As someone who spent 15 times at the ABC, and finally went on to host a famous radio, I’m obsessed with sound story. So when a new feminist podcast comes out, I’m all ears (forgive the terrible pun!).
A few days ago I stumbled across the “The Financial Feminist” seed. That’s right, it’s all about wealth. It’s also accessible, which is great news for all of us who struggle with our financial literacy (including myself). I reached out to the network, Kate Crowhurst, to have a chat.
Who are you and the pod’s creators, exactly? What’s your background/interest in this area?
I’m Kate Crowhurst, and I’ve made the decision to launch The Financial Feminist radio to feature more women of all sexes in conversation about funds.
My history is in financial training. When I was a fresh teacher in an environment of financial disadvantage, I was faced with my own money struggles as a 21-year-old, and I became very interested in the subject. Money was the one subject we neglected to study in school, despite the fact that I already knew from my first-hand experience that it would be important when we left.
I researched the subject, worked on projects and programs that made it more accessible, and finally, with the support of YWCA Canberra and a Great Ydeas grant, founded my own organization, Money Bites, to focus on financial literacy and financial education in Canberra. I knew that access to it and financial literacy shouldn’t be left up to a parent or postcode lottery. I’m very appreciative of YWCA Canberra for believing in me and supporting me in that endeavor.
What inspired the concept for the capsule, exactly? What’s the have you see for it?
Since starting reading about cash for Money Bites in 2019, I’ve had the concept for the podcast at the back of my mind and have since wanted to write more about money from a female perspective. But, I also was really focused on being in my driveway and focusing on financial education rather than remark, but ignored that gut feeling.
That has changed as my own life has changed. Typically, we can get ourselves giving in to that essential voice: you’re not female much, what do you know about the sisterhood? Our rates include Helen Garner, Grace Tame, and Carly Findlay. From the efforts of The Stop Campaign to running a social sector like She Shapes History, I would like to add to that genius but some women of Canberra I admire.
One of the things I’ve struggled with is the notion that you can’t be feminist enough in your credentials, and I believe it’s because we have different interpretations of it. But more recently, especially in the last year, I’ve started to feel more at ease with who I am and say that I’m not those lauded women; I never will be.
But in believing in capital, I am and always have been a female. I am able to quickly investigate a narrative and highlight various issues and people. I have the compassion to allow other women to discuss money without making assumptions and the curiosity to inquire about the method we’re making choices in and navigate. I would ask my friends if they were interested in talking about income and holding meetings to talk about issues like how to handle childcare while two people work full-time.
Too many feminists may initially reject themselves from participation because they don’t know enough about money, they’ve made mistakes, or they’re not as good with money as they’d like, as I’ve seen while recording the podcast, including the interviews we’ve got coming up.
I want to (and complete) state to them, ‘Yes, you are much.’ We are all learning and navigating a financial program that has structural barriers that prevent progress and was not designed for the life we lead now.
That is something we need to discuss, and if you use cash and are actively involved in the business, that includes you.
The Financial Feminist podcast’s goal is to engage all-female conversation about wealth. We all use cash, and it’s time for protection of the problem that caused us to pause rather than to decide to take a drink bust or tune it out.
I’m also sick of the lack of recognition of structural barriers, particularly from an integrative perspective, that are constantly limiting gender financial equity. One of the main factors that affect many people is the cost and availability of care, which is instantly a hindrance for those who require childcare access to work. I want to target those barriers immediately, explain how they are being navigated, and handle the changes required to remove them.
Why do you want to incorporate finance and feminism? What do you think these two items have in common? (Why do we need to follow the money?)
Money represents strength, chance, and freedom, but many people who are activists in their everyday lives and the community are pressuring the snooze button due to the amount of coverage. We quickly make the talk more about structural shift than figures on a bank accounts by focusing on and eager sexism in our discussion about finances on the radio. We follow the money and power being wielded in a news story by constantly including tales about politics, strength, and policy changes that affect ladies and non-binary people and unpacking the economic component of this discussion. We also make more explicit and with a focus on how decisions affect people in our community, a curiosity that is at the heart of intersectionality, open up space for conversation about money and power.
You’ve covered a wide range of topics, from IVF to the Oscars to sexual assault at Australian universities to gender wage disparity, in just a few episodes. What criteria do you use to select the stories to cover? What perspective are you using to examine the stories you tell?
The female and financial elements are present in all of the stories I cover. In terms of format, I’ll first briefly describe the narrative before going over the feminist perspective and the financial ramifications. I always try to wrap up coverage of a topic by highlighting what can be done as a response. We are frequently given news updates and experience information overload. Instead, it concludes with a positive action focus that highlights the work being done by feminist organizations and individuals to address a problem in our society.
What do you anticipate the listeners will gain from the podcast?
The Financial Feminist podcast is undoubtedly worth a listen if you want to expand your activism, learn from other feminists who have made incredible changes in their community, or feel more at ease talking about money and power.
Do you have any comments to add?
The podcast will expand in scope as well, including incorporating interviews I’ve had with Australian feminists on tape. Watch this space for more information and to discuss the experiences of feminists in Canberra.