Built In The Bush

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S2, E3 — James Hamilton | Cultivate Advisory

In this episode of Built in the Bush, Tanya sits down with James Hamilton, a farmer from Narromine in central New South Wales and the founder of Cultivate Advisory.

James wears two important hats: he operates a farming enterprise with his wife, Amanda, and he travels across Australia helping farming families and family businesses navigate succession planning. His approach is deeply grounded in people, relationships, communication, and long-term family outcomes — not just structures, numbers, or transactions.

Throughout the episode, James shares how his own family experience shaped his understanding of succession, why he believes successful succession must protect both opportunity and relationships, and why families need a safe environment where everyone can be heard and understood. His perspective is clear: succession is not about one person “winning”; it is about helping the family reach an in-principle agreement that feels fair, workable, and future-focused.

James also reflects on systems thinking, rural leadership, the value of strong relationships, the mentors who shaped his work, and why regional Australia needs a broader national conversation about succession and the future of family farms.

If your family or business is feeling stuck around succession, this conversation is a grounded and practical starting point.

Contact James Hamilton — Cultivate Advisory
Website: https://www.cultivateadvisory.com.au
Phone: 0428 890 151
Email: [email protected]

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Episode: Born in Adelaide. Built in Mildura.

Welcome back to Built in the Bush.

This is a conversation I’ve been genuinely looking forward to sharing.

Today I’m joined by Ryan Baddock — someone I’ve worked alongside in the finance world, and one of the very few I’ve seen commit just as seriously to personal growth as he has to professional success.

Born in Adelaide, but built in Mildura — Ryan’s story is not a straight line.

It’s one of disruption, identity, and choice.

Growing up on a property, thinking that was the path — until, at 19, his father passed away… and that future was taken off the table.

From there, he built a successful career in banking.

But like many high performers, there came a point where success on paper no longer aligned with who he was — or how he wanted to live, lead, and show up for his family.

And that’s where this conversation goes.

Not just into what Ryan has built…
 but how he’s had to reframe, redirect, and do the work to become the person capable of building it.

Because changing direction at that level doesn’t happen by accident.

It takes courage.
 It takes honesty.
 And it takes ongoing work.

This is a conversation about that process — what it looked like, what it cost, and what it continues to require

www.rbfinance.com.au

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In this episode of Built in the Bush, I sit down with Dr Kate Burke — independent farm consultant, PhD agronomist, and author of Succession: Future-proofing your family farm and Crops, People, Money & You.

With experience spanning both the paddock and the boardroom — including her time as Commercial Manager for one of Australia’s largest grain producers — Kate brings a rare perspective on what it actually takes to build a profitable, sustainable farm business.

But this conversation goes deeper than production and performance.

We explore the concept of the “mind mechanic” — and how, over the past decade, this way of thinking has fundamentally shaped how Kate approaches decision-making, leadership, and the complex human dynamics inside farming families and businesses.

Because behind every operational challenge… there’s a thinking pattern driving it.

And often, that’s where the real work begins.

🔗 Learn more about Kate’s work: Kate’s Books - Think Agri

 📩 Connect with Kate directly via her website contact page

If you’re navigating succession, scaling a farm business, or simply want to think more clearly about the decisions in front of you — this is a conversation worth listening to.

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Episode Summary:
What does it really mean to be a man today—especially when you’re Built in the Bush?

In this episode, I sit down with Lachlan Stuart, speaker, coach and founder of @themanthatcanproject, for a raw, honest conversation on the evolving identity of modern masculinity.

From hitting rock bottom to building one of Australia's leading movements for men’s wellbeing, Lachlan’s story is one that will challenge, inspire, and shift the way you think about what it means to lead, live, and show up as a man—particularly in regional and rural communities.

What we cover:
✔️ The hidden pressures men carry—and rarely voice
✔️ How Lachlan rebuilt his identity and found purpose through service
✔️ Why emotional fitness is strength, not weakness
✔️ Masculinity beyond the stereotype
✔️ How to create healthy male spaces without shame or ego

Who this is for:
If you’re raising sons, leading men, working in regional leadership, or simply seeking better conversations about mental health and purpose—this one’s for you.

Guest Links:
🌐 themanthatcanproject.com
📱 Instagram – @themanthatcanproject

New to the podcast?
Built In The Bush is where we amplify real conversations from rural Australia. We speak to leaders, creatives, founders, and everyday locals doing extraordinary things—with dirt still on their boots.

Subscribe, share with a mate, and leave a review—it helps others find us.

 #AustralianPodcasts #LachlanStuart #MasculinityPodcast #MensHealthAustralia #RuralVoices #MentalFitness #LeadershipInTheBush #BuiltInTheBush #FoundersPodcast #MensWellbeing #MenInBusiness #ModernManhood #PersonalGrowthPodcast #AustralianFounder

🎯 Episode Sponsor: RB Finance

This episode of Built In The Bush is proudly sponsored by RB Finance — trusted finance brokers for rural and regional Australians who want more than just a loan.

Whether you're growing your agribusiness, upgrading your gear, or finally buying that dream property, RB Finance brings deep local knowledge and personal service to every deal.

 ✅ Tailored finance for farmers, families, and founders
 ✅ Fast, reliable, and jargon-free
 ✅ Backed by experience you can trust

💻 Learn more at: rbfinance.com.au
 📱 Or connect on Instagram: @rbfinance

Thanks to RB Finance for helping us tell stories that matter—right here in the bush.

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🎙️ Ben Law – Slaying Dragons & Planning With Purpose from the Bush

What does growing up in rural Australia teach you about leadership, legacy, and planning with purpose?

In this episode, host Tanya Atkinson sits down with Ben Law—Strategic Coach, CEO of Agricoach, and founder of the High Performing Families Accelerator. Ben shares how the bush shaped his thinking and the lessons that now guide his work with proactive, family-focused farming families preparing for succession and long-term success.

From childhood resilience to the power of structured transition, this conversation is a powerful reminder that where you come from deeply shapes where you're going.

🎧 Listen now on your favourite podcast app.

#BuiltInTheBush #BenLaw #Agricoach #RuralLeadership #FamilyFarming #SuccessionPlanning #HighPerformingFamilies #TheFinancialBloke #PurposeDriven #BushWisdom

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📍 Episode Description:
In this episode of Built In The Bush, we welcome globally respected behavioural scientist, master negotiator, and communication strategist  Allan Parker OAM, for an unmissable conversation on what it takes to build sustainable, successful family businesses — without losing your mind or your relationships.

With a career that spans over 30 countries, boardrooms of the United Nations, OECD and Microsoft, and grassroots consulting with multi-generational Australian family enterprises, Allan brings a unique blend of global insight and deep local heart.

Together, we explore:

• The soft spot Allan holds for family-run businesses, and why their unique strengths and challenges matter more than ever
• How to navigate conflict, succession, and communication breakdowns with clarity and care
• The surprising emotional patterns behind business disputes — and how to diffuse them early
• Why traditional negotiation tactics do not apply to families(and what to do instead)
• How bush values, legacy thinking, and emotional intelligence can transform leadership

Allan also shares stories from his time advising the OECD, shaping global SME policy, and working with the NSW Law Society, Macquarie Bank, and Microsoft across 11 countries, plus tips from his bestselling books Switch on Your Brain and Beyond Yes.

Whether you're in the thick of a family business, dreaming of passing on a legacy, or curious how to lead with more impact — this episode will leave you inspired, grounded, and future-focused.

🌾 Because in the bush, we build more than businesses — we build legacies

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Tune in for part two, with Geoff Pike, to learn how things unfolded in the town of Thargomindah, during and after this devastating flood.  Hard to believe that right now in Australia there is a township living in caravans and tents, hoping the country doesn't forget about them and the long road ahead to rebuild.  This little community epitomises what it is to be Australian and how just turning up for your mates, is sometimes all the hope you need. 

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Tune in to listen to Geoff Pike - Ago Vires, Thargomindah.  Hear how they prepared & adapted to a dynamic event that resulted in the biggest flood Thargomindah has every seen.  Hear how an isolated community banded together and harnessed their collective ingenuity & resilience, to buy their town 3 more days and ultimately divert the worst case scenario as the SWQ flood unfolded for them in Thargomindah

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Tune in as we catch up with Kris Jennings to find all that's happened since last week, and find out where they're trucks and donations are heading to this week.

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Hear from the CEO of Rural Aid, John Warlters about what their involvement is in this disaster.  How it all began, how much they've raised, where they support best AND his response to some of the questions that have been made in the media.