Seize the Yay

Sometimes our guests are incredibly talented experts in a specific field, while other times they are extreme polymaths with ventures spanning industries and themes. Sometimes our guests are renowned public figures with extensively covered careers and other times their achievements are quieter although never less impressive. 

And then, you have Merrick Watts who is all of things at once with his insatiable sense of curiosity driving in a constantly evolving, multifaceted, stellar career. While most of Australia will know of him as a comedy giant across radio and TV (which he of course has been and still is since 1996), he is also a qualified wine judge with two professional qualifications, a weapon who won SAS Australia and recently ran the gruelling big 5 marathon in South Africa, AND founder of Posca Hydrate, an incredible hydration elixir inspired by Ancient romans. 

It reveals something about Merrick’s thirst for learning (pun intended) that the idea was born during an Internet wormhole through COVID where his wine qualification research led him to ancient Roman methods to hydrate soldiers and emperors. While most would be satisfied there, Merrick went right on to experiment in his kitchen refining the ancient recipe into a sugar-free, sparkling, electrolyte-rich beverage with the added benefits of red wine vinegar for gut health and hydration.

You can see why his is a brain that was SO MUCH fun to pick, but also a joy to learn from as someone in the media myself speaking to somewhat of an idol. He is at once infinitely knowledgeable and a loose cannon all at once - I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did. 

Follow Merrick here
Find out more about Posca Hydrate here.

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I’ve had a string of special recordings lately with guests I’ve been lucky to know through multiple chapters of their pathYAYS and today’s is absolutely one of those. But this is even more momentous not only because Seize the Yay was our guest’s first ever podcast back in 2019, but because her return comes literally days after some HUGE announcements and this chat was the first time she could speak about it.

Michelle Battersby is one of the smartest women I know and some of you may remember that when we last spoke she was aggressively growing Bumble in the Australian market. A year after that, she co-founded the trailblazing creator-led platform, Sunroom, allowing women and non-binary individuals to monetise their content.

Just last week, after scaling that business to over 20,000 creators, she was finally able to announce that she has sold Sunroom to Fanfix, the category leader in creator monetisation. And just days ago, she shared that she will be stepping into the role of President of Peanut, the gamechanging social networking app for pregnancy and motherhood. 

…which is so perfectly aligned because, yes, another development since our last episode was the birth of her first son Alfie… followed 8 months later with the somewhat surprising news that her second is also on the way! So, at the time of this recording Michelle had just exited her business, accepted her dream job and all while 30 weeks pregnant so what an INCREDIBLE time to catch up with her and get her real time thoughts. 

She has always been one of my favourite people to bump heads with but ESPECIALLY since becoming parents - I hope you enjoy as much as I did. 

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I’m not sure I even have words to describe our episode this week and you’ll understand why within the first few minutes - even the journey to our first question is a wild ride. It’s iconic, chaotic, eye-opening, thought-provoking, totally unfiltered and above all, one of the most enjoyable yaps I’ve had in a long time.

I am thrilled to have had the delightful duo, Bec Judd and Jessie Roberts, in the studio to celebrate the launch of their own trailblazing and already chart-topping podcast, Vain-ish. As two of the most flawless faces in the nation, it’s no surprise they’re both constantly bombarded with questions about their beauty secrets (mostly from me) and they are finally lifting the veil to get brutally honest about the tricks, treatments and tales behind the scenes.

Of course, being one of the rare species who hasn’t yet broken the seal on cosmetic injectables and the like, I’ll remind you all that nobody needs any of the things discussed here or on Vain-ish and there is such beauty to naturally ageing. BUT at the same time, we are entering the “let them” era and if you’re going to get something done anyway (or are like me and are on the curious cusp of experimenting), it’s been fascinating and empowering to hear them chat with experts and leaders in each field on everything you might need to know.

I personally also find it so refreshing and reassuring to hear others being completely upfront about how, as Bec and Jessie say, they didn’t wake up like this so that you’re never comparing yourself to anybody without the full, honest picture. I’ve binged every episode furiously taking notes and had so many follow up questions that you’ll all benefit from today.

Of course, it wouldn’t be an episode of Seize the Yay if we didn’t also touch on their lesser known pathyays leading up to this point and the side of Bec and Jessie that you might not know so well. While I feel absolutely comfortable calling Bec a national treasure - I mean, the red dress has a cultural identity of its own in Australian history - I have always said and am excited to share what a truly down to earth, barefoot Perth girl she is in person and Jessie is exactly the same. 

To me, both Vainish and this chat feel like being a fly on the wall during an unhinged chat between besties somehow going from K-drama to salmon sperm injections to having 12 million children between them. I loved every minute and hope you all do too!

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You have all definitely heard of the incredible Steph Claire Smith or Steph Miller and, if you’ve been listening to the show for a while, you’ll have heard her on this show not once... nor twice... but THREE times with this episode. I’ve always said having a podcast is such a beautiful way to capture who a person is at a point in time and then, if we do remain in each other’s lives, to look back on past chapters together and that’s definitely the case with us.

We first recorded back in December 2018 when Steph had JUST got engaged then caught up four years later in October 2022 when she had just had Harvey. So, it feels like a very special and logical progression to have her on the show now that I’ve joined her in motherhood and she’s just made the big jump from 1 to 2 with Billie arriving just a few months ago.

Even more special was the fact that we recorded during her stay at Homb Postpartum, a sanctuary for postpartum parents and bubs that was transformative for me almost a year ago now. Having been in each others DMs A LOT since Teddy was born sharing lots of highs, lows and mess of motherhood, this chat is one that could have gone for hours and that I’m so excited to share.

You’ll already know Steph is the co-founder of KIC and the app has been such a godsend for me trying to move my body postpartum from wherever I am. She’s very kindly given us a code too which you'll see below. We didn’t really have a theme or agenda, it just felt like a lovely chat between mates in the trenches and I hope you guys enjoy as much as I did.

Use the code SEIZETHEYAY for one month free when you sign up to Kic on a monthly subscription at www.kicapp.com! Available for new and returning users only. Expires November 30th, 2025.

LINKS

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It has been an absolute delight to see how many of you share in my passion for espionage or intelligence stories and to hear that you enjoyed our last episode with a real-life Australian spy. One of the most common follow up questions from you has been my top recommendations for spy books, TV shows or podcasts and, funnily enough, my own current favourite podcast was also the one our ASIO Intelligence Officer mentioned as hers. 

Since its launch late last year, I have not only binged every episode of The Rest Is Classified but signed up to their paid Declassified Club to get early access to each full series covering everything from the Bin Laden operation, Edward Snowden, CIA mind control and even UFOs. Hosted by former CIA analyst turned best-selling espionage author, David McCloskey, and veteran British security correspondent, Gordon Corera, the show unravels the world of intelligence and covert operations enhanced by their intimate, expert perspectives along with incredible guests including the likes of the former head of the CIA and former head of MI5!

You can, therefore, imagine my levels of excitement sending a casual DM to one David McCloskey asking if he’d consider joining our own humble show and getting an enthusiastic “yes”! Not only are we sharing today some of his insights on the intelligence world from INSIDE THE CIA including across field stations in the Middle East, but also on his life after The Agency - yes you can leave and live to tell the tale - and tell the tale in such a way that you become a Sunday Times best-selling author of three (soon-to-be four) incredible books.

So, both in the realms of non-fiction and fiction, I have followed closely and thoroughly enjoyed David’s work and to have him on the show is such a treat. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did!

Follow David here.
Learn more about him here. 

Listen to The Rest is Classified. 

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Over our seven years so far of seizing the yay, I’ve found myself repeatedly blown away by some of the rooms it has led me into and some of the incredible people I’ve been lucky to meet. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine one of those rooms would be a SCIF at the headquarters of our national security service, ASIO, or that one of those people would be a real life spy.

For the uninitiated, a SCIF is a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility and if you’ve followed me for even the briefest of time it won’t surprise you that I’m already familiar with all the acronyms. ALL of the content I consume involves espionage or secret operations, so you will understand why I consider this week’s episode a career and life highlight and this week’s guest a very favourite. 

I am able to share that our guest is a current Senior Intelligence Officer and she has been permitted to shed some light on the incredible work she does... but her exact title, name and real voice remain obfuscated for reasons, and I can’t believe I get to say this, of national security. In fact, the identity of every individual who works at ASIO is a secret except for the Director General and the three Deputy Directors-General. 

As we discuss, the very definition of ASIO’s success is preventing anything for us to know about and revealing exactly how they do that to any of us would also reveal it to potential enemies (so if you get frustrated at what our guest can’t share, know it’s for extremely good reason). While you may have ideas about spycraft from Hollywood and agencies like the CIA or MI6, there still isn’t much out there about our homegrown spies, which makes it even more exciting to get this incredibly rare insight into what life is like on the inside.

I’ll also add there are a few instances where our speech may seem chopped or edits may seem messy, but you’ll of course understand that you can never know why. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did.

Visit ASIO's website here

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Welcome back lovely yayborhood, I hope the new financial year is treating you well. I’m so excited to share today’s episode not only because our guest is infinitely knowledgeable, but also because it ended up a little different to usual.

Anaita Sarkar and I have been mutually fangirling for many years and one of the many things I love about her is her insatiable curiosity. Because of that, she not only preferred not to spend too much time on the parts of her origin story that have been exhaustively covered elsewhere but she also asked ME more questions than a guest has before, which made for a slightly chaotic, very tangential, surprisingly vulnerable but extremely enjoyable conversation that possibly reveals more about both of us than our normal structure ever could have.

But her story is inspiring, interesting AND impressive so I’ll quickly give you a run down. Born in India as the daughter of a doctor, Anaita started off on a typical high-achieving pathway at KPMG before quickly realising her yay lay elsewhere. After multiple business experiments in make up, photography, and custom leather goods, she co-founded Hero Packaging from her dining table. Hero is now a global supplier of over 30 million compostable mailers, boxes, labels, and tissue paper and Seize the yay is one of her 73,000+ happy customers!!

You may also know her as the brains behind Sell Anything Online - a bustling community, the banner for her two books and the ultimate playbook on the wild world of e-commerce. She has mastered the art of building brands, telling stories and continual reinvention and we are so lucky she shared so many practical tips in between our yapping today. Somehow, she is also a Mum of three AND building a brand new business at the moment, so if you’re after inspiration - she is it. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did.

See Anaita's website here.
Get her book here.
Find out about Hero Packaging here.

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We all know I rarely find myself struggling with words, but certain guests and their stories simply defy adequate description. I was lucky enough to interview Grace Tame at an event back in 2022 where her bravery and eloquence moved a room full of excitable adults to still, silent awe. Getting to chat with her again and share that with you all this week feels like such a great privilege and again found me quite lost for words.

Grace, on the other hand, speaks with such clarity and composure even on her unfathomable experiences of trauma and pain. As a survivor of child sexual abuse both at the age of six and 15, she has become a powerful advocate for legal reform, reduction of stigma and primary prevention of sexual violence against children.

Add some complex layers including anorexia, domestic violence, late diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder and having it all laid bare before the whole nation becoming Australian of the Year at just 26 while still processing it all in real time... and there you have a journey unimaginable to most of us. And yet, Grace’s capacity not only to continue her advocacy with the Grace Tame Foundation, but to find pockets of joy, hope and love is perhaps what blows me away the most.

I won’t attempt to say more as it continues to feel inadequate, but I am grateful not only to help continue raising awareness of complex issues like grooming and consent but also to share some parts of Grace you don’t hear as much about elsewhere. You know that’s what I love most about this show and being a survivor of child sexual abuse is simply not the totality of Grace Tame.

She is funny, quirky, reflective and hopeful - an ultramarathon runner, artist, author, bookworm and dedicated friend. Despite a pathway in which she was given no choice and where finding her yay could not be the main focus - unlike many of our guests - she somehow finds it anyway. I hope you enjoy as much as I did.

Follow Grace here.
Visit the Grace Tame Foundation here.

If this conversation raises any emotional distress for you, please reach out to someone, or call Lifeline for 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services on 13 11 14.

LINKS
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Welcome to BIZ — the podcast that's rewriting the rules of work for a new generation.

Are you the queen of procrastination who'd rather deep clean your entire house than finish that urgent report? This week on BIZ Inbox, Em Vernem and Sarah Davidson tackle the art of actually getting work done with practical strategies – including the game-changing "eat the frog" method that might just save your productivity.

Plus, we wade into the murky waters of workplace social media boundaries (spoiler: someone might get offended, and that's okay), and we share how to stand out as the new person at work.

Welcome to BIZ Inbox, your go-to workplace advice podcast where awkward career questions get real-world solutions. If you want your work life issue solved, send us a voice note or email us at [email protected]. You can remain completely anonymous!

Here is Em's article about 'eat the frog’.
Get more Sarah Davidson in her sensational podcast Seize The Yay!

Sign up to the BIZ newsletter here to get all our tips and tricks.

THE END BITS
Support independent women's media
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HOSTS: Sarah Davidson and Em Vernem
SENIOR PRODUCER: Sophie Campbell
AUDIO PRODUCER: Leah Porges

Mamamia's studios are furnished with thanks to Fenton & Fenton. For more head to their website here.

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

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Lovely yayborhood, it’s been a little while since our last Seize the Bebe episode but as always that in itself is such an apt representation of the juggle. SO many topics have come up recently that I’ve wanted to dedicate episodes to without anywhere near enough time to squeeze them in (including another episode on that juggle itself after a little video I shared on it went viral) but that will have to wait as we DID manage to catch an incredible guest during her whirlwind visit to Australia.

I still can’t quite believe I had the incredible opportunity to sit down with the woman who has already revolutionised meal time in our household which is becoming quite the challenge as Teddy enters the world of toddlerhood. When it comes to feeding small humans, there is pretty much nobody better to speak to than Annabel Karmel who has published FIFTY ONE books on the subject since 1991, had several TV shows, a life-changing range of delicious ready made meals and now an amazing app featuring her easy, healthy recipes.

Her decades of work since well before similar resources were accessible has earned her an MBE (our equivalent of an OAM) along with the praise and loyalty of millions of families around the world. I was not prepared for how difficult it could be to simply feed your child once they realise they have autonomy... plus the overwhelm of meal prep, balanced nutrition and finding TIME to do it all. But, Annabel’s frozen meals and recipes have been SO helpful and I couldn’t believe that just after filling our house with her goodies, I got actually meet her.

Not only do we cover so many of the burning questions many of us have about picky eating, introducing new flavours, determining volume etc Annabel also shares the heartwrenching story that brought her to this point - another pathYAY she never could have predicted. A heads up, we do touch on the loss of a child so please take care while listening. In the meantime, I hope you gain as much from this one as I did!!

Follow Annabel here.
Find her links here.

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