Blether Together with Farmstrong Scotland

Joe Barker published a video on TikTok in the aftermath of his 21st birthday, talking about wellbeing, and how he has struggled in recent years with his mental health and the pressures of family illness and managing the farm. The online response was huge - and he's become a champion for wellbeing, regularly posting videos with tips, advice and honest chat. He's @JoeBarkerfromYorkshire on social ch...

A true Scottish agriculture powerhouse, Caroline Millar opens up about the warning signs that made her realise it was time to prioritise her wellbeing, and how inspiration from New Zealand's approach to farming life led her to make lasting changes. In this candid chat, first recorded for World Mental Health Day 2025, Caroline also shares the practical steps she's taken to build a healthier, more b...

Have you ever met a gin farmer? That's how Jenny McKerr of the Wee Farm Distillery introduces herself. This episode is Jenny's story of how she and her husband Stephen have spent the last 10 years building up their business - a farm, a farm shop, and a distillery - as first-generation farmers on 45 acres in South Lanarkshire. It's been a lot of work - but Jenny is also careful to prioritise family...

This episode is packed with info about Farmstrong Scotland's 'Foundations of Mental Health' programme - a direct response to findings from our recent surveys. More than one in three respondents reported low levels of wellbeing - with scores falling below the national average across all age groups. 'Foundations of Mental Strength' - or FoMS - is a series of workshops designed to combat low wellbein...

Bobby Stevenson took the difficult decision to sell his family dairy farm after facing a mental health crisis. Bobby, from Lendalfoot in South Ayrshire, tells Sarah Stephen about his journey back from both a stroke and mental ill health - and how talking and sharing openly about his issues has helped his recovery. How’s It Going? Take a moment for yourself: try Farmstrong Scotland’s How’s It Going...

Sarah finds warmth on ice - and plenty of competition! - at the annual farmer's curling competition at Perth's Dewar Centre. 160 people from all over Scotland take part in the Chuck Hay Memorial Bonspiel, in teams of 4, over three days in January. There is camaraderie and connection - which is especially important in the bleak dark month of January, when isolation can feel particularly pronounced....

Tommy Dale must have more hours in each day than the rest of us. He's run Forth Resource Management and Caledonian Horticulture since 2002, when he started both as an SRUC student project to recycle, compost and re-use garden and landscaping waste. He heads up Brose oat milk , works with Heriot-Watt University and others to run a lobster hatchery, and has a mission to clear plastic from Scotland's...

This is a groundbreaking episode of Blether Together - as Sarah Stephen meets our first ever husband and wife duo – Willie Thomson and Anna Davies. Anna and Willie are tenants on a 250-acre arable farm near Haddington. They recently converted a steading into co-working spaces. Anna also runs rural PR and marketing firm Scene and Herd, and hosts Scottish farming podcast OnFARM. It’s a busy life – b...

Being involved in Young Farmers - SAYFC - is fun, empowering, and a vital social connection for younger people across rural Scotland. In this special Blether Together, recorded with a live audience at AgriScot, Sarah Stephen speaks with Jack Young, a current young farmer, and Catriona Gemmell, who recently aged out of being part of SAYFC. Together, they consider the part SAYFC plays in wellbeing i...

Firm friends Robert Neill and John MacInnes join Sarah Stephen to Blether Together about the joys and pressures of their working lives, whether running AgriScot , Robert’s newer role as NFUS Vice President, or on their family farms in Kelso and Iona. Both men share how they’re helping smooth the path into farming for the next generation -recognising when to step back, give younger voices room to g...

Thankfully, menopause is far less 'taboo' as a topic than it used to be. But there is still so much to do, to make sure that women experiencing menopause, and those around them, understand what is happening and what it means for health, wellbeing,and relationships. Dr Heather Currie MBE is a specialist gynaecologist and renowned menopause expert (and breeder of Aberdeen Angus cattle!) from Dumfrie...

James Logan, Chairman of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) and East Lothian farmer, joins host Sarah Stephen to talk about: - navigating the challenges of farm succession - managing the leadership and responsibility of the Royal Highland Show - why agricultural shows are so important for bringing people and communities together. It’s an honest and open blether about f...

In our latest podcast, host Sarah Stephen met with Gerard Vaughan, Programme Director for Farmstrong in New Zealand, at opposite ends of the day as the sun was rising with Gerard and setting with Sarah.  A warm and insightful chat on what inspired the start of the Farmstrong programme 10 years ago, what makes the Farmstrong principles different, and finishing off with some useful tips and ideas fr...

In a first for Blether Together, we are joined by not one but two guests for a lively, warm and open conversation. Host Sarah Stephen met with Russ Mill and Glen McLellan to find out more about the annual Come Ashore Cup, taking place on Saturday 7th June at Orkney Rugby Club. The event was set up in 2022 by Russ, in memory of his cousin and popular Caithness farmer Alexander Mill who sadly died b...

This #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek, we're excited to share a brand new podcast episode featuring someone who embodies what Farmstrong's Five Ways to Wellbeing are all about. In this powerful episode, host Sarah Stephen chats with Wallace Currie, a 28-year-old farmer’s son, who shares his journey of resilience, vulnerability, and growth. Wallace shares how creating his own podcast Rural2Kitc...

In this bonus episode of Blether Together, Rebecca Dawes talks to Kirsty Ritchie of Mind & Mission where she explains more on the twelve different ways of thinking, how our mindsets are influenced, and how we can change the way we think to give us a more positive outlook on life.  How you think is how you feel! Listen in to find out what kind of thinker you are, and for tips on the ways you co...

In this bonus episode of Blether Together, to tie in with Stress Awareness Month, host Sarah Stephen met with Dr Heather Meikle, Senior Counselling Psychologist at First Psychology and Wellbeing Advisor at Farmstrong Scotland, to discuss tips on combatting stress - especially important at busy times of year such as lambing and calving. From our research, farmers and crofters across Scotland have t...

When Callum and his wife Zara moved to the Isle of Arran to start farming in their own right back in 2023, they imagined the hardest bit would be adjusting to island life in a new community. Five months after they moved, Callum sustained life-changing injuries in an ATV accident. In this podcast episode, Blether Together host Sarah Stephen caught up with Callum to find out how he and his family ha...

In this bonus episode of Blether Together, to tie in with World Sleep Day 2025 - 'Make Sleep Health a Priority' host Sarah Stephen met with Alyson O'Brien, Head of Sleep Action to discuss tips on getting a better nights sleep, especially important  at busy times of year such as lambing and calving. From our research, farmers and crofters across Scotland have told us that getting the...

Michael Goldie is a fifth generation farmer and breeds pedigree Suffolk sheep along with his mum Helen, who started breeding the flock 60 years ago. Michael also works as an agent for NFU Mutual and NFU Scotland, which is where he believes part of his resilience and recovery strategy came from when, earlier this year, his flock was unfortunately hit with the Schmallenberg Virus resulting in him lo...

Listen to the recording of the last in our winter webinar series, Give Wellbeing a Sporting Chance , when we speak to Scottish rugby sensation, Stafford McDowall.  Stafford had his name down to study agriculture at Newcastle University as an 18-year-old, but he deferred the place while he tried to break into the professional rugby ranks, juggling training sessions with farm jobs.  The chance to ma...

In this episode of Blether Together, host Sarah Stephen caught up with Rob Wainwright OBE before he sets off on Doddie's Grand Tour 2025 - an 800-mile charity cycle from Dublin to Edinburgh to raise money for My Name'5 Doddie Foundation. Rob relocated to the Isle of Coll in the 90's to farm with his family after his rugby career as a Scotland international came to an end. Listen in...

Host Sarah Stephen caught up with Iona Murray;  one half of Fed by Farmers and no stranger to podcasting, she’s on the other side of the interview this time, answering the questions instead of asking them!  Iona tells us about her career, which spans being a school teacher, going to work at Dumfries House, working with Cammy Wilson at The Sheep Game , and now adding starting her own business I&apo...

Our special Christmas bonus recording is with the one and only Jim Smith ! You don’t have to be a teuchter to enjoy this, it’s got something for everyone.  Jim tells Sarah about his farming background, how going to Young Farmers helped on his journey to becoming a stand-up comedian and the reason he regularly takes time out to go to the cinema or out for dinner with friends. Listen to the end for...

Host Sarah Stephen talks with Cora Cooper on her journey from law graduate to partner in a farming business in Muirkirk, Ayr. Working as a team with her husband and three young children, Cora discusses their farming system of 3,500 hill ewes on over 5,000 acres of hill ground, and their passion for delivering for both nature and food production. Cora and David have built their business around thei...