Will Ferguson is Orange born-and-bred – a musician and Solutions & Integrations Manager with Phocus, a locally grown software company making its mark across the world.

In this episode, Will traces his journey from a childhood spent in the heart of Orange’s creative, close-knit community to chasing musical dreams across the United States. He shares stories from living and performing in New Orleans, meeting extraordinary musicians, and soaking up the city’s unmatched culture.

We talk about Will’s return to Orange and his experience taking over the Pet Shop Café – one of the early venues to bring true espresso culture to the region. Will also shares the story of reconnecting with a kindergarten classmate years later… and eventually marrying her.

Coming from a highly regarded musical family, Will reflects on the role of creativity, community, and the people who’ve shaped his path. He also takes us inside Phocus – the Orange-based software company that has quietly expanded across the globe – and explains how regional ingenuity can compete on the world stage.

Finally, we explore Will’s views on the rise of AI and why he believes it will ultimately benefit us all.

Episode 11 – Jack Cole
This week we sit down with Penrith Panthers rising star Jack Cole, one of Orange’s own. Jack talks about growing up in the Central West, his days at Orange High School, and the pathway that took him from CYMS juniors to the NRL. It is a grounded chat with a young bloke who has already achieved plenty and still has a huge future ahead. A good reminder that elite talent can come straight from our backyard.

Justine is the School Manager at the School of Rural Medicine, Charles Sturt University in Orange — a role that places her at the centre of efforts to strengthen regional healthcare and medical education.

Growing up in Orange, Justine experienced the freedom and community spirit that come with regional life. After exploring different roles and building her experience in education, she’s now helping shape how future doctors study and train close to home.

In this episode, Justine reflects on how Orange has changed over the years, the social and cultural progress happening across the Central West, and the ongoing challenge of retaining medical graduates in rural areas. She shares how the School of Rural Medicine is tackling these issues head-on, by expanding access to medical education and helping to address doctor shortages across regional Australia.

It’s an open and engaging conversation about community, education, and the people working to build a stronger future for regional healthcare.