Farm Life Psych with Steph Schmidt
Navigate farm, family and life at "Farm Life Psych with Steph Schmidt" – it's all about the ups and downs of farming, but with a psychological spin.
I'm Steph Schmidt, juggling life as a psychologist, farmer, wife, and mum.
I'll be chatting about the nitty-gritty of farm life, how our brains handle it, and how to make it all a bit easier (when we can).
Think of this podcast as your go-to spot for stories and lessons from life on the land, accessible and do-able wellbeing tips, and chats with folks who get the farming life, sprinkled with insights on how to keep your head in the game. Whether you’re out in the fields, taking care of animals, or just curious about life on the farm with a mental health twist, you’ve found the right place.
Keen to join the ride and make farm life a bit brighter? Hit subscribe to "Farm Life Psych with Steph Schmidt" and let’s start this journey together. Ready to change the way you think about farming? Subscribe today
Connect with me:
www.stephschmidt.com.au/podcast
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephschmidtfarmlifepsych/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/stephschmidt.farmlifepsych/
Facebook -https://www.facebook.com/stephschmidtfarmlifepsych
Episodes
34 episodes
Supporting People Without Fixing Them
Have you ever wanted to support someone you care about, but found yourself not knowing what to say, what to do, or how to stay in the conversation when things got heavy?In this episode, I’m talking about something that comes up constant...
Take the smallest step - Finding Your Way Through Heavy Seasons
Ever had one of those weeks where everything seems to go wrong, and you’re still expected to keep showing up anyway?This week I’m sharing a very real, very unpolished reflection on stress, overwhelm, and the pressure so many of us are c...
Navigating Farming Career Transitions & Ask Steph
Why do we know exactly what needs to change and still feel completely stuck?If you’ve ever had that thought of “if nothing changes, nothing changes” sitting in the back of your mind, but still can’t quite take the step forward, this epi...
Find the strengths, even during the hardest times
Are you feeling stuck in the heaviness of this season and wondering how you’re meant to keep going without pretending everything’s fine?In this episode, I talk honestly about how hard things feel right now. No glossing over it. No “just...
Three Anchors for Tough Times
Are you feeling like it’s all just a bit too much right now, and you don’t get to press pause?I’m back behind the mic, and if I’m honest, I almost didn’t record this one. Things have felt heavy. A lot like what so many of us are carryin...
10 Top Tips for Harvest From Stress to Strength Series Wrap up
As the headers start rolling and the to-do lists stretch longer than the days, it’s easy to feel stretched thin.In this final episode of From Stress to Strength: Navigating Life on the Land — a series proudly supported by Ski fo...
How do you want to show up? Choosing our actions in tough times
When life feels like it’s out of your control — when the rain won’t come, prices drop, or your energy’s running low — it’s easy to feel stuck. In this episode, Steph explores how to make meaningful choices even when the situation itself can’t b...
Sleep Strategies - when you're tired but wired
Ever found yourself lying in bed at 3 a.m., replaying the to-do list, worrying about the weather, or planning tomorrow’s jobs? You’re not alone.In this episode of From Stress to Strength: Navigating Life on the Land, Steph dives...
Parenting and Farm Life - honest reflections on the juggle of farm mum life
Parenting is hard at the best of times — add farm stress, exhaustion, or the chaos of harvest, and it can feel near impossible to be the parent you want to be. In this episode of From Stress to Strength: Navigating Life on the Land, St...
Lessons from the Shearing Shed - Teamwork, Rhythm, and Letting Go of the Prickly Stuff
In this episode of From Stress to Strength: Navigating Life on the Land, part of my Farm Life Psych podcast, I’m taking you into the shearing shed — not just for the wool, but for the wisdom.Currently we are navigating ...
Empty, full or overflowing? What's your capacity? Managing stress when you are running on empty
In this episode of From Stress to Strength, Steph explores the idea of capacity—and why shifting the conversation from “mental health” to “how much I’ve got to give” might just change everything.We often talk about stress...
We're on the same team - Navigating farming relationships in stressful time
When the stress is high, our relationships often take the biggest hit — especially on the farm, where family and business are deeply intertwined. In this episode, join Steph Schmidt as she explores how stress impacts our relationships and share...
Don't believe everything you think: Escaping the thinking traps
Our minds are meaning-making machines — but sometimes, they trap us in loops of self-criticism, worst-case scenarios, and unhelpful comparisons. In this episode, Steph unpacks the most common thinking traps we all fall into, especially...
Riding the Wave: Tools for Tough Moments On the Farm
When the pressure builds and it feels like everything is too much, what can you actually do to get through that moment?In this episode of From Stress to Strength, join Steph Schmidt - psychologist and farmer - as she sh...
From Stress to Strength: Why Survival is OK right now
Welcome to From Stress to Strength, a special podcast series by Farm Life Psych with Steph Schmidt, proudly supported by Ski for Life.Join Steph Schmidt, a psychologist, farmer and mum as she explores strategies ...
Cultivate Movement
In this bite-sized Cultivate episode, join me, Steph Schmidt, a psychologist, farmer, and mum of 3. I explore the power of movement—not as punishment or pressure, but as permission to shift stress and reconnect with your body. Wheth...
Cultivate Sleep: Simple Strategies for Rest in Stressful Seasons
Welcome to the Cultivate mini-series — bite-sized episodes from Farm Life Psych with Steph Schmidt that plant small seeds of change to support your mental health and wellbeing through the ups and downs of life on the land....
Find the AND: A simple practice for tough times
In this solo episode of Farm Life Psych with Steph Schmidt, Steph returns after a break to share a powerful yet simple idea she’s leaning into right now—finding the AND.Join farmer and psychologist (and mum of 3 amazing b...
The Circle of Control: Choosing your focus in uncertain times
In this episode, we dive into the Circle of Control, a simple yet powerful framework for managing stress and uncertainty—especially relevant in tough seasons like drought and floods. When so much in farming is outside of our control, h...
A quick self check in - Are You Coping or Just Pushing Through?
It’s been a long, hot minute since I last recorded Farm Life Psych, but we’re here now. In this episode, I’m checking in—not just with myself, but with you too. If you’ve been feeling the weight of dry conditions, long harvests, or just the con...
Managing Farm Life Stress: Finding Your Feet and Dealing with Drought
Join Steph Schmidt: Farmer, Psychologist, Farm wief and Mum based in South Australia.In this episode, Steph navigates through the ups and downs of farm life while offering valuable advice on mental well-being. She shares a "Fi...
What's your Kryptonite (another mini-sode)
Following on from the mini-sode of Episode 11 - this week we explore the things that get us stuck.Exploring Catalysts and Kryptonites in Farm Life PsychIn this episode of Farm Life Psych, host Steph Schmidt, a farmer, psychologist...
School Holiday Mini-Sode: What's Your Catalyst?
Finding Your Catalyst: Enhancing Well-being Amidst the Farm Life JuggleIn this episode of Farm Life Psych, host Steph Schmidt, a farmer, psychologist, farm wife, and mother, introduces the concept of 'mini sodes' in the spirit of Bluey. She exp...
I'm having the thought that...Tools for managing the mental load
In this episode of Farm Life Psych, host Steph Schmidt, a farmer, psychologist, wife, and mum, delves into the mental load and stress faced by farmers, especially during challenging seasons. Steph introduces the concept of cognitive...
It's hard because it is: Practicing acceptance during tough times on the farm
In this episode of Farm Life Psych, Steph Schmidt shares her firsthand experiences and practical strategies for managing stress in the challenging farming environment. She explores the importance of acknowledging emotions and provid...
