In The Head Of A Country Bloke

Today I’m joined by Rory Callaghan — a wellness architect, author, and speaker whose work blends science, soul, and storytelling. Rory’s journey hasn’t been straightforward. From growing up with an absent father and facing burnout as a health professional in his twenties, he’s transformed those challenges into a global movement centred on self-care and conscious leadership. His mission is simple b...

In this episode, Andrew (Shep) Shepherd and I chat about how ‘Fat Farmers’ came to life, and the impact it’s having in country communities. What started with a few mates catching up for a workout and a laugh, has grown into something much bigger - built on movement, mateship, and looking out for each other. The group’s big on making sure everyone feels welcome, and that sense of belonging really s...

Today on the podcast, I’m honoured to welcome Bill Van Nierop, a true testament to resilience and purpose. Nearly 10 years ago, Bill was told he had an incurable and inoperable disease, and had 3-4 years to live. Diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and then undergoing a bilateral lung transplant, Bill has since turned his challenges into advocacy, raising awareness and funds for lung dise...

Welcome back to In the Head of a Country Bloke. Today, I’m so grateful to have Lachie Neale  back on the podcast for a bit of a follow-up chat.  We first sat down in 2020, and a lot has happened since then. Lachie’s added more huge AFL achievements to his name – he’s now a four-time All-Australian, six-time best and fairest, two-time Brownlow Medallist, and a Brisbane Lions Co-Captain and Premiers...

Born in Keith SA, Tim Moyle’s story is one of resilience and determination. After losing his father just months before he was born, Tim was raised on his grandparents' farm in Willalooka, shaped by his grandfather’s grit, his mum and stepfather Tim’s influence, and the guidance of respected mentors. With a passion for agriculture, Tim’s journey took him from Roseworthy Ag College to a successful c...

Welcome back to In the Head Of A Country Bloke. Today we have inspiring guest Todd Woodard, a true ground- breaker in sustainable farming. Todd's journey began on the family farm where he developed a deep love for the land that has driven him to achieve amazing things - such as launching South Australia's first soil carbon project. At Peel Pastoral alongside his wife Anne and their families, they...

I caught up with Matt Rowett for coffee a couple of weeks ago, and we decided to hit record... You might remember, Matt shared some of his incredible journey with us back in 2020. Before his 40th birthday in 2019, Matt was enjoying life as a husband, father of four, a mate to many, and a successful business partner.  However, a series of headaches led to a life-changing diagnosis of Glioblastoma....

Luke Crossling, also known as Crozzy, embodies resilience and dedication. Growing up in Naracoorte with a passion for footy and running, he redirected his drive after colorblindness kept him from joining the army. Married for 17 years and a father of three, Crozzy balances family, work, and farming with his wife Sarah. Despite a significant knee injury in 2006, he transitioned to coaching and has...

Welcome back to In the Head of a Country Bloke. This time, I chat with Jack Lawrence, a bloke with a big love for action sports who definitely doesn’t mind living life on the edge. Jack's passion for skydiving is clear, as he shares what it really means to him, and why he loves it. But his love for the extreme doesn't stop there.  He's also into motorbike racing, and even as a kid, he...

Welcome to another episode of 'In The Head Of A Country Bloke.' Today, I chat with Stewart McCully. Stew's story starts with his love for footy at Kybybolite. He didn't stop there - he took his skills to SANFL, playing around 125 games with Glenelg Football Club. But Stew's journey is more than just about sports. After moving to Adelaide, he earned a teaching degree and built a successful career i...

In this episode I was honoured to chat with Jack Burns, whose story is of the heartbreaking loss of his brother Jy to Suicide in 2019. It’s a story of resilience, and sheer determination as well as the importance of the love of family, community and contribution. Struggling with guilt and feeling like he let his family down, Jack found solace in the gym, where he often broke down. Although Jack kn...

Welcome back to ‘In The Head Of A Country Bloke’. In this episode I chat with long-time local Ben Hood. Now living in Mount Gambier with his wife Elle and their three children, Ben has worn many hats. He’s the Liberal Shadow Minister for Regional SA and a member of the Legislative Council. He’s also served as Deputy Mayor of Mount Gambier and innovated and co-owned successful businesses like Hello...

In this episode I chat with Glenn Haynes, aka Haynesy. Glenn's not only a seasoned shearer, with stories from the sheds that span decades - but a loving family man, and good mate to many. From his start as a curious young bloke, venturing into the tough world of shearing to representing at state level, and eventually mentoring and training the next generation.  Glenn shares what it was like to...

In this episode I chat to Bill Gill, a genuine 'what you see is what you get', down to earth bloke. A loving Husband, father of three beautiful girls, and now Grandfather - Bill has strong family values, loves his mates and is known for his passion for sport. He's a mix of humble and 'self confessed' opinionated in the things that matter to him. He knows what it's like to e...

Tim Solly has achieved and experienced a lot in his 40 years. From an award-winning voiceover artist, actor, and musician, to real estate agent, auctioneer, and now AFL commentator. All this, balanced with his strong love of family. He's learned some important life lessons along the way - recognise opportunities when they arise, don't be afraid to dream big and make it happen, and perhaps...

In South Australia at the moment, bushfire alerts are at an all time high, and people like Jason Druwitt are vital in their prevention and management. Jason, a dedicated leader and family man, works as Regional Commander for SA Country Fire Service in charge of region 5, which covers around 23,000 square km, 82 Brigades and 8 groups, with approximately 2,100 amazing volunteers.  Jason’s strength,...

The Naked Farmer is an ambitious social media movement aiming to break down the stigma and barriers surrounding mental health. What started as a cheeky Instagram post by a young western Victorian farmer three years ago has exploded into a worldwide phenomenon. Mandy catches up with the founder Ben Brooksby to chat about his motivation and inspiration for creating the movement, and where he plans t...

Some people are lucky enough to escape one brush with death. Then there are others like Richie Oliver (otherwise known as "Punter") who somehow manage to survive two. In this fascinating podcast, Richie recalls vividly just what it was like to be involved in two near-fatal accidents - in the space of 12 months. He talks about what he's learned from the confronting experiences, and the strength, de...

Leading up to his 40th birthday, Matt Rowett was enjoying life as a hard-working partner in a successful accounting practice and a devoted father of four. Then he started to get headaches, which he put down to the stress of a busy work schedule. The scans that followed revealed something that would change his life dramatically. Thank you to the Upper South East Local Health Cluster (USELHC) for th...

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a dramatic impact on many people's lives. At a time when so many people are struggling to cope mentally, one of the South East's top mental health professionals is the ideal man to talk about the effects it has caused, and what we can do about it. Philip Galley is a leading mental health clinician whose list of qualifications is matched only by his collection of stori...

A business owner, family man and committed amateur athlete, Charlie Legoe fits as much as he can into every day. As a travel agent, his business has been hit harder than most by the COVID-19 virus, forcing him to think and do things differently. But as he tells Mandy, it's the same as setting out on a 100km trail run, or a trek along the Kokoda Track, sometimes you just have to grit your teeth and...

Glen Hamlyn, otherwise known as 'Hambo' is well known as a hard-working, outgoing, happy-go-lucky stock agent, who helped to establish the highly successful Pinkerton, Palm, Hamlyn, and Steen agency. He then built on that by buying into the busy waste collection service Envirotec. What you may not know, is that to achieve those business successes, he had to overcome various obstacles, including dy...

At a time when it seems the digital age is taking over the media landscape and newspapers are dying, Michael Waite has bucked the trend by starting a new community newspaper in Naracoorte. Michael has a fascinating background and life journey which has come full circle - from growing up in Naracoorte, to spending half his life in the US, to now returning where it all began. He gives a revealing an...

Highly respected in the agricultural sector, Ken Solly has spent years travelling throughout Australia, working with and mentoring farmers - both men and women. Ken featured in the Stock Journal for many years as well as having run his own business. He has a passion for young people and loves to share what he has learned over the years, in the hope these people take some of that knowledge and go o...

After growing up in the small South Australian country towns of Naracoorte and Kybybolite, Lachie Neale has gone on to become one of the top footballers in the AFL. He made his mark with Fremantle, and now the Brisbane Lions, where in 2019 he led his new club to the finals and finished equal third in the Brownlow Medal. It has taken talent, drive, commitment and strong values for Lachie to rise to...