Does Anyone Ever Really Change?

Can a leopard change its spots?

Can we truly change? Can the people around us? And if so, what does it take to make change real and lasting?

Why do some patterns seem so hard to break, and can we ever inspire others to change?

Join us as we explore the nature of change, what makes it possible, and whether lasting transformation is truly within our reach.

If you’ve ever wondered about this in your own life, come along for a listen!

Community, Silly Questions and Fresh Ideas

James Turner from Farming For Good and Chris Evans, a beef and sheep farmer, join me for a conversation about the importance of community — and how having a space where you can ask anything, even if you think it might be a silly question, can open the door to new ideas.

Farming For Good runs a RAP (Regen Accelerator Programme), which Chris is part of. In this episode, we hear how a group of farmers who didn’t really know each other have come together, built friendships and started exploring the potential of regenerative agriculture on their own farms.

It’s a fun, light-hearted chat about trying something different, learning from others and the things we really need to make a change in our lives.

Join us for a conversation about community, curiosity and the courage to ask questions.

The To-Do List Is Never Going Away… So Now What?

We’ve all been there.

The jobs that haven’t been done. The things that should have been done yesterday. The person who hasn’t done what they said they would do. And that growing feeling that if I don’t get annoyed about this, nothing is going to get done!

On a farm, this can escalate pretty quickly.

There’s always another job waiting. The to-do list is about as long as the driveway, and when other people aren’t doing things the way we think they should, it’s easy to get stressed, frustrated, angry… or all three.

And, to be fair, it can feel completely justified.

If they had just done what we asked, when we asked, and how we asked them to do it, there wouldn’t be a problem — right?

And surely, if we stop giving ourselves a hard time about all the things we haven’t done, we’ll just get even further behind?

But what if there’s another way of looking at it?

Could we actually get more done, feel better and have better relationships without all the stress, frustration and pressure?

What if all that thinking — however justified it feels — is actually just noise? Noise that uses up our energy, clouds our thinking and gets in the way of seeing the obvious solution.

In this episode, we explore what might happen when we stop using stress and self-criticism as our fuel — and start seeing what becomes possible when our minds are a little quieter.

A New Headspace for a New Farming System - with Duncan Bennet, farmer member of the Upper Onny Farmers Group

What if one change in mindset could transform your whole farm? 🌱

In this episode, Duncan Bennett — farmer and member of the groundbreaking Upper Onny Farmers Group — shares the story of a mindset shift that happened almost overnight.

And the results?

🌱 Healthier soil
🦋 More wildlife
🚜 A different approach to farming
👨‍👩‍👧 Benefits for his family
💭 And a huge personal impact on Duncan himself

Duncan’s story is honest, thought-provoking and incredibly inspiring. It’s a fascinating look at what can happen when we challenge the way we’ve always done things and start thinking differently about farming.

🎧 Come and join us for this brilliant conversation — you might just see farming through a different lens.

#Farming #RegenerativeAgriculture #SoilHealth #Farmers #SustainableFarming #Wildlife #Agriculture

When Other People Drive us Insane!

“They’re driving me insane!” - New Podcast Episode from Stockmanship for the Mind

Sometimes other people can really hack us off.

And in farming, where you often live and work alongside the same people day in, day out, disagreements can turn into feuds — and it can be incredibly hard to move past.

When you’re caught up in a disagreement, it can become all-consuming.

It takes up headspace and energy that could otherwise go into running the farm, thinking about the future, exploring new ideas and technology, or keeping up with ever-tightening regulation.

But who are we really fighting in a feud?

It looks like it’s the other person.

The brother.

The dad.

The mother-in-law.

The business partner.

But is it?

What if it’s less clear-cut than that?

Think about a time you’ve felt really angry with someone when they weren’t even there.

You’re going about your day, but suddenly you’re ruminating about that person.

The frustration comes back.

The hurt feelings.

The anger.

Perhaps even hatred.

But if they aren’t there when we’re experiencing all those feelings, how can they be the cause of them?

I’m proposing a different way of looking at it.

What if our own thoughts have a role to play when someone else is “driving us crazy”?

What if, when our mood dips, we become more likely to get caught up in our habitual negative thinking? What if we’re like a magnet for it?

And what if, without even realising it’s happening, we can slip into a state of bad feeling that starts to affect everything around us?

Our relationships.

Our decision-making.

Our ability to see new possibilities.

And ultimately, the whole farm business.

Maybe the person we think we’re fighting isn’t the whole story.

Maybe there’s something else going on — and recognising that could be the first step towards getting unstuck.

Opening Your Eyes To Your Own Farm - with Cath Landles.

Cath Landles, Community and Landscape Officer for the Shropshire Hills National Landscape, joins us to share the inspiring story of working with the Upper Onny Farmers Group.

Cath talks about helping farmers to look at their own farms with fresh eyes — and what happened when they did. As they began to see their land differently, they discovered new opportunities, grew in confidence, and started to see their farms, their communities and their future from a whole new perspective.

It’s a lovely conversation with a lovely guest, full of insight, optimism and inspiration.

Come along, have a listen and join us! 😊

Seeing Past Fear - with Gareth Hales-Povey

Have you ever felt that you don't fit in? That it's just too hard to try something new? Have you ever worried what people think of you?

These are some of the things that Gareth, as a gay new entrant to farming, has grappled with over the last few years.

Now a herdsperson at the Harper Adams future farm, working for Shropshire Rural Support and also being the adoptive Dad to two boys, his story is inspiring on so many levels.

Join us for a lovely chat about where life takes us, seeing past our preconceived ideas and realising that we all have waaaaay more capability than we realise. 

The Headspace for Decisions

We all know that life feels better in a good headspace right? So what do we do when we find ourselves in a bad mood, everything looks hard and we feel rubbish?

Its kind of tempting to think that something about our life or ourselves needs to change in order for us to feel better. How many of us have made big decisions from that place of ‘I just can’t take this anymore!?’

But what if there’s a bigger perspective that we are missing?

What if those difficult feelings that we just want to get away from are actually giving us valuable information? What if they are letting us know that we’ve got stuck in some low-quality thinking?

What if ‘I just can’t take this anymore’ is exactly right, but its our current thinking we need to ditch before we can see anything clearly? What if that’s part of the rollercoaster of human mood and we’re just getting a little red flag to let us know not to make any decisions until we feel better?

What if we see our life the most clearly when we feel OK? When we’re calm and at peace? What if thats the time to make decisions?

How Do I Be OK When I’m Really Not OK?

Have you heard the phrase 'It's OK to not be OK?' What does that even mean? How is it possible to have peace of mind when everything is going wrong and it feels like we’re going to implode/explode!? When we’ve got the toxins of anxiety coursing through our veins, when we’re drowning in remorse or shame, when we’re grieving? 

How do we embrace those difficult times? Even when we didn't choose them? How do we have that experience without getting lost or taken down by it? 

Letting Go Of The Stories We Tell Ourselves - with Jamie Butler

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to get caught up in the stories we tell ourselves?

For many of us, there's a quiet narrative running in the background of our lives:

"Am I good enough?"
"What do people think of me?"
"Why does this always seem to happen to me?"

When life is going smoothly, we may barely notice these stories. But when we're faced with challenges—grief, illness, the end of a relationship, or simply a difficult period in life—those stories can get louder, colouring the way we see ourselves, other people, and the world around us, making a tough time sooo much tougher.

What if those stories aren't the truth? What if they're simply thoughts passing through, like a heavy weather system, however convincing they may seem?

In this episode, we explore what becomes possible when we begin to see our stories for what they are and gently let them go. We talk about how an understanding of the Three Principles can bring comfort, perspective, and a deeper sense of peace, even in the midst of life's toughest moments.

My guest is Jamie, a Hampshire dairy farmer, coach, and Three Principles practitioner. Alongside running a busy farm, Jamie also manages a glamping site, fishing lakes, a training centre, and meeting space at Meon Springs. https://www.meonsprings.com/

This is a warm and honest conversation about resilience, perspective, and the freedom that can come when we see our thoughts for what they really are.

Listening and Lived Experience - with Emma Jones, Dairy Farmer.

Emma Jones is, above all, a Cheshire dairy farmer. Working on her family farm, she experiences first-hand both the rewards and the realities of modern farming, giving her a deep understanding of the challenges faced by rural communities.

On this episode we have a lovely chat about how life works, the power of listening and the immense value of all of our lived experience.

Alongside her farming work, Emma is a dedicated advocate for mental wellbeing in agriculture. She volunteers with Shout, a text-based mental health support service, and Cheshire Agricultural Chaplaincy, which provides practical, emotional, and pastoral support to farming families. Through these roles, she helps ensure that people in rural areas have access to the support they need, particularly during difficult times.

Emma is especially passionate about the intersection of farming, mental health, and inclusivity. She champions the idea that agriculture should be a place where everyone feels valued, supported, and able to thrive.

Through her writing on Facebook and LinkedIn, Emma offers honest, insightful reflections on farming life, rural communities, and wellbeing. Her posts combine practical experience with warmth and authenticity, making them both thought-provoking and relatable. I highly recommend following her work.

Where family meets business - the communication challenge. With Joe Evans, Deputy President of the CLA

On this episode we welcome Joe Evans, Deputy President of the CLA (Country Land and Business Association). We have a great chat about communicating in family business - the highs and lows! 

Joe grew up on his family farm in Herefordshire and spent much of the first decade of his career working for HSBC Group in Asia.

In 2012 he and his wife Keeley returned 'home' where he took over the day to day running of Whitbourne estate from his father. Working together with one of his farming tenants, Joe runs the home farm as an extensive organic grazing enterprise with significant focus on environmental stewardship schemes.

He has been involved with the CLA as chair of the Herefordshire branch and chair of the Environment Committee and is now Deputy President.

To find out more about Joe’s work and the work of the CLA:

www.cla.org.uk

To listen to the CLA’s series of podcasts which feature great guests for 15 minutes each:

https://www.cla.org.uk/news/?taxonomy=Podcasts

Also, Joe is running the Swansea half marathon to raise money for the CLA charitable trust - to donate please go to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/disadvantaged-children-and-young-people?lid=zljr9cv8ct1u&utm_medium=email&utm_source=product&utm_campaign=t-donation-alert

K.B.O. A new episode of Stockmanship for the Mind

KBO - a new episode of Stockmanship for the Mind in memory of Lionel Hill MBE.

I recently went to the funeral of a truly amazing guy - Lionel Hill. He had everything you could want from life, a lovely wife, great family, a beautiful farm, a string of successful businesses, he even took over from Prince Charles (as he was then) as national president of the Young Farmers Clubs. He had friends all over the country.

He was a great bloke, always with a cheeky grin, a joke and laugh and his motto (which I learned at the funeral) was KBO - Keep Buggering On.

I think thats a motto we all need to listen to, so often we have times where we can't see the way ahead, we don't know if we can make it. What if we just KBO??

Succession on Farms - with WR Partners.

On this episode of Stockmanship for the Mind I have a great discussion with Claire Smith and Roy Jackson, Rural Partners in WR Partners accountancy firm, which is based in Shropshire, Wales and Cheshire. Claire and Roy are both from farming backgrounds and have a combined experience of almost 40 years of working with farmers and other rural businesses, so they bring a huge wealth of expertise to the table.

We cover some of the technical reasons why planning for the handover of a farming business to the next generation is just so important. The updated inheritance tax law has brought this thorny issue to a head for many farmers and it has never been more crucial to plan ahead.

Everyone knows this… So why can it be such a difficult discussion to have on farm?

Partly, the high value of agricultural assets means that there is a lot to play for, but we also take a look at some of the emotional aspects that are almost inevitably tied up with passing on the family farm.

Come along to this episode for a fresh look at succession planning with Roy and Claire.

How do I tackle that difficult conversation?

We all know that difficult topics can make for difficult conversations... and the results can be pretty disastrous. How do we make that easier? How do we make sure that we give ourselves the best chance of a productive chat, where everyone feels better at the end and you can actually resolve an issue... or at least make some headway?

When's the best time to tackle something tricky? Is it when we feel like our blood is boiling and we can't rest until we sort something (or somebody!) out? Would we train our dog in that state of mind?

Help…I feel super stressed!

Feeling under pressure? Does it look like life is throwing ALOT at you? I hear you! 

What can we do about this? Nobody wants to feel stressed all the time but sometimes it kind of looks like that's the only real response to a situation. Is there anything we can see about this with fresh eyes?

Being Human - Chat with Jo Blackburn from Shropshire Rural Support

In this episode I chat with Jo Blackburn, the pastoral coordinator from Shropshire Rural Support. We talk about the often bumpy road of rural life and how that affect our headspace.

How Do I Get Into A Better Headspace?

We all know that life feels waaaay better in a good headspace. Do we get a good headspace as a result of life going well, achieving our goals and having less problems to contend with? Maybe.

What if it works the other way around?

Come along to the podcast to hear more.

A Fresh Perspective On An Old Problem - Is It Possible?

We all have issues that go round our head, things that we worry about or ideals that we feel we need to live up to. Sometimes, it feels if we were to let that go, we would be being irresponsible or not doing our best. 

When we've seen something a certain way for a long time, it feels crazy to us that there is an entirely new perspective available to us - to us, it just seems 'that's the way it is.' 

When we get fresh thinking, it is often quite suprising to us, it always leads us to a new perspective, even on an old problem - but is it really possible? 

What On Earth Are The 3 Principles Anyway??

There are basic principles behind life, when we begin to understand them everything makes more sense.

The Three Principles, also known as the Inside-Out Understanding, describe the essential elements behind our human experience. They have always been true—since the dawn of time. Throughout history, wise folk have understood this stuff. The rest of us are just catching up!

These principles were articulated in the 1970s by Sydney Banks. Since then, this understanding has spread worldwide. It is shared with CEOs of major corporations, the US military, prisoners, and individuals facing challenges such as mental illness and addiction—as well as everyday people who simply want to feel better and live more fulfilling lives.

We live in a world of thought. Our consciousness brings those thoughts to life, making them feel so real to us! When we don’t understand the process, we can easily get so lost in this! But as we begin to see through it, clearer thinking and a deeper sense of well-being—often referred to as Mind—are always available to us.

If you’d like to learn more, come along to the podcast!