Talking Australia

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.

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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 @australiangeographic

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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 @australiangeographic

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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 @australiangeographic

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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 @australiangeographic

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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 @australiangeographic

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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 @australiangeographic

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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 @australiangeographic

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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

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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

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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

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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 @australiangeographic

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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

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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

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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 You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographic

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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 You can also follow us on Instagram @australiangeographic

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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.

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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

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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 @australiangeographic

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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 @australiangeographic

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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 @australiangeographic

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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 @australiangeographic

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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 @australiangeographic

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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 @australiangeographic

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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 @australiangeographic

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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 @australiangeographic

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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 @australiangeographic

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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 @australiangeographic

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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 @australiangeographic

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.