Nathan Dyer has found himself in some crazy situations, in the most remote parts of Australia... on assignment.

The job? Freelance journalist and photographer.

It's a far cry from his humble beginnings as a corporate accountant in the metropolis of Melbourne. 

In this episode, Nathan shares the unconventional path he took to land a job so many of us dream of, and some of the life changing experiences he's had so far.

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Since Annabelle Coppin was a child, she wanted people to eat the beef her family raised on their Pilbara cattle station.

But, simply selling cattle to the market wasn’t enough for her - she wanted to be involved in the entire process, and watch as people picked up packets of her beef from the supermarket.

She wanted them to know that what they were about to cook wasn’t just any old Aussie beef, but that from Yarrie Station - a property her family had been nuturing for 5 generations.

In this episode, Annabelle shares the highs and lows of starting a branded beef business, and how she keeps her dream alive.

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Would you ever take in a child that wasn’t your own?

If you’re imagining a relative, or a friend’s child - the answer might be a simple, straightforward, “yes, of course!”

But what if you didn’t know the child? And, if, once you get to know them, bond with them, and love them, they could be taken away?

That’s the reality of foster parents across the world.

In today’s episode, we hear the story of one family who are raising their 5 children, including 2 foster children, on a remote cattle station in Australia.

To add an extra layer of complexity to the situation, the foster children are Indigenous and the foster family are not. 

As you’ll hear today, it has been one of the hardest, yet most rewarding experiences for our guest.   

**Please note, that we have chosen to de-identify all names and locations in this episode, to ensure anonymity. While the family was consulted about doing the episode, this is one person’s story, and we need to respect the privacy of the children involved.**

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When Wave Hill Station was sold in a $104 million dollar deal, Jumbuck Pastoral and its consortium of partners became the 4th ever owner of the iconic station in its 140 year history. It was a sale that said “watch this space”.

In this episode, we sit down with Matt and Connie Wood, who we last heard from in episode 123, as they prepared to leave their job as managers at Blina Station in the Kimberley, also owned by Jumbuck Pastoral, to move to Wave Hill Station and take on the mammoth job of managers.

In this episode, Matt and Connie fill us in on the busiest 12 months of their life - which included a new baby, lockdowns, a significant amount of capital expenditure on development works, and all the adventures that have come with it.

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The adventure of a lifetime, two best mates, riding side by side in the wild landscape of Mongolia.

When Jess and Nat entered the world’s toughest horse race, they knew it would be hard. Finishing the race itself was as big a deal as winning. But, these women were from the Northern Territory - they’d spent their lives working in rugged conditions in remote areas. Surely, they’d be fine?

In this episode, they share how no amount of planning can truly prepare anyone for the Mongol Derby.

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Shane “Lochy” O’Loughlin arrived in the Kimberley at the age of 16. He’d already left both home and school at the age of 12, and now he had something to prove.

However, Lochy’s start in the Kimberley was anything but smooth sailing.

Over the past 40 years, Lochy has lived a life full of adventure and learning. There’s not many places in the Kimberley he hasn’t set foot on, either as a stockman, or running his own bull catching business.

For our final episode of 2022, Lochy shares stories that only a few people have heard while sitting around a campfire, and it’s a true privilege to have him on the show.

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This episode is Part 2 of our chat with Chico Shaw. If you haven't listened to Part 1, stop now and go back.

In Part 1, Chico shared the story of his adoption from Brazil into a family from Bondi Beach, and how he ended up working on a cattle station in the Gulf of Queensland.

In this episode, Chico shares stories from his time working in the Northern Territory, why he left the industry for almost 10 years, his battles with mental health, and what it's like working not just with your partner, but for them.

Please note that this episode may be triggering for some people, so it may be best to listen in the company of support.

If you are experiencing depression or are suicidal, or know someone who is, help is available.

• Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
• Lifeline: 13 11 14 www.lifeline.com.au
• Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 www.beyondblue.org.au/
• Mindspot: 1800 61 44 34 http://mindspot.org.au/
• Men’s Shed: www.mensheds.org.au
• Virtual Psychologist is a free service that offers qualified and experienced counselling via phone, chat, email and text. It is available 24/7. Contact this service via PHONE on 1300 665 234 or TEXT on 0488 807 266. http://virtualpsychologist.com.au/home/ 

Please help spread this message to help others understand help is just a phone call or text away and they are not alone.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1987 a mechanic found a baby boy abandoned on the streets in Brazil. 

Today, that baby boy is a grown man living and working on a cattle station in the Northern Territory, Australia. 

“Blessed”, is how Chico Shaw describes his life. A life that could have turned out so differently.

In this episode Chico shares the story of his adoption into a family from Bondi beach, how he ended up working on a cattle station in the Gulf of Queensland, and the challenges and adventures that that experience entailed.

Make sure you tune in next week for part two to hear Chico share more yarns about his time working up north, why he left the industry for almost a decade, his challenges with anxiety and depression, and how he’s come full circle to find love and build a life that truly makes him happy.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode contains discussions about anxiety, depression, eating disorders and self-harm. It may be best to listen in the support of company, or skip this episode. If you need help, a range of services are available. Please see the show notes for more details.

Claudia Hiscox has spent the last three years living and working on cattle stations in remote parts of the Northern Territory. The days are long, and the work is tough. It’s a physically and mentally demanding job at the best of times.   

In amongst mustering cattle and fixing fences, Claudia has been handling another challenge: managing her mental health after experiencing anxiety, depression and an eating disorder in her teenage years.

It’s no easy task, especially when the nearest medical professional is hundreds of kilometers away, and internet service isn’t always reliable. In this special episode, Claudia shares her story with immense candor.

Make sure you find and subscribe to the Pieces of the Mind podcast.

Please note that this episode may be triggering for some people, so it may be best to listen in the company of support.

If you are experiencing depression or are suicidal, or know someone who is, help is available.

• Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
• Lifeline: 13 11 14 www.lifeline.com.au
• Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 www.beyondblue.org.au/
• Mindspot: 1800 61 44 34 http://mindspot.org.au/
• Men’s Shed: www.mensheds.org.au
• Virtual Psychologist is a free service that offers qualified and experienced counselling via phone, chat, email and text. It is available 24/7. Contact this service via PHONE on 1300 665 234 or TEXT on 0488 807 266. http://virtualpsychologist.com.au/home/ 

Please help spread this message to help others understand help is just a phone call or text away and they are not alone.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2002, Ian ‘Rocky’ Rockwell took a group of year 11 students from Sydney to Alice Springs for an “adventure”. The kids were to trek the Larapinta Trail, ride camels, cook on campfires, and experience the “outback”.

That trip changed not only the trajectory of Rocky’s life, but some of the students as well. Rob Mann was one of those students.

In this episode, Rocky and Rob share the story about the trip that took place 20 years ago, how it impacted their lives, and how they went from student and teacher to mates and colleagues all these years later.

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