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My guest today on Hosting With Heart is Jodie McQueen, owner and operator of Paradise Road Farm, a two-cabin farm stay in Sheffield, the gateway to Tasmania's Cradle Mountain world heritage area.
With a diverse professional background including time spent working in Japan and Australia in a variety of communications, tourism and sustainability-focused roles, in 2016 Jodie and her then-partner determined it was time for a tree change and went on to purchase a 100 acre property in Tasmania.
By 2019 and then newly single, she embarked on a permanent move to the property and soon after got the wheels in motion on the build of two modest, sustainably-constructed cabins, supporting the small-scale, regenerative farm she had already established.
Having opened the doors to Paradise Road Farm to the public in October of 2020, she has since built a highly successful, adults-only accommodation business, all the while maintaining an operational ethos that prioritises the planet and encourages guests to leave their stay with an enhanced level of respect for the natural environment.
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Vince Hunt and partner Angela Brickwell truly do personify what it means to be a heartful host.
After purchasing a 120 acre block of land in the idyllic town of Billinudgel on the northern New South Wales coast some years ago, they went on to construct two cabins - one of which is fully accessible - on the land, all the while indulging their passion for permaculture, regenerative farming and a philosophy that places the therapeutic value of getaways at the centre.
With a personal background in landscape design and art, complimented by Ange's skills as a kinesiologist, this hardworking and empathetic couple have experienced great success as short-term accommodation hosts in the four years they've been managing their property, now known as Rosalita's Rest.
It was an absolute pleasure speaking with Vince about their journey to date a few days ago and I think you'll really enjoy this episode today.
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In this first episode of Hosting With Heart for 2024, host Jen Clark provides an update on the recent equity crowdfunding campaign for Heartful, a new short-term accommodation booking platform focusing on sustainability and inclusion, helmed by Jen, that will launch mid-year.
She also discusses her plans for season 8 of the podcast, which will move to a more flexible fortnightly format and have a focus on featuring guests who exemplify the ‘heartful hosting’ ethos, based both here in the Australia / NZ region and overseas.
It’s set to be another incredibly big and exciting year!
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It’s the FINAL DAY of the Heartful equity crowdfunding campaign, with our public investment offer closing at 10pm AEDT on Thursday 2nd November, 2023.
As of 8pm AEDT on Wednesday 1st November, Heartful had welcomed 109 new investors, with a total of $119,392.00 raised, something Jen is extraordinarily proud of and of course, very excited about.
She touches on some of the recent successes of the campaign in this episode, delivered a little bit later than planned due to the extreme busyness of the past fortnight.
To ensure you don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to invest in a purpose-driven, female-founded startup that aims to transform the Australian and New Zealand short-term accommodation sector into one that is more inclusive and sustainable, visit the Heartful Birchal campaign page at Heartful Group Pty Ltd - Reimagining the way we stay.
Once 10pm AEDT rolls around, sadly there will be no further opportunities to invest at this early stage. It’s time to seize the moment and put your hard-earned dollars where your values are!
Please follow Heartful on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn via the links below: Instagram -Instagram (@heartful.travel)
Facebook - Heartful
LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/company/heartful.travel
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Well, it’s CRUNCH time in the Heartful equity crowdfunding campaign, with EOIs closing on Monday October 16th at 10pm AEDT and Jen needing to raise $50K during the private offer period (that’s just 48 short hours!) in order for the public offer to go ahead.
The private offer period opens at 12pm on Tuesday October 17th and will run until 12pm on Thursday October 19th, following which the public offer will open if Jen meets that ambitious target.
If you didn’t manage to submit an EOI but still want to invest in the private offer period and take advantage of Birchal’s delayed payment terms, meaning you don’t have to pay for your investment until the public offer ends on November 2nd, please shoot an email to Jen at [email protected] and she’ll ensure you get sent an invite to the private offer.
To express your interest in investing in Heartful, request an invite to the private offer OR to invest now, visit the Birchal campaign page at Heartful Group Pty Ltd - Reimagining the way we stay.
Please follow Heartful on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn via the links below: Instagram -Instagram (@heartful.travel)
Facebook - Heartful
LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/company/heartful.travel
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This third instalment in our equity crowdfunding campaign mini-series is a re-recording of Jen’s recent presentation at the Heartful Investor Webinar held on October 4th, 2023. It contains a wealth of info about Jen and her personal / professional background, the backstory of Hosting With Heart, an insight into how the idea for Heartful originated, the many reasons the platform is needed and what Jen’s incredibly ambitious yet exciting plans are for building, launching and growing the platform over the coming months and into the longer-term future.
To express your interest in investing in Heartful, visit the Birchal campaign page at Heartful Group Pty Ltd - Reimagining the way we stay. Expressions of Interest will close on Wednesday October 11th and the no of EOIs we receive will determine if the investment offer goes ahead, so please get your EOIs in ASAP if you’d like to own a part of this groundbreaking new platform.
Please follow Heartful on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn via the links below: Instagram -Instagram (@heartful.travel)
Facebook - Heartful
LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/company/heartful.travel
Check out the Startup Daily TV interview with Jen here at the 43min mark.
Or have a read of Jen’s recent interview about all things Heartful on the Peppermint Magazine website.
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This second short and sweet episode of our Heartful crowdfunding campaign mini-series sees Jen talk about some recent wins in the press, reaching over 115 Expressions of Interest from potential investors in Heartful and her thoughts on why now is the time you need to embrace accessibility as a host.
To express your interest in investing in Heartful or register for our forthcoming Investor Webinar on Tuesday 3rd October at 1pm AEST, visit the Birchal campaign page at Heartful Group Pty Ltd - Reimagining the way we stay.
Please follow Heartful on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn via the links below: Instagram -Instagram (@heartful.travel)
Facebook - Heartful
LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/company/heartful.travel
Check out the Startup Daily TV interview with Jen here at the 43min mark.
Or have a read of Jen’s recent interview about all things Heartful on the Peppermint Magazine website.
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In this first episode of our 6-week podcast mini series documenting the equity crowdfunding campaign for the new ethical accommodation booking platform Jen is proudly launching in 2024, she talks about how the idea for Heartful was realised, gives an overview of what equity crowdfunding is and how it all works, and provides a general update on how things are progressing 30 hours after the campaign launch.
To express your interest in investing in Heartful, visit the Birchal campaign page at
Heartful Group Pty Ltd - Reimagining the way we stay.Please follow Heartful on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn via the links below:
Instagram - Instagram (@heartful.travel)
Facebook - Heartful
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/heartful.travel -
In this milestone 100th episode of Hosting With Heart, Jen Clark and partner Kirstie Innes-Will reflect on almost four years of what has become a dearly-loved, phenomenally successful podcast and all they’ve learned along the way, along with Jen’s incredibly exciting plans to launch a new, ethical accommodation booking platform, Heartful.
For those who’ve followed the Hosting With Heart journey since day dot to those who’ve only recently discovered the podcast, online community and website, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in helping make the short-term accommodation sector more inclusive, sustainable and community-focused.
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My guest on today's penultimate episode of season 7 of Hosting With Heart is author, travel writer and environmentalist Nina Karnikowski.
Having worked as a travel writer for the past decade, Nina now writes about travel that conserves, educates and uplifts more than it destroys, and aims to demonstrate how travel can help solve societal and environmental problems.
The author of three hugely successful titles, Nina has just released her fourth book, The Mindful Traveller, a stunningly written memoir about the ethics of modern travel.
In this unique and inspiring book, Nina takes an expedition to the very essence of travel, reflecting on the profound and transformative experiences to be had heading into the wild or just staying put, and demonstrating how to travel in a way that is as nourishing for the places we visit as they are for us.
Nina’s travel writing appears regularly in The Sydney Morning Herald’s Traveller, The AFR’s Life & Leisure, Condé Nast Traveller and more.
Nina mentors writers, teaches writing and creativity workshops and is also a mentor at The Conscious Travel Foundation.
It was an absolute pleasure discussing all things ethical travel with Nina a few weeks back and I have no doubts that you'll find this conversation an energising and inspiring one.
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Having finished a journalism degree and set off on a post-graduation gap year abroad, Simone Williams eventually indulged her Mum's call to come back home to Australia and secure herself a job.
And that she did, although not as a reporter, but as a flight attendant for Australia's beloved Qantas - a career she anticipated might last a year at best but that ultimately morphed into a 30 year stint that would prove one of the most rewarding experiences of her life.
Yet despite the joys of constant travel, Simone had a yearning for a simpler life on a farm.
Newly married to now-husband Bruce, she spontaneously happened upon her dream property in Queensland's Currumbin Valley while scrolling the web one day during a stopover in Frankfurt.
Little did she know that sometime later, she and Bruce would serendipitously drive past that exact same property, Hillview Dairy, and find it once again for sale. The duo scraped together every last cent they could find and fortuitously, managed to make it theirs.
Since then, Simone and Bruce have welcomed three sons and have raised them on the farm, all the while chipping away at restoring both the homestead and more recently, the dairy, with the aim of one day welcoming guests to stay.
That day eventually arrived in January, 2020 and Simone hasn't looked back, having achieved an enviable 258 Airbnb reviews with an average score of 4.98, an expanse of press and a continuing 80-90% occupancy rate.
My recent chat with Simone about her journey to date and newly-hatched plans to restore the property's stables was a real pleasure and I'm sure you'll find this conversation equally insightful and entertaining. Please enjoy.
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It was the acceptance that she had chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) that led Sarah Williams to seek out a lifestyle and career that was more compatible with her health and values.
After many years working in the fast-paced, corporate-like higher education sector in urban environments, Sarah had to re-evaluate her work-life balance, or lack thereof.
A subsequent relapse of CFS drew a firm line in the sand, with Sarah ultimately deciding to return from Melbourne to her home state of Tasmania and to the property on which her grandfather had painstakingly built a timber cabin some 40 years prior in the idyllic town of Meander, in the state's central north.
Following her return, Sarah decided that hosting guests at the cabin might be an ideal way to combine her need for regular rest with generating a recurring income and accordingly, set out to complete some modest renovations to the cabin in preparation.
Since finishing the renos and opening the doors to what is now known as Cedar Cottage Meander some 3 years ago, she's had enormous success, with the property receiving consistently exceptional reviews and being named a finalist in 2022's Airbnb awards in the 'Best Nature Stay' category.
Sarah is a passionate advocate for the disability and chronic illness community, a multi-talented creative and technologist and a lover of sustainability and the natural environment. As I was speaking with her, I felt an immediate sense of kinship and solidarity. I really hope you get as much out of this chat today as I did.
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As our recent conversation progressed, I came to the realisation that Bel du Bois, co-owner of Queensland's Grain Shed Retreat, could almost be deemed the perfect heartful host.
Having a few years back moved to the Darling Downs region a couple of hours south-west of Brisbane, Bel fortuitously went on to reconnect with an old school friend Neil, a former dog trainer and behavioural therapist.
A highly experienced occupational therapist, Bel originally made the move in search of new adventures, but eventually got lured by the local community back into private practice.
All was not lost, however, as Bel and Neil made the decision to take advantage of Neil's incredible 900 acre property and open a multi-disciplinary health and wellness practice, Darling Downs Wellness Therapies, allowing their diverse client base to take advantage of their nature-based, holistic therapeutic approach.
One thing was missing though - the opportunity for clients to stay onsite, experiencing the benefits of a longer-term therapeutic retreat.
So with sustainability and accessibility at the forefront of their minds, Bel and Neil resourcefully converted the old grain shed on the property into self-contained accommodation that would go on to be crowned Airbnb's best regional stay in Australia in 2021.
Meeting people like Bel really does make my heart - pardon the pun - sing. I believe that her approach to hosting is truly pioneering. I was absolutely delighted to have a chat about her journey and hope you, too, will be left inspired and energised by this episode.
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Sunny South in so many ways epitomises what heartful hosting is all about. A former teacher, she and husband Brett have forged a deeply enriching life for themselves in the Hawkesbury River region about an hour north of Sydney, one that has been built around a love of art, creativity, community and hospitality.
With a background in restoring and renovating historic properties and having determined that - for a variety of reasons - the Hawkesbury was the right location for them to secure a holiday house, Sunny and Brett serendipitously happened upon a property that ticked all the boxes, going on to purchase it very fortunately without the involvement of real estate agents.
Over the 6 months that followed, with the added challenge of the house only being accessible by water, they worked hard to bring the property back to its former glory, replacing the roof and stumps but maintaining most of its original features and opting to retain a number of pieces of vintage furniture.
They subsequently named the property Riverbreeze and first welcomed guests in November of 2021, managing all of the housekeeping themselves and doing so with a focus on simplicity, efficiency and organisation - an ethos which has worked perfectly for them since day dot.
Sunny's passion for involving the local community in the running of Riverbreeze absolutely shines through in this episode, as does her respect for the natural environment and for the need to be continuously mindful about consumption.
I thoroughly enjoyed our chat and I'm positive that no matter where you might be in your hosting journey, you will get a lot out of it too.
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Back in 2018, the town of Tanunda, located in the heart of South Australia's beautiful Barossa Valley, had no idea that two passionate Melburnians, Max Niggl and Neale Gerlach, were about to make it a central part of their life story.
With surprisingly similar personal backgrounds, Neale originally from South Australia and Max from Victoria, this enterprising couple met in 2013 in Melbourne, forging a life partnership where respect for history, the environment, the concept of place and for our diverse culture is central to their lives.
Max and Neale set out with the original goal of purchasing a simple set-and-forget investment property, however after further discussion decided that they actually wanted to be able to enjoy a second property from time to time, with a view of transitioning to rural life in the future.
This ultimately led them to the Barossa - a place that they shared a love of and one in which they fortuitously stumbled across and went on to buy a characterful circa 1900 house, a firm fixer-upper with a rich history.
Over the next three years, the duo planned and painstakingly restored the property with careful attention to detail, melding their own personal style with that dictated by its heritage. They subsequently named it Basedow Haus, in a nod to both the couple's and the area's German origins.
Max and Neale are people fervently dedicated to living with respect, compassion, grace and empathy, something that shines through in everything they do. It was an absolute pleasure chatting with them about their hosting journey to date and I'm sure you'll get a lot out of our chat today. Please enjoy.
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Much like many others who have embraced and excelled at the practice of hosting, Madeleine Lawler wore many different hats prior to opening the doors to the completely captivating Tasmanian property now known as The Post Office, Waratah.
After early stints in the hair modelling and hairdressing sector, she moved to the UK for a period where she spent time working in Michelin-starred restaurants and at the helm of an energetic and innovative tech start-up.
Upon arriving back to Australia and having welcomed a daughter and farewelled her father in the intervening time, she and her partner Andy decided to indulge their long-held dream of purchasing a holiday shack.
When one day scrolling realestate.com.au they fortuitously came across a modest yet charming 110 year old post office for sale in the small hamlet of Waratah, some 400km north-west of Hobart. After a spontaneous one day trip to view it, they made an offer and the very next day it was theirs.
In this episode, enjoy listening to Madeleine tell me the story of the 7 month renovation that followed the purchase, including the challenges that both its heritage and location posed, but that ultimately culminated in a visually enchanting, wonderfully unique property that has already won many a guest's heart. Please enjoy.
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When at its very best, hosting is an endeavour underpinned and driven by one core thing - empathy. And that's something my guest today, James Hudson, had in droves when it came to establishing his hugely successful Byron Bay eco retreat Blackbird.
After many years working in Sydney's fast-paced and often gruelling hospitality sector and with a young family in tow, James reached a point where he decided it was time to embrace a slower, less hectic way of life.
This ultimately led him to a former banana plantation in the Byron Bay hinterland, a property he'd go on to buy and - with an eye for innovation and sustainable re-use closely informed by his skills in industrial design - resourcefully convert into the critically acclaimed retreat now known as Blackbird Byron.
Since the property officially opened its doors to guests in 2018, James and his extended team have gone on to receive an enviable array of accolades and awards including a Master Builder's Award in 2020, finalist status in Network Ten's 'Hotels by Design' series and being named one of Tatler Magazine's top 101 hotels in the world.
With Covid only proving to increase demand for stays at Blackbird, James has gone from strength to strength and is now supported by a tight-knit and dedicated team of staff he views as family.
Please enjoy our chat today.
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What do you get when you pair a talented illustrator and designer with an experienced and resourceful carpenter? The answer is simple - Mill Cabin, an understated yet wildly appealing bush retreat based in Crackenback in the New South Wales' Snowy Mountains.
Back in 2019, when owners Niki and Trent first secured the plot of land that would go on to house the cabin, formerly the site of a timber mill, their vision was to create something that was unmistakably in sync with - and sympathetic to - the natural environment.
Putting their combined skills and experience to use, the resulting structure is one that is a modern nod to the Australian stockman's hut, built using locally sourced timber and granite and furnished and fitted out with a range of handcrafted items painstakingly designed and assembled by this industrious pair.
Since opening the doors to the property in 2022, Niki and Trent have gone on to receive widespread media coverage and a coveted array of 5 star reviews, reinforcing the powerful way their uncompromisingly sustainable ethos has resonated with the travelling public.
Refreshingly, the couple have no plans to expand or multiply their current hosting operation, opting instead to work on regenerating the land on which the cabin sits where necessary, but largely leaving nature to do its own thing.
My catch up with Niki and Trent a week or so ago was a thoroughly enjoyable one which I know you'll also find fascinating.
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If there's one word that sums up husband and wife team Michelle and Murray Prior's hosting ethos, it's respect. Respect for the environment, for history and for knowledge.
Having relocated to the Gundaroo area in the New South Wales Southern Tablelands region just over 5 years ago, this industrious couple and their two young daughters quickly set about turning the property's former standalone barn into a sustainably-minded, luxurious, family-friendly retreat.
The result is the property now known as The Barn at Nguurruu Farm, a visually striking, architect-designed, rammed earth building that can comfortably accommodate up to four guests across two bedrooms and a single bathroom.
'Nguurruu' is the Walgalu word for 'camp' and was chosen by Ngambri Walgalu custodian, Paul House out of respect for the many bush camps that have existed on the banks of the Yass River down through the ages.
Indigenous heritage and considered land regeneration are central to the way this family are managing the evolution of the 220 acre plot of land on which the barn sits. They've enlisted the help of scientist, author and regenerative farming pioneer Charles Massy to help guide them in the way they manage the land, all the while ensuring guests have the opportunity to gain an insight into its cultural roots and indigenous backstory.
I came away from this conversation with a very full heart in the knowledge that there were people like Michelle and Murray out there doing so much good in the world. I'm sure you'll feel the same way after listening. Please enjoy.
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Kristy Plumridge and her husband Neil are a complementary match in more ways than one.
With Kristy's background in marketing and event management and Neil's background in finance and management consulting, it was with a creative yet strategic ethos that they approached the construction of a 10 year family plan that would ultimately herald a complete life change, moving from city to country.
Having taken the time to canvass multiple rural properties, it was in the end the first property they looked at that won their hearts and minds - a 150 acre farm in the Victorian town of Yarragon, a hidden gem only 90 minutes from Melbourne.
With a deep respect for the environment, they subsequently dedicated themselves to regenerating and nurturing the land, ensuring its future success as a thriving grass-fed beef and garlic farm.
They also built their future forever home and converted an older dwelling on the property into accommodation, now known as The Ridge House.
Their journey to date has garnered much attention from the media, most notably including a dedicated episode on ABC TV's acclaimed series, 'Dream Gardens.'
Now, Kristy and Neil want to share their knowledge and experience with others dreaming of their own tree change, recently launching a one-day workshop called 'Let's Buy A Farm', designed to guide and support individuals in navigating the process of transitioning to a sustainable and financially rewarding lifestyle.
I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Kristy - a conversation filled with many valuable insights and much inspiration.
Whether you're considering a tree change or are simply intrigued by the idea of sustainable farming, this episode is teeming with practical information and advice.
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