Over the Back Fence

DM Podcasts
DM Podcasts
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Relationships
  • Updated Weekly

Di Edwards and Nicola Dale have been best friends for close to four decades & they actually share a ‘back fence’ in Sydney! They share a love of life, a passion for people, and have discovered a simple conversation over the back fence, can change a life and give a sense of belonging .  “We’re not neuroscientists, psychologists, doctors or monks - we just love people - and know with age comes wisdom."

  1. 6d ago

    Deborah Wallace: Power, Pink Lipstick & Police Work

    This week Nicola and Di welcome the remarkable Deborah Wallace, a woman who spent 36 years on the front line of policing in New South Wales, rising through the ranks to lead the Middle Eastern Crime Squad and the Asian Crime Squad, and taking on some of Australia’s most dangerous criminals along the way. Known for her signature style as much as her toughness, Deborah is proof that you never have to compromise who you are to do extraordinary work. We chat to Deborah about her early days as one of just eight women training alongside over 100 men, and the wonderful advice from veteran policewoman that shaped her entire career: never compromise your femininity or your integrity. She shares the heartbreaking, goosebump-inducing story of being chosen to walk a reenactment of Anita Cobby’s final steps as a young constable, and how that case changed the trajectory of her career and led to a lifelong bond with Anita’s parents, Gary and Grace. We talk about Deborah’s years leading Strike Force Raptor targeting outlaw motorcycle gangs, the devastating night her team faced the two things every commander fears most, and the extraordinary grace shown by the officers involved in its aftermath. We also hear about her remarkable partnership with the late Father Chris Riley, and how an unlikely alliance between a police sergeant and a priest changed the lives of gang-affected teenagers in Cabramatta. Deborah leaves us with beautiful reflections on leadership, resilience, and why she believes the vast majority of people in the world are good. She also shares some wonderful advice for anyone facing a big career change or retirement.  We had the best time with Deborah. Her warmth, wisdom and strength are a gift. We hope you love this episode as much as we did! This episode is proudly supported by Montgomery Investment Management, trusted experts helping you build and protect your financial future. For further information, please contact David Buckland, Chief Executive Officer or Rhodri Taylor, Account Manager on (02) 8046 5000 or investor@montinvest.com Buy Deborah’s book A Woman of Force here - https://www.amazon.com.au/Woman-Force-Mark-Morri-ebook/dp/B08CB7RLCL Follow Nicola and Di on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/overthebackfencepodcast/  Find out more about the next OTBF trip to Bhutan in October 2027 - https://www.travelmanagers.com.au/ptm/michellenicholas/explore/travel-itineraries/ Watch Over The Back Fence on YouTube here - https://www.youtube.com/@Overthebackfencepodcast/podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  2. Oct 11

    Poppy Reid: The Woman Behind Rolling Stone Australia & Music Media

    This week Nicola and Di welcome the brilliant Poppy Reid. Poppy is a multi-award winning music and culture journalist, presenter, and former editor-in-chief of Rolling Stone Australia. Poppy has interviewed some of the biggest names in music, from Taylor Swift to Keith Urban and co-founded Brag Media before launching her next chapter with Curious Media and the On The Record podcast.  We chat to Poppy about her journey from a music-obsessed kid in New Zealand, to bringing Rolling Stone back to the Australian market and building it into one of the brand’s most successful global offshoots. She shares beautiful, candid stories from some of her biggest interviews, including Keith Urban’s graceful way of protecting his privacy, Taylor Swift’s thoughtful written answers, and the real story behind Kylie Minogue’s “Can’t Get You Out of My Head.” We talk about imposter syndrome, and the surprisingly powerful piece of perspective from a young Gen Z girl that helped Poppy let hers go for good. We also dig into why personal brands are increasingly more trusted than legacy media, the real reasons behind festival cancellations in Australia, and Poppy’s very honest, very passionate take on AI music.  Poppy also opens up about manifesting her now-husband, the importance of supporting live, local music, and why she believes putting yourself out there is always worth the risk. This episode is funny, heartfelt and full of incredible behind-the-scenes music industry stories. We had the best time with Poppy. Her energy, warmth and passion for storytelling are infectious. We hope you love this episode as much as we did! This episode is proudly supported by Montgomery Investment Management, trusted experts helping you build and protect your financial future. For further information, please contact David Buckland, Chief Executive Officer or Rhodri Taylor, Account Manager on (02) 8046 5000 or investor@montinvest.com Follow Poppy on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/itspoppyreid/ Listen to Poppy’s Podcast, On The Record, here - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/on-the-record-with-poppy-reid/id1805502634 Follow Nicola and Di on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/overthebackfencepodcast/  Find out more about the next OTBF trip to Bhutan in October 2027 - https://www.travelmanagers.com.au/ptm/michellenicholas/explore/travel-itineraries/ Watch Over The Back Fence on YouTube here - https://www.youtube.com/@Overthebackfencepodcast/podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  3. Oct 4

    James McCrae: ‘Instructions Before Visiting Earth’ - The Viral Poet on Love, Living & Letting Go

    What happens when a simple poem reaches 100 million listens and touches people all over the world? This week Nicola and Di chat with poet and writer James McCrae. James is the author of the viral poem Instructions Before Visiting Earth, which has now reached over 100 million people, and he kindly opens the episode by reading it to us live. It's a beautiful, grounding way to start a conversation that stayed with us long after we stopped recording. We talk to James about where the poem came from and he shares the line that moves him most, about how nothing in life is truly ours to keep, and why that simple, humbling truth is something we spend our whole lives trying to avoid. James opens up about creativity as a form of self-care, something he beautifully describes as "spiritual hygiene," and tells us about the open mic nights and writing workshops he hosts in Austin. We also talk about intuition, somatic writing, and why James believes stepping back from our logical minds opens us up to something far wiser than we give ourselves credit for. We loved hearing James's thoughts on why he believes we're here to experience the full spectrum of life rather than clinging only to the good. His reflections on endings being bridges to new beginnings, drawn from his own experience of being fired multiple times before finding his path as a writer, left us both a little teary and so inspired. We had the most beautiful, soul-filling conversation with James. His wisdom and warmth are a gift. We hope you love this episode as much as we did! This episode is proudly supported by Montgomery Investment Management, trusted experts helping you build and protect your financial future. For further information, please contact David Buckland, Chief Executive Officer or Rhodri Taylor, Account Manager on (02) 8046 5000 or investor@montinvest.com Follow James on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/wordsarevibrations/ Join the Waitlist to Buy James’ Book Instructions Before Visiting Earth here - https://www.jamesmccrae.com/instructions-before-visiting-earth Follow Nicola and Di on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/overthebackfencepodcast/  Find out more about the next OTBF trip to Bhutan in October 2027 - https://www.travelmanagers.com.au/ptm/michellenicholas/explore/travel-itineraries/ Watch Over The Back Fence on YouTube here - https://www.youtube.com/@Overthebackfencepodcast/podcasts See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  4. Sep 27

    Over The Money Fence: What’s Changed for Your Money? Markets, Private Credit & the Budget

    This week Nicola and Di are back with Over The Money Fence with Roger Montgomery.   This series aims to help you take control of your finances with clarity and confidence. Roger is the Founder and Chairman of Montgomery Investment Management, has over 30 years’ investing experience and is a highly respected financial commentator featuring on various ABC programs, as well as his popular column in The Australian newspaper. He is also the author of best-selling investment guidebook Value.able.   In this episode, Roger takes us through the fallout from the federal budget and explains why, despite being sold as a win for young Australians, the changes to negative gearing have actually made it harder for first home buyers to get into the market.  We talk about the recent headlines around private credit and the Bathla collapse, and Roger explains why not all private credit funds are created equal. He walks us through what sets certain private credit funds apart, what to look out for and when this might be an appropriate investment option. We also get his take on the AI boom, including why he remains sceptical that the eye-watering valuations of AI companies will translate into real profits. Roger also breaks down the ripple effect of falling house prices on consumer spending and jobs, and shares some 3 simple pieces of timeless advice for anyone starting out financially. As always, we loved having this conversation with Roger in the studio. He always makes us feel more calm and confident about our financial decisions. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did. Tune into past episodes of Over the Money Fence with Roger here - https://omny.fm/shows/over-the-back-fence/playlists/over-the-money-fence This episode is proudly supported by Montgomery Investment Management, trusted experts helping you build and protect your financial future. For further information, please contact David Buckland, Chief Executive Officer or Rhodri Taylor, Account Manager on (02) 8046 5000 or investor@montinvest.com  Find out more about Montgomery Investment Management here - https://montinvest.com  Find out more about Montgomery private credit funds here -    https://www.montinvest.com/privatecredit  Read Roger’s Whitepaper on private credit funds here -    https://rogermontgomery.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Whitepaper-_-cutting-through-the-noise-why-australian-private-credit-stands-apart.pdf Learn more about Roger and read his articles here - https://rogermontgomery.com  Buy Roger's book Value.able here - https://rogermontgomery.com/valueable-book/  Follow Roger on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/rogerjmontgomery/  Follow Roger’s YouTube channel here  - https://www.youtube.com/user/rogerjmontgomery Follow Roger on X here - https://x.com/rjmontgomery  Follow Roger on Facebook here - https://www.facebook.com/montgomeryroger/ Follow Roger on LinkedIn here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rogermontgomery/  Follow Nicola and Di on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/overthebackfencepodcast/  Follow Nicola and Di on YouTube here - https://www.youtube.com/@Overthebackfencepodcast/podcasts  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  5. Sep 20

    Sally Mackinnon: Style, Confidence & The 80/20 That Changes How You F

    This week Nicola and Di chat with Sally Mackinnon, one of Australia's best-known personal stylists and author of Styled: How to Dress as Your Most Stylish Self. Sally has spent over 20 years helping women find their style, and this conversation was full of the practical, honest wisdom she's become known for. In this episode, we chat to Sally about her approach to shopping smarter, including her rule of only buying pieces that fit your real, everyday life (not your holiday fantasy life), and the classic "80/20" wardrobe trap most of us fall into. She also shares her refreshingly rules-free philosophy on personal style, and an empowering approach that focuses on dressing for how an outfit makes you feel. We talk about decluttering a full wardrobe, why alterations are one of the most underrated style tools out there, and the genius Sudoku packing method that Sally uses for travelling light without the stress.  Sally leaves us with beautiful advice on trusting your gut when it comes to getting dressed and why clothing is such a powerful tool for expressing your personality.  We had such a great time with Sally. She's warm, wise and easy to talk to and we loved all of the practical tips she shared with us. We hope you love this episode as much as we did! This episode is proudly supported by Montgomery Investment Management, trusted experts helping you build and protect your financial future. For further information, please contact David Buckland, Chief Executive Officer or Rhodri Taylor, Account Manager on (02) 8046 5000 or investor@montinvest.com Follow Sally on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/styledbysally/ Buy Sally’s book Styled here - https://www.penguin.com.au/books/styled-9781761349201 Find out more about Sally’s styling work here - https://www.styledbysally.com.au/personal-styling-melbourne/ Follow Nicola and Di on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/overthebackfencepodcast/  Find out more about the next OTBF trip to Bhutan in October 2027 - https://www.travelmanagers.com.au/ptm/michellenicholas/explore/travel-itineraries/ Watch Over The Back Fence on YouTube here - https://www.youtube.com/@Overthebackfencepodcast/podcasts   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  6. Sep 13

    PJ Lane: "I Love Your Faces" - Don Lane’s Legacy & Finding an Alzheimer’s Cure

    This week Nicola and Di chat with the talented PJ Lane, son of the legendary Don Lane. PJ is a performer, former professional basketballer, actor, and now the man bringing his father's iconic showmanship back to the stage with his tribute show, I Love Your Faces: The Don Lane Story.  In this episode, we chat to PJ about growing up with Don Lane as "the sports broadcaster and basketball coach" rather than the TV legend most of Australia remembers. We hear about his years playing basketball on scholarship in the US and professionally in Greece, the unexpected pull towards music that eventually won out and he shares some brilliant stories along the way. We also talk candidly about Don's Alzheimer's diagnosis, the toll it took on the whole family, and PJ's important work as an ambassador for the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), raising awareness and funds for dementia research. It's a topic so many of our listeners will relate to, and PJ speaks about it with real heart and honesty. Finally, we talk about PJ’s new show, the family connection at its heart, the old-school Vegas variety feel he's recreating on stage, and he even sings for us live in the studio - you’ll have to tune in to hear it.  We had a great time with PJ and we hope you love this episode as much as we did! This episode is proudly supported by Montgomery Investment Management, trusted experts helping you build and protect your financial future. For further information, please contact David Buckland, Chief Executive Officer or Rhodri Taylor, Account Manager on (02) 8046 5000 or investor@montinvest.com Follow PJ on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/pjlaneonline/ Buy Tickets to PJ’s show I Love Your Faces here - https://www.iloveyourfaces.com/tour-dates-tickets-1 Find out more about the work of CHeBA here - https://www.unsw.edu.au/cheba Read more about Wipeout Dementia here - https://www.unsw.edu.au/cheba/support-us/wipeout-dementia Follow Nicola and Di on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/overthebackfencepodcast/  Find out more about the next OTBF trip to Bhutan in October 2027 - https://www.travelmanagers.com.au/ptm/michellenicholas/explore/travel-itineraries/ Watch Over The Back Fence on YouTube here - https://www.youtube.com/@Overthebackfencepodcast/podcasts See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  7. Sep 6

    Mennan Yelkenci:  Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Booked AI & Revolutionising How We Travel

    This week Nicola and Di chat with entrepreneur and visionary, Mennan Yelkenci. Mennan was awarded the 2024 Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the founder of Booked.ai, the world's first IATA-accredited AI travel agent. Mennan swapped a career in corporate ASX roles for the world of startups, and we loved hearing his story and the exciting projects he’s working on.  In this episode, we chat to Mennan about the path that led him here. From consulting on renewable energy projects (and helping international developers communicate with Aussie farmers), to building Apify to solve his own frustrations with outsourced tech development, and finally launching Booked.ai, an IATA-accredited AI travel agent, to help plan and book your next trip. Mennan is an amazing example of someone who spots a problem and builds the solution. We get into exactly how Booked.ai works, the built-in duty-of-care safeguards that check destination safety before you fly, right through to the reassurance that real human travel agents are still there on the back end when something needs a personal touch. Mennan is clear that Booked.ai isn't here to replace human travel agents, but to offer an alternative for the times you just want it sorted, fast and to disrupt the online booking space.  We also talk about our love of travel, Mennan’s Turkish heritage and his incredible tips for a Turkey itinerary (Istanbul, Alaçatı, Bodrum and Cappadocia are all must-dos), and what makes him tick as a new dad and a serial entrepreneur. We had such a great time with Mennan. His energy, ambition and vision for the future of travel are infectious. We hope you love this episode as much as we did! This episode is proudly supported by Montgomery Investment Management, trusted experts helping you build and protect your financial future. For further information, please contact David Buckland, Chief Executive Officer or Rhodri Taylor, Account Manager on (02) 8046 5000 or investor@montinvest.com Follow Mennan on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/mennannn/ Follow Booked AI on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/booked.ai/ Find out more about Booked AI and use it here - https://booked.ai/ Follow Booked AI on LinkedIn here - au.linkedin.com/company/booked-ai Follow Mennan on LinkedIn here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mennan-yelkenci/ Follow Nicola and Di on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/overthebackfencepodcast/  Find out more about the India trip, access the itinerary and book your place here - https://wetu.com/ItineraryOutputs/Discovery/78191347-4d64-4c52-acfd-5422d92ec90f Watch Over The Back Fence on YouTube here - https://www.youtube.com/@Overthebackfencepodcast/podcasts   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  8. Aug 30

    Marney McQueen: Titanique & Rosa Waxoffski to Pub Owner - Singer, Comedian & Coming Into Her Own at 48

    This week Nicola and Di chat with the incredible Marney McQueen. Marney is an actress, singer, comedian, cabaret queen, marriage celebrant, publican, and self-described lover of people. Marney has lit up stages in Hairspray and Titanique, brought her hilarious alter-ego Rosa Waxoffski to life around the world, and also runs a beloved pub on the NSW Central Coast with her husband, Frank. We chat to Marney about her early love of impersonation, her three attempts to get into NIDA, and the story of how a chance meeting with Barry Humphries set her on the path to creating Rosa Waxoffski, the bikini waxer to the stars who somehow became "responsible" for everything from Logie wins to Test cricket selections.  We loved hearing how Marney and her husband took a leap of faith and bought a pub in Wyong, and turned it into a genuine community hub with cabaret nights, fundraising that's raised more than a quarter of a million dollars, and everyday moments of connection that remind us what a good local pub can really do for people.  Marney also reminds us that age is but a number with the story of landing her first lead musical role at 46, playing Celine Dion in the hit show Titanique, and she even gave us a live snippet of "My Heart Will Go On", which was breathtaking. We also talk about Marney's next big role as the Lady of the Lake in Spamalot, opening in Sydney this October, her friendship and creative collaboration with Em Rusciano, and her beautiful perspective on hanging in there, backing yourself, and why it's never too late to bloom.  This episode is full of heart, inspiration and proof that passion and persistence really do pay off. Marney is pure joy - you’ll love this one!  This episode is proudly supported by Montgomery Investment Management, trusted experts helping you build and protect your financial future. For further information, please contact David Buckland, Chief Executive Officer or Rhodri Taylor, Account Manager on (02) 8046 5000 or investor@montinvest.com Follow Marney on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/marneymcqueen/ Follow The Royal Hotel Wyong on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/royalhotelwyong/ Buy Tickets to Spamalot here - https://www.drewanthonycreative.com.au/spamalot-melbournesydney-2026 Find out more about Marney’s work here - https://www.marneymcqueen.com/ Follow Nicola and Di on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/overthebackfencepodcast/  Find out more about the India trip, access the itinerary and book your place here - https://wetu.com/ItineraryOutputs/Discovery/78191347-4d64-4c52-acfd-5422d92ec90f Watch Over The Back Fence on YouTube here - https://www.youtube.com/@Overthebackfencepodcast/podcasts See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Di Edwards and Nicola Dale have been best friends for close to four decades & they actually share a ‘back fence’ in Sydney! They share a love of life, a passion for people, and have discovered a simple conversation over the back fence, can change a life and give a sense of belonging .  “We’re not neuroscientists, psychologists, doctors or monks - we just love people - and know with age comes wisdom."

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