Betty Klimenko was abandoned by her drug addicted mother, then adopted by a billionaire. She is now one of the wealthiest women in Australia. Her story is not widely known, but should be the stuff of Australian folklore. 

In this episode, Betty Klimenko tells Neil Mitchell Why:
She won't attend funerals
Getting kicked out of the family was the best thing that ever happened to her
She hates eclectic cars
Money isn't everything
She came out of retirement to start a motorsport team 

Betty Klimenko was abandoned by her drug addicted mother, then adopted by a billionaire. She is now one of the wealthiest women in Australia. Her story is not widely known, but should be the stuff of Australian folklore. 
In this episode, Betty Klimenko tells Neil Mitchell Why:
<ul>
<li>She won't attend funerals</li>
<li>Getting kicked out of the family was the best thing that ever happened to her</li>
<li>She hates eclectic cars</li>
<li>Money isn't everything</li>
<li>She came out of retirement to start a motorsport team </li>
</ul>

Neil Mitchell interviews well-known and interesting guests to find out why they made the choices they made.

Neil Mitchell interviews well-known and interesting guests to find out why they made the choices they made.

Neil Mitchell Asks Why

Listen to the best bits of 3AW Mornings & exclusive interviews here - and don't forget to tune in live between 8.30am and midday. [http://www.3aw.com.au/](http://www.3aw.com.au/)

Listen to the best bits of 3AW Mornings &amp; exclusive interviews here - and don't forget to tune in live between 8.30am and midday. [http://www.3aw.com.au/](http://www.3aw.com.au/)

3AW Mornings with Tom Elliott

Why Betty Klimenko's life should be the stuff of Australian folklore

Mark Wales has been a sharp end solider in the SAS. Served in several war zones, including four tours of Afghanistan. He saw action. He saw mates killed. And he saw the signs that things were going sour in Afghanistan. 

Since leaving the army, Mark completed an MBA in the US, started up a fashion label, became a reality TV star, wrote a number of books and is now considering politics. 

In this episode, I find out WHY someone would take all of this on. 

Mark is the author of two books including his debut novel, Outrider (Macmillan Australia), published 25th June. 

Mark Wales has been a sharp end solider in the SAS. Served in several war zones, including four tours of Afghanistan. He saw action. He saw mates killed. And he saw the signs that things were going sour in Afghanistan. 
Since leaving the army, Mark completed an MBA in the US, started up a fashion label, became a reality TV star, wrote a number of books and is now considering politics. 
In this episode, I find out WHY someone would take all of this on. 
Mark is the author of two books including his debut novel, Outrider (Macmillan Australia), published 25th June.

Why Australia MUST learn from losing the war in Afghanistan: A soldier's view

Behind the people you see running the country, there is a powerful, faceless army of staffers, advisers and political analysts. 

They can win and lose an election. They can be responsible for the most excellent policies, and they can be responsible for the dirtiest of dirty tricks. 

For 14 years, Kos Samaras was one of those 'faceless' people, working as the deputy campaign director for Labor in Victoria. He's behind one of the most successful Labor elections in Australia - sweeping Dan Andrews into power in landslide election wins.

In this episode, Kos Samaras talks about the personal toll of politics, the power behind the policy and what the Australian public really cares about. 

Kos Samaras is now Director Strategy and Analytics at social research company RedBridge Group. 

Behind the people you see running the country, there is a powerful, faceless army of staffers, advisers and political analysts. 
They can win and lose an election. They can be responsible for the most excellent policies, and they can be responsible for the dirtiest of dirty tricks. 
For 14 years, Kos Samaras was one of those 'faceless' people, working as the deputy campaign director for Labor in Victoria. He's behind one of the most successful Labor elections in Australia - sweeping Dan Andrews into power in landslide election wins.
In this episode, Kos Samaras talks about the personal toll of politics, the power behind the policy and what the Australian public really cares about. 
Kos Samaras is now Director Strategy and Analytics at social research company RedBridge Group.

"I was an absolute basket case": The powerbroker behind the politicians

This a view of the world you don't normally get. It's a view of the world out there, most of us don't know about, from the front line of Policing.

In this episode, I speak to two men: Senior Constable Tom Wilson, and his father, Constable Andrew Wilson, who followed his son into The Job.

This a view of the world you don't normally get. It's a view of the world out there, most of us don't know about, from the front line of Policing.
In this episode, I speak to two men: Senior Constable Tom Wilson, and his father, Constable Andrew Wilson, who followed his son into The Job.

Why Betty Klimenko's life should be the stuff of Australian folklore

In 2 playlist(s)

Neil Mitchell Asks Why

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips