Really Interesting Women

The Podcast

Ep. 2 Nanette Carroll

It’s been 5 years since RIW first aired. And I thought that it would be well worth dipping into the back catalogues every now and again for the benefit of those who may have started following recently. 

Nanette Carroll was the 2nd ever interview…and one of the most popular episodes. And it’s easy to see why.

From unemployed, unqualified, single mum of 3, to joint CEO of a $320M company. If your obstacles seem insurmountable...you may find answers here.

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Ep. 153

Rosemary Kariuki OAM

Rosemary Kariuki’s life is a testament to the enduring power of compassion, community, and the human spirit. 

From the overwhelming challenges of her early life in Kenya to her celebrated role as a leader and advocate in Australia for migrant and refugee women. 

Her journey is marked by hardship, courage, and an unwavering commitment to empowering others. Her story is documented in her memoir A Joyful Life and the acclaimed documentary Rosemary’s Way. 

We often talk on this show of resilience, compassion and a dedication to others. And Rosemary’s journey from refugee to recognized national hero is a perfect example of that. 

In 2021, she received the Australian of the Year, Australian Local Hero award.

Head to the link in my bio to have a listen to our conversation.

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Ep. 152.   Dr Skye Krichauff

Dr. Skye Krichauff represents a new generation of Australian scholars who are fundamentally reshaping how we understand the complex relationships between Indigenous peoples and European settlers in colonial Australia. 

As an ethno-historian affiliated with the University of Adelaide, Skye has dedicated her career to examining the enduring legacies of colonialism, particularly in South Australia, through a unique methodological approach that combines historical research with anthropological insights.

She is an ethno-historian who combines the methodologies of history and anthropology, bringing a distinctive interdisciplinary perspective to her research. This methodological fusion allows her to examine not only the documented historical record but also the lived experiences, cultural practices, and oral traditions that traditional historical approaches might overlook.

It's a fascinating discussion because the lack of Indigenous presence in this country’s written history – is being addressed by people like Dr Skye Krichauff. 

Head to the link in my bio to have a listen to our conversation. 

Below is the link to the SA Frontier and its Legacies website that Skye talks about. 

https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/4755c59ae93447a9b0acf9b2b0b265f6/page/Interactive-Map

Image: Isabella Kelly

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Really Interesting Women

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Ep. 151 Dr Maddy McAllister

Maddy McAllister has the fascinating honour of being one of Australia's foremost maritime archaeologists.

She’s made significant contributions to underwater cultural heritage management, shipwreck documentation, and the advancement of maritime archaeological practices in Australia and beyond. She has basically helped reshape our understanding of Australia's maritime past. 

Besides her work as a ‘Shipwreck Detective’, she is also the Senior Curator of Maritime Archaeology at the Queensland Museum and holds a joint appointment as Senior Lecturer at James Cook University’s College of Arts, Society and Education. Which allows her to blend research, teaching, and public outreach with her underwater discoveries all of which is utilised to unravel the secrets of sunken vessels. 

And if you’re thinking she sounds a bit like the Australian Indiana Jones, I reckon you’re right.

She has been instrumental in adopting new technology and making fascinating discoveries which have challenged our existing knowledge of maritime history.  

Head to my bio above to have a listen to our conversation. 

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Ep. 150 Kath Koschel

To celebrate episode 150, it's appropriate that it's with one of the most extraordinary tales I've heard on this show.

Kath Koschel’s life is a powerful narrative of overcoming unimaginable odds through resilience, gratitude, and a profound belief in the transformative power of kindness. 

From the initial excitement of starting to realise her representative cricket dreams to devastating career ending injuries and devastating heartbreaking personal loss, Kath has, somehow consistently chosen to find strength in adversity and to channel her experiences into creating a global movement for good...and I imagine the global impact of her story would have resonated even more with my guest when, in 2018, she delivered the opening speech in a conference in Los Angeles to a packed audience that included the Obamas, the Dalai Lama, and Reese Witherspoon (whose production company has more than a passing interest in Kath’s story).

Head to the link in my bio to listen to our conversation. 

And thank you all for your support for this little show to help it reach 150 episodes!

Visit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.

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Episode 149 Myf Warhurst

Myf Warhurst is a beloved Australian broadcaster, television presenter, journalist, writer, and podcaster whose career has spanned nearly three decades. 

 Known for her warmth, wit, and extensive knowledge of music and pop culture, she has become, I’m prepared to make the call, a household name. 

 She started her career as a journalist for music publications which led to a gig on Triple J radio and then Triple M, which led to her being a team captain on the cult tv show Spicks and Specks. She is a host on Eurovision and was the narrator on Rocky Horror Show – I mean, the list is not only incredible...it’s almost endless. In particular we chatted about another cult show she’s been an integral part of, Bluey. 

 And the words that keep cropping up when describing Myf Warhurst? Authentic and relatable. And those things have gained her a lot of fans over the decades. And I reckon those qualities might have started developing themselves in Myf a long time ago, because she grew up in regional Victoria and that had a profound impact on her and shaped her career. 

 Amongst other things, it instilled in her a deep appreciation for music, community, and storytelling that would become the foundation of her very successful work in Australian media.

 Whether you’re a long-time fan or just discovering her, Myf Warhurst’s story is great and really worth listening to. She’s learnt a lot on her journey in an industry which is not always known for the longevity of its participants. Myf is an exception. And when you hear our conversation, you’ll understand why. 

Head to my bio for the link to our podcast conversation. 

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Ep. 147 Meryl Tankard

Meryl Tankard is one of Australia's most distinguished and innovative figures in contemporary dance and choreography. 

Her talent was recognised very early - and even at that early stage she knew the 'old school' teaching techniques were, at times, abhorrent. But despite this, her talent flourished. To the point where she auditioned and earned a place in the Australian Ballet. 

But in her mind she wanted more. She joined the prestigious Pina Bausch Tanztheater Wuppertal in Germany, where she became a principal artist and developed her distinctive artistic voice.

Upon returning to Australia in the early 1990s, she served as Artistic Director of the Australian Dance Theatre (ADT) in Adelaide, transforming it into a globally recognised company. And that led inexplicably to a controversial move by the ADT that we talk about. 

But it's her bold, theatrical productions that merged dance with other art forms that have impressed audiences the world over. Her choreographic style is characterised by emotional intensity, physical dynamism, and a unique blend of classical technique with contemporary expression.

She has created works for opera, film, and large-scale events, including contributions to the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games ceremonies.

And as if for good measure she's a qualified and exceptional film maker. 

To this day Meryl Tankard remains an influential force in Australian performing arts, celebrated for her passionate commitment to artistic innovation and her ability to create deeply moving dance experiences.

It was a great conversation with an enduring, warm, immensely talented artist. 

You can see the clips I was referring to in our conversation at:

https://meryltankard.com/work

Head to the link in my bio to hear our conversation. 

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Really Interesting Women 

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Episode 147

Professor Leah Bromfield

Professor Leah Bromfield is the 2025 South Australian of the Year. 

Leah has devoted her life to establishing practical, evidence-based solutions to child abuse and neglect – important but challenging work. 

Currently she is the director and chair of child protection at the Australian Centre for Child Protection. Her achievements and accolades are almost endless. She developed the first evidence-based analysis of child protection practice frameworks. She informed improvements including the development of a new framework in South Australia and was on the team which advocated for – and got – the first National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children in 2007. 

Over two decades, Leah has risen to become one of the most trusted researchers in the field. Her calls for transformation and radical redesign have led to world-first insights and contributed to significant changes in our understanding of, and responses to, child abuse and neglect.  

She’s a champion of exploring unconventional approaches and interrogating assumptions to break the cycle of abuse.  

Leah has played a pivotal role in numerous other reforms, including her work as Professorial Fellow to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. 

Her leadership and expertise continue to inspire transformative approaches to child protection not just in this country, but around the world.

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Really Interesting Women 

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Ep. 146

Yvonne Sampson

Yvonne Sampson has had a career characterized by breaking barriers and setting new standards.  

 She grew up as did many Australians, with a deep love of sport. She studied journalism and her love of sport and her extensive knowledge of it, kept her focussed on the ultimate goal. And her persistence and resilience and patience and mostly ability, created the opportunities that led to her becoming the first female broadcaster to anchor a major sporting event in this country. 

 And her journey has continued... to the point where she is now generally considered one of the best sports broadcasters in the country.

 It was a great discussion. From how her parents discussed her own adoption from a very young age – and how she was so appreciative of that, to finding out about her birth father’s heritage and how he was removed from his family as a baby and the ongoing affect that has on her and the family. Her battles to be accepted as a female sports journalist to becoming a nationally recognised figure that anchored the Rugby League showpiece, the State of Origin. 

 A humble, appreciative, intelligent, knowledgeable person who turned to sports broadcasting because she said she didn’t have a sporting bone in her body. But, I did have to correct her – she forgot to mention that she has represented Australia in dressage!

 Even if you’re not a big sports fan, this is a really informing conversation. 

Head to the link in my bio to find Yvonne’s podcast episode. 

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Episode 145    Vicki Jellie AM

Vicki Jellie is best known for winning the 2017 Australia Day Local Hero award. Her community has known about her for decades...but we’ve only just caught up.

For those who may be unaware, the Australia Day Local Hero category was introduced to the Australian of the Year Awards in 2003 to acknowledge everyday Australians who make significant contributions to their local communities. And Vicki’s actions over a number of years did just that. Her actions were sparked by personal tragedy and resulted in bringing vital cancer services to regional Victoria, transforming healthcare for thousands. 

Vicki is an incredibly selfless, hardworking, empathetic, community minded person who, the day after her husband tragically passed away, was going through his possessions and discovered his desire to start raising funds to somehow help others by preventing the need to travel 3 hours each way from regional Victoria to get the treatment needed, as he had to do. She realised she now knew what she had to do going forward. 

Nearly everyone said it was impossible to get the support and funding needed for a world class medical and cancer treatment centre in regional Warrnambool. ‘Nearly everyone’ didn’t know Vicki Jellie. 

Head to the link in my bio to hear this fascinating and inspiring conversation.

Visit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.

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