Ducks on the Pond

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 extended family’s farm near Cowra changed everything. Something clicked for Amie. She surprised herself by walking away from her corporate career and, after meeting her husband, the pair pulled out a map, picked Rockhampton and packed up their horse float to start a new life. With very little money, they spent close to a year living in that horse float in someone else’s backyard while saving for a place of their own. From there, they built their life one step at a time. They bought 60 acres, lived in sheds and less-than-glamorous houses, and kept buying slightly bigger properties as they could afford them. What started with 16 Brahman cows eventually grew into a farming business running around 1,200 Angus cattle across properties near Gunnedah and Walcha. In this episode of Ducks on the Pond, Amie shares what it’s like to build a life in agriculture when you don’t come from a farming background — including teaching herself how to farm through Google, instinct and the occasional phone call to a neighbour. We also dive into the big questions around the realities of starting from scratch and why breaking into farming can be so difficult for people without inherited land, Amie is also asking an important question: when do you give yourself permission to actually enjoy what you’ve created? Thank you to Weighting for Happiness for sponsoring this Season of Ducks on the Pond. Listen to the episode to hear their special offer. And listen to the Before Dieting podcast - for a systems thinking approach to health. Send us Fan Mail This is a Rural Podcasting Co. production. Interested in making your own podcast? Let us help you tell your own story!

• Chapters

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 already halfway there. In this episode of Ducks on the Pond, Kirsten Diprose speaks with winemaker, business owner and Doctors 4 Mudgee Region Program Coordinator Kate Day. While Kate never imagined she'd be working in healthcare recruitment, she's helped build a program that's becoming a blueprint for regional Australia. The conversation explores why welcoming doctors' families has been just as important as offering financial incentives, and how a simple idea—a "lifestyle concierge" service—has helped new GPs feel connected from day one. Kate also shares the remarkable story behind her wine business, In Two Minds Wine, founded with her sister-in-law Send us Fan Mail This is a Rural Podcasting Co. production. Interested in making your own podcast? Let us help you tell your own story!

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. Rebecca shares that vets experience high rates of poor mental health, one of the reasons behind the high turnover in regional areas. As the workforce becomes more feminized, issues like childcare shortages, lack of upskilling and ability to find housing are among some of the reasons vets and young professionals move away from the regions. But vets face further challenges such as inflexible work hours with long on-call periods, difficulty making vet businesses profitable and struggling to prove their experience to farmers. Rebecca shares her hopes for the industry and changes that can be made to both improve wellbeing and retention of rural vets across regional Australia. Complete the Vet Wellbeing survey here. Send us Fan Mail This is a Rural Podcasting Co. production. Interested in making your own podcast? Let us help you tell your own story!

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 swap books that they each wrote about their grief. For Sarah it’s an intimate book remembering her son's life and documenting her grief afterwards, and for Georgia a children's book for her sons could remember their dad by. Grieving in a regional community can sometimes feel like you’re under a microscope and these authors talk about their unique experiences of coping with grief in such a tight knit community. There is a lot of resilience, relatability and humour in how Sarah and Georgia talk to Kirsten about their loved ones and their lives after a great loss. Thank you to Weighting for Happiness for sponsoring this Season of Ducks on the Pond. Listen to the episode to hear their special offer. And listen to the Before Dieting podcast - for a systems thinking approach to health. Send us Fan Mail This is a Rural Podcasting Co. production. Interested in making your own podcast? Let us help you tell your own story!

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 bored at trying to fight nature and instead wanted to learn to work with it, leading her to become a highly sought after expert on soil microbial activity, soil health and resilient production systems. She speaks about encouraging farmers, particularly smaller producers to learn more about their soil health, run their own tests and experiments and make changes to ensure you’re getting the most from your soil. Her expertise at her consultancy, Soil Resilience has been used by producers, corporate farming and regional bodies and her long term goal is to help Australian farming systems grow and to get more out of their soil health. Dr Quade has a far ranging discussion in this episode from the politics around soil carbon, the complex language of climate change and the future of farming. Thank you to Weighting for Happiness for sponsoring this Season of Ducks on the Pond. Listen to the episode to hear their special offer. And listen to the Before Dieting podcast - for a systems thinking approach to health. Send us Fan Mail This is a Rural Podcasting Co. production. Interested in making your own podcast? Let us help you tell your own story!

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. Turns out eating less and moving more doesn’t always equal weight loss and more importantly being thin doesn’t always mean being healthy. After interviewing a thousand women on their experiences with food, eating and their body she created the Weighting for Happiness project. This program takes a systems based approach to weight management, encouraging women to look at the underlying emotions they have towards food and showing why habit based approaches like dieting and medications often backfire. From Victoria’s Secret models, the Biggest Loser and Ozempic, Bronwyn addresses why it is so hard to feel in touch with our bodies in a society that wants women to look a certain way. You can learn more about the Weighting for Happiness project and listen to Bronwyn’s podcast Before Dieting. A huge thank you to Weighting for Happiness for supporting us at Ducks on the Pond, as the Season Sponsor! Send us Fan Mail This is a Rural Podcasting Co. production. Interested in making your own podcast? Let us help you tell your own story!

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 hobbies and speaks to the importance of doing things you love, even if you do them badly. She is an advocate for women letting go of perfectionism and instead learning to be just good enough. Lynne speaks about the importance of stepping into leadership in rural communities and speaking up about your passions, interests and experiences. Come to Lynne’s workshop! If you’re in South West Victoria you can catch Lynne’s workshop on expressing ideas to create change at Rural Women Lead in July, brought to you by Leadership Great South Coast. Thank you to Weighting for Happiness for sponsoring this Season of Ducks on the Pond. Listen to the episode to hear their special offer. And listen to the Before Dieting podcast - for a systems thinking approach to health. Send us Fan Mail This is a Rural Podcasting Co. production. Interested in making your own podcast? Let us help you tell your own story!

• Chapters

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 joined by two brilliant minds: Social researcher Dr Rebecca Huntley and climate scientist, Emeritus Professor of Biology Lesley Hughes have dedicated themselves to raising awareness about the impacts of climate change, including supporting regional communities. Together, they unpack the science, the politics, the psychology, and the opportunities that come with climate action in Australia. This is not a doom-and-gloom climate chat. Lesley and Rebecca share how both the scientific and social sides of the issue are intertwined and the tough balance of motivating people to act on climate change without losing hope that the situation is impossible. Thank you to Weighting for Happiness for Sponsoring this Season of Ducks on the Pond. Listen to the Before Dieting podcast, by founder Brownyn Fletcher Send us Fan Mail This is a Rural Podcasting Co. production. Interested in making your own podcast? Let us help you tell your own story!

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 alongside complex mental illness that doesn’t fit neatly into the categories we’re more comfortable talking about. This episode gently but powerfully challenges the way we think about mental health — especially the conditions we don’t talk about. If this episode raises anything for you, support is available: Lifeline (Australia): 13 11 14 Send us Fan Mail This is a Rural Podcasting Co. production. Interested in making your own podcast? Let us help you tell your own story!

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 New Guinea working alongside cultural leaders in a tourism role, she felt well prepared to put in the hard yards to build trust, find community and have “crunchy” conversations. Now living in Kunnunurra but originally from WA’s wheatbelt, Liz works as the managing director for AgDots, an organisation connecting people in rural Australia to make things happen. Liz speaks about how she first became interested in food systems while living in Papua New Guinea, the importance of diversifying and how to feel empowered by your choice to live regionally, instead of feeling hindered by it. Send us Fan Mail This is a Rural Podcasting Co. production. Interested in making your own podcast? Let us help you tell your own story!

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 services, and why addressing complex challenges requires moving beyond simple fixes. Bronwyn also has a fabulous podcast called Before Dieting. Season 8 of Ducks on the Pond launches soon, with a new lineup of powerful stories, fresh perspectives and thoughtful conversations. Follow the podcast now so you don’t miss the first episode of the season. This is a Rural Podcasting Co. production Send us Fan Mail This is a Rural Podcasting Co. production. Interested in making your own podcast? Let us help you tell your own story!

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, including stepping into a CEO role during one of the most personally challenging periods of her life, she made the conscious decision to step back and prioritise family when one of her children became seriously ill What followed were two phone calls that changed her trajectory; one inviting her onto an industry board, and another encouraging her to join the Grains Committee at NSW Farmers That “gentle push” led her into policy, advocacy and leadership at a state and national level. In this collaboration episode with NSW Farmers, Rebecca reflects candidly on: How family crisis reshaped her perspective on leadership and success Why advocacy isn’t just about what farmer groups win; but what they stop How NSW Farmers develops grassroots policy through branches, committees and annual conference The mounting pressures facing agriculture; from telecommunications and biosecurity to land tax, diesel rebates, insurance and renewables The widening city–country divide and the fight to maintain farming’s social licence Why we need more women and more young farmers stepping into advocacy roles If you’ve ever thought about getting involved, but worried you didn’t know enough, weren’t qualified, or might upset someone… this episode is your nudge. Learn more about NSW Farmers or become a member HERE Send us Fan Mail This is a Rural Podcasting Co. production. Interested in making your own podcast? Let us help you tell your own story!

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 Australian Dairy Conference, Jana shares how applying Lean management principles, developed by Toyota, transformed their business. The results? 15% reduction in costs 72% increase in labour productivity over 10 years Major gains in production Overdraft eliminated — and cash surplus at season start Same herd. Same genetics. Same infrastructure. Different management. Instead of hoping milk price rises to improve profit, Jana explains why the real opportunity lies in controlling what you can; cost, systems, communication and culture. Jana has now founded The Lean Farm Project, to help others. Hosted by Kirsten Diprose, this episode captures Jana’s keynote on how Lean tools; from weekly team meetings and visual management boards to root-cause problem solving and radical financial transparency, can dramatically reduce stress, lift productivity and build a farm that lasts generations. This is the final collaboration episode with the Australian Dairy Conference. Go back and listen to earlier episodes, to hear more wisdom from the fabulous speakers and leaders involved in the event. Produced by the Rural Podcasting Co… can we help YOU tell your own story? Send us Fan Mail This is a Rural Podcasting Co. production. Interested in making your own podcast? Let us help you tell your own story!

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 founder of the Corporate Wellbeing Hub, shares the lesson that changed her life: If you don’t make time for your wellness, you will be forced to make time for your illness. Hosted by Kirsten Diprose, this episode captures Carli’s keynote address to more than 900 people, followed by a practical and heartfelt Q&A focused on rural workplaces, leadership and psychosocial safety. This is a collaboration episode with the Australian Dairy Conference. Produced by the Rural Podcasting Co... can we help YOU tell your own story? Send us Fan Mail This is a Rural Podcasting Co. production. Interested in making your own podcast? Let us help you tell your own story!

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 contexts. That journey eventually led her to Australia—where she fell in love with a farmer and now lives just outside Orange, New South Wales. Having only been in Australia for a year, Claire speaks candidly about what it’s like to miss your old life while navigating a major career pivot. Once an agricultural reporter working across TV and newspapers in the UK, Claire is now the founder of her own consultancy, Agvocacy Consulting, focused on helping agriculture tell its story better. This episode is has been made in collaboration with the Australian Dairy Conference and is packed with practical, accessible advice on sharing positive stories about farming—and you don’t need to be an influencer or media professional to do it well. The Australian Dairy Conference is on in Melbourne from February 11 to 13, so make sure you're getting quick to book your ticket! This is a Rural Podcasting Co. production Send us Fan Mail This is a Rural Podcasting Co. production. Interested in making your own podcast? Let us help you tell your own story!

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 episode. How do you define your leadership? And who better to ask than two women in leadership roles within the massive event that is the Australian Dairy Conference. Rose Philipzen is the first woman to act as president of the Australian Dairy Conference. With a lifetime of experience in the industry in New South Wales, Rose shared what her trailblazing journey has taught her about the benefits of leaning into a collaborative leadership approach. Ella Credlin is working in Rose’s team as the conference’s programming chair. As a passionate dairy farmer from south-west Victoria, Ella was tapped on the shoulder to work for the ADC, and told me all about her hope to create positive change within the industry she loves. Also in this episode we discuss the Australian Rural Leadership Program. The ARLP is a 15-month program that helps rural people develop their skills as leaders in their field. This episode was brought to you in collaboration with the Australian Dairy Conference, Australia’s premiere conference. Next year the conference will be held in Melbourne in February at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. You can register for the conference or explore the program at this link. This is a Rural Podcasting Co. podcast. Check out our other podcasts and how we can help you create your very own podcast too! Send us Fan Mail This is a Rural Podcasting Co. production. Interested in making your own podcast? Let us help you tell your own story!

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 America, Africa and Asia. Which is a crazy amount of unnecessary flower miles... given the amazing flowers we have right here in Australia. As a business and a movement, Grown Not Flown was kicking goals. Nikki won the National Agrifutures Rural Women's award in 2023. She fostered a large social media following and most importantly, created a platform that was popular with both growers and customers. But a couple of months ago, Nikki posted online about how she was winding up Grown Not Flown. This came as quite a shock to many. But the reality of any startup is that most fail. Sometimes you can even have the market fit, a brilliant founder and a popular platform... and things don't work out. So you're about to hear an interview with Nikki Davey that she did on another podcast called Agtech.. So What, who have kindly shared it with us. Sarah Nolet is the interviewer and dives into the business side of things, from what it's like being the founder of a startup, the challenges of finding funding and how difficult it is to make the final decision to wind up the business. Nikki is still doing amazing things of course too, including a new role in the sustainable flower industry, her new startup AI business, Stratlas and she just released a book for business owners about collaboration... called "The Pie Gets Bigger." This is a Rural Podcasting Co. production. Check out our other podcasts and how we can help you create your very own podcast too! Send us Fan Mail This is a Rural Podcasting Co. production. Interested in making your own podcast? Let us help you tell your own story!

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 good environmental work you do on farm. We also get insights directly from the bank, including what financial tools are out there and how to best communicate your vision with your bank manager. Hear from: Carmel Onions, Executive Manager Agribusiness Sustainability at Commonwealth Bank Leah Garnett, dairy farmer at Mohyu, VIC and science researcher on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in dairy. We also discuss some of the latest scientific developments in greenhouse gas reduction, including a ‘methane vaccine’. Please note - this episode does not contain any financial advice. All financial discussions are general in nature. Quack! Are you interested in sponsoring the next season of Ducks on the Pond? Contact us at Rural Podcasting Co. Send us Fan Mail This is a Rural Podcasting Co. production. Interested in making your own podcast? Let us help you tell your own story!

• Transcript
• Chapters

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 for your soil and grass, and in some cases, tapping into opportunities such as renewable energy or carbon sequestration. It’s going to look different, depending on your property. However, it's often thinking about farm productivity from the soil up, and yes, it also means making a profit too. Hear from: Ellen Litchfield - runs a cattle and sheep station in remote South Australia. She’s also a vet, and has a Masters in Sustainable Agriculture and works part-time for Farmers for Climate Action. Dimity Taylor - runs a sheep farm near Crookwell in NSW. She is implementing regenerative agriculture practices on the farm and also works part-time as a physiotherapist. Both Ellen and Dimity talk about the challenges and successes they’ve had in getting others on board their climate smart farming journeys. Send us Fan Mail This is a Rural Podcasting Co. production. Interested in making your own podcast? Let us help you tell your own story!

• Transcript
• Chapters

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 science, national food security (such as a national food plan) and how to bring more diversity into industry board rooms. Hear from: *Fiona Marshall -Chair, Grain Growers National Policy Group Member. Chair, Riverine Plains Farming Systems Group. Grains producer and advocate for agriculture. Based in Mulwala, NSW. *Cressida Cains - President of Australian Women in Agriculture and founder of Pecora Dairy, a raw-milk sheep cheese dairy. Based in Robertson, NSW. This is episode one of a 3-part collaboration series with Farmers for Climate Action. Come to their national summit - and receive 20% off! Listen to the episode to find out how! This is a Rural Podcasting Co. production Send us Fan Mail This is a Rural Podcasting Co. production. Interested in making your own podcast? Let us help you tell your own story!

• Transcript
• Chapters