Over the Back Fence

This week Nicola and Di chat with the inspiring and radiant Lizzie Williamson. Lizzie is a global motivator, TEDx speaker, bestselling author, former professional dancer, and is also known as "The Excuse Buster from Down Under." Lizzie has shared stages with Barack and Michelle Obama, Arianna Huffington and the Dalai Lama, and brings her infectious energy and practical tools to help people stop overthinking and start taking action.
We chat to Lizzie about her early love of dance and the devastating postnatal depression she experienced after the birth of her second daughter. She shares the moment that changed everything, and how it only took two minutes to take the smallest possible step forward.
That two-minute moment became the foundation of Lizzie's philosophy and her bestselling books, including her latest, Just Two Minutes. We talk about how shifting from an "all or nothing" mindset to "all or something" can be the difference between staying stuck and getting unstuck, and why the smallest actions can create ripple effects that change your life.
We also loved hearing about Lizzie's tips for overcoming the sedentary workday, and her simple but powerful advice on gratitude, comparison, and building a circle of support, even if it starts with just one phone call to one friend.
We had the best time with Lizzie, her warmth and energy are contagious, and we hope you love this episode as much as we did!
This episode is proudly supported by Montgomery Investment Management, trusted experts helping you build and protect your financial future. For further information, please contact David Buckland, Chief Executive Officer or Rhodri Taylor, Account Manager on (02) 8046 5000 or investor@montinvest.com
Follow Lizzie on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/lizziewilliamsonofficial
Find out more about Lizzie’s work and buy her books here - https://www.lizziewilliamson.com/
Find out more about The Gidget Foundation here - https://www.gidgetfoundation.org.au/contact-us
Follow Nicola and Di on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/overthebackfencepodcast/
Find out more about the India trip, access the itinerary and book your place here - https://wetu.com/ItineraryOutputs/Discovery/78191347-4d64-4c52-acfd-5422d92ec90f

Watch Over The Back Fence on YouTube here - https://www.youtube.com/@Overthebackfencepodcast/podcasts
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Nicola and Di chatted with the award-winning journalist, Michael Usher. Michael has spent more than three decades at the centre of some of the biggest stories in Australia and around the world, and in this episode he takes us right into the thick of it. Now the chief network anchor at 7 News and host of Spotlight, Michael has covered war zones, 9/11, the Iraq War, royal weddings, the Queen's funeral, and so much more. We could have listened to his stories for hours!
We chat to Michael about how a defining moment as a teenager, watching Australian correspondents reporting from the other side of the world, set him on the path to journalism. He shares the wild, wonderful chaos of cutting his teeth as a young reporter in Kalgoorlie, before landing his big break in Sydney at just 23, and the extraordinary twist of fate that saw him report live from New York on the morning of September 11.
We also talk about some of the most memorable moments of his career, including an unforgettable, switch-flicking interview with the Duchess of York, and the circus of covering the Rose Porteous and Gina Rinehart saga early in his career. Michael opens up about the toll that years of travel and war reporting took on his family life, the guilt that comes with missing milestones, and how humour, a good curry, and a glass of red have helped him process some of the hardest things he's witnessed.
One of the most moving parts of the conversation is Michael's account of covering the Abdallah and Sakr families' extraordinary story of forgiveness after the death of four children in a car crash, and the powerful impact that story had on families watching at home. We also get his take on covering the Bondi tragedy with care and calm, why he said yes to Dancing with the Stars despite being terrified, and the wisdom he'd offer his 20-year-old self after three decades in the industry.
We loved getting to know the man behind the calm, familiar voice we've all grown up watching. We hope you love this episode as much as we did!
This episode is proudly supported by Montgomery Investment Management, trusted experts helping you build and protect your financial future. For further information, please contact David Buckland, Chief Executive Officer or Rhodri Taylor, Account Manager on (02) 8046 5000 or investor@montinvest.com
Follow Michael on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/michaelusher/
Follow Channel 7 News on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/7newsaustralia
Follow Spotlight on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/7newsspotlight
Vote for Michael in the Logies here - https://tvweeklogies.com.au/
Get the latest from Channel 7 News here - https://7news.com.au/
Find out more about the India trip, access the itinerary and book your place here - https://wetu.com/ItineraryOutputs/Discovery/78191347-4d64-4c52-acfd-5422d92ec90f
Follow Nicola and Di on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/overthebackfencepodcast/
Watch Over The Back Fence on YouTube here - https://www.youtube.com/@Overthebackfencepodcast/podcasts
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Nicola and Di welcome a very special double act, Grant Denyer and his wife Chezzi. Grant has spent decades entertaining Australians on television with his quick wit, boundless energy, and refreshing honesty about life's highs and lows. Chezzi's journey into spirituality and intuitive work has inspired so many to think differently about life's deeper questions. Together, this couple have weathered incredible highs and real challenges, and we loved every minute of getting to know their story.
In this episode, we chat to Grant and Chezzi about how they met as colleagues who, by their own admission, didn't even like each other at first, until the moment when everything changed. We also talk candidly about the aftermath of Grant's horrific accident and the painkiller addiction that followed, and how Chezzi found herself thrust into the role of carer within weeks of their relationship beginning. It's raw, honest, and a powerful reminder of what it means to show up for someone through the hardest of times.
We also dive into Chezzi's incredible book, The Weird Little Girl Who Talked to Ghosts, and her lifelong connection to spirit. She opens up about the childhood experiences she didn't understand, to losing touch with her gift entirely, to the profound loss that brought it flooding back. Her stories about the messages she's able to deliver, and the healing it brings to grieving families, are truly beautiful to hear.
Grant and Chezzi also open up about the work they've each done on themselves around understanding their childhood wounds, learning how those patterns show up in marriage, and how self-awareness (rather than blame) has helped them build a stronger relationship. We talk about Grant's Gold Logie win, his fear of failure, and Chezzi's beautifully instinctive approach to life. This is one of those conversations that has it all: laughter, honesty and real wisdom.
We had the best time chatting with Grant and Chezzi and we hope you love this episode as much as we did!
This episode is proudly supported by Montgomery Investment Management, trusted experts helping you build and protect your financial future. For further information, please contact David Buckland, Chief Executive Officer or Rhodri Taylor, Account Manager on (02) 8046 5000 or investor@montinvest.com
Follow Grant on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/grantdenyer/
Follow Chezzi on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/chezzidenyer/
Buy Chezzi’s book The Weird Little Girl Who Talked To Ghosts here - https://www.briobooks.store/products/the-weird-little-girl-who-talked-to-ghosts
Follow Grant’s work here - https://www.grantdenyer.com.au/
Follow Chezzi’s work here - https://chezzidenyer.com.au/
Find out more about the India trip, access the itinerary and book your place here - https://wetu.com/ItineraryOutputs/Discovery/78191347-4d64-4c52-acfd-5422d92ec90f
Follow Nicola and Di on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/overthebackfencepodcast/
Watch Over The Back Fence on YouTube here - https://www.youtube.com/@Overthebackfencepodcast/podcasts
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Nicola and Di sit down with the funny and unfiltered Em Rusciano. As most of our Australian listeners will know, Em is a comedian, performer, writer, singer, author, podcaster and proud mum of three. From music and radio to stage and screen, Em has built a career turning life's messiest, funniest and most honest moments into stories that make people laugh and feel truly seen.
In this episode we chat to Em about her incredible journey, from growing up as the overachieving daughter of Italian immigrants in Melbourne, to accidentally auditioning for Australian Idol after a karaoke night, to building a career in radio and now touring the country independently with her own stage show. It's a story of reinvention, courage and never quite playing by the rules, which we absolutely love!
We also talk to Em about the huge life changes she’s been going through over the past few years, including the end of her 25-year marriage, discovering she's ADHD and autistic in her 40s, and going through perimenopause all at once. She opens up about learning to choose herself first, and why she believes women are given so little permission to put themselves at the top of their own list.
Em also shares all the details of her new show, Addicted to Love, touring nationally from August. It’s a funny cabaret about being conditioned from birth to chase love and Em shares some hilarious stories from the world of dating in your 40s.
We had the best time in the studio with Em. She's honest, hilarious, and has such a gift for making people feel less alone. We hope you love this episode as much as we did!
This episode is proudly supported by Montgomery Investment Management, trusted experts helping you build and protect your financial future. For further information, please contact David Buckland, Chief Executive Officer or Rhodri Taylor, Account Manager on (02) 8046 5000 or investor@montinvest.com

Show dates and info for Em’s show Addicted To Love here - https://emrusciano.com/addicted-to-love/
Follow Em on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/emrusciano/
Follow Emsolation Podcast on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/emsolation/
Watch Emsolation Podcast on YouTube here - https://www.youtube.com/@emsolationpodcast
Follow Em on TikTok here - https://www.tiktok.com/@emrusciano
Follow Em on Facebook here - https://www.facebook.com/EmRuscianoOfficial/
Find out more about the India trip, access the itinerary and book your place here - https://wetu.com/ItineraryOutputs/Discovery/78191347-4d64-4c52-acfd-5422d92ec90f
Follow Nicola and Di on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/overthebackfencepodcast/
Watch Over The Back Fence on YouTube here - https://www.youtube.com/@Overthebackfencepodcast/podcasts
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Nicola and Di chat about love, lust, dating disasters, red flags and the secrets to making romance actually work, with the one and only Dr. Lurve. She's a psychologist and relationship expert who has dedicated her career to helping people understand what makes us tick when it comes to love, and she brought so much wisdom (and so many laughs) to the studio.
In this episode Dr. Lurve discusses how you don't need to be "fully healed" before you find love. In fact, she says relationships are more like yoga than a finish line, a practice you never fully master. She breaks down the difference between chemistry and intimacy, why love bombing feels so addictive, and how understanding your partner's love language is the map to actually speaking to their heart.
We talk all about the world of dating apps, the good, the bad and the ugly, and Dr. Lurve shares a simple tip for getting things off the screen and into real life within 21 days. She also shares why baggage isn't a red flag but a window into character, how to spot the addictive push-pull "crumbing" cycle, and why staying with an avoidant partner can quietly wear you down over time.
Dr. Lurve reminds us that if you’re starting over after a breakup or a divorce, you’re actually in a position of power rather than weakness. You've got the data, the wisdom and the freedom to write a new chapter. We talk about dating later in life, the importance of matching values over chemistry, how to have hard conversations without ambushing your partner, and why learning to do conflict well might be the real secret to a relationship's longevity.
We had such a great time chatting with Dr. Lurve, it was like having another girlfriend with us in the studio. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did!
This episode is proudly supported by Montgomery Investment Management, trusted experts helping you build and protect your financial future. For further information, please contact David Buckland, Chief Executive Officer or Rhodri Taylor, Account Manager on (02) 8046 5000 or investor@montinvest.com
Follow Dr. Lurve on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/dr.lurve/
Find out more about Dr. Lurve’s work here - https://www.drlurve.com/workwithme
Listen to Between The Sheets podcast here - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/between-the-sheets-with-dr-lurve/id1480610277
Find out more about the India trip, access the itinerary and book your place here - https://wetu.com/ItineraryOutputs/Discovery/78191347-4d64-4c52-acfd-5422d92ec90f
Follow Nicola and Di on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/overthebackfencepodcast/
Watch Over The Back Fence on YouTube here - https://www.youtube.com/@Overthebackfencepodcast/podcasts

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.