WEBVTT - THE MINDY PROJECT IS POWER-FOOD ON MASTERCHEF 0:00:00.160 --> 0:00:01.720 It's in the news today, but it was actually on 0:00:01.800 --> 0:00:04.000 TV Reload the podcast last week, Neylight. 0:00:04.400 --> 0:00:05.920 Welcome back to TV Reload. 0:00:06.160 --> 0:00:08.960 My name's Benjamin Norris and on this podcast I go 0:00:09.039 --> 0:00:12.920 behind the scenes with the biggest players in television. Each 0:00:12.960 --> 0:00:15.840 episode you will get a front row seat with content 0:00:15.920 --> 0:00:21.160 makers like executive producers, writers, editors and casting agents, plus 0:00:21.200 --> 0:00:24.720 the talent that we see on our screens. TV Reload 0:00:24.840 --> 0:00:28.200 reloads the shows that you are currently watching and gives 0:00:28.240 --> 0:00:31.640 you a better insight at our television industry and streaming 0:00:31.720 --> 0:00:35.680 services today. On the podcast, I have mastershef Australia's latest 0:00:35.680 --> 0:00:40.479 eliminated contender. It's our gorgeous indigenous goal Mindy. This season, 0:00:40.520 --> 0:00:42.600 we've been lucky enough to welcome back some of the 0:00:42.640 --> 0:00:46.000 most powerful cooks ever seen on the hit reality show, 0:00:46.360 --> 0:00:49.280 and Mindy has been building her story ever since we 0:00:49.360 --> 0:00:52.839 last saw her in twenty twelve. Mindy has a special 0:00:52.840 --> 0:00:56.040 connection to our country and this year she has brought 0:00:56.120 --> 0:00:59.240 more than just her food to the competition. Her powerful 0:00:59.280 --> 0:01:02.960 presence allowed her to influence her rivals and the positivity 0:01:03.040 --> 0:01:07.000 in her mantra has been simply inspiring. We will talk 0:01:07.080 --> 0:01:10.800 culture and the importance of food. What Mindy has planned 0:01:10.800 --> 0:01:13.640 for the next generation who she would like to see 0:01:13.640 --> 0:01:16.640 when and how the return to home country in Byron 0:01:16.840 --> 0:01:20.119 has been so important to her story. However, let's get 0:01:20.120 --> 0:01:23.760 started with today's podcast. I'd like to welcome Mindy to 0:01:23.880 --> 0:01:24.720 TV Reload. 0:01:26.720 --> 0:01:30.319 Those pressure tess are just beyond belief. Massa Sheff has 0:01:30.360 --> 0:01:34.120 produced some of the biggest names in food. God, I 0:01:34.120 --> 0:01:37.000 would love to see her holding that trophy above her head. 0:01:37.360 --> 0:01:41.480 The first time ever. It's fans versus favorites. 0:01:42.600 --> 0:01:44.200 I forget the recipe in the end, I was just like, 0:01:44.240 --> 0:01:47.080 I've just got to get this done. Thanks Mindy, We're 0:01:47.080 --> 0:01:49.160 going to cut this bad boy open and give you 0:01:49.160 --> 0:01:55.320 a taste. All Australians deserve to feel like they belong. Sorry, Minnie, 0:01:56.280 --> 0:02:01.559 unfortunately you're going home, beautiful, bright future head for all. 0:02:01.480 --> 0:02:02.720 Of us time. 0:02:02.800 --> 0:02:05.800 Indeed, jinkuila jingi wala, I'm well, how are you? 0:02:06.000 --> 0:02:09.359 I'm doing so well. You know, so much has happened 0:02:09.680 --> 0:02:13.600 since twenty twelve when we last saw you our Mastership Australia. 0:02:13.639 --> 0:02:16.760 We didn't even have marriage equality and here you are 0:02:16.840 --> 0:02:18.639 married in twenty twenty two. 0:02:18.720 --> 0:02:19.400 Is this crazy? 0:02:19.560 --> 0:02:22.680 It's amazing? Hey, ten years I mean, look at technology, 0:02:22.800 --> 0:02:25.920 Look at equality, look at so many things, look at 0:02:26.000 --> 0:02:27.960 native foods. You know what I mean. Like time is 0:02:28.000 --> 0:02:31.840 an incredible thing because it gives us the gift of acknowledgment. 0:02:31.960 --> 0:02:35.160 It gives us the gift of reflection. And as crazy 0:02:35.200 --> 0:02:37.640 as the last few years have been in COVID, what 0:02:37.680 --> 0:02:39.640 we have learned is the most special thing in our 0:02:39.680 --> 0:02:42.600 world is our people, our loved ones, and this incredible 0:02:42.600 --> 0:02:44.440 country we are so lucky to hold home. 0:02:44.600 --> 0:02:46.680 Well, what do you think has changed the most for you? Though, 0:02:46.720 --> 0:02:48.639 in the last ten years, I mean ten is a 0:02:48.680 --> 0:02:49.239 long time. 0:02:49.560 --> 0:02:51.720 I have done so much in ten years, you know, 0:02:51.880 --> 0:02:55.800 Like I have started working in restaurants. I've run restaurants, 0:02:55.800 --> 0:02:58.680 I ran a restaurant group for a few years. I 0:02:58.720 --> 0:03:01.960 traveled overseas for all my twelve months with my beautiful partner, 0:03:02.080 --> 0:03:04.800 and then when we got back marriage equality happened and 0:03:04.840 --> 0:03:07.520 we got married within six weeks of that happening because 0:03:07.520 --> 0:03:09.840 we were just so excited about it. And now look 0:03:09.840 --> 0:03:12.120 at me. I've got a beautiful little restaurant. I've returned 0:03:12.120 --> 0:03:14.440 to country, and I'm connecting with my mob and my 0:03:14.480 --> 0:03:17.120 culture and it's such a great time of life. You know, 0:03:17.120 --> 0:03:19.200 I feel so lucky to be back home, to be 0:03:19.280 --> 0:03:22.560 connecting with this and sharing our rich indigenous culture with 0:03:22.680 --> 0:03:23.880 the rest of Australia. 0:03:23.960 --> 0:03:25.400 Oh, it's so amazing. 0:03:25.400 --> 0:03:29.200 And you know, I thought, watching the three of you 0:03:29.320 --> 0:03:31.840 girls last night, I just thought it was so amazing 0:03:31.840 --> 0:03:34.920 to see such beautiful women but also such intelligent women 0:03:35.120 --> 0:03:37.560 that represent so much, and the three of you, for me, 0:03:37.720 --> 0:03:40.080 have carried so much of my enjoyment of this series. 0:03:40.640 --> 0:03:43.360 Was it intense to be in a pressure test with 0:03:43.480 --> 0:03:46.680 Julie and Billy? My god, you know what I mean? 0:03:46.800 --> 0:03:49.320 Those pressure tests are just beyond belief. Unless you've actually 0:03:49.320 --> 0:03:52.600 been in one, you cannot describe the amount of intensity 0:03:52.680 --> 0:03:55.720 and pressure and stressed places on everyone and watching it 0:03:55.760 --> 0:03:58.400 throughout the competition because I've never been in a pressure 0:03:58.400 --> 0:04:00.760 test before. The week before so I had my first 0:04:00.800 --> 0:04:03.000 two pressure tests. I went out on my second, but 0:04:03.080 --> 0:04:05.480 I just saw the amount of stress and pain it 0:04:05.560 --> 0:04:07.360 was putting people through and I thought, you know, guys, 0:04:07.440 --> 0:04:09.680 this is not what food is about. So I got 0:04:09.720 --> 0:04:12.320 the girls together and I said, you know, let's make 0:04:12.400 --> 0:04:15.800 this about us today. We're great, strong, powerful women. We 0:04:15.880 --> 0:04:18.279 know how to cook. They're going to throw something crazy 0:04:18.320 --> 0:04:21.520 at us, but let's band together, bring our strength, stand 0:04:21.560 --> 0:04:24.520 in our power, and let's give them hell. And you 0:04:24.560 --> 0:04:26.960 know what we did that We had so much fun. 0:04:27.400 --> 0:04:30.560 It dissolved the stress completely within the set and you've 0:04:30.600 --> 0:04:32.159 got a sense of it, like it was almost like 0:04:32.279 --> 0:04:34.920 Jock was a little bit shocked about how powerful and 0:04:34.960 --> 0:04:37.960 strong we felt and that presence that we created, and 0:04:38.000 --> 0:04:40.600 it was so uplifting and that is what food is 0:04:40.680 --> 0:04:42.960 about at the end of the day. So it took 0:04:43.000 --> 0:04:45.440 the pressure out of it. We just really reined it 0:04:45.520 --> 0:04:47.359 in and we gave it all. And my god, we 0:04:47.400 --> 0:04:50.480 gave them hell. It was so much fun, it really was. 0:04:50.839 --> 0:04:53.360 The pressure test gives me so much anxiety, even before 0:04:53.440 --> 0:04:56.440 those nervous violins start playing, which obviously you know, get 0:04:56.440 --> 0:04:59.280 put into production later on. Like imagine, though, if you 0:04:59.360 --> 0:05:02.200 were doing those pressure tests and they had like an 0:05:02.400 --> 0:05:04.919 orchestra there to do those violins while you were cooking. 0:05:04.920 --> 0:05:05.640 Can you imagine? 0:05:08.000 --> 0:05:10.080 I wish they did have a soundtrack because I'm all 0:05:10.120 --> 0:05:11.920 about the good vibes and dancing, and I would say 0:05:11.960 --> 0:05:13.839 to the gantry, I was like, give me some good 0:05:13.960 --> 0:05:16.120 vibes and would be down there, would have a bit 0:05:16.160 --> 0:05:18.480 of a boogie and get into a groove because you know, 0:05:18.480 --> 0:05:20.040 you've got to have fun with it. You've got to 0:05:20.080 --> 0:05:22.320 embrace it, you've got to kind of absorb that energy. 0:05:22.560 --> 0:05:26.160 And converting that negativity and that stress into something so 0:05:26.200 --> 0:05:28.520 positive is such an important thing to do, and I 0:05:28.560 --> 0:05:31.680 hope that comes across on screens because God, we're all 0:05:31.760 --> 0:05:33.720 under so much pressure these days, aren't we in this 0:05:33.760 --> 0:05:35.919 modern world? And if we can find ways of actually 0:05:35.920 --> 0:05:39.000 converting that that negativity and that pressure into something really positive, 0:05:39.040 --> 0:05:40.560 I think we're going to be onto something really good. 0:05:40.640 --> 0:05:43.840 So I'm all for just embracing it, giving them hell, 0:05:44.040 --> 0:05:47.240 having fun with it, and creating some really beautiful experiences 0:05:47.240 --> 0:05:47.799 for everyone. 0:05:48.200 --> 0:05:51.679 You just radiate, You're radiating. You're operating on a higher 0:05:51.680 --> 0:05:54.560 frequency than most people. And I have to ask you, 0:05:54.560 --> 0:05:56.960 you know, where do you get this positivity? 0:05:56.960 --> 0:05:57.960 Where does it come from? 0:05:58.360 --> 0:06:01.120 Baby? I'm on country. You know, I'm lucky. I'm a 0:06:01.240 --> 0:06:03.880 very high energy person anyway. But i feel like I've 0:06:03.880 --> 0:06:05.840 got so much to share and I've got so much 0:06:05.880 --> 0:06:07.320 to give, and I really want to share that with 0:06:07.360 --> 0:06:09.640 the rest of Australia and abroad. And when I'm kind 0:06:09.640 --> 0:06:11.560 of winding down at the end of the night, I 0:06:11.760 --> 0:06:13.400 you know, I put my feet in the sand, I 0:06:13.440 --> 0:06:15.680 go down to the beach and that really does heal 0:06:15.720 --> 0:06:19.000 and rejuvenate me. And I really encourage everyone to get 0:06:19.040 --> 0:06:21.880 out on country and get those experiences, because life is 0:06:21.920 --> 0:06:24.920 a blessing and we are so lucky to call Australia home. 0:06:24.960 --> 0:06:27.200 And the more that we embrace what's around us and 0:06:27.240 --> 0:06:29.640 this incredible country and the gift that it is, you 0:06:29.640 --> 0:06:31.920 know we're going to have a really special future together 0:06:32.000 --> 0:06:33.120 as a united country. 0:06:33.200 --> 0:06:33.680 I know that. 0:06:33.960 --> 0:06:34.080 Well. 0:06:34.080 --> 0:06:35.599 I have to say, oh my God, to start with, 0:06:35.760 --> 0:06:37.680 because that cake. I don't know whether or not you 0:06:37.760 --> 0:06:39.599 end up hating that cake, but as a viewer, I 0:06:39.680 --> 0:06:42.200 ended up hating that cake. Might have been delicious, but 0:06:42.240 --> 0:06:43.960 I ended up just looking at it the whole time 0:06:44.000 --> 0:06:44.800 and feeling like it. 0:06:44.720 --> 0:06:45.320 Was a curse. 0:06:45.640 --> 0:06:48.279 Did you know that that cake might be something that 0:06:48.320 --> 0:06:50.040 could send you home as you were cooking it? 0:06:50.320 --> 0:06:52.359 You know, I didn't. It didn't even cross my mind. 0:06:52.680 --> 0:06:55.000 I was just so in the zone. And when I 0:06:55.040 --> 0:06:57.719 looked at it for the first time, I couldn't believe 0:06:57.760 --> 0:07:02.320 it was actually food. It was precise, it was perfection. 0:07:03.000 --> 0:07:06.240 It looked like velvet. It looked like black velvet, looked 0:07:06.240 --> 0:07:08.520 like a fabric that was just ready to be like 0:07:08.560 --> 0:07:11.160 wrapped around someone. And then of course you cut into 0:07:11.200 --> 0:07:14.520 it and there's layer and layer and layer of like 0:07:14.680 --> 0:07:18.800 sweet terror and I just thought, my god, chocolate tempering, 0:07:18.960 --> 0:07:24.040 chocolate moose, chocolate spray foams, Oh my god, how am 0:07:24.080 --> 0:07:26.080 I going to do this? And I didn't actually think 0:07:26.080 --> 0:07:27.560 I was going to finish that in that very short 0:07:27.600 --> 0:07:30.280 amount of time, and you probably should. Right at the end, 0:07:30.440 --> 0:07:33.760 it was chaos. We're running and we are sprinting, and 0:07:33.800 --> 0:07:37.800 we're just running and at libbing. I forget the recipe. 0:07:37.840 --> 0:07:39.080 In the end, I was just like, I've just got 0:07:39.120 --> 0:07:41.200 to get this done. And I was so proud that 0:07:41.280 --> 0:07:44.040 I plated every component up, so proud. I mean I 0:07:44.080 --> 0:07:46.240 had a fingerprint in it at the end, which was 0:07:46.240 --> 0:07:49.440 like a total shame job, but played it and it 0:07:50.120 --> 0:07:52.880 was a very close kind of representation of what person 0:07:52.960 --> 0:07:55.080 had to actually presented to us. And you know what, 0:07:55.120 --> 0:07:57.320 I'm mad enough that I'll actually make it again because 0:07:57.320 --> 0:07:58.680 it did taste so damn good. 0:07:58.840 --> 0:08:00.240 Maybe that you've just started thing. 0:08:00.280 --> 0:08:02.680 You know, the new way that chefs leave a signature 0:08:02.680 --> 0:08:04.320 of what they've cooked for you is they leave a 0:08:04.400 --> 0:08:05.840 fingerprint in the food. 0:08:06.040 --> 0:08:07.280 I don't know, I don't know if it's going to 0:08:07.360 --> 0:08:07.680 take off. 0:08:08.040 --> 0:08:09.640 I'm not sure. I'm not sure if the guests are 0:08:09.680 --> 0:08:12.000 going to love that scene dirty fingerprints all over their things, 0:08:12.040 --> 0:08:13.760 but you know it might be something in a piece 0:08:13.800 --> 0:08:15.640 of art in that How. 0:08:15.520 --> 0:08:17.800 Do you unpack and get over a master chef hangover? 0:08:18.000 --> 0:08:21.240 I mean, I heard you preempt the trip back to 0:08:21.280 --> 0:08:23.360 the beach to put your feet into the water. But 0:08:23.440 --> 0:08:27.560 I can imagine this experience is all encompassing and really 0:08:27.600 --> 0:08:28.800 hard to shake at the end of it. 0:08:28.960 --> 0:08:29.520 How did you go? 0:08:30.160 --> 0:08:32.720 Look, it's all consuming. I think the biggest thing was 0:08:32.800 --> 0:08:36.520 actually coming home and feeling what a sense of actual 0:08:36.559 --> 0:08:39.440 normality is. It takes time to read just being back 0:08:39.480 --> 0:08:41.680 with your family. You know, I've been down in Melbourne 0:08:41.840 --> 0:08:43.880 kind of live in this separate life from my partner 0:08:43.880 --> 0:08:45.520 and my family, and you kind of feel like you 0:08:45.559 --> 0:08:48.160 live in this single life, which is really crazy. To 0:08:48.240 --> 0:08:52.840 come home, adjust to being together again, understanding how to 0:08:52.880 --> 0:08:55.560 function as a person and as a couple, and then 0:08:55.600 --> 0:08:58.320 as a business owner. It's crazy. And then not to 0:08:58.400 --> 0:09:01.040 be seeing my bestie is like Sarah and Aldo every 0:09:01.120 --> 0:09:05.280 day I was getting like separation anxiety from not seeing 0:09:05.320 --> 0:09:08.040 my mob, you know, like they've become so part of 0:09:08.080 --> 0:09:10.840 my life, and I'm lucky that we're so connected that 0:09:10.920 --> 0:09:12.800 you know, I'll be catching up with next week and 0:09:12.840 --> 0:09:16.000 we plan to do trips together and travel to India 0:09:16.040 --> 0:09:19.880 and Italy and eat with our families. So it was 0:09:19.920 --> 0:09:21.719 a lot to adjust to, but I know that there's 0:09:21.760 --> 0:09:23.719 a beautiful, bright future head for all of us. 0:09:23.960 --> 0:09:27.000 It's like a really weird factory reset with your partner. 0:09:27.080 --> 0:09:29.160 Like I know, with my partner, he goes he's family 0:09:29.280 --> 0:09:31.400 and Bendigo, so he'll often go to Bendigo without me, 0:09:31.679 --> 0:09:33.640 and when he comes home, you kind of have to 0:09:33.679 --> 0:09:36.560 break yourselves back into the routine of being together. As 0:09:36.600 --> 0:09:39.320 much as you love them and I love him, you 0:09:39.320 --> 0:09:42.079 know the rules that have have to be re established again. 0:09:42.320 --> 0:09:44.319 It's a strange, really. 0:09:44.160 --> 0:09:46.880 True, And it is strange because you're so comfortable with 0:09:46.920 --> 0:09:48.760 each other and you love each other to death, but 0:09:48.800 --> 0:09:51.959 then you realize all those little kind of intricacies of 0:09:51.960 --> 0:09:55.280 yourself and your partner that suddenly come to the surface, 0:09:55.400 --> 0:09:57.839 and you've got to be really mindful and respectful of 0:09:58.280 --> 0:10:01.280 not compromising that because you know you want your partnership 0:10:01.320 --> 0:10:03.920 flourish and you want yourself to flourish in your relationship, 0:10:03.960 --> 0:10:06.480 but it does. It does take time to readjust and 0:10:06.520 --> 0:10:09.319 to get back into that that mojo of your relationship, 0:10:09.360 --> 0:10:10.000 that's for sure. 0:10:10.240 --> 0:10:11.800 I tell my friends that I have to rain him 0:10:11.800 --> 0:10:14.000 back in, But that's not a good trait. That makes 0:10:14.000 --> 0:10:16.600 it sound like I'm some sort of controlling person. 0:10:16.320 --> 0:10:18.120 In a relationship, you know. But I'm like, I got 0:10:18.120 --> 0:10:18.920 to I reckon. 0:10:18.720 --> 0:10:20.480 It might be you that needs raining in, and it's 0:10:20.480 --> 0:10:23.800 certainly me. My partner, Shall says, Oh my god, you 0:10:23.880 --> 0:10:26.880 were so exhausting. She said when you and he I 0:10:26.880 --> 0:10:29.960 would actually sit on the couch and just watch TV. 0:10:30.080 --> 0:10:32.559 She said, when you were here, you were like a whirlwind. 0:10:32.640 --> 0:10:35.200 You do not stop. And He's absolutely right. So I've 0:10:35.200 --> 0:10:37.120 got to find a way of winding it down and 0:10:37.200 --> 0:10:38.760 dialing it back a little bit so i can actually 0:10:38.800 --> 0:10:39.920 have a bit of downtime with her. 0:10:40.840 --> 0:10:42.920 And I think, as well, you know, you're somebody who 0:10:42.960 --> 0:10:45.640 sort of believes in the universe and things happen for 0:10:45.679 --> 0:10:48.480 a reason. Was it strange to see? I mean, is 0:10:48.480 --> 0:10:50.560 that sort of the reason as to why you saw 0:10:50.600 --> 0:10:53.720 Aldo go home and then you came you left straight away? 0:10:53.920 --> 0:10:54.120 You know? 0:10:54.280 --> 0:10:56.480 Was it because you guys were so in sync that 0:10:56.480 --> 0:10:58.960 that was the mastershift journey for you both. 0:10:59.360 --> 0:11:01.560 You know, to be honest, I had a sense that 0:11:01.640 --> 0:11:03.480 it was my time. I really had a sense of it. 0:11:03.559 --> 0:11:05.280 I thought, you know, like you kind of get to 0:11:05.280 --> 0:11:07.800 this space and when you're quite an intuitive person and 0:11:07.840 --> 0:11:10.320 you feel like a greater sense of connection. I kind 0:11:10.360 --> 0:11:12.440 of knew it was my time. And I kind of 0:11:12.480 --> 0:11:13.840 knew that it was time for me to get to 0:11:13.880 --> 0:11:16.400 back to country and to be doing things, and to 0:11:16.440 --> 0:11:19.320 be honest, going home just after Aldo and going off 0:11:19.360 --> 0:11:22.400 the back of a crazy challenge like a Curson Tiole's dessert, 0:11:22.760 --> 0:11:25.360 it felt right in a weird way. I just knew 0:11:25.360 --> 0:11:26.920 it was my time. And that's why you kind of 0:11:27.000 --> 0:11:29.520 have to embrace those things. I know that the universe 0:11:29.600 --> 0:11:31.959 has a story for you, and the universe has a 0:11:32.000 --> 0:11:34.240 way of giving you and providing you what you need. 0:11:34.520 --> 0:11:36.480 And I know, I mean already great things are happening 0:11:36.480 --> 0:11:40.120 from that experience. It's not just about being at the top. 0:11:40.200 --> 0:11:43.280 It's not about the win. What I have won is 0:11:43.360 --> 0:11:45.559 a connection to my country and my culture. What I've 0:11:45.600 --> 0:11:47.839 won is these incredible friendships and I know that I'm 0:11:47.840 --> 0:11:50.240 going to have for a last like a lifetime, and 0:11:50.280 --> 0:11:52.559 that is so much more valuable than two hundred and 0:11:52.559 --> 0:11:54.319 fifty grand in the bank. Even though that would be 0:11:54.360 --> 0:11:57.640 great for an awesome holiday somewhere, Master Cheff provides you 0:11:57.679 --> 0:12:00.800 so much, many more riches than than a bank check 0:12:00.840 --> 0:12:02.240 at the end of the day, it really does. 0:12:02.559 --> 0:12:04.920 It's a reality show that there's a feast for the 0:12:04.960 --> 0:12:08.400 audience in you know, a great turn of phrase because 0:12:08.440 --> 0:12:10.800 of the food and a feast, but also it is 0:12:10.840 --> 0:12:12.560 such a long journey and it is something that you 0:12:12.559 --> 0:12:15.080 can really sink yourself into. And I don't know how 0:12:15.160 --> 0:12:17.400 much TV you watch, but do you think that Master 0:12:17.520 --> 0:12:21.240 Chef is the reality show with the best representation of 0:12:21.240 --> 0:12:22.240 Australian diversity? 0:12:22.640 --> 0:12:25.160 Yeah? Well absolutely, And how important is it? I mean 0:12:25.240 --> 0:12:28.400 to be honest, Every production is so responsible and they 0:12:28.400 --> 0:12:32.040 should be accountable for diversity and inclusion. That is what 0:12:32.080 --> 0:12:35.560 we're built on as a nation. We are multicultural. We 0:12:35.600 --> 0:12:38.280 want to embrace that and celebrate that and make sure 0:12:38.320 --> 0:12:42.600 that everybody feels that they are represented on our TV 0:12:42.720 --> 0:12:45.520 screens and that's what it's all about. So I love 0:12:45.559 --> 0:12:48.640 the fact that we're seeing that more and more, you know, 0:12:48.720 --> 0:12:51.400 and we need that to continue. We are heading in 0:12:51.400 --> 0:12:53.440 the right direction, but we've got a long way to go, 0:12:53.840 --> 0:12:56.440 and it really is in the hands of the networks 0:12:56.440 --> 0:12:58.840 and the powers above to make sure that stuff happens. 0:12:58.920 --> 0:13:02.840 And it only in riches us, It only makes us better, stronger, 0:13:03.080 --> 0:13:05.320 and it all, you know, just helps us buy together 0:13:05.400 --> 0:13:08.520 as a community. So I love it because food is powerful. 0:13:08.679 --> 0:13:11.320 It's incredible catalyst for change, and I want to see 0:13:11.320 --> 0:13:13.040 more of it. I'm hungry for it. 0:13:13.160 --> 0:13:15.880 You know what I'm hungry for is reality shows where 0:13:16.000 --> 0:13:19.040 you're just so invested. Did you feel quite proud to 0:13:19.040 --> 0:13:21.400 be a part of a show that you know could 0:13:21.400 --> 0:13:25.040 be engaging and great for the audience without having to 0:13:25.760 --> 0:13:26.840 draw upon conflict. 0:13:27.160 --> 0:13:29.960 Absolutely, And that's I mean, that's not what food is about. 0:13:30.080 --> 0:13:30.320 You know. 0:13:30.360 --> 0:13:33.320 Food is actually about bringing people together and connecting, and 0:13:33.679 --> 0:13:37.000 to have it tainted by negativity would be to the 0:13:37.040 --> 0:13:39.000 detriment of the show, and it would be to the 0:13:39.000 --> 0:13:41.160 detriment of the viewer. What we want to see and 0:13:41.200 --> 0:13:43.240 we need to see more of, is positivity because it's 0:13:43.280 --> 0:13:45.640 out there. What we want to see is people supporting 0:13:45.679 --> 0:13:48.240 each other in a genuine way, because it's out there 0:13:48.360 --> 0:13:50.520 and it's what we should be encouraging. I want our 0:13:50.640 --> 0:13:52.880 kids and our young ones to feel proud of what 0:13:52.920 --> 0:13:54.880 they're seeing on their screens. I want them to feel 0:13:54.920 --> 0:13:57.080 proud of who they are and where they come from 0:13:57.080 --> 0:13:59.640 and that beautiful food culture that is so important to 0:13:59.679 --> 0:14:02.360 all of us. I want to inspire all the strains, 0:14:02.360 --> 0:14:05.160 and especially the young ones, to be the best versions 0:14:05.240 --> 0:14:07.920 of themselves and to be proud of who they are, 0:14:08.120 --> 0:14:12.400 whatever color cast, whatever your you know, however you identify, 0:14:12.520 --> 0:14:15.560 be proud and stand strong, stand in your power. And 0:14:15.600 --> 0:14:18.800 that's what a reality TV like Master Chef is all about. 0:14:19.040 --> 0:14:20.960 How's it going in Byron Bay. I think it's the 0:14:20.960 --> 0:14:23.080 most perfect place for you. It's just listening to you. 0:14:23.600 --> 0:14:26.240 I'm like, did Byron Bay find you? What did you find? 0:14:26.240 --> 0:14:28.440 Barron Bay? Like, I think it's. 0:14:28.160 --> 0:14:30.120 Yeah, Well this is country for me, babe. I'm lucky. 0:14:30.160 --> 0:14:32.560 This is ancestral land. My ancestors have been here for 0:14:32.840 --> 0:14:35.720 sixty thousand years and I feel connected to it. You know. 0:14:35.760 --> 0:14:37.960 I'm lucky that I get to spend time with my elders. 0:14:38.120 --> 0:14:40.720 They teach me the stories, and this is so much 0:14:40.760 --> 0:14:43.880 more than a place to holiday. You know. Barron Bay's 0:14:43.920 --> 0:14:46.360 traditional name is Kavin Bah and that means meeting place, 0:14:46.520 --> 0:14:49.000 and our mobs used to come here to connect, to trade, 0:14:49.120 --> 0:14:52.160 to like share stories, have ceremony, to harvest food and 0:14:52.240 --> 0:14:54.520 to share and that still happens to this very day. 0:14:54.680 --> 0:14:57.040 So our dreaming continues and I want to welcome all 0:14:57.080 --> 0:15:00.200 Australians into that experience because it makes this place so 0:15:00.280 --> 0:15:03.000 much more special and so much more rich when you 0:15:03.400 --> 0:15:05.800 connect with the knowledge systems that have been here for 0:15:05.880 --> 0:15:08.360 thousands of years. And my god, it's a special place, 0:15:08.400 --> 0:15:09.000 it really is. 0:15:09.320 --> 0:15:10.920 That kind of makes me feel like, do you want 0:15:10.920 --> 0:15:13.640 to chase the zach Efron's and the Chris Hemsworth out 0:15:13.640 --> 0:15:15.680 of town or no. 0:15:15.840 --> 0:15:19.000 Everyone's welcome. Everyone's welcome in Byron Bay. That's what it's about. 0:15:19.080 --> 0:15:20.960 It's a bit of a transient place. We have the locals, 0:15:21.000 --> 0:15:22.840 we have the people that come and go, but this 0:15:22.880 --> 0:15:25.120 is a place for healing and connection and you know, 0:15:25.160 --> 0:15:26.960 I know that people get that when they come here, 0:15:27.000 --> 0:15:28.480 and the fact that they get to come and now 0:15:28.480 --> 0:15:31.040 eat native traditional foods that come from this landscape as 0:15:31.040 --> 0:15:33.440 well with something really cool and special. But that's going 0:15:33.480 --> 0:15:37.440 to happen all across Australia, recognizing place, traditional names, the 0:15:37.440 --> 0:15:40.040 traditional people that we're there. We're coming up to Natok Week, 0:15:40.040 --> 0:15:41.760 you know, and what a great time to connect with 0:15:42.120 --> 0:15:45.000 traditional country and the people that have been there for 0:15:45.040 --> 0:15:47.520 thousands of years. So it's a great challenge for everyone 0:15:47.560 --> 0:15:50.080 and a call to action. Figure out the traditional name 0:15:50.080 --> 0:15:52.360 of the places that you live. Figure out the name 0:15:52.400 --> 0:15:54.680 of those people they tried their clan. Figure out what 0:15:54.760 --> 0:15:58.120 language they speak, and learn how to say jini allah, hello, welcome. 0:15:58.280 --> 0:16:00.200 What is that in your language? You know what I mean? Like, 0:16:00.360 --> 0:16:02.960 even connecting language is such a beautiful thing to be 0:16:02.960 --> 0:16:03.400 able to do. 0:16:03.760 --> 0:16:06.520 I wanted to ask you about what your favorite indigenous 0:16:06.560 --> 0:16:10.200 food is? You know, growing up because I found through COVID, 0:16:10.480 --> 0:16:12.760 I was leaning into making the things that my grandma 0:16:12.880 --> 0:16:14.800 used to make me when I was sick, because they 0:16:14.800 --> 0:16:17.120 were the foods that I was you know, nourished with 0:16:17.200 --> 0:16:19.200 at that time. And you know, during such a time 0:16:19.280 --> 0:16:22.360 of uncertainty, I really enjoyed having something that made me 0:16:22.520 --> 0:16:25.360 feel like, you know, comfort food essentially, you know, for 0:16:25.440 --> 0:16:27.400 you though, growing up, you know, what was your favorite 0:16:27.400 --> 0:16:28.240 indigenous food? 0:16:28.880 --> 0:16:31.520 God, I had the most blessed childhood. Honestly, Name would 0:16:31.520 --> 0:16:33.400 take us down to the beach and we didn't realize. 0:16:33.400 --> 0:16:34.880 We just thought she was trying to wear us out. 0:16:35.040 --> 0:16:36.720 She had eleven kids, so I can imagine how many 0:16:36.760 --> 0:16:38.640 grandkids you had. But she would take us all down 0:16:38.680 --> 0:16:40.720 to the beach together, and she would have us there 0:16:40.720 --> 0:16:43.440 all day, from dawn to dusk, and she would have 0:16:43.480 --> 0:16:45.960 us out there pippy doing that little pippy shuffle down 0:16:45.960 --> 0:16:47.720 on the beach, pulling up all the pippies and we 0:16:47.720 --> 0:16:50.040 would get bucket loads of them and we would sit 0:16:50.080 --> 0:16:51.760 them in the water up on the beach for a while. 0:16:51.840 --> 0:16:53.720 She would make a campfire and we would chuck the 0:16:53.760 --> 0:16:56.800 pippies straight onto that fire. We were eating them straight 0:16:56.880 --> 0:16:59.000 out of the shell, and because of the saltiness of 0:16:59.040 --> 0:17:01.080 the water, they were already like season. You don't need 0:17:01.120 --> 0:17:03.880 to do anything picking kakala also known as peak face, 0:17:03.920 --> 0:17:06.480 those beautiful succulents that would cool us off, and they 0:17:06.560 --> 0:17:09.520 tasted like salty strawberries. And you know, just being down 0:17:09.560 --> 0:17:11.560 there with her at the beach, and we didn't realize. 0:17:11.680 --> 0:17:13.600 We thought, you know, she was wearing us out and 0:17:13.640 --> 0:17:15.840