Ducks on the Pond
Ducks on the Pond is a podcast created for and by rural women, exploring the issues that matter most to them. Hosted by Kirsten Diprose, it covers topics such as succession planning, motherhood, starting a business, agriculture, running for politics, and mental health. The show aims to give rural women a voice and a space to share their experiences and perspectives. It features conversations and stories from women living and working in rural communities.
Episodes
Ever felt like trading in your life? Amie Penny, did just that.
Have you ever wondered what would happen if you walked away from the life you thought you were supposed to live?Amie Penny grew up in the suburbs of Sydney and went on to work at an investment bank in the CBD. She loved the corporate world and always imagined herself in a successful nine-to-five career. Farming was never part of the plan.Then, what was supposed to be a two-week break on her extend
Community-led innovation: How one rural town found more doctors - Kate Day
What happens when a rural community decides to stop waiting for someone else to solve its biggest problem?For the people of Mudgee in central-west New South Wales, it meant creating their own solution to the growing shortage of GPs. The result is Doctors 4 Mudgee, a community-led initiative that set an ambitious goal of attracting 10 new doctors in three years.Just 11 months in, they're alrea
Why female farm vets need a better system - Dr Rebecca Faris
It can be hard to attract and retain professionals in the regions and vets are no exception. Entering the eighth year of a regional vet shortage, our guest Dr Rebecca Faris wants to curb it. Having worked as a vet in South West Victoria for many years, Rebecca transitioned to focus on helping students move into the workforce and then eventually vet wellbeing at the Australia Veterinary Association
Finding Your Grief "Family" - Georgia Lillie and Sarah Guthrie
Losing a loved one is a worst fear for most, and something that Sarah Guthrie and Georgia Lillie have in common. Sarah’s son Ford died 10 years ago from an accident when he was only 17. Georgia’s husband James died of an aggressive cancer seven years ago, leaving her and her two young boys behind. While they both lived close by in Western Victoria, neither women met until they were encouraged to s
Understanding Soil Microbiology - Dr Aurelie Quade
How much do you know about your soil microbiology? Dr Aurelie Quade makes a very good argument for why we should know more about it… including improving farm productivity and lowering inputs.Originally from a forestry community in France, Aurelie fell in love with the desolate landscape of Australia when she arrived here 20 years ago. Initially doing her PhD in plant pathology, she said she became
Why dieting never works, but a systems-approach to health can - with Bronwyn Fletcher
Unrealistic body standards are inescapable for young women. Between diet culture, food rules at home, and stick- thin models all over our screens, it’s hard to feel in touch with what our body needs. Nurse, midwife and systems-thinking expert Bronwyn Fletcher spent her childhood fixated on understanding what was and wasn’t healthy - she later found she wasn’t always given the right information. Tu
How to beat perfectionism and thrive at work and in life - Lynne Cazaly
What should you do when your ideas at work are always getting shot down? Or you’re being micromanaged by your boss? Or letting perfectionism stand in your way? Workplace expert Lynne Cazaly has the answers for you. She is a consultant, future work expert, international speaker and award winning author (just to name a few of her hats!). But despite all those qualifications, she also makes time for
How to Talk About Climate Change Without Losing People - Dr Rebecca Huntley and Prof. Leslie Hughes
Climate change can be one of those topics that people either avoid, argue about, or feel completely overwhelmed by. Meanwhile, climate policy is often a political football.So how do we have better conversations about it, especially in rural and regional Australia, where the impacts are often felt first and hardest? And why is it still considered by some to be a ‘leftie inner city issue?”We’re joi
The Quiet Crisis: Life Inside Complex Mental Illness - Amanda Gaudion
This is a big, honest, and deeply human conversation.In this episode, Kirsten sits down with Warrnambool mother, Amanda Gaudion, who shares the story of her former husband Troy — a devoted dad, police officer, and someone who experienced a severe mental illness that ultimately led to his death by suicide.It’s a conversation about love, confusion, systems, stigma and what it’s actually like to live
How to Have Difficult Conversations and Forge an Unconventional Career in Ag - Liz Brennan
When was the last time you had a difficult conversation? Maybe it was with a family member, at work or even within your community. While it can be easy for us to shy away from hard chats, our next guest considers her ability to have “crunchy” conversations a superpower. From a young age Liz Brennan had these conversations role modelled within her family. So by the time she found herself in Papua N
Season 8: Removing the blame and shame around weight loss - Introducing, Bronwyn Fletcher, Weighting for Happiness (Trailer)
Ducks on the Pond is back with Season 8!Hear what's coming up on this powerful 10 episode season and meet Bronwyn Fletcher, founder of Weighting for Happiness.... and Ducks Season 8 sponsor.Bronwyn is working to change the conversation around women and weight through a systems-thinking approach to health and wellbeing. She unpacks why rural women often face different barriers to support and
Should you join a farmer representation group? Rebecca Reardon, NSW Farmers
“If farmers don’t have a voice, they’ll be dealt a poorer hand.” That’s the simple mantra that motivates Rebecca Reardon to be involved in advocacy with NSW Farmers.Rebecca is a mixed farmer from Moree in NSW, an agricultural economist, board director and Vice President of NSW Farmers.Her path into agricultural leadership wasn’t linear. After 20 years working post–farm gate in the grains industry,
Working Smarter, Not Harder: Lean Thinking in Farming, with Jana Hocken
What if the difference between a struggling farm and a thriving one isn’t the cows, the land or the milk price… but the systems?When Jana Hocken and her husband returned to their 1,000-head dairy farm in New Zealand, they were facing two seasons of low milk prices, a $500,000 overdraft and long, exhausting workdays. Something had to change.In this practical and eye-opening live recording from the
Busy, Burnt Out… or Burnout-Proof? with Carli Phillips
What happens when you don’t make time for your wellness?For wellbeing researcher and speaker Carli Phillips, the answer was confronting: double pneumonia, a heart infection and total burnout in her late thirties... all while juggling two jobs, a masters degree, young children, farm life and caring responsibilities.In this powerful live recording from the Australian Dairy Conference, Carli, the fou
Battling the Anti-Farming Agenda with Positivity and Storytelling - Claire Taylor, ADC Collab episode
Where did the anti-farming sentiment begin, not just in Australia, but around the world? And most importantly, what can we do about it?Claire Taylor brings a genuinely global perspective to this conversation. Originally from Scotland, she travelled across multiple countries as part of her Nuffield Scholarship, exploring how farming is portrayed, discussed and defended in different cultural contex
How to Understand Your Leadership Style - Australian Dairy Conference collab episode
Farmers are often portrayed as being lone operators, but we know that working in agriculture, or any rural business, is a team sport. No matter what specific industry you’re in, you’re not going to get far without the ability to get people working together towards a shared goal. None of this is possible without effective leadership, and that’s the topic we’re going to be tackling in this ep
What it’s like to wind up a business you love - Nikki Davey
Nikki Davey is well known in the rural women's community as an entrepreneur, flower farmer, speaker and absolute go-getter. She founded Grown Not Flown, an app connecting customers with local flower growers. This startup business had a great cause in directly challenging the lack of sustainability in the flower industry, where many flowers are flown to Australia from countries in South Americ
How do we account for sustainable farming practices? FCA Collab, pt 3
It can feel very murky when diving into measuring things like nature, biodiversity, carbon and greenhouse gas emissions. Essentially, how do you know what you’re doing is working? And while the tools are still improving there are many reasons why it’s worth giving it a crack. In part 3 of our collaboration series with Farmers for Climate Action, we dive into ways to help you account for all the g
What does ‘climate smart farming’ even mean? - Collab with Farmers for Climate Action, pt.2
“Climate smart farming” has become somewhat of a buzz word (or buzz phrase, rather!). But what does that even mean? Instead of becoming caught up in definitions, we hear from two women who are each running farming operations in two very different landscapes...but are both proudly, climate smart farmers. At its essence, climate smart farming is about lowering inputs where you can, making decisions
Women as Change Makers in Ag - Fiona Marshall and Cressida Cains, FCA Collab Series, pt1
Behind every good Ag business, is a good woman. Well, a smart and caring one.There are many women doing innovative things on farm and in the broader agriculture industry. From cracking a value added business, to finding more sustainable ways of producing food. In this episode, you’ll meet two women who think strategically about their own farming businesses, as well as broader issues around soil sc
Creating Cultural and Systemic Change - Rural Women Lead Collab Series, pt. 3
How do you create systemic change, especially when it involves changing the culture and attitudes of not just a workplace, but an entire society? There is no specific playbook for systemic change. But there are a number of tools you can try. In this final episode of our three part series with Rural Women Lead, we explore this adaptive process by looking at space of women’s health and wellbeing - i
Knowing Your Story and Building Genuine Connections - Rural Women Lead Collab series
Storytelling is so important for connection and information retention (there are several studies that prove this!) But have you ever stopped to think how important knowing YOUR OWN story is?Hear from Sherry Johnstone, a Keerray Woorong woman, based in Warrnambool who didn’t feel confident in embracing her indigenous heritage, because she was so tired of people questioning it. But when she finally
Improving Your Focus and Wellbeing by Biohacking Your Nervous System - Rural Women Lead Collab Series
If you haven’t heard about ‘bio-hacking’ - it’s all about using our neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin and hormones to maximise our wellbeing. And you can do really simple things for a big pay off.This is the beginning of a 3-part mini series on leadership: focusing on self, story and change. In this episode, focusing on ‘self’ speak to Jessica Fishburn, a women’s health physiothera
The Hidden Economics of Farm Life: Succession, business and drought.
Farm life can sometimes be romanticized, with the wide open spaces, animals and the freedom to do what you want. You might love the bush and your community…but are you actually happy?There are many factors that influence our wellbeing. This includes how well the business is running financially, farm succession (including whether it has been worked out or not) and your experiences of drought and na
Changing the conversation to attract more doctors and nurses to rural Australia
There’s a perception that rural healthcare means second-best or second-rate. Whereas the opposite is actually true. Rural medical students often out-perform their city-based counterparts on standardised tests. Most rural patients are better off being treated closer to home in their rural location (unless they have a very rare condition). And rural medical practices can often be better at adopting
How to start a renewable energy project - Karin Stark and Susan Findlay Tickner
Regional Australia has always been at the frontline for energy innovation and delivery. Sure, it's the politicians in the cities that talk about a transition, but it's in our backyard that these projects actually happen.Some renewables, such as wind, seem to be particularly controversial in a few parts of the country right now. This episode is not diving into that. Instead, it’s looking
“Climate” is Not a Dirty Word - Natalie Collard, CEO of Farmers for Climate Action
There's sometimes a feeling in agriculture, that “climate” and “climate action” is a dirty word. Despite ‘the weather’ being every farmer’s favourite topic, the word “climate” can be seen as divisive. And you'd certainly better not talk about “climate action!”However, this episode’s guest is not afraid of “climate action”… and also wants the best for farmers. The two aren't mutually
Is the Only Option Boarding School? Feat. Louise Martin and Alana Moller
It can be a hard case to argue… that your children should be subsidised to attend a private boarding school. But when you live in rural and remote Australia, boarding school is really the only option.The Federal Government doesn’t fund state boarding schools (and you could only imagine the expense if they did). So if you are running a farm 600 kilometres away from the nearest high school, your onl
‘Say Their Name’ - How to help someone through baby loss
For too long, we as a society have dealt with the loss of a baby, by almost pretending he or she didn’t exist. But for the mother, that baby is always with her. The love is the same as it would be for any child; it’s just as strong and fierce. But the grief is unique. The grief is for the baby they love, but also the future they never got to have. This can then be compounded by a healthcare system
Finding Courage and Acceptance through the Chapters of Life - Ashley Molloy
We get to design some of the chapters of our life… but others we don’t. Ashley Molloy has been a police officer, worked in marketing, built her own home and now designs jewellery. Each chapter seems very different on face value. But Ashley sees her life as a continuity of growth; in skills, experience and understanding what’s right for each chapter of life.Her most difficult chapter was the unex
Opportunities in Agtech and Sustainability - Sarah Nolet and Ebony Greaves
We are hearing more and more about the use of agtech for precision farming tech, for water level monitoring, soil carbon accounting, and so much more. So where do you even start? And is it even worth the time and effort? In this episode we look at how you can better engage with these emerging technologies - whether that’s on farm, as an investor, or getting involved in the industry itself. In the
Getting the Issues that Matter to Us on the Political Agenda
We’re in the middle of a Federal election campaign…and you can already see that issues such as the cost of living, housing, health and crime are going to be crucial areas of focus for pretty much any candidate hoping to get elected.But what if the issue that matters most to you, or to your family or your community… is NOT one of those hot button topics? And while we are seeing progress being made
Beyond Scones: Season 7 of Ducks on the Pond is coming...
We're coming back! And we're looking at the BIG issues facing Australian rural women. From healthcare, baby loss to climate change... this Season of Ducks is going even bigger than before.We also introduce out Season 7 Sponsor, Ashley Molloy, the founder of ByCC Fine Jewellery... and announce an exciting giveaway!This is a Rural Podcasting Co. production. Interested in podcasting? We ca
Guilt-free and going after what YOU want in life - Karen Foster & Jodie Fleming
Do you have a goal or dream that you want to pursue, but stop yourself because you feel it’s too selfish or you don’t have enough time? Sometimes we women formulate the idea that we need to be of service to others… in order to be loved. And it’s not our fault. This idea can come from messages coming from society, or perhaps from the homes we grew up in.The good news is that we can learn how to re
Tackling the big, complex issues in agriculture - Catherine Marriott and Kirsten Diprose
Agriculture isn’t just the act of growing crops or tending to the animals, as the dictionary likes to define it. And it's how outsiders can see it too. A bloke with his sheep and cows. Rather, agriculture is a complex system, that impacts and is impacted by a variety of things from government regulation, people, climate change, business, politics etc. And it's also integrated with famil
Knowledge in Ag is Power pt. 3 - Lifting an entire industry - feat. Emily King, AWI
Tea tree oil and nanotechnology for fly strike and foot-rot resistant sheep…. These are just some of the exciting innovations happening in agriculture. But how do lift an entire sector or industry? It’s not always easy in farming when most of us work alone or with family.But in this episode, you'll hear about the benefits of taking part in extension programs, learning from research trials, a
Knowledge in Ag is Power Pt.2 - Building a Farming Business From Scratch - Dr Lexie Leonard
Owning a home these days is hard enough, so what about building your own farm from scratch? Dr Lexie Leonard is a vet, an animal health trainer and a farmer who is building her own farming business alongside her husband and their young children in Balmoral, Victoria. Originally from the suburbs of Melbourne, Lexie would never have predicted she would grow up to be a farmer.And it has been a steep
Knowledge in Ag is Power - Part 1. Managing the Family Farm - Rachel McGrath
Women have a powerful voice in agriculture, but would you call it equal to men? In Australia, there are more than 88, 000 women working in agriculture across multiple industries. The numbers are growing, but women only make makes up one third of the overall ag workforce. There are also fewer women in positions of seniority, while research shows daughters only inherit the farm about 10 percent o
Two Smart Blondes - for Lovers of Film, TV, News and Pop Culture! Feat. Leila McDougall and Kate Atkinson (Sea Change, Wentworth)
New podcast alert! If you're into film, TV, pop culture, the media, and what it actually means for us, then you'll love Two Smart Blondes. Kirsten Diprose (who you know from Ducks on the Pond!) is hosting with film-maker Leila McDougall. Each week they also bring on a special guest, who has insight into the media/film world.The first episode has just dropped and we get the inside goss
Paving the way for more women in country footy - Tara McGrath-West and Bec Malseed
Chances are, when you were growing up, the idea of becoming a professional female footballer or even a female footy umpire for men’s games… was simply impossible. But NOW, it is. And that’s awesome. However it’s throwing up a few issues; such as how can women achieve pay parity with the men? How can we ensure women are safe playing the game (acknowledging that women’s bodies are different to men
How to turn your career skills into a business - Rebecca Saunders and Paige Cross
If you’ve spent a decade or more building a professional career - the idea of starting a business might seem out of reach. But you have plenty of skills already, in fact you are probably REALLY good at a couple of things… that people will actually pay you for. In this episode, hear from two rural women who talk about how you can use your established skills, networks and passion to start a business
Convincing your partner (or yourself!) to book a holiday (Popular re-release)
If you can’t get your partner to book a holiday with you… would you just go without them? That’s just one of the tips and tricks we discuss in this episode on how to convince your partner to go on a holiday… because we all know what farmers can be like. We also look at the research behind the benefits of taking a break and the psychological barriers around taking time away from the farm that our p
Why you’re allowed to care about the clothes you wear - Marion Saunders and Olivia Thwaites
When it comes to WHAT you wear, do you ever feel damned if you do care, but also damned if you don’t?Clothing is not trivial, it’s actually an expression of self. This episode is not about needing to look like a supermodel or spend ridiculous amounts of money on clothes (gosh, there’s enough pressure on us as women to do that already!). Rather, it’s about how looking and feeling good has value - w
Making friends when you’re new to town or want to expand your circle
Episode sponsor: Dimity Smith, Founder of GRO Rural If you’ve moved to a small town or even moved back to your hometown, after a long time away… how do you make friends? There are suggestions that Australia is in the middle of a loneliness epidemic; in fact one in three people experience it. Country towns are pretty good at welcoming people in, but making close, meaningful relationships takes tim
Does HOW we talk about our rural men, matter? Part 2 with Louise O'Neill
Does how we talk about men influence the massive problem of violence against women?There are conversations we need to have in broader society about family violence. But where are the men?How do we get our men to actively participate in a stand to stop violence against women? This is a tricky conversation. Clearly, it would be great if men just stop being violent. But telling men to simply ‘stop i
Does HOW we talk about rural men, matter? Part 1 with Leila McDougall
With gender roles for men not being as defined as perhaps they once were, what does this mean for our rural men who grew up with certain ideas of 'what a man should look like?' Does how we talk about our blokes matter too? Whether that's whinging about our husbands who seem to always miss kids bath time... or on a broader societal level about what men should or shouldn't be? Th
Balancing Big Goals and Chronic Illness
**EPISODE SPONSOR: Moore Australia**Being diagnosed with a chronic illness is a massive change. And most people who have experienced this, speak about a grieving process for your old life and even your old identity, especially if it was based on being physically active.But our two guests insist a medical condition is not the end of your life. In fact, they say their illnesses have forced them to b
Are bricks and mortar stores dead?
**EPISODE SPONSOR: Rural Women’s Day** There’s this persistent notion that starting up a retail store in the main street of town is just too hard. From the high rents, cost of living crisis, to the relatively low foot traffic in country towns, finding a physical space to sell things, the ‘ye olde way’ can seem impossible.But in this episode, we meet three business owners who have found success by
Getting Your Next Big Idea Off the Ground - Angie Armstrong & Natalie Egleton
** Episode Sponsor: Cheeky Mac Productions - do the 1000 Rural Women Survey!We’re full of good ideas here in the country. So how do you access the funds and the people to make it happen? It’s important for community projects and local businesses to come from the bottom up. It’s the people on the ground who know what’s actually needed and how to best deliver it. But so many grants and programs are
Can you have a screen career in the country?
**Sponsored by the Victorian Women’s Trust - Check out Rural Women Online, free digital skills platform.There’s this idea that if you want to make it in film, you need to move to the city. But is that really true? In this episode, we meet Jospehine Croft. She’s a film producer and actor, based in Melbourne, but is part of a movement that’s making film more accessible to women. This includes job sh
BONUS: Is it better to raise your kids on a farm or in the city?
Is parenting on a farm different to parenting in the city? What are our farm kids missing out on... and do the benefits of farm life out way the drawbacks?In this bonus episode we welcome the hosts of The Barnyard Language podcast, which is an American podcast, focused on 'real talk about running farms and raising families.' But don't be fooled into thinking they are cutesy farm lad
Self Care is Not Selfish (Pt3) - Hormones and Happy Chemicals - Dr Belinda Bell
**COLLABORATION WITH LETS TALK**Gosh it’s fun, being a woman. So how much of how we’re feeling is actually at the whim of our hormones and brain chemicals?In our final episode of our 3-part collaboration series with Lets Talk, we chat about the ways we can naturally boost our moods, through what we eat and what we do, on a daily basis. These are simple tips, like getting sunlight, enjoying nature
Self Care is Not Selfish (Pt2) - How to support others, while looking after yourself - Jenna Robinson
* *COLLAB SERIES WITH LET'S TALK**A conversation can save someone's life.So, when someone you care about is not OK, how do you start the conversation? And just as importantly, make sure it leads to that person taking action (such as talking to a GP).In Part 2 of this series on "Self Care is Not Selfish," we look at how to foster deeper conversations about mental well-being, whi
Self Care is Not Selfish (Pt1) - Abbi Power & Karen Foster
How did we get to that point, where we think having a shower... or going grocery shopping alone is "self care?" .It isn't. In this 3-part collaboration series with Let's Talk, a charity with the goal of breaking down the stigma around mental health, we delve into self-care; why it’s not selfish,and how do it properly.We address how to challenge that 'little voice' i
Does the Farm Always Have to Come First?- Claire Booth & Chloe Brown
**EPISODE SPONSORED BY JOY JOHNS WINES**Does the farm always HAVE to come first? We meet two very successful women in agriculture who are challenging this traditional concept of 'the farm comes first'. To do this, they have both come up with unique business models.Instead of shaping their lives around the farm; they're shaping the farm around their family and other career and busin
Becoming a "Bush Podpreneur" - How Six Rural Podcasters Built Their Audio Empires
This Episode is Sponsored by: Creative Little SoulYes, we invented the term “Bush Podpreneur.” But that’s because there’s a phenomenon that’s been happening in rural Australia that we need to recognise. “Bush Podpreneur” captures the way rural women are producing podcasts in entrepreneurial ways to build community, social connections and even businesses and income.In this special episode, Kirsten
I've Found My Pelvic Floor, Now What Do I Do With It? - Courtenay Polock
You’ll laugh so hard in this episode, you’ll wet yourself. But then, learn how you can fix that wee problem of yours too!Many of us probably never thought about our pelvic floor, until we had a baby. Perhaps you were sent home with exercises to tighten it up.But did you know, your pelvic floor can be too tight? Or that stress, hormonal changes, lifting heavy things, and even constipation can all p
Why is it just Mums who can see the childcare crisis in rural Australia?
Are we allowed to call it a 'crisis yet?" As any Mum in rural and regional Australia and they can tell you stress and the cost of not having access to reliable childcare.Rural women are waiting months if they are 'lucky', but it is not unusual now to wait years for a place in childcare. The Parenthood has released a report, called "Choiceless" which sheds light on t
Do You Need a Book? A Podcast? Tik Tok? Finding the right marketing strategy
Do you own a small rural or regional business and feel bogged down or just completely overwhelmed by the thought of marketing? Do you use Facebook or Instagram, but aren't sure where to turn, to take your business to the next level and build your community?Top social media and marketing consultant, Jenn Donovan has recently released a book; Small town, Big impact: 107 Simple Marketing Strateg
What's happening to 'volunteerism' in the country? - Collab with Married to the Land's Angie Nisbet
Is 'volunteerism dead... or dying'? We know volunteer numbers in the city are dropping, but are our rural volunteers feeling burnt out too? And why is often the same few people doing all the hard work?Angie Nisbet, host and creator of "Married to the Land" podcast joins us for this special collaboration episode of Ducks on the Pond. Angie lives in north-western QLD, 80 km sout
Celebrating End of Life - Becky Barry & Colleen Hughson
Why do we have such a tough time acknowledging that death, is part of life?If you talk about death, you might be considered morbid, or worry that you'll upset someone. But is our fear of planning for death, actually preventing us from celebrating the life our loved ones lived?In this episode, we hear from two rural women who are changing the way we approach death, to better honour the lives o
What It's Like to Be Outspoken in Ag - Gillian Fennell
Being outspoken in agriculture can mean taking on vegan activists, the Government and even other members of the agriculture industry.... all in one day.Gillian Fennell is a South Australian cattle farmer who is not afraid to call out misinformation and spin when it comes to farming. She has gained a significant following on social media for her ability to cut through the media noise.In this epis
Your Big Dream is Not Over - Jasmine Mansbridge & Maggie Hartley
Have you ever felt like you missed the opportunity to chase your big life dream? Perhaps you feel like you're 'too old' now or the juggle of farming life or kids has made it impossible? This episode is about proving those beliefs wrong. We meet two women who are building two creative careers, while living rurally and raising children.* Jasmine Mansbridge - Artist based in Hamilton
Popular Re-Release: Lisa Millar, ABC TV Host
You can grow up in the country, or choose to live in the country... and still have an extraordinary life. Lisa Millar, host of ABC News Breakfast and former foreign correspondent is a perfect example of this.She began her life on a dairy farm in the small QLD town of Kilkivan. But she always had big ambitions to be a journalist and to travel the world. And turns out, she did precisely that. But he
Fertility Options in the Bush - The Funny Side of a Serious Issue
So what's funny about fertility? For anyone going through the 'fertility treatment journey', probably not a lot. But we meet two rural women who are sharing their stories; the ups, the downs... and the downright funny ... as a way to break the silence and stigma around what actually happens in assisted reproduction. From being told you have 'juicy follicles," to having
Dealing with Stress Pt. 3 - When you and your partner are running on empty
Should you go to sleep on an argument with your partner? Why do we sometimes get along better with our partner... when we are away from each other?Step Schmidt, founder of Farm Life Psych and South Australian farmer, answers these questions and so much more, in this third and final episode in our Dealing With Stress collaboration series.In this episode, Steph gives us practical tips, to help us tu
Dealing with Stress Pt. 2 - Sorting yourself out first
When it comes to managing your stress levels, do you need to sort yourself out?We can be so busy with life that we forget to do those little things, that keep us level headed and bring us back to centre, after a stressful time.So in part 2 of our collaboration series with Steph Schmidt, of Farm Life Pscyh, we discuss how to find the good de-stressing activities that work for you. No, going for the
SPECIAL: Why there's a "rally cry" by farmers for mental health
When a small group of farmers put their hands up to say, "Hey, our community needs help." You listen. So we're supporting the Farmers Helping Our Own initiative, which is running workshops across parts of New South Wales and Queensland. They say it's a rally cry; to help farmers dealing with the current perfect storm of high input costs, high interest rates, dry conditions, and
Dealing with Stress: Pt 1 - Is it "just stress" or something bigger?
It's hard to imagine farm life, without stress. But how do you know, if you're "just a bit stressed" or that perhaps you might need to look more seriously at your mental health?This is the first episode of a 3-part series on "Dealing with Stress", featuring Stephanie Schmidt of Farm Life Psych. Steph is a clinical psychologist, South Australian farmer and mother of t
Soil Carbon Projects - Pt 2. How to build one
Starting a soil carbon project is exciting right? Well it is... but there are a few Government regulation hoops you'll need to jump through. In part two of our series on how to build a soil carbon project, Sarah Whinney of Chatsworth House Pastoral, offers her advice on how to make sure you start off on the right foot, from project registration to making sure you have "a newness factor&
Soil Carbon Projects - Pt 1. Should you have one?
Ever considered starting a soil carbon project? It's hard to decide if it's right for your farm and what the opportunities might be in the future. So, in this two-part collaboration series, we look at why you would consider a soil carbon project and how to actually do it. Sarah Whinney is a farmer, mum and co-director of Chatsworth House Pastoral, in Western Victoria. She lives in a a hi
Bonus: Tess Brookman, Farmer Wants a Wife
A bonus episode to celebrate "Flanno for a Farmer Day!" Tess Brookman, who found love on Farmer Wants a Wife last year with "Farmer Harry" joins us for this special episode. Tess is helping to raise money for the Drought Angels' new charity initiative, Flanno For A Farmer Day, August 25.In this episode, Tess talks about what it's really like behind the scenes of the
Kirsten and Jackie have some news!
Hi! We've been busy during our Ducks on the Pond "off season" (shall we call that, Ducks Off the Pond?) Anyway.... we want to tell you all about it!In this episode we discuss: The Rural Podcasting Co - Kirsten's new biz! If you've ever wanted to create your podcast, Kirsten can help. She's offering podcast coaching to launch your new podcast in less than 3 months (amo
Being the Boss of Your Farm Office - Pt. 3 Decluttering your office and your mind
What does your farm office look like? Is it a mess... or does it exist only as a pile on the kitchen bench? The bigger question to ask yourself though is.... is this the space where you are most productive?If you, answered "no," then never fear! Alison Hamilton is back for our third and final episode in this collaboration series, "Being the Boss of Your Farm Office". As a fa
Being the Boss of Your Farm Office - Pt. 2 Getting your systems right
If someone else had to step into your farm office and run the show for 6 months while you were away... could they do it? That's the test Alison Hamilton, Farm Administration Coach, uses to understand whether the systems and process in a farm office are clearly defined and running smoothly. If you're NOT at this point, don't worry! You're certainly not alone.So, in part two of o
Being the Boss of Your Farm Office - Pt. 1 Owning Your Time
“Time cannot be managed – you need to prioritise, and you need to prioritise time for you as well.” – Alison Hamilton Doing the farm books or running a small business office is an important role, that often gets downplayed (including by ourselves!) Women can can feel as though they're playing a supportive or even 'lesser' role in the farm business, often supporting everyone else’s n
Surviving the Senior School Years (for parents and students)
The final years of high school are the some of the best, but most stressful years of our lives. But in the country, the challenges can be even greater; from virtual classrooms , having to travel long distances and battling bad internet connections.This episode is for both parents of senior school students and the teenagers going through it. If you're a parent, supporting your child through th
Turning Your Passion into a Not for Profit Organisation
Do you have a burning passion to address a social issue? Sometimes in rural Australia, when you see something needs to be done, you look around... and there's just YOU left to do it.So, if you are up for the challenge, then this episode has some solid advice on how to build a not-for-profit (NFP), register it correctly for your purpose and even turn it into a fully fledged charity. Hear the s
How to Build a Brand With a Bigger Purpose - Elizabeth Hermann & Sallie Jones
Can altruism and business mix? Maybe not in the purest sense...but there are many rural women who have created strong businesses, while also having a bigger social or environmental purpose. So, how can you the ensure your higher purpose doesn't distract from being profitable? Or can you make it a useful marketing tool?In this episode we ask two rural women, who have grown substantial business
Why women are the agtech adopters (and how to make good tech decisions)
Ever been ignored at a farm expo or agtech conference? It's a frustrating experience for any woman... and foolish behaviour if you're working at an agtech company. There's research which shows that women are often the ones who find the tech and implement it, on farming businesses.In this episode, we look at why women have been the tech decision-makers over the past 10 years, how to
