Men.

Men.

What drives someone to seek a fairer balance between men and women? This conversation between Steph and Beth tackles that question head-on, with zero sugar-coating and plenty of candour. Centred on the simple but loaded title “Men.”, the episode digs into how male power shapes daily life, law, church, and work. Steph shares that she has “a chip on [her] shoulder about men, specifically white men,” rooted in repeated sexual assaults and countless smaller boundary violations.

She and Beth talk frankly about how, in their view, men still control most systems: “Men make the laws. Men take our rights away,” even as women appear more visible in politics and professions. The tone stays conversational and sometimes wry, but the themes are serious. They look at church politics, especially turmoil in the Methodist tradition, and how a few men in key roles can either block or spark change simply by choosing to speak up—or stay quiet.

Steph stresses that she doesn’t hate men; instead, she wants those already in power to use their position to open doors: to say, “This is not okay” and push for more diverse leadership. The episode also moves into #MeToo territory, connecting personal experiences of harassment and assault with wider cultural beliefs, such as the suspicion that women lie about abuse.

Beth reflects on her own history, parenting choices, and how economic realities and pay gaps often push women out of careers. Listeners who are processing trauma, questioning gender roles, or trying to raise safer, more respectful sons and daughters will find plenty to chew on. Honest, sometimes uncomfortable, and often very human, the conversation asks men and women alike to think: how are you using whatever power you have, and who are you really protecting?

So where do you see yourself in this discussion—staying quiet, or ready to speak up for real change?