The Ella Era

What makes you walk away from a marriage on your 10-year anniversary?

Zana Pali joins Ella to reveal when she knew she was done—and why she won’t settle when it comes to finding love again.

From refusing to split the bill to male gold diggers and men whose wealth isn’t what it seems, this conversation is bound to divide the group chat. But does Ella agree?

Plus, Zana has a plan for her children’s future relationships… and it’s probably not what you’re expecting.

00:00 Meet Zana Pali

09:21 Ending her marriage on their 10-year anniversary

17:43 The reality of divorce and protecting your money

21:02 Why Zana refuses a 50/50 relationship

33:46 Dating again, male gold diggers and fake wealth

37:19 Trad wives and the “golden cage”

43:10 What men need to bring beyond money

48:06 Would Zana do MAFS? Plus, arranged marriages

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What do wealthy men actually want in a partner? And what does their private matchmaker know that the rest of us don’t?

Lauren Hunter joins me to share what she’s learned finding love for men who spend up to $200,000 on her services. From what gets their attention to what makes them lose interest, we get into the dating habits that could be holding you back—and why being hot only gets you so far.

We also talk dating apps, splitting the bill and whether your own friends could be keeping you single. If you’re tired of talking stages that go nowhere, this conversation might change your next move. ❤️

00:00 Meet the $200,000 matchmaker
08:02 The divorce that changed Lauren’s life
17:02 What paying for love actually gets you
20:59 Are your deal breakers keeping you single?
27:57 First-date rules and splitting the bill
29:49 Why wealthy, successful men are still single
38:27 Turning dates into commitment
46:04 Stop interviewing, start flirting
47:21 Feeling left behind in your 30s
53:36 Dating apps, profile mistakes and why hot isn’t enough

THE ELLA ERA:

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TikTok: 🎵 https://www.tiktok.com/@theellaera

ELLA MAY DING:

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TikTok: 🎵 https://www.tiktok.com/@emayding

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What happens when you play to a huge crowd, then have no one to share the moment with?

Will Sparks joins me to talk about the loneliness behind life on tour, the times he wanted to quit, and why relationships have been the hardest part. We also go back to where it all started: leaving school at 17 with his mum’s blessing, making music in his bedroom, and the track that changed everything.

Plus, we reminisce about our Melbourne party days, and Will opens up about wanting to find his person and become a dad.

This is an honest conversation about ambition, sacrifice and wanting someone beside you through it all. ❤️

00:00 Meet Will Sparks
02:49 Our School Days and Leaving Two Schools in One Day
08:56 The Family Behind His Creativity
12:55 Guitar Hero, Fake IDs and Melbourne Nightlife
19:47 Leaving School With His Mum’s Blessing
21:13 The Track That Changed Everything
27:05 Getting Hooked on the High of Success
28:32 The Toll of Touring and Wanting to Quit
33:12 Life Between the Highs
34:48 Having No One to Share It With
44:40 Trust, Dating and Why Relationships Are So Hard
47:27 Big Egos and the People Behind the Music
50:24 Fitness and His Mental Health
54:21 Looking Back and Returning to His Roots
57:05 Margaret Court Arena and What Comes Next
60:22 What Ella Said Before MAFS

THE ELLA ERA:
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I went back to work six weeks after giving birth. Now my daughter is nearly one, she’s starting daycare, and I’m feeling guilty, relieved and excited all at once.

In this solo episode, I’m talking about working mum guilt, the hard conversations my husband and I have had, and why a TikTok about missing our Bali nanny brought out so much judgement. I’m also sharing how I’m feeling ten months postpartum and what it’s been like trying to make room for work, motherhood and myself. ❤️

00:00 A long overdue solo catch-up

03:23 The dream I wrote down six years ago

07:37 My daughter is nearly one

11:52 Going back to work six weeks postpartum

13:38 Working mum guilt and my relationship

15:18 Why my daughter is starting daycare

21:23 Travelling to Bali with a baby

26:57 Finding our nanny in Bali

31:52 The TikTok backlash over missing our nanny

38:44 My postpartum health check-in

THE ELLA ERA:

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ELLA MAY DING:

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You knew Alex Fevola’s name. But how much of her story did you really know?

Alex joins me to talk about losing Mia’s father just four weeks after giving birth — and the medical emergency that nearly took her life that same day. We also talk about raising her four daughters, living through a very public affair, and why she and Brendan found their way back to each other after divorcing.

This is an honest conversation about grief, motherhood, betrayal and finding the strength to begin again. ❤️

00:00 Meet Alex Fevola

04:41 Losing Mia’s Father

08:19 The Day Alex Nearly Died

13:20 Grieving While Raising a Newborn

17:36 Watching Mia Grow Up in the Public Eye

22:25 How Alex Met Brendan

24:59 The Affair and Public Humiliation

28:54 Why They Got Back Together After Divorce

33:28 Raising Four Daughters Through It All

39:05 The Relationship Alex Has With Her Girls

50:32 Building Runway Room

59:05 Telling Her Story in Her Book

THE ELLA ERA:

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ELLA MAY DING:

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PARTNERSHIPS:

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You heard how it all fell apart. Now, we’re talking about what brought us back together.

Domenica Calarco joins me for Part 2 — and the final chapter — of the conversation we’ve waited over two years to have. We open up about the Mother’s Day message that changed everything, discovering we were pregnant at the same time, becoming mums and finding our way back to one another.

We also speak honestly about pregnancy, separation, solo motherhood, online judgement and the loneliness that no one warns you about.

After everything that happened, this is us sitting together for one last time — ready to close the chapter on Sit With Us and begin whatever comes next. ❤️

00:00 How We Found Our Way Back

02:18 The Message That Changed Everything

05:11 Reaching Out on Mother’s Day

06:46 Pregnant at the Same Time

10:03 The Worst Breakup We’ve Ever Had

11:58 What Losing Our Friendship Taught Us

14:40 Our Daughters Meeting for the First Time

16:31 Pregnancy, Separation & Surviving It All

24:33 The Reality of Online Judgement

30:22 The Loneliness of Motherhood

34:19 The Pressure on Women in Their 30s

37:57 Losing Yourself After Becoming a Mum

41:04 Why Friendships Don’t Always Have to End

42:58 Send the Message

43:27 A Weight Has Finally Been Lifted

THE ELLA ERA:

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ELLA MAY DING:

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You saw the headlines. You heard the rumours. Now, we’re finally having the conversation.

Domenica Calarco joins me for Part 1 of a conversation we’ve put off for over two years. From becoming best friends on MAFS to building Sit With Us, we shared so much of our lives online. But when our podcast and friendship fell apart, there was so much we didn’t know how to explain.

This is an emotional conversation about friendship, regret and what really happened behind the headlines.

And if you think this is the whole story… there’s more we need to tell you. Part 2 drops this Thursday. ❤️

00:00 The Conversation We Never Thought We’d Have

03:34 Before It All Fell Apart

14:33 The Episode That Changed Everything

18:11 The Backlash & Losing $250,000

22:14 What Was Happening Behind Closed Doors

38:19 Why Sit With Us Ended

50:10 When We Stopped Speaking

56:34 There’s More to This Story… Part 2

THE ELLA ERA:

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ELLA MAY DING:

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PARTNERSHIPS:

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In this raw and vulnerable episode, I open up about the unfiltered reality of motherhood burnout, the mental fatigue of balancing work with baby Pia, and the power of giving yourself grace. I'm joined mic-side by my producer, Emilia, to reflect on the hard work, personal growth, and standout guest moments that defined The Ella Era over the past year.

My socials
INSTAGRAM instagram.com/ellamayding
instagram.com/ellaerapodcast
TIKTOK tiktok.com/@emayding
WEBSITE ellamayding.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Welcome back to another completely unfiltered episode of The Ella Era! You all know this podcast has always been about going way deeper than the reality TV headlines, and this week I’m sitting down with Bec Zacharia to uncover the raw, messy truth about life after the cameras stopped rolling. We dive into how she is navigating therapy and body dysmorphia today. Bec even pulls out her phone to read the exact, final text messages exchanged with her ex Danny, exposing the dramatic breaking point of their relationship once and for all. 

We also tackle the internet-breaking news surrounding her recent trip to Bali for that $14k "snatched waist" rib-contouring surgery AND we react to the latest bombshells currently blowing up our feeds, from Gia’s shock pregnancy to Stella and Filip’s sudden breakup.

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Bec's socials
INSTA instagram.com/bec_zac
TIKTOK tiktok.com/@beesnees555

My socials
INSTAGRAM instagram.com/ellamayding
instagram.com/ellaerapodcast
TIKTOK tiktok.com/@emayding
WEBSITE ellamayding.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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This might be one of my favourite chats to date for just how raw and real this week’s guest, Tilly Whitfeld was. We dive deep into her shocking cosmetic regrets, from getting veneers at 18 and suffering temporary blindness during a DIY freckle disaster, to surviving toxic Breast Implant Illness and navigating a miracle pregnancy following a devastating infertility diagnosis. She also opens up completely about a traumatic emergency C-section where she fell off the operating table mid-labor, her struggles with eating disorders, and navigating severe postpartum depression and intrusive thoughts as a new mom.

Trigger Warning: This episode contains deeply sensitive and raw discussions regarding eating disorders, severe mental health struggles, traumatic birth experiences, and distressing postpartum thoughts about wanting to harm a child.

Resources & Support Services

If you or someone you know has been impacted by the topics discussed in this episode, please reach out to the following professional resources:

Perinatal Mental Health & Postpartum Depression

• PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia): Call 1300 726 306 (Mon-Fri) or visit panda.org.au for specialized perinatal support.
• Gidget Foundation Australia: Perinatal psychological support services. Call 1300 851 758 or visit gidgetfoundation.org.au.

Eating Disorders & Body Image

• The Butterfly Foundation: National eating disorders support helpline. Call 1800 33 4673 or visit butterfly.org.au.

Crisis Support & Mental Health

• Lifeline: 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention. Call 13 11 14 (Australia) or text 0477 13 11 14.

Beyond Blue: 24/7 mental health support. Call 1300 22 4636 or visit beyondblue.org.au.

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Tilly's socials
INSTA instagram.com/tillywhitfeld
TIKTOK tiktok.com/@tillywhitfeld

My socials
INSTAGRAM instagram.com/ellamayding
instagram.com/ellaerapodcast
TIKTOK tiktok.com/@emayding
WEBSITE ellamayding.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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