There Will Be Dancing

Women's Environmental Leadership Australia
  • 0.0 (0)
  • ARTS

Courage, care, and climate leadership worth dancing for. There Will Be Dancing is a podcast from Women’s Environmental Leadership Australia (WELA), amplifying the voices and leadership of women and gender-diverse changemakers working for our climate and environment.Taking its name from the idea that movements for change must leave room for joy, the podcast weaves together personal stories, creative contributions, and thoughtful conversations to show that leadership can be hopeful, collaborative, and deeply human.Across each episode, you’ll hear from experienced leaders and emerging voices challenging outdated norms and creating new pathways for climate and environmental action.

Episodes

  1. Under the Sea with Yolanda Waters

    3D AGO

    Under the Sea with Yolanda Waters

    What would it take to make the climate movement as diverse as the country it's trying to protect — and what are we missing if we don't? In this episode of There Will Be Dancing, Victoria, Odette and Sanaya sit down with special guest Yolanda Waters — founder of Divers for Climate Action, PhD researcher in marine social science and a rising voice at the intersection of ocean conservation, climate communication and cultural inclusion. Yolanda's path to ocean advocacy began not with a lifelong love of the sea, but with a reckoning: standing on a tourist boat at the Great Barrier Reef, unable to answer the big questions visitors kept asking her. That frustration — and one very honest rant on the internet — sparked the community that became Divers for Climate. Together, they explore what it really means to communicate climate change with nuance in a world that demands a 30-second reel, why Australia's climate movement is missing one in three Australians, and how bridging the gap between marine conservation and climate action could change everything. They also dig into the very real, very messy experience of building an organisation from scratch — and why Yolanda says it makes her PhD look easy. This episode also features a deeply moving contribution from Bianca McNeair -  a meditation on grief, country, and the profound responsibility of listening, told through the experience of a group of Malgana women monitoring nesting loggerhead turtles. We hope this conversation leaves you feeling connected to our oceans, to each other, and to the many different ways there are to show up for this work. Connect with Yolanda on Instagram @yolandaleewaters and @diversforclimate. Learn about the Divers for Climate Summer of Solidarity crowd fundraiser that aims to raise the capital to support a delegation of divers and tourism operators to Parliament in 2026. Connect with Bianca on Linkedin and Instagram Our Hosts: Victoria McKenzie-McHarg (CEO, WELA) - A strategic leader with decades of experience in climate and environmental advocacy.Odette Barry (Founder, Odette & Co) - A storyteller and PR expert teaching changemakers how to tell their story.Sanaya Khisty (Head of Strategy and Government Relations, 5B) - A policy and advocacy leader working in clean tech on climate solutions.Follow us on socials (@therewillbedancingpod): InstagramTikTokWant to learn more about WELA? Visit wela.org.au and find us on Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook This episode is proudly supported by Women's Agenda, helping to amplify essential conversations at the intersection of environment, gender, and leadership.

    47 min
  2. People-Centred Solutions with Sharan Burrow AC

    MAR 23

    People-Centred Solutions with Sharan Burrow AC

    What does it take to create real, lasting change, and who needs to be at the centre of it? In this episode of There Will Be Dancing, Victoria, Odette and Sanaya sit down with special guest Sharan Burrow AC—global advocate, former General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation, and one of the most influential voices in climate and labour justice. Sharan has spent decades working at the intersection of workers’ rights, climate action, and global policy. Her approach is grounded in a simple but powerful idea: that the most effective solutions are those shaped by and for the people they impact most. Together, they explore the critical role of community in driving change, how to stay hopeful in a world that can feel increasingly unstable, and why people-centred thinking is essential to building a more just and sustainable future. Along the way, Sharan shares stories from her extraordinary career—including a very special dance partner… Nelson Mandela. This episode also features a moving contribution from Chantelle Cortez Maglalang, a Western Sydney–based designer, artist and storyteller who shares a reflection informed by her lived experience of extreme heat and the realities of climate on the ground. We hope this conversation leaves you feeling grounded, connected, and reminded that meaningful change begins, and endures, with people. If you want to learn more about Sharan’s work with Women Leading on Climate: https://wela.org.au/influence/wloc/   You can also follow Chantelle’s work at https://www.instagram.com/mellechant/ and https://www.schoolofzines.com.au/, and you can find out more about Sweltering Cities at https://swelteringcities.org/   Our Hosts: Victoria McKenzie-McHarg (CEO, WELA)Odette Barry (Founder, Odette & Co)Sanaya Khisty (Head of Strategy and Government Relations, 5B)Follow us on socials (@therewillbedancingpod): InstagramTikTokWant to learn more about WELA? Visit wela.org.au and find us on Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook This episode is proudly supported by Women’s Agenda, helping to amplify essential conversations at the intersection of environment, gender, and leadership.

    48 min
  3. Looking Back with Kelly O'Shanassy

    MAR 9

    Looking Back with Kelly O'Shanassy

    Welcome everyone, to our very first episode of There Will Be Dancing. We’re so thrilled to share this new project with you, brought to you by Women's Environmental Leadership Australia (WELA).  We designed the podcast to amplify the voices and leadership of women and gender-diverse changemakers working for our climate and environment. Taking its name from the idea that revolutions should leave room for joy, the podcast weaves together personal stories, expert insights, and fresh perspectives to show that leadership can be bold, collaborative, and deeply human.  Our very first guest, Kelly O’Shanassy joins us to reflect on the theme of ‘Looking Back’ as she concludes more than a decade as CEO of the Australian Conservation Foundation. Kelly unpacks what it really means to “do good”: making hard choices, letting go of perfection, and focusing on impact over appearances. From knowing when a campaign has run its course to celebrating imperfect wins, she offers rare insight into leadership that prioritises outcomes, not optics. Each episode includes a contribution from one of our community members, such as a poem, essay, or audio profile. Today we’re pleased to include a reflection from Anna Hutchcroft, who will be reading a piece called When Language Returns.  If you would like to learn more about Kelly’s work, you can find her at linkedin.com/in/kellyoshanassy.  If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider subscribing, we will be sharing a new episode each fortnight.  Our hosts: Victoria McKenzie-McHarg (CEO, WELA)Odette Barry (Founder, Odette & Co)Sanaya Khisty (Head of Strategy and Government Relations, 5B)Follow us on socials (@therewillbedancingpod): InstagramTikTokWant to learn more about WELA? Visit wela.org.au and find us on Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook Our thanks to Women’s Agenda for supporting these essential conversations about the environment, gender and leadership.

    1h 2m
  4. Imperfect Environmentalism with Kathryn Nelson

    MAR 9

    Imperfect Environmentalism with Kathryn Nelson

    What makes for a perfect environmentalist? Does it even exist? For our third episode of There Will Be Dancing, Odette and Victoria explore this question with special guest  Kathryn Nelson (aka the ‘Plastic Free Mermaid’), author of I Quit Plastics.  Kathryn's work is a blend of playfulness and protest; she’s created countless DIY beauty and skincare recipes, petitioned local governments, and has recently become a mother.  Kathryn has garnered quite a following, and remains open and honest with her community. Join us for a conversation about environmental activism, a bit of mermaid chat, and as always, dancing. We’re also thrilled to share a contribution today from Carly Dober, who reads a reflection called, A Psychologist’s Advice for Showing Up in a World That Feels Constantly On Fire. We hope this episode inspires and emboldens listeners to make changes for their community and planet, without being tripped up by ideas of perfection along the way. If you would like to learn more about Kathryn, you can follow her over on Instagram at @plasticfreemermaid If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider subscribing, we will be sharing a new episode each fortnight. Our hosts: Victoria McKenzie-McHarg (CEO, WELA)Odette Barry (Founder, Odette & Co)Sanaya Khisty (Head of Strategy and Government Relations, 5B)Follow us on socials (@therewillbedancingpod): InstagramTikTokWant to learn more about WELA? Visit wela.org.au and find us on Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook Our thanks to Women’s Agenda for supporting these essential conversations about the environment, gender and leadership.

    1h 5m
  5. Youth Led Activism with Anjali Sharma

    MAR 9

    Youth Led Activism with Anjali Sharma

    The world is in danger, and the youth are fighting to save it.  At just 16, Anjali Sharma stood in a federal court arguing that the Australian government had a duty to protect future generations from climate change.  Now at 21, Anjali joins hosts Sanaya, Odette, and Victoria to speak candidly about carrying responsibility young, navigating racism and scrutiny, and reframing age, gender and identity not as barriers, but as a reason to lead.  Anjali is the perfect guest for our theme today: Youth Led Activism. She offers a rare perspective on what it means to grow up advocating for change from a young age, and how movements can support people to stay engaged without losing themselves in the process. She shares insight into the mobilising powers of social media, and clues us in on the occasional ‘right time’ to cut class. She shares her ongoing work for the Duty of Care Bill, and gives us a couple examples of her favourite dancing moments.  We have a community contribution today from Carolyn Ingvarson, longtime environmental advocate, who shares reflections on changemaking as a grandmother.  If you would like to learn more about Anjali’s work, you can find her on Instagram via @anj.sharmaa and @dutyofcarecampaign. If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider subscribing, we will be sharing a new episode each fortnight. Our hosts: Victoria McKenzie-McHarg (CEO, WELA)Odette Barry (Founder, Odette & Co)Sanaya Khisty (Head of Strategy and Government Relations, 5B)Follow us on socials (@therewillbedancingpod): InstagramTikTokWant to learn more about WELA? Visit wela.org.au and find us on Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook Our thanks to Women’s Agenda for supporting these essential conversations about the environment, gender and leadership.

    48 min
  • 5 Episodes

About

Courage, care, and climate leadership worth dancing for. There Will Be Dancing is a podcast from Women’s Environmental Leadership Australia (WELA), amplifying the voices and leadership of women and gender-diverse changemakers working for our climate and environment.Taking its name from the idea that movements for change must leave room for joy, the podcast weaves together personal stories, creative contributions, and thoughtful conversations to show that leadership can be hopeful, collaborative, and deeply human.Across each episode, you’ll hear from experienced leaders and emerging voices challenging outdated norms and creating new pathways for climate and environmental action.

Information

  • Creator
    Women's Environmental Leadership Australia
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 There Will Be Dancing
  • Show Website
    There Will Be Dancing

You Might Also Like