Our Special guest is Tara Iwamoto, an LA born consultant, who has worked in publishing entertainment and digital media. This week we dive into:

* The legacy of Virginia Giuffre, for women in entertainment

The tragic news of the death of Virgina Giuffre last week at her WA home, has caused an outpouring of emotion from around the world. Virginia, will be remembered for her bravery... and blowing open the lid on Jeffrey Epstein. She stood up to a culture across the entertainment industry, that said it was ok to use and abuse women for sex.

* Has Trump killed blockbuster movies? Beijing strikes back at US tariffs

China has announced it will curb the imports of Hollywood movies, in response to Donald Trump's 125% tariffs on imports from China. So will this ruin Hollywood? Probably not...but it is likely to hurt blockbuster movies, many of which are created with the large Chinese film market in mind. And if the blockbuster movie industry suffers, there are likely to be knock on effects for those struggling to make a living in film.

More about Tara Iwamoto:

Tara's career has spanned publishing, entertainment, and digital media, leading development deals with top celebrities and producing unscripted TV pilots alongside major studios and platforms. She's originally from California, in the US but now calls Sydney home.

This is a Rural Podcasting Co. in collaboration with VAM paddock productions

Would you like to get in touch? Email us here: Kirsten@ruralpodcastingco.com

Film maker, agtech entrepreneur and farmer, Luke Chaplain is our special guest, as we dive into:

• Farmer Wants a Wife Returns... And there's already spoilers

Most of us know that most reality TV is often filmed months and months before it goes to air. So keeping everything under wraps is incredibly hard for producers in this day and age. And apparently there are a few of the contestants... who have loved up pictures on their social media... but not with the farmer they are meant to be vying for.

• Space-Cringe...Katy Perry has regrets over her 11 minutes in space

It's been dubbed "Mission, Tone Deaf" ... where Blue Origin's Jeff Bezos' flew an all-women crew into space for 11 minutes- leading passenger Katy Perry to dramatically kiss the ground after she touched down, and then speak emotionally about feeling "connected to love" . The celebrities say the aim was to promote female empowerment...but it has been widely criticised due to its environmental impact and overall rich-person ridiculousness.

• "Country is cool" right now...but is it Americanising our Aussie 'country' culture?

The 'country curious' trend is taking over pop culture; from music, fashion to film and TV, it seems that 'country' is influencing every genre. And we're totally here for it. But a lof of it is coming from the US. So, is this leading to an Americanisation of our own 'country' traditions here in Australia? Have terms like 'cowboy' started to replace the Aussie terms of 'ringer' or 'stockman'?

This is a Rural Podcasting Co. in collaboration with VAM paddock productions

Would you like to get in touch? Email us here: Kirsten@ruralpodcastingco.com

This week's special guest is Hannah Murray - founder of Bush Chooks Media and horse sports lover. She's a photographer, videographer and reporter, living on a mixed farm in Blackville, NSW. Hannah describes herself "as having a few tabs open" - she always has a few projects on the go!

This week we dive into?

Is it possible to have an election without the NASTY attack ads?

The election race has officially begun ... and the political attack ads started even earlier. And they're not just mean... they can often be misleading. It's actually legal to lie in a political advertisement in Australia, at least it is before the official election race is called. So what can we expect on the campaign trail this Federal election, in terms of the ads?

Parents are talking about the Emoji's in Netflix's drama series 'Adolescence"

There's a new Netflix series that has parents talking about social media and toxic masculinity. The crime drama is about a 13 year old boy, accused of murdering a female classmate. It has been described as "a portrait of modern boyhood in profound crisis"

Could Gout Gout revitalise Athletics as a TV spectator sport?

More than 1 million people tuned in to watch Gout Gout races in the 200 metres in Melbourne. So could a 17 year old runner from Ipswich, bring back Athletics to prime time TV?

Loving this podcast? You might also like Ducks on the Pond - a podcast for rural women.

This is a Rural Podcasting Co. in collaboration with VAM paddock productions

Would you like to get in touch? Email us here: Kirsten@ruralpodcastingco.com

Our special guest is Shanna Whan AM, the founder of Sober in the Country, dog-lover and hilarious country gal.

1. AI "Fat" Filter is trending on Tik Tok. Is it just silly... or dangerous?

It can seem innocent enough.. we've all played around with filters, that make our face look weird or look like a unicorn ...and had a laugh. But there's a trend on Tik Tok, where people...mainly young people... are using an AI filter that makes them look fat and then posting pictures of themselves, often laughing at the results. Is this silly fun, or something more harmful?

2. Mirror, mirror on the wall, will Snow White cause Disney’s fall?”

Disney's live-action re-make of Snow White has finally been released into cinemas... with lacklustre sales... and brutal reviews. There have been multiple issues plaguing the re-make, including a blown-out budget. But the main problem seemed to be in the awkwardness of trying to update a film made in 1937.

3. MAFS has topped TV ratings again...but why?

Three million Aussies tuned into Channel Nine the other day to watch the MAFS commitment ceremony. And can you believe the show has now been going for 10 years? It's a bit trashy... and there are certainly better ways to find love... so why do Australians love MAFS?

About the guest:

Shanna Whan (AM) is the rural woman, founder, CEO, and face behind Sober in the Country. She's an Australian of the Year recipient who decided to “do what she could to be part of the change” after almost losing her own life to alcohol addiction in 2015. Today, through her tireless advocacy, Sober in the Country has grown from an online blog into a nationally respected charity, shifting the entire conversation around booze in the bush and saving and changing lives. She lives in rural northwest New South Wales with her husband, 'Timbo' and her beloved dogs.

This is a Rural Podcasting Co. in collaboration with VAM paddock productions

Would you like to get in touch? Email us here: Kirsten@ruralpodcastingco.com

Author and Rural Photographer, Tracey Kruger is our special guest. We chat about her passion for Australian woolsheds... as well as:

• Gypsy-Rose Blanchard is owning her past

In her own words, Gypsy-Rose Blanchard is both victim and perpetrator. She was jailed for 10 years in the United States for murdering her own mother, with the help of her then, boyfriend. However, it was revealed Blanchard had been isolated and abused her entire life; with her mother telling her she had multiple illnesses. Gypsy-Rose is now out of jail and seems to be owning her story and the strange 'celebrity status' that has come with it.

• Should Hollywood stars and overseas artists comment on what's going on here in Australia?

From Northern Irish rapper "Kneecap" making a statement on stage (with the missing head of a Melbourne statue of Kind George V), to Leonardo DiCaprio weighing in on a mine expansion in rural Western Australia... are these celebrities over stepping? Or are there global issues at play, with a global mindset needed?

OUR GUEST:

Tracey Kruger is an author and rural photographer
Tracey is rarely seen without a camera in her hand. However, her real love is the farm, especially shearing. She spent her childhood on a sheep farm, and married a farming husband as well. She started photographing woolsheds in action, and to then document their details in her book, “Shearing in Victoria’s Western District.”

Tracey has continued on to produce her popular collection of children's books and shares high quality prints for others to enjoy her work.

This is a Rural Podcasting Co. in collaboration with VAM paddock productions

Would you like to get in touch? Email us here: Kirsten@ruralpodcastingco.com

Comedian, writer and broadcaster, Alice Fraser is our special guest. We chat about her current passion... romance novels! (She has has a new book, aptly named "A Passion for Passion). And we also dive into:

• Can an Oscar be 'bought?'

It's now been revealed that Oscar winning movie, "Anora" spent three times the amount of money on the marketing of the film..than they did making it. The marketing included selling g-strings as merch and having sex workers at the first screening. But, does winning an Oscar mean more money at the box office?

• Is Meghan Markle the next Martha Stewart?

Meghan Markle's new Netflix show "With Love, Meghan" has been ridiculed and mocked... as she shares tips and tricks about hosting and everyday living.

She extracts honey from beehives... prepares home made bath salts and freezes ice cubes with flowers in them. And the stunning 14 million dollar mansion in which the series is made - is not even hers. And yet, Netflix has renewed it for another season.

• Cyclone Alfred brought out the most stupid amongst us.

Every time there is a cyclone, we see people do really dumb stuff - only now it goes viral on social media. From surfers catching the big waves, to locals getting trapped on lookouts... why do people run towards a storm?

OUR GUEST:

Alice Fraser is an award winning comedy writer, Broadcaster, and performer.
Listed in the Telegraph’s 50 Funniest Comedians of the 21st Century, her solo comedy shows have been commissioned as TV specials on Amazon Prime, NextUp and the ABC.

This is a Rural Podcasting Co. in collaboration with VAM paddock productions

Would you like to get in touch? Email us here: Kirsten@ruralpodcastingco.com

Our special guest is David Rose, a stand-up comedian, known for his sharp wit and dark humour.

We discuss:

• "Footy is back" - but are we allowed to say that anymore? Does it de-value the NRLW and the AFLW? The media has been very focused on the way we speak about women's sport.
• The Oscars were full of surprises this year - but one thing remains true... Horror and Comedy rarely go well.
• Will cheap tickets for young people, save music festivals? The Australia Institute found 80% of young Australians would attend more live music events if a $200 government-funded voucher were available.

See David Rose at the Adelaide Fringe Festival and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival!

This is a Rural Podcasting Co. in collaboration with VAM paddock productions

Would you like to get in touch? Email us here: Kirsten@ruralpodcastingco.com

Our special guest is, Andrew Whitelaw, who you might know as the witty "Wheat Watcher,"... keen observer of agricultural markets. But did you know he's a movie buff who secretly harbours a wish to be cast as a villain in a film?. He joins us for a pop culture chat that takes us all back to the 90s!

We discuss:

• Re-evaluating Monica Lewinsky. She has a bold new podcast "Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky," where she revisits the scandal that once defined her public image—and we wonder would she be treated differently today?
• Pamela Anderson is back - yes, without makeup - but there is so much more to talk about.
• Neighbours has been cancelled... again. And Territory won't be coming back either - What does this mean for Australian productions?

Andrew Whitelaw is an agriculture market analyst, co-founder of Episode 3, podcaster on AgWatchers, and the man behind many ‘Woffal’ conversations. Known for breaking down the complexities of agriculture with sharp insights (and an even sharper wit), Andrew is as passionate about commodity markets as he is about his deep, unfulfilled desire to play the villain in a film. Someone cast this man as a baddie already!

This is a Rural Podcasting Co. in collaboration with VAM paddock productions

Would you like to get in touch? Email us here: Kirsten@ruralpodcastingco.com