Unprotected, uninitiated and unflinching, Dr Alla Shapiro entered into the world's most dangerous nuclear environment. As a first responder, Dr Shapiro has an unparalleled insight into the devastation, tragedy and chaos of the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster.  Amid an eerie and pervasive silence, Dr. Shapiro treated traumatized children and witnessed frightened families and civilians running barefoot across radioactive grounds and carrying stretchers to save others. To learn more about Dr...

After evading police in the UK, escaping to France through the Turkish mafia and eventually fleeing to Ecuador, Pieter was a man on the run.  In South America, Pieter was arrested. He was charged and his sentence, which was yet to be confirmed, had begun. Pieter was in limbo for a short period, before being transferred to Quito, a prison located in the North of Ecuador, and one known for its fierce gang rule. All of us at the Risk Equation would like to extend a thanks to Pieter for...

Pieter Tritton was an international cocaine trafficker. He was transporting millions of dollars worth of cocaine every week and dealing with some of the UK’s most dangerous people...while at the same time evading police in a period where the war on drugs was at its peak.  Nicknamed Posh Pete in the UK, and later Loco Pete in Ecuador - Pieter’s journey goes from exhilerating ...to dangerous...to deadly in a cataclysmic 20 year journey of drugs, murder and tragedy. This is part 1 of a two part...

Lisa Blair is one of world's most accomplished sailors. Her grit and determination, coupled with raw talent and a dogged refusal to give up has seen her overcome some of sailing's greatest challenges.  Aboard her yacht, 'Climate Action Now', Lisa became the first woman to circumnavigate Antarctica; a massive 183 day journey in the world's most dangerous sailing conditions. On her journey, she faced a collision with a shipping container, a bout of hyperthermia, and then horrifically, the...

Daniel Wordsworth is a man who has spent his life on call for the world’s most devastating crises. Imagine creating a crisis shelter, in the heart of Sydney, that was designed to take those that no one else would - the abused, the displaced, the addicted - then living in that place, with your friends, without any expectations for anything in return. Now, almost 35 years later, as CEO of World Vision Australia, Daniel must bring that authenticity and purity of purpose to one of the most...

Matt Levy is one of Australia’s most accomplished sports people. His swimming career began at just 13, when he started training for the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens.  Now, almost 21 years later, Matt is a seven time paralympic medalist - and one of Australia’s most decorated athletes. Matt competes in the S7 category. Swimmers in this class have use of their arms and trunk. They have limited leg function or are missing a leg or parts of both legs. Matt was born 25 weeks premature, has...

Tim Cope is a truly inspiring figure. He has journeyed over 10, 000 km from Mongolia to Hungary on horseback, rowed from southern Siberia to the Arctic Ocean, and cycled for 14 months to get from Moscow to Beijing. He is a filmmaker, an author, and an inspiration to future generations - asking them to look beyond their self-imposed limitations and answer the question, “what if?”.  Much of Tim’s journey has been alongside his loyal companion Tigon - a Kazakh dog that joined him at a  moment of...

Kate Leeming is one of the world’s most extraordinary people., she is an explorer, adventure and esteemed author.  A world renowned cyclist, Kate’s expeditions see her riding tens of thousands of kilometres, overcoming unimaginable challenge on a journey for the greater good. In her almost 30 year career, her trips have helped raise money for those affected by Chernobyl, famine and systemic racism:  All up, Kate has cycled a distance greater than twice around the Earth - and she has several...

The culture of an organisation like the Navy means everything. The unwritten rules, the everyday assumptions and the behavioral atmosphere change the way people act, react and engage.  Commander Lauren Milburn is one of the Royal Australian Navy’s culture and communication leaders. Her job requires steel, grit and a level of self awareness obtained only through years of training, and practice. The Royal Australian Navy has faced challenges, and women especially have had ongoing issues with...

16 years old, fleeing a brutal civil war, Zena Safa found herself stateless, trapped and without hope in a remarkable story of courage, tragedy and devastating sacrifice.  In 2011, Zena, her father and her mother were forced to flee a war-torn Libya. Thousands of innocent civilians were killed in the war, one which lasted more than 8-months.Zena’s journey is remarkable, and paints a picture of the difficulties and tragic circumstances millions of refugees face in their pursuit of freedom and...

A catastrophic fire aboard the International Space Station, how do the astronauts deal with this critical emergency? Andrea Boyd is a voice from Earth for those aboard the ISS, and someone who is trained and skilled in dealing with some of the world's most critical engineering challenges.As a Flight Operations Engineer, it's Andrea's job to handle any and all safety, logistical and communication procedures for the ISS and its crew. Andrea works in tandem with several other stations across the...

At just 25 years old, after a horrific car accident, Dinesh Palipana became a quadriplegic. Since then, Dinesh has become one of the most accomplished, recognised and admired figures in Australian medicine. Dinesh lost the use of his lower body, and a large degree of function in his arms and hands. It was the beginning of a new phase of life, one that would be filled with extraordinary challenge and struggle. A phase of life that demanded resilience on a scale few of us can imagine.On this...

The Global Financial Crisis shattered the economic system. It destroyed communities, lives, businesses and governments, and the effects are still being felt, even today. The result and fallout of the largest global recession since the 1930s was left to governments, ministers and leaders, with some of the biggest decisions the modern world had ever faced needing to be made. The person making those decisions for the Australian people, was then Treasurer Wayne Swan. Wayne served as Treasurer for...

Isolated, below freezing temperatures, and relied upon as the lone doctor in an Antarctic Research Facility. A select group of researchers and scientists travel to Antarctica to conduct experiments and study the land - an even more select group of people are tasked with keeping them safe. Each year, a single doctor is appointed to the Davis Research Station in the Australian Antarctic Territory. A 12 month stay, enduring the most extreme conditions on earth, bustling through the below...

An integral part of one of Australia’s greatest ever sporting moments - yet four years prior, Olympic Gold Medalist Bill Kirby was close to quitting the sport, and potentially ending his life. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Bill Kirby was the fourth and final swimmer in Australia’s historic 4x200m freestyle relay victory, setting a new world record and kickstarting a golden era of Australian swimming. Yet as Bill was walking along the pool deck before that final, hearing the screams of...

200ft to 50ft, to scraping raging waters in order to rescue a stranded sailor is just one example of how Navy helicopter pilots are some of the most skilled and courageous members of our military. Natalee Johnston was one of those incredible pilots. Joining the Navy in the late 1990s, Natalee was an historically excellent pilot, and was part of the renowned 817 Sea King squadron.After earning her wings and becoming a certified pilot, Natalee made history in the Royal Australian Navy, becoming...

One of the world's next cricketing stars. Tasked with playing a part in the future of Australia's most prestigious team, Will Pucovski is expected by many to take the torch from the most recent generation and help lift the country back to its former, and nationally assumed position as the best team in the world. Compared to Ricky Ponting, Justin Langer and either Waugh brother - expectations are high for what Will, at just 22, should accomplish in a baggy green cap. But as of October 2020,...

7,000 calls a day, 12 a second. Unrelenting, call after call, each with the possibility of being a life changing moment. 000 operators are the first point of contact for when Australian’s face a life or death moment. The expectations to perform are unyielding and the consequences if you don’t, are fatal.Taylor faces those expectations and consequences everyday. Shes one of Australia’s 000 operators, and this week, on The Risk Equation, shares some of her incredible stories and offers an...

Operating in a specialty that has no margin for error, in a field that demands an inhuman attention to detail and a resilience that few can sustain. Surgery, and especially paediatric surgery requires a careful and considered understanding of risk. Deciding when and when not to operate, taking the evidence available, forming a conclusion and making a decision, even if the outcome, which is often life or death, is not certain. Dr Craig McBride joins The Risk Equation to discuss how he handles...

Shot down and laying in a muddy killing field, surrounded by a barrage of enemy machine gun fire, Don Tate, a man who’s sacrifice goes far beyond that of human expectation, had the thoughts and memories of a horrifying nine month tour of Vietnam flash before his eyes. Deploying in 1968, Don served as a rifleman during the Vietnam war. His story is truly remarkable, and is one we’re incredibly grateful to have heard and had the chance to craft into something withstanding of Don and his...

Millions of people watching, hanging on your every word. What you say next will be played countless times, acting as a moment in history for your country and the world. Simon Hill has faced these moments hundreds of times before, commentating World Cups, Champions Leagues and Asian Cups, acting as the voice of Australian Soccer for more than 20 years. You’ll know him from Aloisi’s penalty or Tim Cahill’s goal in Kaiserslautern. He’s recognised and celebrated as one of the country’s great...

What do the world’s best do when it all comes crashing down? What is someone like Roger Federer doing to stay focused, balanced and healthy? Executive life coach Shannah Kennedy chats with Dr Chris Maguire about her time working with the world’s elite, and how the mistakes and lessons learnt along the way saved her and are now saving her clients. Shannah’s work extends across the elite of Australian business, sport and financial industries. To learn more about Shannah and her work, visit her...

How does an Olympic diver do what they do? What does it take to leap, twist, contort and land with perfection in a matter miliseconds? On this episode of The Risk Equation, Sam Fricker, an Australian diver, aims to give us an insight.The Risk Equation is a weekly podcast hosted by paediatric surgical registrar Dr Chris Maguire. The show is a construction of conversations between Chris and those working in high risk, high pressure and high performance jobs, offering a refreshingly raw and...