What does a career in politics cost the person behind the public figure?

In this episode of Uncommon Ground, Professor Talal Yassine sits down with Senator Sarah Hanson-Young to explore the experiences that shaped her, from an unconventional childhood on a remote Victorian property to entering federal politics at just 25.

Sarah reflects on the influence of her parents, her early activism and the challenges of raising a daughter while navigating life in Parliament. She also speaks candidly about personal criticism, bullying and harassment, and the experiences that have shaped her views on political life.

It’s a conversation about family, conviction, disagreement and the sacrifices that can come with a career in the public eye.

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Episode Running Order
Sarah’s earliest childhood memories of growing up on a remote property in East Gippsland (00:01:47)
Living off-grid, being homeschooled and leaving home to attend high school in Orbost (00:04:40)
How her parents encouraged curiosity, independence and a willingness to challenge injustice (00:06:51)
Her early ambition to become a journalist and the university lecture that changed her direction (00:14:19)
Discovering student politics at Adelaide University and being elected student president as an independent (00:16:35)
Learning to disagree respectfully and working with future South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas (00:20:42)
Her early involvement in refugee advocacy and the path from student politics to the Senate (00:23:57)
Sarah’s election to the Senate at 25 and the realities of entering federal politics as a young woman (00:26:05)
The 2007 election campaign and Sarah’s experience of entering Parliament as a young senator (00:33:09)
Discovering she was pregnant in the same week she was preselected for the Senate (00:38:11)
Becoming a mother while beginning a demanding career in federal politics (00:38:40)
How her childhood connection to nature continues to shape her environmental priorities (00:42:19)
Talal challenges Sarah on data centres, artificial intelligence and the environmental costs of new technology (00:43:33)
Sarah’s concerns about the impact of large data centres on local communities, water and energy resources (00:44:07)
The debate over how Australia should regulate data centres and benefit from the resources they use (00:50:50)
The challenges of being a young woman and single mother in Parliament (00:57:30)
Sarah’s experiences of bullying and harassment, and her decision to speak publicly about them (00:59:14)
Her legal case against former senator David Leyonhjelm and its impact on how she responded to personal attacks (01:01:40)
Gender, power and the treatment of women in Australian politics (01:03:06)
The Me Too movement and the ongoing challenge of changing workplace culture (01:07:15)

What does a career in politics cost the person behind the public figure?
In this episode of Uncommon Ground, Professor Talal Yassine sits down with Senator Sarah Hanson-Young to explore the experiences that shaped her, from an unconventional childhood on a remote Victorian property to entering federal politics at just 25.
Sarah reflects on the influence of her parents, her early activism and the challenges of raising a daughter while navigating life in Parliament. She also speaks candidly about personal criticism, bullying and harassment, and the experiences that have shaped her views on political life.
It&rsquo;s a conversation about family, conviction, disagreement and the sacrifices that can come with a career in the public eye.
Subscribe to Uncommon Ground on YouTube - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@talal.yassine">https://www.youtube.com/@talal.yassine</a>
Links
Learn More About Talal <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbjBHUnlBS2hCZkg5aGMwei0yRDZYYnJfMGsyUXxBQ3Jtc0tsLXNvaUFzU2NZWWdfdnFMZDFXdERKRVNBVnhqckZtUTc3eXRmbTZLOGVOMUItXzNaTlhlRlZjZDI3T2NuMFJFUjUyVUdLTHN6STRZX2Qzc0dMbnZhT0RrUXlCYlBucG5lazF0LVQ1Sk5GR05fUUF3SQ&amp;q=www.talalyassine.com.au">talalyassine.com.au</a>
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Episode Running Order
<ul>
<li>Sarah&rsquo;s earliest childhood memories of growing up on a remote property in East Gippsland (00:01:47)</li>
<li>Living off-grid, being homeschooled and leaving home to attend high school in Orbost (00:04:40)</li>
<li>How her parents encouraged curiosity, independence and a willingness to challenge injustice (00:06:51)</li>
<li>Her early ambition to become a journalist and the university lecture that changed her direction (00:14:19)</li>
<li>Discovering student politics at Adelaide University and being elected student president as an independent (00:16:35)</li>
<li>Learning to disagree respectfully and working with future South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas (00:20:42)</li>
<li>Her early involvement in refugee advocacy and the path from student politics to the Senate (00:23:57)</li>
<li>Sarah&rsquo;s election to the Senate at 25 and the realities of entering federal politics as a young woman (00:26:05)</li>
<li>The 2007 election campaign and Sarah&rsquo;s experience of entering Parliament as a young senator (00:33:09)</li>
<li>Discovering she was pregnant in the same week she was preselected for the Senate (00:38:11)</li>
<li>Becoming a mother while beginning a demanding career in federal politics (00:38:40)</li>
<li>How her childhood connection to nature continues to shape her environmental priorities (00:42:19)</li>
<li>Talal challenges Sarah on data centres, artificial intelligence and the environmental costs of new technology (00:43:33)</li>
<li>Sarah&rsquo;s concerns about the impact of large data centres on local communities, water and energy resources (00:44:07)</li>
<li>The debate over how Australia should regulate data centres and benefit from the resources they use (00:50:50)</li>
<li>The challenges of being a young woman and single mother in Parliament (00:57:30)</li>
<li>Sarah&rsquo;s experiences of bullying and harassment, and her decision to speak publicly about them (00:59:14)</li>
<li>Her legal case against former senator David Leyonhjelm and its impact on how she responded to personal attacks (01:01:40)</li>
<li>Gender, power and the treatment of women in Australian politics (01:03:06)</li>
<li>The Me Too movement and the ongoing challenge of changing workplace culture (01:07:15)</li>
</ul>

Real leaders. Real conversations. Real opinions.

What drives someone to speak up, stand out, and keep going when the pressure hits hard? Uncommon Ground is a monthly podcast hosted by entrepreneur and philanthropist Talal Yassine, where he sits down with high-profile Australians who aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo.

In each episode, Talal goes beyond the headlines to explore the values, convictions, and personal struggles that shape public figures. It’s not just about what they’ve done, it’s about who they are when things get difficult.

Honest, raw, and deeply human, this is Uncommon Ground. Subscribe now and be part of the conversation.

Real leaders. Real conversations. Real opinions.
What drives someone to speak up, stand out, and keep going when the pressure hits hard? Uncommon Ground is a monthly podcast hosted by entrepreneur and philanthropist Talal Yassine, where he sits down with high-profile Australians who aren&rsquo;t afraid to challenge the status quo.
In each episode, Talal goes beyond the headlines to explore the values, convictions, and personal struggles that shape public figures. It&rsquo;s not just about what they&rsquo;ve done, it&rsquo;s about who they are when things get difficult.
Honest, raw, and deeply human, this is Uncommon Ground. Subscribe now and be part of the conversation.

Real leaders. Real conversations. Real opinions.

Uncommon Ground with Talal Yassine

Real leaders. Real conversations. Real opinions.

What drives someone to speak up, stand out, and keep going when the pressure hits hard? Uncommon Ground is a fortnightly podcast hosted by entrepreneur and philanthropist Talal Yassine, where he sits down with high-profile Australians who aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo.

In each episode, Talal goes beyond the headlines to explore the values, convictions, and personal struggles that shape public figures. It’s not just about what they’ve done, it’s about who they are when things get difficult.

Honest, raw, and deeply human, this is Uncommon Ground. Subscribe now and be part of the conversation.

Real leaders. Real conversations. Real opinions.
What drives someone to speak up, stand out, and keep going when the pressure hits hard? Uncommon Ground is a fortnightly podcast hosted by entrepreneur and philanthropist Talal Yassine, where he sits down with high-profile Australians who aren&rsquo;t afraid to challenge the status quo.
In each episode, Talal goes beyond the headlines to explore the values, convictions, and personal struggles that shape public figures. It&rsquo;s not just about what they&rsquo;ve done, it&rsquo;s about who they are when things get difficult.
Honest, raw, and deeply human, this is Uncommon Ground. Subscribe now and be part of the conversation.