Yarning Up First Nations Stories with Caroline Kell

In this episode, Caroline is joined by proud Wadjanbarra Yidinji, Jirrbal, and African-American woman Sasha Kutabah Sarago.  Sasha is the author of the deeply raw and soul nourishing book  ‘Gigorou’  meaning 'beautiful' in Jirrbal, her grandmother's language, which takes audiences on a journey of First Nations Wisdom and Womanhood.  

Sasha is also a former model, business woman, and speaker who advocates for culture, diversity, and equity in business, media, and lifestyle. Her TEDx talk, 'The (de)colonising of beauty,' was recognised as an Editor's Choice on TED.com in 2021. 

In this yarn, Caroline and Sasha explore the themes of Sasha’s new book ‘Gigorou’,  which invites women to reclaim their femininity, their softness, their beauty, their rage, their power - all while navigating colonial beauty ideals and  standards.

They delve deep into the empowering concepts of decolonising beauty and Blak power, and radical self care for First Nations people. 

Emotions run high as they discuss the necessary steps to reclaiming one's voice and dismantling the stifling expectations placed upon First Nations women, a topic that resonates profoundly with Sasha. They also unpack the complex dynamics of anger as a First Nations tidda/sister, an episode not to be missed. 

Link to Sasha’s TEDx talk - Decolonising Beauty, here. Sasha’s book Gigorou is also available at Booktopia and Audible.

To keep up to date with what Sasha’s up to, follow her on Instagram @ascensionmag. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and don’t forget to follow the show! 

Follow Caroline on Instagram @blak_wattle_coaching and learn more about working with Caroline here! 

We would like to acknowledge Aboriginal people as Australia’s First Peoples’ who have never ceded their sovereignty. We acknowledge the Wurundjeri/Woiwurrung people of the Kulin Nation where the podcast was taped. We pay our deepest respects to Traditional Owners across Australia and Elders past, present and emerging.

This podcast was brought to you by On Track Studio.

www.ontrackstudio.com.au

@on.track.studio

For advertising opportunities please email [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Caroline is joined by proud Wiradjuri woman Taylah Gray, whose campaigning efforts for First Nations rights have made national headlines. And if that wasn’t impressive enough, she is the first Aboriginal student to undertake a PhD in law at the University of Newcastle, which focuses on Native Title, land reform, and increasing economic growth for First Nations communities. 

In this episode, Caroline and Taylah yarn about  what’s it’s like taking the TedX stage, which saw Taylah recently educate the audience on Native Title. They discussed the value of disagreement/disputes and  devisiveness of The Voice. Taylah generously shared how she chooses self-love and self care. And finally, Caroline and Taylah open up about their shared experiences of losing a parent, and Taylah’s offers some beautiful and profound view on grief  and loss, which everyone needs to hear!

To keep up to date with what Taylah’s follow her on Instagram taylah_gray_. 

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and don’t forget to follow the show! 

Follow Caroline on Instagram @blak_wattle_coaching and learn more about working with Caroline here! 

We would like to acknowledge Aboriginal people as Australia’s First Peoples’ who have never ceded their sovereignty. We acknowledge the Wurundjeri/Woiwurrung people of the Kulin Nation where the podcast was taped. We pay our deepest respects to Traditional Owners across Australia and Elders past, present and emerging.

This podcast was brought to you by On Track Studio.

www.ontrackstudio.com.au

@on.track.studio

For advertising opportunities please email [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Caroline is joined by Brooke Blurton.  Brooke is a proud Noongar/Yamatji person living in Naarm/Melbourne. Brooke broke records as the first Indigenous and bisexual Bachelorette for Network Ten's reality show and has since built an impressive career in the media Industry, including appearing in several other programs and co-hosting the “Not so PG podcast.”  

In this episode, Caroline and Brooke yarn about Brooke’s first memoir and book 'Big Love' which is about reclaiming herself, her people and her Country. Brooke speaks about her personal story, and the uplifting power of unconditional connection and love. They also unpack how in a white society not built for First Nations people how Brooke has found her own voice, and she also provides some really practical tips to cultivate self-love.

To keep up to date with what’s Brooke’s up to, follow her on Instagram @brooke.blurton.  To purchase Brookes book ‘Big Love’ visit here.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and don’t forget to follow the show! 

Follow Caroline on Instagram @blak_wattle_coaching and learn more about working with Caroline here! 

We would like to acknowledge Aboriginal people as Australia’s First Peoples’ who have never ceded their sovereignty. We acknowledge the Wurundjeri/Woiwurrung people of the Kulin Nation where the podcast was taped. We pay our deepest respects to Traditional Owners across Australia and Elders past, present and emerging.

This podcast was brought to you by On Track Studio.

www.ontrackstudio.com.au

@on.track.studio

For advertising opportunities please email [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Caroline is joined by proud Gunnai, Kurnai, Yorta Yorta & Wiradjuri woman Sky Thomas, and Rosie Kalina, a proud Wemba Wemba & Gunditjmara woman. Both are two iconic and community minded First Nations creatives, providing Blak joy through music, art and expression!

Rosie is a highly regarded creative working in multiple artistic fields. She works in visual arts and curating, she specialises in makeup artistry, community arts work and producing.  She is this years Creative Associate for YIRRAMBOI. 

And Sky has a history in the creative industries, community engagement and events production – and she’s implementing all that she’s digested over the years into her new role of Music Producer at YIRRAMBOI. 

Returning for its 4th Iteration, YIRRAMBOI will run from the 4 – 14 May 2023. It will again invite audiences to immerse themselves in Blak stories- our truth, our way. YIRRAMBOI means ‘tomorrow’ in both the Boonwurrung and Woiwurrung peoples language. It will celebrate the interconnectedness and diversity of First Nations creatives, both locally and globally, through a 10-day celebration of various artistic expressions that showcase the resilience and evolutionary practices of First Nations people. 

During this episode, Sky and Rosie offer insights into what people can expect at this year's event, which includes a vast array of immersive experience with a ‘post apocalyptic theme’ - such as music, dance, drag, visual arts, fashion and so much more! 

We yarn about Rosie’s and Sky family which have inspired their artistic joy and abilities,  yarn some of their favourite and upcoming creatives, and of course, why Blak spaces that ooze Blak love and joy are needed. 

Naarm/Melbourne, are you ready to feel the hum of Country beneath. Will you hear it? To find out more information about YIRRAMBOI, check out the website here.

To keep up to date with Rosie, be sure to follow on Instagram here.

To keep up to date with Sky, be sure to follow on Instagram here.

To find out more information about Yirramboi, check out the website here.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and don’t forget to follow the show! 

Follow Caroline on Instagram @blak_wattle_coaching and learn more about working with Caroline here! 

We would like to acknowledge Aboriginal people as Australia’s First Peoples’ who have never ceded their sovereignty. We acknowledge the Wurundjeri/Woiwurrung people of the Kulin Nation where the podcast was taped. We pay our deepest respects to Traditional Owners across Australia and Elders past, present and emerging.

This podcast was brought to you by On Track Studio.

www.ontrackstudio.com.au

@on.track.studio

For advertising opportunities please email [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Caroline is joined by a proud Gamilaroi Woman,  Brooke Boney.  Brooke is a News and Entertainment Reporter for Today, with a background in political journalism and previous experience working for National Indigenous Television (NITV), SBS, and the ABC. After her role as Triple J's weekday morning news presenter, Brooke joined the Today Show. 

During their conversation, Caroline and Brooke discuss their personal stories and  upbringings in large First Nations  families. Brooke, an exceptional storyteller, writer, and reporter, shares her journey from her childhood and the career and life she has built for herself.  They discuss Brooke Boney’s beautiful interaction with Denzel Washington, and other celebrities she has met and interviewed. 

Towards the end of the conversation, they delve into the topic of burnout and self-care. Working in the fast-paced media industry, Brooke shares her philosophy on avoiding burnout and finding ways to reground, balance, and stay afloat. To keep up to date with Brooke, be sure to follow on Instagram here. 

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and don’t forget to follow the show! 

Follow Caroline on Instagram @blak_wattle_coaching and learn more about working with Caroline here! 

We would like to acknowledge Aboriginal people as Australia’s First Peoples’ who have never ceded their sovereignty. We acknowledge the Wurundjeri/Woiwurrung people of the Kulin Nation where the podcast was taped. We pay our deepest respects to Traditional Owners across Australia and Elders past, present and emerging.

This podcast was brought to you by On Track Studio.

www.ontrackstudio.com.au

@on.track.studio

For advertising opportunities please email [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yarning Up has returned for Season Three, with even more rich and inspiring, First Nation’s guests and conversations to come.  

In this season's first instalment, Caroline had the pleasure of yarning with Gunai, Kurnai and Wotjobaluk man, Ben Abbatangelo.  Ben is a passionate and purpose driven storyteller, story-maker and story-amplifier, which is reflected in his many creative outputs.  Such as documentaries for VICE, writing for The Saturday Paper and The Guardian, and being a regular voice for various ABC channels and The Project.

The conversation between Caroline and Ben is deeply rich, inspiring, and generous. It delves deep into their perspectives, aspirations and doubts about the upcoming referendum in Australia, which is set to take place between October and December 2023. 

The referendum will seek to enshrine First Peoples into the constitution as the rightful owners of "so-called Australia" and ask all Australians the following:

‘’A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?’’

As well as that, it will be put to Australians that the constitution be amended to include a new chapter titled "Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples"

A special thanks to our listeners who also weighed in on this topic! We appreciate you. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and don’t forget to follow the show!

To keep up to date with Benny, be sure to follow on Instagram here. 

Follow Caroline on Instagram @blak_wattle_coaching and learn more about working with Caroline here! 

We would like to acknowledge Aboriginal people as Australia’s First Peoples’ who have never ceded their sovereignty. We acknowledge the Wurundjeri/Woiwurrung people of the Kulin Nation where the podcast was taped. We pay our deepest respects to Traditional Owners across Australia and Elders past, present and emerging.

This podcast was brought to you by On Track Studio.

www.ontrackstudio.com.au

@on.track.studio

For advertising opportunities please email [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week’s episode, Caroline is joined by the founders of Bush to Bowl. Bush to Bowl is 100% Aboriginal owned, by Clarence Bruinsma, proud Yaegl man, and Adam Byrne, proud Garigal/Gadigal man. Bush To Bowl is a social enterprise aimed at creating a healing space & platform for First Nations people by connecting to Country and their traditional foodways. Where they practice culture, give back to Country,  mob and the wider community. 

In this eye opening yarn we learn about  Adam and Clarence's journeys, how they met and what led them together to create such an impactful enterprise. Having both grown up in the country and learning from a young age the beauty and power beneath each plant and tree, their mission is to create spaces where families and community members can engage with Australia’s native plants and traditional Aboriginal knowledge and culture, and provide a community for young mob to work and grow. We learn about the power and medicine of Native Plants. And the need to centre First Nations justice, in the fight for Climate Justice.

More about the guests:

Adam Byrne

Adam is a Garigal descendent currently living on Kamay Country on the Northern beaches of NSW. He is passionate about his Culture , teaching about it’s importance connecting mob to their traditional foodways as a form of healing. Adam is a qualified landscaper and designer who specialises in Horticulture and is inspired by traditional farming practices.

Clarence Bruinsma

Clarence is a Yaegl descendant who has had the luck of growing up in the North Coast of NSW learning about his culture on his Mothers Country. He has learnt about our traditional foods from a young age from turtle diving to foraging fresh foods from the bush throughout his life. He couples this with his profession of teaching and love for sharing to bring his knowledges to Bush to bowl

To keep up to date with Bush to Bowl, be sure to follow on Instagram here. 

And to learn more, visit the website here. 

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and don’t forget to follow the show! 

Follow Caroline on Instagram @blak_wattle_coaching and learn more about working with Caroline here! 

We would like to acknowledge Aboriginal people as Australia’s First Peoples’ who have never ceded their sovereignty. We acknowledge the Wurundjeri/Woiwurrung people of the Kulin Nation where the podcast was taped. We pay our deepest respects to Traditional Owners across Australia and Elders past, present and emerging.

This podcast was brought to you by On Track Studio.

www.ontrackstudio.com.au

@on.track.studio

For advertising opportunities please email [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week’s episode, Caroline is joined by Larisha Jerome, proud Jarowair, Wakka Wakka & Wulli Wulli woman, who grew up on Darug Country in Western Sydney. Larisha has an extensive background in banking, women’s health, government, and community services. She leads the Foundation’s Women’s Financial Wellness work addressing the economic injustice First Nations people face and empowering women to achieve full financial wellness and independence. 

In this incredibly knowledgeable and insightful yarn, the two start by reflecting on their similar upbringings, watching their mums forced to live paycheck to paycheck and, like most mob, struggling with the barriers and hindrance experienced after years of financial trauma forced onto our community. Larisha was determined to break this cycle within her family, with hard work and discipline, she entered the housing market at the age of 21, buying her first home. 

Today, Larisha empowers our community to change their mindset around money through the power of stories and help break the patterns that are evident within our community, to help us take back financial control. 

Her belief is knowledge is power and that being rich is just a mindset and that First Nations  women are capable and deserving of prosperous lives. Larisha uses the podcasting space to host her podcast, Rich Blak Women, which she describes as a “modern-day type of yarning circle” to further educate the community and inspire listeners to push the idea of “self-care” to include healthy financial behaviours, starting with talking openly about money, asking questions and learning how to say no. Larisha brings her insight of these topics today and offers amazing tips to allow abundance and prosperity in your financial life with the ability to use her technique of affirm, release and allow.   

To keep up to date with Larisha, be sure to follow her on Instagram here. 

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and don’t forget to follow the show! 

Follow Caroline on Instagram @blak_wattle_coaching and learn more about working with Caroline here! 

We would like to acknowledge Aboriginal people as Australia’s First Peoples’ who have never ceded their sovereignty. We acknowledge the Wurundjeri/Woiwurrung people of the Kulin Nation where the podcast was taped. We pay our deepest respects to Traditional Owners across Australia and Elders past, present and emerging.

This podcast was brought to you by On Track Studio.

www.ontrackstudio.com.au

@on.track.studio

For advertising opportunities please email [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week’s episode, Caroline is joined by Benny Clark, proud Gunai, Kurnai and Djapwurrung man. Benny is a Melbourne based session drummer playing for the likes of Baker Boy and Dallas Woods among many others. Benny has always been open to being vulnerable and expressing himself, and this episode is no exception. 

He tells us about growing up in predominantly white neighbourhood, and the mistreatment and abuse he experienced for being openly and proudly Indigenous. With diagnosed ADHD young, Benny admits to getting bored of things quite quickly, which is what his parents expected to happen when he asked for a drum kit. 27 years later he's made his mark, working with some incredible artists along the way. The two yarn about his extensive music career, his influence and introduction to the music world, working with artists like Baker Boy and their incredible story of determination to perform after Splendour In The Grass was cancelled only hours before their set. 

To keep up to date with Benny Clark, be sure to follow him on Instagram here.

This episodes deals with some issues of suicide and self harm. If you or someone you know is struggling then contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 13 Yarn on 13 92 76.

safeTALK is a half-day alertness workshop that prepares anyone over the age of 15, regardless of prior experience or training, to become a suicide-alert helper. 

For more information about Safe Talk, click the link here.  

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and don’t forget to follow the show! 

Follow Caroline on Instagram @blak_wattle_coaching and learn more about working with Caroline here! 

We would like to acknowledge Aboriginal people as Australia’s First Peoples’ who have never ceded their sovereignty. We acknowledge the Wurundjeri/Woiwurrung people of the Kulin Nation where the podcast was taped. We pay our deepest respects to Traditional Owners across Australia and Elders past, present and emerging.

This podcast was brought to you by On Track Studio.

www.ontrackstudio.com.au

@on.track.studio

For advertising opportunities please email [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's episode, Caroline is joined by proud First Nations Ngiyampaa man, Pirritu (Brett Lee). Pirritu, is a singer and songwriter, whose music is a reflective anecdote to his connection with land and culture. After being adopted out at birth, he was always raised to be proud of his Aboriginality. At 14, he began his journey to connect back to his family roots of land, culture and language.

Pirritu describes music as always being fundamentally a part of who he is. While training as an athlete growing up, he remembers training with a tune in mind or breathing  to a rhythm. Deciding to take time away from sport to heal a knee injury, he dived in hard, buying a ukulele and gravitated towards creating his own music. 17 years later, Pirritu is creating music that is eclectic, gentle and from the heart. 

Caroline and Pirritu yarn about his incredible music career and how he started. They yarn about his newest album, Pirritu Part 1, and the inspiration behind the sun-filled collection of gorgeous and strikingly honest acoustic folk songs. After an amazing heart felt yarn, Pirritu  fills us in on what’s to come and his exciting projects on the horizon. 

To keep up to date with Pirritu, be sure to follow on Instagram here. 

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and don’t forget to follow the show! 

Follow Caroline on Instagram @blak_wattle_coaching and learn more about working with Caroline here! 

We would like to acknowledge Aboriginal people as Australia’s First Peoples’ who have never ceded their sovereignty. We acknowledge the Wurundjeri/Woiwurrung people of the Kulin Nation where the podcast was taped. We pay our deepest respects to Traditional Owners across Australia and Elders past, present and emerging.

This podcast was brought to you by On Track Studio.

www.ontrackstudio.com.au

@on.track.studio

For advertising opportunities please email [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.