From stage lights to screen time, Elise McCann and Lucy Durack are proving that women really can do it all – with spark, smarts and a splash of citrusy charm. And, while Elise might currently be floating around in the whimsical afterlife in Beetlejuice the Musical, and Lucy developing a new series for Screen Australia, both women are also very much grounded in the here and now – co-founding a mental health tech company that’s changing the way Aussies cope with stress.
In 2020, Elise and Lucy co-founded Hey Lemonade, a mental health and motivation app designed to deliver quick, evidence-based pep talks voiced by well-known Australian personalities. The app aims to help users manage stress, lift motivation, and build emotional resilience – especially in moments when they need a fast and friendly boost.
In the less than three years since its official public launch, Hey Lemonade has garnered over 15,000 users. More than 55,000 pep talks have been listened to in the last year alone – the equivalent of 3,500 hours of positive audio support. Among the most popular talks are “A reminder everything will be ok” and “Need to remember you are enough,” reflecting a demand for simple, relatable messages of encouragement.
What sets Hey Lemonade apart is its scientific backbone. The CSIRO tested the app and found it produced measurable health benefits, including a 50% increase in calmness, a significant rise in vitality, and a marked reduction in the perception of daily stressors.
While it serves individual users, Hey Lemonade’s biggest impact has been in the corporate and education sectors. A wide range of organisations – from return-to-work services and social housing providers to youth services, childcare centres, and even veterinary networks – now use the app as a wellbeing support and psychosocial risk management tool. In Western Australia, education authorities have added Hey Lemonade to the official list of approved providers for school wellbeing initiatives. It recently launched a tailored program with Perth College, supporting students in Years 10 to 12 and 28 of their staff.
Speaking with Elise, in particular, she brings a diverse skill set to the tech space. She studied law at the University of New South Wales and is the founder of production company Oriel Entertainment, which has produced concerts and musicals for institutions including the Sydney Opera House, QPAC, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the ABC. Her stage credits include roles in Mamma Mia, Groundhog Day, work with Sarah Jessica Parker’s production company in New York, and most recently, the role of Barbara in Beetlejuice The Musical.
Her transition into tech is deeply personal. Having experienced anxiety, imposter syndrome, and mental fatigue throughout her theatre career – including an eating disorder and a near decision to walk away from the stage – Elise has channelled these challenges into a solution designed to support others navigating similar stressors.
In addition to her work with Hey Lemonade, Elise actively supports mental health initiatives through charities such as the Butterfly Foundation and You Matter Her commitment to mental wellness is matched by her love of food, travel, cooking, and yoga – all of which help her maintain balance alongside her thriving creative and entrepreneurial career.
Now juggling live theatre with life-changing tech, Elise McCann and Lucy are both standout examples of how women can lead with empathy, insight and innovation – and turn even the most theatrical of life’s lemons into something refreshingly impactful.
From centre stage to the App Store, Hey Lemonade is living proof that when life gives you lemons … You make Hey Lemonade.
