Before we jump in, we want to acknowledge the moment this episode was recorded. Our Bay of Plenty community here in New Zealand was just about to enter a state of emergency followed by tragic landslides in Papamoa and on Mauao. Lives were lost and many families were affected. Our heartfelt aroha goes out to everyone impacted.

In today’s kōrero, Lisa is joined by Shannon - a London-based CEO in a heavily male-dominated industry who has also built a global social media following by confidently reclaiming the word “lesbian.” In just over a year online she’s grown a community in the millions, using humour and honesty to challenge stigma and normalise queer identity. She’s passionate about visibility, mental health, and creating space for others to feel less alone.

Together we talk about her coming-out journey, identity, rejection, resilience, community, and the small steps that help you rebuild confidence.

It’s 2026, and if the year already feels loud, overwhelming, or a bit heavy - you’re not imagining it.

This felt like the right conversation to begin with. Not about goals. Not about self-improvement. And definitely not about shrinking yourself to fit someone else’s idea of 'better.' This episode is about how we live in our bodies in a world that keeps telling us they’re not enough.

Lisa is joined by Ashlee Thomas, joining from Sydney - author, speaker, advocate, and founder of The Secret Burden. Ashlee’s story sits at the intersection of body image, trauma, eating disorders, recovery, and the slow, brave work of choosing yourself in a very noisy world.

We talk about growing up under constant pressure, the impact of social media, eating disorders, recovery that isn’t linear, and what it actually takes to rebuild trust with your body when you’ve been taught to fight it.

Content note:
This episode includes discussion of eating disorders, body image, mental health, and recovery. Please take care while listening, and pause or skip if now isn’t the right time for you.

Let’s get into it.

Final Episode of 2025!

For the final Ginger’s podcast episode of 2025, the mic gets turned around.

Long-time Ginger’s crew member Ayesha Kee steps in as guest host, sitting down with Lisa, creator and founder of Ginger’s, to reflect on what the past 16 months have been.

Since launching, Ginger’s has completed 16 events across 8 cities, hosted 2 Bush Camps, 2 boat parties, released 16 podcast episodes, and grown into a connected online community, not just across Aotearoa New Zealand, but with people around the world tuning in and following what’s being built.

2025 also marked a major milestone for Ginger’s, receiving a national award from the New Zealand Events Association for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiative of the Year, all within the first 16 months.

This episode reflects on the people at the heart of Ginger’s, the lessons learned along the way, and what’s still to come.

Enjoy the holidays, and Ginger’s will be back in January for another big year ahead.

In this Episode, Lisa is joined by Lauren Craig, co-leader of the Young Green Party of New Zealand, climate justice advocate and trans woman, alongside Maka Annandale, a takatāpui transmasc artist, Bush Camp ranger, and trusted community voice, to talk about trans lives in Aotearoa and the real impact of recent government decisions.

The conversation centres on the New Zealand Government’s ban on puberty blockers and what it means for trans and gender-diverse young people, their whānau, and their futures. Lauren explains how this decision was made and why it matters, while Maka shares what it’s like to grow up without support or language - and how access to care and community can change everything.

They also reflect on where safety is found, why queer spaces matter, and what it means to show up for each other when trans people are being targeted at a policy level.

If you’re able to, you can donate to PATHA (Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa) to help cover legal fees in the fight against the Government’s decision to ban puberty blockers by visiting: http://patha.nz/donate

Lez be honest… at this point, everyone has watched The Ultimatum: Queer Love. We’ve all binged it, yelled at the TV, formed strong opinions about people we’ve never met, and pretended we weren’t emotionally invested.
So now it’s finally time to get the behind-the-scenes tea straight from the source - Marita Prodger herself.

Lisa and guest host Lana Searle - National Host of More FM Breakfast (and fresh off hosting Christmas in the Park for a casual 100,000 people) tune in from the back arse of the world, to LA to chat with Marita about everything we didn’t see on screen: the reality of filming, the friendships that surprised her, who she’s still close with now, the year-long wait before the season dropped, the online rollercoaster of opinions, moving to LA, building queer community, coming out, healing, and the highly debated reunion drama that had everyone talking.

Press play - it’s a good one.

We're proud to have queerly owned and operated CMAA Accountants support this Ginger's Podcast Episode. For free onboarding (worth $250), quote the code 'GingersFam' when contacting Clear Mind Accounting & Advisory : www.cmaa.co.nz

Broadcaster and wellness advocate Dani Fennessy joins Lisa for a conversation about the kind of heartbreak that doesn’t just end a relationship, but the kind that unravels an identity.

They talk about staying in jobs, friendships, relationships or routines long after your body has already packed its bag and left. Tha quiet, restless feeling before burnout, before heartbreak, where your gut knows but your brain still wants to negotiate. Is it fear? Is it loyalty? Or is it simply intuition trying to tap you on the shoulder?

They unpack breakup grief, burnout that isn’t just about work, and how queers in their 30s start craving depth, ease and real connection - not just relevance, visibility or 'being fine.'

There’s kōrero on purpose, boundaries, friendship, and how sometimes your people know when you’re done before you do. And of course, a few classic ADHD detours along the way.

You can follow Dani's Wellness Hub at @solsocietynz on Instagram

Our guest this week, Tory Whanau, made history as the first Māori mayor of Wellington - New Zealand’s capital city - and quickly discovered that female, indigenous leadership at the top came with a price.

In this episode, she speaks candidly with Lisa and guest host Arpége about navigating public life as an Indigenous woman, the emotional toll of constant scrutiny and online harassment, and the reality of being held to a higher standard simply for being visible, female, Māori, and outspoken.

Tory shares the behind-the-scenes truth - what it’s like when your nervous system lives in survival mode, when your values are tested daily, and when advocating for equity makes you a target. She opens up about burnout, neurodivergence, the weight of representation, and the unexpected grief that comes with stepping out of leadership to protect your wellbeing.

We talk about authenticity in public spaces, allyship for the Rainbow community, how to use your voice without losing yourself - and why her move to Melbourne isn’t a retreat, but a strategic pause before coming back stronger to Aotearoa politics.

A raw, thoughtful kōrero about voice, courage, rest, and return.

BBC award-winning actor and writer Victoria Broom joins us for a no-filter chat about queer roles, visibility, and lesbian life in London. From singing Dolly Parton backstage with Lynda Carter on the Wonder Woman 1984 set to the messy, funny realities of love and identity - this one’s got lotsa heart, humour, and a tea filled stories. From London to the back arse of the world in New Zealand, Cassie, Lisa, and Victoria compare queer life across the oceans.

World BMX champ Jessie Smith joins Lisa and Cassie to talk about life in the fast lane, the crashes that nearly broke her, and how slowing down led her straight to her people. From high-performance sport to high-camp weekends, Jessie opens up about mental health, queer identity, and what it really takes to rebuild when your whole world’s been speed-wobbled. It’s a reminder that when your identity is stripped away, you get to choose who you become next.

Connection is everything. In love. At work. At play. Everywhere.

In this episode, host Cassie Roma is joined by her bestie, documentarian Mandy Kupenga (director & producer of Heal the Hauraki), for a wholesome kōrero on the value of connection in the queer community.

Expect a few laughs, deep chats, some special moments, and beautiful Bush Camp memories woven in along the way.