Talking Australia

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 @australiangeographic

See 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 @australiangeographic

See 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 
 
You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographic

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 @australiangeographic

See 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 @australiangeographic

See 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 
 
You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographic

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 
 
You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographic

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 
 
You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographic

See 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-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 @australiangeographic

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.