HER WAY: HER STORY with Abbie: Recent Episodes
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Join schoolgirl Abbie as she chats to current champions, legends and rising stars of women’s sport in one-on-one interviews. They chat about how they got to where they are, the challenges they’ve faced along the way, and what lies ahead. Plus in ’The Mixed Zone’, listeners can join the interview by submitting questions.
HER WAY continues its preview of the Olympics and Paralympics by catching up with athletes from two of the more niche sports. First up it's Badminton representative Tiffany Ho, who will carry Australia's hopes as the only singles participant. Tiff chats about balancing her job as a nurse with preparing for Paris, and how injury before the Tokyo games was a blessing in disguise.
Then hear from Boccia athlete Jam Leeson and her new ramp assistant Jasmine Haydon. After teaming up with her mum since taking up the sport, Jam has mixed things up and has a new assistant. Speaking at the Announcement of the Paris team, we chat about that new partnership, and what makes the award-winning Australian Boccia program so special. Recorded June 2024
Having represented the Aussie Stingers Water Polo team at two Olympics, Keesja Gofers took time away to have her first child, daughter Teleri, in 2023. Just a few months later, Keesja set her sights on returning for a third Olympics in Paris.
She achieved her goal, and HER WAY caught up with Keesja at the Olympic team announcement to ask about how she did it. In this mini interview, Keesja is open and thoughtful as she shares the struggles, sacrifices and joys that this new journey has brought as she fought her way back to the pinnacle of sport.
Recorded May, 2024
Beach Handball is relatively new compared to its indoor cousin, but is one of the most dynamic sports going around.
On the eve of the 2024 World Champs in China, HER WAY chats exclusively to Sally Potocki and Jemima Harbort, the co-captains of the Australian team.
They share about their different journeys to discover the sport, the struggle for exposure and support in an increasingly crowded sports market, the headline-making moment where the sport made a stand against sexism, and why Beach Handball is perfect for Australia to embrace. Plus we ponder what might be a good nickname for the national team.
Recorded May, 2024
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Marissa Williams-Pohlman will make history in Paris, where she'll become the first female Indigenous Australian Olympic boxer - it's a significant achievement, given that men have made boxing the most represented sport at the Olympics by Indigenous people.
In this chat, I ask Marissa about how she reacted to qualifying for the team, how the training is tracking, and why amateur athletes like herself value sponsors so much in order to help offset the sacrifices they make.
A full chat with Marissa about her journey will be available closer to the start of the Olympics.
Recorded April, 2024
Cover pic: Marissa Williamson-Pohlman
The Gangurrus, Australia's 3X3 Basketball side, have qualified for an Olympics for the first time in Paris.
I checked in with one of the team's stars Marena Whittle, to ask about the feeling of winning the qualifying tournament, learn a bit more about 3X3 basketball, and what it's like playing alongside your fiance.
Recorded May, 2024
Cover Photo; FIBA
Frustrated at the lack of venues showing live women's sport, Jenny Nguyen decided to open her own. In 2022 'The Sports Bra' opened for business in Portland, Oregon and became an instant success.
Not only did it become a home for watching women's sports, but Jenny and the venue have become part of a wider movement for inclusiveness, equality and the growth of women's sport.
In this interview, Jenny and I chat about the creation of 'The Sports Bra', the evolution of women's sport both on and off the playing arena, why there isn't a women's NFL, and lots more.
Recorded May 2024.
Cover Photo: Jade Hewitt Media
In 2023, Piper Duck made history when she was named captain of the Australian Wallaroos rugby union team at just 22yrs old.
Recently, she led the NSW Waratahs to the Super W domestic competition trophy - of which is also the youngest captain in history.
In this chat Piper and I discuss the growth of women's rugby, dealing with injury setbacks, the future of women's rugby in Australia and more.
Recorded March/April 2024.
Cover photo: Karen Watson
Mariafe Artacho del Solar, Tilly Kearns, Michelle Heyman, Georgia Godwin and Australian Team Chef de Mission Anna Meares talk about their hopes for 2024 and the Paris Olympics , plus more, at the 100 Days to go event in Sydney.
Recorded April, 2024
HER WAY catches up with 5 big names from the track and pool - Torrie Lewis, Eleanor Patterson, Lani Pallister, Jas Greenwood and Paige Leonhardt
HER WAY chats to 5 of netball's biggest names, all who are facing new challenges in the 2024 Super Netball season.
Liz Watson (Lightning), Kelsey Browne (Fever) and Sophie Garbin (Vixens) are all at new teams, while Jamie-Lee Price (Giants) takes on co-captaincy. Meanwhile Shamera Sterling-Humphrey (Thunderbirds) approaches the season as reigning Player of the Year.
Recorded at Team Girls Cup, March 24, 2024
Hear from members of WNBL champions straight after their grand final win, in order:
Captain Bec Cole, legendary Lauren Jackson, Finals MVP Mercedes Russell, young star Nyadiew Puoch and vice captain Maddy Rocci.
Recorded March 15, 2024
A thrilling WNBL basketball regular season went down to the final game to determine the top four teams and the positions. The final result was only known just minutes before the players started arriving on the orange carpet for the league’s Awards Night, and HER WAY was there to get the player reactions, plus reflect on the season and chat to some of the award winners.
In order, hear from:
US imports Jocelyn Willoughby & Brianna Turner (Adelaide)
US import Naz Hillmon (Melbourne Boomers)
Anneli Maley (Perth Lynx)
US import Aari McDonald (Perth Lynx)
Jade Melbourne (UC Capitals)
Mon Conti & Keely Froling (Melbourne Boomers)
Sara Blicavs (Melbourne Boomers)
All-WNBL 1st Team Member Izzy Borlase (Adelaide Lightning)
All-WNBL 1st Team Member & Fan MVP Jade Melbourne
MVP Suzy Batkovic Medallist, US import Jordin Canada (Melbourne Boomers)
Sally Fitzgibbons was a gun junior sportsperson, winning gold at the Youth Olympics, as well as excelling in football and touch footy, but she focussed on surfing - and the rest is history.
From the NSW South Coast, the 3 x World Surfing Games champion and former World Number One talks about the role the beach plays in her life, and how her positive mindset has helped her through a 15 year career as a professional surfer.
In her role as a spokesperson for Surf Life Saving Australia, we also chat about growing up as a Nipper, and the importance of celebrating volunteer lifeguards on beaches.
Recorded December, 2023.
Photo: Supplied.
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Recorded live at the NSW Champions of Sport Awards 2023, HER WAY chats to three champions of Australian sport just moments after receiving awards -
Former Matilda Heather Garriock was inducted into the Hall of Champions, basketball great Lauren Jackson received the rare Waratah Award, while 7 time surfing World Champion was elevated to Legend Status.
All three reflect on the honours and their careers.
Recorded live November, 2023
Leticia Bufoni is the most successful female athlete at the X Games in history, and has featured on Forbes' most powerful women in sport list. Not bad for someone whose dad cut their first skateboard in half because he didn't think skateboarding was for girls.
Find out about Leticia's career in this chat while she was in Sydney for a Red Bull demo tour.
Recorded October 2023
Photos: Red Bull
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Georgia Beikoff took up sport when she was a child as therapy for her Cerebral Palsy diagnosis. Soon, she was identified as an emerging star in cricket and athletics, and as a teenager would become a track and field Paralympics medallist.
But football was always Georgia’s true love, and just before the covid pandemic, she became one of the first athletes identified to be part of the Para Matildas - Australia’s football side for females with CP, symptoms of stroke or acquired brain injury.
A leader at the Para Matildas and Golden Boot winner at the inaugural IFCPF World Cup in 2022, Georgia shares about her journey from a kid in Newcastle to Paralympic and Football medallist.
Recorded September, 2023
Photo: Football Australia
Rosie Malone is a member of the Australian Hockeyroos team which competed at the Tokyo Olympics, won bronze at the 2022 World Cup and silver at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. As a gifted young athlete, she excelled at multiple sports, and in this chat she reveals her decision to pursue hockey over other opportunities, dealing with low moments of her career, inspiring the next generation and much more.
Recorded: September, 2023
Cover Photo: Simon Watts
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Erin Phillips is a two time WNBA champion and World Cup basketball winner, a three time AFLW premier, and has won the AFLW’s Best and Fairest Award twice. She has also suffered an ACL injury in both knees across her legendary career.
Erin joins HER WAY to chat about why this injury is so much more prevalent in female athletes, and why she’s joined forces with some other elite athletes to being more awareness to the issue in the hope of reducing the number of injuries faced by women in sport.
From Women's A-League player pioneer, to now part of a new era in female sports broadcasting, Grace Gill has had a fascinating journey.
We chat about playing with some of the current superstars of Australian sport when they were teenagers, to making the leap to becoming a commentator and being one of the voices of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Recorded June, 2023
Cover Image: Supplied.
Liz Watson took up netball at age 12 when her school friend invited her to play in a school team. Since then, she’s gone on to win league titles in Australia, represent her country, and in 2021 was named captain of the Australian Diamonds, leading them to Commonwealth Games gold in 2022 as well as other tournaments.
Liz joins HER WAY to chat about her journey, learning from the best, and what it takes to be a good leader. We also chat about her debut as a children’s book author.
Recorded June, 2023.
Cover Photo: Joanna Margiolis
Born and raised in the Australian country town of Ballarat, Georgia Amoore took the basketball world by storm in 2022-2023, leading her college side Virginia Tech Hokies to the iconic NCAA Final Four for the first time in history. Along the way, the Hokies side broke records, while Georgia broke some individual ones as well.
Georgia and I chat about everything from her favourite Aussie food that she can’t get in Virginia, going from a small town to becoming a household name, the rise of women’s sport, proving doubters wrong and a lot more!
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Recorded June , 2023
Cover Photo: Virginia Tech
HER WAY was on the black carpet and chatted to some of the biggest names in the A-League, Australia's professional football league. Hear my chats with Chloe Logarzo, Michelle Heyman, Tash Rigby, Ellie Brush, Melina Ayres, Mackenzie Hawkesby, plus Coach of the Year Mark Torcaso, Golden Glove winner Hillary Beall and Young Footballer of the Year Sarah Hunter.
Recorded June, 2023
An Olympic medal-winning, record breaking sailor, Nina Curtis has done just about everything in her chosen sport. And in 2024, Nina will be part of history as co-captain for the Australian crew for the inaugural Women's America's Cup.
In this chat, recorded live in front of an audience at a Trailblazers Women In Sport Business event in Sydney, I ask Nina about her journey from young Sydney beaches sailor to Olympic medallist, the importance of pathways for girls to make it in the sport, and the excitement about being part of the history of the iconic America's Cup.
Recorded April 2023.
*Image courtesy Australian Women America's Cup Team
*Please note there are a few issues with the audio quality due to the unpredictability of recording a live event!
Neither being born with spinal muscular atrophy, nor growing up in a small regional town of 800 people has stopped Jamieson Leeson from achieving some amazing things in her life so far.
The youngest person to represent Australia, Jamieson is a World Cup and World Championship gold medal winner in the sport of Boccia, one of only two Paralympic sports which doesn’t have an able bodied counterpart.
In this chat, Jamieson shares how she came to discover the niche sport, her attitude to being underestimated, and what it's like to travel the world to play elite sport with her mother.
Recorded February, 2023.
Cover photo: Paralympics Australia
An inaugural captain of the AFLW in 2017, Katie Brennan was always confident that women's Australian Rules would have a successful competition, and she was determined to be a big part of it.
The Richmond captain inspires and empowers females of all ages in a number of ways, whether it be through her own female-only gym or mentoring other players and young kids. We talk about all this and more.
Photo: Katie Brennan
Recorded: March 2023
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Anika Wells is the Australian Federal Minister for Sport at possibly the most exciting time ever for women in sport. The Minister and I chat about how Australia can make the most of the extraordinary opportunities of hosting women’s World Cups, Commonwealth Games, Olympics and Paralympics over the next decade.
I also ask her about the challenges of being a woman with a role of influence in a male dominated industry, and she has advice for girls and women thinking about entering politics one day.
Recorded March, 2023.
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Jasmine Parr grew up around combat sports, with both of her parents champions in kickboxing. She fell in love with it when she was young, but has now turned her attention to traditional boxing, where she is already a title holder.
In our chat, Jazzy and I talk about why she loves combat sport, answers some HER WAY community questions in 'The Mixed Zone', and shares her big ambitions.
Recorded January 2023
Cover photo: Supplied
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Top ten tennis player Coco Gauff grabbed the world's attention in her very first grand slam match, at age 15, when she defeated one of her idols, Venus Williams, at Wimbledon. Still only 18, Coco is now a grand slam finalist, and in 2022 became the second youngest woman to be ranked number one in doubles. We chat about her love of superheroes, dealing with fame, and how she spends time being a 'normal' teen away from tennis.
Thanks to New Balance and the Australian Open for giving HER WAY this opportunity. Recorded January, 2023.
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FIFA World Cup Winner. Trailblazer. Fighter for equality.
Football (soccer) star Jessica McDonald has won several NWSL titles, named Championship MVP, and was a key member of the USWNT which took its own governing body to court over low pay conditions. In this chat, Jess and I discuss how she's fought to overcome prejudice due to her skin colour, gender and being a mother. She also answers questions sent in by members of the HER WAY online community.
[WARNING: Adult themes around 11min mark. May require adult guidance.]
Recorded December, 2022.
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In 2022, 23yr old Elly Morrow made her debut in the Super 2 Series Racing - the precursor to the hugely popular Supercar Championship, Australia's premier motor racing series. Not only that, but in her debut season, she was the only female driver. During our chat, Elly shares how it was an injury from another sport which led her to motor racing, what it's like being the only female in a male-dominated sport, and lots more.
Recorded April, 2022. photo: Supplied
Swimmer Emma McKeon is Australia's most successful Olympian, and the most successful athlete in the history of the Commonwealth Games. In this chat, we discuss how she needed to step away from swimming in order to be successful at it, the difference between confidence and humility, plus she reveals the strange place her medals were stored at one point.
Recorded November 2022. Photo: Delly Carr
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Ella Sabljak is one of Australia's most respected Para Athletes. Taking up wheelchair basketball as a teen as a way to make new friends, within three years she represented Australia's Under 25 side. Since then she has become a Paralympian, won Commonwealth Games silver medal as part of the 3x3 team in 2022, before deciding to give Wheelchair Rugby (a.k.a 'Murderball') a crack, becoming a World Champion with the Steelers.
Ella also represents her fellow athletes on various councils, and we chat about the importance of Para athlete representation, as well as many other topics.
(recorded August 2022)
Photo: Paralympics Australia
Jane Fernandez has possibly the most important job in Women's Sport for 2023 - Chief Operating Officer for the FIFA Women's World Cup. In this one-on-one chat held to mark one year to go, I ask Jane about what the tournament will do for female football participation, why it's important to have women in leadership, plus the legacy of the event beyond football.
(Recorded July 2022)
Imagine throwing yourself head first down an 1800m icy track at 150km/hr and barely able to see anything - that's exactly what Jackie Narracott does in the winter sport of Skeleton. Jackie and I chat about what she loves about the sport, the health risks involved, why winter sports deserve more media coverage in Australia, and more.
This interview was recorded in December 2021, a few weeks before Jackie won Australia's first ever World Cup gold medal in a sliding sport, and a month before she won the first ever Australian winter sliding sport Olympic medal, with silver in Beijing.
(cover photo: Veisturs LACIS, IBSF)
In a wide-ranging interview, superstar cricketer Alyssa Healy joins me to chat about how cricket helped her through a family tragedy, experiencing sexism as teenage star, how she approaches her batting, how the women's game has changed since she debuted for Australia, and lots more.
Photo: Getty Images/Cricket Australia
(Recorded June 2022)
Keira Stephens' physical appearance made her a bit different to other kids growing up in Queensland, but playing sport gave her a feeling of acceptance and belonging. A talented athlete, in 2018 she made her first Australian Para Swimming team at age 15, Keira chats about her journey so far, including making the podium at her first Paralympics, and how her parents missed the phonecall afterwards!
(Recorded June 2022)
Adelaide's Maeve Plouffe only took up cycling after a talent identification camp said she'd be good at the sport. Now she's an Olympian, Commonwealth Games gold medallist, UCI Track Nations gold medallist, and in 2023 will make her road debut in Europe. Maeve chats to me about how she has used injuries as a positive, explains the intricacies of cycling, and shares her excitement for the growth of the sport globally.
(Recorded September 2022)
Netball star Kelsey Browne joins me to talk about finding her own identity with an older superstar sister, the highs and lows of her career, and much more.
(recorded July 2022)
Basketballer Tess Madgen made her Opals debut as a 20yr old in 2011, yet it would be another decade of persevering before she would achieve her dream of representing the Opals at the Olympics. In 2022 she then had the honour of captaining her country in a home World Cup. HER WAY spoke to Tess about dealing with setbacks, resilience, and playing with her idol, just before the 2022 World Cup.
Alanna Smith represented the Opals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and has played several seasons in the WNBA after playing college basketball in the US. We chat about growing up in a famous basketball family, and playing with legends like Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner.
Racewalker Jemima is a 20km Dual Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Australian record holder, and is passionate about keeping girls and women in sport through her IOC Young Leaders Program 'Play On'.