Yarning Up First Nations Stories with Caroline Kell

In this week's episode, Caroline is joined by proud Gunditjmara, Bindal, Yorta Yorta and Torres Strait Islander from Mer and Erub islands person, Tarneen Onus-Browne. They are a community legal educator, writer, film maker and community organiser for Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance.

Tarneen’s has had a key role in supporting and advocating for Indigenous communities, even releasing a film “young mob questioning treaty”, which was screened internationally at ImagineNATIVE in Toronto and Tampere Film Festival in Finland.

After recently working together, the two take the time to reflect on the courage of Aboriginal youth of today, admiring their emotional awareness, honesty and curiosity. This allows them to have a vulnerable yarn about growing up as a blackfulla in small towns and reflecting on how adversity has led them down their path today.

Tarneen opens up about their unique journey of discovering themself, their sexuality and how they navigated coming out as queer. This raw, real and beautiful yarn gives an insight into the incredible life of Tarneen and the many hats they wear, from daughter and sister, to passionate mentor and activist, with joys in film making, and baking. 

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 NAIDOC week episode, Caroline is joined by proud Kamilaroi man, Matty Mills. A TV presenter, actor and now podcaster, Matty has appeared on Channel 9’s Getaway, SBS and NITV. He preformed the role of Jimmy in the Australian classic, Priscilla Queen of the Desert. And most recently,  has a lead role in the play The Top Coat at the Sydney Theatre Company. 

The two have an intimate yarn about Matty’s life off the screens and the many adversities he has had to overcome. They are candid and discuss the evolution of Matty’s career. They unpack the good, the bad and the ugly of being a blackfulla in Australian media.

To learn more about Matty follow him on Instagram @itsmattymills.

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 very special Reconciliation Week special
episode, Caroline is joined by Yorta Yorta man Tiriki Onus. Tiriki is the Senior Lecturer and Head of the Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts and Cultural Development, University of Melbourne. He is a successful visual artist, curator, performance artist and opera singer. 

They delve deep into Tirikis latest creative pursuit and journey co-writing and co- directing, the documentary Ablaze. A feature documentary staring Tiriki who finds a 70-year-old silent film believed to be made by his grandfather, prolific Aboriginal leader and filmmaker Bill Onus. 

As Tiriki travels across the continent and pieces together clues to the film’s origins, he discovers more about Bill, his fight for Aboriginal rights and the price he paid for speaking out.

Ablaze was released in cinemas across Australia on the 26 May 2022. 

For more on it’s release visit https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/ablaze-2020/38245

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 Amanda Healey, proud Wonnarua woman and CEO and founder of Kirrikin. 

After living overseas, Amanda returned home to have her son and was confronted with the difficulty of working a corporate job as a single mother. This is where her entrepreneurial journey began! Initially she founded a  business in the fabrication and engineering field, but switched gears when she was brought to solve an issue within the Australian fashion market. Wanting to create a brand that represented the beauty of Indigenous art, with bright, bold, beautiful colours and patterns… Kirrikin was born. 

Kirrikin is a luxurious silk clothing line that features a selection of paintings from emerging & renowned Indigenous artists, with profits going directly to artists. Kirrikin has been showcased globally in Los Angeles Fashion Week and Brussels Fashion Week. 

With Sydney Fashion week only just wrapping up, Amanda sheds light on the process of creating her latest line 'Ripples' and how she creates the designs for each fashion show and how she works with artists to create the incredible pieces within her collection.

To learn more about Amanda and her brand Kirrikin, follow her on Instagram @kirrikinaustralia and visit her 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 proud Wiradjuri and Wolgalu man, Joe Williams. Joe has played sport professionally for over 15 years, playing rugby league

before switching to professional boxing. Although forging a successful professional sporting career, he felt his true purpose was helping people who struggled with mental illness, after overcoming his own battles with suicidal ideation and Bi Polar Disorder.

In this episode, Caroline and Joe yarn about Joe’s early life and what it was like for Joe stepping into the sporting arena at 13 years old. They talk about his autobiography ‘Defying the Enemy within’. And, Both Caroline and Joe are candid in sharing their struggles with mental health and what led them both sobriety. 

To learn more about Joe and his work, follow him on Instagram @joewilliams_tew

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

Link to Joe’s autobiography 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 episode, Caroline is joined by proud Wiradjuri women and well known author and commentator, Dr Anita Heiss.  

Caroline and Anita yarn about Anita’s extensive career, having published 20 non-fiction, historical fiction, commercial fiction and children’s novels.

They discuss the power of stories, and the escapism it brings. Including, Anita’s book ‘Growing up Aboriginal in Australia’. And what led Anita to totally rewrote her memoir, ‘Am I Black Enough For You?’ 10 years after it was originally published in 2011.  Anita also shares how she, too, has battled with imposter syndrome and finding confidence. 

To learn more about Dr Anita and her work, follow her on Instagram @dranitaheiss and visit her website here. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and don’t forget to follow the show! 

Links to Dr Anita’s book recommendations;

Shake a leg

Mullumbimby 

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 has the pleasure of talking to proud Wiradjuri Woman, Danni Mcdonald. Mother of two., Dani is a Coach, Yoga Teacher and Director of Nomadic Belle.

In this episode Dani talks about the power of breathwork shedding light on her personal experience; how she found calm in the chaos. She shares openly about her own experience with depression and anxiety, and her inability to connect with her body and regulate emotions. To supporting a friend by attending yoga to going on to teach, this practice. yoga.

Caroline and Danni deep dive into the importance of connecting the mind with the body and taking some small moments, where you can, to simply be with what's coming up and breathe. Dani suggests starting small with apps like Headspace and Insight.

To learn more about Danni and her yoga work, follow her on Instagram here and visit her 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 has an extremely raw and candid conversation, with a very special guest, Greens Senator, Lidia Thorpe. Lidia is a proud DjabWurrung Gunnai Gunditjmara woman with a long and proud history advancing human rights and social participation.

Lidia is the current Senator for Victoria, representing the Australian Greens, and is also the first Aboriginal Senator from Victoria.  

Recently in Australia, there has been an uprising of outrage against the violence and sexual assault experienced by women in Parliament. In this episode, they discuss Lidia’s experience being a Blak women in Parliament and unpack some of her experiences with racism, sexism and other discriminatory practices.  

Lidia outlines the important steps for young people and First Nations communities to make to create a ‘fair government’ that seeks to advance climate justice action, by explaining the importance of voting in the next election.

She also shares some inspiring stories of her upbringing and the long line of strong blak women who have shaped her. This is certainly an episode you won’t want to miss! 

To learn more about Lidia and the  Australian Greens Party follow her on Instagram here and visit her website here. To learn more about Lidia’s amazing work, be sure to listen to her podcast Truth Telling with Lidia Thorpe 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!

This episode deals with themes of family and sexual violence that some viewers might find triggering. If you need assistance, it’s ok to not be ok, you can contact Djirra on 1800 105 303 or Safe Steps 1800 015 188.

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 sits down with incredible self-starter, Indigenous entrepreneur and public figure,  Bianca Hunt. 

Bianca Hunt is a proud Kamilaroi, Barkindji, Ballardong and Wadjak Woman who has  hosted the  2019 national NAIDOC awards, she is a Linkedin changemaker, and was the former co-host of NITV’s Yokayi Football Program. 

Bianca often struggled finding a place in the entertainment industry, an issue shared with many other First Nations creatives. This unsafe practice in the market led Bianca to create AGNT BLAK, the first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander talent and media agency in the country!

Caroline and Bianca yarn about her childhood. They discuss the reality behind social media, what it’s like for Bianca being a First Nations woman, establishing her career and navigating the Australian media landscape and also unpack how Bianca finds confidence and nurtures her own resilience when showing up publicly and online.

To experience more of Bianca  follow her on Instagram here and to learn more about her amazing work, be sure to follow AGNT BLAK 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.

Welcome to Season 2 of Yarning Up! 

In this episode Caroline sits down with renowned Indigenous soul singer and powerhouse vocalist, Emma Donovan. 

Emma is best known for her work with soul bands, The Putbacks and The Black Arm Band project. She has also toured and recorded with Archie Roach and Spinifex Gum and opened for likes of Paul Kelly and The Teskey Brothers. On her mother’s side, Emma is part of the famed Donovan family of singers of the Gumbaynggirr people, of what is now known as Northern New South Wales. On her Father’s side, Emma is of the Yamatji people, of Western Australia.

Caroline and Emma yarn about what it was like for Emma to step in the limelight and grow her confidence as an Aboriginal woman and singer. Emma shares stories of her childhood and uncovers the gifts, talents and legacies that she has taken up from her very musically esteemed family in both her personal life and her musical career.  

To experience more of Emma follow her on Instagram here, check out her upcoming gigs here and listen to her recent album Crossover, with the critically-acclaimed rhythm combo, The Putbacks 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.