The Ultimate Farm Wife Podcast with Host Katja Williams

The Ultimate Farm Wife Podcast with Host Katja Williams

by Katja Williams
Society & Culture
Season 11
#111 | From the US to Rural, Australian Farm Life: Kristen's Journey to Life on the Farm
In this episode of The Ultimate Farm Life, Kristen shares how she moved from the United States (Virginia) to Australia after studying marine biology at James Cook University, meeting her future husband Ben as her Great Barrier Reef dive instructor, and later working in software sales at companies including Tableau and Microsoft. After years of saving to sail and completing an 8,700-nautical-mile trip, Kristen and Ben sought more purpose and, with Ben’s family, bought a farm in 2020 in the Hunter Valley, building a regenerative paddock-to-plate beef business while needing reliable internet for remote work, including an innovative pre-Starlink setup that led to an ABC segment and Ben starting an internet business. They shifted from selling stock to market to retail cuts, farmers markets, and subscription boxes supported by custom software for forecasting and whole-animal utilization. Kristen discusses planning, budgeting, embracing failure, communication in family ventures, and storytelling in direct-to-consumer sales, and notes being a 2026 Women Changing the World Awards finalist, placing third globally in Food & Beverage. Discount Codes: Book Box - Use code Fabulous15 for a special discount at checkout! Start your next chapter here → https://bookbox.au/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSELTTER: https://tr.ee/qd6wlKKB1W
S11 · E111
May 27, 2026
41:36
#110 | Exploring The Spirit of Resilience on the Farm with Jess Spring
Welcome back to the Ultimate Farm Wife, this week, Katja interviews Jess Spring, a mum of three boys living with partner Tim on a mixed farm near Young, NSW, running sheep, cattle, cropping, and a 30-hectare cherry orchard. Jess shares how she met Tim three years ago, her farming background through a hobby farm and rural work, and how moving with her boys to Tim’s 20-acre block happened alongside their pregnancy with Jack and the sudden death of Tim’s dad, Neil. After briefly nursing, Jess shifted to network marketing, is building an online business, writing children’s books, and is three years alcohol-free, aiming to raise sobriety awareness in the bush. On-farm, she now manages wages, invoicing, and cherry-season shed logistics, emphasizing clear roles, asking questions, and strong communication. She describes modern high-tech cherry production, a recent bumper season, the need to get off-farm as a family, integrating a blended family, and the importance of succession planning after experiencing probate complexities and frozen accounts. Discount Codes: Book Box - Use code Fabulous15 for a special discount at checkout! Start your next chapter here → https://bookbox.au/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSELTTER: https://tr.ee/qd6wlKKB1W 00:43 Love Story Begins 01:29 First Farm Impressions 03:02 Deja Vu Driveway 04:19 Moving In Together 07:00 Nursing to New Path 10:42 Farm Role After Loss 12:30 Working With In Laws 14:43 Cherries Then and Now 17:12 Learning Without Overwhelm 18:40 Last Season and Diversifying 20:49 Family Time Off Farm 26:25 Blended Family Integration
S11 · E110
May 20, 2026
29:52
Ep. 108 | A Journey of Love, Farming, and Publishing with Robyn Verrall
Robin Verralll joins Katja on The Ultimate Farm Wife to share her path from a corporate medical sales career to marrying a farmer and moving onto a beef and lamb property, including an early farm “tour” that ended bogged in winter. She explains juggling multiple roles—publisher, author, farmer, and Regional Development Australia Limestone Coast chair—by creating income and connection through her business Bullies Meats, delivering to Adelaide and donating meat to families in need. After being named 2022 South Australian Rural Woman of the Year, she expanded her advocacy by bringing more women into skills and policy conversations. Robin recounts producing a charity cookbook for Keith Hospital, meeting publishing connections after an award in London, and helping publish rural women’s stories, including the Hear Us Roar series and her upcoming fiction Chasing the Dawn, with a future nonfiction book on succession disputes. She advises women moving onto family farms to actively build community, avoid romanticizing succession, use independent advisors, have minute meetings, get agreements in writing, and stay true to themselves. Discount Codes: Book Box - Use code Fabulous15 for a special discount at checkout! Start your next chapter here → https://bookbox.au/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSELTTER: https://tr.ee/qd6wlKKB1W 01:10 Love Story to Farm Life 01:52 First Farm Tour Chaos 03:57 Juggling Hats and Income 06:21 Advocacy to Publishing 09:10 New Books and Big Dreams 11:44 Moving to the Farm Advice 14:26 Community and Neighbors 17:59 Biggest Tip for Newcomers
S11 · E2
Apr 29, 2026
22:45
#107 | Passion, Perseverance, and Breeding Brahckles with Renee Wyn
In the first episode of Season 11 of the Ultimate Farm Wife, Katja is joined by Renee Wyn, who was raised on a 47,000-acre breeder property near Mount Garnet, recounts leaving town for distance education, dropping out after her father and uncle had serious accidents during drought, and working various rural jobs before meeting her husband while governing. Now 33, she helps manage a family fattening block amid a major inheritance rift after her grandfather died without a will; she also works full-time in town as a branch manager at Bushman Tanks. The property fattens mainly Brahman and Brahman-cross cattle for JBS Townsville, while Renee has built a 25-head Speckle Park herd and is crossbreeding with Brahmans to create “Brahckles,” with plans for a future society. She advises attending breed open days, ignoring negativity, using EBVs and weights, preparing for wet-season ticks/fungus, and managing goals through a color-coded calendar, communication, and flexible study; she completed a Diploma of Agribusiness and a law degree. Discount Codes: Book Box - Use code Fabulous15 for a special discount at checkout! Start your next chapter here → https://bookbox.au/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSELTTER: https://tr.ee/qd6wlKKB1W
S11 · E1
Apr 23, 2026
31:04
Season 10
#103 Emily blackburn
Harvest Her Power; Empowerment and Skills Conference for women in family farming. https://farmwivesconference.com.au/ Tickets on sale NOW Ealr Bird Tickets close 31st Janurary 2026 Discount Codes: Book Box - Use code Fabulous15 for a special discount at checkout! Start your next chapter here → https://bookbox.au/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSELTTER: https://tr.ee/qd6wlKKB1W
S10 · E8
Jan 14, 2026
33:01
#102
On this week’s episode of The Ultimate Farm Wife, we welcome Jo Moore — a mum, farm wife, and creative force behind Jo Maree Designs. We dive into life on the farm, from newborns in the packing shed to growing a small-scale poultry business, and the ups and downs of rural family life. Jo shares her tips on staying organised, keeping a positive mindset, and investing in yourself — even if it means a few days off farm to reset. It’s an inspiring, honest, and relatable chat for any woman navigating farm life. links Jomaree Designes https://jomareedesigns.com/ Harvest Her Power; Empowerment and Skills Conference for women in family farming. https://farmwivesconference.com.au/ Tickets on sale NOW Ealr Bird Tickets close 31st Janurary 2026 Discount Codes: Book Box - Use code Fabulous15 for a special discount at checkout! Start your next chapter here → https://bookbox.au/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSELTTER: https://tr.ee/qd6wlKKB1W
S10 · E7
Jan 7, 2026
37:09
#101 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
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S10 · E6
Dec 18, 2025
6:08
#100 The Mic Turns on Katja Williams: The Untold Story Behind The Ultimate Farm Wife
Episode 100. A milestone we never imagined reaching—because today, the mic finally turns on Katja. For the first time, the founder and host behind ⭐ The Ultimate Farm Wife Podcast ⭐ Agsolutley Fabulous Podcast ⭐ Harvest Her Power – Women in Family Farming Conference …sits in the guest seat. In this raw, honest, surprising and deeply moving 100th-episode special, Katja opens up about the journey you’ve never fully heard before—what it took to build two leading rural podcasts, raise a family on the land, navigate generational farming pressures, and create a national movement empowering women in agriculture. In This Episode ✨ The real reason Katja started The Ultimate Farm Wife ✨ How a young mum on a drought-stricken farm became a national rural voice ✨ Growing two farms, four kids, and two podcasts at once ✨ Building the Harvest Her Power Conference from scratch ✨ The moments she nearly walked away ✨ The future of rural women’s storytelling and leadership ✨ What she’s never shared publicly—until now Why You’ll Love This Episode This isn’t just a celebration. It’s a milestone for rural women everywhere—proof that your story, your voice and your resilience matter. Whether you’re a farmer, a mum, a business owner, or someone who simply loves honest conversations from the heart of Australia… this episode is one you’ll replay again and again. Harvest Her Power; Empowerment and Skills Conference for women in family farming. https://farmwivesconference.com.au/ Tickets on sale NOW. Discount Codes: Book Box - Use code Fabulous15 for a special discount at checkout! Start your next chapter here → https://bookbox.au/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSELTTER: https://tr.ee/qd6wlKKB1W
S10 · E5
Dec 10, 2025
57:25
#99 You Are Not an Imposter in Your Own Dreams - Fiona McArthur: From Midwife to Bestselling Author
Episode: A Conversation with Fiona McArthur — Midwife, Author, Rural Advocate In today’s powerful episode, Katja sits down with the extraordinary Fiona McArthur (formerly Fiona Simpson) — a midwife of 35 years, bestselling Australian author of more than 60 books, mother of five boys, cattlewoman, and passionate advocate for women living, working and raising families on the land. This is a warm, wise, and deeply relatable conversation full of stories rural women will instantly connect with. 🌾 Episode Highlights Fiona’s early years as a midwife at Kempsey Hospital, and juggling shift work, a paramedic husband, and five sons under seven How she claimed her own time with daily 4am–6am writing sessions — and how this changed the trajectory of her life The journey from writing for pleasure at the Kempsey Library to becoming a published author with Penguin and Harlequin Why her books champion strong women, young mothers, rural resilience, and birth outside the hospital system The inspiration and real-life stories behind her new novel Lightning Ridge Ladies The power of rural communities, especially following the devastating Macleay Valley floods Fiona’s belief that rural women are “not impostors in their own dreams” Practical advice for carving out time when life, kids, farming and chaos feel overwhelming The importance of friendships, feminine energy, and finding one supportive creative companion What Fiona will bring to the 2026 Harvest Her Power Conference — confidence, rediscovery, creativity and self-belief 🎤 Fiona at the 2026 Harvest Her Power Conference Fiona will guide rural women through: finding your inner voice turning rural life into opportunity carving out guilt-free personal time overcoming self-doubt building confidence and creative habits embracing your story, passion and purpose Her message: “Your aspirations are as important as your farm commitments.” 🌿 Perfect For Farm wives Daughters returning to the family farm Women integrating into family farming businesses Women in ag seeking identity, community and support Anyone wanting to rediscover passion, creativity or self-belief Harvest Her Power; Empowerment and Skills Conference for women in family farming. https://farmwivesconference.com.au/ Tickets on sale NOW. Discount Codes: Book Box - Use code Fabulous15 for a special discount at checkout! Start your next chapter here → https://bookbox.au/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSELTTER: https://tr.ee/qd6wlKKB1W
S10 · E4
Dec 4, 2025
31:03
#98 Farm Wives, Identity & Finding Your Role: Rural Psychologist Melinda Guest on Values, Loneliness & Life On-Farm
Welcome back to The Ultimate Farm Wife Podcast! Today’s episode dives deep into identity, values, rural life, and what it really means to be a woman integrating into a family farming business. I’m joined by the incredible Melinda Guest — rural psychologist, director, lecturer, mentor, speaker and proud farm-raised mum from Narrabri. Melinda brings decades of experience in rural mental health, family dynamics, relationships, and what shapes our sense of self as women living and working in agriculture. This conversation is packed with truth, laughter, and powerful tools for any woman navigating farming, family, marriage, motherhood, or life in a rural community. 💬 In This Episode We Cover: 🌱 Identity, Roles & Values for Rural Women Why understanding your core values is crucial when joining or returning to a family farm How to figure out who you are in the farming business Why so many women “headbutt” with in-laws — and how values misalignment plays a role The pressures, expectations and myths around being a “farm wife” 🌾 Growing Up Rural Melinda’s upbringing on a generational Narrabri farm How moving away (and back) shaped her view on rural identity Her journey into psychology during a time when mental health wasn’t openly discussed 📍 Challenges for Women on the Farm Gender biases and outdated assumptions women still face in 2025 Why contractors still ask for “the husband” even when the woman is the director The UNE research showing only 10% of farm daughters are considered in succession planning How daughters and daughters-in-law can navigate their place on the farm 🤝 The Power of Connection Why rural isolation and loneliness is one of the biggest mental health challenges in agriculture How the inaugural Harvest Her Power Conference created lifelong networks Why Melinda said YES to joining the 2026 conference committee ❤️ Relationships & Intimacy on Farm (Sneak Peek of 2026 Workshop!) The reality of relationships during harvest, calving, cropping & chaos Intimacy through different stages of marriage How to reconnect when you’re exhausted, overwhelmed or simply annoyed with each other The hilarious 1933 marriage questionnaire Melinda uses to show how far we’ve come Harvest Her Power; Empowerment and Skills Conference for women in family farming. https://farmwivesconference.com.au/ Tickets on sale NOW. Discount Codes: Book Box - Use code Fabulous15 for a special discount at checkout! Start your next chapter here → https://bookbox.au/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSELTTER: https://tr.ee/qd6wlKKB1W
S10 · E3
Nov 27, 2025
32:00
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