The Women of Influence Podcast with Kate Meade

For as long as there have been award ceremonies and red carpets lined with celebrities there have been reporters critiquing the outfits. 

I remember the 'Thumbs up and Thumbs down' and the ratings out of ten that you would read in the magazines. 

One night a woman (back about 10/15 years ago) sat down in, social media in hand and loaded an album of red carpet looks simply commenting the first thing that came to mind when looking at the outfits. 

She started a Facebook. 211 followed. It was a big deal and she kept going. 100k plus followers later plus a book, Fashion Critical has built a loyal following that allows for a giggle. 

She makes it very clear she isn't judging you and me the average everyday Jo. Her quick off the cuff outfit critique is saved for the celebrities only. 

Why not tell everyone who she is? Why the secret? We cover this and everything in between including why not just do this as a full time job? Fashion Critical tells me it's because she loves to sweep the streets. 

Enjoy and from me to you. Just make sure your toes don't hang out the ends of your shoes.... you will be fair game- celebrity or not (that's me talking not FC!)

Love Kate 

 *This episode was recorded via Zoom & is unedited.
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Now this is what happens when you put two radio people together. 

Talk, talk, talk. 

For Andrea it's always been about wanting to be a voice over artist. 

But equally. It's radio, creative writing and podcasting (coming soon). It's about being adaptable. 

This is a chat about travelling for the job. The Swinburne radio course (which we all still wish existed but thank goodness for the Australian Radio School and AFTRS).

And getting that gig! You know the one. The big one....and that little voice inside you that can terrify you and yet despite whatever it says....having a red hot go anyway! 

I could talk radio all day every day. Andrea thank-you for letting me nerd out with you. 

Your fan girl. 

Love Kate 

 *This episode was recorded via Zoom & is unedited.
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Oh, you have this condition called 'Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome'. We will put you on the pill. 

Set and forget. 

Fast forward to time to try for a baby and PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) might create some fertility issues. 

This is a women's health chat. One woman and her experience with a syndrome that I had never heard of. I apologise for that. 

This is Courtney. Growing up and not telling any friends what she was going through.

Amazing regional health care and also a condition that isn't well known. 

We get to know Courtney at 19 weeks pregnant. 

Thank-you Courtney for sharing your experience with us and now..... let's just get this baby Earth Side. 

Love Kate

PS- Courtney is the daughter of Mary Guy. Mary is one of the most listened to episodes of the Women of Influence Podcast and was one of my Mum's bestest friends. Also in full disclosure. I babysat Courtney, her sister and brother when they were little babes. 

 *This episode was recorded via Zoom & is unedited.
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From crime to classroom this Ex Detective wants us all to be more aware when we are out and about. Particularly young women. 

I love it when you nominate our Women of Influence. 

This is the note I received-

A fitness instructor in Camperdown, Cobden and Warrnambool for 10 years, at 30, she joined the Police force.

She was in the Police Force in Melbourne for 12 years and ended up becoming a Detective whilst also having 3 babies along the way.

She has gone from crimes to classrooms. She's started an empowerment based self defence program for women and girls called Girl Aware. She's sharing her knowledge about how to stay safe, how to prevent danger and she's helping to build confidence and empower women and girls. Last week she presented to 400 girls in a nearby school which is amazing.

Listen to this episode. It might just give you something to be more aware of yourself. 

Share this episode with a young woman in your life. 

This program should be in every school in Australia.

Love Kate

 *This episode was recorded via Zoom & is unedited.
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If I ever needed someone like Megan to enter my life I needed it now. 

Megan speaks to the woman who looks capable on the outside but feels quietly depleted underneath. She's leadership-forward, spiritually literate (without being woo-woo), and offers practical language for the “I can't keep doing life like this” moment.

Note- I love woo-woo!

I need to get moving because I need more of Megan's content right now.

Megan is a game changer. 

Enjoy the episode, 

Love Kate 

 *This episode was recorded via Zoom & is unedited.
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Yes. You did read that correctly. It's a reading party. 

Not a book club. I repeat! NOT A BOOK Club! 

Phew. No pressure of reading the book pior. At this event you turn up with your book and read.

Read glorious, read! And then you hang out together, make new friends, talk about what you are reading or even..... just read some more. 

In a time when we doom scroll this is your perfect excuse to make time for yourself. 

And what my favourite part is; it all started with two young women looking for a flatmate. 

This is a new event, a new community building in Melbourne. I think the hardest part now is to pick the book. 

Love Kate 

 *This episode was recorded via Zoom & is unedited.
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24/100 TAKE 2: Jackie O. The Queen of Australian Radio. Relentless.(This episode was released on the 15th of January 2020 and recorded at the end of 2019)

If I'm honest, I can't listen back to this. I was such a novice interviewer at the time. I don't think I can go back and cringe. I was awestruck, I was a bit fangirling and I was sitting in Kyle's seat! 

So why am I re-releasing this now?

At the moment the KJ show as we know it is over. 

I don't mind if you loved or hated the show. I couldn't care less. 

But what isn't being talked about was the relentless effort that went into making this show. What did it take to be number 1 over and over again? 

I asked Jackie at the time- what did you enjoy more? The fight to get to the top or maintaining top spot and Jackie said 'the fight to get there'. 

Jackie is a Woman of Influence and I have always been so grateful she agreed to be on the podcast. 

She had told me at the time that she really said no to appearing on podcasts because if you wanted to hear about her life you needed to listen to the KJ Show. 

I think she said yes as a favour to my brother Pete! 

Either way. Luv ya Jackie (as Helen would say) and thank-you. 
* This episode was recorded while I was working for ACE Radio. *This episode was recorded via Zoom & is unedited.
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Working from her studio just outside Port Campbell is an artist of Millinerary. 

Susans (or Sue) hats aren't just a hat but a peice of art.

From teacher to creator this is a story that starts in the class room, fills the kitchen table and ends with an extra room being built at the house. 

It's a story of making something with your hands and trying, and placing and rejigging until it is just right.

It's about choosing to follow a passion. Even if it means travelling 3 plus hours every week to learn a new skill.

It's a story about evolving. 

This is a special edition of the 100 Women in 100 days that celebrates the women in dairy and the land in Southwest Victoria. 

Follow @sw.dairyladieslunch on Instagram and save the date for Thursday August 13th.

*This episode was recorded via Zoom & is unedited.
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22/100 TAKE 2: Andrea Rowe. Author with a post it note Andrea Rowe has the super power of crafting words that will hold a child's attention with their eyes, and their minds. 

The super power to help adults process a situation. 

The super power that gave a young girl permission to be fearless. To not be afraid to jump off her bed.... or jetty. 

Even after reading at Parliament to all the important decision makers and children invite to this special occasion; I asked- where is your favourite place to read? 

Andrea said- in a Regional area out on tour with young minds.

Andrea has an imagination and a post it note waiting for the next yarn but it was her story that held me captive and I hope yours too.

Love Kate

*This episode was recorded via Zoom & is unedited.
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Caz Rowland decides to start her own label. 

After working with women, going back to study to really understand the blocks that women put up around their bodies she set out to change the narrative. 

Caz is so full of energy. A passion and there is something (like many of our women of influence) that have had to learn and fight and find a path their own way that is so captivating. 

Caz is an open book. 

I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I love bringing it to you. 

Love Kate 

*This episode was recorded via Zoom & is unedited.
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