Tell Me Over Tea

Show Notes Episode 24: Tess Lehman’s Story - Never Going Back in the Box On coming out, starting over, and learning to be exactly who you are (Trigger warning: this episode contains some swearing. Just so you know what you’re in for — but I promise it’s worth it.) Today I am joined by a woman I found the way I find most good things — scrolling Instagram at some point when I should have been doing...

Show Notes Episode 23: The Kitchen Table Letters — Nadine’s Letter Today is a very special episode of Tell Me Over Tea, because today the Kitchen Table Letters begins. If you’ve been following along, you’ll know I’ve been talking about this for a little while now — an invitation for you, my listeners, to write me a letter. An actual, old fashioned, hand written, snail mail letter. And I’ll choose...

Show Notes Episode 22: Thea - A Portrait of my Mum In this solo episode of Tell Me Over Tea, I give my mum, Thea, a little bit of the limelight she so richly deserves — and would almost certainly have hidden from if she were here. Following on from Episode 21, where I shared a letter to my Nan about the grief of losing five of her six children, I felt the pull to tell you more about the first of t...

Back left - Robert, Mum Front left: Christine, Ron Show Notes Episode 22: Dear Nan Too Much Loss In this deeply personal episode of Tell Me Over Tea , I read one of the most difficult letters I’ve ever written to my Nan. This episode contains discussion of child loss, cancer, death, and grief. Please listen with care if these topics feel tender for you. This is a letter about grief, loss, and the...

Show Notes Episode 20: Don’t Throw Away Your Letters In this solo episode of Tell Me Over Tea, I share something that has been sitting on my heart ever since it found its way back into my hands — a letter I wrote to my Aunty Kathleen when I was just six years old. Two short pages in fat, six year old scrawl. And yet, the moment I read it again, the memories I hadn’t visited in decades began surfac...

Show Notes Episode 19: Baking Memories, Family Recipes & Finding Comfort in the Kitchen with Kath Vincent In this cosy and memory-filled episode of Tell Me Over Tea , I sit down with baker, recipe writer and storyteller Kath Vincent from Kulinary Adventures of Kath to chat about the deep connection between food, family and memory. Together we wander through childhood kitchens, handwritten recipe c...

That’s my mum! Show Notes Episode 18: Dear Nan – Episode 18 | Parenting in The 50s and 60s Growing a tribe of five In this episode of Tell Me Over Tea , I’m sharing a letter to my Nan — written as I reflect on her years as a young mother, raising five children in the 1950s and 60s. This episode is also held within a tender moment of goodbye. My grandpa recently passed away at 95, just days before...

photo credit: Ilona Show Notes Episode 17: Ilona’s Story Creativity, Change, Health & Finding a New Way Forward In this episode of Tell Me Over Tea , I sit down with the wonderful and ever so creative, Ilona to explore a life shaped by creativity, unexpected change, and resilience. Ilona shares her journey from an unlikely beginning in pottery—despite once having no interest in clay—to building a...

Show Notes Episode 16: Katie Masters Wild Waters, Ocean Swimming & Finding Home in the Sea In this episode of Tell Me Over Tea , I am joined by Katie Masters for a heartfelt conversation about ocean swimming, friendship, courage, and the deep pull of the sea. After responding to my Substack piece about a place that has your heart , Katie shared her own story — one rooted not in a house or a valley...

All writing occasions must include tea and cake;) Show Notes Episode 15: I Don’t Know Where to Start Writing — and Why That’s Enough Do you ever want to write your life stories, but find yourself thinking: “I don’t know where to start”? You’re not alone. In this episode, I’m exploring why that feeling is perfectly normal — and why starting, even in a messy, imperfect way, is enough. I share person...

Show Notes Episode 14: Letters from Nan – The Early Years of Married Life and the Creation of Home In this episode of Tell Me Over Tea , I share another heartfelt letter from my Dear Nan series, reflecting on the early years of her marriage and the home she and Grandpa raised their family in. From the joys of newlywed life, to the challenges of family dynamics and work, this episode is a journey t...

Show Notes Episode 13 - An Artist’s Story: Curbing Perfectionism and Embracing Creativity In this first episode for the brand new year, I sit down with Canberra artist Julia from French Rose Studios for a lovely conversation about creativity, comfort, and becoming a ‘recovering perfectionist.’ Julia shares how her love of art began early, nurtured by a wonderful high school teacher who taught her...

Show Notes Episode 12: Dear Nan — A Christmas Carol of Sorts In this Christmas-time episode of Tell Me Over Tea , I share a Dear Nan letter I wrote last December — one filled with memory, mess, food, family and love. This letter drifts back into Nan’s kitchen at Christmas: the peeling and chopping, the bossy instructions, the bone-handled butter knives, endless washing up, and the comforting chaos...

Show Notes Episode 11: The Joy of Connection – Cooking, Conversation, and Community with Mary from Happy Places and Co In this episode, we sit down with Mary, the heart behind Happy Places and Co and a cherished member of Little Life Stories , to explore how food, friendship, and meaningful conversation can bring people together. From her earliest memories in her grandmother’s kitchen to creating...

Show Notes Episode 10 – Dear Nan: When Betty Met Charlie Welcome to episode 10 of Tell Me Over Tea ! Can you believe it? Ten episodes of gentle stories, reflections, and a little rambling from me. I’m so grateful that you take a moment from your day to pour a cuppa and join me—it really means the world. In this episode, I share another Dear Nan letter: ‘When Betty Met Charlie.’ It’s the story of h...

Show Notes Episode 9 — Doing Life Differently with Mel Pike In this episode, I sit down with Mel Pike , a warm and adventurous storyteller who has learned first-hand how travel can awaken the senses and nourish the soul. After two decades in Hobart, Mel and her husband Joe — along with their much-loved Labradors, Jasmine and Rosie — now call the Sunshine Coast home. In her fabulous fifties, Mel ha...

Show Notes Episode 8: Dear Nan – Treasures Inside a Pale Green Soap Box In this episode of Tell Me Over Tea , I open a small pale green soap box — once home to Cashmere Bouquet soap — and find a lifetime of stories tucked inside. Letters written by my Nan, her siblings, her sister-in-law, and her dad, all on one autumn day in 1949, after a family trip to the Sydney Royal Easter Show. These simple,...

Show Notes Episode 7: Brogo – The Home That Made Me In this solo episode of Tell Me Over Tea , I pour a cup of English Breakfast (thank you lovely, Tanya, I love, love, love your Inspirational Tea Co tea!) and take you back to the home that shaped me — a weathered little cottage amongst the rolling hills, at the foot of a mountain, in the heart of Brogo. It’s the place where my parents traded city...

Show Notes In this episode of Tell Me Over Tea , I sit down with Melissa, who has been writing her life story over the past several months. Melissa reflects on how life’s small stories—moments that might seem ordinary or even “too small”—can carry meaning, connect us to others, and leave a quiet legacy. From childhood memories to adult reflections, she shares how writing has helped her see herself...

Show Notes Have you ever thought, “Who am I to write my story? Isn’t that a bit self-indulgent?” If so, you’re not alone. This question comes up often for women who are about to begin writing their life stories. But here’s what I truly believe: writing your story isn’t selfish. It’s one of the most generous things you can do. In this solo episode of Tell Me Over Tea , I’m gently debunking the myth...

Show Notes What happens when life asks you to lay down one creative tool and pick up another? In this heartfelt episode of Tell Me Over Tea , I’m joined by the wonderful Karen Colenso. Karen is now a member in my personal life writing membership: Little Life Stories , but writing is a very new craft in Karen’s plethora of creative pursuits. She has lived a life steeped in creativity — from childho...

Show Notes In this episode of Tell Me Over Tea , I’m sharing something very close to my heart — the very first letter in my Dear Nan series. These letters are written to my beloved Nan, Betty Rae, who was not only my grandmother but one of the most important people in my life. They’re a way for me to hold onto our 50 years of connection, conversations, laughter, and love — and to honour the ordina...

Show Notes Kirstin’s teacup + teapot, gifted to her by her precious aunt and Nanna + French Early Grey tea from Inspirational Tea Co In this episode of Tell Me Over Tea , I’m joined by my lovely friend Kirstin Bokor. Kirstin is a librarian, writer, and lifelong lover of stories whose life has been beautifully threaded through with books and words. in this episode Kirstin talks about:* The comfort...

Show Notes Welcome to the first episode of Tell Me Over Tea , a podcast about life stories, memories, connection, and always with a cuppa in hand. In this very first episode of Tell Me Over Tea , I open the door and invite you to sit with me at my kitchen table. it’s a glimpse into my world — the memories, the people, and the threads that shaped my love of storytelling. From childhood letter-writi...

I am so excited to be able to finally bring you the Tell Me Over Tea trailer for my brand new podcast, launching in September! It’s been so much fun to create. I’ve connected with some gorgeous people so far, recording guest’s stories, my own stories, some Dear Nan letters and sipping lots of delicious tea gifted to me, and to guests, generously by Tanya from Inspirational Tea. It’s been heavenly!...