Succeeding in a Role Model Vacuum
An openly lesbian newsreader of Aboriginal descent, a disability activist, a cancel culture survivor, a punk legend, and a Eureka Prize-winning inventor all feature in Seen a new series from SBS.
Host of Seen, Yumi Stynes. Image supplied.
The new interview series talks to trailblazers in media, arts and culture, science, sport and beyond about the importance of being seen. Hosted by writer, TV presenter and podcaster, Yumi Stynes, Seen offers riveting storytelling and personal experiences that help us understand the importance of diversity in the media.
Eleven high-profile Aussies discuss how they forged a career in the spotlight despite facing racial prejudice, discrimination and a lack of visible role models. Race, ability or disability, and religion anchor the conversations.
“It’s an important question to ask: are these voices being heard less, or not at all because of things beyond their control? “ says Stynes.
The series chronicles experiences of how it feels to be ‘the first’ – the first person of your colour, faith, sexual orientation or ability to succeed in your chosen field – and how the world reacts to that success.
Deeply personal and moving stories are told by a line-up of guests including disability activist and writer Hannah Diviney; NITV and Channel 10 star newsreader, Whadjuk Noongar woman Narelda Jacobs; and retired Australian rugby sevens Olympian and trans man, Ellia Green.
“Hannah Diviney talks about how as a young girl with cerebral palsy, she used to stare at herself in the mirror for ages because she was worried that if she didn’t, she might disappear. She literally couldn’t see herself anywhere else, but in the mirror,” says Stynes.
Writer, activist and broadcaster, Yassmin Abdel-Magied reveals what it was like to be faced with an avalanche of online trolling in response to a social media post in 2017.
“When her situation reached a real crisis point, there were a lot of people like me watching in utter dismay, thinking, ‘This is what happens to women of colour who are mouthy.”
“You don’t have to say the wrong thing, you just have to say anything.”
Stynes hopes the stories will broaden notions of what a diverse and multicultural Australia looks like.
“I think it cracks open the scope of what we view as ‘Australia’ or ‘Australians’, so if you want to widen your understanding of who makes up the population of this wonderful country then the podcast introduces some inspiring Australians that you’ll be glad you met,” says Stynes.
The series is also available via SBS Audio app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other podcast apps. Listen to Seen here.
The Full list of guests appearing in the series include: Narelda Jacobs – Whadjuk Noongar journalist, Hannah Diviney – Disability activist and writer, Michael Mohammed Ahmad – Award winning novelist and playwright, Yassmin Abdel-Magied – Writer, social advocate, and cancel culture survivor, Atong Atem – Internationally renowned artist and writer, Ray Ahn – Punk legend from the Hard-Ons, Shyamla Eswaran – Performing artist, Stuart Yiwarr McGrath – Aboriginal health practitioner and first Yolngu nurse, Professor Veena Sahajwalla — Eureka Prize-winning inventor and recycling Queen, Dr Dinesh Palipana — Doctor, lawyer and disability advocate, Ellia Green — Rugby player and Olympian.
