Episodes
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Really Interesting Women - the podcast
Episode 139
Mem Fox AM
Mem Fox is one of this country’s favourite writers.
In 1983, she became Australia’s best-selling writer and has remained the pre-eminent writer for young children pretty much since then. She has written over 45 books for children, many of which have become international best-sellers in Australia and the US.
But it was one book in particular that caught international attention and thrust her into the public’s orbit. And that book was originally called ‘Hush the Invisible Mouse’, but, we now know it as... Possum Magic.
Mem was born in Melbourne and grew up in Africa. She went to drama school in England, and came back to Australia in 1970, aged 22. She claims that growing up outside the country and returning at 22 gave her a unique perspective on Australia, and a passionate love for it.Mem Fox is a retired Associate Professor of Literacy Studies from Flinders University, South Australia, where she taught teachers for 24 years until 1996.
Her latest book is Meerkat Mayhem, illustrated by Judy Horacek, published on November 5th 2024.
Head to the link in my bio for our podcast conversation.Visit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.
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Really Interesting Women - the podcast
Ep. 138
Jo Stanley
Jo Stanley has had an incredibly successful media career spanning over 2 decades.
During that time, amongst many other achievements, she took 2 radio shows on 2 different networks to Number 1. She’s probably the only woman in Australia to ever do this.
She was co-host of The House of Wellness TV and Radio, is producer and host of numerous podcasts, writes a regular column for the Sunday Life Magazine, and is the creator of the ‘Play Like a Girl’ children’s book series.
Most of us would recognise Jo from her television appearances on Australia's Brainiest Kid, The Panel, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Thank God You're Here, The Projet, Studio 10 and Hughesy, We Have a Problem.
But it’s what she’s done more recently that is, I think, her most impressive undertaking.
Having the experience she had, Jo became concerned that there was no radio station catering to women’s interests and life experience. So... she is building a new radio network for women, by women called Broad Radio.
She's an incredibly hard worker, fun, funny, has a searing intellect and a good heart. Others have described her as having 'a warm and vibrant honesty'. I agree.
Have a listen to our conversation by heading to the link in my bio.
Jo's new radio network can be found by downloading the broad radio app or by heading to www.broadradio.com.au and listening live.Visit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.
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Missing episodes?
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Really Interesting Women - the Podcast
Episode 137
Dr Louise Mahler
Dr Louise Mahler is one of the world’s leading keynote speakers. She has been voted. amongst the top experts in both Body Language and Communication globally....and it started following a decade singing Opera in Europe, including a soloist contract at the Vienna State Opera. From that, Louise began an exploration of performance as it applies to the business context.
Louise is a highly sought-after media figure and commentator and is regularly interviewed on Sunrise, The Today Show, SBS, the ABC, and radio stations across Australia. You may recognise her from that and from analysing politicians during the last federal election and Royals such as Prince Harry and Meghan. Her analysis of the Johnny Depp and Amber Herd trial attracted over 2 million views on YouTube.
But beyond that public image, she also helps leaders and teams to elevate their body language and voice.
She was awarded the Professional Speakers Association’s Keynote Speaker of the Year for 2021 and the Stevie Award for Lifetime Achievement helping Women in Business.
Head to the link in my bio to listen to our conversation.
Dr Loise Mahler’s latest book is Gravitas: Timeless Skills to Communicate with Confidence and Build Trust
https://www.amazon.com.au/Gravitas-Timeless-Skills-Communicate-Confidence/dp/1394237332
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Really Interesting Women - the podcast
Episode 136 Professor Adele Green AC
Adele Green is officially (and often) referred to as "an international leader in the epidemiology of melanoma and skin cancer. Her ground-breaking randomised controlled trial of long-term sunscreen application in an Australian community provides the scientific basis for clinical and public health advice about sunscreen use for skin cancer prevention."
And all that is true. But I always think it's important to put those statements into context to get a true picture of the significance of the statement....
When Adele Green studied medicine, it was with a view to having a significant humanitarian impact. When she started her research, we didn't even know how common skin cancer was. It just wasn't recorded anywhere. Adele saw the problem and sought to do something about it.
There was a time, not that long ago, when no one knew the burden of skin cancer or how to prevent it - until Adele turned her mind to it. Her work has contributed hugely to the treatment of melanomas. And that treatment has dramatically improved over the last 10 years such that the survival rates for even advanced melanomas has been turned around significantly.
She is also an innovator when it comes to detection and treatment of indigenous cancers. Another significant contribution includes insight into risk factors for ovarian cancer.
Professor Adele Green has received international awards and is a recognised advocate for cancer control, including through longstanding membership on national and international scientific and advisory councils. She has trained and mentored a generation of epidemiologists and clinician-scientists.
Have a listen to our conversation by heading to the link in my bio.Visit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.
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Really Interesting Women - the podcast
Episode 134
Justine Barwick
"If you can't solve the big problems, solve the little ones in front of you and keep chipping away"
Justine Barwick has been working tirelessly and selflessly in the Community Services sector for 25 years. The sort of person that puts the needs of everyone else before her own. But circumstances eventually changed that dramatically.
It was what happened in September 2018 that propelled Justine into the national conscience. You see, she was on annual holiday in the beautiful Whitsunday Islands and this country’s collective worst nightmare happened. She was attacked and mauled by a shark.
She was very, very lucky to survive. In those situations, life changes dramatically in an instant and those changes, should you survive...are ongoing both physically and mentally.
Here’s the story of an extraordinary woman whose resilience and determination meant she not only survived, she thrived. It's an incredible and inspiring story of survival. And the lessons she's learned on the way are relevant for all of us.
Head to the link in my bio to hear Justine's story.Visit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.
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Really Interesting Women - the podcast
Episode 133
Melinda Schneider
*This podcast contains content about depression*
Melinda started in the entertainment industry aged 3 alongside her mother, the legendary yodeller Mary Schneider. She recorded music at 8, had her acting debut in A Country Practice at 13, went on to release 14 albums and win six Golden Guitars from the Country Music Awards of Australia.
Her songs have been recorded by Australian music royalty such as John Farnham, Olivia Newton-John and Paul Kelly.
Melinda is an incredible live performer and has enjoyed huge touring success. After recording an album of Doris Day songs in tribute to her hero, Mary encouraged Melinda to write a full theatre show about Doris. She did. The tour which accompanied her #1 hit album ‘Melinda Does Doris’ toured the country extensively and even sold out the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall twice!
Having had a successful career for 40 years, she continues her innovative progression with the launch of an independent record label and, I understand, a new album early next year. Rock guru Glenn A Baker described her as one of this country’s truly important artists.
But, as is often the case, the achievements and accolades don’t tell the whole story.
In 2018, as a result of 30 years of relentless work combined with a perfectionist streak, Melinda was overcome with depression. She has been very public about it and I personally found it a really insightful discussion. Her strength, resilience and determination in dealing with this issue stands, I imagine, with equal pride alongside all her other achievements.
Head to the link in my bio to listen to Melinda's podcast episode.Visit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.
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Really Interesting Women - the podcast
Episode 132
Melissa Doyle AM
Mel Doyle is so much more than 'an accomplished and awarded journalist with more than 30 years experience'. She's actually one of the best-known and trusted voices and faces in Australian media. And after our conversation for this podcast, it's pretty easy to see why.
Mel is, of course, best known as the former co-host of the number one rated breakfast program Sunrise. But it's the beginnings of these careers that are just as interesting to me. What was the first break? How did that come about? And it came about when a recently graduated 20 year old Mel Doyle kept pestering a producer in Canberra to give her a go at presenting the weather on TV. She created her own opportunity. And that was something she did a lot. And more importantly, grabbed those opportunities when they did present themselves. 'What's the worst that can happen?'
After 25 very successful years with Channel 7, she was let go. Its happened to most of us, but not in such a public forum. Her response was not only dignified and done with head held high, it was a catalyst for an incredible 'second act'.
She has written four books, “The Working Mothers Survival Guide” in 2007, her best selling memoir “Alphabet Soup” in 2013, "15 Seconds of Brave" in 2022 and "How to Age Against The Machine" in 2023.In the 2016 Australia Day Honours List Mel was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her "significant service to the community through representational roles with a range of charitable groups, and to the broadcast media."
She is National Patron for the Make A Wish Foundation and an Ambassador for World Vision, The Alannah and Madeline Foundation, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and Adopt Change.
Head to the link in my bio to have a listen to our podcast chat.
You'll find her books here:
https://www.amazon.com.au/s?k=melissa+doyle&ref=nb_sb_noss
Image: Nick LearyVisit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.
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Really Interesting Women - the podcast
Episode 131
SARAH WILSON
Sarah is best known for being the founder of the global I Quit Sugar movement, a digital wellness program with 13 award-winning books that sell in 52 countries – which saw millions around the world transform their health. In 2022 she sold the business and gave everything to charity.
She is an experienced journalist and broadcaster. She was previously the editor of Cosmopolitan Australia at age 29; host of MasterChef Australia; was a News Corp journalist and columnist; and has hosted ABC’s Compass, Ten’s The Project and has been a regular panellist and news commentator on Australian, UK and US screens for two decades.Her New York Times bestseller First, We Make the Beast Beautiful is described by bestselling author (The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck) Mark Manson as, “The best book on living with anxiety that I’ve ever read”, and was featured as the book of the year on NBC’s Today Show. It’s published in 27 countries. Sarah’s most recent title, This One Wild & Precious Life, won the 2021 US Gold Nautilus Prize.
She has been ranked in the top 200 most influential authors in the world (two years in a row), and now resides and works most of the year in Paris where she lives and loves a minimalist life.
And this all reads like a bit of a career dream. But there have been plenty of nightmares along the way. Our discussion on resilience I found fascinating as well as finding out (to Sarah - and probably all of us in reality), what really matters. All these findings of hers are the result of countless hours of research and interviews and one of the many things I took away from this is the importance of nature. The incredibly positive impact it can have if we just 'get out there.'
Head to the link in my bio to have a listen to Sarah Wilson's episode.
The book referred to:
First, We Make the Beast Beautiful
https://www.amazon.com.au/first-make-beast-beautiful-Anxiety-ebook/dp/B01N12WLAX
Her other books and links to her Substack can be found on her website:
www.sarahwilson.comVisit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.
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Really Interesting Women - the podcast
Episode 130
KATHY LETTE
Kathy Lette is a celebrated and outspoken comic writer who has an imitable take on serious current issues. She is one of the pioneering voices of contemporary feminism.
She left school at 16 which didn't please her mother who was a school Principal. She wanted to become a published writer. In Australia. In the 70s. As a teenager. And she did!
She co-wrote her first novel, Puberty Blues, when she was 17. They were the first teenagers in this country to publish a book about teenagers. The sales went ballistic. It became a film and TV series and is still an iconic piece of literature.
She moved to the UK in the late 80s and went on to write international bestsellers. Twenty of them! Her titles include Girls’ Night Out, Foetal Attraction, Mad Cows, The Boy Who Fell to Earth, and The Revenge Club, which has just been published.
Stephen Fry called her books ‘Unputdownable’ and Nicole Kidman described her work as ‘Deliciously rude and darkly funny’.
She is wickedly funny and a great conversationalist. No one is safe. I even found myself on the end of some of her 'tongue-fu' (as she describes it).
To hear our conversation head to the link in my bio.
The book is: The Revenge Club
You can find it at:
https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-revenge-club-kathy-lette/book/9781035901289.htmlVisit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.
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Really Interesting Women - Podcast
Episode 129 - Professor Fiona Wood FRACS AO
Fiona Wood was born in Yorkshire and was told that becoming a surgeon was not something she could do. She’s not the sort of person that hears the word ‘no’.She studied medicine in London and was an outlier. And there was another outlier there...a male doctor often seen in handknitted jumpers and Dunlop Volleys (as opposed to the expected blazers and ties). He was, perhaps you’ve guessed, an Australian. They fell in love, got married and immigrated to Perth with their 2 very young children in 1987 (those 2 were soon joined by 4 more).
Fiona completed training in plastic surgery and subsequently became Head of the Royal Perth Hospital Burns Unit. In fact, she became the first female plastic surgeon in Western Australia.
It was her work with medical scientist Marie Stoner on tissue engineering and burn treatments that would gain her attention within the medical world, but it was as the face of Australia’s response to the Bali bombings in October 2002 that brought her international attention as she led a team of 19 surgeons and 130 medical staff working around the clock in four operating theatres to save lives.
And her incredible ongoing medical innovations and dedication contributed to her being recognised as a “National Living Treasure” and in 2005 being named Australian of the Year.
We had a fabulous conversation. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I don’t think it was quite this.
Head to the link in my bio to have a listen to the podcast....
For those wanting to help with a donation or just read more about her incredible work, head to
www.fionawoodfoundation.org.au
Visit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.
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Really Interesting Women - the podcast
Episode 128
SUSAN JOHNSON
The Australian newspaper has described Susan Johnson as, ‘One of the finest Australian writers.’
She describes herself as, author, incurable Australian, friend, feminist, ambivalent mother skewered by love and struck by eternal wanderlust.
Isn't that a terrific description.
Her books include, From Where I Fell, published in 2021 (shortlisted for the Voss Literary Award) and The Broken Book (longlisted for the Miles Franklin Award in 2005) and, most recently, Aphrodite’s Breath: A Mother and Daughter's Greek Island Adventure which is a memoir about living on Kythera, Greece, with her 85-year-old mother. A really great read.
She started her career as a journalist and her life trajectory changed in 1985, when she received the first of three New Writers' grants from the Literature Board of the Australia Council which allowed her to write full time. She is now the author of twelve books.
Join me for a great discussion with Susan Johnson.
Link to Susan's latest book:
https://www.booktopia.com.au/aphrodite-s-breath-susan-johnson/book/9781760876562.htmlVisit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.
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Really Interesting Women - The Podcast
Episode 127
DR SONIA HENRY
Sonia Henry is a doctor practicing in rural Australia. I mean, really rural. She’s also a best-selling author, and an advocate, not only for the welfare of overworked doctors but for the improvement of medical services to remote indigenous communities.
This is a fascinating and inspiring story of how one doctor, almost on a whim, decided to leave the hustle and hassle of the city behind and took herself to one of the most remote parts of Australia to practice as a GP.
And her experiences there changed her life.
She has written two largely autobiographical best selling books about her experiences. The joys, the frustrations, the triumphs and tragedies. She outlines the myriad of problems and potential solutions. And here's a novel approach...when faced with the huge gap in healthcare treatment and availability for first nations people, she just asked her indigenous patients what they would need.
Head to the link in my bio for Sonia's episode.
Sonia's books are:
Going Under
https://www.booktopia.com.au/going-under-sonia-henry/book/9781760878641.html
Put Your Feet in the Dirt, Girl
https://www.booktopia.com.au/put-your-feet-in-the-dirt-girl-sonia-henry/book/9781761068072.htmlVisit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.
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Really Interesting Women - the Podcast
Ep. 126 MOYA DODD AO
Moya Dodd is a lawyer, sports administrator and a former vice-captain of Australia’s women’s football team, the Matildas.
She played in FIFA’s first ever women’s tournament in 1988. Twenty-five years later, she joined the governing body of FIFA as one of the first women in its 108-year history. It's unsurprising that when she was there she found the place was rife with integrity and gender issues. She was one of only 3 of 27 FIFA Executive Committee members who declined a $25,000 gift watch at the 2014 World Cup. A year later, she found herself in a luxury Zurich hotel as her colleagues were arrested in a dawn raid.
As the 'FIFAGate' scandals unfolded, Moya led the #womeninFIFA reform movement, becoming ‘the driving force in the recent push for women within FIFA’ (New York Times) and ‘one of the most credible and outspoken voices for change within the organization’ (Vice Sports).
In 2016 she was named the most influential woman in Australia by the Australian Financial Review, and in 2018 was named by Forbes magazine as the 7th most powerful woman in international sport (outside the US).
In 2020, Moya was listed in WICC's global "Best XI" for advancing women's soccer.
She is a much sought after speaker on the international circuit on many topics including issues of equality, integrity, and change.Visit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.
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Really Interesting Women - the Podcast
Episode 125
Dr Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli AM
It's hard to briefly describe Maria's bio - but it goes a long way explaining it by understanding she is from a Southern Italian poor, migrant, working class background which instilled in her a resistance to systemic injustice.
She has been an academic, author, activist and ally in the issues and intersections of cultural diversity, gender and sexual diversity, relationship and family diversity for over 30 years.
...and it was a really insightful discussion which was based on a lifetime's experience and an academic understanding. But it was never laced with anger or contempt or masked with utter disappointment and there were no accusations of inaction by those that could change things. Rather, it was a discussion to help others understand the effect a lack of diversity and acceptance can have. And how to fix that. By way of example, there is a lot written and said about 'safe environments' - and although I think I know what that means, when I asked her what an 'unsafe environment' looks like...I acquired a much better understanding.
Maria is regularly called upon to act as a consultant in educational, workplace, youth services, health services and community service settings. Maria is also regularly invited to speak at diverse community, educational, organisational and other functions and conferences, and in various media such as television, radio and newspaper.
Head to the link in my bio to have a listen to Maria's podcast.Visit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.
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Really Interesting Women - the Podcast
Ep. 124
Catherine Branson AC KC
In 1984 Catherine Branson made history when a dual appointment saw her became the first woman in Australia to be appointed Crown Solicitor and the first woman to be appointed as permanent head of a government department in South Australia.
She went to the bar in Adelaide and then took silk in 1992. An appointment as a judge to the Federal Court of Australia followed in 1994. In 2008 she was appointed President of the Australian Human Rights Commission. The following year she was appointed Human Rights Commissioner. A few months ago, it was announced that my guest would serve a 3rd term as Chancellor of the University of Adelaide.
An extraordinary career and her work with the Human Rights Commission gave her the opportunity and the platform to give a voice to immigrants detained indefinitely and to support the rights of Indigenous Australians.
Another true pioneer who paved the way for others.Visit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.
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Really Interesting Women - the Podcast
Episode 123
AMBER LAWRENCE
Amber started her professional career as a Chartered Accountant but she left that to pursue a dream.
After a very successful debut in the 2005 Tamworth Country Music Festival - coming second in the major singing competition to Jessica Mauboy - Amber took that success and started her country music journey in earnest. She put in a lot of hard work and was constantly touring. It paid off as she became one of Australia’s leading female country singers. But that’s not just my opinion. She’s won 6 Golden Guitars, including Female Artist of the Year at the 2023 Golden Guitar Awards.
On the way to that success she has toured the world, entertained Australian troops overseas and even went to New York to play a song she wrote to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea - in front of the President of the United States and the Australian PM (and 800 others).
In July 2022, she released her tenth studio album, Living for the Highlights, which reached number 1 on the ARIA charts and the Australian Country Music charts.
Head to Amber's website for info on her touring dates and a link to her albums.
www.amberlawrence.com.au
Head to the link in my bio to have a listen to our conversation.Visit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.
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Really Interesting Women - the podcast
Ep. 122
Professor Julie Rrap
Julie has been a central figure in Australian contemporary art for 4 decades. Our conversation covers a lot and I guess that was inevitable given her enormous contribution to art both in Australia and internationally.
She has worked with photography, painting, sculpture, performance and video in an ongoing project concerned with representations of the body with a particular emphasis on the female body within western art history.
Julie has been described as one of Australia's leading feminist artists. Since her first exhibition in 1982, she has been consistently committed to the exploration of the role—or absence of roles—of women in the history of art.
Throughout her career she has exhibited extensively throughout Europe and Australia.
She completed her PhD in 2010 and is currently Co-Director and Co-Chair of Sydney College of the Arts.
Image: Simon SchluterVisit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.
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Podcast Episode 121
Distinguished Professor Jenny Graves AC FAA
Jenny Graves is a leading evolutionary geneticist who was a very early adopter of gene mapping. She uses genome comparisons to explore the origin, function and fate of human sex genes and chromosomes. In other words, exploring what is it that makes us male, and female and she’s also explored the evolution of the so called ‘gay gene’ and the genetics of transgenderism.
She’s a Distinguished Professor at La Trobe University, is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and the US National Academy of Science, 2006 L’Oreal-UNESCO Laureate for Women in Science, and she won the 2017 Australian Prime Minister’s Prize for Science (the first woman to win solo). In 2022 she was elevated to our highest honour, Companion of the Order of Australia.
She knows what she's talking about.
Join me for a really interesting discussion. Head to the link in my bio to her podcast episode.Visit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.
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Really Interesting Women - The podcast
Episode 120
Del Kathryn Barton
Del Kathryn Barton is one of Australia’s most recognisable and collectable artists.She’s now widely recognised as one of Australia's leading figurative painters and a 2-time Archibald Prize winner. Only the second woman to do that in the 103 year history of that portrait prize.
Her first year out of art college she had the extraordinary honour of being hung in the prestigious Sulman Art Prize at the Art Gallery of NSW.
All of this is a very long way from her isolated and unconventional rural upbringing where her father was attempting to build a house from scratch (as an untrained builder) while the family lived in tents and other temporary shelters.
She openly talks about her mental health issues which went largely undiagnosed. It was her mother that suggested she take up drawing as a child to overcome these crippling attacks. And that’s where it started.
It’s a fascinating, open, fun, funny conversation. And she gave me the secret to her success. It’s no secret.... it’s been discussed by most of the women on this podcast series. Hard work. Really hard work. And passion for the work.
Head to the link in my bio to listen to Del’s episode. Or go to your usual podcast platform and search Really Interesting Women. It’ll be there.
Image: Eugene Hyland
Visit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.
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Really Interesting Women - Podcast
Revisited on 'Throwback Thursday'
Anna Funder Ep. 105.
Anna Funder is one of Australia’s most acclaimed and awarded writers and an international success. One of her books is currently being made into a film with a Hollywood household name as its protagonist....and she dreamed of being a writer since she was a child.
Anna spent her early childhood in Paris where her father was working. First day at primary school was a little tricky. Didn’t understand what anyone was saying. She subsequently learnt to read and write in 2 languages. And from that moment, words were her obsession.
She started her working life as a lawyer and gave up what she called “probably the best lawyer job in Australia”, working in the Attorney General’s department on treaty negotiations and international law. But she didn’t feel like it was her ‘real life’.
She made a life changing decision to move to Berlin and become a writer. The full story can be heard on the podcast including, while promoting her book ‘Stasiland’, going on a public stage in Germany where the first 2 rows were occupied by ex-Stasi, all taking notes!
That 2003 book Stasiland won, amongst many other things, the Samuel Johnson Prize which is for the best non-fiction writing in the English language (!!). Actor Tom Hanks described it as 'fascinating, entertaining, hilarious, horrifying and very important.'
Her 2012 novel, All That I Am, won a myriad of awards including the very prestigious Miles Franklin Award.
In her recently released book, Wifedom, Anna uncovers George Orwell’s ‘forgotten’ wife Eileen O’Shaughnessy, and rewrites her into history. Geraldine Brooks described the book as, 'Simply, a masterpiece'.Her books are important because of the truths they reveal. They are beautifully researched and exquisitely told.
Have a listen to this fascinating conversation. Head to the link in my bio or copy and paste this link into your browser:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/really-interesting-women/id1526764849?i=1000619409426
Visit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.Visit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.
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