What happens when women in a regional town are given a microphone and the space to speak? In Kepa Kurl (Esperance), on the south coast of Western Australia, three groups of women did just that. The result is three unpolished, honest conversations: midlife and the body's alarm system, the people behind a council email signature, and a frank call for safer needle disposal in a town that refuses to look away. Different subjects, one shared thread: women caring for themselves by caring for the place they call home.

This Episode
Recorded at a She Speaks storytelling workshop in Kepa Kurl, this episode brings together three conversations. We explore:

• Tracy, Lori and Megs on midlife, menopause and the urge to control, and what might sit underneath it

• Why an anxious body rarely responds to being told to calm down, and what it might mean to meet the breath where it is

• Carla and Ange, from the Shire of Esperance, on the care that sits behind regulation, paperwork and “kind regards”

• Nat and Emily, from Escare Esperance and Hope Community Services, on a public health gap in a remote town and a community that chose action over silence

• What voice looks like when someone has to say the thing, and chooses to be that person

Content note: this episode touches on anxiety, menopause, alcohol, and injecting drug use and needle disposal.

Quotable Moments

“We're working with the body rather than against it.” – Tracy

“We are more than just an email signature.” – Ange

“We just need people to listen to us here and respect that we are Esperance.” – Emily

Resources Mentioned

• Hope Community Services: alcohol and other drug support services

• Escare Esperance

• Keep Australia Beautiful WA, Adopt-a-Spot: community clean-up program

• Alcohol and Drug Support Line (WA)

• Lifeline

Connect With Us

• Follow She Speaks on Instagram: @shespeakswellbeingstrategies

• Visit our website: www.shespeakswellbeing.com

A Note on Wellbeing

She Speaks is dedicated to amplifying women's voices on self-care and wellbeing. While we share personal experiences, this podcast is not a substitute for professional mental health support. The breathwork described reflects one woman's practice; if you have a heart or respiratory condition, or are pregnant, please speak with a health professional before trying breath holds. If you are struggling, we encourage you to reach out to a qualified mental health practitioner.

This series was produced by Narelle Lemon and Mia Lindgren. She Speaks is proudly supported by the Western Australian Government and Department of Communities Women’s Grants for a Stronger