Hey Lifers!

Ellie Gonsalves is an Australian model, actress, podcaster and Wildlife Warriors Ambassador with a collective audience of over 5 million followers. Ellie first rose to prominence in the modelling world and has since built an international career, appearing in major campaigns like superbowl commercials and has transitioned into acting. Ellie has also been very open about some deeply personal experiences like losing her father to suicide, going no contact with her mum and the kind of life she wants to live.

One of the things that sparked huge conversation online was Ellie’s viral list of “117 reasons not to have kids,” a post that challenged expectations around motherhood and opened up a much bigger conversation about choice, pressure and what a fulfilling life can look like.

We chat:

Ellie’s excellent driving skills
How a Facebook page turned into a Super Bowl commercial and a Hollywood career
17 years with partner and manager Ross
The dark side of Hollywood
Losing her dad to suicide and the phone call that changed everything
Cutting off her mum completely and how she responds when people say "but she's your mum"
The viral list — 117 reasons she doesn't want kids — and what she says to people who call it selfish
Why moving back to Australia during Covid made her fall back in love with this country

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 — Intro
1:20 — Most embarrassing story
4:18 — Growing up a tomboy, modelling rejections & building a following
8:58 — Getting discovered on Instagram & the Super Bowl commercial
10:15 — 17 years with Ross
12:38 — Filming Fighting with My Family with Dwayne Johnson
14:30 — The viral list: 117 reasons she doesn't want kids
26:39 — Losing her dad
33:08 — Estrangement from her mum
42:25 — Ross as chosen family
45:12 — The reality of Hollywood vs the glamour
49:30 — Falling back in love with Australia

You can find everything from Ellie Gonsalves here

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Hosted by Britt Hockley & Laura Byrne

Produced by Keeshia Pettit

Video produced by Vanessa Beckford & Lachy Pugsley

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