Episodes

  • Memories of the last Ice Age
    Feb 14 2024

    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.

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    26 mins
  • Animals taking advantage of fire
    Feb 7 2024

    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.

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    27 mins
  • The threat of fire touches us all
    Jan 31 2024

    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.

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    28 mins
  • How come we’re not covered in ash every single day?
    Jan 24 2024

    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.

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    23 mins
  • Humans are drawn to fire, for better or worse
    Jan 17 2024

    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.

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    25 mins
  • Elements S02: Fire
    Jan 23 2024

    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.

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    1 min
  • Water'n'Plants
    Feb 24 2023

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

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    20 mins
  • Can we fight the ocean?
    Feb 16 2023

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

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    23 mins