Cleopatra's Bling Podcast

Have you ever been caught in a lie?

Maybe just a small one. Borne out of a misunderstanding. Never intended to be told. But one lie leads to another. “It’s easier to go along with it than to explain the whole truth,” you tell yourself.

That’s exactly where the protagonist of Dominic Amerena’s debut novel, I Want Everything, finds himself.

Dom is a masterful storyteller. We talked about truth and lie...

Every day, Edhi lives with the unseen. Spirits hover in daily life, receiving offerings of coffee, rice, even cigarettes. In this episode, Olivia and her friend drive through Bali’s lush landscapes, discussing ancestral presence, the philosophy of balance, and why both angels and devils deserve respect.

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For many holidaygoers, visiting beachside destinations like Bali becomes an excuse to harrass locals, buy cheap souvenirs, and see the inside of a local hospital after an inebriated scooter ride. In recent years, TV shows like White Lotus have brought the dark side of tourists' superficial engagement with local culture into the maintstream.

But in my conversation with Tjok Maya Kerthyasa, author, illustrator, and stylist of Paon: R...

Artist Miranda Skoczek transcends the traditional role of painter, creating wall works, co-designing with fashion houses like Gorman and Silk Laundry, and crafting figurines inspired by ancient Pagan traditions of her Slavic ancestry.

We share a love of symbols and amulets, and we discussed how to bring their imagery and power into a contemporary context while honouring these traditions and building a succ...

"You're not like other girls, you're not pretty... you look... interesting."

These are the words Syrian-Palestinian model Lana Albeik (born and based in the Emirates) has heard many times throughout her career. In today's episode she shares her story, alongside her advice on overcoming naysayers, nastiness, and prejudice.

Through her career Albeik has combined activism, heritage, and fashion in ways that defy stereotypes. Having wo...

There was a moment in 2020 when Instagram was suddenly blanketed by black squares as social media users struggled to find a way to express that they supported the justified anger and calls for justice within the Black community. In the years since, as the frenzied media cycle churned on, the spotlight may have shifted away from issues of racial justice and the black squares were quietly deleted, archived, or simply mov...

Have you ever wondered what connections ancient cultures see between totally disparate parts of the body?  How earlobe connects to spleen, and eyebrow to abdomen?

After discovering a breast tumour in her 20s, Zoey Xinyi Gong realised that she needed to make some changes in her life to protect her health. This involved an innovative approach to Western and Easter...

Artist Atong Atem proclaims proudly, "I'm not a subtle girl". In this episode filled with laughter and the sharing of history and creative influences, Olivia and Atong joke about painfully plain interior design trends, the pipeline from large families to the decision to elope, and Atong's view of herself as science fiction character.

The conversation also takes a deep turn towards the history and traditions of the Dinka people, Ato...

"I love this lack of control." These are the words founder and designer Olivia Cummings used to describe the contrast between becoming a first time mother, and running a business.

On the 18.10.24 our founder Olivia welcomed her most precious creation to date, as she birthed her first child, a daughter, into this world. A few weeks ago, in the final stages of her pregnancy, she sat...

Virginia Trioli has won not one, but two Walkleys–the highest prize for journalism in Australia–through her illustrious career which spans decades and many eras of politcal and cultural life.

It's no wonder, then, that you've never heard a more engaging storyteller. Virginia became a household name as the host of the morning news, and famed political panel program Q&A, and currently delves into the essence...

Imagine a world in which the same earth you walk had been populated by Gods in years past. These deities may have had bull's tails, or the heads of falcons, held massive whips, or possessed the moon in their left eye. This was the belief system of the Ancient Egyptians, who saw their Kings and Queens as direct descandents of these divinities, and founders of human society.

The Pharaoh ruled not only by divine right, but as a direct...

In the first episode of the 5th season, I wanted to focus on my journey: owning and running a successful beauty, history, and design-driven brand; being an expectant first-time mother; and navigating life's ups and downs. 

This is a side of myself I don't always share, but I wanted to open up this more personal and vulnerable aspect, in the hopes that it might touch you too, and make you feel like you're n...

Olivia first came across Charnel Rizk when she read her moving short essay My Family’s Yellow Fibro Home was my Greatest Teacher. As a young writer Charnel writes about her identity as a Lebanese-Australian, and how her background forms an indelible part of the performer, musician, and creative she is today.

Talking to Charnel gives us new insights into the way that coming from an immigration background can be simultan...

Do you sometimes feel scared about the direction that the world is going in, but not sure what you can do to help? Too overwhelmed to turn on the news?

Sophie McNeill is a journalist and researcher for Human Rights Watch, covering everything from the most headline-grabbing events to some of the forgotten stories of our times. Her dedication to bringing to light stories from far flung corners of the world that deal with...

This episode contains inspiring ideas, intimate connection, and practical advice, as we explore the power of purpose-driven work. Less an interview and more a free ranging and informative conversation between two longtime friends and successful businesswomen.

Ethical beauty brand Fluff founder Erika Geraerts sat down with the creative director of Cleopatra's Bling, Olivia Cummings, to delve into the pressing issues of our time and ...

Natasha Lunn is a bestselling writer and journalist whose passion is having Conversations on Love. Her weekly newsletter and her essay compilations of the same name help us understand how relationships function, and how they grow through our lives.

Natasha has interviewed Alain de Botton, Esther Perrel, and David Sedaris about love, and I was delighted to have the opportunity to interview her. I walked away from this c...

A dinner party guest we'd all love to be next to (or, frankly, be!) is the warm, encylopaedically knowledgeable historian Erin O'Halloran.

As quick with an interesting anecdote as with unexpected insights into the connections between far reaching areas in the ancient world, listening to her is like being transported to Egypt, India or the Middle East in times gone by.

Bringing the lofty topic of history down into the earthy realm o...

If you’ve ever wondered why a chef might need to know the exact temperature of a cow's fourth stomach, chef Lucy Whitlow - is here to fill you in.

She turns dairy produce into delicious cheeses, creams, and milk products, balancing the slowness needed to keep cheese "happy" and "calm" with the fast paced restaurant industry.

She and Olivia discuss emotions that go into food, the complex qualit...

Ennis Ćehić understands the predicament many of us are in in the 21st century - we need a money job to pursue a creative passion. As an author, he managed to capitalise on his experience working as a brand strategist and use it to fuel his writing with biting humour and detailed observation.

Ennis’ work deals with disillusionment, displacement, and the odd feeling of living in our modern world. His debut short story collection Sadv...