Between the Waves: Pacific Women Behind the Mic

Between the Waves
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Society & Culture
  • Series

Bringing together Pacific women podcasters to talanoa about the art, craft, and purpose behind their work. Creators share their podcasting journeys - from technical tips for newcomers to deeper reflections on using audio storytelling to amplify Pacific women’s voices. Whether you're thinking about starting your first podcast or you're a seasoned creator, join us in the space between the waves where Pacific women are reshaping who gets heard and how stories get told. Between the Waves is co-created as part of doctoral research by Heather Jarvis at the University of Tasmania, whose support and funding made this series possible

Episodes

  1. Episode 1

    What Even is a Podcast?

    Pacific women have always had stories worth telling. So what does it take for us to pick up the mic? In this first episode, host Neisau Tuidraki (Kokonati Talk, Vosa S3) sits down with co-creators Mere Nailatikau (Two Fishes, Vosa S2), Elvina Ogil (Who Asked Her), and Arieta Tora Rika (Vosa S1) for a talanoa about why Pacific women's voices belong in podcasting — and how to get started. From finding your niche to recording in your wardrobe, they cover the practical and the personal: the gear, the self-doubt, the cultural pressure, and the joy of finally hitting publish. If you've ever considered podcasting, this is where to start! Share your thoughts with us on Instagram @betweenthewavespod or email us at betweenthewavespod@proton.me Between the Waves is co-created by Mere Nailatikau, Elvina Ogil, Kalani Reyes, Arieta Tora Rika, Neisau Tuidraki and Heather Jarvis, as part of doctoral research supported by the University of Tasmania. It is recorded and published from the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation, in Naarm (Melbourne) Australia, and we pay our respects to Elders, Past and Present. Our theme music is by Tropic Thunda. and graphic design by Kitiana of Dua Studio. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

  2. Episode 2

    Independent Podcasting

    What does it mean to tell your own story on your own terms? Host Kalani Reyes (Deep Pacific) sits down with Neisau Tuidraki (Kokonati Talk) and Sharyne Fong (Insight Your Success) to talk about what independence really looks like in Pacific podcasting — from self-funding and finding your creative freedom, to balancing authenticity when institutional support comes with strings attached. They share how they got started, how they make the most of limited budgets, and what to do when a recording just doesn't work out. Honest, practical, and full of real talk — this one is for everyone who's been sitting on a story, waiting for the right moment. Spoiler: the moment is now. Share your thoughts with us on Instagram @betweenthewavespod or email us at betweenthewavespod@proton.me Between the Waves is co-created by Mere Nailatikau, Elvina Ogil, Kalani Reyes, Arieta Tora Rika, Neisau Tuidraki and Heather Jarvis, as part of doctoral research supported by the University of Tasmania. It is recorded and published from the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation, in Naarm (Melbourne) Australia, and we pay our respects to Elders, Past and Present. Our theme music is by Tropic Thunda. and graphic design by Kitiana of Dua Studio. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

  3. Episode 3

    Podcasting and Feminism

    Episode Notes Feminism can be a loaded word in the Pacific. So let's talk about it. Host Elvina Ogil (Who Asked Her?) brings together Elsie Molou (The Round Table) and Mere Nailatikau (Two Fishes / Vosa) for a candid talanoa about what feminism means in their communities — the influence of culture and Christianity, taboo topics, women in politics, and being shamed into silence. And at the heart of it all: what does it mean to make a feminist podcast in this context? How do you use the mic to create space for conversations your community maybe isn't quite ready to have yet? Pull up a chair and join us. Share your thoughts with us on Instagram @betweenthewavespod or email us at betweenthewavespod@proton.me Between the Waves is co-created by Mere Nailatikau, Elvina Ogil, Kalani Reyes, Arieta Tora Rika, Neisau Tuidraki and Heather Jarvis, as part of doctoral research supported by the University of Tasmania. It is recorded and published from the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation, in Naarm (Melbourne) Australia, and we pay our respects to Elders, Past and Present. Our theme music is by Tropic Thunda. and graphic design by Kitiana of Dua Studio. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

  4. Episode 4

    Diaspora Voices

    Distance doesn't dilute your story — sometimes it sharpens it. Host Arieta Tora Rika (Vosa, Sydney) connects with Dr. Mere Tari Sovick (Coming to the Mat, Seattle USA) and Amy Maslen Miller (Samoan Scientist, Aotearoa NZ) to talk about what drives Pacific women in diaspora to pick up the mic, and what happens when their podcasts become resources for schools, universities, and communities hungry for Pacific perspectives. From STEM representation to menopause, traditional knowledge and doing your research, they cover the ground that isn't being covered anywhere else. Their advice? Define your why, pick up your phone, and don't wait until you feel ready. Oh - and record your elders while you can. Share your thoughts with us on Instagram @betweenthewavespod or email us at betweenthewavespod@proton.me Between the Waves is co-created by Mere Nailatikau, Elvina Ogil, Kalani Reyes, Arieta Tora Rika, Neisau Tuidraki and Heather Jarvis, as part of doctoral research supported by the University of Tasmania. It is recorded and published from the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation, in Naarm (Melbourne) Australia, and we pay our respects to Elders, past and present. Our theme music is by Tropic Thunda. and graphic design by Kitiana of Dua Studio. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

    Diaspora Voices

  5. Episode 5

    Institutional Funding & Editorial Freedom

    Institutional funding can open doors — but who controls the story once you walk through them? Host Mere Nailatikau (Vosa S2) brings together Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson (An Impossible Choice), Neisau Tuidraki, and the Mama Ts — Katrina Ma'u Fatiaki and Talita Tu'ipulotu-Kefu (Vosa S3) — for a talanoa about the realities of collaborating with institutions like The Guardian and the World Bank while keeping Pacific voices, values, and editorial freedom at the centre. They share the negotiations, the pushback, and the moments where holding the line mattered. Essential listening for anyone navigating the space between funding and authenticity. Share your thoughts with us on Instagram @betweenthewavespod or email us at betweenthewavespod@proton.me Between the Waves is co-created by Mere Nailatikau, Elvina Ogil, Kalani Reyes, Arieta Tora Rika, Neisau Tuidraki and Heather Jarvis, as part of doctoral research supported by the University of Tasmania. It is recorded and published from the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation, in Naarm (Melbourne) Australia, and we pay our respects to Elders, Past and Present. Our theme music is by Tropic Thunda. and graphic design by Kitiana of Dua Studio. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

    Institutional Funding & Editorial Freedom

  6. Episode 6

    Culture and Arts Podcasting as Record Keeping

    Culture is more than something we inherit – it’s something we create, question, and carry forward.Host Neisau Tuidraki (Kokonati Talk, Vosa) sits down with Isabella Naiduki (Digressions of a Fijian) and Talica Tamanitoakula and Christine Aukusitino (Two Brownish Girls) for a talanoa on arts and culture as identity, resistance, and record‑keeping. Moving across diasporic experience, taboo topics, and creative practice, the episode unpacks stereotypes, cultural appropriation versus appreciation, and what it means to make Pacific culture visible – and accountable – through audio storytelling. Podcasting emerges as a way to document change, preserve voices and family histories, and create space for Pacific women’s stories in a male‑dominated podcast landscape. It’s a reminder of the power of telling our own stories – for our families, our communities and those who come after us. Share your thoughts with us on Instagram @betweenthewavespod or email us at betweenthewavespod@proton.me Between the Waves is co-created by Mere Nailatikau, Elvina Ogil, Kalani Reyes, Arieta Tora Rika, Neisau Tuidraki and Heather Jarvis, as part of doctoral research supported by the University of Tasmania. It is recorded and published from the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation, in Naarm (Melbourne) Australia, and we pay our respects to Elders, Past and Present. Our theme music is by Tropic Thunda and graphic design by Kitiana of Dua Studio. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

  7. Episode 7

    Taking the Mic, Controlling the Narrative

    Decolonisation is more than an historical event or political act — it’s a living practice. Host Kalani Reyes (Deep Pacific) is joined by Dr. Mere Tari Sovick (Coming to the Mat) and Elvina Ogil (Who Asked Her?) for a talanoa on how Pacific women use podcasting to reclaim narrative spaces, resist colonial legacies, and control how their stories are told and who gets to tell them.  From customary land ownership and Indigenous-led nation building, to regional solidarity and the power of traditional knowledge and upbringing, language and food systems, this episode unpacks the political, economic, and cultural dimensions of decolonisation. It’s a powerful reminder that our existence, our voices, and our stories are inherently decolonial - and that holding the mic is one way we keep the fight alive. Share your thoughts with us on Instagram @betweenthewavespod or email us at betweenthewavespod@proton.me And make sure to check out Melanesian Women Today’s mental health podcast  Riding the Wave with Meiva Vuniwai and Gabrielle Tor Between the Waves is co-created by Mere Nailatikau, Elvina Ogil, Kalani Reyes, Arieta Tora Rika, Neisau Tuidraki and Heather Jarvis, as part of doctoral research supported by the University of Tasmania. It is recorded and published from the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation, in Naarm (Melbourne) Australia, and we pay our respects to Elders, Past and Present. Our theme music is by Tropic Thunda. and graphic design by Kitiana of Dua Studio. ** This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

    Taking the Mic, Controlling the Narrative

  8. Apr 30

    Between the Waves: Pacific Women Behind the Mic - Trailer

    Episode Notes Between the Waves is a co-created podcast series bringing together Pacific women podcasters to talanoa about the art, craft, and purpose behind their work. Each episode is hosted and led on mic by Pacific women podcasting practitioners, creating space for shared reflection, practical insight, and culturally grounded storytelling. Across the series, hosts and guests explore independent podcasting, feminism in the Pacific podcasting context, diaspora voices, institutional funding & editorial freedom, podcasting and decolonisation, and arts and culture podcasts as record keeping. Launching: 5 May 2026 Hosts & CoCreators: Neisau Tuidraki (Kokonati Talk, Vosa), Kalani Reyes (Deep Pacific), Elvina Ogil (Who Asked Her?), Arieta Tora Rika (Vosa), Mere Nailatikau (Two Fishes, Vosa). Between the Waves is co-created in collaboration with Heather Jarvis, as part of doctoral research supported by the University of Tasmania. It is recorded and published from the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation, in Naarm (Melbourne) Australia, and we pay our respects to Elders, Past and Present. Our theme music is by Tropic Thunda. and graphic design by Kitiana of Dua Studio. Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betweenthewavespod/ This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

  • 1 Trailer
    7 Episodes

Trailer

About

Bringing together Pacific women podcasters to talanoa about the art, craft, and purpose behind their work. Creators share their podcasting journeys - from technical tips for newcomers to deeper reflections on using audio storytelling to amplify Pacific women’s voices. Whether you're thinking about starting your first podcast or you're a seasoned creator, join us in the space between the waves where Pacific women are reshaping who gets heard and how stories get told. Between the Waves is co-created as part of doctoral research by Heather Jarvis at the University of Tasmania, whose support and funding made this series possible

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