You’ll laugh so hard in this episode, you’ll wet yourself. But then, learn how you can fix that wee problem of yours too! Many of us probably never thought about our pelvic floor, until we had a baby. Perhaps you were sent home with exercises to tighten it up.But did you know, your pelvic floor can be too tight? Or that stress, hormonal changes, lifting heavy things, and even constipation can all potentially lead to pelvic floor issues? We meet Courtenay Polock (Wodonga, VIC), who is an accredit...
Apr 03, 2024•34 min•Season 5Ep. 9
Are we allowed to call it a 'crisis yet?" As any Mum in rural and regional Australia and they can tell you stress and the cost of not having access to reliable childcare. Rural women are waiting months if they are 'lucky', but it is not unusual now to wait years for a place in childcare. The Parenthood has released a report, called "Choiceless" which sheds light on the difficult experiences more than 150 women around the country have had. According to the report about 450 towns with a population...
Mar 20, 2024•53 min•Season 5Ep. 8
Do you own a small rural or regional business and feel bogged down or just completely overwhelmed by the thought of marketing? Do you use Facebook or Instagram, but aren't sure where to turn, to take your business to the next level and build your community? Top social media and marketing consultant, Jenn Donovan has recently released a book; Small town, Big impact: 107 Simple Marketing Strategies for Regional Business Success. Jenn is a country girl, who lives in Yarrawonga, NSW. So she actually...
Mar 06, 2024•43 min•Season 5Ep. 7
Is 'volunteerism dead... or dying'? We know volunteer numbers in the city are dropping, but are our rural volunteers feeling burnt out too? And why is often the same few people doing all the hard work? Angie Nisbet, host and creator of " Married to the Land " podcast joins us for this special collaboration episode of Ducks on the Pond. Angie lives in north-western QLD, 80 km south of Hughenden, where she's a rural mother, wife, grazier, podcast host... and dedicated community volunteer, includin...
Feb 21, 2024•44 min•Season 5Ep. 6
Why do we have such a tough time acknowledging that death, is part of life? If you talk about death, you might be considered morbid, or worry that you'll upset someone. But is our fear of planning for death, actually preventing us from celebrating the life our loved ones lived? In this episode, we hear from two rural women who are changing the way we approach death, to better honour the lives of the deceased and help those left behind grieve: * Becky Barry - marriage celebrant turned funeral cel...
Feb 07, 2024•49 min•Season 5Ep. 5
Being outspoken in agriculture can mean taking on vegan activists, the Government and even other members of the agriculture industry.... all in one day. Gillian Fennell is a South Australian cattle farmer who is not afraid to call out misinformation and spin when it comes to farming. She has gained a significant following on social media for her ability to cut through the media noise. In this episode, Gillian discusses some of the major media debates in agriculture at the moment, including: * He...
Jan 24, 2024•37 min•Season 5Ep. 4
Have you ever felt like you missed the opportunity to chase your big life dream? Perhaps you feel like you're 'too old' now or the juggle of farming life or kids has made it impossible? This episode is about proving those beliefs wrong. We meet two women who are building two creative careers, while living rurally and raising children. * Jasmine Mansbridge - Artist based in Hamilton, VIC. Jasmine is known for her striking geometric-style paintings, murals and sculptures. She now showcases her wor...
Jan 10, 2024•57 min•Season 5Ep. 3
You can grow up in the country, or choose to live in the country... and still have an extraordinary life. Lisa Millar, host of ABC News Breakfast and former foreign correspondent is a perfect example of this. She began her life on a dairy farm in the small QLD town of Kilkivan. But she always had big ambitions to be a journalist and to travel the world. And turns out, she did precisely that. But her success hasn't always been easy. In this episode she talks about: * Some of the big stories she c...
Dec 27, 2023•46 min•Season 5Ep. 2
So what's funny about fertility? For anyone going through the 'fertility treatment journey', probably not a lot. But we meet two rural women who are sharing their stories; the ups, the downs... and the downright funny ... as a way to break the silence and stigma around what actually happens in assisted reproduction. From being told you have 'juicy follicles," to having to keep a sperm sample warm while racing down a country highway... these are just some of the strange realities of what it can t...
Dec 13, 2023•51 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Should you go to sleep on an argument with your partner? Why do we sometimes get along better with our partner... when we are away from each other? Step Schmidt, founder of Farm Life Psych and South Australian farmer, answers these questions and so much more, in this third and final episode in our Dealing With Stress collaboration series. In this episode, Steph gives us practical tips, to help us turn up as the best version of ourselves in our relationships. Harvest, shearing, sowing... these ar...
Nov 22, 2023•31 min
When it comes to managing your stress levels, do you need to sort yourself out? We can be so busy with life that we forget to do those little things, that keep us level headed and bring us back to centre, after a stressful time. So in part 2 of our collaboration series with Steph Schmidt, of Farm Life Pscyh, we discuss how to find the good de-stressing activities that work for you. No, going for the chocolate bar or glass of wine every night is not the answer. Although Steph explains we so often...
Nov 15, 2023•29 min
When a small group of farmers put their hands up to say, "Hey, our community needs help." You listen. So we're supporting the Farmers Helping Our Own initiative, which is running workshops across parts of New South Wales and Queensland. They say it's a rally cry; to help farmers dealing with the current perfect storm of high input costs, high interest rates, dry conditions, and low cattle prices. There are tough farming decisions being made right now. Or worse; not being made. People are stuck. ...
Nov 13, 2023•20 min
It's hard to imagine farm life, without stress. But how do you know, if you're "just a bit stressed" or that perhaps you might need to look more seriously at your mental health? This is the first episode of a 3-part series on "Dealing with Stress", featuring Stephanie Schmidt of Farm Life Psych. Steph is a clinical psychologist, South Australian farmer and mother of three. So, she gets it. Steph shares her own mental health struggles, including post natal depression... and the strategies she use...
Nov 08, 2023•36 min
Starting a soil carbon project is exciting right? Well it is... but there are a few Government regulation hoops you'll need to jump through. In part two of our series on how to build a soil carbon project, Sarah Whinney of Chatsworth House Pastoral , offers her advice on how to make sure you start off on the right foot, from project registration to making sure you have "a newness factor" (which is a government requirement). Sarah explains how she, along with her husband Tom, approached baselinin...
Oct 18, 2023•24 min
Ever considered starting a soil carbon project? It's hard to decide if it's right for your farm and what the opportunities might be in the future. So, in this two-part collaboration series, we look at why you would consider a soil carbon project and how to actually do it. Sarah Whinney is a farmer, mum and co-director of Chatsworth House Pastoral, in Western Victoria. She lives in a a historic homestead, that was even used by British Royalty in the 1800s. And while the history of the property is...
Oct 11, 2023•28 min
A bonus episode to celebrate "Flanno for a Farmer Day!" Tess Brookman, who found love on Farmer Wants a Wife last year with "Farmer Harry" joins us for this special episode. Tess is helping to raise money for the Drought Angels' new charity initiative, Flanno For A Farmer Day, August 25. In this episode, Tess talks about what it's really like behind the scenes of the reality TV show. Tess is living at Airlie Beach, QLD while she finishes off her psychology degree and Harry works with stud cattle...
Aug 24, 2023•30 min
Hi! We've been busy during our Ducks on the Pond "off season" (shall we call that, Ducks Off the Pond?) Anyway.... we want to tell you all about it! In this episode we discuss: The Rural Podcasting Co - Kirsten's new biz! If you've ever wanted to create your podcast, Kirsten can help. She's offering podcast coaching to launch your new podcast in less than 3 months (among other pod related things!) Rural Women's Day - Can you believe Jackie has expanded her not-for-profit to 12 events around Aust...
Aug 16, 2023•15 min
What does your farm office look like? Is it a mess... or does it exist only as a pile on the kitchen bench? The bigger question to ask yourself though is.... is this the space where you are most productive? If you, answered "no," then never fear! Alison Hamilton is back for our third and final episode in this collaboration series, "Being the Boss of Your Farm Office". As a farm office coach, Alison says having a comfortable, functional space that you actually want to be in (ie. no cold, dirty sh...
Jul 26, 2023•25 min
If someone else had to step into your farm office and run the show for 6 months while you were away... could they do it? That's the test Alison Hamilton , Farm Administration Coach, uses to understand whether the systems and process in a farm office are clearly defined and running smoothly. If you're NOT at this point, don't worry! You're certainly not alone. So, in part two of our collaboration series, Alison talks about some of the loopholes to look out for in our systems that might be costing...
Jul 19, 2023•28 min
“Time cannot be managed – you need to prioritise, and you need to prioritise time for you as well.” – Alison Hamilton Doing the farm books or running a small business office is an important role, that often gets downplayed (including by ourselves!) Women can can feel as though they're playing a supportive or even 'lesser' role in the farm business, often supporting everyone else’s needs first, before their own. But that mindset will only leave you feeling stressed out and ultimately unsatisfied....
Jul 12, 2023•25 min
The final years of high school are the some of the best, but most stressful years of our lives. But in the country, the challenges can be even greater; from virtual classrooms , having to travel long distances and battling bad internet connections. This episode is for both parents of senior school students and the teenagers going through it. If you're a parent, supporting your child through their final exams can have big impacts on your life - from your own career to social engagements. So how c...
Jun 21, 2023•46 min
Do you have a burning passion to address a social issue? Sometimes in rural Australia, when you see something needs to be done, you look around... and there's just YOU left to do it. So, if you are up for the challenge, then this episode has some solid advice on how to build a not-for-profit (NFP), register it correctly for your purpose and even turn it into a fully fledged charity. Hear the story of how Drought Angels rapidly grew from a gmail account and two mobile phones in Queensland, into a...
Jun 07, 2023•44 min•Season 4Ep. 5
Can altruism and business mix? Maybe not in the purest sense...but there are many rural women who have created strong businesses, while also having a bigger social or environmental purpose. So, how can you the ensure your higher purpose doesn't distract from being profitable? Or can you make it a useful marketing tool? In this episode we ask two rural women, who have grown substantial businesses, while also "doing a good thing": Elizabeth Hermann - founder and jeweller, Argent Silversmith , whic...
May 24, 2023•44 min•Season 4Ep. 3
Ever been ignored at a farm expo or agtech conference? It's a frustrating experience for any woman... and foolish behaviour if you're working at an agtech company. There's research which shows that women are often the ones who find the tech and implement it, on farming businesses. In this episode, we look at why women have been the tech decision-makers over the past 10 years, how to find the right digital solutions and tech for your business and how tech can open up completely new opportunities....
May 10, 2023•43 min•Season 4Ep. 3
Are you priority number 1 in your own life? As rural women, we often put ourselves behind the kids, our partner, the farm business or even the community. So this episode is about how to break that expectation that we need to be everything for everyone, everyday... and take small steps to build in more time for our own health. Featuring: * Charlotte Heald - holistic health coach (and former nurse) and organic dairy farmer based in Norsewood, New Zealand. * Ginny Stevens - founder and CEO of Activ...
Apr 26, 2023•41 min•Season 4Ep. 2
If you can’t get your partner to book a holiday with you… would you just go without them? That’s just one of the tips and tricks we discuss in this episode on how to convince your partner to go on a holiday… because we all know what farmers can be like. We also look at the research behind the benefits of taking a break and the psychological barriers around taking time away from the farm that our partner (or even ourselves) might have. And we get some practical advice about how to discuss this is...
Apr 12, 2023•47 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Season Four of Ducks on the Pond is kicking off! Kirsten and Jackie make excuses as to why they have taken longer than expected to bring back the podcast. They discuss what they've been up to in between seasons (including exciting news about Rural Women's Day) ... and preview what's coming up this season. In reality, this short episode is just a fun catch up, so join us! This episode is sponsored by Alison Hamilton , farm administration coach and creator of "The Functioning Farm Office" We're lo...
Apr 11, 2023•10 min
Our teenagers might look like us, be as big as us...but cognitively, there is a difference. This can involve risk taking or it might just be a lack of complex decision making. They're also simply inexperienced. In this episode, we look at the safety risks on farm involved with our older teenagers (aged 14 and above). This is the age where we often put more responsibility on our children on the farm, because they are more 'useful'. But they still need boundaries and advice. We also discuss mum gu...
Jan 25, 2023•27 min
When you live so far away from the nearest hospital and ambulance response times are blowing out... should you wait for an ambulance or take your child in to hospital yourself? Also, how do you know you're not being overly anxious about your kids going out on the farm? These are just some of the questions we explore in episode two of our summer mini series on child farm safety. This episode focuses on safety and first aid for children aged between 5 and 15. Intensive care paediatric nurses and r...
Jan 18, 2023•27 min
No one wants a 'cotton wool kid', but as parents we know how unsafe the farming environment can be for children. In Australia, the rate of fatal injuries amongst our regional and remote children is three times higher than kids who live in the city. So how do we balance the freedoms and family connections that growing up on a farm brings, with making sure our children don't find themselves in dangerous situations? In this special, three-part series, Kirsten speaks with two intensive care paediatr...
Jan 11, 2023•29 min
