Missing Perspectives

Meet Anne-Marie Te Whiu (Te Rarawa): a poet, editor and cultural producer - who is making BIG waves in the literary world. It was an honour to have her join us on the podcast this week.ICYMI: Anne-Marie has released Mettle, a remarkable and impressive debut collection of poems that speak to the complexity of family, identity and the proud legacy of Māori language and culture. Her collection of poetry centres on the resilience and fortitude that has rippled through Anne-Marie's family and Māori lineage - despite the challenges and traumas faced in present day, or transmitted generationally.After reading Anne-Marie's work and listening to her incredible conversation with Soaliha, we are certain that the poet will become a household name - and we cannot wait to hear what she has in store. 

Khadija Gbla is an absolute force to be reckoned with - and we've been closely following her work for a long time.If she's not on your radar already - Khadija is a leading human rights activist and writer, amongst many other things. She was born in Sierra Leone, spent her youth in Gambia, and, as a teenager, moved to Australia. She is a leading voice and campaigner on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Australia. In the new anthology Someone Like Me, Khadija reflects on her autism diagnosis, fighting for the rights of her son, and breaking intergenerational trauma. Edited by Clem Bastow and Jo Case, the collection of stories in Someline Like Me features twenty-five Autistic women and gender-diverse writers who share their personal stories and challenge these stereotypes. This is a deeply moving conversation and it was an honour to have Khadija join us for this chat with Soaliha. 

It goes without saying that due to misrepresentations of Autism in media and popular culture, many Autistic people miss out on seeing themselves, their unique experiences and their triumphs, platformed or seen. In the new anthology Someone Like Me, award-winning author Fiona Wright reflects on her experience of anorexia – with the unique perspective of an autism diagnosis in her mid-thirties, and the knowledge as many as half of all people with anorexia may be autistic.Edited by Clem Bastow and Jo Case, the collection of stories features twenty-five Autistic women and gender-diverse writers who share their personal stories and challenge these stereotypes. This groundbreaking anthology covers a wide range of topics, from relationships and spontaneous dance parties to the natural world, eating disorders, intense passions, and religion. We'll be interviewing another contributor - leading activist Khadija Gbla - so watch this space, and be sure to grab a copy. Just a disclaimer - Fiona's story includes discussion of anorexia, so listen with care. 

Acclaimed wildlife scientist Vanessa Pirotta has been mugged by whales, touched by a baby whale and covered in whale snot (just casually - as you do). Pirotta's enthusiasm and deep knowledge of whales shine through in her book Humpback Highway as she explores a variety of timely topics – from why whale snot and poo are important for us and the ocean to the life cycle of whales, the challenges humans present to these marine giants, and new technologies - so we can see where they swim, listen to them talk and even spy on them underwater.This week at Missing Perspectives, we're keen to platform leading women in STEM - and we couldn't of a better person to interview. This episode was proudly sponsored by NewSouth Books.

Hello, friends - we're back with a really special episode! Soaliha Iqbal got to sit down with Samah Sabawi to discuss Samah's book Cactus Pear For My Beloved. It's a really moving conversation.Samah shares the story of her parents, and many like them, who were born while their parents were being forced to leave their homelands. Cactus Pear For My Beloved is a narrative memoir of her own family's story from before the Nakba in 1978 until now - and draws on Samah's PhD in post memory within the context of generational trauma and exile.As you can imagine, this book is more timely than ever - and absolutely a must-read.

TW: Discussion of violence against womenWe are only 41 weeks into the year — which means we have surpassed the much-quoted statistic of one woman being killed every week in Australia. By the time this podcast is edited and published, it's probable that another woman will have been killed by an intimate partner. Around the world, a woman is killed every 11 minutes.It was with this heavy heart that Soaliha Iqbal spoke to Kate Fitz-Gibbon, a Professor at Monash University, who has dedicated her life to researching the causes of (and solutions to) violence against women in Australia.“2024 has been a horrific year on top of horrific decades for women's safety. But this year does feel particularly challenging,” she tells Missing Perspectives.Fitz-Gibbon is an internationally recognised expert in domestic and family violence, femicide, perpetrator interventions, and the impacts of policy and practice reform in Australia and internationally. She is the chair of Respect Victoria, and also a published author. Her most recent book, Our National Crisis: Violence Against Women and Children, highlights the alarming reality of domestic violence in Australia, where we haven't made nearly as much progress as we should have in the fight against men's violence.This is a really important and timely episode - have a listen and let us know what you think. 

Introducing a **very** different episode this week, just to shake things up here at Booksmart. Because honestly, why not?This week, Tash sits down with the iconic Dr Jen Gunter for an equally iconic conversation.Dr Gunter is also known as "Tik Tok and Twitter's Resident Gynecologist", having used the platform to debunk myths about women's health, amassing a huge following in the process. The Canadian-American gynecologist, New York Times columnist, author and most important truth teller in women's health, is passionate about setting the record straight on dubious wellness product claims, misconceptions about basic anatomy and confusion over reproductive rights. Her opinions – that most supplements are a waste of money, underwire bras do not cause cancer, you actually can get an IUD if you've never been pregnant, and your vagina should not smell like a pina colada – are shared with her hundreds of thousands of followers.Buckle up, because this is quite the episode - and we guarantee you'll learn some new things along the ride.

We're excited to bring you a really special episode this week. Our Editorial & Partnerships Lead Alicia got to sit down with the wonderful Alyssa Huynh for a chat about her new (debut!) book Safe Space.ICYMI: In 2020, Alyssa began sharing her thoughts on racism and connection to cultural identity through her Instagram account @alyssahuynhwritings and quickly gained a following for her commentary and anti-racism advocacy. You might also know Alyssa from her work with publications like Mamamia, The Latch, Sydney Morning Herald and the Shameless podcast.She's a force to be reckoned and we're so excited to share this episode (and please grab a copy of this book STAT if you haven't already!).

“I had to relearn how to live after nearly dying. It felt like a rite of passage no-one else had ever experienced, a journey there was no map for, and for so long afterwards, I was lost to myself. This book is for anyone who is interested in knowing more about life. And maybe a little about death, too. "Queensland-based writer Carly-Jay Metcalfe was born with cystic fibrosis, survived a double-lung transplant at the age of twenty-one and faced a rare cancer at the age of thirty. What she has endured should have killed her, but her humour, courage and optimism became her best survival skills. From her hospitalised childhood to her many friendships, loves and losses, Carly-Jay shares the fickle nature of life with candour and warmth in her powerful new book Breath.  This episode is a must-listen.

If Dr Mykaela Saunders isn't on your radar, then we are changing that today. Micaela is a Koori/Goori and Lebanese writer, researcher, editor and teacher. Her incredible speculative fiction collection Always Will Be (casually) won the David Unaipon Award and has taken the literary world by storm. In this new thought-provoking collection, Mykaela poses the question: what might country, community and culture look like in the Tweed if Gooris reasserted their sovereignty? She imagines different scenarios for how the local Goori community might reassert sovereignty - reclaiming country, exerting full self-determination, or incorporating non-Indigenous people into the social fabric - while practising creative, ancestrally approved ways of living with changing climates.Be sure to grab a copy of Always Will Be today.

Shankari Chandran was once told that her stories weren't 'Australian enough.' She later went on to win the prestigious Miles Franklin Award - an annual literary prize awarded to "a novel which is of the highest literary merit and presents Australian life in any of its phases". Here at Missing Perspectives, we are huge fans of Shankari - it's actually  the second time we've hosted her on our podcast (be sure to listen to our episode on her last book, Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens). This week, Shankari joins Hannah to talk about her incredible new book Safe Haven that is making huge waves. Safe Haven is about displacement and seeking refuge—but ultimately it is a story about finding home—and the lengths you'll go to find safety and love. This is an episode not to be missed - and a really timely one too.

Everyone. We know we say that every episode of Booksmart is special, but this one is PARTICULARLY so (we promise). And it's poetry too, so even better. This week, Hannah Diviney got to sit down with proud Wiradjuri poet Jeanine Leane to discuss her new work of poetry titled Gawimarra: Gathering. We don't want to spoil the collection, or this discussion, but here's the poetry in a nutshell: 'Gawimarra: Gathering' moves from deeply tender meditations on Country, culture and kinship, to experimental archival poems dissecting the violence and destruction of the settler-colony. Jeanine Leane's poems are richly palpable in texture, imagery and language, layering the personal with the political, along with a sharp-tongued telling of history. Cleverly divided into three parts, ‘Gathering', ‘Nation' and ‘Returning', Gawimarra weaves back and forth in a dedication to strong matriarchs, and the core acts of gathering and returning – memory, language, history – resonate powerfully throughout. This remarkable book is the result of decades of poetic, political, and cultural work and reflection.

Breaking our (small yet needed) hiatus from Booksmart and coming back with an absolute BANGER: the one and only Lisa Taddeo!Our EIC Hannah was lucky enough to sit down with Lisa to chat about her incredible writing, career, and bestselling novel Three Women.  The book has been adapted into a TV show for Stan - and we got to hear all about it. This is an episode not to be missed (although honestly, we say that about pretty much every episode...SO KEEP LISTENING!).

CW: Discussion of sexual assaultIt's been described as the game-changing book about sex and consent that every woman - and man - should read.In 2021, Chanel Contos posted on Instagram asking people to share their stories of sexual assault during their schooling years. This post unexpectedly went viral, and almost 7000 people sent in testimonies describing behaviour that constitutes rape. Virtually none of these instances were reported, and almost all of them were by people they knew.How and why is this happening in an era of growing equality? In her new book, Chanel argues that when it comes to sex, we are still working with an outdated social contract that privileges men's pleasure at the expense of women's humanity.In this important episode if Booksmart, Hannah Diviney sat down with Chanel to discuss her journey and what it was like writing and publishing Consent Laid Bare. 

Is there a better way to kick off this year then chatting with the author of one of the most buzziest books of 2023?! Madeleine Gray is an arts writer, book critic, a PhD candidate in English literature at the University of Manchester (what can't she do!?) and the author of The Green Dot. The book has been described witty, profound and painfully relatable debut novel exploring solitude, desire, and the allure of chasing something that promises nothing. It's also REALLY funny. Maddy sat down with our Editor-in-Chief Hannah Diviney to discuss the writing and publishing process, and what she has learnt on the way. It's an episode not to be missed.

Sara M Saleh is a writer, poet, human rights lawyer, and the daughter of Palestinian, Lebanese and Egyptian migrants.  Her poetry is not only an inherently political act, but a deeply personal one. We could not think of a better person to join Hannah for the final episode of Booksmart of 2023. With her first full-length poetry collection The Flirtation of Girls / Ghazal el-Banat, Sara introduces us to the lives of girls and women as they come into being amidst war, colonial and patriarchal violence, and exile and migration. This searing work interrogates and represents the complexity of Arab-Australian Muslim women's identities as they negotiate an irresistible world full of music and family, grit and grief, love and loss.This is an important episode, that is definitely worth a listen.

In the (highly) unlikely chance that Hannah Ferguson isn't on your radar, then we want to change that ASAP.Hannah  is the Co-Founder and CEO of Cheek Media Co, an independent Australian news commentary platform providing informed, progressive opinions on subjects that sit at the intersection of feminist, social and political issues. Cheek aims to make difficult topics accessible and entertaining, and to model hard and important conversations, mobilising changemakers in our community (so basically, go and follow them NOW). We're obsessed with Hannah's new book Bite Back - a book that will provoke you to think and spark important conversations around media, politics, and feminism. Hannah Diviney from Missing Perspectives sat down with Hannah to unpack the themes behind her new book - and it's an episode not to be missed.

This week, Alicia Vrajlal from Missing Perspectives sits down with journalist Elfy Scott to discuss Elfy's book The One Thing We've Never Spoken About.Elfy grew up in a household where her mother's schizophrenia was rarely, if ever, spoken about. They navigated this silence outside the family home too; for many years, this complex mental health condition was treated as an open secret.Over the past two decades, we have started talking more about common mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. But complex conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and psychosis have been left behind, as have many of the people who live with these conditions or who care for them.Part memoir, part deep-dive investigation, The One Thing We've Never Spoken About is filled with rage at how our nation's public discourse, emergency services and healthcare systems continue to fail so many people. It is also a work of care, telling the little-heard stories of people who live with these conditions and work at the front lines of mental health. Above all, this timely, compelling book is informed by hope and courage, breaking down taboos and asking big questions about vulnerability, justice and duty of care.We really hope to get a lot out of this episode.

We know we say this about every episode of Booksmart...but this is a really special episode.This week, social worker and former Wayside Aboriginal Cultural Centre Manager Cassandra Ashcroft interviews Amani Haydar about her incredible book, The Mother Wound.  Amani Haydar suffered the unimaginable when she lost her mother in a brutal act of domestic violence perpetrated by her father. Five months pregnant at the time, her own perception of how she wanted to mother (and how she had been mothered) was shaped by this devastating murder.After her mother's death, Amani began reassessing everything she knew of her parents' relationship. They had been unhappy for so long - should she have known that it would end like this? A lawyer by profession, she also saw the holes in the justice system for addressing and combating emotional abuse and coercive control.In this moving discussion, Cassandra and Amani talk about their own lived experience, the power of female resilience, and the role of motherhood in the home and in the world. This is truly a conversation not to be missed.

Welcome to a very special episode of Booksmart! This week, we invited athlete and equal pay advocate Lucy Small to interview Chloe Dalton about her new book Girls Don't Play Sport. Girls Don't Play Sport is a fierce manifesto for supporting female athletes at all levels, exploring how we got to this point, and where we need to go next to embrace the untapped potential of women's sport. Chloe is one of Australia's few triple sport elite athletes, and is also the Founder of the [female] athlete project - the fastest growing women's sport platform in the country (just casually).We really hope you enjoy this chat - particularly in light of the Matildas absolutely killing it this week in the Olympic qualifiers! 

For this week's Booksmart chat, Phoebe got to sit down with the brilliant Shankari Chandran to discuss her latest book Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens (that casually won the Miles Franklin Literary Award....!).Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens is a moving book about family and memory, community and race, but is ultimately a love letter to storytelling and how our stories shape who we are.A note to listeners: this episode was recorded ahead of the Australian Indigenous Voice referendum. 

Introducing our first ever episode of Booksmart: a podcast for people who see books and storytelling as the keys to unlocking the world around us. It's a first step into the Big Stuff (social issues) that define, confuse and fascinate us. We thought it was fitting to kick off with our very own Editor-in-Chief Hannah Diviney - and unpack her new memoir I'll Let Myself In.  Hannah's memoir is a defiant coming of age story about a young woman coming to terms with all that she is, the good, the bad and the ugly. Hannah sat down with Missing Perspectives team member Tash to talk about why she wrote the book, what it means to be a young woman with cerebral palsy, and finding her voice. We've curated our ultimate reading list at Booktopia - so be sure to check it out: https://www.booktopia.com.au/missing-perspectives/promo4122.html

This week on the Missing Perspectives Podcast, Phoebe sits down with Lucy Small and Nicola Barr to unpack the challenges faced by female athletes - and the battle for equal pay. Lucy is a surfer who went viral after calling out unequal prize money when she won a surfing competition in April 2021. Nicola is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Greater Western Sydney Giants in the AFLW competition. Lucy and Nicola may play completely different sports, but they have one thing in common: both are advocating for equal pay and resources for female athletes. We can guarantee you will learn a lot from this episode. For those wanting to learn more, check out Lucy's Equal Pay for Equal Play initiative - a campaign to make sporting spaces in NSW more gender inclusive. 

South Sudan is the youngest country in the world. Over 70 percent of its population is under the age of 30. As we unpack in this episode, it's also a country facing unprecedented challenges - particularly for young women.Missing Perspectives wanted listeners to hear directly from young women on the ground in Juba. We sat down with two trailblazers making waves in the country: Aluel Atem, an activist and development economist, and Grace Aguil Garang, the Executive Director of Youth & Society Africa. It's a conversation not to be missed.RESOURCEShttps://gendertalk211.org/https://crownthewoman.org/https://www.linkedin.com/company/youth-society

Yasmin is an award-winning speaker, writer and youth advocate. She seeks to challenge policymakers to think differently: her vision is for Australia to become a global leader in intersectional policymaking, with a Parliament that truly reflects the diversity of our communities. She was also the youngest person to attend the Australian Jobs and Skills Summit.Missing Perspectives Editor-in-Chief Hannah Diviney sat down with Yasmin to discuss all things intersectional policymaking, advocacy and the importance of young women building each other up.

This week, Phoebe sat down to chat with Pari Ibrahim and Hewan Omer - two incredible Yezidi women from Iraq. They discuss their Yezidi history and culture, the genocide and its impact on their people, and the work of the Free Yezidi Foundation. Pari has established the Free Yezidi Foundation to provide humanitarian services for Yezidi survivors and for Yezidi women and children. Make a donation today.

This week on the Missing Perspectives podcast, Phoebe speaks with Naomi-Tulay Solanke and Nusone Perkins about their efforts to challenge period poverty in Liberia, and their petition for the government to remove taxes on period products. Naomi is the Founder and Executive Director of the Community Health Initiative (CHI) and a Board Director of the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund. CHI is now producing reusable sanitary pads for women and girls, to make access to sanitary products more available and sustainable. Nusone is CHI's Head of Communications and Mobilisation, and is also a student leader who led the 2022 Menstrual Hygiene Protest in Liberia.  

On 4 August 2020, a large amount of ammonium nitrate stored at the Port of Beirut in Lebanon exploded, causing at least 218 deaths and over 7,000 injuries. Sarah Copland's son Isaac Oehlers was one of those killed. Two years on from the explosion, she is still chasing justice. Sarah sat down with our Editor-in-Chief Hannah to discuss the explosion, the aftermath and her call for a fact-finding mission and investigation. The support of Red Nose Australia has been crucial for Sarah and we encourage listeners to make a donation. 

This week we are beginning our coverage of Sri Lanka's financial and political crisis. For this episode, Chiranthi, Shaheena and Imara sat down to discuss the causes of economic crisis currently rocking Sri Lanka, its impact on women and youth, and the actions that need to be taken to address the economic and financial crises. All three panelists are from Hype Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka's first youth empowerment incubator and think tank. Keep an eye out for upcoming articles and podcasts featuring other perspectives of the crisis.

Our Editor-in-Chief Hannah Diviney sat down with Narelda Jacobs, Susan Carland and Melissa Leong to talk about their new show Dinner Guest.  On Dinner Guest, Narelda, Susan and Melissa discuss society, culture, politics, work, families, beliefs - everything that makes us human.  Watch Dinner Guest here.

Our Editor-in-Chief Hannah Diviney sat down with Greens leader Adam Bandt to discuss bringing mental healthcare under Medicare, Scott Morrison's campaign tactics, the rise of the independents, and how the Greens will advocate for young women.Adam is an Australian politician and former industrial lawyer who is the leader of the Australian Greens and federal MP for Melbourne. Previously, he served as co-deputy leader of the Greens from 2012 to 2015 and 2017 to 2020.

Missing Perspectives Founder Phoebe Saintilan sat down with the Hon Karen Andrews MP to discuss her STEM and engineering background, workplace harassment at Parliament House and the Liberal Party's perceived 'woman problem.' Minister Andrews has served as the Minister for Home Affairs in the Morrison Government since 2021. 

Missing Perspectives Founder Phoebe Saintilan sat down with independent candidates Kylea Tink (North Sydney) and Nicolette Boele (Bradfield) to discuss gendered language towards female candidates, their careers pre-politics and what they'll change if they are elected. 

Our Editor-in-Chief Hannah Diviney sat down with candidate Jane Caro to talk all things Reason Australia Party and the challenges she has faced on the campaign trail as a female candidate. Jane is a Walkley Award winning author and columnist. 

Our Editor-in-Chief Hannah Diviney sat down with Allegra Spender and Zoe Daniel to talk all things election, running as an independent, and sexism on the campaign trail. Both Allegra and Zoe are running as independents in the upcoming Australian federal election. 

Missing Perspectives Editor-in-Chief Hannah Diviney sat down with Jamia Wilson to talk all things writing, activism, living with a disability, and navigating the pandemic.  Jamia is an American writer, commentator, and feminist activist based in New York City.  She is the Executive Editor at Random House and was formerly the Director and Publisher of the Feminist Press at CUNY. The Missing Perspectives team members are huge fans of Jamia and we hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did!

Tarana Rahimi (Afghan Women Strong) in conversation with Pashtana Durrani (LEARN Afghanistan). Donate to LEARN here.

Phoebe and Hannah from Missing Perspectives sat down with award-winning storyteller and TEDx speaker Luba Kassova to talk about her landmark 'Missing Perspectives of Women in News' report. 

As part of our #ClimateSeries, Adriana Calderon sat down with Carlo Fong Luy to talk about the impacts of climate change on Latin America and the failures of COP26. 

Listen to Adenike Oladosu (Nigeria) and Mitzi Jonelle Tan (Philippines) sit down with Carlo Fong Luy to discuss the impacts of climate change on young women in their region. Just a note - given Adenike is based in the Lake Chad region, her internet is a little patchy! 

Listen to Hannah Baillie chat to our Editor-in-Chief Hannah Diviney about what it is like being a nurse on the COVID-19 frontline, and the impacts of the pandemic on people experiencing homelessness. 

TW: Discussion of gender based violence and family violence.Listen to Hemanshi, Yashvi, Dakshata and Harinder discuss the importance of culturally appropriate responses to domestic violence.