We are delighted to have been invited to participate in Podcasthon 2026 - a global initiative amongst podcasters across the world, where we dedicate an episode of our podcasts to promote a deserving not-for-profit organisation / charity.

Since our last Podcasthon episode in 2025, we have discovered two amazing organisations that are doing amazing things in regional Australia, especially when times are their toughest.

In this episode, Neil chats to Linda Widdup, the founder of Aussie Hay Runners (and the 2026 Australian Of The Year Victorian Local Hero) and Kevin Butler the founder of BlazeAid.

Local Government Area: N/A

Podcasthon web site: <a href="https://www.podcasthon.org" target="_blank">www.podcasthon.org</a>

Aussie Hay Runners Facebook page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aussiehayrunners" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/aussiehayrunners</a>

BlazeAid web site: <a href="https://www.blazeaid.com.au" target="_blank">www.blazeaid.com.au</a>

Did you know that almost 10 million Australians live outside of the major metropolitan cities and suburbs? 

And every single one of those 10 million people have a story to tell - a story about themselves, their family, their town or their region. In The Regional 250, we will chat to 250 of those people, learn about their town or region and let them tell their story in a relaxed "podversational" style. 

And to ensure that we cover as much of Australia as we can, we are going to limit ourselves to one podversation per Local Government Area (LGA) across Australia. That means that we'll cover 250 rural cities, towns, boroughs and shires from right across the country.

There'll be happy stories and sad stories. There'll be funny episodes and serious ones, too. But they'll be genuine. They'll be interesting. They'll be real.

And we can't wait to bring The Regional 250 to you.