Margaret Atwood memoir, Racism in public services, Is having a boyfriend embarassing?

In Margaret Atwood’s 64-year career she has published world-renowned, prescient novels like The Handmaid’s Tale, Cat’s Eye, Alias Grace and Blind Assassin, and now a memoir. Margaret joins Nuala McGovern to discuss Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts and reflect on her life, her work and the power of knowing her own mind.

We also reflect on the impact Margaret Atwood has had on writers and academics. Author Naomi Alderman and academics Dr Rosamund Portus and Dr Megan Douglas join Nuala to discuss how Margaret has encouraged and inspired their work across literature, science and beyond.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting in an interview in The Guardian today says an “ugly” racism reminiscent of the 1970s and 1980s has become worryingly commonplace in modern Britain and NHS staff are bearing the brunt of it. In recent weeks, organisations representing nurses, social workers and carers - many of those being areas are dominated by women - have been sounding the alarm saying their members are encountering unprecedented levels of racism. We talk to Patricia Marquiss, Director for England at the Royal College of Nursing, Nadra Ahmed, Executive Chairman of the National Care Association and Harvey Gallagher from the Nationwide Association of Fostering Providers.

Is having a boyfriend now embarrassing? Writer Chanté Joseph recently explored this idea in an article for Vogue and on social media, observing a noticeable shift in how people - particularly heterosexual women - present their relationships online. Instead of posting clear photos of their romantic partners, many are choosing subtler signals: a hand on a steering wheel, clinking glasses, or even blurring out faces in wedding pictures. But why the change? Even Zohran Mamdani, the new Mayor of New York, was asked whether it’s still okay to use the term boyfriend. Chanté joins us.

Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Simon Richardson