Really Interesting Women

The Podcast

Ep. 147 Meryl Tankard

Meryl Tankard is one of Australia's most distinguished and innovative figures in contemporary dance and choreography.

Her talent was recognised very early - and even at that early stage she knew the 'old school' teaching techniques were, at times, abhorrent. But despite this, her talent flourished. To the point where she auditioned and earned a place in the Australian Ballet.

But in her mind she wanted more. She joined the prestigious Pina Bausch Tanztheater Wuppertal in Germany, where she became a principal artist and developed her distinctive artistic voice.

Upon returning to Australia in the early 1990s, she served as Artistic Director of the Australian Dance Theatre (ADT) in Adelaide, transforming it into a globally recognised company. And that led inexplicably to a controversial move by the ADT that we talk about.

But it's her bold, theatrical productions that merged dance with other art forms that have impressed audiences the world over. Her choreographic style is characterised by emotional intensity, physical dynamism, and a unique blend of classical technique with contemporary expression.

She has created works for opera, film, and large-scale events, including contributions to the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games ceremonies.

And as if for good measure she's a qualified and exceptional film maker.

To this day Meryl Tankard remains an influential force in Australian performing arts, celebrated for her passionate commitment to artistic innovation and her ability to create deeply moving dance experiences.

It was a great conversation with an enduring, warm, immensely talented artist.

You can see the clips I was referring to in our conversation at:

https://meryltankard.com/work

Head to the link in my bio to hear our conversation.

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Really Interesting Women

The Podcast

Episode 147

Professor Leah Bromfield

Professor Leah Bromfield is the 2025 South Australian of the Year.

Leah has devoted her life to establishing practical, evidence-based solutions to child abuse and neglect – important but challenging work.

Currently she is the director and chair of child protection at the Australian Centre for Child Protection. Her achievements and accolades are almost endless. She developed the first evidence-based analysis of child protection practice frameworks. She informed improvements including the development of a new framework in South Australia and was on the team which advocated for – and got – the first National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children in 2007.

Over two decades, Leah has risen to become one of the most trusted researchers in the field. Her calls for transformation and radical redesign have led to world-first insights and contributed to significant changes in our understanding of, and responses to, child abuse and neglect.

She’s a champion of exploring unconventional approaches and interrogating assumptions to break the cycle of abuse.

Leah has played a pivotal role in numerous other reforms, including her work as Professorial Fellow to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Her leadership and expertise continue to inspire transformative approaches to child protection not just in this country, but around the world.

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Really Interesting Women

The Podcast

Ep. 146

Yvonne Sampson

Yvonne Sampson has had a career characterized by breaking barriers and setting new standards.

She grew up as did many Australians, with a deep love of sport. She studied journalism and her love of sport and her extensive knowledge of it, kept her focussed on the ultimate goal. And her persistence and resilience and patience and mostly ability, created the opportunities that led to her becoming the first female broadcaster to anchor a major sporting event in this country.

And her journey has continued... to the point where she is now generally considered one of the best sports broadcasters in the country.

It was a great discussion. From how her parents discussed her own adoption from a very young age – and how she was so appreciative of that, to finding out about her birth father’s heritage and how he was removed from his family as a baby and the ongoing affect that has on her and the family. Her battles to be accepted as a female sports journalist to becoming a nationally recognised figure that anchored the Rugby League showpiece, the State of Origin.

A humble, appreciative, intelligent, knowledgeable person who turned to sports broadcasting because she said she didn’t have a sporting bone in her body. But, I did have to correct her – she forgot to mention that she has represented Australia in dressage!

Even if you’re not a big sports fan, this is a really informing conversation.

Head to the link in my bio to find Yvonne’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 145 Vicki Jellie AM

Vicki Jellie is best known for winning the 2017 Australia Day Local Hero award. Her community has known about her for decades...but we’ve only just caught up.

For those who may be unaware, the Australia Day Local Hero category was introduced to the Australian of the Year Awards in 2003 to acknowledge everyday Australians who make significant contributions to their local communities. And Vicki’s actions over a number of years did just that. Her actions were sparked by personal tragedy and resulted in bringing vital cancer services to regional Victoria, transforming healthcare for thousands.

Vicki is an incredibly selfless, hardworking, empathetic, community minded person who, the day after her husband tragically passed away, was going through his possessions and discovered his desire to start raising funds to somehow help others by preventing the need to travel 3 hours each way from regional Victoria to get the treatment needed, as he had to do. She realised she now knew what she had to do going forward.

Nearly everyone said it was impossible to get the support and funding needed for a world class medical and cancer treatment centre in regional Warrnambool. ‘Nearly everyone’ didn’t know Vicki Jellie.

Head to the link in my bio to hear this fascinating and inspiring conversation.

Visit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.

Follow the link to leave a review....and tell your friends
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Really Interesting Women

The Podcast

Episode 144

Sarah Todd

Sarah Todd is a celebrity chef, model, restaurateur and cookbook author. There’s a lot to her story.

Hailing from Mackay in Qld, she entered a competition to win a trip to Sydney, which led to her being discovered as a model. During her travels as a model, she discovered a love for food culture – and that changed the course of her career.

But it seemed to be the birth of her son that was the catalyst for that transition to working in the culinary arts. And that transition got an enormous boost when she appeared on the 6th season of the TV show, MasterChef.

While that sort of opportunity can open doors, it needs a very special person to walk through those doors and make a rewarding and fulfilling career (literally) with their own bare hands. And Sarah has done just that.

Consider this...India has a population of over 1.4 billion people. And, I’m going to suggest, there are probably several (!!) restaurants already there. But Sarah took her love for Indian cuisine to India and built and opened a restaurant that, through countless hours, days, months, years of hard work, became an incredible success. And then a tragic event that changed everything.

But...being the person she is, Sarah persevered. It’s quite a remarkable story really.

That perseverance in the face of, at times, overwhelming obstacles...and those opportunities taken, led to an extraordinary career culminating recently with acknowledgement from an Instagram influencer with 92.4 million followers...who also happens to be the Prime Minister of India.

Sarah Todd has navigated her way from Mackay to Modi.

Head to my bio for the link to Sarah’s podcast episode.

A link to Sarah's latest book: My Indian Kitchen and other goodies

https://www.sarahtodd.com.au/?srsltid=AfmBOoprFCnhVhHOVO8GU5AjzZW8C7sejSYS8Agrj5lWSPs56oIcUHG8

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Really Interesting Women - the podcast

Episode 143

Professor Clare Wright

Clare is an award-winning historian, author, broadcaster and public commentator who has worked in politics, academia and the media. She holds a PhD in Australian Studies from the University of Melbourne and an MA in Public History from Monash University and is currently Professor of History and Professor of Public Engagement at La Trobe University. She is the author of five works of history and hosts the ABC Radio National history series, Shooting the Past.

Her latest book Näku Dhäruk: The Bark Petitions (2024) (Text Publishing) is described as ‘‘An impossibly important book’, that traces the story of a founding document of Australian democracy and the trailblazers who made it. This is the final chapter in Clare’s best-selling Democracy Trilogy, and follows the land rights movement led by Australia’s first people.

This was quite a wide ranging and important conversation as we discussed this country's history and how the teaching of history has changed so dramatically in the last 10 years in particular to ensure that we 'recover the lost and forgotten pages of Australian history'.

Follow the link in my bio and head to the podcast for a listen....

Clare's books can be found here:

https://www.clarewright.com.au/author

Her publisher is Text Publishing

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Really Interesting Women

The Podcast

Ep. 142 Kate Grenville

Kate Grenville is one of Australia’s most celebrated writers.

Her international bestseller The Secret River was awarded local and overseas prizes, has been adapted for the stage and as an acclaimed television miniseries, and is now a much-loved classic.

Kate has now published 16 books, many of which have won major literary prizes. They’ve all been published around the world and all the novels have been translated into many languages.

Some of her other novels include Sarah Thornhill, The Lieutenant, Dark Places and the Orange Prize winner The Idea of Perfection, the bestselling A Room Made of Leaves and Women’s Prize shortlisted Restless Dolly Maunder.

It was a great chat. We talked about her influences both personal and literary...and how she lamented the fact that in the 60's her literary influences (such as they were) seemed to be English...until she discovered Patrick White. And then, at age 13, it all changed. And she still cherishes and is influenced by a first edition novel of his. She explained why she had no faith in The Secret River when she first sent it to her publisher. "Is this a book?", she asked. The answer, thankfully, was an emphatic "YES". She also explains why, when she was approached about adapting that book to the stage, her only request was that they didn't undertake a faithful adaptation.

Her imagination is celebrated internationally. Her intellect is obvious...and she's a lot of fun.

Her new book, 'Unsettled' will be published very soon.

Head to my bio for a link to her podcast episode.

Visit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.

Follow the link to leave a review....and tell your friends
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Really Interesting Women - the podcast


Ep. 141

Shaynna Blaze

This is my final podcast episode for 2024 - and what an incredible guest to finish.

Shaynna Blaze has had an amazing path to becoming the household name we see today.

And her abilities and talents are the gift that keeps on giving as she throws herself into another aspect of her ever evolving career.

Shaynna takes opportunities, or creates them. Or both.

It's a great discussion which shows how a fulfilling life and career can open up - if you're open to it and prepared to work for it.

For those who may not be aware of Shaynna's background, she is an award-winning interior designer, author, creative director, business owner, executive producer, musician, and, of course, TV personality.

She has become a household name from her time as a co-host on Selling Houses Australia and as a judge on The Block since 2012. Her television career expanded with her participation in Celebrity Apprentice Australia, which she won...in 2021.

She has also just launched her EP which re-establishes (that’s ‘re-establishes’) her music career. She is also an advocate for social justice, she actively supports organizations addressing domestic violence and has been involved in projects like the feature film The Fort, which highlights issues of domestic abuse. She is committed to mentoring the next generation of designers and empowering women in the industry.

Her EP clips are on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kXU-DWX_2qHsRwGiDi3JCtfXZXHNQYD60

Her 'Bluebottle performance' on The Masked Singer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr8i8Jsbs7s

Her cabaret show at Malthouse Theatre Melb. Feb 27/28
https://www.malthousetheatre.com.au/whats-on/hirer-events/taking-back-my-joy

Voice of Change: instagram @voiceofchangeau

Visit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.

Follow the link to leave a review....and tell your friends
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/really-interesting-women/id1526764849