No Filter

Latest Episodes:

"All The Exits Were Blocked" - How Charlotte Cowles Was Scammed Aug 25, 2024

Show notes

On Halloween morning, Charlotte Cowles - an Ivy League educated journalist and mother of a two-year old son - received a life-altering phone call from a government agent who informed her that she had 22 bank accounts, nine vehicles and four properties registered in her name, and that she’d wired more than $3 million to Jamaica and Iraq, and that a car had been rented in her name that had been linked to drug trafficking in New Mexico…and that she had warrants out for her arrest.

As you will hear in this heart-stopping episode of No Filter, the government agent turned out to be a scammer - and the tactics he used against Charlotte amounted to all-out psychological warfare. And it worked.

It’s a story you need to hear to believe.

You can learn more about Charlotte and read her work here.

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CREDITS:

Host: Mia Freedman

You can find Mia on Instagram here and get her newsletter here.

Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Audio Producer: Leah Porges
Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

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The Mother Who Won’t Put A Trigger Warning On Her Child’s Life Aug 18, 2024

Show notes

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Are you triggered by trigger warnings? Do you need one before you read a story about anxiety? How about before you see a photo of a meal that includes meat?
What about before you watch a performance of Macbeth?

Trigger warnings are supposed to protect us, but do they?

Rachael Casella lost her daughter Mackenzie when she was just seven months old. And she refuses to put a trigger warning on her daughter’s life for reasons that may surprise you. Victoria Bridgland is an academic and researcher at Flinders University who has studied the effects and impact of trigger warnings - and her findings may surprise you.

You can learn more about Rachael and Mackenzie here.

Buy Rachael’s book here.

And you can learn more about Victoria’s work here.

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CREDITS:

Host: Mia Freedman

You can find Mia on Instagram here and get her newsletter here.

Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Finch’s Wife Wanted To Be ‘Unmarried’... But Not Divorced Aug 11, 2024

Show notes

You can hear the second half of Mia's conversation with David here.

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David Finch is a lot of things: he’s an Autism and Neurodiversity consultant, the author of The Journal of Best Practices; A Memoir of Marriage, Asperger Syndrome, and One Man’s Quest to Be a Better Husband, an essayist for the New York Times Modern Love column…and he’s also UNmarried.

In this two-part special episode of No Filter, David Finch opens up to Mia Freedman about his life before and after his Asperger’s syndrome diagnosis, his quest to be the best husband and father he could be…and how he ended up UNmarried (and what that even means).

You can find David’s books and essays here.

Learn more about neurodivergent relationships here.

Follow David on Instagram here.

What To Read:

Read: More People Are Being Diagnosed With Neurodiversity than Ever. Here’s why it’s a good thing.

Read: I was diagnosed autistic at 45. Here are 6 things I want you to know.

Read: Me and my husband were more like roommates than a couple. One conversation changed everything.'

Read: "You keep your identities separate." 8 signs you're in the right relationship.

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CREDITS:

Host: Mia Freedman

You can find Mia on Instagram here and get her newsletter here.

Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tia Levings Escaped A Trad Wife Cult Aug 04, 2024

Show notes

You can hear the second half of Mia's conversation with Tia here.

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Tia Levings was raised within the same strict Christian fundamentalist ideology as the infamous Duggar family from 19 Kids And Counting. By the time she was 19 years old, Tia found herself in an abusive marriage where the violence was sanctioned by the church.

In this must-listen episode of No Filter, Tia tells Mia Freedman about the ways she was groomed to be a Trad Wife, and the moment she knew she had to run for her life. This is a story of indoctrination and survival, of reinvention and strength…but it is also about the thousands of other women who haven’t escaped the Trad Wife movement, and the new ones who are joining every day.

You can find out more about Tia and her book, A Well Trained Wife, here.

You can follow her on Instagram here.

And if you need to talk to someone, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

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CREDITS:

Host: Mia Freedman

You can find Mia on Instagram here and get her newsletter here.

Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jen Glantz Is A Professional Bridesmaid - She Works Hard For The Money Jul 28, 2024

Show notes

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Jen Glantz was so sick of being invited to weddings and asked to do so much work…for free. So she did what any good entrepreneur does: she turned it into a business called Bridesmaid For Hire.

In this episode of No Filter, Jen spills all the tea about her life as a professional bridesmaid - the good, the bad and the ugly (and all the dresses!)

For more about Jen Glantz and Bridesmaid For Hire - go to her website.

Or follow her on Instagram.

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CREDITS:

Host: Mia Freedman

You can find Mia on Instagram here and get her newsletter here.

Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eve Wiley’s Father Was A Serial Sperm Donor…And He’s Not Alone Jul 21, 2024

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Eve Wiley is one of the featured voices in the Netflix series The Man with 1000 Kids, but the story of how she came to be a fierce advocate for victims of fertility fraud is a deeply personal one…and one you have to hear to believe.

In this episode of No Filter, Eve Wiley tells Mia Freedman how she finally found out that she is the child of fertility fraud and how she discovered who her biological father was - a discovery that turned her world upside down and transformed her into a fearless fighter for the women and families who’ve been harmed by fraudulent and serial sperm donors.

Through her work she’s successfully lobbied for the creation of laws which criminalise conception deception - but as you’ll hear, her fight is only just beginning.

You can learn more about Eve Wiley here.

If you’ve been the victim of fertility fraud or have a story to share with us, you can contact us anonymously HERE.

If this story has brought up any hard emotions, please reach out to Lifeline on 13 11 14.

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CREDITS:

Host: Mia Freedman

You can find Mia on Instagram here and get her newsletter here.

Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Injuries, Exploitation and Eating Disorders: The Real Story Behind The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders with Sarah Hepola Jul 14, 2024

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Before the Netflix documentary America’s Sweethearts, a 7-part series that examines the wild world of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, author and journalist Sarah Hepola created and hosted the Texas Monthly podcast America’s Girls and she has stories that didn’t make it into the Netflix series.

In this wide-ranging conversation with Mia Freedman, Sarah talks about the sexual exploitation, the injuries, the pay gap, the body image issues…and so much more.

Are the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders a harmless piece of beloved American culture? Or are they emblematic of a system and ideal that is harmful for women and girls? Mia and Sarah discuss it all in this episode of No Filter.

You can listen to Sarah’s DCC podcast here.

Her Substack Podcast, Smoke Em if You Got Em, is here.

And Sarah’s own podcast is here.

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CREDITS:

Host: Mia Freedman
You can find Mia on Instagram here and get her newsletter here.

Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Twisted True Dating Story Behind Asher Keddie's ‘FAKE’ Jul 11, 2024

Show notes

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Almost 40% of relationships begin online and while there are plenty of success stories, there are also some horror stories. This is one of those stories. In 2019, Mia Freedman interviewed Stephanie Wood, the author of Fake, which is now a hit TV series starring Asher Keddie and David Wenham. This is the true story behind the show.

When Stephanie Wood decided to go on a date with a guy she met online she had no idea it would change the course of her life forever.

Because Stephanie quickly fell in love with a man she barely knew. And who, it turned out, was a massive conman.

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CREDITS:

Host: Mia Freedman

With thanks to special guest Stephanie Wood.

Buy her book Fake here: https://bit.ly/2m5rZmv

Producer: Elissa Ratliff

Audio edited by Daryl Missen

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Dassi Erlich Escaped Her Extreme Community And Exposed Malka Leifer's Crimes Jul 07, 2024

Show notes

You can hear the second half of Mia's conversation with Dassi here.

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In this searing episode of No Filter, Dassi Erlich talks to Mia Freedman about growing up in an extreme ultra-Orthodox religious community in Melbourne and the abuse she suffered at the hands of her school principal, Malka Leifer.

Dassi shares the story of how she fought back against both Leifer and the community that failed to protect her - a battle that took far too long. It is a story of deep betrayal and abuse, but also a story of strength, hope, and the incredible will of the human spirit.

You can find Dassi’s book, In Bad Faith, here.

If this conversation brought up hard feelings and you need some help, please call Lifeline here.

And if you recognise yourself or someone you love in Dassi’s story - SECASA can help you connect to the police and to the support you need.

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Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing... Little Love Stories Jul 04, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to a brand new podcast from Mamamia's parenting podcast This Glorious Mess called Little Love Stories.

Little Love Stories is an open-hearted conversation with someone who has love and gratitude to share, whether it's about a person, an object, or an event.

In this first episode, This Glorious Mess co-host Annaliese Todd shares the love story she wrote to herself. No one plans on becoming a single parent, but through this journey of self-discovery, Annaliese is breaking down stigmas and finding love for herself as she navigates the dark days.

Little Love Stories explores gratitude through written form and heartfelt conversation. The world is full of little moments of love and magic—it's time we started to notice them.

Want more This Glorious Mess? Click here.

You can read Annaliese's full essay here.

Got a Little Love Story you want to share? We’re listening! Send us a voice message or email us at tgm@mamamia.com.au.

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CREDITS:

Host & Producer: Grace Rouvray

Guest: Annaliese Todd

Audio Producer: Lu Hill

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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