Rambling: Good blokes, great conversations.

Rambling #56 - On 30 years as a publican with Chris Moore

Chris Moore is the publican of the Sir Charles Hotham Hotel [https://www.hothamhotel.com/]in Geelong's CBD, a family owned and run pub in which 4 generations of Chris' family have worked behind the bar. "The Hoth" as it's affectionately known by regulars is still a classic, old-school inner-city pub in a time when developers are turning pubs in up-market dining experiences or pokies venues. Chris chats to the Rambling lads about the challenges facing pubs these days, what a pub means as a social gathering place to regulars, and how they managed to stay in touch with regulars during COVID-era lockdowns. He also talks about some of the incidents that have been a part of the Sir Charles Hotham's history, and why he considers himself an accidental publican after first running the pub when he was 18 years old and still running it with his wife 30 years later. Chris is also the head coach the senior mens team of the Inverleigh Football Netball Club [https://www.inverleighfnc.com.au/] in the Geelong District Football League. He talks about how he took over the role in 2023 and led the club to their first senior premiership in 31 years. He also chats about the challenges facing local footy these days, what footy clubs mean to their local communities, and some of the challenges facing young men and how footy helps them in challenging times. Check out the Sir Charles Hotham Hotel's website here. [https://www.hothamhotel.com/] _______ To listen to this episode ad-free and to gain access to exclusive. members only content, visit our Patreon page and become a member for just $5 per month. [https://www.patreon.com/Rambling_podcast]

Rambling #55 - On Irish music, martial arts and comfort zones with Patrick O'Callaghan

Patrick O'Callaghan is the lead singer of Irish rock band Double Shot Maggie, 2nd dan black belt in karate, and a facilitator of change and culture for government, not-for-profit, and government organisations. Patrick is a bloke who loves to live life to the fullest by challenging himself and always learning something new. In this episode Patrick chats with the Rambling lads about how a passion to always be learning new skills, a love of music and his Irish heritage, and his fascination as a kid with super-kangaroo Skippy lead him to where he is today. This is a fun and rambling chat that covers everything from music, martial arts, organisational change, and how always being outside your comfort zone leads to a full and rewarding life. Check out Patrick's band Double Shot Maggie here. [https://www.doubleshotmaggie.au/] Learn more about Patrick's consulting work here. [https://www.deliberateimpact.com/] _______ To listen to this episode ad-free and to gain access to exclusive. members only content, visit our Patreon page and become a member for just $5 per month. [https://www.patreon.com/Rambling_podcast]

Rambling #54 - On culture, leadership and serendipity with Rod Craig

Rod "Rocket" Craig has life a full and fascinating life where career, family and footy have all intertwined. At the age of 62, Rod is still playing footy each week in the Victorian Metro Masters League and has always incorporated his love of playing footy and being around footy clubs into his life not matter where his career has taken him. Rod's career in logistics and project management has taken him all around the world, including Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and North America. His vast experience has given him a unique outlook on life and he chat's to Brian and Scott about what he has learned and how he sees the world today. Along the way Rod has played for 50 different footy clubs over the years and, along with his senior roles in multi-national companies, he has developed a keen sense of what makes a successful club and work culture. We expected this conversation to be mostly about footy, but in the end it become so much more. ______ To listen to this episode ad-free and to gain access to exclusive. members only content, visit our Patreon page and become a member for just $5 per month. [https://www.patreon.com/Rambling_podcast]

Rambling #53 - On telling stories with Mark Smith

Mark Smith is Surf Coast based author of five novels, including his critically acclaimed Winter Trilogy. The Road to Winter was shortlisted for multiple awards and is on the school curriculum around Australia. The sequel, Wilder Country won the 2018 Australian Indie Book Award for Young Adults. His first adult fiction novel, Three Boys Gone, was published in 2025 and his latest Where Truth Ends, has just been released. Mark's own story of how he became a professional writer is a classic sliding doors moment. In this fascinating conversation we discover how Mark incorporates Country within his stories, his methodology of writing, and how his passion for teaching young people to love reading has shaped his career. You can learn more about Mark here. [https://www.marksmithwriter.com/] ______ To listen to this episode ad-free and to gain access to exclusive. members only content, visit our Patreon page and become a member for just $5 per month. [https://www.patreon.com/Rambling_podcast]

Rambling #52 - On soil, farming and Aussie punk with Darren Aitken

Darren "Dags" Aitken is a market farmer with a life-long love of plants and the soil. He is champion of biodynamic farming and its importance in maintaining healthy and sustainable farming practices in the face of corporate industrial intervention in food production. Dags chats with Scott and Brian about the relationship between the soil and biodynamic farming practices and how small farms are struggling to stay relevant in the face of lack of government support and increasing bureaucracy. He also make a fascinating comparison between how farmers in China are supported by the government while in Australia they are increasingly being left to fend for themselves. In typically Rambling fashion, the conversation twists and turns to finally ends up at Dags' love of Australian punk music and the live music scene in Geelong and Melbourne in the late 80's and early 90's. To learn more about Darren Aitken and his farm Vortex Veggies, click here [https://www.notillgrowers.com/blog/2021/9/20/darren-aitken-of-vortex-veggies] or join him on his field day here. [https://demeterbiodynamic.com.au/events/vortex-vegies-inverleigh-vic-2/] ______ To listen to this episode ad-free and to gain access to exclusive. members only content, visit our Patreon page and become a member for just $5 per month. [https://www.patreon.com/Rambling_podcast]