Extraordinary Stories

You may know Dr Ginni Mansberg as one of the voices behind Mamamia’s women’s health podcast, The Well. But Ginni is also one of the hosts of Mamamia’s Gen X podcast, Unleashed, where women come together for a laugh, a chat and, sometimes, some of life’s harder conversations.

Ginni recently shared something incredibly personal with the Unleashed listeners: the story of her mum’s decision to choose voluntary assisted dying.

Extraordinary Stories is also about the extraordinary stories of everyday people, we wanted to bring Ginni’s story to you, too.

If you’re at a similar stage of life to Ginni, you may find yourself watching your parents age and beginning to face the realities of serious illness, difficult decisions and what it means to care for the people who once cared for you.

This is part one of a three-part series following Ginni and her family through the before, the moment itself and what comes after.

Ginni wanted to share her story in the hope that it might help another family going through something difficult.

You can listen to part two and part three here.

If this conversation brought up hard feelings and you need some help, please call Lifeline here.

In your ears today is Cath Mahoney, Bruna Papandrea and Ginni Mansberg

Check out our Unleashed music playlist for some feel good throwbacks!

The End Bits:
Follow us on Instagram, DM us thoughts, feelings and questions @unleashed.show
Love the show? Hit follow on Apple or Spotify — it helps other Gen X women find us.

Executive Producer Grace Rouvray
Senior Producer and Audio Editor is Tina Matolov
Social Media Producer is Annaliese Todd

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All Samantha wants is to understand why her mother wasn’t there for her. All Marie wants is a chance to make things right with her daughter — and to be part of her granddaughter’s life. But after years of distance, hurt, and misunderstanding, can a fractured bond ever truly be repaired?

In this session, a mother and daughter confront the truths left unspoken, ask the questions long avoided, and search for a small patch of common ground on which to rebuild their relationship.

Listen to the second part of Samantha & Marie's session here

Resources (Australia-only)

• 1800RESPECT: The national domestic, family, and sexual violence counselling, information, and support service.
• Beyond Blue: For support with anxiety, depression, and suicide prevention.
• Lifeline Australia: For 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services.
• Motivated Minds: Learn more about host Sarah Bays’ practice.
• Relationships Australia: A leading provider of relationship support services for individuals, families, and communities.

The End Bits

• Want To Be On This Is Why We Fight? Apply here. 
• Host: Sarah Bays
• Executive Producer: Naima Brown
• Studio Engineer: Lu Hill
• Audio production: Thom Lion and Jacob Round
• Production support: Leah Porges and Coco Lavigne
• Follow This Is Why We Fight on Instagram for sneak peeks and more relationship therapy content

Explore all Mamamia’s podcasts here.

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In 2015, Australian con woman Belle Gibson was living the dream. Her app The Whole Pantry was hugely popular and she was about to launch a book of the same name.

With hundreds of thousands of followers online, Belle had become a celebrated wellness influencer who'd overcome terminal cancer and had cured herself with healthy eating and holistic therapies. But it was all a lie.

The truth came to light when her friend, Chanelle McAuliffe, noticed gaps in Belle's story. The moment she exposed her deception is now the focus of the Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar.

Today, Chanelle tells us what the show got right and wrong, the challenges she faced as a whistleblower, and how she feels about Belle and her crimes now, a decade on.

Find more episodes of True Crime Conversations here.

THE END BITS 

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CREDITS

Guest: Chanelle McAuliffe

Host: Gemma Bath

Producer: Tahli Blackman

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

GET IN TOUCH

Email us at [email protected] or send us a voice note to give us feedback or suggest a case for the podcast.

Rate or review us on Apple by clicking on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, click Go To Show then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the stars at the bottom and write a review. You can also leave a comment for us on Spotify. 

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

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Belle Gibson fooled not only her hundreds of thousands of followers, but the most prestigious book publishers in Australia, the tech giants of silicon valley and even her family and friends into believing she was something she was not: sick.

If today, her name is synonymous with the weighty infamy of a notorious scam, there was a time before that, when she was celebrated as an inspiration.

On this episode of Extraordinary Stories, we look at the rise of Belle Gibson.

From tall tales in school drama classes to international acclaim and influence, how did Annabelle Natalie Gibson become the pinup girl for the wellness movement?

Listen to part two here

Listen to part three here

THE END BITS:

With thanks to Bronwyn McCahon, Doctor Brad McKay and Kylie Willey 

RESOURCES WE USED:

The Woman Who Fooled The World by Beau Donnelly and Nick Toscano 

Fake Medicine by Brad Mckay

The Girl Who Conned Us All by Clair Weaver https://www.nowtolove.com.au/news/real-life/belle-gibson-the-whole-story-10129

https://www.nowtolove.com.au/news/local-news/belle-gibson-speaks-for-the-first-time-since-her-whole-pantry-controversy-13532 

With thanks to Tara Brown from 60 Minutes 

GET IN TOUCH:

Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at [email protected]

Need more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/

CREDITS:

Host: Emma Gillespie

Writers: Emma Gillespie and Holly Wainwright

Producers: Melanie Sauer and Emma Gillespie

Audio Production: Elissa Ratliff and Madeline Joannou

Executive Producer: Holly Wainwright and Elissa Ratliff

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This birth story involves a cervix that just wouldn’t dilate, an epidural that didn’t quite do its job, and a baby delivered with forceps. But it turned out to be an incredibly positive experience for the mum, Diary Of A Birth’s host Ksenija Lukich. Ksenija shares her own touching story of birthing Mimi.

Diary Of A Birth features mums telling their miraculous stories of bringing life into the world, and we have all medical questions and concerns cleared up by one of Australia’s favourite paediatricians, Dr Golly.

If you’d like to share your birth story, we’d love to hear from you at [email protected] or send us a voice note here.

THE END BITS:
Support independent women's media
Follow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram

If you’re looking for something else to listen to, check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens.

Mamamia has a podcast for every stage of parenthood.
Our parenting podcast is This Glorious Mess.
If you’re pregnant, listen to The Delivery Room and Hello Bump.
And if you’re trying or preg-curious, Get Me Pregnant and Before The Bump are for you.

CREDITS:
Host: Ksenija Lukich
Expert: Dr Golly
Executive Producer: Georgie Page
Audio Producer: Scott Stronach 

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Clare Stephens endured an exhausting and sometimes terrifying birthing experience - and came out of it with an amazing perspective that every pregnant mum needs to hear.

Clare’s experience covers pregnancy anxiety, a long labour and a difficult epidural and her story-telling makes this an amazing listen.

Diary Of A Birth features mums telling their miraculous stories of bringing life into the world, and we have all medical questions and concerns cleared up by one of Australia’s favourite paediatricians, Dr Golly.

If you’d like to share your birth story, we’d love to hear from you at [email protected] or send us a voice note here.

THE END BITS:
Support independent women's media
Follow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram

If you’re looking for something else to listen to, check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens.

Mamamia has a podcast for every stage of parenthood.
Our parenting podcast is This Glorious Mess.
If you’re pregnant, listen to The Delivery Room and Hello Bump.
And if you’re trying or preg-curious, Get Me Pregnant and Before The Bump are for you.

CREDITS:
Host: Ksenija Lukich
Expert: Dr Golly
Executive Producer: Georgie Page
Audio Producer: Scott Stronach 

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode of The Spill is about a celebrity mystery that still haunts Hollywood (and all of us). Brittany Murphy would have celebrated her 47th birthday this month, if she hadn't died on December 20, 2009. Nearly 15 years later, her shocking death remains one of the most perplexing unsolved mysteries.

We’re diving deep into Brittany's complicated life, exploring the chilling circumstances surrounding her untimely death, and unpacking the new theories around her story.

And, as the suspense builds for White Lotus season 3 we've got a juicy update on the cast.

THE END BITS

Listen to The Spill episode: The Best Halloween Movies Of All Time (From Horror To Disney) here. 

Listen to The Spill episode: The Best True Crime Documentaries Of All Time (That You Haven't Watched Yet), here.


Listen to The Spill episode: A Brutally Honest Review Of Netflix's Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Doco, here. 

Listen to The Spill episode: The Question That Changed Our Mind About Ariana Grande And Ethan Slater, here. 

Subscribe to The Spill Newsletter by clicking here.

Find The Spill podcast on Instagram here.  

Listen to more episodes of The Spill here. 

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GET IN TOUCH:

Do you have feedback or a topic you want us to discuss on The Spill? Send us a voice message, or send us an email [email protected] and we'll come back to you ASAP!

WANT MORE?
If you’re looking for something else to listen to why not check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens.

Or click here to listen to the hosts of Mamamia Out Loud open up about creativity and how they stay inspired. 

Read all the latest entertainment news on Mamamia... here.  

CREDITS

Hosts: Laura Brodnik & Em Vernem 

Executive Producer: Kimberley Braddish 

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. 

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

[Part 3 of 3] A month before Amy Winehouse’s death, her performance at a music festival in Serbia was resoundly panned. She was intoxicated for the whole world to see, but the silver lining of what would be labelled 'the worst gig of her career' meant she didn’t have to go on tour. It meant Amy, and those who loved her, had their hopes pinned on a chance for Amy to get better again. 

On this episode we’ll explore the final years in the life of Amy Winehouse. After her closest friends were convinced Amy was doing better than ever, how did she die? Why was she sent on tour when she was not only unwilling, but unwell? 

Plus, we’ll take a closer look at the 27 club. What is this unique curse that looms over the legacies of these young artists?

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CREDITS:

Host: Emma Gillespie

Written and produced by Emma Gillespie with Tia Ucich & Kally Borg

Audio Production: Madeline Joannou

Guest booking: Kally Borg

With thanks to:

Dr Peter Hughes
Eleni Papavasileiou
Polly Taylor
Dean McCarthy

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

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[Part 2 of 3] After a celebrated album with her debut, Frank, and with that distinct voice and sound, Amy Winehouse got very famous, very fast. Everyone wanted a second album, but Amy had entered a whole new world. On this episode, we’ll hear how Amy’s very private struggles with mental health and addiction became headlines for a relentless tabloid culture. And, in one of the most volatile love affairs in pop culture history, how would the story of Amy and Blake become a cautionary tale about the dangers of codependency?

CREDITS:

Host: Emma Gillespie

Written and produced by Emma Gillespie with Elissa Ratliff, Tia Ucich & Kally Borg

Audio Production: Madeline Joannou

Guest booking: Kally Borg

With thanks to:

Dr Peter Hughes
Eleni Papavasileiou
Polly Taylor
Dean McCarthy

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

[Part 1 of 3] You can recognise it in an instant, that iconic voice and a candid style of songwriting beyond her years. The sound of Amy Winehouse was a sound unheard of since the days of Billie Holiday and Nina Simone. But the name ‘Amy Winehouse’ seems to be as synonymous with talent as it is tragedy. On this season we’ll dive deep into the life of Amy. From her rise to fame, her artistry, to her pain, her loves, and her losses. Could she have been saved? What does her death tell us about the pervasive grip of addiction and fame?

CREDITS:

Host: Emma Gillespie

Written and Produced by Emma Gillespie and Tia Ucich

Guest booking: Kally Borg 

Audio Production: Madeline Joannou

With thanks to:

Dr Peter Hughes
Eleni Papavasileiou
Polly Taylor 

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.