Mana Mind StrongHer

What does it take to build a successful business while staying true to your values, culture and purpose? In this episode of Mana Mind StrongHer, I sit down with Marilyn, founder of The Spice Plantation, to talk about her journey as a business owner, the lessons she’s learned along the way, and the realities behind building something meaningful. Marilyn shares insights on entrepreneurship, resilien...

Many people know Marilyn as the woman behind Fiji Spice and The Spice Plantation, but there is so much more to her story than the businesses she has built. In this episode of Mana Mind StrongHer, Marilyn shares her journey from her upbringing and cultural roots to becoming a respected business owner, community leader and advocate for preserving culture through food and connection. We talk about fa...

In this episode of Mana Mind StrongHer, I sit down with Manshika, Miss Universe Fiji 2024, for a conversation that goes far beyond the crown. We speak about her journey through modelling and pageantry, the pressure that can sit behind polished spaces, and what it means to carry both beauty and burden at the same time. Manshika also opens up about surviving domestic violence, the impact it had on h...

In this episode of Mana Mind StrongHer, I sit down with Diana, a proud Chinese-Fijian woman, Western Sydney local, mother, woman of faith, and the heart behind Number 8 Prison Project. Diana shares her personal journey, the experiences that shaped her and why being a mum remains her most treasured role. Together, we explore the work of Number 8 Prison Project and its mission to support individuals...

In this episode of Mana Mind StrongHer, I sit down with Tofa Amanda Moors-Mailei, a proud Sāmoan woman, educator, strategist and social impact leader whose work is reshaping conversations around Pasifika leadership, education and systems change in Australia. Amanda is the founder of Moana Impact Studio and co-chair of the Australian Pasifika Educators Network (APEN). Together, we unpack identity,...

In this episode of Mana Mind StrongHer, I sit down with Thelma, known professionally as MC Trey. Born in Lami, Fiji and of Samoan heritage, MC Trey is a singer, rapper, creative producer and community leader who has spent more than two decades shaping Australian hip hop, youth arts and Pacific storytelling. We talk about her early beginnings writing lyrics as a child, growing up surrounded by rap,...

In this episode of Mana Mind StrongHer, I sit down with Sheetal Deo lawyer, strategist and intersectional equity practitioner. Sheetal is the founder of Shakti Legal Solutions, an award-winning low-bono legal practice expanding access to legal support and Lead Consultant at The Diversity Collective, helping organisations embed inclusive leadership in everyday practice. But this conversation goes f...

In this episode of Mana Mind StrongHer, I sit down with Gloria Tabi-Binks (born and raised in Ghana, West Africa, now based in Australia) to talk about hair, identity, belonging, and what it really means to be enough. Gloria shares how wigs can become a survival tool in a society that rewards straight and sleek, and how returning to her homeland and seeing women wearing their natural hair freely b...

Afro-textured hair was once language, lineage and spirituality across African cultures. It carried tribe, status and story. Then colonisation shifted the standard. Glossy, straight hair became the global definition of beauty. Professional. Acceptable. Desirable. So what happens to generations of women and children growing up outside that standard? In this episode, Cynthia Simango mum, nurse and fo...

In this episode of Mana Mind StrongHer, I sit down with Lizzie from FDWA Australia for an honest and deeply important conversation about domestic violence in our communities. Lizzie is a Fijian woman, a mum, a grandma, and a survivor of domestic violence. She shares her lived experience from over 20 years ago, a time when there was little awareness, limited support, and a strong expectation to sta...

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Una, a woman who’s living proof that confidence is built, not gifted. We talk about what it looks like to put yourself out there before you feel ready, the mindset shift from dreaming to doing, and how business ownership will stretch you, teach you, and humble you, all at once. Una shares the behind-the-scenes reality, the lessons that only come from showing...

In this episode of Mana Mind StrongHer, Tasha sits down with Western Sydney–based diversity consultant Shazya Khan to talk about identity, migration and what real inclusion should look like. They explore Shazya’s journey as a Fijian-Indian woman who migrated to Australia as a teenager, the reality of being one of the only women of colour in certain spaces, and why representation in leadership and...

From the heart of Manila to the streets of Sydney — Brenda’s journey is one of ancestral pride, personal grief, and unwavering purpose. In this stirring episode, Brenda unpacks the legacy of colonisation in the Philippines, the quiet strength of her mother Electa, and the birth of a movement grounded in shared humanity kapwa. When her mother passed in March 2020, Brenda turned her grief into a leg...

In this episode of Mana Mind StrongHer, I sit down with Diane Omuoyo , a woman who truly personifies the convergence of pageantry, technology, and purpose. A celebrated Superstar of STEM and former Ms World Universal titleholder, Diane brings both elegance and intellect to her mission of driving inclusive change in tech. From advocating for accessible education to shaping ethical innovation and sa...

In this raw and soul-stirring episode, writer and cultural storyteller Fale Tumanu joins us to talk about the power of speaking truth, reclaiming identity, and honouring ancestral wisdom through storytelling. Fale shares how her nana’s voice shaped her path, what it means to decolonise through words, and why silence especially around trauma no longer serves us. We talk about faith, grief, family,...

In this powerful episode of Mana Mind StrongHer, we sit down with the women of the Pacific Women’s Collective (PWC)—Rosaline, Kesaia, Sigrid, Christine, and Alice. They share what empowerment looks like from their lens, the strength in Pacific identity, and how collective sisterhood can inspire change across generations. ✨ We talk: • Cultural identity as a superpower • Starting conversations that...

In this episode, I sit down with Wilma—co-founder of Pasifik Flava, the powerhouse food truck blending Fijian 🇫🇯 and Tongan 🇹🇴 flavours with heart, heritage, and hustle. We talk about the power of self-belief as a woman of colour, using cultural identity as strength, and the bold decision to create change from within. Wilma shares how she and her husband built a business rooted in culture and lega...

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Chantal a resilient single mother who fled Syria in search of safety, healing, and a future for her children. What followed was a journey marked by grit, heartbreak, and relentless determination. From navigating the challenges of resettlement in Australia, to applying for a life-changing scholarship (three times!) against a pool of over 300 women Chantal’s...

In this episode, Annette shares her powerful story starting as a young refugee girl in Sydney wrongly placed in an ESL class due to the colour of her skin. What began as an early experience of racial bias became the foundation of her mission. Witnessing the ongoing impact of systemic inequality on Black women, Annette founded Amplify Black Women, a platform built on three pillars: mental health, f...

Mana Mind StrongHer – Unfiltered is a raw and real space for women reclaiming their stories, culture, and confidence. Hosted by Natasha Khan, this podcast features honest conversations with women of colour who are navigating healing, identity, entrepreneurship, and generational growth. From mental wellness to cultural truth-telling—this isn’t just a podcast. It’s a movement.