Wendy McCarthy AC has spent more than five decades shaping Australia’s story of equality. From her early days in the classroom to leadership roles with the ABC, Plan Australia, headspace, and beyond, Wendy has never stopped asking “why not?”
In this powerful conversation, we talk rage and reform, risk and resilience, from her personal experience with illegal abortion to her lifelong fight for women’s rights, education, and reproductive freedom.
Wendy shares how to balance hope with action, turn anger into advocacy, and keep your head and heart connected as you lead.
A must-listen for every woman who’s ready to speak up, stand tall, and keep the fire burning for the generations to come.
Connect With Wendy McCarthy
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/wendymccarthy
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/dontbetoopolitegirls
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/wendy-mccarthy-34622757
Connect With Jennifer Jefferies
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https://www.facebook.com/presentdaywisewoman
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https://www.instagram.com/thepresentdaywisewoman
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferjefferies/
YouTube:
When the world feels overwhelming, it’s easy to think our actions don’t matter. But as Jane Goodall reminds us, change is a puzzle, and every single piece counts. In this episode, Jen unpacks how shifting your focus from the whole picture to your piece can bring back hope, purpose, and power. Because when you own your piece, no matter how small it seems, you become part of an unstoppable ripple of change.
Connect With Jennifer Jefferies
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/presentdaywisewoman
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thepresentdaywisewoman
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferjefferies/
YouTube:
From red hats to purple passion, today’s conversation is pure joy, colour, and courage.
The Red Hat Society isn’t just about dressing up, it’s a global sisterhood born from rebellion. A movement of women who refused to fade quietly into the background of life. What began in 1998 with one red hat and a cheeky poem has become a celebration of friendship, freedom, and the unapologetic art of ageing boldly.
Today, I’m joined by Lee Reeves, a proud member of our local Gold Coast chapter, “The Tweed Border Bells”, to talk about what it really means to live with spirit, laughter, and sisterhood at any age.
Because getting older isn’t the end of the story.
It’s when the colours get brighter, the laughter gets louder, and the wise women rise.
Check out the Red Hat Society
Connect With Jennifer Jefferies
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/presentdaywisewoman
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thepresentdaywisewoman
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferjefferies/
YouTube:
From hating volleyball in high school to Olympic gold, five-time Olympian and straight-talking Aussie legend Nat Cook OAM joins Jen to unpack what it really takes to win, in sport and in life. Nat shares the raw truth about resilience, confidence, and the grind behind the glory, plus life after the Games, the Aussie Athlete Fund, and her vision for Brisbane 2032. This is a conversation about mindset, transition, and legacy, because as Nat says, winning isn’t a score. It’s an attitude.
Connect With Nat Cook
https://www.instagram.com/natcook_official/
https://www.facebook.com/NatCookVB
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliecookoamoly/
Connect With Jennifer Jefferies
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/presentdaywisewoman
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thepresentdaywisewoman
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferjefferies/
YouTube:
Relationships don’t come with a rulebook. In this conversation, relationship coach and therapist Vivian Baruch shares how singles can rebuild confidence, how couples can reignite intimacy, and what to do when you’re on the fence about your future together. We also dive into the wisdom of“wise women” and the power of mentorship across generations, because love, connection, and guidance are what truly hold us together.
Connect With Vivian Baruch
Website
https://www.facebook.com/vivianbaruch.successfulrelationships
https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivianbaruch/
Connect With Jennifer Jefferies
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/presentdaywisewoman
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thepresentdaywisewoman
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferjefferies/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferjefferiesoz/
Midlife isn’t a cloak of invisibility, and in this episode,Kim Morrison calls BS on the tired narrative that women fade as they age. Kim, the powerhouse behind Twenty8 Essentials, shares why she’s never bought into that story and how rituals, mindset, and self-care are the keys to staying vibrant, grounded, and unapologetically seen. We dive into reframing ageing, redefining beauty, and the sparkle that comes from embracing our authentic selves. This is a raw, real, and joy-filled conversation between two wise women and great mates, and it’s one you willlove.
Kim and Jennifer discuss the societal narrative that womenbecome "invisible" as they age, and how they have both rejected this idea. Kim shares that she has never bought into this narrative, as she has always had deep respect and appreciation for older women. She encourages womento stand up, be seen, and not shrink or disappear as they age. Jennifer agrees, emphasising the importance of mindset and reframing negative beliefs about aging.
FOLLOW KIM
https://www.instagram.com/kimmorrison28/
Website: https://www.kimmorrison.com/
Kim’s Aromatherapy Oils: https://twenty8.com/
Midlife women are told to shrink, to be grateful, tone it down, and not want too much. Bugger that. In this Rogue Wisdom episode, I call BS on the script that says our desires expire with age. From the boardroom to the bedroom, I dive into the cost of playing small, why women’s natural collaboration is the engine of progress, and how to reclaim unapologetic desire without guilt. Wanting more doesn’t make you greedy, it makes you alive.
Meet Dà jiě and Jasmine her daughter. Dà jiě and her sister Shu Yen, founders of Sun Son International, are the women who transformed Taiwan’s natural therapy industry. From humble beginnings to industry pioneers, their story is pure heart, grit, and wisdom, carried forward for the next generation of women rising.
Connect With SunSon International
Websitehttp://www.sunson.com.tw/
Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/sunsonacademy?mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr
https://www.instagram.com/sunsonaroma?igsh=a2V1MWZybTloc3Vp
Connect With Jennifer Jefferies
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/presentdaywisewoman
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thepresentdaywisewoman
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferjefferies/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferjefferiesoz/
“Nonna’s” are not just by blood. My “Nonna” is by love andcommunity. Nonna Irene Miller shares about the heart of Italian culture: family, wisdom, and belonging. Growing up as an Australian-born Italian in Perth, Irene shares the challenges, the rituals, and the joy of passing on traditions to future generations. It’s a conversation about heritage, identity, and the sweet wisdom of Nonna’s everywhere.
Connect with Irene Miller?
https://www.facebook.com/irene.miller.1293
I never take for granted the gift of being able to learn from women who’ve lived boldly and wisely. Today, I’m thrilled to bring you…
Heather Rickard, affectionately known as Grannybelle, is a wellness leader, runner, and grandmother who proves it’s never too late to chase big dreams. With more than 40 years in the direct selling industry and a 100-kilometre ultramarathon completed at age 65, she inspires others to rise higher, one step at a time AND proves it’s never too late to chase big dreams.
HOW TO FOLLOW AND CONTACT HEATHERhttps://www.facebook.com/heather.rickard1 Link to get Ebook Couch to 5k and Beyondhttps://goto.simplysuccessful.co/couchConnect With Jennifer JefferiesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/presentdaywisewomanInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepresentdaywisewomanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferjefferies/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferjefferiesoz/ Website: https://www.jenniferjefferies.com
Sarah Maxwell believes her highest value is connection, and her life, like most, is beautifully unfolding around that truth. She treasures intimate moments of discovering who people truly are and delights in sharing the behind-the-scenes experiences of triumphs, sadness, setbacks, resilience, growth, and courage. For Sarah, these are “Moments of Humanity,” when people reveal their authentic selves and create a sense of unity that binds us all together. She is passionate about helping others see what’s possible for their own lives, offering not just inspiration but the gift of possibility. By sparking that inner thought, “maybe, I could too”, Sarah creates ripples of hope and empowerment.About Sarah Maxwell Sarah Maxwell believes her highest value is connection, and her life, like most, is beautifully unfolding around that truth. She treasures intimate moments of discovering who people truly are and delights in sharing the behind-the-scenes experiences of triumphs, sadness, setbacks, resilience, growth, and courage. For Sarah, these are “Moments of Humanity,” when people reveal their authentic selves and create a sense of unity that binds us all together. She is passionate about helping others see what is possible for their own lives, offering not just inspiration but the gift of possibility. By sparking that inner thought, “maybe, I could too,” Sarah creates ripples of hope and empowerment.Connect With Sarah MaxwellSarah’s Podcast “In The Game”https://www.inthegamecoaching.com/podcastwww.inthegamecoaching.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarah.maxwell.9634Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Sarah.Maxwell13LI: http://linkedin.com/in/sarah-maxwell-421b0024Website: http://inthegamecoaching.comConnect With Jennifer JefferiesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/presentdaywisewomanInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepresentdaywisewomanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferjefferies/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferjefferiesoz/ Website: https://www.jenniferjefferies.com
This week on The Present Day Wise Woman Podcast, I explore why so many women feel unseen after 50 and how we can reclaim our visibility, power, and voice. From Victorian “hidden mother” portraits to the decline of the once-revered crone, history has long sidelined older women—but invisibility is not our fate. I rip open the cloak with three powerful steps: own your space, speak unapologetically, and stand in sisterhood. This episode is my rallying call to reject ageism, reclaim our presence, and remind the world that wisdom doesn’t fade with age—it sharpens.
This week on The Present Day Wise Woman Podcast, I sit down with Robyn Henderson, a woman who lost everything, rebuilt from scratch, and found her real power in the process. Frombankruptcy and shame to screenwriting, mentoring, and giving back, Robyn proves that wisdom isn’t about never falling, it’s about how you rise.
When Jenny first stepped into local politics, councils were still known as pale, male, and stale. They were dominated by retired men and businessmen who had the time to attend meetings. Women made up just 29% of councillors across New South Wales, and some councils had none at all.
Jenny did not just take a seat at the table, she reshaped it. From championing the arts, reconciliation, and LGBTQ+ rights, to leading with compassion through her own cancer battles, Jenny has shown that brave, authentic leadership can change communities.
In this conversation, Jenny shares her journey into public service, her challenges as mayor, her resilience through illness, and the legacy she continues to build. Her story is a reminder to every woman listening: be brave, your voice matters, and the time is now.
In this intimate and inspiring conversation, Dr. Alice MacKinnon—no-nonsense emotion coach, five-time author, and surf-loving activist—opens up about coming out in her late 50s, the bushfire that changed everything, and the wisdom she’s apprenticing to as a present-day wise woman.From climate activism to the power of silence, from owning her PhD to buying her first surfboard at 46, Alice shares raw truths and hard-won insights on courage, purpose, and living in deep connection with the earth. This is one for every woman ready to rise—wholehearted and unapologetic.
Welcome to the first episode of The Present Day Wise Woman Podcast — where the stories are raw, the wisdom is lived, and the women are bloody legendary. I’m Jennifer Jefferies, naturopath, author, surfer, and unapologetic truth-teller, and this is the conversation the world doesn’t want us having. Money. Sex. Power. Ageing. Health. Visibility. Legacy. We’re not here to be polite or invisible. We’re here to rise, strong, together — carrying the torch lit by the women before us and sparking it brighter for those to come. If you’ve ever been told to tone it down, act your age, or politely disappear, this is your wake-up call.