Rural Leaders

Where real stories meet practical leadership.Each episode features conversations with guest leaders from RRR Australia, sharing what they tried, what changed, and what they learned along the way.Gain access to bonus episodes from our learning team that unpack leadership models and tools you can put into practice in your own context, with practical insights to help you lead with clarity, courage, and care.Hosted by Oli Le Lievre, ARLP alum and founder of Humans of Agriculture.

Rural Leaders is a society podcast hosted by Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF), with 35 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF) hosts Rural Leaders, a society show with 35 episodes published.

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  Rural Leaders

  Action: Going Slow To Move Fast

  Aug 9, 202651 min

  Action is not about moving faster. It's about knowing where you can create change, bringing people with you, and having the courage to begin before everything is figured out. In this episode of Rural Leaders, host Oli Le Lievre sits down with Mikaela Jade, Founder and CEO of Indigital, and Joanna Baker, Chief Operating and Financial Officer, who first met through the Australian Rural Leadership Program before going on to build one of Australia's leading Indigenous technology and social innovation businesses. Together, they reflect on the journey of growing Indigital through multiple strategic pivots while staying true to a shared purpose. From augmented reality and education to systems change, community development and critical technologies, Mikaela and Jo explore what it takes to build a values-led business that creates lasting impact. Along the way, they discuss why relationships matter more than hierarchy, how productive tension strengthens teams, and why slowing down can often be the key to moving faster. As part of this season's focus on ARLF leadership practices, this episode explores action. Not as constant busyness, but as the discipline of turning ideas into meaningful change through collaboration, curiosity and persistence. Mikaela and Jo share practical insights into navigating complexity, understanding systems, embracing uncertainty and creating environments where both people and ideas can thrive. Some highlights: How Mikaela and Joanna met through the Australian Rural Leadership Program Why meaningful action starts before you have all the answers The role of relationships in creating lasting systems change Why understanding the whole system helps you identify where you can make the biggest impact How productive tension and diverse perspectives strengthen leadership The thinking behind Indigital's quarterly company-wide shutdowns Why slowing down can help teams move faster How to overcome overwhelm and focus on the part of the system you can influence Our host: Oli Le Lievre is the host of Rural Leaders, an ARLP Course 28 alumni, and the founder of Humans of Agriculture. Resources: Indigital Australian Rural Leadership Foundation Rural Leaders podcast

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  Rural Leaders

  Authenticity: Walking the Talk in Agriculture

  Jun 24, 202643 min

  Leadership is not about a title. It is about how you show up, who you serve, and what you do when the pressure is on. In this episode of Rural Leaders, host Oli Le Lievre sits down with David Jochinke, Wimmera farmer, ARLP Course 18 alumni, former President of the Victorian Farmers Federation and former President of the National Farmers’ Federation. David reflects on a leadership journey shaped by community, advocacy and service. From stepping into a local Victorian Farmers Federation role to representing Australian agriculture on the national stage, he shares what it takes to stay grounded, do the work behind the scenes, and lead with authenticity. Together, they explore navigating complex environments, understanding what drives people, telling stories that cut through, and building the networks that make change possible. As part of this season’s focus on ARLF leadership practices, this episode explores authentic leadership, leading from who you are, not who you think you need to be. From lessons in high pressure moments to insights drawn from cave diving, David offers a practical perspective on staying calm, learning from mistakes and backing yourself. This is a conversation about courage, discipline and taking action, even when things are not perfect. Some highlights: ● How David’s leadership journey began through local advocacy and community involvement ● Why leadership is never about the title ● How authentic leadership means being yourself, even under pressure ● Why storytelling is such a powerful tool in advocacy ● The importance of networks, trust and staying grounded ● What cave diving taught David about pressure and staying calm ● Why courage, discipline and action matter more than perfection Our host: Oli Le Lievre is the host of Rural Leaders, an ARLP Course 28 alumni, and the founder of Humans of Agriculture. Resources: Australian Rural Leadership Foundation Rural Leaders podcast

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  Rural Leaders

  Adaptation: Navigating Change, Loss and Growth

  May 27, 202647 minS0

  <p>Change is a constant in rural, regional and remote Australia, but adapting well is something we all have to learn.</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode of Rural Leaders, host Oli Le Lievre sits down with Dr Ananth Gopal, co-founder of Polykala, to explore what adaptability really looks like in practice. Drawing on years of experience in leadership development and experiential learning, Ananth unpacks why adaptation is not just about reacting quickly, but about understanding what to hold on to, what to let go of, and how to grow through change.</p><p><br></p><p>Together...

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  Rural Leaders

  Advocacy: Life Skills Missing from School

  Apr 29, 202641 minS0

  <p>Alyssia Kennedy knows what it feels like to leave school and realise that knowing how to pass exams is not the same as knowing how to navigate adulthood. Growing up in Tasmania, Alyssia saw firsthand the gap between what students are taught in the classroom and the practical life skills young people need when it comes to budgeting, understanding taxes, navigating Medicare, managing car expenses, and making confident decisions about work, study and life after school.</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode of Rural Leaders, Alyssia shares how one invitation to speak to a group of Year 10...

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  Rural Leaders

  Building networks for impact

  Feb 25, 202649 minS0

  <p>This conversation is part of a series exploring the impact of the Changemaker Workshops delivered across more than 30 regions by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation and the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, thanks to the Future Drought Fund. These workshops are part of the Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative.</p><p><br></p><p>‘Communities thrive when people gather.’ This is what a flood, a drought and a pandemic have taught Kalen Sowter as she has repeatedly stepped up for her community in the lower hunter region of New South Wales. In this episode of Rural Lead...

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