Over the Back Fence

This week Nicola and Di chat with racing royalty Gai Waterhouse. Known as the first lady of Australian Racing, Gai is the daughter of the legendary Tommy J. Smith and is one of Australia’s most recognised and successful horse trainers, including training horses for the late Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother. Gai also had an early life in the arts, appearing in TV shows like The Young Doctors and Doctor Who, before returning to the stables and forging an extraordinary career in racing.
In this episode we talk to Gai about what it was like to train horses for Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother, what her favourite race is, what a day in the life of a trainer is like and whether or not she has any superstitions and rituals on race day - you’ll want to hear the one thing that Gai swears by!
We also chat about Gai’s hilarious new fashion critic videos that she does with her daughter Kate on Instagram. It’s so much fun to get Gai’s take on the latest looks from the red carpet. Gai talks to us about the importance of making a good first impression, not dropping your standards and dressing the part.

Gai also shares about her beautiful family life - the loving marriage she has with her husband of more than 45 years, Robbie, their 2 children Tom and Kate and the joy she feels as a grandma of 5.
We absolutely loved chatting with Gai and we hope you enjoy 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 [email protected]
Follow Nicola and Di on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/overthebackfencepodcast/
Follow Gai on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/gai_waterhouse/
Watch Over The Back Fence on YouTube here - https://www.youtube.com/@Overthebackfencepodcast/podcasts
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Nicola and Di chat with the fascinating and authentic Amanda Goff. From journalist to living a secret double life behind closed doors, Amanda was once Australia’s Highest-Paid Escort, Samantha X. In this explosive episode, she steps into the spotlight and owns every headline, every whisper, every scandal. This is a story of courage, controversy, vulnerability and the search for authenticity. Since revealing her identity, Amanda has become an author, speaker and an advocate sharing honest conversations about women, stigma, relationships and reinvention.
In this episode, we get to know the woman behind Samantha X and what led to one of the most extraordinary career changes - from being an award-winning journalist to entering the sex work industry as a high-end escort at the age of 38. Amanda talks openly and honestly about what her time as an escort was like - how she got the gig, what her first client encounter was like, what she’s learnt about men and why she doesn’t regret any of it.
She tells us about the agency that she then opened, hiring escorts over 40 and she busts some myths about the sex work industry and the type of people who do this work.
Amanda also opens up about her struggles with mental health, how she was living with undiagnosed bipolar, and how much better she is now that she’s medicated and has more clarity.
This was an absolutely fascinating conversation and we’re so grateful to Amanda for her honesty and giving us a peek inside an industry that so many of us are curious to know more about. We hope you enjoy this chat 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 [email protected]
Follow Nicola and Di on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/overthebackfencepodcast/
Follow Amanda on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/amandagoffofficial/?hl=en
Buy Amanda’s book Misfit here - https://www.booktopia.com.au/misfit-amanda-goff/book/9781760688608.html?
Watch Over The Back Fence on YouTube here - https://www.youtube.com/@Overthebackfencepodcast/podcasts
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Nicola and Di chat with the inspiring and heart-centred Tess Brouwer. Tess is the CEO and co-founder of the Awake Academy alongside world champion surfer Layne Beachley, and together they wrote the book, Awake Academy. She’s a practitioner of positive psychology, a mental wellness mentor and someone who knows the corporate life inside and out. Tess has rebuilt her life from a serious spinal injury, survived burnout several times and helps people to reset, recharge and thrive at work and in life. She’s also a mum, a podcaster and the creator of the new supplement Wake Up.
In this episode we hear Tess’ incredible story of the skiing accident that changed her life, what it was like to recover from a serious spinal injury and what she learnt about herself along the way. She shares with us the remarkable words of wisdom that Layne gave her during that time, and how Tess realised that by changing your mindset, you change your life.
Tess talks to us about positive psychology and some really practical tools that we can all use to feel better in our lives, shift our mindset in a positive direction and be open to what the universe has to offer.
This is a deeply personal episode where Tess opens up about some difficult times in her life, shares the negative stories she used to have about herself and reflects on how beautiful and meaningful her life has become. There were lots of tears in the studio (as well as laughs) and hugs all around.
It was a real joy to have Tess join us and we hope you love this beautiful, open and honest conversation 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 [email protected]
Follow Nicola and Di on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/overthebackfencepodcast/
Follow Tess on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/tesscbrouwer/
Follow Awake Academy on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/awake_academy/
Buy Tess and Layne’s book Awake Academy here - https://www.penguin.com.au/books/awake-academy-9781761345869
Join the Awake Collective here - https://www.awakeacademy.com.au/store
Watch Over The Back Fence on YouTube here - https://www.youtube.com/@Overthebackfencepodcast/podcasts
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Nicola and Di chat with an Australian icon, Joh Bailey. Joh is the hairdresser to the stars, a business visionary and the man who turned the blowdry into an empire. From styling global legends like the late Princess Diana and Kylie Minogue, to creating a brand that’s reshaped Australian hair care, Joh has influenced style, culture and confidence for decades.
In this episode we chat to Joh about what it’s been like to work with some of the most incredible celebrities, from Princess Diana to Kim Kardashian. Joh tells us the story of when he received a call from Buckingham Palace asking him if he would be Princess Di’s official hairdresser on her trip to Sydney in 1996. He gives us the inside scoop on all the royal protocols and what it was like to hang out with Princess Di.
We talk about the fashion and hairstyle trends of the past, the various celebrities that defined each decade, and what it’s like these days where anything really goes.
We also chat about how Joh got started in business and the incredible relationship he has with his business partner Marilyn. He gives us his thoughts on what he believes to be the secrets to his success.
It’s not only his business partnership that Joh shares about, he also opens up about his relationship with his husband Michael and the simple life they share in Bowral with their beloved horses.
This was a really fun conversation and we were thrilled to have Joh style our hair for the episode - tune in to our YouTube channel to see the looks he created for us!
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 [email protected]
Follow Nicola and Di on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/overthebackfencepodcast/
Follow Joh on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/johbaileyofficial/
Buy Joh’s hair products or book a salon appointment here - https://johbailey.com.au
Watch Over The Back Fence on YouTube here - https://www.youtube.com/@Overthebackfencepodcast/podcasts
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Nicola and Di are back with the first 2026 episode of 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, we take a look at the changes that are currently happening in the world, and how that could impact our finances. Roger explains how the tailwinds that have benefited the stock markets in the past, and have benefited the Baby Boomers and Gen X are shifting, and why that means we need to consider other investments.
Roger talks about the importance of diversification and how you need to look at investing in things that don’t move the same way as your existing investments. He discusses alternative investment options that can provide you with regular income, low capital volatility and attractive returns like private credit and the differences in those types of funds. He also explores high-frequency trading and arbitrage strategies, which historically were largely accessible only to institutional investors.
We talk about the impact of AI on certain industries, particularly the software as a service industry, which has been the biggest industry people have invested in over the last 25 years.
Roger also gives us his best insights into what will likely happen in the markets in 2026 and what he thinks will be wise investments this year. And we also answer some listener questions for you.
As always, we loved having this conversation with Roger in the studio. We are so grateful to have found someone that makes us feel safe and relaxed to talk about our finances and empowers us with the tools to take control and feel more confident. We hope you enjoy 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 [email protected]
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 article from The Australian that’s referenced in this article - https://rogermontgomery.com/the-australian-private-markets-offer-refuge-as-the-traditional-60-40-portfolio-crumbles/
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.