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Join us on the next leg of this journey with lifelong friend and guide, Kaz Cooke. For many of us, Kaz has been our voice when we couldn’t find the right words, and it’s high time we heard her story. From the sexism she faced when breaking new ground, and how her earliest cartoons were calling out bad behaviour long before we had the words. This is a conversation about new beginnings, being your own best friend and what’s next for everyone’s best friend, Kaz Cooke.
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Learn more about Kaz Cooke
About Kaz Cooke
Kaz Cooke is a renowned Australian author, whose words have been a guiding light for generations of girls and women navigating the twists and turns of health and life stages. Kaz’s impact on Australian literature is immeasurable, as her books, serving as timeless classics, have not only reassured but also entertained multiple generations.
Kaz’s journey began as a cadet journalist at The Age newspaper, setting the stage for a career that would redefine women’s literature. Her cartoon strip, Hermoine the Modern Girl, marked the inception of her creative endeavours, leading to a prolific output of columns and books that resonated with readers nationwide. Notably, Kaz Cooke’s writing includes iconic works such as “Up the Duff: The Real Guide to Pregnancy” and “Girl Stuff”, “Babies and Toddlers” and recently “It’s the Menopause.”
Beyond the written word, Kaz is a dynamic presence in various media, from public speaking engagements to radio appearances, which reinforces her position as a true literary luminary and a friend for life to countless Australians.
Find the moment you're seeking
01:56 Jo and Mimi’s connections to Kaz’s work- Mimi’s pregnancies and opening Jo’s horizon to her own writing possibilities.
3:50 You’re doing it wrong’: going off-leash on the bonkers advice of men over the years and letting her full personality shine through.
6:23 Hermoiny the modern girl, an embodiment of Kaz and where Kaz’s voice began.
7:02 A woman ahead of her time inspiring another woman ahead of her time, how Cynthia Hiemel’s Sex Tips for Girls was a source of inspiration for Kaz.
9:13 The men who doubted and tried to discredit Kaz’s talent, and how she turned something ‘frivolous’ into the most successful column at the Age. Ha!
10:58 The mean, nasty and ridiculous things Kaz endured in her early days.
14:48 Speaking to anxiety, self-doubt and divorce.
17:50 Menopause and mental health- ‘It’s The Menopause’ is equipping us with the information we need in the doctor’s office.
22:02 Leaning into the freedom of a new life stage and finding happiness in historic archives.
26:07 “I couldn’t even choose a paint colour”- Kaz on experiencing a knock to her confidence.
30:36 Reflecting the trajectory of Kaz’s artistry and how her earliest cartoons were calling out bad behaviour long before we had the words.
34:03 What is Kaz Cooke’s ‘Be’? Be your own best friend, it’s the best shortcut in life.
Meet Jo
Jo Stanley is Founder and CEO at Broad Radio – radio for women, by women. Comedian, author, MC, speaker. Co-host of The House of Wellness TV and Radio. Hope messenger. Equality warrior. Mother, wife, awesome friend.
Broad Radio Insta • Broad Generation Insta • Broad Radio Web
Say hi to Mimi
Mimi is the Author of House of Kwa, Journalist, MC, Facilitator, Keynote, Mum of four, studying to become a mindfulness mediation teacher, also did architecture at university and didn’t become an architect. Quite a good friend.
BUY House of Kwa • Mimi Kwa Web