The overturning of Roe v. Wade by the US Supreme Court sent shock waves around the world. And while abortion rights seemed to be settled in Australia, there have been attempts - on both sides of politics - to undermine them here. Abortion restrictions were proposed in at least two Australian states, while debate continues about whether publicly funded hospitals can refuse to perform the procedure. 

In this podcast, Jane Caro, Summer May Finlay and Charlotte Mortlock canvass the current state of debate in Australia and examine how seriously to take these recent threats. Could it really happen here?  

This event was hosted by Gina Rushton and recorded live at Sydney Opera House on 9 March 2025 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An inspirational force for positive action, Nyamal woman and renowned psychologist Dr Tracy Westerman is making waves in the treatment of Indigenous women’s trauma. As the first Aboriginal person in Australia to complete a PhD in Clinical Psychology, Dr Westerman has opened the floodgates, inspiring others to follow her into a professional field truly in need of community-based Indigenous psychologists.

Drawing from her decades working with clients, Dr Westerman explores the deep racial trauma affecting Aboriginal women across generations. In this powerful talk, she reveals how hope and optimism fuel the resilience of the world’s oldest living culture.

This event was recorded live at Sydney Opera House on 9 March 2025.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rachel Kushner’s latest novel Creation Lake, a French noir eco-espionage thriller, was an instant New York Times bestseller, shortlisted for the Booker, and hailed as a blend of John le Carré’s intrigue with the wit of Kill Bill and the style of Killing Eve.

It’s the latest in a career that has dazzled her fans - whether she is taking on the art and radicalism in 1970s New York (The Flamethrowers), the horrors of the US carceral system (The Mars Room) or American expatriates caught up in the Cuban revolution (Telex from Cuba).

Find out how this author creates stories and characters that always feel so brilliantly and bracingly alive.

This event was recorded live at Sydney Opera House on 9 March 2025.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the Matilda’s Effect to the AFL commitment to close the gender pay gap, cross-code support for female athletes is at an all-time high. With record attendance, huge broadcast viewership and glass ceilings shattering, elite players are finally being taken seriously. None of this happened overnight. How far off is something that looks like parity?

Join Kirby Bentley, Bec Goddard, Ann Odong, Lydia Williams and Tracey Holmes from on and off the pitch to hear first-hand experiences of the peaks and pitfalls that have come with the growing emphasis on women’s sport, and learn about the role intersectionality needs to play.

This event was recorded live at Sydney Opera House on 9 March 2025.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After spending their early years together in conflict zones as foreign correspondents, Geraldine Brooks and her husband Tony Horwitz settled down for a quiet life. This came to an abrupt end on Memorial Day 2019 with the sudden death of Brooks' beloved husband. Without space to grieve, her loss became a yawning gulf. 

Her profoundly moving memoir, Memorial Days, is a portrait of a larger-than-life man and a timeless love between intertwined souls that captures the joy, agony and mystery of life. In this touching talk, Brooks is joined by Jennifer Byrne to discuss how to honour a person, endure their absence in ways both new and old, and rebuild a life after loss.

This event was recorded live at Sydney Opera House on 9 March 2025.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite decades of legislative reform and workplace protections in other industries, some claim there is a persistent shadowy underbelly in Australian music, with female artists alleging bullying, harassment as well as sexist and racist abuse. Speaking from lived experience, Australian artists BARKAA and Jaguar Jonze argue for their rights at work and challenge the lack of accountability from those at the top.

This event was recorded live at Sydney Opera House on 9 March 2025.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Embracing her misfit nature early on, Gina Chick found grounding in the rhythms of the natural world. With an innate ability to bring barefoot wisdom into her daily life, Gina has dedicated her time to help others be guided by their internal authority.

Her extraordinary journey includes surviving cancer, losing her only child to the same illness, and spending 67 days alone in the Tasmanian wilderness and ultimately becoming the first winner of Alone Australia. Gina shares her story in her memoir, We Are The Stars.

With humour and unshakable spirit, she invites you into an intimate journey of possibility through story and song.

This event was recorded live at Sydney Opera House on 9 March 2025.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Acclaimed science journalist and author Lucy Jones (UK), explores the emerging concept of matrescence and how motherhood causes more physiological and psychological changes than we have been led to believe. 

Part memoir and part journalism, her latest book – named ‘Book of the Year’ by The New Yorker, the New Statesman and the Daily Mail – is an urgent examination of motherhood and mental health. Join Jones in conversation with reproductive rights journalist and author of The Most Important Job in the World, Gina Rushton as they radically reveal the science of motherhood.

This event was recorded live at Sydney Opera House on 9 March 2025.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Journalist and survivor Lucia Osborne-Crowley goes beyond the headlines in this gripping podcast, sharing the untold stories of the women victimised by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Drawing from her acclaimed book The Lasting Harm, she reveals the emotional toll of the trial, the strength of survivor testimony, and the systemic failures that continue to persist, even after countless convictions. A powerful exploration of justice, trauma, and the courage it takes to speak out — and keep surviving.

This event was moderated by Grace Tame and recorded live at Sydney Opera House on 9 March 2025.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when a natural phase of life becomes a trending topic—and a business opportunity? In this sharp, funny, and deeply insightful conversation, our panel dives into the realities of perimenopause and menopause. From mood swings to hot flushes, hormone therapy to healthcare ‘goopification’, they unpack the confusion, stigma, and skyrocketing market around women’s health. With personal stories and expert insights, this podcast cuts through the noise to bring clarity, solidarity, and a few laughs.

This event was recorded live at Sydney Opera House on 9 March 2025.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.