It's in our Roots

You will have heard us chat about the country dating site Muddy Matches for two series now, but this week we get to chat to the co-founder herself - Lucy Rand! From the initial idea during a chat at the pub, to travelling the country to encourage people to join, we talk through the story of how Muddy Matches has grown to help thousands of country loving people find their match. Make sure you liste...

On the eve of this year’s Devon County Show, we joined our friends at the Addington Fund for the 2023 Devon Farm Business Awards. Have a listen to see who we chatted to at the awards, as well as interviews with lots of the winners including The Dartmoor Shepherd, Oliver Lee from How Now Dairy, Niall Tewson from South Devon Dairy, Elizabeth Hammett, Surfing Cow Ice cream and more!

Holly and Dan take on Devon County Show round 2 - this time giving you a taster of their 2023 experience. Talking to those who show cattle, cheering on the Tug of War and Sheep Shearing, to the YFC After Show Party and everything in between, this episode is definitely a unique one not to be missed!

Not many people could have both Nuffield Scholar and Team USA captain on their CV, but this week’s guest certainly does. Kendra Hall tells us her story, how growing up in rural Indiana turned into her captaining the USA sitting volleyball Paralympic team at London 2012… Before moving to the UK where she’s currently embarking on her Nuffield Farming Scholarship. There’s a lot to pack in, but we cov...

This week we’re chatting to plant operator and business owner Amy Underwood aka the Digger Girl! Based in Scotland, Amy showcases her career and love for diggers to thousands of followers across the globe. We chat about growing up around diggers, the realities of working as part of a family business and which celebrities are sliding into her DMs…

This week we’re heading down to Cornwall to chat to cattle hoof trimming extraordinaire Ant Thomas, aka ‘Keeping Cows Moovin!’ His hoof trimming videos rack up millions of views across TikTok and Instagram and we get to chat about the roots of where it all began. Ant talks about about his passion for animal welfare, public perception of the agricultural industry and the weird questions he gets onl...

How can having an allotment change your life? This week we’re off to North Devon to find out. We chat to Shannon aka ‘Diary of a Lady Gardener’ about her journey to becoming a fully fledged flower farmer, Instagram gardener and host of the ‘Diaries of a Lady Gardener’ podcast. Make sure you listen to the end to hear Shannon’s biggest gardening fail!

This week we’re visiting Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park and for the first time ever we have a co-host! We’re joined by sheep farming YouTuber Will Roobottom and have a walk around the park to see the rare breeds on show. We stop by at the lambing shed to have a chat to Katie following her ‘lambing live’ presentation and we also learn more about Will’s farming journey.

This week we’re chatting to the founder and editor-in-chief of Femme Country Magazine, Brontë Clare Mitchell. Brontë talks us through the realisation that London life wasn’t for her and how her journey back to her Yorkshire roots led to the creation of Femme Country. The magazine has grown to become an inspiring platform for women to share opinions, style and advice - whether you live in the count...

This week we’ve gone fishing with the brilliant Marina Gibson! We chat about how Marina turned her hobby into her career and how she’s now inspiring the next generation of women getting into fishing. Marina also talks about the creation of the Cancer and Pisces Trust - an incredible charity that aims to enhance the lives of cancer sufferers through the therapeutic pastime of angling.

It’s in our ROOTSTOCK! We’re excited to be hosting an episode from the first ever Rootstock - a conference discussing how farmers can build resilient businesses through regenerative methods and the latest technical developments. We have a catch up with Cotswold Farmer and Agronomist Ed Horton, as well as Devon’s Farmer of the Year Chris Berry!

For Dan and Holly’s 50th episode, they talk to a lady who does the extremes - from surviving the jungle to taking on a self-sufficient farm whilst pregnant, Ness Knight knows how to defeat the unimaginable. This podcast is about inspiring people - and this episode will leave you ready to take on the world!

Holly and Dan take it back to the very root of their friendship - Young Farmers! NFYFC kindly invited the podcast to their first ever awards ceremony to help showcase the talent amongst our members. From the achievements, to the community spirit, through to the very heart of YFC - Holly and Dan cover it all! Have a listen to hear from lots of young farmers from across the country, the award winner...

We are back with a very special pair of guests to kick-off series four - Tom and Joanna Pemberton! We discuss all things from the ‘roots’ of their relationship, to the truth behind balancing dairy farming, social media and married life. Joanna also shows us that farmers wives are far from stereotypical. Stay to the end for a quick-fire round of Mr & Mrs!

We’ve come to the end of Series 3, so this week we’re having a look back at the past 14 weeks and the incredibly inspiring guests we’ve had on. From tackling stereotypes within agriculture to testing Holly’s cider tasting capabilities… this series has had it all. Make sure you listen to the end as we also hear from five of YOU, in our very first listener’s edition of ‘What a load of old bull!’

Recorded at LAMMA 2023, in this week’s episode we’re chatting to the founder of Forces Farming, Jeremy Gibbs. Forces Farming supports ex service men and women into agricultural and rural careers. We chat to Jeremy about why he set it up and what drives him to continue to help as many people as possible into the agricultural industry.

This week we’re live from LAMMA 2023 - the UK’s largest farm machinery show at the NEC in Birmingham. We take you around the show, bumping into some familiar faces, as well as chatting to some of the exhibitors along the way. Guests on the episode include the Grassmen legend Gareth Gault aka ‘Donkey’, as well as representatives from the Farming Community Network and the Addington Fund.

It’s our first episode of 2023 and we’re talking to the incredibly inspiring author and entrepreneur from Yorkshire - Hannah Russell. Hannah talks about her journey to becoming a published author, setting up numerous businesses, being an ambassador for different charities, as well as her work as a public speaker. Standing at 28 inches high, Hannah’s miniature Shetland ‘Little Alf’ is the star of h...

In our final episode of 2022, we’re virtually heading off to Paris to speak to Chef and Butcher, Connor Reed. Connor talks about his journey to becoming a chef, growing up as a vegetarian and then finding his passion for the art of butchery. We also talk to him about his move to Paris, as well as his work at Pipers Farm in Devon.

To fend off the cold, Dan and Holly are reminiscing on one of their favourite country show competitions - sheep shearing! Marie talks us through her journey to setting the first-ever women's eight-hour strongwool ewe world record. Make sure you listen to the end to find out how to become a young member of the Devon County Agricultural Association and watch even more shearing in May!

This week’s episode is a Farm Business Innovation Show special! We walk around the show chatting to inspiring rural entrepreneurs including Herefordshire farmer Ally Hunter Blair and sheep farming YouTuber William Roobottom. We also hear from different rural businesses and organisations including FarmED and Canopy & Stars! If you’re looking to diversify your farm business, this is the show you...

This week we’re chatting to Donna Edmonds, the CEO at Farms for City Children. This charity immerses children from urban communities into a totally new world. Donna reminisces about her first experience of the countryside aged 21 as a teacher on a Farms for City Children visit and how this had a profound impact on her. We talk about the importance of teaching children about where their food comes...

This week, Holly and Dan are chatting to Instagram famous artist Kate Simpson! In between coaching us through her own ‘how to draw’ guides, she chats about how she stumbled into the world of farming, achieving her dream of writing a children’s book and gives us some Christmas gift ideas!

The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (R.A.B.I) supports rural communities all across the UK, and this episode we caught up with Laura Ractliffe, one of their Regional Managers. We were both blown away by how varied their support on offer is, including financial, wellbeing and in the community. If you want to reach out to them, please call their helpline on 08001884444. Or alternatively, v...

Smashing stereotypes and championing the butchery industry, this week we’re chatting to Justine the Butcher aka ‘Rack of Glam’. We talk about the reception she received starting out, misconceptions of the industry and what inspired her to start a meat company during lockdown.