When I say ‘debutante ball’ what comes to mind for you? A bunch of teenage girls, giggling, buzzing with nerves and excitement, dressed in flowing gowns, off to a flash venue, for the night of their lives, ready to debut into society - whatever that means.

When you picture those girls and that event, do you picture them as being Aboriginal? And, if I told you that Aboriginal people have a history with the debutante ball that reaches back to the 1967 referendum, would you be surprised?

Debutante: Race, Resistance and Girl Power is the brand new podcast from none other than the dynamic duo that is Nakkiah Lui and Miranda Tapsell. From the 16th of June, through this audible original podcast, you’ll be able to follow their journey from a teatime etiquette lesson in London, where the concept for the debutante ball began, along a trail to discover how First Nations women across the globe have made this tradition their own.

Nakkiah and Miranda ask: can beauty, poise and politeness actually empower them? Or is it better to get angry and start shouting?

I am absolutely thrilled to say, Nakkiah and Miranda are my guests on todays podcast. As huge admirer of both of their works, to say it was hard not to fangirl on this zoom call I had with them, is an understatement.

In this chat, we talk about the new podcast, feminism, sisterhood, beauty in a black body and why they love working together. 

. . .

If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and share with your friends and family! Read more about the show and find out who next week's episode will feature by visiting our Instagram: @alwaysourstories

. . .

Always Was, Always Will Be Our Stories is Written, Hosted, Produced and Edited by Marlee Silva, on the unceded lands of the Dharrawal people. We pay our deepest respects to those people and their Elders past and present, whose connection to this place has remained unbroken for over 60 thousand years.

. . .

Theme Music: 'Run' by Tristan Barton

Podcast Artwork: @wuruhi.auaha

. . .

Picture this, in the past 18 months you’ve had some of the biggest milestones of your life so far - you had your first child, a beautiful little boy, married your partner and graduated from university. It’s been some of the best times of your life.

You’ve done all the reading on motherhood and the way things are ‘supposed’ to go, but you’re not obsessing over the milestones your baby is supposed to hit and when, your son is moving at his own pace and that’s fine with you. One thing that does cause concern though is the way he’s always gagging or choking on his food - you fear there might be something wrong with his tongue so you take him to the doctor. 

In that appointment though your life is turned upside down - the doctor thinks your son might be showing early signs of autism. 

This was what happened for proud Worimi woman Tanika Davis and her husband Adrian in 2017. Having their son Slade diagnosed with autism was terrifying at the time and raised more questions than answers - but it also set them off on a new journey to turn this new fact into an opportunity to raise awareness and create resources for Aboriginal families in particular, with children on the autism spectrum.

Tanika is my guest on today’s podcast. She's the founder of @_theiammovement and has a powerful story that will inspire you all to think about autism differently.

Support Tanika's work by following her  on social media @_theiammovement or read more at https://theiammovement.com.au/

If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and share with your friends and family! Read more about the show and find out who next week's episode will feature by visiting our Instagram: @alwaysourstories

. . .

Always Was, Always Will Be Our Stories is Written, Hosted, Produced and Edited by Marlee Silva, on the unceded lands of the Dharrawal people. We pay our deepest respects to those people and their Elders past and present, whose connection to this place has remained unbroken for over 60 thousand years.

. . .

Theme Music: 'Run' by Tristan Barton

Podcast Artwork: @wuruhi.auaha

. . .

This is the first ever episode of Always Was Always Will Be Our Stories, in today’s chat Marlee Silva sits down with Butchella and Gawara man Isaiah Dawe.

Like thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids in Australia today, Isaiah grew up in foster care. During that time, he was forced to face unimaginable abuse from carers, to navigate a world without someone to call ‘mum’ or ‘dad’ and in the midst of it all, try and figure out his cultural identity and what I meant to be Aboriginal.

Hearing what Isaiah was forced to face, and what far too many kids are continuing to face in a system that fails them time and time again, will infuriate you.

But this story of survival and Isaiah’s ability to rise, overcome - and most astonishingly, build his own non-profit organisation called ‘ID Know Yourself’ where he’s now supporting kids who are just like him, in the care system - to be the family he never had - will leave you feeling inspired, hopeful and hungry to help him make change.

Support Isaiah's work by following his organisation on social media @idknowyourself or read more at https://www.idknowyourself.com/

If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and share with your friends and family! Read more about the show and find out who next week's episode will feature by visiting our Instagram: @alwaysourstories

. . .

Always Was, Always Will Be Our Stories is Written, Hosted, Produced and Edited by Marlee Silva, on the unceded lands of the Dharrawal people. We pay our deepest respects to those people and their Elders past and present, whose connection to this place has remained unbroken for over 60 thousand years.

. . .

Theme Music: 'Run' by Tristan Barton

Podcast Artwork: @wuruhi.auaha

. . .

Yaama, I’m Marlee Silva, a Gamilaroi and Dunghutti writer and the Co-Founder of Tiddas 4 Tiddas.

In these frightening and uncertain times, it feels as though there’s little left in life that has gone unchanged. Coming from the oldest, continuous surviving culture on Earth - that of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people - there is something my people do, that never has and never will falter. That is, our tradition of storytelling.

For over 80 thousand years, we have exchanged stories as a means of connecting, learning and surviving and continuing this today, to me, seems more important than ever.

That’s why I’m bringing you my new podcast, ‘Always was, always will be our stories.’ Where I sit down with inspiring Indigenous leaders from all walks of life, to hear their stories, learn from their experiences - and maybe even, just distract ourselves for a minute from the hazy and dark clouds that seem ever present in this world today, so we might connect and feel hopeful for the future.

Subscribe now and be ready for episode 1, dropping on the 1st of June 2020!

Follow us on Instagram or Facebook too to stay up date with the new guests coming your way every week: @alwaysourstories

Theme Music: 'Run', Tristan Barton

Podcast Artwork: Tia Mason

This podcast was mostly recorded and edited from my home studio on Dharrawal Country. I pay my respects to the Dharrawal people and all my brothers and sisters ancestors across the continent. These lands and waterways always was and always will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Our sovereignty has never been ceded and our strength and resilience will continue forward for time immemorial.