Leah Dove - Statistician and Second City alumni

Today we talk to one of Magdalena’s oldest friends, Mathilde Marengo, Head of Studies and Director of the Urban Sciences Lab at the Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC). Mathilde shares her journey as a first generation Australian to French and Italian parents, growing up in a French school, studying Architecture in Italy, and finding her feet in Barcelona.

We talk to Genevieve “Gwen” Kingston, author, actor, and teacher, about the essence of life; the role of community, understanding our personal history, and trusting our own wisdom, alongside discussing her new memoir “Did I ever tell you?”, the story of her mother’s love and death, and the foundation she laid before her.

Manal Abuzeid, product designer and founder of Abuzeid Design Studio, talks about starting a company while living a nomadic life, choosing clients that align with your purpose, and how burnout, resiliency, and self-reflection got her here.

In today’s episode we speak to Leah Dove, statistician and Second City alumni. We dive into the very personal story of Leah’s upbringing, the complexity of family dynamics as well as generational trauma, and its impact on her life’s decisions. It all culminates with one of the most difficult decisions anyone could face, cutting ties with their mother.

Ryann Bosetti, once hailed as "the best haircut in Marfa, Texas," by Vogue magazine, transitioned from business school in San Francisco to the bustling hair salons of NYC. Now, she's prioritizing moments of stillness to liberate herself from the grind. We delve into the essence of hairdressing, Ryann's early decision against motherhood at age 5, the challenges of finding jeans as a woman over 6 feet tall, and the power of knowing we all have agency.

Kristina Takeshita, LAPD's Forensics Unit Lab Director, boasts a distinguished 29-year career, beginning as a student worker. Her journey, marked by transformative cases, reflects unwavering commitment to justice. Notably, as leader of the DNA unit, she successfully cleared a 6,000-kit sexual assault backlog, some untouched for 15 years. Thanks to her team's dedication, processing time now stands at an impressive 90 days. Beyond professional achievements, Kristina advocates for mental well-being, recognizing therapy as integral to a fulfilling career.

At the age of 8 Magdalena Wosinska and her family left their homeland of Poland and headed for America. Her journey is a testament to the transformative power of culture shock, which ultimately lead her to the world of skateboarding and photography. Through the lens, she discovered a powerful tool to bridge the gap between her inner world and the external one, creating a visual language that transcended borders and spoke to the universal human experience.

From post-it notes to rocket launches, Liz De La Torre is a Creative Technologist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Liz's unique path began as an undergraduate student in illustration and entertainment art, a far cry from the traditional routes into the world of space exploration. However, her artistic talents have proven invaluable in a completely unexpected way.

As a professional beach volleyball player, Sarah Straton represented Australia at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, however, she played some of her best volleyball in the years that followed. Embarking on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth, Sarah transformed her fears into fuel transitioning from an elite athlete to a dedicated coach and educator.

How does a society's infrastructure impact people's ability to reach their full potential? What impressions do we make by the way we look – and how does that change depending on the context we're in? What happens when you replace fear with love and compassion? Our final episode of season two kicks off the new year with some big questions. We discuss these and much more with London-based human rights lawyer, Anika Baset.