Lisa Wilkinson: 'I knew these women had no one else to go to'
5/18/202651 min
Hello! Today, we have an extra-special Life Lessons episode with one of Australia’s most well-recognised and formidable journalists, Lisa Wilkinson. Lisa’s career in media spans over four decades: for 10 years, she co-hosted Nine’s Today Show alongside Karl Stefanovic, before becoming a regular host on Network 10's The Project, a role she held until 2022. In recent years, Lisa has faced public backlash, navigating a highly publicised court case. Today, she shares how her 3 Life Lessons and new book, The Titanic Story of Evelyn, have grounded her amid the scrutiny. She also speaks about becoming the editor of Dolly Magazine at just 21, facing heartbreak in her early thirties, the moment she feared she might never have children, and how everything changed when she met her now-husband, Peter FitzSimons. If you’d like to support Lisa, you can buy her new book The Titanic Story of Evelyn here, or at any good bookstore! This conversation touches on themes of abuse, so please listen with care. If you or a loved one needs support, please contact 1800 RESPECT. Your host today was Ruby Hall (@rubytuesday2.0), and the guest was Lisa Wilkinson (@lisa_wilkinson). Inherited is produced by Monica Vantilburg and executive-produced by Lucy Hunt. If you enjoyed this episode, click ‘follow’ on your favourite podcast app! We’re also on Instagram and TikTok @inheritedthepod. We’ll be back with another episode next Tuesday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsRuby Hall· Host0:00
[gentle music] Lisa Wilkinson, welcome to Inheritance Life Lessons.
Lisa Wilkinson· Guest0:09
Thank you, Ruby.
Ruby Hall· Host0:10
Thank you so much for coming on. What a privilege to interview you. You have such a wonderful ability to connect with people, so it's a bit of a pinch me moment, I must say. How do you feel being on the other side?
Lisa Wilkinson· Guest0:20
Um, I'm starting to get used to it, but I am much more comfortable sitting exactly where you are. So at any point- Right ... during this discussion, if you wanna do a swap- [laughs] ... I'm, I'm up for it.
Ruby Hall· Host0:31
No, I'm more than happy to answer questions as well. [laughs] I kind of, I like interviews that are like that sometimes. It's very connective and, yeah, instead of just asking a question and sort of moving on and having it all on, on the guest.
Lisa Wilkinson· Guest0:43
Yeah.
Ruby Hall· Host0:43
From magazines to TV to writing novels, your career really has spanned, yeah, over four decades. You're one of Australia's most respected journalists and media personalities, and you've paved the way with humility and candor. It's very inspiring. Congratulations on your new book, The Titanic Story of Evelyn Marsden. This ties into your first life lesson. You told our producers it's sometimes it's important to row against the tide. Metaphorically, what does rowing against the tide look and feel like to you personally?
Lisa Wilkinson· Guest1:09
I think probably the first time I ever really felt like I was rowing against the tide was, um, when I started work.
Ruby Hall· Host1:18
Mm.
Lisa Wilkinson· Guest1:19
Because I'd been pretty badly bullied when I was at school, and there was something about being away from that