The Grace Tales

Remember the book The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck? For me, it was life changing. It taught me not to sweat the small stuff and while it’s still a work in progress and I think it always will be – it’s impossible to float through life without getting your feathers ruffled - her wisdom has stayed with me. Today’s guest is one of my favourite best-selling authors – her name is Sarah Knight. If you’re opposed to swearing, this might not be an episode for you. Her book titles range from Get Your Shit Together to Calm The Fuck Down to most recently, Grow the Fuck Up. Sarah gives us all a reality check – most of us are saying yes way too much, not putting in boundaries, and running from the things we need to tackle head on. Her messages are resonating - her TEDx talk has been viewed 10 million times. If you’ve ever felt like life as an adult was meant to be easier than this, then you’ll love her new book. It’s a guide for the modern adult, written to help you become more self-aware, self-sufficient and resourceful. Amazingly, there’s not much swearing in our conversation, just lots and lots of wisdom. Go to www.sarahknight.com Follow @thegracetales @georgieabay See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s guest is Sarah Salmon. She’s an Australian writer who lived in Asia for fifteen years, during which time she and her husband adopted two children – two girls – from Cambodia. Her memoir is entitled The Red Thread and it chronicles her struggle to complete her family while living in India. A psychic once told Sarah that she’d have ‘a dark-skinned child, not by the man you marry.’ Adoption was always going to be her path. In today’s episode, we talk a lot about the adoption process – and you’ll hear about the many hurdles she faced – and how she overcame them. Early on in the book, Sarah writes that: ‘Orphanage babies don’t cry. There is no point in crying; they know no one will come for them, so they shut down… It’s the loudest silence I’ve ever heard.’ We speak about what it was like walking into an orphanage for the first time. We also talk about the shocking corruption that exists in Cambodia and how she navigated this – and the sickening fact that at least a third of Cambodian prostitutes are children and girls as young as five are sold into prostitution in Cambodia for less than one hundred dollars. I know this is uncomfortable to hear, but we need more awareness around this shocking situation. More than anything, I hope this episode will remind you that we all have our own unique path to motherhood – and rarely is it without twists and turns. You can purchase The Red Thread here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now when my friend Reese Witherspoon describes a book as “Magnificent!” I pay attention. Ok obviously Reese is not my friend, but I wish she was because she has great taste in books. The book she’s talking about is called Find Your Unicorn Space and while I don’t have Reese on this podcast (yet!) I do have the brilliant author of this brilliant book Eve Rodsky. Eve argues that creativity is not optional – and as someone who is a true creative at heart and spends most of my life trying to tap into that creativity – it’s a message I strongly believe in. If you haven’t heard of Eve before, she made the New York Times bestseller list when she wrote Fair Play, a book which ignited a national conversation about greater equity in the home. She soon realised that even when the domestic workload becomes more balanced, people still report something missing in their lives - that is, unless they prioritise and devote time for activities that not only fill their calendars, but also unleash their creativity. She calls this vital time Unicorn Space - the active and open pursuit of creative self-expression in any form that makes you uniquely you. If you’ve ever felt like something is missing, keep listening. Her book is an inspirational guide for setting new personal goals, rediscovering your interests, cultivating creativity, and reclaiming your “Unicorn Space.” We are going to talk through exactly how to do that – and what “unicorn space” really means - in today’s conversation. Go to www.everodsky.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back to The Grace Tales podcast. I’m your host, author and editor Georgie Abay. If you’ve been following over the last few weeks, you’ll know I’m running a mini-series with founders of SMES. Because whether you’ve launched your own business, or have a dream bubbling away in the back of your mind, I know how much hearing other people’s experience has helped me personally. Because launching a business – especially if you’re doing it solo – can feel lonely at times. But you’re not alone – more and more women are launching their own businesses. They’re looking for more flexibility, a better work-life balance, financial independence and also for meaningful work. I know after I had children, I wanted to make sure that when I was at work, it felt meaningful. If I was going to be away from my kids, I had to love what I was doing. And on the topic of passion, today’s founder is full of it. Today’s episode is a special one – you’re going to meet my friend Elise Pioch, who is the exceptionally clever French founder of homewares brand Maison Balzac. If you don’t know Maison Balzac yet, it’s a very beautiful brand which started with candles, later expanding into beautiful homewares such as colourful glasses, vases and candle holders. The thing I love about Elise’s imagination is she dreams up unique objects which you didn’t know you needed until she created it. But what I love most about Maison Balzac, is that Elise’s authentic and kind nature can be felt. She’s always followed her gut instinct, is not afraid to take risks and leads with kindness and compassion. It was a decade ago I turned up at her office and photographed her for The Grace Tales. She just launched the business, and she’d just had a baby. Her daughter LouLou was only 6 weeks old at the time and it’s still one of my favourite stories. In this episode, Elise shares how the business has grown organically – she now has two retail stores - and what has kept her going over the last decade. Let’s meet Elise! Go to maisonbalzac.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back to The Grace Tales podcast. I’m your host, author, editor and the founder of The Grace Tales Georgie Abay. As you heard last week, I’ve kicked off a special mini-series where I’m interviewing female small and medium-sized enterprise founders. If you’re interested in maybe one day launching your own SME, or you’re already there and you want to hear how others do it, think of this series as your support and your inspiration. Today’s guest will certainly inspire you. I have known designer, creative director and writer Natalie Walton for over a decade – and I have loved watching her career (and family) grow and grow. Natalie’s a mother of four, lives in the Byron Bay hinterland, and has successfully continued to evolve her business. She does many things, which we’re going to talk about today, and one of those things is write books. I have her latest book, Style: The Art of Creating a Beautiful Home, on my coffee table, and it’s a joy to read. In this episode, Natalie shares her business journey – from launching her first workshop and wondering if anyone would turn up – to how she teaches people to live with style and simplicity in their homes. Let’s meet Natalie! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back to The Grace Tales podcast. I’m your host, author, editor and the founder of The Grace Tales Georgie Abay. Today I’m kicking off a special mini-series where I’ll be interviewing female small and medium-sized enterprise founders. As someone who 10 years ago, left her dream job to launch a small business, how to start an SME is something I love talking about. Mostly because it’s really, really hard. But like all hard things, it’s worth it. And to take the leap, we need support. So think of this series as your support – and I hope that what you hear in these conversations might inspire you to launch that side hustle. So currently, 30% of businesses in Australia are owned by women – and that number is rising. I’m always interested in how these women actually get going in the first place? What happens when they suffer a crisis of confidence? And what’s it like running your own business? These are all the questions I’m going to ask and I’m very excited to be kicking this series off with the amazing co-founder of furniture and homewares brand McMullin & Co Alice McMullin. A mother of two, she’s four years into her business – and why it looks like it all flows like clockwork from the outside, she’s worked hard to get where she is. There was the time her showroom was flooded. The time she lost all of her stock in a fire. And the time she was almost ready to quit, but invested her last 10K into a trade show. It turned out to be one of the best business decisions she’s made. She also used to get up at 5am with her baby and do a bread run to earn extra money while she was getting the business off the ground. So, it’s safe to say, founding her own business has been anything but straight-forward. Which is why I love the brand she’s created even more. I know you’re going to be as inspired by her determination, passion, and creativity as I am. Now before we get started and meet Alice, I wanted to share that I’ve written a book called Best Laid Plans. It’s my most personal piece of writing to date, but I’ve also brought in the wise words of many of the women and men I’ve interviewed over the last few years. It feels really quite wonderful to have all the lessons I’ve learnt over the last few years – and actually a lifetime – in one book. There’s not a lot I don’t cover – love, loss, birth, motherhood, career – and I ask the question – what happens when life doesn’t go to plan? What do we do next? I hope you all read it and would love to hear what you think. Writing a book was a rather enormous undertaking, but I’m so happy it’s out in the world. Ok, let’s meet Alice! Visit mcmullinandco.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back to The Grace Tales podcast. I’m your host Georgie Abay. I’m the founder of The Grace Tales, a mum, an editor, author and entrepreneur. Today you’re going to meet Emma Carey, who is the girl who fell from the sky. And when she says she fell from the sky, she means it quite literally. It’s the name of her new memoir, which takes us through what happened when she jumped out of a plane when she was just 20-years-old and her parachute didn’t open. The day of the accident, Emma fell from 14,000 feet and she survived. She spent months in hospital as a paraplegic, slowing learning how to use her legs again. She also endured a six-year long court case. She’s courageous, resilient, and in this conversation, she shares her remarkable story. Now before we start, I have some news. I wrote a book! It’s called Best Laid Plans, and will be out on September 27. Over the last decade, something that I hear time and again in the interviews is: “it wasn’t the plan.” Our lives so rarely unfold as we expect to them – and we’re constantly faced with unexpected twists and turns. So what exactly happens when our life doesn’t go to plan? Well, I wrote an entire book about it. My book is deeply personal – but I also bring in the stories of men and women I’ve had the privilege of interviewing over the last few years. I’d love you to pre-order it and thank you for your support. Ok, let’s meet Emma Carey…. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s episode is one that I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I’m speaking to the very fabulous Pip Brett, the founder of much-loved homewares and fashion store Jumbled which is based in Orange, NSW. For those of you who haven’t experienced the word of Jumbled, it’s a colourful haven, bursting with inspiration and pure joy. Pip really is the most inspiring entrepreneur. She started her business in her early 20s, and has been running it for over 16 years. And while Jumbled is certainly the place to go for retail therapy, it’s also the place to go for community and connection. Pip also runs The Huddle, which she describes as a weekend of inspiration and learning for kick-ass businesswomen. She’s just run her most recent Huddle, and I know I’ll be joining the next one. In today’s episode, we start at the beginning, and end up to where she is now (that is, the owner of a thriving business and a mother of two). Get ready to meet the brilliant Pip Brett. Go to jumbledonline.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back to The Grace Tales podcast. It’s been a while since I said hello, and I took a long break from recording. Mostly, because life got hectic, and I needed a break. I’ve never actually been good at knowing when to take a break. I’ll usually try and push through. But at the end of last year, I hit a wall. I needed to take some things off my plate. So I did, and this podcast was one of them. The break felt good, and I used it to finish a rather huge project I’ll be able to talk about very soon (spoiler, it’s a book out this year but more on that later!). Editing today’s episode, which was recorded a couple of months ago, reminded me why I started this podcast – to create connection through stories. Today’s guest is pretty damn special for many reasons. We first crossed paths a few years ago when I discovered her on Instagram (I’ll link her account in the show notes). She had been diagnosed with cancer. She ended up writing a story for the grace tales on what it’s like being diagnosed with cancer. Then she wrote another on why therapy isn’t a dirty word. Then another on her reflections from the year that was. I loved every word she wrote. And so did our readers. I am so excited to share she’s just published her first book, and not surprisingly it’s bloody brilliant. It’s called 27 Letters To My Daughter and I hope you’ll all read it, because there’s so much in each and every letter. Ok, back to it. Our guest today is Ella Ward. Let’s meet her! Purchase 27 Letters to My Daughter by Ella Ward Follow @_msellabella See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the third instalment of our In Her Shoes series, in partnership with the iconic Australian footwear brand Wittner. This exciting new series gives us the rare opportunity to step into the lives of the women who inspire us and discover the strength, courage and ingenuity that has got them to where they are today... So, let’s meet the fabulous Rey Vakili. It’s hard to know where to start with Rey. You could credit her success to the fact that her parents taught her the importance of education and a strong work ethic from a young age. They clearly had an impact on her - at 18 years old Rey went to study Political Science at Yale and then later did an MBA at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. But it was after Yale, that she landed a job as an assistant to the editor-in-chief of American VOGUE Anna Wintour. Her next career move was working for LTK (the largest Influencer Marketing community) after her friend and Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd introduced her to LTK founder Amber Venz Box. She’s now the managing director of LTK Australia. Want to step into her shoes and find out what makes her tick? And also, what shoes she’s coveting this season? Let’s meet the incredible Rey. In partnership with Wittner | Go to wittner.com to shop See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nikki Gemmell’s latest book Dissolve has been described as the book every woman on earth should read. But if you don’t have the time, you can start with this podcast. In today’s episode with Nikki we talk about some of the big moments in her life, from having to give evidence in court at age 10 during her parents divorce, to having her engagement broken off and becoming the wildly successful author of 13 novels. We talk about love, heartbreak, and creativity, and why she does so much of what she calls ‘angry writing’. And now the mother to teenagers, Nikki tells us what it means to ‘roar to life in a man’s world’. If you’ve ever dreamed a big dream, this episode will remind you of what’s possible. nikkigemmell.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Almost exactly a year ago, Allira Potter was working a corporate job, she felt burnt out and she knew she wasn’t living her purpose. 12 months on, she works for herself, she has built an incredible online following, she’s earning six figures, she’s working with major brands like The Body Shop, and she’s just announced a book entitled Wild & Witchy - so by all accounts, it’s fair to say she’s feeling much more aligned to her purpose. How did this happen? We’re going to find out today. Allira grew up with a single mum who worked multiple jobs to keep the family afloat. When she lost her mum at just 17, her life became a wild ride of ups and downs. She was married by the age of 22 and divorced only two years later, navigated mental health issues and financial insecurity, and contended with substance abuse and hitting rock bottom… until she came across a deck of oracle cards her mum had left her. It turned her life around. She’s now a manifestation and spiritual coach who strives to inspire body positivity and empowerment in her community. Today, we’re going to talk about her journey and making a difference in the world. Allira is incredibly open and really, a joy to speak to. Follow @allira.potter PRE ORDER WILD & WITCHY HERE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you heard the joke about how ‘next pregnancy, I want to be the dad’? Or perhaps you’ve laughed about needing an extra set of hands, or warned a pregnant friend to ‘sleep now, because it’s the last chance you’ll get’. It’s no secret that motherhood changes you forever, exhausts you, pushes you to your limits, and is often referred to as the hardest (but best) thing you’ll ever do. But if any of this sounds familiar, then you MUST listen to today’s episode of the podcast with Amy Taylor Kabbaz. She’s a matrescence expert and activist, and if you don’t know what that is, you’re about to find out. In her motherhood journey, Amy did what many of us do, burning the candle at both ends trying to maintain her commitment to the job she loved, while being the best mother she could be. When the stress sent her into early labour with her third child, she realised it was time to change. And in doing so, she discovered a whole new world of research that explained everything she had been experiencing. The exhaustion, the burn out, the anxiety, and the anger. In this episode, she tells us what it all means, and what to do about it. Prepare to feel seen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Power Play by Julia Banks delves into the toxic workplace culture in Parliament House – and now is the time to read it. But before you do, listen to this episode. In today’s conversation, hosted by our managing editor Gemma Dawkins, you’ll hear how Julia was verbally abused and told she was a “pighead,” by a male Liberal staffer inside her own home. Her son was upstairs studying at the time. She was also told to “stop acting like a fucking CEO”. How did she react in these toxic situations? We asked her. Julia shocked Australia when she announced she would stand as an independent MP in 2018. Following her resignation, the PM’s office span a public narrative that she couldn’t cope and was emotionally unstable – today we talk about what it was like in the middle of a narrative so removed from the truth. We also talk ambition, motherhood and all the in-between and as always, don’t leave anything out. Purchase Power Play by Julia Banks See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bri Lee is a phenomenal woman. She’s an author and freelance writer. Her first book, Eggshell Skull, won Biography of the Year at the ABIA Awards, the People's Choice Award at the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards, and was longlisted for the 2019 Stella Prize. She is also a non-practicing lawyer and continues to engage in legal research and issues-based advocacy. Today, I’m talking to Bri about her latest book, entitled Who Gets to Be Smart – a look at the role privilege, power and knowledge plays in our lives. She comes to the conclusion that far from offering any 'equality of opportunity', Australia's education system exacerbates social stratification. Today, we talk about what it’s like to not feel good enough – and what messages we need to be sending to young women today. Buy Who Gets To Be Smart here Follow @bri.e.lee See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s guest is the extraordinary Anjilla Seddeqi, a former lawyer turned fashion designer and mother. She was born in Kabul, and moved to Australia with her family. She studied law, and then went to work as a legal representative for asylum seekers. She started a couture line on the side which focused on modest dressing, as a distraction from her work as lawyer. Today, we will talk about her time spent with asylum seekers and also how it feels to be an Afghan woman, watching the horror unfold in Afghanistan. Like me, right now you’re probably wondering how you can help. Anjilla has teamed up UNHCR to raise funds for Afghan women and children, and is selling beautiful Arezu Dolls, which are handmade by Afghan women living as refugees in India from eco friendly Indian cotton that otherwise would have been discarded as waste. They are created with love, hope and a wish for a brighter future for the women and children of Afghanistan. 100% of the proceeds will go towards this goal via the UNHCR. I’ve linked these dolls in our show notes. Please all buy one – they’re a beautiful story telling tool for children, and a beautiful way to support women in need. anjillaseddeqi.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Wittner CEO Catherine Williamson set herself the goal of becoming CEO by 35, she wasn’t counting on giving birth to twin girls shortly after her 34th birthday. Despite the vision board she’d created around that particular milestone, she accepted that it wasn’t going to happen. Or not on schedule, at least. But manifestation is powerful, she says. And get there she did – at 35 years old. It had been a long road to CEO, with Williamson starting out at Wittner as a casual employee attracted by the staff discount. She was picked out for head office, and she remembers receiving the call while at a Ben Harper concert. But while Williamson runs a tight ship, responsible for steering one of Australia’s beloved heritage brands and its 500 staff through Covid, and a new chapter in sustainability - never mind the responsibilities of parenting twin pre-schoolers – don’t for a moment think she’s having it all. To kick off our In Her Shoes series, in partnership with Wittner, our founder Georgie Abay has interviewed Williamson. This exciting new series gives us the rare opportunity to briefly step into the lives of the women who inspire us and discover the strength, courage and ingenuity that has got them to where they are today. Williamson tells us about her leadership style and why she thinks women make great CEOs, as well as the traits her best bosses demonstrated, and what she’s learned about the motherhood penalty. It’s safe to say, Wittner’s future is in good hands. And great shoes, of course. Go to wittner.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before I begin today’s episode, I just want to send my love to everyone in lockdown. I’m recording this on a Friday, after a week of trying to work while home-school my kids. It’s not fun and all I can say is, there’s sunshine ahead. We just need to wait. And be patient- something which doesn’t come that easily to me! Now, over the last few weeks, in lockdown, something that keeps coming up in the conversations I’m having is the mental health of teens right now. Which is why today’s episode is such an important one. In Dr Ginni Mansberg’s new book The New Teen Age, which she co-wrote with clinical psychologist Jo Lamble, she shares evidence-based strategies for raising today's tweens and teens to feel confident and strong. Dr Ginni asks the questions on everyone’s mind - Why are today's parents feeling like failures, worried that their teens will 'go off the rails', won't get through school, won't find a job or will be overwhelmed by stress? With so many experts out there offering conflicting advice, how do parents know where to turn and who to trust? Today’s conversation is eye-opening and one every parent of tweens and teens needs to listen to. Let’s get some answers. Purchase The New Teen Age here Visit drginni.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Currently, 3.2 million Australians live below the poverty line and more than half of those people are women and young girls. Being able to afford sanitary products is a basic necessity – but sadly one that not everyone can afford. Period poverty is something we can’t ignore. Which is why this week, we’re stepping into the shoes of two exceptional women – the Young Australian Of The Year 2021 Isobel Marshall and her best friend and business partner Eloise Hall. Together, they founded TABOO, a brand of menstrual health products that uses 100% of its profits to fund sanitary care and education programs. Did we mention that they founded the company while they were at school? Our new ‘In Her Shoes’ series, in partnership with the iconic Australian footwear brand Wittner, gives us the rare opportunity to briefly step into the lives of the women who inspire us and discover the strength, courage and ingenuity that has got them to where they are today. We want to inspire you, motivate you, and for those in lockdown, help to lift you up. We also hope next time you’re purchasing sanitary products, you’ll consider TABOO – a company driven by passion and purpose. In this episode, we ask the TABOO co-founders about how they’re tackling period poverty, making real change in the world, and building a brand from the ground up. Also don’t miss our photo shoot with Isobel and Eloise, dressed in the joyful new Wittner Spring/Summer collection. Go to tabooau.co | wittner.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Viral video producer Briony Benjamin was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 31. Her debut book Life Is Tough (But So Are You) How to rise to the challenge when things go pear-shaped couldn’t have arrived at a more appropriate time. And I hope today’s conversation is a great comfort to our listeners, no matter what you’re going through. Because as we talk about today, you never know what is going on behind closed doors. Briony was a few months into a new job when she started feeling crappy. Doctors told her she was just stressed and should rest more and learn to meditate. But it turns out she had cancer all through her body. Turning the camera on herself, Briony started documenting her journey (from chemo to egg freezing) in the short video 'You Only Get One Life'. If you haven’t watched it, please do. I’ve linked it in the show notes. Her new book sharies wise guidance on how to navigate difficult times and will help you gain perspective on what's truly important in life - from a young woman who never expected to survive The Big C. Let’s meet the incredible Briony. Watch You Only Get One Life See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.