The Grace Tales

Welcome to the third instalment of our In Her Shoes series, in partnership with the iconic Australian footwear brand Wittner. This exciting new series gives us the rare opportunity to step into the lives of the women who inspire us and discover the strength, courage and ingenuity that has got them to where they are today... So, let’s meet the fabulous Rey Vakili. It’s hard to know where to start with Rey. You could credit her success to the fact that her parents taught her the importance of education and a strong work ethic from a young age. They clearly had an impact on her - at 18 years old Rey went to study Political Science at Yale and then later did an MBA at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. But it was after Yale, that she landed a job as an assistant to the editor-in-chief of American VOGUE Anna Wintour. Her next career move was working for LTK (the largest Influencer Marketing community) after her friend and Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd introduced her to LTK founder Amber Venz Box. She’s now the managing director of LTK Australia. Want to step into her shoes and find out what makes her tick? And also, what shoes she’s coveting this season? Let’s meet the incredible Rey. In partnership with Wittner | Go towittner.com [https://wittner.com.au/]to shop See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Nikki Gemmell’s latest book Dissolve has been described as the book every woman on earth should read. But if you don’t have the time, you can start with this podcast. In today’s episode with Nikki we talk about some of the big moments in her life, from having to give evidence in court at age 10 during her parents divorce, to having her engagement broken off and becoming the wildly successful author of 13 novels. We talk about love, heartbreak, and creativity, and why she does so much of what she calls ‘angry writing’. And now the mother to teenagers, Nikki tells us what it means to ‘roar to life in a man’s world’. If you’ve ever dreamed a big dream, this episode will remind you of what’s possible. nikkigemmell.com [https://www.nikkigemmell.com/] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Almost exactly a year ago, Allira Potter was working a corporate job, she felt burnt out and she knew she wasn’t living her purpose. 12 months on, she works for herself, she has built an incredible online following, she’s earning six figures, she’s working with major brands like The Body Shop, and she’s just announced a book entitled Wild & Witchy - so by all accounts, it’s fair to say she’s feeling much more aligned to her purpose. How did this happen? We’re going to find out today. Allira grew up with a single mum who worked multiple jobs to keep the family afloat. When she lost her mum at just 17, her life became a wild ride of ups and downs. She was married by the age of 22 and divorced only two years later, navigated mental health issues and financial insecurity, and contended with substance abuse and hitting rock bottom… until she came across a deck of oracle cards her mum had left her. It turned her life around. She’s now a manifestation and spiritual coach who strives to inspire body positivity and empowerment in her community. Today, we’re going to talk about her journey and making a difference in the world. Allira is incredibly open and really, a joy to speak to. Follow @allira.potter [https://www.instagram.com/allira.potter/?hl=en] PRE ORDER WILD & WITCHY HERE [https://www.booktopia.com.au/wild-witchy-allira-potter/book/9781761101878.html?irclickid=xcw3ZI1abxyLU3w0GtxSTziGUkBT8NVxtWaJz80&bk_source=2948841&bk_source_id=2948841&irgwc=1&utm_campaign=AlliraPotter&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=Impact] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Have you heard the joke about how ‘next pregnancy, I want to be the dad’? Or perhaps you’ve laughed about needing an extra set of hands, or warned a pregnant friend to ‘sleep now, because it’s the last chance you’ll get’. It’s no secret that motherhood changes you forever, exhausts you, pushes you to your limits, and is often referred to as the hardest (but best) thing you’ll ever do. But if any of this sounds familiar, then you MUST listen to today’s episode of the podcast with Amy Taylor Kabbaz. She’s a matrescence expert and activist, and if you don’t know what that is, you’re about to find out. In her motherhood journey, Amy did what many of us do, burning the candle at both ends trying to maintain her commitment to the job she loved, while being the best mother she could be. When the stress sent her into early labour with her third child, she realised it was time to change. And in doing so, she discovered a whole new world of research that explained everything she had been experiencing. The exhaustion, the burn out, the anxiety, and the anger. In this episode, she tells us what it all means, and what to do about it. Prepare to feel seen. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Power Play by Julia Banks delves into the toxic workplace culture in Parliament House – and now is the time to read it. But before you do, listen to this episode. In today’s conversation, hosted by our managing editor Gemma Dawkins, you’ll hear how Julia was verbally abused and told she was a “pighead,” by a male Liberal staffer inside her own home. Her son was upstairs studying at the time. She was also told to “stop acting like a fucking CEO”. How did she react in these toxic situations? We asked her. Julia shocked Australia when she announced she would stand as an independent MP in 2018. Following her resignation, the PM’s office span a public narrative that she couldn’t cope and was emotionally unstable – today we talk about what it was like in the middle of a narrative so removed from the truth. We also talk ambition, motherhood and all the in-between and as always, don’t leave anything out. Purchase Power Play by Julia Banks [https://www.hardiegrant.com/au/publishing/bookfinder/book/power-play-by-julia-banks/9781743797204] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.