Yumi Stynes is back with a third season of SBS podcast SEEN, shining a spotlight on trailblazing older women who defy societal stereotypes, take risks, show huge courage, and achieve excellence.
Eight Australian women have found a fresh sense of purpose in their third act including:
• World champion surfer Pauline Menczer who fought to be recognised and respected in major surfing competitions;
• Community chef, Duang Tengtrirat, who grew up in a small Thai village that had no electricity or running water, and rose above isolation, loneliness and racism to make her mark in the big city;
• One of Australia’s most renowned drag queen performers, Crystal Love Johnson, who now uses her position to help other younger sistagirls and brotherboys of the Tiwi Islands;
• One of Australia’s most successful and revered contemporary artists, Lindy Lee, who revisits her days growing up under the White Australia Policy and eventually carving out her passion as the iconic sculptor we know today;
• After juggling the incredibly difficult 24/7 role of a carer, Najila Turk now employs her compassion as an advocate and role model for other unpaid carers;
• When a tragic cycling accident resulted in the loss of her entire arm, Kerryn Harvey got back on her bike to achieve international success on the para-athletic race track;
• After moving from Lebanon to Australia as a teen, Hadia Haikal-Mukhtar was consistently underestimated both as an immigrant and as a woman, but her fierce intelligence and drive led her to become a trusted doctor and educator in her community;
• The death of Victoria Spence’s father exposed her to the limitations in funeral and grieving processes. She now helps families with more personalised grieving rituals as they navigate death.
Host Yumi Stynes said:
“The stories and wisdom of older women haven’t been celebrated enough! These women store troves of experiences, wild stories and uniquely female-designed career paths.
As I near my fifties, it’s been especially encouraging to hear the recipes to a fulfilling later life from the women who have gone through it all – and are so much richer for it. It’s been an absolute privilege to hear from these amazing women and I can’t wait to share them with you in season 3 of SEEN.”
The first episode of SEEN season 3 is out on March 20 and then weekly on Thursdays.