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 G ..read more

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 ..read more

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 Christm ..read more

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 fol ..read more

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 episod ..read more

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 ..read more

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 u ..read more

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 ..read more

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 on ..read more

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 ..read more