Mums Gone Troppo

We speak often of mum guilt and loss of identity on this podcast,  but you rarely hear about it from the other side. This episode's guest is here to change that. Francis 'Gilly' Gill is open about the heavy weight of dad guilt and the huge shift in identity he felt when he welcomed his first child, and still feels as a dad balancing work, home with his wife and three kids and a sport w...

The next person in the Dads Gone Troppo series is one of the Territory’s most well known and respected journalists, not just locally but nationally.  If someone can sniff out a story - it’s Matt Cunningham. His love of the NT is real, and he projects that through not just his work, but in the way he raises his kids. His story on coming to the Territory is simple and beautiful - he just didn’t want...

Andrew Bruyn is the first in our dads gone troppo series. Asking him on as a guest was a no-brainer, as he is someone extra special to Kathleen - he is her dad. A long-term and well-known Territorian, many might remember Andy when he was a reporter for the then Channel 8 news, his long time affiliation with the Nine Network, or the countless boards and positions he’s held over the years, championi...

Ruth Palmer is best known for her role as Executive Director of the Property Council NT, but away from work she’s gone through a lot in her life. She left home at 15, experienced abuse at the hands of two different partners, came to the Territory, fell in love, found herself as a single mum, rebuilt her life and then found her forever happy place over a funny story involving a busted pipe in a bra...

Marcia Russell is the designer and dressmaker behind Darwin's Black Cat Couture. Her love of Indigenous textiles and vintage sewing patterns is contagious, and she regularly hunts around Australia's op shops for vintage sewing patterns.  Marcia’s designs and creations have featured on many best dressed around the Top End and beyond. One outfit was even worn by our former Administrator when...

Kristy O'Brien is a journalist, presenter and documentary maker based in the Northern Territory. Her job has taken her around Australia and the globe. Her passion is telling and sharing the stories of people who live and work on the land in some of the most remote parts of Australia.  In the other side of her life, Kristy is married to Michael Gunner - the NT's former Chief Minister. In th...

Originally from Engadine in Sydney, Sammy Perry is one of Darwin's best known floral artists, but is now bringing Aboriginal fashion to the world through her work with DAAF. She's worked in NYC as a florist, but lost her job after the 9/11 terror attacks, has two children through IVF and stayed in Darwin for the lamb....we mean kids. She stayed in Darwin for the kids. Sammy has lived 10 li...

Born and raised in Alice Springs, Jamie Collins is a proud eastern Arrernte woman now living in Darwin. She's got her plate full with two young kids, a full time job and running her own successful business - My Glow Darwin. To add to all that, she's also part of the Indigenous Marathon Project, and will be travelling to New York in late 2023. She's terrible at cooking, wants to teach h...

Paediatrician Dr Louise Woodward doesn’t wear cape, but a stethoscope around her neck. She’s a well-known general paediatrician in Darwin, who moved here with her husband and young daughter a decade ago. Now a mum of three, she’s still here 12 years later. Louise has a breadth of experience in all areas of paediatrics from newborn to late teens, and her goal is to improve the care of all children...

Natasha Fyles has been in politics since 2012, when she was elected as the Member for Nightcliff. She’s now 12 months into her Chief Ministership. But her political persuasion and decisions, whether you agree with them or not, and the job as a whole, are a small part of who she is.  You might see her on your television, hear her on your radio, see her at the Nightcliff Markets, or on the floor of...

Beccy Pryer and her fiancé Kat have recently welcomed their little boy Jed - a beautiful and happy little boy, now 14 months old. He exists thanks to the generous donation from a stranger on the other side of the world, with Beccy sharing a heartfelt message to their donor. In this interview, we delve into a same sex relationship and the difficulties and joys of going through IVF and finding the p...

This episode is a first, where Molly and Kathleen chat to two guests. These ladies, Sorcha and Jenna, are two of four woman who call themselves Three Maas and a RaRa.  They're a a group of like-minded mums and a grandmother - affectionately known as their RaRa - who are raising awareness and funding for Autism NT.  Their passion and drive comes from personal experience, with each member of the...

Tracey Hayes is one of the most recognisable names and faces in the Northern Territory.  There’s not much she can’t or won’t do. She’s been named one of Australia’s most influential women, was the first female CEO of the NT Cattleman’s Association, and led the charge in the class action against the Commonwealth fighting for compensation after the live cattle ban. She holds positions on countless b...

Lauren Hoar with her husband and four boys own Moroak station, a 530,000 acre cattle station six hours drive from Darwin. It’s a life many of us can only imagine seeing on the screens of our televisions. Lauren tells us about love at first sight, why you should always wear your best undies, and how you really send four boys to school when living so remote. Strap in for a funny and lighthearted con...

Please note: This episode discusses miscarriages and pregnancy loss. If this is triggering for you or anyone else listening, please call Amber NT on (08) 8948 5311 or Lifeline on 13 11 14. ___________________ Four businesses. Two rainbow babies. Five devastating miscarriages. Brigid Stock has caffeinated most of Darwin, her croissants are to die for, and she’s just opened a pasta bar in Darwin&#39...

For this episode, we were on the hunt for an everyday mum with an extraordinary story. But what we found was an extraordinary mum with an even more extraordinary story. Meet Amanda Jagers. She’s from Katherine, and if her journey getting there doesn’t blow you away, the story of the birth of all three of her children will. Our convos range from pregnancy testing cows, buying a bed and breakfast in...

This episode is a special one, where we sit down with Molly’s mother in law Fiona Upstill. Her story of settling in Katherine for 40 years is so textbook Northern Territory, as we discuss how that fateful hitchhiking trip up the red centre shaped the course of her life. It’s a story of community spirit only found in Katherine, working remote and building homes in Bulman, and having premature babie...

BONUS EPISODE! We dare you to try and not do your kegel exercises while listening to our first bonus episode! Join us as we chat to Bridie Duggan who is one of Darwin's most popular women's physios, working primarily in postpartum care (she's also a qualified PT). Have you even had a baby in Darwin if you haven't seen Bridie six weeks later!? We discuss all things from returning to...

Before we get started, this episode comes with a content warning for miscarriage and suicidal thoughts. Amber NT support Territorians through the unimaginable loss of a child for any reason, from conception to 18. This includes miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, illness, suicide and accident.  They can be contacted on (08) 8948 5311. Lifeline are a national charity providing all Australians...

She’s one of the Territory’s most well-known indigenous artists. Her phenomenal work has featured on North Melbourne’s indigenous round jersey, The Block, and Samsung’s ‘The Frame’ TV. She’s got personality spilling out of her cup and this episode is sure to leave you in stitches. Sarrita King jumps behind the mic for episode 4 of Mums Gone Troppo. PLEASE NOTE: There were some audio issues in the...

This episode's guest is Territory media personality Amy Culpitt. You might have seen her on your evening television screens as a journalist, having worked at Nine Darwin and as a presenter at ABC Darwin. Amy is a long-term Territorian and mum of two, and tells stories of raising her children with the Territory spirit we all know and love. Amy discusses keeping her daughter Grace's spirit a...

Amy Hetherington has lived in the Top End for 10 years now. While she initially wasn’t particularly happy here, she was won over by the charm of the NT and has now carved out an impressive and successful media career. She's now the first to shout from the rooftops how great the Territory is. She is also a talented and funny comedian, drawing inspiration from her day-to-day life as a mum of 18-mont...

Katie Woolf is one of Darwin’s most recognisable voices, an absolute powerhouse on air, and one of the most respected people in the Territory. Her show is broadcast across the NT, she is a voice for the people, and has won some of radio’s most respected awards for her work. She's been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for her contribution to broadcast media and her charity work through It’...

Molly Upstill and Kathleen Gazzola are two mums who call Darwin home. They love everything the Territory has to offer, including the moments of mango madness all Top Enders have come to know and (sometimes) love. Tune in to this introductory podcast to get to know Molly and Kathleen, as they sit down and talk all things parenting in the tropics. Don't forget to like us on social media and subscrib...

Introducing your two hosts of Mums Gone Troppo - Molly Upstill and Kathleen Gazzola.  We're two mums who call Darwin home, and chat about life in the tropics, raising our family, and the challenges and joys of motherhood. Join us as we sit down with some of the Territory's wonderful women and share our moments of mango madness. Don't forget to like, subscribe and follow us on social media!