Mana Mind StrongHer

Episode Description

Born in Sydney, raised in Suva, Fiji, and returning to Australia at 20, Mykaela Powell knows what it’s like to grow up between two places you call home.

In this episode of Mana Mind StrongHer, we talk about her upbringing with a single mum, her experiences with racism and racial profiling, and how her childhood shaped her journey into media.

Mykaela also opens up about her time in pageantry. The good, the bad, and being told at just 16 years old that she was too big, despite being a size 6. We talk about the pressure to look a certain way, the impact of other people’s words and what it means to find your confidence on your own terms.

Our conversation also takes a personal turn as I share my own experience of migrating to Australia at five, facing racism and slowly losing my language while trying to fit in.

One of Mykaela’s reflections sums up so much of what we discuss:

“Coffee is still coffee, no matter how much milk you put in it.”

We talk about belonging, identity, the parts of ourselves we sometimes lose trying to be accepted, and finding our way back.

And Mykaela leaves us with a reminder worth hearing at any age:

You can remake yourself at any time. Don’t limit yourself.

A conversation about growing up, finding your voice and learning that you don’t have to change who you are to belong.

Michelle is Samoan Greek, a mum of five, grandmother of three and founder of B4A Collective.

In this episode of Mana Mind StrongHer, Michelle opens up about growing up with a father who lived with bipolar disorder at a time when mental health carried so much stigma and shame, being mixed and not always feeling accepted, and witnessing racism and low expectations of Islander kids in the education system.

We also talk motherhood, faith, family, living abroad, building B4A Collective and what it means to keep backing yourself when your circumstances change.

Michelle’s message to women, especially women of colour, is one worth hearing: don’t limit yourself. Know the value you bring, use your voice and keep going.

What does it take to build a successful business while staying true to your values, culture and purpose? In this episode of Mana Mind StrongHer, I sit down with Marilyn, founder of The Spice Plantation, to talk about her journey as a business owner, the lessons she’s learned along the way, and the realities behind building something meaningful. Marilyn shares insights on entrepreneurship, resilience, community, family and the experiences that have shaped both her personal and professional life. This conversation is a reminder that behind every business is a story of courage, persistence and belief in yourself.

🌺 Guest: Marilyn, The Spice Plantation🎙️ Host: Tasha Khan💛 Mana Mind StrongHer

Follow Mana Mind StrongHer on Instagram: @manamindstrongher

Many people know Marilyn as the woman behind Fiji Spice and The Spice Plantation, but there is so much more to her story than the businesses she has built.

In this episode of Mana Mind StrongHer, Marilyn shares her journey from her upbringing and cultural roots to becoming a respected business owner, community leader and advocate for preserving culture through food and connection.

We talk about family, identity, resilience, leadership, generosity and the lessons she has learned throughout her journey. Marilyn reflects on the challenges she has faced, the values that continue to guide her and the legacy she hopes to leave for future generations.

This is a conversation about culture, community and the woman behind one of Sydney’s most loved Fijian destinations.

Connect with Marilyn:

📍 Fiji Spice & The Spice Plantation

Follow Mana Mind StrongHer for more stories celebrating the journeys of Brown, Black and Pasifika women.

In this episode of Mana Mind StrongHer, I sit down with Manshika, Miss Universe Fiji 2024, for a conversation that goes far beyond the crown.

We speak about her journey through modelling and pageantry, the pressure that can sit behind polished spaces, and what it means to carry both beauty and burden at the same time. Manshika also opens up about surviving domestic violence, the impact it had on her sense of self, and what healing, strength and reclaiming her voice has looked like.

This is a powerful conversation about identity, resilience, survival and the courage to keep going.

Listen now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

In this episode of Mana Mind StrongHer, I sit down with Diana, a proud Chinese-Fijian woman, Western Sydney local, mother, woman of faith, and the heart behind Number 8 Prison Project.

Diana shares her personal journey, the experiences that shaped her and why being a mum remains her most treasured role.

Together, we explore the work of Number 8 Prison Project and its mission to support individuals, families and communities through healing, restoration and connection. Rooted in Pasifika values and faith, the project brings together leaders, mentors, chaplains, cultural advisors and advocates to walk alongside people during some of life’s most challenging seasons.

This conversation is about more than the justice system. It’s about hope, faith, identity, community and the belief that our deepest pain can become someone else’s pathway to healing.

We also discuss the importance of women uplifting women, the power of collective healing, and the people who have inspired Diana along the way.

A powerful conversation about resilience, restoration and purpose.

Follow Mana Mind StrongHer for more stories amplifying the voices, journeys and impact of women across our communities.

In this episode of Mana Mind StrongHer, I sit down with Tofa Amanda Moors-Mailei, a proud Sāmoan woman, educator, strategist and social impact leader whose work is reshaping conversations around Pasifika leadership, education and systems change in Australia.

Amanda is the founder of Moana Impact Studio and co-chair of the Australian Pasifika Educators Network (APEN). Together, we unpack identity, migration, motherhood, representation, culturally grounded leadership and the importance of creating systems where Pasifika communities are not just included, but truly seen, valued and empowered.

This is a powerful talanoa about culture, belonging, education and the responsibility of writing our own narratives.

A conversation grounded in truth, wisdom and community.

Follow Mana Mind StrongHer on Instagram for more conversations amplifying Brown, Black and Pasifika voices.

In this episode of Mana Mind StrongHer, I sit down with Thelma, known professionally as MC Trey.

Born in Lami, Fiji and of Samoan heritage, MC Trey is a singer, rapper, creative producer and community leader who has spent more than two decades shaping Australian hip hop, youth arts and Pacific storytelling.

We talk about her early beginnings writing lyrics as a child, growing up surrounded by rap, reggae, gospel and island music, and how storytelling became the foundation of her work.

MC Trey shares what creative wellbeing really looks like beyond the words, how she intentionally holds culture, care and safety in her work with young people, and why creating space for Pacific stories has always been at the core of what she does.

Through her platform Tapastry, she continues to build spaces for community, creativity and connection, using music as a tool for expression, healing and impact.

This conversation is about purpose, identity and the power of storytelling.

In this episode of Mana Mind StrongHer, I sit down with Sheetal Deo lawyer, strategist and intersectional equity practitioner.

Sheetal is the founder of Shakti Legal Solutions, an award-winning low-bono legal practice expanding access to legal support

and Lead Consultant at The Diversity Collective, helping organisations embed inclusive leadership in everyday practice.

But this conversation goes far beyond titles.

We talk about growing up with strong Indo-Fijian roots while navigating identity across cultures from Canada to Australia. Sheetal shares her journey of questioning expectations placed on women, navigating sexuality within cultural and religious contexts, and ultimately building a life that feels authentic to who she is.

We also explore the deeper work behind systems, belonging and equity, and how curiosity asking why things are done the way they are has shaped both her career and purpose.

Towards the end of the conversation, we touch on something deeply personal for both of us: neurodiversity. Having both been diagnosed later in life, we speak about the relief, reframing and self-understanding that can come with finally recognising how your mind works.

This episode is about identity, courage, curiosity and the power of questioning the scripts we’re handed.

In this episode of Mana Mind StrongHer, I sit down with Gloria Tabi-Binks (born and raised in Ghana, West Africa, now based in Australia) to talk about hair, identity, belonging, and what it really means to be enough.

Gloria shares how wigs can become a survival tool in a society that rewards straight and sleek, and how returning to her homeland and seeing women wearing their natural hair freely became a turning point. It’s been two years since she stopped wearing wigs, and that decision became a catalyst for her work and the message behind #InspiringHairFreedom.

We unpack the quiet pressures many Black women face in workplaces, why natural hair still feels rare in spaces that claim to be multicultural, and how “professional standards” can mask something deeper and more systemic. We also talk authenticity, the lessons that shaped her, how she nurtures her mana when the work feels heavy, and the message she wants women (especially Black and brown women) to hold close: you are enough.

Listen in, reflect, and share this with someone who needs the reminder.

Follow Mana Mind StrongHer for more stories centring identity, culture, and the strength behind becoming.