This final episode of Made in Lithgow for 2025 is a reflection on what happens when you slow down and actually listen.

Recorded just days before Christmas, Brad and Ian look back on a year of conversations that revealed consistent themes across Lithgow and the wider region — resilience without noise, belonging over ambition, service over ego, and a town quietly navigating change without rejecting its past.

From packed community events and grassroots volunteering to honest conversations about energy transition, cost of living, hospitality, health, and local leadership, this episode ties together what the podcast has uncovered: Lithgow isn’t stuck — it’s choosing its future.

This is a thank-you to the guests, listeners, and community members who showed up, shared their stories, and reminded us why long-form conversation still matters.

A grounded, honest end-of-year episode about people, place, and progress — and why this podcast exists in the first place.

In this episode of Made in Lithgow, Brad and Ledge sit down with Bree and Kayla — the unstoppable sister duo behind Pretty Party People, fresh from winning the 2025 LDCC Excellence in Micro Business Award for the second time. From humble beginnings in their mum and dad’s dining room to becoming the goto balloon stylists and event designers across Lithgow, Bathurst and the Blue Mountains, their story is the perfect blend of hustle, heart, and creativity.

We dive into:

 🎈 How a simple 21st birthday idea sparked a thriving regional business

 💪 The reality of juggling full-time jobs with a booming side hustle

 📦 Growing their inventory, expanding into custom props, and serving 500+ events

 🤝 Collaborations with local icons — from Workies to Zig Zag Railway to Black Gold

 💥 The pressure, burnout, tears, triumphs… and the moments that make it all worth it

Pretty Party People aren’t just decorating events — they’re reshaping what celebrations look like in regional NSW. If you love stories of gutsy young locals turning passion into something powerful, this one’s unmissable.

Born in a small Canadian town and now a very well-respected community figure, Jane Fenton has lived a story that feels like a movie — filled with love, resilience, and a deep sense of belonging.

In this heartfelt episode of Made in Lithgow, Jane shares her incredible journey from Toronto to Wallerawang, how she met her husband Paul on the Great Ocean Road, and the life-changing moment she donated a kidney to save him.

We talk about the power of volunteering, her leadership at the Lithgow Hospital Coffee Shop, and why she believes community spirit is the real currency of regional Australia.

From raising a family to helping others, Jane reminds us what makes Lithgow truly special — its people, its heart, and its ability to rally when it matters most

Tune in for an episode that celebrates love, courage, and the quiet strength that defines country towns.

In this episode of Made in Lithgow, Brad and Ledge sit down with Kelly Hamilton — a South Bowenfels-born powerhouse blending country soul and rock grit.

Kel opens up about her journey from Lithgow’s live pub scene to fronting her own band Sidecar and sharing stages with Aussie icons like Darryl Braithwaite, Amber Lawrence, and The Radiators. But just as her music career was taking off, a surgical injury left her without a voice — and doctors told her she might never sing again.

This is the story of how she fought back.
🎙️ From silence to strength, Kel rebuilt her voice, her confidence, and her purpose.
🎸 Hear her stunning new single “Without You” — a raw and emotional track that captures love, loss, and resilience.

In this episode of Made in Lithgow, Brad and Ledge slow things right down — sort of.

They’re joined by Shell from Wollemi Wellbeing, a Lithgow local who grew up running barefoot through State Mine Gully, trained in yoga and meditation in Rishikesh, India, and came home to help her community find balance in a noisy world.

What follows is classic Made in Lithgow:

A mix of heartfelt storytelling, hilarious tangents, and unexpectedly deep moments — including a guided meditation that nearly put Brad into orbit and Ledge into a nap.

There’s talk of water shortages, 40 Bands, The Nightspot, Blue Lotus tea, teenage dopamine hits, and what it really means to live well in Lithgow.

It’s funny, grounding, and just what you didn’t know you needed.

In this episode of Made in Lithgow, Brad and Legend sit down with Steve from Lithgow Oberon Landcare, a man who has literally rolled up his sleeves to heal country and community. From restoring creeks and tackling invasive weeds to building habitat corridors for Gang-Gang Cockatoos and leading citizen-science frog monitoring, Steve shares the challenges and rewards of regenerating landscapes across Lithgow and Oberon.

We dive into:

• What Landcare is and how it works locally.
• Restoring waterways and creating wildlife corridors.
• Youth, community, and schools stepping up for the environment.
• The role of Landcare in a transitioning Lithgow economy.
• Why getting involved in local projects is good for the land and the soul.

Whether you’re curious about bush regeneration, worried about weeds, or just want to know how to get started, this conversation shows that every small action adds up to a greener, stronger Lithgow.

👉 Made in Lithgow brings real stories of grit, growth, and community spirit from the Seven Valleys. Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode of Made in Lithgow, we chat with Tallan Egan — son of proud Lithgow locals Kyle and Jo Egan — about his incredible journey from the Lithgow Storm and Workies fields to the Western Rams, into the One NZ Warriors development system, and now his signing with the Newcastle Knights Jersey Flegg squad.

- Tallan shares the reality of chasing the NRL dream:

- Long training days and intense game-style sessions`

- Nutrition, bulking up and recovery science

- The emotional challenge of leaving home at 18

- His inspirations — from family to local coaches and mates

- Why nothing beats coming back to Lithgow for a Workies schnitty

This is a must-listen for junior players, parents, coaches, and anyone proud of our local sporting talent. Tallan shows that Lithgow grit belongs on the big stage.

In this episode of Made in Lithgow, Brad and Ian sit down with Dan, CEO of the Zig Zag Railway—an icon of Lithgow, NSW and one of the most important pieces of railway heritage in Australia. From its origins in the 1860s as an engineering marvel connecting Sydney to the west, to its rebirth as a heritage railway after devastating fires, the Zig Zag represents resilience, innovation, and community spirit.

Dan shares his personal journey leading the railway’s revival, the challenges of restoring century-old locomotives, and the vision for making Zig Zag a world-class tourism experience. We discuss the Railway’s vital role in Lithgow’s history, its impact on local businesses, and the exciting future opportunities with the Western Sydney Airport opening in 2026.

If you care about heritage, tourism, or Lithgow’s future, this episode is a must-listen.

From Lithgow to the world stage: journalist and podcaster Lisa Mclean has covered everything from Prince Andrew and Epstein to Vanderpump scandals — but nothing has captivated the nation like the Mushroom Murder Trial.

Lisa sat inside the courtroom, tracked Erin Patterson’s lies, and brings us first-hand insight into one of Australia’s most shocking crimes — a Sunday lunch that ended in tragedy, three deaths, and headlines across the globe.

In this exclusive chat, we cover:

✅ Lisa’s strange online link to Erin years before the murders

✅ The chilling details of the fatal Beef Wellington lunch

✅ Why this case gripped Australia (and the world) like no other

✅ The ripple effect on families, victims, and even the mushroom industry

✅ Lisa’s Lithgow roots, journalism journey, and her upcoming documentary, Death Cap

It’s raw, gripping, and one you won’t hear anywhere else.

What do you get when you mix a butcher’s apron, a drum kit, a long bus ride to Blue Mountains Grammar, and a love for Lithgow? You get Blake Edgell – musician, family man, and one of the region’s leading real estate agents.

In this episode of Made in Lithgow, Brad and Legend take a trip down memory lane with Blake — from late-night gigs with Wide Load, to meeting his childhood sweetheart Kate, to helping locals score their very first home. Along the way, we dive into vacant shops, housing affordability, and the big projects that could reshape Lithgow’s future.

It’s a conversation about opportunity, optimism, and why Lithgow is worth investing in – not just in property, but in community, connection, and a way of life.