The Rural Well

In this episode, we have the privilege of talking with Brett Gardiner, the most awarded western sports announcer in Canadian history.

As the thirteen-time and reigning Canadian Pro Rodeo Announcer of the Year, Gardiner has educated and entertained audiences all across North America. Brett has been behind the microphone at some of the most celebrated events including the Canadian Finals Rodeo, the Calgary Stampede and since 201...

Welcome back to The Rural Well! In this episode 15, we discuss a very important - yet difficult topic related to grief and loss with Diane Bergsma, a farmer from Ontario.

The topics discussed in this episode may be difficult for some listeners, so be mindful if you are sensitive to certain topics regarding loss and grief.

Todays question: “ We Must Accept Finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope."

We also ...

Welcome back to The Rural Well! In this episode (Part 2), we get the opportunity to talk more with Brian Reisinger, Author of Land Rich, Cash Poor. For more info on Brian, visit ⁠https://www.brian-reisinger.com/about⁠

To catch up first, here's the link to Part 1

This episode delves into deeper conversation regarding family trauma, so if this is not something you're prepared to participate in, we understand.

We delve i...

Welcome back to The Rural Well! In this episode, we get the opportunity to talk with Brian Reisinger, Author of Land Rich, Cash Poor among many different other endeavours that Brian pursues. For more info on Brian, visit https://www.brian-reisinger.com/about

Topics in this episode:

• Mourning the loss of livestock as a farmer

• Vulnerability with father
• Generational survival mode
• Dealing with hard times and far...

Welcome back to The Rural Well Podcast! We've reached episode 12. We have the incredible privilege of having Brittany Olson join the podcast today,

Brittany Olson is a fifth generation dairy farmer in north western Wisconsin with her husband Sam and son Titus. Brittany is also a business owner, photographer and blogger.

Show Notes or discussion points:

- Lived in abuse, a broken family relationship as a child

- Miscarriag...

Welcome back to The Rural Well Podcast! We've reached episode 11. We have the incredible privilege of having Katelyn Duban join the podcast today, so buckle up, grab a hot drink, and join in the conversation.

Katelyn Duban is a first generation female farmer in Southern Alberta, Canada. As for podcasting, she continues to share and celebrate the stories of Women in Agriculture. She's also delving into a new venture of Podcast Coach...

Welcome back to the Rural Well Podcast. We've reached episode 10! We're so grateful you've taken the time to listen in and join in the conversation. This episode, we talk about communication.We specifically delve into 3 different types of communication:

- Are you listening to respond, or are you listening to listen?

- Non verbal communication can comprise of 86-96%, with tone, physicality, hands ...

In this episode, we have the wonderful opportunity to talk one-on-one with Sean Stanford, a grain farmer from Alberta who knows all too well the realities of stress on the farm. Sean walks us through his background, the many areas of responsibility he carries, and then ultimately how he came to terms with his anxiety, stress, and the courage it took for him to address it head-on - including the reality of the stigma that this can b...

Happy New Year! Our latest episode 8, the first of 2025 delves into the meaning of resilience, where some people - especially farmers - turn to in order to cope with stress, struggles and their farming industry and legacy. We talk practical solutions, offer encouragement and give real world ways to be truly resilient in a healthy way.

Lauren also shares the reality of "bouncing back" and how it's not as simple and cut and dry as ...

Welcome to another episode of the Rural Well Podcast! In this episode, we discuss:

- Lauren’s harrowing real Christmas tree story

- Bridgette’s decorating priorities

- Gift expectations

- Needful gifts

- Sacrificial thoughtfulness in gift giving - creative generosity

- Gift of time

- Budgeting

- Start early!

- Find time for yourself

- It’s ok to change traditions and recreate new ones

- We also respond to today’s quote "If you cou...

In this episode, we talk about Grief on the Back 40, with our special guest Iris Parr, Author, Teacher, Encourager and also serves as the Director of Communications for the National Farmer Mental Health Alliance.

Iris shares her story, we all talk about practical ways to deal with grief - particularly during holidays. We also talk about how to help others deal with grief in their own ways, to be intentional with support and then s...

In this episode, we reflect on Thanksgiving and focus on the topic of gratitude.

Here are some waypoints in our conversation:

• Memories can bring gratitude
• For those that struggle or have had hard backgrounds, it's not your story forever
• Gratitude is a dopamine producer
• Practicing gratitude is a great mental health strategy 
• Gratitude doesn’t naturally come to us. We need to be intentional - then it trains our brain to lo...

In this episode, we take some time to talk about remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.

We also talk about taking the time to listen, cherishing and honoring the stories of or parents, grandparents, the stories of history from family, friends and others. 

We also discuss how much we can miss out by not hearing those stories.

We also play "Catch a Phrase" - With a quote - discussing bravery and how ...

On this episode, Lauren and Bridgette dive deep into the reality of a farmers mentality of getting things done themselves. Also, the impact of making these decisions on friends, family, spouses and business partners. We also talk about the different ranges of emotions and what fear is often the result of. Then we walk through some practical solutions to encourage the help where needed and finally some lighthearted responses to our ...

In this episode, we discuss the following topics:

• New farm safety training for kids in North Dakota including stress management
• Lauren talks about ADHD links and triggers and interesting parallels to PTSD
• Social capital types: Bonding, Bridging and Linking and how they related “generally” to stress in rural families
• Loneliness 
• Changing the messaging to our rural kids about “measuring up” to expectations
• Quote from ...

In this episode, we talk about stresses in farming, impacts on the farming community right down to the food chain sourcing and continual changes and complexities getting product to market. We also talk about industry and environmental changes for farmers, the stresses that come with those changes and then how us as farmers need to stop punishing ourselves for putting undue stress and unrealistic expectations on ourselves. 

We also...

In this our introductory episode, we introduce ourselves! We are Bridgette Readel and Lauren Van Ewyk, and we talk briefly about our respective backgrounds, family, careers, farming and education. We also talk about what to expect in the coming weeks on the podcast as we're thrilled to have you join in our discussion. We have the well being of rural areas like yours in mind when building this podcast. We know the ag industry ha...