Best Ute Insiders Podcasts (2025)

1
#135 Remote Rescues & Red Dust Runways. Meet RFDS Pilot Dave Rogers. 31:08

5d ago31:08

31:08

When Melbourne-born Dave Rogers first caught the flying bug as a teenager, he wasn't even sure where a pilot's license might take him. But after honing his skills and flight hours as an instructor - and then spending three years flying small aircraft over (and onto!) the most remote and treacherous landscapes of Papua New Guinea - today Dave is a h…

1
#134 No Time for Makeup. A Magical Outback Medical Memoir. 48:46

12d ago48:46

48:46

From childhood memories of travelling the remote Kimberley landscapes of the 1960's, to arriving in a skirt and heels onto a remote WA airstrip in Kalgoorlie as a freshly minted RFDS Doctor, Dr Elizabeth Green's new memoir is an engaging, time-travelling treat. While Elizabeth was only 'officially' with the RFDS for two and a half years in the last…

1
#133 The Wild and Wonderful World of One Tree Island 33:06

19d ago33:06

33:06

Many of us have probably dreamed of running away to a deserted island! But what if you actually lived on one, 365 days of the year? Ruby and Heinrich (and their toddler Lucas) are the full-time caretakers of Qld's remote One Tree Island. But as well as dealing with the daily and often extreme 'remote work' challenges of keeping an island - and all …

1
#132 Finding a Rhyme and a Reason for Every Season 31:44

26d ago31:44

31:44

Trigger Warning: This episode contains content about suicide. "The black dog follows you...and hangs close on your flying skirts with hungry fangs". So said the ancient Roman poet Horace some 2000 years ago, as he struggled with his own 'inner demons'. Yet even today, despite our growing understanding around the science and prevalence of mental hea…

1
#131 Sean Survived a Shark Attack. Now he's Snowboarding for Australia 42:40

1M ago42:40

42:40

When Sean Pollard felt something 'bump' his leg while surfing off the Esperance coastline back in 2014, he had no idea what had hit him. Until the 3.5 meter Great White Shark that was attacking him, came back for another bite. Seconds later, having lost an arm and his other hand, Sean realised his only chance of survival was to swim some 100 meters…

1
#130 A Rare Tumour was Strangling Simon's Spine 24:07

1M ago24:07

24:07

Simon Green isn't the first country bloke to put off going to the Doctor. But when an extremely rare and sinister tumour began snaking its way down his spine, time was not on the father of three's side. In less than four weeks, his symptoms morphed from mild discomfort to nerve tingling to full-blown paralysis of his lower body. With Simon's condit…

1
#129 From Boots to Scrubs - Chloe's Coo-ee to Country Girls 41:48

2M ago41:48

41:48

For many remote and rural country kids, the dream of one day becoming a Doctor is just that. A dream. Because the challenges of vast distances to school and study, a lack of mentors and the often-daunting University entry pathways can all seem insurmountable. But the founder of the Boots to Scrubs scholarship and mentoring program for young rural w…

1
#128 Bull dust, chandelier skies and a whiff of wombat 41:13

2M ago41:13

41:13

After experiencing a childhood filled with outback road trips, RFDS Policy and Advocacy Advisor Doug Wyllie carries the red dust of a million miles of the Australian outback in his veins. From the stories of wearing swimming goggles while his parents negotiated driving along an outback road without a windscreen, to the real-life RFDS rescue mission…

1
#127 The Batman Backpack that's giving back. Jaydan's Journey. 34:41

2M ago34:41

34:41

What to bring when you haven't got a thing? For those rural and remote families who suddenly find themselves aboard an RFDS flight to a faraway city hospital, having a few 'overnight essentials' close at hand can make all the difference. But it was at the moment when Kalgoorlie mum, Kim Luke, found herself in that very situation - with just her sic…

1
#126 A Beautiful Life. Sophie Smith's Legacy to her Lost Boys 47:33

2M ago47:33

47:33

Sophie Smith is the proud mother of five boys. But three of her sons spent just a short, beautiful time in their mother's arms. Because triplets Henry, Jasper and Evan were born way too soon. Today, Sophie runs marathons with other mums across Australia, and she and her supporters have raised nearly $10 million through the Running for Premature Bab…

1
#125 How baby Indi's early arrival became 'airborne'! 47:18

3M ago47:18

47:18

The day before baby Indi's spectacular arrival aboard an RFDS retrieval flight had been a busy one for the Pawson household. Joelene's son, Jack, had celebrated his fifth birthday with friends and family and the young mum, at 31 weeks pregnant, was feeling understandably 'off'. Maybe the busy mother of three was just dehydrated and over-tired? But …

1
#124 Hugo Rockstar's remarkable family. 43:42

3M ago43:42

43:42

When Louise Taheny's fifth child was born, she immediately knew something was 'different'. It would take three days before baby Hugo was officially diagnosed with Down Syndrome - a syndrome caused by a random error in cell division that results in an extra copy of chromosome 21. That same day, Louise and her husband John would also learn that the t…

1
#123 A toddler's tonic-clonic seizure caused the 'Darcy Effect' 53:33

3M ago53:33

53:33

When a frantic Kate Mitchell ran towards a remote police patrol, with her seemingly lifeless toddler in her arms, she'd already spent over thirty minutes performing CPR and battling poor mobile reception to emergency services. Along with her other son, Harry, and her father-in-law, Kate had made a desperate dash by car to meet the ambulance, knowin…

1
#122 Dawn's 20,000km journey of the heart 34:57

3M ago34:57

34:57

Australia's 'Queen of Hearts' was born on the day when Dawn Beaumont brought her mother back to life. Even as her extensive, professional First Aid training kicked in - as Dawn calmly performed CPR on her mum in the middle of a crowded theatre foyer - the experienced health and safety manager grappled with the knowledge that her mother was having a…

1
#121 It takes guts to be Veronica... 45:38

3M ago45:38

45:38

When Veronica suffered a life-threatening bowel obstruction, she was told she had just hours to reach the specialist care she needed to save her life. From the outside, Veronica Croser appears to be a fit and active young Mum with a passion for adventure. If you met her on one of the many remote hiking trails she enjoys exploring, you probably woul…

1
#120 Flying dentist Dr Vai is changing the face of outback oral health 54:58

6M ago54:58

54:58

From chewing fibrous plants in Uganda to treating indigenous communities in the mountains of Peru, RFDS Senior Dentist Dr Vaibhav Garg has experienced his fair share of oral health adventures during his career. But it is the time 'Dr Vai' has spent in some of Australia's most remote and isolated communities that he credits most, for inspiring him t…

1
#119 How a baby brown snake flew Eddie from Uluru to Alice! 36:57

6M ago36:57

36:57

This is the extraordinary tale of how an American born IT sales rep. from Melbourne suddenly found himself making international headlines from the Australian outback! When Edward McKinney headed to Uluru with his wife and baby daughter in early 2022, he was looking forward to enjoying the ‘ultimate NT Aussie adventure’. But after stepping on a brow…

1
#118 A Postmaster's pocketknife & a Doctor's outback dash to save Jimmy Darcy! 36:03

6M ago36:03

36:03

It's the ultimate Australian outback legend. In July 1917, a young stockman named Jimmy Darcy was critically injured by a horse accident. In a desperate bid to save his life, his brothers transported Jimmy to the remote community of WA's Halls Creek, via a 12 hour cart ride. What followed was an extraordinary tale of courage, survival and incredibl…

1
#117 - Ryan nursed himself back from his own heart attack! 39:07

7M ago39:07

39:07

Many of us dread the thought of having needles - let alone having to inject a needle into ourselves! But when 44-year-old remote nurse Ryan Franks suddenly suffered a heart attack in the isolated community of WA's Coral Bay, taking his own bloods was just the first, daunting step in an extraordinary and terrifying bid to safe his own life. As the o…

1
#116 How Mick hurt his back on the Birdsville Track 41:38

7M ago41:38

41:38

When Mick Oates woke up in his campervan, completely unable to move, he couldn't even recall how he'd ended up there. As anyone who has had the opportunity to travel outback Australia already knows, taking 'the road less travelled' doesn't always go exactly to plan! But for Mick, a series of unfortunate events had finally caught up with former poli…

1
#115 A mercy flight to Townsville was baby Selene's only option! 24:07

7M ago24:07

24:07

Everyone knows that Mums know best...So when baby Selene's mum first noticed her one-year-old was 'just not herself', she took her straight to the local hospital. But in the Christmas holiday chaos of long waiting times and staff shortages, Hayley's feverish daughter was sent home with a diagnosis of 'viral tonsilitis'. Three days later, Selene was…

1
#114 Despite breaking his neck twice, Jaimen Hudson is living his best life 40:57

7M ago40:57

40:57

When Jaimen Hudson became a quadriplegic at the age of 17, after crashing onto his head from a dirt bike, he refused to let his disability define him. Now a world-famous photographer and filmmaker, a husband and father and the owner of a successful eco-adventure business in the stunning Esperance region of WA, Jaimen attributes much of his life's s…

1
#113 Annie got a goat stuck in her throat! 47:28

8M ago47:28

47:28

Annabelle (Annie) Barr enjoys an adventure. 'Today is the first day of the rest of your life' is one of her favourite sayings. But when this former country newspaper columnist, rural mum and massage therapist suddenly found herself in a tiny country pub in the remote Flinders Ranges region of South Australia, choking on a piece of goat meat, she wa…

1
#112 Wildflowers, frog tea and a goanna in a hangar! 46:25

8M ago46:25

46:25

We all have plenty of theories on what makes a happy marriage, a fulfilling career and a life of adventure and fun. But if anyone comes close to achieving the trifecta, it would probably be former RFDS base manager, Alison Fox and her husband (and current RFDS pilot) Bruce Carroll. In this amusing, inspiring and highly entertaining trip down memory…

1
#111 A swag of snake stories to keep you safe this summer 42:45

8M ago42:45

42:45

Whether you love them or loathe them, there's no denying that snakes are an inevitable part of life in regional Australia - particularly if you live in or around our beautiful bushlands. But what would YOU do if you - or someone you were with - were to suffer a suspected snake bite? And what happens if you're hundreds of kilometers from help or eme…

1
#110 Student nurse Laura was told she'd never walk or talk again 28:15

8M ago28:15

28:15

Always wear a seatbelt. That's the message that Laura McKenney wants the world to hear loud and clear. As an 'unbelted' passenger in a catastrophic car accident in January 2023, the then 21-year-old student nurse was flung from a friend's vehicle, before the same car rolled back over the top of her. Remarkably, none of Laura's bones were broken. Bu…

1
#109 Why Farmer Brendan swam the English Channel…twice! 58:48

9M ago58:48

58:48

Thankfully, community conversations and support services around mental health - particularly in rural and remote areas of Australia - are increasing all the time. The importance of checking in regularly with our family, neighbours and friends and even simply taking the time to care of our own wellbeing and 'headspace' is undeniable. But over 10 yea…

1
#108 Tackling the 'highs and lows' of a toddler with T1 Diabetes 45:20

9M ago45:20

45:20

2024 has been a big year in the Buchanan household. Newly married and with an active two-year-old in the house, Alex and her husband Luke were busy settling themselves, and their young son Fletcher, into their 'new life' in rural South Australia. Luke had just been appointed the new Principal at St Columba’s Memorial School and as former 'city slic…

1
#107 Jillaroo Katie's chicken wrangling went wildly wrong! 40:52

9M ago40:52

40:52

The life of a Jillaroo can be a challenging one. Working in all weather, sleeping under the stars and regularly setting up temporary muster camps, are all part of the job. No two days are ever the same. But for professional Jillaroo, Katie Fairfax, one of the most dangerous and challenging days of her life did not come about during a cattle muster,…

1
#106 TJ's horse slipped from under him and they hit the dirt! 31:14

9M ago31:14

31:14

Anyone who regularly works with livestock knows how stressful mustering time can be. The combination of time pressures and lots of large animals in a confined space can quickly become a dangerous situation. Add in months of drought, an unfamiliar horse and some confused and cranky cattle and you have the scenario that TJ and Kylie faced, during an …

1
#105 A brain scan on a plane?! Life-saving Australian Stroke Alliance research. 35:01

10M ago35:01

35:01

In episode #104 of the Flying Doctor podcast, we met Greg - a passionate, 70-year-old surfer, who is lucky to be alive after suffering a stroke while on his board. Thanks to a FAST diagnosis from his wife Naomi and the incredible actions of first responders on the scene, Greg survived. But the long distance that Greg - along with other remote Austr…

1
#104 Greg was lucky to survive a stroke while surfing 42:37

10M ago42:37

42:37

Before suffering a stroke in 2022, Esperance local, Greg Hamilton, would happily spend hours a day tackling big surf breaks on his paddle board. An enthusiastic runner, former fitness club 'junkie' and a non-smoker and non-drinker - at 72 years old, Greg was the picture of good health. Later, Doctors would tell him the Basal Ganglia Haemorrhagic st…

1
#103 Never mess with a Mulga! Ben's paralysing tale. 46:18

10M ago46:18

46:18

Former tour guide, Ben Trewren, is completely at home in the remote Australian outback. Through his current logistics role with the SA charity, Operation Flinders, he regularly mentors young people in the challenges and rewards of learning basic survival skills, navigation and the simple pleasures of spending time 'out bush'. So, when this experien…

1
#102 Farmer Phil vs a one tonne, charging bull! 44:04

10M ago44:04

44:04

Padthaway farmer Phil Giles and his wife Julie love their cows - almost as much as they love their compost. On their family farm in south eastern SA, the Giles have spent the last 25 years developing a successful compost production and transport company, working with many of the region's businesses and local vineyards to utilise waste and to enhanc…

1
#101 Following in Squid’s sand tracks #oceans to outback 35:10

10M ago35:10

35:10

Very few fourteen-year-olds could claim to be successfully managing their own business...but Clay 'Squid' Bertram is no ordinary teenager. As well as being the entrepreneurial brains behind a unique range of custom-made sand boards, Squid has also spent the last few years clocking up some impressive, double figure fundraising totals for the RFDS Oc…

1
#100 Buckle up! The Flying Doctor Podcast 100th episode takes off! 1:18:20

11M ago1:18:20

1:18:20

From flipping a ute on a remote outback road, to experiencing the excruciating pain of an Irukandji jelly fish sting, our milestone 100th episode takes you on a compelling journey through the many inspiring, authentic Australian stories that the Flying Doctor Podcast has shared so far. Visiting some of the most remote and beautiful locations across…

1
#99 Leanne was struggling to breathe before she lost consciousness 45:44

11M ago45:44

45:44

When we're stressed or anxious, the best advice is usually just to 'just relax and take some deep breaths'. But what if you suddenly simply couldn't breath? If every breath felt like you were running out of air? WA's Leanne Schofield recently experienced such a debilitating and prolonged asthma attack, that she truly thought she was going to die. *…

1
#98 Murray began bleeding out internally, after he hit the handlebars of his motorcross bike 39:54

11M ago39:54

39:54

In the adrenalin pumping sport of Motorcross, there's an obstacle section known as a 'whoops' - which is basically a series of continuous bumps that racers can ride over, as fast as they like. This is the story of the day that Murray Collins hit a 'whoops' bump, that truly lived up to its name! **** Thanks so much for listening to the Flying Doctor…

1
#97 Kelly was heavily pregnant when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour 1:03:35

11M ago1:03:35

1:03:35

Kelly Foran was eagerly expecting the arrival of her first child when she started experiencing issues with her balance and co-ordination. While Doctor's initially believed she was succumbing to pre-eclampsia, her eventual diagnosis was even more confronting. Just weeks before she was due to give birth, Kelly was told she had a brain tumour the size…

1
#96 Emma's toddler went under both wheels of the 4WD...and survived! 40:46

12M ago40:46

40:46

The Galloway family were enjoying an idyllic summer holiday together, when their Esperance caravanning paradise was suddenly shattered. The forever smiling and always energetic toddler, Parker, was pushing his scooter around a small bend on the caravan park road, when he disappeared from sight. What happened next, is every parent’s worst nightmare.…

1
#95 When the nurse becomes the patient. Ann's battle with Stage 4 breast cancer. 49:12

12M ago49:12

49:12

RFDS Flight nurse, Ann Rahn and her husband Wayne are passionate advocates for the early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer. Ann wants women of ALL ages to understand that there are many different types and stages of breast cancer, that can impact women in any stage of their life. In the midst of Covid and working as a nurse in Darwin, Ann re…

1
#94 Judy found her grandson lying 'flat and unresponsive' in the hallway 32:21

12M ago32:21

32:21

It's any grandparent's worst nightmare. To find your grandchild lying unconscious and unresponsive whilst in your care. But for Registered Nurse, Judy Treloar, the added logistics of trying to get her young grandson to a hospital, from the family's remote Qld property, also involved an unexpected helicopter ride across flood waters. Judy quickly re…

1
#93 Devoted mum and courageous cancer survivor, Julia, has put her heart inside a pocket 45:02

1y ago45:02

45:02

Despite plenty of setbacks and heartbreak along the way, Julia Peterson always knew she wanted to be a mum. So, when her son Taylor decided to arrive into the world 'sooner than planned', Julia and her husband Ryan faced the challenge of a premature baby with the same incredible strength and courage they are still drawing on today. Because since Ta…

1
#92 Young mum Paige was losing weight, eternally thirsty and feeling strange 43:32

1y ago43:32

43:32

Paige is a young mum, living on a remote station in the centre of Queensland. With two young sons, her hubby, a governess to help care for the kids and a few other couples also working on the property, Paige is a long way from her family network, and a long way from town and city services. When Paige started to have an unquenchable thirst she did n…

1
#91 Station boss Carol's helicopter hit the power line and hit the ground 46:07

1y ago46:07

46:07

There are some strong and resilient women across rural and remote Australia, and Carol Godfrey is a wonderful example. Living and managing a large pastoral property in South West Queensland, Carol has seen it all. One day in 2011, when she had to move 500 cattle to a neighbours property, the cattle were released (by another person) too early and he…

1
#90 A single dad, a sailboat, two girls and a wheel barrow 48:57

1y ago48:57

48:57

After packing up their city home in Perth to go on a sailing adventure, single dad James Brougham and his young daughters, Halle and Isla, have spent the past two years exploring, remote schooling & fishing along the stunning WA coastline, aboard their yacht ‘Salty Jocks’. In this inspiring episode, James explains why he decided to push his two dau…

1
#89 Tired, toilet, thirsty, thinner - Emma's young son ticked all the boxes for Type 1 diabetes. 41:05

1y ago41:05

41:05

When Emma Turner first discovered her seven-year-old son, Fred, had Type 1 diabetes, they were literally living in the middle of nowhere. The outback Queensland town of Blackhall even boasts a memorial to Australia's famous 'black stump'! But after Fred's symptoms suddenly became life threatening, Emma found herself sitting next to the pilot in the…

1
#88 Ella was 35 weeks pregnant & driving an outback truck when her waters broke! 35:44

1y ago35:44

35:44

When transport company owners, Ella Reindler and her husband Dave, set out on ‘one last trucking trip’ from Perth to the remote Kimberley, they knew it would likely be their last road trip together as a couple, before their new baby arrived. But nobody expected that, at just 35 weeks pregnant, Ella’s waters would break in the middle of nowhere and …

1
#87 How did Gayle lose the use of both arms in a farm-accident ? 44:59

1y ago44:59

44:59

The story of Gayle and Mac Shann has been featured twice on ABC's Australian Story and it has even been voted as Australia's favourite story. After Gayle's life-changing accident on a remote cattle station in Queensland, they have had to adapt to a new life, despite one arm being amputated and the other being paralysed. ****************************…

1
#86 Barry was hanging from his seat belt in the upside down ute 39:31

1y ago39:31

39:31

Barry was travelling with some work colleagues on his way back to Mount Isa from a remote mine site when the driver lost control of the ute, it flipped and Barry was left hanging from his seat belt. When he released his belt he fell directly on his head, instantly felt pain and saw stars. He knew it was bad. ******** Thanks so much for listening to…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Ute Insiders Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide