Menopause and ADHD, Flatpack World Champion, Women and Crime

Menopause and ADHD, Flatpack World Champion, Women and Crime

Author: BBC Radio 4 May 15, 2026 Duration: 57:45

Menopause can be challenging for many women, but for those with ADHD, the experience can often feel like life is completely unravelling. For some women in their 40s, 50s and 60s it can also be the first time they realise they may have ADHD, as fluctuating hormones amplify their challenges with sleep, mood, attention and overwhelm. GP and Menopause expert Dr Helen Wall joins Anita to talk about her new book Menopause and ADHD, which aims to debunk some of the myths and support women navigating the combination.

A "cunning" and "manipulative" former imam in east London has been given a life sentence with a minimum prison term of 20 years for a series of sexual attacks on women and girls as young as 12. Abdul Halim Khan, 54, was described as having abused the trust and authority that came with his position to carry out attacks against seven victims from the local Muslim community between 2005 and 2014. Presenter Anita Rani is joined by BBC Religion editor, Aleem Maqbool, and Aisha K Gill, a professor of criminology at the University of Bristol and expert witness in the case.

Love it or dread it, flat-pack furniture tests us all. But for Hayley McAuley from Wigan, it’s a sport - she’s just defended her title as Flatpack World Champion and tells presenter Anita Rani how she did it.

The Government wants to change how women are sentenced, with new courts designed to keep them out of prison and stop them reoffending. Instead, women must commit to change and have regular check ins with a judge. They are called intensive supervision courts and the first is already running in Birmingham, now ministers want to roll them out more widely. We hear from Joy Doal of the women's centre Anawim, who helped set up the pilot, and criminologist Professor Simon Pemberton on whether they really work.

We meet the award-winning farmer running free workshops where food starts in the field, not a packet. Milly Fyfe has just been named Farming Woman of the Year at the National Women in Agriculture Awards. Her business, Countryside Kitchen, provides free workshops to show children how to shake cream to turn it into butter and teaches them exactly where their burgers and chicken nuggets come from.

Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Sarah Jane Griffiths


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: 100

Woman's Hour
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