In 2017 Lisa Blair became the first woman to sail solo around Antarctica. Earlier this year she set sail again, determined to become the fastest person ever to complete the journey.On this episode of Talking Australia we catch up with Lisa as she rounds Cape Horn, her journey's halfway point, ahead of schedule and discover she's involved in all manner of scientific research onboard when she's not battling 10m swells and 50 knot winds.  This episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Liz Ginis (AG Digital Managing Editor) and produced by Ben Kanthak (Podcast Producer at Australian Geographic) You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Parker is the Senior Threatened Species Officer at the NSW Department of Planning & Environment  and Chair of the National Recovery Plan for the Plains-wanderer. In his role David works with rural landholders to ensure the survival of threatened species. In 2021 these efforts lead to more than 13,000 hectares being gifted by landholders to protect the critically endangered plains-wanderer – one of Australia’s rarest birds. On this episode David talks about his role in helping to bring these birds, affectionately known as "Goldilocks', back from the brink while working with passionate and dedicated local landholders. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Liz Ginis (Managing Editor Digital at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Engineer and professional adventurer Chris Bray turned his passion for nature photography into a thriving business - teaching people how to photograph animals around the globe. His adventurous life started early on a boat with his parents and sister as they sailed around the world.  On this episode of Talking Australia Chris chats about his upbringing and how he discovered his passion for photography, and about a hair-raising, high-risk sailing trip through the North West Passage on an old wooden junk, which could have ended his career before it even started. Currently he lives on Christmas Island where he has established an eco-lodge. With the sea at his front door and a wild and remote Indian Ocean island as his playground, Chris has a story you won't want to miss! This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Liz Ginis (Managing Editor Digital at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com) You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duane Hamacher is an astronomer and associate professor at the University of Melbourne who has specific interests in cultural astronomy and Indigenous sciences.  His new book, The First Astronomers - How indigenous Elders read the stars, offers a systematic overview of traditional First Nations knowledge of the stars. In this episode he talks about the history and value of cultural astronomy and ongoing attempts to discredit Indigenous science and knowledge. This episode of Talking Australia is hosted and produced by Ben Kanthak (Podcast Producer at Australian Geographic) You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aymeric Maudous grew up in the French countryside of the Bordeaux region and moved to Australia 17 years ago. After years of being a successful marketer in the US he eventually decided to follow his childhood passion for the environment. Aymeric launched “Lord of the Trees” in 2019 – a company that uses drone technology to help reforest landscapes. On this episode Aymeric talks about drones, the benefits of high- and low-tech to tackle current environmental challenges and why Indigenous knowledge and support from local communities is key to the success of his company's work. This episode of Talking Australia is hosted and produced by Ben Kanthak (Podcast Producer at Australian Geographic) You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alan Collins is a professor at the University of Adelaide who is interested in the deep earth evolution of our planet and its effect on our atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere. He leads the Tectonics and Earth Systems Group and in 2012 was awarded an Australian Research Council “Future Fellowship”. On this episode of Talking Australia Alan talks about the secrets that rocks hold, our planet’s history, volcanoes and so called “super mountains” This episode of Talking Australia is hosted and produced by Ben Kanthak (Podcast Producer at Australian Geographic) You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tim Jarvis had his fair share of suffering being a polar adventurer and going through extremes. But in order to recreate two epic journeys by Sir Douglas Mawson and Sir Ernest Shackleton, from the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, Tim willingly stripped himself of all modern equipment and finished these expeditions with the same clothes and gear that his predecessors used in the early 1900s. On this episode of Talking Australia Tim talks about his adventures and how he since then has become a climate change advocate, public speaker and as of late started the “Forktree Project”, a non-profit demonstration site in South Australia to show large scale rewildering of agricultural land. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Chrissie Goldrick (Editor-in-chief at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com) You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Dean Miller is a marine biologist, adventurer, film maker, photographer and writer. He is also the managing director of the NGO ‘Great Barrier Reef Legacy’ which is a group of experts dedicated to conservation of coral reefs around the world with focus on our own mighty reef. On this episode of Talking Australia Dean explains how coral reefs work to understand better what exactly ‘bleaching’ means and the work of  GBR Legacy who aim to provide opportunities for scientists to access the GBR to conduct primary research. They do this by chartering ships which take a mix of paying guests and professional researchers to remote parts of the reef. They founded a coral biobank to conserve endangered coral species for future coral re-seeding work. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Chrissie Goldrick (Editor-in-chief at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com) You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greg Mortimer is one of Australia’s best known and highly respected mountaineers. In 1984 Greg was one of the first two Australians to ever summit Everest. He also climbed the world’s most dangerous mountain, K2, as well as two of the highest peaks in Antarctica. He later became a pioneer of Antarctic tourism and even has a new ship named after him. On this episode of Talking Australia Greg talks about his mountaineering days and how his groundbreaking summit of Everest was also due to his liberal parents and a free upbringing, as well as a bit of naivety and sheer will.This is part one of our conversation with Greg. Make sure to check out part two. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Chrissie Goldrick (Editor-in-chief at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com) You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kellie Walters is a holistic ecological management expert who started her career living and working as an ecotour guide in Kakadu National Park 24 years ago. Since then she made it her goal to help farmers “future-proof” their land by improving the soil. Trying to be part of the solution her company VRM Biologik produces natural agriculture products that help farmers boost both their soil’s carbon capture and nutrient density.  On this episode Kellie talks about the importance of healthy soil and how regenerative agriculture and adapting farming methods can help fight climate change. She also talks about her involvement with the fantastic upcoming documentary "Standing on the soilution”. Trailer:  vimeo.com/442553831  This episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Ben Kanthak (Podcast Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by www.beachshackpodcasts.com 
 
You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. During the midst of the global pandemic she embarked on a 5000km, solo, coast-to-coast trek, accompanied only by her beloved camels. 2 years after embarking on her adventure at shark bay in Western Australia Sophie finished her journey in Byron Bay on the East coast. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Chrissie Goldrick (Editor-in-chief at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com) You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Dabrowa is a Melbourne-based biohacker and an expert in the field of artificial intelligence and social media. During his time at Harvard University he focussed his social research on the use of propaganda interviewing Nazis and former KGB agents. On this episode Paul talks about the importance of garage scientists and mavericks to the sciences community and the huge potential of biohacking through easy access to advanced gene-modifying technology, known as CRISPR. Despite being part of a growing biohacker scene Paul doesn’t shy away from addressing the dangers that can come with this technology and know how in the wrong hands. He also shares the secret to making beer glow in the dark. This episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Ben Kanthak (Podcast Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by www.beachshackpodcasts.com 
 
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Craig Leeson began his life in a small community in Northern Tasmania but today he works out of Hong Kong from where he operates an award-winning international documentary making operation.   Craig is a man who understands the power of storytelling to create awareness and has made films with the likes of David Attenborough and the National Geographic channel. In 2017 he released “A Plastic Ocean”, a landmark documentary that has seen Craig become an activist and outspoken advocate for political and social change on ocean health and climate change. He has been named Tasmanian Australian of the Year 2022 and just released a new documentary about the loss of the world’s glaciers. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Chrissie Goldrick (Editor-in-chief at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com) You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Kylie Cairns is a population geneticist and runs the Dingo Genetics Research program. Her aim is to gather more genetic information from Dingos in order to protect them and break with the perception of dingos as feral wild dogs. 
In this episode, she explains her position in a decades-long and heated scientific debate about the identity of Australia’s land-based apex predator. Kylie shares why she feels it is crucial to protect these animals, which have been introduced to this continent more than 4000 years ago.
This episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Ben Kanthak (Podcast Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by www.beachshackpodcasts.com   You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Glen Jacobs is the Director of World Trail and the first and only Australian to be inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame. With his company Glen has designed, planned and constructed hundreds of projects in 20 countries and created more than 300km of purpose-built mountain bike trails in Australia. At the age of 12 the Queenslander began exploring the rainforest and building trails in Cairns. In the early 1990s Glen made a name for himself by producing some of the first ever Freeride videos and heavily influenced the sport of mountain biking as we know it today. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Justin Walker (Editor Australian Geographic Adventure) and produced by Ben Kanthak at www.beachshackpodcasts.com 
 
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Molly Taylor grew up in family of passionate and successful rally drivers. In 2016 she became the youngest ever and first female driver to win the Australian championship. Currently she is competing in the all new electric “Extreme E Rally Championship” and will fulfil her dream by taking part in the legendary Dakar Rally - the pinnacle of off-road racing. On this episode Molly talks about her upbringing in a racing family, pushing the envelope as an upcoming female driver in a still male dominated sport and what it feels like to compete against her parents. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Justin Walker (Editor Australian Geographic Adventure) and produced by Ben Kanthak at www.beachshackpodcasts.com 
 
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Annette Rypalski is the Biodiversity Director at Mt Rothwell, the largest feral-free ecosystem in Victoria – just 50km outside of Melbourne. Within the fenced-off, predator-free area, Annette and her team work hard to ensure the survival of some of Australia’s most critically endangered species. On this episode she shares her journey, explains how dingoes are a vital help with her efforts and also reflects on the deadly bushfires that almost wiped out the entire southern brush-tailed rock-wallaby population. This episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Ben Kanthak (Podcast Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by www.beachshackpodcasts.com 
 
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Professor Veena Sahajwalla is also known as “the waste queen” and the inventor of the world’s first e-waste micro factory. Her mission in life is to find new ways to deal with our massive waste problems. Her ideas of reviving waste gained huge popularity through the successful tv-program “war on waste”. In this episode she shares her story from her childhood in India to becoming a recycling guru and professor at the University of NSW. Here you can find out more about Veena´s work:www.newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/science-tech/fighting-war-waste This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote (Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographic.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bryan Lessard, better known as “Bry the Fly Guy”, is an entomologist who's dedicated to changing our perception of flies and other insects. He has discovered many new fly species and had the privilege of naming them, often having fun along the way with names such as Scaptia beyonceae, aka Beyoncé fly.  On this episode of Talking Australia Bryan explains why flies and other insects are crucial to pollination and why insects in particular are becoming a billion dollar industry. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote (Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ross Coulthart is a highly respected, award-winning investigative journalist, TV presenter and author. He is well known to Australians thanks to his role as an investigative reporter on 60 Minutes.  Ross spent much of the past year discovering more about sightings of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), previously referred to as UFOs, following a decision by the US government to officially investigate sightings of UAP, in particular video footage captured by the United States Navy. On this episode Ross talks about this paradigm shift and his decision to finally investigate the subject after almost four decades as a journalist. He also shares some of the stories he has unearthed here in Australia. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Chrissie Goldrick (Editor-in-chief at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com)  You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dick Smith is described by Paul Hogan as part Bill Gates and part Bear Grylls on the cover of his new autobiography, My Adventurous Life. He is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, explorer, political activist and the founder of Australian Geographic. This proud true-blue Aussie also holds several aviation records, including the first solo circumnavigation of the planet by helicopter, the first circumnavigation of the planet landing at both poles and the first helicopter to the North Pole. He continues to support causes close to his heart and helped many Australian explorers and adventurers to achieve their goals. On this episode Dick talks about his inspiring life, achievements and the importance of knowing when to stop chasing the next big adventure. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Chrissie Goldrick (Editor-in-chief at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com)
 
You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bradley Trevor Greive or simply BTG was a paratrooper in Australian army before becoming a mega-selling author with more than 30 million copies sold worldwide. He is also a graduate of the Russian cosmonaut program, a Polynesian rock lifting champion, wildlife photographer, conservationist, cartoonist and many more things. His brand new wildlife animation series “Adventure Beast” has just been released on Netflix. On this episode BTG talks about the advantages of animated nature shows, his literature heroes, conservation efforts and how he identified a gigantic Alaskan hybrid brown bear sub-species.He also shares the hilarious origin story of his friendship with the brilliant comedian John Cleese. This episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Ben Kanthak (Podcast Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by www.beachshackpodcasts.com  You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After his life-changing bike ride around the world, Jimmy Ashby was looking for his next big adventure and found it right on his doorstep. With the world going into lockdown Jimmy and his mate Chad Freak decided to take on a 3000km desert ride into the Outback. The duo cycled from Perth to Coober Pedy in South Australia through some of the most remote areas of the continent. The majority of the way they rode the famous 1325km Anne Beadell Highway, which only a handful of cyclists have done over the past half century.  This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Liz Ginis (Managing Editor Digital at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sean Dooley is a TV comedy writer and author whose great passion in life is for birds. He is a self-described ‘extreme twitcher’ and took a whole year off to travel the continent counting birds and broke the national record. He wrote about the experience in his book The Big Twitch. These days Sean is the Public Affairs Manager at BirdLife Australia. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Chrissie Goldrick (Editor-in-chief at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com) You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 and gloom. 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 also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by www.beachshackpodcasts.com  You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote (Senior Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com).  You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Australian Geographic) and produced by www.beachshackpodcasts.com  You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote (Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 walk, and even flying a plane, again. Ryan's personal battle led him to public speaking where he shares his secrets on how to live life #TurbulenceTough. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Chrissie Goldrick (Editor-in-chief at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com) You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 too late, yet. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote (Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 new role for vets in pathology and her work at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote (Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 proposal of a new theory for evolutionary change. This episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Ben Kanthak (Podcast Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by www.beachshackpodcasts.com  You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 to believe they can be whatever they dream to be. On this episode he talks about his upbringing, what it is like to work as an Alpaca shearer and how he got to become a zookeeper without a university degree. Corey also shares how Deadly Science evolved from sending out a few private books to an ever-growing initiative that raises thousands of dollars and gains more and more supporters.   You can find out more about Deadly Science here: https://deadlyscience.icu/   This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote (Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com).   You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 to believe they can be whatever they dream to be. On this episode he talks about his upbringing, what it is like to work as an Alpaca shearer and how he got to become a zookeeper without a university degree. Corey also shares how Deadly Science evolved from sending out a few private books to an ever-growing initiative that raises thousands of dollars and gains more and more supporters. You can find out more about Deadly Science here:https://deadlyscience.icu/ This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote (Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Heathcote (Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com).   You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 annual David Malin Awards, which give astrophotographers a platform to present their work. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted and produced by Ben Kanthak (Podcast Producer at Australian Geographic) at www.beachshackpodcasts.com . You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 her profession and lifestyle can be at times and how she had to readjust to being stuck at home and unable to travel the globe during the pandemic. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Liz Ginis (Managing Editor Digital at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 resilience; she has participated in ultra-marathon races before eventually eying off Lord Howe. In preparation for her island circumnavigation, the 37 year old swam 35km a week for the past three years. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Liz Ginis (Managing Editor Digital at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com).   You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 echidna population. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote (Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com).   You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 this fascinating species. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote (Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com).   You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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, including retracing journeys of early European explorers. He fashioned a life based on his love for 4WD touring, camping, bird watching, diving, hunting, canoeing and fishing. He has also ignited that flame for multitudes of people through his writing. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Justin Walker (Editor Australian Geographic Adventure) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com)   You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 dinosaur footprints). Albert lobbied the Supreme Court and fronted a blockade until the developer withdrew from the project. On this episode of Talking Australia, Albert discusses his concerns for the future of the Kimberley and how the entire nation can benefit from the region - without extraction and potential devastation of one of country's most pristine areas. This episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Chrissie Goldrick (Editor-in-chief at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 topic that has been deemed highly contagious. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote (Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 about people he met along the way and how the adventure helped him to find the “true Jimmy”. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Liz Ginis (Managing Editor Digital at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com) You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charles Massy is one of the most important voices of Australia's regenerative farming movement. A farmer, scientist and author, he experienced the devastating effects of traditional farming methods firsthand on his family farm. For years Charles unwittingly contributed to its decline, using chemicals and pesticides that degraded the soil. After years of drought turned the property into a dustbowl, he turned to other, more holistic, methods. These ideas helped him to carefully nurse the 2000-hectare property back to natural health and led him to share his knowledge of regenerative farming in his ground-breaking book, Call of the Reed Warbler. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Liz Ginis (Managing Editor Digital at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com).   You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leila Jeffreys is a fine art photographer famous for her Australian bird portraits. Rather than capturing her motives in the outdoors she brings them into a photo studio environment and creates truly unique pictures of local birds. This gives her the ability to capture incredible detail and the results are pictures that bend the idea of where nature photography ends and fine art begins. On this episode she talks about how she ended up in photography, what motivated her to focus on bird portraits and her most special photo shoot ever. Here you can find out more about Leila´s work: https://www.leilajeffreys.com/ This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote (Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Huw Kingston is an adventurer, speaker, entrepreneur, former cafe owner, event director, environmentalist, writer, ski guide, mountain bike guide, tour leader, parliamentary candidate and grandfather. But to most he is best known for his year-long, human-powered circumnavigation of the Mediterranean Sea. Huw sea kayaked, walked, cycled and rowed a boat 13,000 kilometres through 17 countries. This adventure coincided with the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing. During his journey Huw raised funds for the charity Save the Children Australia, becoming their biggest ever individual fundraiser. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Liz Ginis (Managing Editor Digital at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com).   You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fred Watson is a professor of astronomy, a popular author, musician, and beloved TV and radio personality and has an asteroid named after him (5691 Fredwatson). He is also Australia’s first Astronomer-at-large which is not only a pretty impressive work title but more so a testament to all of his accomplishments over the years in the field of astronomy. It also means Fred knows better than most of us what’s at stake when talking about the issue of light pollution. In some urban areas our night sky environment has shrunk to just a “hand full of stars” due to the amount of bad light that is radiating into the atmosphere. But light pollution also has negative effects on wild life and our own health. On this episode Fred is talking about his involvement with dark sky tourism and the efforts for urban dark sky parks to show people the beauty of an untouched night sky environment. He also shares what can be done to stop light pollution. Here you can find out more about Fred: http://www.fredwatson.com.au This is a link to the Australian Dark Sky Alliance: https://www.australasiandarkskyalliance.org This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote (Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ron Allum is a pioneering cave diver and inventor who originally started out as a broadcasting technician for the ABC. Not only has he broken records as a cave diver but also discovered his talent for inventing state of the art underwater equipment used in film. His abilities brought him together with legendary film-maker and deep-sea enthusiast James Cameron. The mission was nothing less than to build a submarine that could take James to the deepest-known point in the Earth’s seabed - the Mariana Trench, with a depth of almost 11,000m. Despite all of these accomplishments, Ron is as quiet and humble man who seems most happy enjoying his myriad achievements in relative silence. This is the first part of the conversation with Ron in which he talks about his early life and how he discovered his passion for the dangerous sport of cave diving. He also shares how he led an expedition to Cocklebiddy Cave in the 1980s, pushing 6.24km into the cave system, which resulted in a world-record. He also talks about how his invention of a specialised communication system saved him and the rest of the team when they got trapped underground in the Pannikin Plains expedition in 1988. This man is truly in a league of his own. You can find out more about Ron here: www.ronallum.com This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Chrissie Goldrick (Editor-in-chief at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ron Allum is a pioneering cave diver and inventor who originally started out as a broadcasting technician for the ABC. Not only has he broken records as a cave diver but also discovered his talent for inventing state of the art underwater equipment used in film. His abilities brought him together with legendary film-maker and deep-sea enthusiast James Cameron. The mission was nothing less than to build a submarine that could take James to the deepest-known point in the Earth’s seabed - the Mariana Trench, with a depth of almost 11,000m. Despite all of these accomplishments, Ron is as quiet and humble man who seems most happy enjoying his myriad achievements in relative silence. In the second part of our conversation, Ron talks about how he became involved in the world of epic film-making and how he ended up meeting legendary director James Cameron and ultimately becoming the man that took James to the deepest-known point in the Earth’s seabed. He shares his path from technical trouble shooter to successful inventor for highly specialised underwater equipment, and starting his own company. You can find out more about Ron here: www.ronallum.com This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Chrissie Goldrick (Editor-in-chief at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Gregory is well known to readers of Australian Geographic as a remote area photographer. He is also an awarded adventurer, but on this episode Andrew talks about powerful owls and especially the ones in his backyard on the northern beaches of Sydney. Over the past few years he has become a passionate conservationist and shares his love for the wildlife in our backyards and how we can protect it and help it thrive. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Chrissie Goldrick (Editor-in-chief at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com) You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new Chief Scientist and Director of the Australian Museum Research Institute, Professor Kristofer Helgen talks about the future of the nation’s first museum. After a massive redevelopment the museum unlocked more than 3000sq.m of new public space and recently reopened its gates to the public. Helgen has an outstanding global research track-record and a deep understanding of museums after working for almost 10 years at the legendary Smithsonian´s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.  On this episode Kristofer talks about his new role and the future of the Australian Museum. He also explains his recent comments about the crucial role of museums in fighting future pandemics and draws hope for fighting climate change from prior global issues that we seem to have overcome.    This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote (Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com).   You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick Gleeson has achieved more in his life than most people could dream of. He climbed to the summit Mount Kilimanjaro, climbed beyond Mount Everest’s base camp, ran the New York marathon three times, made it onto the state cricket team of Victoria, carried the Olympic torch, and represented Australia in athletics. He also crossed the Simpson Desert and a part of Lake Eyre National Park - all while being blind since age 7. On this episode Nick shares his amazing life story, and chats about how he managed to turn tragic events in his life into a positive attitude that has helped him fulfil dreams that most people with the gift of sight might never be able to cross off their bucket lists. The athlete and author is a truly remarkable soul and listening to him talk about his adventures and other passions, such as art, fills you with joy and happiness. Here you can find out more about Nick´s adventures: http://nicholasgleeson.com.au/ This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Chrissie Goldrick (Editor-in-chief at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anna Rose became passionate about fighting climate change as a teenager. The author, public speaker, community organiser and campaigner truly knows what it means to try to be part of the solution. She's dedicated to keep pushing and trying to raise awareness and come up with better ways for people to get involved. This led to her starting Australia’s first climate advocacy-focused giving circle, Groundswell, together with other dedicated friends. On this episode Anna shares her journey to becoming one of Australia's most respected voices on climate change action and what effect the current COVID-19 pandemic has had on climate advocates efforts. She also offers great ideas and advice on how to easily be part of the change. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote (Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Simon Cherriman has a passion for the wedge-tailed eagle, which began after finding a nest when he was 15. To this day, he continues to find and map nests and study, photograph and film eagles in the wild. In this episode of Talking Australia, we chat to Simon about the ongoing conservation issues facing wedgies, what he’s learnt getting up close and personal with these enormous birds and what he hopes to find by tracking their long journeys around Australia.   This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote (Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com).   You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Smith is a passionate pilot and movie enthusiast who runs a number of cinemas and owns a tiny flying boat. Both helped him to fulfil his lifelong dream to fly the old Rose Bay to London route operated by Qantas in the 1930s and ’40s. He embarked on a several-month-long journey in his “flying bathtub” and extended his trip to eventually take him around the world. Michael did all this without any sponsors and out of pure passion for adventure, which ultimately won him the Australian Geographic 2016 “Adventurer of the Year” award for the first-ever solo circumnavigation in a plane. The trip almost took his life, and in this episode we share his harrowing story and travel into parts of the world that are well and truly off the grid. Here you can find out more about Michael´s adventure & work: http://www.southernsun.voyage/ https://www.screenswithoutborders.org/ This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Liz Ginis (Managing Editor Digital at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Smith is a passionate pilot and movie enthusiast who runs a number of cinemas and owns a tiny flying boat. Both helped him to fulfil his lifelong dream to fly the old Rose Bay to London route operated by Qantas in the 1930s and ’40s. He embarked on a several-month-long journey in his “flying bathtub” and extended his trip to eventually take him around the world. Michael did all this without any sponsors and out of pure passion for adventure, which ultimately won him the Australian Geographic 2016 “Adventurer of the Year” award for the first-ever solo circumnavigation in a plane. The trip almost took his life, and in this episode we share his harrowing story and travel into parts of the world that are well and truly off the grid. Here you can find out more about Michael´s adventure & work: http://www.southernsun.voyage/ https://www.screenswithoutborders.org/ This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Liz Ginis (Managing Editor Digital at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author Paddy Manning has worked as a journalist for more than 15 years and in his new book “Body count: How climate change is killing us” he is investigating the true scale of climate change related deaths. From heat stroke victims to devastating mental health issues related with climate anxiety, Manning shows that climate deaths didn’t start in 2019 during one of the worst fire seasons Australia has ever experienced. For his book Manning has spoken to survivors and the families of victims to make us realise that it is time to act. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote (Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lyndall Ryan´s interest in the history of Australia has grown since her early days as a scholar researching the history of Tasmania and the consequences of the "Black War” for the local Aboriginal population. Through her work, the historian became heavily invested in the survival stories of Indigenous Australians and the frontier wars, which included acknowledgment of massacres committed by European settlers in the early days of the nation. Her research and expertise in the field got her involved in the legendary “History Wars” during the 1990s and early 2000s with other historians. In 2017, Lyndall gained worldwide exposure after she and her team at the University of Newcastle in NSW published an interactive online map of massacre sites in Australia. The map went viral and since its first release has turned into a national project in which Australian´s are helping to tell the whole story of the nation’s past. Here you can find out more about Lyndall’s work and look at the map:https://www.newcastle.edu.au/profile/lyndall-ryanhttps://c21ch.newcastle.edu.au/colonialmassacres/map.php This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote (Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brigitte Muir’s life has been all about pushing the limits. She discovered her passion for adventure in high school while exploring the caves near her home in Belgium. This escalated to scaling the world’s highest peaks, becoming the first woman to scale the world's seven highest summits on each continent, including Mt Everest. In recent years, she has committed herself to affecting positive change for women and communities in her beloved eastern Nepal. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Liz Ginis (Managing Editor Digital at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brigitte Muir’s life has been all about pushing the limits. She discovered her passion for adventure in high school while exploring the caves near her home in Belgium. This escalated to scaling the world’s highest peaks, becoming the first woman to scale the world's seven highest summits on each continent, including Mt Everest. In recent years, she has committed herself to affecting positive change for women and communities in her beloved eastern Nepal. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Liz Ginis (Managing Editor Digital at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robert McLean is an unlikely conservationist. Throughout the week he drives a meat truck and is a bloke who enjoys a steak and a beer. But most weekends he's out in the Dryandra Woodland conservation area, 170km south-east of Perth, trying to save one of Australia’s most endangered species - the numbat - from extinction. There are less than 1000 mature individuals remaining. Together with three other unlikely conservationists - airline worker Sean Van Alphen, power-company employee Matthew Willett, and John Lawson, caretaker of the Lions Dryandra Woodland Village and a former stonemason - he founded The Numbat Task Force. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote (Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lisa Blair is the first woman to sail solo and unassisted around Antarctica. The dangerous journey took her 184 days to finish and almost killed her when her mast broke in the middle of nowhere in giant seas. The courageous sailor survived the incident to fulfil her dream and tell her incredible story. It made her not only grow as a sailor but as a person. Since then she’s added another record to her belt: the first woman to circumnavigate Australia on her own. And as if all this isn’t enough, plans for a new adventure are already underway.Here you can find out more about Lisa´s adventures:https://lisablairsailstheworld.com/This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Liz Ginis (Managing Editor Digital at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com).You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In his book “Honeysuckle Creek - The story of Tom Reid, a little dish and Neil Armstrong’s first step” author Andrew Tink sets the story straight about Australia´s role in the Apollo 11 moon landing mission in 1969. In this episode he talks about Tom Reid, the mind behind the operation of the famous “Dish” near Canberra and how Tom and his team saved the world wide live broadcast of Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the moon and his very personal connection to the man that made it all happen in the tracking station in Honeysuckle Creek.Here you can find out more about Andrew´s work:http://andrewtink.comThis Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Chrissie Goldrick (Editor-in-chief at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com).You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tim Faulkner is known for his deep passion for Australia´s wildlife and his conservational work with the Australian Reptile park. He’s also a highly energetic and beloved TV personality that tries to save the Tasmanian devil from extinction with the parks “Devil´s Arch” protection programs. The devils are getting wiped out by an aggressive and infectious cancer. Trying to protect a few of them in an enclosed territory might be the only hope for their survival. Tim talkes about his fascinating life and the way to starting the arch program and its huge success that lead to extending it to protect other native endangered species. Also he explains the difficult and labour intense process of running the anti-venom program for most of Australia´s poisonous spiders and snakes to save lifes. Tim reckons since the late 1950s the program saved roughly about 20.000 lives.For more info visit https://reptilepark.com.au Or follow Tim on Instagram @timswildlifeThis Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Chrissie Goldrick (Editor-in-chief at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com).You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographic.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michelle Lee is a record-holding solo rower known for her crossing of the mighty Atlantic Ocean during the Talisker Atlantic Challenge, an annual ocean-rowing race. The sports’ fanatic loves a challenge and lives by the motto: “Dare to say yes!”, which is why she launched herself headfirst into tackling the 5000km long journey - solo and unassisted.But before that she had to learn how to row. She did that by taking on a world record - to become the fastest woman to row 1 million metres, on a Concept 2 rowing machine.Listen to Michelle’s story, her epic adventure and what’s next for this inspiring Aussie. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Liz Ginis (Managing Editor Digital at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michelle Lee is a record-holding solo rower known for her crossing of the mighty Atlantic Ocean during the Talisker Atlantic Challenge, an annual ocean-rowing race. The sports’ fanatic loves a challenge and lives by the motto: “Dare to say yes!”, which is why she launched herself headfirst into tackling the 5000km long journey - solo and unassisted.But before that she had to learn how to row. She did that by taking on a world record - to become the fastest woman to row 1 million metres, on a Concept 2 rowing machine.Listen to Michelle’s story, her epic adventure and what’s next for this inspiring Aussie. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Liz Ginis (Managing Editor Digital at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2019, Claire published her study which found that a single cat had wiped out an entire breeding colony in the town of Mandurah. The study went viral and highlighted the impact of both feral and pet cats on Australian wildlife. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote (Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographic. Listen to the podcast on Apple here. Related: A single cat wiped out an entire colony of fairy terns See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tyson Yunkaporta belongs to the Apalech Clan from Western Cape York and is the author of the award winning book “Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save The World”. He is also a senior lecturer in Indigenous Knowledges, a published poet and exhibited artist.On this episode Tyson talks about his book and the great value of indigenous knowledge that goes way beyond environmental and conservational topics and is often overlooked when it comes to finding solutions to complex issues such as history, education, money or power. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote (Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe Bonington is the founder of Joe’s Basecamp, a highly specialised training gym on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. The master adventure fitness trainer and son of legendary British mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington has been helping people to achieve amazing goals for almost 20 years. His gift is to help ordinary people to unlock their full potential to achieve things they never thought possible. On this episode Joe talks about his training philosophy, the right mindset and how juggling and doing handstands are a great way to enhance your performance level. He also shares his darker past and the moment he decided to fill his life with purpose and share his guidance to help others become the best possible version of themselves. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Justin Walker (Editor Australian Geographic Adventure) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Di Westaway is the leader of her so called “tribe” of 40,000 Australian women who found a way to be active, enjoy nature and the outdoors even after becoming working or full-time mums caught up with every day life struggles. Di wanted to escape that hamster wheel and founded Wild Women on Top, an organisation that helps women to achieve their goals, whether that’s a long hike with like-minded friends or conquering a high-altitude summit in some remote parts of the world. Strength lies in numbers and that’s why the Fred Hollows Foundation jumped on board from the very beginning. Together they have managed to raise more than $20 million for good causes.Here you can find out more about Di:www.wildwomenontop.comwww.hollows.orgThis Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Liz Ginis (Managing Editor Digital at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com).You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographic.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At age 7 Australian rock climbing sensation Angie Scarth-Johnson was already climbing grades that other rock climbers spend years and years to figure out. Now the 16 year old rock climbing sensation is already in a league of her own and eying to represent Australia in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. On this episode Angie shares her path to discovering her passion and her latest endeavours including the launch of her film ‘Pacific lines’ that was two years in the making and follows her on an adventure to a remote island in the south pacific where she creates a new climbing route and connects with her heritage.This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Justin Walker (Editor Australian Geographic Adventure) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com).You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the podcast on Apple here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ian Morris is a zoologist, educator, conservationist and author that has worked with the traditional owners of Arnhem Land for decades and speaks Djambarrpuyŋu, Warramirri & Gupapuyŋu – all local Indigenous languages. Today, he works as an environmental consultant and teaches children the importance of indigenous science and knowledge.He believes: “If you have the right attitude when you are out in the bush, you are not afraid of what might happen to you but you are fascinated by what’s around you.”This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Liz Ginis (Managing Editor Digital at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ian Morris is a zoologist, educator, conservationist and author that has worked with the traditional owners of Arnhem Land for decades and speaks Djambarrpuyŋu, Warramirri & Gupapuyŋu – all local Indigenous languages. Today, he works as an environmental consultant and teaches children the importance of indigenous science and knowledge.He believes: “If you have the right attitude when you are out in the bush, you are not afraid of what might happen to you but you are fascinated by what’s around you.”This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Liz Ginis (Managing Editor Digital at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While 12 people have walked on the moon only three have ever been to the bottom of the ocean. That’s the scale of the life-changing challenge that undersea explorer Victor Vescovo had taken on: Successfully diving the five deeps of the world. After the private equity investor and retired naval officer decided to fund this ground breaking project all by himself, Victor and his team had to overcome many technical challenges by trying to achieve something that has never been done before. The result was a brand new form of submarine that can go to the greatest depths and come back in one piece and do it all over again.On this episode Victor talks about the challenges that led up to his mission and the findings after being down deep like new species that has never been discovered before and new accurate maps of the ocean floors.Here you can find out more about Victors endeavours:https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/australian-geographic-adventure/adventure/2019/09/deeper-than-mt-everest-is-high-diving-the-mariana-trench/ This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Chrissie Goldrick (Editor-in-chief at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the podcast on apple here. Blake takes the fear, which has been supported through film and media for decades, and tries to help us understand sharks better, so we can improve our relationship with these beautiful creatures. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote (Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each winter, thousands of spider crabs rise up from the depths of Bass Strait to gather for one of the world’s most extraordinary natural spectacles. For many years these mass aggregations went on relatively unknown to the wider public until in recent years films, such as David Attenborough’s Blue Planet 2, shed light on to the wildlife spectacle. Nature photographer Justin Gilligan jumped into the cold waters in Port Phillip bay to capture the event during which the crabs moult their tough exoskeletons. This makes them easy bait for predators such as Australia’s largest stingrays. But since last year's march the crabs are facing another threat - from fishers who could potentially end this spectacle. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote (Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com).You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jon Shaw is an award-winning water cinematographer, known for his documentaries on the lives of Australia’s incredible marine life. From working with David Attenborough to going facing off with an orca, Jon has lived out his dream career. But with this insight into the ocean comes a lot of responsibility. In recent years, he has been focusing more of his work on revealing the challenges facing the marine world.This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote (Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Valerie Taylor is the Grand Madame of Australian nature filming and to this day a passionate diver and wildlife advocate. Together with her husband Ron Taylor she produced some of the most iconic nature films about sharks and other marine wildlife. From their days as professional spearfishing champions the couple became wanted experts in their field of filming and swimming with sharks. This led to Hollywood knocking on their door in the mid 70s and asking for their help in making Steven Spielberg´s breakthrough film “JAWS” - one of the most iconic, successful and genre-breaking films of all time. On this episode Valerie shares some stories of her unique life, from her childhood in New Zealand during the war to her present passionate engagement for the environment.Make sure to check out Valerie´s latest children’s book “Melody the Mermaid”.This episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Chrissie Goldrick (Editor-in-chief at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com).You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Engineer and professional adventurer Chris Bray turned his passion for nature photography into a thriving business - teaching people how to photograph animals around the globe. His adventurous life started early on a boat with his parents and sister as they sailed around the world. On this episode of Talking Australia Chris chats about his upbringing and how he discovered his passion for photography, and about a hair-raising, high-risk sailing trip through the North West Passage on an old wooden junk, which could have ended his career before it even started. Currently he lives on Christmas Island where he has established an eco-lodge. With the sea at his front door and a wild and remote Indian Ocean island as his playground, Chris has a story you won't want to miss!This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Liz Ginis (Managing Editor Digital at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com) You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Veena Sahajwalla is also known as “the waste queen” and the inventor of the world’s first e-waste micro factory. Her mission in life is to find new ways to deal with our massive waste problems. Her ideas of reviving waste gained huge popularity through the successful tv-program “war on waste”. In this episode she shares her story from her childhood in India to becoming a recycling guru and professor at the University of NSW.Here you can find out more about Veena´s work:www.newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/science-tech/fighting-war-wasteThis Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote (Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com).You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Glenn Singleman has achieved so many things in his life that one might ask whether his day has more than 24 hours. He is an emergency doctor, a mountaineer, a skydiver, a record-breaking high-altitude BASE jumper and wingsuit pilot, a motivational speaker, a husband, a father and submarine medical doctor who joined both world-famous director James Cameron and businessman and explorer Victor Vescovo on their journeys to the bottom of the ocean.He also goes trail running every morning, is a passionate vegan and has obtained several university degrees covering everything from medicine to film making. But it all started with Glenn overcoming his fears. And he says that everyone can do the same, treating fear as a good friend rather than letting it take over and stop us from doing things we think are otherwise impossible. Here you can find out more about Glenn:https://www.baseclimb.comThis Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Liz Ginis (Managing Editor Digital at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com).You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Glenn Singleman has achieved so many things in his life that one might ask whether his day has more than 24 hours. He is an emergency doctor, a mountaineer, a skydiver, a record-breaking high-altitude BASE jumper and wingsuit pilot, a motivational speaker, a husband, a father and submarine medical doctor who joined both world-famous director James Cameron and businessman and explorer Victor Vescovo on their journeys to the bottom of the ocean.He also goes trail running every morning, is a passionate vegan and has obtained several university degrees covering everything from medicine to film making. But it all started with Glenn overcoming his fears. And he says that everyone can do the same, treating fear as a good friend rather than letting it take over and stop us from doing things we think are otherwise impossible. Here you can find out more about Glenn:https://www.baseclimb.comThis Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Liz Ginis (Managing Editor Digital at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com).You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tim Jarvis has endured a great deal of physical privation as a world-leading polar adventurer. In order to authentically recreate two epic journeys by Sir Douglas Mawson and Sir Ernest Shackleton, from the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, Tim willingly stripped himself of all modern equipment and undertook these expeditions with the same clothes and gear that his predecessors used in the early 1900s. On this episode of Talking Australia Tim talks about his adventures and how he since then has become a climate change advocate, public speaker and as of late started the “Forktree Project”, a non-profit demonstration site in South Australia to show how large scale rewilding of degraded pastoral land is possible. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Chrissie Goldrick (Editor-in-chief at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com)You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Tim Flannery has devoted his life to fighting climate change. His best-seller “The Weather Makers” remains the second highest-selling book on climate change of all time. This ultimately made him the Australian voice of the debate. In this episode, he shares his views about the recent grassroots movement of the younger generation demanding change. He also gives insights into his life and what the personal costs are of challenging international players and companies.Here you can find out more about Tim´s work:https://australianmuseum.net.au/about/history/exhibitions/trailblazers/tim-flannery/https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/author/tim-flannery/ This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote (Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com).You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Dean Miller is a marine biologist, adventurer, film maker, photographer and writer. He is also the managing director of the NGO ‘Great Barrier Reef Legacy’ which is a group of experts dedicated to conservation of coral reefs around the world with focus on our own mighty reef. On this episode of Talking Australia Dean explains how coral reefs work to understand better what exactly ‘bleaching’ means and the work of  GBR Legacy who aim to provide opportunities for scientists to access the GBR to conduct primary research. They do this by chartering ships which take a mix of paying guests and professional researchers to remote parts of the reef. They recently founded a coral biobank to conserve endangered coral species for future coral re-seeding work. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Chrissie Goldrick (Editor-in-chief at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com)You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tosca Looby and Karina Holden are the creators of the hugely successful Australian-made nature documentary series The Magical Land of Oz. The series reveals the real stories behind Australia´s extraordinary wildlife and uncovers the hidden beauty and miracles of this magical country. In this episode the duo share their approach to capturing nature on screen and how they succeeded in a highly competitive market as female Australian documentary film makers. Here you can find out more about Toska´s & Karina´s work:https://northernpictures.com.au/magical-land-of-ozHere is a link to rewatch the series:https://iview.abc.net.au/show/magical-land-of-oz This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com).You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Known simply as Costa, landscape architect Costa Georgiadis is an eco-visionary. As host of the TV show 'Gardening Australia’, this man, and his impressive beard, inspires thousands of people around the country to connect with Mother Nature. On this episode of Talking Australia Costa shares his journey from growing up on the beaches of Sydney to travelling the world and falling in love with gardening. He also talks about his role in the educational program Junior Landcare and his hopes for the future of caring for our land. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Liz Ginis (Managing Editor Digital at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com) You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Lock is Australia´s most accomplished mountaineer who has climbed all of the world´s fourteen 8000+ metre summits without supplemental oxygen. From Shishapangma in China to Everest, the mother of all mountains, Andrew has managed to survive these risky adventures. In this episode he shares his route to becoming one of our greatest mountaineers and what else he is up to these days.Here you can find out more about Andrew´s endeavours:www.andrew-lock.comThis Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Liz Ginis and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com).You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographic.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greg Mortimer is one of Australia’s best known and highly respected mountaineers. In 1984 Greg was one of the first two Australians to ever summit Everest. He also conquered the world’s most dangerous mountain K2, as well as two of the highest peaks in Antarctica. He later became a pioneer of Antarctic tourism and even has a groundbreaking new ship named after him. On this episode of Talking Australia Greg talks about his mountaineering days and how his groundbreaking summit of Everest was also due to his liberal parents and a free upbringing, as well as a bit of naivety and pure will. This is part two of our conversation with Greg. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Chrissie Goldrick (Editor-in-chief at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com)You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greg Mortimer is one of Australia’s best known and highly respected mountaineers. In 1984 Greg was one of the first two Australians to ever summit Everest. He also climbed the world’s most dangerous mountain, K2, as well as two of the highest peaks in Antarctica. He later became a pioneer of Antarctic tourism and even has a new ship named after him. On this episode of Talking Australia Greg talks about his mountaineering days and how his groundbreaking summit of Everest was also due to his liberal parents and a free upbringing, as well as a bit of naivety and sheer will.This is part one of our conversation with Greg. Make sure to check out part two. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Chrissie Goldrick (Editor-in-chief at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After fulfilling her dream of paddling the River Nile, Sarah Davis set her sights on paddling Australia’s longest river - the Murray. The adventurer paddled solo from its source in the Australian Alps to its end in South Australia.  On this episode Sarah talks about why the Murray River is an accessible adventure we all could tackle.  This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Liz Ginis (Managing Editor Digital at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com) You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bryan Lessard, better known as “Bry the Fly Guy”, is an entomologist who's dedicated to changing our perception of flies and other insects. He has discovered many new fly species and had the privilege of naming them, often having fun along the way with names such as Scaptia beyonceae, aka Beyoncé fly. On this episode of Talking Australia Bryan explains why flies and other insects are crucial to pollination and why insects in particular are becoming a billion dollar industry. This Episode of Talking Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote (Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Australia is hosted by Angela Heathcote (Digital Producer at Australian Geographic) and produced by Ben Kanthak (www.beachshackpodcasts.com). You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.