October 28, 2025 • 7 mins
After more than 60 years at the heart of Australian media and fresh from the toughest job in the industry - Ita Buttrose is going on the record about her life, love and career and nothing is off limits.
For more, Ita Buttrose joins.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
There's no one with a better resume than Ida Buttros.
From a copy girl at the Australian Women's Weekly to
the editor in chief, she launched Cleo magazine and kickstarted
the nation's sexual revolution. She's conquered radio, television and even
inspired a classic cold chisel saw.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
After more than sixty years at the heart of Australian
media and fresh from the toughest job in the industry,
she is going on the record about her life, love
and career and nothing is off limits.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
And the one and only Aida Buttrose joins us now
lovely to see you either too, Larry. How did you
decide to include what to include in this book? You've
got so many stories, so many chapters?
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Well with have it was home really to decide what
I would put in and work what I wouldn't put in.
But there's always a room for a mother book, isn't it.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Oh that's clever, that's good thinking.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Your influence on women's liberation, giving women a voice for
so many decades.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Sorry, Idam, we've just got it. We've lost your mike.
We're going to have to do old school with you.
Is that all right with you?
Speaker 4 (01:03):
I'm quite familiar with it.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
So the most important takeaway from your last answer was
there's another another book coming.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Well, there's there's a room for another book.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Always, always, the way that you have given voice a
voice to women over a decade decades, particularly in terms
of the sexual revolution, putting it on the pages of
the Australian Woman's Weekly first of all, when it was
kind of a taboo topic. What gave you the courage
to do that, to discuss sex so publicly at a
time when it wasn't really on the table for discussion.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Well, I think Cleo prepared me for all sorts of things, really,
you know, but everyone for all sorts of things and things.
Times were changing and women wanted to know more about
their bodies and their health, and Cleo service that need. Really,
and so one thing led to another. I didn't I
didn't mean to become a sex expert, but when I
(01:56):
cure of the National Advisor commiting on AEDs, I had
to answer all sorts questions about sexual behavior.
Speaker 4 (02:02):
And you think, well, this is all right, I'm not
embarrassed to.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Talk about this, and so I'm not embarrassed now that
I'm an older woman to talk about sex and older
people either, Okay.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Now you talk about your most recent position as chair
of the ABC. You've hosted TV shows, you've written the
headlines in the past. What was it like being involved
in the headlines for some of those chapters?
Speaker 4 (02:25):
Well, awkward from time to time.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
You don't particularly want to be in the media, even
though you are working in the media, even though you're
in it. But you don't need to be a headline
I don't think. But the ABC is the national broadcaster
and everyone has an opinion about it, and you have
to deal with those opinions. And you can upset people
without even trying. You know, they can be upset about
(02:50):
something a girl, a woman is wearing on television, you know,
as easy as that. But the national broadcaster is to
is something that we should protect because we need national
broadcast for a democracy such as we enjoy in Australia.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
You've never been backward about sharing an opinion and we
know that very well from your time on Studio ten
on Channel ten five years on that show, you had
to be unapologetic about your opinions. Then, is that harder
as the years go by to stand up for what
you believe in?
Speaker 3 (03:24):
No, it's easy because you've become more confident. You've become
older and you think, what the heck, I'm only here once.
I'm going to say what I think. And Studio ten
allowed and allowed me and the other hosts to say
what we thought about all sorts of things.
Speaker 4 (03:38):
It was great fun.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Going through the book. What will surprise people the most?
We understand there's some adult conversations in there, some controversial conversations.
What do you think people will will they be most
surprised about Ida Buttro's story?
Speaker 4 (03:54):
Nothing?
Speaker 3 (03:54):
I hope, I mean, I don't think they'll be surprised.
I'm frank about I'm frank about the issues that I
talk about. I'm frank about climate change, which I think
is underway, and if we don't reduce dependency on fossil
fuel fuels climate, the climate will warm up even further.
And we have to take it seriously. We have to
(04:17):
leave the planet in good shape for those that come
after us.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
We can't destroy it.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
One of the things you discuss in the book is
your mobility. You say my independence has been compromised. I
never imagine my older years being a time when I
would be unable to walk properly. How hard is that?
Being such a strong independent woman. To discuss that in
the book and deal with it on a daily basis.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
It's very hard. It's very hard because I can't be independent.
I have to depend on others. And it's very nice
because people do help me. But it's not the way
I thought i'd be older, you know, and I'm perfectly
well otherwise. I don't take many I don't take much medication.
I think my brain quite active, and you know, I
(05:03):
find it very frustrating not to be able to walk.
But that's the way it is. And you can't argue
about what fate deals you. Fate deals us all sorts
of hands, all of us, whatever we do, and we
have to learn to live with it.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
Now.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
We can be bitter and twisted and then sour on everybody,
or you can say, okay, well this is what it is.
I don't like it, but I'm stuck with it, and
so that's that's what I do. And I've learned now
to try to make the most of it.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
And I'm learning how to.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Use a super duper electric wheelchair which I can drive.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
But the thing is that goes quite fast, so she's
turning around. Yes, I think, oh my god, I must
take my hand off the room, so you're still so shut.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
I wouldn't be arrested for driving.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
That would be that would be a headline.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Don't we talk so much about the difference between generations?
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Now?
Speaker 2 (05:59):
What is advice to young women in Australia? What do
you see is the greatest challenge for the next generation,
or perhaps just general life advice?
Speaker 3 (06:06):
You don't I think women need to realize how good
they are. I think women still don't realize how good
they are, and we need to say to women, you are.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
Really good at what you do.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
You're a really good mother, You're a really good performer
in the office.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
You know.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
People need to women need to take pride in what
they do and stop saying sorry.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
We say sorry for everything. I'm sorry.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
I used to say to my daughter, what are you
sorry about? What have you done? You have to get
rid of that word. Just realize how good you are
and go for it.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
So lovely to see you as always. Now, since you've
got the microphone, would you like to sing us out
to the break?
Speaker 3 (06:47):
No, I only leave that to Jimmy Barns when it's
doing cultures.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Or congrats on the book.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
Thank you you be careful in that I love it.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
I'd apologetically iter by. Ita Butters is available in bookstores
and online retailers. Now some advice to live by there
was thank you,
There's no one with a better resume than Ida Buttros.
From a copy girl at the Australian Women's Weekly to
the editor in chief, she launched Cleo magazine and kickstarted
the nation's sexual revolution. She's conquered radio, television and even
inspired a classic cold chisel saw.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
After more than sixty years at the heart of Australian
media and fresh from the toughest job in the industry,
she is going on the record about her life, love
and career and nothing is off limits.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
And the one and only Aida Buttrose joins us now
lovely to see you either too, Larry. How did you
decide to include what to include in this book? You've
got so many stories, so many chapters?
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Well with have it was home really to decide what
I would put in and work what I wouldn't put in.
But there's always a room for a mother book, isn't it.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Oh that's clever, that's good thinking.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Your influence on women's liberation, giving women a voice for
so many decades.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Sorry, Idam, we've just got it. We've lost your mike.
We're going to have to do old school with you.
Is that all right with you?
Speaker 4 (01:03):
I'm quite familiar with it.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
So the most important takeaway from your last answer was
there's another another book coming.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Well, there's there's a room for another book.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Always, always, the way that you have given voice a
voice to women over a decade decades, particularly in terms
of the sexual revolution, putting it on the pages of
the Australian Woman's Weekly first of all, when it was
kind of a taboo topic. What gave you the courage
to do that, to discuss sex so publicly at a
time when it wasn't really on the table for discussion.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Well, I think Cleo prepared me for all sorts of things, really,
you know, but everyone for all sorts of things and things.
Times were changing and women wanted to know more about
their bodies and their health, and Cleo service that need. Really,
and so one thing led to another. I didn't I
didn't mean to become a sex expert, but when I
(01:56):
cure of the National Advisor commiting on AEDs, I had
to answer all sorts questions about sexual behavior.
Speaker 4 (02:02):
And you think, well, this is all right, I'm not
embarrassed to.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Talk about this, and so I'm not embarrassed now that
I'm an older woman to talk about sex and older
people either, Okay.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Now you talk about your most recent position as chair
of the ABC. You've hosted TV shows, you've written the
headlines in the past. What was it like being involved
in the headlines for some of those chapters?
Speaker 4 (02:25):
Well, awkward from time to time.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
You don't particularly want to be in the media, even
though you are working in the media, even though you're
in it. But you don't need to be a headline
I don't think. But the ABC is the national broadcaster
and everyone has an opinion about it, and you have
to deal with those opinions. And you can upset people
without even trying. You know, they can be upset about
(02:50):
something a girl, a woman is wearing on television, you know,
as easy as that. But the national broadcaster is to
is something that we should protect because we need national
broadcast for a democracy such as we enjoy in Australia.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
You've never been backward about sharing an opinion and we
know that very well from your time on Studio ten
on Channel ten five years on that show, you had
to be unapologetic about your opinions. Then, is that harder
as the years go by to stand up for what
you believe in?
Speaker 3 (03:24):
No, it's easy because you've become more confident. You've become
older and you think, what the heck, I'm only here once.
I'm going to say what I think. And Studio ten
allowed and allowed me and the other hosts to say
what we thought about all sorts of things.
Speaker 4 (03:38):
It was great fun.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Going through the book. What will surprise people the most?
We understand there's some adult conversations in there, some controversial conversations.
What do you think people will will they be most
surprised about Ida Buttro's story?
Speaker 4 (03:54):
Nothing?
Speaker 3 (03:54):
I hope, I mean, I don't think they'll be surprised.
I'm frank about I'm frank about the issues that I
talk about. I'm frank about climate change, which I think
is underway, and if we don't reduce dependency on fossil
fuel fuels climate, the climate will warm up even further.
And we have to take it seriously. We have to
(04:17):
leave the planet in good shape for those that come
after us.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
We can't destroy it.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
One of the things you discuss in the book is
your mobility. You say my independence has been compromised. I
never imagine my older years being a time when I
would be unable to walk properly. How hard is that?
Being such a strong independent woman. To discuss that in
the book and deal with it on a daily basis.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
It's very hard. It's very hard because I can't be independent.
I have to depend on others. And it's very nice
because people do help me. But it's not the way
I thought i'd be older, you know, and I'm perfectly
well otherwise. I don't take many I don't take much medication.
I think my brain quite active, and you know, I
(05:03):
find it very frustrating not to be able to walk.
But that's the way it is. And you can't argue
about what fate deals you. Fate deals us all sorts
of hands, all of us, whatever we do, and we
have to learn to live with it.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
Now.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
We can be bitter and twisted and then sour on everybody,
or you can say, okay, well this is what it is.
I don't like it, but I'm stuck with it, and
so that's that's what I do. And I've learned now
to try to make the most of it.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
And I'm learning how to.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Use a super duper electric wheelchair which I can drive.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
But the thing is that goes quite fast, so she's
turning around. Yes, I think, oh my god, I must
take my hand off the room, so you're still so shut.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
I wouldn't be arrested for driving.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
That would be that would be a headline.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Don't we talk so much about the difference between generations?
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Now?
Speaker 2 (05:59):
What is advice to young women in Australia? What do
you see is the greatest challenge for the next generation,
or perhaps just general life advice?
Speaker 3 (06:06):
You don't I think women need to realize how good
they are. I think women still don't realize how good
they are, and we need to say to women, you are.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
Really good at what you do.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
You're a really good mother, You're a really good performer
in the office.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
You know.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
People need to women need to take pride in what
they do and stop saying sorry.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
We say sorry for everything. I'm sorry.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
I used to say to my daughter, what are you
sorry about? What have you done? You have to get
rid of that word. Just realize how good you are
and go for it.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
So lovely to see you as always. Now, since you've
got the microphone, would you like to sing us out
to the break?
Speaker 3 (06:47):
No, I only leave that to Jimmy Barns when it's
doing cultures.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Or congrats on the book.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
Thank you you be careful in that I love it.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
I'd apologetically iter by. Ita Butters is available in bookstores
and online retailers. Now some advice to live by there
was thank you,
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