# 279: Cathy Freeman - The Millionaires Club (Player Profile)

An episode of [The Howie Games](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1146329262), 23 Sep 2026, 6:56.

Audio: https://enrichment.soundstack.com/4vjqq8/episode.flightcast.com/jlefn5qlrpvf8olfxdyylwgs.mp3

And what a way to bring our Millionaires Club home. There are sporting legends… and then there are Australians who become part of the fabric of the country. Cathy Freeman is firmly in that second category. An Olympic champion. A world champion. An Australian icon. A trailblazer. A history-maker. And, importantly for us, a Howie Games favourite. Cathy’s original Howie Games appearance remains one of our most downloaded episodes ever, and now, as part of our 10-year celebration, we get to hear from her again. But before we get into the big stories, the big moments and the Cathy Freeman that the whole country knows… let’s meet the Cathy Freeman who loves a quiet day at home, a good movie, some broccolini and garlic pasta, and apparently has a serious appreciation for Little House on the Prairie. *** Follow the Howie Games on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehowiegamespod/ Follow the Howie Games on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehowiegames See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

## Transcript

[0:02] A listener production.
[0:04] Okay, are you recording?
[0:08] This episode appears next week.
[0:10] She joins the show for the second time as part of the Millionaires Club, which we'll explain next week.
[0:16] Catherine Freeman, you have stood up to the world's greatest pressure in the Sydney Games from 400 metres.
[0:21] Are you ready for the Howie Games player profile question?
[0:23] I think so.
[0:24] Okay.
[0:25] Nicknames.
[0:25] What are your nicknames?
[0:27] I've been called Flowers, Choccy.
[0:29] Flowers?
[0:30] Who called you Flowers?
[0:31] And Lolly.
[0:31] Oh, it was a boarding school name.
[0:33] Right.
[0:34] Yeah, because my birthday falls a little after Valentine's Day.
[0:38] And so I received some flowers.
[0:40] All the girls in my boarding school, not all of them, but some of the girls thought they were from a boy when they were, in fact, from my family.
[0:47] Hence the name Flowers.
[0:48] Flowers it is.
[0:49] Flowers Freeman.
[0:50] What is your favourite food, Flowers?
[0:52] Flowers.
[0:53] Garlic pasta with broccolini.
[0:56] Oh.
[0:56] Yum.
[0:57] That sounds good.
[0:58] So if three people were coming to have this magnificent meal with the broccolini and the garlic, who are the three people that are coming?
[1:09] This is one of the toughest questions ever.
[1:11] Okay.
[1:12] Have you got an answer for me?
[1:13] I came up with a few.
[1:15] Yep.
[1:17] Like I was tossing up between Diane Keaton, Prince, Einstein, and who's the guy from the Three Stooges, the one with them?
[1:28] Oh, Larry Curley and Moe.
[1:30] Yeah, one of them.
[1:31] That's a great combo.
[1:33] Okay, Catherine, what do you like to do on a day off?
[1:36] Movies.
[1:37] Movies.
[1:37] And stay at home.
[1:38] Okay.
[1:39] Stay at home and movies.
[1:41] Favourite movie of all time?
[1:43] My first favourite movie is The Wizard of Oz.
[1:48] The Wizard of Oz.
[1:49] The Wizard of Oz.
[1:49] I've had it frightening when she's in the house and it's spinning and the witch rides past on the bike.
[1:55] Yeah.
[1:56] Frightening.
[1:56] Got to feel a bit of fear.
[1:58] Is that the Wicked Witch of the West or the East?
[2:00] I think it's the West, isn't it?
[2:01] Yeah.
[2:02] And that music in the background.
[2:03] Yeah, it's great.
[2:04] What are you currently watching?
[2:05] There's that many streaming shows.
[2:07] What are you currently watching?
[2:08] The Mare of Kingstown.
[2:09] Oh, yeah, I've seen that.
[2:10] That's good.
[2:11] Yeah, it's true.
[2:13] It's a bit... You know, I like that.
[2:15] I just started watching...
[2:17] A second series, if you haven't seen the first series, watch it.
[2:19] It's called Beef.
[2:20] Okay.
[2:21] Oof.
[2:21] It's on Netflix.
[2:23] I will.
[2:23] Beef.
[2:24] Okay.
[2:24] First series and then second.
[2:25] It's basically about people having arguments.
[2:27] Very, very good.
[2:27] Beef.
[2:28] Beef.
[2:28] Okay.
[2:28] You've got it.
[2:29] Podcast.
[2:30] Do you listen to them?
[2:30] Interestingly enough, the psychology podcast.
[2:35] Right.
[2:36] Yeah.
[2:36] That's what it's called, the psychology podcast.
[2:37] The psychology podcast.
[2:39] Yeah.
[2:39] Well, that's quite relevant after what we talked about in the series.
[2:43] Okay.
[2:43] In the main episode.
[2:44] Yes.
[2:44] Musically, what are you listening to?
[2:46] I was listening to, oh gosh, do you remember Martika?
[2:52] Yeah.
[2:52] Yeah.
[2:53] Martika.
[2:53] Yeah, it's a while back.
[2:55] She was beautiful, wasn't she?
[2:57] Yeah.
[2:57] Martika.
[2:57] Yeah.
[2:58] Something about soldiers?
[2:59] Toy soldiers.
[3:00] Toy soldiers and Martika.
[3:01] Yeah.
[3:01] Okay.
[3:02] Out of the past.
[3:03] That's it.
[3:05] If you had to swap jobs with someone, whose job would you like?
[3:08] I would be a journalist with the music magazine Rolling Stone.
[3:13] Would you?
[3:14] Yeah.
[3:14] Writing, hanging out with rock stars?
[3:16] Or a PA for Metallica.
[3:18] Or a being Metallica.
[3:19] James Newberry.
[3:20] I like that.
[3:22] What's that movie about the girl that follows the band?
[3:25] Almost Famous.
[3:25] There, yeah.
[3:26] That is a good feel.
[3:27] I love music.
[3:28] I love all kinds and being in that industry and helping these performers rock it out, oh, it'd be amazing.
[3:36] Can you imagine?
[3:37] I can't imagine, but I think you'd be very, very good at.
[3:40] When you were growing up,
[3:42] And you weren't out playing sport.
[3:43] What TV show were you watching?
[3:45] And this question does show our age, but anyway, give a go.
[3:47] Little House on the Prairie.
[3:48] Little House on the Prairie.
[3:50] That is old school.
[3:52] A Little House on the Prairie.
[3:55] I like that.
[3:56] Someone that you've met, and we talk in the full episode about Carl Lewis, and I love that story.
[4:02] Someone you've met that we would call famous or well-known, a person or celebrity that's made a positive impression on you.
[4:07] Carlos Santana.
[4:09] Carlos Santana.
[4:11] Where the hell did you meet Santana?
[4:13] It was in the States.
[4:13] Your jobbie name's now.
[4:16] Well, I've got to be truthful.
[4:17] Yes, you do.
[4:18] He's just a very soulful, just a very down-to-earth man.
[4:24] But where did you meet him?
[4:25] In the States.
[4:25] In the States, yeah.
[4:26] But where?
[4:27] Like in an outburger?
[4:28] I think it was San Francisco.
[4:31] Yeah.
[4:32] I think his daughters did sport.
[4:35] Okay.
[4:36] Yeah.
[4:37] Right.
[4:37] And he was cool?
[4:38] Yeah.
[4:38] Oh, yeah.
[4:39] Was he aware of what you had done?
[4:42] Yeah.
[4:43] Oh, even better.
[4:44] So if I got him on the show, he'd probably say you.
[4:47] I don't know.
[4:48] Maybe.
[4:48] Don't embarrass me.
[4:50] This is not on the list.
[4:51] You're not embarrassing me.
[4:52] This is not on the list that we sent through to you.
[4:54] Something...
[4:56] that we wouldn't be aware of that you think you're good at?
[4:58] Doesn't matter how weird or wonderful the skill is.
[5:01] You can't say running because we all know you're good at that.
[5:03] I am good at peacemaking.
[5:06] At peacemaking?
[5:07] What a wonderful answer.
[5:09] See, this is why you need to get into politics.
[5:11] I know it's not an area we need to... Just ask my mother, my brother, my nephew.
[5:15] Peacemaking.
[5:16] What's the number one key to making peace?
[5:19] Remembering that we all love each other.
[5:21] Great advice.
[5:22] Great advice.
[5:23] Last few because you've got to go.
[5:24] I didn't mean to say that today.
[5:26] No, no, that's a good one.
[5:27] Holiday destination.
[5:28] Favourite holiday destination?
[5:30] Oh, I love the Outback of Australia.
[5:34] Hard to beat.
[5:35] Bucket list.
[5:35] Haven't been, would like to go?
[5:37] Somewhere where I can look at the Northern Lights.
[5:39] Yeah.
[5:40] Oh, so like up at Norway or somewhere like that.
[5:42] Canada on the way.
[5:43] Canada, Canada.
[5:44] Yeah, Arctic Circle.
[5:46] Okay.
[5:46] Or even, don't they, can't you see them from the south as well?
[5:49] I think, well, there's the Aurora Borealis in the south.
[5:52] Got it.
[5:52] And then there's the Northern Lights, I think, in the north.
[5:55] Got it.
[5:56] Last question I have for you.
[5:58] So this question wasn't around when you first came on the podcast, which we talk about is 3,195 days ago.
[6:06] But this defines you as Australia's greatest athlete for mine, as a wonderful Australian, as a mum that tries to get their daughter to school on time, as a partner, as a proud Queenslander.
[6:21] Cathy Freeman, pineapple on pizza, yes or no?
[6:25] Yes.
[6:26] Yes.
[6:26] See, this is why the country loves you.
[6:28] Perfect answer.
[6:30] Perfect way to finish.
[6:31] How can you have pizza without pineapple?
[6:33] I love pineapple.
[6:34] Of course you do.
[6:35] Yes.
[6:35] That's why you're an Australian legend, my friend.
[6:38] Peace and love to you, sister.
[6:39] Peace and love to you, brother.
[6:40] Full episode next week.
[6:42] People are going to love it.
[6:43] Well done.
[6:44] What a legend.
[6:46] What a champion.

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