Advertise on podcast: Showy Ovaries with Penny Ashton.

Send us Fan Mail Hello 2026! Lovely to be in you AND lovely to welcome today's podcast star Dr Erin Harrington, Senior Lecturer Above Bar at Canterbury University. An academic at Penny's alma mater (which apparently means nourishing mother...) Erin is one of Showy Ovaries' cleverest interviewees yet, keeping Penny on her toes following her quicksilver brain.  Her specialist topics are horror, gynaehorror (horror regarding women's bodies), children's stories (of course!) and cultural activism. She has published a book called Women, Monstrosity and Horror Film, is a trustee of The Word Festival in Christchurch, and is an incredibly prolific and respected reviewer through her own blog; Flat City Field Notes. Penny popped around to her central whare to chat all things fleshy, where they delved into what it is to live with bi-polar disorder and the treatment that saved her life, getting an endometriosis diagnosis and why her holding a microphone could look pornographic.  Oh and blood, guts, intestines and chainsaw massacres. Natch.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Global juggernaut for body positivity, US Slam Poet champ poet and zen mistress repping for the Scorpio Dragons, Sonya Renee Taylor invited Penny into her West Auckland Air BnB to chat all thing Body. Friends for 20 years they initially reminisced about the UK Poetry tour that brought them together, complete with Penny's diary comments from 2006 on Sonya's "delight" at sharing a room with three poetesses and three wigs. From there, they dive into Sonya’s groundbreaking book and global movement The Body Is Not an Apology, her early struggles accepting baldness and Penny’s ongoing difficulty loving her own fleshy bone bag. Then also chatted about who and what Sonya got up to in college, about her 12 step journey, what it's like performing for Barack Obama at the Whitehouse and Penny’s firm disbelief in astrology — which, frankly, is exactly what you’d expect from an Aquarius.  Finally Sonya blew Penny's levels and ear drums away with a delightful hidden talent to rival Pavarotti.  CW: Drug addiction, sex addiction  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Hoorah! Showy Ovarians, grab your bonnets and pop the kettle on because today, December 16th 2025, we’re throwing a literary birthday bash! Jane Austen turns a whopping 250 and what better excuse for a Showy Bonnets Special?  And who better to to spill the tea on all things Austen than NZ's other Janeite of notoriety, the head of the Jane Austen Society of Australia for 30 years; Kiwi Susannah Fullerton.  Susannah is a global Jane Austen powerhouse. A writer, academic, tour guide, speaker and all round literary super fan from the moment she could pick up a book. She has led JASA to being the largest literary association in Australia and is also variously patron, founder and member of numerous other societies from Dickens to Georgette Heyer.  Penny beamed into her Paddington pad to chat about Susannah's body's favoured position, her skill at hitting a ball, the alarming notion of giving birth 18 times and Great Writers and the Cats Who Owned Them.   But mostly she and Penny both wax lyrical on the proto-feminist, supremely witty, joyous literary superstar that has changed both of their lives, our dear lady Jane Austen. If only Jane could see how her star shows no sign of dimming, even if her life was tragically cut short.  Apologies for some of the high feedback along this podcast.  CONTENT WARNING: A touch more swearing than in Pride and Prejudice....  ALSO sending love to Sydney and all it endured in its horrific attack at Bondi Beach only 2 days ago.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Way back in March Penny performed this poem at WOMAD spurred on by some political b******t by a well known "church" attacking a local LGBT+ superstar who was simply performing their show about the WEATHER to kids. The NZ leading coalition's current curriculum nonsense has spurred her again to upload this, in case any Showy Ovarians were missing hearing her be funny whilst swearing and ranting a bit.  So yes trigger warning: funny sweary ranty lady ahead.  Also head to https://www.hotpink.co.nz/austen-found/ to book to see two happy funny ladies performing an improvised musical for Jane Austen's 250th Birthday. Starring Lori Dungey, Penny Ashton and Greg Ward on the keys. Toodles.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail 2021 New Zealander of the year, microbiologist and award winning science communicator, Siouxie Wiles cycled to Penny's west Auckland whare this week to chat about making the world a little pinker. They got the party started chatting about her lawsuit with her employer, the online abuse she suffered at the hands of internet AND parliamentary trolls during her promotion of the NZ Government's eradication response to COVID, and her ambitions to be Maverick in Top Gun.  From there she discussed her polycystic ovarian diagnosis, her inspirational science teacher and what her boobs have in common with The Queen. Also turning 50, making bacteria glow in the dark and being fueled by all consuming rage. Oh yes and fabulous pink hair. Obviously.   Penny also made a concerted effort to praise Siouxie's brain, even if she took some convincing.  People of New Plymouth, come and see Penny in The Tempestuous May 16-17.  https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2025/may/the-tempestuous  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail It's another Showy Ovaries Live and this time from New Plymouth's beautiful Pukekura Park for WOMAD Aotearoa. Penny was delighted to chat to one of New Zealand's most prolific and talented actresses Morgana O'Reilly, fresh from her stint as "health butler" and cellphone thief in the global smash hit, The White Lotus.  Penny and Morgana discussed life on set, taming imposter syndrome, agonising over which accent to use, attending the glitzy LA premiere and how to use a blender for comedic effects. They also touched on her painful diary entries as a teenager, not wanting to be seen in togs at school, how to reframe narratives around bodies for her childen and for ourselves, and just how does it feel to get your toes sucked for cash.  Morgana's IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2837410/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk Stories About My Body: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33088099/ Penny's Shows March 27 - 28 Q Theatre https://www.qtheatre.co.nz/shows/austen-found  April 4th Stratford https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/olive-copperbottom-a-dickensian-tale-of-love-gin-and-the-pox-tickets-1243841095199 May 16 - 18 https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2025/may/the-tempestuous Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Wellington Theatre's 2024 Co-Actor of the year Bronwyn Turei (Ngāti Porou) drops into Penny's house to discuss all things fleshy. From being head girl at Gisborne Girls, to dealing with a lot of intense trauma as a teenager, to heading to London's Globe theatre to becoming a constantly jobbing professional actress, she and Penny covered how her body rode this rollercoaster. She talked of hitting the giddy heights of fame aged 24 when cast in the TV show Go Girls, of leaning into her "curvy" characters storylines despite how some of them felt, of how totally adorable her child is, (despite how traumatic her birth was) and how she once went on a blind date to Shanghai.  Penny also thanked her being being a superstar in Penny's directorial debut with Sense & Sensibility where she was part of a stellar cast, and they laughed about how Bronwyn's toddler wormed her way into Penny's cold dead non maternal heart.  CONTENT WARNING: Sexual assault, suicide ideation, Mental Illness.  Photo Credit: Roc Torio  Book for Give Way here: https://nz.patronbase.com/_Circa/Productions/2509/Performances Penny's Shows  Book for Austen Found here: https://www.qtheatre.co.nz/shows/austen-found  Book for The Tempestuous in New Plymouth here: https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2025/may/the-tempestuous Book for Stratford here: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/olive-copperbottom-a-dickensian-tale-of-love-gin-and-the-pox-tickets-1243841095199 Book for Tasmania here: https://events.humanitix.com/promise-and-promiscuity-a-new-musical-by-jane-austen-and-penny-ashton Book for Melbourne here: https://chapeloffchapel.com.au/show/promise-promiscuity/ Book for Newcastle here: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1342004 Book for Sydney here: https://events.humanitix.com/promise-and-promiscuity-a-new-musical-by-jane-austen-and-penny-ashton-qvacnk7s Book for Canberra here: https://www.thestreet.org.au/shows/promise-and-promiscuity Support the show

Send us Fan Mail National Treasure Jodie Rimmer invited Penny to her whare to chat all things actorly. From her launching straight from school onto the screen via a saddle, to fun with Ryan Gosling, to chronic pain, HRT and mental health crises, they covered it all. Born in the same year she and Penny mused how long ago the millennium was, Jodie discussed her past as a cross country athlete in Florida, the wonders of Dr Theatre, how she could have been Rachel McKenna and how much she is loving playing the eponymous character in Nicola Cheeseman is Back, by Kathryn Burnett. Especially now she can remember her lines.  Grab your tickets here: https://www.qtheatre.co.nz/shows/plumb-theatre-presents-nicola-cheeseman-back-katebilling-encore-season  Reviews for the previous season: "Nicola Cheeseman is Back is a triumph of theatrical storytelling, delivering a heartfelt exploration of life's complexities through the lens of a remarkable character, played by a remarkable actress and served on a smorgasbord of laugh after laugh." Broadway World "The show has many important things to say about the way women are seen in society as they age, and there are many more things that could be said. By presenting these ideas through a warm, funny and straight-talking character, we are able to receive them clearly and entertainingly. This is a show that connects with its audience in the relatability of its situations and characters, and which has much to offer all ages and genders." Theatreview  "Nicola Cheeseman is Back is a f*****g funny and wondrously observant play about not letting age get you down. Jodie Rimmer is such a star who’s exquisite portrayal of this fiery, courageous women makes me regret she’s fictional coz I’d love to meet her in real life. But then again, when I think about her courage, her introspection, her wit, her creativity, and the type of woman she represents, I realise, I have already met her." Andrew Whiteside   Support the show

Send us Fan Mail The Inimitable Pinky Agnew has been top of the Showy Ovarian pods ever since it was recorded as the first ever episode back in 2021. Her charm, wit, warmth and sparkle have entertained over 700 of you, so whilst Penny was performing The Tempestuous in Wellington for a month (which runs til December 1st), she decided to drop into Pinky's newly downsized pad to catch up with our Queen of the Downloads. Pinky discussed the delights of embracing 70, celebrancy, loving her grey power, crazy running with grandchildren, her joy of joining of the empowering Toitū Te Tiriti Hikoi to parliament, and about the release of her new book: This is Farewell: Readings and Meditations on Death and Dying.  They also discussed some deeply challenging recent events involving assault, mental health and dementia, but despite these confronting times her absolute reveling in what it is to be human and joyous will always shine through.  CW: Sexual assault, depression, dementia, panic attacks, death, dying. BUT also joy, happiness, family, love, release and humanity. #queen Support the show

Send us Fan Mail With a husband catching the FLiRT variant and subsequent laying low, Penny decided to bust out an ovum with her WOMAD poem all about her Showy Ovaries epiphany.  Listen in as hubby shouts up the stairs from his isolation den for sandwiches, and Penny chats about what happened with HRT, what's coming up in her world and screeching about tampons in a petrol station.  As you do. Buy Sense and Sensibility tickets here: www.circa.co.nz/package/sense-and-sensibility/ And for The Tempestuous on Tour Here: www.hotpink.co.nz/gigs/ Support the show

Send us Fan Mail To coincide with the launch of her new book today; The Everything Guide: Hormones, health and happiness in menopause, midlife and beyond, Niki Bezzant dropped in to Penny's house with almond croissants to talk life, hormones and her prodigious brain. In her third visit to Showy Ovary Town, Niki told Penny of her mission to educate women about how to feel good in the skin they're in, to be kind to themselves and to look after our bodies like the well oiled machines they can be. She also attempts to squash Penny's proclivities for negative self talk, to discuss her own HRT  journey, and about her proudest achievement in life; which just happens to involve the clitoris.  Stay tuned for discussions on unscrupulous supplement promotions, on sexual awakenings and on why Penny doesn't like shoelaces.  https://www.penguin.co.nz/books/the-everything-guide-9781776950829 Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Writer, journalist, redhead advocate and PR specialist; Angela Barnett swung by Penny's house to discuss inter generational bodily shizzle in all its complicated glory. From her mother's traumatic birth, to her own struggles with bulimia, to making sure her daughter navigates the world aware of the ridiculous standards placed on women by the patriarchy and the diet industrial complex, they cover it all.  Angela is a committed body shame banisher and advocate for women and girls. She's interviewed many kick arse ladies like Chelsea Winstanley, Rose Matafeo and Penny Ashton (for a menopause story) and in this interview they cover the excitement of orgasms, being addicted to addicts and how to let go of being concerned about fat fingers.  CW: Bulimia, Institutionalisation, Disordered Eating, Addiction.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Waaaay back in August 2023 Penny dropped in on Amanda Kennedy's house in West Auckland to discuss her body, her dewy complexion and her adult onset epilepsy. One half of the comedy duo The Fan Brigade, the librettist couple behind NZ Opera's The Unruly Tourists, Amanda was dealing with her recent diagnoses of ADHD, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome AND epilepsy. But was still smiling, particularly about her magical p***y.  She regaled Penny with tales of getting nude in Japan, breaking her nose on the floor in her first seizure, her refusal to be committed and how her period was basically The Hoover Dam. Warning: Explicit p***y and bonus dog content. Not at the same time.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail The time has come, the research is in, the arse is too sore, the foot annoying, the new upper belly is sticking out too far... it is time for the HRT! Two days after her epic 50th birthday party Penelope Patchstart is slapping on some Estradot in the low dose of 25 somethings and seeing if it is the golden elixir of her dreams. Dreams can flounder on the rocks of reality of course, but how will you know if you don't try?  In her very first unboxing podcast ovum Penelope describes the experience of being a virgin again after 32 years, then snips up a patch and slaps it on almost as quickly as she once.. slapped it off.  She might even be a grown up now.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail After her ballet teacher wouldn't let a very young Amy dance purely on on foot, she readjusted her life ambitions to being a pathologist. Inspired by forensic stories from her parents and from novels by Kathy Reichs, (the inspiration for the TV series Bones) she set her sights on dead people and being the last voice for those who can no longer speak.  Penny dropped in on her Palmerston North Dr's office to discuss her journey with her own "meat suit" and how her day job of performing over 2500 autopsies on  has led her to more acceptance of its miraculous abilities.  Stay tuned for an aural strip tease and showcase of tattoos, discussions of roller derby bad-assery and how beautiful a human brain is when cut into slices.  CW: Discussions of bodies, decaying flesh and stillbirth. But ultimately an uplifting focus on the positivity in the human existence and a celebration of science and self acceptance.  Support the show