A Friend of Mine by OAK Magazine

This is an audio version of an article published in OAK Magazine Issue 11. Narrated by Kristy Reading.A painful and emotional medical journey placed Amanda Keller with the unenviable title of being in the top 10 per cent of worst cases in the state for her diagnosis, but life beyond recover has lit a fire in this remarkably strong woman to raise awareness about the condition that had been silently tearing her life apart. Amanda talks openly about suffering from endometriosis, a condition that can cause debilitating pain, infertility and life-threatening consequences. ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEOAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this quarterly publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

Take Me Somewhere is a podcast by OAK Magazine. This episode of Take Me Somewhere has been recorded live in our mobile podcast van at the Riverine Plains Innovation Expo Field Day held in Yarrawonga on July 28 2022. Many successful small businesses start life from the kitchen table, and Sarah Armstrong’s story is no different.Sparked from a conversation overheard at her parent’s kitchen table after a night of rain, Sarah developed the SparkDrop app - a digital platform to store rainfall data and share it with the community.The land has been Sarah’s whole upbringing. Sarah’s father, his father Sparky and his father before him have been thriving and surviving in farming for over 100 years in Australia.It's Sarah’s grandfather, Don "Sparky" Armstrong, who is the inspiration behind the app’s name. The app is a way to continue her family’s legacy and share her love for the land.In this candid and unedited conversation, Sarah shares with us the beginning of her app, the cost of developing one, how she handled an email glitch during launch week, marketing tactics and the special bond she has with her dad and grandfather.  You can also read about Sarah's story in OAK Magazine - Issue 12.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this quarterly publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

Fiona Landford and her husband Wayne have fostered 32 children and adopted four along with being biological parents to their daughter Jess.Fiona’s career started out in special education. It was through her work and her children that she saw a growing need for services that would proactively support not only isolated and/or disadvantaged families but also neurodivergent children and their families.Three of their adopted children identify as neurodivergent and to find professionals who were versed in neurodivergence, the impact of disability and also trauma-informed was a challenge - not to mention finding someone who understood the complexities of living in rural and regional Australia.With the encouragement of others, Fiona retrained over a period of years and in 2016 established Courage Wisdom Change which empowers children, youth and adults with skills for positive change.From her home in Kyneton, Victoria, Fiona shares with us her late career change, moving into counselling and unintentionally establishing herself as a neuro-affirming practice, why she is seeing more women identify as neurodivergent, the importance of looking after your mental health and wellbeing, and her highs and hurdles as a business owner.Meet my friend Fiona from Courage Wisdom Change.Also mentioned in this episode is Jess Kennan from Leading Change Experiences in South Australia.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. We are a proudly independent media publisher dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female change makers and women in business in regional and rural Australia. OAK is an award winning community ecosystem of print, digital, audio and events. We have demonstrated outstanding quality, innovation and impact through our print magazine, podcasts and audio version of OAK Magazine. OAK is where you will find in-depth chats and courageous conversations with women in business from regional and rural Australia.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

From her home in Western Australia, Emma Williams founded Maxx Marketing (formerly SociallyEm) at age 28. It is now a multi-million dollar empire powered by a team of more than 30 staff - 40% of whom are based in her home state of WA.It hasn’t all been a smooth run to success. Prior Maxx Marketing, Emma lost her first business – along with a treasured friendship. Despite being $80,000 in debt and with no formal qualifications, SociallyEm was launched in 2018 with zero capital. Just one woman with drive, a solid work ethic, optimism and a passion to help others in a similar situation.In four short years of business, Emma has launched Australia’s first Instagram networking event -  with more than 5000 women attending 11 sold out national shows; built a signature sellout course that’s empowered more than 5000 women to successfully run their own businesses; created a seasonal online gift guide which to date has generated over $8 million in revenue for small businesses; sold out exclusive mindset retreats in Australia and Bali; won three gold industry awards and many more business achievements.And that $80K debt. It’s paid off and her business now generates more than a $1million revenue each year - even during the pandemic. Behind the scenes, Emma was dealing with emotional and physical demons as well as battling stage 4 endometriosis, something that consumed her every day with pain. The mum of three was scheduled for a hysterectomy at the age of 28 and it was during the pre-op tests that she was also diagnosed with cervical cancer.One episode with Emma - my new best friend - is not enough but we have dug into a few areas of business and life.Emma shares with us her business journey, her relationship with money and how it impacts her business decisions, she lifts the cover on what it costs to run her national events, provides insights into hiring staff, the importance of staying in your own lane and, of course, a couple of juicy social media tips. Meet my friend Emma - Socially Em - from Maxx Marketing.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by award winning publisher Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this quarterly publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

This is a special mini series featuring this year’s AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award Victorian finalists. Grace Larson is a third generation nurse, and although she didn’t set out to follow in the footsteps of her grandmother and mother, she found herself drawn to the profession.Through her 15 years experience working as a paediatric intensive care nurse, Grace knows how important timely access to services is on mortality rates of children experiencing traumatic injuries. Grace recognised that patients who received CPR or first aid had better outcomes than those who did not, and identified first aid training as particularly critical to children in rural areas. From her home in Kyneton, Grace formed The Sisterhood Project to mitigate the barriers of distance and affordability for parents and carers in rural areas, providing free access to essential paediatric first aid training for vulnerable groups, particularly in rural Australia. The mum of three hopes this will have a significant impact on child mortality rates in Australia.Grace tells us why she applied for the award, what she has learned about herself in the process and the importance of her project.Let me introduce you to my friend and AgriFutures 2023 Rural Women’s Award Victorian Finalist Grace Larson.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this quarterly publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

This is a special mini series featuring this year’s AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award Victorian finalists. Nikki Davey is the co-founder and CEO of Grown Not Flown, a digital platform and marketplace dedicated to promoting and selling locally grown flowers and produce.As a relatively new flower farmer herself, Nikki is using her skills in digital product development and analytics management to transform the flower industry.Leveraging technology to aggregate and share industry insights and best practices, Grown Not Flown aims to empower micro and small-scale growers to collect and manage their farm data, streamline business operations, and easily connect with consumers.Nikki hopes to arm growers and consumers with information on the importance of supporting local farming communities, economies, and small businesses so they can continue to blossom.Nikki tells us why she applied for the award, what she has learned about herself in the process and the importance of her project.Let me introduce you to my friend and AgriFutures 2023 Rural Women’s Award Victorian Finalist Nikki Davey.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this quarterly publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

This is a special mini series featuring this year’s AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award Victorian finalists. Through her own experiences as a migrant to Australia, Neha recognised that opportunities are often down to who you know, not what you know. This disadvantage is even more acute for women living in regional areas like Neha’s hometown of Shepparton.Identifying an opportunity to bridge the gap between those who are seeking to grow and those willing to help them succeed, Neha established The Flamingo Project to create a community of women helping women. Knowing that asking for support may not always be easy for women, the program has no barriers of entry and is free of charge. Neha tells us why she applied for the award, what she has learned about herself in the process and the importance of her project.Let me introduce you to my friend and AgriFutures 2023 Rural Women’s Award Victorian Finalist Neha Samar.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this quarterly publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

This is a special mini series featuring this year’s AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award Victorian finalists. Sarah is a paediatric critical care nurse at the Royal Children’s Hospital and has cared for many critically injured children and those with complex medical needs whose parents navigate the medical world from home every single day. Many of these children reside in regional and rural Australia. As a rural mum of four, Sarah knows too well the difficulties that rural families have in accessing specialised paediatric care and it is her mission to bridge this gap to provide paediatric carer training and education to carers and parents of children regardless of their postcode. Through her company PAEDS Education, Sarah is driven to reach the “unreachable” through hybrid and online training. She hopes this increased access to specialised training will improve support, reduce the burden of care, and improve the outcomes of children and their community.Sarah tells us why she applied for the award, what she has learned about herself in the process and the importance of her project.Let me introduce you to my friend and AgriFutures 2023 Rural Women’s Award Victorian Finalist Sarah Duncanson.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this quarterly publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

Have you ever wondered what's happened in the life of a previous podcast guest? Well, in this special catch up episode we speak with Sarah Gee from Curium Legal.Sarah was on the verge of throwing away 15 years of training and hard work as a business and commercial lawyer before deciding to forge a career on her own terms. She launched her business Curium Legal in 2020.We first spoke with Sarah in March 2022 - Episode 36. Since then, Sarah has won Bendigo Business Excellence Awards ~ Young Professional of the Year, seen a 40% increase in her business and has welcomed a new team member... her husband.We talk about the juggle of little kids and business, the stigma of working from home, trends in legal advice, what it's like to work with your husband, and Sarah's goals for 2023.Let's catch up with my friend Sarah from Curium Legal. ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this quarterly publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women. Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram. For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine. 

There is no other job that requires you to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week and Louise O’Neill believes farming should not be the exception.The sports therapist and mental health coach has spent the past six years helping men and women in the bush to shift their mindset and challenge the unconventional paradigms facing farming communities.Her passion stems from a personal level, having seen the impact it’s had on regional communities.From her farm in Denmark, Western Australia, Louise operates Farm Life Fitness. This year her passion, commitment and positive impact was recognised, being named the WA Finalist for the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award.Louise shares with us her very personal story which was the catalyst to starting Farm Life Fitness. This episode shares personal moments and a sensitive discussion around depression and suicide. For some this may be difficult to listen to or have a triggering effect so you may want to skip this episode. You can phone lifeline at any time on 13 11 14.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this quarterly publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

Nikki Davey is a co-founder of Grown Not Flown - a digital platform supporting the slow flower movement to reduce flower miles, boost local economies and showcase the best our flower industry has to offer. Launched in 2021 during the pandemic, Grown Not Flown started as a social media platform showcasing and promoting local farmers growing seasonal blooms. It quickly morphed into an app to facilitate an easier connection between growers and consumers.Grown not Flown now boasts over 500 growers on the app and is in 14 different countries; there is nothing slow about this brands growth.Nikki lives with her partner in Glenmore, a small rural hamlet in Victoria, and was this year named a Victorian finalist for the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award.Nikki shares with us the start up phases of Grown Not Flown, why it’s important to know where our flowers come from, the value in identifying transferrable skills, her recent learning of what it means to be neurodivergent, as well as her personal story of miscarriage. In this episode, we speak about miscarriage and for some this may be difficult to listen to. If so, you might want to skip this episode or move through it mindfully.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this quarterly publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

A desire for a change in pace and a life-long love of her grandmother’s cooking led burnt-out Melbourne PR executive Greta Donaldson to a new life, and a new business - Bendigo Brittle.Greta was inspired to establish the business after whipping up a batch of peanut brittle for a family Christmas gathering. The brittle was a huge hit and she began to consider options for sale.Bendigo Brittle has now established a strong following as Greta, and a small team of employees, offer her sweet treats from an uber cool confectionery cart at markets around Victoria as well as being in talks with supplying her brittle to a national airline.Greta shares with us the fast-paced life of PR, how she “knocks the socks off” potential stockists, why she waited to launch a website, the importance of networking and how her world ground to a halt after losing her little sister Peta to ovarian cancer.PLUS Greta shares with us an exclusive announcement in regards to a new Bendigo Brittle product.Also mentioned in this episode - Mia Freeman, Georgie Coghlan, Mardi Featherston, Bendigo Tourism, Business Victoria, Studio Von, Sonya Anthony from Masons Bendigo, and Sarah from Windella Farm.This episode was recorded in OAK Magazine’s mobile podcast recording van. ABOUT OUR SPONSOR MAC&ERNIEAre you always stressing and guessing when it comes to your social media marketing?Do you feel like your effort doesn’t bring the results you need or you don’t know how to check?Check out Mac&Ernie.Erika McInerney is a qualified marketing strategist with 25 years real experience putting advertising, marketing and social media to work. She’s focused on regional and rural businesses - teaching you the skills and confidence to develop strategy, measure results and keep that content machine running.For free tips, follow Mac&Ernie on Facebook or Instagram or head to www.macandernie.com.au to find out more.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this quarterly publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

OAK Magazine founder and editor Kimberley Furness takes us behind the scenes of her incredible journey as this year's AgriFutures Rural Women's Award state (VIC) winner and national runner-up. A big thank you to guest host Erin Auld, a former breakfast radio announcer, OAK contributor and long time friend.ABOUT OUR SPONSOR MAC&ERNIEAre you always stressing and guessing when it comes to your social media marketing?Do you feel like your effort doesn’t bring the results you need or you don’t know how to check?Check out Mac&Ernie.Erika McInerney is a qualified marketing strategist with 25 years real experience putting advertising, marketing and social media to work. She’s focused on regional and rural businesses - teaching you the skills and confidence to develop strategy, measure results and keep that content machine running.For free tips, follow Mac&Ernie on Facebook or Instagram or head to www.macandernie.com.au to find out more.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this quarterly publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

This special episode was recorded live for the National Farmers' Federation through its Women in Agriculture Leadership Facebook Group. Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of print publication OAK Magazine, and regional business owner and Diversity in Agricultural Leadership graduate Pru Cook are both entrepreneurs, mums and changemakers based in regional Victoria. While Kimberley, a seasoned podcast host, is going to lead the discussion into Pru’s journey through business ownership, leadership and becoming a parent, Kimberley is also going to share her own insights on working and motherhood, including being the main breadwinner.Kimberley and Pru give some tough topics visibility through their conversation on leadership, careers, motherhood and everything in between.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by award winning founder + editor Kimberley Furness. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this quarterly publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website.

If you’re an NBA 2K23 gamer, you’ll have noticed there is a new player on the Pelicans roster and he hails from my hometown Bendigo in Central Victoria.Australian basketballer Dyson Daniels is the latest star to be drafted into the NBA. The 19 year old went at number 8 to the New Orleans Pelicans and has signed a four year contract rumoured to be around $US25M with $US5.5M earned in his rookie season for 2022-23.Of course, behind every successful athlete is a parent (or two in this case). Proud mum Brikitta Kool-Daniels, with her husband Ricky Daniels, have helped Dyson realise his dream of playing in the NBA. Basketball talent runs in the family with eldest son Kai playing college basketball for Regis University and youngest son Dash recently named among Australia’s top 20 under 16 hoopers. All three boys have played representative basketball which translates into many hours spent training and traveling. That in itself sounds like a full time job but somehow Brikitta and Ricky have managed to successfully run Bendigo’s best gym, D-Club, for over 20 years. If you’d like to hear more about Brikitta’s business journey skip back to episode 5.So what does it take for a kid in country Victoria to play ball on the biggest stage in the world?In this exclusive interview, Brikitta shares with us her family's basketball journey and the whirlwind experience of the NBA draft. We talk about the media attention, the sacrifices, that big NBA contract, managing the expectations on younger son Dash, taking time out of the business, and going viral all thanks to a stunning white dress. Plus Brikitta shares with us an exclusive announcement in regards to Dyson.Meet my very good friend Brikitta, mum of Australia’s newest NBA star.ABOUT OUR SPONSOR MAC&ERNIEAre you always stressing and guessing when it comes to your social media marketing?Do you feel like your effort doesn’t bring the results you need or you don’t know how to check?Check out Mac&Ernie.Erika McInerney is a qualified marketing strategist with 25 years real experience putting advertising, marketing and social media to work. She’s focused on regional and rural businesses - teaching you the skills and confidence to develop strategy, measure results and keep that content machine running.For free tips, follow Mac&Ernie on Facebook or Instagram or head to www.macandernie.com.au to find out more.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this quarterly publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by...

Erika McInerney is the OG of social media marketing having laid the foundations of her business Mac&Ernie in 2015 before officially launching in early 2016. In just four months, the demand was there for her to quit her part time job to work in the business full time.Erika has been working in advertising and digital marketing for over 25 years and shares that practical experience and knowledge freely. Based in Warragul, Erika is well known for her generosity and authenticity and provides training that is smart, relevant and, most importantly, jargon free.Erika shares with us her start up journey, tips on improving your Instagram and answers lots of those popular social media questions like, 'How often should I be posting?' and 'I’m already booked out, do I really need to post on Instagram?' and lots more.Meet my friend Erika from Mac&Ernie.ABOUT OUR SPONSOR MAC&ERNIEAre you always stressing and guessing when it comes to your social media marketing?Do you feel like your effort doesn’t bring the results you need or you don’t know how to check?Check out Mac&Ernie.Erika McInerney is a qualified marketing strategist with 25 years real experience putting advertising, marketing and social media to work. She’s focused on regional and rural businesses - teaching you the skills and confidence to develop strategy, measure results and keep that content machine running.For free tips, follow Mac&Ernie on Facebook or Instagram or head to www.macandernie.com.au to find out more.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this quarterly publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

Take a listen to our new podcast show recorded live in our mobile podcast van.Hello I’m Kimberley Furness, the host of A Friend of Mine podcast. As a print journalist, I have fallen in love with podcasting - I cannot get enough of it - so it’s no surprise that I’ve launched a new show called Take Me Somewhere. This one is a little different in that I travel around in my mobile podcast van, pull up at a location or event in regional and rural Australia and interview the people who are a part of that community. Generally, I’ve not known these people for more than five minutes but the van provides a cosy atmosphere for a comfortable conversation. Why not take a listen to our first four interviews that centre our careers in agriculture.To listen to the full episodes, search Take Me Somewhere on your podcast app. And yes, I’m going to do the big ask. If you love it, share it - whether that is a review, five stars or sharing it to social media. It really does help for with amplifying the voices of women, and there is influence and power in that visibility.

You don’t exactly plan to have a business in another country but that’s how it panned out for Chris Edwards, and it’s working well.Chris followed her husband to Singapore as a “trailing spouse’ in 2008 during the global financial crisis. She struggled to find a job that matched her strong marketing background, skills sets and pay expectations, and instead found herself stuck between jobs that didn’t excite her.Chris is the person everyone asks for recommendations on everything across Asia - and that's why she started Honeycombers - a digital lifestyle magazine in Singapore, Hong Kong and Bali.This serial entrepreneur is not only the founder of Honeycombers but also Make It In Media, LaunchPad, and a business coach.Chris talks about going into business with co-founders and picking up the pieces after they left, her company values, hiring staff, and how a business coach helped her through a scarcity mindset. There are so many take away nuggets for business owners -  ‘If it’s not fun and it doesn’t come easy and it’s not bringing you joy, stop doing it’.Meet my friend - and business coach - Chris from Honeycombers.ABOUT OUR SPONSOR MAC&ERNIEAre you always stressing and guessing when it comes to your social media marketing?Do you feel like your effort doesn’t bring the results you need or you don’t know how to check?Check out Mac&Ernie.Erika McInerney is a qualified marketing strategist with 25 years real experience putting advertising, marketing and social media to work.She’s focused on regional and rural businesses - teaching you the skills and confidence to develop strategy, measure results and keep that content machine running.For free tips, follow Mac&Ernie on Facebook or Instagram or head to www.macandernie.com.au to find out more.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this quarterly publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

Sarah Stamm is an interior designer turned creator of handmade treasures. As the founder of Salisbury and Maude, Sarah creates exquisite, luxurious and beautiful wreaths, quilts and knitted keepsakes from her home in Beechworth, Victoria.Sarah doesn’t take her creative life for granted. Aged 22, she was crossing the street in Sydney when she was run over by a bicycle courier. The nerves in her right arm were seriously damaged and she sustained a permanent 20 per cent loss of use in that arm and hand.This is only one part of her incredible journey through life.In a delving and honest conversation, Sarah takes us through the phases of her life from growing up in Albury, studying interior design, caring for loved ones who are terminally unwell, and letting go of ego. There are blissful moments and then others which Sarah looks back on with sadness.Meet my friend Sarah from Salisbury and Maude.ABOUT OUR SPONSOR MAC&ERNIEAre you always stressing and guessing when it comes to your social media marketing?Do you feel like your effort doesn’t bring the results you need or you don’t know how to check?Check out Mac&Ernie.Erika McInerney is a qualified marketing strategist with 25 years real experience putting advertising, marketing and social media to work.She’s focused on regional and rural businesses - teaching you the skills and confidence to develop strategy, measure results and keep that content machine running.For free tips, follow Mac&Ernie on Facebook or Instagram or head to www.macandernie.com.au to find out more.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this quarterly publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

Patrina Roberts and her family have a motto, ‘Always rainbows after rain… and then dance in the sunshine.’ It’s a motto their family adopted 11 years ago when their eldest was diagnosed with Leukaemia. Those words have provided strength and knowledge that life is so very short and such a gift. Patrina recalls having to push through some very dark days, working three jobs to pay back the debt encountered to get treatment in Sydney which was over 500kms away from their home in Wagga Wagga. One day, Patrina’s husband came home from his work as a courier to tell her about the perfect store he found in Junee, NSW. In 24 hours, Patrina had made a decision and within two weeks they began working on the fit out and opened Studio On Sunshine, a handmade boutique. The business was open barley eight months before COVID hit Australia. It was an uphill battle to keep the doors open as the business unfortunately didn’t qualify for most grants. But Patrina and the business came out the other side thriving and more importantly, she has found balance and happiness. Patrina shares with us her family’s personal journey, what it took to open a business and why they chose Junee specifically, the importance of creativity and more. Meet my friend Patrina. ABOUT OUR SPONSOR HENNEYCFOSarah Henney from HenneyCFO is empowering women to make confident financial decisions with her new flagship program Bookkeeping for Profit. This unique online bookkeeping and business course includes weekly support and access to a community of like minded business women from rural and regional areas. Learn how to make your business finance and bookkeeping fun, simple and work for you. Sign up for Sarah's Know Your Numbers masterclass. Visit HenneyCFO or find Sarah on Instagram. ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this quarterly publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women. Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram. For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine. 

Cas Watene left her 9-5 job at 20 when she became too sick from her first pregnancy to keep working. She devoted her early 20s to raising her four kids. Cas started in network marketing in 2013 quickly rising to top sales person in Australia with the company and earning incentive trips and decent commissions. In 2018, she stumbled into cake decorating with no skills or qualifications and launched Cas’s Cakery. She has now built a reputable business locally in Emerald, Queensland, and internationally with more than 240K followers on Instagram. Cas set a goal to earn enough so her husband could leave his mine job which she recently achieved. Cas shares with us her journey, bringing her husband into the business and creating passive income through stencils and online courses. She also talks very honestly about her self limiting beliefs like imposter syndrome, fear of failure, trying to be a perfectionist, feeling like a fraud because she was self taught. Meet my friend Cas, from Cas's Cakery.ABOUT OUR SPONSOR HENNEYCFOSarah Henney from HenneyCFO is empowering women to make confident financial decisions with her new flagship program Bookkeeping for Profit. This unique online bookkeeping and business course includes weekly support and access to a community of like minded business women from rural and regional areas. Learn how to make your business finance and bookkeeping fun, simple and work for you. Sign up for Sarah's Know Your Numbers masterclass. Visit HenneyCFO or find Sarah on Instagram. ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this quarterly publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women. Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram. For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine. 

Four years ago, Leslie Carvitto left a 9-5 digital marketing job for her own creative pursuits and she refers to it as ‘one of the best decisions of my life’.While she was working at the digital marketing agency, Leslie started experimenting with photography and writing. She began defining herself as a multi-passionate creative, and started to let go of the idea that she needed to grow up and out of her idea of what a successful life should look like. Leslie’s intuition grew louder and she knew there was something more waiting for her. Leslie and her husband moved to Australia shortly before the country, and more specifically Victoria, was sent in lockdown. Still she forged on and built a new business in a new country.On Wadarrung Land, Leslie creates vibrant and authentic imagery for female business owners and conscious creatives.Leslie shares with us her business journey, why she initially - and intentionally - said yes to every opportunity, the importance of asking for reviews and building community, why branding is important for your business and lots more business advice.Meet my friend Leslie.ABOUT OUR SPONSOR HENNEYCFOSarah Henney from HenneyCFO is empowering women to make confident financial decisions with her new flagship program Bookkeeping for Profit. This unique online bookkeeping and business course includes weekly support and access to a community of like minded business women from rural and regional areas. Learn how to make your business finance and bookkeeping fun, simple and work for you. Sign up for Sarah's Know Your Numbers masterclass. Visit HenneyCFO or find Sarah on Instagram. ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this quarterly publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women. Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram. For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine. 

After years as a CEO in the not-for-profit sector, Linda Goldspink-Lord quit the safety net of her job when her health took a turn for the worse.In 2012, Linda experienced every parent's worst nightmare when her daughter Molly was killed in a tragic accident on their property in the Illawarra.Having also recently lost her mother, and suffered major health problems of her own, Linda had to find a way out of the darkness, back to the light. Trying to recover from grief, Linda explored how her health was having an impact on her mental wellbeing. She looked into links between the gut and the brain, and made some big lifestyle changes.When her horses were struggling with their overall health, Linda looked into gut health for horses and so Poseidon Equine was born - scientifically formulated gut health supplements for horses. After that came Poseidon Canine - gut health support for dogs. And then Saint + Sinner alcoholic kombucha.Linda shares with us her story of building resilience after great loss, and why she'd never go back to the 9 to 5. And how she's built a business with purpose, and in partnership with her family. So many great tips and insight into running a business. Meet my friend Linda; business woman, author, speaker and incredible storyteller.Read Linda's book https://lindagoldspinklord.com/ (Crawling Through The Darkness).ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this quarterly publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women. Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram. For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine. 

Transitioning back to work after parental leave is hard. As Sarah Gee watched her return to work date creep closer, she began to feel an internal struggle between wanting to spend precious time with her son and needing to maintain her standing in the workplace. Sarah was on the verge of throwing away 15 years of training and hard work as a business and commercial lawyer before deciding to forge a career on her own terms. She launched her business Curium Legal in 2020.In just four months of trading, Sarah replaced and exceeded her full time wage. Being able to set her own fees combined with the lower overheads of working from home, has meant that more local business owners can afford to engage Sarah for their legal services.Sarah shares with us her business journey and talks about some common legal blunders business owners face when dealing with trademark, ecommerce policies, partnerships and collaborations. She also explains why so many senior women are leaving the industry and why it's important we fix this.Meet my friend Sarah from Curium Legal. ABOUT OUR SPONSOR HENNEYCFOSarah Henney from HenneyCFO is empowering women to make confident financial decisions with her new flagship program Bookkeeping for Profit. This unique online bookkeeping and business course includes weekly support and access to a community of like minded business women from rural and regional areas. Learn how to make your business finance and bookkeeping fun, simple and work for you. Sign up for Sarah's Know Your Numbers masterclass. Visit HenneyCFO or find Sarah on Instagram. ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this quarterly publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women. Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram. For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine. 

It’s time to explore our own backyard in this special travel episode to Maldon in Central Victoria.Maldon is a historical gold mining region between the larger centres of Castlemaine and Bendigo, and just over a 90 minute drive from Melbourne.It is a charming historic town with an added pinch of the arts, fine accommodation and niche retail experiences to add a little sophistication to the country feel. Wander past old weatherboard homes, solid stone buildings and decorative shop fronts in this lovingly preserved Australian gold mining town.We've put together a complete guide to everything you need to know about Maldon thanks to local business owners Kate Edwards from Winter Creek Flowers and Rebecca Haack from Portia and Co.Kate and Rebecca share with us their move from Melbourne to Maldon, the courage it took to open a business and operate through COVID, and everything you need to know about Maldon.This episode compliments the launch of Take Me Somewhere magazine published by OAK Magazine.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this quarterly publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women. Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram. For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine. 

It’s time to explore our own backyard in this special travel episode to Halls Gap in the Grampians, Victoria.The Grampians National Park is a three hour drive northwest of Melbourne. It's home to an incredible mountain landscape dotted with small towns such as Dunkeld, Stawell, Halls Gap, Wartook Valley and Beaufort. Be it outdoor adventure, indulgent food and wine, cultural experiences or simply fun family times, a Grampians road trip will deliver lasting memories. And with so much to do, it's little wonder you can come back time and again, and still experience a new adventure. We've put together a complete guide to everything you need to know about Halls Gap thanks to Justine Neofitou who lives in Halls Gap with her young family and owns several businesses including Grampians Helicopters, Grampians Wine Tours and more recently Halls Gap Walking Tours. Justine shares with us her journey from ballet to cruise ships to business ownership, her big pivot during COVID-19, finding balance in working with your partner, and everything you need to know about The Grampians. Meet my friend Justine.Also mentioned in this episode… Kerrie's Kreations, Rupanyup Living, Icon Central Halls Gap, Grampians Adventure Golf, Moco Gallery, Live Fast Cafe, Coola's Ice Creamery and Halls Gap BakeryThis episode compliments the launch of Take Me Somewhere magazine published by OAK Magazine.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this quarterly publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women. Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram. For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine. 

It’s time to explore our own backyard in this special travel episode to Yarragon in West Gippsland, Victoria.With an unmistakable village feel, glorious heritage buildings and a deluge of shops to potter and browse, Yarragon’s charms extend well beyond a leg-stretch on the highway.Just 90 minutes east of Melbourne, Yarragon is a place where you can slow down and recharge the batteries, powered by a potent dose of country calm. The town is home to vibrant laneway cafes, cosy brunch nooks, coffee roasters and providores heaving with local delicacies.Meet my friends Kristy Plumridge who recently moved from Melbourne to West Gippsland and owns The Ridge House and Green Hills Farm.And Jo Wolswinkle who is a born and bred West Gippslandian, and owns Town and Country Gallery. Kristy and Jo share with us their start up stories, how they’ve coped with COVID and share all the best places to stay, eat, shop and explore in Yarragon.This episode compliments the launch of https://www.oakmagazine.com.au/pages/take-me-somewhere-magazine (Take Me Somewhere) magazine published by OAK Magazine.

Nicole Gleeson is quite simply a healthcare hero.When she isn’t working as a clinical nurse specialist at a large tertiary hospital in Melbourne, Nicole is disrupting the first aid training scene through her business Rhythm First Aid.Nicole is determined that your postcode should not define the level of first aid training or access to resources you receive. Since 2018, Rhythm First Aid has been providing families and businesses in rural and regional Victoria with first aid courses and supplies. Nicole shares with us her pathway into nursing and the catalyst to her launching Rhythm First Aid, transitioning from co-founder to sole director, the impact of COVID on her business, and importantly, first aid tips that may just help you save a life one day.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by award winning publisher Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this biannual publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

This special episode was recorded live for our In Conversation with Laura Hall event held online to celebrate Rural Women's Day. Hat maker Laura and her label Phylli both hit their stride after moving to Scone in country NSW. Despite only being in business for two years, Laura has attracted an impressive celebrity following including Delta Goodrem, Matt Damon and Chris Hemsworth's wife Elsa Pataky.Laura shares with us her personal connection to hats, her celebrity start at Bondi and Paddington markets, the advantages of running Phylli from Scone, providing job opportunities for her local community, what it feels like to see oneself on the cover of a magazine, business advice, as well as some fabulous questions from our online audience. Take a screenshot and share with us on social media so we can continue to amplify women's voices in the media.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by award winning publisher Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this biannual publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

Happy International Rural Women’s DayWith COVID restricting so many events and further isolating rural communities, International Rural Women’s Day is an important date for us to take a moment to celebrate and shine a light on the success of rural women.In celebration of Rural Women's Day, OAK Magazine would like to introduce you to some special rural friends from rural Victoria, NSW and Queensland.Through these conversations, I hope that women living in rural areas see and hear themselves in these stories, and others recognise how incredibly hardworking, innovative and resilient women living in rural Australia are.Let me introduce you to a rural friend of mine.Claire Morgan from Rupanyup LivingMother of three, farmer and business woman Claire Morgan is making her mark on Rupanyup. She’s giving people more reasons to visit the country town located on the great Silo Art Trail.In a town with a population of less than 400 people, Claire started the business, 10 years ago now, to give back to the community and create a place where locals could come together.Rupanyup Living is filled with a beautiful collection of homewares, clothing, accessories and local produce. You can also taste the flavour of Rupanyup thanks to the creation of Claire’s delicious brownies using local chickpea flour.In this episode, Claire talks about giving back to her community, how she navigated COVID without footsteps through the shop door, connecting with her community through Instagram, collaborating with Robert Gordon Pottery and her big plans for 2022.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by award winning publisher Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this biannual publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

Happy International Rural Women’s DayWith COVID restricting so many events and further isolating rural communities, International Rural Women’s Day is an important date for us to take a moment to celebrate and shine a light on the success of rural women.In celebration of Rural Women's Day, OAK Magazine would like to introduce you to some special rural friends from rural Victoria, NSW and Queensland.Through these conversations, I hope that women living in rural areas see and hear themselves in these stories, and others recognise how incredibly hardworking, innovative and resilient women living in rural Australia are.Let me introduce you to a rural friend of mine.Bec Nicholls from FigandCo GundagaiIn September 2020, regional NSW welcomed FigandCo General Store into the retail scene after Bec Nicholls decided she didn’t want to travel for hours to find a gift for her sister.In less than a year, Bec has built a network of suppliers from almost every state in Australia. And she is looking forward to moving into a bigger premises by the end of the year. Did I mention that her business has just celebrated its first birthday!This is a fabulous conversation about being part of the solution, the challenge of finding a rental space and acquiring wholesalers as a new rural business, and why we need to take time to stop and explore country towns on our next holiday. ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by award winning publisher Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this biannual publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

Happy International Rural Women’s DayWith COVID restricting so many events and further isolating rural communities, International Rural Women’s Day is an important date for us to take a moment to celebrate and shine a light on the success of rural women.In celebration of Rural Women's Day, OAK Magazine would like to introduce you to some special rural friends from rural Victoria, NSW and Queensland.Through these conversations, I hope that women living in rural areas see and hear themselves in these stories, and others recognise how incredibly hardworking, innovative and resilient women living in rural Australia are.Let me introduce you to a rural friend of mine.Sarah Mostyn from Windella FarmIf there was a utopia for goats, Sarah Mostyn's Windella Farm would be pretty close to it.Windella Farm is a boutique goat dairy and Australian eco skincare business located in Cohuna, Victoria. The business was born during a journey from the city to the country; a long weekend that turned into a permanent tree change for two crazy Gold Coaster's who introduced dairy goats into a traditional dairy region.Sarah, and her husband Shayne, have nurtured an extensive range of soap and body products that is founded on the philosophy that 'natural is best'.Sarah shares with us her love of rural communities, the challenges of COVID, how to leverage your market presence, and her plans to work with new ingredients and other brands.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by award winning publisher Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this biannual publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

Brooke McAlary, the internationally best selling author of SLOW, and has released a new booked titled CARE: the radical art of taking time.The book was created out of necessity during the height of the global pandemic at a time when ‘care’ seemed most important in our lives.If you look back over the past 18 months, there has been an overwhelming nature of ‘big care’ - the Black Summer bushfires, COVID-19, Black Lives Matter protests, the US election. 2020 has been a time of so many enormous, overwhelming problems facing the world and, as human beings, we have cared about them all.In 2020, Brooke burnt out. She discovered she cared too much about the ‘big care’. It was also the year she discovered she cared too little about the ‘small care’.In CARE, Brooke focuses on smaller personal acts of care, ones that can be achieved and are accessible no matter your socio-economic status or social background. And you can’t say you don’t have time as the acts are broken down into: half a minute, half an hour and half a day or more. It truely is an incredible book.From her home in the Southern Highlands, Brooke talks to us about her experience of feeling incredible loneliness, post-natal depression, small acts of care and her concept of tilting instead of balancing.We also bond over our love of Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon and, more seriously, how that relates back to community.Also mentioned in this podcast...@brookemcalary, @slowhomepod, @allenandunwin and @ecowithem author of ‘Hope is a Verb’ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by award winning publisher Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this biannual publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

This special episode was recorded live at our In Conversation with Samantha Wills event held in Bendigo earlier this year.In March, my dream of hosting a keynote speaker in my home town became a reality all thanks to the wonderfully kind, creative and inspiring Samantha Wills.Samantha travelled from Sydney to Bendigo so that 85 people could sit close to home and listen to her stories of business, love and life that she has fabulously written in her memoir 'Of Gold and Dust'.Samantha’s story is an inspiring blueprint for getting out there and finding the magic that awaits you. Here are some of the conversations we had during the evening where Samantha talks about storytelling, business, debt, community, creative life, women's health and more.If you haven’t already, go and purchase a copy of Samantha's book ‘Of Gold and Dust’. It is a must read memoir for anyone who has a desire to start their own business or a passion to live a creative life and follow their dreams.This event was made possible thanks to our incredible co-host AFS and Associates Chartered Accountants in Bendigo.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by award winning publisher Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this biannual publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

After a lifetime of working in corporate, Kerry McCuskey retired and with her family's encouragement, chose to pursue her passion for creating a beautiful blend of tea.Kerry launched her very first business Tea Associates in June 2020.The Bendigo local has been obsessed with tea from a young age, so every part of the Tea Associates journey has been carefully considered.The products are lovingly blended in Bendigo using her own recipes. The packaging is re-usable, re-fillable and biodegradable.She also invested in branding right from the get go engaging a creative agency for her logo and website, and a professional photographer.Kerry shares with us her transition from corporate to business owner, why it was so important to launch with a professional-looking brand vs DIY, ways she is collaborating with local creatives, tips on how to approach potential stockists and so much more.Also mentioned in this episode is @studioink_, Kate Monotti Photography, @ashmoralescreative, @thisisme.bree, @bendigobankbendigo, My Sister Susie Soap, Bluebird Patisserie, Indulge Chocolates, Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, @bendigo_airport, @harcourtproducestore, bask aromatherapy⠀

When Bec Connolly became a mum after a difficult fertility journey, she knew she didn’t want to return to full time work.A qualified skin therapist, Bec set up a therapy room in the home in Geelong in 2015. However it wasn’t long before the self-confessed “skin-nerd” was taking the next step, and formulating products of her own. It was a long and difficult search to find a small batch manufacturer and Bec was told countless times that she was just a “mum with a hobby”. But she persisted and launched her very own skin care range, Botanicals by Luxe in 2018.Bec shares with us the why behind her business, the manufacturing process, creating an ‘Instagramable’ brand, engaging influencers and ambassadors, her experience with anxiety and the importance of self care.We also speak about miscarriage and for some this may be difficult to listen to. If so, you might want to skip this episode or move through it mindfully. ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by award winning publisher Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this biannual publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

A bonus episode with Johanna Clark from Pink Nade. Johanna is someone you could talk to for hours, and on so many different topics. And that's what happened when I interviewed Johanna for her podcast episode. Once we finished the official interview, I kept recording and we kept talking. What came post interview was such goodness it was too good to waste. Cue a bonus episode.Johanna talks about the advantages of living in a rural community, dance videos as a marketing tactic, who her ideal customer is and how she markets to them, random acts of kindness and body confidence. Enjoy!ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by award winning publisher Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this biannual publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/afriendofmine/message

Johanna Clark embodies the ethos of women supporting women. Kindness, inclusion and confidence is at the core of her statement earring business https://www.pinknade.com.au/ (Pink Nade) located in the tiny rural town of Warracknabeal. Pink Nade is Johanna’s fifth business having started with Joey Jelly Bean, and then a signwriting business, clothing store and the local Australia Post contract with her husband Joel. All of this plus raising five children under the age of 13. In the past three years, Pink Nade has built a cult following on Instagram with more than 22,000 followers. Johanna has been able to combine her love for design, pattern and colour to bring out a range of bold statement earrings.Johanna shares with us her entrepreneurial journey which includes overcoming limiting beliefs, severe burn out and costly wholesale mistakes. She also talks about marketing tactics, mentors, the importance of providing a flexible workplace for mums, and how Pink Nade welcomes new customers and rewards their loyalty. ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by award winning publisher Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this biannual publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

Incy Interiors was founded in 2011 by interiors enthusiast, Kristy Withers. The business was born from a surprisingly difficult search for her son Oscar’s first “big boy bed”.Kristy left her role with eBay, and using her corporate marketing experience she launched Incy Interiors, debuting a range of retro style iron beds and cots. The stylish range has since expanded to encompass around 70 products and is available across the globe. In fact, one of her most recent customer’s is queen of tennis, Serena Williams.But the road to 10 years in business hasn’t been straight forward or smooth sailing. In fact, Kristy almost didn’t make it past the eight year mark.Kristy shares with us what it took to push through that challenge, the key things that have helped Incy Interiors experience continual growth, the impact of running a global business on her family and health, and some must visit places in Milthorpe and Orange in NSW.Meet my friend Kristy from Incy InteriorsABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by award winning publisher Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this biannual publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

Meet best friends in business, Celeste Robertson and Sarah Scott who describe their partnership as a “once in a lifetime bond”.The dynamic duo from Geelong own @naturalsupplyco which stocks the best curated range of natural, organic and zero waste products.In the past six years, they’ve found success in running their business purely online. Yet in the midst of a global pandemic, they decided to open a physical store in Rutland Street in Newtown, an inner western suburb of Geelong.Celeste and Sarah share with us their business journey, the secret to their working partnership, their genuine approach to engaging local influencers, the importance of SEO, the positive impact of COVID on their business and why Geelong is such a special place to own a small business.Meet my friends Celeste and Sarah from Natural Supply Co.Also mentioned in this episode… @katetoon, @6ft6wine, @emmahawkins, @geelongcats and @gtmagazine.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by award winning publisher Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this biannual publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

Seeing a gap in the market, Nerida Hansen pitched her idea to support independent artists and designers to a major retailer, but they weren't interested. Believing in herself and her vision, Nerida left her job and started representing independent artists. She turned her dream into a reality and launched her first collection of digitally printed fabrics in 2017. Her business - Nerida Hansen Fabrics - is now a growing independent fabric business in Geelong supporting textile designers, illustrators and artists from all over the world.Nerida has built her team, established an e-commerce store providing wholesale and retail, opened a bricks and mortar store in Torquay and recently launched a second business called Future Folk Designs.2020 has been bitter sweet for Nerida. When the global pandemic first hit, Nerida recalls "crying for 30 days straight" not knowing what the future held. She stood down her staff and virtually shut down everything. Then, it turned around overnight.There was such an increase in sales, Nerida had to move the business into a bigger warehouse and, more importantly, was able to re-employ her team.Nerida is at the top of her game in the textiles market and is building an empire. She shares with us her start up journey, the importance of questioning growth, how and when to hire, dealing with trolls, how to successfully pitch your design, future plans and so much more business advice.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by award winning publisher Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this biannual publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

Kimberley Furness has always known words are her thing. What she didn't know was the pathway she would follow to become a creator and editor of her own magazine.While starting a print magazine might seem like too daunting of a quest to attempt, Kimberley launched OAK Magazine in just six weeks, and now three years later represents an exciting new chapter for regional media in this country.Kimberley is passionate about women in business, especially in rural and regional Australia, and she loves hearing and sharing their stories. Her mantra of connection, collaboration and community is testament to this.As a mother of four, life is busy but Kimberley has learnt that making time for her passions means she is a happier person all round. Little did she know this is making her a role model for the next generation who are learning from her actions that women are strong, resilient and creative.Kimberley shares with us her business journey from journalist to beauty therapist to business owner, overcoming barriers in the workplace, the joy that comes from finding your community and so much more.[Thank you to this episode's guest host Mardi Holland, a friend in every sense of the word.]ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by award winning publisher Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this biannual publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

Ashley Morales is best known as a makeup artist having launched her business 10 years ago. She has worked on special events, commercial photoshoots for well known clothing brands and her Instagram photos have been shared all over the world by international brands.Ash’s work came to a grinding halt in March when COVID-19 impacted events and weddings - her main source of income. With time to spare, Ash decided to nurture her creative side and work with some clay.From her home studio in Bendigo, Ash slowly began to create a collection of handmade homewares. She eventually created 140 beautiful pieces and built an e-commerce site. With an email campaign and Instagram, her first drop sold out in just 13 hours.Ash shares with us her transition from makeup artist to potter and the mental hurdles she has had to overcome in the process. She also talks about her Instagram strategy, investing in photography to position her business as a professional, and finding the courage to leave her corporate job of 16 years to step into her two creative businesses full time.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by award winning publisher Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this biannual publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

Kate Newman knows what it takes to build an award winning business.In 15 years of business, Kate and her husband Todd have won over 30 awards with their Central Victorian building company https://www.toddnewmanbuilders.com.au/ (Todd Newman Builders). But there is one award that Kate savours the most ~ the prestigious Regional Women’s Business Award presented to her last year at the Bendigo Business Excellence Awards.As a former registered nurse, Kate has worked extremely hard to learn a line of work that she knew nothing about and has risen to the challenge of understanding the complexities of an ever changing industry.Kate’s role in the business was originally just a sideline to her own nursing career but over time the more she learnt about the building industry and small business, the more passion she had for the job.Kate shares with us what it takes to become an award winning business, advice on building a team and surrounding yourself with the right people, recognising transferable skills, the importance of investing in personal development and so much more.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by award winning publisher Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this biannual publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

Kate Marshall took seven weeks leave from her job as a kindergarten teacher to homeschool her three children during the first lockdown. What she didn’t expect was to rediscover her love of painting and successfully launch her business From The Paint Shed.Leading up to this point, Kate was experiencing a stressful time at work; feeling overwhelmed, overworked and undervalued. The short hiatus gave her that much needed time to pause, reflect, and paint.Kate has since launched a website, grown her social media presence and had her work represented in local homewares stores. She has generated enough interest in her artwork to reduce her days in the classroom to three a week and dedicate two days to her business.Kate shares with us her business journey, the importance of showing up authentically on social media, the success in sticking to a content plan and setting goals, the positive impact her creative passion is having on herself and her family, and so much more.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by award winning publisher Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this biannual publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

Karen Hollenbach is the founder of Think Bespoke and revered as the 'LinkedIn Lady'.In 2010, as a mother of two pre-schoolers, Karen took a brave step from corporate career professional to business owner in an effort to carve out a more flexible career, enabling her to leverage her skills and be present for her boys.What began as a resume writing service, grew into LinkedIn profile writing for job seekers, and self-discovery workshops for professionals in the mid-stage of their career.Karen is now one of Asia Pacific’s Top 10 LinkedIn Experts.Karen shares with us how she started and grew her company, her insider tips and strategies on optimising your LinkedIn profile, expanding your network and content creation, as well as how to position yourself as an industry expert.Meet my friend Karen from Think Bespoke.Skip to your favourite part1:33 - Lockdown 2.02:10 - Karen's start up story8:52 - Challenges of building a business14:37 - Positioning yourself as an expert17:15 - Greater return on LinkedIn vs other platforms18:32 - When can we call ourself an "industry expert"22:40 - Why should business owners be on LinkedIn26:10 - LinkedIn bio best practice28:25 - Appropriate profile image30:28 - How to grow your LinkedIn connections38:22 - What content to publish on LinkedIn41:22 - Identifying topics to post about and engage with47:20 - Myth buster. Will we be penalised if we publish duplicate content on a blog and LinkedIn?52:20 - A friend of Think BespokeABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by award winning publisher Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this biannual publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

Dani LoCastro is no stranger to redundancy. In her almost 10 years with one of Australia’s big four banks, Dani was made redundant six times. In November 2019, Dani chose to make it her final redundancy package and walked away from the finance sector. With a burning desire to ignite the passion and potential inside people, Dani stepped into the role of soul purpose coach and launched her business The Healing Collective.Dani shares with us her journey from corporate to business ownership, the personal impact of redundancy, the importance of mindset and why she has invested in self development so early on in her business.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by award winning publisher Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this biannual publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

With over 20 years of graphic design experience, Annette McDonald has created the ultimate secret weapon for professional looking DIY design.What began as an internal tool to take the cost and stress out of creating promotional material for hospitality clients, has turned into a tech company that is often compared to one of the most successful start-up unicorns in history (aka Canva).After successfully using the software in her Brisbane design agency, Annette introduced Easil to the public in 2016.The online graphic design and publishing tool allows you to create everything from business cards to flyers to all your social media graphics all whilst maintaining brand consistency.Annette shares with us her story of launching a tech company, why comparison can be the thief of joy as well as some graphic design tips to help you project a bigger brand.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by award winning publisher Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this biannual publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

The role of teaching is demanding. It's relentless. There is a huge number of pressing elements that contribute to a teacher’s mental load every day.Over the past five years, Lill Daley has experienced first hand the mental load of being a school teacher - and decided to do something about it.Lill created a set of affirmation cards out of a personal need for self kindness and positivity, especially during those challenging teaching moments.It wasn’t long before her colleagues were asking for their own set. And so began her side business, The Teacher Collection.The Teacher Collection is a set of affirmation cards, featuring positive and uplifting statements, made by a teacher for teachers.Being from a family of dairy farmers, Lill has seen first hand the positive impact local support can have on a small business. So it’s no surprise that her positive affirmation cards are 100% designed, printed and assembled in Central Victoria.More recently, Lill has gifted 30 Teacher Support Kits filled with over $800 worth of Australian made items to teachers doing it tough in rural and remote Australia.Lill shares with us her business story along with her concern for the unseen mental load of being a teacher and why she is passionate about supporting Australian made. ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by award winning publisher Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this biannual publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.

For as long as she can remember, Michelle Cail has always had a camera in hand.Michelle’s business Gingerhouse Photography, was born at a time when her life was becoming more and more enriched with moments and milestones that needed to be captured.When Michelle finally followed her passion and stepped into her business full time not everything went to plan. Bookings slowed and doubt crept in. But Michelle found a way to stay motivated through creativity and built an engaged audience which subsequently led to new bookings.Her business has now expanded from newborns and weddings to include to business and personal branding and a variety of workshops.Michelle has also played a pivotal role in the success of OAK Magazine, having shot four front covers and numerous feature stories and advertorials.ABOUT OAK MAGAZINEThis episode was hosted by award winning publisher Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. OAK Magazine is a proudly independent print publication dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female entrepreneurs and women in business in regional and rural Australia. Founded in Bendigo, this biannual publication is filled with expertise, insights and small business guidance from driven, inspiring and successful local women.Stay social and connect with OAK Magazine on Facebook and Instagram.For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.