Talking Australia

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 @australiangeographic

See 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 @australiangeographic

See 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 @australiangeographic

See 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 @australiangeographic

See 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 @australiangeographic

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See 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 @australiangeographic

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.