Ben Brooksby is in a good place. The fifth generation SA farmer - and founder of the Naked Farmer social media phenomenon - and his partner have just welcomed a beautiful baby girl into their family. And their passion and commitment to sustainable farming is literally blossoming before their eyes! But life wasn't always this good. As a young rural man, Ben tackled bouts of severe social anxiety and self-doubt. The tragic loss, by fire, of his family's homestead in 2016, felt like a dangerous and frightening tipping point. Which is why, in 2017, Ben took off all his clothes and jumped into a truck full of lentils - and the Naked Farmer movement was born! The images of Ben and his rapidly growing band of fellow farmers and young rural workers soon went viral on social media, under the tagline 'It takes guts to get your gear off...and it takes guts to talk about mental health'.

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Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the Flying Doctor Podcast. It is lovely to have you along on the journey with us. You can find out more about Ben and the Naked Farmer at HOME | Thenakedfarmerco If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or are with someone who is, call 000 if it is an emergency. For direct and ongoing support, call Lifeline Crisis Support (13 11 14) or Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636). There has been some wonderful feedback from listeners about our podcast and the incredible people we have interviewed. Word of mouth is always the best promotion for a podcast – so if you enjoy this podcast, or a specific story, please share with family and friends. Reviews and ratings help our podcast to be found by others, so if you can take the time to do that it would be appreciated. You can also send feedback, questions or comments through to [email protected]. We'd also love you to become part of the Flying Doctor Podcast Facebook group, where passionate listeners and incredible outback communities come together.

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