Over the Back Fence

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.

This week Nicola and Di chat with the remarkable and entertaining Claire Parkinson. Claire began her career as a Prison Officer in the UK, working at the frontlines of human dynamics at their most intense. At 30 years of age she became the Head Of Operations for all prisons and probation in London, overseeing 9000 staff and 33,000 inmates! From there Claire had an opportunity to move to Australia and work in the prison system in Adelaide before stepping into the mining sector where she helped lead a $9.6billion dollar merger between 2 major global corporations. Claire has written a hilarious memoir, Shitty Grit, which captures the remarkable journey that has shaped her.
In this episode we hear about Claire’s early life, growing up in social housing in the UK and what it was like to find out at 16 that she was 18 weeks pregnant. Claire shares about the tough time she went through trying to raise a child, when she was just a child herself, and the wild years that followed when she moved back in with her parents and started playing catch-up on the partying she'd missed out on as a teenager.
After a sliding doors moment where she had to choose between being a flight attendant or a prison officer, Claire chose the latter. She tells us about the fascinating world of prisons and how she was assigned one of Britain’s most notorious child killers as her inmate when she first began her career. The stories she tells us of those prison days are pretty incredible, and we hope you love getting an insight into a world that most of us know nothing about.

We also talk about Claire’s move to Australia and how she was able to transition into the world of mining and lead a huge global merger. When you hear about the way Claire’s determination and initiative have led to incredible opportunities in her life, you can’t help but be inspired. Talk about a woman who’s been through a lot of shit and has a lot of grit!
We laughed so much throughout this chat and we hope you’ll find it as entertaining 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 Clarie on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/shittygrit/
Buy Claire’s Book Shitty Grit here - https://www.amazon.com.au/SHiTTY-GRiT-Resilience-Teenager-Non-linear-ebook/dp/B0DZJ5MM16
Watch Over The Back Fence on YouTube here - https://www.youtube.com/@Overthebackfencepodcast/podcasts
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back to Over The Back Fence! It’s 2026 and we’re so excited to be kicking off Season 4 with you all. This week Nicola and Di chat about their summer break - what they got up to over the silly season, the holiday fun, including the trips they took and what they have in store for the podcast and some exciting events in 2026.
After Nicola and Di have their summer catch-up, they interview our most popular guest, David The Medium, who’s back for a fourth time!
We check-in with David and get him to give us the latest on what he’s predicting for 2026. His word of the year is initiation because David tells us it’s all about stripping away what’s no longer working to initiate ourselves into a new world. He also points out the similarities between what’s happening now, and what was happening in 2020. This year will be full of change, upheaval and momentum.
You’ll also get to listen in on a powerful reading that David does for Nicola and Di where he’s able to connect with their mothers who have passed, and they have some thoughts and guidance to pass on to the ladies about their relationships.
We always love having David The Medium join us on the show and we continue to be blown away by his spiritual readings and psychic predictions. 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 David The Medium on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/davidthemedium/
Visit David’s website here to join his manifestation events, book a private reading or buy his daily guidance cards - https://www.davidthemedium.com/
Watch Over The Back Fence on YouTube here - https://www.youtube.com/@Overthebackfencepodcast/podcasts
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to our Summer Series where we're replaying some of our most popular episodes over the last 3 years so you can discover episodes you haven't heard before or re-listen to some fan favourites. In this episode, Nicola and Di chat with the unstoppable Di Westaway. The founder of Wild Women on Top and Coastrek, Di is an Australian gymnast champion, Australian aerobics champion and she holds the world record for the highest handstand, which she did on the top of Mt Ama Dablam in Nepal. As if that wasn’t enough, Di is also an author of 2 books, was awarded an OAM for her services to women’s sport and charitable services, and she’s a mum of 3. Di spends her time inspiring, empowering and motivating women to lead adventurous lives they love and through her mission, has raised nearly $50 million dollars for charity!
In this chat, we hear about the incredible adventure in Argentina that started it all for Di, and how hiking up a mountain with her girlfriend changed her life forever. We talk about the power of female friendship and how having an ambitious goal that you’re doing with a supportive community, can really help women to finally prioritise their own health and wellbeing.
We also chat about the amazing benefits of mother nature, and the way that you can start tuning in to the magic moments in your life.
The best part is, Di shares how much she is loving life in her sixties, and how life (and sex) just keeps getting better and better. This is a positively refreshing and inspiring chat with a woman who makes us all want to keep soaking up every bit of juice in life.
Follow Coastrek: @coastrek
Follow Di: @diwestaway
Sign up for the next Coastrek - Sydney
Registrations close Feb 15 - https://www.coastrek.com.au/
We're so excited to share Coastrek, Australia’s iconic team hiking challenge! Created to help women – and anyone who loves adventure – fall in love with health, fitness and shared experiences in nature. It’s more than a hike - it’s fun, fitness, friends, fresh air and fundraising rolled into one epic experience. Since 2009, over 90,000 trekkers have taken on Coastrek, raising more than $57 million for charity along the way.
Sydney is almost sold out and registrations are closing SOON! Don't wait - grab a friend, a few mates, or form a whole crew and secure your team spot today. You’ll also get access to the Coastrek Training Program, fundraising tools, and supportive online community to guide you from sign-up to finish line.
And the best part? We are SO excited to announce we'll be your MCs for Coastrek Sydney, lighting up the mic at their EPIC finish line at the Espy in Manly, with amazing vibes, music, and celebrations you won't want to miss!
Follow Wild Women on Top: @wildwomenontop
Shop Di’s books and training programs: https://shop.wildwomenontop.com/
Watch Over The Back Fence on YouTube here - https://www.youtube.com/@Overthebackfencepodcast/podcasts
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to our Summer Series where we're replaying some of our most popular episodes over the last 3 years so you can discover episodes you haven't heard before or re-listen to some fan favourites. In this episode, Nicola and Di chat with the hilarious and uplifting Kathy Lette. Kathy is a celebrated comic writer who has penned 20 novels, many of which have become international bestsellers and been turned into films, TV series and even an opera. Kathy’s career began when she wrote the iconic novel Puberty Blues when she was just 17. She went on to do stints as a singer, a newspaper columnist and a sitcom writer for Columbia Pictures in LA. These days she’s an author, travel writer and TV presenter and her latest book, The Revenge Club, is a must-read for every woman.
Kathy talks about life in her sixties - or as she lovingly calls them, her sexties. She shares how life just gets better, you enjoy life more and you can finally put yourself first for a change. Kathy shares about the importance of female friendships and how much of a positive impact they’ve had on her life.
We hear what it was like for Kathy when she fell in love with Geoffrey Robertson after appearing on a TV show with him, when she was still married to her first husband, Kim. Kathy tells great stories about her life in London with Geoffrey and some of the incredible people that stayed in their attic - James Hewitt, Julian Assange and Salman Rushdie to name just a few.
You won’t want to miss Kathy’s story about that time she got asked out by George Clooney (an unknown, fresh-faced actor) and said ‘No’. The good news is, it’s all worked out for Kathy who met her current partner whilst walking through the park on a hot summer’s day - another great story you’ll want to hear.
We also talk to Kathy about the benefits of laughter, her positive spirit, and the joy that she brings to the world. It was an absolute delight having Kathy entertain us in the studio and we hope you laugh as much as we did.
Follow Kathy Lette on IG here
Buy The Revenge Club here
Find more of Kathy’s books here
Follow Nicola and Di on IG here
Watch Over The Back Fence on YouTube here - https://www.youtube.com/@Overthebackfencepodcast/podcasts
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.