The Country Woman Podcast

Brontë also shares the behind-the-scenes reality of building something original, from shooting the first cover in a stock room with makeshift styling to booking future issues years ahead. Along the way, she talks candidly about switching off, protecting your mind, and why the best ideas still arrive at the worst possible time.This episode is for anyone who loves country style, media, entrepreneurship, or the story behind a brand that refuses to fit neatly into one box. It’s also a reminder that a strong idea, a clear point of view, and the courage to start now can take you much further than waiting for the perfect moment.If you’re drawn to women building something meaningful from the ground up, this conversation is packed with insight, ambition, and the kind of inspiration that makes you want to do the thing you’ve been putting off.

The first red stag stalked with Highland ponies is a raw, unforgettable look at deer management, tradition, and the emotion behind a day most people never get to see. Rhiannon Stevenson takes you from the pre-dawn nerves and rain-soaked anticipation to the golden, wind-swept hills of the Scottish Highlands. This is the day she has been working toward for ages, and she shares exactly what it felt like to finally experience the traditional pony-supported stalk she had dreamed of, from the range to the ridge.

You'll discover why deer are culled, what sustainable deer management actually protects, and how a carefully chosen stag is assessed in the field. Rhiannon also breaks down the role of the team around her - Cara from International Hunting Scotland, guide Lucy, and Kath the gillie - and what it means when a day on the hill is carried out by an all-women crew, including the ponies themselves.

We break down the practical side too: range practice, reading the wind, stalking uphill, crawling into position, waiting through heavy rain, and the traditional Highland pony system for bringing a deer off the hill. Along the way, Rhiannon shares the details that make the day feel real, from the stag's antler damage and age to the ethical reasons he was selected.

This episode asks what it means to take a life with respect, why emotion still has a place in field sports, and how tradition, conservation, and personal reflection can sit together in the same story. Rhiannon also closes with a powerful historical note from Ladies in the Field by Lady Violet Greville, launching a new project exploring women in sport and the field through history.

Essential listening if you care about stalking, deer management, Highland ponies, women in field sports, or the deeper ethics and beauty of life on the hill.

What if the fastest way to understand the countryside is to stop assuming you already do? Natalie shares how moving from industrial Essex into rural life changed everything from her daily routine and sense of community to the way she thinks about food, wildlife, and field sports. As a vegetarian who once had strong misconceptions about hunting and shooting, Natalie explains what shifted when she started asking better questions. She opens up about discovering clay shooting, finding confidence through a female instructor and ladies’ shooting club, and why one taster session turned into a genuine passion. If you’ve ever wondered whether shooting is really only for “a certain type” of person, this conversation will challenge that idea.

Natalie also shares the slower, more intentional rhythm she was searching for after COVID reshaped work and life, plus the simple countryside pleasures she now loves most.

Essential listening if you’re curious about country life, interested in field sports, or want a thoughtful conversation about changing your mind without losing your values.

Cara also opens up about the realities behind the glossy Instagram moments, the importance of community in rural life, and the old-fashioned barter spirit that still thrives in the countryside. She talks candidly about serving clients with very different abilities, including an unforgettable trip that made success possible for a hunter returning to the hill after a life-changing injury.This episode is for anyone who loves the outdoors, is curious about field sports, or wants to understand the people who quietly make extraordinary rural experiences happen. It is also a celebration of women in country life, the landscapes that shape us, and the wildlife, people, and traditions that make the countryside feel alive.If you’ve ever wondered what really happens behind the scenes of a sporting day, or why a walk on the hill can feel just as rich as the shot itself, this one will stay with you long after it ends.

This week on The Country Woman Podcast, I'm joined by Jackie. A mum, clay and game shooter, deer stalker, and the woman behind The Barn at Beal on the beautiful Northumberland coast.

What started as a conversation about field sports quickly became a conversation about saying yes to new opportunities, building confidence, and not letting self-doubt hold you back.

We chat about how Jackie found her way into shooting, what she's learnt through deer stalking, and why she believes field sports are far more welcoming than many people expect. We also talk about running a successful business, championing local food, balancing family life, and the importance of simply giving things a go.

Whether you're already involved in country sports or you're just curious about taking that first step, I hope this episode leaves you feeling inspired to have a crack at something new.

If you enjoyed today's conversation, I'd love it if you could follow The Country Woman Podcast, leave a rating or review, and share it with someone who loves the countryside as much as you do.

The advice around your first gundog is often varies. More training, more pressure, more comparing yourself to the polished dogs on Instagram and it can leave you wondering if you are simply not cut out for it.

Leanne gets brutally honest about what it really looks like to start from zero, lose confidence, and rebuild both your dog training and your own belief in yourself.

From her life as a vegetarian who was once anti-hunt and anti-shooting to becoming a gundog owner, Leanne shares the unexpected shift that changed how she sees the world of countryside sports. She talks about the early puppy chaos, the moments of doubt that had her questioning whether Arthur was even better off with someone else, and the practical changes that helped turn things around.

Leanne also shares balancing dog training with family life, home educating her son, and reclaiming a sense of identity after leaving her job as a veterinary nurse. If you've ever felt behind, overwhelmed, or embarrassed by where your dog is at, this conversation is the reassurance you need.

Essential listening if you're a new gundog owner, a beginner in field sports, or anyone who needs a reminder that progress is not meant to look perfect.

Britain’s farming story is more complicated and more misunderstood than most people realize. Eden Hill - first-generation farmer, shepherdess, and co-owner of Meatbox Family - opens up why she sells meat directly to customers, and what she wishes more people understood about animal welfare, sustainability, and life on a hill farm.

Eden and host Rhiannon dig into the reality behind the headlines: a 550-acre farm in Lancashire, cattle, sheep, pigs, a direct-to-consumer meat box business, and the constant pressure of keeping it all running while raising a young child. From lambing and social media education to the chaos of moving farms, Eden shares how she went from a vet practice to becoming a self-employed shepherdess and, eventually, a full-time farmer.

Rhiannon and Eden also unpack the emotional reality of caring deeply for animals that are raised for food, the misconceptions that spread online, and the criticism farmers face when they try to explain what they do. Eden speaks candidly about death threats, the dangers of misinformation, and why she believes farmers have a responsibility to tell their own story.

This episode is for anyone who wants to understand where British meat comes from, how a modern family farm actually survives, and why the conversation around food production deserves more nuance. If you care about farming, animal welfare, food ethics, or simply want a clearer picture of the people behind your plate, this one will stay with you.

What if the animal in the photo isn’t the whole story?

In this week’s Tea Break, I’m talking about why conversations around shooting are so often reduced to a single photograph, a single sentence and an emotional reaction, particularly on social media.

Compassion for animals absolutely matters, but so does looking at the bigger picture. What happens to the habitat? The songbirds, butterflies and other wildlife? The people managing the land? And what happens if that management disappears?

I’m briefly unpacking why shooting, conservation and wildlife management are rarely as black and white as social media makes them appear, and why we should be willing to look beyond the moment the trigger is pulled and consider everything that happens before and after it.

With DEFRA’s new call for evidence into gamebird rearing, release and shooting in England now underway, I also look at why understanding the evidence, and asking better questions, matters more than ever.

Because caring about one animal shouldn’t mean ignoring everything else.

A town-raised woman, a spaniel called Harley, and one life-changing first day beating. Georgia Devan shares how she went from anti-hunting family, to deer stalking, wildfowling, and hunting abroad - all after a working cocker spaniel pulled her into the countryside.

Georgia opens up about the animals and places that shaped her path, from her beloved first working dog Harley to the heavy rifle she learned on, the gear every beginner actually needs, and the unforgettable trips that took her to South Africa and Sweden. She also breaks down what deer stalking and wildfowling really involves, and how a day in the field can challenge almost everything outsiders think they know about rural sports. By the end, you may not just understand hunting better. You may see the countryside, the people in it, and the animals in a completely new way.

Essential listening if you’re curious about deer stalking, wildfowling, hunting abroad, or you want a smarter, more honest conversation about why women belong in rural sports too.

What happens when two complete beginners take on clay pigeon shooting? Rhiannon brings her long-suffering friends Vic and Rachel to the range for a first attempt filled with nerves, excitement, and very low expectations. Rachel has some distant rifle-shooting experience from her cadet days, while Vic has never fired a gun before. Together, they get kitted out, meet Sandy, and find out whether confidence, past experience, and good coaching is enough to hit a moving target. Expect first-timer nerves, friendly competition, and the inevitable question: will either of them actually hit anything?