5 With A Digger Podcast

This week I’m joined by Glenn to hear about his time in the Australian Army Reserves. Glenn enlisted in 1995, completed infantry basic training at Holsworthy Barracks, then requested a posting to 176 Air Dispatch at Richmond Air Base. We chat about his years there, what Army life was like and his transition into life after Defence. We also cross over to Dan from Documeant Cycling, who’s backed the...

This week we are part of a special podcast collaboration with the crew from Tiny Tales Podcast for an honest, energetic yarn about how I got started in podcasting, what sparked my interest, and how 5 With A Digger and Digger Network Media came to life. We dive into the behind-the-scenes work that goes into making a podcast, the lessons I’ve picked up along the way, and where I’d like to take thing...

Steve Ross returns for Part Two of his conversation with 5 With A Digger. We pick up Steve’s story as he prepares for his second overseas deployment, this time serving in Sierra Leone as a United Nations military observer. Steve shares what that role involved, the challenges of operating in a multinational environment and how Sierra Leone differed from everything he had previously experienced. We...

This week on 5 With A Digger, we sit down with former New Zealand Army Captain Steve Ross for the first half of an incredible two-part conversation. Steve began his military career in the New Zealand Territorial Force, working his way through the enlisted ranks to acting Sergeant before being commissioned as an officer and transferring into the Regular Force. In Part One, Steve takes us back to hi...

This week we chat with Kiki. A former Australian Defence Force member who served from 27 March 2018 until 4 February 2026.   During almost eight years of service, she was posted to Headquarters Combat Support Group, No. 23 Squadron and No. 1 Combat Communications Squadron. Kiki participated in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2019 and Operation Bushfire Assist in 2020. She later deployed to the Middle...

Todays guest is Petra Baumgart an emotional mastery and behavioural change expert based in Cooran, and the proud daughter of veterans.   Using Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), hypnotherapy and subconscious work, Petra helps people understand the emotional triggers behind their patterns and behaviours and what it takes to create genuine, lasting change.   Drawing from her own experienc...

Sean is the owner of Summit in Cairns, who generously sponsored part of our recent Adelaide trip, helping us get on the road, record more incredible stories and continue giving veterans a platform. Sean enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2015 as an infantry soldier with 31/42 RQR, taking part in major exercises before deploying on Operation Bushfire Assist to Kangaroo Island and later serving on COVI...

This week I’m joined by Harley Fox from the GreyMan Podcast.   Harley’s military journey spans the Navy and Army Reserve across two decades, from serving as a Navy cook, to leaving Defence after the tragic loss of his fiancée, before finding his way back into uniform twice.   We unpack his time as an Officer Cadet, mortar operator and acting Section Commander at the Soldier Recovery Cent...

This week’s guest is a little bit different, she’s not a veteran, but her story of fitness, business, community and completely changing direction in life is one worth hearing. 💪 A mum of four and granny of five, she went from a career in banking and financial planning to completing her Cert III & IV in Fitness after people started noticing her own results and asking her for advice. Then...

This week we sit down with Grant Clifton, founder of Debt Free Me, to talk all things money, debt, financial freedom and mental health.  After experiencing his own financial struggles, Grant completely changed the way he approached money and eventually became debt-free. That journey led him to create Debt Free Me, helping everyday Australians take control of their finances and build a better...

This episode is a little different but it’s one that could genuinely make a difference to your future. We’re joined by Hannah Hines, Financial Adviser at Apex Financial Services, to break down the world of money, financial planning and preparing for life beyond service.   With more than 15 years of experience across banking and financial services, and a Master of Financial Planning, Hannah is...

At just 19 years old, James Bennett enlisted in the Australian Army, joining Alpha Company, 7RAR, in search of purpose, adventure and the chance to serve his country. His military journey would take him across Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand on Rifle Company Butterworth 115, where he forged lifelong friendships and experienced the highs and lows of military life. But behind the scenes, James was...

This week’s guest is Sam Bamford. Australian Army combat veteran, former paratrooper and host of the 2 Worlds Collide Podcast. After serving in Afghanistan in 2012, Sam transitioned out of the Army and built a platform known for long-form, unfiltered conversations that challenge ideas, ask difficult questions and encourage open discussion on the issues shaping Australia today. Away from the microp...

From the Australian outback to the world's most exclusive superyachts, Justin has lived a life few could ever imagine. After spending eight years travelling Australia with nothing more than a swag, fishing rods and a passion for adventure, Justin found himself in the superyacht industry in southern France. Starting at the bottom, he worked his way up to Chief Officer on 120-metre luxury yachts, ru...

After a lifetime of service, elite sport, and overcoming adversity, Layla found herself searching for something more. That search became a journey into trauma recovery, emotional healing, and understanding the incredible connection between the mind and body. Through years of study and lived experience, Layla developed 11/11 Breathwork and later created La Cuna a trauma-informed healing program des...

Some people break barriers while others redefine them. Born in Slovenia, Layla became one of the country’s pioneering female boxers at just 19 years old, stepping into the ring when women’s boxing was still fighting for recognition. Despite facing sexism and limited opportunities, she refused to back down, becoming a multiple-time national champion and proudly representing her country across Europ...

This week, we’re joined by Bradey. His Army career wasn’t defined by medals or headlines, it was defined by service, sacrifice and resilience. After enlisting in the Australian Army in 2014, Bradey served with 6RAR as an infantry soldier before transitioning into the Intelligence Support pathway. Sadly, repeated Achilles injuries to both feet brought his military career to an early end, leading to...

We wish to dedicate this episode to Jim. Thank you for your service. May you rest in peace. Lest we forget. Episode 121 and I’m joined by Ryan Mayne. Ryan’s career has taken him from military service and elite sport to frontline emergency services, surf safety, and high-performance coaching. Ryan is a former Australian Army aircraft technician, professional triathlete, Senior Firefighter and Rescu...

Episode 120 and I’m joined by Chris Endres. This episode is a little bit different as we welcome a fellow podcaster for a special cross-podcast collaboration between 5 With A Digger and one half of The Culture Standard. Originally from Victoria, Chris built a strong reputation through country football before making the move north to Queensland, where he now serves his community on the frontline as...

Episode 119 and I’m joined by Zac. At 19 years old, Zac joined the Australian Army and went on to serve in Afghanistan as a Cavalry Reconnaissance soldier. But this episode isn’t just about military service. It’s about what happened after. Zac opens up about life after Defence, a Veterans Motorcycle Club, addiction, debt, poor decisions, losing everything, and the long road back. His story is raw....

Episode 118 and I’m joined again by Simon from episode 51. Joining the Army at just 17 years old, Simon would go on to serve in the Solomon Islands, East Timor, and complete two deployments to Afghanistan with the Special Operations Task Group before discharging in 2014. In this episode, we talk about military service, the challenges of transition, mental health, rebuilding identity after Defence,...

Episode 117 and I’m joined by Alex. Alex joined the ADF back in 2012, enlisting into the Australian Army Aviation Corps as a Ground Crewman Aircraft Support. Not long after, he found himself posted to Darwin with the 1st Aviation Regiment, working on the ARH Tigers from early 2013. Unfortunately over time a number of injuries that eventually culminated in a medical discharge not long after leaving...

Episode 116 and I’m joined by Jase Shore. Jase enlisted into the Australian Army back in 2006 as Infantry Corps, posted straight to Darwin with 5/7 RAR. In 2007 he deployed to Iraq on Operation Gateway 3, detached from battalion to support SECDET 6 alongside boys from 1RAR and 7/6RAR. After discharging in 2010, life took a completely different turn. And then in 2019 during the Sydney knife attack,...

Episode 115 and unfortunately, due to circumstances completely out of our control and an absolute doozey of a crash on the highway today, our guest was unable to make it into the studio. So we’re bringing you a special “Best Of 5 With A Digger” episode. And with everything happening behind the scenes right now it’s probably the perfect time for it. Because the team here at 5 With A Digger is absol...

Episode 115 and I’m joined by Tarsh. Tarsh is an Army Reserve veteran who’ll tell you she “just did bits and pieces” during her service but what she’s done after taking the uniform off is something pretty special. After volunteering with the Sleepbus helping people doing it tough, Tarsh and seven others refused to let the mission die when the organisation folded. No experience running a charity. N...