Radio hosts Carrie Bickmore and Tommy Little engaged in a heated on-air debate after a listener objected to their discussion about periods while her children were in the car. The exchange, which occurred on the Carrie and Tommy show, centered on the appropriateness of discussing menstruation and whether children should be taught about it from a young age.
Bickmore expressed surprise at the notion that periods should not be discussed openly, stating, "People were calling up to say it's good that we're talking about periods, but someone else has called up and said not everyone discusses this with their kids... As if it's not actually something we should be discussing. I find that really interesting. I can't see why you wouldn't."
The complaining listener argued that not all parents wish for such topics to be raised when their children are in earshot, particularly during car journeys. This prompted a back-and-forth with Bickmore and Little.
Little questioned if eight years old was too young for children to hear conversations about periods on the radio. Bickmore countered by asking why menstruation should be treated differently from other bodily functions, comparing it to "pooing or weeing." Little, however, distinguished between parental choices for at-home discussions and unexpected broadcasts, stating, "How do you want me to discuss that on a pickup from school on the way home? ... I'll discuss everything with them, but not through a radio station. I don't think that's your choice to announce that to other people's children."
Bickmore emphasized that menstrual cycles are a natural part of life and should not be considered shameful. She also raised the point of what happens if a young girl experiences her first period before her parents have explained it to her.
Little suggested that ages 10 to 12 might be more appropriate for such discussions on air, asserting that an eight-year-old does not need to hear it live. Bickmore challenged this, noting that some girls experience their first period at age eight. The debate intensified when Little alluded to a connection with sex education, a comparison Bickmore swiftly rejected, stating, "That's a sexual thing you're talking about. How is it a sexual thing?"
Bickmore shared that her own children have seen period products and asked questions due to a lack of privacy at home, and she answered them honestly rather than treating the subject as embarrassing. Another caller, Lauren, supported Bickmore's stance, recounting her own traumatic first period at age eight when she had no prior understanding. Lauren also stated she had explained periods to her son, believing boys should understand what women and girls experience.
Bickmore agreed, suggesting that teenage girls would feel more supported if teenage boys had a basic understanding of menstruation. The segment concluded with Bickmore defending the discussion as a normal conversation about the body, while Little maintained that some parents prefer to control when and how their children are first informed about the topic.