Advertise on podcast: The Little Things

Alison Mau joins Francesca Rudkin and Louise Ayrey to discuss Tika, the independent sexual harm reporting platform she co-founded with Zoë Lawton. Ali explains how Tika identifies reports naming the same person, how its collective approach enables free legal support once a group is formed, and why survivors retain control over their next steps. She also shares the personal significance of discovering she wasn’t alone, and offers advice on responding when someone discloses harm. This episode discusses sexual harm. Find out more at tika.org.nz. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When did you last look at your will—and how much has your life changed since? Public Trust principal trustee Michelle Pope joins Francesca Rudkin and Louise Ayrey to unpack wills, trusts and enduring powers of attorney. They discuss what happens when someone dies without a will, how relationship changes can affect your plans, and why clear instructions can make a difficult time easier for the people you leave behind. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why are erotic books and TV shows having a moment? And is our appetite for them really new? On this episode of The Little Things, Francesca Rudkin and Louise Ayrey talk to author and sex historian Dr Esmé Louise James about the history of erotic fiction, from Fanny Hill to today’s romantasy boom. They discuss the appeal of shows such as Heated Rivalry and Bridgerton, the shame that has surrounded women’s reading choices, and whether exploring desire on the page can help us understand ourselves and communicate with a partner. James is the creator of Kinky History and author of Becoming Venus. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For some women, the days before their period bring much more than the usual symptoms of PMS. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD, can cause severe changes in mood, anxiety, irritability, fatigue and concentration — disrupting work, relationships and everyday life. Francesca Rudkin and Louise Ayrey are joined by clinical neuropsychologist Dr Caroline Gurvich to explain what PMDD is, why some women may be particularly sensitive to hormonal changes, its links with ADHD and perimenopause, and how it can be diagnosed and treated. Plus, why tracking your symptoms could be the first step towards recognising that something more than PMS is going on. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Public speaking can be terrifying – even for people who do it for a living. Broadcaster Toni Street joins Francesca Rudkin and Louise Ayrey to share the lessons she’s learned from 20 years in radio and television, including how to manage nerves, connect with an audience, stop chasing perfection and become a more confident communicator. Plus, why preparation matters, how body language can change the way you feel, and why saying yes to intimidating opportunities can help build confidence over time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inflammation has become one of the biggest buzzwords in health and wellness — but do we actually understand what it is? Award-winning immunologist Professor Roslyn Kemp joins Francesca Rudkin and Louise Ayrey to explain what inflammation does, why it isn’t always bad, how it changes as we age, and whether so-called anti-inflammatory foods and products really live up to the hype. Plus, the everyday things that genuinely help keep your immune system working well. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you manage the household bills but still feel unsure about investing, KiwiSaver or planning for retirement? Investment manager and The Curve co-founder Victoria Harris joins Francesca and Louise to cut through the jargon and explain how women can start building their financial confidence—no matter their age or how much money they have. From emergency funds and KiwiSaver to ETFs and investing your first dollar, this episode offers simple, practical steps to help you finally get started. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What actually helps us live longer — and live well for longer? GP and women’s health expert Dr Ginny Mansberg joins Francesca Rudkin and Louise Ayrey to cut through wellness trends, biohacking and information overload. They discuss the everyday habits that make the biggest difference, including food, movement, muscle, sleep and stress, as well as inflammation, GLP-1 medications and the health changes women should not ignore. Most importantly, Dr Ginny explains why ageing well does not require a complete life overhaul — just a few realistic changes that work for you. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do we build successful careers and work hard without burning out? Organisational psychologist Nick Petrie joins Francesca and Louise to talk about stress, rumination, burnout prevention and the habits that help people sustain high performance in an always-on world. Nick shares the personal story that led him into this work, explains the difference between pressure and stress, and offers practical advice on how to stop ruminating, manage energy, create better boundaries and switch off at the end of the day. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As concerns grow about the return of extreme thinness, Australian body image advocate Taryn Brumfitt joins Louise and Francesca to explore why beauty standards continue to shape the way we see ourselves. From social media and weight loss drugs to ageing and self-acceptance, she explains why the goal isn't loving your body every day, but learning to stop being at war with it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Francesca and Louise are joined by personal stylist and style coach Caitlin Taylor for a practical conversation about finding your personal style in midlife. They discuss why wardrobes can become overwhelming as our bodies, lifestyles and confidence change, and how to work out what actually suits the person you are now. Caitlin shares advice on understanding colour, identifying your “best bits”, clearing out clothes that no longer serve you, building a more useful wardrobe, avoiding impulse buys, and making getting dressed feel simpler, more confident and more fun. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Broadcaster and No Such Thing As Normal host Sonia Gray joins Francesca and Lou to unpack what happens when  ADHD and perimenopause collide, and why so many women are only being diagnosed later in life.From burnout and masking to hormones, anxiety and losing your ability to cope, Sonia shares her own late diagnosis journey and explains why understanding your brain can be life changing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales joins Francesca Rudkin and Louise Ayrey for a chat about trust, outrage and what the internet is doing to the way we see each other. From doomscrolling and toxic algorithms to political division, online arguments and the collapse of nuance, Wales explains why social media can make humanity seem far worse than it really is, and why he believes algorithms are “feeding the trolls”. He also shares why he deleted social media from his phone, what it really means to be informed in 2026, and why assuming good faith might be one of the most important skills we’ve lost online. Plus: Why outrage spreads faster than kindness online  The danger of mistaking social media for real life  How politicians and algorithms exploit division • Why most people are more moderate than the internet suggests  The surprising role trust plays in healthy societies and relationships See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Francesca and Louise dive into the tricky topic of dealing with criticism and negative thoughts. They're joined by psychotherapist Kyle MacDonald, who shares his expertise on how to navigate negative feedback and the feelings that come with them.   Kyle offers practical advice on how to build resilience and maintain a positive outlook while Francesca and Louise give context to why criticism seems to hit harder in midlife.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Menopause expert Niki Bezzant has some bad news for us: we can't blame our midlife weight gain on menopause. Niki joins Francesca and Louise to discuss what's really behind that sneaky middle age spread and what role menopause plays if it doesn't directly cause it. They also discuss hormone therapy, breast density, and how to manage perimenopause and menopause symptoms. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.