TW: This episode talks about topics which some listeners may find distressing, including domestic and sexual violence, exploitation, trauma, the criminal justice system, and child removal. If you are struggling and need to talk, please reach out to someone who can help. Support is listed below.
Why do our support systems so often fail the people who need them most? Laura Seebohm joins The Idea Junkies Podcast to explore radical listening, systemic change, and how we can build services that truly work for women.
Episode 003 - Show notes
Episode Title:
Why our systems fail women (and how we fix them) with Laura Seebohm
Episode Description:
In this episode of The Idea Junkies Podcast, host Laura Richards sits down with Laura Seebohm, a long-standing advocate for systems change with decades of experience working in prisons, domestic violence support, and women's rights advocacy.
Laura shares powerful insights into how our justice, social care, and mental health systems often fail the very people they are designed to support - especially women. She unpacks the structural misogyny, policy failures, and barriers to support that leave vulnerable women trapped in cycles of poverty, abuse, and exploitation.
This conversation is a must-listen for anyone passionate about social change, advocacy, and rethinking how we design support systems. Laura’s work is proof that real change starts with listening - not just hearing, but radically listening and using that insight to reshape the way services operate.
What We Cover:
Why so many women in prison are victims before they are offenders
The hidden exploitation within the criminal justice system
How systems fail women—and what needs to change
The power of co-creation and why services should be designed with (not for) those they support
How systemic poverty, abuse, and lack of trust keep women out of traditional support systems
Why data and risk assessments don’t always lead to better outcomes
How grassroots organizations are leading the way in holistic, relationship-based support
Links and Resources:
Follow Laura Seebohm on LinkedIn
Learn more about Changing Lives and their advocacy work on their website
Resources for support: Wearside Women in Need, Women’s Aid, Mind, Refuge
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