Show Notes
From singing in Church to selling out stadiums, Marcia Hines has lived a life powered by rhythm, resilience and responsibility.
In this episode, the Aussie icon opens up like never before—sharing the incredible story of leaving Boston at 16 to star in Hair, becoming a teenage mother in a foreign country, and carving out one of Australia’s most enduring music careers… all while quietly managing type 1 diabetes.
Marcia doesn’t just talk about the highs and lows—she lives them, with grace, grit and a whole lot of groove.
Here’s what we’re covering:
-How gospel, Grace Jones and Tina Turner shaped Marcia’s sound—and her soul
-Why becoming a mum at 16 was the making of her
-The heartbreaking story behind her hit Many Rivers to Cross
-What it was like to be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 30+ years ago
-How perspective (and one yellow-eyed angel) pulled her out of a post-diagnosis spiral
-Why she gave up the insulin pump, but loved what it taught her
-The importance of managing your mental game—and your blood sugar
-What her self-care routine looks like today (hint: boxing, beans and blinged-out CGMs)
-Why she says “we’re tight” when asked about her relationship with diabetes
-Why animals, music and love always speak louder than words
… and a whole lot more
Chapters:
⏳ [00:00] The Birds on the Balcony: Believing in Signs
⏳ [01:07] Growing Up Jamaican in Boston
⏳ [03:06] Grace Jones is My Cousin: The Family Music Tree
⏳ [05:02] Tina Turner and the Ultimate Backhanded Compliment
⏳ [08:29] From Boston to Broadway: The Audition That Changed Her Life
⏳ [11:13] Falling Pregnant in Australia at 16: “You’ve Got to Deal With It”
⏳ [16:08] Hope in Hardship: Music, Grief and Many Rivers to Cross
⏳ [21:04] Diagnosed with Type 1: “We Could Really Be Sick, Couldn't We?”
⏳ [27:16] Early Symptoms, Finger Pricks and the Doctor Who Gave Her Hope
⏳ [31:12] On Stage with Type 1: Why Marcia Prefers to Run a Bit High
⏳ [34:47] The One and Only Hypo She Had Mid-Performance
⏳ [43:43] Why Marcia’s Never Had Diabetes Burnout
⏳ [46:06] The Pescatarian Performer: What Marcia Eats to Stay on Track
⏳ [52:13] Pets, Purpose and Paw Prints
⏳ [58:06] Her Letter to Diabetes—and the Angel Who Changed Her Mindset
Hope you enjoy!
You can follow Marcia on Instagram @themarciahines
To learn more about Medtronic https://www.medtronic-diabetes.com.au/
Explore the MiniMed™ 780 https://www.medtronic-diabetes.com.au/products/minimed-780g-guardian-4-sensor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More from Drew's Daily Dose
James Bracey is one of Australia’s most recognised sports presenters—fronting Channel Nine’s NRL and State of Origin coverage, plus Olympic Games coverage. But behind the scenes, James is also a father navigating the daily highs and lows of raising a daughter with type 1 diabetes.
What happens when your child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes—and you're both doctors, but still completely unprepared?
When Sarah Klau and Verity Simmons were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, they weren’t handed a playbook. No manual. No step-by-step.
When Lisa Clark was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at just five years old, her life—and her family's—changed forever. Managing the condition in the 1970s meant urine testing, stainless steel syringes, and a revolving door of hospital visits. But what followed is one of Australia’s most remarkable medical stories.
When paediatric nurse practitioner Lucy first stepped into the world of diabetes care, she thought it’d be a temporary gig. Just a break from the heartbreak of palliative care. But 24 years on, she’s become one of the most respected figures in the type 1 diabetes community—advocating for change, championing tech, and supporting thousands of families through the diagnosis that shakes their world.