**COLLABORATION WITH LETS TALK**

Gosh it’s fun, being a woman. So how much of how we’re feeling is actually at the whim of our hormones and brain chemicals?

In our final episode of our 3-part collaboration series with Lets Talk, we chat about the ways we can naturally boost our moods, through what we eat and what we do, on a daily basis. These are simple tips, like getting sunlight, enjoying nature and avoiding refined sugars, that can have a big impact on your life.

Dr Belinda Bell, a GP based in Warrnambool in south-west Vic is our guest. She experienced depression when she was younger and was even told she shouldn’t talk about it, because it might be used against her. But she didn’t listen and is now on the Board of the Lets Talk Foundation and finds her patients actually appreciate her openness about her mental health.

Dr Bell, also hugs her patients. Her empathy is her superpower. Hear her story and insight into what’s going on with our bodies, (from periods, to pregnancy, to menopause) that can be wreaking havoc with our emotions.

Abby Power, of Lets Talk also joins us again as co-host with Kirsten Diprose.

Make sure you listen to all 3 episodes in this special “Self Care is Not Selfish” series, with the Lets Talk Foundation.

Please Note: The views expressed in this episode are our own, we are not providing any medical advice

This is a Rural Podcasting Co production.

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* *COLLAB SERIES WITH LET'S TALK**

A conversation can save someone's life.

So, when someone you care about is not OK, how do you start the conversation? And just as importantly, make sure it leads to that person taking action (such as talking to a GP).

In Part 2 of this series on "Self Care is Not Selfish," we look at how to foster deeper conversations about mental well-being, while also knowing your own limits and boundaries in helping someone else out.

Jenna Robinson, a running coach based in Birregurra, VIC and volunteer for the Let's Talk Foundation shares her own experience of post-natal depression. She describes how a conversation with a friend, was the beginning of her journey to recovery.

We're also joined by Abbi Power from Let's Talk, as co-host, along with regular host, Kirsten Diprose. Both women have also experienced post natal depression and remember the conversations that led them to take action and ultimately get better.

This is a conversation about having important conversations. It's full of different strategies about how to validate feelings, listen and employ the campfire analogy (that one is so you don't scare away the blokes with too much eye contact!). We also discuss mental health first aid training and what to do if you're helping someone in a crisis situation.

Are you interested in a collaboration series? Or sponsoring an episode? Download our Sponsorship prospectus from our website

This is a Rural Podcasting Co production.

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How did we get to that point, where we think having a shower... or going grocery shopping alone is "self care?" .

It isn't. In this 3-part collaboration series with Let's Talk, a charity with the goal of breaking down the stigma around mental health, we delve into self-care; why it’s not selfish,and how do it properly.

We address how to challenge that 'little voice' in your head that tells you, you don't have time to look after yourself. You can even name that little voice. We did.

And we also look self care from a men's perspective; we know a lot of rural men like to go to the pub... but is that self care?

Hear from:

* Karen Foster - Professional Mentor, and Board Chair at Let's Talk, Port Fairy VIC

* Abbi Power - Community Activation Lead at Let's Talk and mother of twins, Naracoorte, SA

Produced by the Rural Podcasting Co.

If you'd like to Collaborate or advertise on Ducks on the Pond, check out our options here. We'd love to hear from you!

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**EPISODE SPONSORED BY JOY JOHNS WINES**

Does the farm always HAVE to come first?

We meet two very successful women in agriculture who are challenging this traditional concept of 'the farm comes first'. To do this, they have both come up with unique business models.

Instead of shaping their lives around the farm; they're shaping the farm around their family and other career and business goals.

Hear from:

• Chloe Brown - a dairy farmer in south west Victoria, who has pushed back on the 'get big or get out' mentality of modern dairying to build a business with her husband, that works for their young family. Chloe is also reshaping perceptions of the industry through her podcast, More Than Milk.
  
  
• Claire Booth - while Claire doesn’t like to call herself a farmer, she plays an integral role in her family’s farming business Booth Ag, which is based in Geurie in central west NSW. She also runs her own law firm in Dubbo.

Both Claire and Chloe discuss how they've managed to define their business roles and manage this alongside with their roles as 'wife' and 'mother'. They talk about how they gained confidence and learnt about the business of farming too, as first time farmers.

Thank you to our Episode Sponsor, Joy Johns Wines

** Would you like to sponsor an episode? Get in touch via our website.

This podcast is brought to you by the Rural Podcasting Co

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This Episode is Sponsored by: Creative Little Soul

Yes, we invented the term “Bush Podpreneur.” But that’s because there’s a phenomenon that’s been happening in rural Australia that we need to recognise. “Bush Podpreneur” captures the way rural women are producing podcasts in entrepreneurial ways to build community, social connections and even businesses and income.

In this special episode, Kirsten Diprose is joined by guest co-host Dr Maria Rae, Senior Lecturer in Politics and Policy at Deakin University to unpack why and how rural women are starting their own podcasts and what it means for them.

You’ll hear from six rural women podcasters:

• Skye Manson, founder of Manson Podcasting Network, Gunning, NSW
• Kimberley Furness, founder of Oak Magazine, Bendigo VIC
• Katrina Myers, This Rural Life, Barham NSW
• Stephanie Coombes, Central Station Podcast, Katherine, NT
• Stephanie Tretheway, Motherland, TAS
• Samantha Meurant, Rural Compass, Cunnamulla, QLD

We discuss the realities of creating a podcast (including time and money), the opportunities podcasting can bring you and how to manage the duty of care you have to your guests, especially when they’ve emotionally opened up to you.

The podcast market is becoming increasingly saturated, but the listenership continues to grow in Australia. The latest figures (2023) show 43% of Australians regularly listen to podcasts. And that's up quite significantly from four years ago when it was about 25%.

Read the academic paper written by Dr Maria Rae and Kirsten Diprose: Bush Podpreneurs: How Rural Women Podcast Producers Are Building Digital and Social Connectivity

***
EPISODE SPONSORSHIP Thank you to Chrissy Symeonakis, founder of Creative Little Soul for sponsoring this episode. If you’d like to sponsor an episode (or a series!) of Ducks on the Pond, get in touch: kirsten@ruralpodcastingco.com

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You’ll laugh so hard in this episode, you’ll wet yourself. But then, learn how you can fix that wee problem of yours too!

Many of us probably never thought about our pelvic floor, until we had a baby. Perhaps you were sent home with exercises to tighten it up.But did you know, your pelvic floor can be too tight? Or that stress, hormonal changes, lifting heavy things, and even constipation can all potentially lead to pelvic floor issues?

We meet Courtenay Polock (Wodonga, VIC), who is an accredited exercise physiologist, specialising in women's health. She launched Her Exercise Physiology, which is a virtual clinic, helping women through video consultations.

It makes sense that many of her clients are rural women.

In this episode, we learn what causes pelvic pain, what a prolapse is, what happens if your pelvic floor is too tight and just about the way women's pain is treated in general.

Ever heard of a wandering womb? It's one of those lovely old phrases for women's problems that no one cared to understand back in the day… we talk about that too. So brush aside any awkwardness and hit play!

**Would you like to sponsor an episode of Ducks on the Pond and get your brand out here to thousands of rural women? Email us at ducksonthepond.podcast@gmail.com

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Are we allowed to call it a 'crisis yet?"

As any Mum in rural and regional Australia and they can tell you stress and the cost of not having access to reliable childcare.

Rural women are waiting months if they are 'lucky', but it is not unusual now to wait years for a place in childcare. The Parenthood has released a report, called "Choiceless" which sheds light on the difficult experiences more than 150 women around the country have had.

According to the report about 450 towns with a population under 3, 000 do not have centre based daycare.

This is affecting the careers of women in the country and also the development of children, who aren't always school-ready by the age they should be. The housing crisis and labour shortage is directly linked to the lack of childcare options too, yet you don't hear about it in the media, nearly as much. So we are.

Hear from:

• Tara Rich - Mother and Communications Professional, who has spent nearly a decade looking for suitable childcare for her family.
  
  
• Maddy Butler - Campaign Director at the Parenthood, who is advocating for the Federal Government to better fund a multi-level approach to improving childcare options.

There's no single solution to this. It's complex, but the Parenthood is arguing for a National Workforce Strategy to boost childcare educator numbers in rural and regional Australia.

** Would you like to sponsor an episode? Get in touch to promote your business on our podcast. Email: ducksonthepond.podcast@gmail.com

This podcast is brought to you by the Rural Podcasting Co (We can help YOU make a podcast!)

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Do you own a small rural or regional business and feel bogged down or just completely overwhelmed by the thought of marketing? Do you use Facebook or Instagram, but aren't sure where to turn, to take your business to the next level and build your community?

Top social media and marketing consultant, Jenn Donovan has recently released a book; Small town, Big impact: 107 Simple Marketing Strategies for Regional Business Success.

Jenn is a country girl, who lives in Yarrawonga, NSW. So she actually understands rural and regional life. In this episode, we discuss

• Why you should't be afraid of sending emails to your list
• How to create a lead generator (for emails)
• The difference between posting on social media and a social media strategy
• How to decide if you should be adding Tik Tok, a book or even a podcast into your suite of marketing channels
• Is Twitter (or X, as it's known these days) a dead channel these days?!

Would you like to sponsor an episode? Get in touch to promote your business on our podcast. Email: ducksonthepond.podcast@gmail.com
We also do collaboration series - we'd love to hear your idea!

This podcast is brought to you by the Rural Podcasting Co (We can help YOU make a podcast!)

Send us a Text Message.