Ducks on the Pond
Episodes
How to Understand Your Leadership Style - Australian Dairy Conference collab episode
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Farmers are often portrayed as being lone operators, but we know that working in agriculture, or any rural business, is a team sport. No matter what s...
What itâs like to wind up a business you love - Nikki Davey
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nikki Davey is well known in the rural women's community as an entrepreneur, flower farmer, speaker and absolute go-getter. She founded Grown Not...
How do we account for sustainable farming practices? FCA Collab, pt 3
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It can feel very murky when diving into measuring things like nature, biodiversity, carbon and greenhouse gas emissions. Essentially, how do you kno...
What does âclimate smart farmingâ even mean? - Collab with Farmers for Climate Action, pt.2
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
âClimate smart farmingâ has become somewhat of a buzz word (or buzz phrase, rather!). But what does that even mean? Instead of becoming caught up ...
Women as Change Makers in Ag - Fiona Marshall and Cressida Cains, FCA Collab Series, pt1
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Behind every good Ag business, is a good woman. Well, a smart and caring one.There are many women doing innovative things on farm and in the broader a...
Creating Cultural and Systemic Change - Rural Women Lead Collab Series, pt. 3
06 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you create systemic change, especially when it involves changing the culture and attitudes of not just a workplace, but an entire society? The...
Knowing Your Story and Building Genuine Connections - Rural Women Lead Collab series
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Storytelling is so important for connection and information retention (there are several studies that prove this!) But have you ever stopped to think ...
Improving Your Focus and Wellbeing by Biohacking Your Nervous System - Rural Women Lead Collab Series
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you havenât heard about âbio-hackingâ - itâs all about using our neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin and hormones to maximise...
The Hidden Economics of Farm Life: Succession, business and drought.
16 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Farm life can sometimes be romanticized, with the wide open spaces, animals and the freedom to do what you want. You might love the bush and your comm...
Changing the conversation to attract more doctors and nurses to rural Australia
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Thereâs a perception that rural healthcare means second-best or second-rate. Whereas the opposite is actually true. Rural medical students often out...
How to start a renewable energy project - Karin Stark and Susan Findlay Tickner
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Regional Australia has always been at the frontline for energy innovation and delivery. Sure, it's the politicians in the cities that talk about ...
âClimateâ is Not a Dirty Word - Natalie Collard, CEO of Farmers for Climate Action
18 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There's sometimes a feeling in agriculture, that âclimateâ and âclimate actionâ is a dirty word. Despite âthe weatherâ being every fa...
Is the Only Option Boarding School? Feat. Louise Martin and Alana Moller
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It can be a hard case to argue⊠that your children should be subsidised to attend a private boarding school. But when you live in rural and remote A...
âSay Their Nameâ - How to help someone through baby loss
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For too long, we as a society have dealt with the loss of a baby, by almost pretending he or she didnât exist. But for the mother, that baby is alwa...
Finding Courage and Acceptance through the Chapters of Life - Ashley Molloy
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We get to design some of the chapters of our life⊠but others we donât. Ashley Molloy has been a police officer, worked in marketing, built her ...
Opportunities in Agtech and Sustainability - Sarah Nolet and Ebony Greaves
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We are hearing more and more about the use of agtech for precision farming tech, for water level monitoring, soil carbon accounting, and so much more....
Getting the Issues that Matter to Us on the Political Agenda
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Weâre in the middle of a Federal election campaignâŠand you can already see that issues such as the cost of living, housing, health and crime are g...
Beyond Scones: Season 7 of Ducks on the Pond is coming...
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We're coming back! And we're looking at the BIG issues facing Australian rural women. From healthcare, baby loss to climate change... this S...
Guilt-free and going after what YOU want in life - Karen Foster & Jodie Fleming
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have a goal or dream that you want to pursue, but stop yourself because you feel itâs too selfish or you donât have enough time? Sometimes...
Tackling the big, complex issues in agriculture - Catherine Marriott and Kirsten Diprose
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Agriculture isnât just the act of growing crops or tending to the animals, as the dictionary likes to define it. And it's how outsiders can see...
Knowledge in Ag is Power pt. 3 - Lifting an entire industry - feat. Emily King, AWI
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tea tree oil and nanotechnology for fly strike and foot-rot resistant sheepâŠ. These are just some of the exciting innovations happening in agricultu...
Knowledge in Ag is Power Pt.2 - Building a Farming Business From Scratch - Dr Lexie Leonard
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Owning a home these days is hard enough, so what about building your own farm from scratch? Dr Lexie Leonard is a vet, an animal health trainer and a...
Knowledge in Ag is Power - Part 1. Managing the Family Farm - Rachel McGrath
12 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Women have a powerful voice in agriculture, but would you call it equal to men? In Australia, there are more than 88, 000 women working in agricultur...
Two Smart Blondes - for Lovers of Film, TV, News and Pop Culture! Feat. Leila McDougall and Kate Atkinson (Sea Change, Wentworth)
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
New podcast alert! If you're into film, TV, pop culture, the media, and what it actually means for us, then you'll love Two Smart Blondes....
Paving the way for more women in country footy - Tara McGrath-West and Bec Malseed
22 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Chances are, when you were growing up, the idea of becoming a professional female footballer or even a female footy umpire for menâs games⊠was si...
How to turn your career skills into a business - Rebecca Saunders and Paige Cross
08 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If youâve spent a decade or more building a professional career - the idea of starting a business might seem out of reach. But you have plenty of sk...
Convincing your partner (or yourself!) to book a holiday (Popular re-release)
25 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you canât get your partner to book a holiday with you⊠would you just go without them? Thatâs just one of the tips and tricks we discuss in t...
Why youâre allowed to care about the clothes you wear - Marion Saunders and Olivia Thwaites
11 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to WHAT you wear, do you ever feel damned if you do care, but also damned if you donât?Clothing is not trivial, itâs actually an exp...
Making friends when youâre new to town or want to expand your circle
27 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode sponsor: Dimity Smith, Founder of GRO Rural If youâve moved to a small town or even moved back to your hometown, after a long time awayâŠ...
Does HOW we talk about our rural men, matter? Part 2 with Louise O'Neill
13 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Does how we talk about men influence the massive problem of violence against women?There are conversations we need to have in broader society about fa...
Does HOW we talk about rural men, matter? Part 1 with Leila McDougall
30 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With gender roles for men not being as defined as perhaps they once were, what does this mean for our rural men who grew up with certain ideas of &apo...
Balancing Big Goals and Chronic Illness
16 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
**EPISODE SPONSOR: Moore Australia**Being diagnosed with a chronic illness is a massive change. And most people who have experienced this, speak about...
Are bricks and mortar stores dead?
02 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
**EPISODE SPONSOR: Rural Womenâs Day**Â Thereâs this persistent notion that starting up a retail store in the main street of town is just too hard...
Getting Your Next Big Idea Off the Ground - Angie Armstrong & Natalie Egleton
18 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
** Episode Sponsor: Cheeky Mac Productions - do the 1000 Rural Women Survey!Weâre full of good ideas here in the country. So how do you access the f...
Can you have a screen career in the country?
04 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
**Sponsored by the Victorian Womenâs Trust - Check out Rural Women Online, free digital skills platform.Thereâs this idea that if you want to make...
BONUS: Is it better to raise your kids on a farm or in the city?
27 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is parenting on a farm different to parenting in the city? What are our farm kids missing out on... and do the benefits of farm life out way the drawb...
Self Care is Not Selfish (Pt3) - Hormones and Happy Chemicals - Dr Belinda Bell
05 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
**COLLABORATION WITH LETS TALK**Gosh itâs fun, being a woman. So how much of how weâre feeling is actually at the whim of our hormones and brain c...
Self Care is Not Selfish (Pt2) - How to support others, while looking after yourself - Jenna Robinson
29 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
* *COLLAB SERIES WITH LET'S TALK**A conversation can save someone's life.So, when someone you care about is not OK, how do you start the con...
Self Care is Not Selfish (Pt1) - Abbi Power & Karen Foster
22 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How did we get to that point, where we think having a shower... or going grocery shopping alone is "self care?" .It isn't. In this 3-...
Does the Farm Always Have to Come First?- Claire Booth & Chloe Brown
01 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
**EPISODE SPONSORED BY JOY JOHNS WINES**Does the farm always HAVE to come first? Â We meet two very successful women in agriculture who are challengin...
Becoming a "Bush Podpreneur" - How Six Rural Podcasters Built Their Audio Empires
17 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This Episode is Sponsored by: Creative Little SoulYes, we invented the term âBush Podpreneur.â But thatâs because thereâs a phenomenon thatâ...
I've Found My Pelvic Floor, Now What Do I Do With It? - Courtenay Polock
03 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Youâll laugh so hard in this episode, youâll wet yourself. But then, learn how you can fix that wee problem of yours too!Many of us probably never...
Why is it just Mums who can see the childcare crisis in rural Australia?
20 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are we allowed to call it a 'crisis yet?"Â As any Mum in rural and regional Australia and they can tell you stress and the cost of not havi...
Do You Need a Book? A Podcast? Tik Tok? Finding the right marketing strategy
06 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
What's happening to 'volunteerism' in the country? - Collab with Married to the Land's Angie Nisbet
21 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is 'volunteerism dead... or dying'? We know volunteer numbers in the city are dropping, but are our rural volunteers feeling burnt out too...
Celebrating End of Life - Becky Barry & Colleen Hughson
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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&...
What It's Like to Be Outspoken in Ag - Gillian Fennell
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Being outspoken in agriculture can mean taking on vegan activists, the Government and even other members of the agriculture industry.... all in one da...
Your Big Dream is Not Over - Jasmine Mansbridge & Maggie Hartley
10 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 jugg...
Popular Re-Release: Lisa Millar, ABC TV Host
27 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Fertility Options in the Bush - The Funny Side of a Serious Issue
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
So what's funny about fertility? For anyone going through the 'fertility treatment journey', probably not a lot. But we meet two ru...
Dealing with Stress Pt. 3 - When you and your partner are running on empty
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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?Ste...
Dealing with Stress Pt. 2 - Sorting yourself out first
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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, t...
SPECIAL: Why there's a "rally cry" by farmers for mental health
13 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 H...
Dealing with Stress: Pt 1 - Is it "just stress" or something bigger?
08 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 n...
Soil Carbon Projects - Pt 2. How to build one
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Soil Carbon Projects - Pt 1. Should you have one?
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 f...
Bonus: Tess Brookman, Farmer Wants a Wife
24 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A bonus episode to celebrate "Flanno for a Farmer Day!" Tess Brookman, who found love on Farmer Wants a Wife last year with "Farmer H...
Kirsten and Jackie have some news!
16 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Being the Boss of Your Farm Office - Pt. 3 Decluttering your office and your mind
26 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 thou...
Being the Boss of Your Farm Office - Pt. 2 Getting your systems right
19 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 H...
Being the Boss of Your Farm Office - Pt. 1 Owning Your Time
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
âTime cannot be managed â you need to prioritise, and you need to prioritise time for you as well.â â Alison Hamilton Doing the farm books or...
Surviving the Senior School Years (for parents and students)
21 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Turning Your Passion into a Not for Profit Organisation
07 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
How to Build a Brand With a Bigger Purpose - Elizabeth Hermann & Sallie Jones
24 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Why women are the agtech adopters (and how to make good tech decisions)
10 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ever been ignored at a farm expo or agtech conference? It's a frustrating experience for any woman... and foolish behaviour if you're workin...
Giving Yourself Permission to Look After Yourself
26 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 commun...
Convincing your partner (or yourself!) to go on a holiday
12 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you canât get your partner to book a holiday with you⊠would you just go without them? Thatâs just one of the tips and tricks we discuss in t...
Season Four - We're late...but we're back!
11 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 podca...
BONUS EP. 3: Teenagers: Keeping your farm kids safe (without wrapping them up in cotton wool).
25 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
BONUS EP. 2: School Aged Children: Keeping your farm kids safe (without wrapping them up in cotton wool).
18 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 chil...
BONUS SERIES: Keeping your farm kids safe (without wrapping them up in cotton wool). EP 1. Toddlers
11 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 fa...
Donât Call Us âResilientâ- Getting mental health support for your community
27 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Donât Call Us âResilientâ- Getting mental health support for your community How do you feel when your town or region is called âresilientâ?...
Going Global: how to achieve business success overseas
12 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You may be a rural woman at heart, but that doesnât mean you canât operate a global empire (or at least, tap into overseas markets). In this episo...
Why is it Harder to Access Abortion in the Country?
28 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Yes, itâs clear. Research shows it is harder to access abortion services in rural Australia compared with metro areas.So, in this episode we ask, wh...
Are Women the biggest influencers in farm safety culture?
14 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On average, 79 Australians die every year in farm accidents, making farming one of the most dangerous occupations in the country. So, what can we do t...
Is It Better to Work On-Farm or Off-Farm?
31 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
 When you're part of a farming enterprise it can be hard to figure out whether you're better off working on the farm or pursuing a career o...
Breaking the Taboo Around Periods and Pelvic Floors - Jess Fishburn & Anna Barwick
17 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It took until 2019 for TV advertisements for sanitary products to stop using âblue dyeâ to symbolise menstrual blood. So why do periods make us fe...
So...what even IS a life coach? Feat. Rebel Black & Karen Foster
03 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Let's be honest, the perception of a "life coach" isn't always the best. The term can be associated with cult-like 'personal ...
Dealing with grief and sudden loss - feat. Sarah Guthrie, Grampians Estate
20 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Thereâs a saying, âyou canât have the love without the loss.âThe great love you have for someone, means the pain of losing them will equally b...
Season 3.... Coming Soon & Our Latest News
13 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We're back! Coming up in Season 3, we're tackling the topics you WON'T hear at a local potluck casserole night or scone bake off. This ...
Are Your Farming Tools and Workwear... Sexist?
27 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
No one likes sexism on the farm⊠but could the tools you work with and the clothes you're wearing be guilty?If youâve ever been frustrated ab...
How Art is Transforming Agriculture - Lynne Strong & Emily Riggs
13 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Farming is not often associated with creativity and the Arts. But perhaps that needs to change? Especially if we want to make agriculture an attractiv...
Queer Pride in the Country
30 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Rural towns often get a bad rap for holding onto old ideas and lacking diversity. Are we as accepting and inclusive of our LGBTI community in the coun...
Do You Need a Business Coach? - Tori Kopke & Rebecca Casey
16 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Once upon a time, coaches were strictly for sport. Now you can get a coach for just about everything, including business. In this episode we look at w...
Saying No to the Family Farm - Dimity Smith, Dr Lucie Newsome & more!
02 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Women are still only inheriting about 10% of family farms in Australia. The reasons behind this are historical and complex. But what's at play wh...
Know a bloke who's struggling with his mental health? - Mary O'Brien, Jane Fitzgibbon & More
16 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Itâs so hard to watch someone you love, struggle with their mental health, especially when they arenât getting the help they need. Rural men in pa...
Overcoming the Dark Days of Early Motherhood
02 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Motherhood is wonderful, but it's also hard. And for some, especially new mums, it becomes overwhelming. Living in a rural area, especially if yo...
SEASON 2: It's OK to Say NO - Drinking in moderation or quitting altogether
19 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Want to cut back your alcohol consumption? A lot of us do. But Australia's drinking culture means the message to 'just have one' is all...
Why Storytelling Is So Important (and how to do it!) - Phillipa Cameron, Kim Storey, Gisela Kauffman
20 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Telling your own story or the story of others is vital if we're ever going to bridge that rural/urban divide and challenge gender roles. So witho...
The Road Less Travelled pt 2 (Big Highs and Crushing Lows) - Tanya Heaslip and Jane Richards
06 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We might dream of it, but what are the realities of chasing rare adventures or living an extraordinary life?In this episode Kirsten and Jackie meet tw...
The Road Less Travelled: Lisa Millar, ABC TV Host
22 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Succession Planning (pt2): When to Get a Lawyer
08 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When is it time to get a lawyer? And how do you know a succession plan is actually worth the paper it's written on?Kirsten and Jackie bring in pr...
What Succession Planning is Actually About (Pt1): Real stories
25 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Just the thought of succession planning makes so many of us feel uncomfortable. But in this episode, we're embracing the awkward feelings ... and...
Reducing the Mental Load - Katrina Myers, Bridget Johns and Stephanie Schmidt
11 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Are you the one who carries the mental load in your household? Well, if you're a rural woman, chances are, yes you are.It's usually women wh...
Finding a Mentor (pt.2): Networking Hubs and Programs
28 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes you just stumble across a great mentor...but how can you intentionally find one? This episode looksThere are great programs that can help yo...
Finding a Mentor (pt. 1): Cathy McGowan
14 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Most successful people will tell you that finding a mentor, or really multiple mentors throughout your life, is the 'secret sauce' to their ...
Passion Projects, Side Hustles and Big Business - How to be Successful
30 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Are you struggling to grow your business or side hustle? Or are you even finding it hard to take the first step, to turn your idea into a reality?It h...
Do You Call Yourself A Farmer?
16 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
You say âfarmerâ and immediately, people think of a man. They shouldnât, but they do. So how do you feel about the word âfarmerâ? Does it de...
Introducing... Ducks on the Pond!
04 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Coming soon!Ducks on the Pond is a podcast by rural women, FOR rural women.It's hard to find expert advice that actually applies to the realities...