Letters From Home

Amanda Ferrari

Boarding School

Homesickness

Education

Boarding Schools

Australian Boarding Schools

Parenting

Education Choices

Social Media

Australian Boarding Schools Association

Boarding School Life

Cultural Diversity

Boarding Education

Friendship

Dubbo, Australia

Migrant Experience

Australia

Rural Education

Boarding School Expo

Mental Health

Youth Mental Health

Welcome to Letters from Home, a podcast dedicated to Australian boarding families. Hosted by Amanda Ferrari, the show explores all aspects of boarding life - from packing for the first time to life as a boarder & beyond. Amanda interviews graduates who share how boarding shaped their lives, with families about their journey to and through boarding school, speaks with schools about their unique pro... more

24 ratings

Publishes	Weekly	Episodes	127	Founded	4 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	Kids & FamilyParenting

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Guests Host Reviews Charts Talking Points

Latest Episodes

When Choosing Isn't Easy: A Rural Principal Reflects on the Freedom to Choose

Can a rural school principal believe deeply in country education while also choosing boarding school for his own children?

This week, Amanda sits down with Brett Wilkie, principal of a small rural primary school in Western Australia, to explore one ... more

21 Jul 2026 • 53 min

The Country Girl Who Had a Crack

Growing up in the small Queensland community of Condamine, Maddie Morgan always knew boarding school would be part of her story. What she didn't know was how profoundly those years would shape her future.

Today Maddie is an agribusiness lawyer speci... more

15 Jul 2026 • 39 min

When Paradise Isn’t Enough

We'reWatching You: A Coastal Family's Boarding School Journey

When Katie and Dan Toney left careers in television journalism to run a holiday park in the tiny coastal community of Seal Rocks, boarding school wasn't part of the plan. In fact, it wasn... more

7 Jul 2026 • 50 min

"You Just Make It Work" - One Mum's Journey Through Loss, Boarding School and Bush Resilience

You Just Make It Work - OneMum's Journey Through Loss, Boarding School and Bush Resilience

What happens when the life you planned changesin an instant?

For Sophie Elliott, the answer has been onestep at a time.

Born and raised on a cattle station ... more

1 Jul 2026 • 1 hr 1 min

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners

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Recent Guests

Katie Toney

Resident of Seal Rocks, NSW; former TV journalist; co-owner of a caravan/holiday park

Seal Rocks Holiday Park, Reflections (NSW)

Episode: When Paradise Isn’t Enough

Sophie Elliott

A bushwoman from Winton, Western Queensland; worked at Country University Centre

Country University Centre, Winton

Episode: "You Just Make It Work" - One Mum's Journey Through Loss, Boarding School and Bush Resilience

Annabel Ferrari

Pediatric occupational therapist, running her own business

Episode: What It Really Feels Like to Leave Home at 12 - The Boarding School Conversation We Never Had - An honest conversation with my daughter Annabel Ferrari.

Lisa Green

Single mum and educator sharing her boarding journey

Independent family advocate; educator

Episode: Just Go and Ask the Question – A Dubbo Mum’s Boarding School Journey with Lisa Green

Angie Nisbet

Rural woman with a background in farming and media; host of Married To The Land

Married To The Land

Episode: When Schools Travel the Distance Too - Why Access to Education Matters in the Bush: with Angie Nisbet

Peter Debus

Managing Director of PrincipleFocus

PrincipleFocus

Episode: From the Archives: Peter Debus - The Very Personal Decision of Choosing Boarding School

Ruby Riethmuller

Founder of Womn-Kind

Womn-Kind

Episode: From Boarding School to Womn-Kind: Ruby Riethmuller Is Changing Lives

Tina Clifton

Vet and farming family member, mum of two

Self; DPIRD (Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development)

Episode: When the Local Fit Isn’t the Right Fit: with Tina Clifton

Duncan Taylor

Advocate for rural education; leader in Country Universities Centre Network

Country Universities Centre, Isolated Children's Parents Association (ICPA)

Episode: When Education Opens the Gate: with Duncan Taylor

Host

Amanda Ferr ar i

Host of Letters From Home

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 24 ratings

A beautiful interview
Loved listening to your chat with Annabel. She is truely amazing as are you all. Thankyou Amanda for your conversations . Hooked. !!! I hated sending my kids away to school but so grateful to be able to give them that opportunity. Much love😍 Janell x
Apple Podcasts
5
NellyWalgett
Australiaa month ago
New Boarder Mum
Hey, just wanted to say how much I am enjoying the content as a ‘soon to be’ boarder mum in 2025!!!
Apple Podcasts
5
not a girl janet
Australia2 years ago

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Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The show foregrounds rural voices and real family experiences, which resonates with people considering boarding.

Guests offer diverse perspectives on education access and community support in regional Australia.

Sponsorships and resources mentioned feel relevant to families navigating long-distance schooling.

Notable for combining personal storytelling with tangible steps like scholarships and expo events.

Listeners appreciate the practical guidance for boarding transitions, especially around emotions and logistics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts	#75	Australia/Kids & Family/Parenting
Apple Podcasts	#219	Australia/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts	#150	Hong Kong/Kids & Family/Parenting

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

"You Just Make It Work" - One Mum's Journey Through Loss, Boarding School and Bush Resilience

Q: Tell me a bit about yourself. Tell the listeners a bit about where you're from and what you do.

Sophie explains she grew up on a cattle station near Winton, attended School of Distance Education, and later moved back to Winton where she now works with the Country University Centre, helping local residents access education and stay connected to the region.

What My Daughter Never Told Me About Boarding School Part 2

Q: Moving on from that part about your professional expertise, Annabel, which I just love. I want to ask about the academic struggle. You did struggle. And I want to ask how that felt. Did you ever feel not smart enough, or was it something that you just recognized that you had to get through?

Annabel confirms she felt not smart, explains moving from a small primary school to a large secondary school and being placed in the lower classes, and discusses how the learning support system and hard work helped her progress, eventually leading to strong results by year 12.

From Collie to the Classroom Paddock: Lara’s Leap to Boarding

Q: What's the one piece of advice you'd give to younger borders who are worried about homesickness?

It's completely normal to feel homesick; talk to older students and friends about it, and remember that you're not alone in feeling this way.

From Collie to the Classroom Paddock: Lara’s Leap to Boarding

Q: How do you stay in touch with your family and friends back home, and does that help with homesickness?

I make regular phone calls a couple of times a week or daily, and we share videos and photos which helps me feel connected and less like I'm missing out.

From Collie to the Classroom Paddock: Lara’s Leap to Boarding

Q: Were you aware before you started boarding that this would be your path, or was it a last-minute decision?

It was very last-minute; no one in my family had gone to boarding school, so it wasn't an option we initially considered until we looked at local high schools.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Letters From Home

What is Letters From Home about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on Australian boarding families, exploring the realities of moving children into boarding environments, navigating school choices, scholarships, and long-distance life. Many episodes spotlight the emotional journeys of parents and students, the practicalities of choosing fits, access to education in rural regions, and the role of community networks, events, and support programs in making boarding feasible and beneficial. A notable thread across episodes is generosity of lived experience—parents, caregivers, and alumni share how boarding shapes independence, wellbeing, and future opportunities, often highlighting resources like scholarships, expos, and regional education initiatives that help families make informed decision... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Letters From Home?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Letters From Home:

1. Motherland Australia
2. No Filter
3. Conversations
4. The Jess Rowe Big Talk Show
5. Lise and Sarah

How many episodes of Letters From Home are there?

Letters From Home launched 4 years ago and published 127 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Letters From Home?

Recent guests on Letters From Home include:

1. Katie Toney
2. Sophie Elliott
3. Annabel Ferrari
4. Lisa Green
5. Angie Nisbet
6. Peter Debus
7. Ruby Riethmuller
8. Tina Clifton

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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