She was winning Olympic gold and World Championships. But at 23, Giaan Rooney was burned out. She retired from swimming, became a television presenter, then pivoted again – to a career you’d never expect. Giaan tells Briana Blackett how, at each turn, being “too invested” has seen her succeed. And how putting aside ego has given her the courage to change lanes – and have a crack at something new. 

• Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. Consider making the switch and explore a career with Victoria Police.
• Become an FW member to join the movement and fast-track your professional development.
• Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate Reid is the founder of the world-famous Lune Croissanterie. But before creating her own formula for the perfect buttery, flaky croissant, she was a Formula One aerodynamicist, working on some of the fastest cars on the planet. And though she’s been labelled "too lucky", in this episode, she reveals the grit behind every seemingly effortless pivot, the years of hard work, and how a battle with an eating disorder led her to the top of a pastry empire.

• Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. Consider making the switch and explore a career with Victoria Police.
• Become an FW member to join the movement and fast-track your professional development.
• Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From styling hair to fighting crime, Detective Senior Sergeant Leemara Fairgrieve made quite the switch when she left hairdressing to join Victoria Police. These days, she’s busting major drug syndicates and rising through the ranks. But while she’s tough on crime, Leemara admits she can be tough on herself, and at times, ‘too accommodating’. In this episode, Leemara joins Briana Blackett to discuss how her softer side actually helped her build trust, discover her passion, and find success in her role as a police officer.

• Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. Consider making the switch and explore a career with Victoria Police.
• Become an FW member to join the movement and fast-track your professional development. 

Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For almost two decades, Lana Jones was a principal dancer at the Australian Ballet, celebrated for lead roles in Swan Lake, Giselle, and The Sleeping Beauty. And still, she was told she was “too strong”. After an illustrious career, Jones stepped away from the spotlight to retrain as a midwife. In this episode, Lana joins Briana Blackett to discuss how being “too strong” has helped her soar – from the stage to the delivery room.

• Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. Consider making the switch and explore a career with Victoria Police.
• Become an FW member to join the movement and fast-track your professional development.
• Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carla Zampatti’s daughter, self-confessed nerd Allegra Spender, never saw herself as a natural fit to lead her late mother’s fashion empire. But that’s where she ended up, before a runway-worthy career-pivot which saw her ride the Teal wave into federal politics. In this episode, Allegra joins Briana Blackett to discuss how being “too nerdy” helped her break the mould in fashion, her switch from colour palettes to politics – and why playing to your strengths is the key to every professional pivot. 

• Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. Consider making the switch and explore a career with Victoria Police.
• Become an FW member to join the movement and fast-track your professional development.
• Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Season three of FW’s award-winning podcast, Too Much, returns on Monday January 19, 2026. Over eight episodes, hear from high-achieving women who defied the critics that said they were “too something” and built extraordinary careers. And this season, every guest has also pulled off a major pivot.

• Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. Consider making the switch and explore a career with Victoria Police.
• Become an FW member to join the movement and fast-track your professional development. 

Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're back in a few weeks with a whole new season! But before we get there, we're bringing back our favourite episodes from years passed for your summer playlist.

Moana Kidd never imagined she’d be a Senior Constable with Victoria Police. As a woman of colour who’d been working in the arts, she was used to attending rallies - not patrolling them. But when an unexpected career shift led her to look for new work - she decided to become the change she wanted to see. In this week’s episode of Too Much, the Senior Constable joins Helen McCabe to discuss how she rose through the ranks despite at times being labelled  “too open”. 

• Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. Explore a career with Victoria Police.
• Become an FW member to join the movement and fast-track your professional development.
• Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're back in the new year with a whole new season! But before we get there, we're bringing back our favourite episodes from years passed for your summer playlist.

As the first woman to serve as Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Julie Bishop knows a thing or too about diplomacy. She was also the deputy leader of the Liberal Party at a time when it came under fire for a perceived ‘woman problem’. Bishop, who is now Australian National University chancellor,  joins Helen McCabe to reflect on a career that was, at times, perhaps “too diplomatic”. 

• Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. Explore a career with Victoria Police.
• Become an FW member to join the movement and fast-track your professional development.
• Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're back in the new year with a whole new season! But before we get there, we're bringing back our favourite episodes from years passed for your summer playlist.

International human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson was just 28 years old when she became a part of what was, at the time, the biggest news story in the world: Julian Assange* and Wikileaks. From the outset, Robinson was told that she was too young - a critique exemplified by a demoralising interaction with one of the world’s most eminent lawyers. 

For the first time, Jennifer Robinson shares that moment, how she forged her place as one of the most prodigious legal minds of her generation and shares her advice for the next generation of legal minds when they’re told that they’re also too young.

*Please note: this conversation was published in March 2024, before Julian Assange was released.

• Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. Explore a career with Victoria Police.
• Become an FW member to join the movement and fast-track your professional development. 

• Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Turia Pitt is one of Australia’s most inspirational women. She is a wearer of many hats - an author, speaker, business owner, ambassador. She is also a runner. Running changed her life forever when, while competing in an ultramarathon in remote Western Australia, she was caught in an out of control grassfire and sustained burns to 65 per cent of her body. In this episode, Pitt joins Helen McCabe to reflect on what continues to fuel her and why she might just be “too combative”. 

• Too Much is a podcast series proudly supported by Victoria Police, who are looking for more women to join their ranks. Explore a career with Victoria Police.
• Become an FW member to join the movement and fast-track your professional development. 

Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Threads

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.