No Filter

Samuel Johnson has two sisters, one Gold Logie and some frozen sperm sitting in a freezer at a clinic somewhere in Melbourne.  Across his career, he's been in all the iconic shows of the 90s; Home and Away, Blue Heelers, Halifax FP and The Secret Life Of Us. But despite his success on screen, he's had a lot of personal tragedy and hardship in his life. Drugs. Booze. Mothers and girlfriends that have both died. And now his big sister, fighting her hardest not to. He was just 10 years old when Connie was diagnosed with cancer for the first time and it was the return of that cancer a few years ago that changed both of their lives - and the lives of hundreds of thousands of other women. Show Notes Your host is Mia Freedman. With thanks to special guest Samuel Johnson.  Check out Love Your Sister This podcast was produced by Elissa Ratliff & Kelly Glover  CONTACT US Suggest a guest via: podcast@mamamia.com.au tweet us @mamamiapodcasts or join the conversation on facebookThis show is part of the Mamamia Women’s Network Telstra brings you the magic of technology with Smart Home, a clever little app that lets you manage your home from anywhere. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Chloe Shorten separated from her husband of 10 years, she was paranoid it would somehow affect her two young children. Then, when she remarried Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and blended her family, she got even more paranoid. So, she went hunting for help. For books, for studies, for information about the best way to do everything from “the talk” when you sit your kids down to tell them their Mum and Dad aren’t going to live together anymore to introducing new partners, navigating custody and even, eventually introducing new step-siblings or new babies. She didn’t find a lot. So she made her own, and this week she tells Mia about it.   Show Notes Your host is Mia Freedman. With thanks to special guests Chloe Shorten. Find her book, Take Heart, at apple.co/mamamia This podcast was produced by Elissa Ratliff  CONTACT US Suggest a guest via: podcast@mamamia.com.au tweet us @mamamiapodcasts or join the conversation on facebookThis show is part of the Mamamia Women’s Network Telstra brings you the magic of technology with Smart Home, a clever little app that lets you manage your home from anywhere.   Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When was the last time you bought a packet of tampons or pads? Do you remember how much they cost? Did you shop around looking for the cheapest possible option? Did you have to weigh up your priorities between say…..feeding your kids or bleeding all over your clothes? When Rochelle Courtenay read that homeless women would often have to choose between food and sanitary items, she decided to do something. Little did she know that her pad and tampon collections would change the path she took in the world, and result in her charity, Share The Dignity. Show Notes Your host is Mia Freedman. With thanks to special guests Rochelle Courtenay. To find out how to donate - go to sharethedignity.com.au This podcast was produced by Elissa Ratliff  CONTACT US Suggest a guest via: podcast@mamamia.com.au tweet us @mamamiapodcasts or join the conversation on facebookThis show is part of the Mamamia Women’s Network Telstra brings you the magic of technology with Smart Home, a clever little app that lets you manage your home from anywhere.   Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who would you choose to play you in a Hollywood movie? It's a question you might have pondered. Little did Sue Brierley know that one day, she would be sitting in a Hollywood theatre, watching Nicole Kidman portray her story on the big screen. When she was just a teen, the Tasmanian girl had a vision that she would adopt a child from India, instead of giving birth to her own. Saroo, the little boy Sue and her husband John adopted in the 80s', arrived. And was the inspiration behind the Oscar-nominated film Lion. She speaks to Mia about the real story behind the hit movie, her relationship with Nicole Kidman and the story of what actually happened to her other son, Mantosh.  Show Notes Your host is Mia Freedman. With thanks to special guests Sue Brierley. Lion is available on iTunes and DVD on May 1. This podcast was produced by Elissa Ratliff  CONTACT US Suggest a guest via: podcast@mamamia.com.au tweet us @mamamiapodcasts or join the conversation on facebookThis show is part of the Mamamia Women’s Network Telstra brings you the magic of technology with Smart Home, a clever little app that lets you manage your home from anywhere.   Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you prepare for a one-way mission to Mars? It sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, doesn’t it? But for Melbourne-based consultant Dianne McGrath, it just might become a reality. In 2013, Dianne signed up for Mars One. A mission that aims to establish life on Mars. She is now in the final 100 remaining candidates IN THE WORLD. And at the end of this year, she will find out whether or not she has been chosen as one of the final 24 who will eventually make the journey. Show Notes Your host is Mia Freedman. With thanks to special guests Dianne McGrath This podcast was produced by Elissa Ratliff  CONTACT US Suggest a guest via: podcast@mamamia.com.au tweet us @mamamiapodcasts or join the conversation on facebookThis show is part of the Mamamia Women’s Network Telstra brings you the magic of technology with Smart Home, a clever little app that lets you manage your home from anywhere. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aaron Elias always knew he wanted to have children with his fashion designer partner Jayson Brunsdon. He just wasn’t sure how they would do it. As a gay couple living in Sydney, there aren’t many options out there if you want to have children. But one night, after watching a 60 minutes story on surrogacy, Aaron & Jayson knew they were on to something. Two years later (through a cancer diagnosis, finding an egg donor and many trips to Thailand) their son Roman was born. This interview will have you laughing, crying, and feeling all the feels. Show Notes Your host is Mia Freedman. With thanks to special guests Jayson & Aaron Brunsdon Buy Aaron's book Designer Baby at ibooks apple.co/mamamia This podcast was produced by Elissa Ratliff  CONTACT US Suggest a guest via: podcast@mamamia.com.au tweet us @mamamiapodcasts or join the conversation on facebookThis show is part of the Mamamia Women’s Network Telstra brings you the magic of technology with Smart Home, a clever little app that lets you manage your home from anywhere. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever had to apologise for taking up space? Have you ever been in a relationship with someone who was ashamed to go out with you in public? Have you ever felt like a failure because of how you look? American writer, feminist and fat activist Lindy West has. Plenty of times. But as soon as she started writing about her experiences, all that changed. She joins Mia Freedman live in the Mamamia office to talk about why she chose to be a 'fat bride', her thoughts on Trump and how she wrote her way out of feeling ashamed about her body. Show Notes Your host is Mia Freedman. With thanks to special guest Lindy West Buy Lindy's book Shrill at ibooks apple.co/mamamia This podcast was produced by Elissa Ratliff  CONTACT US Suggest a guest via: podcast@mamamia.com.au tweet us @mamamiapodcasts or join the conversation on facebookThis show is part of the Mamamia Women’s Network Telstra brings you the magic of technology with Smart Home, a clever little app that lets you manage your home from anywhere. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In October 2015 best selling author Nikki Gemmell’s world was turned upside down. Police knocked at her door, and informed her that her mother Elayn had been found dead. She had euthanized herself, without telling anyone. There was no note, and no reasoning. So Nikki did what she does best, and wrote about it. After Nikki’s latest book, is a raw account of that October day and what came next. She joins Mia for a very raw chat about what happens when you’re left to pick up the pieces. Show Notes Your host is Mia Freedman. With thanks to special guest Nikki Gemmell Buy Nikki's book After and all her other books at ibooks apple.co/mamamia This podcast was produced by Elissa Ratliff  CONTACT US Suggest a guest via: podcast@mamamia.com.au tweet us @mamamiapodcasts or join the conversation on facebookThis show is part of the Mamamia Women’s Network Telstra brings you the magic of technology with Smart Home, a clever little app that lets you manage your home from anywhere.  Lifeline 13 11 14; Beyondblue 1300 22 4636Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Syl Freedman had no idea what the hell was wrong with her. At 21, she wasn't in a good way. Decrepid immune system; in and out of hospital; and period pain so crippling she sometimes blacked out. After thinking herself to simpy be 'unlucky' her entire life, she hit a turning point: she was diagnosed with endometriosis, a silent disease affecting 1 in 10 women. Never heard of it? Neither had Syl. So she went searching for information... and discovered there wasn't a whole a lot. Now 26, Syl, Mia's cousin, along with her mum, Mia's Aunt Lesley, have co-founded Endoactive - an organisation that gives voice to the hundreds of thousands of women with endo worldwide. Syl speaks to her cousin Mia about the intimate details of her struggles with endo - everything from sexual limitations to egg freezing - as well as the bigger issues... namely, her fight against Bauer to legalise drug treatment for Endo in Australia. Show Notes Your host is Mia Freedman. With thanks to special guest Syl Freedman. You can learn more about Syl's organisation, Endoactive, on their Facebook page. Find any book mentioned on this podcast, or any of our other's, at apple.co/mamamia. This podcast was produced by Luca Lavigne. CONTACT US Suggest a guest via: podcast@mamamia.com.au Tweet us @mamamiapodcasts Join the conversation on Facebook. Leave us a message on the pod-phone - 02 8999 9386 This show is part of the Mamamia Women’s Network Telstra brings you the magic of technology with Smart Home, a clever little app that lets you manage your home from anywhere. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is not your average interview with Prime Minister. Of course it isn’t. It’s No Filter. Mia Freedman found out on Friday she would be interviewing Malcolm Turnbull on Monday. She would have 20 minutes. And that would be that. But boy did she get a lot out of him in that time. From vaccinations to marriage equality, to women in Parliament there was a lot covered. Especially when he started talking about his wife of 37 years, Lucy. Show Notes Your host is Mia Freedman. With thanks to special guest Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.  Buy Malcolm's books at ibooks apple.co/mamamia This podcast was produced by Elissa Ratliff  CONTACT US Suggest a guest via: podcast@mamamia.com.au tweet us @mamamiapodcasts or join the conversation on facebookThis show is part of the Mamamia Women’s Network Telstra brings you the magic of technology with Smart Home, a clever little app that lets you manage your home from anywhere. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.