Welcome to Season Four

FromUnapologetic Women

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Welcome to Season Four

FromUnapologetic Women

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Length:

6 minutes

Released:

Jan 14, 2022

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

E-mail: hello@unapologeticwomen.co and/or follow us on Instagram www.instagram.com/unapologeticwomenpodcast/Thanks for tuning in and see you next week.www.unapologeticwomen.co

Released:

Jan 14, 2022

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (64)

Unscripted conversations with Toni Cowan-Brown and Sorcha Rochford about current affairs, pop culture, life, and how we got here. We are fiercely opinionated, unapologetically honest and we don’t always agree. Join us weekly for a deep dive into honest conversations where empathy and vulnerability, and facts take center stage.

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An Introduction to Unapologetic Women: What does 'unapologetic' mean to you? Sorcha and Toni have been friends and co-workers for years. One of the reasons we became such great friends was our individual desire to be unapologetic about who we are. And that is something that can take years to master, especially when we have a society that is continuously telling us all the things we should and shouldn't be. We all have an unapologetic side to ourselves. by Unapologetic Women
6 min listen
Meet your hosts: Sorcha's story: As a way of introducing ourselves, we thought we would each spend a little time answering the question: What's your story and how did you get here? Here is Sorcha's story. by Unapologetic Women
8 min listen
What does leadership mean to you?: If 2020 taught us anything it’s that leadership is easier said than done. We have been hit by two global pandemics and both of those shine a light on the success and failures, and their impact, of leadership. by Unapologetic Women
40 min listen
Misinformation, Facts and Science: The latest episode from Unapologetic Women is out now. This week listen to us discuss the ever-changing landscape of misinformation and disinformation. Is there even a difference? Yes, although it probably depends on who you are asking. Here are just some of the questions we tried to tackle: Who gets to decide what is a fact? who should we turn to and trust for the most reliable and accurate information? Are some voices dangerous to listen to and who decided which voices are more important and reliable than others? What role should we play as a responsible citizen? by Unapologetic Women
46 min listen
E03: Let's talk data privacy: Sorcha was recently in Victoria, Canada, where she was invited to attend and speak at the 21st Annual Privacy & Security Conference. So this week we are talking about data privacy and security, and elections. But it certainly won't be a dry a conversation as it's a topic we both find fascinating, and polarizing. by Unapologetic Women
37 min listen
How are you doing?: We have always focused on the importance of conversation and dialogue, this week's episode is true to that belief. We often talk about how education shapes us and this week we have both been on our own journey to understanding what it means to be anti-racist. by Unapologetic Women
37 min listen
Let's Stay In: As the whole world is on lockdown and more or less under quarantine, we thought we would do something a little different. We've been friends for years and yet we have probably been in the same room less than 10 times over the course of our friendship. So it's safe to say we know a thing or two about friendships and staying connected when we are never technically together. by Unapologetic Women
39 min listen
Brexit and me: listen to Toni's tales of 2016: For the past decade Toni has worked at the intersection of policy, politics and tech. During five years Toni sold campaigning software to politicians and political parties across the world and from all sides of the political aisle. Some of these campaigns included seven of the French presidential candidates from 2017, most of the UK, French and Belgian political parties, and both sides of the official Brexit referendum. by Unapologetic Women
42 min listen
Meet your hosts: Toni's story: As a way of introducing ourselves, we thought we would each spend a little time answering the question: What's your story and how did you get here? Here is Toni's story. by Unapologetic Women
8 min listen
E01: Women and their Platforms: At the end of 2019, Toni was fortunate enough to be a guest at the Women Rule panel hosted by PBS Newshour and POLITICO. When Toni got back, the two of us talked at length about all the amazing women we knew and the platforms they are using and how. The panel was moderated by Anna Palmer, co-author of POLITICO Playbook & Women Rule Editorial Director and the panel included Jill Soloway, artist & activist, Michele Norris-Johnson, columnist and author, Emily Dreyfuss, Editorial Director, Protocol - all phenomenal people who are leveraging their platforms to create lasting impact. by Unapologetic Women
36 min listen
Identity, Women and Politics: This week we talked about one of our favourite topics - women and politics. Honestly, we could both talk about this at length and in great detail. We took a look at the rise of women leaders across the world. We also spoke a little about identity in a post-Brexit world, national borders, nationalism, and nation-states. by Unapologetic Women
39 min listen
What's your sense of social responsibility?: If you have been on Instagram lately, you will have noticed that it's full of social activism slideshows beautifully designed and neatly curated for all to consume. You might have also noticed the black & white challenge accepted movement whereby women were sharing B&W pictures of themselves on Instagram to promote female empowerment. And it's safe to say, that this seemingly unproblematic prompt created quite a reaction for and against it. From arguing over the origins of this campaign, to whether or not sharing a 'selfie' could even be considered activism. Just a reminder that when you find yourself typing furiously and In the end, this challenge led to us being in a full-blown dialogue about all forms of activism, which as you know, we don't always agree. by Unapologetic Women
26 min listen
Femtech & the gender data gap: Femtech is a whole new category in tech focused on products by women for women. Intrigued, we both decided to do our own research into the topic and discuss our findings. More than anything, it's clear just how much Femtech has done for women's healthcare by creating more room and opportunity for dialogue and discovery. Which in turn has helped break down some of the taboos in this space. All of this has allowed for some much-needed information to be surfaced. The gender data gap is very real and it "leaves women misunderstood, mistreated and misdiagnosed". by Unapologetic Women
35 min listen
Local vs. National vs. European Politics: The latest episode from Unapologetic Women is out now. This week listen in to our conversation on the EU political infrastructure, where Toni explains the complexities of this political system and how it interacts with local and national policies across the EU. by Unapologetic Women
26 min listen
Will pandemic habits stick?: This week we share our experience of creating new habits during this pandemic (some will stick others won't), joining a plethora of online events and navigating work and life during these unique times. We also talk about the importance of self-care and learning to let go of all the "should haves, could haves and would haves", and finally we dive into the rise of new content from influencers whose business models have completely been shattered. by Unapologetic Women
48 min listen
As Trump exits, so does Britain: The US elections have encompassed our conversation this past season. We felt it important and timely to discuss Brexit, and the four and a half years that lead to this moment where a no deal is again most likely. In this episode, we also draw parallels between Trump winning the 2016 US elections and the Brexit Leave vote. Here we are at the end of 2020 as both Trump and the United Kingdom are exiting in their own ways and we reflect on the unknown consequences of these events. by Unapologetic Women
43 min listen
E02: The Power of Micro-donations: Another episode where we sit down and talk candidly about community organising, Celeste Barber raising 50 million AUD in micro donation for the Australia bush fires, donations vs. taxes and campaigning. by Unapologetic Women
41 min listen
Get ready for Season Two: OMG we made a podcast. We dit it - a whole season. We couldn't be more excited to be back for Season two with the same promise of unscripted and honest conversations. We will be spending a lot more time on all the different facets of this upcoming US 2020 elections. because how could we not? by Unapologetic Women
11 min listen
Politics in the US of A: This week listen to our conversation about politics in the US of A. First things first we need to note that this episode was recorded before quarantine, Toni is now in Vancouver and Sorcha is no longer sick. But now to the real matter at hand, Sorcha shares her thoughts on the Bernie Sanders campaign and reflects on the momentum he had when recording, side note he has since suspended his campaign for the 2020 Democratic nominee. by Unapologetic Women
28 min listen
Why do corporations care about getting out the vote?: What does GOTV mean? This is a campaign tactic used to get people to the polls on Election Day. This week we discuss the impact that GOTV (Get-Out-The-Vote) has on voters across the globe. GOTV has always been an important part of any campaign but in 2020 you will have noticed an increase in the traction GOTV is getting outside of politics. We focus on how corporations, associations and non profits are engaging with tactics traditionally used by campaigns. by Unapologetic Women
37 min listen
Can Content Creators Build Trust?: On today's episode, Toni talks about launching Not Another Media Company and her evolving definition of being both a content creator and the founder of a media company. The same way we recognised five (or so) years ago that all companies were essentially tech companies, we are now recognising that almost all companies today have to be media companies as well. So what role, if any, do the 50 million people identifying as content creators (in 2021) have within this media landscape shift? by Unapologetic Women
42 min listen
To be a viable candidate, must you first go viral?: When the 2020 US elections kicked off, we weren't yet in a global pandemic. However, the candidates were already fighting for air time in the virtual sphere. In this episode, we discuss what it is going to take to be a viable candidate in the upcoming elections. by Unapologetic Women
40 min listen
Hillary and me: listen to Sorcha's tales of 2016: Sorcha has worked in US politics for the last 8 years and the 2016 US Presidential campaign was a profound experience for her. In this episode, she takes us through the challenges in hearing both sides of an argument, the unprecedented role and impact of social media, and the tension between providing the tools of organizing for democracy to flourish and her own political beliefs. by Unapologetic Women
44 min listen
Have the 2020 political ads impacted your vote?: Have you noticed a flurry of political ads on your social media feeds? From your high school friends, to the newfound political micro influencers, all the way to the CEOs of fortune 500 companies. The uptick in socially conscious and political activity content is apart of some of the digital tactics to increase voter participation. In this week's episode, we talk about these elements of modern campaigning and how it impacts us as voters (not us here in the USA but maybe one day... we are just unapologetically obsessed with political content). by Unapologetic Women
32 min listen
We have to stop asking what’s next in 2020: We share the pain of not being able to be with family during the COVID crisis. Talking of COVID, we discuss the impact that the pandemic is having on the US Elections. From the reality of Election results not arriving on November 3rd, to how you can cast your ballot, the misinformation and, lack thereof education as it pertains to information your ballot -- campaign strategies VS. legal information from your local election division. Disclaimer 1: Apologies for the audio quality which isn't great on this episode. These things happen and nevertheless, we wanted to share this conversation with you as we felt it was an important one to share. by Unapologetic Women
28 min listen
The strength of humanity: Your inboxes are inundated with a look back at 2020. In this episode, we wanted to do a year in review but from our own personal lens. Closing out 2020 was simultaneously easy and very hard. We reflect on how 2020 impacted us both personally and professionally from remote working, to increased content, the global pandemic, social injustice, virtual friendships and more. We can only hope that this episode helps you look back at your year and take from it what you need. by Unapologetic Women
49 min listen
Power, Transitions and Egos.: We have a new President. The election was on November 3rd, and finally, on December 3rd (as we write this), President-Elect Joe Biden has been given access to power to transition the government. The transition of power is not something that we would normally focus on in-depth as a society, but this election is different for many reasons, especially because of the egos at play. by Unapologetic Women
30 min listen
Why can't we debate in 2020?: Presidential debates, disagreements with your coworkers, arguing with your child to go to zoom school. 2020 has been a year of firsts for many, Toni and Sorcha discuss the critical need for our leaders to lead by example - Kamala Harris took the stage at the vice presidential debate in a truly unapologetic fashion showing us what leadership can look like while the President refused to debate. by Unapologetic Women
24 min listen
What can other industries learn from political campaigns?: In the first episode of season two, we share our personal experiences with the Massachusetts primary election results, discuss the increasing polarization in US politics, and debate the distinction between journalists, TV personalities, and their impact on the electorate. by Unapologetic Women
38 min listen
Can a co-working company build community?: Co-working spaces were at the height of their boom when the pandemic hit. WeWork was a leader in this industry and invested in the likes of The Wing. We discuss the illusion in WeWork's business model - i.e. they are selling desks but are branding their business as building community. Should co-working companies even be in the business of building community? by Unapologetic Women
35 min listen

More Episodes from Unapologetic Women

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Does negativity sell as much as sex?: We should not be comfortable with one man holding the key to our moral compass. At the time of this recording, Elon Musk had not yet declared war on free speech - suspending journalists and anyone speaking against Elon, banning "free promotion of certain social media platforms" on the app and rubbing shoulders in Qatar with Jared Kushner. by Unapologetic Women
33 min listen
The "now that I have your attention" era of politics: The midterms are over and in this episode, we dive into a few key trends of 2022. Did more run this year? How did the youth turnout impact the election? Abortion was a key factor in your vote? The answers to all of these may or may not surprise you. We review data from the elections and discuss how the results impacted us. by Unapologetic Women
31 min listen
Leadership for rent: PM Liz Truss did indeed fail. In this episode (recorded a few weeks ago), we sit down and talk about women in positions of power and why it feels like they are constantly having to rent those leadership positions instead of being able to own them - from Liz Truss to Megan Markle. by Unapologetic Women
33 min listen
The gulf between royals and reality: The Queen passed away on 8 September 2022. In this episode, we discuss the impact of her passing, her legacy and the complicated past of the royal family. It does however beg the question of how are we still talking about subjects in the 20th century. We also reflect on our own personal experiences as ex-pats living in America who will probably not remember where they were when Queen Elizabeth II passed away. by Unapologetic Women
27 min listen
Every Tweet has its Truth: There are two sides to the internet depending on where you politically align. In this episode, we discuss the impact of polarization on how we receive content across the internet. Just because we do not see Trump's opinions on Twitter daily doesn't mean those opinions aren't there anymore. by Unapologetic Women
30 min listen
How do you know the earth is round?: In this episode, we discuss the illusion of explanatory depth, confirmation bias, and who we trust to give us facts vs. opinions. With so much content being created and consumed daily - Who do we listen to? Who do we trust? Why do we trust them? And do we give more weight to empirical evidence or personal experiences? by Unapologetic Women
29 min listen
Why does my vagina bother you?: For our first episode back we started our conversation on the recent media outrage targeted at Finnish Prime Minister, Sanna Marin for being a woman that ‘had the audacity’ to go out on a night out with friends. This story hit a nerve with both of us for many reasons but at its core, it was the double standard. by Unapologetic Women
37 min listen
Shut up and perform: Shut up and perform is the atmosphere that women athletes are constantly put in. Women, regardless of the industry, experience a double standard when it comes to what they can and are expected to wear. In this episode, we discuss the impact these double standards have on women, the power in being invisible in a male-dominated industry and how dehumanizing it can be to be treated in this way. by Unapologetic Women
37 min listen
Why we don't talk about porn?: What started out as Toni and Sorcha watching Hulu’s Pam & Tommy (the story of Pamela Anderson’s stolen sex tape) turned into a discussion on how women and technology have impacted the porn industry. by Unapologetic Women
31 min listen
You don't win arguments with facts: This episode concludes our three-part conversation on the correlations between freedom of speech, polarization, and misinformation. We knew that it was vital to include an expert on the topic and who better than Ali Goldsworthy. She has been a political adviser and campaigner for more than twenty years. She led the team that built the fastest-growing campaigning organisation in the UK. In 2017 she was a Sloan Fellow at Stanford, co-creating its first depolarisation course and the co-author of Poles Apart - why people turn against each other and how to bring them together. by Unapologetic Women
55 min listen
Are you free to speak?: In our "Joe Rogan" episode (E05), we introduced the concept of free speech (worth mentioning for our European listeners, freedom of speech is a protected right in the United States unlike in Europe where this is a concept). We knew we needed to create the space for a full conversation on this topic, cue this episode. by Unapologetic Women
38 min listen
The invasion of Ukraine: This episode is a departure from our usually scheduled programming. With the state of current affairs, we were back and forth all week sharing resources, questions, and heartbreak about what we were seeing unfold in Europe. This episode is just one of the many conversations we have had on the topic as we tried to get up to speed with the geopolitical context and honestly get our feet underneath us. We’ve tried our best to add as much concrete research and facts to this discussion VS. simply our opinions. by Unapologetic Women
34 min listen
Joe Rogan's appeal is also his liability: The audience VS. the content. What are we censoring for? There are hundreds if not thousands of podcasts that promote similar content to what we have seen from Joe Rogan yet we do not see viral campaigns demanding for their censorship. by Unapologetic Women
36 min listen
The lottery of being a woman: In the earlier episodes, we opened the conversation into our own identification with feminism and how women are perceived in the workplace. It was impossible to have a complete discussion on this topic without bringing in an expert--and who better than Laëtitia--who has been writing, speaking, and educating about this topic for decades. We were fortunate to speak to Laëtitia just after she completed her fourth manuscript on productivity with a feminist perspective. by Unapologetic Women
49 min listen
When society doesn't prioritise men, what happens?: It all begins with an idea, your idea of feminism. Are you a feminist? A question that may sound simple but holds an abundance of weight for some. We share our individual journey in identifying as feminists. There is an unequivocal connection between feminism and the rise of the #metoo movement. In our discussion, Sorcha identifies a new entry point created by the powerful movement that raised the voices of women who have been sexually assaulted and silenced for far too many years. Feminism needs to be a fluid conversation, there are waves of it and a myriad of ways to define it but as we evolve so should our definitions. For so long men have been a part of the problem, but what does it look like when they are part of the solution? We are in a moment where men are being given the opportunity to rethink their definitions of masculinity—in Liz Plank’s words, “From toxic to a more mindful masculinity.” by Unapologetic Women
36 min listen
Can we have ageism without sexism?: For women, ageism is a constant barrier within the workforce. What we unearthed in this conversation is that our lives are framed by time. When we isolate the issues that women in their early 20s face we are not able to separate the similarity between the issues faced by women in the workforce later in life. In this episode, we discuss the impact of ageism on women, the cultural norms around the inability to see women sexually past a certain age - drawing on the new release of ‘Just Like That’, the timeframe that women inherit to be successful in their careers yet also procreate. It is unequivocally true that women feel the ramifications of ageism more than men. by Unapologetic Women
28 min listen
Can Content Creators Build Trust?: On today's episode, Toni talks about launching Not Another Media Company and her evolving definition of being both a content creator and the founder of a media company. The same way we recognised five (or so) years ago that all companies were essentially tech companies, we are now recognising that almost all companies today have to be media companies as well. So what role, if any, do the 50 million people identifying as content creators (in 2021) have within this media landscape shift? by Unapologetic Women
42 min listen
When athletes become activists.: For this last episode of the season, we continue our conversation on sports, activism and politics. What does it look like when athletes, singers and entertainers we look up to in their field have an opinion on current affairs and politics, and become the activists we need? by Unapologetic Women
33 min listen
Fathers, daughters and the sports that unite them.: When we set out to do this podcast, one of our core desires was to openly talk about and discuss all of the topics that have an influencer on our life - from politics to technology, to feminism, activism, motherhood, to football and Formula One. by Unapologetic Women
35 min listen
Wait, you don't want kids?: In this episode Sorcha and Toni share their experience with the question - do you want kids? And the weight that comes with any and all decisions. These types of questions and assumptions are made every day of women without the acknowledgment of the gravity of the difficulty of that response. From a young age, we are told that pregnancy just happens. But what does it mean when it doesn't? by Unapologetic Women
35 min listen
Can our social media presence exist without boundaries?: In last week's episode, we discussed the positive impact social media can have in helping to lower the barriers of entry to the conversation and creating awareness of mental health. This week we discuss the damaging effects that social media can have on our mental health, and the need for boundaries online. by Unapologetic Women
38 min listen
Mental health is not a taboo: "But there is still one private activity that no would-be political star dares admit to -- even though it's entirely legal and ethical, not to mention healthy." These were the opening words to a NYT opinion piece from 1997 and here we are 24 years later. As we were having these conversations, we realised it was mental health month which just goes to show how this topic is increasingly top of mind for us, and probably for others too. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an undertone of the ever-present mental health issues around the world. by Unapologetic Women
38 min listen
Where the fuck's my fucking train?: When was the last time you used public transport? In a pre-Covid era, if you live in Europe, this is most likely an odd question to ask as it probably wasn't that long ago. In America, the car is still king. Regardless of where we live, globally the question still stands where do our comfort levels lie with utilizing public transit in our respective cities. And has our relationship to public transit changed as many of us opted to leave the city behind? When the pandemic first hit there was a fear of a mass exodus of cities. While there were many people who left cities across the globe to be with family or have more space. This exodus is now eroding and we are seeing people move back into cities by Unapologetic Women
35 min listen
Can a co-working company build community?: Co-working spaces were at the height of their boom when the pandemic hit. WeWork was a leader in this industry and invested in the likes of The Wing. We discuss the illusion in WeWork's business model - i.e. they are selling desks but are branding their business as building community. Should co-working companies even be in the business of building community? by Unapologetic Women
35 min listen
Why women need to justify their presence online.: The space that women take up is constantly questioned and judged regardless of whether it is offline or online. Are you really an expert on the topic? Why are you so angry? You don't need to shout to make your point? Are you on your period? Says the woman wearing the red lipstick... These are all questions and comments that women have to grapple with sharing their voice with the world. by Unapologetic Women
37 min listen
The pandemic, vaccine passports and data: We often do better at collaborating as nations when we have a common enemy. The pandemic certainly gave us one, and yet the efforts have been far from collaborative. People turn to their local communities during a time of crisis but these local communities need support from their federal, national and global partners and during this pandemic, we have seen a lack of leadership across the globe that has ultimately led to drastic variability in access to the COVID tests, PPE and ultimately vaccinations. There are a number of questions right now on how we move forward as a global community. Is it possible to have a vaccine passport? Who should control a central database of covid vaccine administrations? Does a single taxpayer healthcare system make it easier to administrate vaccinations? Ultimately only time will tell how we move forward in a post pandemic era but we believe that without global leadership this task will be much harder. by Unapologetic Women
38 min listen
Algorithms, can you trust them?: Algorithms are a part of our life whether we like it or not. We, as a society, have more opportunity than we might think when it comes to the content we consume on social media. On the one hand, Joanna Stern from the Wall Street Journal, argues that we have lost complete control over what we "see, read and even think". On the other hand, Nick Clegg argues that we are active participants and our news feed are actually heavily shaped by our choices and actions. In this episode, we discuss our experiences with polarization, echo chambers and how we contribute to our own algorithms. by Unapologetic Women
36 min listen
Do you need to be a feminist?: The conversation starts with the question - are you a feminist? We both have our own unique journey with this term and concept, but we both answer yes I am a feminist. Throughout this conversation, we both share our experience of what it means to be a feminist in the workforce. We talk about the role men can and should play within this space, discuss feminist linguists and the role words play and the impact they can have. We also touch upon the different waves of feminism, and the inter-generational challenges of feminists. by Unapologetic Women
34 min listen
Who should we be looking up to?: Everyone is inspired and looks up to people from world leaders, to CEOs, to the latest overnight internet sensation. We discuss the need for a leader to be a holistic leader, can you look up to someone for one thing, or do they have to have it all? The conversation evolves to try and unearth if you can fundamentally disagree with someone yet respect the work they are doing. We identify the challenges that those in the spotlight face and how best to prepare for these challenges. by Unapologetic Women
34 min listen
Femtech & the gender data gap: Femtech is a whole new category in tech focused on products by women for women. Intrigued, we both decided to do our own research into the topic and discuss our findings. More than anything, it's clear just how much Femtech has done for women's healthcare by creating more room and opportunity for dialogue and discovery. Which in turn has helped break down some of the taboos in this space. All of this has allowed for some much-needed information to be surfaced. The gender data gap is very real and it "leaves women misunderstood, mistreated and misdiagnosed". by Unapologetic Women
35 min listen

Discover this podcast and so much more

Welcome to Season Four

Welcome to Season Four

Description

Titles in the series (64)

More Episodes from Unapologetic Women