Rephonic
Artwork for Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women

Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women

Global
Mental Health
Afghanistan
Taliban
Gender Equality
Gaza
Women's Rights
Brexit
Israel
Anti-Semitism
Suella Braverman
Menopause
Ukraine
UK Immigration Policies
Pornhub
Elise Wortley
Feminism
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Murder
Illegal Migration
Covid-19

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 ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes226Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsSociety & CulturePolitics

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women

Latest Episodes

This week's Difficult Woman is the journalist, author, academic and historian, Zoe Strimpel, whose new book 'Good Slut' argues that women's liberation comes from the intertwined forces of money, power, and sex. Together, Rachel and Zoe discuss the cu... more

This week Rachel is joined by the writer, speaker and leading advocate for music education: Dr Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason. Matriarch of what The Times has described as ‘Britain's most musical family’, Kadiatu tells Rachel about what it takes to raise seven... more

This week Rachel is joined by the journalist, author, broadcaster and podcaster, Bryony Gordon. Having worked at the Telegraph for decades, Bryony is now a Daily Mail columnist and host of 'The Life of Bryony' podcast. She is the author of multiple b... more

This week Rachel is joined by the author Ela Lee, whose debit novel 'Jaded', took the literary world by storm. Ela became a secret novelist during the pandemic, switching her job as a City lawyer to delve into her passion for writing. Together they d... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Zoe Strimpel
Doctor, journalist, author, academic, historian
Journalist and author; PhD in history
Episode: 215. Zoe Strimpel
Dr. Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason
Writer, speaker, and leading advocate for music education
Independent/Advocate for music education
Episode: 214. Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason
Bryony Gordon
Journalist, author, broadcaster and podcaster
Daily Mail columnist (at time of interview)
Episode: 213. Bryony Gordon
Ela Lee
British, Korean, Turkish lawyer and novelist
Author of Jaded and Minbak
Episode: 212. Ela Lee
Nimco Ali
Activist and author focusing on ending FGM and violence against women and girls
Daughters of Eve; The Five Foundation
Episode: 211. Nimco Ali
Amanda Craig
Writer
Author of High and Low and other novels
Episode: 210. Amanda Craig
Claire Coutinho
British politician, MP, former Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
UK Government (Energy/Net Zero)
Episode: 209. Claire Coutinho
Tilly Rose
Medical patient and author of Be Patient
Be Patient / Medical patient advocate
Episode: 208. Tilly Rose
Olia Hercules
Ukrainian-British chef, author of Strong Roots
Episode: 207. Olia Hercules

Host

Rachel Johnson
Host of Difficult Women

Reviews

3.6 out of 5 stars from 372 ratings
  • A Man’s Must Listen

    I came across this podcast and it has made me think so much more about how difficult it can be as a woman in life. Some of the stories are so brilliant and sometimes I am shocked at what I hear. My favourite podcast at present. Thank you for this.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rifleman_UK
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Enabling misogyny

    This podcast does nothing to help women and anyone who dedicates an episode to India Hicks is no friend to other women.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Aud gal
    United Statesa year ago
  • Bonnie Greer

    Unfortunately Bonnie Greer has no grasp on English culture at all & hence talks rubbish.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Sixsmithridesagain
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Vanessa Felt Episode

    Absolutely loved this conversation. I think - no disrespect Vanessa, as you clearly worshipped them - that you’re parents were nuts for not being constantly charmed and delighted with you on every level! I cannot imagine thinking that my daughters were ‘less than or not enough’. Perhaps it was some insecurity of your parents own that led them to making you feel you were ‘not enough’. Clearly you have risen above in your journey as a parent. I have always enjoyed immensely how erudite you are ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hebebeng
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Terrible interview skills

    Rachel's interview skills are shockingly poor. She fails to listen to her guests who know much more about themselves and their area of expertise than Rachel does. She does not seem to be be able to frame a simple question. Rather she interviews by putting statements to guests which are often inaccurate, or highlight a lack of preparation or betray her own poorly constructed opinions, assumptions and biases. What a missed opportunity for listeners to hear from of some incredible and fascinating g... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    @geebaker
    United Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Can be polarizing; some listeners feel interviewing could be sharper.
Insightful and balanced discussions with strong female voices.
High-quality guests and important topics, though reception varies by episode.

Top Society & Culture Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

214. Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason
Q: You've spoken about the NHS experiences and care for black mothers; what should be different today?
There needs to be equal, respectful care for all mothers, with better attention to the specific needs of Black women and better support systems so that healthcare disparities do not persist.
214. Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason
Q: What was it like watching Sheku at public moments like the Meghan and Harry wedding, and how did you handle the aftermath of online responses?
We watched with pride but also navigated intense scrutiny; the family learned to shield the children from negative feedback while continuing to support them, recognizing that racism was a real, ongoing challenge.
214. Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason
Q: You describe the early life and the battle to access music education; how did that shape your approach to your children's opportunities?
I focused on enabling opportunities, ensuring they had access to lessons, instruments, and the belief that background should not limit what they could achieve, while also advocating for systemic changes in schools and funding.
213. Bryony Gordon
Q: Do you think discussing personal trauma is essential for women in journalism, and how has that shaped your career?
Bryony argues that sharing personal experiences has been central to her writing and connecting with readers, challenging the bias that only men should write about certain topics and advocating for a more egalitarian approach to journalism where diverse voices tell difficult truths.
213. Bryony Gordon
Q: How did you reach sobriety, and what impact did that have on your work and identity as a writer?
She details recognizing alcoholism as the defining, terrifying moment that forced her to change, followed by the 12-step path and the spiritual shift that made her able to be a 'difficult woman' in a healthier way. Sobriety gave her bravery and a durable sense of self, allowing more honest storytelling.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women

What is Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show features in-depth conversations with high-profile women across politics, journalism, literature, activism, and public service, focusing on how they challenged norms, navigated power, and drove change. Episodes typically explore personal histories, policy debates, and systemic issues affecting women—from workplace culture and media to gender rights and public leadership. A standout aspect is the wide range of guests, from government ministers to trailblazing professionals, often centering resilience, advocacy, and candid takes on modern society.

Where can I find podcast stats for Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women:

1. Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth
2. Iain Dale All Talk
3. Full Disclosure with James O'Brien
4. Where Politics Meets History
5. Off Air with Jane & Fi

How many episodes of Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women are there?

Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women launched 5 years ago and published 226 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women?

Recent guests on Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women include:

1. Zoe Strimpel
2. Dr. Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason
3. Bryony Gordon
4. Ela Lee
5. Nimco Ali
6. Amanda Craig
7. Claire Coutinho
8. Tilly Rose

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days