A Podcast of One's Own with Julia Gillard

In this episode Julia Gillard sits down with former New Zealand Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern.Jacinda was just 37 years old when she was elected Prime Minister, and a few months later became the second leader in history to give birth while in office, when she welcomed her daughter Neve.This year Jacinda published her memoir - A Different Kind of Power - an aptly named book for someone who always pushed back against stereotypes and assumptions about what leadership is, and asked the question, what if kindness came first? In this conversation Julia and Jacinda discuss their experiences as women leaders, Jacinda’s journey to the Prime Ministership and what life looks like for her now post-politics.Show notes:A Different Kind of Power is published by Penguin and is available at all good bookstores. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a special Book Club episode, Julia Gillard sits down with Global Institute for Women’s Leadership Chair Professor Michelle Ryan to discuss The Book of Guilt by New Zealand author Catherine Chidgey.The Book of Guilt is a deeply unsettling exploration of autonomy, identity, and morality.It’s set in an alternate England in 1979 – where Hitler’s assassination in 1943 led to a negotiated peace and a chillingly different trajectory for post-war Britain.The story follows three identical boys: Vincent, William, and Lawrence, who are the last remaining residents of a bleak, run-down state children’s institution. The boys are part of a mysterious government project, called The Sycamore Scheme, subjected to meticulous routines, daily medication, and round-the-clock surveillance.In a conversation recorded at GIWL at ANU in Canberra, Julia and Michelle discuss the book’s twists and turns, and how it explores humankind’s treatment of those deemed “the other’.Show notes:The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey is published by Penguin Books and is available at all good bookstores. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Katherine Bennell-Pegg was in high school, she was asked to write down three career options to pursue. She wrote down one - astronaut.Last year, she not only fulfilled that ambition but she made history in doing so, becoming Australia’s first female astronaut and the first person to qualify as an astronaut under the Australian flag.For this episode, Julia met Katherine at the Australian Space Agency in Adelaide, where the mother-of-two is the Director of Space Technology.They discussed the intense training she’s undergone, her passion to progress action on global issues like climate change, the importance of diversity in space and why space travel is worth the risks.Show notes:Learn more about Katherine Bennell-Pegg and the work of the Australian Space Agency:https://www.space.gov.au/Katherine-Bennell-Pegg Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this month's Book Club episode, Julia Gillard and her co-host Kathy Lette discuss Tell Me Everything, the latest novel by Pulitzer Prize winning author Elizabeth Strout.Tell Me Everything is Strout's 10th novel, and it returns readers to the fictional town of Crosby, Maine - where several of her novels have taken place. It also features many of the characters from her previous books, including Lucy Barton and Olive Kitteridge. In this story, the town lawyer Bob Burgess takes on a case defending a man suspected of killing his own mother. But, as Julia and Kathy discuss, the case is only one part of a sprawling story that examines love, grief, family, the importance of friendship and everyone’s search to find meaning in their life. Show notes:Tell Me Everything is published by Penguin and is available in all good bookstores.Learn more about Kathy Lette at https://www.kathylette.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this live event recording Julia sits down with the UK's Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities Bridget Phillipson. In a wide-ranging conversation, they reflect on her journey from a working-class upbringing in Sunderland and running a domestic abuse refuge, to becoming a Cabinet Minister in the first Labour government for 14 years.The pair discuss the state of gender equality today, tackling misogyny and violence against women and girls, and emerging divisions between young men and women on gender roles and women's rights.They are later joined by Kelly Beaver, Chief Executive of Ipsos UK and Ireland, to discuss the latest findings from a global study of attitudes towards gender equality, carried out jointly by Ipsos and the Global Institute for Women's Leadership.Show notes:To learn more about the latest research by IPSOS and GIWL head to https://www.ipsos.com/en/international-womens-day-2025 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Book Club episode, Julia Gillard and her cohost Sarah Holland-Batt dive into Audition, the latest novel from Katie Kitamura.Audition follows an unnamed actress as she rehearses a play that blurs the lines between performance and personal history. When a mysterious young man appears, claiming to be her son, she’s drawn into a spiral of uncertainty that challenges her sense of self and reality.Together, Julia and Sarah unpack the novel’s themes of identity, motherhood, and the shifting boundaries between truth and fiction. They explore how the story's psychologically rich but uncanny style highlights the tension between who we are and who the world asks us to be.Join us for a thoughtful discussion on power, performance, and the quiet ways women resist being written into roles they didn’t choose. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cheng Lei was riding high in a successful career as a news anchor in China when her life changed in an instant. Lei is a Chinese born Australian citizen and mother of two, who spent more than three years detained in a Beijing prison after being wrongly accused of illegally supplying state secrets. In this emotional and candid conversation, Julia and Lei delve into her early life in China and then Melbourne, her exciting journalism career around Asia and the ordeal that changed her and her family’s lives forever. Show notesCheng Lei’s book A Memoir of Freedom is published by Harper Collins and is available at all good bookstores.Her documentary Cheng Lei: My Story is available via Sky News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this month’s book club episode Julia Gillard and Kathy Lette discuss Fundamentally, by Nussaibah Younis. It’s the British author’s debut novel and it follows the story of Nadia Amin - an academic disowned by her mother and dumped by her long-term partner, who accepts a job with the United Nations in Iraq to rehabilitate ISIS women so their home countries will take them back.While struggling to get the program off the ground amidst the opaque world of international aid, Nadia meets Sara, a fellow Londoner who was radicalised when she was just 15 years old.Julia and Kathy delve into the book’s dark humour and complex characters, and its exploration of faith, identity and family.Fundamentally is published by Orion, an imprint of Hachette Australia.https://www.hachette.com.au/nussaibah-younis/fundamentally-shortlisted-for-the-2025-womens-prize-for-fiction Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Julia's Book Club, Julia and co-host Sarah Holland-Batt delve into Theory & Practice by Australian author, Michelle de Kretser.Short-listed for the Stella Prize, the seventh novel from the Miles Franklin winner tells the story of a first generation immigrant from Sri Lanka living in Melbourne in the 1980s.The young academic is writing a thesis on Virginia Woolf, who this podcast is named in honour of, when she begins a love affair with a man who is in a "deconstructed relationship".Part fiction, part essay, Julia and Sarah explore the themes of feminism, class, jealousy, maternal relationships and how to cope when the failings of those we most admire come to light.Theory & Practice is published in Australia by Text Publishing.https://www.textpublishing.com.au/books/theory-practice Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode, we take you inside Julia's first ever Australian live recording of A Podcast of One's Own.Recorded in front of an audience at the Australian National University in Canberra, home to the Global Institute for Women's Leadership, Julia is joined on stage by one of Australia's most respected journalists, Leigh Sales.The pair discuss Leigh's incredible career achievements, preparing for Prime Ministerial interviews, telling stories of tragedy, the power of podcasts and her latest project.Show notes:Leigh has authored several books, including her latest book Storytellers. They are available in all good book stores. This live event was held in support of the Global Institute for Women's Leadership (GIWL), which brings together rigorous research, practice and advocacy to advance gender equality and promote fair and equal access to leadership.You can learn more about GIWL by visiting giwl.anu.edu.au or support their work at https://engage.anu.edu.au/giving/GIWL Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our April Book Club episode, Julia and Kathy unpack Butter, the cult Japanese bestseller by Asako Yuzuki.Inspired by the real-life case of the “Konkatsu Killer” and translated into English, the book follows journalist Rika Machida as she tries to get inside the mind of convicted serial murderer Manako Kajii.Kajii, a gourmet cook, is serving time behind bars for the murders of lonely businessmen who she seduced with her delicious home cooking.What follows is an intimate and unsettling relationship between Rika and Kajii, as Rika recreates Kajii’s recipes and finds her obsession with the inmate beginning to cloud her judgment on the case and impact her relationships with those around her.Julia and Kathy explore the central themes of feminism, body image and obsession, and how food ties them all together.Butter is published in Australia by HarperCollins and available at most book stores.https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9780008511692/butter/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Julia Gillard is joined by Dr. Beverley Ditsie – pioneering filmmaker, artist, and gender non-conforming activist – whose fearless activism has shaped the fight for queer rights in South Africa and beyond.From co-founding South Africa’s first multiracial LGBTQ+ rights group at just 16 to leading the country’s first Pride March in 1990, Beverley has been at the forefront of the battle for equality for decades. In 1995, Bev made history as the first openly lesbian person to address the United Nations, demanding global recognition of LGBTQ+ rights as human rights.In this powerful conversation, Beverley reflects on growing up in apartheid-era South Africa, defying rigid gender norms as a child actor, and using storytelling as a tool for resistance. Bev discusses the intersectionality of race, gender, and sexuality in activism, the urgent need to protect queer communities in the face of rising violence, and why the patriarchy is in its final fight for survival.In their conversation, Beverley and Julia discuss Simon and I, Bev's award-winning documentary telling the story of her friend and mentor, Simon Nkoli, set against the backdrop of intense political activism and the HIV/AIDS crisis in South Africa. The documentary is available to watch for free on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj56iZNVZ-c Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our first Book Club episode of 2025, Julia and co-host Sarah Holland-Batt explore the newly-released Wild Dark Shore by Australian author, Charlotte McConaghy.Out this month, the mystery novel is set on a tiny, remote island near Antarctica, where Dominic Salt and his three children are caretakers.The island is home to the world’s largest seed bank. But with sea levels rising, the family needs to move the precious cargo to safer land before it’s lost to the ocean.As each character is grappling with personal trauma, a woman mysteriously washes ashore during a storm. The family nurses her back to health and she begins to earn their trust and affection. But why is she there? What are her true motives?Julia and Sarah explore the central themes of loss and grief, isolation, climate change, parenthood and explain why this book has something for everyone.Wild Dark Shore is published by Penguin Australia and available in most book stores.https://www.penguin.com.au/books/wild-dark-shore-9781761620003 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eluned Morgan is the first woman to lead Wales.Before that, she made history as the youngest member of the European Parliament at just 27 years old.Ahead of International Women’s Day, Julia travelled to Cardiff to sit down with the First Minister in her office.In this season-opener, they discuss Ms Morgan’s political upbringing, her path to the leadership, building resilience, misogyny on social media, how her faith shapes her politics and her life away from from the public eye.Show notes:To learn more about Eluned Morgan and the Welsh Government:https://www.gov.wales/eluned-morgan-ms Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the final episode of 2024 Julia sits down with her good friend Josephine Linden to discuss their favourite books of the year, and look ahead to the new releases they can’t wait to read in 2025.Thank you to all our listeners for joining us again this season, the whole A Podcast of One’s Own team hopes you’ve enjoyed the interviews and book club episodes as much as we have!Show notes:Books discussed by Julia and Josephine during this episode include: The Enigma of Room 662 by Joel DickerThe Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair by Joel DickerThe Precipice by Robert Harris The Good War of Consul Reeves by Peter RoseA Memoir of My Former Self by Hilary MantelOld Filth Trilogy by Jane GardamA Place of Safety by Hilary MantelThe six books on the Booker Prize Shortlist can be found here: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/prize-years/2024Wifedom by Anna FunderThe Fraud by Zadie SmithOn the Edge: The Art of Risking Everything by Nate SilverWhen We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamin LabatutNaku Dharuk The Bark Petitions: How the People of Yirrkala Changed the Course of Australian Democracy by Clare Wright Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode of A Podcast of One’s Own, we take you inside Julia’s live event with international best-selling author, Paula Hawkins, at the Hay Festival Winter Weekend.After the huge global success of Paula’s first novel ‘The Girl on the Train’, the pair sat down to explore her latest thriller ‘The Blue Hour’.Set on a Scottish tidal island connected to the mainland for just a few hours a day and home to only one inhabitant, the novel asks questions about ambition, power, art and perception.Julia also asks Paula about her literary career to date and future works.Show notes:The Blue Hour is published by Penguin and available at all good book stores.https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-blue-hour-9781529938074To learn more about the Hay Festival, visit https://www.hayfestival.com/home Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr June Oscar AO is a is a proud Bunuba woman from the remote town of Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia’s Kimberley region.Her remarkable decades-long career has taken her from a small office in a cattle station in a tiny Western Australian town, to serving a five-year term as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. June was the first woman to hold this role in its 20-year history and used her position to advocate for, and empower, indigenous women and girls across Australia. The story of how she got there and all the change she has achieved along the way is truly inspiring.Today, June continues to champion the rights of First Nations women and girls through the new First Nations Gender Justice Institute, based at the Australian National University. In this episode, June takes Julia through this remarkable journey. They discuss June's legacy as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner and her ongoing work with the incredible Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) project at the First Nations Gender Justice Institute.Learn more about the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations Gender Justice: https://wiyiyaniuthangani.humanrights.gov.au/first-nations-gender-justice-institute Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Angie Murimirwa personifies the transformative power of education.Growing up in Zimbabwe, Angie was one of the first girls to receive support from the Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) to go to secondary school.Angie is now the organisation’s CEO.In this episode Julia - who is Patron of CAMFED - and Angie discuss the huge barriers to education that many girls still face, and the impact finishing school has on not only an individual, but also their family and community.They also talk about the alumni association Angie helped set up, that’s now several hundred-thousand women strong and has become a powerful network of women leaders across Africa.Show notes:You can learn more about CAMFED and how you can support its efforts here - https://camfed.org/aus/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been arguably the most eventful US Presidential campaign in history and the stakes couldn’t be higher, not just for the United States, but for the world.There’s been two assassination attempts on Republican nominee Donald Trump, who became the first US President to be convicted of a felony over hush money payments to an adult film star.We've seen President and Democratic nominee Joe Biden sensationally withdraw from the race after the most disastrous presidential debate performance in history and replaced by America’s first woman of colour to run for the White House, Vice President Kamala Harris.In this special US election episode, Julia sits down with American political analyst, Amy Walter from The Cook Political Report, for a deep dive on each swing state, the current state of play, how gender and reproductive rights are influencing the campaign and what we can expect when voters head to the polls on November 5.Show notes:To learn more about the electoral college ratings, go to: https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2024-president/To learn more about the states where abortion is on the ballot, go to:https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/abortion-ballot-measures/Bruce Wolpe is an expert on US and Australian politics, having worked in the US Congress during President Barack Obama's first term and as a senior advisor to A Podcast of One’s Own host, Julia Gillard, when she was Prime Minister. His book, Trump’s Australia, is published by Allen & Unwin:https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Bruce-Wolpe-Trump's-Australia-9781761068096 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Julia’s Book Club, Julia and co-host Sarah Holland-Batt delve into the latest novel by best-selling author, Elif Shafak. There are Rivers in the Sky charts the story of three characters from across history brought together by two great rivers, with one epic poem flowing through the story. Spanning centuries and continents, the novel follows a single drop of water from the Tigris to the Thames, from antiquity to the 19th century to the modern day.While exploring the rich histories laid out in the novel, Julia and Sarah also consider its central question – how does history get told, and who gets to tell it? They also reflect on Shafak's exploration of global inequalities across the novel – from the poverty of a class-divided Victorian London, to the far more recent persecution of the Yazidi people (and especially the women) in war-ravaged Iraq, to the impacts of climate change on the fragile ecosystems of rivers like the Tigris and the Thames.If the name Elif Shafak sounds familiar, that's because we were lucky enough to have her join us on the podcast back in August. If you've not heard it yet, you can catch up with that interview here, or find it wherever you're listening to this episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/elif-shafak-on-the-power-of-storytelling/id1466658814?i=1000666169272.If you'd like to learn more about Gilgamesh, the epic poem that plays a central role in this novel, and the real-life figure of George Smith who inspired the character Arthur Smyth, you can read Gilgamesh: A New Translation of the Ancient Epic by Sophus Helle.There are Rivers in the Sky is published by Penguin Australia and is available at all good bookstores. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.