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Serina Bird, author of The Joyful Frugalista, chats with friends, family, and the famous about frugality, investing, wellbeing and living sustainability.
Serina Bird, author of The Joyful Frugalista, chats with friends, family, and the famous about frugality, investing, wellbeing and living sustainability.
Episodes
Sunday Aug 17, 2025
133: VIDEO Mel Browne talks about financial empowerment for women
Sunday Aug 17, 2025
Sunday Aug 17, 2025
Join Serina Bird as she sits down with Mel Browne, author of Unf*ck Your Finances, to explore the importance of financial empowerment for women. In this episode, they cover financial literacy, superannuation, investing, frugal living, and the ways menopause and ageism can shape women’s financial journeys. Mel shares her personal experiences, unpacks how traditional gender roles have influenced women’s financial independence, and offers practical strategies to build wealth at any stage of life.
Key Takeaways:
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Financial literacy is essential for women’s empowerment.
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Traditional gender roles can limit women’s financial independence.
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Superannuation is a vital but often overlooked part of women’s financial planning.
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Investing is possible and rewarding at any age.
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Menopause and ageism can significantly affect career opportunities and finances.
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Frugal living can improve long-term financial health.
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Women often outperform men as investors due to disciplined strategies.
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Open conversations about money are key to financial confidence.
BONUS: Mel has prepared a list of resources for The Joyful Frugalista listeners, which you can find at https://www.melissabrowne.com.au/joyfulfrugalista.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Financial Empowerment for Women
02:22 Mel Browne's Journey and Passion for Financial Literacy
05:27 The financial implications of the trad wife movement
06:40 Superannuation
13:00 Investing: It's Never Too Late to Start
20:19 Menopause and Its Financial Impact on Women
25:23 Re-entering the Workforce: Ageism and Opportunities
26:46 Frugalista tip

Saturday Aug 16, 2025
133: Mel Browne talks about financial empowerment for women
Saturday Aug 16, 2025
Saturday Aug 16, 2025
Join Serina Bird as she sits down with Mel Browne, author of Unf*ck Your Finances, to explore the importance of financial empowerment for women. In this episode, they cover financial literacy, superannuation, investing, frugal living, and the ways menopause and ageism can shape women’s financial journeys. Mel shares her personal experiences, unpacks how traditional gender roles have influenced women’s financial independence, and offers practical strategies to build wealth at any stage of life.
Key Takeaways:
-
Financial literacy is essential for women’s empowerment.
-
Traditional gender roles can limit women’s financial independence.
-
Superannuation is a vital but often overlooked part of women’s financial planning.
-
Investing is possible and rewarding at any age.
-
Menopause and ageism can significantly affect career opportunities and finances.
-
Frugal living can improve long-term financial health.
-
Women often outperform men as investors due to disciplined strategies.
-
Open conversations about money are key to financial confidence.
BONUS: Mel has prepared a list of resources for The Joyful Frugalista listeners, which you can find at https://www.melissabrowne.com.au/joyfulfrugalista.

Monday Aug 11, 2025
Monday Aug 11, 2025
In this episode, Serina is joined by her former boss, Grant Dooley, whose real-life memoir Bomb Season in Jakarta is more gripping than an action spy thriller. A former Australian diplomat with postings in Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Jakarta, Grant takes us inside the high-stakes world of mid-2000s Australia-Indonesian diplomacy – a turbulent era of bombings, political unrest, and personal resilience, all while navigating life on dual diplomatic postings with his wife and children.

Saturday Aug 09, 2025
132: Grant Dooley talks about being a diplomat during bomb season in Jakarta
Saturday Aug 09, 2025
Saturday Aug 09, 2025
In this episode, Serina is joined by her former boss, Grant Dooley, whose real-life memoir Bomb Season in Jakarta is more gripping than any spy thriller. A former Australian diplomat with postings in Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Jakarta, Grant takes us inside the high-stakes world of mid-2000s Australia-Indonesian diplomacy – a turbulent era of bombings, political unrest, and personal resilience, all while navigating life on dual diplomatic postings with his wife and children.

Friday Jul 25, 2025
Friday Jul 25, 2025
Join Serina Bird as she welcomes back Roxanne Calder, Managing Director of EST10 and author of "Earning Power: Breaking Barriers and Building Wealth for Women." In this episode, they delve into the gender pay gap, the importance of self-advocacy, and practical steps women can take to boost their earnings. Roxanne shares insights from her new book, featuring stories from influential figures like Julia Ross and Philip Kearns.
Key Takeaways:
- The impact of the gender pay gap on women's lifetime earnings.
- Strategies for women to enhance their earning potential.
- The concept of the "glass cliff" and how to navigate it.
- The importance of networking for social capital and self-promotion.
Guest: Roxanne Calder - Managing Director of EST10 and author of "Earning Power."
#WomenEmpowerment #EarningPower #GenderPayGap #Podcast

Wednesday Jul 23, 2025
131: Roxanne Calder talks about how to build wealth through earning power
Wednesday Jul 23, 2025
Wednesday Jul 23, 2025
Join Serina Bird as she welcomes back Roxanne Calder, Managing Director of EST10 and author of "Earning Power: Breaking Barriers and Building Wealth for Women." In this episode, they delve into the gender pay gap, the importance of self-advocacy, and practical steps women can take to boost their earnings. Roxanne shares insights from her new book, featuring stories from influential figures like Julia Ross and Philip Kearns.
Key Takeaways:
- The impact of the gender pay gap on women's lifetime earnings.
- Strategies for women to enhance their earning potential.
- The concept of the "glass cliff" and how to navigate it.
- The importance of networking for social capital and self-promotion.
Guest: Roxanne Calder - Managing Director of EST10 and author of "Earning Power."
#WomenEmpowerment #EarningPower #GenderPayGap #Podcast

Friday Jul 11, 2025
130: Aussie Firebug on giving up the F.I.R.E. obsession
Friday Jul 11, 2025
Friday Jul 11, 2025
This year marks 10 years of podcasting for Aussie Firebug, one of Australia’s original voices in the Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) movement. From his early days tracking every cent to, working in the UK and (almost) reaching his FIRE goal, returning home to regional Victoria, and moving beyond retirement into new ventures, Aussie Firebug’s journey has evolved. Podcast host Serina Bird catches up with him in his hometown, explores his coworking space, and discovers why he’s no longer “obsessed” with the pursuit of financial independence—and what matters to him now.
00:00 Introduction and Background
03:10 The Journey of Aussie Firebug
06:56 Financial Independence and Life Changes
14:40 New Family Dynamics and Challenges
19:55 The Importance of Financial Security
24:52 Community and Family Support
30:07 Frugal Tips and Solar Energy Benefits

Thursday Jul 10, 2025
130: VIDEO - Aussie Firebug shares why he is no longer obsessive about F.I.R.E.
Thursday Jul 10, 2025
Thursday Jul 10, 2025
This year, Aussie Firebug celebrates a decade of podcasting about his Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) journey. Podcast host Serina Bird visits Aussie Firebug at his hometown in regional Victoria, tours his coworking space and finds out why it is no longer 'obsessive' about his journey towards F.I.R.E..
00:00 Introduction and Background
03:10 The Journey of Aussie Firebug
06:56 Financial Independence and Life Changes
14:40 New Family Dynamics and Challenges
19:55 The Importance of Financial Security
24:52 Community and Family Support
30:07 Frugal Tips and Solar Energy Benefits

Tuesday Jul 01, 2025
129: VIDEO Todd Polke talks about developing a millionaire mindset
Tuesday Jul 01, 2025
Tuesday Jul 01, 2025
Todd Polke is a seasoned investor, entrepreneur, and global wealth educator with over two decades of experience. He has guided thousands of investors in building high-performing portfolios and played a key role in facilitating more than $1.5 billion in investment opportunities worldwide. Todd is the founder of Portfolio Wealth, a regular commentator on Sky News and Your Money, and the author of Escape the Middle: Switch on Your Millionaire Mindset and Build Wealth that Outlives You. His mission is to empower people to think bigger, invest smarter, and create lasting financial freedom.

Saturday Jun 28, 2025
129: Todd Polke talks about developing a millionaire mindset
Saturday Jun 28, 2025
Saturday Jun 28, 2025
Todd Polke is a seasoned investor, entrepreneur, and global wealth educator with over two decades of experience. He has guided thousands of investors in building high-performing portfolios and has played a key role in facilitating more than $1.5 billion in investment opportunities worldwide. Todd is the founder of Portfolio Wealth, a regular commentator on Sky News and Your Money, and the author of Escape the Middle: Switch on Your Millionaire Mindset and Build Wealth that Outlives You. His mission is to empower people to think bigger, invest smarter, and create lasting financial freedom.
