Salt of the Earth Farm Stories

Send us Fan Mail Lisa Millar- Part A | From a country kid with a dictaphone to one of Australia's most loved broadcasters Before the Gold Logie nominations, before Back Roads , Muster Dogs , and decades reporting some of Australia's biggest stories, there was a curious country girl growing up in Kilkivan, Queensland, with a dictaphone in her hand and a love of asking questions. In Part A...

Send us Fan Mail Some people inspire you. Others leave you completely lost for words. In this very special episode, we follow the extraordinary journey of Sam Longmore as she takes on The Big Wheel — wheeling herself an incredible 441 kilometres over eight days using just one side of her body. Through rain, strong winds, steep hills, traffic and countless obstacles, Sam's determination never...

Send us Fan Mail With a background in agricultural science and a passion for helping farmers build more resilient and productive farming systems, Jade shares her thoughts on annual pastures, perennials and the growing interest in multi-species mixes. We discuss different pasture systems, how farmers can make better decisions for their own environments, and explore why there's no one-size-fits...

Send us Fan Mail Some people live one life. Clem Furphy seems to have lived several. Born in 1943, Clem proudly describes himself as a war baby, not a boomer. In this conversation, he reflects on a life packed with adventure, creativity, community, farming and plenty of good stories. From riding his bike to school through Melbourne traffic (no hands), studying civil engineering, and enjoying time...

Send us Fan Mail Many of you will remember Sam Longmore as the woman who refused to let a life-changing accident define her. After being left paralysed down one side, she rebuilt her life with remarkable grit and determination, going on to break world water-skiing records and receive the prestigious Shine Award.  Now, she's taking on another massive challenge. The Big Wheel was born from Sam&...

Send us Fan Mail Most 13-year-olds are thinking about school, sport, social media, or what’s for dinner. But for Lucy Godbolt, a lot of her spare time is spent thinking about cattle, genetics, temperament, and what makes a great animal stand out in the ring. Growing up in a livestock-focused family, Lucy has learned plenty from her dad, Pete Godbolt, a highly respected stud stock manager with Nutr...

Send us Fan Mail Peter Goldbolt. In this episode, we dive into the pressure and adrenaline of sale day — where Pete can be responsible for selling millions of dollars worth of livestock in a single day. As a Stud Stock Manager with Nutrien Ag Solutions, Pete gives a great insight into the modern stud stock world, from changing technology to the relationships that hold the industry together across...

Send us Fan Mail Peter Godbolt is a Stud Stock Manager with Nutrien Ag Solutions, working with livestock breeders and producers right across Australia. Spending close to 100,000 kilometres a year on the road, he’s constantly travelling between cattle sales, properties, shows and industry events. Growing up around Herefords, Pete says there’s no better place to grow up than on the farm — and his ex...

Send us Fan Mail After disaster hits a community, the damage isn’t always visible. Grief, uncertainty and the fear of what might come next can linger for years — especially in rural Australia, where many people live knowing another drought, fire or flood could be around the corner. In this episode, Warren Davies talks openly about resilience, adverse circumstances, and the importance of building c...

Send us Fan Mail Warren Davies knows what it’s like to hit rock bottom — and rebuild from it. Known to many as The Unbreakable Farmer , Warren has become one of Australia’s most respected rural mental health speakers, travelling the country sharing hard-earned lessons on resilience, connection, and getting through tough seasons. In this episode of Salt of the Earth, Farm Stories, Warren opens up a...

Send us Fan Mail What if the birds on your farm could tell you how healthy your landscape really is? In this episode of Salt of the Earth Farm Stories , we sit down with the endlessly curious Dr David Watson — ecologist, innovator, and passionate advocate for woodland birds — to explore a fascinating piece of technology that could change the way farmers understand their environment. Dr Dave and hi...

Send us Fan Mail This is Part B with Libby Price, picking up after one of the toughest chapters of her career—reporting on Black Saturday. We dive into a powerful question: how do you cover tragedy and still stay human? From tough interviews and on-air moments to farming life, “horse heaven,” and her pull back to radio, Libby shares the highs, lows, and lessons from behind the mic. There’s insight...

Send us Fan Mail Today, we go behind the scenes of radio with one of the most recognisable voices in rural Australia—Libby Price. From her early days in the Adelaide Hills to an outstanding career across radio and television—best known for ABC’s Country Hour and now ACE Radio’s Country Today —Libby’s journey has been anything but ordinary. She’s interviewed Prime Ministers, built a reputation as a...

Send us Fan Mail Part C takes things in a different direction, as we dig deeper into the life of Danny Phegan —farmer, entertainer, and one of the most genuine voices around. From the opal fields of Lightning Ridge—mud, water, and brown snakes—we explore a side of life many don’t see. Danny reflects on the constant movement of touring, from northern gigs to the south coast, and how songs can be bo...

Send us Fan Mail In Part B, we’re back with Danny Phegan—farmer, singer-songwriter, entertainer, and all-round top bloke. This episode dives into the realities of chasing a living, the highs and lows, and the moments that make it all worthwhile. Danny shares the incredible story behind his album From Where I Stand hitting number one on the ARIA Country Album Charts—a huge achievement—and what it’s...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 100  What better way to celebrate than with Danny Phegan — farmer, singer/songwriter, entertainer and great family man — sharing a story that’s big, wild and full of heart. Across three episodes, we cover life on the farm near Albury, NSW, the influence of his grandfather, and the unbelievable story of buying his farm at auction. From breaking in horses in America to ridin...

Send us Fan Mail Today we sit down with Nakala Maddock from Nutrisoil to unpack what’s really going on beneath our feet. Nakala breaks down the fundamentals of vermiculture and explains how the worm’s gut acts as a powerful microbial factory—transforming organic matter into biology that drives healthier, more productive soils.  It’s a simple concept with big implications for pasture performance, r...

Send us Fan Mail In part two of my chat with Andrew Kettlewell, we dig deeper into the people, moments and decisions that helped shape his career in agriculture and business. Andrew reflects on lessons learned along the way — from global companies to grassroots agriculture — and why staying connected to the land and community still matters. It’s a conversation about opportunity, perspective and th...

Send us Fan Mail Andrew Kettlewell grew up in the Riverina town of Jerilderie, but his story stretches a long way beyond the family farm. In this first episode, Andrew shares the early chapters — growing up in the country, chasing opportunities, and the experiences that shaped his path into farm management. From small-town beginnings to rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest names in the busin...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I’m on a property just south of Yass in NSW, joining a research project funded by Meat & Livestock Australia and led by Dr Rebecca Haling from CSIRO. We’re taking a closer look at serradella — a self-regenerating legume that’s drought resilient, fixes nitrogen, handles acidic soils, runs on low nutrients, and carries a low bloat risk. It’s already proven in WA...

Send us Fan Mail In Part B, Dom Shanahan gets into the heart of what matters most— people, safety, and smart decisions on and off the road . We talk driver safety, B-triples, leadership, and how Dom’s business evolved, including his move from cattle and sheep, to cattle only and the thinking behind that shift. Dom also shares some memorable stories about the characters in his fleet, including the...

Send us Fan Mail In Part A, I sit down with a mate of mine, Dom Shanahan , to hear the story behind the man and the miles. Dom started with just one truck , and today runs a major livestock transport operation with 35 B-doubles on the road . He takes us through his early days, the risks, the setbacks, and the decisions that shaped his journey from the ground up. It’s a grounded, honest conversatio...

Send us Fan Mail In Part B with Sam Davies, we explore the intersection of agriculture, education, and purpose. Sam shares how her work with Petaurus Education Group is connecting students with the environment in meaningful, hands-on ways—taking learning beyond the classroom and into wetlands, waterways, and the landscapes that shape rural Australia. We talk about the power of small moments in edu...

Send us Fan Mail In Part A, Sam Davies takes us through the twists and turns of her journey—from growing up on a farm in New South Wales, to teaching in some of Australia’s most remote communities, and eventually landing on a station near Hay. We talk about her early years, what drew her into teaching, and her time with the School of the Air in Katherine—where classrooms look very different and co...

Send us Fan Mail We head back to Chambers Rosewood Vineyards with Stephen Chambers as harvest comes into sharp focus. Picking season is hectic, fast-paced, and full of decisions — from grape varieties and timing, to the ongoing challenges of smoke taint from bushfires and increasingly unpredictable seasons. Stephen walks us through the shift from hand picking, to mechanical harvesting, and back ag...