Have you ever dreamt of changing careers and just going and diving right in on a gut feeling?

In this episode, I sit down with my friend I’ve known for 20 years, Emma Krause. She is better known as Sue Finlay, the lady from the Oz Lotto ads, was a semi-finalist in Australia’s got talent and decided to become a comedian at 40!

In this episode we cover:

• We discuss how she decided to become a comedian at age 40 and to sidestep away from full time teaching.
• I ask Emma how she felt becoming a semi finalist on Australia’s Got Talent and what that experience was like for her.
• Emma explains how she managed to land the job of being Sue Finlay (the character she plays on the Oz Lotto ads) and what that’s like being recognised as her.
• I also ask Emma what its like being a mum to twin girls who are 16 and how she manages to juggle life.
• We discuss her nation-wide comedy tour and how she learnt how to do pretty much all the bookings, marketing and promotion of the show herself.
• I ask her what the plans are for her next up and coming show, Spank in the City and what else she has in store for 2026.

DM me at @officiallyemmayoung if you found joy or simply got a chuckle out of the antics of Emma’s story.

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

• @emmakrausecomedy
• www.emmakrause.com.au/events

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

• Instagram: @officiallyemmayoung
• Emma the Celebrant

How does she juggle being a full time celebrant, voice over artist and Mum and still manage to stay sane! I want to know!

Today’s episode features the very talented Candice Bydder. Former entertainment journalist, full time award winning celebrant, voice over artist, wife and mother of two.

Candice sits with me and we discuss how she manages to juggle it all! Her work load is no joke but she seems to have it covered and is able to manage without getting burnt out.

In this episode we cover:

• Candice explains how she went from being an entertainment journalist to full time celebrant as well as being a voice over artist.
• The moment after she was made redundant where she made the decision to become self employed and start her own business and become self employed.
• We discuss how she “stays in her lane” and doesn't follow trends when it comes to being a successful celebrant.
• Candice opens up about feeling lost with her identity when she got married and had children and how she navigated that period in her life.
• We talk about volunteering, not meeting your idols and living each day giving in the world rather than getting.

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

• Celebrations By Candice
• Kiss me you Fool Celebrant - Dilhari

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

• Instagram: @officiallyemmayoung
• Emma the Celebrant

Welcome to 2026! A new year, a new you or maybe even a new purpose?

In this solo episode, I discuss what my plans are for 2026 and what I’m wanting to work on for the first half of the year.

In this episode we cover:

• I discuss reflecting back on the past few years and setting out to achieve my goals.
• Starting my training qualifications and Celebrant course and how once I set my mind to something, I get shit done.
• I explain how starting the podcast has been different and that it's taken me 12 months of planning and prep with the guidance of Laura from Podcast support services.
• I ask the questions to you…what does 2026 look like for you. Is it time to reflect and try to be a newer, more improved version of yourself or do you have a new purpose this year?

DM me at @officiallyemmayoung with what your 2026 plans are. I am genuinely interested in what you want to achieve or have plans for this year.

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

• Laura from @podcast.support.services

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

• Instagram: @officiallyemmayoung
• Emma the Celebrant

Ever wondered what it means by Making a Shift? In life, in personal identity, and in friendships.

In this solo episode, I discuss what it means to make a shift, a term I learnt this year from my Nana. I also go into detail about making sure you don’t take on too much during the festive season and try to remember what it's all really about.

In this episode we cover:

• What does it means to Make a shift?
• I discuss the conversations I have had this year in my Nana’s last year of life and the lessons she encouraged me to reflect on by making a shift in life.
• I explain how this year has been another reflective and positive one where I have taken the time to sit and look back on all things I have set out to achieve.
• I justify the importance of women being mindful of taking on too much during the festive season and ensuring they take time out for themselves.

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

• Instagram: @officiallyemmayoung
• Emma the Celebrant

Have you ever wondered what things a Gen Z woman thinks are the challenges they face compared to a millennial or Gen X women?

In this episode, Damar and I discuss all the juicy things, from training Jiu jitsu and Muay Thai, to being an only child, to what it’s like to have a partner who is 18 years older. Damar is my first Gen Z guest and we dive into several topics, some that I hadn’t even planned on asking but the conversation naturally went there. We discuss how she is a part time content creator, recently completed in her first jiu jitsu comp taking away a silver medal and what her thoughts are on what challenges Gen Z women face today compared with millennial or Gen x women.

If her story resonates with you, make sure you add a comment of DM me on Insta @officiallyemmayoung

In this episode we cover:

• Damar describes what it was like growing up as an only child with an Indonesian Mum and Australian Dad who had a 15 year age gap between them and how her childhood shaped her as the woman she is today.
• She talks about discovering Jiu jitsu and Muay Thai training and meeting her partner Adam.
• We discuss her opinions on what its like to be a Gen Z woman and how she thinks social media has had both a positive and negative effect on women from different generations.
• We discuss her love of singing and how she auditioned for a role in the stage show of Bran Nue Dae. We also touch on her singing in a local band.
• Damar opens up about Adam, who became her partner after being best friends for 3 years. She goes into detail about how after being on the Implanon for several years, she decided to go off it. It was then like a lightbulb went off and she saw Adam in a completely new way! 😉
• We also discuss how their 18-year age gap has been an issue for her Mum and how it has affected their mother/daughter relationship.

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

• @damarkentjana_
• @wearedesertrose_
• @Broomebjj

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

• Instagram: @officiallyemmayoung
• Emma the Celebrant

Ever met someone that can only be described as the human equivalent of sunshine?

Ash Williamson is THAT woman!

In this episode I sit down with the ambitious Ash Williamson and discuss what it was like starting a business at 25, to then sell it 7 years later still in its peak to then go on and enjoy the year of yes! What’s this you ask? Ash decided that she would yes to all those things she had wanted to learn or do but hadn’t had the time whilst she was running her business. From perfecting the art of baking sour dough, to finishing a manuscript for her first book, to learning the guitar.

We also dive into the topic of Ash being open about not wanting kids and not feeling the need to explain herself every time a stranger asks, why not? Ash also gives her explanation on the importance of rest and what that actually looks like for her.

If her story resonates with you, make sure you add a comment of DM me on Insta @officiallyemmayoung

In this episode we cover:

• Ash describes how she created a successful events hire business at age 25 and how that helped shape the woman she is today.
• She talks about after selling her business, she found she had weekends again and more time for her to explore hobbies and interests, making this what she calls, The year of yes!
• We discuss her opinions on the importance of REAL rest, not just doom scrolling for hours at a time, but real rest, the one where you put your phone down, say no to socialising with friends and simply be present in life.
• Ash opens up about not wanting kids and how she is more than happy to discuss this. She explains she has gotten better at not feeling the need to explain her reasons why to every stranger that asks comes at her with a judgemental opinion.
• We also discuss her ambitions to be a fictional author and her trip to Hobart this year to pitch her manuscript to publishers.

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

• Instagram: @officiallyemmayoung
• Emma the Celebrant

Ever met someone that is magnetic, inspiring and authentic and can be described as an elegantly strong woman? Taliah Payne is that to a T!

In this episode I sit down with the unstoppable Taliah Payne, a Nimanburr, Djugan and Yawuru woman who’s rebuilt herself more times than most people realise. She takes us into the real stuff, growing up in chaos, losing her voice as a kid, being homeless at uni and landing on her auntie’s doorstep with nothing but hope.

We talk about the women who held her up, her incredible and inspiring three-week First Nations leadership trip across the US, and how she finished a four-year degree that took fourteen years without ever quitting on herself. Taliah’s honesty around empathy, resilience and finding your voice again is one that will have you listening to the very end.

If her story resonates with you, come tell me over on Insta @officiallyemmayoung what’s something you’ve had to own about yourself lately? I want to hear it.

In this episode we cover:

• Taliah shares how two aunties and her sister Jordan completely changed the direction of her life.
• She opens up about being homeless at uni and finding safety with family who took her in.
• We talk about her three-week First Nations leadership program in the US, meeting across four states and learning about protocol with the US Govt, treaties and meeting members from the Osage Nation.
• Taliah talks about taking 14 years to finish a four-year degree and why she never let go of that promise to herself.
• She reflects on losing her voice as a child and the moment she finally reclaimed it in court at 21.
• We explore her leadership style rooted in empathy, compassion and backing other women.
• Rapid-fire fun: dream dinner guests, secret past jobs, and why she’d be a pilot if heights didn’t scare the shit out of her.

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

• Instagram: @officiallyemmayoung
• Emma the Celebrant

Ever looked back at a relationship and thought, “How the hell did I get myself into that mess?”

And that’s exactly what my guest Sarah Fowler (or as I call her, Fowler) and I talk about in this raw-as-guts episode. Thirty-two years of friendship means no filter, no sugarcoating, and a whole lotta laughter between the heavy stuff.

We go from stealing letterboxes in our teenage years (yep, we were feral) to Fowler’s wild journey across the world. From being a phlebotomist and naturopath to living in South America, falling in love, and getting trapped in a terrifying, abusive relationship that nearly broke her. What she went through… it’s the kind of story that makes you stop scrolling, settle in, and just listen.

She opens up about survival, finding her voice again, and what it’s really like to rebuild yourself after you’ve been completely stripped down, mentally, physically and emotionally. It’s not polished. It’s not pretty. But it’s bloody powerful.

If you’ve ever been in something that didn’t feel right but you stayed because you hoped it would get better, this one’s for you. It’s a reminder that walking away isn’t weakness… it’s strength in disguise.

Have you ever ignored a red flag because your heart wanted to believe the best in someone? Tell me in the DMs or over on Insta, I’d genuinely love to know your thoughts: @officiallyemmayoung

In this episode we cover:

• Emma introduces her oldest friend, Sarah Fowler, and their 32 years of chaos
• The infamous letterbox-stealing story from their teens
• Fowler’s background growing up in Geraldton, country life, and early jobs
• Her work as a phlebotomist and naturopath and what those jobs involve
• Moving from WA to Queensland at 26 for a complete life reset
• Owning her own business, then burning out and booking a one-way ticket to South America
• Life working in Nicaragua and Guatemala: DJing, hostel life, total freedom
• Meeting Milo: the charming Taekwondo athlete who became abusive and controlling
• How the relationship turned violent and frightening
• The moment she realised she needed to escape
• Her dramatic getaway: packing bags, throwing them out the window, running for safety
• Getting violently ill on the way to the airport and having to call him for help
• Finally making it home to Australia, where her friend Vashti helped her rebuild
• Reflections on survival, shame, and strength
• Rapid-fire questions
• Dating a polyamorous performer back in WA; six months open, then choosing monogamy together for the next four years
• The crack in that relationship: discovery of cheating, counselling, talk of marriage and kids, then a breakup after his studies with some hurtful parting words
• Most recent relationship: a much younger guy for about 18 months; easy, fun, felt safe but lacked depth, ultimately a ‘placeholder’ while she figured out what she truly wants
• Recognising her pattern of losing herself in relationships and setting a new non-negotiable: to feel safe, be her full self, and not perform for love
• Rapid-fire: her inspirational woman, the decade she’d relive, travel dreams, karaoke picks, and a shout-out to Vashti

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

• Instagram: @officiallyemmayoung
• Emma the Celebrant