The Women of Influence Podcast

If there is one thing you listen to this weekend. Please let it be this.  Liz Hiklin's life changed at age 90.  She described always knowing she had a light inside her waiting to get out. Then at 90 her life changed.  She says 'don't wait to let the world she your light'.  I did have to repeat a question a couple of times. You know this series is raw and unedited. Unfortunately...

Be excellent at what you do. Not perfect. This is your reminder that you don't have to be perfect at what you do but aim for excellence. This is Carmen Pavlovic is the CEO & Producer of Global Creatures. Think Walking with Dinosaurs, How to train your Dragon, King Kong, Moulin Rouge! Growing up in a busy family with a busy mind there is no stopping Carmen. This isn't a romance story of falling...

Moments in life shape us. For Diana it was in the classroom as a child being asked to read out loud.  She could read but she couldn't pronounce the words.  The children laughed.  But still a love of stories remained.  Maybe it was from her siblings reading to her, maybe it was her imagination. Diana went from that experience in the classroom to becoming a teacher, then Manager...

They say you will do anything for your kids. It is so true.  Katrina was a match.  One minute you are going in for your 20 week scan, the next a team of specialists enter your life and one thing because the most important of all. Life.  Living donors are rare in Australia. About 250 per year. This is one of those stories. This is Katrina's story.  This is 100 Women in 100 days...

Neicy is what they call a club 'legend'. A child of 11, Neicy and her family have endured more than most and yet despite so much loss we meet a humble woman with great humour that is known for her volunteering, and doing whatever it takes. Not just at the football netball club but whatever the Cobden and surrounds have needed she is there to give a hand- 'It's what you do' she says. Neicy lives wi...

Recorded on location of the Hill of Content Book shop. I admit to have been a little nervous about interviewing Dee. It's confronting to think about the relationships you've had in the past and that at the time you thought it was ok. But to look back and realise; no it wasn't that good. I should not have been nervous. Dee is fierce. Dee knows her worth. Dee also has this beautiful vulnerabili...

We haven't recorded an episode for a Go Fund me page before. I've always been worried it would open a can of worms with so many deserving people needing help. But when I was sent Jess's story I knew this was about more than raising money for her son. It was about giving her son a voice until he can use his own.  Tommy is four years old and needs a specialised wheelchair accessible Van. Curren...

We are meeting Kanchan in a moment in time. Ready to launch into the world her own business and vision.  If one thing is sure; Kanchan is determined. You can hear it when she speaks of her plans for her new shoe brand and you can hear it when she talks about the fabric and when she decided to tell her family (her Mum and Dad in particular) she was going to build something for herself.  K...

'If it didn't work out I would have been happy to go back and be a cadet'. This is Jo Hall and this is 100 Women in 100 Days (ish). Ash Wednesday, 911, The Bali Bombings.... think of a major news event and there is a high chance it was Jo Hall delivering you the news with heart, and care and always professional. A kindness that extends from the screen to in person.  Our Jo.  I've been lu...

She has graced our scenes and stages. We have watched her evolve, even grow up.  Sigrid was 13 years old when she landed her first professional gig but it started at home performing with parents that supported.  Sigrid reminded me of a moment in time.  There was so much I could have asked.  Different layers of her life, of her career.  But this was this moment and I'm glad...

From the stages of the Warrnambool Performing Arts Centre to Melbourne, to singing, performing and writing. Really writing with intention, with her voice. Megan brings her whole being into everything she does and it's contagious in all the good ways.  There is a knowing in this episode. A, knowing about being a country kid trying to do something in the big city. It's something only country ki...

Recorded at the kitchen table of Andrea's home, Simpson in South West Victoria.  A cup of tea in hand and a little biccy too Andrea's story is that of the farm, a love of family and the way song can find a way to see and experience the world.  Andrea shares with us about the settlement farms and the way a community came together to build something from nothing. A school, a hall, a footba...

49/100 DAYS (ish) Katie Johnston. MAFS? I'm not going back A chance meeting with Katie Johnston at the 2026 Run the Tan event put two people together that didn’t draw a breath! I just knew we had to have her on the Podcast.  Of course you know her from MAFS so of course we get into all the behind the scenes of her experience including if she would make her return.  But we talk also talk...

48/100 DAYS (ish). Sheridan Harbridge. How does a busy mind find rest? We are catching Sheridan mid 3 projects at once and boy do we cover some ground.  But the big takeaway was, how does a busy mind find rest?  Sheridan has a beautiful way to still find rest but in the doing. I can't wait for you to hear all about it.  Amplified - Currently running until 25 April in Sydney My Brill...

Anne-Louise Sarks is Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer of Melbourne Theatre Company - the first solo woman to hold the Artistic Director role since the company was founded in 1953, and sole Chief Executive Officer since late 2025 (one of very few leaders of Australian theatre companies to hold both roles outright).  An internationally acclaimed director, writer and dramaturg, her...

Well, this was the first (LIVE recording on site) of what I hope is many and also at least 8 years in the making.  You know when you met someone and you just know...... there's a story there.  This is Kate Kirkpatrick.  And this is part one, because this woman has a few layers and we have only peeled back one.  I got to interview Kate live from the Grampians Grape Escape. An ev...

We hear about the 3rd chapter. We think about it. But how do you start? For Joanne it was the kids, the family and friends. A simple 'but you are so good at it'. And the result. I'll say it now..... a dessert that will have you moaning out loud! (forgive me Nonnas). We meet Joanne in this beautiful stage. The one between working and developing something of her own..... and gosh it tastes good! Thi...

It's funny how a single item can take you straight back to your dining table as a child. It was the salt that got me! Jacklyn, had an AH HA moment in her 20's. That moment when she knew she was miserable and not on her path. So, she packed up and found herself. She found her calling. WOW! Using iconic Australian staples like Vegemite and Iced Vovos, Jacklyn's work explores food nostalgia and the c...

I think it could be easy to forget our why along the way. Why is it that we do what we do and when it gets hard....why do we do what we do?!But for Jenny Tian it's always been about her audience. I walked away from listening to Jenny (and this isn't a story about creative process or even how she got to this point in her career) remembering that no one is going to give you want all dished...

You know you are in trouble when your mother uses your first name! Sitting on her couch with her dog beside her Lizzy Hoo reminds us that there is no walking away once you know. Once you know what you were put on this Earth to do. From corporate to stand up there is a grit that needs to hold you and Lizzy has it in spades.  There is a rule of 3 Lizzy lives by. If she shares a story x3 times t...

Today is World Parkinson's Day and we will be featuring Xanya Mamunya, who was a concert harpist and teacher, also has PD and is currently a dancer with Dance for Parkinson's Australia, that is about to embark on a collaboration with Paris Wages with @ausballet But this episode is about the extraordinary woman who tells us that the ‘Harp plays you' and that having Parkinson's means choosing...

Claire is just funny. She will greet you with a warm smile that reaches her eyes.  Yet she can sit in the silence; craves it. This was something I understood completely.  I thought this chat was going to be about comedy (and it is in part), and creative process (it is in part) but something that really stopped me was the relationship of social media. The understanding of the role it play...

First up, can you feel it? Our young men? Who are our leaders of our young men?  A conversation that is bubbling away and the question is can we course correct or is it too far gone? Jasmin Tarasin is an Australian writer, director and producer and LIFE COULD BE A DREAM is a story that had to be told.  A lifetime of work and projects and development. It's time for Jasmin to debut her fea...

For many reasons we are not giving Jacki's full name and we don't mind. This is one of those stories that you think you know where it is going to go...then.... BAM! Jacki is moving to New York, taking a class at NYC, moving apartments in Taxis before coming back to Melbourne. I thought this was a business story.  I was curious about buying a business. I had questions.... but mostly; why not j...

Leah reminds us to not judge a book by it's cover.  So loved by her family and friends; she is a wife, mother, sister, and daughter.  She has Friedreich Ataxia (FA) and if you had to google it....so did we.  BTW She totally rocks a walker. What a queen.  Follow Leah on Instagram @beingleah Read more on Friedreich Ataxia: www.curefa.org Welcome to The Women of Influence Podcast...