Beyond the Marbling

In this episode of Beyond the Marbling, Georgia Stormont sits down with Peter and Hannah Hacon to explore their journey from running Brahman cattle to building a Wagyu herd — and the mindset shift that came with it. Their story highlights the reality of modern beef production: balancing instinct with data, tradition with innovation, and resilience with long-term vision. Together, they discuss what...

Akaushi may be the lesser-known red cousin in the Wagyu family, but its impact on global beef markets is anything but small. In this episode of Beyond the Marbling, Georgia Stormont sits down with JoJo Carrales, VP of Cattle Operations at Heart Brand Beef in central Texas — the largest Akaushi producer in the world. They dig into the remarkable origin story of Akaushi genetics, imported from Japan...

Merry Christmas and welcome to this special festive episode of Beyond the Marbling. In this relaxed and festive chat dives into what Christmas looks like around the table. From traditional favourites to Texan twists, and how to create a show-stopping meal without the stress. Whether you’re hosting a full house, cooking outdoors in the Aussie summer or dreaming about what should be on your Christma...

In this episode of Beyond the Marbling, Georgia Stormont is joined by the one and only Jess Pryles — live fire cook, meat science graduate, author, TV host, founder of Hardcore Carnivore and proud Melbourne export now based in Austin, Texas. Jess shares her journey from Australia to the heart of American barbecue culture, the moment Texas truly felt like home, and how her curiosity around food tur...

In this episode of Beyond the Marbling, Georgia Stormont sits down with Aaron Van den Heuvel from the Australian Wagyu Association — one of the few people in the country whose job is literally to capture the inside story of a Wagyu carcase. Aaron travels across Australia using cutting-edge imaging technology to assess marbling, texture and quality traits that shape the future of the Wagyu industry...

In this special episode of Beyond the Marbling, we mark a new chapter for the show. Long-time host and storyteller, Lyndsey Douglas, hands over the microphone to agricultural sales coach, keynote speaker and soon-to-be published author Georgia Stormont. Georgia joins Lyndsey for a lively chat about her unconventional journey into agriculture — from weekends riding motorbikes in Romsey to supportin...

Wagyu in north west Australia- Vision, resilience and reality In Part One, we explored what drove Bruce to establish Pardoo Wagyu, his passion, his purpose, and the vision behind one of Australia’s most remote Wagyu operations. Now, in Part Two, we dig into what it really takes to run a premium Wagyu enterprise in the northwest of Australia, where cyclones, isolation, bushfires and vast distances...

Bruce Cheung founded Pardoo Wagyu in Western Australia's harsh Pilbara and Kimberley regions, driven by a desire to contribute to Singapore's food security. His journey led him to the remote Pardoo Station, where the discovery of the underlying Canning Basin aquifer convinced him the challenging, yet scalable, land was viable. The operation now spans over 800,000 hectares across five stations, foc...

From the heart of Northern Australia, Laine from Marathon Wagyu joins Lyndsey Douglas on Beyond the Marbling to share how data-driven decisions, cutting-edge tools, and a deep commitment to the industry are shaping the future of Wagyu. As early adopters of the Progeny Test Program (PTP) and champions of MateSel genetic planning, Marathon is leading the charge in balancing genetic gain with diversi...

Dubbed the Godfather of genetic advancement in Australian beef, Dr. Ced Wise joins Lyndsey Douglas on Beyond the Marbling for a deep dive into the revolutionary world of reproductive technologies in Wagyu. From his early days studying embryo transfer at Colorado State University to founding Wise Repro—now a nationwide leader in cattle genetics—Ced shares his journey, the evolution of ET, AI, and I...

In this final episode of Season 1 of Beyond the Marbling, Lyndsey Douglas chats with Andrew Hallas and Dr. Matt Petersen from Zoetis about their important collaboration with the Australian Wagyu Association (AWA) to support DNA testing and the Progeny Test Program (PTP). Andrew and Matt highlight that reproductive health is fundamental to successful Wagyu production. Threats like Pesty Virus can i...

In this episode of Beyond the Marbling, Lyndsey Douglas travels to Victoria’s High Country to meet Ben Blackmore, CEO of Blackmore Wagyu. The Blackmore family imported over 80% of Australia’s foundational Wagyu genetics, laying the foundation for today’s world-class fullblood Wagyu. Ben shares the legacy of his father, David Blackmore—Wagyu Hall of Fame inductee and Order of Australia recipient—an...

In this episode of Beyond the Marbling, we journey to the heart of Australia’s Channel Country to explore how the Hughes family built a world-class Wagyu operation in one of Australia's most extreme environments. From navigating droughts and floods to building global supply chains, discover how the Hughes family's vision, resilience, and strategic partnerships turned isolation into international o...

In this episode of Beyond the Marbling, Lyndsey Douglas delves into the cutting edge of reproductive technology shaping the Wagyu industry. She’s joined by Brazilian IVF specialist Dr Bruno Sanchez of Vytelle, Queensland producer Laird Morgan of Arubial Wagyu and Lillyvale Feedlot, and NSW seedstock breeder Jeremy Cooper of Circle 8 Fullblood Wagyu. Together, they unpack the evolving role of froze...

You asked for it—and now it’s here. In this episode of Beyond the Marbling, we head to North Queensland to spotlight a Wagyu production system making serious waves. Host Lyndsey Douglas sits down with Harry Kemp of King River Wagyu, one of the nation’s youngest vertically integrated supply chains and a 2024 QLD Premier’s Export Awards recipient. From natural mating across expansive northern paddoc...

Just days before Trump’s latest tariff announcement, Beyond the Marbling sits down with leading agricultural analysts Matt Dalgleish and Simon Quilty to unpack what shifting global dynamics could mean for Wagyu. With WagyuEdge25 on the horizon, this timely conversation dives deep into market dynamics, trade tensions, pricing trends, and the outcomes of recent climatic events. Ground beef is boomin...

This episode dives into the potential of genomics, genetic engineering, and genome editing in cattle breeding, exploring how these innovations could revolutionise the industry. From hornless Wagyu to disease resistance and sex ratio alterations—biotechnology offers powerful tools to enhance genetics while preserving Wagyu’s prized traits. However, policy, regulation, and public perception may ulti...

In this episode of Beyond the Marbling, Lyndsey Douglas sits down with Garry Edwards, Managing Director of AAM Investment Group, to discuss their impressive expansion into Wagyu cattle. With nearly a billion dollars in agricultural assets, AAM’s unique approach to livestock management includes a focus on genetics, including a significant investment in full-blood Wagyu cattle at Bective Station. Ga...

In this episode, we sit down with Alex and Keith Hammond, owners of a picturesque Wagyu breeding operation between Robbins Island and Walker Island, Tasmania. They share a multigenerational perspective on the evolution of the Wagyu industry, reflecting on how breeding practices have advanced over time and the challenges of making progressive business decisions within a family-run operation that sp...

At the forefront of the WagYouth—founded through the Australian Wagyu Association fellowship, is Jessie Macqueen, a passionate young leader shaping the future of Australia’s Wagyu industry. In this episode, Jessie shares her insights on the biggest challenges facing the next generation of Wagyu producers and how emerging leaders are finding innovative ways to collaborate, improve herd genetics, an...

In this episode, we travel to Ballan, a small town near Melbourne, to meet the Sher family, first-generation farmers who built one of Australia’s most esteemed Wagyu operations. We chat with Jack Sher, the next-generation leader of the world-renowned Sher Wagyu enterprise, to explore the remarkable journey of the Wagyu industry—from its humble beginnings with just five people around a table to the...

In this episode, we head back to Millicent in South Australia to continue our conversation with the most recent recipient of an honorary life membership with the Australian Wagyu Association, Scott de Bruin of Mayura Station.  We delve deeper into the moments and milestones that made Mayura Station including Scott’s change in mindset to a Beef producer, not just a cattle producer. Scott will discu...

Our Host, Lyndsey Douglas, gets the chance to sit down with Scott de Bruin from Mayura Station, home of Australia's most awarded beef. One of the world's most elite full blood Wagyu breeding operations. In fact, they were some of the first people in the world to produce full blood Wagyu outside of Japan.  Based near Millicent in South Australia's southeast, the De Bruins, Mayura Station has establ...

In this episode, we head to a lush place known as the Garden of Ireland. It's under an hour away from Dublin, and it's a place famed for its woodlands and scenery, nature trails, beaches, and ancient ruins. But it's also home to the only farm in all of Ireland, raising Wagyu cattle on a diet of something that others might enjoy with some cheese and crackers, or perhaps in a dirty martini. Today, h...

Irongate Wagyu is known across the globe for producing some of the most complete and high performing Wagyu animals. Peter and Lachy Gilmour discuss their family’s journey in Wagyu breeding, emphasising the importance of attention to detail, data use, and genetic improvements. Peter reflects on starting their herd with support from industry leaders, learning about Japanese Wagyu techniques, and sca...