Charity & Community – Page 2 – Jo Casamento

Charity & Community

Charity & Community

MY TRIBE

While I get to spend every day with people who fill me with love, belly laughs and happy moments just like this one in Hawaii last year . But there are some families who aren’t so fortunate. Some children don’t get to feel safe at night. Many children experience sexual abuse and neglect. Child abuse […] Read more…

September 7, 2021 by Jo C | Comments Off

Charity & Community, Lifestyle, TV

The Beauty within The Beast

“How do you say goodbye to someone who was your life for 30 years?” These were the words my darling friend Marcella Zemanek had to ask herself when her dear husband, and legendary Beast from Beauty & The Beast, Stan, left this world in 2007 after his heroic battle with brain cancer. Charlie Teo was […] Read more…

September 2, 2020 by Jo C | Comments Off

ABOUT JO CASAMENTO

Hi peeps! Welcome! I’m a single mum of 21-year-old boy/girl twins Maximus & Matisse and my youngest daughter, Allegra, 20, (who is definitely the boss of the household), plus a step mum (or I like to say bonus mum) to my beautiful stepdaughter, who we have always called Ba. I've also recently become a "Glam-ma" with little Louis making his way into the world in May. There’s also a bossy cat, Mr Fluff, and a pampered pooch, Minty Fresh, in the mix too. When I’m not cleaning up after the brood, I’m a vibrant, dynamic and well-respected journalist, media commentator and MC with over two decades of experience spanning TV, Radio, Newspapers, Magazines, Digital and Social Media in Australia. These days I’m also a podcaster, MC, content creator and influencer. But above all I cherish my family and am trying my best to merge my traditional Italian upbringing with the modern world and now, as my family grows, navigate exactly what my next path looks like. I think it’s a journey many can relate to...

Jun 23

On Campus 🥰 Pretty proud to be part of the teaching staff @unsw this week - Congratulations on taking the top spot to become Australia’s 🥇 No #1 ranked uni (and 19th globally) … From newsrooms to the classroom… this little segue in my life wasn’t a career plot twist I saw coming! But it’s one I’m grateful for ❤️ The biggest surprise? How many moments of joy (and laughter) I get from my students! Turns out you’re never too old to find a new passion ✨ #UNSW #UNSWAcademic #Journalism #SocialMedia

On Campus 🥰

Pretty proud to be part of the teaching staff @unsw this week - Congratulations on taking the top spot to become Australia’s 🥇 No #1 ranked uni (and 19th globally) …

From newsrooms to the classroom… this little segue in my life wasn’t a career plot twist I saw coming! But it’s one I’m grateful for ❤️

The biggest surprise? How many moments of joy (and laughter) I get from my students!

Turns out you’re never too old to find a new passion ✨

#UNSW #UNSWAcademic #Journalism #SocialMedia ...

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Jun 21

Some girls collect shoes… I collect little pieces of Italian sunshine 💛🇮🇹✨
SHOP the pieces. Link in bio @etruscagioielli @tvsn #EtruscaGioielli #ItalianStyle #GoldJewellery #LaDolceVita #JewelleryLover

Some girls collect shoes… I collect little pieces of Italian sunshine 💛🇮🇹✨
SHOP the pieces. Link in bio @etruscagioielli @tvsn

#EtruscaGioielli #ItalianStyle #GoldJewellery #LaDolceVita #JewelleryLover ...

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Jun 14

Let the sunshine in☀️
Such a fun night at the opening of the joyfully nostalgic ✌️ peace, love and flower power 🌼🌸 iconic musical Hair with my favourite plus one 🧡💜 You’ll have to wait for our verdict! @plusonepoddy 🍿🎬
Ps. Thanks for the pic 🙏📸 @theonlydonarnold & for having us @tspublicity 🫶🏻
#PlusOnePoddy #HairMusical #OpeningNight #LetTheSunshineIn #TheatreKidAtHeart

Let the sunshine in☀️
Such a fun night at the opening of the joyfully nostalgic ✌️ peace, love and flower power 🌼🌸 iconic musical Hair with my favourite plus one 🧡💜

You’ll have to wait for our verdict! @plusonepoddy 🍿🎬
Ps. Thanks for the pic 🙏📸 @theonlydonarnold & for having us @tspublicity 🫶🏻
#PlusOnePoddy #HairMusical #OpeningNight #LetTheSunshineIn #TheatreKidAtHeart ...

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Jun 2

Sometimes a story stays with you long after the credits roll ❤️ On Sunday afternoon I sat in a cinema & was reminded of something we probably all need reminding of right now… behind every headline, statistic and political debate are real people, real families and extraordinary stories of survival. ❤️ Grateful to my wonderful friend @howardblend whose support of the Cisarua Refugee Learning Centre introduced me to father & Afghan refugee Muzafar Ali & Aussie filmmaker Jolyon Hoff. Their documentary We Are Not Powerless is a story about what happens when people refuse to give up. It’s a reminder of the power of the human spirit. After fleeing the Taliban in Afghanistan, Muzafar, his wife Nagina & little girl found themselves stranded in Indonesia. Stateless. In limbo. With a small group of refugees, a $200 donation and a belief that children deserved hope, they started a two-room school. 10 years later, that little school has more than 1300 students and 130 teachers (plus a woman’s soccer team!) creating doctors, lawyers, leaders and voices now being heard around the world. In fact many of his students have since appeared at the UN to represent refugees. Behind us in this photo is artwork created by the students to celebrate 10 years of the centre. One of the teachers in the film, Farharnas, has spent a decade giving children a future, while still dreaming of the day she gets the chance to begin her own life somewhere else. Everytime she has waved goodbye to colleagues and students who have been granted a visa - she has had to wave them off with a smile and still keep hope she will one day be boarding that airplane herself 😔 . She says she is only “walking” while she remains in limbo and dreams of one day “running” if and when she is re-settled in a new country. It may never happen. It’s impossible to watch this doco without a box of tissues (my sis and I sat blubbering) but if you’re not moved by the dignity and courage and spirit of people who have endured so much than you can not be human. Swipe👈🏻 to see the trailer & if you get the chance go see it! If you are able please consider. QR code in last slide 🥰

Sometimes a story stays with you long after the credits roll ❤️ On Sunday afternoon I sat in a cinema & was reminded of something we probably all need reminding of right now… behind every headline, statistic and political debate are real people, real families and extraordinary stories of survival. ❤️

Grateful to my wonderful friend @howardblend whose support of the Cisarua Refugee Learning Centre introduced me to father & Afghan refugee Muzafar Ali & Aussie filmmaker Jolyon Hoff. Their documentary We Are Not Powerless is a story about what happens when people refuse to give up. It’s a reminder of the power of the human spirit.

After fleeing the Taliban in Afghanistan, Muzafar, his wife Nagina & little girl found themselves stranded in Indonesia. Stateless. In limbo. With a small group of refugees, a $200 donation and a belief that children deserved hope, they started a two-room school.

10 years later, that little school has more than 1300 students and 130 teachers (plus a woman’s soccer team!) creating doctors, lawyers, leaders and voices now being heard around the world. In fact many of his students have since appeared at the UN to represent refugees.

Behind us in this photo is artwork created by the students to celebrate 10 years of the centre. One of the teachers in the film, Farharnas, has spent a decade giving children a future, while still dreaming of the day she gets the chance to begin her own life somewhere else. Everytime she has waved goodbye to colleagues and students who have been granted a visa - she has had to wave them off with a smile and still keep hope she will one day be boarding that airplane herself 😔 . She says she is only “walking” while she remains in limbo and dreams of one day “running” if and when she is re-settled in a new country. It may never happen. It’s impossible to watch this doco without a box of tissues (my sis and I sat blubbering) but if you’re not moved by the dignity and courage and spirit of people who have endured so much than you can not be human. Swipe👈🏻 to see the trailer & if you get the chance go see it! If you are able please consider. QR code in last slide 🥰 ...

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May 25

And just like that… uni graduate 🎓 Watching your son become the person he’s meant to be is pretty special. It’s a little surreal that the little boy who couldn’t do up his school tie has now graduated from uni and already holds down a full-time big boy job and lights 💫 up every room he enters … and I honestly couldn’t be prouder. Life moves waaaaay too fast ❤️🎓 So proud of you and the man you’ve become, Maxy boy👨🏻‍🎓🤍 My wish for you is that this life becomes all you want it to… and then some💫❤️ A very special day for our growing family 🤍

And just like that… uni graduate 🎓

Watching your son become the person he’s meant to be is pretty special. It’s a little surreal that the little boy who couldn’t do up his school tie has now graduated from uni and already holds down a full-time big boy job and lights 💫 up every room he enters … and I honestly couldn’t be prouder.

Life moves waaaaay too fast ❤️🎓

So proud of you and the man you’ve become, Maxy boy👨🏻‍🎓🤍

My wish for you is that this life becomes all you want it to… and then some💫❤️

A very special day for our growing family 🤍 ...

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May 23

Autumn 🍂 vibes, Minty cuddles and the comfiest hoodie you need 🐶🧥 Vodka Soda & Lemonade over ice is the perfect stay in option with friends now the days are getting shorter! Plus no sugar, no carbs and no gluten - which somehow makes it all feel guilt-free! @vodkasodaand Spend $100 online and the TEAM & hoodie ships free with your online order! I kid you not.
🔗 link in bio while stocks last. You’re welcome 😇 #hoodieseason #mintymoments #cozystyle #vodkasodaand #autumnvibes @vodkasodaand

Autumn 🍂 vibes, Minty cuddles and the comfiest hoodie you need 🐶🧥

Vodka Soda & Lemonade over ice is the perfect stay in option with friends now the days are getting shorter! Plus no sugar, no carbs and no gluten - which somehow makes it all feel guilt-free! @vodkasodaand

Spend $100 online and the TEAM & hoodie ships free with your online order! I kid you not.
🔗 link in bio while stocks last. You’re welcome 😇

#hoodieseason #mintymoments #cozystyle #vodkasodaand #autumnvibes @vodkasodaand ...

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May 20

What a perfect Mother’s Day gift!🤍
A beautiful day at Walsh Bay - seafood, sparkling 🥂 and sunshine ☀️ with my girl - followed by the extraordinary one-man show with one of my favourite actors - the brilliant David Wenham - in his Sydney Theatre Company performance of An Iliad 🎭✨ And now home to re-watch Troy in anticipation of The Odyssey hitting cinemas. Clearly re-entering my Greek mythology era. ⚔️🍿(yes I was a total Ancient History nerd at school) @sydneytheatreco @davidwenham65 #AnIliad #homer #SydneyTheatreCompany #TheOdyssey

What a perfect Mother’s Day gift!🤍
A beautiful day at Walsh Bay - seafood, sparkling 🥂 and sunshine ☀️ with my girl - followed by the extraordinary one-man show with one of my favourite actors - the brilliant David Wenham - in his Sydney Theatre Company performance of An Iliad 🎭✨

And now home to re-watch Troy in anticipation of The Odyssey hitting cinemas. Clearly re-entering my Greek mythology era. ⚔️🍿(yes I was a total Ancient History nerd at school)

@sydneytheatreco @davidwenham65 #AnIliad #homer #SydneyTheatreCompany #TheOdyssey ...

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May 18

💄I’ve finally accepted the things in life that bring me joy seem to involve calories, airfares or Afterpay 😂 #GirlMath #acceptance #LipGlossEnergy #OnlineShopping #TreatYourself

💄I’ve finally accepted the things in life that bring me joy seem to involve calories, airfares or Afterpay 😂

#GirlMath #acceptance #LipGlossEnergy #OnlineShopping #TreatYourself ...

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May 12

Plate porn? It’s a thing! 🎬🍿in ep2 on @plusonepoddy Matisse is naming the films she’s walked out of and doesn’t hold back.
Now we need to know… have YOU ever walked out of a movie halfway through? And what film finally pushed you over the edge? 👀👇 🍿 Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts ➡️ link in bio 🍿 Watch on YouTube @plusonepoddy ➡️ link in bio #PlusOnePoddy #movies #FilmPodcast #BingeOrBin PopCulture

Plate porn? It’s a thing! 🎬🍿in ep2 on @plusonepoddy Matisse is naming the films she’s walked out of and doesn’t hold back.
Now we need to know… have YOU ever walked out of a movie halfway through? And what film finally pushed you over the edge? 👀👇

🍿 Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts ➡️ link in bio

🍿 Watch on YouTube @plusonepoddy ➡️ link in bio

#PlusOnePoddy #movies #FilmPodcast #BingeOrBin PopCulture ...

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May 8

The tiniest little king arrived 👑 in the wee hours of Tuesday morning and my heart 🫶🏻 is literally exploding…..Welcome to the world, beautiful 🩵 Louis - already the most loved precious little boy on the planet. So incredibly proud of our beautiful Ba, and pappy Theo who are absolute naturals at this @phoebemcdonald @theo_girardin 💕💕

The tiniest little king arrived 👑 in the wee hours of Tuesday morning and my heart 🫶🏻 is literally exploding…..Welcome to the world, beautiful 🩵 Louis - already the most loved precious little boy on the planet.

So incredibly proud of our beautiful Ba, and pappy Theo who are absolute naturals at this @phoebemcdonald @theo_girardin 💕💕 ...

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May 5

🎭Talking all things Met Gala on @thetodayshow this morning and it did NOT disappoint - they actually turned up this year for the theme “fashion is art”! So much fun on chatting with @karlstefanovic_ and @jayneazzo breaking down the looks! Which were your faves? I can’t go past Heidi Klum - she always takes costumes to the next level and this one is epic! From Beyoncé, Rihanna, Anna Wintour, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, Serena, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, Bad Bunny, Angela Bassett, Teyana Taylor, Doja Cat, Naomi Osaka, Katy Perry, Troye Sivan, Sabrina Carpenter, Sam Smith, Stevie Nicks, Cher, Madonna, Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Kendall Jenner and Sarah Paulson - there was a LOT to unpack 👀 Make your pick and drop it in the comments 👇
(And yes… little surprise announcement at the end ✨) #fashion #metgala #metgala2026 #todayshow #heidiklum

🎭Talking all things Met Gala on @thetodayshow this morning and it did NOT disappoint - they actually turned up this year for the theme “fashion is art”!

So much fun on chatting with @karlstefanovic_ and @jayneazzo breaking down the looks!

Which were your faves? I can’t go past Heidi Klum - she always takes costumes to the next level and this one is epic!

From Beyoncé, Rihanna, Anna Wintour, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, Serena, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, Bad Bunny, Angela Bassett, Teyana Taylor, Doja Cat, Naomi Osaka, Katy Perry, Troye Sivan, Sabrina Carpenter, Sam Smith, Stevie Nicks, Cher, Madonna, Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Kendall Jenner and Sarah Paulson - there was a LOT to unpack 👀

Make your pick and drop it in the comments 👇
(And yes… little surprise announcement at the end ✨) #fashion #metgala #metgala2026 #todayshow #heidiklum ...

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May 1

We were not prepared….Why is Colin From Accounts suddenly in Devil Wears Prada 2…?? 🇦🇺👠
That Aussie accent caught us off guard mid-scene 😭 And honestly… we were not ready! 🎙️ Full breakdown in this week’s episode of Plus One where we chat all things Devil Wears Prada 2 and Michael the movie - link in bio ⬆️
Follow 👉 @plusonepoddy
Watch on YouTube | Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts #DevilWearsPrada2 #ColinFromAccounts #AussieActors #MovieTalk #PopCulture PlusOnePodcast

We were not prepared….Why is Colin From Accounts suddenly in Devil Wears Prada 2…?? 🇦🇺👠
That Aussie accent caught us off guard mid-scene 😭

And honestly… we were not ready!

🎙️ Full breakdown in this week’s episode of Plus One where we chat all things Devil Wears Prada 2 and Michael the movie - link in bio ⬆️
Follow 👉 @plusonepoddy
Watch on YouTube | Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts

#DevilWearsPrada2 #ColinFromAccounts #AussieActors #MovieTalk #PopCulture PlusOnePodcast ...

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Apr 24

Opening night at The Lion King 🦁✨
Still the king of musicals 🙌 There’s a reason it’s the highest-grossing musical of all time and still filling theatres nearly 30 years on! @thelionkingau @disneyaunz

Opening night at The Lion King 🦁✨
Still the king of musicals 🙌

There’s a reason it’s the highest-grossing musical of all time and still filling theatres nearly 30 years on! @thelionkingau @disneyaunz ...

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Apr 21

Brookalini & Andy 🤍 I don’t even know where to start… Saturday night was just magic. From the Bridgerton music with violins and cellos setting the tone to a dance floor that never emptied - it felt like one big, joyful blur of tambourines, sparklers, champagne towers 🍾… and just a big old fashioned dose of love 💕! When I looked around and cousins, siblings, aunties, uncles, grandparents, great aunts and uncles, family & friends from here and OS are all celebrating together on the dance floor for hours and hours - well it’s one of those nights I wish I could bottle forever 🫶🏻 Brookie, you were absolutely stunning. Andy, the way you look at her says everything. And yes you were the “featured role” in her big day. And didn’t she did a frigging amazing job! Still smiling about being part of something so special🤍✨
#BrAndy #WeddingMagic #FamilyLove #DanceFloorVibes #LoveInTheAir

Brookalini & Andy 🤍

I don’t even know where to start… Saturday night was just magic. From the Bridgerton music with violins and cellos setting the tone to a dance floor that never emptied - it felt like one big, joyful blur of tambourines, sparklers, champagne towers 🍾… and just a big old fashioned dose of love 💕! When I looked around and cousins, siblings, aunties, uncles, grandparents, great aunts and uncles, family & friends from here and OS are all celebrating together on the dance floor for hours and hours - well it’s one of those nights I wish I could bottle forever 🫶🏻

Brookie, you were absolutely stunning. Andy, the way you look at her says everything. And yes you were the “featured role” in her big day. And didn’t she did a frigging amazing job!

Still smiling about being part of something so special🤍✨
#BrAndy #WeddingMagic #FamilyLove #DanceFloorVibes #LoveInTheAir ...

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Apr 6

This simple dip will change your life! It’s THAT recipe. Save for later 👇🏻
5 steps. 4 ingredients. No fuss. All flavour. Say hello to your new signature dish. The easiest crowd-pleaser you’ll ever make 🌿🍅🧅 Ps. Thanks to amazing mum Jane Lodge @jlodge73 for passing this down all those years ago - it really did change my life 🫶🏻
1. Chop 1 x bunch Fresh Basil 🌿
2. Dice 1 x Spanish Onion 🧅
3. Slice 1 x punnet of tomatoes 🍅
4. Toss in 1 x jar of Goats cheese
5. Serve with Tortilla corn chips 👌🏻
#FoodTok
#HomeCooking
#EasyEntertaining
#FreshFlavours
#QuickRecipes

This simple dip will change your life! It’s THAT recipe. Save for later 👇🏻
5 steps. 4 ingredients. No fuss. All flavour. Say hello to your new signature dish. The easiest crowd-pleaser you’ll ever make 🌿🍅🧅

Ps. Thanks to amazing mum Jane Lodge @jlodge73 for passing this down all those years ago - it really did change my life 🫶🏻
1. Chop 1 x bunch Fresh Basil 🌿
2. Dice 1 x Spanish Onion 🧅
3. Slice 1 x punnet of tomatoes 🍅
4. Toss in 1 x jar of Goats cheese
5. Serve with Tortilla corn chips 👌🏻
#FoodTok
#HomeCooking
#EasyEntertaining
#FreshFlavours
#QuickRecipes ...

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