Climate change can be one of those topics that people either avoid, argue about, or feel completely overwhelmed by. Meanwhile, climate policy is often a political football.

So how do we have better conversations about it, especially in rural and regional Australia, where the impacts are often felt first and hardest? And why is it still considered by some to be a ‘leftie inner city issue?”

We’re joined by two brilliant minds: Social researcher Dr Rebecca Huntley and climate scientist, Emeritus Professor of Biology Lesley Hughes have dedicated themselves to raising awareness about the impacts of climate change, including supporting regional communities.

Together, they unpack the science, the politics, the psychology, and the opportunities that come with climate action in Australia.

This is not a doom-and-gloom climate chat.

Lesley and Rebecca share how both the scientific and social sides of the issue are intertwined and the tough balance of motivating people to act on climate change without losing hope that the situation is impossible.

Thank you to Weighting for Happiness for Sponsoring this Season of Ducks on the Pond. Listen to the Before Dieting podcast, by founder Brownyn Fletcher

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This is a Rural Podcasting Co. production. Interested in making your own podcast? Let us help you tell your own story!

This is a big, honest, and deeply human conversation.

In this episode, Kirsten sits down with Warrnambool mother, Amanda Gaudion, who shares the story of her former husband Troy — a devoted dad, police officer, and someone who experienced a severe mental illness that ultimately led to his death by suicide.

It’s a conversation about love, confusion, systems, stigma and what it’s actually like to live alongside complex mental illness that doesn’t fit neatly into the categories we’re more comfortable talking about.

This episode gently but powerfully challenges the way we think about mental health — especially the conditions we don’t talk about.

If this episode raises anything for you, support is available:

Lifeline (Australia): 13 11 14

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This is a Rural Podcasting Co. production. Interested in making your own podcast? Let us help you tell your own story!

When was the last time you had a difficult conversation? Maybe it was with a family member, at work or even within your community. While it can be easy for us to shy away from hard chats, our next guest considers her ability to have “crunchy” conversations a superpower.

From a young age Liz Brennan had these conversations role modelled within her family. So by the time she found herself in Papua New Guinea working alongside cultural leaders in a tourism role, she felt well prepared to put in the hard yards to build trust, find community and have “crunchy” conversations.

Now living in Kunnunurra but originally from WA’s wheatbelt, Liz works as the managing director for AgDots, an organisation connecting people in rural Australia to make things happen.

Liz speaks about how she first became interested in food systems while living in Papua New Guinea, the importance of diversifying and how to feel empowered by your choice to live regionally, instead of feeling hindered by it.

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This is a Rural Podcasting Co. production. Interested in making your own podcast? Let us help you tell your own story!