Best Jacqui Ooi Podcasts (2024)

1
Nina Karnikowski | Mindful traveller – how she reimagined her dream career to support the planet 37:21

3M ago37:21

37:21

What do you do when your dream career suddenly loses its shine? Do you give it up for something new – or change the way you’re doing it? If anyone had a dream career, it was Nina Karnikowski. As a travel writer at the Sydney Morning Herald, and later going freelance, she was off on adventurous travels a dozen times a year. But in 2019, she went on …

1
A sneak peek inside our Career Change Kickstarter course 3:40

3M ago3:40

3:40

Are you at a career crossroads and thinking about ‘what’s next’ for you? Then you’ll want to dive into this mini episode, to find out how our Career Change Kickstarter course can help you! If you’re feeling the niggle (or roar) of needing a change, but you’re not sure what you want to do next or what steps to take, this course is for you. Applicati…

1
Kris McKee | In bloom – how she stepped away from nursing to fulfil her creative dreams 33:31

8M ago33:31

33:31

Have you always dreamed of doing something creative? But you’re not sure how to turn that into a career? For Kris McKee, her early creative interests fell by the wayside as she pursued a more stable career in nursing. Being a nurse opened up opportunities to travel and live in London, and over 20 years, she worked her way up in a very specialised f…

1
Malini Raj | Making an impact – how she reshaped her corporate career to be a voice for change 33:37

10M ago33:37

33:37

Do you want to make a difference in the world without leaving your corporate career? Are you passionate about using your skills for good? This has been a driver for Malini Raj throughout her working life, as she’s built a successful career in financial services. Malini started out on a more traditional path in investment banking. But she soon disco…

1
Steph Jacobs | Working with kids – how she found her happy place in the world of early childhood 28:32

10M ago28:32

28:32

Have you been rethinking your career after becoming a mum? Do you want to explore what else could be out there for you? For Steph Jacobs, the transition to motherhood was a real turning point in her career… and after having two sons of her own, she became fascinated by the world of early childhood. It was a big leap from her previous career, workin…

1
Anna-Liza Mopio-Jane | Life after sport – how she made the leap to the mental health field 27:20

11M ago27:20

27:20

Are you in a career that has an expiry date? And soon, you’ll have to figure out ‘what’s next’ for you? This was the case for Anna-Liza Mopio-Jane, who started out as an athlete in the world of swimming, going all the way to the Beijing Olympics representing Papua New Guinea. But after more than 12 years competing internationally, she retired from …

1
Melissa Di Marco | Tea master – how she took brave steps to build an inspiring business 33:06

11M ago33:06

33:06

Have you fallen out of love with a career that once inspired you? Do you want to feel that spark of excitement in your work life again? This is where Melissa Di Marco found herself after 12 years in the hairdressing industry, but she didn’t know what else she could do. Putting her CV out into the world, she hit a raft of rejections – but she did la…

1
Evie Farrell | Finding freedom – how she created a life and career of travel with her daughter 34:02

11M ago34:02

34:02

Do you love the idea of packing up your life to go travelling? Just stepping off the daily treadmill and seeing where it takes you? That’s exactly what Evie Farrell did back in 2016 and her travel buddy was her young daughter, Emmie. As a solo mum, Evie had been struggling to balance her busy corporate career with spending enough time with Emmie an…

1
We’re back! Season 5 is here 1:39

12M ago1:39

1:39

Are you thinking about making a career change? But you’re not sure ‘what’s next’ for you? Join host Jacqui Ooi for Season 5 of What She Did Next, as she chats with women across Australia who’ve changed up their careers in all sorts of interesting ways – to create more freedom and flexibility, explore their creative interests and do work that feels …

1
Season Four Highlights | Career change conversations to inspire your next move 13:18

2y ago13:18

13:18

We’re wrapping up Season Four of What She Did Next with our always popular highlights episode. If you’re new to the show, this is where you can get a little taster of the stories we’ve shared and if you like what you hear, you can scroll back through the feed to find the full episodes. This season, we’ve been chatting to women who’ve made all sorts…

1
BONUS: How to change careers through online study (it’s easier than ever!) 17:56

2y ago17:56

17:56

The idea of going back to study when you’re already juggling work and family might seem out of reach... maybe you’re worried that it’s too time consuming or too expensive or just not possible to fit in with your busy schedule. But things have definitely changed on the study front, with the shift to online learning opening up a whole new world of po…

1
Jen Webster | Helping people – how she found her place in charities after leaving the corporate world 33:47

2y ago33:47

33:47

Jen Webster worked in the IT industry for 30 years, spruiking software for some big tech firms until her first child started school. Needing more flexibility in her work, Jen shifted to a part-time role running her organisation’s corporate social responsibility program… which opened her up to the world of charities. It was a role she loved for many…

1
Melissa Chan | Journey of discovery – how she’s turned different interests into a multi-passionate career 33:13

2y ago33:13

33:13

Melissa Chan has been a career changer throughout her working life, driven by a desire to learn and embrace new experiences. During her 15-year career, she’s done everything from teaching yoga to advising a Prime Minister… and she’s also spent time in both the corporate and creative fields as a management consultant, writer and documentary maker. M…

1
Dervilla McGowan | Craft distiller – how she made the leap from academia to award-winning gin maker 41:51

2y ago41:51

41:51

Dervilla McGowan had always loved science, ever since she was a kid. She went on to study microbiology at uni and even completed a PhD. But at the end of her studies, she realised a career in academia wasn’t for her… and instead she wanted to use her scientific skills to make craft gin! Derv and her hubby launched Anther in 2016, an award-winning g…

1
Jane Hutcheon | Creator-in-chief – how she’s treading her own path after 25 years at the ABC 43:26

2y ago43:26

43:26

Jane Hutcheon was a familiar face on our TV screens for 25 years. During her stellar career at the ABC, she was a foreign correspondent, a news presenter and the host of popular interview show One Plus One. But in 2019, Jane announced her decision to leave the national broadcaster… driven by a sense that life was getting short and there was more sh…

1
Tamara Pitelen | Going green – how she retrained as a sustainability consultant to help tackle the climate crisis 34:39

2y ago34:39

34:39

Tamara Pitelen had worked in the media industry for 25 years in jobs that took her all over the world, before her growing concern about the climate crisis led to a major career change. The thought had been brewing for a few years as she started to tire of endless magazine deadlines. And looking back, she says, it was also around the time menopause …

1
Chamani Weerasekara | Style startup – how she created a conscious fashion label while juggling her day job 32:57

2y ago32:57

32:57

Chamani Weerasekera always wanted to help people, so choosing a career as a pharmacist working in hospitals made a lot of sense. But a few years into her career, she realised she wanted something more… and in true ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ style, she headed overseas to see what else was out there for her. For the next three years Chamani worked as a tour g…

1
Emma McMillan | Write way – how she built a successful freelance business for greater flexibility 28:23

2+ y ago28:23

28:23

Emma McMillan loved many things about her job as a high school teacher but 12 years into her career, she was burnt out. As head of the drama and dance department, the additional night-time and weekend rehearsals on top of a heavy day-to-day workload had simply become unmanageable. When she fell pregnant with her son, a year of mat leave was the per…

1
We’re back! Season 4 is here 1:39

2+ y ago1:39

1:39

Are you at a career crossroads and thinking about what’s next for you? Join host Jacqui Ooi for Season 4 of What She Did Next, as she chats with women across Australia who’ve successfully made career changes 10, 20, even 30 years into their careers. We’ll find out why they did it, how they did it and their best tips to help other women. Whether you…

1
Season Three Highlights | Conversations with inspiring female changemakers 16:47

3y ago16:47

16:47

Highlights from our third season of conversations with some truly inspiring women. This episode will get you across the kind of stories we share... and if you like what you hear, you can scroll back through the feed to find the full episodes. As regular listeners will know, the conversations we feature are with women from a whole range of backgroun…

1
Ingerlise Svaleng | Gift of hope – rewriting the opening act for babies born with Down syndrome 41:14

3y ago41:14

41:14

Becoming a first-time mum should be a joyful celebration but what if everyone around you was saying ‘sorry’ instead of ‘congratulations’… Our guest today is Ingerlise Svaleng and she’s the founder of 21 Gifts – an initiative she started with her husband after their first daughter, Maia, was born with Down syndrome. Maia’s ‘welcome to the world’ was…

1
Kylie Flament | Greater good – caring for people and the planet through social enterprise 43:00

3+ y ago43:00

43:00

Our guest today is Kylie Flament and she’s the General Manager of Green Connect, an award-winning social enterprise that does incredible work helping young people and former refugees into employment, while leading the way in growing fair food and diverting waste from landfill. These days Kylie loves nothing more than spending time at the Green Conn…

1
Solai Valliappan | Risk and reward – investing in start-ups and championing female founders 43:11

3+ y ago43:11

43:11

Our guest today is Solai Valliappan and she’s an investor in the tech space, with a keen focus on start-ups that are bringing about positive change. She’s also a champion of female founders and hopes to inspire more women to start their own companies and get the backing they need to bring their big ideas to the world. Solai decided to become an inv…

1
Lidia Thorpe | Lifelong activist – bringing a powerful new voice into Federal Parliament 45:36

3+ y ago45:36

45:36

Our guest today is Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe and she’s a passionate advocate for human rights, social justice and the environment. She’s also a proud Gunnai Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung woman, who takes inspiration from a long line of strong matriarchs in her family. In 2017, Lidia made history by becoming the first Aboriginal woman to be elected…

1
Victoria McGrane | Van life – running a business remotely while travelling around Australia 39:33

3+ y ago39:33

39:33

Our guest today is Victoria McGrane and she’s the artist and textile designer behind The Scenic Route, whose distinctive illustrations inspired by Australian nature have earned her collaborations with major brands and retailers. She’s also among a growing number of Australians who’ve traded in the daily grind, in search of a different way of life a…

1
Yanti Turang | Frontline nurse – taking on COVID-19 and becoming a leader in global healthcare 53:54

3+ y ago53:54

53:54

*Content warning: This episode contains mentions of death and grief, so please consider this before listening, particularly if you might find this triggering. In Australia, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 to access 24-hour crisis support. Our guest today is Yanti Turang and she’s a registered nurse from Australia who lives in the US, where she ha…

1
Sanaz Fotouhi | Writer’s journey – bringing to light the stories of women and children in Afghanistan 35:18

3+ y ago35:18

35:18

*Content warning: This episode contains brief mentions of self-harm and suicide, so please consider this before listening, particularly if you might find this triggering. In Australia, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 to access 24-hour crisis support. Our guest today is Sanaz Fotouhi and she’s an author, academic and filmmaker, whose book-writing …

1
Jenny McAllister | Accessible style – making fashion more inclusive for people with disability 38:20

3+ y ago38:20

38:20

Our guest today is Jenny McAllister and she’s on a mission to transform the fashion industry, to make it more inclusive and accessible for the one in five Australians living with a disability. Jenny suffered a stroke at the age of 21 and that life-changing event – which she was lucky to survive – left her with reduced mobility that makes it difficu…

1
Season Three Trailer with Jacqui Ooi 2:44

3+ y ago2:44

2:44

Welcome to Season Three of What She Did Next, hosted by Jacqui Ooi. We’re excited to bring you our new series of conversations with some truly inspiring women. This trailer episode provides a recap of what the show is about and our new partnership with Women’s Agenda. We’ll be releasing episodes fortnightly this season, so make sure you hit the sub…

1
Season Two Highlights | Conversations with some truly inspiring women 17:22

4y ago17:22

17:22

Highlights from our second season of conversations with some truly inspiring Australian women - from creatives and entrepreneurs, to innovators and changemakers across a diverse range of fields. If you're new to the show, this is a great way to get across the kind of stories we share... and if you like what you hear, you can scroll back through the…

1
Lorna Deng | Breaking barriers - connecting workplaces with culturally diverse talent 41:39

4y ago41:39

41:39

Lorna Deng is an HR professional and the co-founder of DivTal, a new social enterprise that aims to break down employment barriers for people from minority backgrounds.Lorna is of South Sudanese heritage but has lived in Australia since she was a child, arriving in Adelaide with her family at the age of 10, before later moving to Melbourne.Having f…

1
Cara Peek | Born advocate - opening up opportunities for Indigenous people in remote Australia 51:29

4y ago51:29

51:29

Cara Peek is a lawyer turned not-for-profit leader and entrepreneur who grew up in the suburbs of Melbourne but now lives in the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia.A proud Yawuru and Bunuba woman, she is the founder of two Indigenous-led organisations based in Broome.One is a consultancy called the Cultural Intelligence Project, which she…

1
Hetty McKinnon | Food stories - sharing recipes that celebrate family and community 58:54

4y ago58:54

58:54

Hetty McKinnon is a New York-based cook and food writer from Sydney, who is perhaps best known for her much-loved recipe books, Community, Neighbourhood and Family, and her salad-making venture that started it all, Arthur Street Kitchen.A career in food wasn't on the cards for Hetty early on. She actually spent her 20s working in fashion and beauty…

1
Louisa Seton | Adventurous spirit - forging a creative path as a freelance photographer 42:01

4y ago42:01

42:01

Louisa Seton is a classically trained fine art, lifestyle and documentary photographer, who grew up in Kenya but has spent more than 18 years living in Australia.After falling in love with travel and adventure at an early age, she has traversed the globe with her cameras in tow on countless photography trips - initially as a hobby and then a side g…

1
Yatu Widders Hunt | Cultural connection - showcasing Australian Indigenous fashion to the world 40:19

4y ago40:19

40:19

Yatu Widders Hunt is a writer and communications consultant who grew up in the suburbs of Sydney and is a descendant of the Anaiwan and Dunghutti peoples from the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales.Instagram fans may know her best as the founder and curator of Australian Indigenous Fashion, which she launched as a passion project in 2017 to sho…

1
Ally Jade | Full circle - changing the narrative for women in prison 46:03

4y ago46:03

46:03

*Content warning: This episode contains some discussion about drug and alcohol addiction, so please consider this before listening, particularly if you might find this triggering. If you need help, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 to access 24-hour crisis support.Ally Jade is an artist and youth worker with the Women's Justice Network, a not-for-p…

1
Casey Kirchhoff | Hope returns - tracking the recovery of our wildlife and habitats after the bushfires 38:18

4y ago38:18

38:18

Casey Kirchhoff is an ecologist and PhD candidate at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). She's also the founder of the Environment Recovery Project, a citizen science initiative that was launched after the catastrophic bushfire season over the Australian summer.Casey tragically lost her own home in the fires, which were so devastating and wid…

1
Ellen Ronalds Keene | Back to school - speaking out for teachers' health and wellbeing 48:57

4y ago48:57

48:57

Ellen Ronalds Keene is the founder of Self-Care for Teachers and a former high school teacher herself. She is also the host of the Teacher Wellbeing podcast and runs her own podcast production agency called Perk Digital.Following some major health challenges during her university years, Ellen was forced to rethink her teaching career and is now a q…

1
Season Two Trailer with Jacqui Ooi 4:30

4y ago4:30

4:30

Welcome back to Season Two of What She Did Next, produced and hosted by Jacqui Ooi.We're excited to bring you our new series of conversations with some truly inspiring women.This trailer episode provides a recap of what the show is about and our mission to inspire and empower women to make brave choices in their lives and careers.We explore women's…

1
Season One Highlights | Conversations to inspire your next move 24:32

4+ y ago24:32

24:32

Highlights from our first season of conversations with some truly inspiring women.If you're new to the show, this will give you a little taster of each episode... and you'll find the full conversations in our feed.If you're a regular listener of the show, you'll know that we're all about women making brave choices to start a new chapter in their li…

1
Sally Hetherington OAM | Ethical travel - making a difference without being a voluntourist 45:12

4+ y ago45:12

45:12

Sally Hetherington is the CEO of Human and Hope Australia, a charity that raises funds to support and empower local communities in Cambodia, and educates people here in Australia about the negative impacts of the 'voluntourism' industry.She's also written a book titled 'It's Not About Me', which details her own experiences as a voluntourist and her…

1
Meg Black | Sustainable style - reducing our fashion footprint to protect the planet 34:10

4+ y ago34:10

34:10

Meg Black is the founder of Robe & Crown, a beautifully curated collection of high-quality, pre-loved clothing, that's among a growing number of businesses offering fashion lovers an eco-friendly alternative.If you've ever spent a lazy day in Brunswick Heads, just north of Byron Bay in NSW, you may have found yourself scouting Meg's wares at the se…

1
Rachel Lees | Intrepid explorer - traversing the globe as a freelance travel writer 55:09

4+ y ago55:09

55:09

Rachel Lees is a writer, editor and content producer with more than 15 years' experience in magazines and television.She's an absolute go-getter who's never been afraid to chase her career dreams or embrace new adventures - from moving cities to moving countries to heading off on assignment to far-flung corners of the globe... usually travelling on…

1
Jennifer Wittwer | Gender trailblazer - empowering women to be what they can't see 58:04

4+ y ago58:04

58:04

* Content warning: This episode contains some discussion about sexual harassment, sexual assault and domestic violence, so please consider this before listening, particularly if you might find this triggering. If you need help, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 1800 RESPECT to access 24-hour support.A very special episode this week in the lead-u…

1
Dr Robyn Miller | Fair share - lightening the mental load that women too often carry 39:40

4+ y ago39:40

39:40

Robyn Miller is a medical doctor who has spent the past 10 years helping people from all walks of life, in all sorts of places - from rural hospitals in Australia to refugee camps in Africa.Now living in Brisbane, Robyn is completing her specialist training in paediatrics. She gets a lot of enjoyment out of working with children, and she and her pa…

1
Licia Heath | Yes she can - inspiring more women into politics to make positive change 40:58

4+ y ago40:58

40:58

If the mere mention of politics is normally enough to make you switch off, this is one conversation you will find very refreshing.Licia Heath is the CEO of Women for Election Australia, a not-for-profit organisation which aims to increase the number of women in politics, across all levels of government and all parties.Licia did not start out her ca…

1
Sally Woodward-Hawes | Making scents - treading a unique path as a natural perfumer 38:15

4+ y ago38:15

38:15

Sally Woodward-Hawes is a graphic designer who followed a unique path into natural perfumery... after a very powerful personal moment sparked her interest in the world of scent and its connection to memory.Sally had a thriving career in the publishing world before deciding to leave office life to work for herself and develop her skills as a natural…

1
Kellie Stanbury | Island dreaming - escaping city life to start a social enterprise in Fiji 39:14

4+ y ago39:14

39:14

The idea of packing up your city life and moving to Fiji sounds pretty idyllic, but what's it really like to move to a small Pacific island, away from family, friends and work?Kellie Stanbury is an executive turned entrepreneur who stepped away from a high-level career in the travel industry to experience life in Fiji with her hubby, their two youn…

1
Welcome to What She Did Next with Jacqui Ooi 6:37

4+ y ago6:37

6:37

Welcome to the very first episode of What She Did Next, with your host Jacqui Ooi. This trailer episode introduces what the show is about and what you can expect to hear over the coming weeks. Jacqui shares a bit of her own story too, and why this felt like the right time to launch a podcast highlighting the brave and exciting choices women are mak…

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