2024 Women to Watch
This year we showcase over 80 South Australian women to watch throughout the year. From business, to careers, arts to science. This year’s selected women highlight the depth and diversity of the women in our state and also the vast array of opportunities to develop a business or career in South Australia. Find our more about our inaugural Women to Watch initiative here.
Shanelle is a presenter, producer, podcaster and MC with over a decade’s experience in radio, television and the music industry, Shanelle has collaborated with brands such as Bonds, Live Nation, The South Australian Music Awards, Channel 9, SAFM, Fresh 927, Foxtel, Music SA and the BBC.
She began her career on radio at Fresh 927, where she presented in both the peak Drive and Breakfast time slots. Shanelle won a presenting role on Foxtel for national music TV show Music Room and furthered her radio chops as an announcer on SAFM in a variety of different time slots. With her natural warmth and wit, Shanelle is a popular interviewer and has chatted with some of the biggest Australian music stars as well as hosting outside broadcasts at major events to large-scale audiences.
An in-demand MC, Shanelle has worked on both large and boutique events in Adelaide and on a national level. Her genuine, relatable, and energetic delivery as a presenter enables her to draw a connection with audiences of all ages. Her abilities don’t end in front of the camera, or behind the mic – as the Project Creator, Director and Presenter for music TV show Jam Live which aired nationally on 9Now and on Channel 9 in Adelaide. Shanelle co-hosts the podcast The Beautiful Nightmare which has sold out multiple live shows and recently made the Top Ten finalists for the AACTA Reg Grundy Award to make their own TV show, as well as Finalists for ‘Best Comedy Podcast’ at the Australian Podcast Awards. They are now considered in the top 20% of podcasts in the world and have been invited to perform at the International Melbourne Comedy Festival and The Sydney Comedy Festival this year.
Shanelle is a mum to Summer and Ollie.
// Favourite inspirational quote
From the great, Author, poet and civil right activist – Maya Angelou “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
// Let’s get to know you
It’s been a journey to say the least and one that my head told me to give up on numerous times, but a voice inside said to ‘keep pushing’. I wouldn’t change the turbulent path because it has led me to where I am now and from a young age, I’ve had a burning desire to connect with people. I aptly completed a Bachelor of Communications, however still not satisfied of where this was taking me, I quit my job and began learning the ropes of radio at Fresh 927 – an industry you can only learn by doing it, making mistakes, and listening to feedback. I gave countless unpaid hours to on-air shifts and one thing that has remained a constant is that I always tried to keep learning. I auditioned for roles, some I got, plenty I didn’t. The roles that were right for me came so organically and unforced, such as the Foxtel music show, my announcer role at SAFM and the Channel 9 Music Show Jam Live.
The ‘hustle’ and the ‘struggle’ has been real, I’ve pivoted and dusted myself off many times. I never expected to find myself in the comedy game but my radio experience and desire to find the ’funny’ in most things, led me here. Sometimes your path doesn’t lead you where you think it will, it does one better for you. Recently receiving finalist for ‘Best Comedy’ podcast in Australia and being the only women to do so, was a huge affirmation that I’m on the right track.
// What makes you a Woman to Watch for 2024?
I feel the standout for me is that everything I have achieved thus far I have created from scratch. My podcasting, comedy and MC career was built from my roles at Fresh 927 and SAFM and I created Jam Live for Channel 9 from my learnings from my first music show on Foxtel.
I’ve just about said yes to everything I have been offered and then worked backwards to figure out what I needed to do. My MC work started when COVID hit, and events couldn’t fly people in from interstate. I kept putting my hand up, no matter the fee, I was desperate for people to take a chance on me, I knew I could do it, I just needed others to believe in me. Now three years on and these national events fly me around Australia to MC and the ones in Adelaide continue to use me.
My podcast is three years old and since its inception has now grown to be in the top 20% of podcasts in the world and we’ve taken the podcast live to sell-out crowds. Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Sydney Comedy Festival have just invited us to perform this year.
I am an ambassador for the national charity ‘Share The Dignity’ and I also now run workshops for public speaking, podcasting and media training to help others develop their crafts. For every three ‘no’s’ a ‘yes’ is waiting around the corner. I haven’t reached my dream yet, but I take every opportunity as a chance to get one step closer.
// What is your goal or intention for the year ahead? And how are you going to achieve it?
One of my primary goals is to continue to increase our podcast listenership worldwide, leading to more live comedy shows and generally increasing awareness to The Beautiful Nightmare brand. We’ve never taken our show interstate before and this year we are performing in two major comedy festivals and undertaking a regional tour that will give us the chance to network and gain new audiences. We are working with a digital marketing company to build our listenership in other countries as well as strengthening our relationship with commercial media brands such as Apple Podcasts Australia. Currently, Australia, the US, UK and New Zealand are where our audiences are.
Collaborating with brands that are a good fit will help to increase our revenue. Cold-calling and reaching out to festivals, brands, and podcast guests that we would like to work with is a big focus.
My 2024 MC work is the busiest it’s ever been, and I have dates already secured through to December. My overarching goal is to continue to deliver the best I possibility can at each event, to keep that work consistent. Preparation is always my best friend because it allows me the chance to find little quirks and touches that I can add to my work to help elevate an event.
I’ll also be writing more workshop content, so as I can help those wanting to learn about media and podcasting. Tamara and I will also be developing our TV show idea that received finalist for the Reg Grundy Award two years running.
// What are you most looking forward to in 2024?
Growth! I am acutely aware that career pathways are not forged overnight, and patience is something that I’m continually striving to achieve. I now look for steady progress within myself and if I can achieve something more than I did the year before, I know I’m on the right track.
I love more than anything meeting our listeners and hearing how our podcast has helped bring laughter back into their lives. A listener who lives on a remote farm in far north Queensland said that we helped her through her post-natal depression. Another in Chagrin Falls, Ohio said that our episodes have changed her life in that she doesn’t feel alone.
The ability to give the gift of laughter and know that we are helping many women to take the pressure off themselves means more than I can describe. The opportunity to do more of what I love is what I’m looking forward to the most – every MC event, podcast episode download, live comedy show ticket purchase, I am enormously grateful for, because it shows there are people that are enjoying what we are putting out there.
// What would you like to see for the future of South Australian women and girls?
I would like to see women find their spark and what lights them up, we aren’t all the same and individually have so much to offer. My best friend told me that what I do makes her feel sick and she couldn’t think of anything worse than being a comedian and public speaking, however she shines so bright in her field within the skin industry. We aren’t all vying for the same jobs and a future where we can really encourage South Australian women to find where they want to be, will breed so much happiness. There is room for all of us and where self-belief might be dormant in someone, all she needs is to be encouraged to find what she is capable of. We are all drawn to something that we will excel at if we try.
Albert Einstein – Everybody is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.
Freeda En a world-famous American comedian started her career in stand up at age 71, she is now 86 and living the life she has always dreamed of. It’s never too late to follow that burning desire that there is something waiting for us kick start.
Get in touch with Shanelle:
LinkedIn: Shanelle Franklin
Website: www.thebeautifulnightmare.com
Check out all of the incredible Women to Watch for 2024 here as their profiles are uploaded throughout the year.
To become an SA Woman Member, check out our Membership Options here.
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