No Filter

Jessica Rowe has lived much of her life in the public eye. As one of Australia's most recognisable television journalists, she reached the pinnacle of breakfast television when she joined the Today show in 2006. But what followed was one of the most brutal public takedowns in Australian media. Jessica was criticised for everything from her laugh to her appearance, became the target of relentless headlines, and was ultimately let go while on maternity leave. In this deeply personal conversation with Kate Langbroek, Jessica reflects on that extraordinary period of her life and the lessons that came from surviving it. She speaks candidly about workplace sexism, being sexually assaulted early in her career, learning to raise her voice, the apology from Karl Stefanovic that helped her finally let go of years of resentment, and why she no longer believes in shrinking herself to make other people comfortable. Jessica also shares why she's happier at 56 than she's ever been, the joy she's found in embracing imperfect

Earlier this year, Kate Langbroek sat down with Faith Ward, an Australian–New Zealand dancer who went from thinking an unexpected message was a scam to becoming a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. With the hit series now out on Netflix, we're revisiting this episode to give fans the scoop of what was really going on off-screen.  Faith takes us behind the uniform to talk candidly about what it actually takes to make it — and stay — inside the world’s most recognisable cheer squad. From the brutal audition process and constant scrutiny, to discipline, image control, and the realities of pay, Faith shares what the public rarely sees. We talk ponytails, pressure, pay rises, and perfection — the details that reveal how much is demanded of the women who wear the uniform, and what it costs to belong to such a powerful global brand. This is a behind-the-curtain conversation about ambition, sacrifice, identity and what happens when the glamour meets the reality. Support independent wo

From Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz-Beckham to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, we've watched family rifts play out publicly. But behind the headlines is a dilemma many people face in their own lives: what happens when the person you love doesn't fit into the family you come from? This week, Kate Langbroek sits down with world-renowned relationship therapist Esther Perel to discuss one of the most emotionally complicated tensions of adulthood — choosing your partner while trying to maintain your relationship with your family. Why do some parents struggle to accept their child's partner? Why can falling in love feel like betrayal? And when family conflict erupts, how do you protect your relationship without losing the people who raised you? Together, Kate and Esther unpack family estrangement, difficult in-laws, loyalty, intimacy, and the relationship patterns we inherit from our parents — and whether it's possible to build a marriage that looks different from the one we grew up with. Support ind

"When are you getting married?" It's the question Georgie Tunny and Rob Mills get asked more than any other. Closely followed by: "What about babies?" After seven years together and four years engaged, the couple sit down with Kate Langbroek to talk about the future they're building together, why they're in no rush to follow anyone else's timeline, and the DM that started it all. From Georgie leaving Rob on read for months to the first coffee date that changed everything, this conversation is full of the stories you've probably never heard before. They talk about ambition, career setbacks, long engagements, mental health, life in the spotlight, Georgie's debut novel Over To You, Rob's dream role in Waitress, and why the Paris Hilton chapter of his life is one they're both quite happy to laugh about now. Mostly, though, this feels less like an interview and more like sitting at a table with three friends catching up on all the gossip. Georgie Tunny's debut novel, Over To You is available now.  See Rob in

Grace Rouvray thought she knew what grief was. Then her best friend Katie died. In this deeply moving conversation with Holly Wainwright, Grace shares the story behind her memoir Is It Too Early To Bitch? — a love letter to the friendship that shaped her life, and the devastating loss that changed it forever. Grace and Katie met at drama school in 2009 and quickly became inseparable. Through awkward share houses, terrible dates, career highs, creative projects and countless late-night phone calls, they became each other's person. The kind of friendship that can feel every bit as profound, intimate and life-defining as a romantic relationship. Then, in 2021, Katie died suddenly at just 34 years old. Grace reflects on navigating unimaginable grief during lockdown, what it means to lose the person who knows you best, and the unexpected ways loss reshaped her understanding of friendship, family and herself. This episode explores the bond between female friends, the reality of life after loss, and why some o

Dr Jeni Haynes survived years of horrific abuse by creating what she describes as 2,682 personalities — voices and protectors who helped carry trauma, fear, and survival. In 2019, she became the first person in Australian legal history to have those personalities accepted as evidence in a criminal trial against her father. Now the subject of the documentary We Are Jeni, Jeni joins Kate Langbroek for an extraordinary conversation about trauma, memory, resilience, and survival. We Are Jeni premieres on Sunday 7 June 2026 at 7:30 PM on SBS or stream on SBS On Demand. Content warning: This episode contains descriptions of child abuse If you or anyone you know needs expert help, please contact Bravehearts — an organisation providing support to victims of child abuse. If you are concerned about the welfare of a child, you can get advice from the Child Abuse Protection Hotline (1800 688 009) or the 24-Hour Child Abuse Report Line (131 478).   SUBSCRIBE here: Support ind

Sally Hepworth is one of Australia’s most successful and best-loved authors. Her novels are regularly top bestseller lists around the world. She’s known for writing darkly funny, page-turning stories about marriage, motherhood, secrets and betrayal. But in this episode of No Filter, Sally shares her own story — and it’s as layered and compelling as one of her books. Sitting down with Kate Langbroek, Sally talks candidly about ending her 20-year marriage, co-parenting with her ex, and why she no longer believes marriage is a good deal for women. She also explains why she’ll never live with a man again, how her family reacted to her decision, and why, despite the heartbreak, this next chapter might just be her happiest yet. THE END BITS: Listen to more No Filter interviews here and follow us on Instagram here. Discover more Mamamia podcasts here. Listen to the full episode of Well on pregnancy here. Feedback: podcast@mamamia.com.au Share your story, feedback, or dilemma!

In this episode of No Filter, Kate Langbroek sits down with ARIA Hall of Fame inductee Kate Ceberano for a conversation that feels less like a formal interview and more like two women circling the biggest questions of identity, ambition, creativity and reinvention together. There’s also a deeply personal connection between them that slowly reveals itself throughout the episode, shaping the intimacy and honesty of the conversation in unexpected ways. Kate Ceberano reflects on growing up in Melbourne’s music scene, the chaos and excess she witnessed as a young artist, and the ways drugs and alcohol shaped — and destroyed — parts of the industry around her. She speaks candidly about feeling like an outsider for much of her career, navigating the boys’ club of Australian music, and the opportunities she walked away from, including a role in Strictly Ballroom that she still thinks about today. The conversation also moves into marriage, motherhood, ageing, creativity, identity, and wha

British pop star Maisie Peters first came to Australia supporting her friend (and boss), Ed Sheeran. Since then, she’s released one of the most beloved breakup albums in modern pop, toured with Taylor Swift on the Eras Tour, gone viral for reasons both good and brutal, and built a fiercely devoted fanbase drawn to her razor-sharp songwriting about love, heartbreak and, yes, “mid men”. Now, Maisie is back with a new album, Fluorescence — a record that feels softer, happier and more grounded than the chaos of The Good Witch. In this conversation with No Filter Executive Producer Bree Player, Maisie opens up about the “mid men” who inspired her biggest songs, the online backlash that followed her viral Eras Tour moment, what it was like recovering from serious vocal issues behind the scenes, and how falling in love changed the way she writes music. They also talk about songwriting as emotional archaeology, growing up online, why happiness is actually harder to write about than

In December 2019, Stephanie Browitt boarded a tour to Whakaari, also known as White Island, with her father Paul and younger sister Krystal during a family cruise through New Zealand. At 2:11pm, the volcano erupted. Krystal was killed on the island. Stephanie and Paul survived, but suffered catastrophic burns. Weeks later, Paul died from his injuries too. Stephanie spent months in hospital undergoing surgeries, skin grafts and rehabilitation, while her mother Marie faced the unimaginable reality of caring for her surviving daughter while grieving both her husband and youngest child. In the years since the eruption, Stephanie has spoken publicly about her recovery and become a powerful advocate for burns survivors and body acceptance. But Marie has rarely spoken in depth about what happened to their family — until now. In this extraordinarily intimate and emotional conversation with Kate Langbroek, Stephanie and Marie sit down together for their most extensive interview to date, speaking candidly about s

Kayla Jade didn’t plan to become one of the most recognisable women on Australian TikTok. She didn’t plan to become a sex worker, or a mum, or a viral sensation. But somehow, she’s all of those things and more. In this episode of No Filter, Kate Langbroek sits down with Kayla to talk about the story that wasn’t supposed to be told. The one that includes a man named Peggy Sue, an A-Lister who asked for too much, falling for one of her clients and that infamous meet up with Drake. It's deep dive into the wild, unfiltered life Kayla’s built - one storytime at a time. From her rise on OnlyFans to becoming a full-service sex worker, from co-parenting in the Gold Coast hinterland to managing fame, surgery, shame and survival, Kayla speaks with extraordinary candour about everything she’s lived through and what she’s still learning. And yes, we talk about the pegging story that may or may not have impacted the federal election. You can follow Kayla Jade here. If this convers

Sophie Smith thought she was about to become a mother to three baby boys. Instead, after going into premature labour halfway through her pregnancy, she and her husband Ash found themselves facing unimaginable heartbreak. Over the course of 82 days, they lost all three of their triplets; Henry, Evan and Jasper. In this deeply moving conversation with Kate Langbroek, Sophie speaks about those months of hope and heartbreak, the grief that followed, and the extraordinary way she and Ash channelled that pain into purpose by founding Running for Premature Babies — a charity that has since helped save the lives of thousands of premature babies across Australia. Sophie also opens up about the second devastating loss that would change her life forever: losing Ash to brain cancer in 2016, after years of treatment and remission, and what it meant to continue raising their two young sons while carrying such enormous grief. This episode is about motherhood, resilience, love, loss, and the ways we learn to keep going

You might know Patrick Brammall from Offspring, No Activity, the global hit Colin from Accounts, and as the voice of Uncle Rad on Bluey. Now, Patrick stars opposite Anne Hathaway in the sequel to The Devil Wears Prada, a film with a global audience, a cultural legacy, and a level of attention he hasn’t experienced before. And to think he originally turned it down. In this conversation, recorded the day before the film’s release, Patrick talks to Kate Langbroek about the long road that got him here. From a childhood shaped by serious health challenges, to the uncertainty of an acting career, to finding his voice as a writer and creator. He opens up about building a life and a family with Harriet Dyer, becoming a father, and how that’s changed the way he thinks about success, ambition, and the opportunities he chooses. He also shares what it was like stepping into a franchise like The Devil Wears Prada, including the surprise of having a steamy scene cut from the final film. The Devil Wears Pr

Dee Salmin has spent years talking to other people about love, sex and relationships as the host of triple j’s The Hook Up. But behind the mic, her own dating life was far more complicated than you might expect. In her early twenties, Dee found herself stuck in a pattern — chasing men who were hot and cold, accepting behaviour she now knows she deserved better than, and constantly seeking validation that never quite stuck. So she made a radical decision. She stopped dating entirely. For nearly three years, Dee went “boy sober”, stepping away from apps, relationships and even casual flings to figure out who she was without men at the centre of her life. In this conversation with Kate Langbroek, Dee opens up about what that time taught her, the therapy that helped her understand her patterns, and the moment everything shifted. She also shares what it’s been like to find love again — this time in the public eye — and how she’s approached building a relationshi

Robin Bailey is one of Australia’s most recognisable radio voices. Warm, open, and deeply relatable, she’s built a career on making other people feel less alone. But behind that voice is a life shaped by repeated, unimaginable loss. In this conversation, Robin sits down with Kate Langbroek to share the moments that changed everything. From losing her father as a child, to the devastating death of her first husband, and later, the loss of her second husband to cancer, Robin speaks with a level of honesty that is at times breathtaking. She reflects on the moment she had to tell her three young sons that their father had died, and the decision she made about how they would face that grief together. She also opens up about the more complicated chapters of her life, including the choices she’s wrestled with and the long road back to herself. This is a conversation about grief, but it’s also about resilience. About motherhood, survival, and what it really takes to keep going when life keeps

Lisa Wilkinson was one of the most recognisable faces in Australian media. Then, almost overnight, she was gone. In this episode of No Filter, she sits down with Kate Langbroek to unpack what led to that moment, and what came after. From her early career in magazines to the highs and pressures of breakfast television, Lisa reflects on the roles that defined her, and what it meant to lose them. She speaks candidly about not getting the chance to say goodbye, becoming the focus of intense public scrutiny, and navigating a period that forced her to reassess everything. At the same time, she was writing her most ambitious project yet, a book about Titanic survivor Evelyn Marsden, a story that became both an escape and a way through. This is a conversation about success, backlash, identity, and the reality of starting again. For more information on The Titanic Story of Evelyn by Lisa Wilkinson click here.  SUBSCRIBE here: Support independent women's media  You can now watch our show in full length video

On this week’s episode of No Filter, Candice Fox joins Holly Wainwright for a conversation that goes beyond crime fiction and into the reality behind it. Candice is one of Australia’s most successful crime writers, with more than 20 books and collaborations with James Patterson. But her understanding of crime didn’t start on the page. She grew up surrounded by chaos; foster children, real-life stories, and a world where darkness was never far away. In this episode, she shares the moment that changed everything: coming face-to-face with a serial killer on death row, and what it revealed about fear, instinct, and human behaviour. She also explores why so many women are drawn to true crime — and what we’re really trying to understand when we listen. And then, the story she couldn’t let go of. A real-life cold case that stayed with her for decades, and became the foundation for her latest novel - a way of grappling with grief, justice, and the limits of storytelling. Redbelly C

Natalie Bassingthwaighte has spent decades building a life in the public eye, but in recent years, everything changed. In this episode, she shares the moment that shifted her world, the quiet but undeniable turning point that led to the end of her marriage and a complete rethinking of who she is. She speaks openly about the confusion of that time, the impact on her family, and the courage it took to step into something new. Now engaged to her partner Pip Loth, Natalie reflects on finding love in a way she never expected and what it means to live more truthfully. Love Like This: A Memoir by Natalie Bassingthwaighte (Hardie Grant Publishing) is out now.  SUBSCRIBE here: Support independent women's media  SUBSCRIBE here to get 25% off an $89 annual subscription PLUS 25% off Nala. Your Mamamia discount will be applied at checkout. Then find your Nala code in the Subscriber Hub immediately after joining. Ends 1st April.CURRENT SUBSCRIBERS:Get 25% off Nala with your Mamamia subscription. Click here to get

For most of her childhood, Chloé Hayden felt like she didn’t belong. She was bullied at school, moved through ten different schools and struggled to exist in environments that didn’t understand her. When she was diagnosed as autistic at thirteen, there were almost no conversations about neurodivergence and no one she could look to who felt like her. Today, she has become that person for millions of others. Through her role as Quinni in Netflix’s Heartbreak High and her advocacy online, Chloé has become one of the most visible autistic women in the world. But becoming a voice for others comes with its own cost. In this conversation with Kate Langbroek, Chloé opens up about the pressure of representation, the emotional toll of advocacy and what it means to build a life that belongs to her, not just the movement she helped create. Heartbreak High Season 3 premieres globally on March 25, 2026 on Netflix. SUBSCRIBE here: Support independent women's media  SUBSCRIBERS: Ge

After being crowned Jungle Queen and winning $100,000 for charity, Concetta chose to donate the prize to Full Stop Australia, the organisation that helped her family escape domestic violence when she was growing up. As a child, Concetta lived in a home where violence and fear were constant. Eventually, her mother made a secret call to a domestic violence hotline and began planning what the family would later describe as their escape. Concetta, her mother and her sister left their home, fled across the country and started again under new names. In this conversation with Kate Langbroek, Concetta speaks openly about the childhood she kept secret for years, the moment everything changed for her family, and the complicated journey of rebuilding a life after violence. She also reflects on the strange path that led her to comedy, the inner critic that still lives in her head, and the joy she has found in finally being able to live freely. If this conversation raises anything for you, support is available. Full Stop