G’day, I’m Em Herbert and I’m the co-host of this podcast Life on the Land, alongside Skye. I’m also lucky enough to write for the Graziher magazine. Each week I speak to women across this big brown land of ours, who eke out an existence on the land, or whose lives and life’s work are directly entwined with the bush.

It’s excruciating to pick a favourite Life on the Land episode as there have been so many excellent yarns. However, one that stands out for me, is my chat with Olympia Yarger. I’d interviewed Olympia several times before about her extraordinary waste infrastructure business, Goterra – but I’d never delved into Olympia’s own personal story. It sent ripples throughout the Graziher community, with so many people reaching out to say they were as deeply touched by Olympia’s magnificent eloquence, her loss, her rawness and vulnerability as I was.

It made me think about grief, how inevitable it is, but also the flip side of loss – the searing love that made it possible. It also broadened my mind to Australia’s waste crisis, the power of maggots and the incredible minds on agriculture’s frontline, working with some genius solutions.

I really hope you enjoy listening to this episode again, as much as I did.