Amelia Dimoldenberg, Vaping, Bigamy, Angel Blue

Amelia Dimoldenberg, Vaping, Bigamy, Angel Blue

Author: BBC Radio 4 August 20, 2026 Duration: 54:57

Doctors are warning that vaping could be harming children's health and say more needs to be done to make vapes less attractive and accessible to young people. The warning comes from experts from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, which has reviewed around 80 studies and said it is linked to higher rates of breathing problems and evidence of harm in babies whose mothers used vapes while pregnant. Anita Rani speaks to Will Carroll, Professor of Child Health at Staffordshire Children’s hospital and co-author of the study.

With over 1 million 16-24 year olds out of work, education or some form of training, internet personality Amelia Dimoldenberg - creator of Chicken Shop Date - has launched her own creative academy. Amelia joins Anita to discuss the importance of making the online and media sectors more accessible for the next generation and how best to combat youth unemployment in this country.

30,000 people have been tried for bigamy over the past 400 years, many harshly punished, according to a new study from the University of Exeter. Rebecca Probert is Professor of Law there, and a leading expert in the history and current law of marriage, cohabitation, bigamy and divorce. She has been looking at how the law has evolved since 1604 and joins Anita to discuss some of the incredible stories she uncovered, included in her new books Double Trouble and Double Lives.

Sarah Smyth from the University of Essex has been delving into archives in America to look at the screenplays of the writer and director Nora Ephron. Before her death in 2012 Ephron won numerous awards, including a Bafta, a Golden Globe – she was nominated for Academy Awards… but has her feminist reputation been watered down?

The Grammy award-winning African American soprano Angel Blue will perform at the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall this Saturday. She joins Anita to look back on winning a Grammy for her role in Porgy and Bess, how she funded her music studies by entering beauty pageants, and how a recent health diagnosis has affected her.

Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt


For decades, Woman's Hour from BBC Radio 4 has been a fixture in British life, creating a unique space where the experiences of women are centered and explored in full. This isn't just a series of interviews; it's a daily conversation that feels both urgent and timeless, tackling everything from front-page news and political shifts to intimate personal stories and cultural shifts. Each episode brings together a diverse range of voices-activists, artists, scientists, politicians, and everyday people-to dissect the issues that shape society. You'll hear nuanced debates on health, family, work, and identity, alongside insightful discussions on books, music, and ideas that are defining our moment. The podcast captures all of this, offering a thoughtful and often challenging listen that refuses to simplify the complexities of modern life. It’s where a headline is unpacked with depth, a personal struggle is given context, and inspiration is found in unexpected places. Tuning into this podcast means joining a long-running dialogue that consistently informs, provokes thought, and connects the personal to the political, all through the lens of women's lives and perspectives.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Woman's Hour
Podcast Episodes
Nadine Dorries, Emeli Sandé, Darts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:52
High-profile Reform UK member and former cabinet minister Nadine Dorris was alerted by the police that a deepfake pornographic image had been made of her. She joins Nuala to discuss the impact this has had on her and her…
Nursery safety, Women in Norman times, Motor mechanics, Women in Film [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:19
Whilst the vast majority of nurseries provide safe and caring environments, there have been a number of highly distressing cases in recent years where children have been abused or come to harm. From 1st September this ye…
Child mental health, Siobhan Daniels & RV travels, Testosterone, [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:22
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, the body that represents NHS paediatricians, has warned of a sharp rise in the number of children aged 6 to 17 turning up at A&E units in England in a state of mental he…
Natalie Imbruglia, Adele Parks, Forced adoption, Heart attacks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:14
The award-winning singer-songwriter and actress Natalie Imbruglia first hit our screens in the early 1990s, playing the role of Beth Brennan in the Australian soap Neighbours. Her 1997 debut single Torn quickly became a…
Women and Water [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:45
After a summer when hot weather has drawn many of us towards the water, we explore its pull as a place of freedom, adventure and friendship, as well as the risks it can pose.Writer and wild swimmer Brigid Lowe tells us h…
HRT and dementia, Cookbook author Amy Sheppard, Cosplay [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:03
Hormone replacement therapy may reduce the risk of dementia, a new study has found. Researchers tracked more than 180,000 postmenopausal women and their analysis suggests that those who had used HRT appeared to be less l…