In this episode of Bittersweet, we sit down with Bendere Oboya to talk about her early life as an athlete, the discipline it takes to perform at an elite level, and the decision behind her short retirement from sport. She also shares the inspiration behind launching the Oboya Foundation and the impact she hopes to make. And of course, we add a Bittersweet twist — debating the ultimate question: is it ever ok to date your friend's ex?

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_bendere/

Website: https://oboyafoundation.org/

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Wintana (host): https://www.instagram.com/win.tanaa/

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This week, we caught up with content creator Brooke to unpack the controversy behind America's Next Top Model — was it a product of its time or pure exploitation? From the treatment of contestants to the power dynamics led by Tyra Banks, we revisit the legacy.

We also talk about the Australian launch of Rhode by Hailey Bieber, the lack of diversity in local media, and whether we’re witnessing the slow death of celebrity culture.

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ewwitsbrooke/

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In this episode, we talk about Half Smart's rebrand — why it happened, what shifting into this next chapter looks like, and what listeners can expect moving forward.

We also spoke about Valentine’s Day and why everyone is trying so hard to be nonchalant in dating. When did effort become embarrassing? How long should you actually wait before buying someone a gift? And are we ruining relationships by pretending we don’t care?

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/halfsmartpod/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@halfsmartpod

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After a summer in Ethiopia, we had to debrief properly. The chaos. The group shenanigans. The politics. ALL OF IT! Our fave seasoned guest is back, Ruta!

Ruta shares her first-ever experience in Ethiopia. We spoke about diaspora season, how Aussies, Americans, Brits and Canadians move in the diaspora world, ethical vs unethical tourism, highlights and things we would do differently next time!

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Wintana (host): https://www.instagram.com/win.tanaa/

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This year’s first episode is a special one — recorded live in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with the incredible RIMON, the Netherlands-based, Eritrean-born global artist, during her first-ever performance in Ethiopia at the World Afrika Festival. We talk about what that moment meant to her, the evolution of her sound, and navigating self-doubt as an artist. We also dive into what her lover girl era looks like and whether you can really find love during diaspora season in Ethiopia!

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RIMON Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ri.mon/

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Wintana (host): https://www.instagram.com/win.tanaa/

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This is a short, audio-only episode because your girl is tired — but I still have so much to say!

In this wrap-up, I’m reflecting on what has been a huge year for Bittersweet, especially our full-circle collaboration with CANVA!!! — a dream brand collab and a reminder of how far this journey has come since 2019.

I chat about:

• What this year has looked like
• Travel highlights and what’s ahead
• What I’m already looking forward to in 2026
• My ins & outs of 2025

I’m also heading to Ethiopia this week, so Bittersweet Podcast will be taking a short break for the next month. Thank ya'll so much for an amazing year, we’ll be back in February!

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This week I caught up with Winnie Manyang, a Melbourne-based model and creator. We got into everything — from her journey with content to the weird energy between Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo on their press tour.

We also talked about the sudden urge for Aussie women (especially our Black girlies) in their late 20s to pack up and move overseas, whether we should start being a little mean to men, and why pulling up to someone’s house unannounced needs to end. We also dived into mother–daughter dynamics and the types of friends to look out for.

This conversation went everywhere in the best way.

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/winnniy/

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This week we brought back our OG host Rahel to break down the racism claims raised by several Black creators at the TikTok Awards Australia.

We dived into Niyell’s experience on the night, what happened to other creators, the ongoing issue of racism in Australia’s media space, and what being actually racist looks like in 2025. All this and more.

Niyell's video sharing her experience: https://www.instagram.com/p/DRi-TfWExLG/

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