Best Sonia McDonald Podcasts (2024)

1
Meet Australia’s hottest couple: Tony Armstrong and Rona Glynn-McDonald 45:05

4d ago45:05

45:05

Tony Armstrong is a man who needs no introduction. The last few years have seen the ABC presenter become one of the hottest properties in the Australian media, as confirmed by his recent Gold Logie nomination. His status as Australia’s most eligible bachelor almost meant you could practically hear the hearts breaking when he went public on social m…

1
Sonia Kruger on her very public roles & her very private relationships 56:15

11d ago56:15

56:15

Since 1992, Sonia Kruger has been a fixture on our screens, from her role as Tina Sparkle in Baz Luhrmann’s cult film Strictly Ballroom to working as a television presenter on morning TV and hosting some of Australia’s most successful reality shows - including, of course, Dancing With The Stars which is back on our screens this week. But when it co…

1
The interview that brought Amanda Keller to tears 42:34

18d ago42:34

42:34

Amanda Keller is a confessed oversharer. It’s her job to share snippets of her private life on the breakfast radio show she’s co-hosted for the past 19 years, Jonesy and Amanda on Sydney’s WSFM. But last year, Amanda revealed she’d been keeping a secret. On her new podcast, Double A Chattery, Amanda told the world that for the past six years, her h…

1
Episode 8: The Biggest Mistakes Every Leader Makes (And It's Probably You) 13:25

22d ago13:25

13:25

In this episode, Sonia McDonald, CEO of Leadership HQ and founder of the Leadership Collective, explores common leadership mistakes, especially in communication. Drawing from her 17+ years of experience, Sonia offers practical tips to help leaders improve and excel. Key Highlights: Biggest Leadership Mistake: Communication Other Common Leadership M…

1
Olympian Leisel Jones on body shaming, life after swimming - and going public about divorce 41:56

25d ago41:56

41:56

With nine Olympic medals and 14 individual world records to her name, Leisel Jones is one of Australia’s all-time greats. But her time as a professional athlete wasn’t all podiums and accolades - it was also full of intense media scrutiny, body shaming, self-doubt, a public lashing from swim legend Dawn Fraser and a pressure to perform that was so …

1
Episode 7: Empowering Leaders Through Curiosity and Connection with Vic ICT for Women CEO Mary-Beth Hosking 34:42

29d ago34:42

34:42

In this captivating episode of Leadership with Sonia, host Sonia McDonald sits down with the dynamic Chair of Vic ICT for Women, who shares her passion for technology, leadership, and continuous learning. They dive into the importance of staying curious and connected in the rapidly evolving tech industry, and how engaging with new technologies and …

1
There’s TikTok ”manifestation”. And then there’s Zoe Marshall 51:20

1M ago51:20

51:20

Almost 20 years ago, writer and media personality Zoe Marshall went through such a deeply traumatic series of experiences – the death of her mother, a family rift and a physically and psychologically abusive relationship – that she considered ending her own life. But then, she leaned into manifestation, or as she calls it, co-creation - and her lif…

1
Episode 6: Transforming Leadership: Embracing Values and Diversity with Germaine Symons of 8Squad 42:54

1M ago42:54

42:54

In this inspiring episode of the Leadership with Sonia Podcast, Sonia McDonald sits down with Germaine Symons, the dynamic leader of 8Squad, to explore the transformative power of values-based leadership and the importance of embracing diversity in the workplace. Jermaine shares his journey from overcoming personal health challenges to driving busi…

1
Bianca Dye: Fifty, sacked and single 50:28

1M ago50:28

50:28

Former radio host Bianca Dye is no stranger to tackling taboos and staring down stigma - after all, she’s been doing it since back when feminism was a dirty word, particularly in the then-male-dominated world of radio. But her new era - a chapter of her life she describes as Fifty, Sacked and Single - is seeing her having to stare down even more st…

1
Episode 5: Navigating Leadership in Crisis: The ExigoTech Journey 30:59

1M ago30:59

30:59

In this episode of "Leadership with Sonia," Sonia McDonald sits down with the dynamic leadership team from ExigoTech: Vivek, Niten, and Kalpana. They share their experiences of leading a business through the challenges of COVID-19 and highlight the importance of compassionate, courageous, and inclusive leadership. The discussion delves into how tru…

1
Amber Petty: from so-called fairytales to domestic violence and re-traumatisation 54:47

2M ago54:47

54:47

Amber Petty was first catapulted into the spotlight in the most unusual of circumstances, by standing alongside her best friend, Mary Donaldson, at her wedding to the Crown Prince of Denmark in 2004. Becoming known as the “royal bridesmaid”, Amber Petty has experienced many highs and lows during her career in the radio and media in the 20 years sin…

1
Episode 4: Embracing Courage and Kindness in Leadership with Alice Hanna 32:21

2M ago32:21

32:21

In this inspiring episode of the Leadership with Sonia Podcast, we sit down with Alice Hanna, a dynamic leader known for her unwavering commitment to courage and kindness. Alice shares her personal journey of overcoming fears, the significance of living by her core values, and the powerful impact of supportive relationships on her career. Join us a…

1
Ever heard of the glamour gap? Kate Langbroek has some thoughts 47:27

2M ago47:27

47:27

It’s been five years since Kate Langbroek and her husband and four children packed up to move to Italy – a decision that to this day has people stopping her in the street to discuss. Now firmly entrenched back into the reality of life back in Australia, we decided it was time to sit down with the always entertaining - and always unpredictable - Kat…

1
Episode 3: Just Rock It 17:03

2M ago17:03

17:03

Join me in this uplifting episode of Leadership with Sonia titled "Just Rock It." Inspired by my book of the same name, I'll share how to embrace your strengths, overcome challenges, and truly rock your life. Through personal stories and powerful insights, I'll guide you to focus on your inner greatness, rise above adversity, and live with passion …

1
Brooke Blurton on Mother’s Day as a motherless daughter 34:00

2M ago34:00

34:00

Today’s episode of Something To Talk About is released on the eve of Mother’s Day – an occasion that for some, is a day of celebration, yet for others is a reminder of grief and isolation. Media personality, author and youth worker Brooke Blurton is one who approaches Mother’s Day with conflicted emotions, having lost her mother when she was just 1…

1
Episode 2: Leadership Attitude 14:04

2M ago14:04

14:04

Welcome back to the Leadership with Sonia podcast! In this episode, I delve into the power of mindset and attitude in leadership. Drawing from personal experiences and insights, I explore how cultivating a leadership attitude can transform your approach to challenges and opportunities. From setting the right mindset to embracing resilience, I share…

1
Em Rusciano is ready to emerge after the “scorched earth” years 52:43

2M ago52:43

52:43

Em Rusciano has never been one to hold back, but despite having built a career on being refreshingly honest, her decision to go public at a National Press Club address about being diagnosed with ADHD at age 42, and autism a year later, took her into completely unchartered territory. Now, three years on from her diagnoses, Em is embarking on her mos…

1
Episode 1: What Just Happened? 15:24

2M ago15:24

15:24

Welcome to the first episode of the Leadership with Sonia podcast! I'm Sonia McDonald, and I'm thrilled to kick off 2024 with you all. In this episode, I dive into the whirlwind of life and share insights from my recent keynote at Griffith University's Future Leaders Summit Retreat. From reflecting on our most precious resource—time—to embracing co…

1
Friendship, fallouts & feminism: putting Kyle & Jackie O on the other side of the microphone 1:01:05

2M ago1:01:05

1:01:05

For 23 years, Kyle Sandilands and Jackie “O” Henderson have dominated radio airwaves in Sydney, and having appeared on various TV shows over the years, have become one of Australia’s most well-known double acts. But despite their infamy, they very rarely do interviews together - and yet for today’s episode of Something To Talk About they agreed to …

1
Edwina Bartholomew: “I just don’t give a s*** about mother’s guilt” 48:35

3M ago48:35

48:35

She gets up at 3 a.m. for work, is raising two children under age five and is building a side hustle as a property developer and renovator. So it is little wonder that Sunrise news presenter Edwina Bartholomew can’t be bothered by those who question her life choices - whether that’s arriving at the studio in dirty clothes or living in separate hous…

1
How the Red Wiggle is changing what a family looks like 42:40

3M ago42:40

42:40

Caterina Mete - better known to children and parents around Australia and the globe as the Red Wiggle - recently made history when she announced she is expecting identical twin girls. Now Caterina, who is the first-ever pregnant Wiggle, joins us to talk for the first time about the emotional path she took to get here. Having conceived her babies th…

1
Hamish Blake on luck, love, Logies and… um, lollies 58:34

3M ago58:34

58:34

For more than 20 years, Hamish Blake has been a familiar face on the Australian entertainment landscape, moving seamlessly between the worlds of radio, television and podcasting. So what’s been the secret to his success? In a rare in-depth interview, the popular entertainer and two-time Gold Logie winner chalks it up to luck - as well as a healthy …

1
Brittany Hockley has an update on her fertility journey 59:54

3M ago59:54

59:54

Brittany Hockley has come full circle in that she first rose to fame on reality TV, and is currently starring on another reality TV show - this time, of course, in the jungle. But a lot has happened in the intervening six years… It was 2018 when Brittany appeared on The Bachelor in the now-infamous season featuring Nick Cummins, yet the woman joini…

1
David Campbell on the decision that changed everything 50:12

4M ago50:12

50:12

Television presenter and singer David Campbell will soon mark an important milestone: ten years since the day he decided to stop drinking alcohol. In a wide ranging conversation with Something To Talk About, David - who is, of course, the son of Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes - opens up about why he wanted to break the intergenerational cycle …

1
How Rosie Batty found hope again 51:41

4M ago51:41

51:41

Ten years after her son Luke Batty was murdered by his father, Rosie Batty continues her tireless campaign to raise awareness about domestic and family violence. But perhaps even more remarkably, she has managed to find hope in the aftermath of such an unimaginable tragedy. On today’s episode of Something To Talk About, Rosie sits down for a powerf…

1
Why Natalie Barr “had to be talked into” one of the biggest jobs on TV 42:20

4M ago42:20

42:20

She’s one of the most well known women on Australian TV, and yet, as she marks three years on air as the co-host of Sunrise, Natalie Barr reveals she was initially reluctant to accept the job and found herself second-guessing whether she was right for the role. She also opens up about establishing an on-air rapport with Matt Shirvington after the d…

1
Ita Buttrose on the right to an opinion 54:51

4M ago54:51

54:51

Few women in Australian media - or, for that matter, the country’s public sphere as a whole - have exerted as much influence or blazed as many trails as Ita Buttrose AC, OBE. Now, as she prepares to step down from her role as chair of the ABC, the 82-year-old publishing veteran joins Something To Talk About for a frank discussion about her final mo…

1
Jules Robinson has some news… 43:01

5M ago43:01

43:01

Today on Something To Talk About, Jules Robinson sits down to reveal some big family news: nearly three and a half years after she and her husband Cameron Merchant welcomed their son Ollie, she is pregnant again. Since finding fame in 2019 and meeting Cam on Married At First Sight, Jules has gone on to launch businesses and a fashion label, hosted …

1
The incredible true story of Leah Purcell 47:31

5M ago47:31

47:31

Leah Purcell has worn a number of different hats across her prolific career. Actor. Director. Author. And yes… even a stint as Shania Twain’s support act. But beyond the accolades and the awards, it’s her behind-the-scenes work in which she takes the most pride - whether acting as a First Nations cultural advisor on set, or mentoring thousands of I…

1
Julie Bishop and Pip Edwards: inside the friendship you never knew about 47:19

5M ago47:19

47:19

At first glance, they may not seem to have much in common. Julie Bishop is a former foreign minister and current university chancellor, while Pip Edwards is co-founder and creative director of one of the country’s most successful activewear brands. But in the past five years, they have forged an unlikely yet extremely close friendship that has endu…

1
Getting to know Zoë Ventoura, Australia’s most elusive girl next door 46:54

5M ago46:54

46:54

She rose to fame as the literal girl next door on the hit TV series Packed To The Rafters, but actor Zoë Ventoura has always remained something of an enigma. In fact, she has so carefully maintained her privacy that no-one even knew she was pregnant until after her son was born. Over the course of her two-decade career in show business, she has onl…

1
Erin Molan: “I’ve hated my body since I was 14. And I’ve had enough” 29:52

5M ago29:52

29:52

Radio and television presenter Erin Molan - who joins Stellar as a regular columnist this year - sits down with Something To Talk About for a poignant and at times heartbreaking conversation about the war she has waged against her own body since the age of 14. Speaking frankly about the loathing, disgust and punishment she unleashed on herself for …

1
Summer Series: Let’s talk about money (with Jackie O, Michelle Bridges, Sarah Wilson, Sally Obermeder and David Koch) 38:54

6M ago38:54

38:54

While Something To Talk About takes a break, we are revisiting some of the most candid and revealing moments from the almost 50 guests who have joined us in conversation on this podcast over the past year. Even at a time when more taboos are being broken than ever before, the topic of money is still not considered to be polite dinner-table conversa…

1
Summer series: four Australian stars who prove life really does get happier, sexier and more successful than ever in your fifties, sixties and beyond 35:46

6M ago35:46

35:46

While Something To Talk About takes a break, we are revisiting some of the most candid and revealing moments from the almost 50 guests who have joined us in conversation on this podcast over the past year. If ever anyone needed proof that women are increasingly refusing to disappear from public life once they reach an age that would once have seen …

1
Summer Series: the women changing how we speak about fertility, pregnancy loss and motherhood’s great expectations 45:38

6M ago45:38

45:38

While Something To Talk About takes a break, we are revisiting some of the most emotional and revealing moments from the almost 50 guests who have joined us in conversation on this podcast over the past year. The complex issue of becoming a parent, or the conscious decision not to, is at the heart of today’s episode. We begin by revisiting our powe…

1
Summer Series: so, are you seeing anyone? What it’s really like to get back on the dating scene in the public eye 41:17

6M ago41:17

41:17

While Something To Talk About takes a break, we are revisiting some of the most emotional and revealing moments from the almost 50 guests who have joined us in conversation on this podcast over the past year. “So, what’s going on in your love life?” It’s the question many of us will have been forced to contend with during social gatherings and fami…

1
Summer Series: speaking frankly about mental health, addiction and grief - conversations to remind you that you’re not alone 47:15

7M ago47:15

47:15

While Something To Talk About takes a break, we are revisiting some of the most emotional and revealing moments from the almost 50 guests who have joined us in conversation on this podcast over the past year. This third episode of the Something To Talk About summer series finds us about to begin a new year - a time many of us pause to both look ahe…

1
Summer Series: the new divorce and friendly co-parenting – inside the country’s most famous modern families 36:51

7M ago36:51

36:51

While Something To Talk About takes a break over Christmas and New Year, we are revisiting some of the most memorable moments from the almost 50 guests who have joined us in conversation over the past year. Today’s episode is being released at a time of year when we are bombarded with images of happy families celebrating the Christmas holidays. Eve…

1
Summer Series: the “cancelled” Australians who returned to the spotlight in 2023 39:30

7M ago39:30

39:30

While Something To Talk About takes a break over Christmas and New Year, we are revisiting some of the most revealing and candid moments from the almost 50 guests who have joined us in conversation on the podcast over the past year. In the first episode of the Something To Talk About summer series, we speak to some of the famous Australians who too…

1
Marriage, mental health and (no) make-up: Rebecca Gibney 55:40

7M ago55:40

55:40

She has starred in not just one, but several of Australia’s most iconic and beloved TV shows of all time – with a cabinet full of Logie Awards to prove it. So what is the secret to Rebecca Gibney’s success? According to the woman herself, the answer is kindness. She recalls being told as a young actor by a co-star that the best advice he could give…

1
Sarah Wilson: Australia didn’t know what to do with me 59:30

7M ago59:30

59:30

What would you do if you came into a financial windfall? Maybe buy a new car, finally book that dream holiday or take your loved ones on a shopping spree? Author, media personality and podcast host Sarah Wilson decided to do something entirely different. After selling her I Quit Sugar Empire, she gave the proceeds away and opted to live WITHIN her …

1
Charles v William, and why Meghan is not to blame: the REAL royal story 59:52

8M ago59:52

59:52

We’ve all heard a lot about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle falling out with the royal family. But what if the real tension was between Prince William and King Charles III? And while it’s Meghan who has been widely blamed for Megxit, what if she was actually the one willing to stick it out - and it was Harry who was determined to walk away? Now, fac…

1
Asher Keddie: “I don’t really have regrets, but…” 1:01:11

8M ago1:01:11

1:01:11

For the past two decades, Asher Keddie has been a reliable presence in living rooms across the country - and one of the most popular actors of her generation. But despite her success - or, perhaps, because of it - she did not always feel at ease with her fame. In this episode of Something To Talk About, Asher sits down for a reflective chat as she …

1
Natalie Bassingthwaighte speaks her truth 50:28

8M ago50:28

50:28

After 25 years in the industry, Natalie Bassingthwaighte has plenty to talk about - including what to expect when she takes the stage at an upcoming tribute concert honouring the late George Michael; getting frank about ageing in the spotlight and the judgement that women receive for undergoing cosmetic procedures; and how she really felt when she …

1
Sally Obermeder on the "fall from grace" that changed everything 57:15

8M ago57:15

57:15

Sally Obermeder knows a lot about wellness, not only as the CEO and co-founder of superfood, skincare and supplement empire Swiish, but also as a cancer survivor who in 2011 was faced with the reality that she might not make it to the 50th birthday she celebrated earlier this year. Today, Sally - who is also a mum of two, media personality and a ca…

1
Alpha males, shock encounters and a double identity: the extraordinary life of Liz Hayes 56:06

8M ago56:06

56:06

Before she became a regular presence on TV screens across Australia, veteran journalist Liz Hayes was simply Beth Ryan, the daughter of a dairy farmer and a housewife in rural New South Wales. Now, as she looks back on her extraordinary life and career in a new memoir, Liz joins Something To Talk About for a thought-provoking and often very funny c…

1
Sarah Harris: Australia’s most glamorous FIFO worker, one year on 55:20

9M ago55:20

55:20

If you were to sum up The Project host Sarah Harris’ life at the moment in one word, you couldn’t get more precise than “chaos”. Since sliding into the seat formerly occupied by Carrie Bickmore nearly a year ago, Harris has managed the juggle of work and motherhood with military precision. She splits her week across two cities and co-parents two yo…

1
Michelle Andrews: "Motherhood is my Roman Empire" 1:03:48

9M ago1:03:48

1:03:48

Five years ago, Michelle Andrews was a pop-culture obsessed writer who decided to trust her instincts and - along with her co-worker Zara McDonald, sit down in front of a microphone and launch a podcast. Now, at the age of 29, the pair sit at the head of Shameless Media - a company that reaches millions of listeners in Australia and around the glob…

1
Why you know Melanie Zanetti's voice but not her name 43:11

9M ago43:11

43:11

Starring in a series as iconic as Bluey – the animated children's TV hit that within five years has not only become the biggest show in Australia but a global smash – has made Melanie Zanetti what you might call a “household voice”. But despite playing Chilli Heeler, mum to title character Bluey, which has seen her work played on more television sc…

1
Elizabeth Day on failure, fertility privilege and the way we still sideline 'women's issues' 59:52

9M ago59:52

59:52

Elizabeth Day likes to celebrate the “things that haven’t gone right”, which might seem ironic given she is an award-winning journalist, bestselling author and the host of the podcast How To Fail, which is nothing if not a success, given it boasts 45 million downloads and counting. In a thoughtful and expansive conversation, Elizabeth - who is base…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Sonia McDonald Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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