Big Kildare Interview: New podcast aims to amplify women’s voices

A new podcast that concentrates on women’s issues and cultivating a conversation around making the world a more equal place has been set up by a Kildare woman.

Anita Whyte-Moran, who originally hails from Kilberry but now lives in Kilcullen, launched the Femcast (stylised as 'THE FEMCAST') last month.

She describes herself as 'a highly motivated with an entrepreneurial background, and a passion for empowering women and promoting gender equality.'

She elaborated: "My mission is to educate, empower, and encourage women to harness the power of their voices and share their lived experiences to help others.

"I am committed to personal development and societal impact, I have pursued various courses and training programs to get this podcast off the ground.

"The last one I completed was a course in Understanding and Responding to domestic abuse and gender-based violence in SETU, so I could use those skills to help educate others and raise awareness.
"I then did a course on responsible reporting on domestic violence and homicide with a UK-based organisation, which made sense as a follow-on for what I’m doing with the podcast and reporting on femicide on my website and across social media.

"I then did a higher diploma in Journalism and New Media Content in SETU last year. I graduated in November 2022."

When asked about why she set up THE FEMCAST, Anita said: "I want to get involved in important social and political events to make a positive impact in people’s lives: I campaigned for Marriage Equality in 2015 and then the repeal of the Eighth Amendment.

"As a staunch advocate for equality and women’s rights, I am committed to shedding light on the challenges women encounter in their everyday lives."

Commenting on what it was like for her when setting up THE FEMCAST, she said: "Technology was certainly daunting for me, I got on better than I thought I would, still honing the skills.

"I’ll be honest, I’ll never love the technical side of it., but just give me a mic all day long and I can talk for Ireland!"

Anita continued: "I released the first series in all it’s imperfect glory because the message was so important to get out there.

"I wasn’t waiting or depending on anyone to fine tune or make it perfect.

"I think that’s what we all wait for, it being perfect, and it can hold us back."

Anita also said that an event from her past also inspired her to set up THE FEMCAST: "I had endured a traumatic experience of abuse in a job, which had a profound impact on my mental well-being.

"During my research into understanding the issues with my brain and seeking ways to improve my mental health, I came across Jen’s book, The Bullied Brain.

"The aftermath of the abuse manifested in the form of depression, severe anxiety, and frequent panic attacks, further exacerbating my struggles... it wasn’t just mental health, but my physical health suffered too, with fatigue and eczema, and I developed ulcers.

"My health was so bad, I had several A&E visits for panic attacks that felt like a heart attack. Never underestimate stress, it truly is a killer; I now see a cardiologist."

Anita added that she was 'determined' to regain control over her life and health, so she embarked on a relentless pursuit of solutions to her issues.

She explained: "I explored countless remedies, engaged in therapy sessions, and sought various treatments, but to no avail.

"The grip of depression remained unyielding, and the daily onslaught of anxiety and fear continued to ravage me both mentally and physically."

However, Anita finally caught a break when she got in touch with Dr Jen Fraser for THE FEMCAST.

She said: "While waiting for Jen’s book to arrive (in the post), I reached out to her, she very kindly extended the hand of friendship, without any questions or any expectation of anything in return.

"This is what women do for each other; Women are incredible. We understand each other’s struggles so much.

"Jen explained the intricacies of the bullied brain, and that when we experience bullying and abuse, our brains undergo damage, resulting in neurological scars and the disruption of our brain’s architecture.

"It’s not all doom and gloom: through Jens eleven years of research working with neuroscientists, she will show you how to heal, she also shares that we possess the ability to reverse the damage and heal our scars.

"You’ll hear her brilliant work on the podcast, we talk about bullying in schools, adult to children, peer to peer in the workplace, and in relationships."

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'I WOULD LOVE MORE MEN TO GET INVOLVED'

Anita also said that she would encourage men to listen to and get in touch with THE FEMCAST: "I would love more men to get involved, I actively invite them.

"My commitment is to empower and educate everyone. Men are most welcome to join the community.

"There are a few hundred men on my LinkedIn profile for THE FEMCAST, they advocate with me to end men’s violence against women and raise awareness that there is an urgent need for societal change to protect and value the lives of women.

"We all need to get out and emphasise the urgent need to address the pervasive issue of gender-based violence and the brutal femicides that continue to plague our society. It is imperative for us all to rally together and advocate for change, encouraging men to join us in the fight against these heinous acts... we cannot do it without the men."

When asked about her feminist idols, Anita said: "My grandmother was a force to be reckoned with. She instilled in me the importance of independence and financial security."

Anita also pointed to the late civil rights activist Maya Angelou, as well as one of her close friends, Colette Byrne, whom she said 'has been an incredible force for change since the 1970s; tirelessly advocating for equality for women, better healthcare, and equal pay.'

Anita said that she intends to use her experience to help others, with the Femcast acting as her medium: "I never in a million years thought I’d ever be experiencing bad mental health from the actions of another person, but here we are.

"I must use my lived experience now to help others get through it and come out the other side, educating people is the only way.

"When you’re going through it you feel so alone, it’s good to know you are not alone and this will help people navigate their way through."

She continued: "(On The Bullied Brain) We present an evidence-based step-by-step plan to repair the harm inflicted upon victims.

"Jen’s groundbreaking book is renowned as the most comprehensive scientific treatment of the subject serves as the foundation for our discussions. Jen challenges outdated beliefs surrounding bullying and abuse by highlighting the neurological scars, trauma leaves on the brain.

"Bullying and abuse does not have to touch the body to do significant damage to the brain: neuroscientists can see what bullying and abuse do to the brain with MRIs, and how it leads to neurological scars.

"We talk about the untold harm to brains, people don’t even know they have a brain injury because our society doesn’t talk about it, despite all the research. A brain injury impacts all facets of your life, we need to take this seriously."

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She responded: "While progress has undoubtedly been made in recent years, it is clear that Ireland, and the wider world, still has a long way to go in creating a truly inclusive society for women.

"Gender-based violence remains a deep-seated and pervasive problem, and despite various campaigns, it appears to be getting worse.

"More women than ever are dying in their homes, the very place they should feel safest. These distressing realities serve as a stark reminder that our society is far from being genuinely inclusive."

She continued: "When we consider the issue of inclusivity, we must acknowledge the persistent prevalence of gender-based violence.

"It is a deeply rooted problem that affects women across the globe. Despite efforts to combat it, women continue to face physical, emotional, and sexual abuse in alarming numbers.

"The fact that the rates of such violence are on the rise is deeply concerning and indicative of the larger challenges we face in creating an inclusive society.

"Gender-based violence not only harms individuals but also perpetuates a culture of fear, limiting women’s ability to participate fully and freely in society.

"The unequal treatment of women in the workplace remains a significant obstacle to achieving true inclusivity.

"The promotion gap faced by women who start families is a stark example of how societal norms and biases continue to hinder women’s progress.

"It is disheartening to see talented and qualified women being passed over for career advancements simply because they choose to have children. This not only perpetuates gender inequality but also undermines women’s economic independence and hinders their professional development.

"It is crucial for businesses and organisations to address these biases and provide equal opportunities for all employees, regardless of their gender or family choices.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the existing inequalities faced by women. Women’s jobs have been disproportionately affected, with many working in sectors heavily impacted by lockdowns and restrictions.

"Additionally, the burden of unpaid care work, such as childcare and household responsibilities, has fallen disproportionately on women’s shoulders... this unequal distribution of responsibilities has negatively impacted women’s careers, mental health, and overall well-being.

"The pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities and disparities that persist in our society, making it clear that more needs to be done to create a truly inclusive world for women."

Further information about THE FEMCAST can be found on www.thefemcast.com, and @thefemcast on social media.

Concluding all her points, Anita said: "We want to teach young girls and women to harness the power of their voices and share their stories."