Short Black with Sandra Sully

Annabelle Chauncy was teaching English in Kenya when civil unrest saw her evacuated across the border to Uganda. What she found there was a community of people with a desire to learn and grow, and from that the School For Life Foundation was born. That was 15 years ago, and since then Annabelle has dedicated her life to helping children, and adults, reach their full potential.How hard was it to build a school in a foreign country? And why was she carrying wheelbarrows full of cash around Africa? Find out more about School For Life here: https://www.schoolforlife.org.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gail O’Brien AO has been a health professional for 40 years. Originally trained as a physiotherapist, she is now executive director of the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse centre in Sydney where she also works as a patient advocate.Gail’s husband, renowned head and neck surgeon Chris O’Brien, had a dream of opening Australia’s first fully-integrated and comprehensive cancer centre. Gail played an integral part in realising his vision after his death from brain cancer in 2009, and last year Chris O’Brien Lifehouse celebrated its 10th anniversary.In a frank and honest conversation, Gail discusses her work carrying on Chris’ legacy, and providing advocacy in a hospital setting while dealing with her own grief and loss, not only of Chris but also her son Adam, who tragically died in his sleep less than two years later.You can find out more about Gail here - https://www.gailobrien.com.au/and about Chris O’Brien Lifehouse here - https://www.mylifehouse.org.au/This episode of Short Black is dedicated to Virginia (Ginny) Bellman, who sadly lost her battle with ovarian cancer in 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s a lot more poverty in Australia than people realise, according to Yolanda Saiz. And she should know. As CEO of the St Vincent De Paul Society in New South Wales, Yolanda sees first-hand every day the toll the current cost of living crisis is taking on everyday Australians.One of the largest providers of homeless and domestic services in NSW, Vinnie’s is now more needed than ever, with a staggering one in three people turning to the organisation for help. And with a high number of the people who were making donations now in need of those donations themselves, how hard is it to raise funds?Yolanda talks about being the first-ever female CEO of the organisation in NSW, and how she stays on top of innovation and best practice to lead Vinnie’s to be able to help those who need it most.You can find out more about St Vincent’s, and how you can help, here - https://www.vinnies.org.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tara Moss had it all. A former model and the successful author of 14 bestselling books, hers was a glamorous life. Until eight years ago when she was struck down by Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, a debilitating chronic pain condition for which there is no cure.She was told by numerous doctors that she would never recover, that being wheelchair bound and unable to do anything by herself was the way it would always be.But Tara has never been one to resist a challenge and now, after eight long years – and against all the odds – she is in remission.In one of the first interviews she has given in Australia since receiving the good news, she opens up to Sandra about how tough the last eight years have really been for her and her family, and the sheer joy of being able to walk unaided once more and do the things that she thought she never would again.You can find out more about Tara, her books, and her disability and pain advocacy here - https://www.taramoss.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sandra had the privilege recently of being the Master of Ceremonies for the first day of the Women in Media conference held in Sydney. The day was a source of great inspiration, with an array of remarkable speakers, and here are some of Sandra's highlights.First we hear from Taryn Brumfitt, whose 10-year campaign into body positivity resulted in her being named the 2022 Australian of the Year. You can find out more about Taryn’s Body Image Movement here: https://bodyimagemovement.com.Later there was a panel discussion about the Business of Media with four powerhouses of the Australian media industry, namely:- Beverley McGarvey, EVP, Chief Content Officer and head of Paramount plus and Paramount ANZ- Jane Huxley, CEO of Are media- Amanda Lang, Chief Commercial and Content Officer of the Foxtel group- Mia Freedman, co founder and Chief Creative Officer of MamamiaAnd asking the tough questions is renowned journalist and author Anita Jacoby AM You can find out more about Women in Media and the work it does, here: https://www.womeninmedia.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jelena Dokic had a phenomenal tennis career. But it was what happened off the court and her decision, years later, to talk openly about the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father that has seen her constantly in the public eye.Having been raised to be silent, Jelena found her voice six years ago and wrote her first book, Unbreakable. Since then, she has made it her mission to speak up for those who can’t. There is no denying her courage, her tenacity and her drive to open up the conversation around mental health and domestic abuse.As her second book hits the shelves, she sits down with Sandra for an open, honest and raw conversation, in which Jelena not only shows us how our story makes us stronger, but also that she is, in fact, Fearless.If you are in Australia and need support, please reach out to any of the following:1800Respect - 1800 737 732 / 1800respect.org.auLifeline - 13 11 14 / lifeline.org.auBeyond Blue - 1300 22 4637 / beyondblue.org.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sally Dowling SC is the first woman to be appointed Director of Public Prosecutions for New South Wales.Sally is only the fourth person to hold this role, and one of only a few female DPPs in Australia. Previously she served as a Crown Prosecutor and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2013. In that role she appeared as lead counsel in more than 300 appeals in the High Court and the New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal.Two years into her 10-year term, she sits down with Sandra to talk about the impact of sexual harassment on her career, the role of the media – and social media - in justice, her focus on the First Nations community, and why managing the mental health of her prosecutors is key.And what advice does she have for young lawyers just starting out? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite the challenges and setbacks she has faced over the last few years, including seeing her beloved business collapse not once, but twice, Kristina Karlsson has managed to find a new sense of purpose and passion.Previously known for revolutionising the stationery world through her successful Scandi-inspired company kikki.k, Kristina has come bouncing back with even more determination and a new venture that encourages us all to live our Dream Life.She talks Sandra through what she describes as the perfect storm of events and how she managed to turn the most challenging of times into an opportunity, and reminds us why it’s important to remember to dream big and aim high.Find out more about Kristina and her latest venture here: https://www.yourdreamlifestartshere.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On average men in Australia retire with a lot more superannuation than women, about 35% more. That’s a staggering amount.But it seems that money is still a taboo subject, and most women would rather talk to their friends and colleagues about sex than about their finances.Someone who is trying to break that taboo is Christina Hobbs, who has made it her mission to make us better with our money. Christina is the CEO and co-founder of Verve Super, which is Australia’s first ethical super fund established by women for women. Through Verve she is opening up the conversation and providing support to help women take control of their finances, build their wealth and ultimately close the savings gap.You can find out more about Christina and Verve Super here - https://vervesuper.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Karla Lopez is a forensic psychologist and is currently using her skills to track down fugitives on the Australian version of the popular TV show Hunted.But what does a forensic psychologist do?Karla and Sandra tackle a range of topics from Australia’s youth crime crisis to AI to coping mechanisms, as well as her top tips for staying safe – and keeping our children safe – online.And what are the things we do that give us away every time? Are we really creatures of habit?Karla knows what makes us tick, find out what makes her tick.https://10play.com.au/hunted Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s all about Mary today! Mary Konstantopoulos is a passionate advocate for women in sport. Ten years ago she founded sport media company Ladies Who League, and since then she has broadened the conversation with Ladies Who Leap, Ladies Who Legspin, Ladies Who Lineout and Ladies Who W-League. She’s also a lawyer and sits on the board of Hockey Australia.Mary opens up about dealing with the pressures of social media, finding the courage to tackle the difficult issues, and levelling the playing field to elevate more women to board level.Find out more about Mary and Ladies Who here: https://ladieswho.com.au/league/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Returning to Australia a decade ago, Maryjane McKibbin-Schwenke saw many changes. With her husband Fred she established the Matavai Cultural Arts Centre in Sydney to promote community and connection to Pacific culture, helping people of all ages learn about themselves and their history through dance and music and sharing stories.As well as strengthening identity and confidence through cultural arts Maryjane is a strong advocate for issues that affect the Pacific community both in Australia and abroad, including climate change, education and loss of cultural knowledge.Maryjane talks to Sandra about everything from the importance of community, the stress and trauma of living through the harsh Covid lockdowns in Western Sydney and the impact that had on the younger community, her role in the new Bilas exhibition at the Australian Museum, and the realities of feeling unseen.Find out more about Maryjane and Matavai here: https://matavai.com.auAnd the Bilas exhibition here: https://australian.museum Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andie Halas is one of the unsung heroes of the fashion industry. With fashion waste continuing to be a massive issue worldwide, Andie saw the potential in giving unsold clothing that would normally end up in landfill to people in need – providing the most ethical solution to fashion excess.Just over a decade ago she set up Thread Together to make that happen in Australia, giving those in need the dignity and choice to get on with their lives by giving them access to new clothing.Fast forward to today, and more than 1,000 partners have come on board, to date repurposing 5.6 million pieces of clothing waste to the men and women who need it most. More than one million items were distributed in 2022 alone.Find out more about Andie and Thread Together, and how to donate or become a volunteer, here - https://threadtogether.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Manasi Mittinty’s interest in pain management and living with pain started as a child, after suffering an accident which left her with third-degree burns and ongoing chronic pain.Dr Mittinty now leads benchmark research in a number of key areas including developing scales for improved assessment and management of chronic pain for Indigenous Australian communities. She talks to Sandra about what Western civilisation can learn from studies like these, the spiritual connection between pain and trauma and how you can separate emotional pain from physical pain.Dr Mittinty is also passionate about achieving mental health equity through individualised patient care programs, especially with children and younger people.Her outstanding work has led to her being recognised in Australia and overseas, and last year she was named the Emerging Leader in Health at the 2022 Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kat Stewart has been a familiar face on Australian stage and screen for a number of years now. The award-winning actress is probably best known for her roles in the television series Offspring, Underbelly and Five Bedrooms, which is just starting its fourth season.But who is Kat Stewart when she’s not being someone else?Kat opens up to Sandra about the fame game, the pain of losing her mum, and the importance of telling women’s stories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Josie Clarke is a true force of nature. She’s on a mission to give people from regional and rural areas with a disability a voice, and create opportunities for them to be able to work in the agricultural industry.Josie’s dad became a paraplegic as a result of an accident on the family’s farm when she was five and it was this, together with the realisation years later that there was a lack of disability support groups in the ag industry, that led to her founding Ability Agriculture.Her dream is for Ability Agriculture to one day be recognised as the representative voice for disability in the agriculture sector.Find out more about Josie and Ability Agriculture here - https://abilityagriculture.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What kind of leader are you? Do you lead with your head or your heart?From joining the Royal Australian Air Force at 17 to being acting chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Kirstin Ferguson has learnt a thing or two about what it takes to be a good leader.Kirstin, an author, company director and columnist, talks to Sandra about how you can work out your own leadership style, what the attributes of a great leader are, the importance of perspective, and why it’s not just how you are at work but your leadership at home that counts too.As she says – you are a leader, you probably just don’t know it yet!You can find out more about Kirstin, her work, and her book Head & Heart: The Art Of Modern Leadership here - https://www.kirstinferguson.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Faith Agugu could never understand the negativity surrounding ageing for women in Western society, especially as in her native Africa the oldest person is always the most revered. She decided to do something about it, and Silver Sirens was born. Silver Sirens is all about redefining ageing, and provides a platform for women to rewrite this negative narrative and redirect energy to themselves.In this frank, funny and honest look at ageing, Faith talks to Sandra about topics including what she’s enjoying about getting older, how psychotherapy works, the importance of community, and how we can change the stigma around menopause and ageing.You can find out more about Faith and her work here – https://www.silversirens.org and https://www.thehealingprocess.com.au  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You could say Buds & Beads was born out of love and friendship. Founders Jo Thomas and Karina Barry have been best buddies for more than half their lives and, when the opportunity presented itself, jumped at the chance to try something new.Launching the business in late 2022 with a range of 17 loose-leaf teas and three sparkling, their sparkling tea is the first of its kind in Australia and is already winning awards.They talk to Sandra about everything from choosing the right tea varieties to finding the first major customer, what it’s like going into business with your best friend, and what they have learned about themselves along the way,Find out more about Buds and Beads here - https://budsandbeads.com.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Season 5 of Short Black!Rosemary Kariuki’s joie de vivre is infectious. She is so vivacious it’s hard to believe that she fled her native Kenya to escape from family abuse and political unrest. Now happily settled in Australia, she is the Multicultural Liaison Officer for NSW Police and spends her time helping migrants overcome situations including isolation, financial stress, domestic violence and, of course, language barriers.Her remarkable work in this field has led to her being named the 2021 Local Hero in the Australian Of The Year Awards, and the following year she was recognised with the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).Rosemary has a big heart and a big smile, and we are very excited to share her story with you as we launch the new season of Short Black. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.