The Whole Story

In this episode Becks catches up with Alison Dewes from Tipu whenua, a veterinarian, farmer, mother to 3 children and passionate holistic systems thinker. Alison comes from a background of multi-generational dairy farming and she herself has farmed both here and in Australia. She now works with catchment ecosystems with her veterinary diagnostic hat on and a one-health “Mountains to Sea” approach...

In this episode Becks catches up with Cam Henderson, a dairy farmer from North Canterbury, director on the Ballance Agri-Nutrients Ltd board and the Federated Farmers representative on the He Waka Eke Noa partnership.  This week’s episode is based around UN Sustainable Development Goal 13 “Climate Action” and Cam highlights the work he is doing and has been a part of already in NZ’s Agricultu...

In this episode Becks catches up with Tony Wilson, General Manager of Agrecovery. Tony is a lifelong-learner, currently doing his 7th qualification, a Masters at Massey University on the Sustainable Development Goals; but he manages to balance out the heavy-lifting his grey matter is doing as he is also a keen mountain-biker and surfer! This week’s episode is based around UN Sustainable Developmen...

In this episode Becks sits down in-person with Gill Naylor the National President of Rural Women New Zealand. Gill has had a career of taking deep breaths and stepping up when opportunities arise. With a background of farming for over 30 years with her husband Dave in Becks, Central Otago she worked her way up the through the committee and voluntary role network to find her way to her current role...

In this episode Becks catches up with Carl Storey, Farm and Land Enterprises Manager from Hōhepa Hawkes Bay. Carl is a man with a lifetime of experience in the agricultural sector who has travelled and brought some niche cheese-making skills home to Aotearoa, NZ. The work he does with Hōhepa has gifted him some beautiful insights into the world around inclusivity and the joy he has found by being...

In this episode Becks has the incredible opportunity to chat to Julia Jones, head of analytics at NZX where she has arrived after spending almost 15 years in the rural banking sector before moving to KPMG in consulting. It is this experience that makes her the perfect guest to speak on this weeks episodes.  This episode is based around the UN Sustainable Development Goal 9 – Industry, Infrast...

In this episode Becks sits down with the legendary Pita Alexander, chartered accountant and founder of Alexanders, a leading Christchurch-based agribusiness accountancy and advisory firm. Pita has been in the agribusiness accountancy game for over 35 years and has seen many boom and bust cycles in agriculture.  This episode is based around the UN Sustainable Development Goal 8 – Decent Work a...

In this episode Becks chats with Mike Casey, Cromwell’s new kid on the block when it comes to horticulture. With a background in tech, not farming, Mike is definitely making his own mark on the industry by starting the worlds first 100% electric, zero fossil fuel cherry orchard and selling their cherries through the consumer brand that he co-founded called NZ0. Mike reached out to me over social m...

In this episode Becks chats to Keri Johnston, chair of the IrrigationNZ board, farming wife and mother, natural resources engineer and founding director and principle of Irricon Resource Solutions. Keri’s professional passion for land and water shines strongly through our conversation and her career to date.  This Episode is based around UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 - Clean Water an...

In this episode Becks chats to Lindy Nelson, founder of the Agri-Women’s Development Trust, critical farming partner alongside her husband David, host of the “Amplifying Us” podcast and current chair of Safer Farms.  This Episode is based around UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 - Gender Equality and as true champion for women who is passionate about amplifying the connection between foo...

In this episode Becks chats to Annabelle Subtil, high country sheep & beef farmer and director on the Growing Future Farmers board. This Episode is based around UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 - Quality Education and discusses the importance of farmer-led education to the sustainability of our agricultural sector. Annabelle is a humble achiever in the agricultural sector, farming with her husban...

In this episode Becks chats to Kane Brisco, farmer from the ‘naki, founder of FarmFit, and newly published author of “Tools for the Top Paddock”. This Episode is based around UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 - Good Health & Wellbeing and discusses how important mental and physical health are to sustainability.  In a good honest kiwi yarn Kane shares with us his journey to agriculture and...

In this episode Becks chats to Wayne Langford; YOLO Farmer, vice-president of Federated Farmers and co-founder of Meat the Need This Episode is based around UN Sustainable Development Goal 2 - Zero Hunger and how Meat the Need was created to allow NZ farmers to feed NZ families and bring focus to the need within our own country.  Wayne & Becks discuss the importance of strong leadership w...

In this episode Becks chats to Prue Kane, programme director for Jobs for Nature at WAI Wānaka.  This Episode is based around UN Sustainable Development Goal 1 - No Poverty and discusses how the Jobs for Nature programme at WAI Wānaka created economic resiliency in a community that faced very challenging times during the COVID-19 pandemic and is connecting people from diverse backgrounds with...

In this episode Becks chats to Bridget Williams, the founder of social enterprise, Bead & Proceed, which exists to educate people about the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and inspire action towards them through creativity.   Bridget offers a unique perspective on sustainability and the passion and energy she brings to the conversation is infectious! Bridget‘s work with th...

The Whole Story Podcast Hosted by Becks Smith, a farmer, vet, social entrepreneur and mother to three young girls based in Ranfurly, Central Otago, this is a podcast inspiring holistic sustainability in agriculture in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Each week we will highlight a specific one of the Goals(SDGs) and talk to someone making progress towards this within agriculture...