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Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Salt of the Earth, Darren catches up with Reg Dodd from Marree, South Australia. Born in 1940, Reg has spent a lifetime working and living in the outback. He started working with horses, ploughs and scoops at just seven years of age, learning early what it takes to make a living in the country. Reg’s story is one of hard work, family and a deep connection to the outback. He’s also been recognised with an Order of Australia Medal for his contribution. It’s a great yarn from a man who knows the country inside out. As Reg puts it, “Country is everything.”

Send us Fan Mail In 1982, a young relief nurse arrived in Marree, a remote outback town in South Australia. More than 40 years later, June Andrew is still there. June shares stories of life in Marree, caring for people across a vast and isolated region, and being part of a small community where people look after each other. From the challenges of delivering healthcare in the outback to the changes she's witnessed over the decades, June's story gives us a glimpse into a part of Australia many people never get to experience. Another story about the people, places and communities that make up the fabric of rural Australia. Salt of the Earth — connecting people to country.

Send us Fan Mail At just ten years of age, Lyall Oldfield headed off on his first droving trip with 1,000 head of cattle. He left school not long after and spent years droving across some of Australia’s toughest country. Today, Lyall lives in Marree, South Australia. In this episode, he shares some of the stories from a life spent working cattle, travelling the outback and calling Marree home. And as Lyall says, this is opportunist country. Just sit back and listen to Lyall Oldfield. You can find out more about Oasis Air Scenic Flights at: www.oasisairscenicflights.com.au

Send us Fan Mail What’s it like to fly over one of Australia’s most extraordinary landscapes? In this episode of Salt of the Earth, I head to Marree in South Australia and jump into a Cessna 210 with pilot Lachie Henderson. We head up the Birdsville Track and take to the skies over Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre — a place that can look completely different from one season to the next. Lachie knows this country from the air. He takes us through flying over some of the most remote parts of Australia, the people and places he connects with along the way, and what it’s like to see this incredible landscape from above. And with Lake Eyre holding plenty of water, we get a pretty special view. It’s a conversation about flying, country, remote Australia and the characters who call these places home. You can find out more about Oasis Air Scenic Flights at: www.oasisairscenicflights.com.au

Send us Fan Mail In Part B, Kathryn Hines continues her fascinating insight into life as an RFDS flight nurse. We hear about 1am landings on dirt strips, flying huge distances across the outback, the incredible landscapes along the way, and doing whatever it takes to give a patient every chance. And it’s clear just how much Kathryn loves rural people, remote health and the job she does.

Send us Fan Mail What’s it really like to be a flight nurse with the Royal Flying Doctor Service? In Part A, I chat with Kathryn Hines from Broken Hill, and she gives us a fascinating insight into life with the RFDS. Kathryn is a great storyteller and takes us through everything from broken legs to life-threatening trauma, remote rescues and the challenges of getting patients out of some of the most isolated parts of Australia. It’s a great yarn with someone who clearly loves her job, loves rural people and loves being part of this incredible service.

Send us Fan Mail Rawnsley Park Station sits beneath the spectacular Flinders Ranges, on the southern side of Wilpena Pound. In this episode, I chat with Nev Smith about life at Rawnsley Park, the history of the Smith family and what it’s like to wake up every day surrounded by one of Australia’s most remarkable landscapes. We talk about the changes at Rawnsley Park, the move from a sheep station only to tourism, and why Nev says the view from his backyard still blows him away. It’s a great yarn about country, family, tourism and one pretty special part of South Australia.

Send us Fan Mail What if the future of Australian meat processing wasn’t about building bigger abattoirs, but taking the abattoir to the cattle? That’s the idea behind Provenir, Australia’s first mobile abattoir — an innovative approach to processing cattle on-farm, with a focus on animal welfare, meat quality, traceability and regional agriculture. In this episode, I talk with Chris Balazs, one of the five people who believed there had to be a better way. Chris came to the project from a biopharmaceutical science background, bringing a very different perspective to the way we think about livestock, processing and food production. We hear how the team battled years of red tape, helped change legislation and eventually built Provenir from the ground up. But there’s also a very personal side to Chris’s story. He talks openly about the challenges of building a company while raising teenage daughters and dealing with the devastating loss of his wife. It’s a conversation about innovation, persistence and having the courage to challenge an industry and ask: is there a better way? And Chris doesn’t just want Provenir to succeed — he wants others to follow the same path and believes this model could help change the future of Australian agriculture. This is a fascinating story of thinking differently, sticking with an idea and refusing to give up. Here’s Chris Balazs from Provenir.

Send us Fan Mail Last episode, we heard about Rick’s incredible family history and how a young Territory bloke learned the value of hard work and making the most of every opportunity. In Part Two, the story really takes off. Rick heads into remote cattle stations, working with bores and irrigation and learning just how important water is to life in the outback. Then comes the big gamble. A business in Alice Springs is heading into receivership. Most people would have walked away. Rick didn’t. He backed himself, took the risk and turned it into what is now Think Water Alice Springs. It’s a story about resilience, determination and seeing opportunity where others saw problems. This is Rick Chambers.

Send us Fan Mail Alice Springs. Right in the heart of Australia. It’s a place built on resilience, hard work and people who know how to make things happen when conditions are anything but easy. In Part One of my conversation with Rick Chambers, we go back generations to an incredible family journey from Australia’s east coast to the Northern Territory border — travelling thousands of kilometres by horse and cart through some of the toughest country in Australia. Rick grew up in the Territory, where life revolved around hard work, road camps, caravans and one subject that always dominates conversation in the outback — water. From starting out as a chainman surveying roads to meeting a mentor who encouraged him to learn, take opportunities and never shy away from hard work, Rick’s story is deeply connected to the people and places that shaped him. This is Part One of the story of Rick Chambers.

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you leave behind city life and take a chance on the country? In this episode, Darren sits down with Kelly Glass from Jayfields Nursery, one of Australia's largest wholesale native plant nurseries, to hear the remarkable story behind a business that now grows more than 6.7 million seedlings each year. Kelly shares how she and her husband Tim searched for a new life before settling near Wagga Wagga, where they built a thriving nursery supplying native plants for revegetation, conservation and large-scale environmental projects across Australia. Along the way, we explore the importance of native species, the technology that allows millions of seeds to be planted with incredible precision, and the passion required to grow a business from the ground up. And just when you think you know Kelly's story, she reveals a surprising chapter from her past—as one of the world's top-ranked ballroom dancers. It's a conversation about courage, resilience, family, and the opportunities that can grow from taking a leap of faith.

Send us Fan Mail Award-winning journalist and television presenter Lisa Millar returns to Salt of the Earth for a special conversation about one of Australia's most-loved television programs – ABC's Back Roads. For years, Lisa and the Back Roads team have travelled to some of the most remote and remarkable communities in the country, uncovering stories of resilience, humour, kindness and the people who make regional Australia so special. In this episode, Lisa shares what happens when the cameras arrive in town, how the crew earns the trust of complete strangers, and why country Australians continue to open their homes, hearts and lives to millions of viewers. We also explore why Back Roads continues to resonate with Australians, the unique bond between people and the places they call home, and how Muster Dogs became one of the country's most-loved television series. Along the way, there's plenty of laughter, a few behind-the-scenes stories, and even a moment where I get to hold the Logie won by Lisa and the Muster Dogs team. If you love rural Australia, great storytelling and the people who make this country tick, you're going to love this conversation.

Send us Fan Mail Today, we head across the globe to California to speak with Anastasia Volkova, CEO and co-founder of Regrow Ag — one of the world’s leading agricultural technology companies. With a background in aerospace engineering and a passion for solving some of agriculture’s biggest challenges, Anastasia is helping shape the future of regenerative agriculture. Regrow Ag sits at the intersection of agriculture, technology and sustainability, using satellite imagery, farm data and science to help farmers and food companies measure what is working — from improving soil health and storing carbon, to reducing emissions across the supply chain. Recently named one of the BBC’s Top 100 Women, Anastasia shares her insights into the future of farming, the challenges facing Australian agriculture, and why regeneration is not a destination, but a continuous journey of improvement. It’s a fascinating conversation with one of the global leaders helping build a more resilient agricultural future.

Send us Fan Mail After decades reporting some of the biggest stories on the planet, Lisa Millar thought coming home to Australia might mean life would finally slow down. It didn't. In Part C of our conversation, Lisa takes us behind the scenes of ABC News Breakfast, sharing what it's really like to host three hours of live television every weekday morning. We talk about the pressure, the preparation, and the moments viewers never get to see. Lisa also reflects on interviewing people she once looked up to as a young journalist, and opens up about writing her bestselling memoir, Daring to Fly—an honest, funny and deeply personal look at a life shaped by curiosity, resilience and a love of storytelling. We also chat about why she believes the answers to so many of life's questions can still be found in regional Australia, and why those communities continue to shape who she is. This is another warm, thoughtful and entertaining conversation with one of Australia's most respected broadcasters.

Send us Fan Mail In Part B of my conversation with one of Australia's most respected broadcasters, Lisa Millar, we move from matters of the heart to some of the biggest stories of our generation. Lisa opens up about finding love before reflecting on the moments that shaped her journalism career. She takes us back to the aftermath of September 11, reporting from Washington as the world grappled with terrorism, uncertainty and fear. We also travel to London, where more major international events unfolded, bringing incredible professional challenges alongside deep personal heartbreak. This is a side of Lisa that goes beyond the headlines. Honest, reflective and incredibly moving. If you've ever wondered what it's really like to report on history as it unfolds, while trying to navigate your own life at the same time, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Thanks for listening to Salt of the Earth. If you enjoy the podcast, I'd really appreciate it if you could follow, rate and share the episode. It helps these stories reach even more people.