No Filter

Hello No Filter Listeners. We know how much you love an extraordinary story. Have we got one for you.Sometimes, a pivot isn’t triggered by a failure.Sometimes, it happens because you keep looking for a way to make the world a little bit fairer.Anne Aly was born in Alexandria, Egypt, and moved to Australia when she was just two years old. Her parents worked hard in factory jobs to give their family a foothold here, and those early experiences of displacement, resilience and possibility stayed with her.By her late twenties, Anne was a single working mother raising two young boys in Perth on the minimum wage. She knew what it meant to juggle life’s demands with no safety net, and she used that as fuel to keep pushing forward. She went back to study. And then studied some more, earning a Master’s and a PhD focused on countering violent extremism. From there, Anne became a globally recognised expert in her field, advising the United Nations, publishing hundreds of academic works, and even being the only Australian invited to speak at President Obama’s White House summit on countering violent extremism. But academia was never where her story stopped.In 2016, Anne took another monumental pivot — into politics. She was elected as the Federal Member for Cowan, becoming the first Muslim woman in the Australian Parliament, and then a minister in federal government, shaping policy on multicultural affairs, small business and international development. Along the way, she has championed issues close to her heart, from community safety to meaningful support for domestic and family violence survivors, turning her own life experience into public purpose.In this episode, Anne talks about how she navigated seismic life shifts with grit, compassion, and that same drive to make space for voices too often overlooked — and how she keeps pivoting even when the stakes are high.THE END BITS:Want more from Sarah Davidson? Check out her podcast Seize The Yay.Discover more Mamamia podcasts here.Feedback: [email protected] your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice message, and one of our Podcast Producers will get back to you ASAP.Rate or review us on Apple by clicking on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, click Go To Show then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the stars at the bottom and write a review.CREDITS:Guest: Anne AlyHost: Sarah DavidsonExecutive Producer: Courtney AmmenhauserSenior Producer: Sally BestThis show was brought to you in partnership with Charles Sturt University. Australia's largest and most experienced online uni. Take the next step. Search Charles Sturt University online.Complete our short survey about education for for a chance to win a $1,000 gift voucher in our quarterly draw! https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8467038/ChBecome a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After being crowned Jungle Queen and winning $100,000 for charity, Concetta chose to donate the prize to Full Stop Australia, the organisation that helped her family escape domestic violence when she was growing up. As a child, Concetta lived in a home where violence and fear were constant. Eventually, her mother made a secret call to a domestic violence hotline and began planning what the family would later describe as their escape. Concetta, her mother and her sister left their home, fled across the country and started again under new names. In this conversation with Kate Langbroek, Concetta speaks openly about the childhood she kept secret for years, the moment everything changed for her family, and the complicated journey of rebuilding a life after violence. She also reflects on the strange path that led her to comedy, the inner critic that still lives in her head, and the joy she has found in finally being able to live freely. If this conversation raises anything for you, support is available. Full Stop Australia runs a 24-hour confidential helpline for people affected by sexual, domestic and family violence. Details are in the show notes. You can listen to Concetta Caristo on triple j Breakfast. SUBSCRIBE here: Support independent women's media  What To Listen To Next: Listen: Rachel Ward Looks Her Age. When Did That Become Radical? Listen: For 15 Years, No One Was Listening To Lainey Wilson. Now She's Everywhere Listen: Supermodel Rachel Hunter Was The Ultimate 90s Muse - Then She Walked Away Listen: Michelle Slept by Her Son’s ICU Bedside for Most of Last Year Discover more Mamamia Podcasts here. Watch No Filter on YouTube. Follow us on Instagram here. Follow us on TikTok here.  Feedback: [email protected] Share your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice message, and one of our Podcast Producers will get back to you ASAP. Rate or review us on Apple by clicking on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, click Go To Show then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the stars at the bottom and write a review. CREDITS: Guest: Concetta Caristo Host: Kate Langbroek Group Executive Producer: Naima Brown Executive Producer: Bree Player Assistant Producer: Coco Lavigne Audio Producer: Jacob Round Video Producer: Josh Green 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.Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rachel Ward recently went viral for a video filmed in a paddock on her farm. The internet had a lot to say about how she looked. At 66, the former Thorn Birds star suddenly found herself at the centre of a global conversation about ageing, beauty, and what people expect women who were once famous for their looks to look like decades later. In this episode of No Filter, Rachel talks to Kate Langbroek about the viral moment and why she believes the reaction had very little to do with her and everything to do with society’s discomfort with women ageing in public. Rachel reflects on her extraordinary life, from British aristocracy to international fame, from Hollywood film sets to regenerative farming on the mid north coast of New South Wales. She also speaks candidly about mental health, the “crumbles” that forced her to reassess everything, and the instinct she has learned to trust when it is time to leave one chapter of her life behind and begin another. CREDITS: Guest: Rachel Ward Host: Kate Langbroek Group Executive Producer: Naima Brown Executive Producer: Bree Player Assistant Producer: Coco Lavigne Audio Producer: Jacob Round Video Producer: Josh Green 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.  Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For 15 years, Lainey Wilson chased a dream that didn’t seem to want her back. She was rejected. Overlooked. Living in a camper trailer in Nashville while the industry moved on without her. Now she’s one of country music’s biggest stars. In this episode of No Filter, Lainey reflects on the decade-and-a-half grind behind her so-called “overnight success” from auditioning for Idol and The Voice, to impersonating Hannah Montana for five years, to going viral in a way she never expected. She talks about faith, exhaustion, ambition, meeting Miley Cyrus after years of portraying her on stage, and the advice from Keith Urban that reframed everything. You can find Lainey’s latest music, tour dates and more at laineywilson.com.  CREDITS: Guest: Lainey Wilson Host: Kate Langbroek Group Executive Producer: Naima Brown Executive Producer: Bree Player Audio Producer: Jacob Round Video Producer: Josh Green 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.Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 1990s, Rachel Hunter was one of the most recognisable women in the world. A Sports Illustrated cover star and defining face of the supermodel era, she went from a teenager in New Zealand to global fame almost overnight. She later married Rod Stewart, becoming part of one of the decade’s most talked-about love stories. From the outside, it looked like the ultimate 90s fairytale. In this episode of No Filter, Rachel reflects on rising to fame at 17, her whirlwind marriage to Rod Stewart, and what it was really like to live inside that cultural moment. After recently appearing on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, she speaks candidly about motherhood, public scrutiny, and why the life everyone envied eventually wasn’t enough. This is a conversation about identity, reinvention, and finding yourself beyond the spotlight. CREDITS: Guest: Rachel Hunter Host: Kate Langbroek Group Executive Producer: Naima Brown Executive Producer: Bree Player Audio Producer: Jacob Round Video Producer: Josh Green 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.Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Michelle Burgess’ young son Leo became unwell while their family was on holiday in Tasmania, it initially seemed like a virus — something that would pass with rest and time. But within days, Leo lost the ability to move his body, was transferred between hospitals across two states, and was eventually placed into an induced coma while doctors tried to understand what was happening. Leo was later diagnosed with GFAP astrocytopathy — an extremely rare autoimmune neurological condition that causes inflammation in the brain and spinal cord. What followed was months in hospital, intensive treatment, and the beginning of a recovery that is still ongoing. In this deeply personal conversation, Michelle takes Kate Langbroek inside the terrifying early days of Leo’s illness — from the moment she realised something was wrong, to the long weeks spent sitting beside his hospital bed in intensive care, unsure whether he would survive. She shares what it means to advocate for your child when there are no clear answers, how she coped with fear and exhaustion, and the extraordinary resilience Leo showed as he slowly began to recover. It’s an experience Kate understands in a profoundly personal way. When her eldest son was a child, he was diagnosed with leukaemia — an illness he survived — and she recognises the unique fear that comes when a parent is forced to watch their child fight for their life. This episode is about motherhood, uncertainty, and the kind of love that refuses to give up — even when the future is impossible to imagine. Michelle and Leo are sharing their story in support of the Starlight Super Swim which aims to raise $4.3 million to bring happiness to more than 110,000 sick kids in hospital. You can donate via superswim.au/NoFilter If you find yourself needing to talk to someone after listening to this episode please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. CREDITS: Guest: Michelle Burgess Host: Kate Langbroek Group Executive Producer: Naima Brown Executive Producer: Bree Player Audio Producer: Jacob Round Video Producer: Josh Green 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.Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is life really like inside one of the most famous in American pop culture? In this episode of No Filter, Kate Langbroek sits down with Faith Ward, an Australian–New Zealand dancer who went from thinking an unexpected message was a scam to becoming a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. Faith takes us behind the uniform to talk candidly about what it actually takes to make it — and stay — inside the world’s most recognisable cheer squad. From the brutal audition process and constant scrutiny, to discipline, image control, and the realities of pay, Faith shares what the public rarely sees. We talk ponytails, pressure, pay rises, and perfection — the details that reveal how much is demanded of the women who wear the uniform, and what it costs to belong to such a powerful global brand. This is a behind-the-curtain conversation about ambition, sacrifice, identity and what happens when the glamour meets the reality. CREDITS: Guest: Faith Ward Host: Kate Langbroek Group Executive Producer: Naima Brown Executive Producer: Bree Player Additional Production: Coco LavigneAudio Producer: Jacob Round Video Producer: Josh Green 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.Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For more than a decade, Kate Seselja lived a double life. Outwardly, she was a well-spoken suburban mum raising six children. Privately, she was trapped in a devastating poker machine addiction that would cost her more than $500,000, push her family into overwhelming debt, and bring her to the brink of suicide. In this deeply confronting episode, Kate takes us back to the years when gambling consumed her life — the highs of winning, the crushing shame of losing, the secrecy, and the relentless hope that the next spin would fix everything. She reflects on how poker machines are designed to hijack the brain, why addiction thrives in silence, and how stigma keeps people trapped for far too long. Kate also speaks candidly about her rock-bottom moment while pregnant with her sixth child, what stopped her from ending her life, and the long road to recovery that followed. Now an advocate and founder of The Hope Project, she dedicates her life to helping others understand gambling harm as a public health issue and not a personal failure. This episode is a powerful reminder that gambling addiction doesn’t look the way we expect it to and that it can happen to anyone. If this episode brings up anything for you, support is available. You can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. Kate Seselja, along with at GHLEE (Gambling Harm Lived Experience Experts) are calling for each state and territory to enforce loss limits on poker machines of $100 per day, $500 per month, and $5000 per year. This simple act will literally save lives. You can find out more information and sign their petition here. CREDITS: Guest: Kate Seselja Host: Kate Langbroek Group Executive Producer: Naima Brown Executive Producer: Bree Player Audio Producer: Jacob Round Video Producer: Josh Green 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.Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Angie Kent first joined No Filter back in 2019, she was fresh off The Bachelorette, newly in love, and stepping into a very public chapter of her life. A lot has changed since then. In this episode, Angie returns with Kate Langbroek for an honest, deeply reflective conversation about what it means to choose a life that feels right, even when it doesn’t look the way you once imagined. Angie opens up about her decision to become a solo mum by choice, sharing her IVF journey, the public reaction (both supportive and critical), and the internal certainty that led her here. She reflects on her search for love, the pressure women still face around partnership and timelines, and why companionship now matters more than financial stability, especially when so many women are finding men aren’t meeting them where they are. This is a conversation about autonomy, motherhood, healing, and unlearning the scripts we’re handed. About trusting your instincts. About choosing yourself. And about what it really means to say, “I am the right person.” THE END BITS: Listen to more No Filter interviews here and follow us on Instagram here. Discover more Mamamia podcasts here. Feedback: [email protected] Share your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice message, and one of our Podcast Producers will get back to you ASAP. Rate or review us on Apple by clicking on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, click Go To Show then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the stars at the bottom and write a review. CREDITS: Guest: Angie Kent Host: Kate Langbroek Group Executive Producer: Naima Brown Executive Producer: Bree Player Audio Producer: Jacob Round Video Producer: Josh Green 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.Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jonathan Van Ness is one of the most recognisable and beloved figures in pop culture today - but in this conversation, they open up about the chapters of their life few people truly understand. Jonathan speaks candidly about addiction, relapse, sex addiction, and living with HIV, including the moment they realised contracting HIV ultimately saved their life by forcing them to confront a dangerous relationship with meth. With extraordinary honesty, Jonathan reflects on survival, recovery, shame, joy, and what it really means to heal. We also talk about identity, coming out as non-binary, people-pleasing, impulse behaviour, and why healing isn’t a destination — it’s a lifelong practice. Alongside the heavy moments, Jonathan brings humour, warmth and deep compassion, sharing how movement, group fitness, love, and chosen family helped them rebuild a life they want to stay in. This is a powerful, vulnerable and deeply human conversation about staying alive, finding joy after trauma, and learning how to come home to yourself. For information about Jonathan's upcoming Hot and Healed Tour head here.  THE END BITS: Listen to more No Filter interviews here and follow us on Instagram here. Discover more Mamamia podcasts here. Feedback: [email protected] Share your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice message, and one of our Podcast Producers will get back to you ASAP. Rate or review us on Apple by clicking on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, click Go To Show then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the stars at the bottom and write a review. We’re giving away a Your Reformer Pilates bed (worth $3,400) Subscribe to enter. CREDITS: Guest: Jonathan Van Ness Host: Naima Brown Executive Producer: Bree Player Audio Producer: Tina Matalov Video Producer: Josh Green Recorded with Session in Progress studios. 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.  Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.