Lioness Heart

My guest this month is Sri Lankan-Australian artist Kuweni Dias Mendis. Kuweni integrates movement, sound, film, installations, markings and sculptural ritual objects to create immersive works. These works invite you to reconnect to your heartbeat, rhythm, gait, posture, and sense of time and space within a decolonised body. Her practice is shaped by her cultural experiences of Sri Lanka and Australia. As a migrant on unceded lands, Kuweni advocates for and amplifies the voices of marginalised women through collaborative artworks, exhibitions and participatory experiences. She creates spaces where these voices can be heard and valued. In this episode, Kuweni and I chat about what prompted her to leave her corporate career and follow her dream of becoming an artist, how she found a new family of aunties and discovered she's a river woman. We also yarn about why connection to culture and country is important, how Kuweni's art is a bridge between two cultures, and why we need to make sure we go to the table where we belong. Visit Kuweni's art exhibition 'Riverscope' at Logan Art Gallery from 11 August to 12 September 2025. Check out her website: Kuweni – Kuweni Dias Mendis and follow her on Facebook: dimuthu.dias or Instagram: kuweni_artist This podcast is produced and hosted by Netta Finney Mejia. Recorded in the studios of Brisbane Multicultural Radio 4EB 98.1FM and Global Digital on Turrbal and Yuggera Country. Broadcast on the Community Radio Network around Australia. Music by Stephen Utting. Email: [email protected] Facebook: Netta Finney Mejia Instagram: @nettafinney Linktree: Netta Finney Mejia

My guest this month is Councillor Trina Massey. Trina is a proud, queer woman and immigrant of Filipino and African American ethnicity. She's also the first ever Black, Asian, queer woman to hold political office in Queensland! As a record-spinning DJ with an extensive music collection, Trina goes under the name Black Amex.  We yarn about what it was like for Trina growing up as a mixed race kid in Brisbane, how she likes to surprise Filipinos by bursting out in Tagalog, and the importance of community and social justice. We also talk about how emotional white men can be, being authentic and doing politics differently, and encouraging diverse women to get into politics. Check out Trina's website: Trina Massey - Greens Councillor for The Gabba Ward. Follow her on Facebook: Trina Massey Councillor for the Gabba Ward or Instagram: trinamasseygabba.  This podcast is produced and hosted by Netta Finney Mejia. Recorded in the studios of Brisbane Multicultural Radio 4EB 98.1FM and Global Digital on Turrbal and Yuggera Country. Broadcast on the Community Radio Network around Australia. Music by Stephen Utting. Email: [email protected] Facebook: Netta Finney Mejia Instagram: @nettafinney Linktree: Netta Finney Mejia

Content warning: Ableism, racism, ageism and domestic abuse My guest this month is talented Filipina-Australian singer, dancer and rapper, Danii. We yarn about Danii's connection to her heritage, her love of music (especially K-pop) and how she got her start in show biz. We also talk about her experiences of discrimination in general and in the music industry, why representation matters, and how there needs to be more of a spotlight on women of colour performers.  Follow Danii on Instagram iamdaniimusic and her website iamdanii.com. If you're in Australia and you need support: 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 (sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling) Lifeline on 13 11 14 (crisis support) 13YARN on 13 92 76 (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners) If you're outside Australia please contact the support service in your area. This podcast is produced and hosted by Netta Finney Mejia. Recorded in the studios of Brisbane Multicultural Radio 4EB 98.1FM and Global Digital on Turrbal and Yuggera Country. Broadcast on the Community Radio Network around Australia. Music by Stephen Utting. Email: [email protected] Facebook: Netta Finney Mejia Instagram: @nettafinney Linktree: Netta Finney Mejia

Content warning: child sexual abuse, racism and domestic violence. This is the second part of our chat with Olivia Afriyie Johnson. In this episode, Olivia yarns about how important self-care is and gives encouraging advice for other women of colour. She also shares how she figured out what she was experiencing was domestic abuse, what it was like getting backlash from her own community, and what helped her.  If you're in Australia and you need support: 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 (sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling) Lifeline on 13 11 14 (crisis support) 13YARN on 13 92 76 (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners) If you're outside Australia please contact the support service in your area. This podcast is produced and hosted by Netta Finney Mejia. Recorded in the studios of Brisbane Multicultural Radio 4EB 98.1FM on Turrbal and Yuggera Country. Broadcast on the Community Radio Network around Australia. Music by Stephen Utting. Email: [email protected] Facebook: Netta Finney Mejia Instagram:@nettafinney Linktree: Netta Finney Mejia 

Content warning: child sexual abuse, racism and domestic violence. My next guest is Olivia Afriyie Johnson. Olivia is a passionate advocate, sociopreneur, and human resources & business management professional dedicated to empowering others through her lived experiences. Born in Ghana and raised in Australia, her cross-cultural journey has shaped a powerful perspective on resilience, identity, and healing. She is the founder of Olive Solutions Consultancy, and Community Partners, a charity committed to breaking social barriers and fostering positive representation for culturally and liquistically diverse communities. Learn more about Olivia's journey in her blog and her memoir, Echoes of Resilience.  Our yarn is split into two episodes - this is the first. In this episode, we yarn about Olivia's diverse upbringing, language, stereotypes and how it's rude to touch a black women's skin and hair without asking! We also talk about code switching, racism at work and the importance of education. If you're in Australia and you need support: 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 (sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling) Lifeline on 13 11 14 (crisis support) 13YARN on 13 92 76 (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners) Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 If you're outside Australia please contact the support service in your area. This podcast is produced and hosted by Netta Finney Mejia. Recorded in the studios of Brisbane Multicultural Radio 4EB 98.1FM on Turrbal and Yuggera Country. Broadcast on the Community Radio Network around Australia. Music by Stephen Utting. Email: [email protected] Facebook: Netta Finney Mejia Instagram:@nettafinney Linktree: Netta Finney Mejia 

My guest this month is Chinese-Australian Comedian He Huang. He went viral after she appeared on Australia's Got Talent in 2022. Her deadpan delivery and self-deprecating jokes based on her Chinese culture made her go viral. I caught up with He at the Woodford Folk Festival in December 2024 where she was performing. In this episode, we chat about He's new show, 'White man's Burden', the crap that minority comedians have to deal with, and He's various aliases. We also talk about how policy and law isn't that different from comedy, what it was like growing up in China, and how Chinese people can be just as bogan and racist as Aussies. Watch He Huang on Australia's Got Talent. This podcast is produced and hosted by Netta Finney Mejia. Recorded in the studios of Brisbane Multicultural Radio 4EB 98.1FM on Turrbal and Yuggera Country. Broadcast on the Community Radio Network around Australia. Music by Stephen Utting. Email: [email protected] Facebook: Netta Finney Mejia Instagram:@nettafinney Linktree: Netta Finney Mejia 

Content warning: Domestic and family violence My guest this month is Sara Yan. Sara has Chinese heritage and is a talented writer, cartoonist and published author. She's the brains behind the comic strips 'Lennan and Smallsy' and 'Live, Learn, Change' which aim to educate about domestic abuse, by focusing on boys and men. Sara and I talk about what it's like being a halfie, plus her own experience of domestic and family violence and why it inspired her to do what she does. We also discuss myths about perpetrators, potential solutions to reduce male violence, before ending with great advice for other girls and women of colour. Sara and I love Lundy Bancroft's books. These are excellent resources if you want to learn about domestic violence.     If you're in Australia and you need support: 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 (sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling) Lifeline on 13 11 14 (crisis support) 13YARN on 13 92 76 (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners) Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 If you're outside Australia please contact the support service in your area. This podcast is produced and hosted by Netta Finney Mejia. Recorded in the studios of Brisbane Multicultural Radio 4EB 98.1FM on Turrbal and Yuggera Country. Broadcast on the Community Radio Network around Australia. Music by Stephen Utting. ·         Email: [email protected] ·         Facebook: Netta Finney Mejia ·         Instagram:@nettafinney ·         Linktree: Netta Finney Mejia    

Content warning: child sexual abuse, incest and family violence. My next guest is Caroline Brunne, who was born in Mauritius. In her debut book 'More than one thing can be true', Caroline shared her experience of overcoming child sexual abuse, incest and family violence, offering a narrative of bravery and resilience. Today, Caroline yarns with me about her work as a lived experience expert and survivor advocate, how she tried to fit into Aussie culture as a little brown girl, and how you can't be what you can't see. Read about the Australian Child Maltreatment Study. If you're in Australia and you need support: 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 (sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling) Lifeline on 13 11 14 (crisis support) 13YARN on 13 92 76 (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners) Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 If you're outside Australia please contact the support service in your area. This podcast is produced and hosted by Netta Finney Mejia. Recorded in the studios of Brisbane Multicultural Radio 4EB 98.1FM on Turrbal and Yuggera Country. Broadcast on the Community Radio Network around Australia. Music by Stephen Utting. Email: [email protected] Facebook: Netta Finney Mejia Instagram:@nettafinney Linktree: Netta Finney Mejia 

Here is part two of my interview with Chiou See Anderson. In this episode, Chiou See talks to us about how she used strategies from the book 'The Art of War' to win a court case against her local City Council, why girls need to stop being pick mes, and how to confidently own a room. Chiou See has Singaporean Chinese heritage and is President of the National Council of Women Australia and Head of the Australian delegation for the G20 Women Care Economy Working Group. She is also a proud grandma of two.  Content warning: We mention domestic violence. If you're in Australia and you need to talk to someone, please call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 (sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling). If you're outside Australia please contact the domestic violence support service in your area.  This podcast is produced and hosted by Netta Finney Mejia. Recorded in the studios of Brisbane Ethnic Community Radio 4EB 98.1FM on Turrbal and Yuggera Country. Broadcast on the Community Radio Network around Australia. Music by Stephen Utting. Email: [email protected] Facebook: Netta Finney Mejia Instagram: @nettafinney  Linktree: Netta Finney Mejia  Radio 4EB website : www.4eb.org.au  

My next guest is Chiou See Anderson. This interview is split into two episodes. In this first part, Chiou See chats about her upbringing in Singapore, her own resilient grandma, and how she managed to build her career and get her university qualifications whilst raising her 3 kids as a single mum (NOT a dragon mum!). Chiou See is President of the National Council of Women Australia, Head of the Australian delegation for the G20 Women Care Economy Working Group, Juror of the Australian Women in Music Executive Game Changer Award, Chair of a software company and Owner/Operator of two retirement villages. Chiou See is also a proud grandmother of two.  This podcast is produced and hosted by Netta Finney Mejia. Recorded in the studios of Brisbane Ethnic Community Radio 4EB 98.1FM on Turrbal and Yuggera Country. Broadcast on the Community Radio Network around Australia. Music by Stephen Utting. Email: [email protected] Facebook: Netta Finney Mejia Instagram: @nettafinney  Linktree: Netta Finney Mejia  Radio 4EB website : www.4eb.org.au

Content warning: Family violence. We also talk about an Indigenous person who has died. My guest this month is Kristine. For privacy reasons, she has asked that we only use her first name. Kris has Torres Strait Islander/Irish heritage and is an author, speaker and director of the charity Broken to Brilliant. Kristine works at Women's Health and Equality Queensland and facilitates healing workshops for First Nations women run by Strong Women Talking. She is passionate about advocating on domestic and sexual violence, child safety and mental health. We yarn about what it was like for Kristine growing up, her relationship with her dad, being called a coconut and her shame-job attempts at art.  If you need support: Lifeline on 13 11 14 (crisis support) 13YARN on 13 92 76 (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners) 800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 (sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling) If you're outside Australia please contact the crisis support service or domestic violence support service in your area. This podcast is produced and hosted by Netta Finney Mejia. Recorded in the studios of Brisbane Ethnic Community Radio 4EB 98.1FM on Turrbal and Yuggera Country. Broadcast on the Community Radio Network around Australia. Music by Stephen Utting. Email: [email protected] Facebook: Netta Finney Mejia Instagram: @nettafinney Linktree: Netta Finney Mejia Radio 4EB website : www.4eb.org.au

What's up, Kitties? Are you a woman of colour? Then join me, Netta Finney Mejia on Lioness Heart, a monthly half-hour podcast where we delve into the life of a strong, brilliant, badass woman of colour. Let's raise our voices, share our stories, and laugh and cry together. But most importantly, let's roar! Because let's face it, it's a jungle out there, and for us black and brown women, our big lioness hearts give us the strength and courage to smash through that jungle and forge our own paths. Produced and hosted by Netta Finney Mejia. Recorded in the studios of Brisbane Ethnic Community Radio 4EB 98.1FM on Turrbal and Yuggera Country. Broadcast on the Community Radio Network around Australia. Music by Stephen Utting. Email: [email protected] Facebook: Netta Finney Mejia Instagram: @nettafinney Linktree: Netta Finney Mejia Radio 4EB website : www.4eb.org.au Content warning: Some of the topics we discuss may be distressing, so take care of yourself. If you're in Australia and you need to talk to someone: Lifeline on 13 11 14 (crisis support) 13YARN on 13 92 76 (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners) 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 (sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling) If you're outside Australia please contact the crisis support service or domestic violence support service in your area.

Content warning: Domestic, family and sexual violence. We also mention the names of Aboriginal people who have died. My first guest on this series about strong, badass, women of colour is Karina Hogan. Karina's a proud Aboriginal and South Sea Islander woman with ancestral ties to Bunjalung Country. She's also a highly respected journalist, broadcaster, content producer, non-executive director and businesswoman. We yarn about what it was like for Karina growing up in Logan, her love of family, and what she does to fight systemic injustice. If you need support: Lifeline on 13 11 14 (crisis support) 13YARN on 13 92 76 (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners) 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 (sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling)       If you're outside Australia please contact the crisis support service or domestic violence support service in your area. Produced and hosted by Netta Finney Mejia. Recorded in the studios of Brisbane Ethnic Community Radio 4EB 98.1FM on Turrbal and Yuggera Country. Broadcast on the Community Radio Network around Australia. Music by Stephen Utting. Email: [email protected] Facebook: Netta Finney Mejia Instagram: @nettafinney Linktree: Netta Finney Mejia Radio 4EB website : www.4eb.org.au