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G’day and welcome to the A Place to Call Home Podcast, a podcast sharing the stories of people building a life in agriculture across rural Australia.

In this episode, I sit down with Mark Vass, a fifth-generation cane farmer from the Burdekin in North Queensland.

Mark’s journey into agriculture hasn’t been a straight line.

Starting out as a boilermaker, Mark spent time working across the country before jumping into running a music festival with his brother in his early 20s — an experience that taught him plenty about risk, business, and resilience.

Like many people who grow up in the bush though, agriculture has a way of pulling you back.

What started with a simple conversation with his dad eventually turned into leasing country, stepping into the family operation, and building his own farming business — all while continuing to grow and expand through diversification and business outside of agriculture.

This is a conversation about taking risks, learning through failure, building from the ground up, and the importance of integrity, community, and backing yourself.

In this episode, we chat about:

🏡 Growing up in the Burdekin and life on a cane farm
 🔧 Starting out as a boilermaker and working away
 🎶 Running a music festival in his early 20s — and what it taught him
 📉 Losing money in business and the lessons that come with it
 🌱 The decision to return to agriculture and lease family country
 🚜 Building a farming business from the ground up
 🌾 Diversifying beyond sugarcane and exploring alternative crops
 📊 Why relying on one commodity can limit growth
 🏗️ Building a business outside of agriculture alongside farming
 💰 The realities of getting started in farming today
 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Succession, family, and thinking long-term
 🔥 Dealing with naysayers and focusing on your own path
 🌱 Why integrity and community matter in business and life

Resources mentioned:

🤝 How to Win Friends and Influence People | Dale Carnegie

Follow Mark and Next Gen Building co

🌏 Website: Next Gen Building Co

If you enjoyed this episode

Please share it with a friend or leave a review — it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry.

Stay connected with A Place to Call Home:

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

🎙️ Podcast Partner — The Cathedral School

This episode is proudly partnered with The Cathedral School of St Anne and St James in Townsville.

If you’re a family in regional or remote Australia thinking about schooling options, Cathedral offers a strong boarding experience designed to support students both in and out of the classroom.

They’re hosting a Boarding Experience Weekend on the 9th and 10th of May, giving families the opportunity to explore the school, meet staff and students, and experience boarding life firsthand.

It’s completely free to attend, but places are limited.

Boarding Experience - Cathedral

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G’day and welcome to the A Place to Call Home Podcast, a podcast sharing the stories of people building a life in agriculture across rural Australia.

In this episode, I sit down with Nick Holliday from Belvedere Farm.

Nick and his wife Brydie are building a diversified farming business producing grass-fed beef, pasture-raised pork and eggs, selling their products direct to consumers.

But Nick’s pathway back into agriculture hasn’t been the typical one.

Coming from generations of agricultural families where each generation has had to start again, Nick spent time building a career in law, union organising and advocacy before eventually finding his way back to the land.

What started with buying a small parcel of land has gradually grown into a farming business built around direct-to-consumer sales, regenerative thinking, and creating a farm that could support the next generation.

This is a conversation about starting small, learning new enterprises from scratch, and building a resilient farm business over time.

In this episode, we chat about:

🌱 Growing up in agricultural families and the challenge of starting again
 ⚖️ Nick’s career in law, union organising and advocacy
 🏡 Buying their first 20 acres and beginning their farming journey
 🐄 Producing grass-fed beef, pasture-raised pork and eggs
 📦 Building a direct-to-consumer farm business
 🌾 Soil health and regenerative agriculture principles
 📱 Using social media and storytelling to connect farmers and consumers
 👨‍👩‍👦 Creating a farm business that could support the next generation
 🧠 The importance of personal development and leadership in agriculture

Courses mentioned:

🌱 Holistic Management Training 

🤝 Red Earth Community Foundation Leadership Program 

Follow Nick and Belvedere Farm

📘 Facebook: Belvedere Farm
📸 Instagram: Belvedere Farm
🌏 Website: Shop | Eat from a Thriving Ecosystem — Belvedere Farm

If you enjoyed this episode

Please share it with a friend or leave a review — it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry.

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

🎙️ Podcast Partner  

Speed Tagger, Tough Tags

This episode is proudly partnered with Speed Tagger and their Tough Tags range.

Tough Tags are Australian owned and operated in regional Queensland and designed for real grazing environments.

They feature permanent laser printing that won’t rub off, fast turnaround ordering direct from the tag company, free shipping Australia-wide, and a four-year warranty.

Plus, 10 cents from every tag sold goes towards supporting rural charities, giving back to the c

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G’day and welcome to the A Place to Call Home Podcast, a podcast sharing the stories of people building a life in agriculture across rural Australia.

In this episode, I sit down with Teek Carmichael, based around Condamine in Queensland, who somehow manages to wear a few different hats across agriculture, business, fitness, and community.

Teek works in finance with Business and Rural Solutions, helps run the family cattle and feedlot operation with her husband Ben, and is also a personal trainer building community through fitness in the bush.

From growing up outside Injune as a bush kid…
To heading to Brisbane for university and elite-level netball…
To finding her way back into the Australian beef industry and helping build a family feedlot enterprise from the ground up…

This is a conversation about life in rural Australia, agriculture, feedlots, community, resilience, and building your own path in the ag industry.

It’s about navigating life between two family farming businesses.

It’s about learning new enterprises from scratch.

And it’s about remembering that looking after yourself matters just as much as looking after the business.

In this episode, we chat about:

• 🌱 Growing up outside Injune and life as a bush kid
• 🏐 Moving to Brisbane for university and playing elite-level netball
• 🐄 Returning to agriculture and marrying into a farming family
• ⚖️ Balancing time between two family farming businesses
• 📈 Building and learning a feedlot enterprise from scratch
• 👥 The importance of building the right team around an agricultural business
• 💪 Why fitness and mental health matter in agriculture
• 🤝 Community connection in rural towns like Condamine
• 📱 Using social media to help tell agriculture’s story
• 🌾 Creating your own path in agriculture without giving up your passions

Resources mentioned

📘 Business and Rural Solutions

📘 Beef Central – Week in Beef Podcast

Follow Teek

📸 Instagram: @teekcarmichael

If you enjoyed this episode

Please share it with a friend or leave a review — it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry.

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

🎙️ Podcast Partner — Halter

This episode is proudly partnered with Halter.

Halter® | Virtual Fencing and Pasture Management

Halter is the app and smart collar helping producers run more productive cattle properties. It provides virtual fencing and remote shifting, allowing you to move and manage mobs straight from your phone — no shifting breaks, no extra fencing, and no chasing labour.

With 24/7 location tracking and pasture insights, you can see exactly where your cattle are at any time and make better decisions around grazing management.

Hal

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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, temperament and adapta

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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

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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

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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

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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:

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📸 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

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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:

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📸 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

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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

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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.

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📸 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

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