The Shepherdess evolution - Kristy McGregor

0:00This is a podcast from Rover. All right, let's cheek in with Christy McGregor and see what's been happening in the world of the Sheppardess magazine, because she is publisher, editor and chief founder, you know him, she does it. I think that's celebrating five years as well, Christy, it's lovely to have you on. How are you? Yeah, lovely to chat. Thanks for having me to talk. Congrats, five years. Well, it's actually out of 25th edition, so it's six years. Wow. Yeah. I'm a bit behind. I remember. Right. Yeah. And that's, since the print publication is, you know, print magazine has been going. It was sort of a year before that that we were just on socials. So, yeah, it is a, I look at my seven-year-old, just turned seven-year-old and for every bit, but two months of his life, it's been a, you know, yeah, a part of it. I remember talking with you, I think basically when you were kicking it all off, you know, and so, you know, to get where you've got to, in a world where, obviously, as we all

1:03know, mags, magazines are getting slimmer and fewer, pretty impressive. Yeah. That's right. I think it just goes to show, like, we've just got such a wonderful community and, you know, the feedback that we keep getting and being at the Wonica show, you know, over the weekend was, you know, testament to this is just, yeah, I don't know, telling real stories and stories that people can relate to, you know, you're doing it every day, you know, but just that, that authenticity and, you know, it really connects with people, so, yeah. Yeah. That was the Saturday morning. I think you hosted a breakfast for the second year in a row. That's right. Yeah, we had a breakfast, so I interviewed Ruth Shaw, who's the book seller at the end of the world in Manipur, you know, with her three-week bookshops and she's just gorgeous. And then also Kate Scott from Reese Valley Station at Glen Orkey, who's just such a, you know, incredible, you know, she's the main farmer on her family farm and, you know, it's

2:05just, yeah, I just love hearing her chat and her wisdoms and, you know, take on things. So yeah, it was a lovely, lovely morning, way to start the morning, because, you know, the show's hectic and bustling, so to have a sit down on the couch and have a chat with Ruth and with Kate was really special, yeah. Yeah, it's nice to be able to do those sorts of things, because you're right at this hectic. And I think they had a record sort of like 45,000 people through this time, so yeah, it was hot as it always is and that sort of, which is very cool, but of course, you're backing up as well, because only, what, less than two weeks ago, I think you had the, the, the Master event for 2026. So what's the concept behind that and how that go this year? Yeah, so if I look exhausted, that's because I feel it, because it's just been, yeah, go, go, go. So, yeah, from the 6th to the 8th of March, we had 200 women gathered at Tokanoi at the rugby club in Mendehoku, Southland for our second Master, and the first time that the

3:06Master had headed to the South Island, which is really, really special. And it's a weekend, it's just about, you know, women taking a moment to get out of the every day and the, you know, constant burdens and demands, which I've come back to real life and I'm reminded of what it's like, especially when you have little kids and, you know, all sorts or, you know, caring roles or whatever. And so it's just about doing women doing something for themselves. So it's a weekend with arts, health and well-being, business development, entrepreneurship, and good food being cooked for a weekend, and yeah, it was really special. That's fantastic. So that was, yeah, this is a thing that you're going to, obviously, there's got no momentum enough that you're going to sort of keep going and expanding and all that sort of thing. So we had the first one up in Motu, Entira Fati back in 2024.

4:06So it sort of, it really does take, you know, the four two years to plan and event of that kind of, you know, three-day scale with all its moving parts. So yeah, the plan is to go back to the North Island to a different rural community. And we'd really love to hear, I mean, if there's any listeners that, you know, have a community that would like to host it in the North Island, then please sing out to us, because we're all is. But yeah, and it's about, you know, if you move around to a different spot, you're giving women access to those opportunities in that spot. So it was things like, you know, we had the women's health bus there. We had, you know, a whole raft of health services, the ministry for women actually supported a health and well-being space. So, you know, bra, fittings, pelvic floor, ultra sound, you know, so it was a really holistic weekend and you could sort of, women coming along could get an opportunity to do those things that they easily, easily put off. And, you know, when you're in the tech thickness of every day, sort of don't make time for.

5:09So. That's very cool. Yeah. So yeah, again, yeah, listeners, if you've got a spot, you think might be suitable, get in touch with Christy. Now, the publication itself, you talk about, you know, talking to interesting people and just telling, you know, good, interesting soul to the earth kind of stories, that sort of thing. Is it evolved much? Is that pretty much where you started and you just sort of continued that concept or is the evolution of the publication, talk to me about that? Yeah. That's a good question. Well, this is the one that just came out on last week, Monday. So this is Grace on our cover. She's from Tara Fadi. I think the intention is the same in terms of connection, but I think, you know, the evolution has been in sort of maybe how it, I think, I think we keep getting better and better. I hope we do. But, you know, it's like the first time round, it was very homemade and hopefully couldn't

6:10kind of tell the level of home madness. But, you know, it was like asking my mother-in-law, could you please bake your biscuits that you're so good at baking. My sister in law photographed them with, you know, would style them and, and, you know, we photographed it. Like it was just very, you know, you sort of draw on like with anything when you're starting out. You draw on all your family and friends and, you know, you sort of context to make something work. And, yeah, whereas now, you know, we're probably more, our team has grown. So we've got this incredible team that's based all across the country and it's probably something that I'm like most proud of it with at toes that they're all, you know, mums or, you know, juggling other roles or, you know, part-time. And they're getting the opportunity to work on, you know, in this cool, you know, social enterprise or media space, which they wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to do. So like, to have our team are on the chat of my lands. So, you know, we are literally spread, you know, far and wide.

7:12And then right from, you know, Kingston to, you know, you know, Mount Munganui sort of thing. So, yeah, that's super cool. And I think when you, you know, you're bringing together a group of people around a vision, you know, we all share the same kind of, you know, vision for the co-pubber then that super cool. So, yeah, it's probably, I think two with the stories, like over time, we've continued to get readers are so giving out of their story suggestions. And you know, even just in the last day, you know, that is keep coming through or at the Wanaka show, people coming up saying, have you done a story on, you know, such and such, you should, you know, a little chat that you might have, you go, ah, would you be willing to share that? So, I think, you know, as people have heard about the magazine, you know, we get more of that. Actually, that's how we get our stories, you know, so it's, it's quite a, you know, it's this beautiful kind of giving or, you know, a relationship that sort of mutual with

8:14our readers, you know, it's not a one way. I think that's probably the thing, it's not a one way, you know, here's a magazine for you to read. It's very much a conversational sort of dialogue. So, yeah. Yeah. That's cool. And I suppose the social media aspect plays into that big time as well, right? And the trend at the moment, at the moment on Instagram, for example, of homesteading, right? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And I mean, but women have been, you know, I mean, loving love for the land, you know, like I'm folks having really for like years and years, but obviously now it's more of it. There's a word for it. And more of it. Yeah, it's trendy. Yeah. Yeah. No, it's just, I mean, there's so many incredible stories. And I think I really take the approach of everybody has a story to tell, like, and I'm sure you find this too, you know, in the chats that you have, but like, you know, everyone has a story of how they've got to where they are or, you know, something that hardship that they've endured or, you know, so, you know, there's, yeah, there's stories out there

9:18everywhere. Well, it's funny. You say that because you talk to a lot of people and they're like, well, why would you want to talk to me? Like, I don't have anything to say kind of thing. And then you just get them talking and it's actually like, I know, I don't, and they say, I do. Actually, yeah. Yeah. You're right. You're dead, you know? Yeah, exactly. And I think like women, particularly, can be very modest. And, you know, I mean, I'm Australian, as you can tell, well, maybe tell from my ex, and if I've still got one after 12 years, you know, it's, it's a, so I just feel like, and that was something I first noticed when I moved to New Zealand was like, oh my goodness, there's so much good stuff happening in rural New Zealand, but we're not sort of shouting it from the rooftops, or, you know, folks are not shouting it from the rooftops are sort of quite hidden or, you know, quiet about it. But, you know, you only have to go down a few roads around here and, you know, we're in the horror for no, and, you know, there's incredible things happening and stories down each road that, you know, have, I've, you know, learned over time, but, yeah. So I think, you know, just encouraging, I guess that's sort of part of, I guess, how

10:23we work with women to tell their story is not like a, I'll just have a chat for, you know, two minutes and then write up their story and off we go, but we have, you know, you do develop relationships and, you know, really strong, you know, and friendships with the, the folks that you work with. So, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, no, you definitely do. There's, there's no idea about that. So what's happening in the TV space? Ship it as TV. What's going on now? Well TV, gosh, that's a, you know, the industry is in a hard space, say, you know, in terms of television, but so we had an incredible first series, which, you know, landed a little, I can't even remember when, back a little while ago, and it's actually gone to all sorts of places. In fact, last week I heard it's just Kazakhstan, I think it's going to, so it's really, yeah, gone global, and it's played in Australia on SBS and, you know, so New Zealand women's stories are getting out there, which are so, so cool.

11:25And we'd love to do a second series, it's just getting the stars to align in terms of, you know, all those other factors in the, you know, TV screenspace. So, yeah. In the meantime, we have just, just released last week a podcast with RNZ. So it's a, we went, and we spent time with six women around the country. And we, yes, we spent time, we photographed them and audio, some video and collected, you know, gathered their stories. So yeah, that just started dropping last week in one a week for the next six weeks. It's just a six part series. Yeah, that sort of, that's been our latest project, which is really beautiful and exciting. And again, heartfelt stories, you know, really the women were very brave in what they shared with us, because, you know, it takes a lot of bravery to, you know, to, to share that much

12:27about yourself or what you've been through, but yeah, pretty incredible. Yeah, it does, but that's interesting that you've gone down that road, because that might be the next iteration, sort of almost combining, you know, a few sort of media, you know, platforms or whatever you might say, and you're sort of doing it that way as opposed to traditional, you know, six-spence of television series to film, you know? Yeah, that's exactly right. Like, as you know, like to, yeah, to film the budget that you need for a television series is, you know, significant, and, you know, even when it's, you know, it's documentary, but, you know, so this has been a really wonderful way, and, you know, our page in our team, so she's, you know, when she's not out in the road for the podcast, she used to be our cultural engagement manager, she writes for us, and then Francine Boer who photographs with us, so they just went on a, basically, they went on a road trip, and, yeah, and connected

13:28with, with these women who have this real diverse range of ages and experiences, and, yeah, it's really cool, so. Well, it's a good idea, because when you look as well, I mean, you know, Country Calendar, what's that just celebrated some milestone or something as well, it's still the longest running TV show in New Zealand, so that sort of thing, then you look at, you know, a lot of the, you know, fiction TV drama series and stuff like that, you know, the sort of the rural lifestyle, the big open vistas that are so good, you know, to put on screen and things like that, and, you know, getting back to more basic things in a digital age, excuse me, you know, these things, they are pretty popular, it's going through a pretty good time at the moment, isn't it? That sort of stuff, you know, you put that stuff on a screen somewhere and you're going to get an audience. Yeah, yeah, and I think, as you know, like, it's for us, it was like, you know, we've got these stories in a written format in, you know, in the publication or in the magazine,

14:32but then when you, you can only say so much and, you know, a thousand words or 1500 words or whatever, so to, when you get into spend time with people and chat with them and chat with them for hours, and, you know, then, you know, the sort of ability to go a bit deeper into their stories, like, really comes through. And then, obviously, that's for the listener, you know, that's the experience that they get. So I sort of feel like it's, like, a conversation with friends, you know, it's like overhearing, a chat between friends, yeah, so it's been a learning for us of a different format, but, you know, it still comes back to, like, the power of storytelling, doesn't really matter, just a bit of emotion. Yeah. Yeah, how powerful telling, and women sharing stories in their own voices too, because that's, I mean, that's what it is. You know, that's super cool, I think, from a connection point of view. Yeah. Which is what you're saying. You know, people relate to country calendar, or, you know, length sets of, you know,

15:35wanting to have an appetite for wanting to say about rural life. So hopefully with the podcast, we'll, you know, I think it's relatable to a rural audience, but also hopefully, you know, we have some listeners from, you know, more urban centres or all the cities because I think they would be able to get something out of it too. Oh, I think that's an absolute thing. Yeah, you only have to look at what we're talking about earlier with the sort of social media stuff and things like that. And yeah, people are fascinated by the sort of the rural lifestyle, I think, in urban areas in particular. So, rural people already know it. So, that's one audience, but as you say, I think urban audiences do get a heck of a lot out of these sorts of things, you know? Yeah, yeah. Well, yeah, as you said, country calendars are the biggest, you know, most popular TV show. So, yeah, it's... Yeah, well, yeah. So, yeah, multi-media sort of stuff. I suppose that's how everyone plays now. You kind of have to really, I suppose, you know, with the magazine being like, it's still probably

16:36the cornerstone. Yeah, I think so. I kind of see that, like, you know, that's like just wanting to keep growing that. And obviously, we've got incredible, you know, wonderful subscribers. But, you know, keeping on growing our subscriptions and, you know, that being the quarter, really supporting, you know, what we can do and want to do. And yeah, and then I see, you know, the mustard that we just held, that's effectively the magazine, but in a physical format, right? Like, you know, it's bringing people together over three days, you know, for this wonderful time of connection and, you know, connecting folks living really. So, yeah, I think, you know, all of it through all of the things we've done, it's just kept reiterating it. There's a real need, you know, that sense of isolation, which is the driver for starting this, you know, it's still there. And, you know, it gives us purpose, I guess. It's a, you know, vision, yeah. Exactly. Well, that explains it all perfectly. Good stuff. Well, thanks for joining us again and all the best with all those ventures. The new mag you just mentioned is out now the latest edition.

17:39Yeah, it's out now. It's a beautiful, well, I know I'm a bit fly. So, you always think you like latest babies the best, don't you? Well, no, no, we're not with children, but not say that. But, I've got three now and about to have another one, but I definitely better not say that. But, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But add to the chaos. But, no, it's, it's really, it's a gorgeous magazine and, you know, there's some beautiful stories in there. So, yeah, it's in the supermarkets at the moment. Fantastic. Good stuff. Christy, you always is lovely to catch up with you. Thanks so much. Appreciate it. Thanks for having me to chat.