• Podcast 134 Rochelle Courtenay | From Period Poverty to Purpose: How One Woman's Mission is Changing Lives
    Nov 12 2024
    Join us for an inspiring conversation with Rochelle Courtenay, founder of Share The Dignity - the groundbreaking Australian charity fighting period poverty and supporting women in crisis. In this powerful episode, Rochelle shares how reading about women using socks and newspapers for menstruation led her to create an organisation that's now collected over 5 million period products and successfully advocated for the removal of GST on period products.

    Learn about Share The Dignity's annual "It's in the Bag" campaign running November 15th - December 1st 2024 at Bunnings stores nationwide. This initiative provides essential personal care items to women and girls experiencing homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, or facing crisis. Rochelle shares touching stories of how a simple bag of necessities and a heartfelt note can provide hope and dignity to someone in desperate need.

    Discover how you can make a difference by donating a bag filled with essential items, volunteering, or spreading awareness. Whether it's a bag for women, teenagers, or moms with babies - every contribution helps someone in your local community. As Rochelle says, "You never know who that bag is going to go to and you never know the impact."

    Join the movement and help Share The Dignity reach their goal of 85,000 bags this year. Drop off your donation at any Bunnings store and, as Rochelle suggests, "Drop a bag and grab a snag!"

    You can follow Share the Dignity, and learn more about their incredible work at:
    https://www.sharethedignity.org.au/
    https://www.instagram.com/sharethedignityaustralia/?hl=en
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR9ksSkgdLqERkxtdlHxhPA


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    The Good Girl Confessional is the award-winning Podcast of WB40 - Women Beyond Forty, a platform for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

    Join the revolution:
    www.wb40.com
    https://www.instagram.com/womenbeyondforty
    https://www.instagram.com/thegoodgirlconfessional/?hl=en
    https://www.facebook.com/thegoodgirlconfessional
    You Tube: The Good Girl Confessional Podcast

    Wb40 and The Good Girl Confessional Acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the unceded lands that we record this podcast on, the Wurrundjeri Woi Wurrung, and Bunurong peoples of the Kulin Nations and pay our deep respects to their elders, past and present. We acknowledge their ancient culture of storytelling.
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    58 mins
  • #133 Danielle Colley | Can you build a delicious life After 40? Danielle Shares How!
    Oct 22 2024
    Welcome to The Good Girl Confessional Podcast! I’m your host, Sandy Lowres, and today we’re diving into the realities of hustle culture, burnout, and the search for balance with a very special guest, Danielle Colley.

    Danielle is a life coach, speaker, and the author of the new book The Chocolate Bar Life.

    After being fired from a high-profile role at The Australian Women’s Weekly, Danielle found herself on the fast track to burnout. But instead of spiraling, she found a new way to live—a life that embraces a Mars Bar mentality: a delicious balance of work, rest, and play.

    In today’s episode, Danielle shares her powerful story of how getting fired helped her break free from the toxic hustle mentality and reclaim her life. We’ll discuss her journey from stress and overwhelm to joy and balance, and dive into practical tips for beating burnout.

    If you’ve ever felt stuck, overworked, or just plain exhausted by the grind, this conversation is for you! So grab a cup of tea, or a block of chocolate, sit back, and enjoy the wisdom of Danielle Colley on The Good Girl Confessional!

    You can follow Danielle and buy a copy of The Chocolate Bar Life is available here:

    https://daniellecolley.com.au/the-chocolate-bar-life-book/

    https://www.instagram.com/iamdaniellecolley/
    -
    The Good Girl Confessional is the award-winning Podcast of WB40 - Women Beyond Forty, a platform for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

    Join the revolution:
    www.wb40.com
    https://www.instagram.com/womenbeyondforty
    https://www.instagram.com/thegoodgirlconfessional/?hl=en
    https://www.facebook.com/thegoodgirlconfessional
    You Tube: The Good Girl Confessional Podcast

    Wb40 and The Good Girl Confessional Acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the unceded lands that we record this podcast on, the Wurrundjeri Woi Wurrung, and Bunurong peoples of the Kulin Nations and pay our deep respects to their elders, past and present. We acknowledge their ancient culture of storytelling.
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • #132 Anna Johnston - Author | The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife
    Oct 1 2024
    This week we are thrilled to welcome debut author Anna Johnston as our special guest.

    Anna’s first novel, The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife, is a charming and heartwarming tale inspired by her best friend and grandfather, Fred, and her time working in aged care. After Fred was diagnosed with dementia, Anna made the life-changing decision to step away from her medical degree and join the nursing home where Fred had moved, in order to spend more precious time with him.

    Through this experience, she became a passionate advocate for positive aging—a theme that beautifully shines through in her novel. While The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife tells the fictional story of Fred accidentally swapping places with the much grumpier Bernard at the nursing home, the book is filled with love, care, and compassion that is rooted in Anna’s real-life journey with Fred.

    In this episode, host Sandy Lowres talks with Anna about her transition from medicine to writing, her advocacy for positive aging, and how her grandfather’s legacy inspired this touching debut. You won’t want to miss this heartfelt conversation!

    You can follow Anna Johnston here:
    https://www.annajohnstonauthor.com/
    https://www.instagram.com/annajohnstonauthor/?hl=en

    -
    The Good Girl Confessional is the award-winning Podcast of WB40 - Women Beyond Forty, a platform for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

    Join the revolution:
    www.wb40.com
    https://www.instagram.com/womenbeyondforty
    https://www.instagram.com/thegoodgirlconfessional
    https://www.facebook.com/thegoodgirlconfessional
    You Tube: The Good Girl Confessional Podcast

    Wb40 and The Good Girl Confessional Acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the unceded lands that we record this podcast on, the Wurrundjeri Woi Wurrung, and Bunurong peoples of the Kulin Nations and pay our deep respects to their elders, past and present. We acknowledge their ancient culture of storytelling.
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    45 mins
  • #131 Barbara Sumner | NZ Filmmaker & Author | The Gallow's Bird
    Sep 24 2024
    Far too often, the stories of women have been written out of the history pages.

    In today’s episode, we’re thrilled to have as our special guest, the esteemed New Zealand filmmaker and author, Barbara Sumner.

    Best known for her powerful memoir Tree of Strangers, Barbara is now stepping into the world of fiction with her debut novel The Gallow's Bird, set to be released this year by Pantera Press.

    This vivid historical novel transports readers to the harsh realities of 1830s London and Australia, as we follow young convict Hannah ‘Birdie’ Bird on her journey from a life of servitude to the brutal conditions of a penal colony in Sydney Cove.

    Barbara’s gripping storytelling gives voice to the often-forgotten women of history, revealing their strength and resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship.

    Not only is Barbara an accomplished author and filmmaker, but she’s also completing her PhD and soon embarking on a prestigious Michael King Residency. Living proof that it’s never too late to pursue creative dreams, Barbara joins us to share insights into her writing journey and what’s next on her horizon.

    The Gallow's Bird is out now and available in all good book stores.

    You can follow Barbara Sumner here:

    https://www.barbarasumner.nz

    https://www.instagram.com/barbara.sumner/
    -
    The Good Girl Confessional is the award-winning Podcast of WB40 - Women Beyond Forty, a platform for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

    Join the revolution:
    www.wb40.com
    https://www.instagram.com/womenbeyondforty
    https://www.instagram.com/thegoodgirlconfessional
    https://www.facebook.com/thegoodgirlconfessional
    You Tube: The Good Girl Confessional Podcast

    Wb40 and The Good Girl Confessional Acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the unceded lands that we record this podcast on, the Wurrundjeri Woi Wurrung, and Bunurong peoples of the Kulin Nations and pay our deep respects to their elders, past and present. We acknowledge their ancient culture of storytelling.
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    59 mins
  • #130 Michelle Scheibner | Uncovering family secrets
    Sep 10 2024
    In this compelling episode of The Good Girl Confessional podcast, host Sandy Lowres speaks with author Michelle Scheibner about her deeply personal journey, as chronicled in her book Hush.

    Michelle delves into the psychological and physical effects of inherited family trauma, uncovering how unresolved pain and secrets from past generations can shape our present lives.

    Michelle opens up about her struggle with identity, feeling like an outsider, and the void left by her disconnected relationships. From her brother's disappearance to discovering her father's hidden past, Michelle's story is one of searching for answers and healing.

    Through her journey of self-discovery and understanding of epigenetics, she confronts the silence and unspoken traumas in her family. Her powerful narrative encourages listeners to embark on their own journeys of self-inquiry, break free from inherited wounds, and embrace the strength of their own stories.

    Join us as Michelle shares how she found her voice, her heritage, and ultimately, self-compassion. A conversation about healing, identity, and the courage to seek the truth.

    Michelle Scheibner is passionate about personal learning and growth, health, fitness, and loves getting on her fruit box to talk about the power of personal brand identity.

    Since establishing her coaching practice in 2004, Michelle has provided services developing and delivering programs including leadership effectiveness, competency frameworks, future leader career management and change strategies to support people through large scale business transformations.

    Michelle developed a reputation for working with successful professionals to articulate and amplify their personal brand as a way of generating leadership presence and influence. She also developed a reputation for asking the difficult questions; pushing accomplished individuals to recognise that their hybrid identity was a gift, positioning them for accelerated success and fresh satisfaction.

    HUSH is available in all good book stores.

    You can follow Michelle here:

    https://www.michellescheibner.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_identity_activator/


    -
    The Good Girl Confessional is the award-winning Podcast of WB40 - Women Beyond Forty, a platform for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

    Join the revolution:
    www.wb40.com
    https://www.instagram.com/womenbeyondforty
    https://www.instagram.com/thegoodgirlconfessional
    https://www.facebook.com/thegoodgirlconfessional
    You Tube: The Good Girl Confessional Podcast

    Wb40 and The Good Girl Confessional Acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the unceded lands that we record this podcast on, the Wurrundjeri Woi Wurrung, and Bunurong peoples of the Kulin Nations and pay our respects to their elders, past and present. We acknowledge their ancient culture of storytelling.




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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • #129 Maggie Walters | Living with Multiple Personality Disorder (DID)
    Aug 27 2024
    TW: Childhood abuse and trauma. Listeners are advised to listen with caution.

    In this gripping episode of The Good Girl Confessional, we welcome author Maggie Walters, - author of the incredible memoir SPLIT!

    How does a child survive unimaginable abuse? For some, the mind steps in to protect them, by creating "alters" and splitting. Again, and again. In Maggie's case, many times.

    Maggie's harrowing yet hopeful journey is nothing short of extraordinary.

    Maggie opens up about the relentless abuse she faced from the age of three to sixteen at the hands of her parents, and others.

    To cope with such profound trauma, Maggie's mind created protective alters, with her primary alter, Annie, becoming a crucial guardian.

    Known collectively as "The Girls," these alters carried the burdens of trauma Maggie couldn’t bear alone.

    Maggie vividly recounts her experiences, including terrifying moments aboard a stormy ship, where she first began dissociating to escape her harsh reality. Her father's severe abuse, often enabled by her mother, left deep psychological scars that developed into Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD).

    Through candid and reflective conversation, Maggie reveals how each alter emerged as a survival mechanism in response to constant threats.

    This is a story of incredible courage and hope. Despite the horror of her past, Maggie has bravely rebuilt her life, balancing the challenges of MPD (or DID) with raising a family. Her story of therapy and self-discovery is a testament to resilience and the ongoing journey of healing. Tune in to hear Maggie's powerful account of survival, the complexities of dissociation, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.

    SPLIT is available here: https;//www.maggie-walters.com (Or all major online book retailers)

    You can follow Maggie Walters here:

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558042525338
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggiewalters_writer/


    -
    The Good Girl Confessional is the award-winning Podcast of WB40 - Women Beyond Forty, a platform for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

    Join the revolution:
    www.wb40.com
    https://www.instagram.com/womenbeyondforty
    https://www.instagram.com/thegoodgirlconfessional
    https://www.facebook.com/thegoodgirlconfessional
    You Tube: The Good Girl Confessional Podcast

    Wb40 and The Good Girl Confessional Acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the unceded lands that we record this podcast on, the Wurrundjeri Woi Wurrung, and Bunurong peoples of the Kulin Nations and pay our respects to their elders, past and present. We acknowledge their ancient culture of storytelling.









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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • # 128 Beryl Crosher-Segers | A journey from Apartheid to Inner Peace
    Aug 20 2024
    TW: This episode has conversations about apartheid, racism, trauma and generational trauma.

    Welcome to this episode of The Good Girl Confessional Podcast, where we delve into transformative stories of resilience and healing.

    Today, we explore the remarkable journey of Beryl Crosher-Segers, a woman whose life story is a testament to the power of perseverance and self-discovery. Beryl's journey begins in the oppressive environment of apartheid-era South Africa, where racial segregation dictated every aspect of life. Growing up as a child in a world divided starkly along racial lines, Beryl experienced the harsh realities of discrimination and deprivation.

    Her father’s East Indian heritage and her mother’s Portuguese and Mozambican roots placed her in a unique and challenging position within South Africa’s racial hierarchy. Despite the obstacles, Beryl's mother fought valiantly for her children’s education, recognizing it as the key to escaping the cycle of poverty and injustice.

    This determination to overcome adversity led Beryl to Australia, where she embraced a new life of freedom and opportunity.In Australia, Beryl thrived, building a successful career in the events industry and contributing significantly to major cultural and sporting events. However, her success did not shield her from the deep-seated trauma of her past. The release of her memoir, A Darker Shade of Pale, stirred old wounds and ignited a backlash of hate and vitriol, plunging Beryl into a period of profound personal crisis.

    Struggling with panic attacks and severe anxiety, Beryl faced the daunting task of confronting her past traumas. Through dedicated therapy, including Shamanic Healing, she began the arduous process of healing. Her journey wasn’t without setbacks; the road to recovery was marred by intense emotional and psychological battles. Yet, with resilience and support, Beryl emerged with a renewed sense of purpose.

    Her subsequent books, Behind My Smile and Living With Purpose, reflect her profound journey from pain to peace. They offer readers not only a glimpse into her struggles but also practical wisdom on finding tranquility amidst life’s chaos.

    In this episode, we delve into Beryl's extraordinary story of healing and transformation. Her experience teaches us that true inner peace comes not from escaping the world's chaos but from finding serenity within ourselves. Join us as we explore her journey, her books, and the powerful messages of self-love and resilience that she shares with the world.

    For more about Beryl Crosher-Segers, her books, and her work, visit her website - https://www.berylsegerschonicles.com.au
    Instagram: @berylcroshersegers_author
    Facebook: Beryl Crosher-Segers

    Tune in to The Good Girl Confessional Podcast and let Beryl's inspiring story guide you on your own path to healing and self-discovery.

    About Beryl Crosher-Segers:
    Author, film producer, and songwriter Beryl Crosher-Segers is known for her bestselling memoir A Darker Shade of Pale and her inspirational books Behind My Smile and Living With Purpose. Beryl’s work and life reflect her deep commitment to cultural diversity, community arts, and personal empowerment. She resides in Sydney with her family and continues to contribute to the arts and advocacy for marginalized communities.



    -
    The Good Girl Confessional is the award-winning Podcast of WB40 - Women Beyond Forty, a platform for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

    Join the revolution:
    www.wb40.com
    https://www.instagram.com/womenbeyondforty
    https://www.instagram.com/thegoodgirlconfessional
    https://www.facebook.com/thegoodgirlconfessional
    You Tube: The Good Girl Confessional Podcast

    Wb40 and The Good Girl Confessional Acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the unceded lands that we record this podcast on, the Wurrundjeri Woi Wurrung, and Bunurong peoples of the Kulin Nations and pay our respects to their elders, past and present. We acknowledge their ancient culture of storytelling.
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • #127 Dr Hilary Caldwell - Sex Worker, Sexologist & author of SLUTDOM
    Aug 13 2024
    Reclaiming Our Power: A Spotlight on Dr. Hilary Caldwell’s SLUTDOM

    Have you ever been called a slut? The word is oftn weaponsised against women.

    Despite decades of activism, women are still burdened with the effects of slut shaming in everyday life. Dr. Hilary Caldwell’s new book, SLUTDOM, argues convincingly and passionately for women’s enjoyment of sex as a force to advance gender equality.

    Joining host Sandy Lowres, Hilary is delving into topics such as pleasure, pain, empowerment, and real women’s stories. Hilary is uniquely placed to understand what women want or need – and, importantly, what women deserve. Hilary has drawn on her unique experiences and academic background, and being a sex worker, to create an in-depth, fascinating, provocative, and thought-provoking call to arms. As an academic with a Masters in Health Science and Applied Science, and a groundbreaking doctorate titled ‘Women Who Buy Sex in Australia,’ she has spent years studying and understanding the dynamics of women’s sexual experiences. This deep research, combined with her own life experiences as a sex worker and a queer mother and grandmother, positions her as a powerful voice in the conversation about women’s sexual empowerment.

    SLUTDOM is controversial, celebratory, and courageous. Deeply researched and enriched by the author's personal experiences, the book is a bold call to action for women everywhere to reclaim their sexual power and redefine their sexual identities on their own terms.

    Dr. Hilary Caldwell’s work is a testament to the ongoing struggle for gender equality and the vital role of sexual empowerment in achieving it. Her insights and advocacy are a beacon for women seeking to embrace their sexuality unapologetically and with pride.We at The Good Girl Confessional Podcast are excited to delve into these themes and more with Dr Hilary Caldwell. Join us as we explore the transformative power of sexual empowerment and what it means for women over 40, 50, 60, and beyond. This is a powerful and thought provoking conversation.

    You won't want to miss Hilary's hard-won wisdom!

    You can follow Dr Hilary Caldwell here:
    Instagram: @dr_hilary_caldwell

    You can SLUTDOM: Reclaiming Shame-Free Sexuality at www.uqp.com.au (or where you buy good books)



    -
    The Good Girl Confessional is the award-winning Podcast of WB40 - Women Beyond Forty, a platform for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

    Join the revolution:
    www.wb40.com
    https://www.instagram.com/womenbeyondforty
    https://www.instagram.com/thegoodgirlconfessional
    https://www.facebook.com/thegoodgirlconfessional
    You Tube: The Good Girl Confessional Podcast

    Wb40 and The Good Girl Confessional Acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the unceded lands that we record this podcast on, the Wurrundjeri Woi Wurrung, and Bunurong peoples of the Kulin Nations and pay our respects to their elders, past and present. We acknowledge their ancient culture of storytelling.
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    55 mins