Extraordinary Stories

All Samantha wants is to understand why her mother wasn’t there for her. All Marie wants is a chance to make things right with her daughter — and to be part of her granddaughter’s life. But after years of distance, hurt, and misunderstanding, can a fractured bond ever truly be repaired? In this session, a mother and daughter confront the truths left unspoken, ask the questions long avoided, and search for a small patch of common ground on which to rebuild their relationship. Listen to the second part of Samantha & Marie's session here Resources (Australia-only) 1800RESPECT: The national domestic, family, and sexual violence counselling, information, and support service. Beyond Blue: For support with anxiety, depression, and suicide prevention. Lifeline Australia: For 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. Motivated Minds: Learn more about host Sarah Bays’ practice. Relationships Australia: A leading provider of relationship support services for individuals, families, and communities. The End Bits Want To Be On This Is Why We Fight? Apply here.  Host: Sarah Bays Executive Producer: Naima Brown Studio Engineer: Lu Hill Audio production: Thom Lion and Jacob Round Production support: Leah Porges and Coco Lavigne Follow This Is Why We Fight on Instagram for sneak peeks and more relationship therapy content Explore all Mamamia’s podcasts here.Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Belle Gibson fooled not only her hundreds of thousands of followers, but the most prestigious book publishers in Australia, the tech giants of silicon valley and even her family and friends into believing she was something she was not: sick. If today, her name is synonymous with the weighty infamy of a notorious scam, there was a time before that, when she was celebrated as an inspiration. On this episode of Extraordinary Stories, we look at the rise of Belle Gibson. From tall tales in school drama classes to international acclaim and influence, how did Annabelle Natalie Gibson become the pinup girl for the wellness movement? Listen to part two here Listen to part three here THE END BITS: With thanks to Bronwyn McCahon, Doctor Brad McKay and Kylie Willey  RESOURCES WE USED: The Woman Who Fooled The World by Beau Donnelly and Nick Toscano  Fake Medicine by Brad Mckay The Girl Who Conned Us All by Clair Weaver https://www.nowtolove.com.au/news/real-life/belle-gibson-the-whole-story-10129 https://www.nowtolove.com.au/news/local-news/belle-gibson-speaks-for-the-first-time-since-her-whole-pantry-controversy-13532  With thanks to Tara Brown from 60 Minutes  GET IN TOUCH: Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au Need more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/ CREDITS: Host: Emma Gillespie Writers: Emma Gillespie and Holly Wainwright Producers: Melanie Sauer and Emma Gillespie Audio Production: Elissa Ratliff and Madeline Joannou Executive Producer: Holly Wainwright and Elissa Ratliff Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

[Part 2 of 3] After a celebrated album with her debut, Frank, and with that distinct voice and sound, Amy Winehouse got very famous, very fast. Everyone wanted a second album, but Amy had entered a whole new world. On this episode, we’ll hear how Amy’s very private struggles with mental health and addiction became headlines for a relentless tabloid culture. And, in one of the most volatile love affairs in pop culture history, how would the story of Amy and Blake become a cautionary tale about the dangers of codependency? CREDITS: Host: Emma Gillespie Written and produced by Emma Gillespie with Elissa Ratliff, Tia Ucich & Kally Borg Audio Production: Madeline Joannou Guest booking: Kally Borg With thanks to: Dr Peter HughesEleni PapavasileiouPolly TaylorDean McCarthySubscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

[Part 3 of 3] In the lead-up to the Beijing Winter Olympics, the world began to wonder how and if Peng Shuai would be used in the games, and whether the IOC was going to have anything to say to the Chinese Government about their silencing of the tennis star. So how did the Chinese propaganda juggernaut shift its attention to the global sporting stage? And what happens when the international community’s peak sporting body is accused of silencing a sexual assault survivor? Plus, we investigate China’s Me Too movement. What does the story of Peng Shuai tell us about feminism in China? CREDITS: Host: Emma Gillespie Writer: Emma Gillespie Producers: Emma Gillespie, Kally Borg, Tia Ucich Guest booking: Kally Borg Audio Production: Madeline Joannou Executive Producer: Elissa Ratliff WITH THANKS TO:Yaqiu Wang, Pan Wang, Tom Steinfort & Sydney PeadSubscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

[Part 1 of 3] It was after 10 pm, on November 2nd, 2021 when 35-year-old Peng Shuai - China’s beloved global tennis star - sat down and began typing. Truncated sentences of an open letter, detailing an affair and sexual assault involving one of China’s highest-ranking political figures. It took only a few minutes before the post had amassed thousands of shares, likes, and comments. But within half an hour, it vanished. And moments later, so too did Peng Shuai.CREDITS: Host: Emma Gillespie Writers: Emma Gillespie, Tia Ucich Producers: Emma Gillespie Guest booking: Kally Borg Audio Production: Madeline Joannou Executive Producer: Elissa Ratliff WITH THANKS TO:Sydney Pead, Yaqiu Wang and Drew Pavlou GET IN TOUCH:Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.auNeed more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

[Part 1 of 2] She was the queen of Nickelodeon, beloved by teens of the noughties. But just as her movie career was taking off, something happened to Amanda Bynes. In this two-part series, we’re looking back on the life and career of Amanda Bynes before, during and after things got out of control.We’ll dive into the paparazzi culture that hounded and taunted young Hollywood starlets, and question our historic understanding of the mental health issues at play. What caused Amanda Bynes to crumble alongside a generation of young stars? And where has Amanda been for the last nine years?CREDITS:Host: Emma GillespieWritten and Produced by Sydney Pead & Emma GillespieAudio Production: Madeline JoannouExecutive Producer: Sydney PeadWith thanks to:Laura BrodnikLouisa HatfieldSOURCES:Entertainment TonightPaper MagazineNickelodeonDreamworks film She's The ManSplash News TVGET IN TOUCH:Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.auNeed more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

[Part 2 of 3] To lock down the future of the Grimaldi dynasty, Prince Albert II needed to marry and produce a legitimate heir. So when he met South African olympian Charlene Wittstock, the palace breathed a sigh of relief. Beautiful and elegant, Charlene would make the perfect princess. But when Albert’s past life as “The Playboy Prince” caught up with him, the star-studded princely wedding in Monaco almost had everything except a bride. The tabloids were reporting Albert had a new love child, and that Charlene had tried to escape the tiny country three times. The world wondered if Charlene really wanted to marry into the Grimaldi family, and if she did, why was she crying on her wedding day?Host: Emma GillespieWritten and Produced by Sydney Pead & Emma GillespieAudio Production: Madeline JoannouExecutive Producer: Sydney PeadWith thanks to:Professor Chandrika Kaul- Historian, University of St AndrewsMaddalena Maestrostefano - Royal Correspondent, Royal CentralChelsea McLaughlin - Entertainment Reporter, MamamiaSOURCES:Entertainment TonightThe TimesGraham Bassinger, 2017SABC, Top BillingSubscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

[Part 3 of 3] In trying to put an end to the legal quagmire they found themselves in, Pamela and Tommy Lee signed away the rights to their stolen sex tape, and to any future profits it would make. It was an insult to injury, after the viral home movie saw the couple become some of the first victims of a crime often misnamed as ‘revenge porn.’ A crime so pervasive it forces many of us to ask ourselves “who else has seen my nudes?”CREDITSHost: Emma GillespieWritten and Produced by Sydney Pead & Emma GillespieAudio Production: Madeline JoannouExecutive Producer: Sydney PeadWith thanks to:Kathy Kenzora - Host - History of the 90s PodcastAmanda Chicago Lewis - JournalistAssoc. Professor Lynn Comella - Gender Studies, University of NevadaJulie Inman Grant - Australia's eSafety Commissionerand a special thanks to Tia and James.SourcesThe Untold Story of the World's Most Infamous Sex Tape - Rolling StonesFox Files show with Catherine CrierSubscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

[Part 1 of 3] When Tommy Lee licked Pam Anderson’s face from chin to temple at a New Year's Eve party in 1995, it was the beginning of one of Hollywood’s most intense and frenzied romances. Less than two months later the bad-boy Mötley Crüe drummer and sex-symbol Baywatch actor were married on a beach in Mexico. But wedded bliss for the 90s glam couple was short-lived, after a disgruntled electrician broke into their house to steal their most prized possessions. Little did he, or the couple know what he stole would change the world of pornography, technology and their lives forever.CREDITSHost: Emma GillespieWritten and Produced by Sydney Pead & Emma GillespieAudio Production: Madeline JoannouExecutive Producer: Sydney PeadWith thanks to:Kathy Kenzora - Host - History of the 90s PodcastAmanda Chicago Lewis - JournalistSourcesThe Untold Story of the World's Most Infamous Sex Tape - Rolling StonesThe Tonight ShowBaywatchITV - Life StoriesSubscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

[Part 3 of 4] Professionally, Linda Evangelista was unparalleled, achieving more success than almost anyone else in the fashion industry. But her personal life was not so straight-forward. From leaving a marriage plagued with allegations of abuse, to an ill-fated relationship with a curious film star; in this episode we delve into the supermodel's loves and losses, and a scandal followed by a secret that would change Linda's life forever.With thanks toRichard Reid - Entertainment Reporter @the_richardreidJason Sheeler - Deputy West Coast Editor, PEOPLE Magazine and Co-Host of PEOPLE in the '90s - @jasonsheelerPaula Joye, Stylist - @paulajoyeCREDITS:Host: Emma GillespieWritten and Produced by Sydney Pead & Emma GillespieAudio Production: Madeline JoannouExecutive Producer: Sydney PeadGET IN TOUCH:Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.auNeed more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

[Part 1 of 4] She was one of the most photographed women in the world, now even the paparazzi are struggling to snap a photo of Linda Evangelista. The original 90s supermodel has become a recluse, while her contemporaries continue with lucrative careers, claiming a cosmetic procedure left her permanently disfigured. But before her greatest downfall, how did this Canadian-born beauty queen become the most super of The Supermodels?With Thanks to:Kirstie ClementsNicole Bonython-HinesJayson Brunsdon GET IN TOUCH:Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.auNeed more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/ CREDITS:Host: Emma GillespieWritten and Produced by Sydney Pead & Emma Gillespie, with Holly WainwrightAudio Production: Madeline JoannouExecutive Producer: Sydney Pead Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.Subscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Subscribe to MPlus for unlimited access to Extraordinary StoriesThe Young Talent Team were as famous as it gets in 1970-80s Australia. Mobbed at shopping centre concerts, packing stadiums on tour, chased down city streets during on school trips; the cast soared to heights most performers could only dream of reaching. But each knew the wild ride of YTT would have to end once they turned sixteen. Some thrived and continued performing, but others came face-to-face with the cut-throat realities of show business. THE END BITS WITH THANKS TO: John Young - Host and Executive Producer of Young Talent Time (1971-1988) Vicki ThirlwellAngela BishopDannii MinogueTina ArenaBeven AddinsallJoey DeeVince DeltitoKaren KnowlesNicole CooperSOURCES: Archival footage courtesy of John Young Network 10GET IN TOUCH:Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.auNeed more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/ CREDITS:Host: Emma GillespieWritten and Produced by Sydney Pead & Emma Gillespie, with Holly WainwrightAudio Production: Madeline JoannouExecutive Producer: Sydney Pead Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Just by reading or listening to our content, you’re helping to fund girls in schools in some of the most disadvantaged countries in the world - through our partnership with Room to Read. We’re currently funding 300 girls in school every day and our aim is to get to 1,000. Find out more about Mamamia at mamamia.com.auSubscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Subscribe to MPlus for unlimited access to Extraordinary Stories In 1971, Australian TV changed forever when a brand new show called 'Young Talent Time' burst onto screens in lounge rooms across the country. For 18 years, it held a place in the hearts of Australians at a time when family entertainment was king and "mullet" hairstyles reigned supreme. A unique mix of pop hits, flashy dance routines and wholesome performances by a team of talented children and teens catapulted the show into enormous success, and launched the careers of some of the country's biggest music exports including Tina Arena and Dannii Minogue. We take a stroll through the past to discover how this TV-music juggernaut came to be one of the most loved shows ever made in Australia. THE END BITS WITH THANKS TO: John Young - Host and Executive Producer of Young Talent Time (1971-1988) Vicki ThirlwellDannii MinogueTina ArenaBeven AddinsallJoey DeeVince DeltitoKaren KnowlesNicole CooperDebra ByrneMeldi ArkinstallSOURCES: Archival footage courtesy of John Young GET IN TOUCH:Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.auNeed more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/ CREDITS:Host: Emma GillespieWritten and Produced by Sydney Pead & Emma Gillespie, with Holly WainwrightAudio Production: Madeline JoannouExecutive Producer: Sydney Pead Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Just by reading or listening to our content, you’re helping to fund girls in schools in some of the most disadvantaged countries in the world - through our partnership with Room to Read. We’re currently funding 300 girls in school every day and our aim is to get to 1,000. Find out more about Mamamia at mamamia.com.auSubscribe to Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.