Sistas, Let's Talk
Episodes
Stigma kills: How Fiji’s HIV crisis impacts mothers and babies
08 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Fiji has the world's fastest growing rate of HIV transmission and it's not only high-risk groups being impacted. Babies are being born with HIV th...
Positive bystanders: How to take action when you witness gender-based violence
01 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Gender-based violence is happening throughout the Pacific but one thing that seems to be changing is how people react when they see it. While some p...
What GBV survivor support really looks like in the Pacific
18 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Gender‑based violence remains a major issue across the Pacific, and while crisis support services exist, long‑term trauma care for survivors vari...
The power of friendship seeing women through the best and worst times
11 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What does it mean to have a best friend? For Vaimo'oi'a Ripley and Julia Meredith it has meant having someone to laugh with, make mischief with an...
Trailblazers in lab coats: Meet the Pacific women changing lives through science
04 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
While there’s no shortage of Pacific women in sport, the arts and business to look up to, what about women in science? Globally, women make up les...
Why singing brings joy: Pacific voices explain the power of music
25 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Music and singing weave through everyday life across the Pacific, shaping our stories, celebrations and connections. For many, it’s more than just ...
Protecting the bubus: combating elder abuse in the Pacific
18 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
People in the Pacific are raising the alarm about elder abuse in the region. Worldwide one in six people over 60 have been abused, according to star...
Beyond the bills: The grassroots push helping Pacific women rewrite their financial futures
11 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When the average woman stretches her income across food, bills, and family responsibilities, is there anything left to save for the future? Across t...
Hidden struggles: Confronting perinatal mental health challenges across the Pacific
04 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
You've probably heard of post-natal depression, but it’s just one of several mental illnesses that can affect women during or after pregnancy. Dep...
The life saving importance of vaccines for Pacific communities
28 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Getting vaccinated is a simple step that prevents illnesses like measles, poliovirus and even cervical cancer, but in parts of the Pacific, not every...
Being alone and being lonely aren't the same thing
21 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Community and family are two of the most universal values in the Pacific, so it's almost impossible to imagine that anyone could feel lonely. Howe...
Who is working to bring an end to child marriage in the Pacific?
14 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Somewhere in the world, a girl is married every three seconds. The rates vary in the Pacific, however in Papua New Guinea 27 per cent of women aged 2...
Too many Pacific women die in childbirth. How can they be saved?
10 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The rate of women who die during childbirth is alarmingly high in parts of the Pacific. According to World Population Review, the rate of maternal...
The challenges of raising neurodivergent children in the Pacific
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Understanding autism, ADHD and other neurodivergent conditions for kids in the Pacific can be a challenge for parents and their wider communities. ...
Meet the next generation of Pacific women fighting for change
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sistas, Let’s Talk is Sabina Moce is only 24, but for the past decade the young Fijian woman has been a passionate advocate for people with disabil...
What does a Vanuatu council’s ban on menstruating women selling food say about kastom, period hygiene and respect for women?
19 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A controversial by-law banning women in a Vanuatu province from handling or selling food during menstruation has led to shock and community outrage. ...
Pacific period health: What happens when you can't access pads or clean water?
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Many women and girls in the Pacific don’t have access to pads, clean water or even the knowledge they need to practice proper menstrual hygiene. ...
The dark side of connection: How cyber abuse impacts women and children
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For musician Rosie Delmah, fame has been a double-edged sword. Rosie has been experiencing cyber bullying and sexual harassment for several years....
Fewer than 8 per cent of Pacific politicians are women, but more women are now putting their hands up
29 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Like many women, Ruth Cross Kwansing spent a lot of time talking herself out of politics before eventually running in the Kiribati elections. She is...
How Pacific men and boys are joining the fight against gender-based violence
22 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How Pacific men and boys are joining the fight against gender-based violence
Ozempic isn’t the cure: Tackling Pacific obesity through education
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic may be gaining popularity in Western countries, but in the Pacific, they’re not a viable solution, and experts say t...
What ovarian cancer taught me
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When Tongan woman Alisi Jack-Kaufusi was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at just 24-years-old, she was in disbelief. The subsequent surgeries and treat...
‘Women are the seed keepers’: How empowering women is key to addressing climate change
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Women are the backbone of society in Papua New Guinea, but when it comes to who has the power to make big decisions, particularly around resources, i...
How living in the diaspora led this Elder to an Olympic icon
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For arts scholar and curator, Aunty Sana Reana Balai, living as part of the Pacific Island diaspora in Australia offered her new opportunities – an...
How education changed Matilda Sweman's life
17 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Matilda Sweman thinks deeply about education. Particularly for girls in Papua New Guinea.That's because she went to school just after her country gai...
The crusade against sorcery-related violence in PNG
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Women are increasingly becoming targets in sorcery accusation-related violence, and one woman has made it her life's mission to stamp it out. This w...
The benefits and challenges of educating girls in The Pacific
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When you educate a woman you educate a nation, however, in many parts of the Pacific it's still difficult to access a good education, because of dist...
Caregiving is work: Why paid maternity leave is critical for child maternal health in the Pacific
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Having time off after giving birth not only gives new mums time to physically recover and bond with their baby, but it has significant health, econom...
Is customary law appropriate when dealing with sexual and gender-based violence in the Pacific?
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Our Pacific cultures are based on the community – and when it comes to meting out justice, customary law is often recognised within the legal syste...
Women in Sport: from grassroots to the world stage
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are more and more Pacific women getting off the sidelines and into the game? What drives them? How is sport an escape from the challenges they face a...
The meri blouse, urohs and island dress are now part of Pacific women's identity, but challenges loom
06 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The urohs – a skirt with intricate embroidery – has cultural and economic significance to the women of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Microne...
Tackling Emotional Abuse
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Pacific region, has some of the highest rates of gender-based abuse in the world.Far too many women suffer physical and sexual violence at the ha...
‘They're the custodians of stories and skills’: Why grandmothers are so important in the Pacific
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Grandmothers are not only a great source of wisdom and traditional knowledge, they also play a nurturing and vital role in our lives.This week's epis...
How do women in the Pacific manage financially after the of loss their spouse?
16 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When the only social security available is the extended family, women can be left financially vulnerable with the death or divorce of their husband. ...
The Pacific women filmmakers telling stories through their cultural lens
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
While the film industry is notoriously difficult for women and people of colour to break into, there are female filmmakers from the Pacific using the...
How does period pain hold women back?
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most women suffer from period pain, but the majority simply push through it. How different would women’s lives be if they gave period pain the care...
Why is a first birthday so important in the Marshall Islands?
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the Marshall Islands, a baby turning one is a big celebration. It’s known as the kemem. The occasion is usually marked with a big gathering wit...
Accessing birth control in the Pacific
18 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hilda Wayne explores why fewer Pacific Island women are using birth control today.This week's episode of Sistas, Let's Talk is a repeat of the show b...
How the Haus Meri in Papua New Guinea is being transformed to give women a political voice
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you heard of the Haus Man? In Papua New Guinea, it's a ceremonial house for men only where rules are made to keep peace and harmony in the villa...
What is perimenopause and why should we talk about it?
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What do you know about perimenopause? I would guess not very much. And that’s because we never speak about it – and that’s not just in the Paci...
How to be an overbearing Aunty
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Growing up in the Pacific Island culture, one of the many commandments we have to live by is to respect our elders. At times this means dealing wit...
Having conversations about sex will change your life
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For many girls in the Pacific, talking about menstruation, sex and childbirth is so taboo that their mothers are not the ones to explain it to them.B...
How do we raise boys to become good men?
14 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With gender-based violence an inherent problem within many families and communities across the Pacific, how do we teach men to respect girls and wome...
Being the eldest sister in the Pacific
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hilda Wayne talks to Pacific Island women who are the eldest sister in their family about the challenges and rewards of this unique role.This week's ...
Can birthing traditions and modern medicine work together?
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bringing a baby into the world is one of the most important things a woman can do, and for millennia this experience has been shrouded in rituals des...
Exposing the child sexual abuse crisis in the Pacific
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Child protection workers in the Pacific are seeing increased reports of child abuse including sexual abuse.According to a recent study by Save the Ch...
How Well Do You Know Your Own Body?
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
PNG Women's Doctor, Lynda Sirigoi, comes across a common problem – many of her patients simply don't know about their own female anatomy and how it...
Why is the Pacific music industry male-dominated?
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
More than ninety-five per cent of the popular music made in the last decade was produced by men.That's according to a 2022 study from the USC Annenbe...
Preventing cervical cancer with a simple swab
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's easier than ever to test for the virus that causes cervical cancer and more screening programs means fewer women will die from this preventable ...
Can Pacific women find love on a dating app?
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
All over the world, dating apps have changed the way people get together, but is that happening in the Pacific?Or are there just too many logistical ...
Breast cancer: Why do so many women wait until it's too late?
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The best chance of survival from breast cancer is with early diagnosis, so you can receive life-saving treatment, but this doesn't happen for many Pa...
Rose Pihei never planned to become a politician, but the Bougainville Conflict changed everything.
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When the Bougainville conflict erupted in 1988, Rose Pihei was living away from her village on the south of the island.After the conflict – which l...
Meet the women taking tourism into their own hands
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Women-led tourism operators in the Pacific show how small-scale community-based tourism is possible, even with the most modest of beginnings.
Caregiving is work: Why paid maternity leave is critical for child maternal health in the Pacific
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Having time off after giving birth not only gives new mums time to physically recover and bond with their baby, but it has significant health, econom...
'My mum is my backbone': What happens when your parents are your biggest cheerleaders
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From Miss Papua New Guinea to corporate highflyer, Lisa Linibi says success has only been possible through her parents’ support.
‘They're the custodians of stories and skills’: Why grandmothers are so important in the Pacific
05 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Grandmothers are not only a great source of wisdom and traditional knowledge, they also play a nurturing and vital role in our lives.
Meet the Pacific women who took the world’s biggest issue to the world’s highest court
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In December last year, Vanuatu went to the International Court of Justice, which heard a case about climate change for the first time. Meet two of th...
How art and cultural practices bring communities together to tackle sustainability
22 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sistas, Let’s Talk is a show for women across the Pacific region.
The Pacific women filmmakers telling stories through their cultural lens
15 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
While the film industry is notoriously difficult for women and people of colour to break into, there are female filmmakers from the Pacific using the...
Pacific family gatherings — how do you celebrate?
18 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Family is so important to across the Pacific, and while many traditions are similar like the feasts, and the singing and dancing, every family has it...
Church hymns, food and caretaking mental health in Western spaces
11 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For proud Samoan Fa'afafine and trans woman of colour, Amao Leota Lu, Islander food and church hymns kept her connected to her Samoan heritage whilst...
How living in the diaspora led this Elder to an Olympic icon
04 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For arts scholar and curator, Aunty Sana Reana Balai, living as part of the Pacific Island diaspora in Australia offered her new opportunities – an...
How education changed Matilda Sweman's life
27 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Matilda Sweman thinks deeply about education. Particularly for girls in Papua New Guinea.That's because she went to school just after her country gai...
Having conversations about sex will change your life
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For many girls in the Pacific, talking about menstruation, sex and childbirth is so taboo that their mothers are not the ones to explain it to them.B...
Tackling Emotional Abuse
13 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Pacific region, has some of the highest rates of gender-based abuse in the world.Far too many women suffer physical and sexual violence at the ha...
INTRODUCING — The Last Voyage of the Rainbow Warrior
12 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You probably know about the last moments of the Rainbow Warrior. But what do you know about the Greenpeace ship's last voyage before it was bombed by...
The benefits and challenges of educating girls in The Pacific
06 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When you educate a woman you educate a nation, however, in many parts of the Pacific it's still difficult to access a good education, because of dist...
How Debbie Kaore left a violent relationship and how her love for sport gives her strength
30 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Debbie Kaore was a well-known athlete in Papua New Guinea, but behind the scenes she was one of the many women in her country going through domestic ...
Meet the Pacific Women Olympians Pushing Boundaries
23 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Getting to the Olympics is no easy feat. Especially when you're from Pacific Island nations that don't always have the professional sporting faciliti...
How to be an overbearing Aunty
16 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Growing up in the Pacific Island culture, one of the many commandments we have to live by is to respect our elders. At times this means dealing wit...
How to embrace the power of technology and stay safe online
09 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The internet and social media have changed our lives in so many ways. It's connected us to communities and family, helped us express ourselves and sh...
Sistas rewind: Favourite interviews from women entrepreneurs in business and farming to connecting South Sea Islanders to their Pacific roots
25 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week we’ve selected some of our favourite episodes that celebrate women taking the lead and doing amazing things for themselves and their comm...
‘Women are the seed keepers’: How empowering women is key to addressing climate change
18 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Women are the backbone of society in Papua New Guinea, but when it comes to who has the power to make big decisions, particularly around resources, i...
What ovarian cancer taught me
11 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When Tongan woman Alisi Jack-Kaufusi was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at just 24-years-old, she was in disbelief. The subsequent surgeries and treat...
Self care isn't selfish, it's about survival: Healing from Family Violence
04 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss the power of self care and community support to help you escape violence and create a path that's healthier and safer.
Pacific women kick goals from the rugby fields to policy-making
28 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Women face many challenges, but there are many across the Pacific making it in business and leadership
How Florence Swamy helps build peace, from grassroots communities through to the Fijian military
14 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Florence Swamy's job is to build peace, ranging from working with relocated climate-affected communities to dealing with violence in villages and wor...
Is customary law appropriate when dealing with sexual and gender-based violence in the Pacific?
07 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sistas, Let’s Talk is a show for women across the Pacific region.
The meri blouse, urohs and island dress are now part of Pacific women's identity, but challenges loom
31 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sistas, Let’s Talk is a show for women across the Pacific region.
How the Haus Meri in Papua New Guinea is being transformed to give women a political voice
17 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sistas, Let’s Talk is a show for women across the Pacific region.
How Pacific women can navigate saying no
10 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sistas, Let’s Talk is a show for women across the Pacific region.
How does seasonal work impact the women and communities left behind?
03 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This edition of Sista's Let's Talk was a repeat of the program broadcast on 28th September 2023Changes to Australia’s PALM scheme have been life-ch...
There's been a cultural shift in kava consumption. What impact has this had on women?
26 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sistas, Let’s Talk is a show for women across the Pacific region.
Single mothers tell their stories to break down stigmas
19 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Facing stigma can be one of the hardest battles for single mothers, along with financial hardship and lack of family support.Being accepted by their ...
Rose Pihei never planned to become a politician, but the Bougainville Conflict changed everything.
12 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When the Bougainville conflict erupted in 1988, Rose Pihei was living away from her village on the south of the island.After the crisis – which led...
Exposing the child sexual abuse crisis in the Pacific
05 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Child protection workers in the Pacific are seeing increased reports of child abuse including sexual abuse.According to a recent study by Save the Ch...
Meet the "neurospicy" Samoan sisters changing workplace culture
29 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Pacific corporate world still has a long way to go when it comes to being inclusive and supportive of both neurodivergence and mental health.It's...
Why do women put up with pain?
22 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
So many women in the Pacifc put up with persistent pain. It might be because they can't access the care they need. Or they can't afford to take time ...
The traditional childbirth rituals connecting modern Maori women to their ancestors
15 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When Maakarita Paku was growing her family in the 1990s, it was a time of renaissance for Aotearoa's Maori people.People like her were looking to the...
Can birthing traditions and modern medicine work together?
08 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bringing a baby into the world is one of the most important things a woman can do, and for millennia this experience has been shrouded in rituals des...
Why do women still do so much unpaid work?
01 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Life is easier for everyone when the household chores are done, but in most cases only half of the population is actually doing them.Women do 80 per ...
Can Pacific women find love on a dating app?
24 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
All over the world, dating apps have changed the way people get together, but is that happening in the Pacific?Or are there just too many logistical ...
Colourism: Casting of Nani in Lilo & Stitch just the tip of the iceberg
17 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This edition of Sista's Let's Talk was a repeat of the program broadcast on 15th June 2023Casting a light-skinned woman to play a brown character in ...
Why is the Pacific music industry male-dominated?
10 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
More than ninety-five per cent of the popular music made in the last decade was produced by men.That's according to a 2022 study from the USC Annenbe...
Tuiga of the past and present – how the Samoan headdress has evolved
03 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Among the many treasures of Samoan tradition is the Tuiga, a ceremonial headdress which symbolises power, prestige, and cultural identity.For centuri...
How women are changing the face of the church across the Pacific
27 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This edition of Sista's Let's Talk was a repeat of the program broadcast on 17th May 2023Women now make up almost half of the Anglican Diocese of Pol...
What's it like being a sex worker in the Pacific?
20 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This edition of Sista's Let's Talk was a repeat of the program broadcast on 10th August 2022Throughout the Pacific, sex work is illegal and it's seen...
How Well Do You Know Your Own Body?
13 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
PNG Women's Doctor, Lynda Sirigoi, comes across a common problem – many of her patients simply don't know about their own female anatomy and how it...
Pacific women and the tapa Revival
06 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hilda Wayne talks to the Pacific Island women who are reviving the ancient practice of making art from tapa.
Inspirational women fight against HIV in the Pacific region
28 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This edition of Sista's Let's Talk was a repeat of the program broadcast on 16th March 2022While the rates of HIV infection are coming down in most p...