Really Interesting Women

The podcast

Ep. 156 Chika Ikogwe

In the evolving landscape of Australian entertainment, few actors embody the multicultural spirit and artistic versatility of contemporary Australia like Chika Ikogwe. Chika stands out as a trailblazer in Australia's entertainment industry.

She’s celebrated for her dynamic acting talent, writing prowess, and unwavering advocacy for diversity and representation.

Born in Nigeria, Chika moved to Australia at a young age and had to navigate, at times, very challenging circumstances. After graduating high school, she enrolled at Victorian College of the Arts before transitioning to the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting) program at NIDA, Australia’s premier performing arts institution.

What followed was a string of successful theatre shows and numerous awards and accolades including the winner of 'Best Newcomer' at the Sydney Theatre Awards in 2019 and the recipient of the 2020 ATYP Rose Byrne Emerging Female Leader in the Arts scholarship. She went on to play a starring role in the Emmy award winning tv series Heartbreak High and, more recently, has worked with Russell Crowe and Liam Hemsworth in a major film.

Chika’s journey from a four-year-old immigrant to an award-winning actor and writer embodies the successful integration of diverse cultural perspectives into mainstream Australian arts. But there’s still a long way to go.

To listen to our conversation, head to the link in my bio, or wherever you find your podcasts.

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Really Interesting Women

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Ep. 155 Tara Morice

Tara Morice has built a remarkable acting career over 3 decades that spans film, television, and stage.

She graduated from the prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in 1987. And in 1988 was able to find work in a play that had some success and 4 years later that play was adapted into a film and everyone, and I literally mean everyone, will know her from her iconic role as Fran in Baz Luhrmann's "Strictly Ballroom".

The story of how Tara got the role is fascinating and a lesson in perseverance. Once she got the role (the day before shooting started) she was phenomenal. As was the movie. Strictly Ballroom premiered at the Cannes Film Festival to a seven-minute standing ovation and was sold to over eighty countries. She became (and I hate the expression) ‘an overnight sensation’ nominated for, amongst many other things, a British Academy Award.

But that whirlwind of celebrity can come at the cost of typecasting and my guest’s strength and resilience ensured that despite those significant challenges, she is an actor who continues to evolve and take on diverse projects that showcase her range and enduring appeal in the Australian entertainment landscape.

She is currently performing in the enormously succesful musical Menopause the Musical which has been seen by over 17 million people worldwide and is an outrageous success. Do yourself a favour! You can get tickets from:

https://menopausethemusical.com.au/tickets/sydney/

It's touring Australian so head to the website and you'll find what you need.

We had a fabulous chat. And that's what it felt like. More a chat than an interview. I heard Strictly Ballroom stories I never knew and found out a lot about the fabulous work she's been doing recently.

Head to the link in my bio to have a listen to this episode.

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Ep. 154 Claire Mactaggart

Claire Mactaggart has been living and working on cattle properties her whole life. Her ‘to do’ list would be overwhelming to most, well me anyway.

And she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Claire is based in central Queensland and is deeply committed to sharing and celebrating rural Australian life and agricultural practices through her writing and through her managing several cattle properties.

Her career encompasses a unique blend of agricultural expertise, media contributions, and leadership roles and she has a profound connection to the Australian bush. She grew up as one of five children at a property north of Yaamba. This formative experience on a working cattle station provided her with an intimate understanding of rural life that would later become the cornerstone of her writing career.

With her husband, Claire manages and oversees 3 beef cattle properties, raises 4 daughters and writes for a range of publications including Country Style, Good Weekend, Graziher and Home Beautiful. In her spare time (!)... she is Secretary/director of Beef Australia, has an executive role with the local rural fire brigade and P&C, shifted and restored a former church, operates an AirBNB and a seaside property.

It was a great discussion and to find out more head to the link in my bio to find the podcast or look for Really Interesting Women wherever you find your podcasts.

www.clairemactaggart.com

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Ep. 2 Nanette Carroll

It’s been 5 years since RIW first aired. And I thought that it would be well worth dipping into the back catalogues every now and again for the benefit of those who may have started following recently.

Nanette Carroll was the 2nd ever interview…and one of the most popular episodes. And it’s easy to see why.

From unemployed, unqualified, single mum of 3, to joint CEO of a $320M company. If your obstacles seem insurmountable...you may find answers here.

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Really Interesting Women

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Ep. 153

Rosemary Kariuki OAM

Rosemary Kariuki’s life is a testament to the enduring power of compassion, community, and the human spirit.

From the overwhelming challenges of her early life in Kenya to her celebrated role as a leader and advocate in Australia for migrant and refugee women.

Her journey is marked by hardship, courage, and an unwavering commitment to empowering others. Her story is documented in her memoir A Joyful Life and the acclaimed documentary Rosemary’s Way.

We often talk on this show of resilience, compassion and a dedication to others. And Rosemary’s journey from refugee to recognized national hero is a perfect example of that.

In 2021, she received the Australian of the Year, Australian Local Hero award.

Head to the link in my bio to have a listen to our conversation.

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Ep. 152. Dr Skye Krichauff

Dr. Skye Krichauff represents a new generation of Australian scholars who are fundamentally reshaping how we understand the complex relationships between Indigenous peoples and European settlers in colonial Australia.

As an ethno-historian affiliated with the University of Adelaide, Skye has dedicated her career to examining the enduring legacies of colonialism, particularly in South Australia, through a unique methodological approach that combines historical research with anthropological insights.

She is an ethno-historian who combines the methodologies of history and anthropology, bringing a distinctive interdisciplinary perspective to her research. This methodological fusion allows her to examine not only the documented historical record but also the lived experiences, cultural practices, and oral traditions that traditional historical approaches might overlook.

It's a fascinating discussion because the lack of Indigenous presence in this country’s written history – is being addressed by people like Dr Skye Krichauff.

Head to the link in my bio to have a listen to our conversation.

Below is the link to the SA Frontier and its Legacies website that Skye talks about.

https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/4755c59ae93447a9b0acf9b2b0b265f6/page/Interactive-Map

Image: Isabella Kelly

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Really Interesting Women

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Ep. 151 Dr Maddy McAllister

Maddy McAllister has the fascinating honour of being one of Australia's foremost maritime archaeologists.

She’s made significant contributions to underwater cultural heritage management, shipwreck documentation, and the advancement of maritime archaeological practices in Australia and beyond. She has basically helped reshape our understanding of Australia's maritime past.

Besides her work as a ‘Shipwreck Detective’, she is also the Senior Curator of Maritime Archaeology at the Queensland Museum and holds a joint appointment as Senior Lecturer at James Cook University’s College of Arts, Society and Education. Which allows her to blend research, teaching, and public outreach with her underwater discoveries all of which is utilised to unravel the secrets of sunken vessels.

And if you’re thinking she sounds a bit like the Australian Indiana Jones, I reckon you’re right.

She has been instrumental in adopting new technology and making fascinating discoveries which have challenged our existing knowledge of maritime history.

Head to my bio above to have a listen to our conversation.

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Ep. 150 Kath Koschel

To celebrate episode 150, it's appropriate that it's with one of the most extraordinary tales I've heard on this show.

Kath Koschel’s life is a powerful narrative of overcoming unimaginable odds through resilience, gratitude, and a profound belief in the transformative power of kindness.

From the initial excitement of starting to realise her representative cricket dreams to devastating career ending injuries and devastating heartbreaking personal loss, Kath has, somehow consistently chosen to find strength in adversity and to channel her experiences into creating a global movement for good...and I imagine the global impact of her story would have resonated even more with my guest when, in 2018, she delivered the opening speech in a conference in Los Angeles to a packed audience that included the Obamas, the Dalai Lama, and Reese Witherspoon (whose production company has more than a passing interest in Kath’s story).

Head to the link in my bio to listen to our conversation.

And thank you all for your support for this little show to help it reach 150 episodes!

Visit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.

Follow the link to leave a review....and tell your friends
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