Taking 5 with Abby Butler (Sisterhood Of Soul)
Interview by the wonderful Han Worsley from our blog team.
Today we’re taking 5 with Abby Butler, certified over achiever and all round amazing young woman. She started a podcast called Sisterhood Of Soul, by and for young wom*n, and now, there’s a website too, and social media accounts! Basically, she’s showcasing some of the great talent of young people on all manner of platforms.
G’day g’day! Run us through who you are and what you do – with work, volunteering, study, and anything you’re passionate about.
Hallo! I’m Abby and I’m a 19 year old student originally from good ol’ Newcastle but now living in Sydney. I study Media and to distract me from my coursework, I’ve thrown myself into some super exciting projects. I’ve been involved in awesome initiatives with Basser College (where I live) like organising a charity concert to raise money and awareness for youth mental health. I also do a bit of producing and presenting with FBi Radio and in early 2017, I started up the Sisterhood Of Soul!
What is Sisterhood Of Soul, and what made you want to start it?
When I moved to Sydney, my public transport usage skyrocketed and so I started listening to podcasts to speed up my commute. I started listening to shows like My Favourite Murder and The Guilty Feminist, and whilst there were plenty of interesting podcasts on offer, rarely did any actually cater to young wom*n. I started making that product I wanted to listen to myself, but along the way I realised just how many stories there are out there to be shared and how these stories can be shared through an infinite number of different mediums. In May I started up the we
bsite and since then, young wom*n have submitted poems, short stories, interviews, opinion pieces, photography and zines (among so many more) about issues ranging from sexual assault and mental health to self-love.
Why is a wom*n only space so important to you?
We’ve all had that experience when we’re sitting around with a group of mates, and for some reason or another I’ve always felt a sense of comfort come over me in those environments. Whether I’ve known a group of wom*n my whole life or for a few minutes, there’s a trust in the instant relatability that exists. In those moments, you can never feel alone and I guess that’s the core of what the Sisterhood is all about. It’s also so important to build spaces where we heighten the voices of all wom*n of colour, non-binary and trans individuals, disabled wom*n and wom*n whose voices aren’t often heard in regular media.
There are some awesome people out there at the moment – activists, musicians, sportspeople. Who are some of your favourites?
Oooooh, that’s such a hard question! I’ll go with the three categories you mentioned, but if anyone reading this has other amazing wom*n in mind be sure to hit us up so we can give them the support they deserve.
Two female athletes who I’m always cheerin’ on are Liz Cambage and Madison de Rozario, even though admittedly I’ve never been an avid follower of basketball or wheelchair racing. They are both so dedicated to their sport, but also are so passionate about life in general and are always doing what they love.
There are SO many Aussie wom*n killing it in music at the moment, but I think Alice Skye is definitely one to watch. Her songwriting is so delicate yet strong, and she’s about to head out and tour with Stella Donnelly whose voice/musicality/advocacy is so powerful.
As for activists, Charlotte Allingham spreads such important messages through her artwork (which you can catch at @coffinbirth on IG), and I’ve learnt so much about Indigeneity because of it. I also adore Tanya Ali and her dedication to elevating the voices of wom*n around her and constantly striving for equity in every space she exists in.
Last but definitely not least, how should we get involved? Where do we see more of your work?
I’d say head to our website first at www.sisterhoodfofsoul.net and give our content a geeze! If you like what you see, follow us on Instagram at @thesisterhoodofsoul and if you’d like to submit work yourself, email us at sisterhoodpod@gmail.com. We’re all about community and we’d bloody love to have all of you reading be a part of ours.
Thanks to Abby from Sisterhood Of Soul.