In this episode of The Grown-Up Girls Report Podcast, Alex chats with Helen Barry from War On Waste Weekly about a topic that's long overdue on this podcast - our waste problem here in Australia. Helen was so affected by the ABC's War on Waste in 2017 - in particular footage of a marine biologist trying to remove a plastic straw from a sea turtle's nose - that she became determined to do something to make it stop. So, capitalising on her background as a journo and committed to helping the world wake up to our plastic problem, Helen started an eco-blog on Instagram that would detail her family's journey on a Zero Waste Adventure with the very simple goal of going from average to eco, one week at a time over the course of a year. Her blog soon blossomed into an online collective called War On Waste Weekly where Helen helps average Aussie families move towards a zero-waste lifestyle - in a sensible manner to avoid eco-overwhelm. Helen chats to Alex about the zero-waste philosophy and how to work towards this in a very real and manageable fashion. She also shares some great, very 'do-able' tips to help families reduce their waste. Along her journey to zero-waste, Helen discovered soapmaking as a way of banishing plastic bottles from the bathroom. She now sells her eco-luxe Zero Waste soap which even comes in compostable wrapping!

This week is quite the occasion on The Grown-Up Girls Report book club! A real milestone! I am so delighted to introduce you to the very talented Petronella McGovern, an Aussie author who will be talking to me about her bestselling book - Six Minutes! Six Minutes is a psychological thriller with a big dose of women's fiction thrown in also. So, sit back and make yourself a cuppa, because this week's episode is something quite different! Petronella describes Six Minutes as a domestic thriller. It is set in Merrigang, a fictional town just outside Canberra. One Thursday morning, Lexie Parker dashes to the shop for biscuits, leaving 3-year-old Bella in the care of the other mums at the community playgroup they have just joined after settling in the town. Six minutes later, Bella is gone. Petronella shares her inspiration for the book, discusses the characters and why she chose to weave a toxic social media campaign in the storyline. Alex thoroughly enjoyed this remarkable book. She just couldn't put it down. It is highly recommended!

Welcome to The Grown-Up Girls Report book club! We are now into our 8th book - haven't we done well? I am not sure it is Guinness World Record status but in my eyes it is quite the achievement! Our book of the week is Such A Fun Age by American author Kiley Reid and I am lucky enough to have my fab 'editor friend' Julie 'Jules' Collard join me to workshop this thought provoking book. The story centres on two women: Emira - a 25 year old African American babysitter and her quest to find a full-time job with health insurance and '30 something' white, lifestyle blogger Alix Chamberlain. In the midst of a family crisis one late evening, Alix calls her babysitter Emira, asking her to take toddler Briar to the local market for distraction. There, the security guard accuses Emira of kidnapping Briar, and Alix's efforts to right the situation turn out to be good intentions selfishly mismanaged. This is a great read that will really get you thinking about your perspectives on race and class. It may also make you more aware of the inherent biases that many of us often have without knowing. Alex and Jules really enjoyed this book. It didn't make them cry - but it made then think! Definitely recommend!

In this episode of The Grown-Up Girls Report Podcast, Alex discusses strategies to ensure your immune system is in the best shape possible with Nutritional Medicine Practitioner Petra Hooyenga. Having recently recovered from a bout of the flu, Alex is keen to understand what we can do to ensure our immune system is in great shape to ward off the winter flu and COVID-19. During the episode, Petra explains COVID 19 from a holistic medical practitioner's perspective and explains how inflammation in the body can make it much harder to deal with the onslaught of this novel virus. Petra shares her top nutrition and lifestyle strategies for ensuring our immune system is in great shape including tips on sleep, exercise, stress management plus the vitamins and minerals we need to both include in our diet and take as supplements.

Welcome to the 7th meeting of The Grown-Up Girls Report book club. The book of the week is The Paris Secret by Aussie author Natasha Lester and Alex is joined by her good friend and author Mandy Newman to workshop this terrific book. The Paris Secret is a story of strong women during war time and the present day. It is a story of love, bravery, war and female empowerment. It has a dual timeline: around WW2 and the present day and it is told from multiple perspectives. The Paris Secret follows the story of Skye from a childhood spent in idyllic Cornwall to years spent in Paris all the way through to WW2 as one of the first female pilots flying planes to help with the war effort in England. Caught up in her story is an incomparable love between her and her childhood friend Nicholas and the battle she constantly has to have to fly planes as a women plus the constant problems she has with her younger sister Liberty. ''This is a magnificent read that will sweep you up into a wonderful story of love and intrigue. It also has a dash of glamour with details of 65 Dior gowns littered throughout the pages. But, most importantly - it commits to telling the untold stories of women during war - the personal sacrifices and hardships they made to defend their country. Alex and Mandy both adored this book. It made them cry and feel deeply! It comes with a highly recommend!

In this episode of the podcast Alex speaks with clinical psychologist Dr Inge Martin about how we can look after our mental health during the Corona Virus pandemic. Inge helps us understand how it is normal to feel anxious and stressed currently and shares tip on how we can take care of our mental health. Inge also explains how we can get professional help if we have been having symptoms for more than 2 weeks.

A big Aussie welcome to the 6th week of The Grown-Up Girls Report book club. This week, we'll be discussing 'The Weekend' by Aussie author Charlotte Wood - a book that celebrates female friendship! In the spirit of The Grown-Up Girls Report Book Club, I'll be chatting about this terrific read with a very dear friend. So, this week, I'm so pleased to introduce you to Maddie Thomson - a friend of over 15 years. The story centres around a weekend during which 3 friends in their 70's gather at the former holiday home of a mutual friend who has recently died. Each of the women is dealing with the loss of their friend Sylvie who was clearly the lynch pin in their friendship group. This book is a real insight into the type of friendships that evolve between friends over 4 decades, this beautifully written book also deals with the process of growing older in an often very humorous fashion. It delves into ageism, loneliness and but absolutely celebrates the importance of friendship for women. Both Alex and Maddy enjoyed the book. There are a few sad moments in the book however it is a wonderful reminder of how essential people are in our lives. The girls both thought it also provided a good reminder of the importance of kindness and forgiveness - particularly in long term friendships.

In this episode, Alex talks with world renowned fistula expert, Dr Andrew Browning, Director of The Barbara May Foundation, about the plight of women affected by birth trauma in Africa and South East Asia. Andrew is an Australian trained obstetrician who has spent his entire professional career volunteering in Africa as a medical missionary specialising in obstetric fistula surgery. During his time in Africa, Andrew worked with the legendary Dr Catherine Hamlin in Ethiopia for 10 years before setting up the Barbara May Foundation in 2009.

This week I'll be 'work shopping' the best selling book 'Where The CrawDads Sing' by American author Delia Owens with one of my oldest friends Louise Talbot. Lou is a mum to 3 gorgeous boys who are absolute delights! Where The CrawDads Sing is part coming of age tale, part crime thriller with some romance and beautiful nature writing. It centres on the story of Kya Clark who was abandoned by her family at the age of 6. Set in the marshlands of North Carolina, the story focuses on her survival against the odds while battling social prejudice and isolation. A born naturalist who attended school for just one day, Kya soon attracts the attention of 2 local boys. But when one is found dead, the locals immediately suspects Kya, the 'Marsh girl'. This book will make you a better person. It will remind you about the power of human connection and the transformational power of human kindness and compassion. It will prompt you to rethink your approach to those in need. It deals with loneliness and uncertainty which is so relevant for the COVID-19 crisis we are going through. It also provides a reminder that it is the quality of human connection that matters NOT the quantity. Delia doesn't shy away from the racial prejudice that was clearly still alive and kicking in the 1970's. It will remind you of just how toxic this period was and also how there is still work to be done! It will absolutely give you a 'book hangover' - I needed several days to process this remarkable book. It was remarkably satisfying.

Our book of the week is Normal People by Irish author Sally Rooney and I am joined by my good friend and literary expert Julie Collard to chat about this intriguing book. Normal People is a modern love story that follows the story of 'millenials' Marianne and Connell from high school to university. Whilst it could be seen as just a 'will they or won't they' romance novel, both Jules and Alex see it as so much more. This is a coming of age story that delves deeply into the themes of social class and power. Normal People was released in 2018 to critical acclaim. It was longlisted for the 2018 Man Booker Prize and nominated by The Guardian's as one of the top 100 books of the 21st Century. It has also just been released here in Australia on Stan as a 12 part TV series to rave reviews! And we all know we should read the book before we watch the show!! Why Should You Read It? This is a universal coming of age story that anyone can relate to. It has all the normal themes: miscommunication, social class, power, transition to adulthood, and tensions around wealth and status. It provides a great insight into modern relationships. So if you have teenagers or young adults, this book will definitely bring you up to date! It will warm your heart - whilst there are painful moments in the book, it does also remind us of the transformational power of love!