Send a text

G’day and welcome to the A Place to Call Home Podcast.

In this episode, I sit down with Brecken Curtis — rural finance specialist, business owner, investor, and long-time Longreach local.

Brecken originally moved west for what was meant to be a two-year stint in banking… and more than 20 years later, he’s still there — having built a career in agricultural finance and stepped out to create his own brokerage, Season Finance.

This is a conversation about rural lending, risk, vision, and what it actually takes to build assets in agriculture.

From understanding how banks assess deals…
 To why rural finance is completely different to city lending…
 To the small financial decisions that quietly impact your long-term borrowing power…

It’s honest, practical insight from someone who’s seen it from both sides of the desk.

It’s about backing yourself.
 It’s about having a clear plan.
 And it’s about starting somewhere — even if it’s small.

In this episode, we chat about:

• Growing up in the South Burnett and building a career in ag banking
• Why rural finance is assessed differently to commercial or residential lending
• The three C’s of credit — collateral, capacity and character
• Common mistakes producers make when applying for finance
• The impact of equipment loans, credit cards and cashflow on borrowing power
• Why young people need to start building appreciating assets early
• Partnerships in agriculture — opportunities and risks
• Stepping away from corporate banking to launch Season Finance
• The realities of starting a business with young kids and financial pressure
• Why having a clear vision is critical to long-term success in agriculture
• His investment journey across property, livestock and hospitality

Resources mentioned:

🎙️ Brecken’s podcast: Dollars In The Dirt - YouTube 

📘The Compound Effect Resources
📘The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life : Manson, Mark: Amazon.com.au: Books

Follow Brecken and Seasoned Finance

📘 Facebook: Seasoned Finance
📘 Linkedin: Seasoned Finance: Overview | LinkedIn
🌏 Website: Home - Your Trusted Regional Finance Brokerage

Stay connected with A Place to Call Home:

📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home
📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast
🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast
🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au

This episode is proudly supported by Walkabout Brangus & Ultrablacks

Walkabout Brangus & Ultrablacks is a northern-focused bull breeding enterprise established in 2023, shaped by real experience in Northern Australian agriculture.

Their cow herd has been built from the north, for the north — with every breeding decision grounded in tough seasons, heat, and country that demands cattle earn their keep.

Their program focuses on fertility, structure, temperamen

Support the show

Send a text

G’day and welcome to the A Place to Call Home Podcast.

In this episode, I sit down with Ross Newman — pasture agronomist, problem solver, decision-making coach, and lifelong learner based in Rockhampton.

Ross works with beef producers across Queensland helping them solve the problems consuming their pasture systems — and more importantly, coaching them to make smarter decisions in their business.

From growing up on a potato farm that’s been in the family since 1897…
 To stepping away to build skills and experience…
 To travelling internationally and working across pasture systems around the world…
 And ultimately finding his way back home.

This is a conversation about grass, mindset, resilience, and clarity.

It’s about understanding that you can’t produce beef without leaf.

It’s about challenging “this is how we’ve always done it.”

And it’s about building prosperity — not just financially, but in soil, systems, and self.

In this episode, we chat about:

•  Growing up on a mixed potato farm and the lessons from working alongside family
•   Realising the farm wasn’t big enough for multiple families — and stepping away to grow
•  Choosing experience over income in the early years of his career
•  Why pastures are the foundation of profitable beef production
•  The most common mistakes producers make in their grazing systems
•  Why clarity of mind leads to better on-farm decisions
•  The importance of continuous learning and investing in yourself
•  Mental health, vulnerability, and having the right conversations in agriculture
•  Using his family farm as an R&D block to challenge conventional thinking
•  What “Pasture to Prosperity” really means

Resources mentioned:

📘 Grazing for Profit (RCS)

📘 The Advancing Beef Leaders program
 📚 Zero Limits – Joe Vitale
📚 Not a Life Coach - James Smith

Follow Ross and Pasture to Prosperity

📘 Facebook: Pastures To Prosperity
📸 Instagram: @PasturesToProsperity
🌏 Website: Pastures To Prosperity | Beef Production Agronomy

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with your friends and leave a review — it really helps us keep these conversations going.

Stay connected with A Place to Call Home:

📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home
📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast
🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast
🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au

🎙️ This episode is proudly brought to you by JobSafe Pro.

Built by farmers, for farmers — JobSafe Pro helps you simplify safety and compliance by keeping everything in one place, from inductions and chemical registers to machinery logs, incident reporting, timesheets and payroll.

Job Safe Pro Pty Ltd - An app to simplify workplace safety and compliance

Support the show

Send a text

G’day and welcome to the A Place to Call Home Podcast.

In this episode, I sit down with Mia Ryan — founder of Howdy, a community-focused app designed to help young people connect in regional Australia.

While studying at university, Mia stepped into the world of tech and entrepreneurship, building an app in an industry she’d never worked in before.

• From training horses to pitching investors.
•  From rural roots to startup founder.
•  From idea to execution — all while still at uni.

This is a conversation about courage, backing yourself, and building something from scratch without a roadmap.

It’s about taking the values you grew up with and applying them in a completely different arena.

In this episode, we chat about:

• Growing up on a property and how that shaped her mindset
• Training horses before university and the lessons that carried into business
• Why she created Howdy
• What it actually takes to build an app from scratch
• Learning on the go in an industry she’d never worked in
• The realities of startup life as a young founder
• Building community in regional Australia

Follow Mia and Howdy

📘 Facebook: Howdy Global
📸 Instagram: @howdy.dating
🌏 Website: Rural Dating Service | Howdy Global | AUS

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with your friends and leave a review — it really helps us keep these conversations going.

Stay connected with A Place to Call Home:

📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home
📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast
🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast
🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au

🎙️ This episode is brought to you by SkyKelpie.

You can learn more at: SkyKelpie - Drone Mustering & Aerial Stockmanship

Support the show

Send a text

G’day and welcome to the A Place to Call Home Podcast.

In this episode, I’m joined by Charlie Thurgate, a 24-year-old cattle producer based in Tamworth, New South Wales — and someone who genuinely wears a lot of hats.

Charlie’s story is one of resilience, responsibility, and having a crack. From stepping into management at a young age, to building his own trucking business, surviving a serious accident, and rebuilding from the ground up — Charlie has packed a lot into his early twenties.

Today, he’s building Kamilaroi Cattle Company, a paddock-to-plate beef business grounded in regenerative principles, while also growing Element Agri, a mineral business supplying livestock and soil health products across Australia — all while continuing to learn, trial, and refine his systems.

What stood out most in this conversation is Charlie’s level of perspective and wisdom for someone his age. He’s thoughtful, open about mistakes, and deeply committed to building systems that work with the land, not against it.

This is a practical, honest conversation about regenerative agriculture, genetics, business, and what it really takes to build something from scratch in agriculture.

In this episode, we chat about:

• Taking on responsibility at a young age and learning on the job
• Overcoming adversity and rebuilding after a life-changing accident
• Transitioning land from cropping back to pasture
• Regenerative agriculture and ultra-high density grazing
• Sanga genetics and breeding cattle for resilience and efficiency
• Building a paddock-to-plate beef business from scratch
• The realities of running multiple ag businesses at 24
• Systems thinking, soil health, and long-term land stewardship

Resources Mentioned

• MAN, CATTLE and VELD : Zietsman, Johann: Amazon.com.au: Books
• Integrity Soils - Biological Education Specialists

Follow Charlie

📘 Facebook: Kamilaroi Cattle Company
📸 Instagram: @kamilaroicattlecompany @elementagri
🌏 Website:Kamilaroi Cattle Company

If you enjoyed the episode, please share it with your friends and leave a review—it really helps us keep these conversations going.

Stay connected with A Place to Call Home:

📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home
📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast
🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast
🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au

🎙️ This episode is brought to you by, Speed Tagger

You can learn more at Speed Tagger Website

Speed Tagger – Speed Tagger

Support the show

Send a text

G’day and welcome to Episode 1 of Season 7 of the A Place to Call Home Podcast.

To kick off Season 7, I’m joined by Tim Lee.

I first heard Tim speak at the Young Beef Producers Forum in Roma, and you honestly could’ve heard a pin drop in the room. The way he shared his story stuck with me, and I knew it was a conversation I wanted to bring to the podcast.

Tim’s journey has taken him from the army back into agriculture, stepping into the responsibility of taking over his family’s property. Along the way, he’s had to navigate transition from the army, identity, and the realities that come with life on the land.

In this episode, we spend a lot of time unpacking regenerative agriculture, and we also have some really open conversations around mental health and the realities of life in agriculture. Tim also shares how his involvement with the Lachlan Hughes Foundation helped create real change for him personally, as well as on his family property.

This is an honest conversation about land, purpose, community, and the role regenerative thinking can play not just in improving country — but in rebuilding people as well.

In this episode, we chat about:

• Tim’s journey from the army back into agriculture
• Transitioning from conventional systems to regenerative farming
• The importance of land connection, stewardship, and long-term thinking
• Mental health challenges faced by veterans and rural landholders
• The power of community, mentorship, and shared experience
• Tim’s involvement with the Lachlan Hughes Foundation and lessons learned
• Purpose, legacy, and leaving the land better than you found it

Resources Mentioned

• Call of the Reed Warbler, eBook by Charles Massy | A New Agriculture - A New Earth | 9780702254741 | Booktopia
• Farming & Grazing for Profit Programs | RCS
• Tarwyn Park Training: The Home of Natural Sequence Farming | Tarwyn Park Training: The Home of Natural Sequence Farming
• Lachlan Hughes Foundation - Supporting Regenerative Agriculture

If you enjoyed the episode, please share it with your friends and leave a review—it really helps us keep these conversations going.

Stay connected with A Place to Call Home:

📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home
📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast
🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast
🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au

🎙️ This episode is brought to you by, KneeDeep Apparel

You can learn more at KneeDeep Apparel Website

KneeDeep Apparel

Support the show

Send a text

G'day and welcome to episode 72 of the A Place To Call Home Podcast

Today I’m joined by Jacob (Jake) Wolki, a mixed-enterprise farmer from Woomargama in southern New South Wales. Jake and his wife Ann run a 60-hectare home block with Nguni cattle, Berkshire pigs, laying hens, honey, an orchard and a stack of little side enterprises – all feeding into their on-farm butchery and direct-to-consumer business.

What started as a personal health crisis and a backyard veggie patch has evolved into a fully fledged, multi-layered farm business: regenerative, direct-to-consumer, value-adding, and fiercely family-centred. Jake is also known for creating one of Australia’s first 24/7 unstaffed butcher shops, his unapologetically honest social media, and his advocacy for “fit-for-purpose” African genetics like Nguni cattle and Damara sheep.

Whether you’re dreaming of stacking enterprises, going direct-to-consumer, or just want your kids more involved in the day-to-day, this yarn is packed with hard-won lessons, uncomfortable truths and plenty of practical inspiration.

In this episode we chat about

• How a health crisis pushed Jacob from the “stupid Australian diet” into growing food and building a regenerative farm business.
• The journey from leasing his dad’s 100-acre block to creating a fully integrated farm, butchery and nationwide direct-to-consumer model.
• Why he built one of Australia’s first 24/7 unstaffed butcher shops — and how it transformed the business.
• The power of value-adding: turning trim, fat and “waste” into high-margin products like tallow, broth and skincare.
• Why Jacob chooses African genetics like Nguni cattle and Damara sheep for fit-for-purpose, low-input, resilient farming.

Resources Mentioned

• How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie - Penguin Books Australia
• The Richest Man in Babylon, eBook by George S. Clason | 9789897786884 | Booktopia
• Almanack of Naval Ravikant
• MAN, CATTLE and VELD : Zietsman, Johann: Amazon.com.au: Books

Follow Jacob and Wolki Farms

📘 Facebook: Wolki Farms
📸 Instagram: @Wolkifarms
🌏 Website:Wolki Farm Grass Fed Meat

If you enjoyed the episode, please share it with your friends and leave a review—it really helps us keep these conversations going.

Stay connected with A Place to Call Home:

📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home
📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast
🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast
🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au

🎙️ This episode is brought to you by, Speed Tagger

You can learn more at Speed Taggers Website

Speed Tagger – Speed Tagger

Support the show

Send a text

G'day and welcome to episode 71 of the A Place To Call Home Podcast

n this episode, Sam Fryer interviews Andrew and Megan Miller about their journey in agriculture, their experiences with HerdXL, and their aspirations for land ownership. They discuss the challenges and lessons learned from managing properties, the development of the HerdXL app, and the importance of financial literacy and community support. The conversation also touches on personal growth, family dynamics, and the value of surrounding oneself with the right people.

In this episode we chat about

• Introduction to Andrew and Megan Miller's journey in agriculture.
• Development and features of the HerdXL app.
• Challenges and lessons learned from managing properties.
• Importance of financial literacy and community support.
• Personal growth and family dynamics in the agricultural sector.
• Insights on investment strategies for aspiring landowners.
• The Millers' aspirations for land ownership and future goals.
• The role of mentorship and community in their journey.
• Gratitude for the opportunities and experiences along the way.

Follow Megan, Andrew and Herd XL

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HERDXL
📸 Instagram: @herdxl
🌏 Website: Herd XL - Cattle Calculators & Trading Tools to Maximise Beef Cattle Profit

If you enjoyed the episode, please share it with your friends and leave a review—it really helps us keep these conversations going.

Stay connected with A Place to Call Home:

📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home
📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast
🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast
🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au

🎙️ This episode is brought to you by, Speed Tagger

You can learn more at Speed Taggers Website

Speed Tagger – Speed Tagger

Support the show

Send a text

G'day and welcome to episode 70 of the A Place To Call Home Podcast

Join us as we explore the evolving landscape of agricultural media with Jon Condon, founder of Beef Central. With decades of experience, Jon shares his journey from traditional journalism to digital innovation, highlighting the challenges and opportunities facing the beef industry today. Discover how quality content, strategic foresight, and embracing change are key to thriving in this dynamic field. Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to the industry, this episode offers valuable insights into the future of agriculture.

In this episode we chat about

• Evolution of Media: The transition from traditional print to digital media has significantly impacted how agricultural news is disseminated and consumed.
• Importance of Quality Content: Maintaining high-quality, original content is crucial for sustaining readership and trust in the digital age.
• Challenges in Digital Publishing: The agricultural media industry faces challenges such as balancing speed with accuracy and avoiding clickbait to maintain credibility.
• Industry Battles: The beef industry is navigating various challenges, including compliance issues, environmental concerns, and the impact of AI.
• Opportunities in the Beef Industry: There are significant opportunities for growth and innovation in the beef industry, particularly in enhancing producer-processor relationships and focusing on high-quality, premium products.
• Role of AI: AI is playing an increasing role in the agricultural sector, offering efficiencies in areas like meat processing and data analysis.
• Need for Continuous Learning: The importance of ongoing education and training in areas like people management and industry-specific skills is emphasized for future growth.

Follow Jon Condon and Beef Central

📘 Facebook: Beef Central
📸 Instagram: @beefcentralofficial
🔗 LinkedIn: Beef Central: Posts | LinkedIn
🌏 Website: Home - Beef Central

If you enjoyed the episode, please share it with your friends and leave a review—it really helps us keep these conversations going.

Stay connected with A Place to Call Home:

📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home
📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast
🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast
🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au

🎙️ This episode is brought to you by, Full Noise Sound and Production

To learn more be sure to check out their Facebook page   https://www.facebook.com/fullnoisesound

Support the show

Send a text

G'day and welcome to episode 69 of the A Place To Call Home Podcast

In this episode, Nathan Cleasby shares his journey from a non-agricultural background to founding Living Water Aquaculture, focusing on red claw farming. He discusses the challenges and opportunities he encountered, the importance of collaboration and research, and his approach to raising capital. Nathan emphasizes the significance of investing in knowledge and building a supportive team to achieve long-term success in the aquaculture industry.

In this episode we chat about

• Getting into the Red claw industry
• The importance of collaboration.
• Different approaches to raising capital
• The importance of having a solid team around you
• Investing in knowledge and skills is crucial for long-term success.

Resources Mentioned

• The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett | No.1 Podcast
• Aquaculture - JCU Australia

Follow Nathan Cleasby and Living Water Aquaculture

📘 Facebook: Living Water Aquaculture
📸 Instagram: @living_water_aquaculture
🔗 LinkedIn: Living Water Aquaculture: Overview | LinkedIn
🌏 Website: Welcome to Living Water Aquaculture - Living Water Aquaculture

If you enjoyed the episode, please share it with your friends and leave a review—it really helps us keep these conversations going.

Stay connected with A Place to Call Home:

📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home
📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast
🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast
🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au

🎙️ This episode is brought to you by, Full Noise Sound and Production

To learn more be sure to check out their Facebook page   https://www.facebook.com/fullnoisesound

Support the show

Send a text

G'day and welcome to episode 68 of the A Place To Call Home Podcast

In this episode, we explore the inspiring journey of Sally Edwards, a dedicated steer trader from Taroom. Sally shares her experiences growing up in agriculture and the pivotal moments that led her to leave the family business. She candidly discusses the emotional challenges of this transition and how she and her husband successfully built their own thriving steer trading business. Through resilience and adaptability, they navigated the complexities of the agricultural industry while prioritizing family relationships. This conversation offers valuable insights into managing risk, seizing opportunities, and the enduring importance of family ties in farming.

In this episode we chat about

• The significance of family support in agricultural ventures.
• How Sally navigated the challenges of family succession.
• The emotional impact of stepping away from the family business.
• Strategies for managing risk and seizing opportunities in steer trading.
• The importance of maintaining family relationships amidst business challenges.

Resources Mentioned

• The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett | No.1 Podcast
• Marcus Oldham College - We mean business.
• BBC World Service - Global News Podcast - Downloads

If you enjoyed the episode, please share it with your friends and leave a review—it really helps us keep these conversations going.

Stay connected with A Place to Call Home:

📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home
📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast
🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast
🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au

🎙️ This episode is brought to you by, Rural Succession Solutions

This episode of A Place to Call Home is proudly brought to you by Rural Succession Solutions.

Support the show

Send a text

G'day and welcome to episode 67 of the A Place To Call Home Podcast.

Join Sam Fryer as he sits down with Adam and Jacynta Coffey to explore their incredible journey from Tasmania to the Northern Territory. Discover how they navigated the challenges of agriculture, embraced opportunities, and built a life centered around resilience and growth.

In this episode we chat about

• Embrace opportunities as they arise, even if they don't look perfect.
• Building resilience in agriculture is key to weathering market fluctuations.
• The importance of networking and learning from industry mentors.
• Balancing dreams with practical steps in land and livestock management.
• Navigating financial challenges with creativity and determination.
• The significance of soil health and sustainable practices.
• The role of community and mentorship in personal and professional growth.
• Understanding the balance between land ownership and financial independence.
• The power of adaptability and open-mindedness in achieving long-term goals.

Resources Mentioned

• RCS Farm Management Professional Development Australia - Resource Consulting Services
• Lachlan Hughes Foundation - Supporting Regenerative Agriculture

Stay connected with A Place to Call Home:

📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home
📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast
🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast
🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au

🎙️ This episode is brought to you by, Invest Inya Farmer.

To learn more be sure to check out their website Home - Invest Inya Farmer

Support the show