Podcast 'She Matters' gives a voice to women lost to violence

Award-winning journalist and anti-violence advocate Sherele Moody has partnered with Acast to launch a new podcast, She Matters, an unflinching yet deeply human exploration of femicide in Australia.

Each episode honours a woman or child killed in Australia, told through the eyes of those who knew them best - parents, siblings, partners and friends.

It's a different kind of storytelling, one that places victims and their families at the heart of the narrative.

“This is not a true crime podcast,” Moody said. “It’s about lives lived, lives loved, and lives lost.”

Through intimate, often raw conversations, She Matters creates space for families to share the joy, humour and warmth of those they’ve lost - as well as the grief that lingers. Many of these stories have never been publicly told, with some never reported by the media at all.

Journalist turned advocate

With nearly three decades of experience across court, crime and social justice reporting, Moody has long been at the forefront of documenting violence against women.

She is the founder of The RED HEART Campaign and Australian Femicide Watch, through which she has recorded more than 2,500 deaths of women and children since 2015.

“Australia is in the midst of a femicide epidemic,” she said.

“In fact, it’s been part of our national story for as long as white people have lived here. She Matters tells these stories differently. Friends and families come together to talk about their loved one through the eyes of those left behind. Some stories are familiar. Others have never been heard. All deserve to be.”

The She Matters mural project in Melbourne.

Beyond her journalism, Moody’s advocacy extends far beyond the newsroom. She has organised national vigils and rallies, trained media professionals on ethical reporting of gendered violence, helped create transitional housing for women leaving violent situations, and even spearheaded the She Matters mural project in Melbourne.

Her platforms, The RED HEART Campaign and Australian Femicide Watch, have since become two of the country’s most prominent anti-violence initiatives, reaching more than 200,000 followers and generating millions of monthly views.

Main image: Sherele Moody

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