Cleopatra's Bling Podcast

Our guest today deals in such precious items, we cannot reveal his full name or his face. Sean is a diamond dealer, and an expert in the trade, as well as an incomparably fascinating storyteller. He and Olivia have worked together for years , and share a delight in these natural, sparkling, invincible materials. He traces a diamond's hidden origins beneath the Earth's mantle, pressurised and pushe...

Have you ever been caught in a lie? Maybe just a small one. Borne out of a misunderstanding. Never intended to be told. But one lie leads to another. "It's easier to go along with it than to explain the whole truth," you tell yourself. That's exactly where the protagonist of Dominic Amerena 's debut novel, I Want Everything , finds himself. Dom is a masterful storyteller. We talked about truth and...

Every day, Edhi lives with the unseen. Spirits hover in daily life, receiving offerings of coffee, rice, even cigarettes. In this episode, Olivia and her friend drive through Bali's lush landscapes, discussing ancestral presence, the philosophy of balance, and why both angels and devils deserve respect. – Shop Latest Discover Bespoke This episode was live-recorded in Bali, Indonesia. Cleopatra's B...

For many holidaygoers, visiting beachside destinations like Bali becomes an excuse to harrass locals, buy cheap souvenirs, and see the inside of a local hospital after an inebriated scooter ride. In recent years, TV shows like  White Lotus have brought the dark side of tourists' superficial engagement with local culture into the maintstream. But in my conversation with Tjok Maya Kerthyasa, author,...

Artist Miranda Skoczek transcends the traditional role of painter, creating wall works, co-designing with fashion houses like Gorman and Silk Laundry, and crafting figurines inspired by ancient Pagan traditions of her Slavic ancestry. We share a love of symbols and amulets, and we discussed how to bring their imagery and power into a contemporary context while honouring these traditions and buildi...

"You're not like other girls, you're not pretty... you look... interesting." These are the words Syrian-Palestinian model  Lana Albeik (born and based in the Emirates) has heard many times throughout her career. In today's episode she shares her story, alongside her advice on overcoming naysayers, nastiness, and prejudice. Through her career Albeik has combined activism, heritage, and fashion in w...

There was a moment in 2020 when Instagram was suddenly blanketed by black squares as social media users struggled to find a way to express that they supported the justified anger and calls for justice within the Black community. In the years since, as the frenzied media cycle churned on, the spotlight may have shifted away from issues of racial justice and the black squares were quietly deleted, a...

Have you ever wondered what connections ancient cultures see between totally disparate parts of the body?   How earlobe connects to spleen, and eyebrow to abdomen? After discovering a breast tumour in her 20s, Zoey Xinyi Gong realised that she needed to make some changes in her life to protect her health. This involved an innovative approach to Western and Eastern medicine. Coming from a "traditio...

Artist Atong Atem proclaims proudly, "I'm not a subtle girl". In this episode filled with laughter and the sharing of history and creative influences, Olivia and Atong joke about painfully plain interior design trends, the pipeline from large families to the decision to elope, and Atong's view of herself as science fiction character. The conversation also takes a deep turn towards the history and...

"I love this lack of control." These are the words founder and designer Olivia Cummings used to describe the contrast between becoming a first time mother, and running a business. On the 18.10.24 our founder Olivia  welcomed her most precious creation to date , as she birthed her first child, a daughter, into this world. A few weeks ago, in the final stages of her pregnancy, she sat down with podc...

Virginia Trioli has won not one, but two Walkleys–the highest prize for journalism in Australia–through her illustrious career which spans decades and many eras of politcal and cultural life. It's no wonder, then, that you've never heard a more engaging storyteller. Virginia became a household name as the host of the morning news, and famed political panel program Q&A, and currently delves into th...

Imagine a world in which the same earth you walk had been populated by Gods in years past. These deities may have had bull's tails, or the heads of falcons, held massive whips, or possessed the moon in their left eye. This was the belief system of the Ancient Egyptians, who saw their Kings and Queens as direct descandents of these divinities, and founders of human society. The Pharaoh ruled not on...

In the first episode of the 5th season, I wanted to focus on my journey: owning and running a successful beauty, history, and design-driven brand ; being an expectant first-time mother; and navigating life's ups and downs.  This is a side of myself I don't always share, but I wanted to open up this more personal and vulnerable aspect, in the hopes that it might touch you too, and make you feel lik...

Olivia first came across Charnel Rizk when she read her moving short essay My Family's Yellow Fibro Home was my Greatest Teacher . As a young writer Charnel writes about her identity as a Lebanese-Australian, and how her background forms an indelible part of the performer, musician, and creative she is today. Talking to Charnel gives us new insights into the way that coming from an immigration bac...

Do you sometimes feel scared about the direction that the world is going in, but not sure what you can do to help? Too overwhelmed to turn on the news? Sophie McNeill is a journalist and researcher for  Human Rights Watch , covering everything from the most headline-grabbing events to some of the forgotten stories of our times. Her dedication to bringing to light stories from far flung corners of...

This episode contains inspiring ideas, intimate connection, and practical advice, as we explore the power of purpose-driven work. Less an interview and more a free ranging and informative conversation between two longtime friends and successful businesswomen. Ethical beauty brand Fluff founder Erika Geraerts sat down with the creative director of  Cleopatra's Bling , Olivia Cummings , to delve int...

Natasha Lunn is a bestselling writer and journalist whose passion is having Conversations on Love . Her weekly newsletter and her essay compilations of the same name help us understand how relationships function, and how they grow through our lives. Natasha has interviewed Alain de Botton, Esther Perrel, and David Sedaris about love, and I was delighted to have the opportunity to interview her. I...

A dinner party guest we'd all love to be next to (or, frankly, be!) is the warm, encylopaedically knowledgeable historian Erin O'Halloran . As quick with an interesting anecdote as with unexpected insights into the connections between far reaching areas in the ancient world, listening to her is like being transported to Egypt, India or the Middle East in times gone by. Bringing the lofty topic of...

If you've ever wondered why a chef might need to know the exact temperature of a cow's fourth stomach, chef Lucy Whitlow - is here to fill you in. She turns dairy produce into delicious cheeses, creams, and milk products, balancing the slowness needed to keep cheese "happy" and "calm" with the fast paced restaurant industry. She and Olivia discuss emotions that go into food, the complex qualities...

Ennis Ćehić understands the predicament many of us are in in the 21st century - we need a money job to pursue a creative passion. As an author, he managed to capitalise on his experience working as a brand strategist and use it to fuel his writing with biting humour and detailed observation. Ennis' work deals with disillusionment, displacement, and the odd feeling of living in our modern world. Hi...

There is a moment in every child's life when they realise that the relationships around them may not be as simple as they seem. It's a perplexing sensation that can stay with us well into adulthood: times when you see your partner speaking, but hear the words of their father or grandmother emerging from their mouth. That generations present are haunted by generations past is something that poet Tr...

Bestselling author , and marriage and family therapist, Elizabeth Earnshaw has been helping couples and parents for decades. She uses attachment theory to help individuals understand better how and why they are reacting to emotional triggers. Her insights have been featured on the Huffington Post, the New York Times, and Oprah. Olivia sat down with Elizabeth to discuss how to love, even when it ge...

What kind of engagement ring would a jeweller want for herself? These questions and more in our final episode of the season that covers the earliest ever love rings, engagement rings' secret codes, and how capture by pirates led to one of the world's most iconic love ring designs.

Our guest today is more often referred to by the charming moniker "Blooms" which she uses as her Instagram handle @petrinablooms . This cheerful gardener is as riotously colourful and funny as the wild and varied flowers she tends to in the green expanses of her suburban Melbourne home. It's these flowers that Petrina Burrill handpicks and sells as part of her sustainable floristry practice. In si...

Many of us spend our whole lives attempting to climb the ladder of success in our chosen profession. Liam Spurrell found accolades and opportunities early: thanks to his talent for flavour and keen eye for detail already at a young age he found positions opening up to him in some of Melbourne's best restaurants. But rather than stay in the ratatouille race, Liam decided to trade in his chef's whit...