In this episode I’m chatting with Angelina Mastrippolito, a second-generation Italian immigrant about her new book ‘Le Seconde’. The book details her life growing up in the cane fields of North Queensland in an Italian family. The expectations on women, the strength of her mother and what you can achieve if you are brave enough to take the step.

This book is resonated with me, as my husband was born in Italy and migrated in 1952 from Italy to Australia with his parents and baby sister at the age of 4.

What I loved about our conversation was learning about Angelina’s journey and all she has achieved from those early days. It reminded me again of the courage and strength of women and what we can achieve.

Meet Angelina

Angelina Mastrippolito grew up amongst the sugarcane fields of Far North Queensland. Her family lived in the small town of Ingham alongside other Italian migrants – it was in fact known as ‘Little Italy.’

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After university, she qualified as an actuary. She was the first actuary from Far North Queensland and when she qualified in 1988, she was one of only around 30 female actuaries in Australia. She worked in the finance Industry while looking after her two children and an accommodation business in the Snowy Mountains.

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In a career that spanned over 40 years, she was a trusted advisor to large Australian and multinational companies as well holding senior executive positions, including CEO and COO, in a number of superannuation funds. She is currently a director of the Brave Foundation and on the committee of the Sydney and Inner West U3A and Inner West Speakers.

She is also a director of ASEAN, an organisation that aims to build a culturally diverse community in Australia in order to promote cross cultural relations and interfaith tolerance.

Angelina’s love of writing started in her late fifties, though she has been an avid reader all her life. Le Seconde is her first book.

Angelina lives in Sydney’s Inner West and is the proud mother of two adult children and two very furry but beloved golden retriever dogs. She took up ballroom dancing in her sixties and in her spare time, you will find her perfecting her Argentine Tango.

Le Seconde - Inheriting the Unspoken

Available in paperback or ebook - HERE

You can also watch the interview on Youtube

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'Joyspan' – the longest, most pleasurable healthspan possible.

Brodee Myers-Cook is on a mission to help women find their roadmap to vibrant ageing through her Road to Younger Magazine on Substack. After a shock result from her ostoeporosis test Brodee shares her ‘wake up’ call and what she is doing to maintain strength and vitality in life.

This week on the Women Living Well After 50 podcast, I’m joined by the insightful and inspiring Brodee, where we dive into a powerful conversation around what it truly means to age well. From embracing the Roadtrip to Younger mindset to facing the realities of osteoporosis with strength and knowledge, we cover it all. And at the heart of it? Joyspan—the idea that it’s not just about how long we live, but how much joy we infuse into every moment. If you're ready for an honest, uplifting chat about health, vitality, and blooming after 50, you won’t want to miss this episode.

Meet Brodee

I was an award-winning journalist, and magazine editor for almost 30 years, working across leading lifestyle titles including Editorial Director on Australia’s leading food brand, taste.com.au for 10 years. A career highlight was the award for Journalist of the Year at the Women in Media Awards.

Now, my "beat" as you might say, is healthy ageing. I launched Road Trip to Younger magazine as a free digital magazine in late 2024 with a vision to cut through the hype, decode the science. To lay out the road map for growing younger as we grow older. I always say the destination is Joyspan—the longest, most pleasurable lifespan possible.

I’m also on a mission to change the way we all THINK about ageing. There’s a revolution in women’s ageing happening out there that no one's talking about. I'm passionate about sharing stories from women over 50 who are doing ageing their way through The Postcard Project.

I’ve enjoyed being an advocate for osteoporosis awareness, including with osteoporosis ambassador, Ita Buttrose.

LINKS

Road Trip to Younger magazine:

The Postcard Project -- launch issue (featuring Sue Loncaric)

My latest series launch issue Boss Your Bones After 50

Watch the Video of the Interview

Thanks for reading Women Living Well After 50 with Sue Loncaric! Subscribe for free to receive new posts, podcast episodes and Your Weekly Boost, my free newsletter.

Are you ready to write your story?

‘Writing isn't just about words. It's a way to define and clarify who you are, what you think, what you want to say, and where you stand in this ever-evolving world. Unlocking your creativity isn't indulgent - it's essential.

Claiming and defining your voice will be the key to unlocking your next chapter!’

My guest today is Bonnie Garvin founder of Storytelling Lab who shares her work in helping others find their voice and share their story.

We discuss how we can unleash our creativity and overcome limiting beliefs, where we can find inspiration and rediscovering the ‘creative natural child’.

Watch the Video

Meet Bonnie Garvin

Bonnie Garvin is an award-winning writer, producer, and USC screenwriting professor. Her passion is the Storytelling Lab, a six-person, six-week international Zoom class she created to unleash the creative spirit buried beneath the layers of insecurity.

She has written and produced movies for television and film in the United States in Europe. In addition to writing for the three major American broadcast networks, she’s worked for Showtime, Lifetime and USA, as well. Her first feature, The Killing Yard, was optioned by Warner Brothers, and later made as film for Showtime. It garnered several award nominations including an Edgar for Best Written Television/Miniseries. Bonnie received a special Silver Gavel Award from the American Bar Association, the largest professional legal organization in the world, for her “accurate portrayal of the criminal justice system.” She’s a produced playwright and her personal essays appear in three book anthologies.

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Bonnie's Storytelling Lab is unlike any other writing class or workshop. Her goal isn’t to teach you how to write but rather to help unlock your own unique voice. The course embodies her philosophy that we’re born writers. She specializes in getting you out of your own way.

Bonnie’s enabled and empowered hundreds of writers around the globe. In addition to creating her international online Storytelling Lab, she’s a professor at the University of Southern California in the School of Cinema Arts where she’s taught screenwriting for two decades.

www.storytellinglab.online