Over the Back Fence

Join Nicola and Di this week as they reflect back on their first year of podcasting and the incredible guests they’ve had through the doors so far. They’ve been lucky enough to chat to comedians, journalists, musicians, doctors, vets, actors, philanthropists, artists, humanitarians, life coaches, models, entrepreneurs and the list goes on. It’s true what they say, variety really is the spice of life. Share in some laughs and stories, as we remember some of our favourite moments from Season 1. 

We want to thank all of our guests for sharing their stories (and their hearts), our team at DM media for their constant support, and most importantly our listeners - we love creating this show for you and we’re thrilled that you tune in each week. We wish you all a very happy and healthy holiday season and we can’t wait to be back in 2024 with even more amazing conversations for you to enjoy. Thanks for being part of our Over The Back Fence community. 

Follow Nicola and Di on IG here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Di and Nicola chat to the multi-talented and effervescent, Christian Wilkins. Many of our listeners would already know Christian - he’s an entertainer, actor, model, singer, dancer, fashion icon and now he’s the author of a new book - Princess Mitchell. All of that and he’s only 28! And of course, he’s also a special member of the OTBF family, being the son of Nicola’s partner, Richard Wilkins. 

This conversation is so much fun! We hear all about the dream wedding Christian is planning, the career aspirations he has for himself in LA and he also dishes up all the secrets on his family, including why he thinks his dad is a bit queer. 

We talk about Christian’s love of fashion, his best and worst fashion moments, the backlash he’s received online, and how Christian deals with some of the awful internet comments - you’ll want to listen in for Christian’s compassionate and wise words here. 

Christian also opens up about what it was like being bullied as a child, how it took him a long time to really own his queerness, and why he feels privileged and grateful for the upbringing he had, which allowed him to fully be himself. 

We also chat about Christian’s fabulous new children’s book - Princess Mitchell. We hear all about the inspiration, why he wrote it and he even reads us a little excerpt. This book is the perfect Christmas gift, so we’ve included the link below to get yourself a copy. 

It really was a joy to have Christian in the studio. He has so many great stories and he had us in stitches. We hope you laugh as much as we did. Enjoy.

Follow Christian Wilkins on IG here

Buy a copy of Christian's book, Princess Mitchell here

Follow Nicola and Di on IG here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Di and Nicola chat to the remarkable and inspiring Dr. Daniel Nour. Daniel is best known as the founder of Street Side Medics, a mobile medical clinic delivering healthcare services to the homeless. In 2022, Daniel was named Young Australian of The Year in recognition of the service he delivers through Street Side Medics to the most vulnerable members of our community. He truly is an angel on earth and we were so honoured to have him in the studio with us. 

In this conversation we hear the simple story of how Daniel came to the assistance of a homeless man who was having a seizure outside Waterloo train station in London, where Daniel was studying medicine at the time, and how that led Daniel to become passionate about understanding the issues that homeless people face and developing a solution to their lack of access to healthcare. It was through this genuine need and Daniel’s hard work and determination that Street Side Medics was born. 

We hear about the vital services that Street Side Medics provide to the homeless all across Australia, and how it has grown from a simple service that Daniel started with his mate to the point they’re now at with a wait list of 18 months to become a volunteer and 600 volunteers currently registered. 

Daniel also shares honestly about how hard it is to find balance in life and the fact that he doesn’t have it yet. He talks about the importance of empathy and how much difference it can make to acknowledge a homeless person’s struggle, be there and listen to their story, and treat them with the respect and dignity that they deserve. 

We are so inspired by the work that Daniel is doing, the positive impact he’s having on thousands of lives and the way he shows us all how to be kinder, more empathetic humans. If you want an uplifting episode that will bring tears to your eyes, this one is a must listen. 

Follow Dr. Daniel Nour on IG here

Follow Street Side Medics on IG here

Find out more and help support Street Side Medics here

Follow Nicola and Di on IG here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Di and Nicola chat to the fun and mega-talented Catherine Alcorn. Catherine is a multi award-winning artist, vocalist, cabaret star, entertainer, comedian, presenter, and producer - there’s not a lot this woman can’t do! She’s best known for her powerhouse vocals, channeling Bette Midler in her most famous role, which won her the Best Cabaret Production in the 2018 Broadway World Awards. Catherine is also happily married to her husband Cam and they have a 6 year old son, Jack.

In this conversation we hear the most incredible story of how Catherine met the man who discovered Bette Midler and how he became her vocal coach for 5 years. He shares with her the story of the night he first heard Bette sing and how she went from earning $25 a night to making hundreds of millions of dollars. And it’s not just this story that Catherine entertains us with - you’ll also hear what it was like when she worked for Oprah, the inspiration behind her Fleetwood Mac show and the time she ended up in Rolling Stone magazine, to name just a few.  

Catherine also talks about what she’s been up to recently - a 5-month tour of regional Australia with Menopause The Musical. She opens up about the highs and lows of being on the road and how despite the fact that she absolutely loves the work she’s doing and lives to perform, the schedule can be gruelling and take its toll. Catherine shares how hard it is to be away from her family for long stretches of time, but thankfully her husband Cam is incredibly supportive of the work that she does. Thanks to Nicola, we also hear all about how Catherine and Cam met and fell in love. 

And we get the inside scoop on the running joke between Catherine and Robbie Williams and how it all started. 

If you love a sing-a-long, this episode is a must listen as you’ll get to hear Di and Catherine sing some Bette Midler classics and we even get a taste of a Robbie Williams number at the end. We had such a blast talking to Catherine and we hope you enjoy her infectious energy and enthusiasm as much as we did. 

Follow Catherine Alcorn on IG here

Buy tickets to Menopause The Musical here

Take part in Ausmusic T-Shirt Day for Support Act here

Find out more about Catherine and her work here

Follow Nicola and Di on IG here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Di and Nicola chat to the incredibly dynamic, Zora Benhamou. Zora is a gerontologist and biohacker, who’s an expert in longevity and how to optimise your health. More recently, Zora has specialised in menopause and she loves to educate, support and empower women to transform their physiology and menopause experience. Not only that, Zora is a mother to 2 amazing adult children and a true global citizen - travelling the world as a digital nomad with her husband Franck (who you’ll hear all about in this chat). She also happens to be a girlfriend of Di and Nicola who they were lucky enough to meet in Phuket. 

In this episode Zora shares some fascinating research about how we can improve our healthspan and live happier, healthier lives through focusing on our personal relationships. We chat about the impact of loneliness on our health and why connection is vital for longevity. 

Zora also talks about biohacking menopause and gives us the lowdown on the important role hormones play in so many aspects of our health and why we need to focus on getting them in balance. 

We ask Zora about a cheeky challenge she participated in, where she had sex every day for 30 days and what she learnt about herself (and her husband) in the process. This led to a hilarious discussion about the benefits of spermidine, and we could not stop giggling. 

Zora is such a bundle of energy and has a wealth of knowledge about so many topics. We had the best time chatting to her and we hope you enjoy our giggles and laugh along with us. 

Follow Zora on IG here and Facebook here

Join the Biohacking Menopause Facebook Group here

Join the Hack My Age VIP Group here

Listen to Zora’s Hack My Age podcast here

Find out more about Zora’s work here

Buy Spermidine supplements here. Use discount code: ZORA

Read the Harvard Study of Adult Development here

Read the Spermidine research here

Follow Nicola and Di on IG here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Di and Nicola chat to the dynamic and multi-talented Jules Robinson. Many of you would know Jules from her time on Married at First Sight in 2019, when she met and married the love of her life Cam. However her stint on MAFs is just one small part of a wonderfully full and interesting life that Jules has created for herself. Jules is an entrepreneur and founder of shapewear brand Figur, fashion label Moira Muse, and hair and makeup salon with a difference, Status Co Republic. Not only that, but Jules and Cam have a beautiful son Ollie, so she’s also a busy mum. 

In this episode we hear what it was like being thrown into the spotlight on MAFs, and how the beautiful feedback Jules received from viewers inspired her to create her shapewear brand, Figur. We get the inside story about what it was like to launch in the UK, with a group of diverse women, parading around London on a double decker bus wearing only shapewear.   

Jules shares some beautiful stories about what it’s like being married to Cam. We hear how they’ve become a really strong team and the way they support each other unconditionally to achieve their goals. We also hear how life has changed since they had their son Ollie, what they do to nurture their relationship and the dream they have to grow their family and have another child. 

Jules also opens up about being on the brink of burnout last year, a magical trip she took to Bali to restore her energy, and the challenge she now has to try and find a sense of balance in the very full life she’s living. Jules is very honest about this and doesn’t shy away from the fact that this is something she needs to work on. 

Jules is a total powerhouse and we loved chatting with her in the studio. We hope you feel as inspired as we did after talking to her. Thanks for listening. 

Follow Jules Robinson on IG here

Follow Jules’ shapewear label Figur on IG here

Buy your Figur products here 

Follow Jules’ hair and makeup salon Status Co. Republic on IG here 

Follow Jule’s fashion label Moira Muse on IG here

Follow Nicola and Di on IG here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Nicola and Di chat to the incredible story teller, Tim Olsen. Tim is one of Australia’s most recognised and respected art identities, successful gallery owner and prize winning author. He is also the son of one of Australia’s most famous artists, John Olsen. 

In this episode, Tim shares what it was like living under the shadow of his father and how he had to fight hard to make a name for himself in the art world. He talks openly about the complex relationship he had with his father, the struggles they had, the disappointments, but ultimately the love and respect they had for one another and how they were all together the day that John died. 

Tim opens up about how he used alcohol to cope with disappointments and trauma, and the slippery slope he started going down into alcoholism. He also shares his rock bottom moment and how he fought his way out of the hole and came out the other side, thriving. We hear some incredible stories about the time he spent in rehab at the Betty Ford Center and how Tim was one of the lucky ones. 

We also hear about Tim’s successful gallery, and why he can’t stand when the art world is pretentious. He has a refreshing perspective about art, welcomes everyone in his gallery and wants to help anyone be able to feel a connection with beautiful art. 

This conversation is a really beautiful one. Tim is open, honest, vulnerable and full of great stories about his life. He also shares lots of pearls of wisdom in this chat, so make sure you stay tuned until the end. We hope you enjoy listening to Tim as much as we enjoyed speaking with him. 

Follow Tim Olsen on IG here

Follow Olsen Gallery on IG here

Find out more about Olsen Gallery here

Buy Son of the Brush here

Follow Nicola and Di on IG here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Di and Nicola chat to their producer Sam Thomas, who jumps over the fence in this episode to join them behind the microphone. Sam is a life coach and professional speaker, who loves helping people improve the relationship they have with themselves.  Sam met Nicola and Di when they came to stay at a health retreat she was working at in Phuket. Who knew that a beautiful connection that started in Phuket, would lead to chatting about the possibility of doing a podcast and Sam joining the OTBF team as their producer. Life works in magical ways. 

In this chat we hear what it was like when Di and Nicola first met Sam, living her island life and the life coaching classes that she used to give there. We talk about Sam’s favourite topic of all, self-love, and why she believes the relationship you have with yourself is the most important relationship of your life. 

Sam gives some practical tools for how we can all be a bit kinder to ourselves, and the question that you can ask yourself each day to become more self-loving. We also talk about the difference between being self-loving and being selfish, and how taking care of yourself ultimately benefits others. 

Sam also shares what it’s been like for her since covid brought her back to Australia, the daily routines and practices she has to look after her mental health, and why connection is the most important aspect for her wellbeing. 

It was so fun having this chat as a podcast team and we hope you enjoy getting to know a little bit more about our producer, Sam. Thanks for listening. 

Follow Sam Thomas on IG here

Find out more about Sam’s Coaching and Speaking here

Follow Nicola and Di on IG here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Nicola and Di chat with the inspiring and generous Tina Nettlefold. Tina is a full time philanthropist, who reinvented herself in her 60s and founded T.House - a luxury Australian homewares brand that donates 100% of their profits to charity. Tina is a fabulous storyteller, and this episode is packed full of great stories from her life. 

We hear all about Tina’s love life and how it really was third time lucky for her. After one failed marriage and being dumped 6 weeks before her 2nd wedding, Tina went on to meet the man of her dreams and they’ve now been married for 33 years. We hear the juicy story of what happened when Tina’s 2nd husband-to-be dumped her before the wedding - let’s just say it involves a can of paint and an axe. 

Tina talks about the risky move she made with her husband to Malaysia, where he started a successful business, only for it to come crashing down 18 months later and they ended up losing it all. But as you’ll hear with a lot of Tina’s stories, they didn’t dwell on it, but chose to focus on the positives, learn some hard lessons and move to Indonesia where they could start a business all over again. 

She also opens up about the tragic circumstances which caused her to move back to Australia with her family and how she went through a career transition out of the advertising industry and into interior styling. Tina shares how the pandemic in 2020 was the catalyst for another life change and how she came up with the idea of T.House. Taking risks and reinventing herself seem to be themes in Tina’s life. 

We loved talking to Tina about the remarkable work she’s doing and the charities she’s supporting. As she reminds us all, kindness is free. This is a really entertaining conversation and we hope you get lost in Tina’s stories like we did. Enjoy.

Follow Tina Nettlefold on IG here

Follow T.House on IG here

Check out the T.House website here

Check out the T.House shop here

Follow Nicola and Di on IG here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we are delighted to speak with the refreshing and inspiring Brigitte Warne. Brigitte is a successful model and entrepreneur both in Australia and internationally. When Brigitte was just 25, she saw a huge gap in the market and a lack of representation for older aged models and decided to start Silverfox MGMT - Australia’s first modelling agency representing models over the age of 30. Since 2015, Brigitte has grown the business from just 10 models to over 400 models and you’ll be able to tell from our conversation that she’s just getting started.  

In this chat we hear how Brigitte and her friend first had the idea to start Silverfox MGMT, and how they came up with the brilliant name. We get the inside scoop on the hilarious casting call they did to source their first models and how hard they had to work in their first year to convince brands that using age appropriate models was the way of the future. Brigitte was ahead of her time and she knew that if she persevered, brands would begin to see what she could and that age diversity would become the new norm - boy was she right!

Brigitte shares the wonderful and inspiring story of one of their clients, Joyce, who was their oldest model at 98 years of age, and how modelling gave her a renewed sense of purpose and brought joy to her life up until the day she passed away. 

Brigitte also opens up about her personal journey with PCOS, and how she didn’t let an incorrect diagnosis deter her from learning how to heal her hormonal health, so she could give birth to 2 beautiful babies.

Brigitte is really a breath of fresh air and her empowering message about being #agepositive is one we truly believe in and we felt so inspired after chatting with her. We hope you love listening to this one. 

Follow Brigitte Warne on IG here

Follow Silverfox MGMT on IG here

Find out more about Silverfox MGMT here

Follow Nicola and Di on IG here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.