It's in our Roots

Famously a friend of the podcast, we finally catch-up with Flav who has supported the podcast since series 1. We hear about his roots in Kenya and navigating his way through becoming one of the most prominent voices for ethnic minorities within the British agricultural industry, before the return of ‘what a load of old bull’!

This week we’re visiting Myrtle Farm in Somerset to chat to Eleanor Thatcher, 5th generation farmer and cider maker. The Thatcher family have been making the cider that we all know and love since 1904 - we chat to Eleanor about growing up on the farm and working as part of the family business. Holly also has a go at the Thatchers Cider taste challenge… listen to the end to see how she gets on!

In the week leading up to the British Farming Awards, we chat to fellow nominees Emma and Ewan, about their life as sheep farmers on the Isle of Bute. As if raising a little one whilst featuring on This Farming Life for the BBC isn’t enough, we hear about how they also find time to go sheep dog trialling internationally. And of course, we end with a game - Shepherd and Shepherdess!

It’s in our Roots is BACK with a third series! To kick things off, we’re chatting to the Farmer’s Weekly presenting duo, Becca and Lizzie. We chat about the creation of their Boots and Heels podcast, as well as common misconceptions about the agricultural industry. We also challenge them to our Boots & Heels version of Mr & Mrs!

Dan and Holly go back to their own roots to bring you an episode in collaboration with Devon County Show! From stock to steam engines, tractors to tasty treats - they chat to everyone that makes the show what it is. We chat to exhibitors, stewards, Grays Devon Cider, Darts Farm, the Salcombe Dairy and more! Listen out for some familiar voices and some previous guests of the podcast.

This week we’re having a look back at all the best bits from our second series. Hear highlights from the Chief Shepherdess, Tractor Ted, Gail Muller, Dan O’Neill, Danny Gallagher, Maria Warne and more, as well as Dan and Holly’s highlights from the series. Also, make sure you listen to the end to hear what’s next for the podcast… as well as a voice note from one of our listeners!

This week we’re chatting to Devon based Food Adventurer - James Brooks! James is on a mission to inspire people to be more adventurous around food and encourage us to become freestyle cooks. We talk about telling the story from farm to fork and his very own Secret Food Society.

You know her as the name behind so many Farmers Guardian articles, this week we’re chatting to Hannah Binns, upland Sheep Farmer and New & Business Reporter. We talk about how she landed her job at the Farmers Guardian, her top tips on how to get into journalism and we attempt our new game - have I got news for MOO?

20 nations, 22 organisations and half a million young people! This week we’re talking to Linzi Stewart, Chairman of Rural Youth Europe. We chat to Linzi about her journey to becoming Chair of this international organisation, the similarities and differences between rural organisations across Europe, as well as share memories from past Rural Youth Europe events.

You know her from her incredibly popular TikTok videos with her Granfer, this week we’re talking to Maria Warne, a Fifth Generation Farmer and Yellow Wellies Ambassador from Cornwall. We talk about how Maria’s TikTok has blown up to nearly a million followers and why she now uses her platform to talk about farm safety and mental health.

This week we’re talking to Naomi Wright, a Dairy Farmer and Therapist based in the Lake District. We talk about mental health and farming, discussing why Naomi set up ‘Therapy for Farmers’ to help reach out to the agricultural community. We discuss the power of therapy, the importance of self-care and what we can all be doing to look out for each other.

This week we’re talking to country singer and songwriter, Scotland’s very own Kevin McGuire! We talk about how he got into country music and the growing country music scene in the UK. Also in this week’s ‘What a load of old bull’ we’ve got stories about supporting Basshunter, X Factor Auditions and singing at Hampden Park - but which one is the lie?

This week we’re chatting to Danny Gallagher aka Danny the Farrier! We talk about his journey to becoming a farrier, the importance of educating children about countryside trades and pursuits, as well as juggling his day job with farming, renovating a house, CrossFit and more.

This week we're joined by former Team GB Wheelchair Rugby Captain and Gold Medalist Paralympian - Jim Roberts MBE. After catching Meningitis at University he spent two and a half years in hospital and it was a nurse who introduced him to Wheelchair Rugby. He has since travelled the world competing, which took him to the Paralympic Games in Tokyo. We talk about growing up in the countryside, h...

This week we’re chatting to fellow young farmer Charlie Beaty, aka the Globe Trotting Farm Girl! Charlie joined Young Farmers aged 13 years old and is the current reigning National Young Farmers Senior Member of the Year. We talk about what she’s learnt from travelling the world and more recently becoming a Farmers Weekly Columnist.

This week we’re chatting to wildlife presenter and director, Dan O’Neill. It was several experiences during his childhood that led him to the jungle and made him want to pursue a career in research and filmmaking. He’s a trailblazer for the LGBT+ community, has founded his own wildlife film festival and we have the most adventurous round of ’what a load of old bull’ yet - so we had lots to discuss...

To celebrate the start of FebruDAIRY, Dan and Holly chat to fellow Devon Young Farmer Emily Peters, founder of Udder Stuff. They discuss how she diversified her family farming business to sell milk directly to the consumer, her passion for educating the public about the dairy industry and the challenges she faced setting up her new business.

Adventurer. Educator. Author. Gail Muller chats to Holly and Dan about overcoming chronic illness against the odds and her epic hike of the Appalachian Trail.

This week we talk to the founder and creator of the one and only - Tractor Ted! Ally Heard explains how being persuaded by her kids to pull the car over to watch the tractors, gave her the idea to create her very own films that now enlighten thousands of children across the country about farming.

It’s in our Roots is back for Series Two! Zoë Colville, aka the Chief Shepherdess, chats to Holly and Dan about her journey from working as a hairdresser in Soho, to farming in Kent. We discuss women in agriculture, being a new entrant in the industry and try out a brand new game.

In our final episode of 2020 we get into the Christmas spirit, look back at all our guests from Series 1 and Holly plays her own 'What a Load of Old Bull'. Make sure you listen to the end to hear our big announcement!

For our series finale, we’re taking it back to the podcast’s roots: talking to rural people who have came through an incredible journey. Listen to pig farmer Lee Thompson’s honest and thought-provoking story of how a teammate’s tragedy on the rugby pitch impacted his mental health, inspiring him to start his own podcast with the motto “it’s not weak to speak”.

Episode 14 - Erin Fflur McNaught, British Sheepdog trialling champion is doing it all. Listen to the challenging journey she is on, as she takes over her family farm, whilst sitting her A levels, applying to university and of course, training and working her award winning sheepdogs!

Between practising in a small animal veterinary surgery, presenting on family television, farming a smallholding and hosting his own podcast... Dr James Greenwood managed to find time to talk to us. Hear all about his busy schedule here, in our 13th episode!

Episode 12 sees our first duo of guests - Matt and Pip Smith. Between shearing world records and their new venison business, the pair are full of inspirational advice!