200 Women: The Listening Ground by Westpac

Could you think of a single word that you most identify with? The 200 Women project asked amazing women from around the world to do just that. Can you guess what they said? We’ll give you a hint – love, trust, hope and courage. Listen in to hear why. In this episode, you’ll hear from: Ronni Kahn, the founder of food rescue organisation OzHarvest. Vidya Balan, a Bollywood actor and human rights activist. Eva McGauley, an anti-sexual violence activist. She has been diagnosed with terminal nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Jessica Gallagher, a vision-impaired Paralypian who was the first Australian to win medals at both the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games. Anita Heiss, an author, and advocate for Aboriginal visibility in literature. Nicole Tung, an award-winning photojournalist whose friend and colleague, James Foley, was executed by Islamic State. Susan Carland, a writer, sociologist and academic. She converted from Christianity to Islam at the age of 19. Sharon Brous, a leading US-based rabbi. Collette Dinnigan, Australian-based fashion and interior designer. Rosie Batty, an advocate and campaigner against family violence following the murder of her son, Luke, by his father. Dolores Huerta, a labour activist and community organiser. She was awarded the American Presidential Medal of Freedom. Andrea Mason, indigenous rights activist. Sahm Venter, a journalist and author. She currently holds the role of senior researcher at the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

Inspiring someone is one of the greatest gifts you can give. It’s not a tangible thing, you can be inspired to do many things – ethical business, raising awareness, improving people’s living and working conditions or simply to love more. We hope you feel inspired listening. In this episode, you’ll hear from: Valerie Van Galder, a former film producer who now runs Depressed Cake Shop to raise awareness and funds to help those suffering with mental health issues. Marilyn Waring, a former member of the New Zealand parliament and professor of public policy. Miranda Tapsell, an actor and Indigenous rights activist. Bobbi Brown, the founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and the recently launched Pretty Powerful Campaign for Women & Girls. Damaris Coulter, a restaurateur and community organiser. Collette Dinnigan, Australian-based fashion and interior designer. Karen Walker, acclaimed kiwi fashion designer. Eva McGauley, an anti-sexual violence activist. She has been diagnosed with terminal nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Zoleka Mandela, an author, cancer survivor and recovering addict. She is the grandchild of Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. Ruchira Gupta, a former journalist and award-winning documentary filmmaker. She works to resist and end sex trafficking in India. Sarah Beisly, co-founder of a leather goods workshop that offers employment to women seeking to free themselves from sex work in India.

A new perspective is a hard thing to gain, but when found, its lessons are never forgotten. The 200 Women project discovered new perspectives on trauma, religion and acceptance. Truly eye opening. In this episode, you’ll hear from: Embeth Davidtz, an actor and breast cancer survivor. Miranda Tapsell, an actor and Indigenous rights activist. Rosie Batty, an advocate and campaigner against family violence following the murder of her son, Luke, by his father. Susan Carland, a writer, sociologist and academic. She converted from Christianity to Islam at the age of 19. Joanne Fedler, an author and writing mentor. Based in Australia, she was born in South Africa. Divya Kalia, a businesswoman and co-founder of an app-based bike-taxi service founded to specifically employ female drivers to accommodate the cultural considerations of female passengers in India.

Change is scary but often worth it. In fact for the world to move on, to be propelled forward, change is exactly what we need. Listen to inspiring women talk about the change we still need in terms of gender pay disparity, sexual assault, human rights and women in the workplace. Maybe it will inspire you to be the change that is needed. In this episode, you’ll hear from: Karen Mattison, an advocate for quality, flexible work arrangements for mothers. Alexandra Paul, an actor and environmental and animal rights activist whose activism has resulted in numerous arrests. Kyah Simon, a member of the Matildas, the Australian Women’s National Football Team. Lennie Goodings, who has worked in editorial roles for nearly 40 years at feminist publishing house, Virago. Louise Nicholas, a sexual violence survivor and anti-sexual violence activist. Graça Machel, an African stateswoman and the widow of two former presidents, Mozambique’s Samora Machel and South Africa’s Nelson Mandela. Fereshteh Forough, the founder of Code to Inspire, the first computer coding school for women in Afghanistan. Pamela Novo, a scholar and educator. Vidya Balan, a Bollywood actor and human rights activist. Sapana Thapa, a Nepalese social worker. Ann Sherry, a businesswoma and former head of Australia’s Office of the Status of Women. Inna Modja, an acclaimed musician based in France. She was born in Mali, and is a survivor of female genital mutilation. Sara Khan, an author and speaker, and co-founder of Inspire, a counter-extremism and women’s-rights organisation. Gail Kelly, former CEO of Westpac Group. Marian Wright Edelman, founder of the Children’s Defence Fund, and recipient of the American Presidential Medal of Freedom. Margaret Atwood, a critically acclaimed author and conservationist. The Emmy Award-winning series The Handmaid’s Tale, is based on her novel of the same name. Laura Dawn, a political activist, writer, musician and filmmaker. Jude Kelly, an award-winning British theatre and opera director.

No one likes to talk about pain. Listen as some extraordinary women talk about stories of breast cancer, the death of a child, depression and witnessing loved ones pass away. In this episode, you’ll hear from: Ros Kelly, an environmentalist, former politician and breast cancer survivor. Emma Davies, an actor and breast cancer survivor. Dana Donofree, a businesswoman and breast cancer survivor whose company designs lingerie for women affected by breast cancer. Libby Lyons, the director of Australia’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency. Linda Jean Burney, the first Aboriginal woman to serve in the House of Representatives in the Australian Parliament. Burney was widowed in 2006. June Steenkamp, the mother of Reeva Steenkamp, who was shot and killed by Paralympian Oscar Pistorius. Sarah Outen, the first woman, and the youngest person, to row solo across the Indian Ocean. Sophie Mathisen, an Australian a writer, director and performer. Elif Shafak, a Turkish author of fifteen books, including the bestselling The Bastard of Istanbul. Elida Lawton O’Connell, a Kosovan journalist, and who was married to Kerem Lawton who was killed in the Kosovo War. Dolores Huerta, a labour activist and community organiser. She was awarded the American Presidential Medal of Freedom. Nicole Tung, an award-winning photojournalist. Her friend and colleague, James Foley, was executed by Islamic State. Diane Wright Foley, the mother of executed journalist James Foley.

Whilst we all want to be happy, it turns out that what makes each of us happy is very different. Listen in as women reveal their aspiration to sit around a kitchen table filled with joy, to be creative, to watch others thrive, to find the meaning of life and to help young people among other things. In this episode, you’ll hear from: Bec Ordish, Australian-born founder of the Mitrataa Foundation, a not-for-profit education and skills-development organisation, based in Nepal. Gail Kelly, Westpac’s first female CEO and the only female CEO of a major bank Tabitha St. Bernard-Jacobs, an ethical fashion designer, and youth coordinator for the Women’s March on Washington Catherine Keenan, co-founder of the Sydney Story Factory, a not-for-profit creative writing centre for marginalised youth. Lisa VeneKlasen, educator and human rights activist. Georgie Smith, the Australian-born founder of A Sense of Home, a US not-for-profit organisation devoted to creating homes for at-risk youth. Shami Chakrabarti, a member of the British House of Lords and Labour shadow attorney general for England and Wales. Gillian Anderson, an acclaimed actor and human rights activist. Jessica Grace Smith, an actor, writer, director and producer. Geena Rocero, a Philippines-born transgender supermodel and transgender rights activist. Anita Heiss, Australian author, and advocate for Aboriginal visibility in literature. Laura Dawn, a political activist, writer, musician and filmmaker. Stephanie Alexander, bestselling Australian chef, restaurateur and author, and founder of Kitchen Garden Foundation. Maggie Beer, iconic Australian cook, restaurateur and author. Ruth Reichl, a food writer, restaurant critic and author, and last editor-in-chief of the USA’s Gourmet magazine.. Carla Zampatti, award-winning Australian fashion designer.

We all have stories to tell. The 200 Women project found 200 extraordinary life stories from around the world that we can share. Listen as women talk about immigration, the physical challenges of being a girl, the civil rights movement and gender reassignment. In this episode, you’ll hear from: Caroline Paul, an adventurer, author and former firefighter. Alexandra Paul, an actor and environmental and animal rights activist whose activism has resulted in numerous arrests. Ivy Ross, Vice President, Design for Hardware Products at Google. Deana Puccio, a lawyer and sex educator, and former assistant district attorney for the Brooklyn sex crimes and special victims unit. Pauline Nguyen, a Vietnamese-Australian author and restaurateur, and co-founder of acclaimed Sydney restaurant, Red Lantern. Zainab Hawa Bangura, UN Special Representative. Zelda La Grange, Personal Assistant to Nelson Mandela. Rosemary Jones, Gynaecologist and Transgender Rights Activist.

The 200 Women project asked women what matters to them. Truth, dignity, the planet and self-belief are just some of the topics women spoke to. In this episode, you’ll hear from: Vidya Balan, a Bollywood actor and human rights activist. Inna Modja, an acclaimed musician based in France. She was born in Mali, and is a survivor of female genital mutilation. Bobbi Brown, the founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and the recently launched Pretty Powerful Campaign for Women & Girls. Jane Caro, an award-winning Australian author, social commentator and broadcaster. Shami Chakrabarti, a member of the British House of Lords and Labour shadow attorney general for England and Wales. Elif Shafak, a Turkish author of fifteen books, including the bestselling The Bastard of Istanbul. Callie Khouri, an Academy and Golden Globe Award-winning writer and director and creator of the screenplay for Thelma & Louise. Gillian Anderson, an acclaimed actor and human rights activist. Carly Findlay, a writer and speaker. Born with a rare genetic skin disorder, Findlay is also an activist for the differently abled. Pearl Tan, director of independent film production company Pearly Productions, and co-founder of the Equity Diversity Committee. Dianna Cohen, an environmental activist and founder of Plastic Pollution Coalition. Margaret Atwood, a critically acclaimed author and conservationist. The Emmy Award-winning series The Handmaid’s Tale, is based on her novel of the same name.

This podcast series is a collection of extraordinary stories from extraordinary women around the world. In this episode we’ll discuss the themes of the series, with some insights into the women involved. We hope they give you perspective, joy and understanding in equal measures.