In Part 2 of the deep dive into the Sydney fibre community we chat with Sydney is Cancelled (@sydneyiscancelled), a community with a focus to create balance by centering BIPOC experiences and voices. We were also joined by attendees of a Sydney is Cancelled event held at the Nick Cave: Until exhibition at Carriage Works. If you haven't already, take some time to listen to Part 1; 'Sukrita Mahon and the Sydney Fibre Community'.

Find out more at browngirlpod.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @browngirlpod. 

We’re back from our break today with a special two-part bonus episode that is a deep dive into the Sydney fibre community.

We start by chatting with Sukrita Mahon, a knitter and spinner based in Australia.

Sukrita’s focus is on living sustainably and with intention. She revels in working with natural fibres and it was through a need to connect and unwind that she found her love of spinning.

Sukrita is also a co-founder of a newly established community called Sydney is Cancelled. It’s a community open to people of colour within the knitting, crafting, and fibre community to have a safe space to interact and learn from one another

For those of us not involved in the fibre community you may be wondering; isn’t knitting and crafting a welcoming apolitical safe space? In some ways it is and this is often why people are drawn to craft. Join us to discuss more with Sukrita (@su.krita) and Sydney is Cancelled (@sydneyiscancelled).

Find out more at browngirlpod.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @browngirlpod. 

We wrap up season one of Brown Girl Pod on a beautiful bright note with the talented Elsz. Elsz’s journey has taken her from Australia to Sri Lanka and now New York. She practices as a dancer and self-taught musician and has used her experiences to find a place of survival and acceptance.

In episode eight, Elsz shares her track Bright Eyes with us. Be sure to check it out online and on Spotify.

Find out more at browngirlpod.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @browngirlpod. 

This week on Brown Girl Pod we speak with Mim Rizvi - who's dance card is pretty full. She’s one part publicist, another part musical theatre performer, and all parts determined.

Mim shares how she arrived at a life changing decision at an early age to follow a career she always dreamed of. It took a big leap of faith and the kind of negotiation skills reserved for a seasoned diplomat.

I met up with Mim at one of Sydney’s iconic places; the Sydney Opera House where she works as a publicist. I was curious about how she balances her life as a performer in the kids music group The Beanies (@thebeaniesaus).

Find out more at browngirlpod.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @browngirlpod. 

In episode six we chat with Melissa Keil, children’s book editor and author of three YA fiction books; Life in Outer Space, The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl, the Secret Science of Magic.

Melissa’s journey to becoming a published author was well travelled. She worked in IT, as a teacher, and travelled the world before she realised that writing was what she wanted to do with her time.

Find out more at browngirlpod.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @browngirlpod. 

When Ruqxana Vasanwala decided to become an engineer it was a feminist act.

Why couldn’t she do the same thing that the boys in her class were encouraged to do?

In episode five of Brown Girl Pod we chat with Ruqxana, owner and creator of Cookery Magic (@cookerymagic) - an enterprise she set-up over fifteen years ago following a life changing trip to Japan.

We sat down in her big verandah on a balmy afternoon after taking one of her cooking classes. You’ll hear the gentle patter of the rain, birds, and nearby traffic, but don’t let that distract you. Ruqxana epitomises the definition of reinvention and making a go of a new opportunity.

Find out more at browngirlpod.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @browngirlpod. 

In episode four of Brown Girl in the Ring we speak to Sajani Amarasiri about her life growing up in Sri Lanka, studying in America when you’re terribly homesick, and putting in the hard yards. We also find out why she is returning to Sri Lanka to establish a culture shifting business with Colombo Cooperative @colombocooperative. Find out more at browngirlpod.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @browngirlpod. 

In episode three, we chat with Tantri Mustika of @tantrimustikaceramics.

When Tantri was asked what her hobbies were; she was stumped.

How did she spend her time when she wasn’t working as a hair stylist?

It set her on a path to find out what she enjoyed and soon enough she rediscovered her love for ceramics.

Now she dreams and plays with colour and texture to create the fun and striking pieces inspired by nature and terrazzo.

Tantri’s journey is what this podcast is all about. Stories for change, for us, by us. You can follow Tantri @tantrimustikaceramics.

Find out more at browngirlpod.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @browngirlpod

Welcome to Episode Two of the Brown Girl in the Ring Podcast.

This week we meet Rukshi Nethicumara creator and owner of Butter Boutique.

Rukshi is a force of nature and I had the luck of sitting down with her at her bakery cafe in the inner city suburb of Rosemead Place in Colombo.

We chatted about how she overcame adversity when faced with loss at an early age, made some tough decisions while studying in Australia, and started a thriving business from humble beginnings - all through the magic of cake.

Follow Rukshi and @butter_boutiuque

Find out more at browngirlpod.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @browngirlpod

We caught up with Dawn Tan on the morning of the launch of episode one and talked all things collaboration, getting your work out there, and how to she took her art practice to the classroom! Check it out and Dawn's work @handmadelove.Be sure to check out the full epsiode in Season 1.