Skye Ward's journey as a mother, daughter, granddaughter and professional have taken many weaves and turns, especially in the last few years.

After a series of personally challenging events; trouble holding pregnancies, an industrial waste development proposal over the hill from her family home and then managing COVID lockdowns with a two week old baby and two older children - all of a sudden and seemingly with no notice, Skye hit a brick wall... she was really pushed to the edge

And it spurred on some big 'make you feel sick' kind of life decisions.

The biggest decision for the Ward family it was to sell the family farm, which had been in her mothers family for generations.

The reason I wanted to have Skye on this podcast not primarily because she has been through a lot but also because I think she has so much to offer in the way she articulates what she's learnt from these times.

And I think, well I hope her reflections on this most challenging of times - might be a balm to you too, as you navigate life's inevitable twists and turns.

Why does a psychologist become a psychologist?

Especially in rural Australia?

For Chantal Corish it has always been very private to her. She's never shared her true motivations publicly - but she does, here today.

Chantel has been practising psychology in rural Australia, Goondiwindi to be precise, for almost 20 years now

Right now she's undergoing a doctorate of philosophy specifically looking at safety on cotton farms - it's fascinating, innovative work that she hopes can one day be applied to all farms, not just cotton farms in Australia - she says it's the most joyful work she's done to date.

This conversation twists and turns - but we started at the beginning when she first decided to become a psychologist in a rural town - something pretty uncommon for the times.

This is a Manson Podcasting production in partnership with Rabobank Australia.

This is a little bit of a having your cake and eating it too kinda story.

Today's guest is an impressive example of a women who's managed to run a world-class business in the city while remaining strongly involved in the evolution of her family farm.

Ali Lord is the CEO of Headbox Australia, an innovative digital events company that she runs by going between her family farm in remote north QLD and head office in Sydney.

I've been wanting to speak with Ali since I heard her parents Artie and Casey Lord speak about succession planning at the Rabobank Tent at Beef Week.

Really, really impressive stuff.

And Ali, our guest today- their daughter - is the proof in the pudding.

CEO of her own company (which has not a lot to do with ag) and a silent partner, family stakeholder of the farm with a fiance who's a manager there.

This interview has a bit of everything - it's defs got a girl boss vibe and there's talk about succession planning, productvity hacks, travel tips, podcast recommendations, how to run a good business, childhood influences, gardening and even Elon Musk.

This is a Manson Podcasting production in partnership with Rabobank Australia.

One of the worlds biggest supermodels, arguably the world biggest supermodel, Gigi Hadid has commissioned an art work from a young artist who lives in Trangie in Central West NSW

Lottie Rae works from a shipping container at hoe home in Trangie where she live with her husband and two boys.

Last year she ditched her coffee shop and homewares shop in town to become a full time artist- and thank god she did otherwise we would not have this story to tell.

This is a Manson Podcasting production in partnership with Rabobank Australia.

We're all scouring the socials, the internet and the shops for 'gifts' right now - pressie giving season is here!

When I think about rural and regional businesses that make great presents - Whitney Spicer immediately comes to mind.

She an artist, who now also makes 'products' - scarves, tea towels, hats, shirts - from her small farm farm at Manildra near Orange in NSW where she lives with her husband and three young boys.

She's been clever in growing her brand awareness through collaborations. And is now looking forward to making wholesaling another pillar of her business.

If you're interested in collaborations, branded products and the world of wholesaling this is a great chat to get your ears around

Find Whitney and her products @whitneyspicer on Instagram or get shopping at whitneyspicer.com

This is a Manson podcasting production in partnership with Rabobank Australia.

We have heaps more interesting stories like this at mansonpodcasting.com

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For the last six and a half years Millwoods shoes owned by Jane Robertson has exponentially grown.

From just one type of shoe in 2019 to 37 different styles and colours of shoes 5 years later.

Business has grown 20% year on year at least and her shoes have been stocked in hundreds of stores all over Australia and New Zealand.

This conversation is a raw account of what a beast retail business can become when you're experiencing high growth.

Jane says all this 'getting bigger' might look great from the outside but it’s been so hard - waaaaay harder than she imagined and than many of you would be aware.

And so, she talks you through the in's and out's she's tried to keep up - financially: there's never much profit and banks don't want to lend you money and then there's the personal toll: which nearly sent Jane over the edge on 2024.

But we do start on a great note - talking about her fave part of the business, the shed, 50 metres from her house which has been totally converted to become her own Millwood Warehouse on her farm at Coolamon, a little town in NSW’s Riverina.

Emily Quigley is the founder of Peggy & Twig a luxury jewellery brand that lives in Trangie in central west New South Wales but was a feature on the runway at Paris Fashion Week this year.

What the hell?! How did this happen?

And what's happened to this small bush brand as a result?

This whole story is so not what you think.

The journey has been strategic, and hot and sweaty and intense.

It's a masterclass in ways to cleverly capitalise on 'opportunities' or periods of quick growth.

This is a Manson Podcasting podcast produced in partnership with Rabobank Australia.

How can I help agriculture? How can I use my skills and contacts?

Oh my god. I think this is the eternal question of females who've grown up on the land. I can definitely relate.

Um yes, skills from the runway in New York can help any agricultural business.

And that's how Gabby Neal who founded Intact Co - a capsule of staples made from100% wool - see's it too. She grew up on a wool farm near Condobolin, NSW and now runs her brand from Newcastle in between working at home on the farm.

Her aesthetic is modern, edgy and simple - there are no sheep or woodsheds in sight.

All I can say, is more of this please.

This podcast is produced in partnership with Rabobank Australia.

You can find more episodes and more rural lifestyle podcasts at mansonpodcasting.com

intactco.com.au

Jackie Elliott started Rural Women's Day - an event for rural women to get off the farm - because she was lonely.

Five years later, it's become a nation-wide success with numerous events, hosted in small rural communities all over Australia.

Rural Women's Day is a non-for-profit organisation and amazingly Jackie works as a volunteer. This will change with the inclusion of Squadron Energy as a major partner as of 2024.

Listen to Jackie's story and realise that you don't have to be qualified to make things happen in life you just have to have a 'reason' and enjoy it - and the rest will come.

If you want to host an event in your community get involved at ruralwomensday.com.au

This podcast is produced in partnership with Rabobank Australia.

Fin all our stories and sign up for our newsletter at mansonpodcasting.com

Julia Spicer OAM grew up in a small rural community and now lives with her husband Tony on at Goondiwindi, QLD.

Julia, the child of two teachers, has clearly been influenced by her parents vocation. She’s a teacher, a sharer, someone who likes to see others rise and shine - and in some ways this is her life’s work - getting regional Australia and it’s people on the map - and helping others to develop projects and businesses that give opportunity to people living outside of our cities.

Fresh out of an 18 month stint as the first ever regionally based Chief Entrepreneur of QLD, Julia is about to launch something new......

The Connection Table is a really unique and dynamic networking platform developed by Julia in partnership with former Winner of the Agrifutures Rural Woman of the Year award and lady of many projects, Jo Palmer. 

At it’s core, The Connection Table is about shepherding talented people from rural and regional Australia into the best boards, advisories and leadership roles in this country. 

Basically these guys want rural voices to be heard and valued at every level of decision making and they see The Connection Table as the mechanism to make this happen.

It’s designed to become THE place for executives, government, corporates and industry to look to when searching for their next CEO, board of directors, leadership team etc etc. 

FULL DISCLOSURE: I’ve been asked to be an ambassador for The Connection Table - so you will not only see me on board but also be hearing more about it from me in the future.

The Connection Table

Julia's book: Business in the Bush.

This podcast is produced in partnership with Rabobank Australia.