Elements

Memories of the last Ice Age

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 06:51:53 +0000

Danni Stewart closes out the second season of Elements by taking us on a journey through Noongar Country to highlight how vulnerable it is to the effects of global warming.

Along the way, Danni learns how the ‘hyper local’ stories passed through generations of Noongar people carries ‘climate memory’ from the last Ice Age.

Full transcription and citations for the episode can be found here.

Credits

Host: Beth Maskall

Producer: Danni Stewart

Guest experts: Dr Jatin Kala, Dr Cass Lynch, Dr Karen Filbee-Dexter

Executive producers: Michelle Aitken, Zaya Altangerel

Sound editing: Michelle Aitken, Zaya Altangerel, and Alyshia Gatani

Cover artwork: Gabriel Ibias

And a special thank you to Michael Gatt, Lisa Larsen-Henry and everyone who helped make this season possible.

Animals taking advantage of fire

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 06:37:26 +0000

Cat Williams learns that humans aren’t the only species who use fire to their advantage. Some birds and cats know their way around a fire just as well.

Cat also has some fun drawing a tenuous link between fire and ants. We promise it’ll make sense.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are warned that this episode contains the name of a person who has died.

Full transcription and citations for the episode can be found here.

Credits

Host: Beth Maskall

Producer: Cat Williams

Guest experts: Dr Hugh McGregor, Mark Bonta, Reece Pianta

Executive producers: Michelle Aitken, Zaya Altangerel

Sound editing: Michelle Aitken, Zaya Altangerel, and Alyshia Gatani

Cover artwork: Gabriel Ibias

And a special thank you to Michael Gatt, Lisa Larsen-Henry and everyone who helped make this season possible.

The threat of fire touches us all

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 07:04:17 +0000

Lawrence Drown takes a tour of a local fire station to uncover the influence of fire safety measures in unexpected places such as hiking boots and iconic architecture.

Full transcription and citations for the episode can be found here.

Credits

Host: Beth Maskall

Producer: Lawrence Drown

Guest experts: Mark Otto, Timothy Moore, Gavin Maund

Executive producers: Michelle Aitken, Zaya Altangerel

Sound editing: Michelle Aitken, Zaya Altangerel, and Alyshia Gatani

Cover artwork: Gabriel Ibias

And a special thank you to Michael Gatt, Lisa Larsen-Henry and everyone who helped make this season possible.

How come we’re not covered in ash every single day?

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 08:00:35 +0000

Gianfranco Di Giovanni explores the possibilities of what we could achieve if government and Noongar people can work together on bushfire management.

Full transcription and citations for the episode can be found here.

Credits

Host: Beth Maskall

Producer: Gianfranco Di Giovanni

Guest experts: Michael Pasotti, Lynette Knapp, Ursula Rodrigues, Dr Alison Lullfitz

Executive producers: Michelle Aitken, Zaya Altangerel

Sound design: Michelle Aitken, Zaya Altangerel, and Alyshia Gatani

Cover artwork: Gabriel Ibias

And a special thank you to Michael Gatt, Lisa Larsen-Henry and everyone who helped make this season possible.

Elements S02: Fire

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 10:37:17 +0000

Water, fire, earth and air. Each season of Elements is about one of the four classical elements, and how they shape the world around us.

In season one, we demistified complex issues such as drought, desalination, recycling water, coastal erosion and more. As for season two, we’re going to get lit. Literally.

In season two, we have five episodes, from five producers, all about fire. We’ll hear stories from all corners of Western Australia, covering everything from festival bonfires to devastating wildfires, from echoes of ancient knowledge to the technological possibilities of the future.

Tune into season two of the Elements podcast now.

Humans are drawn to fire, for better or worse

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 09:00:50 +0000

Madeleine Mitchell kicks off the second season of Elements by looking at the dramatically different ways fire can influence our lives.

In Western Australia, the annual Blazing Swan festival culminates with the burning of a giant wooden effigy. The bonfire brings people together to provide them with a sense of awe and joy.

But what happens when a fire is unplanned and uncontrollable? What do we feel then?

Please be aware, the second half of this episode mentions PTSD and suicide. Take care while listening.

If you are located in Australia, you can access 24/7 help through:

Lifeline: 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au
Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 beyondblue.org.au/forums

Full transcription and citations for the episode can be found here.

Credits

Host: Beth Maskall

Producer: Madeleine Mitchell

Guest experts: Hana Priest, Dr Wavne Rikkers

Executive producers: Michelle Aitken, Zaya Altangerel

Sound editing: Michelle Aitken, Zaya Altangerel, Alyshia Gatani

Voice acting: Mita Hill, Caitlin McLeod, Evan Thyer

Cover artwork: Gabriel Ibias

And a special thank you to Michael Gatt, Lisa Larsen-Henry and everyone who helped make this season possible.

Water'n'Plants

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 13:22:47 +0000

Thomas Crow looks into Western Australia's past, present and future to understand how water affects Western Australia's unique flora.

Can we fight the ocean?

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 13:10:57 +0000

Zaya Altangerel investigates the issue of coastal erosion. Is it just a problem for those with beachside mansions?

Mmm, fresh sewage water

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 13:03:40 +0000

Crystal Ngo investigates the pros and cons of drinking sewage water.

Just drink the ocean

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 11:52:43 +0000

Crystal Ngo explores the state of drinkable water in Western Australia. Are we headed towards a water crisis?

When water meets air, fire and earth

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 11:39:13 +0000

Owen Cumming explores how the natural element of water interacts with the elements of air, fire and earth in the context of Western Australia.