Douglas Gimesy is an award-winning conservation photographer who made a name for himself with powerful images capturing a wide range of conservation issues. From the illegal wildlife trade to the Black Summer bushfires and the plight of our iconic platypus, he spends most of his time capturing the Australian environment in crisis. On this episode Doug discusses his favourite images, shares tips for aspiring photographers and explains why conservation photography is much more than just doom...

Peter Godfrey-Smith is a philosopher of science and best-selling author. After an encounter with a curious cuttlefish he set out to uncover the secrets of octopus intelligence. On this episode Peter talks about the mysterious lives of cephalopods, whether they have personalities and how smart they really are. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote (Senior Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com).   You can...

Anna Clark is a historian, author and passionate fisher who’s acclaimed book “The Catch: The Story of fishing in Australia” offers a unique view on Australia’s favourite past time activity. On this episode Anna talks about what got her hooked on fishing in the first place, the drastic impact of both recreational and commercial fisheries on our fish stocks and how we can ensure there is a future for fishing in this country. This episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Ben Kanthak (Podcast...

Mike Ellott is one of the country’s leading publishing designers. Australian Geographic´s creative director chats about how he got started – on magazines in London – to what it took to land his current, highly coveted role. He also delves into the art of turning complicated facts into beautiful, educational graphics, and where he finds his inspiration. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote (Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak...

The pioneering marine biologist made it her calling to unravel the secrets of bioluminescence in world's deepest oceans. Bioluminescence is light produced by a chemical reaction within a living organism, and it’s more common in those dark depths than you may think. In this episode Edith talks about how she fell in love with the ocean at a young age, her short bout with blindness, which inspired her fascination with light and the moment she spotted a giant squid.  This Episode of Talking...

Julian Cribb is an award-winning author and science communicator who has published thousands of articles as well as 12 books focusing on the existential risks faced by humanity.   His new book EARTH DETOX: How and Why we must clean up our planet addresses the dangers of toxic chemicals, why they are even more of a threat to our future than climate change, and what we can do to stop poisoning ourselves daily.   This episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Ben Kanthak (Podcast Producer at...

Dieter Hochulli is an urban ecologist who specialises in understanding how cities impact Australia’s unique wildlife. During the recent, unprecedented bushfires we saw how cities could act as refuges in dangerous weather situations.  However, as Australia has become more urbanised Dieter has observed how animals such as the brush turkey, orb weaving spider and our unique flora have found surprising success against all the odds our city lives put them up against.  This Episode of Talking...

In 2013 Ryan Campbell became the first teenager and youngest pilot to fly solo around the world. His adventure took him 70 days, and 24,000 nautical miles, through 15 different countries. It also earned Ryan several honours, including the Australian Geographic Society's Young Adventurer of the Year award.  But two years later Ryan’s life was instantly changed in a horrific plane crash that left him paralysed from the waist down. But this incredible man fought his way back, learning how to...

Behavioural ecologist Gisela Kaplan has studied native Australian birds for decades and understands them better than most people. The expression “bird brain” means quite the opposite of what we think and some species are outsmarting human children in some areas. Her biggest worry is that Australians take their birds for granted and our way of life is pushing them to the brink.  On this episode Gisela talks about how to save native birds by understanding their behaviour and needs. It’s not...

Animal pathologist Dr Lydia Tong reinvented the role of veterinarian. After uncovering a cruel dog-killing scandal, she spearheaded a campaign to enforce stricter rules on racing-dog breeders, as well as bringing attention to animal abuse in households with domestic violence. Her most important work, however, might be the discovery of a new method to determine, within seconds, whether an animal has been illegally captured or bred in captivity.   On this episode she shares how she discovered a...

Rick Shine is Australia’s leading expert on cane toads and, together with his team of researchers, the evolutionary biologist and ecologist developed new methods to control the ecological impact of the invasive amphibians. Since its introduction, the poisonous toad is rapidly spreading across the continent with devastating effects for many of Australia’s large predators. In this episode Rick explains why the toads are spreading at such a high speed and how his observations lead to the...

Besides his day job as a University Research Assistant Corey Tutt works tirelessly to raise funds and books for his initiative Deadly Science. So far the program has distributed 5000 books and 70 telescopes to Australian schools. For his efforts to bring knowledge and resources to some of Australia's most remote schools Corey had been named the 2020 NSW Young Australian of the Year. Being an indigenous person himself his motivation is to inspire other young indigenous people and empower them...

Besides his day job as a University Research Assistant Corey Tutt works tirelessly to raise funds and books for his initiative Deadly Science. So far the program has distributed 5000 books and 70 telescopes to Australian schools. For his efforts to bring knowledge and resources to some of Australia's most remote schools Corey had been named the 2020 NSW Young Australian of the Year. Being an indigenous person himself his motivation is to inspire other young indigenous people and empower them...

The Adelaide based ecologist and native bee expert is known for his beautiful portrait images of bees and other insects. James is the author of the book “Bees of Australia” and just recently, after 100 years in hiding, he rediscovered the rare cloaked bee. On this episode he talks about the relevance of his images, how he came across a species that was believed to be long lost and how we can help bees to thrive in our own backyards. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Angela...

David Malin is a globally acclaimed astrophotographer, known for inventing new ways to capture the true colours of our night sky. These techniques also led to the discovery of two new types of galaxies. Born in the North of England he moved to Australia in 1976 to join the Australian Astronomical Observatory. In 1987 David discovered what is known to be the largest spiral galaxy so far – ‘Malin 1’. His passion for astrophotography is compelling, so much so that since 2005 he has hosted the...

Regarded as one of the world’s leading female extreme adventure photographers, Krystle Wright is always pushing the limits of her craft. Also a cinematographer and director, she gave up city living to pursue her dream and hasn't looked back. Her personal desire for adrenaline and passion for paragliding almost cost her her life in a serious accident in Pakistan in 2013. On this episode she talks about the reward of going the extra mile for a great story or image, and she shares how draining...

Lauren Tischendorf took on a special challenge and became the first woman to swim around Lord Howe Island. The gruesome 35km ocean swim took her 13 hours, negotiating large swells and shark-studded waters throughout. South African-born Lauren became a regular swimmer at Sydney’s beaches but got sparked on by belittling remarks of fellow, primarily male, swimmers about her ability to keep up. This motivated her to push even harder. Lauren has a penchant for testing her physical and mental...

Peggy Rismiller made it her calling to slowly unravel the mysteries of the world’s oldest species of mammal – the echidna. In the late 80s she joined the team at the Pelican Lagoon Research and Wildlife Centre on Kangaroo Island and since then her work has earned her international recognition. On this episode she shares some amazing facts about these fascinating animals that we still know so little about. She also talks about the effects of the raging 2019 bushfires on the island and its...

Regarded as one of the world’s leading female extreme adventure photographers, Krystle Wright is always pushing the limits of her craft. Also a cinematographer and director, she gave up city living to pursue her dream and hasn't looked back. Her personal desire for adrenaline and passion for paragliding almost cost her her life in a serious accident in Pakistan in 2013. On this episode she talks about the reward of going the extra mile for a great story or image, and she shares how draining...

Reaching up to 3m in length the giant Gippsland earthworm may be the world's largest of its kind. Often mistaken for a snake due to its size, this creature can only be found in a few locations in Victoria. The worms are under serious pressure by agricultural use of their habitat so, for the last 30 years, ecologist Beverley van Praagh and her team at the Giant Earthworm Project have been working closely with the Victorian government and local farmers to find ways to ensure the survival of...

Outback travel expert Ron Moon has seen more of Australia than most. He has spent much of his life exploring and writing about Australia’s remote areas and adventures like retracing journeys of early European explorers. He made a life by combining his love for 4WD touring, camping, bird watching, diving, hunting, canoeing and fishing. He also guided a lot of people on their path to stepping into the wild areas of Australia and sparked a flame in many through his writing. This Episode of...

Sophie Matterson took a break from her work in the film industry and the constraints of city life to find new inspiration in the outdoors. She ended up mustering feral camels in the Red Centre, which gave her an idea for an epic adventure. Last year during the midst of the global pandemic she embarked on a 5000km, solo, coast-to-coast trek, accompanied only by her beloved camels. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Chrissie Goldrick (Editor-in-chief at Australian Geographic) and...

Albert Wiggan is an inspiration. A traditional owner and Bardi-Kija-Nyul Nyul man from the Dampier Peninsula of Western Australia, he's also an Indigenous ranger and sees himself as a translator between Western science and Aboriginal teachings. "I feel part of both worlds," the 38 year old says. His knowledge and love for nature led him to fight the government's plans for the world’s largest LNG gas export terminal at James Price Point (a vital marine sanctuary, home to songlines and...

Darryl Jones is a bird scientist who opened up the debate about bird feeding in Australia. He went from anti-bird-feeder to becoming a responsible voice for an activity a large number of Australians enjoy doing. He is also loves colourful Hawaiian shirts and is a real treat to talk to. On this episode he says why feeding birds isn’t as bad as we were told if done right and what to look out for. His newest book “Feeding the birds at your table” is a courageous step forward to approaching a...

At only 18 years of age, passionate cyclist and outdoor enthusiast Jimmy Ashby jumped on his bike and set off on a life-changing trip that even the most devoted cyclists would balk at. The South Australian teenager wanted to fulfil his dream to cycle around the whole world all by himself. Thirteen months later, Jimmy had cycled 39,000km, crossing 32 countries on four continents before arriving back home in Adelaide. In this episode he shares some of the fascinating stories and talks...