Blether Together with Farmstrong Scotland

• Bonus: prioritising wellbeing with Caroline Millar

  Marking World Mental Health Day - 10th October 2025A true Scottish agriculture powerhouse, Caroline Millar joins Sarah Stephen for a special bonus episode of Blether Together, to mark World Mental Health Day. Caroline opens up about the warning signs that made her realise it was time to prioritise her wellbeing, and how inspiration from New Zealand's approach to farming life led her to make lasting changes.In this candid chat, Caroline also shares the practical steps she's taken to build a healthier, more balanced life - for herself, her family, and the people she works with. Listen now - and share with someone who needs a boost.LINKS:Sign up to join Caroline, Sarah and Dr Hannah Went at Blether Together Live at Guardswell Farm, Kinnaird, Inchture, from 6.30pm on 16th Oct. Follow Farmstrong Scotland on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook.You can also subscribe to our Spotify Playlist including hundreds of tunes, recommended by farmers and crofters across Scoland. If you are concerned about yourself or someone else, talk to someone. Contact your doctor, RSABI’s (24-hours) helpline: 0808 123 4555, Breathing Space: 0800 838 587 or Samaritans (24-hours): 116 123Mentioned in this episode:Help Us Build Better Wellbeing – Share Your Voice in the Farmstrong Scotland SurveyThe Farmstrong Scotland Annual Survey is now open. This survey shapes everything Farmstrong does. By taking part, you’re helping us understand what matters most to farmers and crofters right now, and makes sure we continue to deliver support that’s relevant, practical and truly useful for our community. It only takes a few minutes, but it makes a huge difference. Please fill in the survey at this link: https://www.farmstrongscotland.org.uk/news-events/help-us-build-better-wellbeing-share-your-voice-in-the-farmstrong-scotland-survey

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• Understanding menopause: Dr Heather Currie MBE

  Thankfully, menopause is far less 'taboo' as a topic than it used to be. But there is still so much to do, to make sure that women experiencing menopause, and those around them, understand what is happening and what it means for health, wellbeing,and relationships.Dr Heather Currie MBE is a specialist gynaecologist and renowned menopause expert (and breeder of Aberdeen Angus cattle!) from Dumfries and Galloway. She joins Sarah for this month's Blether Together.Thanks also to crofter Sally Crowe and Caithness, and Lesley Mitchell who farms near Hawick, for sharing their menopause stories for this episode.LINKS: On 16th October 2025, there is a Farmstrong Scotland 'menopause special' live event taking place, at Guardswell Farm, Kinnaird, Inchture. Find out more online here.Farmstrong Scotland's menopause resource - created in partnership with Dr Heather Currie MBA - is online here.Follow Farmstrong Scotland on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook.You can also subscribe to our Spotify Playlist including hundreds of tunes, recommended by farmers and crofters across Scoland. If you are concerned about yourself or someone else, talk to someone. Contact your doctor, RSABI’s (24-hours) helpline: 0808 123 4555, Breathing Space: 0800 838 587 or Samaritans (24-hours): 116 123Mentioned in this episode:Help Us Build Better Wellbeing – Share Your Voice in the Farmstrong Scotland SurveyThe Farmstrong Scotland Annual Survey is now open. This survey shapes everything Farmstrong does. By taking part, you’re helping us understand what matters most to farmers and crofters right now, and makes sure we continue to deliver support that’s relevant, practical and truly useful for our community. It only takes a few minutes, but it makes a huge difference. Please fill in the survey at this link: https://www.farmstrongscotland.org.uk/news-events/help-us-build-better-wellbeing-share-your-voice-in-the-farmstrong-scotland-survey

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• RHASS chairman James Logan - on succession, leadership and running the Show

  James Logan, Chairman of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) and East Lothian farmer, joins host Sarah Stephen to talk about:- navigating the challenges of farm succession- managing the leadership and responsibility of the Royal Highland Show- why agricultural shows are so important for bringing people and communities together.It’s an honest and open blether about farming life, leadership, and the importance of finding time for connections... with some top wellbeing tips from 'Granny Warnock from Biggar' as well.Take a moment for yourself: try Farmstrong Scotland’s How’s It Going? tool: answer eight simple questions and get access to resources tailored to support you.Farmstrong Scotland helps farmers, crofters and their families cope with the ups and downs of rural life by sharing practical ways to look after themselves and the people around them. It’s a peer-to-peer programme, shaped by scientific insight and real-life stories, so together we can share, learn and support each other’s wellbeing.Visit the Farmstrong Scotland website to find out more. Farmstrong Scotland is an initiative to help farmers, crofters and their families to cope with the ups and downs of farming and crofting by sharing things they can do to look after themselves and the people in their business. It is a peer-to-peer led programme, driven by scientific information and real-life stories, so together we can share, learn and support our wellbeing - visit the website to find out more.Follow us on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook or subscribe to our Spotify Playlist including hundreds of tunes, recommended by farmers and crofters across Scoland. If you are concerned about yourself or someone else, talk to someone. Contact your doctor, RSABI’s (24-hours) helpline: 0808 123 4555, Breathing Space: 0800 838 587 or Samaritans (24-hours): 116 123Mentioned in this episode:Help Us Build Better Wellbeing – Share Your Voice in the Farmstrong Scotland SurveyThe Farmstrong Scotland Annual Survey is now open. This survey shapes everything Farmstrong does. By taking part, you’re helping us understand what matters most to farmers and crofters right now, and makes sure we continue to deliver support that’s relevant, practical and truly useful for our community. It only takes a few minutes, but it makes a huge difference. Please fill in the survey at this link: https://www.farmstrongscotland.org.uk/news-events/help-us-build-better-wellbeing-share-your-voice-in-the-farmstrong-scotland-survey

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• Catch it, check it, change it with Gerard Vaughan.

  In our latest podcast, host Sarah Stephen met with Gerard Vaughan, Programme Director for Farmstrong in New Zealand, at opposite ends of the day as the sun was rising with Gerard and setting with Sarah. A warm and insightful chat on what inspired the start of the Farmstrong programme 10 years ago, what makes the Farmstrong principles different, and finishing off with some useful tips and ideas from Gerard on the small steps we can take to introduce good habits for our wellbeing, including 'catch it, check it, change it' - a technique used to challenge negative or unhelpful thoughts and change them into more positive ones.Farmstrong Scotland is an initiative to help farmers, crofters and their families to cope with the ups and downs of farming and crofting by sharing things they can do to look after themselves and the people in their business. It is a peer-to-peer led programme, driven by scientific information and real-life stories, so together we can share, learn and support our wellbeing - visit the website to find out more.Follow us on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook or subscribe to our Spotify Playlist including hundreds of tunes, recommended by farmers and crofters across Scoland. If you are concerned about yourself or someone else, talk to someone. Contact your doctor, RSABI’s (24-hours) helpline: 0808 123 4555, Breathing Space: 0800 838 587 or Samaritans (24-hours): 116 123

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• Come Ashore, Come Ashore with Russ Mill and Glen McLellan

  In a first for Blether Together, we are joined by not one but two guests for a lively, warm and open conversation.Host Sarah Stephen met with Russ Mill and Glen McLellan to find out more about the annual Come Ashore Cup, taking place on Saturday 7th June at Orkney Rugby Club.The event was set up in 2022 by Russ, in memory of his cousin and popular Caithness farmer Alexander Mill who sadly died by suicide in 2021. Tune in to hear Sarah, Russ and Glen discuss just how important social events like this one are for farmers, crofters and the agricultural community, to get off farm and come together for a bit of fun and laughter, and why Glen says it’s a day that really “fills his bucket”.Content note: This episode discusses suicide and mental health. If you are concerned about yourself or someone else, talk to someone. Contact your doctor, RSABI’s (24-hours) helpline: 0808 123 4555, Breathing Space: 0800 838 587 or Samaritans (24-hours): 116 123Farmstrong Scotland is an initiative to help farmers, crofters and their families to cope with the ups and downs of farming and crofting by sharing things they can do to look after themselves and the people in their business. It is a peer-to-peer led programme, driven by scientific information and real-life stories, so together we can share, learn and support our wellbeing - visit the website to find out more.Follow us on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook or subscribe to our Spotify Playlist including hundreds of tunes, recommended by farmers and crofters across Scoland. If you are concerned about yourself or someone else, talk to someone. Contact your doctor, RSABI’s (24-hours) helpline: 0808 123 4555, Breathing Space: 0800 838 587 or Samaritans (24-hours): 116 123

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