Episode 50 is with my friend Brett Goodban and what a yarn it was. Starting his journey underwater, Brett started humbly washing dishes and doing jobs on the live aboard boats so that he could get his dive certifications. Eventually making a career as an underwater dive photographer and making friends with the creatures of the reef, Brett thought he had it all. It wasn't until he fell ill in Japan, 2014, that he later found out he was labeled, in the medical world, a miracle man and should not o...
Jan 27, 2025•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 50
Episode 49 is with Bill Collett, an Australian Naturalist, Wildlife Educator and the Park Manager of the Australian Reptile Park. With over 20 years of industry experience, Bill is a phenomenal ambassador for our Australian Wildlife and a key contributor for Australia's anti-venom program. He is extremely dedicated to conservation and will go far and wide to research each specie in order to mimic the animals natural habitat to get them breeding. As you will soon hear, Bill's enthusiasm and passi...
Nov 22, 2024•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 49
Episode 48 is part 3 of our series with Peter Valentine, and is a wonderful chat about the life history of Butterflies. What a time I got to spend with Peter and this episode was so beautiful. From the life history to pioneers of the butterfly world, Peter really is a wealth of knowledge. I only wish I could go out into the forest and walk along with him, learning more and being inspired. If you wish to get in contact with Peter then please reach out to him on email - peter.valentine@jcu.edu.au ...
Aug 07, 2024•2 hr 10 min•Ep. 48
Welcome back to Australian Wildlife Education: Wild Chats, episode 47..... Todays Wild Chat is the second of a 3 part series and will be a continuation of our chat from part 1 on who is Peter Valentine. We continue the chat about National Parks and mining and venture into World Heritage Sites of Australia. Getting into who's responsibility it is to uphold a World Heritage Listing within Australia was confusing to me, however after reading Peter's book I have a better understanding on how it all ...
Jul 23, 2024•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 47
Welcome back to Australian Wildlife Education: Wild Chats, episode 46..... Todays Wild Chat is the first of a 3 part series and will be all about the incredible life of Peter Valentine! We talk about his childhood, his student years, his love for books, nature, for the environment… Long-time member of IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, with a special interest in World Heritage, Peter worked not only for UNESCO, UNITAR, IUCN on World Heritage but also for Australian Federal and Queensland ...
Jul 15, 2024•55 min•Ep. 46
The following Wild Chat is with Amanda French and Matt Cornish talking all things CROCODILES , including the latest issues that have surfaced with human/animal interaction, policy and legislation problems and the recent crocodile attacks that have happened in North Queensland so far this year. Matt, Amanda and a few other passionate wildlife educators have banned together to be an advocate for the Estuarine Crocodile. C.R.O.C stands for C ommunity R epresentation O f C rocodiles. Find out more b...
May 04, 2023•1 hr 28 min•Season 2Ep. 45
Today's Wild Chat is with Angus Emmot a grazier, naturalist and owner of Noonbah Station found within the Longreach Shire, Queensland Australia. Angus is well renowned for being the 3rd generation on Noonbah station and also for his naturalist work and amazing photography. Angus Works for the Queensland Museum and is not short of a project as he stands strong with his voice for topics such as Dingo management, farming and the latest with Fracking within the Lake Eyre Basin and Channel country. A...
Dec 26, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 44
Today's Wild Chat is with John Creighton from Wombat Care Bundanoon and we talk more about Australia’s Wombats and the current issue of Mange. After the bush fires a lot of Australian animals faced devastating times with lack of food and shelter and of course a lot had been burned. Wombats may have been sheltered in their burrows however the aftermath for them also was devastating with no food at all left for these herbivores. John and his team at wombat Care, along with so many other organistio...
Dec 19, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Season 1Ep. 43
In this Wild Chat we are joined by James Boettcher from FNQ Nature Tours as we discuss the meaning of ‘ Wildlife’ and the benefits of connecting with nature. This is the second chat we have had with the ever captivating James Boettcher (See Episode 16 for our previous chat). To connect with James find him here: https://fnqnaturetours.com.au/ http://www.instagram.com/fnq_naturetours http://www.facebook.com/fnqnaturetours https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoh-r-JQx9WH6kahuEQ-1Yw Please connect with...
Dec 12, 2021•59 min•Season 1Ep. 42
In Episode 41, Matt and Jodie look back at the journey that has been 2021 and how the Wild Chats podcast came to be. Working our way through the good yarns, lots of laughs and craziness, Matt and Jodie discuss the year to come and the huge changes in our personal and professional lives. www.instagram.com/adventures_by_matt http://www.instagram.com/australian_wildlife_education www.facebook.com/australianwildlifeeducation http://www.instagram.com/zootoyou Please connect with us as we would love t...
Dec 05, 2021•37 min•Season 1Ep. 41
Justin McMahon is the Daintree Land Manager for Rainforest Rescue, managing rainforest restoration activities for over 30 seperate properties in the Daintree National Park. Justin is well regarded as one of the most knowledgeable young conservationists in Far North Queensland, the way he sees the wild world will have you begging for more. In this podcast Justin explains why the Daintree Rainforest is one of the most unique ecosystems on earth and how we can do our part to preserve its natural be...
Nov 28, 2021•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 40
The following Wild Chat is with Tahneal Hawke from Platypus Conservation Initiative found down in NSW Australia. Tahneal is a part of this amazing project, conducting field work, research and data collection to help further understand this very elusive secretive Monotreme Mammal of Australia. I have been wanting to learn more about Platypus for a long time and this chat with Tahneal was amazing….. Trust me there was a lot to talk about Tahneal Can be contacted here: t.hawke@unsw.edu.au To find o...
Nov 21, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 39
Alberto Vale is the President and founding member of the Australian Quoll Conservancy based here in Far North Queensland. Focusing their efforts on the vulnerable and endangered Spotted Tail and Northern Quolls, Alberto has taken citizen science to a whole new level. In this Wild Chat we learn about the incredible work being done behind the scenes to save two animals that are spearheaded for extinction. https://instagram.com/australianquollconservancy https://www.facebook.com/quolls.org.au/ http...
Nov 14, 2021•1 hr 22 min•Season 1Ep. 38
The following Wild Chat this week is reversed with Matt chatting to Jodie about her story of becoming a Wildlife Educator, Business owner and how finding your own Bat cave is important for life. Jodie is a mum of 3 who has always had a passion for wildlife and nature. She is the founder of Zoo to You which is a Mobile Wildlife Education business taking Australian animals into the classroom educating students and teachers about our amazing Wildlife. For the last 15 years in her own business, Jodi...
Oct 24, 2021•1 hr 31 min•Season 1Ep. 37
The following Wild Chat is with Chris Soul, an Aussie larrikin who works alongside his mate, Stuart Mckenzie on the TV series, Aussie Snake Wranglers. Chris not only worked at Australia Zoo for 7 years working his way into being a Crocodile presenter and handler but also a Shark Diver at Sea World found on the Gold Coast Queensland. From being a Bass Guitarist in a band to Snake removal, Crocodile presenting, Shark diving, Fauna spotting and being on a TV series, Chris is destined for a fun and ...
Oct 17, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 36
The following Wild Chat is with Bridgette Gower who runs her own nature based tours here in Cairns Queensland called “Let’s Go Buggin!!”. Bridgett also, during our summer wet season, runs another amazing tour called “Let’s go Shroomin!!” and is also a Macro Photographer taking the most amazing photos of our natural world. Bridgettes passion for photography led her to creating her own business taking locals and tourists on a journey to explore the macro world of insects. Not only do you learn mor...
Oct 10, 2021•56 min•Season 1Ep. 35
The following Wild Chat is with Jemina who is a Marine Biologist at the Institute for Marine & Antarctic Studies at the University of Tasmania. Currently Jemina coordinates the Handfish Conservation Project working tirelessly researching and collecting data to help recover these critically endangered fish. Jemina and her team have found waters of Tasmania are warming due to the East Australian Current bringing in warmer waters, which inevitably, is changing the fish and their habitats. The H...
Sep 12, 2021•59 min•Season 1Ep. 34
The following Wild Chat is with 19 year old Claire Galvin, a climate campaigner and organiser, building leadership in young people to advocate for systemic solutions to climate change. Wow what a powerhouse and voice for our natural world and an amazing leader in her field. Claire works for the Australian Youth Climate Coalition and is on the management team of CAFNEC. Claire first started her journey when in year 12 she watched a documentary which broke her heart, seeing what us humans are doin...
Sep 05, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 33
The following Wild Chat is with Dan Rumsey who is in charge of the reptile section at the Australian Reptile Park in NSW Australia. Today Dan and I talked about zoo keeping and what is involved in a typical day as well as answering one of the biggest questions asked, “How do I get a job as a Zoo keeper”, which was finally answered in great detail on this Wild Chat. To connect with Dan find him here: http://www.instagram.com/zookeeper_dan Don’t forget to connect with me: http://www.instagram.com/...
Aug 29, 2021•1 hr 33 min•Season 1Ep. 32
The following Wild Chat is with Dr Martin Cohen from Wild About Australia, who is chatting to us today about Australian Frogs and the introduction of the Cane Toad and what effect it has had on our native species. To connect with Dr Martin Cohen, visit him here: http://www.wildaboutaustralia.com Don’t forget to connect with me: http://www.instagram.com/jodie_creek http://www.instagram.com/australian_wildlife_education Website - www.australianwildlifeeducation.com Email - jodie@australianwildlife...
Aug 22, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 31
The following Wild Chat is with a young woman who, in my opinion, is a powerhouse in the Wildlife Carers world and making some waves within the industry, especially with the relocation of macropods. Shai is only 23 years of age and is the founder of the Agile Project here in North Queensland Cairns and is working with a team of dedicated, passionate and inspirational people to help relocate hundreds of Agile Wallabies from a field near a very busy highway. Shai’s passion for wildlife comes out i...
Aug 15, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 30
The following Wild Chat is Alex Sinchak who works within the Mangrove Watch Program here in Far North QLD Cairns. Alex works with volunteers and encourages our community to get involved as citizen scientists, where not only do they help with data collection but also learn more about the importance of our Mangroves and Estuaries. In 2017 CAFNEC (Cairns & Far North Environment Centre) established the Mangrove Watch Program and believes it is extremely important for long term monitoring to occu...
Aug 08, 2021•59 min•Season 1Ep. 29
The following Wild Chat is with Andrew Khalil and we have him back for the third time. If you have not listened to his other Wild Chats then I highly recommend you head to previous episodes and check them out. This episode we chat about WHY fish have colours and how predatory animals have shaped this throughout evolution. We also go into how fish change sex and how they are actually really smart creatures. Andrew is such a massive advocate for our oceans and he wants everyone to know how much we...
Aug 01, 2021•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 28
The following Wild Chat is with Sera Steves a Zoologist and advocate for all things Wildlife and an extremely dedicated advisor and spokesperson for our Spectacled Flying Foxes, found right here in North Queensland's Wet Tropics. Today Sera talks to us about the importance of keystone species, like bats and cassowaries, and how they play a crucial role in the environment. We go deep in understanding how everything is connected and what may happen if we lose a particular species. Sadly our Specta...
Jul 25, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Season 1Ep. 27
The following Wild Chat is with Alex Iozzi, a Wildlife Demonstrator and Content creator Educating people, not only about Australian animals but animals found around the world. Alex has used a unique way to spark individual curiosity by creating content around a big question of “Who would Win?”. By doing this Alex creates a platform for inquiry, education and conversation. Check out his Instagram page to find out what I am talking about and listen to our Wild Chat: To connect with Alex you can fi...
Jul 18, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 26
The following Wild Chat is with Lizzy and today our little chat goes far and wide about how we can make a difference within our Natural World. At times it can be disheartening with what we are doing to our planet however there is hope….. And with hope there is action and change. I loved having this Wild Chat with Lizzy as we also find out who she is and what her mission in life is. To connect with Lizzy you can find her here: http://www.instagram.com/lizirix http://www.facebook.com/liztovcarva D...
Jun 06, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 25
The following Wild Chat is with Andrew Khalil and today is all about Sharks. We have had Andrew on our podcast before so if you have not heard that episode then make sure you check out episode 17. Andrew is a Marine Biologist, underwater Photographer and works at the University of QLD in Brisbane Queensland Australia. Andrew's knowledge blows my mind and I absolutely love chatting and learning from him, and as you will be able to tell from this Wild Chat his passion and love for Sharks shines. T...
May 23, 2021•1 hr 24 min•Season 1Ep. 24
The following Wild Chat is with Kyle who is a Medical Herbalist, Sound Healer and a Chocolate Wizard. Our episode is all about the song of plants and how they communicate. This episode took us far and wide with our own curiosity and imagination and we hope it sparks yours too. The wonders of the Natural world continue with this episode and opens up my own world further with how plants and trees communicate and have emotions. To connect with Kyle you can find him here: http://kylelaz.com/ https:/...
Apr 18, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 23
The following Wild Chat is with Dr Barbara Wueringer who is the founder, director and lead scientist of Sharks and Rays Australia (SARA). Our chat is all about Sawfish and the massive issues this species is facing not only in Australia but world wide. Barbara shares with us their mission to educate more within the communities where Sawfish are found and how one of their recent projects, DNA collection, is extremely important to find out more information in regards to the Freshwater Sawfish distr...
Apr 11, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 22
The following Wild Chat is with Dr Tammie Matson who is not only an inspirational woman in wildlife but an author, conservationist, business owner, tour guide, researcher, international speaker on stages, wife and mum of two boys……. WOW!! That is definitely worth celebrating and in honor of International Women's Day I wanted to interview a woman in wildlife who is an inspiration to me. Tammie talks to us about her journey to become who she is today and the courage, tenacity and drive she needed ...
Mar 21, 2021•55 min•Season 1Ep. 21
