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Woman's Hour

Weekend Woman's Hour: Loan Sharks, Menopause and ADHD, Bra fitting

Woman's Hour

BBC

Society & Culture

4.13K Ratings

🗓️ 16 May 2026

⏱️ 58 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Women are being forced to turn to loan sharks due to a "hidden" but devastating form of economic abuse, according to new research. Scottish Women's Aid has published a study on the problem of coerced debt – where an abusive current or ex-partner builds up debt in their victim's name, either without consent or knowledge or through force, threat or coercion. Anita Rani is joined by Dr Jenn Glinski, author of the report and the national policy lead for economic abuse at Scottish Women's Aid, to talk about the report findings.

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 joined 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 new medical device to assist at birth is now in use in eight NHS trusts in the UK and 40 hospitals in the whole of Europe. The OdonAssist can replace forceps in many situations and is a much gentler way to deliver a baby which is stuck in the birth canal. NHS Specialist registrar Dr Emily Hotton has worked on the UK clinical trials. She describes how the device works and why it can give a much better outcome for both mothers and babies.

M&S has announced that following a successful trial they are ditching the measuring tape for bra fittings. Other underwear retailers have done this for years, but how does it work fitting a bra by eye? Joanna Wakefield-Scurr, Professor of Biomechanics at Portsmouth University, and virtual bra fitter Katie Weir join Nuala McGovern to discuss.

Canwen Xu was born in China and moved to the US when she was two years old. She grew up in predominately white areas – North and South Dakota and Idaho. When she was 18 she gave a TEDx talk, titled, I Am Not Your Asian Stereotype, which has been watched more than 3.7 million times. Canwen joins Anita to discuss her debut novel - Boring Asian Female – and its themes of identity, ambition, failure, and obsession.

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 Anita about the win.

Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts.

0:07.3

On BBC Sounds, there are podcasts to help you look after your body and your mind.

0:12.7

From increasing your immunity to feeling more confident.

0:16.6

Or tips on how to focus.

0:18.5

Sorry, what will you say?

0:19.7

If it matters to you, it matters to us.

0:22.6

Feel good inside of them.

0:24.3

With What's Up Docs.

0:25.9

And Complex with Kimberly Wilson.

0:27.9

Listen on BBC Sounds.

0:30.6

Hello, I'm Anita Rani and welcome to Woman's Hour from BBC Radio 4.

0:35.6

Hello and welcome to the program. Coming up, we hear about an

0:39.5

innovation in childbirth delivery that's come from an Argentinian car mechanic looking at a loose

0:45.8

cork in an empty wine bottle. We'll hear how it works. Navigating menopause can be tough,

0:51.8

add ADHD into the mix and it can feel like a complete unraveling,

0:56.8

especially if you don't yet know your neurodivergent.

1:00.5

Dr Helen Wall, a GP and menopause expert,

1:03.2

has written a book to support women through this.

1:05.4

We'll hear more from her.

1:07.6

Boring, Asian, female.

1:09.4

Of course I'm not talking about me.

1:11.1

It's the title of Canwen's

...

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