Be a lobster.

This is the rather peculiar invitation I received while attempting a meditation on the Calm app the other night. The soothing voice of Tamara Levitt encouraged me to find my breath. Settle in. No mention of lobsters or any other form of marine crustaceans. 

Tamara did start talking about walls. Protective walls. The walls we build around ourselves when we feel vulnerable or scared. 

“We’ve all held ourselves back from new experiences due to fear of failure, embarrassment or rejection. It's normal to want to feel safe and comfortable so we build emotional walls… during difficult times protective walls can be useful and helpful to heal… but once the challenge has passed, it’s important to shed away the protective layer we no longer need, otherwise it keeps people and experiences out and keeps us locked in and holding us back from our growth.”

And then… the lobster talk:

“Dr. Abraham Twerski compares our emotional walls to the shell of a lobster. As a lobster grows the casing that protects his soft inner flesh is too tight and rigid. The shell that once held it secure now holds it back from growth. So the lobster must free himself. This can take a while, and during this vulnerable time his tender flesh absorbs seawater, and he gets bigger and heavier and grows a new shell, until this new one feels too tight, and the lobster does it all over again.”

Food for thought, indeed. The meditation went on to ask if we could be aware of these walls and consider how they protect us and how they hold us back. And to explore the possibility of cracking the shell, like the lobster… and perhaps free ourselves to a new adventure.

So, I’ve been trying to be more like a lobster. This involves practising sitting in the discomfort, rather than wanting to run or hide! Trying to lean in and be curious and nurturing, rather than panicked or annoyed by it all.

And it seems I’m not the only one who’s trying to be a lobster - or who can relate to what Brené Brown calls ‘The Midlife Unravelling’. In my new podcast episode I chat with Elise Loehnen who is a writer, editor and podcast host, and was the chief content officer of goop, where she co-hosted The goop Podcast and she also co-hosted The goop Lab on Netflix.

Elise is also the author of the newly released and instant New York Times bestseller On Our Best Behavior: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Price Women Pay to Be Good. It is soaring up the charts. 

We start our conversation with Elise talking me through a period at the end of 2019, when she was feeling inadequate and exhausted, and contending with consuming anxiety and panic. She realised the way she was living her life simply could not be sustained.

Elise came to recognise that, like so many of us, she was using work - and a ramped up level of busyness - as a tool to numb and to keep her fears at bay.

Through the process of writing this book, and ultimately changing her life, Elise learnt the value of sitting in the discomfort, re-connecting to our inner knowing, prioritising rest, and interrupting our social conditioning.

BIG TIP: Keep listening towards the end of our chat where Elise shares her simple steps to get really clear on our basic needs, wants and who it is that we want to be, as a person. It involves a spreadsheet - but is far more exciting than that may sound. I promise.

It’s been some time since the previous newsletter. In between surviving a good ole family bout of COVID, like everyone else I know, and soaking up the final moments of Ted Lasso and Succession, Ben and I took the kids to the stunning Steve McCurry ICONS exhibition. Ben and I were in Ethiopia’s Omo Valley in 2012, the same year and photographing the same tribe, as Steve McCurry, who took this stunning photo below. We received such a jolt of energy and inspiration from the exhibition and it was a great reminder of what we’ve seen, and what is still calling.

(You can see our own Hamer Girl portrait over at Habari Productions. Our happy place!)

I also hit the beautiful city of Orange to attend The Huddle, hosted by the brilliantly creative chicks at Jumbled, which was beyond dazzling but also incredibly inclusive and kind. Driving myself home to my bebes through snow, over Victoria Pass in the Blue Mountains, was definitely good practice for being more like that lobster!  

(Below: The wonderful Rachel Lees, plus, an award-winning photo wall!)

And finally a true highlight these past few weeks was watching and absorbing the chaotic, yet hilarious and incredibly authentic conversation unfold on stage with The White Lotus star Jennifer Coolidge and her best mate, who also happens to be the show’s creator/director, Mike White. It was as part of Sydney’s Vivid Festival, and you could see these guys' eyes open wide and sort of freak the hell out as they stepped into the spotlight and saw the throbbing crowd - literally packed to the rafters of the ICC - hanging off their every word.

Moderator Benjamin Law did a brilliant job and pulled out his own directing skills, to bring out the very best of Jennifer and Mike. Jennifer spoke about her Renaissance (Jennaissance) and opened up about her personal and professional struggles throughout her 30-year career in Hollywood.

The 61-year-old said she initially rejected Mike’s requests for her to play Tanya McQuoid in The White Lotus, because after lockdown she was wasn’t feeling motivated and was worried about how she would look in a bathing suit on the show’s Hawaiian set. Take a listen:

Jennifer also shared her rules for success and offered her advice for wannabe actors:

Step 1: “When you wake up in the morning, leave the house!” Which made the crowd laugh, but also perhaps gave some insight into the star’s own personal challenges.

In regards to how she feels sexy: “There’s one thing that can keep you forever young and sexy… pure denial.”

And when answering a question from the crowd about how she overcomes self doubt, which both Jennifer and Mike both said they frequently experienced, Jennifer answered:

The whole experience was delightful. And not what I expected.

So, let me know if you can relate to being a lobster, or Elise’s book about being on our best behaviour, or the sheer brilliance of Jennifer Coolidge.

Big love,

Steph.

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I never really planned to start a podcast. 

As always, a million ideas were bumping around in my brain, tap dancing for attention (time to do a doco? Source some more tribal rugs? Write a kid’s book…) and then one morning at 2am, I just woke up with a clear outline of what I wanted to do. This was in the deep, dark depths of covid lockdowns (remember those!), working from home, covering important, yet non-stop, and often confronting, global breaking news… and I just found myself feeling a mix of anger, despondency and isolation. 

THE IDEA… AND WE’RE ROLLING

I craved connection with the incredible women I'd worked with around the world in the media game over the years. I missed their guidance and wisdom and, importantly at this point in time, their tough-as-nails grit and illuminating spark. It seemed a lot of my friends felt the same - especially when it came to juggling work and loved ones, and the strange, increasing feelings of self doubt about re-finding our voice and speaking up - whether it be at work, at a party, on camera… anywhere, really. 

And I knew the women who could help.

I also craved creativity. I wanted to produce and create. Actually, I NEEDED to produce and create - or I feared I might just lose my mind.

I’ve been a journalist for more than 20 years - most of it in TV news and production, around the world. Storytelling and connecting with the audience through captivating images and first-hand interviews is what I know and love. I hadn’t done podcasting before, but I was inhaling poddies around the clock and knew what I liked and what I didn’t. And as a flat-out mum of two young girls, the ability to listen hands-free, whether in the car, on a walk or vacuuming glitter and crumbs in my pjs -  the podcast medium just fit nicely into my daily life.

I initially wanted to create a podcast that also included video (I still do, in some form, at some stage), however I quickly realised with little budget or spare time it was better for me to keep it simple and do the important things really well. That is, create and produce a warm, engaging podcast, with fabulous women, from around the world, which was both entertaining and enriching for my dearest audience.

THE SETUP

AUDIO

My husband and I have a lot of talented mates in our industry - doco makers, film editors, foreign correspondents, and some of my happiest times in my career have been working with them. What an honour. 

One talented camera operator made me promise that before I pressed publish on my podcast, I would take the time to have good sound. “Please Steph, just make sure the audio is good enough to listen to!” A very valid point. Listening to a podcast with bad audio is a grinding experience - there are no breathtaking images to make up for it. The interview better be pretty bloody amazing if you want your audience to stick with you if they’re only catching every second word, or it sounds like you're underwater/in a wind tunnel. But that said, of course, your poddy does not need to be perfect.

Now, there are so many different ways to record a podcast. You can pay to record it in a professional studio with your guest; from home remotely - in different locations - using your own setup and a computer; or face-to-face in real life, in your own makeshift studio. Everyone has their own personal preference, and budgets vary, but this is how I do it: 

THE EQUIPMENT LIST 

Microphone

RØDE Podcaster USB microphone which plugs into my laptop. AUD $250

Microphone stand

RØDE PSA1 Professional Studio Arm $125

Pop filter (to help with the popping sound when recording your voice)

Foam Windscreen Pop Filter $10

Smaller microphone (portable) which plugs into my laptop (If I’m recording on the road)

Audio Technica ATR2100X-USB  $130

Audio recorder (If I’m recording on the road)

Zoom H6 All Black Handy Recorder $529

Headphones

Sony MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphone $150 (but cheaper headphones also do the trick)

THE SETUP

Recording from home: I love Riverside.fm. It is similar to Zoom but is designed for broadcast recording. You can also use it to livestream and create a studio audience. (Kerry Washington recorded her chat with Michelle Obama using Riverside.fm, plus Tim Ferriss is also a fan… so that’s good enough for me.) I pay AUD$15 a month. You can also use Audacity, which is free to use. 

I record in my wardrobe/closet. It’s a small space with soft padding created by my jackets, clothes and my husband’s wedding suit! I bring in big pillows and doonas if it’s a bit loud outside. I make sure the air con is turned off, along with any music/TV etc and close windows and doors around the house to create a beautiful little recording nook. 

In-person recording: You can book a local studio, or as we’ve discussed, record it

yourself face-to-face using your laptop or an audio recorder like the Zoom H6. You’ll need a mic for each person speaking. Again, you want to avoid loud open spaces for echoes, or a room near a busy road or construction.

Editing: This is the bit that can take a lot of time and provoke late night tears and meltdowns (been there!!). I edit using Adobe Premiere Pro simply because I already knew how to use the software and had it on my computer for video editing. Other podcasters use Audacity, which is free, iMovie, or Adobe Audition etc. You can also now record and then edit in Riverside.fm too. 

Personally, I love the editing phase because this is where you are crafting/producing your masterpiece. However, you may want to take the stress out of it all and find someone to help edit your episodes - but again, this comes down to budget, time and preference.

Podcast host site: Once you’ve recorded and edited your podcast episode, this is where you upload it. The host site then pumps it out to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio etc and also tells you how many downloads you have received, plus a breakdown of how and where the episode has been listened to. I use Buzzsprout, and pay AUD$17.50 a month. A great step-by-step guide is here. Acast is also a good host site option.

Submit your show to Apple Podcasts: This is a very important process - and not one to undertake if you’re short on time, or hungry. (Again, I know! More tears!) Basically, Apple can approve or reject your podcast. Think of this like trying to get past a bouncer at the pub. Follow the steps correctly, and keep your cool, and you’ll be fine. 

You can see the full Apple Podcasts steps here. (There’s also a simplified version for Buzzsprout users here). 

You'll need an Apple ID to submit your show to Apple Podcasts Connect. You can

create a new Apple ID or use one you already have. You'll use this Apple ID to log in to Apple Podcasts Connect to check your podcast analytics.

Apple normally takes about 72 hours to approve a new podcast. If your podcast hasn't been approved or rejected in ten days, contact Apple Support.

Once approved, you will be in the Podcasts app and the Apple Podcasts website. Make yourself a margarita. Happy days!

Podcast cover art: This is the first thing potential listeners will see. I discovered the fabulous and talented designer Emma Turney at our local cafe. Emma had just graduated from the University of Technology Sydney, and it was a collaboration made in heaven. Canva is also fab if you want to design something yourself, or check out fiverr. Importantly, your podcast artwork should meet these technical specifications based on Apple’s Podcast Artwork Requirements. Again, stick to these rules - Apple is not flexible when it comes to guidelines. 

• square Image (3000 x 3000 pixels)

• resolution of 72 dpi

• PNG or JPEG file types

• colorspace RGB

Ok, well I think this a good base for anyone wanting to start a podcast. And we can build from here. I’m also going to run through tips for a killer interview, including booking your dream guests, plus looking at advertising v sponsorships and collaborations, and how to get in Apple’s New and Noteworthy section.

I’ve been very lucky with brilliant friends passing on their podcast knowledge - Matt Tinney and Hannah Bowman especially - so I’m very happy to continue the tradition of sharing what I’ve learnt.

I really hope this helps give you some clarity and confidence around starting your own podcast, and I can’t wait to hear what you are all creating and sharing with the world.

Go for it!

Best,

Steph. xx

LISTEN TO: And We’re Rolling with Stephanie Hunt

stephaniehuntmedia.com

@stephaniehuntmedia

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There’s little to compare to standing there, waving to your baby, trying to hold it together, as they walk away, down the path, wearing a backpack as big as their body, and a hat you know will be lost within the first week. You’re in a pack of parents who try not to weep, reminiscent of families farewelling loved ones embarking on a maiden voyage across the high seas.

That feeling like you’ve been winded or punched in the stomach - a heavy, burning hole in your chest, topped off by a lack of sleep, deep confusion over how lunchboxes can be so different from back in the 80s (bentos + Crunch and Sip?) and the worry over whether they’ll find/make/keep a friend in the playground.

And now, as we hit week four of the morning drop-off juggling act and the crazy 3.15pm pick-up with the cantankerous younger sister in tow, it’s the parents - not the kids - who enter the awkward arena of forming new friendships. A familiar face, a child’s name you’ve heard your daughter mention - a common thread. You’re all in this together. 

And so as I start to make new mum mates, and scroll through the class WhatsApp group (for better or for worse!?) I can see that this chapter only works if you remain open to find and embrace your community - in whatever shape or form it may take.

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The journey through pregnancy, birth and post-partum is another period where you need to embrace and rely on community. Finding my mothers’ group was one of my greatest blessings. (Read more here!) We’re still holding onto each other - and still just as happy to smash caffeine, cake and a vino together - that bond can never be broken.

However for a lot of new mums, Covid lockdowns made things extra tricky. Luckily kind and helpful online communities have formed -  Australian Birth Stories podcasts is a good example - it’s like a virtual birthing village. I interviewed Sophie Walker who is the creator and host of the poddy, which has more than 11 million downloads, and 350 episodes of women sharing their birth experience (and not just the blissful bits).

LISTEN HERE

And now, along with the help of brilliant author Jodi Wilson, the pair has written and released The Complete Australian Guide to Pregnancy and Birth.

The book weaves through stories from the podcast but also draws on the expertise of perinatal experts and is medically reviewed by a series of doctors. It covers the first/second/and third trimester > labor and birth > and early post-partum. It also doesn't shy away from challenging topics which can often be glazed over.

TRAVEL 

If you’re part of the Habari family (THANK YOU!) you might remember the chat with Raju, our favourite tuk tuk driver in Varanasi. I’ve been going over his words again lately - trying to stay true to Raju. ‘No hurry, no worry!’

A QUICK GUIDE TO LIFE AND HAPPINESS

According to Raju, our tuk tuk driver. Varanasi, India. 

Steph: My God. Varanasi is crazy, Raju. This is chaos.

Raju: It's ok. No hurry, no worry. Keep cool in your inside. Slowly, slowly.

S: It's crazy, but everyone looks so happy. Why are Indians so happy?

R: Life and happiness comes in waves. You must go with the waves. You must stay calm and quiet in your mind. This is what Indians do. You must be simple in what you want and you must serve your purpose. We all have a role.

S: Do you have Facebook Raju?

R: I am a simple man Stephanie. I don't like technology like that. It makes me feel like a robot when I look at my phone so much. I like books. Books are my friend. They take me on new adventures and I meet new people. If you have a book you are never alone.

S: Do you do yoga? Everyone here seems to do yoga.

R: Of course. My dad taught me when I was little. I do it every morning with meditation. Calm, cool mind is important. You must focus on your Third Eye.

S: What do you wear?

R: What do you mean?

S: What clothes do you wear for yoga?

R: Anything. But not tight jeans. That is silly.

S: What do you eat? Are you vegetarian?

R: I eat what my body tells me to. I don't like to eat a lot. Too many people eat McDonalds and Dominos and they blow themselves up at the gym like a balloon. Not me. I listen to my body. If there is meat in front of me, I may eat it because one day I will be old and have no teeth, and I will think why didn't I eat that meat.

S: What about women Raju?

R: Women are good. It is good that God created beautiful women. I see that. But beauty is on the inside. The most beautiful women in the world are the ones who are so big and bright on the inside.

Ask me a question. Every newsletter from here on I’ll answer a reader’s question. This can be anything - eg speaking on camera, production, mood boosters, circuit breakers, travel tips.

As always, thank you again for all your support over the years for Habari Productions and the And We’re Rolling podcast. It means the world to us and keeps us so excited to create even more.

We’ve tweaked this newsletter to now also include an option to upgrade to a paid subscription. This will allow us to offer you some extra bits of training or access to future mini events.

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Of course, there is no pressure at all to do this - the free version of this newsletter is also enjoyable and written with love.

So, until the next newsletter….

Look after yourself. xx

The Rolling newsletter brings you wise words, a warm embrace and the ultimate travel escapades to leave you feeling windswept and sun kissed.

Lower. The. Bar!

That’s the advice from our queen of common-sense parenting, Maggie Dent, who I interviewed in the latest episode of the podcast.

As an author, educator and mum of four boys, Maggie has all the answers when it comes to teaching kids resilience and finding their calm. She’s also anti guilt and wants to stop the ridiculous pressure on women to be the perfect parent, and the unfair pitting of mums against each other.

Now, you probably know Maggie for her books on parenting boys - but she’s now released Girlhood: Raising our little girls to be healthy, happy and heard. The idea for the book came from Maggie trying to work out why girls and women can often seem to lose their sense of power and their voice.

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It’s such a wonderful, raw and helpful chat about the link between self esteem and social media; the importance of grandmas and aunties, and how to stop the conditioning of our girls which leaves them feeling timid and weak. Maggie also reflects on her struggles and how writing Girlhood took her on her very own personal journey.

This is not an episode to miss!!

ICYMI: Did you check out my chat with Dr Tracy Dennis-Tiwari who is an anxiety researcher and professor in psychology and neuroscience. I first heard her being interviewed by Dax Shepard on Armchair Expert.

She’s written a book called Future Tense, which explains why anxiety is actually good for us, even though it feels so bad, and the techniques we can apply to use it to our advantage.

“No one wants to feel anxious. But by understanding the true nature of this confounding emotion, and working with it, we can better put it to good use” Dr Dennis-Tiwari says.

BONUS:

I’m focusing a lot on disconnecting, at the moment. Putting down the phone, and being present in the world around me, and also letting go of things that no longer serve me well.

I love this article by Martha Beck, titled “Logging off: The Power of Disconnection.” Her first tip for disconnecting is to… hide! Which made me laugh - but I’ll definitely be giving this a whirl.

I’ve also just bought the New York Times bestseller, Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention by Johann Hari, which looks at how to get back our shortening attention spans.

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FAVE THINGS OF THE WEEK

LISTEN: LIKE EVERYONE, I CAN NOT GET THIS SONG OUT OF MY HEAD! Flowers by Miley Cyrus

TRAVEL: This newsletter we’re transporting you to the cool streets of Santa Monica in the heart of L.A. where I attended a yoga class that was impossible to forget.

“I'm between a stoner surfer in his 60's who wears a beanie and later an orange headband, and a young meticulously chiselled dancer who wears aviator sunnies the entire time. In front, a middle-aged guy wearing Speedos...and nothing else, and sprinkled throughout the class are ex-Home and Away star lookalikes plus Ryan Kwanten, who actually is an ex-Home and Away star. The instructor is totally gorgeous and so LA.
'Breathe in. Cook it. Exhale.'
'Just chill in your dog for three breaths.'
'Left arm over right and twist towards Malibu...swap and then to Venice.'“

So my fabulous people, I hope this newsletter makes your week/month that little bit better.

Feel free to forward this email to anyone who might enjoy it. And as always, hit reply and say hi or ask a question.

Thanks for all your support.

Chat soon.

Love,

Steph. xx

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When I first started my podcast 18 months ago, in the depths of covid lockdowns, feeling sad, cranky, isolated and lacking connection and creativity, I made a list of my dream guests. Turia Pitt was at the top of that list. Fast forward, and that dream of interviewing Turia has magically come true. FAR OUT!!!

Turia Pitt is grit and hard work. She’s also the queen of mindset, super funny, and a firm believer that anyone can run.

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In 2011, at the age of 24, Turia was a fitness junkie with her dream job as a successful mining engineer, when she was caught in an out-of-control grassfire while competing in a 100km ultramarathon in Western Australia. The doctors didn’t expect Turia to survive, never mind walk, run, or be independent again.

But Turia of course defied all odds and went on to complete two ironman comps, she’s written best selling books, helped hundreds of women learn to run, and has also become a mum to two young boys.

Turia’s story is incredible - and her tips on overhauling our mindset and the belief in ourselves are super helpful. She also talks motherhood, making news friends as an adult, and having a dad who raised her to always ‘try your hardest and have a go!’, whether that be while ocean kayaking or speaking on stage. (This was also the way my dad raised us, too.) I think you’ll really enjoy the episode.

The second chat I want to tell you about is with author and mum of four Jodi Wilson. It’s all about practising simplicity.

Perhaps it’s coming through a global pandemic, or the rising cost of living, or the current news cycle (prob all of the above + more. I almost cried my way through this chat!) but it’s easy to feel like the world is in a bit of a spin.

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Jodie is all about taking a deep breath and pausing to find clarity and joy in the simple things. She outlines the easy, small steps you can take and brave choices you can make for a life less distracted.

She also shares her story of deciding, with her partner, to sell most of their belongings, spend their hard-earned house deposit on a car and a caravan, and pack up their four kids, to travel Australia.

This episode is like a soothing balm…

BONUS:

I have just finished recording an interview with Dr Tracy Dennis-Tiwari who is an anxiety researcher and professor in psychology and neuroscience. She’s written a book called Future Tense, which explains why anxiety is actually good for us, even though it feels so bad, and the techniques we can apply to use it to our advantage.

This is super helpful for life - but also when it’s time to perform/compete/speak in public. “No one wants to feel anxious. But by understanding the true nature of this confounding emotion, and working with it, we can better put it to good use” Dr Dennis-Tiwari says.

I’ll have this chat ready to be published on the pod for you very soon.

FAVE THINGS OF THE WEEK

LISTEN: Tony Hale on Smartless podcast. This is such a fun listen, especially if you’re a fan of the hit TV comedies Veep or Arrested Development.

VISIT: I’m off on a road trip to Orange, New South Wales, tomorrow (floods permitting!!) to hit the wineries, soak up the country air, snuggle a new baby cousin, and shop till I drop IRL at Jumbled! (Not sponsored, unfortunately! I wish!! hahaha) I CAN NOT WAIT!

ADVENTURE: This newsletter we’re packing you up and sending you off to India (well, sort of) via photos Ben and I took during our travels across Delhi, Varanasi, Jaipur and Pushkar. You can flick through the album over on our Habari site. A fun story on our photo of the day rivalry is also here.

So my fabulous people, I hope this newsletter makes your week/month that little bit better.

Feel free to forward this email to anyone who might enjoy it. And as always, hit reply and say hi or ask a question.

Thanks for all your support.

Chat soon.

Love,

Steph. xx

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Spring is here in Aus - you can smell it and the sun is out. Despite the chaos, (and there’s a whole lot of chaos!!) life is good. I hope it is for you too.

Great news! I have two new podcast episodes to tell you about.

Firstly, BBC’s Human Planet is one of the most spectacular documentary series ever made. It won an Emmy, two BAFTAs, took four years to make and was filmed in more than 40 countries - many of the most remote on the globe.

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And our guest, Dale Templar, was the series producer - the creative brains behind it all. She talks us through the secret to producing and directing award-winning docos + her experience of working with Bear Grylls and other celebs in the jungles of Costa Rica. Pop this ep in your ears and enjoy an easy escape…

 LISTEN HERE 

Secondly, if you’re into the trendy food and wine scene, especially in Melbourne, there’s a good chance you’ve met or heard of Jess Ho. Either whilst you're trying to get into a fancy restaurant… or being looked after inside.

Jess lifts the lid on the hospitality industry - the ‘weird’ celebrity chef culture, dealing with rude customers with ridiculous requests and the super crazy food trends. Jess also talks about their own childhood - being Cantonese in the outer suburbs of Melbourne, winning the legal right to live on their own at 15 - and why Jess would rather forget the experience of being a judge on a primetime TV food show. (It didn’t go so well. At all.)

 LISTEN HERE 

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BONUS:

I also have two more episodes almost ready for you. I’ve just finished interviewing wonder woman Turia Pitt who gave me a masterclass in overhauling my mindset (in a hilarious, no B.S., down-to-earth way - without all the guilt!) and taught me easy ways to find more time for myself. Turia also told me I need to write more… and to keep running. So I’m going to.

PLUS I sat down with mum of four and author Jodi Wilson and chatted about her book ‘Practising Simplicity: small steps and brave choices for a life less distracted.’ It’s such a soothing read and a nice little reminder that we don’t need stuff to make us happy (again, without the preachy/nagging!). Jodi also talks about sitting at a crammed school concert, in the middle of Witching Hour, disillusioned with the crazy cost of living and sick of the rush and the race, realising she was going to follow through on her life-changing decision to sell up everything and travel around Australia with her family in a caravan. You’re going to love it!

The episodes will be live soon - hang tight.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | FAVE THINGS OF THE WEEK

Tom Hanks chatting with Dax Shepard on Armchair Expert.

Author Farrah Storr’s list of the best psychics in town. No idea if they’re any good… but who wants to give them a go with me?

Surviving the first year of… the rest of your life. A quick, on the fly, look at the first year of motherhood. I wrote this whilst sleep deprived and slightly (mostly) delirious.

Get Up In Front Of Everyone And Present Playlist: Do you have to do a speech or presentation at work and you’re really just NOT feeling it? I’ve made us a shared Spotify playlist to help. Let me know if there are more songs we should add!!

So my fabulous people, I hope this newsletter makes your week that little bit better.

Feel free to forward this email to a friend/fam who might enjoy it. And as always, hit reply and say hi or ask a question.

Chat soon.

Love,

Steph. xx

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A quick note to say hi and to thank you for your support! The poddie was again selected to feature in Apple Podcasts’ New and Noteworthy section, and we couldn’t be more chuffed.

I also want to remind you of our new podcast episodes that are live right now.

Celebrity nutritionist Sarah Di Lorenzo talks us through her holistic approach to better health and wellbeing - especially around boosting energy, sleep, dealing with stress and shift work. (No crap fad diets required - thank goodness!!)

Sarah has 20 years of clinical experience and is also responsible for the physical transformations of a number of the Seven Network Sunrise and Weekend Sunrise TV presenters. They love her! And I think you will too.

We also have a very open and honest chat with Emmy Award-winning global news anchor Richelle Carey who has just become a first-time mum at 50, after having to quit her dream job to do so. In our chat we talk about Richelle’s career and her path to motherhood, and the types of pressures women feel that men don't. It’s such a great episode.

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BONUS: I’ve been fangirling over global publishing queen Laura Brown for years now, and was pretty much beside myself to see her in the flesh and hear her speak at this week’s Business Chicks event in Sydney. Until recently Laura was the editor of American Instyle mag, and she is anything but the icy stereotype. While her Instagram page is chock full of selfies with her A-list friends, the proud Aussie is down to earth, funny, gritty, gutsy, and hugely successful. For anyone who missed it, for me, the key takeaways from Laura’s convo were:
• You can miss the mark if you allow your head to be turned by the wrong people. Eg Doing it for money or doing it bc the group says you should.
• Have a point of view and put your hand up, and show up.
•Be confident in who you are. If you have the work ability to back it up, you should be able to be yourself.
• Fashion is not Mensa. It wants you to feel like it’s better than you… But I quickly realised there was no one smarter in the room. It’s cooler to invite everyone.
• Don’t follow trends. We’ve been through two years of crap. Wear what you like, and own it! Splurge on travel instead.
• That said, pockets in your wedding dress are the secret to happiness.
• As you get older you don’t take any shit.
Your face starts to fall down. That’s not great. But you’ve earned your stripes. You’ve earned that equity. You’re not trying to be someone else. You don’t suffer fools and you can sniff out insecurity.
• Do not attach your value to where you work. Carve out your own world. Don’t get lost in corporate garbage and don’t give power to people who don’t deserve it.
• Take your equity. And spend it, baby!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | FAVE THINGS OF THE WEEK

Emma Gannon’s podcast chat with Fearne Cotton: Finding Meaning in a Messy World.

Janno McLaughlin & Iryna Pyrtko on Their Quilt for Ukraine - it’s now made it to London! Next stop Ukraine.

Made by Maddie: This a blatant plug for my sister - but she is a star jewellery designer and I love her, so there we are. ha. She’s having a studio sale on August 21 from 11am. Set your alarms!

Music Therapy: Do you have to get up and do a speech or presentation at work and you’re really just NOT feeling it? I’ve made us a shared Spotify playlist to help. Let me know if there are more songs we should add!!

So there you are, my friends. A whole lot of great stuff (podcast eps, words of wisdom, pump-up music playlist, and a fabulous jewellery sale) to help make your week that little bit better.

Feel free to forward this email to a friend/fam who might enjoy it. And as always, reply to this email if you want to say hi or ask a question.

Chat soon.

Love,

Steph. xx

Subscribe now

I’m so excited to say Season 3 of the poddy is finally here!

And we're kicking off with Lisa Messenger - a well-loved entrepreneur, best-selling author and international speaker who is all about empowering us to unleash our full potential. LOOK OUT!!

Lisa is also the founder and editor-in-chief of Collective Hub - which she launched in 2013 as a print mag in 37 countries. Lisa had no experience in the mag industry but almost overnight Collective Hub became a global sensation. It went nuts!

But it grew too big, too fast, and, as Lisa explains, she had to make the tough call to “break” the very thing she had started - and pivot her brand towards something far more sustainable and successful.

From her home in Texas, we chat (and we chat and we chat!!!) about life, resilience, how to find your purpose, why she gave up drinking, the best tips for starting your own business, and why public speaking used to be her greatest fear until she created her own unconventional way to zap those bloody nerves.

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Lisa is such an open book and this is a very honest discussion with lots of practical tips and techniques. I hope you enjoy it and find it helpful, if need be.

BONUS:  And because we love you, and appreciate all of your support, we want you to enjoy a 20% discount when you purchase Lisa’s new book called ‘Start Up to Scale Up’. Just use the code: stephhunt20

Plus, grab 10% off when you sign up to Lisa's Start Up Smart Masterclass. Pre-registrations are open now for the next round. Just use that same code: stephhunt20.

COMING SOON |

Sunflower Quilt for Ukraine

Keep your eye out for a new episode we’re working on now with the brilliant Australian artist Janno McLaughlin and Ukrainian journalist Iryna Pyrtko-Moroz. The pair met a few years ago when Janno was asked to judge an art competition, organised by Iryna, in Ukraine, to help boost the many young kids affected by COVID-19 lockdowns.

Fast forward to today, and these kids are now battling the horrors of war, with families having fled or in hiding and many of their schools bombed and destroyed.

Janno reached out to Iryna, desperate to check if the young art students were ok, and to see how she could help - and from there Janno’s idea of creating a Christo-style, bright yellow sunflower quilt - with patches sent to her from people all over the world - was born.

The quilt in now more than 100 metres long and is currently on a cargo plane heading to London (first stop is the Royal Albert Hall!!) and then onto Ukraine.

Janno says the quilt can be used not only as a show of love for the kids of Ukraine, but also as an art installation to drape over bombed buildings and landmarks. She says the quilt represents the power of art, and the importance of choosing light over dark. It’s an incredible story!

As always, thank you again for listening.

Big love,

Steph. xx

stephaniehuntmedia.com

Credit: Hannah Taylor/NBN News

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | FAVE THINGS OF THE WEEK

Glennon Doyle’s podcast interview with Reese Witherspoon on Friendship.

Kate Moss reflecting on her modelling career and sharing the soundtrack of her life with BBC’s Lauren Laverne for Desert Island Discs.

Music Therapy: Do you have to get up and do a speech or presentation at work and you’re really just NOT feeling it? I’ve made us a shared Spotify playlist to help. Let me know if there are more songs we should add!!

Subscribe now