About the Guest:

Kaaren Watts is a behavioral scientist with a significant background in researching eating disorders. Her personal experience with anorexia nervosa has not only inspired her to explore the depth of this subject matter academically but also professionally. Watts has turned her struggles into academic excellence by authoring a PhD centered around the psychological reactions to body image stimuli in media, focusing on its effects on young women's body satisfaction. She is presently celebrated for her courage in candidly discussing her own eating disorder battle, aiming to promote hope and reduce stigma about mental health.

Key Takeaways:

• Eating disorders can occur at any age, including for women over 40, and are often exacerbated by factors like social media influence and societal pressures.
• Anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders have serious mental, emotional, and physical health consequences, but recovery is possible with appropriate treatment.
• Seeking treatment involves engaging with a multidisciplinary team of health professionals, and early intervention can significantly enhance the recovery process.
• The pervasive nature of diet culture and media portrayal of ideal body images plays a critical role in the development of body dissatisfaction and subsequent eating disorders.
• The Butterfly Foundation offers valuable resources for those affected by eating disorders, including a support hotline and access to professional help.

Notable Quotes:

• "The incidence of eating disorders is on the rise and includes among women in our 40 plus fabulous demographic."
• "I liken it to being in a vice… the eating disorder also constrains you, it binds you."
• "It is absolutely possible to recover from an eating disorder. Life is a God-given gift and it's worth seizing the opportunity to recover."
• "I've grieved enormously this year for missed opportunities… But it's never too late to seek help."
• "Diet culture in Australia is rife in the media, and even amongst ourselves, we have all these unhelpful ways of talking about food."

Resources:

• Butterfly Foundation: Offers crucial support for individuals dealing with eating disorders. They have a helpline available at 1800 34 673, operational from 8 AM to midnight, Australia Eastern Standard Time. More details can be found on their official website.

Click here to contact Janet & Amelia or ask them a question or click here to contact the She Wasn't Born Yesterday team!

She Wasn’t Born Yesterday, hosted by Janet Evans, a senior advertising creative and Dr Amelia Haines, a sexual and relationship therapist, who have written Australia’s first book on empty nest syndrome called Empty Next.

Visit Empty Nest Chicks for more resources, click here for their book, or join the discussion on Facebook.

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.

Support the show, a product of Hope Media: https://hope1032.com.au/donate/2211A-pod/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About the Guest:

Anousha Zarkesh is a renowned casting director with over 25 years of experience in the Australian TV and film industry. Specializing in a range of genres from political satire to drama, comedy, and telemovies, Anousha has significantly contributed to projects centered around cultural diversity and inclusion. Her acclaimed work on shows such as "Redfern Now" and "Mystery Road" has earned her numerous awards and a celebrated reputation within the industry.

Key Takeaways:

• Changing Roles for Older Women: Discussion on the evolving roles for women over 40 in Hollywood and whether the shift towards more significant roles for mature women is genuinely happening.
• Impact of Female Storytellers: The rise in women writers and directors is pivotal in broadening the scope of women's roles in film and television.
• Diversity in Casting: Anousha Zarkesh emphasizes the importance of representing diverse voices and cultures in media, reflecting on her work with indigenous actors.
• Industry Challenges: Examines biases and stereotypes that still persist in the film industry, as well as the impact of the #MeToo movement on set dynamics.
• Advice for Aspiring Actors: Anousha offers real-world advice for those considering acting as a career, highlighting the importance of authentic storytelling.

Notable Quotes:

• "Women are writing, women are directing, so they're interested in telling their stories.” – Anousha Zarkesh
• "We can just blow people away. And people wanted to know more." – Anousha Zarkesh
• "You have to be yourself and you have to have a life and live your life." – Anousha Zarkesh
• "Don't do it. Don't do it to yourself." – Anousha Zarkesh on choosing acting as a career path.
• "I've always loved actors and what they did and they transformed and they became." – Anousha Zarkesh

Resources:

• Anousha Zarkesh's Company
• Podcasts and Shows Mentioned:
• "Redfern Now"
• "Mystery Road"
• "High Ground"
• "Total Control"
• "How to Please a Woman"
• "Deadloch" featuring Madeline Sami
• "Better Things" by Pamela Adlin

Click here to contact Janet & Amelia or ask them a question or click here to contact the She Wasn't Born Yesterday team!

She Wasn’t Born Yesterday, hosted by Janet Evans, a senior advertising creative and Dr Amelia Haines, a sexual and relationship therapist, who have written Australia’s first book on empty nest syndrome called Empty Next.

Visit Empty Nest Chicks for more resources, click here for their book, or join the discussion on Facebook.

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.

Support the show, a product of Hope Media: https://hope1032.com.au/donate/2211A-pod/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Key Takeaways:

• The "invisible women's syndrome" is a phenomenon where women over 40 feel less seen and less valued both personally and professionally.

• Media and advertising often fail to represent older women positively, contributing to societal biases and stereotypes.

• Janet and Dr. Amelia emphasize that marketing strategies are missing out on a lucrative demographic by underrepresenting women over 50.

• Embracing visibility through vibrant clothing and casting older women in diverse media roles can help challenge entrenched stereotypes.

• More seasoned women need to support and mentor younger women, creating a more robust support system across generations.

Notable Quotes:

• "As a person who's a little bit vertically challenged, I've always felt invisible." - Dr. Amelia Haines

• "Inside every older woman is a younger woman screaming, get me the hell out of here." - Quoting Kathy Lette

• "Women over the age of 50 are competent, ambitious, creative, and intellectually agile." - Janet Evans

• "It's not great if you're a little bit insecure." - Dr. Amelia Haines discusses the feeling of invisibility.

• "Sure, you see, I would even sort of say sadly, I think we're kind of used to it a little bit. So. I agree. It gets worse." - Dr. Amelia Haines on professional invisibility.

Click here to contact Janet & Amelia or ask them a question or click here to contact the She Wasn't Born Yesterday team!

She Wasn’t Born Yesterday, hosted by Janet Evans, a senior advertising creative and Dr Amelia Haines, a sexual and relationship therapist, who have written Australia’s first book on empty nest syndrome called Empty Next.

Visit Empty Nest Chicks for more resources, click here for their book, or join the discussion on Facebook.

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.

Support the show, a product of Hope Media: https://hope1032.com.au/donate/2211A-pod/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.