Weekend Woman's Hour: Amandaland writer Holly Walsh, Impacts of extreme porn, Difficult conversations

This week's Woman's Hour explores a range of powerful themes, from the cultural impact of extreme pornography to the emotional weight of difficult conversations and the evolving role of women in natural history television. The episode opens with a profile of Amanda Land, the BBC comedy series created by Holly Walsh, whose sharp satire exposes the vulnerabilities beneath the polished surfaces of middle-aged motherhood, particularly through the character of Amanda, who navigates teenage parenting, aging care, and personal identity. The show's creator reveals her method of eavesdropping in cafes to capture authentic dialogue, underscoring the show's realism. The programme then turns to Rosalia, the Spanish pop artist whose genre-defying album Lux blends flamenco with opera and mysticism, earning her critical acclaim and a 2026 Ivor Novello Award. Her work, which celebrates female saints and mystics across cultures, is presented as a bold artistic statement. A major segment focuses on the emotional and societal toll of difficult conversations, featuring personal stories from Vicky Patterson about her father’s alcoholism and her own struggles with PMDD, as well as insights from psychotherapist Gabrielle Rifkind on how to approach conversations with empathy, especially around addiction and elder care. The episode concludes with a sobering discussion on the mainstreaming of violent, patriarchal pornography, as explored by Durham University professor Claire McGlynn in her book *Exposed*. McGlynn argues that while porn itself isn't inherently harmful, the normalization of extreme content—such as incest, racism, and sexual violence—through algorithm-driven platforms is reshaping societal norms and contributing to real-world harm. She calls for stronger enforcement of existing laws and public education to combat these trends. The episode closes with a tribute to Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday, highlighting the trailblazing work of women like Sophie Darlington in natural history filmmaking, who reflect on the male-dominated industry and the need for greater support for women returning to careers after motherhood.