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PODCAST

Rachel Johnson"s Difficult Women

Well-behaved women rarely make history – as someone once said – difficult women do. In this new LBC new podcast, Rachel Johnson"s Difficult Women, Rachel will be talking to women who had to be a pain in the backside to get where they are today. Women who take the word difficult as a compliment not an insult. And women who had to fight, resist, insist, or otherwise be badly behaved in order to get things done. Listen and subscribe on Global Player, or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow Rachel

society & culture politics

All Episodes

46:34

197. Penny Mordaunt

Rachel Johnson"s Difficult Women ·

2025/12/12

This week’s difficult woman is Penny Mordaunt, former Conservative minister for Women and Equalities. You may know her for holding the sword at the King Charles’ coronation or running against Liz Truss in the Conservative leadership race. There is much more to Penny than this however. She does not fit the posh Oxbridge stereotype that surrounds the Conservative party. Growing up in Portsmouth, she lost her parents at a young age and cared for her brother whilst he was ill. Her journey into politics

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44:32

196. Devi Sridhar

Rachel Johnson"s Difficult Women ·

2025/12/05

This week’s difficult woman is the global health expert Devi Sridhar. She tells Rachel how she became committed to improving public health after losing her dad at a young age and seeing the ‘medieval process’ of chemotherapy he experienced. She also shares some secrets on how to live forever…

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43:42

195. Dame Denise Lewis

Rachel Johnson"s Difficult Women ·

2025/11/28

This week’s difficult woman is the athlete, Dame Denise Lewis. She won gold in the Heptathlon in the 2000 Olympics and has continued to light up our screens with her punditry ever since. Denise is now the president of UK Athletics and is fighting for people not to experience the injustices that she did. Rachel and Denise discuss her tumultuous journey through motherhood and how she carved out a career after the gold.

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39:13

194. Gina Martin

Rachel Johnson"s Difficult Women ·

2025/11/21

This week’s difficult woman is activist Gina Martin. Gina fought to make upskirting a crime in 2017 after a man took a picture of her crotch at British Summertime festival. What followed was a long fight to make this a crime. In 2019, she achieved this goal, and the Voyeurism Offences Act was passed. Gina and Rachel reflect on this landmark victory and the urgent changes still needed to end the harassment of women and girls.

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47:18

193. Dame Kelly Holmes

Rachel Johnson"s Difficult Women ·

2025/11/14

In this week’s episode of Difficult Women Rachel is joined by Olympian Dame Kelly Holmes. Kelly won double gold at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, racing to victory in both the 800 and 1500 meters at the age of 34. The conversation rarely stays on the track, however. Underpinning Kelly’s dazzling athletic achievements is a tumultuous childhood in which she spent 5 years in care and experienced ‘a fear of abandonment’ as a result. Kelly opens up about learning to stop caring what others think and how

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47:38

192. Marina Wheeler KC

Rachel Johnson"s Difficult Women ·

2025/11/07

This week’s Difficult Woman is the human rights barrister, author, and Rachel’s former sister-in-law, the very redoubtable Marina Wheeler KC, who has written an acute new book about how the UK should reset relations with the EU after Brexit.In a highly personal and at times confrontational conversation, the pair revisit this most painful and divisive period in British political history: the narrowly fought EU referendum and its bitter aftermath, an unprecedentedly turbulent period which saw the

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38:22

191. Sophy Ridge

Rachel Johnson"s Difficult Women ·

2025/10/31

In this week's episode Rachel sits down with Sophy Ridge, an immensely talented Sky news presenter who achieved great success from early on in her career. She entered Westminster as a reporter forThe News of the Worldat just 24 years old and was given her own Sky News show,Sophy Ridge on Sundayat 32.Sophy is not a very difficult woman. Rachel observes that she is ‘more golden retriever than rottweiler’ unlike some political hosts. She is very accustomed to interviewing tricky women however. On the

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45:21

190. Hallie Rubenhold

Rachel Johnson"s Difficult Women ·

2025/10/24

This week, Rachel chats with bestselling historian Hallie Rubenhold, the woman rewriting the stories behind Britain’s most famous crimes. Hallie’s hit bookThe Five turned the Jack the Ripper story on its head by focusing on the women he killed, not the man himself. It won the Baillie Gifford Prize for non-fiction and topped the Sunday Times bestseller list.Her new book,Story of a Murder: The Wives, The Mistress and Dr Crippen, dives into the shocking Edwardian murder case of Dr Crippen and the

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35:10

189. Juliet Nicolson

Rachel Johnson"s Difficult Women ·

2025/10/17

In this episode of Difficult Women, Rachel sits down with acclaimed author and historian Juliet Nicolson for an intimate and in-depth conversation about resilience, reinvention, and family legacy. Every family has secrets, but Juliet Nicolson’s antecedents had some pretty famous, if sometimes badly kept ones. In this episode, Rachel goes beyond Juliet’s distinguished ancestry to explore a problem that transcends class, fame, and fortune. Together, they discuss Juliet’s battle with alcoholism, a

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35:27

188. Jilly Cooper

Rachel Johnson"s Difficult Women ·

2025/10/10

Last year the Difficult Women team went to darkest Gloucestershire to record the one and only Dame Jilly Cooper, whose death, aged 88, was announced this week. We went to the Chantry, her house near Stroud, which is as bonkers and beautiful and brilliant as its owner. Jilly gave us an incredible, breathless interview full of jokes and laughter and then an even more liquid lunch in her kitchen. In honour of the imperishable genius that was Jilly Cooper, we are ripping up the schedule so that her

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31:33

187. Hanan Khashoggi

Rachel Johnson"s Difficult Women ·

2025/10/03

In this episode Rachel speaks to a woman who has been thrust into unimaginably difficult circumstances. Hanan Khashoggi is the widow of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the Washington Post journalist assassinated after being critical about the Saudi Arabian regime. She joins us from the US, where she has found a level of safety, but still fears assassination every day. She tells Rachel about the terrible day she learned that her husband had been killed and how her life has since fallen apart. Separated

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35:07

186. Kate Fall

Rachel Johnson"s Difficult Women ·

2025/09/26

Rachel sits down with Baroness Fall, former Deputy Chief of Staff to Prime Minister David Cameron, for an intimate and insightful conversation. She delves into Kate's unique journey from the heart of British politics to the House of Lords, exploring what it's really like behind the doors of Number 10. They discuss the pressures of power, the nuances of political loyalty, and the personal sacrifices that come with life in Westminster. Kate opens up about her time navigating historic events, managing

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35:16

185. Thomasina Miers

Rachel Johnson"s Difficult Women ·

2025/09/19

Rachel sits down with chef, author, and food campaigner Thomasina Miers. Best known as the winner of MasterChef and co-founder of the Mexican-inspired restaurant chain Wahaca, Thomasina shares her journey from passionate home cook to successful restaurateur and sustainability advocate. They discuss the challenges of running a food business in today’s climate, how the government can get Britain eating healthily, and how food can be a powerful force for cultural connection and environmental

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36:22

184. Michal Herzog, First Lady of Israel

Rachel Johnson"s Difficult Women ·

2025/09/12

This week on Difficult Women, Rachel Johnson is joined by Michal Herzog, First Lady of Israel, in a rare and timely interview recorded during her official visit to London. With unflinching honesty and emotional depth, Herzog reflects on the profound trauma that Israel has endured since the October 7th attacks - an event she describes as a national wound that has yet to begin healing. Speaking as both a public figure and a mother, Herzog opens up about her and President Isaac Herzog’s ongoing efforts

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40:48

183. Emma Willis

Rachel Johnson"s Difficult Women ·

2025/09/05

Rachel sits down with renowned shirt maker Emma Willis for an inspiring and insightful conversation. From crafting bespoke shirts for royalty and film stars to founding a charitable initiative supporting injured veterans, Emma shares her journey from starting out on London’s Jermyn Street to building an internationally respected brand rooted in craftsmanship, style, and purpose. Rachel delves into Emma’s passion for British manufacturing, the importance of quality over quantity, and how she’s stayed

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53:10

182. Polly Toynbee

Rachel Johnson"s Difficult Women ·

2025/08/22

Rachel sits down with Polly Toynbee, one of The Guardian’s most respected columnists, for a wide-ranging conversation about politics, society, and the role of the press. Rachel draws out Toynbee’s reflections on her decades at the heart of political journalism, exploring how her upbringing, values, and career have shaped her perspective. Toynbee speaks candidly about inequality, social mobility, and the challenges facing modern Britain, while offering a sharp critique of those in power.

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40:02

Helen Whately MP

Rachel Johnson"s Difficult Women ·

2025/08/15

Rachel sits down with Helen Whately MP, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary. They explore the challenges facing the NHS and social care sector, delve into the realities of policy-making, and discuss Helen’s journey through politics - from balancing motherhood with ministerial duties to navigating turbulent times in Westminster. A must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of politics, leadership, and social impact in today’s Britain.

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38:09

Sophia Money-Coutts

Rachel Johnson"s Difficult Women ·

2025/08/08

In this lively and entertaining episode, Rachel Johnson sits down with author and journalist Sophia Money-Coutts for a sharp, funny, and refreshingly honest conversation. The two discuss Sophia’s transition from Tatler columnist to bestselling novelist, her hilarious takes on modern romance, and what it’s really like growing up among Britain’s aristocracy. With her trademark wit, Rachel draws out stories of dating mishaps, social faux pas, and the inspiration behind Sophia’s hit books. WARNING: This

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38:41

Emma Forrest

Rachel Johnson"s Difficult Women ·

2025/08/01

In this intimate episode, Rachel sits down with acclaimed author Emma Forrest for a candid conversation about the turning points that shaped her life. Emma reflects on the moment Nigella Lawson gave her a crucial early break, the raw challenges of becoming a mother, and her ongoing battle with mental health. She also opens up about her emotionally charged and complex relationship with actor Colin Farrell. With honesty and depth, this conversation offers a rare glimpse into the resilience behind

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36:44

Sharon Gaffka: from Love Island to the Lobby.

Rachel Johnson"s Difficult Women ·

2025/07/21

Sharon Gaffka shot to fame on Love Island, but she’s since traded villa drama for real-world impact. A former civil servant turned fierce activist, Sharon now champions women’s rights, digital safety, and diversity in public life. Whether she’s taking on online abuse or advocating for change in Parliament, she’s using her platform to make waves far beyond reality TV. Smart, driven, and refreshingly outspoken, Sharon’s journey is anything but ordinary.

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