Lioness Heart

Netta Finney Mejia

What's up, Kitties? Are you a woman of colour? Then join me, Netta Finney Mejia on Lioness Heart, a monthly half-hour podcast where we delve into the life of a strong, brilliant, badass woman of colour. Let's raise our voices, share our stories, and laugh and cry together. But most importantly, let's roar! Because let's face it, it's a jungle out there, and for us black and brown women, our big lioness hearts give us the strength and courage to smash through that jungle and forge our own paths. Produced and hosted by Netta Finney Mejia. Recorded in the studios of Brisbane Ethnic Community Radio 4EB 98.1FM on Turrbal and Yuggera Country. Broadcast on the Community Radio Network around Australia. Music by Stephen Utting. • Email: lionessheartpodcast@gmail.com • Facebook: Netta Finney Mejia • Instagram:@nettafinney • Linktree: Netta Finney Mejia • Radio 4EB website : www.4eb.org.au Content warning: Some of the topics we discuss may be distressing, so take care of yourself. If you're in Australia and you need to talk to someone, please call: • Lifeline on 13 11 14 (crisis support) • 13YARN on 13 92 76 (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners) • 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 (sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling) If you're outside Australia please contact the crisis support service or domestic violence support service in your area.

  1. Kuweni Dias Mendis - connecting cultures through art

    30/07/2025

    Kuweni Dias Mendis - connecting cultures through art

    My guest this month is Sri Lankan-Australian artist Kuweni Dias Mendis. Kuweni integrates movement, sound, film, installations, markings and sculptural ritual objects to create immersive works. These works invite you to reconnect to your heartbeat, rhythm, gait, posture, and sense of time and space within a decolonised body. Her practice is shaped by her cultural experiences of Sri Lanka and Australia. As a migrant on unceded lands, Kuweni advocates for and amplifies the voices of marginalised women through collaborative artworks, exhibitions and participatory experiences. She creates spaces where these voices can be heard and valued. In this episode, Kuweni and I chat about what prompted her to leave her corporate career and follow her dream of becoming an artist, how she found a new family of aunties and discovered she's a river woman. We also yarn about why connection to culture and country is important, how Kuweni's art is a bridge between two cultures, and why we need to make sure we go to the table where we belong. Visit Kuweni's art exhibition 'Riverscope' at Logan Art Gallery from 11 August to 12 September 2025. Check out her website: Kuweni – Kuweni Dias Mendis and follow her on Facebook: dimuthu.dias or Instagram: kuweni_artist This podcast is produced and hosted by Netta Finney Mejia. Recorded in the studios of Brisbane Multicultural Radio 4EB 98.1FM and Global Digital on Turrbal and Yuggera Country. Broadcast on the Community Radio Network around Australia. Music by Stephen Utting. Email: lionessheartpodcast@gmail.com Facebook: Netta Finney Mejia Instagram: @nettafinney Linktree: Netta Finney Mejia

    31 min
  2. Olivia Afriyie Johnson - part 1

    20/04/2025

    Olivia Afriyie Johnson - part 1

    Content warning: child sexual abuse, racism and domestic violence. My next guest is Olivia Afriyie Johnson. Olivia is a passionate advocate, sociopreneur, and human resources & business management professional dedicated to empowering others through her lived experiences. Born in Ghana and raised in Australia, her cross-cultural journey has shaped a powerful perspective on resilience, identity, and healing. She is the founder of Olive Solutions Consultancy, and Community Partners, a charity committed to breaking social barriers and fostering positive representation for culturally and liquistically diverse communities. Learn more about Olivia's journey in her blog and her memoir, Echoes of Resilience.  Our yarn is split into two episodes - this is the first. In this episode, we yarn about Olivia's diverse upbringing, language, stereotypes and how it's rude to touch a black women's skin and hair without asking! We also talk about code switching, racism at work and the importance of education. If you're in Australia and you need support: 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 (sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling) Lifeline on 13 11 14 (crisis support) 13YARN on 13 92 76 (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners) Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 If you're outside Australia please contact the support service in your area. This podcast is produced and hosted by Netta Finney Mejia. Recorded in the studios of Brisbane Multicultural Radio 4EB 98.1FM on Turrbal and Yuggera Country. Broadcast on the Community Radio Network around Australia. Music by Stephen Utting. Email: lionessheartpodcast@gmail.com Facebook: Netta Finney Mejia Instagram:@nettafinney Linktree: Netta Finney Mejia

    28 min
  3. Sara Yan

    23/02/2025

    Sara Yan

    Content warning: Domestic and family violence My guest this month is Sara Yan. Sara has Chinese heritage and is a talented writer, cartoonist and published author. She's the brains behind the comic strips 'Lennan and Smallsy' and 'Live, Learn, Change' which aim to educate about domestic abuse, by focusing on boys and men. Sara and I talk about what it's like being a halfie, plus her own experience of domestic and family violence and why it inspired her to do what she does. We also discuss myths about perpetrators, potential solutions to reduce male violence, before ending with great advice for other girls and women of colour. Sara and I love Lundy Bancroft's books. These are excellent resources if you want to learn about domestic violence.     If you're in Australia and you need support: 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 (sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling) Lifeline on 13 11 14 (crisis support) 13YARN on 13 92 76 (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners) Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 If you're outside Australia please contact the support service in your area. This podcast is produced and hosted by Netta Finney Mejia. Recorded in the studios of Brisbane Multicultural Radio 4EB 98.1FM on Turrbal and Yuggera Country. Broadcast on the Community Radio Network around Australia. Music by Stephen Utting. ·         Email: lionessheartpodcast@gmail.com ·         Facebook: Netta Finney Mejia ·         Instagram:@nettafinney ·         Linktree: Netta Finney Mejia

    28 min

Acerca de

What's up, Kitties? Are you a woman of colour? Then join me, Netta Finney Mejia on Lioness Heart, a monthly half-hour podcast where we delve into the life of a strong, brilliant, badass woman of colour. Let's raise our voices, share our stories, and laugh and cry together. But most importantly, let's roar! Because let's face it, it's a jungle out there, and for us black and brown women, our big lioness hearts give us the strength and courage to smash through that jungle and forge our own paths. Produced and hosted by Netta Finney Mejia. Recorded in the studios of Brisbane Ethnic Community Radio 4EB 98.1FM on Turrbal and Yuggera Country. Broadcast on the Community Radio Network around Australia. Music by Stephen Utting. • Email: lionessheartpodcast@gmail.com • Facebook: Netta Finney Mejia • Instagram:@nettafinney • Linktree: Netta Finney Mejia • Radio 4EB website : www.4eb.org.au Content warning: Some of the topics we discuss may be distressing, so take care of yourself. If you're in Australia and you need to talk to someone, please call: • Lifeline on 13 11 14 (crisis support) • 13YARN on 13 92 76 (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners) • 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 (sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling) If you're outside Australia please contact the crisis support service or domestic violence support service in your area.