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

Ever looked at yourself and thought… “Shit, maybe I’m the problem”?

Welcome to the very first episode of She Said It Out Loud, where I introduce myself properly, no filters and definitely no “I’m just so passionate about personal growth” crap. This is me, Emma Young: wife, mum of two teenage girls, teacher, celebrant, major Swiftie and ex–judgmental bitch (yep, I said it).

In this episode, I talk about how growing up in Geraldton shaped me, what being bullied did to my confidence, and the wild ride that came after. From describing my first girl kiss as like melted butter to ticking “Tinder” off the bucket list (and hating every bloody second). But the real heart of this one is the moment a friend told me I wasn’t making her a better person… and how those words changed everything.

You’ll walk away from this one feeling seen, a little shocked, maybe laughing at my disasters, but hopefully thinking about the version of you that you want to be.

So, buckle in. It’s raw, it’s unfiltered, it’s the messy truth about who I was before I made the shift.

Come find me on Instagram @officiallyemmayoung and tell me, what’s one thing you’ve had to own about yourself lately? I bloody love hearing these stories.

In this episode we cover:

• Growing up in Geraldton and surviving brutal 90s high school life
• Living in Nebraska as an exchange student
• Marrying her high-school sweetheart and later facing divorce
• Her first (and last) Tinder experience
• Being called out by a friend for toxic behaviour
• Learning how to stop being a judgmental bitch
• The birth of “making the shift” and encouraging women to back each other

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

• Instagram: @officiallyemmayoung
• Emma the Celebrant