Sistas, Let's Talk: Recent Episodes
ABC Radio
Sistas, Let’s Talk is a show for women across the Pacific region. Each week, host Hilda Wayne talks to inspirational women about the issues affecting them, and discusses how to navigate modern life as a Pacific Island woman.
As more people move away from their villages, from their extended families, from their elders, what happens to that special relationship between a grandmother and grandchild?
Most women suffer from period pain, but the majority simply push through it. How different would women’s lives be if they gave period pain the care and treatment it deserves.
In the Pacific, talking about sex is a big taboo topic – but clear and open discussions can benefit everyone.
From giving up a corporate gig to making a personal brand international to growing vanilla: social media has helped these Pacific women do it all
The best chance of survival from breast cancer is with early diagnosis, so you can receive life-saving treatment, but this doesn't happen for many Pacific women.
It's easier than ever to test for the virus that causes cervical cancer and more screening programs means fewer women will die from this preventable cancer.
Over 87 episodes of Sistas, Let's Talk, women across the Pacific have shared their stories about health, lifestyle and culture.
Financial literacy is something many of us grapple with, but meet the Pacific women meeting this head on and changing their lives
Women now make up almost half of the Anglican Diocese of Polynesia since the church began ordaining women in the 1970s.
Giving birth isn't always straightforward, and sometimes things can go wrong. But a growing movement of pregnant women and midwives across Papua New Guinea are educating themselves via social media to reduce the rates of birth trauma.
Descendants of Australia's South Sea Islander community are reclaiming their identity, learning the stories of their ancestors and re-connecting with extended family via social media.
Work programs like the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme promise opportunities that can be really appealing.
Samoa's Warrior Queen, Zita Martel shares the inspiring story how she became the first female long boat skipper in the traditional male sport of fautasi racing.
With gender-based violence an inherent problem within many families and communities across the Pacific, how do we teach men to respect girls and women?
Beauty pageant are a big deal in the Pacific region, and many consider them to be a celebration of culture and identity. But allegations of racism against Melanesian contestants have plagued the competitions. Hilda Wayne talks to former winners of Pacific beauty pageants to find out what the world of Pacific beauty pageants is really like.
In the Pacific, talking about sex is a big taboo topic – but clear and open discussions can benefit everyone.
We live in a world that is increasingly dominated by a western way of life, so it is important to nurture language, culture and beliefs.
Agriculture is one of the main economic pillars for Pacific countries, and too often women do the hard labour with little or no financial say. Not anymore.
The best chance of survival from breast cancer is with early diagnosis, so you can receive life-saving treatment, but this doesn't happen for many Pacific women.
The world is changing at a rapid pace and the younger you are, the easier it is to keep up with those changes. But when you are a young woman in the modern world, how do you protect your Pacific roots?
A woman is beaten every 30 seconds in Papua New Guinea, and more than 1.5 million people experience gender-based violence in the country each year.
Financial literacy is something many of us grapple with, but meet the Pacific women meeting this head on and changing their lives
In order to get locals to appreciate the need for conservation, Yolarnie Amepou had to learn their language and appreciate and respect the diversity of the region.
Type 2 diabetes is one of the biggest health issues facing people in the Pacific, and the World Health Organisation suggests women may be the key to stopping it. But does this place yet another burden on them?
Bringing a baby into the world is meant to be a joyous occasion but imagine going through this during a natural disaster. With the impacts of climate change, more pregnant women and newborns will be affected.
Hilda Wayne talks to Pacific Island women who are the eldest sister in their family about the challenges and rewards of this unique role.
Not too long ago, a clip from an Australian podcast went on viral on TikTok when a prominent personality used his platform to make fun of Pacific women. The fallout was swift. Women from around the globe have started calling out a growing number of Pacific men who go on social media to denigrate Pacific women. This week, Hilda Wayne finds out why there are some men who are happy to punch down on women and whether it's an extension of what we see in the Pacific, where gender-based violence and harassment is such a concern.
Storytelling is woven deep into the Pacific cultural fabric, passed down from one generation to another for thousands of years. But it's facing a very modern threat.
The Bull sisters shot to fame when they joined Australian music group The Black Sorrows, but their musical interest began in the Tongan church.
Putting pen to paper to create a manuscript can be easy, but the process of turning that into a published book can be the complete opposite.
The Black Sistaz were born without a state when their parents fled West Papua for the Netherlands, and now they use music to speak out against Indonesian rule
While HIV is easily treated and no longer a death sentence, Fiji is seeing a rapid rise in infections
Hilda Wayne talks to Pacific Island women about what it is really like to live with disability
When the only social security available is the extended family, women can be left financially vulnerable with the death or divorce of their husband.
With lifestyle diseases due to poor diets and gradual loss of traditional food in the Pacific, Jennifer Baing has been championing the revival of traditional Pacific culinary.
What are some of the challenges women musicians in the Pacific face when trying to pursue music as a career and how do they overcome these to do what they love: sing and make music?
What are some of the challenges women musicians in the Pacific face when trying to pursue music as a career and how do they overcome these to do what they love: sing and make music?
What stops a woman from leaving her cheating partner? Forgiveness? Love? Or is it more about finances, stigma and community expectations?
What stops a woman from leaving her cheating partner? Forgiveness? Love? Or is it more about finances, stigma and community expectations?
Babies can be a joy, and family means a lot to our Pacific culture, but each year, tens of thousands of women in the Pacific face the difficult choices that come with an unplanned pregnancy.
Losing a loved one is one of life's most traumatic experiences, and specific rituals have evolved over time to help ease that pain.
Women have long been acting as conservationists, but many feel powerless to take it to the next level because the power of change still rests with men.
Women are increasingly becoming targets in sorcery accusation-related violence, and one woman has made it her life's mission to stamp it out.
Studies show many western women are drinking too much. In some cases, they now drink as much as men. But is this also the case in the Pacific?
Bringing a baby into the world is meant to be a joyous occasion but imagine going through this during a natural disaster. With the impacts of climate change, more pregnant women and newborns will be affected.
When women haven't been able to finish school, the impacts of illiteracy are enormous and affects the entire family's health and wellbeing. But a growing number are taking adult classes and their transformation is mindblowing.
Storytelling is woven deep into the Pacific cultural fabric, passed down from one generation to another for thousands of years. But it's facing a very modern threat.
Wayne speaks to a woman who served time behind bars in Fiji and finds out from women offering on-the-ground support what the path to rehabilitation involves.
Type 2 diabetes is one of the biggest health issues facing people in the Pacific, and the World Health Organisation suggests women may be the key to stopping it. But does this place yet another burden on them?
Throughout the Pacific, sex work is illegal and it's seen as a great sin, but that hasn't stopped many women taking up the oldest profession - and for very different reasons.
Following scenes of corruption, vote stealing and massacres, one woman is determined to see change in PNG politics
Hilda Wayne talks to Pacific Island women about the changing pressures of caring for the elderly .
West Papuan Rode Wanimbo is a champion for human rights and speaks about the intersections of her culture, her Christianity and her womanhood.
Hilda Wayne talks to Pacific Island women about studying abroad and bringing vital services back to their communities
Hilda Wayne talks to Pacific Island women about what it is really like to live with disability
Hilda Wayne talks to Pacific Island women about the lazy men in their lives and how the gendered division of labour contributes to the problem.
Hilda Wayne talks to sexual health experts about the rapid rise of chlamydia in the Pacific.
Hilda Wayne talks to Pacific Island journalists about their experiences reporting in the Pacific region.
Hilda Wayne talks to Pacific Island women who are the eldest sister in their family about the challenges and rewards of this unique role.
Hilda Wayne talks to Pacific Island women and gender diverse people about the experience of being LGBTQI in the Pacific region.
Wayne speaks to a woman who served time behind bars in Fiji and finds out from women offering on-the-ground support what the path to rehabilitation involves.
Hilda Wayne speaks to experts and ordinary women about infertility in the Pacific region, and finds out what it’s really like to struggle with fertility in a culture that values big families.
Hilda Wayne hears inspiring and sometimes heartbreaking stories from the frontlines of the Pacific region’s cervical cancer crisis.
Hilda Wayne pens a love letter to her late best friend, Cynthia, and invites women from across the Pacific to share about the special female friends in their lives.
Hilda Wayne hears how Pacific Island women are reclaiming their pre-Christian spiritual traditions.
In the aftermath of Tonga’s volcanic eruption, Hilda Wayne explores the disproportionate impact of natural disasters on women
Hilda Wayne talks to the women demanding to have a seat at the decision-making table in PNG — a country that has only elected seven women to its Parliament since 1975.
Hilda Wayne talks to the Pacific Island women reclaiming their cultural identity and self-esteem in the world of social media.
Hilda Wayne talks to the inspirational women on the frontlines of the fight against HIV in the Pacific region.
Hilda Wayne talks to Pacific Women Seasonal Workers to find out whether there is substance to allegations of poor treatment for workers, or whether the opportunity to earn money abroad is worth pursuing.
Hilda Wayne talks to the women taking centre stage in West Papua’s growing independence movement
Hilda Wayne finds out why breastfeeding is declining in the pacific, a region with traditionally high rates of the practice, and what can be done to support women and their families to breastfeed their babies.
Hilda Wayne talks to Pacific Island women about how going to university changed their lives and gets their advice on how to navigate challenges of university.
Hilda Wayne talks to the Pacific women who are embracing their natural hair and in doing so celebrating their heritage and culture.
Across the Pacific, a movement is underway to get back to the traditional foods of generations past. Hilda Wayne hears from the women reclaiming traditional foods, and shares some delicious recipes along the way. From fresh coconut and raw fish to banana and cassava, some Pacific Islanders are moving away from unhealthy imported options to the recipes of their great-grandparents. The results mean connecting with culture and eating better.
Hilda Wayne talks to women across the Pacific who are using traditional knowledge to combat the effects of climate change.
Hilda Wayne talks to Pacific Island women who have bravely paved the way for a new generation of girls pursuing their dreams.
Hilda Wayne hears how Pacific Island women are reclaiming their pre-Christian spiritual traditions.
Hilda Wayne talks to the Pacific women who have started businesses about how they did it, and why it’s so valuable for women to become part of the economy.
Hilda Wayne takes you on a journey around the islands to find out how women are celebrating Christmas in the Pacific.
Hilda Wayne talks to the women of Bougainville about the horrors they faced in the 10-year long civil war, and their hopes for the future of Bougainville.
Hilda Wayne talks to the Pacific Island women who are reviving the ancient practice of making art from tapa.
Hilda Wayne talks to the trailblazing women of the Pacific who have bucked tradition and built careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).
Hilda Wayne talks to health workers and ordinary women who are experiencing the Covid 19 Delta outbreak in Papua New Guinea. She finds out why vaccine rates in PNG are so low when compared to Fiji, Palau and other parts of the region.
Beauty pageant are a big deal in the Pacific region, and many consider them to be a celebration of culture and identity. But allegations of racism against Melanesian contestants have plagued the competitions. Hilda Wayne talks to former winners of Pacific beauty pageants to find out what the world of Pacific beauty pageants is really like.
Mere Nailatikau was the first Melanesian women to win a Pacific beauty pageant in 2009. She tells Sistas Let's Talk why pageants today should not be the only way women receive a platform for change.
Hilda Wayne talks to the Pacific women who are embracing their natural hair and in doing so celebrating their heritage and culture.
Hilda Wayne hears inspiring and sometimes heartbreaking stories from the frontlines of the Pacific region’s cervical cancer crisis.
A cervical cancer diagnosis in the Pacific is almost certainly a death-sentence for women. For Monica Bowden-Kerby, her battle with cancer has taken place during the COVID-19 pandemic, whilst pregnant, and in a country that offers no radiation therapy.
In order to leave her ex-husband, Agnes Mek had to fight against bride price, discrimination and expectations of women from both sides of her marriage.
Hilda Wayne learns why it can be difficult for Pacific Island women to leave abusive and unhealthy relationships, and gets insights from those who have done it successfully.
Hilda Wayne hears how Pacific Island women are reclaiming their pre-Christian spiritual traditions.
After being hospitalised for "delusions", Karlo Mila discovered how Tongan spirituality is alive and well today
Hilda Wayne hears the shocking and inspiring stories of the women giving birth in remote parts of Papua New Guinea, and the women healthcare workers who help them and their babies.
Nurse Mary Nema is a midwife from Western Province in PNG, who will do almost anything to make sure pregnant women and babies get the best care.
Hilda Wayne talks to Pacific Island women who have bravely paved the way for a new generation of girls pursuing their dreams.
Hilda Wayne talks to Pacific Island women breaking stereotypes by working as tradies and gets the inside story on what it’s like to be the only woman on the work site.
Hilda Wayne breaks taboos by talking about periods and the challenges faced by women and girls who can’t access sanitary products in the Pacific. She hears from the inspiring women fighting to ensure girls and women have access to sanitary products so they can participate fully in school, work and social events.
Hilda Wayne talks to the Pacific women who have started businesses about how they did it, and why it’s so valuable for women to become part of the economy.
Across the Pacific, a movement is underway to get back to the traditional recipes of generations past. Hilda Wayne hears from the women reclaiming traditional foods and shares some delicious recipes along the way.
Hilda Wayne breaks down the taboos around mental health in the Pacific. She hears from the brave women living in the Pacific with mental health issues, and the doctors and experts leading the way in the fight for better treatment options.
Hilda Wayne talks to the women athletes and sports leaders across the Pacific who are breaking through the Grass Ceiling and into the world’s top sporting arenas.
Hilda Wayne talks to women across the Pacific who are using traditional knowledge to combat the effects of climate change.
Hilda Wayne talks to match makers, relationship experts and ordinary Pacific Island women about what love means to them, and how ideas of love have changed over the generations in the Pacific region.
Hilda Wayne talks to Pacific Island women and health experts about food, culture, body image, health and self esteem in a region with the world’s highest levels of obesity.
Hilda Wayne talks to experts and Pacific women about why we often don’t pass on our mother tongue to our kids when English, Tok Pisin, Bislama and other dominant languages are required for education and work. Is there a future for our many rich and unique Pacific languages? Or will they slowly die out?
A Vanuatu educator is calling on women to teach children their mother tongues, and help protect the country's linguistic diversity
Hilda Wayne talks to survivors, activists and change makers about why the Pacific is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a woman, and what Pacific women are doing to make a safer world for their daughters and granddaughters.
Alicia Sahib has turned her experience of family violence into a catalyst to tackle the problem in Papua New Guinea
Hilda Wayne talks to some of the Pacific Island women living away from their partners for work or study.
Hilda Wayne talks to the trailblazing women behind the Pacific Island fashion movement.
Hilda Wayne talks to the Pacific region’s most influential women leaders to find out how they beat the odds to become political leaders in a region with the worst levels of female representation in the world, and what can be done to bring more women
into Pacific politics.
Hilda Wayne looks into the contentious issue of Bride Price – is it a harmful practice or is it a celebration of two families coming together?
Hilda Wayne finds out why Pacific Island women are returning to the ancient practice of traditional tattooing.
Hilda Wayne finds out how Pacific Island women are responding to the Covid-19 pandemic, uncovering stories of resilience and ingenuity.
Hilda Wayne welcomes you to the first episode of Sistas, Let’s Talk, a show all about amplifying the voices of women from across the Pacific.