Episode 21
Blood Money Gambling in Women's Basketball, Victoria Beckham’s Business Battle and Australian Singer Sia’s Divorce Claim
Join us for Episode 21 of Feminist Money as we discuss:
1. Feature: We examine the recent practice of betting on the menstrual cycles of professional athletes in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).
2. Research: The impact of having kids on women’s income, based on long-form national pay statistics in the UK, underscoring the reality of the motherhood penalty.
3. Relationships: We discuss Australian singer Sia’s divorce, and the court claim her ex has made for an eye-watering $250,000 a month in spousal support.
4. Pop Culture: The Victoria Beckham documentary and what it reveals about her fashion business journey, from not making a profit to battling to become part of the brand Beckham.
episode description
episode show notes
(1.47) Feature: Blood money gambling
Men Are Betting on WNBA Players’ Menstrual Cycles, WIRED, 10 October 2025
Good news: men have stopped disrupting women’s sport with dildos. Bad news: now they’re betting on their periods, The Guardian, 15 October 2025
(6.17) Research: The Motherhood penalty in UK data
‘Motherhood penalty’ costs women an average £65,618 in pay by time first child turns five, The Guardian, 4 October 2025
True cost of becoming a mum highlighted in new data on pay, BBC News, 3 October 2025
(11.26) Relationships: Sia’s divorce spousal support claim
Sia’s estranged husband seeks $250,000 a month in spousal support, The Guardian, 15 October 2025
John Cleese's third wife cleans up in divorce settlement, news.com.au, 19 August 2009
(17.07) Pop Culture: Victoria Beckham's business challenges
My eating disorder made me good at lying, says Victoria Beckham, BBC News, 9 October 2025
Wondering How Much Money The Beckhams Actually Have?, Marie Claire, 9 October 2025
Victoria Beckham’s fashion business lost £70k on plants as humiliating blunders exposed, The Mirror, 9 October 2025