Get Yourself a Wife: Narelda Jacobs & Karina Natt on Motherhood and Making Their Own Rules
Love StoriesShow Notes
Journalist and TV host Narelda Jacobs and her wife, political strategist Karina Natt, join Deputy Editor of the Australian Women's Weekly, Tiffany Dunk on the Love Stories couch to share the very modern, very tender story of how friendship across state lines became a marriage, a baby and a whole new way of living. From a chance meeting in the ABC Q+A green room, through late‑night five‑hour phone calls and a WorldPride first date, to Karina packing up her life in Adelaide for Sydney, they talk about choosing partnership when you’ve spent years insisting you don’t “need” anyone.
They open up about the quiet at home proposal that left them both in tears, why the word “wife” still matters for queer couples navigating a world that often fails to see them as a family unit, and how they landed on their daughter Sanna’s name (and the surprisingly fraught decision of which surname comes last). They also reflect on their experience with an Aboriginal midwifery program, the gaps in post‑birth hospital care and what it showed them about advocacy, privilege and the women who don’t have the same voice.
Now on extended parental leave together, Narelda and Karina share what it’s like to build a blended family with their known donor “Daddy Mitch”, why they wrote a satirical picture book about queer parenting, and how visibility can be both a responsibility and a joy. They talk candidly about shutting out online “expert” pressure, trusting that Karina is the expert on Sanna, and what they hope to teach their daughter about love, ego, independence and emotional intelligence.
Moments You'll Hear: How friendship between two “strong, independent women” became a long distance love story WorldPride, phone calls and the moment they realised they couldn’t get through the day without each other Moving states, supporting the Voice referendum roadshow and building a life as a team The at‑home proposal, why “wifey” turned into “wife”, and the power of language for queer couples Conceiving Sanna with their friend Mitch, choosing her name and negotiating surnames The importance of culturally safe, queer inclusive maternity care
Thank you for listening ❤️ before you leave... 🗣️ Get in touch What did you think? We are a brand new podcast and would love to hear from you as we build this together. Join our friendly Love Stories community and visit us at womensweekly.com.au Email us your love stories (and any feedback) at [email protected] If you share your love story on social media please tag us – we’re @womensweeklymag – and use the hashtag #AWWLoveStories Subscribe to The Australian Women’s Weekly at subscription 👈🏽 If you loved hearing Narelda and Katrina's story, you can follow him on Instagram and check out their new book: Queers Weren't Meant To Have Kids - Book Narelda Jacobs website Narelda's Instagram and Karina's Instagram 🙏 Our special thanks for making 'Love Stories' our home: Vixin real results, simple skincare that's a little bit fancy Narelda, Karina and Baby Sanna ABC
Credits: Edited by Phoebe Zukowski -Wallace Production by Thomas Crnkovic Our wonderful Australian Women’s Weekly team Learn More: Womens Weekly Website
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