A podcast like no other.
Real stories of leadership from rural, regional and remote Australia.
Tune in as we unearth stories from people passionate about building stronger industries and communities outside our city limits. Come with us as we dive into the ingredients for effective leadership, whatever the challenges you face, wherever you live or work.
Hosted by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation.
About our podcast
Step into the heart of rural, regional, and remote Australia with Rural Leadership Unearthed, the podcast that unveils the hidden gems of leadership beyond the city limits.
Join us as we take a journey through real stories of individuals dedicated to strengthening industries and communities in the heartland.
In an engaging interview format, discover the essential ingredients of effective leadership, no matter the obstacles you encounter or the location you call home.
Join us as we unearth the untold stories of leadership that inspire and empower change.
Where to listen
Episode 5
Healing self to heal others
In this generous episode Indigenous leader, Bernice Hookey, shares her passion for disrupting the harmful cycles that exist around intergenerational trauma. She offers insight into her own journey of healing, and how it has led to her passion for fostering and supporting leadership through her amazing work with First Nations women.
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Episode 5: Healing self to heal others
9 May 2024
In this generous episode Indigenous leader, Bernice Hookey, shares her passion for disrupting the harmful cycles that exist around intergenerational trauma. She offers insight into her own journey of healing, and how it has led to her passion for fostering and supporting leadership through her amazing work with First Nations women.
Bernice was also sponsored by the National Indigenous Australians Agency to take part in course 29 of the Australian Rural Leadership Program in 2022. Sitting down with our host, Claire Delahunty, she describes how grief and darkness led her to a stronger connection with the importance of love and humanity in leadership. She also stresses how essential it is to be open to “everyday learning” and not to be complacent about bias, prejudice, discrimination and racism.
Highlights:
- Bernice shares her connection to Culture, Country and the vital role of Elders
- The power of keeping a diary and writing to reflect on your life
- Leaning in to “growing through what we’re going through”
- The role we can all play in sharing the responsibility for reconciliation
- How her business ‘positively disrupts’ social conditioning to create positive ripples for the next generation
If any of this content raises concerns for you, please reach out for support from the following resources:
Lifeline: 13 11 14
1800 Respect: 1800 737 732
Resources:
Episode 4
To be saved by a stranger
In this raw episode, double organ transplant recipient and Herd of Hope founder, Megan McLoughlin takes us through the grief of receiving an extraordinary gift from a stranger, and her path to purpose and peace.
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Episode 4: To be saved by a stranger
11 April 2024
In this raw episode, double organ transplant recipient and Herd of Hope founder, Megan McLoughlin takes us through the grief of receiving an extraordinary gift from a stranger, and her path to purpose and peace.
Megan describes the experience of managing juvenile diabetes growing up in rural South Australia; losing most of her sight at the age of 26 and the joy and freedom she finds in barrel racing.
Megan undertook a mentorship through the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation’s National Mentoring Program in 2023 – a process which helped her realise she did not have to “prove” to the world that her life was worthy of saving.
Sitting down with our host, Claire Delahunty, she reflects on her journey to embrace her intrinsic value, and the inspiration she has taken from the humble herd animals she has spent her life around.
Highlights:
- Megan talks about the challenges of managing a chronic health problem in rural Australia
- How to be an advocate and raise awareness
- The complexity of receiving a life-saving gift from a stranger
- What we can all do to reframe the problematic label of ‘disability’
- Why we need our ‘herd’ around us, more than ever
Episode 3
Reframing how we think about farming
Oli Le Lievre is the founder of the hugely successful Humans of Agriculture podcast and media business. From suburban Sydney to a career in agriculture, Oli has let his curiosity and passion guide him to the frontline of reshaping the narrative about farming.
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Episode 3: Reframing how we think about farming
21 March 2024
Oli Le Lievre is the founder of the hugely successful Humans of Agriculture podcast and media business. From suburban Sydney to a career in agriculture, Oli has let his curiosity and passion guide him to the frontline of reshaping the narrative about farming.
Having experienced a range of roles on the land in Australia and overseas, and within the agri-corporate world, Oli has faced-down doubt and inner conflict to start a remarkable movement. It all centres around his conviction that stories are the key to reconnecting people with where food and fibre comes from.
Oli sits down with our host, Claire Delahunty, and shares his passion for shaping a positive conversation that we can all be a part of.
Highlights:
- Oli talks about how essential it is to be a part of the ‘conversation’ if you want to have input
- The realisation that age is no barrier to having something to offer
- How leading with a negative is not the way to engage someone or inspire change
- And taking comfort in the knowledge that fear is something every leader has grappled with at some stage, but if we’re willing to give it a go, it can be hugely rewarding
Episode 2
The Art of Vulnerable Leadership
In this revealing episode, writer/creative practitioner/community advocate/youth mentor/Australian Rural Leadership Foundation alum Alysha Herrmann shares her journey of authentic and vulnerable leadership.
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Episode 2: The Art of Vulnerable Leadership
8 February 2024
With family roots entrenched in the wool industry, Alysha’s life began with constant movement and a deep connection to rural communities. Facing adversity in her teen years, she made the bold decision to leave her family and school at just 15. The transformative experience of motherhood at 17 propelled her to pursue further education, and her inner creative, that reshaped her future.
Sitting down with ARLF’s Vivienne Johnson, Alysha shares her evolution from a rebellious, arts-averse teenager to a prominent figure in the regional arts sector.
Highlights:
- Alysha discusses the transformative impact of the creative industry on an individual, and the community.
- How it creates more opportunities for regional creatives to be heard in their own communities and further afield.
- The importance of diverse voices and inclusive approaches in decision making.
- And embracing vulnerability as a strength in leadership.
Episode 1
Leading our regions through disaster. And how it doesn’t have to be complicated.
In our first ever episode of the Rural Leadership Unearthed podcast, we sit down with Steve Tinker, a leader whose approach is as straightforward as it gets, even in the complex world of telecommunications. Discover how empathy guides him on the worst days, the influence of emergency leaders on his journey, and the contagious optimism of locals in times of disaster. Plus, Steve shares two unexpected yet practical disaster preparedness tips and more. As a longtime supporter of the ARLF, Telstra takes the spotlight in this episode, showcasing their commitment to positive impact across rural and remote Australia.
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Episode 1: Leading our regions through disaster. And how it doesn’t have to be complicated.
11 January 2024
Steve Tinker heads Telstra’s operations in Northern and Western Victoria and he’s part of Telstra’s Response Team. Over 30 years in the job, he’s led Telstra’s customer response, and support for impacted communities through some of the worst natural disasters we’ve seen. With our regions experiencing a cyclone, floods and fires in recent weeks, Steve and the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation’s chief executive Matt Linnegar discuss the challenges, and rewards, of leadership during disasters. And Telstra’s boost in disaster support across the regions.
Episode sponsored by Telstra
As one of ARLF’s longest supporters in delivering leadership for positive impact across regional, rural and remote Australia, we’re thrilled be featuring Telstra in the first episode of the Rural Leadership Unearthed podcast. To find out more about Telstra’s partnership and impact across our regions through its support and ARLF alumni, head to the links below.
Resources:
Telstra’s Disaster Response campaign
Telstra’s dedicated assistance line: 1800 888 888
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