Bodystory with Sarah Wallwork

Jules 53

Jules discovered strength training and the benefits to mind and body through training with me at Bodyschool and she is an inspiration to others in my classes. She's buff, positive and super fit. Jules shared her struggles with post-natal anxiety , giving up running and her efforts in coming to terms with ageing. We also talk about the body ideals of the 1980's and we discuss Jules's decision to buy herself some boobs after years of feeling unhappy with her flat chest. This is a warm, generous conversation.

Ginger 22

Ginger 22 is my daughter. She courageously shared her Bodystory with me covering topics like being the tallest girl at highschool, life and sex as a lesbian and how she has coped with an ADHD diagnosis. She shared how sport ( she is an awesome soccer player) and her sporting community have been hugely important in her life. She is funny, honest and candid. My favourite part of the podcast is her description of anxiety and the resources she uses to cope with anxiety in her life. I really hope young people listen to this podcast.

Gabriela Rivas Ureta 37

Gabriela Ureta moved to Australia from Chile in 2012 . She studied Sociology in Chile and completed a post grad in Sexology at Curtin University in Perth Western Australia. Gabriela created her business Empowered Intimacy to offer support and guidance for people to explore their sexual and personal authenticity. Gabriela is also a stripper and mum to Leon. This is such a wonderful generous conversation. Gabriela shares the journey of pushing her body from an early age with diets and punishing exercise to try and meet ridiculous beauty standards. We talk about love, romance and how Gabriela came to own her sexual pleasure. Gabriela generously shares the moments when she was forced to listen to her body and develop the intimate conversation she enjoys today. We talk about her work as a stripper, and she shares her advice on intimacy in a long-term relationship and with the self.

Jazzey 27

Jazzey was always a "girly girl". She loved dolls, playing mum and imagined herself as Princess Jasmine from Aladdin. With long blonde hair , blue eyes and a suntan she considered herself the aussie beach girl and was obsessed with Jennifer Hawkins. Jazzey embraced the changes of puberty, anything to become more of a womanly woman. During high school, she moved out of home. and became completely independent. She worked hard outside school to support herself, pushed her young body with intense exercise and explored her huge freedom. Jazzey spoke about hitting rock bottom at 18 after a brush with law and feeling like she was going nowhere. She made some decisions for herself and kept pushing and working hard for herself. At 20 Jazzey got into the finals on a cooking reality TV show called My Kitchen Rules, her plan was to win the money and set herself up for life! Jazzey and her partner Stella didn't win the money but had big interesting life experience. Heading into her mid twenties Jazzey spoke candidly about living in "survival" mode and described how that felt in her body. She generously shared the point in her life when she " relaxed " into herself and at the tender age of 27 as a new approach to how she thinks about her body. This is a body story of resilience by a young warrior princess.

Laurie Curtain 55

Business owner, mum of two and recent grandmother Laurie Curtain remembers the love of swimming and dancing when she was a young child. Nobody spoke to her about puberty and menstruation and she learnt about sex from her girlfriends. She describes the challenges of pregnancy and parenting for the first time and being thrust into early menopause at 39. She describes rediscovering running after her marriage fell apart and how this became an important tool for her mental health. Laurie looks forward to ageing with strength and vitality but also now understands the importance of rest as well.