The Curious Life

This episode is a little bit different to our usual style, here at The Curious Life, and that’s because we all need a little brain break from time to time. For some people it’s long walks on the beach or a hot bath – in my case? It’s reality television.

In this episode, I had the thrill of chatting with American pop culture expert and podcaster, Ryan Bailey. If like me, you’ve been glued to the hourly updates from Scandoval HQ or are a fan of the Real Housewives in any capacity, then this will be a real treat for you too.

If you’re new to reality TV or are sceptical about it in any way, there are some themes unpacked here that may just change your mind. Reality TV isn’t the fluffy escape that it used to be. It’s become dark and raw and the storylines, like what is playing out in the current Vanderpump Rules season, have taken us from couch potatoes to armchair experts, dissecting and diagnosing and united in our outrage and disbelief.

Ryan and I had so much fun in this episode, sharing our thoughts and theories on the themes of latest Bravo TV shows, as well as discussing the impact of reality tv consumption on mental health, the profound effect on viewers and why we so often feel so connected to the people we love to watch (and hate watch) on TV.

For more of Ryan, you can catch his brilliant in-depth pop culture podcast at @sobaditsgoodwithryanbailey.

You can find me at @thecuriouslifepodcast and @thedaysthatfollow and please don’t forget to leave a rating or review for this ep on Apple Podcasts – it would mean the world.

This episode was masterfully edited by the wonderful Julie Reynolds of @audiolemonade. Find her on socials or at www.audiolemonade.com for all your podcasting needs.

Content warning - this episode contains a frank discussion around sexual violence, education and consent.

We are opening the new season with a bang. A bang with enthusiastic consent, that is. In this interview, we hear from investigative journalist and Stella Prize winner, Jess Hill. Her groundbreaking new series Asking For It, is a three part documentary series that explores the epidemic of sexual violence in Australia and the issue of consent, from every different angle. It's dark and confronting, but filled with hope and inspiration.

Jess is brilliantly insightful about this difficult and distressing issue. In this conversation, Jess shares what she has learned from her research and discussions with the some of the trailblazing advocates leading the charge to make lasting change in our communities. People like Grace Tame, Saxon Mullins, Noelle Martin and Richie Hardcore, one of the men taking fresh and impactful approaches to educating our young boys and men on these key issues.

The series is unmissable, and Jess Hill is a formidable leader in deeply insightful, thought provoking and meaningful investigations that we are all lucky enough to benefit from.

The world is not the same as it once was and there is so much for us all to learn and improve on.

This is such an important conversation for all of us, and I know you'll be just as intrigued and moved by this conversation as I was.

Catch the series on SBS and SBS On Demand. Find Jess at @jessicahelenhill.

Find me at @thecuriouslifepodcast or @thedaysthatfollow.

As we move into Series 5 - please take a moment to rate and review the show on iTunes, so that we can continue to share these episodes far and wide.

Audio engineering by Julie Reynolds of Audio Lemonade.

This is one of those episodes that when listening back, I was crying, laughing and doing both at the same time. Georgie Abay gets it.

Georgie’s new book Best Laid Plans truly spoke to my soul. Having recently had Baby #3 and trying to strike the balance between ambition, passion and family demands, I was underslept, overwrought and so, so ready for this conversation.

Georgie and I clicked immediately and went deep into her experience as a mother, having had two traumatic and premature births in quick succession, challenging first months with her babies, along with enviable career opportunities to rival any Hollywood movie.

We unpacked the raw and ugly truth about the toll that parenthood can take on your mental and physical health - as well as your relationship - and the complex layers that compound all of these issues for so many of us.

Georgie Abay is a busy woman, a creative and a former Vogue Australia deputy editor, founder of The Grace Tales and current acting Head of Marketing Campaigns, Operations & Content at Mecca. She truly knows the pressure that so many of us feel as women – but best of all – she is willing to talk about it. What worked, what hasn’t and why.

Don’t miss this one – and grab yourself a copy of Georgie’s book now for an inside look at her brilliant career, the highs and the lows, and her generous gift of insight and reflection that I know will connect with so many.

You can find Georgie on socials at @thegracetales or via her website at www.thegracetales.com

Find us at @thecuriouslifepodcast and @thedaysthatfollow on Insta for all the latest updates.

Thank you to Julie Reynolds at @audiolemonade for getting this episode out despite the wrath of wild weather and blackouts! Find her at www.audiolemonade.com.

Chris Franjola is a writer and comedian, who you may know from his years on Chelsea Lately and After Lately with Chelsea Handler, from his stand up work, or from his podcast Cover To Cover. He’s also a fan favourite with Heather McDonald’s Juicy Scoop crowd, and that’s how I was lucky enough to connect with him.

In this episode, I revealed much of my not-so-secret, decades long, obsession with Elvis and we unpacked some of the tragedy that played out on the big screen in Baz Luhrmann’s epic recent production of “Elvis”. We also chatted about Will Smith and that Oscars apology, the life-altering impact on mental health that stratospheric fame brings and Chris’ former friendship with arguably one of the most famous people on the planet, Meghan Markle.

There's plenty more as we took a dive into pop culture, American gun culture and life as touring comedian.

Chris shares much of his insights on Hollywood from his own perspective and what it is that keeps him feeling grounded and well from a mental health perspective.

Listen now on all the podcast apps or at www.thecuriouslife.net

You can follow Chris on socials at @chrisfranjola or at www.franjola.fun

Find us at @thecuriouslifepodcast and please leave us a rating or review and share this episode with your friends!

Edited and VO’d by Julie Reynolds of Audio Lemonade. Hit her up for all your audio needs at www.audiolemonade.com

Nadia Mahjouri is a counsellor and group facilitator specialising in maternal mental health, with a professional background in research, focussed on ethics and feminist philosophy. She also has a fascinating backstory, that lit up the pages of her first novel, Half Truth.

Her debut novel tells a somewhat fictionalised version of her own journey to find her family.

Nadia grew up as a dark skinned child in 80’s Tasmania,with a white mother who never talked about her Moroccan father. She had no contact and very little information about him or his family.

When she was 21, she had a baby and just four months later packed him up, hopped on a plane and landed in Morocco. She felt pulled to connect with the side of her heritage and her identity that she had known nothing about.

There, she started to unravel the many mysteries of her life and the discover all of the untold stories that lived within her DNA, in ways she could never have imagined.

And of course, I wanted to hear all about it.

Nadia’s story is inspiring, moving and exciting. We covered so much ground, from the importance of identity and belonging, to the complexities of families and straddling cultures.

This is a story about self-discovery, connection to roots and that age old question around nature vs nurture.

You can connect with Nadia on socials at@nadiamahjouri.

Listen to her podcastThe Whole Truth: Motherhood and the Writing Life with Nadia Mahjouri

Or find her atwww.nadiamahjouri.com or at ww.theholdingspacecounselling.com

Please leave a rating and review on iTunes sothis and other stories can find their way into new listener’s ears!

You’ll find me at@jana.firestone or atwww.thecuriouslife.net

Thank you as always to The Curious Life team –legendary sound engineer Sam Talbot and the wonderful Julie Reynolds of@audiolemonade .ww.audiolemonade.com