In this episode of She Who Dares, I sit down with systems thinker, changemaker, and unapologetic visionary Irene Portelli — founder of We Made It and leader behind the FNQ Circular Economy. What starts as a conversation about sustainability evolves into a deep, thought-provoking exploration of courage, community, and redefining what progress really looks like.

Irene shares how her upbringing and lived experience shaped her drive to create real-world solutions that bring people together — from circular economy models and upskilling programs to co-ops that give women economic freedom and purpose. We talk about everything from the love economy to neurodivergent innovation, trauma-informed community building, and why it’s time to reconnect with the systems that sustain us.

You’ll hear about:

• The love economy — and how connection can rebuild what capitalism broke

• Circular systems that turn waste into opportunity and restore dignity through meaningful work

• We Made It — a social enterprise training women to build and project-manage tiny homesto help deliver and maintain a waste to energy micro factory

• The brilliance of neurodivergent minds in solving complex environmental and social challenges

• Why choosing one thing is often the most powerful place to start

This episode is rich with insight, heart, and action. Irene’s mind moves at lightning speed, and her ideas spark genuine hope for what’s possible when we design for people, not profit.

🎧 Listen in — buy the t-shirt — because community really is everything.

Buy the t-shirt here:

https://wemadeit.com.au/shop/page/3/

Follow here:

https://www.facebook.com/share/1CZgd8cimc/?mibextid=wwXIfr

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What happens when you stop trying to fit into the mould and decide to live — fully, unapologetically — as yourself? In this episode of She Who Dares, I’m joined by Cheryl Alderman, entrepreneur, executive coach, speaker, and self-described “Energizer Bunny” whose story is equal parts inspiring and real.

Cheryl’s life has been anything but ordinary. At 19, she boarded a one-way flight from New Zealand to Sydney, building a corporate career in senior leadership, before launching not one but two successful businesses while raising three children. Today, she runs her ventures from Cairns while travelling across Australia and New Zealand delivering workshops and keynotes.

In our conversation, Cheryl shares what it means to grow up without labels like “neurodivergent” or “masking,” and how discovering her ADHD later in life gave language to traits she’d always owned as her own. She reveals how her risk tolerance, energy, and ability to think outside the box have fuelled her success — but also the lessons learned from failure, rejection, and workplaces that still don’t fully understand difference.

We dive into the importance of self-awareness, finding your people, and recognising your unique dopamine triggers — whether that’s food, people, the ocean, or creative projects. Cheryl speaks candidly about parenting neurodivergent children, navigating bias in professional environments, and the resilience required to keep moving forward when life feels unfair.

Her definition of success is refreshingly honest: building a life that makes you happy, on your terms, without dimming your light for anyone. She leaves us with a powerful reminder — it’s okay to be different, and in fact, it’s difference that makes the world interesting.

This is a conversation for anyone who’s ever felt “too much,” questioned where they fit, or wondered if their way of thinking is an obstacle or a gift. Cheryl shows us it can be a superpower — when embraced with courage, kindness, and conviction.

You can connect with Cheryl here:LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryl-alderman-execcoach/

Websites:

https://www.beultimate.com.au/ https://social4u.com.au/

In this vibrant and unapologetically honest episode of She Who Dares, I sit down with Rachel Goode — the founder and creative force behind Menopause of Sound and Women Who Date, two joyful movements that challenge norms and celebrate radical self-leadership. A West Country Women Awards nominee, Rachel is known for creating emotionally intelligent spaces where women and solo-living people can connect, reflect, and show up as their full, unfiltered selves.

We speak openly about what it means to reclaim identity after sudden change, the deep courage of drawing boundaries that others may not understand, and how joy itself can be a radical act of leadership.

Rachel shares the moment her hair fell out in just a matter of days, the choice she made to shave her head alongside her son, and how that experience with alopecia opened the door to living without masks. She reflects on her later-life diagnosis of ADHD and language processing disorder, and how neurodivergence, authenticity, and visibility are inseparably linked.

Our conversation moves from laughter to raw reflection, as Rachel shares the importance of setting boundaries in family life and how those choices reshaped what connection and support looked like for her. She also speaks about the unexpected impact of Menopause of Sound day discos, where women step outside their roles and rediscover freedom, and her newest project Women Who Date, which is bringing honesty and community to the often isolating world of modern dating.

We explore:

• How alopecia became a catalyst for radical visibility and self-ownership

• Why late neurodivergent diagnosis can be both grief and liberation

• The role of boundaries in protecting energy and reshaping relationships

• How joyful spaces like Menopause of Sound can empower women to show up as themselves

• Why redefining success around family, values, and connection brings a deeper kind of freedom

Rachel’s story is one of grounded courage, humour, and a fierce commitment to flipping the narrative — especially for those who don’t feel like they fit in.

You’ll walk away from this episode with fresh perspective on self-leadership, permission to set bold boundaries, and a reminder that empowerment often begins in the most personal of choices.

You can connect with Rachel here:

@menopauseofsound

@Rachelcarolinegoode (Facebook, instagram, Linkedin)

@wearewomenwhodate (Facebook, Instagram)