Hear Women cover art

Hear Women

Hear Women

By: InterVarsity Press
Listen for free

About this listen

Throughout history, women have often been relegated to the sidelines, subjugated by patriarchy, or prevented from exercising their God-given gifts at all. But women foster human flourishing in an array of spaces—as authors, pastors, and scholars. As artists, gardeners, and rock climbers. As friends, parents, and conversation partners. And much, much more. This half of the church has a unique voice that the whole church needs to hear. In Hear Women, Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young, Tara Beth Leach, and Nijay Gupta engage in conversations that highlight the many ways that women are having profound impact in the church, their communities, and the world. Join us as we listen to women for the good of the church.

All rights reserved. Christianity Social Sciences Spirituality
Episodes
  • What the Church Needs to Know About (Peri) Menopause | Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young & Tara Beth Leach

    What the Church Needs to Know About (Peri) Menopause | Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young & Tara Beth Leach
    Apr 20 2026
    Why is the church still reluctant to discuss a topic that half its community will experience?In this episode of Hear Women, hosts Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young and Tara Beth Leach take the microphone together for an honest, personal conversation about perimenopause and menopause: the symptoms, the grief, and the questions women are quietly carrying. From night sweats and sleepless nights to the deeper question of what it even means to be a woman on the other side of fertility, Dorina and Tara Beth share what they've experienced and what they're still learning.Together, they also bring Scripture into the conversation, from Mary's posture of curiosity to Anna's devoted witness in the temple, and they ask what it would look like for women to embrace what this unique season truly holds. They also name the ways the church's emphasis on the nuclear family can send unintended messages to women who are single, childless, or post-menopausal—and what some helpful correctives might look like.More than anything, this episode is an invitation to ask not "what's wrong with me?" but "what's happening in me?" and to find community, laughter, and grace in a season that too often goes unnamed.Whether you're in the thick of perimenopause/menopause/postmenopause or supporting someone who is, or if you are just ready to have a conversation the church rarely starts—this episode is for you.This episode highlights the following themes:The real, physical, and emotional weight of menopause—and why women are finally talking about itWhat Scripture says about women, aging, and worth beyond reproductionHow the church can create space for women in midlife to be seen, supported, and still leadLinks from this episode:Read Weathering Change by Courtney EllisLearn more about The ‘Pause Life from Dr. Mary Claire HaverLearn more about Dawn JacksonCheck of the Our Time to Rise in Midlife podcastRead the transcript hereLearn more about Hear WomenLearn more about your hosts, Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young, Nijay Gupta, and Tara Beth LeachRead Redeemer by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-YoungRead Tell Her Story by Nijay GuptaRead Emboldened by Tara Beth LeachSPECIAL OFFER | Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPHEAR40 for 40% off and free shipping on any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.SPONSOR | Hear Women is sponsored by Northern Seminary, where thousands of women have been equipped to serve as pastors, practitioners, church planters, and ministry leaders across the globe. Explore your calling and visit seminary.edu to learn more.Credits:✅ Producers: Christine Pelliccio Melo, Helen Lee, and Travis Albritton✅ Research Assistants: Abby Lee and Jazmin Rose✅ Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts✅ Social Media Manager: Makayla Payne✅ Podcast Art: Kate Lillard✅ Theme Song: "Organica" by ArtaxDisclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
  • What the Church Needs to Know About the Burdens of Women in Leadership | Tammy Dunahoo

    What the Church Needs to Know About the Burdens of Women in Leadership | Tammy Dunahoo
    Apr 6 2026

    What roadblocks—and outright opposition—do women face when they pursue their call to leadership?

    In this episode of Hear Women, host Tara Beth Leach sits down with seasoned leader Tammy Dunahoo to talk about the wisdom she’s gleaned from her four decades of ministry, the unique burden of being “the first,” and the identity struggles women face in male-shaped systems. By sharing both the joys and pains of her leadership journey, Dunahoo explores the tension between capability and calling, the wounds and weariness that come with tempered resistance, and the healing found in befriending both grief and gratitude. Through it all, Dunahoo’s deep-rooted confidence, resilience, and wisdom shine as she describes what it means to stand firm in her identity as called by God, to invest in the next generation of women leaders through mentorship, and to prioritize family amid significant leadership responsibilities.

    With precision and a pastoral approach, Leach and Dunahoo name cultural and theological roadblocks that are still present for women in the church and call us all to come to the table together with honesty, rich scholarship, and true mutuality.

    Listen in for hard-won wisdom, practical encouragement, and a vision for the church where women serve, lead, and heal—and where we can all flourish together.

    This episode highlights the following themes:

    • The subtle and overt roadblocks women encounter while exploring their calling to leadership
    • The transformative power of mentorship and encouragement for women discerning vocation
    • The tension between capability, calling, and the struggle to claim the title “leader”

    Links from this episode:

    • Learn more about Tammy Dunahoo
    • Read Penny Preaches by Amy Dixon and Rob Dixon
    • Learn more about Rev. Ashley Matthews
    • Read the transcript here
    • Learn more about Hear Women
    • Learn more about your hosts, Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young, Nijay Gupta, and Tara Beth Leach
    • Read Redeemer by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young
    • Read Tell Her Story by Nijay Gupta
    • Read Emboldened by Tara Beth Leach


    SPECIAL OFFER | Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPHEAR40 for 40% off and free shipping on any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

    SPONSOR | Hear Women is sponsored by Northern Seminary, where thousands of women have been equipped to serve as pastors, practitioners, church planters, and ministry leaders across the globe. Explore your calling and visit seminary.edu to learn more.

    Credits:

    ✅ Producers: Christine Pelliccio Melo, Helen Lee, and Travis Albritton

    ✅ Research Assistants: Abby Lee and Jazmin Rose

    ✅ Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts

    ✅ Social Media Manager: Makayla Payne

    ✅ Podcast Art: Kate Lillard

    ✅ Theme Song: "Organica" by Artax

    Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.



    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
  • What the Church Needs to Know About Confronting Sexism | Heather Matthews

    What the Church Needs to Know About Confronting Sexism | Heather Matthews
    Mar 23 2026
    Sexism in the church isn’t limited to headline-grabbing moments—it’s often quiet, persistent, and too easily overlooked. In this episode of Hear Women, hosts Tara Beth Leach and Nijay Gupta are joined by Heather Matthews to take an honest look at the overt and covert ways women are held back in ministry. Matthews is a pastor, church planter, author, and educator who has worked in various ministry contexts in the US and internationally for twenty-five years. From subtle exclusions and lost opportunities to direct limits and unpaid work, her journey reveals both the personal pain and the collective loss experienced when women are undervalued or discriminated against.Yet the biblical story offers a different perspective. Drawing from her own story and her book, Confronting Sexism in the Church, Matthews challenges us: What does the overarching story of Scripture teach us about women?As Matthews describes her journey of understanding Scripture and shares her personal story, she offers how anti-sexism might become a reality instead of just a slogan. Listen in for practical insight, encouragement, and a compelling invitation to become the kind of ally that women in the church desperately need.This episode highlights the following themes:The pervasive forms of sexism in the churchHow theological reflection on Scripture can empower women to embrace their God-given giftsPractical approaches for confronting sexism in faith communitiesLinks from this episode:Discover more about Heather MatthewsRead Heather Matthews’ book, Confronting Sexism in the ChurchRead The Vulnerable Pastor by Mandy Smith, and learn more about her workRead Allies in Ministry by Rob DixonRead the transcript hereLearn more about Hear WomenLearn more about your hosts, Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young, Nijay Gupta, and Tara Beth LeachRead Redeemer by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-YoungRead Tell Her Story by Nijay GuptaRead Emboldened by Tara Beth LeachSPECIAL OFFER | Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPHEAR40 for 40% off and free shipping on any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.SPONSOR | Hear Women is sponsored by Northern Seminary, where thousands of women have been equipped to serve as pastors, practitioners, church planters, and ministry leaders across the globe. Explore your calling and visit seminary.edu to learn more.Credits:✅ Producers: Christine Pelliccio Melo, Helen Lee, and Travis Albritton✅ Research Assistants: Abby Lee and Jazmin Rose✅ Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts✅ Social Media Manager: Makayla Payne✅ Podcast Art: Kate Lillard✅ Theme Song: "Organica" by ArtaxDisclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
    Show More Show Less
    39 mins
No reviews yet