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Father Land
After nearly six years of sharing the stories of rural mums, national charity Motherland couldn't believe one had done the same for rural dads. Father Land is Australia’s first podcast dedicated to fathers on the land—a bold platform giving rural dads a voice.
Hosted by award-winning entrepreneur, journalist, and rural mum Stephanie Trethewey, Father Land is a space for unfiltered conversations about fatherhood, identity, and mental health in the bush.
Each episode dives into the messy, meaningful realities of life on the land—the wins, the losses, the laughs, and the moments that hit hard. With humour, heart, and honesty, we challenge outdated stoicism and celebrate the courage it takes to be honest.
Because vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s part of being a bloody good dad.
Father Land
Father Land #2: From Rock Bottom and Back — Stuart Austin on How Fatherhood Saved His Life
There was a day when Stuart Austin picked up the phone and called his wife, asking her to come home because he needed her. He wasn’t sick, and he wasn’t injured…but he was in a very dark place, and he knew he couldn’t get through it alone. Stu is a cattleman, entrepreneur, and father of three. His story stretches from long days on Northern Territory stations, working on ranches in Canada, 8 years as General Manager of Wilmot Cattle Co, and now, his own advisory business, Audacious Ag. But this conversation isn’t just about his career in ag. It’s about fatherhood, identity, the moments that nearly broke him — and the family and community who helped him through. From meeting his wife in the stock camp, navigating years of mental health struggles, and raising his beautiful kids, Stu’s story is very raw, honest, and full of lessons about what it means to be a farmer and a father.