R2Kast 431 – Sally-Ann Spence on Britain’s Got Talent, dung beetles and saying yes to adventure

R2Kast 431 – Sally-Ann Spence on Britain’s Got Talent, dung beetles and saying yes to adventure

July 17, 2026 · 1h 30m · Season 6 · Episode 29

About this episode

Sally-Ann Spence discusses her diverse career, her experience on Britain's Got Talent, and the importance of dung beetles in agriculture.

Today I had Sally-Ann on the R2Kast 🎙️ What a conversation this was. Sally-Ann wears more hats than almost anyone I’ve had on the podcast, working across agriculture, entomology, ecology, palaeontology and education, while somehow also becoming part of the winning Hawstone Farmers Choir on Britain’s Got Talent. 🌾 We started with the choir journey, from answering a social media advert looking for farmers who could hold a tune, through to filming adverts, building friendships and eventually standing on the Britain’s Got Talent stage. Sally-Ann shared what it felt like to go from an ordinary farming and science background to performing live in front of millions of people and ultimately winning the competition. 🍎   A big part of the conversation focused on dung beetles and why they matter so much. We discussed the role they play in soil health, nutrient cycling, biodiversity, pasture management and wider ecosystem function. It was a fascinating insight into a part of farming that most people never think about, despite its huge importance to both agriculture and nature. 🌍   We also spoke about curiosity, learning, Land Rovers, expeditions, mental health, finding your…

People in this episode

Host: Wallace Currie

Guest: Sally-Ann Spence

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Hawstone Farmers Choir

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