Extraordinary Stories

Introducing Full Plate: Car Dates and Sandwich Press Magic with Lizzy Hoo

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 19:30:00 +0000

Comedian Lizzy Hoo has a very full plate.

Host Liz Ellis, former netball champion turned busy mum, sits down with comedy star Lizzy Hoo to talk about life at "game on" pace. Trading a corporate 9-to-5 for the unpredictable chaos of the stage, Lizzy discusses balancing a high-octane career with the everyday messiness of her 40s. They explore how she manages a "full plate" when she's mid-tour, performing late nights and surviving on whatever food she can find on the road.

The two dive into the survival strategies of a traveling comic, from Lizzy's "liquid diet" during festival season to her accidental airport yogurt-eating mishaps. Reflecting on her Chinese-Malaysian and Irish heritage, Lizzy shares how her palate has space for both pub food and spicy home cooking. It’s a hilarious look at staying nourished under pressure, featuring everything from gourmet sandwich press hacks to the truth about life on the comedy circuit.

Watch Lizzy Hoo teach you how to make her sandwich press potato rostis here.

Discover more Mamamia Podcasts here.

Feedback: podcast@mamamia.com.au

Share your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice message, and one of our Podcast Producers will get back to you ASAP.

Rate or review us on Apple by clicking on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, click Go To Show then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the stars at the bottom and write a review.

If you want to support independent women's media, become a Mamamia subscriber. Get an all-access pass to everything we make, including exclusive podcasts, articles, videos and our exercise app, MOVE.

CREDITS:

Host: Liz Ellis

Guest: Lizzy Hoo

Group Executive Producers: Naima Brown & Courtney Ammenhauser

Audio Producer: Thom Lion

Video Producer: Marlena Cacciotti

Social Producer: Keeley Mercieca

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land on which we have recorded this podcast.

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing: This Is Why We Fight. A Mother & Daughter Estranged For Years.

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 18:30:00 +0000

All Samantha wants is to understand why her mother wasn’t there for her. All Marie wants is a chance to make things right with her daughter — and to be part of her granddaughter’s life. But after years of distance, hurt, and misunderstanding, can a fractured bond ever truly be repaired?

In this session, a mother and daughter confront the truths left unspoken, ask the questions long avoided, and search for a small patch of common ground on which to rebuild their relationship.

Listen to the second part of Samantha & Marie's session here

Resources (Australia-only)

1800RESPECT: The national domestic, family, and sexual violence counselling, information, and support service.
Beyond Blue: For support with anxiety, depression, and suicide prevention.
Lifeline Australia: For 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services.
Motivated Minds: Learn more about host Sarah Bays’ practice.
Relationships Australia: A leading provider of relationship support services for individuals, families, and communities.

The End Bits

Want To Be On This Is Why We Fight? Apply here.
Host: Sarah Bays
Executive Producer: Naima Brown
Studio Engineer: Lu Hill
Audio production: Thom Lion and Jacob Round
Production support: Leah Porges and Coco Lavigne
Follow This Is Why We Fight on Instagram for sneak peeks and more relationship therapy content

Explore all Mamamia’s podcasts here.

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"What REALLY Happened When I Confronted Belle Gibson"

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 19:00:00 +0000

In 2015, Australian con woman Belle Gibson was living the dream. Her app The Whole Pantry was hugely popular and she was about to launch a book of the same name.

With hundreds of thousands of followers online, Belle had become a celebrated wellness influencer who'd overcome terminal cancer and had cured herself with healthy eating and holistic therapies. But it was all a lie.

The truth came to light when her friend, Chanelle McAuliffe, noticed gaps in Belle's story. The moment she exposed her deception is now the focus of the Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar.

Today, Chanelle tells us what the show got right and wrong, the challenges she faced as a whistleblower, and how she feels about Belle and her crimes now, a decade on.

Find more episodes of True Crime Conversations here.

THE END BITS

Subscribe to Mamamia

CREDITS

Guest: Chanelle McAuliffe

Host: Gemma Bath

Producer: Tahli Blackman

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

GET IN TOUCH

Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note to give us feedback or suggest a case for the podcast.

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The True Story Behind Netflix's Apple Cider Vinegar

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 18:30:00 +0000

Belle Gibson fooled not only her hundreds of thousands of followers, but the most prestigious book publishers in Australia, the tech giants of silicon valley and even her family and friends into believing she was something she was not: sick.

If today, her name is synonymous with the weighty infamy of a notorious scam, there was a time before that, when she was celebrated as an inspiration.

On this episode of Extraordinary Stories, we look at the rise of Belle Gibson.

From tall tales in school drama classes to international acclaim and influence, how did Annabelle Natalie Gibson become the pinup girl for the wellness movement?

Listen to part two here

Listen to part three here

THE END BITS:

With thanks to Bronwyn McCahon, Doctor Brad McKay and Kylie Willey

RESOURCES WE USED:

The Woman Who Fooled The World by Beau Donnelly and Nick Toscano

Fake Medicine by Brad Mckay

The Girl Who Conned Us All by Clair Weaver https://www.nowtolove.com.au/news/real-life/belle-gibson-the-whole-story-10129

https://www.nowtolove.com.au/news/local-news/belle-gibson-speaks-for-the-first-time-since-her-whole-pantry-controversy-13532

With thanks to Tara Brown from 60 Minutes

GET IN TOUCH:

Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au

Need more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/

CREDITS:

Host: Emma Gillespie

Writers: Emma Gillespie and Holly Wainwright

Producers: Melanie Sauer and Emma Gillespie

Audio Production: Elissa Ratliff and Madeline Joannou

Executive Producer: Holly Wainwright and Elissa Ratliff

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘I Told You I Was Trouble’: The Amy Winehouse Story (Part 3)

Thu, 26 May 2022 20:00:00 +0000

[Part 3 of 3] A month before Amy Winehouse’s death, her performance at a music festival in Serbia was resoundly panned. She was intoxicated for the whole world to see, but the silver lining of what would be labelled 'the worst gig of her career' meant she didn’t have to go on tour. It meant Amy, and those who loved her, had their hopes pinned on a chance for Amy to get better again.

On this episode we’ll explore the final years in the life of Amy Winehouse. After her closest friends were convinced Amy was doing better than ever, how did she die? Why was she sent on tour when she was not only unwilling, but unwell?

Plus, we’ll take a closer look at the 27 club. What is this unique curse that looms over the legacies of these young artists?

Subscribe to Mamamia

CREDITS:

Host: Emma Gillespie

Written and produced by Emma Gillespie with Tia Ucich & Kally Borg

Audio Production: Madeline Joannou

Guest booking: Kally Borg

With thanks to:

Dr Peter Hughes
Eleni Papavasileiou
Polly Taylor
Dean McCarthy

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘I Told You I Was Trouble’: The Amy Winehouse Story (Part 2)

Thu, 19 May 2022 20:00:00 +0000

[Part 2 of 3] After a celebrated album with her debut, Frank, and with that distinct voice and sound, Amy Winehouse got very famous, very fast. Everyone wanted a second album, but Amy had entered a whole new world. On this episode, we’ll hear how Amy’s very private struggles with mental health and addiction became headlines for a relentless tabloid culture. And, in one of the most volatile love affairs in pop culture history, how would the story of Amy and Blake become a cautionary tale about the dangers of codependency?

CREDITS:

Host: Emma Gillespie

Written and produced by Emma Gillespie with Elissa Ratliff, Tia Ucich & Kally Borg

Audio Production: Madeline Joannou

Guest booking: Kally Borg

With thanks to:

Dr Peter Hughes
Eleni Papavasileiou
Polly Taylor
Dean McCarthy

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘I Told You I Was Trouble’: The Amy Winehouse Story (Part 1)

Thu, 12 May 2022 20:00:00 +0000

[Part 1 of 3] You can recognise it in an instant, that iconic voice and a candid style of songwriting beyond her years. The sound of Amy Winehouse was a sound unheard of since the days of Billie Holiday and Nina Simone. But the name ‘Amy Winehouse’ seems to be as synonymous with talent as it is tragedy. On this season we’ll dive deep into the life of Amy. From her rise to fame, her artistry, to her pain, her loves, and her losses. Could she have been saved? What does her death tell us about the pervasive grip of addiction and fame?

CREDITS:

Host: Emma Gillespie

Written and Produced by Emma Gillespie and Tia Ucich

Guest booking: Kally Borg

Audio Production: Madeline Joannou

With thanks to:

Dr Peter Hughes
Eleni Papavasileiou
Polly Taylor

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Disappearance Of Peng Shuai (Part 3): But Will She Ever Be Free?

Thu, 05 May 2022 20:00:00 +0000

[Part 3 of 3] In the lead-up to the Beijing Winter Olympics, the world began to wonder how and if Peng Shuai would be used in the games, and whether the IOC was going to have anything to say to the Chinese Government about their silencing of the tennis star. So how did the Chinese propaganda juggernaut shift its attention to the global sporting stage? And what happens when the international community’s peak sporting body is accused of silencing a sexual assault survivor?

Plus, we investigate China’s Me Too movement. What does the story of Peng Shuai tell us about feminism in China?

CREDITS:

Host: Emma Gillespie

Writer: Emma Gillespie

Producers: Emma Gillespie, Kally Borg, Tia Ucich

Guest booking: Kally Borg

Audio Production: Madeline Joannou

Executive Producer: Elissa Ratliff

WITH THANKS TO:

Yaqiu Wang, Pan Wang, Tom Steinfort & Sydney Pead

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Disappearance Of Peng Shuai (Part 2): Proof Of Life

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 01:34:48 +0000

[Part 2 of 3] For three long weeks in November 2021, the tennis community, news organisations, and human rights advocates the world over had one question; Where Is Peng Shuai? In the aftermath of a Weibo post detailing allegations of sexual assault against one of China’s top political figures, concerns for Peng Shuai's freedom were escalating swiftly. Then suddenly, proof of life. In this episode, we’ll learn more about the Chinese propaganda machine, and how it’s working to convince the world of Peng Shuai's safety, whilst censoring her story.

CREDITS:

Host: Emma Gillespie

Writers: Emma Gillespie

Producers: Emma Gillespie, Kally Borg, Tia Ucich

Guest booking: Kally Borg

Audio Production: Madeline Joannou

Executive Producer: Elissa Ratliff

WITH THANKS TO:

Yaqiu Wang, Drew Pavlou, Tom Steinfort & Sydney Pead

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Disappearance Of Peng Shuai (Part 1): The Tennis Star Who Vanished

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 20:00:00 +0000

[Part 1 of 3] It was after 10 pm, on November 2nd, 2021 when 35-year-old Peng Shuai - China’s beloved global tennis star - sat down and began typing. Truncated sentences of an open letter, detailing an affair and sexual assault involving one of China’s highest-ranking political figures. It took only a few minutes before the post had amassed thousands of shares, likes, and comments. But within half an hour, it vanished. And moments later, so too did Peng Shuai.

CREDITS:

Host: Emma Gillespie

Writers: Emma Gillespie, Tia Ucich

Producers: Emma Gillespie

Guest booking: Kally Borg

Audio Production: Madeline Joannou

Executive Producer: Elissa Ratliff

WITH THANKS TO:

Sydney Pead, Yaqiu Wang and Drew Pavlou

GET IN TOUCH:
Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au
Need more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What Happened To Amanda Bynes? (Part 2)

Tue, 12 Apr 2022 04:49:56 +0000

[Part 2 of 2] From 2013 until just a few weeks ago, Amanda’s Bynes life was controlled by a conservatorship, governed primarily by her mum, Lynn. In the wake of Britney Spears’ bombshell revelations about her own conservatorship, the #freebritney movement turned its attention to Amanda. Knowing what we now know about conservatorships and how they can be manipulated, why did it take more than eight years for Amanda to regain control of her own life?

CREDITS
Host: Emma Gillespie
Written and Produced by Sydney Pead & Emma Gillespie
Audio Production: Madeline Joannou
Executive Producer: Sydney Pead

With thanks to:
Laura Brodnik, Host of The Spill
Louisa Hatfield, Former Editor of New Weekly, Woman's Day
Sarah Wentz - Lawyer at Fox Rothschild, U.S.
Megan Radford - #freebritney Campaigner

SOURCES:
Entertainment Tonight
9 News
New York Times - Framing Britney Spears
TMZ

GET IN TOUCH:
Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au
Need more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What Happened To Amanda Bynes? (Part 1)

Tue, 12 Apr 2022 04:46:28 +0000

[Part 1 of 2] She was the queen of Nickelodeon, beloved by teens of the noughties. But just as her movie career was taking off, something happened to Amanda Bynes. In this two-part series, we’re looking back on the life and career of Amanda Bynes before, during and after things got out of control.

We’ll dive into the paparazzi culture that hounded and taunted young Hollywood starlets, and question our historic understanding of the mental health issues at play. What caused Amanda Bynes to crumble alongside a generation of young stars? And where has Amanda been for the last nine years?

CREDITS:

Host: Emma Gillespie
Written and Produced by Sydney Pead & Emma Gillespie
Audio Production: Madeline Joannou
Executive Producer: Sydney Pead

With thanks to:
Laura Brodnik
Louisa Hatfield

SOURCES:
Entertainment Tonight
Paper Magazine
Nickelodeon
Dreamworks film She's The Man
Splash News TV

GET IN TOUCH:
Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au
Need more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

House of Grimaldi (Part 3): The Missing Princess

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 00:46:34 +0000

[Part 3 of 3] Charlene Wittstock had made it through years of tabloid speculation about her marriage to the Prince of Monaco, but in 2020, just as she found some peace, a new, yet very familiar scandal involving her husband rattled the palace. Then, in a matter of weeks Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene left the country and wouldn’t return for almost a year. Had a serious illness kept her away from her children and her husband’s new paternity battle? Or did Charlene not want to come home?

CREDITS
Host: Emma Gillespie
Written and Produced by Sydney Pead & Emma Gillespie
Audio Production: Madeline Joannou
Executive Producer: Sydney Pead

With thanks to:
Professor Chandrika Kaul- Historian, University of St Andrews
Maddalena Maestrostefano - Royal Correspondent, Royal Central
Chelsea McLaughlin - Entertainment Reporter, Mamamia

SOURCES:
Entertainment Tonight
South Africa Radio 702
PEOPLE Every Day podcast

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

House Of Grimaldi (Part 2): The Runaway Bride

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 00:42:13 +0000

[Part 2 of 3] To lock down the future of the Grimaldi dynasty, Prince Albert II needed to marry and produce a legitimate heir. So when he met South African olympian Charlene Wittstock, the palace breathed a sigh of relief. Beautiful and elegant, Charlene would make the perfect princess. But when Albert’s past life as “The Playboy Prince” caught up with him, the star-studded princely wedding in Monaco almost had everything except a bride. The tabloids were reporting Albert had a new love child, and that Charlene had tried to escape the tiny country three times. The world wondered if Charlene really wanted to marry into the Grimaldi family, and if she did, why was she crying on her wedding day?

Host: Emma Gillespie
Written and Produced by Sydney Pead & Emma Gillespie
Audio Production: Madeline Joannou
Executive Producer: Sydney Pead

With thanks to:
Professor Chandrika Kaul- Historian, University of St Andrews
Maddalena Maestrostefano - Royal Correspondent, Royal Central
Chelsea McLaughlin - Entertainment Reporter, Mamamia

SOURCES:
Entertainment Tonight
The Times
Graham Bassinger, 2017
SABC, Top Billing

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

House Of Grimaldi (Part 1): The Princess Curse

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 00:35:01 +0000

[Part 1 of 3] Seven hundred years ago a woman betrayed by the ruler of Monaco cursed the future of his family: no descendant of the House of Grimaldi would ever find happiness in marriage. On this season of Extraordinary Stories our host Emma Gillespie dives into the modern-day impact of that curse. Did it play a part in the tragic demise of the Hollywood star turned princess Grace Kelly?

CREDITS
Host: Emma Gillespie
Written and Produced by Sydney Pead & Emma Gillespie
Audio Production: Madeline Joannou
Executive Producer: Sydney Pead

With thanks to:
Professor Chandrika Kaul- Historian, University of St Andrews
Maddalena Mastrostefano - Royal Correspondent, Royal Central
Chelsea McLaughlin - Entertainment Reporter, Mamamia

SOURCES:
Entertainment Tonight
Graham Bassinger, 2017
MGM archives
The Times

GET IN TOUCH:
Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au
Need more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pam, Tommy And The Original Sex Tape (Part 3): “Not A Victim, But A Survivor”

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 20:02:00 +0000

[Part 3 of 3] In trying to put an end to the legal quagmire they found themselves in, Pamela and Tommy Lee signed away the rights to their stolen sex tape, and to any future profits it would make. It was an insult to injury, after the viral home movie saw the couple become some of the first victims of a crime often misnamed as ‘revenge porn.’ A crime so pervasive it forces many of us to ask ourselves “who else has seen my nudes?”

CREDITS
Host: Emma Gillespie
Written and Produced by Sydney Pead & Emma Gillespie
Audio Production: Madeline Joannou
Executive Producer: Sydney Pead

With thanks to:
Kathy Kenzora - Host - History of the 90s Podcast
Amanda Chicago Lewis - Journalist
Assoc. Professor Lynn Comella - Gender Studies, University of Nevada
Julie Inman Grant - Australia's eSafety Commissioner
and a special thanks to Tia and James.

Sources
The Untold Story of the World's Most Infamous Sex Tape - Rolling Stones
Fox Files show with Catherine Crier

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pam, Tommy & The Original Sex Tape (Part 2): The World Wide Web

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 20:01:00 +0000

[Part 2 of 3] Pamela and Tommy’s most personal possession, a home video taken on their honeymoon was stolen. Within six months, it was everywhere. And everyone wanted to watch it. But in 1996, before Youtube or PornHub were invented, how did this home movie go from a stolen piece of property to the most profitable piece of pornography in the world?

CREDITS
Host: Emma Gillespie
Written and Produced by Sydney Pead & Emma Gillespie
Audio Production: Madeline Joannou
Executive Producer: Sydney Pead

With thanks to:
Kathy Kenzora - Host - History of the 90s Podcast
Amanda Chicago Lewis - Journalist
Assoc. Professor Lynn Comella - Gender Studies, University of Nevada

Sources
The Untold Story of the World's Most Infamous Sex Tape - Rolling Stones
Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen
Live with Regis and Kathie Lee
Later with Greg Kinear
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Fox Files show with Catherine Crier
Howard Stern Show

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pam, Tommy & The Original Sex Tape (Part 1): A White Bikini Wedding

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 20:00:00 +0000

[Part 1 of 3] When Tommy Lee licked Pam Anderson’s face from chin to temple at a New Year's Eve party in 1995, it was the beginning of one of Hollywood’s most intense and frenzied romances. Less than two months later the bad-boy Mötley Crüe drummer and sex-symbol Baywatch actor were married on a beach in Mexico. But wedded bliss for the 90s glam couple was short-lived, after a disgruntled electrician broke into their house to steal their most prized possessions. Little did he, or the couple know what he stole would change the world of pornography, technology and their lives forever.

CREDITS
Host: Emma Gillespie
Written and Produced by Sydney Pead & Emma Gillespie
Audio Production: Madeline Joannou
Executive Producer: Sydney Pead

With thanks to:
Kathy Kenzora - Host - History of the 90s Podcast
Amanda Chicago Lewis - Journalist

Sources
The Untold Story of the World's Most Infamous Sex Tape - Rolling Stones
The Tonight Show
Baywatch
ITV - Life Stories

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Linda Evangelista (Part 4): The Paradox Of The Ageing Supermodel

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 03:44:45 +0000

[Part 4 of 4] Why Linda Evangelista disappeared from public life in 2016, while her peers were still ruling runways, gracing magazine covers and spearheading beauty campaigns was a mystery. Until an Instagram post in September 2021, where she revealed herself as the victim of a rare side effect from a cosmetic procedure. Instead of freezing fat cells, Linda claims she experienced the opposite. In her quest to remain one of the most beautiful women in the world Linda, in her own words felt "deformed."

As Linda pursues a multi-million dollar lawsuit, in this final episode we dive into the paradoxical world of beauty and the unique pressures faced by ageing supermodels.

CREDITS:

Host: Emma Gillespie
Written and Produced by Sydney Pead & Emma Gillespie
Audio Production: Madeline Joannou
Executive Producer: Sydney Pead

With thanks to

Paula Joye, Former Editor of Cleo, Stylist - @paulajoye
Kirsty Clements - Author of Why Did I Buy That?
Laurie Marsden - Former Model, Psychotherapist
Nicole Bonython-Hines - Stylist
Dr Vivienne Lewis - Psychologist
Dr Cara McDonald - Dermatologist
Leigh Campbell - Executive Editor, Mamamia
Jason Sheeler - Deputy West Coast Editor, PEOPLE Magazine and Co-Host of PEOPLE in the '90s - @jasonsheeler

SOURCES

Tim Blank - Fashion File
FOX 8 Australia's Next Top Model
Models: The Film
Entertainment Tonight

GET IN TOUCH:
Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au
Need more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Linda Evangelista (Part 3): The Supermodel, The Movie Star And The Billionaire

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 03:37:42 +0000

[Part 3 of 4] Professionally, Linda Evangelista was unparalleled, achieving more success than almost anyone else in the fashion industry. But her personal life was not so straight-forward. From leaving a marriage plagued with allegations of abuse, to an ill-fated relationship with a curious film star; in this episode we delve into the supermodel's loves and losses, and a scandal followed by a secret that would change Linda's life forever.

With thanks to

Richard Reid - Entertainment Reporter @the_richardreid
Jason Sheeler - Deputy West Coast Editor, PEOPLE Magazine and Co-Host of PEOPLE in the '90s - @jasonsheeler
Paula Joye, Stylist - @paulajoye

CREDITS:
Host: Emma Gillespie
Written and Produced by Sydney Pead & Emma Gillespie
Audio Production: Madeline Joannou
Executive Producer: Sydney Pead

GET IN TOUCH:
Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au
Need more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Linda Evangelista (Part 2): Fashion’s Dirty Little Secret

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 03:36:06 +0000

[Part 2 of 4] At the very top of her game, Linda Evangelista met and married one of the most powerful men in the fashion industry. Gerald Marie represented all the top supermodels and held the careers of hundreds of up-and-comers in his hand. What she didn't know was that her husband was allegedly part of a dark underbelly in the fashion industry where powerful figures sexually exploited and abused young models with chilling regularity.

Warning: This episode contains descriptions of sexual assault. If this episode brings up issues for you call LIFELINE on 13 11 14, or 1800 RESPECT.

With Thanks to:
Laurie Marsden
Kirstie Clements
Nicole Bonython-Hines
Jayson Brunsdon

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Linda Evangelista (Part 1): The $10,000 A Day Supermodel

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 03:34:49 +0000

[Part 1 of 4] She was one of the most photographed women in the world, now even the paparazzi are struggling to snap a photo of Linda Evangelista. The original 90s supermodel has become a recluse, while her contemporaries continue with lucrative careers, claiming a cosmetic procedure left her permanently disfigured.

But before her greatest downfall, how did this Canadian-born beauty queen become the most super of The Supermodels?

With Thanks to:

Kirstie Clements
Nicole Bonython-Hines
Jayson Brunsdon

CREDITS:
Host: Emma Gillespie
Written and Produced by Sydney Pead & Emma Gillespie, with Holly Wainwright
Audio Production: Madeline Joannou
Executive Producer: Sydney Pead

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

4. Young Talent Time: The Girl Who Never Grew Up

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 03:53:59 +0000

Subscribe to MPlus for unlimited access to Extraordinary Stories

Having reached national fame, the cast of Young Talent Time split off in countless directions when their time on the show ended. Some finished their schooling and led relatively normal lives, while other soared into international fame. But with the shock cancellation of the show in 1988, some team mates lost their stepping-stone into show business altogether.

This episode we find out why the show was suddenly axed, and what happened to our favourites from the Young Talent Team, including one we never got the chance to see grow up. Plus, Rob Mills takes us behind the curtain of the 2012 YTT reboot, which never made it past season one.

THE END BITS

WITH THANKS TO:

John Young - Host and Executive Producer of Young Talent Time (1971-1988)

Vicki Thirlwell
Rob Mills
Debra Byrne
Dannii Minogue
Tina Arena
Beven Addinsall
Joey Dee
Vince Deltito
Karen Knowles
Nicole Cooper

SOURCES:
Archival footage courtesy of John Young

Network 10
Ch 7- The Voice
Young Talent Time Tells All

GET IN TOUCH:
Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au
Need more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/

CREDITS:
Host: Emma Gillespie
Written and Produced by Sydney Pead & Emma Gillespie, with Holly Wainwright
Audio Production: Madeline Joannou
Executive Producer: Sydney Pead

Just by reading or listening to our content, you’re helping to fund girls in schools in some of the most disadvantaged countries in the world - through our partnership with Room to Read. We’re currently funding 300 girls in school every day and our aim is to get to 1,000. Find out more about Mamamia at mamamia.com.au

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

3. Young Talent Time: The Moment Every Cast Member Dreaded

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 03:53:34 +0000

Subscribe to MPlus for unlimited access to Extraordinary Stories

The Young Talent Team were as famous as it gets in 1970-80s Australia. Mobbed at shopping centre concerts, packing stadiums on tour, chased down city streets during on school trips; the cast soared to heights most performers could only dream of reaching. But each knew the wild ride of YTT would have to end once they turned sixteen. Some thrived and continued performing, but others came face-to-face with the cut-throat realities of show business.

THE END BITS

WITH THANKS TO:

John Young - Host and Executive Producer of Young Talent Time (1971-1988)

Vicki Thirlwell
Angela Bishop
Dannii Minogue
Tina Arena
Beven Addinsall
Joey Dee
Vince Deltito
Karen Knowles
Nicole Cooper

SOURCES:

Archival footage courtesy of John Young

Network 10

GET IN TOUCH:
Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au
Need more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/

CREDITS:
Host: Emma Gillespie
Written and Produced by Sydney Pead & Emma Gillespie, with Holly Wainwright
Audio Production: Madeline Joannou
Executive Producer: Sydney Pead

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2. Young Talent Time: The Private Lives Of Teen Idols

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 03:52:29 +0000

Subscribe to MPlus for unlimited access to Extraordinary Stories

Under the bright lights of the TV studio in Melbourne, the Young Talent Time crew were the shiny, happy and wholesome stars of a hit music show. But in reality they were kids with full-time jobs, trying to balance school with the crazy demands of show business. Add the rollercoaster of teenage hormones and avoiding getting beaten up at school for the whacky costume you wore on TV last week — being a teenage pop idol was hard work. One cast member, however was facing hardships no child should have to confront: abuse at the hands of someone she thought she could trust.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains references to sexual assault. If this raises any issues for you, there is help. Call 1800 RESPECT, or Lifeline on 13 11 14

THE END BITS

WITH THANKS TO:

John Young - Host and Executive Producer of Young Talent Time (1971-1988)

Vicki Thirlwell
Dannii Minogue
Tina Arena
Beven Addinsall
Joey Dee
Vince Deltito
Karen Knowles
Nicole Cooper
Debra Byrne

SOURCES:

Archival footage courtesy of John Young

Network 10
Sunrise, 7

GET IN TOUCH:
Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au
Need more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/

CREDITS:
Host: Emma Gillespie
Written and Produced by Sydney Pead & Emma Gillespie, with Holly Wainwright
Audio Production: Madeline Joannou
Executive Producer: Sydney Pead

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1. Young Talent Time: Australia's Child Star Factory

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 03:52:02 +0000

Subscribe to MPlus for unlimited access to Extraordinary Stories

In 1971, Australian TV changed forever when a brand new show called 'Young Talent Time' burst onto screens in lounge rooms across the country. For 18 years, it held a place in the hearts of Australians at a time when family entertainment was king and "mullet" hairstyles reigned supreme. A unique mix of pop hits, flashy dance routines and wholesome performances by a team of talented children and teens catapulted the show into enormous success, and launched the careers of some of the country's biggest music exports including Tina Arena and Dannii Minogue.

We take a stroll through the past to discover how this TV-music juggernaut came to be one of the most loved shows ever made in Australia.

THE END BITS

WITH THANKS TO:

John Young - Host and Executive Producer of Young Talent Time (1971-1988)

Vicki Thirlwell
Dannii Minogue
Tina Arena
Beven Addinsall
Joey Dee
Vince Deltito
Karen Knowles
Nicole Cooper
Debra Byrne
Meldi Arkinstall

SOURCES:

Archival footage courtesy of John Young

CREDITS:
Host: Emma Gillespie
Written and Produced by Sydney Pead & Emma Gillespie, with Holly Wainwright
Audio Production: Madeline Joannou
Executive Producer: Sydney Pead

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Something Extraordinary Is Coming...

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 03:49:00 +0000

The stories you thought you knew, told by the women who really do. From the glamour and scandal of Australia’s magazine queens to an infamous wellness conwoman to the princesses who’ve had to shake off a tragic “curse”, host Emma Gillespie cuts through the rumours to transport you into a story you haven’t heard before.

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1. Magazine Queens: Ita Buttrose, Kerry Packer & The Birth Of Cleo

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 18:00:00 +0000

This episode was originally released to MPlus subscribers. Subscribers get early access to Extraordinary Stories, and unlimited access to all Mamamia content. To subscribe head to mamamia.com.au/mplus

In a chaotic Sydney share-house in the Spring of 1972, a disheveled actor was lying naked on the fraying couch of an inner-city living room. The woman who had paid Jack Thompson $400 was wondering if the actor’s left hand was really big enough to cover his modesty and get her history-making magazine past the conservative censors who’d decide if it would make it to newsagent shelves. The Editor? Ita Buttrose. The magazine? Cleo.

On this first episode of Extraordinary Stories: Magazine Queens, Australian icon Ita Buttrose, historian Bridgette Griffin-Foley and others who lived through it take us back to the birth of a sensation: Australia’s Cleo Magazine.

THE END BITS:

With thanks to Ita Buttrose and Bridget Griffen-Foley

Find out more about MPlus at www.mamamia.com.au/mplus

RESOURCES WE USED:

Australian Story on Kerry Packer https://www.abc.net.au/austory/a-complicated-life-part-1/12858254

Paper Giants: The Birth Of Cleo https://www.abc.net.au/tv/papergiants/

A Passionate Life by Ita Buttrose

GET IN TOUCH:

Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au

Need more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/

CREDITS:

Host: Emma Gillespie

Writers: Melanie Sauer, Emma Gillespie and Holly Wainwright

Producers: Melanie Sauer and Emma Gillespie

Audio Production: Elissa Ratliff and Madeline Joannou

Executive Producer: Holly Wainwright and Elissa Ratliff

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2. Magazine Queens: Nene, Dulcie & The Diana Wars

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 19:00:00 +0000

The most infamous battle in Australian magazine history happened against the backdrop of an imploding royal marriage and an obsession with a tortured princess. And the most infamous editor in weekly magazines, Nene King, had exactly the killer instinct to capitalise on it. Welcome to the Diana Wars, when two esteemed editors went head to head in a circulation battle for the eyes and attention of millions of Australian women - whatever the cost.

In episode two of Extraordinary Stories: Magazine Queens, Nene King, Angela Mollard and Louisa Hatfield talk to Emma Gillespie about an era of tabloid excess, and how it all came crashing down after a midnight high-speed chase through a Parisian tunnel.

THE END BITS:

With thanks to Nene King, Angela Mollard (https://www.instagram.com/angelamollard/ ) and Louisa Hatfield (https://www.instagram.com/louisahatfield1/ )

Find out more about MPlus at www.mamamia.com.au/mplus

RESOURCES WE USED:

Nene King by Peter Fitzsimons

Paper Giants: Magazine Wars https://www.abc.net.au/tv/papergiants/

GET IN TOUCH:

Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au

Need more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/

CREDITS:

Host: Emma Gillespie

Writers: Melanie Sauer, Emma Gillespie and Holly Wainwright

Producers: Melanie Sauer and Emma Gillespie

Audio Production: Elissa Ratliff and Madeline Joannou

Executive Producer: Holly Wainwright and Elissa Ratliff

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

3. Magazine Queens: When Supermodels Turned Deadly

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 19:00:00 +0000

The 1990s were the era of the supermodels, the waifs, and a trend so deadly it came with a health warning: heroin chic. Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Marie Claire brought luxury to the local newsagent and gave Australian women a taste of the runways of Paris and Milan. A handful of women known by their first names only were on every cover: Naomi, Cindy, Linda, Elle… until the waifs came along and knocked them off.

On this episode of Extraordinary Stories: Magazine Queens, Emma Gillespie speaks to former Vogue Editor Kirstie Clements about what it was like working in a world that would fly you to Paris for a manicure and also refuse to make clothes that could fit grown-up women. And Paula Joye tells us about what it was like working with the supermodels of the 90s... And yes, she saw them all naked.

THE END BITS:

With thanks to Kirstie Clements here.

And Paula Joye here.

Find out more about Extraordinary Stories here.

Find out more about MPlus here.

GET IN TOUCH:

Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au

Need more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/

CREDITS:

Host: Emma Gillespie

Writers: Melanie Sauer, Emma Gillespie and Holly Wainwright

Producers: Melanie Sauer and Emma Gillespie

Audio Production: Elissa Ratliff and Madeline Joannou

Executive Producer: Holly Wainwright and Elissa Ratliff

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

4. Magazine Queens: The It Girls Vs The Paparazzi

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 19:00:00 +0000

What did it take to make a tabloid mag in the It Girl era? You know, the days when Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie or Lindsay Lohan were falling out of cars, in and out of rehab and a ruthless paparazzi pack was documenting all of it? It’s the era that, through a 2021 lens, might be the most problematic of them all, but back then, what was it like to work in the magazines that knew the more outrageous the antics, the higher the sale?

On this episode of Extraordinary Stories: Magazine Queens, Emma Gillespie speaks to Australia’s weekly magazine Queen Louisa Hatfield and Mamamia’s own, former OK! Deputy Editor Holly Wainwright, about the Britney years.

THE END BITS:

With thanks to:

Louisa Hatfield.

And Holly Wainwright.

Find out more about Extraordinary Stories here.

Find out more about MPlus here.

GET IN TOUCH:

Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au

Need more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/

CREDITS:

Host: Emma Gillespie

Writers: Melanie Sauer, Emma Gillespie and Holly Wainwright

Producers: Melanie Sauer and Emma Gillespie

Audio Production: Elissa Ratliff and Madeline Joannou

Executive Producer: Holly Wainwright and Elissa Ratliff

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

5. Magazine Queens: The End Of An Extraordinary Era

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 19:00:00 +0000

It’s heading towards the end of magazines’ influential heyday. The magazine queens are contemplating their next moves as circulation drops and iconic titles begin to wobble.

For Mamamia’s Founder and Creative Director Mia Freedman, working in magazines was a lifelong dream. One she realised, and then some. In this final episode of Extraordinary Stories, Mia and Bronwyn McCahon talk about the incredible places they got to go and people they got to meet in their magazine heydays and also, what it was like to see the wave of the Internet crashing towards the glossy-mag empire and to be saying, “Um, shouldn’t we… do something about this?”

THE END BITS:

With thanks to Mia Freedman.

Bronwyn McCahon.

Bridget Griffen-Foley.

Paula Joye.

Louisa Hatfield.

And everyone involved in this extraordinary story.

Find out more about Extraordinary Stories here.

Find out more about MPlus here.

GET IN TOUCH:

Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au

Need more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/

CREDITS:

Host: Emma Gillespie

Writers: Melanie Sauer, Emma Gillespie and Holly Wainwright

Producers: Melanie Sauer and Emma Gillespie

Audio Production: Elissa Ratliff and Madeline Joannou

Executive Producer: Holly Wainwright and Elissa Ratliff

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing: Belle Gibson

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 19:00:00 +0000

Available now.

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Belle Gibson (Part 1): From Teen Mum To Internet Infamy

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 19:00:00 +0000

[Part 1 or 3] Belle Gibson fooled not only her hundreds of thousands of followers, but the most prestigious book publishers in Australia, the tech giants of silicon valley and even her family and friends into believing she was something she was not: sick. If today, her name is synonymous with the weighty infamy of a notorious scam, there was a time before that, when she was celebrated as an inspiration.

On this episode of Extraordinary Stories, we look at the rise of Belle Gibson. From tall tales in school drama classes to international acclaim and influence, how did Annabelle Natalie Gibson become the pinup girl for the wellness movement?

With thanks to:

Bronwyn McCahon
Doctor Brad McKay
Kylie Willey
Tara Brown

Sources:

The Woman Who Fooled The World by Beau Donnelly and Nick Toscano

Fake Medicine by Brad Mckay

The Girl Who Conned Us All by Clair Weaver https://www.nowtolove.com.au/news/real-life/belle-gibson-the-whole-story-10129

https://www.nowtolove.com.au/news/local-news/belle-gibson-speaks-for-the-first-time-since-her-whole-pantry-controversy-13532

CREDITS:

Host: Emma Gillespie

Writers: Emma Gillespie and Holly Wainwright

Producers: Melanie Sauer and Emma Gillespie

Audio Production: Elissa Ratliff and Madeline Joannou

Executive Producer: Holly Wainwright and Elissa Ratliff

GET IN TOUCH:

Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au

Need more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Belle Gibson (Part 2): The Email No One Wanted To Believe

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 19:00:00 +0000

[Part 2 of 3] Belle Gibson was travelling to Queensland for a funeral when she was first contacted by Melbourne newspaper, The Age. Reporters were seeking clarification. They wanted to know exactly how much of the money that Belle was making was going to charity. By 2015, The Whole Pantry had become a hugely successful app, blog and book. Belle had always publicly pledged that a sizeable chunk of the money it was making was being redistributed to charities and various worthy causes, but was that true? In this episode of Extraordinary Stories, we’ll learn how it all came crashing down for the so-called 'Wellness Warrior,' Belle Gibson, and how a woman who once provided hope for some of the nations most vulnerable people, exploited them for cash and clout.

With thanks to
Bronwyn McCahon,
Tara Brown
Tom Cowie
Marc Feldman
James D'Apice
Kylie Willey

CREDITS:

Host: Emma Gillespie

Writers: Emma Gillespie and Holly Wainwright

Producers: Melanie Sauer and Emma Gillespie

Audio Production: Elissa Ratliff and Madeline Joannou

Executive Producer: Holly Wainwright and Elissa Ratliff

SOURCES:

The Woman Who Fooled The World by Beau Donnelly and Nick Toscano

Fake Medicine by Brad Mckay

The Girl Who Conned Us All by Clair Weaver https://www.nowtolove.com.au/news/real-life/belle-gibson-the-whole-story-10129

https://www.nowtolove.com.au/news/local-news/belle-gibson-speaks-for-the-first-time-since-her-whole-pantry-controversy-13532

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/nov/13/behind-belle-gibsons-cancer-con-everything-about-this-story-is-extreme

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/munchausen-syndrome-why-bloggers-cancer-fraud-belle-gibson-fake-sickness-online-10215185.html

GET IN TOUCH:

Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au

Need more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Belle Gibson (Part 3): Reckoning & Reinvention

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 19:00:00 +0000

[Part 3 of 3] Belle Gibson spent years lying about her health. From those early skater chatroom claims that she had died on the operating table during heart surgery, to a terminal brain cancer diagnosis, and finally, revelations that cancer had spread through her entire body. She had built a business out of peddling her strategy for treating that cancer; with food. She said it was curing her, and could (for a small fee) cure you, too. But in March 2015, everything came undone, and it wasn't only Belle's followers who wanted answers. The police did too.

With thanks to
Tara Brown
Tom Cowie
Dr Marc Feldman
James D'Apice
Kylie Willey
60 Minutes.

CREDITS:
Host: Emma Gillespie
Writers: Emma Gillespie and Holly Wainwright
Producer: Emma Gillespie
Guest bookings: Melanie Sauer
Audio Production: Madeline Joannou
Executive Producer: Holly Wainwright and Elissa Ratliff

SOURCES:
Confronting Belle Gibson

The Woman Who Fooled The World by Beau Donnelly and Nick Toscano

Fake Medicine by Brad Mckay

The Girl Who Conned Us All by Clair Weaver

https://www.nowtolove.com.au/news/local-news/belle-gibson-speaks-for-the-first-time-since-her-whole-pantry-controversy-13532
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/nov/13/behind-belle-gibsons-cancer-con-everything-about-this-story-is-extreme
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/munchausen-syndrome-why-bloggers-cancer-fraud-belle-gibson-fake-sickness-online-10215185.html

GET IN TOUCH:
Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au
Need more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing: The Kennedy Women

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 23:48:00 +0000

Mamamia subscribers can listen now at www.mamamia.com.au/mplus

In this season of Extraordinary Stories, we’re taking a closer look at the women who married into America’s most influential family, the Kennedy’s. From incredible triumph to unspeakable loss, these women weren’t just on the sidelines of history, they were living it. Whilst it may be their husband’s names inked in modern textbooks, some of the most extraordinary stories of their time belong to the women. Jacqueline Bouvier, Ethel Skakel and Carolyn Bessette. In our first episode, we’re starting with the woman whose pink Chanel suit and pillbox hat is imprinted memories around the world. Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis.

Coming Soon.

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Kennedy Women (Part 1): When Jackie Met Jack

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 19:00:00 +0000

[Part 1 of 3] Before her life-defining marriage to JFK, Jaqueline Bouvier was an aspiring journalist, and socialite with big career ambitions. She knew marrying an up-and-coming US congressman would come with a series of expectations. But she could never have predicted how crucial she would be in her husband’s political campaigning, presidential election and in the legacy of The Kennedy family in US politics. But, more-so, she couldn’t have imagined the heartache it would bring.

CREDITS:

Host: Emma Gillespie

Writers: Emma Gillespie and Holly Wainwright

Producers: Emma Gillespie & Siobhan Moran-McFarlane

Audio Production: Elissa Ratliff and Madeline Joannou

Executive Producer: Holly Wainwright and Elissa Ratliff

WITH THANKS TO:

William D Cohan
Tina Cassidy
Susan Broomhall
Laurence Leamer
Aricia Skiddmore-Williams
Brooke Siffrin

SOURCES:
The Kennedy Heirs, J. Randy Taraborelli
Jackie, A Tale of Two Sisters
Secret Lives: Jackie Kennedy
Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy
https://www.jfklibrary.org/
The Washington Post
Even The Rich

GET IN TOUCH:

Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au

Need more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Kennedy Women (Part 2): "They're Killing Kennedys"

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 19:00:00 +0000

[Part 2 of 3] Ethel Skakel Kennedy has been called stoic and brave as many times as she’s been called cold and cruel. But as we dive deeper into her story, we’ll learn what it really took to love and lose a Kennedy, to be widowed by another Kennedy assassination, and raise eleven children as the single mother of a very private, public family...

CREDITS:

Host: Emma Gillespie

Writers: Emma Gillespie and Holly Wainwright

Producers: Emma Gillespie & Siobhan Moran-McFarlane

Audio Production: Elissa Ratliff and Madeline Joannou

Executive Producer: Holly Wainwright and Elissa Ratliff

WITH THANKS TO:

William D Cohan, Tina Cassidy, Susan Broomhall, Laurence Leamer, Aricia Skiddmore-Williams and Brooke Siffrin

GET IN TOUCH:

Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au

Need more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Kennedy Women (Part 3): When Carolyn Met JFK Jr.

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 19:00:00 +0000

[Part 3 of 3] The relationship between Carolyn Bessette and John F Kennedy Jr obsessed New York society and tabloid newspapers for years. The handsome heir to the Kennedy name dated models and movie stars before settling into marriage with Carolyn, and theirs was a union marked by public arguments, private drama, and iconic fashion moments. But once again, the Kennedy family would be plunged into mourning. In this episode, the final in our Kennedy trilogy, we’ll learn how the heir apparent and his socialite bride were stopped in their tracks by an unexplainable thread of misadventure and misfortune. If the assassinations of Jack and Bobby Kennedy begged the question, “are the Kennedys cursed?” What happened to JFK Jr and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy surely answered it.

CREDITS:
Host: Emma Gillespie
Writers: Emma Gillespie and Holly Wainwright
Producers: Emma Gillespie & Siobhan Moran-McFarlane
Audio Production: Madeline Joannou
Executive Producer: Holly Wainwright and Elissa Ratliff

WITH THANKS TO:
Paula Joye, William D Cohan, Tina Cassidy, Susan Broomhall, Laurence Leamer, Aricia Skiddmore-Williams and Brooke Siffrin

GET IN TOUCH:
Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au
Need more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing: The Life & Death Of Charlotte Dawson

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 19:00:00 +0000

Subscribe for early access to the next episode.

In this season of Extraordinary Stories, we’re exploring the life of Charlotte Dawson. Model, television personality, anti-bullying advocate, and host of Australia’s Next Top Model. Charlotte’s life? Well, it’s one of incredible highs and gut-wrenching lows. Of success and scandal; Fame and friendship; Loss; And a constant struggle with mental health. Seven years on from her untimely death, what has her legacy taught us? And has the way we view mental health and bullying on social media changed? In this season, you’ll hear from the people who knew and loved Charlotte, and why her story is now more important than ever.

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Life & Death Of Charlotte Dawson (Part 1): The Making Of A Noughties 'It' Girl

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 19:00:00 +0000

[Part 1 of 3] There are many chapters in the book of Charlotte Dawson. Charlotte Dawson the adopted young girl, Charlotte Dawson the Fire Horse, Charlotte Dawson the life of the party, Charlotte Dawson the Model, Charlotte Dawson the wife of Olympic hero Scott Miller, Charlotte Dawson the Brave, Charlotte Dawson the paparazzi obsession, Charlotte Dawson the homebody, Charlotte Dawson the Mentor. And; Charlotte Dawson, the misunderstood.

On the first episode of The Life & Death Of Charlotte Dawson, we’re looking into the early years of Charlotte’s life. And how a teenager from New Zealand made it big on the Australian modelling scene.

CREDITS:
Host: Emma Gillespie
Writers: Emma Gillespie, Tia Ucich & Holly Wainwright
Producers: Emma Gillespie & Tia Ucich
Audio Production: Madeline Joannou
Executive Producer: Holly Wainwright and Elissa Ratliff

WITH THANKS TO:

Melissa Hoyer, Jo Cassemento & Simone Holtznagel

SOURCES:

Air Kiss & Tell: Memoirs of a Blow-Up Doll by Charlotte Dawson and Jo Thornley

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Life & Death Of Charlotte Dawson (Part 2): Top Model, Twitter & Trolls

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 19:00:00 +0000

[Part 2 of 3] On our last episode, we learnt about Charlotte’s early years and a coming of age that included a love affair with fashion. We heard how a teenager from New Zealand made it big on the Australian modelling scene, and how her reputation was destroyed in the wake of a public and messy marriage breakdown.

On this episode, we’ll hear how Charlotte Dawson rebranded herself to become a television star, a mentor and an advocate. You’ll hear from the people who were with her in the wonderful moments of a glamorous life, and through the horrific side-effects of having often vicious strangers critique your every word and move.

And we’ll hear from the people who were with her at the end, as Charlotte Dawson, fire horse, began to sink under the pressure.

CREDITS:

Host: Emma Gillespie
Writers: Emma Gillespie, Tia Ucich & Holly Wainwright
Producers: Emma Gillespie & Tia Ucich
Audio Production: Madeline Joannou
Executive Producer: Holly Wainwright and Elissa Ratliff

WITH THANKS TO:

Melissa Hoyer, Jo Cassemento & Simone Holtznagel

SOURCES:

Air Kiss & Tell: Memoirs of a Blow-Up Doll by Charlotte Dawson and Jo Thornley

GET IN TOUCH:

Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au

Need more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Life & Death Of Charlotte Dawson (Part 3): ‘A Beautiful, Fragile Girl Who Just Wanted To Be Loved’

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 19:00:00 +0000

[Part 3 of 3] On this episode of Extraordinary Stories: The Life & Death Of Charlotte Dawson, we’ll learn about the aftermath of Charlotte’s death. From the immediate aftershocks to her long-term legacy. What have we learned from the death of Charlotte Dawson? Has anything changed for the better? And, the question that torments everyone who loved Charlotte, could she have been saved?

CREDITS:

WITH THANKS TO:

Erin Molan
Georgie Harman
Melissa Hoyer
Jo Cassemento
Simone Holtznagel

SOURCES:
Air Kiss & Tell: Memoirs of a Blow-Up Doll by Charlotte Dawson and Jo Thornley

GET IN TOUCH:

Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au

Need more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1. The Demonisation Of Lindy Chamberlain: A Dingo’s Got My Baby

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 19:23:00 +0000

Subscribe to MPlus for unlimited access to Extraordinary Stories

Demonised by the press. Vilified by the country. The subject of gossip and innuendo. From today's viewpoint, the story of Lindy Chamberlain is a brutal reflection of 1980s Australia. Beneath the layers of lies and injustice, it’s a story of a mother who didn’t behave, look, speak or grieve the way we wanted her to after the incomprehensible loss of a child. It’s also the story of one woman, strong enough to endure it all.

In this season of Extraordinary Stories, we’re unravelling how a young woman went from mother to wrongly convicted murderer, and why the story of Azaria Chamberlain’s disappearance continues to fascinate us to this day.

THE END BITS

WITH THANKS TO:

Malcolm Brown, Journalist

Dr Sophie Jensen, National Museum of Australia

Alana Valentine, Author & Playwright

SOURCES:

Letters to Lindy, Alana Valentine
Dear Lindy: A nation responds to the Loss of Azaria, Alana Valentine
https://lindychamberlain.com/
ABC
Network Ten

CREDITS:
Host: Emma Gillespie
Written and Produced by Sydney Pead & Emma Gillespie, with Holly Wainwright & Elissa Ratliff
Audio Production: Madeline Joannou
Executive Producer: Sydney Pead

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2. The Demonisation Of Lindy Chamberlain: Another Baby, Taken

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 19:21:44 +0000

Subscribe to MPlus for unlimited access to Extraordinary Stories

Alice Lynn Chamberlain went from living a quiet, family-focused life to being Australia’s most despised woman. For two years, the press had vilified Lindy and the hatred of the public only made the prosecutor's job easier; to convince a jury that Lindy, not a dingo, had killed Azaria Chamberlain. On this episode of The Demonisation Of Lindy Chamberlain, we’ll learn what happened when Lindy had her day in court, what put an innocent woman behind bars, and how was a jury persuaded to condemn her based on misleading evidence.

THE END BITS

WITH THANKS TO:

Malcolm Brown, Journalist

Geraldine Doogue, Journalist

Dr Sophie Jensen, National Museum of Australia

Prof. Barry Boettcher, Forensic Biologist

Jane Russell, Australian Federal Police

SOURCES:

Through My Eyes, Lindy Chamberlain
ABC
The National Museum of Australia

CREDITS:
Host: Emma Gillespie
Written and Produced by Sydney Pead & Emma Gillespie, with Holly Wainwright & Elissa Ratliff
Audio Production: Madeline Joannou
Executive Producer: Sydney Pead

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

3. The Demonisation of Lindy Chamberlain: "You’re Famous, I’m Infamous"

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 19:22:00 +0000

Subscribe to MPlus for unlimited access to Extraordinary Stories

Released from a Darwin jail after the shock discovery of fresh evidence in the desert, Lindy Chamberlain finds herself at the centre of a media circus once again. But now, her story is going global, immortalised in a Hollywood film starring Oscar-winning actor Meryl Streep. Amid the intense media attention, the breakdown of her marriage and the public’s lingering suspicion, Lindy must continue her fight to clear her name.

THE END BITS
WITH THANKS TO:

Debra Lawrance, Actor - Evil Angels (1988)
Fred Schepsi, Director - Evil Angels (1988)
Dr Sophie Jensen, National Museum of Australia
Alana Valentine, Author & Playwright
Jane Russell, AFP

SOURCES:

Letters to Lindy, Alana Valentine
Dear Lindy: A nation responds to the Loss of Azaria, Alana Valentine
https://lindychamberlain.com/
Through My Eyes - An Autobiography, Lindy Chamberlain
ABC
Channel 9 - 60 Minutes
Reelin’ In The Years Productions

CREDITS:
Host: Emma Gillespie
Written and Produced by Sydney Pead & Emma Gillespie, with Holly Wainwright & Elissa Ratliff
Audio Production: Madeline Joannou
Executive Producer: Sydney Pead

Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.