After nearly six years of sharing the stories of rural mums, national charity Motherland is bringing rural dads into the conversation like never before with the introduction of Father Land, a special eight-episode podcast series dedicated to telling the real and raw stories of fatherhood through the eyes of men on the land.

Hosted by award-winning entrepreneur, journalist, and Motherland founder and CEO Stephanie Trethewey, Father Land is not another farming podcast. It’s a groundbreaking platform for unfiltered conversations about fatherhood, identity, and mental health in the bush; topics that are too often left in the dark.

These conversations are raw, unfiltered, and deeply personal. Some of the men interviewed have never shared their stories like this before. Listeners will hear honest accounts of the struggles and triumphs of farmers and fathers in rural Australia, shining a light on the moments that shaped these men and their families.

“Across rural Australia, too many men are suffering in silence,” said Trethewey. “They’re facing relentless pressures like drought, floods, isolation, financial strain, and for many, the weight of it all is carried quietly, especially by fathers who feel they must stay strong for everyone else.

“Father Land recognises that rural men walk their own unique paths, distinct from the experiences of women, and their voices deserve to be heard. This series offers powerful insight, and it is a huge privilege to be trusted by these dads to share their stories,” she said.

The eight rural fathers who feature in this groundbreaking series hail from seven different states and include Tick Everett (Northern Territory), Stuart Austin (NSW), David Woods (QLD), Piers Dumaresq (TAS), Matthew Tonkin (NSW), Ben Wundersitz (SA), as well as AFL legend Tom Hawkins (VIC) and vice president of the National Farmers’ Federation John Hassell (WA).

These men speak candidly about life on the land, fatherhood, conquering their demons, and the moments that changed everything.

“It’s been incredible to see how Motherland has progressed over the years, and Father Land is such a valuable and unprecedented opportunity to not just share my own story, but to dig deep into the realities of mental health for blokes in the bush, in a way that rarely gets spoken about,” said David Woods, a Queensland farmer and 2025 Nuffield Scholar who is studying why, despite increasing investment, rural Australia’s mental health challenges are not improving.

The Father Land interviews are diverse and explore a range of topics, from mental health and masculinity to grief, divorce, drinking, and what it truly means to them to be a dad in the bush, all while challenging outdated farming stereotypes.

The Father Land podcast series is proudly supported by Nutrien.

“At Nutrien Ag Solutions, we know the pressures of farming life don’t just impact the business; they impact families and the communities supporting them too. Father Land is an important initiative that shines a light on the unique challenges rural dads face, and the courage it takes to speak openly about them. We’re proud to support this series because starting these conversations will continue to grow stronger, healthier communities across regional Australia,” said Carissa Buckland, Director Corporate Affairs and Marketing, Nutrien Ag Solutions.

 “This series is for rural men who are struggling, those wanting to better support their mates, the women standing beside them, mental health professionals, and anyone committed to changing the conversation around mental health in rural families,” said Trethewey.

Father Land is a call to break the silence and create a better future for the men raising the next generation in rural Australia. It’s honest. It’s overdue. And it’s about time.

The eight-part series launched on Wednesday, 3 September, to celebrate Father’s Day and runs for eight consecutive weeks on the Motherland Australia podcast channel, available on all major podcast platforms.