Shows
Lioness HeartTrina Massey: Doing politics differentlyMy 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 m...2025-06-2329 min
Lioness HeartDaniiContent 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...2025-05-2732 min
Life After Sugar226. Some of my favourite sugar free recipes: NettaIn this episode, I share a few of my favourite sugar free recipes.Full disclosure: I'm no Masterchef! Plus I have a pretty busy life.So listen to get some yummy ideas for quick and simple meals that don't contain refined sugar or flour.P.S. Unlike the processed food industry, when I say "sugar free", I mean it!For example, here's the recipe for chaffles:INGREDIENTS 2 large eggs 1 cup finely shredded mozzarella or cheddar a little butter DIRECTIONSPre-heat waffle iron...2025-05-1120 min
Lioness HeartOlivia Afriyie Johnson - part 2Content 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 Tor...2025-04-2925 min
Lioness HeartOlivia Afriyie Johnson - part 2Content warning: child sexual abuse, racism and domestic violence. This is the second part of our chat with Olivia Afriyie Johnson. In this episode, Olivia 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. She also talks to us about her charity work. 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 outs...2025-04-2027 min
Lioness HeartOlivia Afriyie Johnson - part 1Content 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 R...2025-04-2028 min
Lioness HeartHe HuangMy 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 ho...2025-03-2427 minLife After Sugar217. "THIS made living sugar free so much easier!": NettaHi! It's me, Netta. And I have to tell you that all my life I was a real sweet tooth.People made desserts just for me, and my whole identity was wrapped up in my love for sweet foods, desserts, chocolate, ice cream, whatever. Chocolate was my best friend.And I also always had snacks on hand. Hidden in my drawer at work. Hidden away in my car. I used to always carry around snacks with me just in case I got hungry.So back in 2015, when I got some life-changing a...2025-03-0922 min
Lioness HeartSara Yan 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 endin...2025-02-2327 minLife After Sugar211. Listener question: Are sweeteners better than sugar?"Netta, are sweeteners better than sugar?"It's a question I often get asked.So you'll get my answer in this episode... although it might not be what you're expecting!Because I question the concept of "good" and "bad" with respect to food, especially sugar and sweeteners.In fact, instead of focusing on the value of certain types of foods, I prefer to focus on something far more important:YOU.Need guidance and support to get rid of cravings so that you can slim down and finally feel...2025-01-2619 min
Lioness HeartChiou See Anderson - part 1 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...2024-12-1727 min
Lioness HeartKristineContent 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...2024-11-2226 min
Lioness HeartLioness Heart (trailer)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...2024-10-2700 min
Lioness HeartKarina HoganContent 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 (cris...2024-10-2727 minLife After Sugar191. Netta answers your questions about sugar and cravingsIn this episode, I'll be answering a few common questions that I often get from listeners, including: how do you know if a product has naturally occurring sugars or added sugars? and are natural sugars okay?andI've reduced my sugar intake. Why am I still getting cravings?Even if the questions and answers were recorded a year or two ago, they're still relevant today. Need guidance and support to get rid of cravings so that you can slim down and finally feel in control around food?To get personalized guidance from me...2024-09-0815 min
Shebrew in the City"Ahava אַהֲבָה" - An Interview with Netta Asner-MinsterWhat if you could find the perfect balance between tradition and modernity in your religious life? Join us as we sit down with Netta Asner-Minster, an influential Jewish educator who takes us on a journey from her childhood in Silver Spring, Maryland, to her pivotal move to Jerusalem. With heartfelt anecdotes, Netta shares how her family’s observance evolved over time and the unique experiences that shaped her faith.Ever wondered about the intricacies of modesty and hair covering among Orthodox Jewish women? Netta provides a fascinating historical and cultural backdrop while sharing her personal ex...2024-08-241h 20Life After Sugar161. Listener question: What about flour?Reducing or cutting sugar is usually seen as something positive (if a little marginal). And sugary or sweet foods are relatively easy to spot.But recently, I've been getting this question from my listeners: What about flour?And: Why don't you eat flour, Netta?Because that means no bread, no crackers, no bagels, no pasta... Wait! So how do you make a sandwich? What do you put your spaghetti sauce on? And what's wrong with flour anyway? Well... There's nothing wrong with flour! If eating foods that contain flour makes yo...2024-02-1123 minLife After Sugar155. The challenges of my sugar free year: NettaEver wonder what challenges I (Netta) have in my "life after sugar"?Well, I can tell you this: I'm not perfect!I have my ups and downs, just like you.In this episode, I'm sharing a few of my challenges over the last year (and more). Plus you'll hear a few of the coping skills I've developed over the years, other than using sugar, to deal with my emotions. Want to transform your relationship with sugar and start living your craving-free life with confidence TODAY? Get group support, encouragement, and the a...2023-12-3118 minLife After Sugar143. Listener question: How strict are you, Netta?A listener recently asked me this question: "How strict are you, Netta?"It's a great question, so I thought I'd take the time to answer it properly.In this episode, you'll learn about:my definition of "strict"why I think this question may come from the diet culturewhether or not I check labels and lists of ingredientshow YOU can save time at the grocery storewhat "life after sugar" feels likehow YOU can get guidance and support to find your freedom from cravings... without needing to be "strict"!Also check out these...2023-10-0818 min
Some Things Are Better RAWPUMP TALK w Kayla & Netta part 3Kayla & Netta recap the final part of the VPR reunion, with a few side conversations along the way that certainly are important and relevant (to us). We’re currently accepting recommendations on how to fill our time now that the season is over😅2023-06-1130 minLife After Sugar109. Valentine's edition: How I broke up with chocolateHi, I'm Netta. All my life, I loved chocolate.Chocolate helped me to feel better whenever I felt sad, or angry, or frustrated, or bored... or when I needed comfort or a way to reward myself. And if you were looking to give me a gift for any type of special occasion, chocolate was always the right choice! So... what happened to make me break up with chocolate?And how did I do it?In this Valentine's episode, I'll tell you about my 45-year love affair with chocolate, and...2023-02-1221 min