Maureen Lipman, Memoirs, Black maternal health, Women in security, Afghan women's football

Woman's Hour explores a diverse range of topics in this episode, beginning with Dame Maureen Lipman discussing her 80th birthday celebration through a demanding national tour of the joyful musical play *Allegra*, which portrays a relentlessly positive, eccentric older woman. The conversation touches on ageism, societal expectations of happiness, and the challenges of performing eight times a week. The programme then shifts to a critical examination of Black maternal health, featuring Dr. Grace Amador from the University of Cambridge, who presents research linking systemic racism and socio-environmental stress to biological factors like oxidative stress and inflammation, contributing to the disproportionately high rates of maternal and infant mortality among Black women in the UK. Later, the discussion turns to gender and language in the security industry, with Satya Rai of the International Professional Security Association advocating for replacing the term 'bouncer' with 'guardian' to reflect the role's focus on de-escalation and safety, especially for women on night out. Real-life experiences from female door supervisors like Tia in Birmingham highlight their empathy, communication skills, and protective role. The episode also celebrates a historic FIFA decision allowing Afghan women footballers to play international matches again, symbolizing resistance and hope for women in Afghanistan. Finally, the programme reflects on memoir writing, particularly Lena Dunham’s *Fame Sick*, with authors Cathy Rensenbrink and Sarah Guanyoma discussing the delicate balance between emotional honesty and oversharing, and how women’s personal stories are often judged more harshly than men’s.