In this episode of Biggest Feeds, Claudine Thornton yarns with with proud Whadjuk Noongar woman, journalist, broadcaster and author Narelda Jacobs to explore leadership, media, advocacy and the responsibility that comes with representing community in public spaces.

Narelda shares why powerful moments are rarely spontaneous, the importance of preparing your message before the spotlight finds you, and how thoughtful communication can help shape public conversations around issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Together they yarn about social media, supporting one another instead of competing, navigating online racism, knowing when to engage and when to step away, and why community backing is essential when speaking on difficult issues.

Whether you're speaking to one person or thousands, this episode is a reminder that your voice matters and preparation gives it power.

In this episode you'll hear about:

• Speaking with confidence in public
• Preparing for difficult conversations
• Social media and advocacy
• Representation in mainstream media
• Supporting other First Nations voices
• Community, courage and leadership
• Turning preparation into action

Acknowledgement of Country

Opening Acknowledgement of Country spoken in Ngiyampaa language by Jesse Hodgetts and used with permission.

Biggest Feeds is supported by the National Best Practice Unit and funded through the Australian Government's Tackling Indigenous Smoking Program.

Disclaimer

The views, opinions and experiences shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, producers, funding partners or affiliated organisations.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Biggest Feeds, Claudine Thornton sits down with proud Yorta Yorta woman, author, wellbeing advocate and creator Allira Potter to explore authenticity, boundaries and building genuine community online.

Allira shares her journey navigating social media as a First Nations creator, the importance of trusting intuition, protecting your energy and staying true to yourself in digital spaces. Together they discuss online racism, creating culturally safe communities, sobriety, health journeys and why vulnerability often becomes our greatest point of connection.

This is an honest conversation about showing up imperfectly, creating boundaries that protect your wellbeing and using your platform to inspire others without losing yourself in the process.

In this episode you'll hear about:

• Authenticity on social media
• Building online communities
• Boundaries and protecting your energy
• Navigating racism online
• Health, sobriety and personal growth
• Intuition and grounding practices
• Creating safer digital spaces for Mob

Acknowledgement of Country

Opening Acknowledgement of Country spoken in Ngiyampaa language by Jesse Hodgetts and used with permission.

Biggest Feeds is supported by the National Best Practice Unit and funded through the Australian Government's Tackling Indigenous Smoking Program.

Disclaimer

The views, opinions and experiences shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, producers, funding partners or affiliated organisations.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Biggest Feeds, Claudine Thornton sits down with proud Gambenyi woman Sarah Sinclair, Regional Events Coordinator for Ready Quit Solid, to explore youth leadership, creativity and community-led health promotion.

Sarah shares her own quitting journey, what inspired her to work in Tackling Indigenous Smoking, and takes us behind the scenes of the Voices of Resistance campaign, where young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander TIS workers collaborated with leading First Nations artists to create a rap song, music video and social media campaign.

Together they discuss why humour, storytelling and trusting young people to lead creates stronger health messages, stronger communities and campaigns that people genuinely connect with.

In this episode you'll hear about:

• Sarah's personal quitting journey
• Youth leadership in health promotion
• The Voices of Resistance campaign
• Community-led storytelling
• Why humour helps difficult conversations
• Building confidence through creativity
• Creating campaigns with, not for, young people

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Claudine Thornton yarns with proud Ngiyampaa Wongaibon man, Social Epidemiologist, Director of the Mayi kKuwayu  Study and her big brother Professor Ray Lovett,  to explore the cultural, social and systemic factors that shape Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

Together they unpack why following people over time through research matters, how culture, language and connection to Country contribute to better health and wellbeing, and why racism continues to have profound impacts on physical and mental health. Ray also shares how Indigenous Data Sovereignty is transforming research by returning control of data back to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities.

This conversation challenges deficit thinking and reminds us that when Mob lead the research, we create stronger evidence, better policy and healthier futures.

In this episode you'll hear about:

• The Mayi Kuwayu  Study and why longitudinal research matters
• How language, culture and connection to Country influence wellbeing
• The health impacts of racism and intergenerational trauma
• Cultural determinants of health alongside social determinants
• Indigenous Data Sovereignty and community ownership of data
• Why culturally safe research leads to better health outcomes

Acknowledgement of Country

Opening Acknowledgement of Country spoken in Ngiyampaa language by Jesse Hodgetts and used with permission.

Biggest Feeds is supported by the National Best Practice Unit and funded through the Australian Government's Tackling Indigenous Smoking Program.

Disclaimer

The views, opinions and experiences shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, producers, funding partners or affiliated organisations.

Whether you work in health, research, policy or community, this episode offers a powerful reminder that culture isn't separate from health, it's fundamental to it.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Biggest Feeds, Claudine Thornton yarns with proud Wiradjuri Wongulu man Joe Williams to explore re-parenting, accountability and the courage it takes to show up differently for ourselves and our families.

Joe shares his deeply personal journey from addiction and absence to becoming a more present father, reflecting on how the COVID-19 pandemic forced him to slow down, confront uncomfortable truths and begin rebuilding relationships with his children.

Together they explore the importance of sitting with discomfort instead of avoiding it, understanding the inner child, breaking intergenerational patterns and why healing isn't about perfection, it's about choosing to keep showing up.

This episode is an honest conversation about vulnerability, growth and the power of rebuilding trust, one conversation at a time.

In this episode you'll hear about:

• Re-parenting yourself as an adult
• The difference between being a father and being a dad
• Breaking intergenerational cycles
• Accountability without shame
• Mental health, vulnerability and emotional safety
• Why sitting with discomfort creates growth
• The importance of rebuilding relationships with family

Acknowledgement of Country

Opening Acknowledgement of Country spoken in Ngiyampaa language by Jesse Hodgetts and used with permission.

Biggest Feeds is supported by the National Best Practice Unit and funded through the Australian Government's Tackling Indigenous Smoking Program.

Disclaimer

The views, opinions and experiences shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, producers, funding partners or affiliated organisations.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Biggest Feeds, Claudine Thornton yarns with proud Zenadth Kes woman, former Olympian and founder of Female First, Libby Cook-Black, to explore leadership, visibility and what it means to take up space with purpose.

Libby shares her journey from public service to entrepreneurship, the mindset she developed as an elite athlete and why choosing yourself can also be an act of service to community. Together they unpack imposter syndrome, cultural load, business, social media and why showing up authentically gives others permission to do the same.

This is a conversation about courage, discipline and creating opportunities—not just for ourselves, but for the generations coming behind us.

In this episode you'll hear about:

• Building confidence through visibility
• Leadership and entrepreneurship
• Elite athlete mindset
• Creating culturally safe online spaces
• Authenticity on social media
• Kinship, community and accountability
• Preparing yourself to lead

In this episode of Biggest Feeds, Claudine Thornton yarns with Libby Cook Black about leadership, visibility, community and the balancing act many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people know well: when to step forward, when to step back, and how to protect your spirit along the way.

At the heart of this conversation is a powerful reminder that there is no single right way to lead. For some people, making an impact means speaking loudly. For others, it means caring for themselves, supporting others behind the scenes or choosing when and where to show up.

Whether you work in health, advocacy, education, media or community services, this episode offers an honest and refreshing conversation about leadership, boundaries and staying strong enough to keep going.

One insight from this yarn continues to resonate:

"For some, stepping back is protective. For others, stepping in creates change."

Acknowledgement of Country

Opening Acknowledgement of Country spoken in Ngiyampaa language by Jesse Hodgetts and used with permission.

Disclaimer

Biggest Feeds is supported by the National Best Practice Unit. The views, opinions and experiences shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, producers, funding partners or affiliated organisations.

About Biggest Feeds

Biggest Feeds explores what's actually working in health, community and culture through the voices of people creating change across Australia. Through honest conversations, lived experience and community knowledge, we unpack the ideas shaping healthier futures for mob.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Biggest Feeds, Claudine Thornton yarns with Tori Cowburn about co-design, community voice and the lessons that emerge when we genuinely listen.

We talk about 

• What co-design really means beyond the buzzword
• Why communities should help shape the messages intended for them
• The importance of listening before creating
• How trust and relationships improve health promotion
• Practical lessons for anyone working alongside community

One of the stories explored in this episode comes from the development of a smoking cessation campaign for pregnant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. While the team initially focused on speaking directly to mums, community feedback revealed something different. Women wanted to speak directly to their babies.

That simple but powerful shift changed the direction of the campaign and became a reminder that the most effective health promotion often comes from listening, adapting and sharing power.

Through stories, reflections and practical examples, Tori shares why community-led approaches create stronger programs, better engagement and outcomes that are more likely to last.

Whether you work in health, community services, education, communications or program delivery, this episode offers valuable insights into creating work that people don't just see, but genuinely connect with.

Acknowledgement of Country

Opening Acknowledgement of Country spoken in Ngiyampaa language by Jesse Hodgetts and used with permission.

Biggest Feeds is supported by the National Best Practice Unit and funded through the Australian Government's Tackling Indigenous Smoking Program.

Disclaimer

The views, opinions and experiences shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, producers, funding partners or affiliated organisations.

About Biggest Feeds

Biggest Feeds explores what's actually working in health, community and culture through the voices of people creating change across Australia. Through honest conversations, lived experience and community knowledge, we unpack the ideas shaping healthier futures for mob.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if we looked at who profits, who carries the harm, and why some products continue to shape health outcomes decades after we learned the truth about them?

In this episode of Biggest Feeds, Claudine Thornton yarns with Raglan Maddox about commercial tobacco, public health, Indigenous leadership and the systems that continue to influence smoking and vaping narratives across communities.

Together they explore:

• Why tobacco is different from most consumer products
• The role of industry, profit and power in shaping health outcomes
• What evidence tells us about reducing smoking rates
• Why community-led solutions matter
• The future of tobacco control and nicotine-free generations

Drawing on years of research and advocacy, Raglan challenges us to think beyond individual behaviour and consider the broader systems that make harmful products easier to access than support. His work focuses on Indigenous-led approaches to tobacco control and the importance of creating healthier futures for coming generations.

This conversation is for anyone interested in public health, community change, health equity, smoking and vaping prevention, and the ongoing work of creating environments where people are supported to thrive.

Acknowledgement of Country

Opening Acknowledgement of Country spoken in Ngiyampaa language by Jesse Hodgetts and used with permission.

Funding Acknowledgement

Biggest Feeds is supported by the National Best Practice Unit and funded through the Australian Government's Tackling Indigenous Smoking Program.

Disclaimer

The views, opinions and experiences shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, producers, funding partners or affiliated organisations. Strong language warning on some episodes and if talks on addiction and mental health have you feeling heavy please seek support, contact 13yarn or any other support service.

About Biggest Feeds

Biggest Feeds explores what's actually working in health, community and culture through the voices of people creating change across Australia. Through honest conversations, lived experience and community knowledge, we unpack the ideas shaping healthier futures for mob.

The views, opinions and experiences shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, producers, funding partners or affiliated organisations. This podcast was created with support from the National Best Practice Unit (NBPU).

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each episode unpacks the stories, healing, & lived experiences behind what we post — inviting yarns that go beyond algorithms to explore how digital spaces can reflect who we are & support safer, stronger communities.

It’s a space for honest, grounded conversations about the work we do on-ground & online — where humour, healing, & hard truths live side by side. We believe the fastest way to earn a seat at the table is to host the meal.

Serving up yarns - behind & beyond the scroll.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.