How friends help you live longer, Asbestos exposure, Women's cricket, Effie Millais - a podcast by BBC Radio 4

In a new three-part series on longevity, we look at how we can shape our health and vitality in old age. Today we focus on the role of our social lives. We all know that meeting up with friends can feel good, but does it actually make any difference to our health? Jenni speaks to psychologist Julianne Holt-Lundstad about how a good social life can be as important to living longer as giving up smoking.

Fibres, a new play, explores the legacy of asbestos in the Glasgow shipyards and the women and families affected by the exposure. Jenni is joined by the playwright Frances Poet, and Phyllis Craig from the charity Action on Asbestos.

The future of women's cricket is looking rosy. Last week the Women’s and Girls' Cricket Plan announced a £20m boost in funding, and the ICC will award the winners of the Women’s T20 World Cup in Australia in 2020 a million dollar prize. We look at the state of the women’s game with Clare Connor, Managing Director of Women’s Cricket at the ECB. What’s being done to make it more attractive for women and girls to play and watch it, and to work within the game too?

We hear the untold stories of five women of Pre-Raphaelite art whose contribution has been overlooked. Today, we hear about Effie Millais whose personal life has always distracted from her achievements as a manager, muse and creative partner to her husband John Everett Millais.

Presenter: Jenni Murray
Interviewed guest: Frances Poet
Interviewed guest: Phyllis Craig
Interviewed guest: Clare Connor
Interviewed guest: Alison Smith
Interviewed guest: Jan Marsh
Interviewed guest: Julianne Holt-Lundstad
Producer: Anna Lacey

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