Country Creatives

In this episode of Country Creatives, Reece and Caleb dive into the world of community festivals, focusing on the iconic Eaglehawk Dahlia and Arts Festival and a new initiative called the Ideas Forum. As president of Eaglehawk Festivals Inc., Reece shares the vision behind the forum—an open call for new ideas to help evolve the festival while honouring its deep local roots.

They explore the importance of...

In this episode of Country Creatives, hosts Caleb Maxwell and Reece Hendy unpack Caleb’s recent adventure: climbing a mountain in the Solomon Islands. What started as a physical challenge became a powerful act of service, as Caleb and longtime friend Mark Morley raised over $15,000 for a school in Fiji—an initiative close to Caleb’s heart and community.

The conversation explores the emotional and physica...

In this episode of Country Creatives, hosts Reece and Aimee sit down with Bendigo-based writer Rachel Nightingale to explore the winding path of her creative career and the release of her upcoming novel Raluana Lane. Rachel shares insights from her early love of storytelling, her shift between academic and creative writing, and the emotional and logistical challenges of authorship.

Diving into the proces...

In this solo episode of Country Creatives, host Caleb Maxwell takes a deep dive into one of the most powerful tools in a creative's toolkit: personal branding.

Far from being about logos or catchy slogans, Caleb unpacks personal branding as the way others perceive, describe, and ultimately trust you. He shares why being known matters, and how building a brand can open doors to more opportunities, higher ...

In this episode of Country Creatives, hosts Caleb and Reece sit down with returning guest Patrick Thompson to unpack his bold leap from agency life to full-time freelance business owner. After years at Blunt Agency, Patrick shares what it’s been like to step into self-employment—navigating the highs, the challenges, and the learning curves of managing both client work and business development.

The conver...

In this mini Country Creatives snippet, hosts Caleb Maxwell and Reece Hendy dive into the kinds of guests and conversations that light them up.

They reflect on the types of creatives they’re drawn to—philosophical thinkers, bold innovators, and people who’ve taken unconventional paths in their creative careers. The hosts also extend a warm invitation to listeners: Know someone inspiring? Want to nominate...

In this episode of Country Creatives, hosts Reece Hendy and Caleb Maxwell sit down with the Honourable Colin Brooks, Victoria’s Minister for Industry and Advanced Manufacturing and Minister for Creative Industries.

The conversation explores how government portfolios are assigned, the fascinating relationship between the creative industries and advanced manufacturing, and Colin’s surprising love for conte...

In this special mini episode of Country Creatives, recorded live at a late 2024 media event, Aimee catches up with the brilliant Dr. Karen Annett, Director of La Trobe Art Institute in Bendigo.

Dr. Annett reflects on the challenges young creatives face when building community and accessing opportunities—especially in regional and smaller towns. She speaks to the importance of networking, mentorship, and ...

In this episode of Country Creatives, hosts Caleb Maxwell and Reece Hendy reflect on their experience at The Wands exhibition by Ben Wrigley, an immersive and collaborative art event held at Bendigo’s historic Beehive building. They break down the creative elements that brought the event to life, including Ben's sculptures, Kelly Hartland’s aphorisms, Aimee Chapman’s sound design, Ivan Sun’s documentary screening, and...

In this episode of Country Creatives, hosts Caleb Maxwell and Reece Hendy sit down with Les Watson, the productivity powerhouse known as the 'Time Lord.' With decades of experience in time management and personal development, Les shares his expert strategies for boosting productivity, overcoming procrastination, and mastering your daily schedule.

From getting tasks out of your head and into a trusted sys...

In this episode of Country Creatives, Reece and Caleb sit down with Ben Wrigley, a multifaceted creative whose journey is deeply rooted in the arts. From growing up in a creative household to carving out a career in architectural and heritage photography, Ben shares how his perceptive approach has shaped his work.

He reflects on moments from his remarkable career, including photographing icons like Bob H...

In this episode of Country Creatives, Reece and Caleb sit down with Dan Walsh, a seasoned film industry professional who recently returned from Canada with nearly 20 years of experience. Dan takes us behind the scenes of the camera department, breaking down the intricacies of roles like focus puller and explaining the complex coordination required to bring films and TV shows to life.

With an impressive c...

Starting Strong: Creative Planning and Goal-Setting for 2025

Welcome to the 2025 premiere of Country Creatives! 🎉 Reece and Caleb kick off the year with an inspiring discussion about their planning and goal-setting strategies for the year ahead. From the power of taking a break to recharge to creating vision boards and using tools like the Eisenhower Matrix for prioritisation, this episode is packed with practical advice to help y...

Welcome to the Country Creatives Summer Series! In this encore episode, Caleb and Reece revisit one of their favourite conversations of the year: their book review episode. This thoughtful and inspiring discussion dives into two books that profoundly shaped their creative journeys in 2024.

Reece shares his experience with Rick Rubin's The Creative Act: A Way of Being, a philosophical exploration of creat...

🎙️ Encore Episode: Chris Kennett on Turning Creativity into a Career

This summer, we're revisiting some of our most inspiring episodes while we prepare exciting new content for 2025! First up: a listener favorite featuring Bendigo-based illustrator and author, Chris Kennett.

Chris's journey from doodling as a kid to illustrating Star Wars Little Golden Books and bestselling children's ser...

In this special year-end episode of Country Creatives, hosts Caleb and Reece are joined by their producer, Aimee, for a lively look back at 2024. Together, they reflect on personal and professional highlights, from Aimee’s transformative role with the Emporium Creative Hub to Caleb’s rollercoaster year with Hebron Films, and Reece’s efforts to prioritize focus and meaningful projects.

The conversation is...

In this episode of Country Creatives, hosts Reece and Caleb sit down with Maree Edwards MP to celebrate the exciting next chapter for Bendigo’s Emporium Creative Hub. Following the announcement of La Trobe University as the hub's new governing body, the discussion highlights the government’s dedication to creative industries and reflects on the hub's achievements since opening in 2019. Maree shares insights into the r...

In this episode of Country Creatives, hosts Reece and Caleb shake things up with their first-ever live streaming session on YouTube. They dive into the challenges of managing mental load, sparked by Reece's reflections on the limits of juggling tasks in our heads.

The conversation explores strategies like externalising tasks, habit stacking, and effective project management to lighten the cognitive load....

In this episode of Country Creatives, Aimee sits down with Kerina McIntyre, Coordinator of Heritage Gardens and Amenity Landscapes, to explore her 18-year journey from gardener to overseeing Bendigo’s cherished green spaces, including the Botanical Gardens and Rosalind Park. Kerina shares the challenges her team faces in preserving these historical sites, from adapting to environmental changes to managing wildlife, including the fl...