Episodes
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Dr June Oscar AO is a is a proud Bunuba woman from the remote town of Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia’s Kimberley region.
Her remarkable decades-long career has taken her from a small office in a cattle station in a tiny Western Australian town, to serving a five-year term as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. June was the first woman to hold this role in its 20-year history and used her position to advocate for, and empower, indigenous women and girls across Australia. The story of how she got there and all the change she has achieved along the way is truly inspiring.
Today, June continues to champion the rights of First Nations women and girls through the new First Nations Gender Justice Institute, based at the Australian National University.
In this episode, June takes Julia through this remarkable journey. They discuss June's legacy as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner and her ongoing work with the incredible Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) project at the First Nations Gender Justice Institute.
Learn more about the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations Gender Justice: https://wiyiyaniuthangani.humanrights.gov.au/first-nations-gender-justice-instituteHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Angie Murimirwa personifies the transformative power of education.
Growing up in Zimbabwe, Angie was one of the first girls to receive support from the Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) to go to secondary school.
Angie is now the organisation’s CEO.
In this episode Julia - who is Patron of CAMFED - and Angie discuss the huge barriers to education that many girls still face, and the impact finishing school has on not only an individual, but also their family and community.
They also talk about the alumni association Angie helped set up, that’s now several hundred-thousand women strong and has become a powerful network of women leaders across Africa.
Show notes:
You can learn more about CAMFED and how you can support its efforts here - https://camfed.org/aus/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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It’s been arguably the most eventful US Presidential campaign in history and the stakes couldn’t be higher, not just for the United States, but for the world.
There’s been two assassination attempts on Republican nominee Donald Trump, who became the first US President to be convicted of a felony over hush money payments to an adult film star.
We've seen President and Democratic nominee Joe Biden sensationally withdraw from the race after the most disastrous presidential debate performance in history and replaced by America’s first woman of colour to run for the White House, Vice President Kamala Harris.
In this special US election episode, Julia sits down with American political analyst, Amy Walter from The Cook Political Report, for a deep dive on each swing state, the current state of play, how gender and reproductive rights are influencing the campaign and what we can expect when voters head to the polls on November 5.
Show notes:
To learn more about the electoral college ratings, go to: https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2024-president/
To learn more about the states where abortion is on the ballot, go to:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/abortion-ballot-measures/
Bruce Wolpe is an expert on US and Australian politics, having worked in the US Congress during President Barack Obama's first term and as a senior advisor to A Podcast of One’s Own host, Julia Gillard, when she was Prime Minister. His book, Trump’s Australia, is published by Allen & Unwin:
https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Bruce-Wolpe-Trump's-Australia-9781761068096
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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In this episode of Julia’s Book Club, Julia and co-host Sarah Holland-Batt delve into the latest novel by best-selling author, Elif Shafak. There are Rivers in the Sky charts the story of three characters from across history brought together by two great rivers, with one epic poem flowing through the story. Spanning centuries and continents, the novel follows a single drop of water from the Tigris to the Thames, from antiquity to the 19th century to the modern day.
While exploring the rich histories laid out in the novel, Julia and Sarah also consider its central question – how does history get told, and who gets to tell it? They also reflect on Shafak's exploration of global inequalities across the novel – from the poverty of a class-divided Victorian London, to the far more recent persecution of the Yazidi people (and especially the women) in war-ravaged Iraq, to the impacts of climate change on the fragile ecosystems of rivers like the Tigris and the Thames.
If the name Elif Shafak sounds familiar, that's because we were lucky enough to have her join us on the podcast back in August. If you've not heard it yet, you can catch up with that interview here, or find it wherever you're listening to this episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/elif-shafak-on-the-power-of-storytelling/id1466658814?i=1000666169272.
If you'd like to learn more about Gilgamesh, the epic poem that plays a central role in this novel, and the real-life figure of George Smith who inspired the character Arthur Smyth, you can read Gilgamesh: A New Translation of the Ancient Epic by Sophus Helle.
There are Rivers in the Sky is published by Penguin Australia and is available at all good bookstores.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Alexis Wright is one of the most highly-regarded Australian authors in recent times, winning both the Miles Franklin Literary Award and the Stella Prize - twice.
Her work is challenging the traditional publishing world and asking some tough questions.
But her passions extend far beyond writing.
In this episode, Julia explores Alexis’ early beginnings as a young activist, her lifelong dedication to Indigenous land rights and her concerns around global warming, as well as her literary success.
Show notes:
Alexis’ latest novel Praiseworthy is published by Giramondo and is available at all good book stores.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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In this episode of Julia's Book Club, Julia and Kathy Lette sit down to discuss Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors.
Blue Sisters is the second novel from Mellors, following her bestselling debut Cleopatra and Frankenstein. It tells the story of three very different sisters – strait-laced lawyer Avery, party girl Lucky and stoic world champion boxer Bonnie – who are torn apart by grief and scattered to different corners of the globe after the sudden tragic death of their fourth sister, Nicky.
As the sisters try to come to terms with this devastating loss, the book explores the bonds of sisterhood, how grief changes us and the ways that addiction manifests between generations.
Julia and Kathy unpack these central themes of grief, sisterhood and addiction, and delve into the book's exploration of motherhood. Why do some women choose, or not choose to have children, what happens when that choice is taken away, and how much do our own mothers shape us?
Shownotes
Blue Sisters is published by HarperCollins and is available at all good bookstores: https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9780008623012/blue-sisters/CW: This episode covers themes of addiction, and reproductive health, and parts of this conversation may be distressing for some listeners. If this brings up anything for you, help is available by contacting the 24-hour national counselling service 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732. You can also contact the Alcohol Drug Information Service (ADIS) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 1800 250 015.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Elif Shafak is a best selling author, a political scientist and an advocate for women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights and freedom of expression.
In this episode Julia and Elif journey on a candid and deep conversation about Elif’s childhood in Turkey, what drew her to writing, and the lengths she’s had to go to keep telling the stories of those who are often silenced.
They also delve into Elif’s spectacular new novel There are Rivers in the Sky, and discuss why tackling the world’s water crisis is critical for the safety of women and girls.
Show notes:
Elif’s new novel There are Rivers in the Sky is published by Penguin and is available at all good book stores.
To learn more about Elif and her work go to https://www.elifsafak.com.tr/home
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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In this month’s Book Club episode, Julia and Kathy Lette explore Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder by internationally-renowned author, Salman Rushdie.
In his memoir, the Booker Prize winner recounts the horrifying moment he was stabbed, almost to death, while on stage in upstate New York, preparing to deliver a lecture on keeping writers safe from harm.
Julia and Kathy examine his incredible literary career, his life under 24-hour surveillance and the fatwa which led to the frenzied attack, reigniting debate around freedom of speech.
Kathy - a close friend of Rushdie's - also shares her personal insights of helping to care for him while he was in hiding and details his remarkable road to recovery.
Show notes:
Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder by Salman Rushdie is published by Penguin and available at all good bookstores: https://www.penguin.com.au/books/knife-9781787334809Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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In this episode Julia sits down with Domtila Chesang, an incredibly courageous woman who has dedicated her life to ending female genital mutilation in her home country, Kenya.
In this powerful conversation Domtila explains how the devastatingly harmful practice impacts girls and women around the world, and how she’s working to educate and empower communities in order to stamp it out.
She details the pivotal moment in her life that started her journey as an activist.
Julia and Domtila also discuss her selection as the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership’s first Changemaker - a program aimed at empowering activists dedicated to advancing gender equality.
CW: This episode discusses female genital mutilation and parts of this conversation may be distressing for some listeners. If this brings up anything for you, help is available by contacting the 24-hour national counselling service 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
To learn more about Domtila's work visit https://irepfoundation.org/
To learn more about the Changemakers program visit https://www.kcl.ac.uk/research/changemakers
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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In this month’s Book Club episode, Julia and Sarah Holland-Batt discuss The Wren, The Wren by Man Booker prize winner, Anne Enright.
Shortlisted for the 2024 Women’s Prize for Fiction, the novel is told in three voices and explores an Irish family’s love, betrayal and intergenerational trauma.
Julia and Sarah delve into Enright’s poetry and unique writing style.
Show notes:
The Wren, The Wren by Anne Enright is published by Penguin and available at all good bookstores: https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-wren-the-wren-9781529922905Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Katrina Gorry is a trailblazer on and off the pitch. Last year she stole our hearts in her record-breaking performance in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, making the highest number of tackles and covering the most ground of any player in the tournament. Katrina helped the Matildas reach the semi-finals for the first time ever, catapulting her and the rest of the team to the status of national treasures and putting women’s football on the map in Australia for the first time.
Speaking to Julia just after the birth of her second child Koby earlier this month, Katrina tells the remarkable story of her journey to motherhood and how she has balanced her lifelong dream of having a family alongside an elite sporting career.
As she prepares for the upcoming Paris Olympics, she reflects on the legacy of last year’s World Cup, how much progress has been achieved for women’s sports and what still needs to change to truly level the playing field.
In this episode, Julia and Katrina discuss her moving Australian Story documentary. This is available to watch on the ABC Youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GfhN0rdTS8
Katrina also references the Matildas’ Trailblazers documentary, which is essential viewing for anyone interested in learning more about the history of the Matildas, women’s football more broadly, and the ongoing battle for equal pay in the sport. The documentary is available to watch on Stan and you can find out more here: https://www.stan.com.au/watch/trailblazers-2024.
This conversation touches on themes of eating disorders. If this issue affects you or someone you know, Butterfly offers free confidential support. You can call their National Helpline on 1800 33 4673, chat online or email.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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In this episode of Julia's Book Club, Julia and Sarah Holland-Batt sit down together in London to discuss The Sun Walks Down, by Australian author Fiona McFarlane.
The Sun Walks Down tells the story of a remote South Australian town in the 1880s where a young boy has gone missing during a dust storm.
As the community rallies to find 6 year old Denny Wallace, readers experience the search, the town dynamics and the complex landscape surrounding them from the perspective of various characters, including Denny’s family, Indigenous trackers, Afghan cameleers, policemen, mothers, children and farmers.
Julia and Sarah delve into the book’s exploration of colonialism, race and gender, and how it challenges the stereotypical narrative of a child lost in the bush.
Show notes
The Sun Walks Down by Fiona McFarlane is published by Allen & Unwin and is available at all good bookstores - https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Fiona-McFarlane-Sun-Walks-Down-9781761066207To learn more about co-host Sarah Holland-Batt visit https://www.sarahhollandbatt.comHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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For many Australians, and tennis fans around the world, Jelena Dokic is a household name.
In this episode, she opens up to Julia about her childhood surviving poverty and fleeing war-torn Yugoslavia, to her meteoric rise to fame on the tennis court, all the while silently suffering at the hands of an abusive father.
Now, the self-described 'victim, survivor, thriver' speaks openly about how she’s overcoming her mental health struggles and vicious online trolls to lead a happy and fulfilling life as a best-selling author, tennis commentator, motivational speaker and advocate against family violence.
Show notes:
Please be aware that parts of this episode may be distressing for some listeners. Help is available by contacting the 24-hour national counselling service 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
If you need mental health support, visit Beyond Blue.
If you need crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Jelena's books are published by Penguin and available at all good book stores.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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In this month’s Book Club episode Julia sits down with her good friend, best-selling author Kathy Lette, to discuss The Fraud, by British writer Zadie Smith.
The Fraud is a historical fiction novel set in the Victorian era, centred around a real life London court case - The Tichborne Trial.
England is captivated by the case, in which a man claims to be Sir Roger Tichborne - the heir to a large fortune and long believed dead.
Julia and Kathy delve into the book’s exploration of race, gender, age and beauty, with many laughs along the way!
Show notes:
The Fraud by Zadie Smith is published by Penguin and available at all good bookstores.The Revenge Club by Kathy Lette is published by Bloomsbury and available at all good bookstores.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Katy Gallagher is Australia’s Federal Minister for Women, Minister for Finance and Minister for the Public Service.
In this candid conversation Julia and Katy delve into Katy’s early life growing up in Canberra, the tragic loss that shaped her path forward, her career in ACT and federal politics and how she’s working to better the lives of all Australian women through the Federal Government’s new strategy for gender equality.
Show notes:
Learn more about the Federal Government’s strategy for gender equality here: https://genderequality.gov.au/
If you, or someone you know, has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault, help is available by contacting the 24-hour national counselling service 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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In the first ever Book Club episode of A Podcast of One’s Own, Julia and co-host Sarah Holland-Batt delve into Australian author Anna Funder’s new work Wifedom.
Wifedom tells the untold story of Eileen O'Shaughnessy and her marriage to George Orwell, one of the most famed English writers of all time.
Funder recreates the Orwell’s’ marriage, taking readers through the Spanish Civil War and the Second World War in London.
Eileen’s story has been largely ignored by the history books, and as Funder shows, sometimes even rewritten by biographers of Orwell.
Julia and Sarah discuss Funder’s unique style of writing, how women get written out of history, how Eileen’s experience resonates with women today, and how fans of Orwell’s work can reconcile that with his personal behaviour.
Show notes:
Wifedom by Anna Funder is published by Penguin and available at all good bookstores. https://www.penguin.com.au/books/wifedom-9780143787112Find out more about co-host Sarah Holland-Batt here: https://www.sarahhollandbatt.com/Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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In this episode, Julia sits down with activist, sexual consent champion and a voice for her generation, Chanel Contos. Chanel was a catalyst for transforming how consent education works in Australia. In 2021, aged just 22, she sparked a national media storm when she exposed the alarming level of sexual assault in Sydney private schools. From here, the “Teach Us Consent” Campaign was born – an online petition asking for sexual consent education in Australian schools, which quickly gained more than 44,000 signatures supported by over 6,500 testimonies of sexual assault. And less just a year later in 2022, this ground-breaking campaign resulted in fundamental changes to the Australian curriculum when holistic and age-appropriate consent education was introduced in every school, across every age group.
Chanel takes us through this whirlwind journey – from that first day back in 2021, up until today, and reflects on everything she’s been up to along the way. From publishing her first book, Consent Laid Bare, to her work with young changemakers as the Chair of the Global Institute for Women's Leadership's Youth Committee. She and Julia talk activist burnout, how to engage everyone (especially young men and boys) in the conversation around consent, their optimism for the future and why it’s so important to be ruthless with systems and kind with people if we want to achieve lasting cultural change.
CW: This episode covers themes of consent and sexual violence, and parts of this conversation may be distressing for some listeners. If this brings up anything for you, help is available by contacting the 24-hour national counselling service 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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In the final episode of 2023, Julia takes a look back at the incredible conversations of Season 5.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Sam Mostyn has had a formidable career in executive positions, working across business, sport, climate change, the arts, policy and not for profit.
She recently led the Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce, and was the first woman AFL Commissioner, where she spearheaded the creation of a women’s league.
Now Sam is taking over from Julia as Chair of Beyond Blue, Australia’s leading mental health support service.
In this episode, Julia and Sam discuss mental health, gender equality and how women can succeed in what is often still very much a man’s world.
Show notes
If you need mental health support visit Beyond Blue | 24/7 Support for Anxiety, Depression and Suicide PreventionIf you need crisis support call Lifeline on 13 11 14Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Elly Desmarchelier is a proud disabled woman who uses her voice to advocate for the 1 in 5 Australians living with disability.
Elly was the public face of a national campaign to maintain and defend the integrity of Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme, taking the fight all the way to Parliament House in Canberra.
Elly and Julia discuss the barriers and discrimination Elly has faced and overcome throughout her life, and her determination to pave a smoother path for the next generation.
Show notes: You can find out more about Australia's Disability Royal Commission at: Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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