A Podcast of One's Own with Julia Gillard

Julia Gillard, the only woman to have served as Prime Minister of Australia sits down for insightful, moving and thought-provoking conversations with some of the most interesting people from around the world working to advance gender equality – whether that's by actively dismantling gender-based barriers, or by being inspirational trailblazers in their field. We'll bring you stories from the worlds of business, entertainment, media, sport and many more, shining a light on people doing amazing things that you might not have heard about, and learning more about those we already know and love.

Julia presents a podcast in her role as Founder and Chair of the Global Institute for Women's Leadership (GIWL). GIWL is a world-leading research institute working to advance gender equality within workplaces, communities and societies. The podcast is produced by the GIWL team at the Australian National University, Canberra, with support from our sister institute at King's College London. Earnings from the podcast go back into the Institute, supporting the work we do to advance gender equality in Australia and the Asia Pacific, and beyond.

To stay up to date with the Institute’s work go to giwl.anu.edu.au and sign up to our updates, or follow us on social media @GIWLANU. You can also find @APodcastofOnesOwn on Instagram.

The team at A Podcast of One's Own acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples listening today.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Subscribe Listen in podnodRSS feed Show website

20 episodes
Updated July 29

Episodes20

Newest first

July 29 · 57 min
Julia Gillard and Sophie Gee on the love of books
In this extra special crossover episode, Julia is joined by Sophie Gee, co-host of The Secret Life of Books podcast, for a joyful conversation celebrating their shared love of books and reading. Julia and Sophie compare notes on hosting book podcasts, share their lifelong love of literature, and reflect on their experiences chairing two of the world's leading literary prizes for women and non-binary writers – the Women's Prize for Fiction and the Stella Prize. Sophie is a Professor of English at Princeton University, author of The Scandal of the Season, Chair of the 2026 Stella Prize judging panel and of course, hosts The Secret Life of Books, alongside her co-host, Jonty Claypole. Show notes If you enjoyed this conversation, you can find The Secret Life of Books, hosted by Sophie Gee and Jonty Claypole, wherever you get your podcasts. Julia and Sophie reflect on this year's Women's Prize for Fiction and Stella Prize, celebrating outstanding books by women and non-binary writers. You can explore the 2026 Stella Prize shortlist here: https://stella.org.au/the-stella-prize-2026-shortlist/ and find out more about the Women's Prize for Fiction here: https://womensprize.com/. They also discuss this year's winning titles: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, winner of the Women's Prize for Fiction, and Cannon by Lee Lai, the first graphic novel to win the Stella Prize. Find out more about The Correspondent here: https://womensprize.com/library/the-correspondent/ and Cannon here: https://stella.org.au/the-stella-prize-2026-winner/. The episode also explores the future of reading in the age of AI, including trends in reading for pleasure in Australia. You can read more in Creative Australia's latest National Arts Participation Survey here: https://australiareads.org.au/news/naps-2025/. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 15 · 1 hr 13 min
Julia's Book Club: The Handmaid's Tale
In this month’s episode of Julia’s Book Club, Julia Gillard and Sarah Holland-Batt discuss a truly iconic novel that became a cultural phenomenon, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. First published in 1985, the story follows Offred, a woman who has been assigned as a Handmaid to a household in the Republic of Gilead, a religious totalitarian state that has overthrown the United States government amidst environmental catastrophe, political instability and declining birth rates. Offred’s sole function is to produce children. Julia and Sarah discuss why this book has continuously resonated with readers over the four decades since it was released. They also delve into its wider cultural impact, through the hugely successful television series starring Elizabeth Moss and at present day political protests. Show notes: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood is available online and at all good bookstores. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 1 · 1 hr 3 min
Julia Gillard and Julie Inman-Grant: A Podcast of One's Own Live
In a special live recording from the 2026 Women Deliver conference in Melbourne, Julia Gillard interviews Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant. Julie began her career working in Washington at the dawn of the digital age, and went on to work for Microsoft, Twitter and Adobe. Over time she became increasingly concerned about what technology companies could do to keep people safe, and what they were actually doing. Now, as Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, she’s working to close that gap by leading world-first efforts to regulate social media, protect children online, and hold some of the world’s most powerful companies to account. Show notes: To learn more about the work of the eSafety Commission visit https://www.esafety.gov.au/ To learn more about Women Deliver visit https://womendeliver.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 17 · 42 min
Julia's Book Club - Yesteryear
In this month’s episode of Julia’s Book Club, Julia Gillard and Kathy Lette discuss Yesteryear, the hit debut novel from Caro Claire Burke. Yesteryear follows Natalie - a wife and mother living on a ranch in Idaho and promoting a traditional lifestyle to her many millions of followers on social media. One day Natalie wakes up in a strange version of reality, where her home and family look similar but different. What follows is a fascinating examination of tradition, fame, faith and the performative way so many of us live our lives. Julia and Kathy discuss how the book delves into some of the biggest issues facing our world today, the real life phenomenon of ‘tradwives’ on social media, and how well they each thought the twists and turns of the book played out. Show notes: Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke is published by Harper Collins and is available in all good bookstores. To learn more about the tradwives research at the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership visit https://www.kcl.ac.uk/giwl/assets/giwl-tradwife-report.pdf Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 3 · 37 min
Julia Gillard and Thangam Debbonaire live at Hay Festival
In this special episode recorded live at the 2026 Hay Festival in Wales, Julia Gillard sits down with Thangam Debbonaire to discuss their roles as judges for this year’s Women Prize. Julia is chairing the judging panel for the Women's Prize for Fiction, while Thangam is the chair of judges for the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction. In this entertaining conversation the pair take listeners behind the scenes of judging one of the world’s most prestigious literary prizes. The prizes are awarded annually to a female author of any nationality for the best novel and non-fiction book of the year written in English and published in the UK. Julia and Thangam talk about the rigours of reading dozens of books in a short time frame, heated debates amongst judges and the exceptional books on each shortlist. The winners will be announced in London on June 11. Show notes: To learn more about the Women’s Prize and the books on the long and shortlists visit https://womensprize.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 20 · 1 hr
Julia's Book Club - A Room of One's Own
In this very special episode of Julia’s Book Club, Julia Gillard and Sarah Holland-Batt discuss the work that inspired the name of this podcast. Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own was originally delivered as two lectures at Girton College, Cambridge almost a hundred years ago. Despite the passage of time many of the themes and ideas Woolf explores in this short but weighty book remain startlingly relevant today. Julia and Sarah discuss what has and hasn't changed for women since the 1920s, the evolution of women's writing and Virginia Woolf herself. Content warning: this book and episode includes themes of mental illness, sexual abuse and suicide. Please take care while listening and if you need help or information please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au/ Show notes: A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf is published by Penguin Australia and is available at all good bookstores. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 6 · 53 min
Akec Makur Chuot on making history as the first African woman in the AFLW
Former AFLW player and gender equality advocate Akec Makur Chuot has lived an extraordinary life. Born in South Sudan, she spent her early years in a refugee camp in Kenya before moving to Australia at age 11. She went on to become the first African woman drafted into the inaugural season of the AFLW, the national professional league for women’s Aussie rules football, helping to shape the game from the very beginning. In this episode, Julia Gillard and Akec discuss her journey to Australia, how football became a bridge to belonging, and the responsibility of being a trailblazer in women’s sport. They also explore her advocacy work beyond the field, including raising awareness of child marriage, supporting girls’ education, and using her platform to speak about the experiences of refugee communities. Show notes In this episode, we discuss Akec’s work with the 1,000 Girls World Vision campaign and her role as a Gender Equality Ambassador for Plan International. You can find out more about this work using the links below: https://www.worldvision.com.au/sponsor-a-child/1000-girls https://www.plan.org.au/our-work/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 22 · 44 min
Julia's Book Club - The Names
In the first Book Club episode of 2026 Julia Gillard and Kathy Lette delve into The Names, the hit debut novel by British author Florence Knapp. The story begins in 1987 when a woman named Cora arrives at the registry office for what at first glance seems like a simple task: naming her newborn son. But for Cora it is a deeply complicated decision. Her husband expects her to follow family tradition and name him Gordon; she likes the name Julian; and her young daughter thinks her baby brother should be called Bear. The story unfolds in three alternate narratives, each based on the name Cora chooses. Spanning 35 years, the book begs the age old question - what's in a name? Julia and Kathy discuss the book's unique structure, generational trauma and their own sliding door moments. Content warning: this book and discussion includes themes of physical and emotional abuse. Please be mindful of that and take care while listening today. If you need help or information please call 1800RESPECT or visit www.1800respect.org.au Show notes: See What You Made Me Do by Jess Hill is published by Black Inc Books https://www.blackincbooks.com.au/books/see-what-you-made-me-do-0 To learn more about the research discussed by Kathy and Julia please visit these sites: https://www.unimelb.edu.au/newsroom/news/2024/july/radical-anti-feminism-the-most-prevalent-form-of-violent-extremism-in-australia,-report-finds https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/almost-a-third-of-gen-z-men-agree-a-wife-should-obey-her-husband Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 1 · 51 min
Julia Gillard and Caitlin Moran: an International Women's Day conversation live in London
In this special episode recorded live at the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College London, Julia Gillard interviews author and broadcaster Caitlin Moran. They delve into her hippy childhood, how she found her voice, the future of feminism and her book What About Men. The event also launched the latest GIWL research into global attitudes towards gender equality, produced in conjunction with IPSOS UK. Julia and Caitlin are joined by Kelly Beaver, the Chief Executive of IPSOS UK and Ireland, for a fascinating discussion about the research findings, which highlight the growing generational divide in attitudes toward gender roles and the gap between personal beliefs and perceived social expectation. Show notes: Caitlin Moran’s books including What About Men are published by Penguin and are available in all good bookstores. You can learn more about the GIWL/IPSOS UK research here: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/almost-a-third-of-gen-z-men-agree-a-wife-should-obey-her-husband Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 11 · 1 hr 9 min
Suzie Miller on theatre as a force for social change
To kick off our new season, Julia sits down with award-winning playwright and former criminal defence lawyer Suzie Miller. Suzie’s work sits at the intersection of law, storytelling and social change. Before becoming one of the most influential voices in contemporary theatre, she spent years working inside the justice system as a criminal defence lawyer – an experience that would later shape many of her plays. She is best known for her groundbreaking play Prima Facie, a one-woman production that premiered in Sydney before becoming a global phenomenon on the West End and Broadway. The play won major international awards and sparked powerful conversations about sexual assault, consent and the limits of the legal system. In this conversation, Suzie reflects on her journey from the courtroom to the theatre, the responsibility of artists to engage with difficult truths, and why storytelling can sometimes shift public thinking in ways that policy and law cannot. She also discusses her latest play, Inter Alia, which continues her exploration of justice and power through a new lens — masculinity, parenting and accountability. Together, Julia and Suzie discuss the power of theatre to challenge the justice system, shift public debate and spark cultural change. This is a deep and wide-ranging discussion that touches on difficult topics, including rape, sexual assault and consent. We encourage listeners to be mindful of this before listening and to take care if these topics are difficult for them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 17, 2025 · 33 min
Julia Gillard and Kathy Lette look back on 2025
In the final episode of 2025 Julia Gillard and Kathy Lette look back on their favourite books of the year. In a candid and funny chat they also discuss writing memoirs, the upcoming release of Kathy's new book, Julia's role as Chair of the Women's Prize for Fiction and their plans for the holiday season. Show notes: Kathy Lette's new novel The Sisterhood Rules will be published in Australia on February 3, 2026 and in the UK on April 9. For more information about the Women's Prize for Fiction visit https://womensprize.com/prizes/womens-prize-for-fiction/ For more on our 2025 Julia's Book Club reads visit our Instagram page @apodcastofonesown Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 29, 2025 · 42 min
Catherine & Naomi on job sharing & diversity in national security
This month's episode of A Podcast of One's Own is a little unusual because you'll hear from two guests, who are unaccustomed to the limelight as they work in the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office which is one department of the UK’s national security community. They're also both mums and in a long term job share. They talk to Julia about the stereotypes and misconceptions of their work, what it’s really like for women, diversity in national security and how they make job-sharing work in such an important area. For more on diversity in the intelligence sector: https://giwl.anu.edu.au/our-research/classified-and-secret https://giwl.anu.edu.au/our-research/why-do-women-remain-under-represented-international-affairs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 15, 2025 · 40 min
Kelly T. Clements on the global refugee and foreign aid crisis
Kelly T. Clements has made it her life’s mission to help people who have been displaced by war, violence, famine and other catastrophes. Kelly has served as Deputy High Commissioner of UNHCR (The United Nations High Commission for Refugees) since 2015. In this episode Julia Gillard and Kelly discuss her 30 year career that’s taken her to conflict zones around the world. They delve into the devastating cutbacks to foreign aid spending and how that’s impacting millions of people in desperate need. Show notes: To learn more about the work of UNHCR visit https://www.unhcr.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 1, 2025 · 33 min
Julia's Book Club - Highway 13
In this month’s Book Club episode, Julia Gillard and her co-host Sarah Holland-Batt explore Highway 13 by internationally acclaimed Australian author Fiona McFarlane. The award-winning book is a series of loosely connected short stories focusing on the lives of everyday people who have all been affected by a single serial killer in a small Australian town. Paul Biga is arrested and charged over the brutal murders of at least a dozen backpackers and hitchhikers along an Australian highway in the 1990s. The reverberations of his crimes stretch far and wide, with McFarlane delving into the past and the future, and across continents, to explore the impact on those with strong links to the killer, as well as those with an interest in the case. Julia and Sarah discuss how the book connects to real life cases and places and which stories left the biggest impression on them . Show notes: Highway 13 is published by Allen & Unwin and available in most good book shops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 17, 2025 · 52 min
Jacinda Ardern on leading with kindness.
In this episode Julia Gillard sits down with former New Zealand Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern. Jacinda was just 37 years old when she was elected Prime Minister, and a few months later became the second leader in history to give birth while in office, when she welcomed her daughter Neve. This year Jacinda published her memoir - A Different Kind of Power - an aptly named book for someone who always pushed back against stereotypes and assumptions about what leadership is, and asked the question, what if kindness came first? In this conversation Julia and Jacinda discuss their experiences as women leaders, Jacinda’s journey to the Prime Ministership and what life looks like for her now post-politics. Show notes: A Different Kind of Power is published by Penguin and is available at all good bookstores. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 3, 2025 · 41 min
Julia's Book Club - The Book of Guilt
In a special Book Club episode, Julia Gillard sits down with Global Institute for Women’s Leadership Chair Professor Michelle Ryan to discuss The Book of Guilt by New Zealand author Catherine Chidgey. The Book of Guilt is a deeply unsettling exploration of autonomy, identity, and morality. It’s set in an alternate England in 1979 – where Hitler’s assassination in 1943 led to a negotiated peace and a chillingly different trajectory for post-war Britain. The story follows three identical boys: Vincent, William, and Lawrence, who are the last remaining residents of a bleak, run-down state children’s institution. The boys are part of a mysterious government project, called The Sycamore Scheme, subjected to meticulous routines, daily medication, and round-the-clock surveillance. In a conversation recorded at GIWL at ANU in Canberra, Julia and Michelle discuss the book’s twists and turns, and how it explores humankind’s treatment of those deemed “the other’. Show notes: The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey is published by Penguin Books and is available at all good bookstores. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 20, 2025 · 44 min
Katherine Bennell-Pegg on making history as Australia's first astronaut, the intense training and why space travel is worth the risks
When Katherine Bennell-Pegg was in high school, she was asked to write down three career options to pursue. She wrote down one - astronaut. Last year, she not only fulfilled that ambition but she made history in doing so, becoming Australia’s first female astronaut and the first person to qualify as an astronaut under the Australian flag. For this episode, Julia met Katherine at the Australian Space Agency in Adelaide, where the mother-of-two is the Director of Space Technology. They discussed the intense training she’s undergone, her passion to progress action on global issues like climate change, the importance of diversity in space and why space travel is worth the risks. Show notes: Learn more about Katherine Bennell-Pegg and the work of the Australian Space Agency: https://www.space.gov.au/Katherine-Bennell-Pegg Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 6, 2025 · 45 min
Julia's Book Club - Tell Me Everything
In this month's Book Club episode, Julia Gillard and her co-host Kathy Lette discuss Tell Me Everything, the latest novel by Pulitzer Prize winning author Elizabeth Strout. Tell Me Everything is Strout's 10th novel, and it returns readers to the fictional town of Crosby, Maine - where several of her novels have taken place. It also features many of the characters from her previous books, including Lucy Barton and Olive Kitteridge. In this story, the town lawyer Bob Burgess takes on a case defending a man suspected of killing his own mother. But, as Julia and Kathy discuss, the case is only one part of a sprawling story that examines love, grief, family, the importance of friendship and everyone’s search to find meaning in their life. Show notes: Tell Me Everything is published by Penguin and is available in all good bookstores. Learn more about Kathy Lette at https://www.kathylette.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 23, 2025 · 40 min
Julia Gillard and Bridget Phillipson live at the Global Institute for Women's Leadership
In this live event recording Julia sits down with the UK's Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities Bridget Phillipson. In a wide-ranging conversation, they reflect on her journey from a working-class upbringing in Sunderland and running a domestic abuse refuge, to becoming a Cabinet Minister in the first Labour government for 14 years. The pair discuss the state of gender equality today, tackling misogyny and violence against women and girls, and emerging divisions between young men and women on gender roles and women's rights. They are later joined by Kelly Beaver, Chief Executive of Ipsos UK and Ireland, to discuss the latest findings from a global study of attitudes towards gender equality, carried out jointly by Ipsos and the Global Institute for Women's Leadership. Show notes: To learn more about the latest research by IPSOS and GIWL head to https://www.ipsos.com/en/international-womens-day-2025 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 9, 2025 · 44 min
Julia's Book Club – Audition
In this Book Club episode, Julia Gillard and her cohost Sarah Holland-Batt dive into Audition, the latest novel from Katie Kitamura. Audition follows an unnamed actress as she rehearses a play that blurs the lines between performance and personal history. When a mysterious young man appears, claiming to be her son, she’s drawn into a spiral of uncertainty that challenges her sense of self and reality. Together, Julia and Sarah unpack the novel’s themes of identity, motherhood, and the shifting boundaries between truth and fiction. They explore how the story's psychologically rich but uncanny style highlights the tension between who we are and who the world asks us to be. Join us for a thoughtful discussion on power, performance, and the quiet ways women resist being written into roles they didn’t choose. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.