Episodi

  • When people go on a reality TV show to find the love of their life, it doesn’t always end in a baby announcement and a full-blown commitment to each other. But when Clare Hockings decided to try to find her life partner on Farmer Wants A Wife in 2023, well, things kind of ended that way. Clare was raised in Scone NSW, Australia’s horse capital. And later in the country music capital of Tamworth. She worked in childcare and the local stockyards and spent her weekends with her horses. So she knew what she was getting into when she decided to look for love with a farmer. And when she met farmer Brad from Cootamundra, she was pretty smitten. But at one point, Clare wanted to leave the show, but Brad asked her not to. And lucky he did that because when the final episode of the season went to air, Clare was already living with Brad, and she was pregnant! Clare and I talk about everything from finding love on reality TV to what happens when you find out you're pregnant in a relatively new relationship, and what the first eight months of rural motherhood have been like for her.

    Our incredible winter podcast sponsor Cable is offering an exclusive 15% off discount on all full-price styles on their website! Visit cablemelbourne.com and use the code MOTHER15 for your discount, this offer is only available until the 30th of November.

    Motherland will be back in your ears on Monday October 7 with a brand new Spring season!





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  • I met Deb Frecklington at Beef Week in Rockhampton this year at a cocktail party, and before she knew it, I’d roped her into sharing her story for the first time like this. Deb is a proud Queenslander who grew up on a cattle property. She’s worn many hats throughout her career including producer, and, politician. Amongst it all, she’s a mum to three girls.

    Deb has served as the Leader of the Opposition, and the Shadow Minister for Agriculture just to name a few roles. She’s currently the State Member for Nanango and Shadow Minister for Energy and the Cost of Living, Shadow Minister for Water and the Construction of Dams and Shadow Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing. It’s a mouthful, and a handful, but throughout her career and humble beginnings, her values have been quite simple.

    Family has always been her driving force. This isn’t a chat about politics (thank god!), this is a conversation about Deb’s personal journey including her love of the land, her passion for encouraging rural women to follow their dreams, and her remarkable family journey. This is her story.

    Aside from knitwear and luxe wool coats, our winter podcast sponsor CABLE also specialises in other natural fibres, such as silk, Tencel and cotton - used to craft beautiful dresses and matching sets, perfect for a special occasion or event. Click HERE to shop.







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  • Meredith Boddington, or Merry, as she likes to be called, went through her 20s and 30s looking for Mr Right. Raised on a sheep farm near Naracoorte in South Australia, Merry trained as a teacher. Her work took her across South Australia and into Victoria. But still no Mr Right. And then she met Wayne. A farmer who was also from Naracoorte. It turned out the person she had been looking for for all those years was a bloke from her country town! Merry and Wayne hit it off instantly, and after they got married, they knew they wanted a baby. So, they went to the local GP, who sent them to Adelaide - a 4 hour drive away - to see an IVF specialist. Merry was approaching 50, and knew it wasn’t going to be easy. After 12 rounds of IVF and an egg donor, Merry fell pregnant at 49. Max, her son, is now 15 years old, and Merry joins me to share her remarkable story, and to give hope to those who still haven’t found the one. This is her story.

    With 19 retail stores and counting, our winter podcast sponsors CABLE have cemented themselves as a leading Australian womenswear brand for premium woollen knitwear and coats, luxurious daywear and quality everyday essentials. In addition to locations in Victoria, NSW, SA, WA, ACT and TAS, you can also find CABLE in over 40 independent fashion stockists across Australia, and 18 in New Zealand.





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  • Belle Baker grew up on a property in the South-East of South Australia. She loved working with the cattle and sheep and dreamed of a career on the land. But when the time came for her to decide what she was going to do with her life, her dad told her to go and get a real job, because the farm wasn’t going to be an option for her. After years of travel overseas, and studying in Sydney, Belle returned to South Australia. In her mid 30s, she became a mum and a single parent to her son at the same time. After leaving an abusive relationship, she found shelter at her parents' property. When her dad got very sick in 2015, Belle (ironically) after all those years, found herself running the farm. She’d rarely driven the tractor, and it was a difficult model for her to learn to use. When it came time to buy a new one, Belle was in for a rude shock when it came to the decision making. This is where Tractoring For Women was born. Belle is a remarkable woman, and her story is one you need to hear. A warning, it touches on domestic violence so if you or someone you know needs help, call 1800 RESPECT.

    Our winter podcast sponsors CABLE have just launched the first drops of their exciting Spring Collection, introducing pieces that will be the foundations of your trans-seasonal wardrobe. Think cosy woollen knitwear, matching sets, and outwear to take you from Winter to Spring and beyond in style. Shop HERE.





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  • Stephanie March was 17 she met her husband Cameron and they got married a few years later. Life was good. They went on what Steph describes as a ‘killer honeymoon’ and fell pregnant very easily. Not long after, their daughter Lexi was born, and then their son Bill. And that’s where everything changed for their family. Bill was born with his heart on the other side of his body. He was diagnosed with an incurable, rare and lifelong condition that affects the respiratory system as well as organ placement - meaning all his essential organs were on the wrong side of his body. What came next is a decade long journey, in and out of major hospitals, living life away from the farm and also trying not to feel guilty about managing it all. Steph is a remarkable woman with a special kind of outlook on life. This is her story.

    CABLE is proudly supporting the Australian Merino wool industry, working with local farmers to produce their much-loved Merino Collection and prides itself on achieving global Woolmark certification. The Woolmark brand signifies exceptional quality and craftsmanship of Merino Wool products. Shop now at: https://www.cablemelbourne.com/





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  • Milly Taylor grew up near Paris. And she never intended to live on a farm, let alone a farm in Australia. But while on a University exchange to Melbourne where she was studying aero-space engineering, Milly met Michael Taylor. Michael was also studying engineering, but he had always planned on returning to his historic family’s farm, Taylors Run, located in Kentucky, New South Wales. They were living in Melbourne when they welcomed their first child, and still there when they fell pregnant with their second. It was then that the Taylor’s decided to return home to Taylor’s Run. And it was a far cry from Paris, to say the least! Milly felt very isolated at times, with little connection outside Michael’s parents and their family unit. Eventually, she convinced Michael to pack up their three children and move to Paris for a year. Milly has been in Australia for 25 years, she has an incredible story and a beautiful accent. This is her story.

    CABLE’s winter sale on now! Save on cool-weather essentials crafted from 100% Australian Merino Wool, Cashmere, Mohair and Cashwool. CABLE’s huge Autumn/ Winter sale includes Jumpers, Cardigans, Coats, Jackets and Puffers, Pants, Dresses & Tops. Save up to 60% on this premium Australian-owned and designed label. Head to: https://www.cablemelbourne.com/collections/sale





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  • Sandra Knowles is the wife of Tasmania’s Premier, Jeremy Rockliff. But that fact is the least interesting thing about Sandra. Her career has spanned law, postings overseas working in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, helping run the family farm and now, as the Director of Tasmania’s Farm Innovation Hub. On top of all of that, Sandra raised 3 daughters on the land, born within 4 years of each other, while her husband was away... a lot. It’s been quite the adventure, and not always easy. Today, Sandra joins me to discuss her incredible career, the pluses and minuses of being married to the Premier, raising young women, and possibly the best love story I’ve ever heard. She may be the wife of Tasmania’s Premier, but Sandra Knowles has always done her own thing. This is her story.

    CABLE’s winter sale is on now! Take advantage of CABLE’s curated style guide to assist you in navigating your winter style choice, making your selection process a seamless and enjoyable experience. Their beautiful winter coats are crafted with precision and high-quality materials such as Vicuña wool....they are an investment in timeless elegance and a staple for your wardrobe. Shop HERE








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  • Kim Peake is a mum of three who grew up in rural New South Wales, so when she fell in love with a stud cattle man, Nick, her world didn’t shift that much. Kim and Nick were married during one of the worst droughts the district had seen in 50 years and they welcomed their first daughter, Ruby, not long after. A few years later, Holly was born, and then Kim found out that she was pregnant with their third, a boy, Barney. Each child was born with the same rare disease that required major surgery in Sydney six hours away. When Kim was 15 weeks pregnant with Barney in 2022, their eldest Ruby got sick, fast, with gastro. A bug that is so common in kids and something almost all of us have experienced. Ruby was rushed to Hospital, and tragically, after six days, she never returned home. Two years on from the loss of Ruby, Kim joins me to share her story and the charity her and Nick have set up in their little girl's name.

    For more information on Ruby Mae’s wish, head to rubymaeswish.com.au
    Today’s episode deals with child loss. If you need help, please contact Red Nose.

    Accessible and easy online shopping with CABLE is available from wherever you live! Check out CABLE’s Journal blog for valuable insights and styling guides, plus browse their beautiful and photography of their collections.






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  • Kate Rose has lived a truly extraordinary life. She's been a pastry chef in London, owning her own business and working for some of the biggest hotels in the city. She’s also been a soldier in the Iraq war. She was deployed when her two sons were just 9 and 4. And when she came home, she had two little boys who were terrified she’d leave them again. Kate also suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and heartbreakingly, her marriage ended. After moving home to Australia, and 10 years in the Australian Defence Force, Kate needed a change. She was driving past a farm in Queensland and two weeks later it was hers. So how does a pastry chef turned Army officer turn into a solo farmer? This is Kate Rose’s story.

    Our winter podcast sponsor CABLE is a proud supporter of the Australian Wool Industry and Merino wool — the team at CABLE loves working with local farmers to produce their much-loved Merino and Heritage collections. Click HERE to explore the Collection!

    A warning: Today's episode discusses mental health and PTSD. If you need crisis support contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. Find resources via www.blackdoginstitute.org.au



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  • When Kaia Wright fell in love with the croc-wrestling, helicopter-flying, outback wrangler Matt Wright at 24, she had no idea what the next stage of her life would entail. While all her friends were spending their weekends at cafes or the beach, Kaia and her top-end husband Matt were chasing pigs, wrangling crocs or spending time in remote bush camps. By all accounts, Matt and Kaia appeared to have it all. A successful business, a top Netflix show, and two beautiful kids, Dusty and Banjo. But in 2022 a tragic helicopter accident that killed Matt’s co-worker Chris "Willow" Wilson changed the lives of everyone involved. On this episode, Kaia joins me to discuss feeling alone in those first few months of motherhood, why she wings it when it comes to managing kids, what it’s like having a pet crocodile, and how her family has gotten through the hardest two years of their lives. This is her story.

    We are thrilled to introduce our incredible Winter podcast sponsor CABLE. With their long-standing connection to the Australian wool industry, CABLE has expanded their collection to include wovens with wool - a collection designed with the modern woman in mind, that showcases distinctive seasonal prints and colours, underpinned by trusted wardrobe staples and timeless classics. Shop now at: www.cablemelbourne.com





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  • Today's episode is special for two reasons, firstly, it's our last episode of our Autumn season, proudly sponsored by Nutrien Ag Solutions. Secondly, you're about to hear Emily Mealey's story, and she's a Senior Account Manager in Insurance at Nutrien, and a mum of two. She's based in Dubbo, and met her husband at the tender age of 18 after having a minor car prang! Financially as a young family, things were tough, really tough, but Emily and her husband made it work. A few years later Emily found herself in a very dark place, and very stressed, and today she talks openly about that time and how she got through it. A warning, this episode touches on mental health including suicidal thoughts, so if you or anyone you know needs help please contact Lifeline immediately on 13 11 14.

    Whether you're starting your career, are already established in agriculture or are looking for a change, Nutrien may be a great place for you to work and explore opportunities across a broad range of career paths wherever you're based in rural Australia. Check out their careers page at www.nutrienagsolutions.com.au/careers

    Physiotas offers high-quality Physiotherapy, Exercise Physiology, Myotherapy, Remedial Massage and Clinical Exercise Services. Their health practitioners are available across six clinics throughout North Western Tasmania with telehealth services also available to rural and remote clients. Head to physiotas.com.au

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  • Chris Bath has been a much loved and respected journalist since the late 80's and many of us, including myself, grew up watching her on our TV screens. She's interviewed Presidents, Prime Ministers and popstars, and pushed herself way outside her comfort zone when she carved up the dance floor on Dancing with the Stars! Chris met her husband Jim Wilson at work. The news anchor fell in love with the sports anchor, it's like something out of a movie, and very funny! In 2015, Chris resigned from Channel 7 where she'd worked for 20 years, and before she knew it, she'd fallen head over heels for another industry... farming. She's got one grown up son, and now lives full time on a farm in the Lower Hunter in NSW...she's an accidental beekeeper with an incredible love for the land. How she ended up here is quite the tale, and you're going to love her! This is her story.

    Nutrien is proud to be going further for Australian farmers by continuing to create meaningful partnerships and invest in the communities that are the backbone of Australian agriculture. They invested more than $2.8 million in our communities in 2023 alone. Learn more about Nutrien’s commitment to our communities HERE

    Embrace the power of Ello Botanical’s special range of facial oils and say goodbye to winter skin woes. Enter the code MOTHERLAND20 for an exclusive discount. Shop online HERE.

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  • Tara Parchert lives in the Lockyer Valley in Queensland, and runs a vegetable operation with her husband. She's busy raising two little girls, but has given birth to four. Tara fell pregnant with identical twin girls. After some pregnancy complications, she delivered them at just 26 weeks. Everything seemed to be going okay until 5 weeks later, when one twin got an infection... she didn't make it. Tara and her husband Had to grieve one child, while support the other one who was still fighting in NICU. In her second pregnancy, a heartbreaking 20 week scan left Tara and her husband with an unimaginable decision to make. She lost another baby girl. This episode is a really tough one, it covers the loss of a child, pregnancy termination and miscarriage. We've listed some support services below. While these conversations are never easy and Tara has never shared her story like this, she's doing so in the hopes it will help others, reduce some stigma, while also honouring all four of her children.

    Red Nose Grief and Loss 24/7 Support Line 1300 308 307
    birthline.org.au/counselling/ 24 hour counselling line 1300 655 156

    Nutrien Ag Solutions is recognised as a leading rural employer, where rural mums and their families in regional and rural Australia, can grow their careers, across a diverse range of roles and specialities. Whether you’re starting your career, are already established in agriculture or looking for a change, Nutrien may be a great place for you. To find out more, head to Nutrien’s careers site here.



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  • Rebecca Gilchrist is a clinical psychologist who has a passion for supporting rural women; and she's pretty well placed to do that give she's also a rural mum and a farmer based on a 6th generation sheep and cattle station. Bec had her first baby on a plane; yep, on a plane, mid air when she was just 33 weeks pregnant. It was a very traumatic experience for her, although at the time, no one else knew that. In our chat, you'll hear about how her professional training has helped her, particularly with the crippling anxiety she felt returning to the farm with a premmie baby, and the psychoeducation tools that can help all of us. We also chat about navigating the different seasons of motherhood, well after the baby years, including dealing with overwhelm. This is her story.

    This episode touches on birth trauma; if you need support, head to https://birthtrauma.org.au/

    Nutrien Ag Solutions is proud to be partnering with CareFlight to deliver FREE Emergency Trauma Training to 180 locations across rural and regional Australia. This vital training provides you with the skills and confidence to deliver life-saving assistance in a trauma situation. Contact your local branch manager or click HERE for more details.



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  • Ella Palmer is a nurse, and a mum of three who lives on a cropping and sheep farm in South Australia. Her motherhood journey has been heavily impacted by what happened to her when she was just 10 years old. After weeks of ongoing sickness and a misdiagnosis, Ella was in the fight of her life after her dad checked on her in the middle of the night to find her nearly unconscious. Unbeknownst to everyone, her appendix had ruptured three days earlier. Little Ella was in the fight of her life, with a widespread infection that resulted in her losing a fallopian tube, and left scarring all over her reproductive organs. Ella's story has a very happy ending, but it's been really tough. She's experienced miracle pregnancies, hours of travel for IVF, as well as PTSD from her job, and postnatal depression. This is her story.

    This episode discusses mental health including PTSD and postnatal depression. If you need support, contact PANDA on 1300 726 306 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.

    Nutrien Ag Solution has an incredible Graduate Program, designed for top talent who seek a performance-based culture built solidly on integrity, safety, inclusion, and results across regional and rural Australia. So whatever your career interest - and no matter how old your kids are- Nutrien has you sorted with a multitude of opportunities including flexible and remote work arrangements. Applications for 2025 are now open at www.nutrienagsolutions.com.au/careers



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  • Raechel Whitchurch writes songs about things that matter. Her childhood was spent performing in her family band and instilled a connection to rural Australia. She spent most of her early years living in a caravan while travelling and performing, before establishing herself as one of Australia's most promising new country artists. Her debut album ‘Finally Clear’ debuted at #1 on ARIA Australian Country Charts, and her highly anticipated sophomore album, ‘what a time to be alive’ will be released later this month. I sat down with Raech to talk about motherhood, rural life, and importantly, why she wrote a song about her miscarriage. This is her story.

    Warning: this episode discusses preganancy loss. If you need support, please contact Red Nose Grief and Loss who offer a 24/7 support line on 1300 308 307

    Nutrien Ag Solutions is proud to partner with Dolly’s Dream to raise awareness of the important services and support they provide to young people and families being impacted by bullying. Remember, This Friday is Do It For Dolly Day - join the Nutrien team this Do It For Dolly Day by wearing blue and sharing their message of kindness #BeKind.



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  • *A quick heads up, this episode contains some coarse language, and also discusses mental health and suicidal thoughts. If you or anyone you know needs help, contact Lifeline immediately on 13 11 14.

    Sophie Love runs a small farm near Port Macquarie in New South Wales. She bought it herself aged 40, while single, and childless. She never thought she wanted kids, until, well, she did... after meeting a man she went on to marry. Soph has always dreamed of running her own property, and against all the odds, she made it happen. But her fairytale life with her husband and son on the land came crashing down with the breakdown of her marriage just two years ago when she was 56. The pressure of drought, floods and fires, along with other circumstances had worn them both down- and when her husband left, never to return, Sophie hit rock bottom. At one point, she was on suicide watch. I learned a lot of other things about Sophie in our chat- including the fact she used to be a vegan for 20 years!

    Nutrien Ag Solutions. Nutrien provides incredible career growth and opportunity through their 2 year graduate program. Opportunities are open in finance, digital or agronomy (to name just a few!). Applications for the 2025 intake open next month in May. Head to https://www.nutrienagsolutions.com.au/careers

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  • Kate Mitchell fell pregnant with her first child just six months after meeting her husband in a rather unique way, while playing lawn bowls! They now have three children, and their third, their little boy Darcy, changed everything. As far as they could tell, he was a happy and healthy toddler, when at 16 months old he suddenly had a seizure on their sheep farm on the south coast of WA and nearly died. Kate had to give her own baby CPR as she desperately phone for help, with the phone signal dropping in and out. Darcy was eventually diagnosed with epilepsy, and it's been one hell of a journey. In our chat, Kate opens up about why she created The Darcy effect, which provides hospital care packs for rural and remote families and raises awareness of vital medical and paediatric services, plus you'll also hear the heartbreaking reason they decided to their farm last year. This is her story.

    Whether you're starting your career, already established in agriculture, or looking for a change, Nutrien Ag Solutions may be a great place for you to work - wherever you’re based in rural or regional Australia. To learn more about career opportunities at Nutrien, head to the link in today’s show notes https://www.nutrienagsolutions.com.au/careers



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  • Some of us know Kaitie Nash from Instagram, she proudly calls herself 'the first time farmer', and is part of a growing number of farmfluencer mums online, sharing real, relatable and often hilarious content about life on the land. But farm life hasn't always been a laughing matter for Kaitie. She moved to her husband's family property in the middle of a drought, while still adjusting to motherhood with two very young kids. Her mental health plummeted and in our chat she opens up about her very personal journey with that. Kaitie has been a lot of things, even a flight attendant! Farmer was never part of the plan. Today, you'll hear all about the ups and the downs, plus what happened when she got bitten by a snake when she was home alone with the kids. This is her story.

    If you or anyone you know needs help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636

    A big thanks to our Autumn season sponsor Nutrien Ag Solutions who proudly support the communities, families, local clubs and organisations which are the backbone of rural and regional Australia. In 2023 alone Nutrien invested more than $2.8m in rural and regional communities, with over half of that invested locally through their branches and directly into communities supporting agriculture.

    Check out Nutrien’s Community Impact Report HERE



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  • In 2016, Lisa Booth designed and built an eco-friendly home on a tight budget, on a small block of land. A couple of years ago, after her social media exploded, she quit her job to help other families build the same dream through her business - Booken Blend. Lisa's life looks picture perfect on Instagram, but she is an incredibly down to earth and authentic woman with rural roots that have both broken her as well as pushed her to rebuild after rock bottom. Lisa was born on a dairy farm, grew up on the land, married very young after a whirlwind romance, and had two young kids when the stress of farm life in the midst of a drought led to cracks in her marriage. She eventually left her husband, and started over. It was incredible tough, but her story has a very happy ending. In this chat, Lisa also opens up publicly for the first time about her surprising addiction that helped her cope through her toughest times on the land. Hint- it's legal, and it's not alcohol. This is her story.

    *Please note this episode contains some course language

    This episode has been brought to you by our Autumn season podcast sponsor Nutrien Ag Solutions. Nutrien focuses its investment and support on our rural and regional communities which are the backbone of ag.

    We are so excited to share more about Nutrien including stories from the team over the next 10 weeks - so stay tuned! You can follow Nutrien on social media HERE, or head to their website www.nutrienagsolutions.com.au to discover the hundreds of branches they have peppered across regional and rural Australia.



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