Too Much: The Switch by Future Women

Chanel Contos was just 21 years old when she launched an online petition that sparked a movement and propelled her into the global spotlight. Teach Us Consent triggered a national conversation and led to mandatory consent education in all Australian schools. In this episode, Contos joins Helen McCabe to reflect on the personal price of radical change, and the power that can come with being “too disruptive”.

• 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.

• Learn more about Teach Us Consent and read Chanel's book, Consent Laid Bare

• Become an FW member to join the movement and fast-track your professional development.

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

 

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Lydia Williams is a professional soccer player and Australia’s longest-serving Matilda. She made her debut in 2005, when she was 17-years-old, and has only just retired from the national squad. In this episode, Williams joins Helen McCabe to reflect on her journey as a Matilda and how she pushed past being labelled “too humble” at key points in her career. 

• 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.

Season two of FW’s award-winning podcast, Too Much, returns on Monday January 13, 2025. Over eight episodes, hear from high-achieving women who defied the critics that said they were “too something” and built extraordinary careers instead.

• 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 in 2025.
• Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn or Threads 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Preeya Alexander is the kind of general practitioner we'd all want in our lives: she's intelligent, passionate and empathetic. She cares about her patients. Is that a bad thing? It depends on who you ask. In the final episode of Too Much season one, Dr Alexander opens up about a career of criticism from colleagues and supervisors that she's "too emotional". 

• Keep up with Dr Preeya Alexander's work.
• 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 or Threads 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Virginia Haussegger is an award-winning television journalist, writer, commentator, and passionate women’s advocate with a career spanning the globe. From reporting in Washington, New York, and the Middle East to making her mark in Australia, Virginia has worked with nearly every major TV network.

Throughout her exceptional career, Virginia has faced unforgettable moments, from sparking national media firestorms with her columns to navigating criticism for being "too outspoken".

• 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, Threads and X

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sarah Davidson’s professional life began as a mergers and acquisitions lawyer at a leading international law firm, however, she knew early on that that career wasn’t forever. Sarah took a leap and eventually her side hustle turned into her main business. 

Nowadays Sarah is a ‘funtrepreneur’ who shares her joy and enthusiasm through her page Spoonful of Sarah as well as her highly popular podcast, Seize the Yay. She joins Helen McCabe to talk about navigating the legal and corporate worlds while being told she was “too gentle”.

• 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, Threads and X

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia is well and truly taking Hollywood by storm, on screen and behind the scenes. This week Helen McCabe is joined by a woman behind the tinseltown takeover, Jodi Matterson. Jodi serves as Managing Director of Australia, partner and producer of Made Up Stories.

Jodi Matterson has been utterly committed to her work, sometimes at the expense of her family, relationships and health. And despite her success, operating at this level of intensity for so long takes a toll. Is there such a thing as “too committed”? And as a woman in an historically male-dominated industry, is that the price of success? 

• 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. 
• Watch the trailer for Jodi Matterson’s latest project, The Dry 2: Force of Nature

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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, LinkedIn, Threads and X

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ilsa Wakeling is an Acting Superintendent with Victoria Police. She joins Helen McCabe to discuss the challenges of rising through the ranks in a male-dominated field. She also lays out how, in her new role, she’s paving a better path for the women following her lead - and the lessons she learned from being labelled “too unwell”.

• 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, Threads and X

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grace Tame became a household name when in 2021 she was named Australian of the Year for her powerful advocacy. Since then she has remained an unrelenting force driving difficult conversations about preventing child sexual abuse into the mainstream and making systemic change. 

Continuing this work as the CEO of the Grace Tame Foundation takes immense dedication - even obsession. Grace joins Helen McCabe to reflect on the successes and setbacks of a career - and a life - that’s been labelled “too obsessive”.

• 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
• Find out more about the Grace Tame Foundation
• Keep up with @futurewomen on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads and X

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.