What if power is stepping forward, speaking up, stating the need to think, to act differently. What happens when you challenge the system instead of adapting to it. 

In this episode of the Power Of Women Podcast, we meet Prof. Nada Hamad: physician, professor, mother of three, and unapologetic disruptor of the status quo. Her story is one of identity, integrity and the audacity to question systems that weren’t built with women in mind.

From medical school at age 14 to leadership in haematology and clinical trials, Nada brings insight and urgency to a conversation we all need to be having: what do we do when the system doesn’t see us?

Nada doesn’t just raise questions—she models what it means to speak up, even when it’s uncomfortable. This conversation delves into her journey and calls to rethink how we build more inclusive systems, from healthcare to leadership.

In this episode, we explore:

• How gender bias is still baked into medical training and patient care
• What it’s like to grow up as a third culture kid and build belonging across borders
• Raising daughters to take up space and advocate for themselves
• Why women’s experiences in healthcare are too often dismissed—and what must change
• How speaking up isn’t just powerful—it’s necessary

Here’s some of what Prof. Hamad said:

“Most of the studies were done on men, most of the studies done on… white people, most of the studies don’t include women.

“How do you tell the medical profession hang on you missed something and we need to learn how to do it better without upsetting too many people … to slowly integrate this concept into gender specific healthcare.”

💥New episodes drop every Monday to power your week.

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Find Prof. Nada Hamad at:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/prof-nada-hamad-a093384/

UNSW Website: https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/nada-hamad

💬 If this episode shifted something for you, pass it on. Share it with a daughter, a friend, or a colleague who needs to hear that their voice matters.

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Di Gillett sits down with psychologists—Dr. Jessie Stern and Rachel Samson, authors of ‘Beyond Difficult’—to explore the emotional terrain of difficult relationships and just how to survive the difficult people in your life. Let’s face it – we all have at least one – or maybe it’s you who’s the problem!

Together, they unpack what really makes someone “difficult” (spoiler: it’s not a diagnosis), and how attachment theory, temperament, and communication styles shape our experience of others—at home, at work, and in ourselves.

Difficult behaviour can be subjective, and in the workplace, relationships can be complex – especially when there are power differentials.

In this episode, we explore:

⇛ Understanding difficult relationships

⇛ The subjectivity of difficult behaviour

⇛ Attachment theory and its impact

⇛ Navigating workplace dynamics

⇛ The role of empathy in relationships

⇛ When to walk away from relationships

New episodes drop every Monday to power your week.

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Find Rachel Stern at:

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-samson-335393a8/

Rachel on Instagram @australianpsychologist

💬 Have you had to walk away from a relationship that was no longer serving you? Share in the comments.

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In this episode of the Power Of Women Podcast, host Di Gillett sits down with Michelle Phillips, CEO of YWCA Australia, to talk about one of the most urgent issues facing Australian women today: homelessness and the fight for safe, secure housing.

From launching the Women’s A-League to leading global reproductive health services, Michelle’s career has been grounded in fairness, equity, and bold leadership. Now, she’s on the frontlines of Australia’s housing crisis, reshaping how we think about women’s homelessness and why “a roof over your head” is only part of the story.

In this episode, we explore:

• The early signs of housing insecurity many women miss
• Why women are more vulnerable to homelessness than ever before
• The powerful role of community support and policy change
• What the YWCA’s Women’s Housing Framework is doing differently

Michelle outlined that:

🔑 “Housing is a basic human right.”

🔑 “If we don’t have more homes built specifically for women, we will not solve the housing crisis for women.”

🔑 “Women and children aren’t able to leave abusive situations because there’s nowhere to go.”

🔑 “Women just don’t ask for help… and that makes a lot of women’s homelessness quite hidden.”

🔑 “It’s not about choices—it’s the systemic barriers that put women at risk of homelessness.”

New episodes drop every Monday to power your week.

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Find Michelle Phillips & the YWCA at:

Learn more about the Women’s Housing Framework and how to support YWCA: www.ywca.org.au

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-phillips-au/

Instagram: @ywcaaustralia

💬 If safe housing is a basic right, what can we each do today to help make it a reality for every woman? Share your ideas in the comments.

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Reformed sociophobe, Jenny Valentish, reveals how introverts can thrive an extrovert’s world, when you’re wired for solitude.

Journalist and author Jenny Valentish shares how she transformed from a self-described “reformed sociophobe” into a keynote speaker, coach, and author of The Introvert’s Guide to Leaving the House. We explore how introverts can thrive in professional environments, manage social anxiety, handle conflict at work, and navigate the pressure to build a personal brand—without losing themselves in the process.

Whether you identify as introverted, socially anxious, highly sensitive, or simply burnt out from performing all the time, this conversation offers real strategies, surprising insights, and a powerful reminder:

You don’t need to change your nature—just change the game plan.

With candour, humour and real tools, this conversation explores:

• Social anxiety, the spotlight effect and letting go of control
• How introverts can lead without burning out
• Smarter strategies for visibility, self-promotion and saying what needs to be said

Jenny said:

On managing introversion: “Introverts don’t need fixing — just smarter strategies.”

On the world we live in: “We are living in an extrovert’s world — and there’s nothing wrong with being an introvert.”

On managing as a sociophobe: “I call myself a reformed sociophobe, but there’s always work to do.”

New episodes drop every Monday to power your week.

Connect with Di:

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Contact Di

Find Jenny Valentish at:

Instagram

Jenny’s Website

💬 What changes are you going to make to your game plan? Listen to this episode for ideas as to the how.

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