Grenfell, to becoming the first female to be Chief Fire Officer of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight, she tells Rachel about the prejudices she's faced throughout her career. They also talk about Rachel's experience living on the streets as a teenager, and the continued stigma surrounding homelessness.

This week’s difficult woman is truly a first for the podcast. First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan, aka Baroness Morgan of Ely, joins Rachel in the studio. From growing up in a home at the centre of Welsh Labour, to becoming the first woman to lead the country, politics is in Eluned’s blood. Together they look ahead to May’s Senedd Election, which could mark the end of Labour's dominance in Welsh Parliament since devolution. Eluned also tells Rachel the incredible story of how her family survived a plane crash when she was just a child.

This week’s difficult woman is the writer, researcher and intellectual Cat Bohannon, best known for her New York Times bestseller Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Millions Years of Human Evolution. Rachel is mind-blown as Cat tells her about the time she lived in a car for three months so she could continue teaching her students at the University of Arizona. Rachel also asks Cat about her upcoming book, which looks at why studying women’s health could save us all.

In this week’s Difficult Women, Rachel is joined by Investigations Editor at the New Statesman, Hannah Barnes. Hannah led BBC Newsnight’s investigation into the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust’s Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS). Her work helped lead to an extensive NHS review, and was nominated for an array of awards. Hannah is also the author of Sunday Times bestseller Time to Think: The Inside Story of the Collapse of the Tavistock’s Gender Service for Children, which was shortlisted for both the Baillie Gifford Prize and the Orwell Prize. Hannah tells Rachel about the challenges that come with reporting on complex and contentious issues.

Cindy Gallop is a true Difficult Woman: born in Buckinghamshire, raised in orthodox Brunei by a formidable “tiger mother,” and destined for marriage and motherhood. Instead, she became the founder of MakeLoveNotPorn, a radical platform challenging porn culture by showing real, consensual, emotionally honest sex. Fiercely single, unapologetic about dating younger men, and committed to designing her life entirely on her own terms, Cindy has spent decades dismantling the myths around sex, relationships, and what women are meant to want.

This week's difficult woman is the reality TV star Jazz Saunders, much loved for her kind, down to-earth nature, close friendships and fiery rows on Made in Chelsea. Jazz came out as bisexual on national tv and we have watched her in the first lesbian relationship of the whole series. We discuss all of this and we also hear from Jazz's mum Elyse. Enjoy!

This week’s difficult woman is Holly Tucker MBE. Nicknamed ‘Holly hurricane’ when she was growing up, she is one of those women who really do appear like they ‘have it all’. She co-founded the online marketplace Notonthehighstreet in 2006 and later founded Holly & Co, a purpose-led company supporting independent businesses. Rachel and Holly talk about balancing a career with family; the death of the high street and how to save it and, of course, Holly’s most difficult moment.

This week’s difficult woman is Penny Mordaunt, former Conservative minister for Women and Equalities. You may know her for holding the sword at the King Charles’ coronation or running against Liz Truss in the Conservative leadership race. There is much more to Penny than this however. She does not fit the posh Oxbridge stereotype that surrounds the Conservative party. Growing up in Portsmouth, she lost her parents at a young age and cared for her brother whilst he was ill. Her journey into politics is unconventional and frankly fascinating.

This week’s difficult woman is the global health expert Devi Sridhar. She tells Rachel how she became committed to improving public health after losing her dad at a young age and seeing the ‘medieval process’ of chemotherapy he experienced. She also shares some secrets on how to live forever…