Whether you're on a mine site in the workshop, in the office, in the corporate office, at a hospital, on a construction site, whether you are just about anywhere you've seen the TradeMutt shirts.

They're bright and colourful and they have a very simple message emblazoned on the back: This Is A Conversation Starter.

Dan and his mate Ed started TradeMutt after one of Dan's good mate's took his own life.

TradeMutt is a social enterprise so the duo also started TIACS, a professional mental health counselling service for tradies, truckies, farmers, and blue collar workers that's completely free. 50 per cent of the profit from TradeMutt goes directly to TIACS making it free for anyone who needs it.

On this episode Jess catches up with Dan Allen to talk about where TradeMutt started, how it's going and some of the incredible stories Dan has heard along the way.

For more information on TradeMutt: https://trademutt.com/

To reach out to TIACS: https://www.tiacs.org/ or call or text: 0488 846 988

@ The Coalface story on TradeMutt and TIACS: https://thecoalface.net.au/this-is-a-conversation-starter/

This could be the best episode Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface yet, so make sure you let us know what you think.

If you're a true Newcastle Knights fan, or even just an NRL junkie you'll know this guest. Newcastle Knights old boy Kurt Gidley made his debut with the NRL club in 2001, captained the side between 2007 and 2015, was the captain of the NSW Blues in 2009 and 2010 and was inducted into the Newcastle Knights Hall of Fame in 2022.

There are plenty of other stories in between, from playing for Australia to some pretty memorable tries.

Kurt retired from professional NRL at the end of 2015 having made the second-most appearance for the Knights in the Club's history. He finished his professional career with the Warrington Wolves in the Super League.

These days you'll find Kurt kicking goals in the mining industry as the National Manager - Partnerships and Growth at the Protech Group.

Jess sat down with Kurt to talk all things footy and his time in one of the country's other big exporters... mining.

Previous stories on the Protech Group and Dreampath Recruitment:

https://thecoalface.net.au/proof-is-in-the-pudding/

https://thecoalface.net.au/industry-superstars/

Vicky Pellowe started the FIFO Family Project after moving to Perth, becoming a mum and discovering there was next to no support available for FIFO parents staying at home with the children while their other half went away to work for days at a time.

The FIFO Family Project is a community and a support network for families who are trying to navigate that lifestyle. While there are meet ups in person in Vicky's home state in WA, there is now a FIFO New Parents Guide, online webinars and lots of other support that can be accessed by anyone, anywhere in Australia.

Jess caught up with Vicky for this episode of Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface!

Info on the FIFO New Parents Guide: https://www.thefifofamilyproject.com.au/the-fifo-new-parents-guide/

Follow Vicky on Instagram @thefifofamilyproject